Loreena McKennitt - In The Bleak Midwinter

In the bleak midwinter, frosty wind made moan,
Earth stood hard as iron, water like a stone;
Snow had fallen, snow on snow, snow on snow,
In the bleak midwinter, long ago.

Our God, heaven cannot hold Him, nor earth sustain;
Heaven and earth shall flee away when He comes to reign.
In the bleak midwinter a stable place sufficed
The Lord God Almighty, Jesus Christ.

What can I give Him, poor as I am?
If I were a shepherd, I would bring a lamb;
If I were a Wise Man, I would do my part;
Yet what I can I give Him: give my heart.

U2 - Christmas (Baby Please Come Home)

One day to Christmas - a hidden treasure!

Love Actually - All I Want For Christmas Is You

Day 2

The Great Escape (1963) Original Trailer

Day 3 - Because it wouldn't be Christmas in the UK without it...don't ask me why...

Ballet The Nutcracker; Snowflakes

Day 4

Handel - Messiah - For unto us a child is born

Day 5

Die Hard -Christmas is All Around

Day 6 - Because nothing says Christmas like Die Hard...

Linus Christmas Monologue

Day 7

X-files music video

Day 8 - I had a hard time deciding on this one. But it is a classic Christmas episode, even though this vid leaves off the best part - the ending.

Scully: Mulder... None of that really happened out there tonight... That was all in our heads, right?
Mulder: It must have been.
Scully: Mmm. Not that, uh, my only joy in life is proving you wrong.
Mulder: When have you proved me wrong?

Home Alone (Great Christmas Movies)

Ok, I can't count - this should be Day 9...anyway...I know it spawned some dumb films, but the original is still a classic

A Muppet Christmas Carol Part 1

Best film version of this story ever!

White Christmas (We'll follow the old man)

In case you hadn't guessed this is my youtube 12 days of Christmas classics count down, and we're on Day 10.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel - Enya

O come, O come, Emmanuel
And ransom captive Israel
That mourns in lonely exile here
Until the Son of God appear
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Rod of Jesse, free
Thine own from Satan's tyranny
From depths of Hell Thy people save
And give them victory o'er the grave
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Day-Spring, come and cheer
Our spirits by Thine advent here
Disperse the gloomy clouds of night
And death's dark shadows put to flight.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, Thou Key of David, come,
And open wide our heavenly home;
Make safe the way that leads on high,
And close the path to misery.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

O come, O come, Thou Lord of might,
Who to Thy tribes, on Sinai's height,
In ancient times did'st give the Law,
In cloud, and majesty and awe.
Rejoice! Rejoice! Emmanuel
Shall come to thee, O Israel.

Irn Bru Snowman Advert

A Must-Read

http://www.challies.com/archives/articles/ive-never-been-mistaken-for-brad-pitt.php

Films, Films, And More Films

Yes, I'm long overdue on a blog entry especially one on Mr. Holmes, but bear with me awhile longer, and in the meantime I'll do some film reviews.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button
This film was hyped quite a bit when it first came out, and cinematically it's very visually stunning. Like Atonement every shot is beautiful, but also like Atonement it's hopeless and morally bankrupt. An interesting premise - it's supposed to be a celebration of a man who, against all odds, lives a full and complete life. But sadly Hollywood's definition of full and complete life entails losing your virginity to a prostitute and having an affair with a married woman (both of which seem to have little or no negative impact on Brad Pitt's character). There's a strong chord of "eat, drink, and be merry for tomorrow we die" running through this film. Perhaps the one redeeming quality is the way Cate Blanchett's character (after making a myriad of annoying and sinful choices) somewhat self-sacrificingly cares for her former lover when he can no longer care for himself. But for most of the film it's as if the two main characters are standing there while reality goes on all around them - as if they observe it only, never participating, except in their relationship with each other. It just seemed selfish to me, so if you haven't already guessed, I didn't like the film.

He's Just Not That Into You
I loved this film. Hilarious and cringe worthy as women make a lot of very familiar mistakes. It is the kind of film I wish I had seen when I was in highschool as I could've learned an awful lot. What I like as well is the fact that the people who end up loving relatively unselfishly get their happy ending, and those who are out to live only for themselves, throwing what is right and good out the window to get what they want end up miserable and alone. Besides you have to love a film that drums into you the truth that you are the rule and not the exception, but ends by showing everyone can be someone's exception. Alex's advice to women is genius.

