Brothers In Blog

It’s not officially summer yet, but I’ve already taken the family to 3 of the more popular films that have been recently released in the theatres:

• Iron Man
• Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull
• Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Now, when I think of a blockbuster movie I immediately jump back to my teen years and the release of Star Wars. That would be Episode IV…the VERY first release to date myself. This of course was before 16+ screen theatres where new movies are shown on 3 or 4 screens at one location to accommodate the demand. Star Wars Episode IV was playing at a large single-screen theatre in Honolulu on South King Street near the police station. Anyone remember the name of that theatre? Anyway, I remember the lines going down AND around the block for tickets. It was insane.

Another blockbuster I remember was Jaws playing at the Waikiki 3 Theatre on Kalakaua Avenue right across the street from the beach. I’m sure the area hotels appreciated that choice of venues. After seeing that movie, I was looking in the water below my surfboard a lot more than ever before.

This past Memorial weekend, I didn’t see any lines for the Indiana Jones and Chronicles of Narnia sequels and there were plenty of seats inside. With all the flap about high gas prices keeping Americans at home, I thought for sure the theatre would be crowded. I guess the public couldn’t even afford to travel down the street to the local cinema and opted to pop in a Netflix DVD instead.

So, will there be a summer blockbuster this year? I know my daughter will be dragging me to “Kung Fu Panda” in June, so perhaps that will be the choice among the younger moviegoers, but I think the nod will go to Pixar’s “Wall-E“. As for me, I’m hoping that M. Night Shyamalan can make a comeback with “The Happening” after his disappointing “Lady in the Water.” My other choice for a “must see” is “The Dark Knight“, which is the first sequel to “Batman Begins” one of my personal favorites.

Let us know about your blockbuster movie memories and what you think this summer’s hot movie will be. To see a list of this summer’s films, check out FirstShowing.Net.

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If you currently have a specialty credit card issued by Chase Card Services (e.g. Amazon Visa, Buy.com Visa, etc), you might have recently received a $15 Circuit City gift card as an incentive to try Chase ID Protection. If you did get one of these offers in the mail, make sure to read the not so fine print — use the gift card and you are purchasing a membership in the Chase ID Protection program.

Chase ID Protection, what is it?

The Chase ID Protection program offers a list of services aimed at protecting your credit information. The plan sounds interesting and might be worthwhile to some consumers; however, the plan costs $11.99 per month. The price isn’t too bad but several of the reports Chase touts as “features” are nothing more than repackaged reports already available free of charge as Chase points out on the back side of the second page:

Many government records are available free or at a nominal cost from government agencies. Credit reporting agencies are required by law to give you a copy of your credit report upon request, at no charge or for a nominal fee.

Of course the key word in the entire statement is “nominal fee.” I guess that part is left up to the credit reporting agencies to decide.

Use the gift card and get away with it?

The offer, in my opinion is presented in such a way that some individuals might just use the gift card without completely understanding what they’re agreeing to. Understandably you could “game the system” and use the gift card and then cancel the Chase ID Protection and get a full refund of your $11.99 (I haven’t come across anything in the fine print that says you are obligated to keep the plan for any period of time). Remember, however, there is no such thing as a free lunch, and I suspect Chase has figured out a way to keep you enrolled long enough to recoup their $15 gift card expense.

Whatever you decide to do, make sure you “read the fine print” and always keep in mind the old saying: if it sounds to good to be true, it probably is.

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If my wife and I had started our family like most couples, we’d be celebrating our child’s high school graduation this year. However, God has quite a sense of humor and this year’s graduation for my princess is from Kindergarten. However, I have several friends with teens graduating this Spring and I will be faced with the dilemma of selecting a graduation gift.

First, if you receive a graduation announcement for a friend or a friend’s offspring are you obligated to give a gift? Per the Emily Post Institute on Graduation Etiquette the answer is “no”. However, if you feel your home is in danger of being TP’d for following this advice then I’d recommend you read on.

As with a wedding, graduating from high school or college is a major milestone in one’s life. Graduation marks the achievement of a goal and the beginning of another chapter in life. Now, take into consideration the relationship you have with the graduate. Is this someone you are close to or a co-worker’s child that you’ve seen pass through the office 5 times in their lifetime? If the latter, find out what they’re into, get a gift card from an applicable store and consider the matter closed. If this is someone who you are close to then let’s spend a little more time and come up with something that doesn’t scream “Checkout Lane”.

When I Google’d this subject, there were no definitive answers for the proper gift. What I did find was that those that responded on other blogs about this subject were female. Once again, as with weddings this monumental occasion is met by the male species with a ”Let’s get on with it” mentality while those of the opposite gender want to take a moment to savor the occasion and gather up momentos to remind them of this important date. I know, these insights aren’t offering you much help so here’s my suggestion.

