Brainwashing

My boss at work said he decided to take his kids to Sunday School.

I said great.

He said he wasn't going to take them back because he listened in and they were getting brain washed with 'God Stuff'.

Look, I'm not totally sure what he thought would happen at Sunday School in the first place, but he said he expected it to be more fun. Fair point to some degree.

His neighbour is a youth pastor of a uniting church so he took his kids along to that which was 'much better' as they 'played lots of games'.

Now I have no idea about the two churches, or which one was better, from what he has said its possible that both were good, one was good or neither was good. I have no real idea.

But what was interesting was that everyone in my team at work agreed that church is bad because it "Brain Washes" us about God and doesn't allow us to 'express our true feelings about God'.

What was more interesting, was my colleague who then lectured us on his views of 'God' for about 15mins.

I asked him bravely at the end if him telling us his views on God was a form of brain washing. Of course he didn't think so.

I have been told before I only believe what I believe because I have been brain washed.

I concluded the conversation by advising them that biblical Christitanity is not about Brain Washing, but rather about Heart Washing and that mine had been cleaned.

They concluded by saying I only think that because I had been brain washed.

It's a tough one to deal with.

Any thoughts?

Jim

The Happening Never Really……Happens

Friday night marked a big occasion.

It marked the night where I become no longer a "fan" of M. Night. Shyamalan.

Each film he has made has gotten worse. The first 3 (The Sixth Sense, Unbreakable and Signs) are films I love, and only slightly got worse. But I was OK with that.

"The Village" was a pretty big step backwards. I still somewhat enjoyed it. But it wasn't in the same class as "The Sixth Sense".

"Lady in the Water" was just weird and boring.

"The Happening", although conceptually OK, is an utter disaster of a film. It has without doubt, the worst script and acting I have seen for some time, possibly ever.

What upsets me the most, is how generic this film is. How it feels like anyone could have made it. But this is from a Director who was meant to be the next Hitchcock.

Although the film has one of the creepiest shots and sequences I have ever seen in cinema in the first 10mins, the rest is utter rubbish.

Shyamalan has (or should I say 'had') a great knack of getting solid performances out of his leads. But what worked in his earlier films (an empty character trying to find themselves, Bruce Willis in both The Sixth Sense and Unbreakable, as well as Mel Gibson in 'Signs'), has no place in this film and results in the actors just meandering around the screen looking lost and confused.

This could be career ending for Mark Whalberg. His constant "Oh no" lines when the world is ending around him is fairly laughable and simply not believable.

I am fine with the story but it needed to be explored and developed further. I am fine with the concept, ending and 'twist'. But really, its just poorly executed.

There is very little to like here.

Jim

P.s at least 'The Dark Knight' is coming. Gives me something to look forward too!

Exchange Rates

In the coming weeks and months, we are fare welling some of our friends and Family.

But we are also welcoming home, some friends.

Its like an exchange program.

Our good friends Lara and Stefan get back from 18 months in the Philippines. This is exciting! It will be great to have them home, and indeed with the addition of a 'new Obbink' on the way as well.

But sadly, we farewell Keris and Em, as they move to the U.S to live in Philadelphia.

I guess in some ways, the return of Stefan and Lara softens the blow.

Pete and Soph will also have a short stint back in the land of Oz later this month, after being in South, Central and Northern America for the past 6 months, before jet setting across to the land of the pasty white people, England!

I love that no matter where people are in the world, the guys are all praying for each other. The guys in the land of Oz still meet for prayer group and continue to pray for each other, but also for our dear friends based overseas. We are united through more than friendship. We are united through him, who can unite the "ununitable"!

This can never change, no matter where in the world we might be.

Jim