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Sunday 31 August 2014

Movie Review ~ Chariots of Fire

People look so funny when they're running.


Movie: Chariots of Fire
Director: Hugh Hudson
Year: 1981
Set in: 1919-1924 (Climax at Paris 1924 Olympics)
Rated: Our copy G; some PG or 15. Mild language, etc. 
I would rate it PG
My rating: 7/10-ish


Eric Liddell, son of a Scots Missionary in China.


Harold Abrahams, a Jew, studying at Oxford.


Harold Abrahams raced with the sole aim of winning at all costs because of racial prejudice - he as a Jew.

Eric Liddell raced for the glory of God. He made a classic comparison of life to running a race.

When Harold loses a race, he is not himself for days, he is so upset.

Eric's sister wants him to concentrate on the mission, not racing. But Eric said he thought God gave him the gift of speed. He refused to race on Sunday. He was unswerving in that regard. The paper headlines displayed were "GOD BEFORE MAN" - as it should be.

Harold runs the final race to win for himself.

Eric runs for God's glory.


I won't tell you how it ends - spoilers! - but it is a great movie and well worth watching.


Sunday 17 August 2014

Whatever you do....

...do it all for the glory of God. 

I have been thinking lately about the way I spend my time. What I read, watch, and...blog about.
And I've been thinking I need to watch how much time I spend doing certain things.

Fandoms and blogging are not bad, but I shouldn't let them occupy the majority of my time.
Don't get me wrong, Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Gaskell - they're good, I like them- but it's not good if I let those things take up all my time, and keep me from important things like prayer, or reading my Bible.

So I have been trying prayerfully to keep these things in perspective, if you will.
Part of that is a new Bible-readings system my parents, and now me and my sisters use.
It's Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System, which is designed so that you can read the entire Bible in a year. In this system you have the books of the Bible divided into ten lists, and you read a chapter from each list every day - lists 1-5 in the morning, and lists 6-10 at night. You don't have to read all ten every day, but if you do you should finish it in one year.

Another thing I love is music. An Australian singer, Jason Coghill (who was once a member of the band, Sons of Korah) puts Psalms to music, literally word-for-word. One night he a few years ago he came and did a concert at our church, and we got two of his CD's, Songs of Deliverance, and Peace and War.We really enjoy listening to these as music in the car or at home. You learn the Psalms he sings off by heart and I can now recognize ones he sings when I read them. I often read or hear a psalm read and I think of Jason Coghill's tune for it and start singing along in my head!

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." 
~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 


Hope you enjoyed this post!

(Please note I am still open for post suggestions - let me know if you have any ideas!)

Thank-you, dear readers!



Tuesday 12 August 2014

who doesn't like photos, right?

My siblings and friend took some photos the other day - if you like, check them out at my sisters' blogs
here  and   here (more or less the same photos :))

Monday 28 April 2014

Movie Review ~ Soul Surfer

         
Here's a basic summary of the movie:
Bethany Hamilton is a 13 year old Christian home-schooled girl who lives in Hawaii. Her hobby (or lifestyle) is surfing. One day, she encounters disaster when she is out surfing. The movie tells that story and the story of how, with faith in God, and help from family and friends, they coped with the change, and she got back in the water.

The Characters

Bethany Hamilton is played by Anna-Sophia Robb.

She was a great actor! She was really good at showing the emotion and really played the part.




Her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton, are played by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. They really seemed to be kind, loving, caring and protective parents.

The boys, Timmy (Chris Brochu) and Noah (Ross Thomas)


They are fun, teasing, but protective brothers, and they really care about their sister.

Alana Blanchard, Bethany's best friend, is played by Lorraine Nicholson.


She and Bethany are best friends, but they have an argument or two. She is very freaked out about the attack.


Malina Birch (Sonya Balmores) is, I think, a made-up character. She is another surfing competitor and doesn't really get along with Bethany. She is mean to her, but Bethany tries to be nice to her.



In the end, Bethany doesn't win her big competition; she caught a great wave just after the time was up. Her dad is annoyed, saying, "It didn't count!" She just smiled. "It counted. It totally counted."
Malina, won over, shares the prize with her. "The judges may not have counted that last wave - but I did."


Overall, this movie is great! The acting is very good, and it is a great girl's movie :) I highly recommend it.


Anna-Sophia Robb and Bethany Hamilton