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POTUS PHOTOG

December 22, 2010 in books & reviews, culture, politics, thoughts with 0 Comments

while working on putting lights on the CHRISTmas tree I had pulled up the netflix menu and saw this new title  DOCUMENTARY: “The President’s Photographer: Fifty Years Inside the Oval Office”.  Though its been a few years…i hit play and…wow…an impressive story.

Many years ago i actually aspired to seek employement doing this very thing.  I documented President Reagan’s visit to our community in ’83 and spent a long day with another amazing “shooter”, Michael Evans.  Though Pete Souza wasn’t on that trip, I did meet and work with him later as well as with David Valdez (P GBush) Steven Purcell (VP Quayle),  Susan Biddle (P Reagan), Bill Fitzpatrick (P Reagan).

Its well worth the watch.  You get a whole different perspective on how our “republican experiment” works from the inside.  Eric Draper (P GWBush) offers an amazing view of what it was like on 9/11.  And one video clip showing a conversation with Nixon and his photog…very revealing.  So…over the holidays if you get a chance, check it out.

Little Town of Bethlehem-Review

November 17, 2010 in books & reviews, politics, thoughts with 0 Comments


Little Town of Bethlehem is a new an inspiring true story of three men in a land gripped by fear, hatred, and division.  These men expected to be enemies, instead strive together to end what they call the “cycle of violence”.

The videography is excellent.  The story telling is engaging and I think helpful for those of us who are far removed from the realities of this ancient struggle.  I believe the intentions of the film makers are genuine and true.  I struggle  with what seems like a moral equivalence between the victims of terror and the perpetrators of terror.  For us outside that region it is very hard to understand because these tensions run deep.

I believe there are two very different things happening here: the struggle of Jews to survive terror  and the struggle of Arabs who are mostly being held captive by the intransigence of Arabs states.

I’m not convinced either that its simply a “tit for tat” or a “cycle”.  There is a difference between acts of terror (a suicide bomber or a missile attack) and the response to that terror (destroying a bomb-making factory or eliminating a missile launcher).

Given my concerns, I still think this video is an excellent  and useful resource to shine a light on what is happening and to raise awareness and to begin a thoughtful discussion, particularly as it encourages a “non-violent” solution.   There are some great resources on their website to help.

Benny-a “theologically impressive canine”

November 12, 2010 in adventure, books & reviews with 0 Comments

a follow-up video from the time with mark zimmerman of wcrf moody radio and noted author eric metaxas at malone unversity. mark mentioned at the end of the interview that some people have “devoured” this amazing volume on Dietrich Bonhoeffer: Pastor, Martyr, Prophet, Spy.  mark proceeded to pull out his review copy and…well…check this out…

Devouring Bonhoeffer with Eric Metaxas from nhloud video messages and media on Vimeo.

Metaxas on Bonhoeffer Part 2

November 9, 2010 in books & reviews, culture with 0 Comments

Eric Metaxas speaks at chapel on the campus of Malone University.

Here’s the second installment of the conversation with Mark Zimmerman from Moody Radio cleveland/WCRF and noted author Eric Metaxas recorded at Malone University.

And there’s a lot of good stuff here.  Mark says during the interview…”we had 45 minutes and it could have been at least 4 hours.”

A couple of key questions that Eric Metaxas brings some focus to is what the life of Bonhoeffer means almost 65 years later. You’ll have to watch to get the answer. But one thing is sure in my mind is there is a connection between William Wilberforce and Dietrich Bonhoeffer, both men that Eric has helped us to see in a important light. I know too that its about character and conviction and a willingness to risk to live it out…and its that living out is where things really get interesting. would be interest in your response. please leave a comment.

A conversation with Eric Metaxas-Part 2 from nhloud video messages and media on Vimeo.

Eric Metaxas on Bonhoeffer ~ 1

November 8, 2010 in books & reviews, culture with 0 Comments

late last month i was blessed to spend the morning on the campus of Malone University to hear noted author Eric Metaxas talk first on his good work on William Wilberforce (the movie Amazing Grace was based on his work) and then on his most recent endeavor…Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  There’s a lot to be said, but hearing Eric in his own voice and words is a worthwhile investment.  Eric has done much good by re-establishing the legacy of Bonhoeffer.  Eric’s book is a must read for any Christian, but especially for those in leadership in the local church.  In my mind there are many parallels between Bonhoeffer’s day and our own.  Eric’s astute writing sheds much light on what we must pay attention to.  There is much at stake in our post modern age that the Church has failed to clearly speak into.   Am grateful too to Mark Zimmerman of WCRF rado for leveraging the Kingdom as he does and offering this opportunity to better understand Dietrich Bonhoeffer.

A conversation with Eric Metaxas-Part 1

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