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6 Reasons Signs Is a Better “Christian” Movie Than Christian Movies

Here’s a blog from my daughter Lucy on one of her and my favorite movies, Signs. A great discussion starter. Enjoy. Let me go ahead and offend 95% of evangelical Christians: I do not like Christian movies. I’ll let the evangelicals freak out for a moment…they’re saying I haven’t seen Fireproof. I have. They’re saying […]

signs
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A Non-Nerd Primer to Fantasy & Science Fiction

With the new Star Wars movie hitting big, people unfamiliar with fantasy and science fiction may feel out of their depth.  For you normal folks, I offer a short introduction – a non-nerd primer so to speak – of accessible examples from fantasy and science fiction in four different media. Movie:  Star Wars Recently my […]

primer
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The Martian: A Review of a Science Fiction Novel

The Martian:  A Review of a Science Fiction Novel Samuel recommended a science fiction novel to me:  The Martian by Andy Weir.  Mr. Weir is a first-novel hero in my view.  He published his chapters in 2011 through his blog.  Subsequently a publisher put the book into print in 2014. I’ve used the acrostic ‘MARS’ […]

martian
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Wedding Memories with Dona

Early June in Oklahoma.  Hot.  The evening light slants through the stain glass windows and heats up the church.  Guests arrive.  The mothers are seated.  The wedding memories start. Actually, wedding memories started the night before.  There had been the rehearsal and its dinner.  Wade, being best man, crashed out for the weekend with me […]

wedding memories
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Guys Trying to Survive on a Budget… Or… 5 Ways to Save on Your Grocery Bill

My daughter Lucy wrote this for us guys trying to survive.  She and her husband Matt minister to students in Southern California.  Being in student ministry means you’re on a budget and no joke.  Let’s read what Lucy has to tell us from her experience.  Take it away, Lucy. First let me say I’m not a […]

budget
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Artistic Problems of Ending a TV Series Too Early: 3 Examples

A TV series has a potential advantage over a movie in that a series affords the chance to follow a story over an extended time.  Events are able to unfold into broad plots and themes.  Characters can be developed in depth. This is a potential but not an inevitable advantage. Problems happen when a series […]

tv series
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The Wedding Planner: A Lesson Learned with Dona

Seven months is a good amount to be engaged. Not too long for the groom and just long enough to get a wedding planned.  Dona and I began with Doris, the church’s wedding planner.  Doris had the scoop on protocol. She procured the wedding décor from the church.  She knew where to go for flowers […]

wedding planner
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Macaroni and Cheese … Or… Guys Trying to Survive Stir up a Béchamel

Okay, guys surviving.  Of course you know how to make mac&cheese. The instructions are the back of the box.  I’m going to take you through the paces of real macaroni and cheese that isn’t made with orange sawdust. Along the way we’ll learn how to do four cooking basics of 1) boiling water, 2) making […]

macaroni and cheese
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The Fantastic Appearance of the Human Body

Fantasy and science fiction fans are accustomed to extraordinary beings.  We expect such things.  Star Trek introduced an alien race of blue bipeds.  Farscape one upped them with a sentient species of blue plants.  How’s that for fantastic?  Creatures with tentacles, tails, and antennae have parade by.  The general human body is boring. Or not?  […]

human body
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Science Fantasy? What Hybrid Is That?

I’ve been blogging about science fantasy for a time now but have never sat down with you and defined what science fantasy is.  Hold onto your hat, here we go: Science fantasy is a work of fiction that has elements of science fiction mixed with fantasy. O, now that helpful, wasn’t it? I think not.  […]

science fantasy
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