Buy yourself some time and pick out a card. You said you knew the graduate well so you should be able to at least pick out an appropriately worded card. Word of advice…if it’s been awhile since you purchased a greeting card the price is embedded on the back for all to see so skip the card rack at the Dollar Tree store. I know, it’s highway robbery what they get for words printed on heavy stock paper but unless your words of wisdom are more eloquent than those inside a Chinese fortune cookie stop perusing the discount card rack and take out your wallet. One more thing on picking out the right card, make sure the theme is in keeping with the receipient. Don’t get the card with puppies playing in a field of grass for your fishing buddy. Trust me on this one.

Next, take a moment to write something in the card that will make the reader pause and reflect on your words. Talk about a time that you spent together and shared your dreams, or tell them about the positive changes you’ve seen in them over the years. Your words don’t have to be poetry, but they should be sincere. Keep in mind that for the female graduate, this card is going to be carefully archived in some scrapbook or card box so it is probably going to count more than any gift it’s affixed to.

Now, to give you an example of a meaningful gift, I will share my personal experience. I returned to college in my 30’s and was going to evening classes while holding down a new position in healthcare management. I was footing the bill for this round of education instead of my parents so I was going to make sure I got my money’s worth. I graduated with High Honors (4.0 GPA) and both I and my family were very proud of my accomplishment. For my college graduation, my mom presented me with a scrapbook of report cards, homework and pictures dating back to my elementary school years. It was quite an undertaking and brought back some great memories that I was able to share at that moment with those around me.

So, what do you give to the graduate? It’s that special gift that lets them know you remember where they came from and the challenges they’ve faced to get to where they are now. It can be store bought, handmade or simply a thought expressed in writing. If it comes from your heart then it truly is priceless.

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I’ve just had about enough of the New England Patriots and spygate. And, I suspect, that even the most hardened Patriots hater would probably agree — enough is enough.

Does Walsh ever want to work again?

I think anyone could have guessed that when Matt Walsh wasn’t “available” to meet with NFL commissioner Goodell until May 13th, that the former Patriot’s video assistant wouldn’t have anything new — No smoking gun, and no video footage of a Ram’s Superbowl XXXVI walk through. In short, Matt Walsh told the NFL nothing they didn’t already know. Walsh did, however, have a few more accusations against the Patriots, but those incidents had nothing to do with the video taping scandal. So what gives with this guy? Is he working on a book deal? Pitching a movie script to Hollywood? Does he want to get on Oprah for his 15 minutes of fame? Or does he simply never want to work anywhere ever again?

Give that man a bigger shovel

At the rate Walsh is going, no one in their right mind would ever hire this guy. With each new accusation he digs himself a deeper ditch, and regardless if he’s right or wrong he’ll ultimately earn himself the dubious title of “whistle blower” or “story teller.” Both labels are terrible if you want to stay gainfully employed. Therefore one can only conclude that if Walsh isn’t working on some side deal worth millions, he certainly isn’t playing with a full deck.

Specter holding on like a pit bull

And what of Senator Arlen Specter? He could have been satisfied with the NFL’s findings (which was “nothing new found”), or he could continued grandstanding and call for further investigation. He’s a politician so I think we all know which option Specter went with. Thankfully Senator Kennedy chimed in with the voice of reason and put it all in perspective:

“With the war in Iraq raging on, gasoline prices closing on $4 a gallon, and Americans losing their homes at record rates to foreclosure, the United States Senate should be focusing on the real problems that Americans are struggling with.”

Let’s face it. Like the Patriots or not, no one wants next season filled with constant references to spygate over and over again. The Patriots organization was fined, Belichick was fined, and anti-Patriot football fans were given exactly what they wanted all along - a Patriots lose in the Superbowl.

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I recently watched the 2007 film “Into the Wild” based on the short life of Christopher McCandless who ventured into the Alaskan wilderness on his own only to die of starvation 4 months later. Though I’m not a real Sean Penn fan, I’ll have to admit that he did a good job of directing the film, which is based on the book of the same title by Jon Krakauer. Unfortunately, Mr. Penn felt it was more important  (and probably more profitable) to romanticize the vagabond lifestyle of McCandless instead of pointing out that therapy and a good dose of common sense could have saved his life.

A 1990 graduate of Emory University, McCandless believed that society was too materialistic and he wanted no part of it. Instead, after graduation he set out for the open road in search of solitude and contentment. His nearly 2-year journey took him across the continent and eventually to the Stampede Trail outside of Fairbanks, Alaska where he walked into what would become the last chapter of his life. Armed with little in the way of adequate supplies for survival in the Alaskan wilderness, McCandless managed to document his solitary experience until the end.

