The big screen

I went to the Alabama Theatre this evening with some friends to take part in their summer film series. They play an old movie every weekend, and this one was The Sound of Music. I have never seen it on the big screen before tonight, and I must say, it was wonderful. I got a lot of the jokes I hadn't noticed before (the writing is very smart). Almost the entire theater sang along with the songs (except for the couple sitting in front of me, who looked around when people started singing like they couldn't quite understand why). And to top it all off, I figured out who Christopher Plummer reminded me of (or who reminded me of him). Lucius Malfoy. Next time you watch, see if you disagree.

A symbol of life

We took the Lord’s Supper in church last Sunday and I was struck by a curious thought. It is supposed to be (according to both Christ and Paul) a remembrance of Christ’s death. What about life? I know and fully believe that without Christ’s death, I could not enter into life, but without the resurrection, I could not enter into life either. It takes both. And so, if the Lord’s Supper is supposed to be a reminder of Christ’s death (I thank Him for that, for I need reminding), then what is the rest of my life supposed to be? As my logic goes, my life should be a remembrance of the life of Christ. God has given us a reminder of Christ’s death, and also a reminder of the fact that Christ’s death includes me – death to myself. Christ’s life gives me life. May I live life in a way that is like Him. As complicated or as simple as it may seem, I still cannot live a life like Christ’s without Him. May I live as though I am crucified with Christ (I am!) and remember that it is no longer I who live, but Christ in me. May I live this life in the body no longer by my own effort, but by faith in Jesus, who loves me and gave Himself for me.
Romans 6:3-4 “Or don’t you know that all of us who were baptized into Christ Jesus were baptized into His death? We were therefore buried with Him through baptism into death in order that, just as Christ was raised from the dead through the glory of the Father, we too may live a new life.”
I love the fact that while Christ’s death on the cross is central to Christianity, His resurrection is too. Without His death, I would be condemned to hell. Without His resurrection, I would be subject to an empty existence. As things stand, I have life because Christ has life. Wow.

Goodbye, Penny

I guess this is a week of goodbyes. Maybe that means I'll get my visa. :-) But I digress. I saw an article today about pennies. For years, people simply bartered goods where there was no money to be had. And in the big cities? There was no treat like going to the candy store and buying penny candy (and I'm sure that long ago, a penny got you LOTS of penny candy). It kind of makes me sad that pennies are being regarded as obsolete (though they have been regarded as such by many for many years). The fact that strikes me as ironic is, of course, that it takes more than a penny to make a penny. Literally.

Goodbye, Brasil....

Well, we're out. Of the FIFA World Cup, that is. If asked to be honest, I would say that Brazil played like there was no urgency until stoppage play at the end of the second half, during which they stepped up play considerably. Somehow I think that would've been good for the whole game....