Finally, Gigi's hope in the essential existence of fairy tale is superb, as shown in this quote: Girls are taught a lot of stuff growing up: if a boy punches you he likes you, never try to trim your own bangs, and someday you will meet a wonderful guy and get your very own happy ending. every movie we see, every story we're told implores us to wait for it: the third act twist, the unexpected declaration of love, the exception to the rule. but sometimes we're so focused on finding our happy ending we don't learn how to read the signs. how to tell the ones who want us from the ones who don't, the ones who will stay and the ones who will leave. and maybe a happy ending doesn't include a guy, maybe it's you, on your own, picking up the pieces and starting over, freeing yourself up for something better in the future. maybe the happy ending is just moving on. or maybe the happy ending is this: knowing after all the unreturned phone calls and broken-hearts, through the blunders and misread signals, through all the pain and embarrassment... you never gave up hope.

And if you hate chick flicks - this clip is hilarious



Marley & Me
Ok, not a lot profound to say about this film. It's cute, it's predictable, and it's interesting to see Owen Wilson play a serious role. Good fluff.

The Young Victoria
This film almost warrants a separate blog entry. You should see it if you possibly can. It's excellent in every way. But the hero of this film is not Victoria, though she is charmingly portrayed, but Albert. His unselfish love for the woman who was to become his wife, his wise humility, but most of all his courage to stand up for what he believed to be right and true no matter what anyone thinks, makes this a film worth seeing. To like Queen Victoria and appreciate Victorian England is very politically incorrect and has been for a long time, so it's lovely to see a film that portrays her so well. But at its heart this film is about a partnership, the partnership between Victoria and Albert, built on their love and honesty with each other, that enabled them to rule so well.



Seven Pounds
This film is horribly depressing. Yes, Will Smith acts well in it, but it just shows the despair of a non-Christian worldview. Without Christ, if true, crippling guilt overwhelms us, if we catch even a glimpse of how sinful we are, the result is often a panic striken urge to do penance and somehow find peace in good works. When that fails, and peace is not found, death is often seen as the only reprieve.

The Yes Man
This film is funny and mostly fluff. The one thing that impressed itself on me was how the weird friend essentially witnessed to Jim Carrey of his new conversion to what was essentially a religion, invited him to come along, the guru stirred up the crowds, and caught up in the moment, Jim Carrey's character "converted". He then goes through a process of "sanctification" in this new religion where he is tested to see if he'll stick with it, but in the end he attains "perfection" and can set himself above the rules of his new religion. It's sad to think that many see Christianity in exactly the same way. Full of weirdos and emotion driven rallies - that if you convert, it will only be a passing thing and eventually you'll know better and can pick and choose what you want to believe.

Last Chance Harvey
This is another great film and one I would wholeheartedly recommend. It's just a sweet, simple love story along classic lines. Plus, there's a small side story involving Polish neighbours, a smokehouse, and suspected murder.



The 39 Steps
This is the new BBC version and the Scottish scenery and settings are magnificent. The book is a cracker. If you've never read it, you don't know what you're missing - classic mystery by John Buchan. Both the old 1935 Hitchcock version and this one have major departures from the plot, but both are still quite good in very different ways, and both are filmed extensively in Scotland. Apparently there's a third one that came out in 2003 by the BBC - I haven't seen that one. The first Hitchcock film has a classic speech scene (you can see the whole film on youtube).





Well, that's all for now. Further blog posts on Geneva and U2 will be forthcoming...hopefully.

Give Me Liberty - Patrick Henry

Samwise the Brave - The Tales that really mattered

Don't Let Me Come Home a Stranger / Avalanche Choir 08

Airdrie Mission

Mission Week - 20th-24th April
Airdrie RP Church is having a week of special services the 20th-24th April from 7-8pm. The theme of the week will be: 'Jesus Christ, who is He and why does it matter?' To download your a copy of the Mission booklet, click on the title of this post. Please be in prayer for the preaching of the Word of God during this week.

Scottish Reformed Conference

Click on the title and think about going...

Patrick

Patrick's Breastplate

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity

Through belief in the threeness

Through confession of the Oneness

Towards the creator.

I arise today

Through the strength of heaven:

Light of sun

Brilliance of moon

Splendor of fire

Speed of lightning

Swiftness of wind

Depth of sea

Stability of earth

Firmness of rock.

