2006 Movies Revisited

Back in December, I attempted to rank our favorite movies of last year. The only problem was that we hadn't even seen ten of the year's films. So after playing catch up via DVD, here's my revised TOP 10 of 2006.


1. United 93
2. Sophie Scholl
3. Flags of Our Fathers
4. Thank You for Smoking
5. Hoodwinked
6. Cars
7. Little Miss Sunshine
8. The Queen
9. End of the Spear
10. Wordplay


Honorable Mention: Over the Hedge, Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest, World Trade Center, Casino Royale, Curious George


So far in 2007, we've only seen Spiderman 3. I liked it, but not as much as the previous two. We are looking forward to Ratatouille, Becoming Jane, Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix, and Pirates 3.

Financially Lost?

My pastor has been teaching on financial stewardship (how does being a Christian affect personal finance?). Its a combination of teachings from scripture, Dave Ramsey, Randy Alcorn, and others. You can find more at the church website.

I'm very grateful for the teachings on finance I received from my father. We strive to live on less than we make, which requires living on a budget. Budgeting is hard. It has required sacrifices and tremendous self-discipline. On the other hand, we've never wondered if we were going to make it to the end of the month. God has given us a little bit, and our job is to leverage it for the Kingdom.

Meanwhile, my friend aka Pastor Guy sent out these quotes on Christianity and wealth that I really enjoyed.

Safari clothes that will never be near a jungle.
Aerobic footwear that will never set foot in a aerobics class.
Deep-sea dive watch that will never get damp.
Keys to a four-wheel-drive vehicle that will never experience a hill.
Architectural magazines we don't read filled with pictures of furniture we don't like.
Financial strategy software keyed to a checkbook that's lost somewhere under a computer no one knows how to work.
Art poster from an exhibit we never went to of an artist we've never heard of.

Abstract materialism has arrived.

We've moved past the things we want & need and are buying things that have nothing to do with our lives.

-Cathy Lee Guisswhite from her comic strip, "Cathy"

A strange species we are. We can stand anything God & nature can throw at us save only plenty. If I wanted to destroy a nation, I would give it too much, and I would have it on its knees, miserable, greedy, sick.

-John Steinbeck

Money never stays with me. It would burn me if it did. I throw it out of my hands as soon as possible, lest it should find its way into my heart.

-John Wesley
(Wesley's philosophy was earn all you can, save all you can, and give all you can)

Apparently, all three of these quotes are found in the book, Money, Possessions & Eternity, by Randy Alcorn. I haven't read any of Alcorn's books yet, but he is on my long list of author's to check out.

LOTR alternate ending

I'm a big fan of both the LOTR books and films, and I have never complained about their length. That said, this video is hilarious.

daring to change the world

I just returned from hearing Dr. Muhammad Yunus speak at Vanderbilt's senior day lecture. Dr. Yunus earned his Ph.D. at Vandy about the same time I was born and he was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2006.

I find his ideas of microfinance and social business to be fascinating. He has put into realworld econoomic practice the old adage, "give a man a fish and he eats for a day; teach a man to fish and he eats for a lifetime." I also believe that his methods can and should be used by Christians as we seek to reconcile every man, woman and child to God.

Watch this video and then check out more information on Dr. Yunus.

Here we are on April 13 - on our way to the Wycliffe Bible Translators USA headquarters in Orlando. Stay tuned for more info and pictures.