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On My Nightstand

Here are some of the books I've been reading recently--and some comments...

Culture Making, by Andy Crouch. This book re-addresses the classic question of how Christians should relate to culture (should we ignore it? hide from it? attack it? create a separate, parallel counter-culture?), but does so in a fresh way. As believers, we are called to be creators of culture. I'll follow up when I've finished this one.

The Sun Also Rises, by Ernest Hemingway. I read this on a dare from my 15-year-old son, who was required to read it over the summer for his sophomore Enslish class. He HATED it--claimed it was the worst book ever written, had no plot, and consisted of people drinking unthinkable amounts of alcohol on every page. I couldn't resist proving him wrong, so I read it...and I can see why it's such a classic. He was right about the alcohol--and that's the whole point: it's the story of a group of friends in post-WWI Europe (representing the so-called "Lost Generation") who are bored, disillusioned, and can't find any meaning in life. So they drink. A lot. Hemingway's writing is brilliant (I'm especially partial to the trout fishing scene in Spain), partially because the writing is at least partially autobiographical. You can almost feel is own boredom and depression as he writes. The title is actually taken from Ecclesiastes--all is vanity--the sun sets and then rises again--what does it mean? Without God, it means nothing.

The Last Lecture, by Randy Pausch. I'd heard so much about this, and still need to listen to the actual lecture on youtube. Pausch was terminally ill when he gave his last lecture to students at Carnegie Mellon University. Basically his advice on life. He comes off as honest, intelligent...but also pretty arrogant and self-congratulating at times. Some good, biblically consistent advice--like "Don't be overly concerned what other people think of you," and the power of personally written thank-you notes. One of the often-quoted concepts: "Brick walls aren't there to keep you from getting what you want; they're just there to separate those who really want something from those who don't."

In the Sanctuary of Outcasts, by Neil White. Fascinating--personal memoir of White, who was convicted of financial fraud and sentenced to spend 18 months in a federal prison in Carville, LA...not until he arrived did he discover that the prisoners shared the facility with leprosy patients--the last remaining leprosarium inj the U.S. The book is his account of what he learned by living in this home for various misfits. I'm about halfway through--waiting to hear some brokenness.

One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich, by Alexander Sohlzenytsin. Based on Sohlzenitsyn's 10 year sentence in the Russian gulag. The character Alyoshka, a fellow prisoner and a devout Baptist, is fascinating--Sohlzehytsin seems to find him idiotic and intriguing at the same time.

Vintage Church, by Mark Driscoll. Good, solid teaching on leading the church by a guy who's in the trenches.

Secret Life of Bees, by Sue Monk Kidd. Theme is our deep need for the love of a parent--and how when our biological parents fail to fill this role, others can fill it.

True Story: A Christianity Worth Believing In, by James Choung. This is worth reading--written by an InterVarsity staff member--combats the traditional "get your ticket to heaven," individualistic gospel presentations, and introduces community and missional elements into the way we talk about Jesus' invitation to follow him.

City of Thieves, by David Benioff. Exciting page turner; written by the guy who wrote the screenplay for Kite Runner. You can just feel the movie coming. But he goes way overboard with the sexual exploits/conversation.

The Road, by Cormack McCarthy. Could not put it down. Chilling, disturbing, thought-provoking. The story of a father and his son trying to survive after a nuclear holocaust. Strong themes of love and commitment between father and son, although my heart ached to see them grapple with hopelessness and the inevitability of death without the hope of the gospel. The movie will star Viggo Mortensen--this is one I'll see on the big screen.

Uncommon, by Tony Dungee. Advice on life from the former Indianapolis Colts coach. Fairly predictable, but worth a quick read and he doesn't hold back from sharing his Christian beliefs. I've got lots of respect for Coach Dungee.

Death of a Salesman, by Arthur Miller. Classic and for good reason. The tragic story of a guy who was once on top of his game (or was he?) and now the world has changed around him, and he's been left in the dust. Deals with issues of pride, significance, honesty, vocation.

Revolutionary Road, by Richard Yates. See my blog post on this one. Yates does a good job of portraying the boredom and vacuousness of the typical suburban dream. No one is content--and no one knows what to do about it.

In My DVD Player

A few of the recent movies I've been watching...

Amazing Grace. Finally watched this--very powerful account of William Wilberforce's sustained campaign to abolish the slave trade in England. Very good acting; drags a little bit in the middle. Great reminder that there are great things worth living and sacrificing for. Also a great reminder that when one follows hard after Christ (which Wilberforce did), he sometimes calls us to work for justice--sometimes through political means.

Atonement. I had so looked forward to seeing this...the previews looked epic, timeless...ended up disappointed. It ended and I said, "That's IT? You're kidding me."

Up. Just saw this in 3D on the big screen. A Disney/Pixar movie starring an old man? I liked it...my wife cried like a baby.

Dan in Real Life. Why do I love this movie? Soundtrack; Steve Carrell's acting; but mostly the realistic depiction of the struggles of parenting. Hilarious too.

Gone Baby Gone. Great plots twists; surprise ending. Ends up with very challenging moral dilemma: is it ethical to lie/deceive in order to give a child a better life? Hmm... One caution: Language is very raunchy.

The Lives of Others. This is a German film, with English subtitles. Takes place in 1984 in East Germany, and explores the role of a Stasi (Secret Service) agent who is assigned to monitor a person of suspicion. Shows the heart and humanity of the secret service guy, and the terrible price paid by people living in a paranoid, high-control, communist government.

The Bucket List. If you had only a few months to live, what things would you be sure to do before you kicked the bucket? Funny and poignant--and it really is a good question.

Pursuit of Happyness. True story of guy (played by Will Smith) who overcame big odds to become successful in business. Just re-watched this with my son...moving story, especially his love for his young son.

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