I arise today

Through God’s strength to pilot me:

God’s might to uphold me,

God’s wisdom to guide me

God’s eye to look before me,

God’s ear to hear me,

God’s word to speak for me,

God’s hand to guard me,

God’s way to lie before me,

God’s host to secure me

Against snares of devils

Against temptations of vices

Against inclinations of nature

Against everyone who shall wish me ill,

Afar and anear,

Alone and in a crowd.

Christ with me,

Christ before me,

Christ behind me,

Christ in me,

Christ beneath me,

Christ above me,

Christ on my right,

Christ on my left

Christ where I lie,

Christ where I sit,

Christ where I arise

Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,

Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,

Christ in every eye that sees me,

Christ in every ear that hears me.

I arise today

Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,

Through belief in the Thrones,

Through confession of the Oneness

Towards the Creator.

Letter to the Soldiers of Coroticus (c.450?)

I am Patrick, yes a sinner and indeed untaught; yet I am established here in Ireland where I profess myself bishop. I am certain in my heart that "all that I am," I have received from God. So I live among barbarous tribes, a stranger and exile for the love of God. . . . If I have any worth, it is to live my life for God so as to teach these peoples; even though some of them still look down on me.

. . . . I do not overreach myself, for I too have my part to play with "those whom he has called to himself and predestined" to teach the gospel in the midst of considerable persecutions "as far as the ends of the earth. . . ."

. . . .In short, I am a slave in Christ to this faraway people for the indescribable glory of "everlasting life which is in Jesus Christ our Lord."

Confession (c.452?)

I, Patrick, a sinner, a most simple countryman, the least of all the faithful and most contemptible to many, had for father the deacon Calpurnius, son of the late Potitus, a priest, of the settlement [vicus] of Bannavem Taburniae; he had a small villa nearby where I was taken captive. I was at that time about sixteen years of age. I did not, indeed, know the true God; and I was taken into captivity in Ireland with many thousands of people, according to our deserts, for quite drawn away from God, we did not keep his precepts, nor were we obedient to our priests who used to remind us of our salvation. And the Lord brought down on us the fury of his being and scattered us among many nations, even to the ends of the earth, where I, in my smallness, am now to be found among foreigners.

And there the Lord opened my mind to an awareness of my unbelief, in order that, even so late, I might remember my transgressions and turn with all my heart to the Lord my God, who had regard for my insignificance and pitied my youth and ignorance. And he watched over me before I knew him, and before I learned sense or even distinguished between good and evil, and he protected me, and consoled me as a father would his son.

Therefore, indeed, I cannot keep silent, nor would it be proper, so many favours and graces has the Lord deigned to bestow on me in the land of my captivity. For after chastisement from God, and recognizing him, our way to repay him is to exalt him and confess his wonders before every nation under heaven.

For there is no other God, nor ever was before, nor shall be hereafter, but God the Father, unbegotten and without beginning, in whom all things began, whose are all things, as we have been taught; and his son Jesus Christ, who manifestly always existed with the Father, before the beginning of time in the spirit with the Father, indescribably begotten before all things, and all things visible and invisible were made by him. He was made man, conquered death and was received into Heaven, to the Father who gave him all power over every name in Heaven and on Earth and in Hell, so that every tongue should confess that Jesus Christ is Lord and God, in whom we believe. And we look to his imminent coming again, the judge of the living and the dead, who will render to each according to his deeds. And he poured out his Holy Spirit on us in abundance, the gift and pledge of immortality, which makes the believers and the obedient into sons of God and co-heirs of Christ who is revealed, and we worship one God in the Trinity of holy name. . . .

. . . . Behold now I commend my soul to God who is most faithful and for whom I perform my mission in obscurity, but he is no respecter of persons and he chose me for this service that I might be one of the least of his ministers.

For which reason I should make return for all that he returns me. But what should I say, or what should I promise to my Lord, for I, alone, can do nothing unless he himself vouchsafe it to me. . . .

. . . .I pray God that he gives me perseverance, and that he will deign that I should be a faithful witness for his sake right up to the time of my passing. . . .

. . . . For beyond any doubt on that day we shall rise again in the brightness of the sun, that is, in the glory of Christ Jesus our Redeemer, as children of the living God and co-heirs of Christ, made in his image; for we shall reign through him and for him and in him. . . .

. . . . But I entreat those who believe in and fear God, whoever deigns to examine or receive this document composed by the obviously unlearned sinner Patrick in Ireland, that nobody shall ever ascribe to my ignorance any trivial thing that I achieved or may have expounded that was pleasing to God, but accept and truly believe that it would have been the gift of God. And this is my confession before I die.

