My Latest At PJLifestyle: How Disney Culture Values Excellence
The idea of excellence as something for which to strive goes back to the Bible. Jewish and Christian believers alike are aware of the admonishments in Scripture to give our all.
Walt Disney himself felt the pull to achieve excellence, in part because his name was on every product the Studio created. He once said, “Anything that has a Disney name to it is something we feel responsible for.” He instilled the value of excellence in his staff as well – he once hailed his staff as “the ones who insist on doing something better and better.”
Continue reading at PJLifestyle…
My Latest At PJLifestyle: 5 Examples Of The Value Of Faith In Disney’s Classic Films
Walt Disney understood the importance of faith as part of the American cultural fabric:
I have watched constantly that in our movie work the highest moral and spiritual standards are upheld, whether it deals with fable or with stories of living action.
We can see these moral and spiritual standards at work in Disney’s classic films. In fact, the concept of faith plays a role in many of the great films of the Disney canon. I’m taking a look at two of the big themes that emerge, and then we’ll delve into three characters who exhibit faith in different ways.
Continue reading at PJLifestyle…
My Latest At PJLifestyle: Walt Disney’s Fascinating Political Journey
Several biographers and writers that I’ve read have tried to declare that Walt Disney was apolitical, but I find this conclusion not to be true. Diane Disney Miller once said that her father was “kind of a strange figure” politically, and Walt admitted his own political naiveté:
A long time ago, I found out that I knew nothing whatsoever about this game of politics and since then I’ve preferred to keep silent about the entire matter…
But plenty of people surrounding Walt Disney knew the truth: that he was conservative to his core.
Continue reading at PJLifestyle…
My Latest at PJLifestyle: 10 Must-Read Books for Disney Nerds
I’ve compiled a list of ten essential books for Disney Nerds. Think of this list as summer reading for the die-hard Disney fan. The books you’ll see in this post run the gamut from theme park guides to historical chronicles to the ultimate biography of the man himself, Walt Disney. Each book will expand your knowledge (and hopefully love) of Disney culture in its own unique way.
Get ready to dig in and feast your eyes on some great Disney reading.
Continue reading at PJLifestyle…
Not My Home
Today is a tragic day. My heart breaks for the families of those who lost their lives in the Boston bombings, as well as those who were injured. In the midst of evil, we’ve seen people rally around the community up there, and it does my heart good in the midst of the evil deeds done today.
Oddly enough, an hour or so before the news broke, I spent part of my lunch hour preparing for this week’s Philippians Bible Study at Eastridge, which I lead. Here’s a piece of my notes from the video:
But our citizenship is in heaven. And we eagerly await a Savior from there, the Lord Jesus Christ, who, by the power that enables him to bring everything under his control, will transform our lowly bodies so that they will be like his glorious body. (Philippians 3:20, 21 NIV)
Why shouldn’t we be living with eternity in mind? How do we do that on a daily basis?
Anytime we don’t feel well or are hurt, or our bodies don’t work right, or we hear about tragedy…these are reminders that this isn’t our home.
Boy did I need to hear that as the news broke today! This world, with all its evil and injustice, is not my home. My citizenship is in heaven. I’m only here for a short time, in light of eternity.
This song has been rattling around in my head much of the afternoon. Despite its campy cowpunk, there’s such great truth in it – plus it’s MARIA MCKEE, which should be enough…
Thank you, God for the promise of eternity with you, especially in the midst of sorrow and evil here on earth!
My Latest at PJLifestyle: The Most Controversial Disney Classic You Probably Forgot
For years now, Disney has taken great care of its classic films. The company pulls beloved videos in and out of the “Disney Vault,” both as a clever marketing strategy and as a way to share the best of the best (along with the occasional Eisner-era cheapquel) with new generations of enthusiasts. The advent of new technology – from DVD to Blu-Ray to whatever a Platinum Edition is – means that the classics will remain in fans’ collections for years to come.
That is, except for one film. Song of the South.
Continue reading at PJLifestyle…
But
This past Sunday at Eastridge, our lead pastor Scott Moore shared a message that set up the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus in a unique and powerful way. Scott took a look at the origin of sin in Genesis and how, because of sin, man’s relationship with God was torn – until Jesus repaired the relationship.