Although the official cause of death is listed as “starvation”, both the book and the film try to make the case that McCandless’ death was due to accidental poisoning from the ingestion of toxic plant seeds. Toxicology reports found no evidence to support this theory and the starvation ruling stands. Regardless of how McCandless died, the fact remains that he could have made it out alive had he possessed a simple compass and a decent map of the region.

A few months into his backwoods experience, McCandless made an attempt to return to the road where he started from. However, when he reached the Teklanika River it was much more formidable than we had originally crossed it and he found himself trapped. Defeated, McCandless returned to the abandoned bus he had been living in, which later became his tomb. Little did McCandless know that just a quarter-mile downstream was a hand tram that he could have used to get across. This fact and others were left out by the movie in what critics believe is Hollywood’s attempt to avoid tarnishing McCandless’ puritan image and upsetting his cult following.

Despite the film’s omissions of what I feel are important facts, I recommend it. There is some language and brief nudity, so this is one for viewing after the kids have gone to bed. After you’ve watched the film, and before you start lighting a candle for McCandless, visit Into the Wild Debunked for those omitted facts. The combination of both film and fact is best summed up by Anchorage Daily News columnist Craig Medred who said, “McCandless didn’t need the wilderness, he needed help.”

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Okay, it’s no secret that I’m going to be 47 this year and I work in the Information Systems sector that is finding itself outsourced overseas at a rapid pace. Fortunately, I work for a family owned company that is more concerned with the investment it has made in its employees than making an extra buck by having someone in India with a fictitious American name answer support calls. However, despite this seemingly secure employment condition I have been re-examining what personal rewards this job brings me.

I have no qualms about my pay or benefits, both of which I consider generous. However, I’ve come to a place in my life where I look back and ask “have I made a real difference in the lives of those around me?” My faith commands that we are to spread the Good News of Jesus to the world. I can do that at work and with my neighbors, but lately I’ve been feeling that I need to be part of something on an even bigger scale in unfamiliar territory. A year ago I would have scoffed at the idea of becoming a missionary, but now it doesn’t sound so absurd.

When I would hear the word “missionary”, the image was one of someone going overseas to a remote part of the world where Jesus was unknown. However, did you realize that some of the most spiritually dark countries are some of the most technologically and culturally advanced democracies? Even right here in the United States, a country founded on Christianity, there are places where the Gospel is never spoken.

Have I been called to be a missionary late in life? I don’t know if I would go that far just yet, but I’d say I’m game for a week-long missions trip. In fact, the Assemblies of God is holding their 3rd World Missions Summit in Cincinnati, OH the week of December 29th. The exact dates are December 30, 2008 through January 1, 2009 and the cost is only $99 per person with early registration. Missionaries from all around the globe will be in attendance displaying exhibits and manning informational booths to answer questions and recruit new workers for both short term and long term assignments. While the event is aimed at college students, individuals from all age groups are welcome to attend. In addition to the job fair, there will be guest speakers to report on what’s happening on the missions field. For more information, go to the World Missions Summit website.

Whether you’re a college student unsure about your career path, or a mid-lifer like myself, the missions field is still in need of workers, and there’s no greater reward in life than leading someone to Christ.

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A few months ago, I came across the band Superchic[k]. Expecting to hear just another cookie cutter Christian band attempting to sound unique, I was surprised to find a group with a different sound altogether.

Most rock bands that get labeled as “Christian” bands seem to spend their entire startup investment on the artwork for their first CD. They put together some tough group pose in an alley or other harsh environment to give themselves that “we’re bad” image. Then, when you pop in the CD, the only thing bad is the music. However, Superchic[k] brings the whole package to the table along with a positive message that both believers and non-believers can appreciate.

Their most recent CD “Beauty from Pain” promotes the message of inner strength. With songs like “One Girl Revolution”, which was featured in the movie Legally Blonde and “Anthem” selected as the theme song for MTV’s Real World/Real Rules Challenge: The Gauntlet 2 the lyrics deliver a message of being your own person and not following the crowd.

Superchic[k]’s style is all over the map with hard hitting rock to soft ballads. I recently told a close friend that Superchic[k] was a mix of Evanescence, No Doubt, and Avril Lavigne. There is definitely something for everyone, but don’t get hung up on their being tagged a Christian rock band. While some may criticize that not a single song on this CD has the word “Jesus” in it, the lyrics still speak to the soul. To those critics, I say that passing out music CD’s to your non-believer friends isn’t going to get them saved. Nothing will ever replace one-on-one personal evangelism.

You can view Superchic[k]’s music video for “We Live” at GodTube.com. It was the theme song for the ABC series Brothers and Sisters.

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