To Have And Have Not

For all hopeless romantics...

A Journey Home

"We are not citizens of this world trying to make our way to heaven; we are citizens of heaven trying to make our way through this world. That radical Christian insight can be life-changing. We are not to live so as to earn God's love, inherit heaven, and purchase our salvation. All those are given to us as gifts; gifts bought by Jesus on the cross and handed over to us. We are to live as God's redeemed, as heirs of heaven, and as citizens of another land: the Kingdom of God....

We live as those who are on a journey home; a home we know will have the lights on and the door open and our Father waiting for us when we arrive. That means in all adversity our worship of God is joyful, our life is hopeful, our future is secure. There is nothing we can lose on earth that can rob us of the treasures God has given us and will give us."

John Oxenham

North and South

I've just finished watching the 4 hour BBC film North and South. It is amazing! No, set your fears at rest, it is not another period drama/documentary about the War Between the States/Civil War. The North and South referred to are the industrial North and the rural South of England in the 1850's when, even in Britain, cotton was king. It's based on a book of the same title by Elizabeth Gaskell which I haven't read yet. Here are some reasons why I think you should watch it, if you haven't already:

1. The cinematography is amazing. This isn't a "pretty" film, it's a visually stunning film. The constant flurry of cotton in the mill with John Thornton in his stark black suit standing out in contrast...it's incredible. For some reason the complete bleakness and drabness of the surroundings make the characters stand out all the more. Plus, there are several dramatic shots of Edinburgh masquerading as Milton - the "auld reekie" plays her role well.

2. It's fascinating historically. It deals with a period of time in English history that is seldom focussed upon. It paints an interesting picture of the advantages and negatives of the industrial revolution. It shows both sides (pretty rare in today's world) - the abject poverty and the desparate need for work and food that could drive men to form unions and become violent, the greed of some businessmen, the honesty and honour of others, the need for " masters" to provide work so their employees wouldn't starve to death.

3. Philosophically it's very good. All the characters are clearly flawed - and all by pride. A mother's pride in her son that makes her unable to show kindness to another; a girl's pride in her own morality that makes her quick to judge others; a man's pride in being able to take care of everything and run everything and fix everything that makes him unable to listen to others; a worker's pride in who he is that makes him unable to see the other side of things. In every instance this pride is seen by everyone except the one who has it, until love in some shape or form not only shows it to them but changes them. Each character faces a blow exactly in what they took pride in. The mother almost loses her son's love through her stubbornness; the girl is judged quickly and harshly by others; the man sees his empire crumble before him; and the worker is forced to go, cap in hand, to speak to his enemy. And yet for each of them, that is the turning point. That is the point which changes them, which saves them from themselves. And the tool used to turn them at that moment is the truth spoken in love by others. To me the film is clear: we are sinful, our lives are messy and full of good and bad characteristics, but truth and love can change us. Yes, ultimately our lives are changed by the Holy Spirit, but He uses the truth spoken in love to do it.

4. The love story is amazing. Ultimately it's honest, unselfish love that drives the two main characters to see the best in each other despite experiencing the worst of each other and to carry on loving each other while all the time thinking the other hates them. And, extremely rare in films, the last scene is the best scene of all - it could stand alone, but it means even more when you see it in the context of the 3 hrs and 40 minutes that go before it and understand the changes that take place in the characters to bring them to that point.

Happy New Year!

"My life goes on in endless song
Above earths lamentations,
I hear the real, though far-off hymn
That hails a new creation.

Through all the tumult and the strife
I hear its music ringing,
It sounds an echo in my soul.
How can I keep from singing?

While though the tempest loudly roars,
I hear the truth, it liveth.
And though the darkness round me close,
Songs in the night it giveth.

No storm can shake my inmost calm,
While to that rock I'm clinging.
Since love is Lord of heaven and earth
How can I keep from singing?

When tyrants tremble in their fear
And hear their death knell ringing,
When friends rejoice both far and near
How can I keep from singing?

In prison cell and dungeon vile
Our thoughts to them are winging,
When friends by shame are undefiled
How can I keep from singing?"
Enya

38 For I am persuaded that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities nor powers, nor things present nor things to come, 39 nor height nor depth, nor any other created thing, shall be able to separate us from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8:38-39