The book of Romans summarizes this narrative of sin and forgiveness:
12When Adam sinned, sin entered the world. Adam’s sin brought death, so death spread to everyone, for everyone sinned. 13Yes, people sinned even before the law was given. But it was not counted as sin because there was not yet any law to break. 14Still, everyone died—from the time of Adam to the time of Moses—even those who did not disobey an explicit commandment of God, as Adam did. Now Adam is a symbol, a representation of Christ, who was yet to come. 15But there is a great difference between Adam’s sin and God’s gracious gift. For the sin of this one man, Adam, brought death to many. But
…and, as Scott said, there’s what just may be the biggest word in the Bible. BUT…
even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of forgiveness to many through this other man, Jesus Christ. 16And the result of God’s gracious gift is very different from the result of that one man’s sin. For Adam’s sin led to condemnation, but God’s free gift leads to our being made right with God, even though we are guilty of many sins. 17For the sin of this one man, Adam, caused death to rule over many. But even greater is God’s wonderful grace and his gift of righteousness, for all who receive it will live in triumph over sin and death through this one man, Jesus Christ.
18Yes, Adam’s one sin brings condemnation for everyone, but Christ’s one act of righteousness brings a right relationship with God and new life for everyone. 19Because one person disobeyed God, many became sinners. But because one other person obeyed God, many will be made righteous.Romans 5:12-19 (NLT)
But. It’s a simple word – three letters, one syllable, yet the truth conveyed after that one single word changed the world. I don’t know if this was verbatim from Scott’s message, but I tweeted this statement on Sunday:
Our destiny is sin, but God, through Christ, reversed that destiny! @Scottmoore123—
Chris Queen (@ChrisQueen) March 24, 2013
As we consider Christ’s horrific death this Good Friday, think about how He brought about the reversal of our destiny. Consider how our future was changed by Jesus’ willing sacrifice. Be grateful. Be filled with praise. Be thankful.
Music Review: Wire Method, “The Trying EP”
If you know me at all, you know I love to share new music. I particularly get excited about the music that friends of mine make. So when my friends in Wire Method released their latest, The Trying EP, I was stoked.
(I’ve known guitarists Cameron Moore and Seth Banks since they were little, and I’ve also known bassist Jared Cox for years. For the record, they didn’t solicit my review, nor was I compensated in any way…)
The Trying EP contains only five songs – my personal favorite is “Brighter Days” – and listening to it is akin to reading a compelling, yet slim, book that you immediately want to pick back up and start reading again. Wire Method’s music is a refreshing blend of dreamy pop and edgy rock – I hate the term “alternative,” by the way, so I refuse to use it – with lyrics that are smart and poetic, yet unpretentious.
The songs are open and organic, and the production is clean. Cameron and Seth’s guitar work is stellar, Jared does a phenomenal job on bass, and the Scott sisters sing and play various instruments to create a sound that is bigger than the sum of its parts. Brooklyn and Morgan Scott’s appealing vocals suggest comparisons to Eisley and Sixpence None The Richer, while still sounding fresh and original.
I can’t help but imagine that Wire Method has an exciting future ahead of them. The Trying EP shows promise of even greater things to come. It’s available through iTunes, Amazon, and Bandcamp. Do yourself a favor and get your hands on this record. Support independent music. You won’t regret it.
Iron Sharpening Iron
On Wednesday, I had lunch with my friend Brandon. I’ve known Brandon since he was in preschool, and even though there’s several years between us, we have a lot in common.
Anytime Brandon and I get together, we wind up talking about many of the same topics. We share our passion and excitement over the growth of the church and our desire to see people grow in Christ. We discuss politics – he and I are pretty much on the same side politically, but the ways we express our political beliefs show the generational differences between us. And we talk about sports, particularly the most important sport in the world: Georgia Bulldogs football.
Whenever I spend time with Brandon – whether it’s an hour at lunch or a day at a Dawgs game in Athens – I walk away feeling refreshed and challenged both intellectually and spiritually (and I hope Brandon feels the same way). I’m grateful for our friendship and what it means, not to mention the good that results from it.
The Bible puts it best:
As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another.
Brandon is just one example of this principle at work in my life. I’m surrounded by men and women who challenge me, encourage me, lift me up, and help me develop in my faith. I don’t lack for people who laugh with me, pray for me, and hold me accountable, and I am grateful for each and every one of them.
Do you have one or more people in your life with whom you can be iron sharpening iron? If so, let them know that you’re thankful for them. If not, I challenge you to find somebody. The results are worth the effort.
Landing Planes
I’ve picked up a new expression. Nowadays, if you ask me how I’m doing or what I’m doing, I’m likely to reply with, “I’m just landing planes.”
Last night, I started – and nearly finished – reading Blaine Hogan’s book Untitled: Thoughts On The Creative Process (also available for Kindle for a mere five bucks). It’s a brilliant, inspirational book, and I’m sure once I finish it and a couple of others on creativity, I’ll publish a review/recommendation.
At one point in the book, Hogan talks about the concept of “landing planes.” The idea makes sense: creative work is similar to that of an air traffic controller who handles different types of aircraft coming in at different speeds from different directions at different times. Read the rest of this entry
