We Are Marshall

Friday night Judy and I had our first date in a while and we usually like to go to a movie and then out to eat. We decided to go see We Are Marshall and I don't think I was prepared for what was about to happen, to me. You can click on the pic for a movie trailer.

Here's a review from Yahoo! Movies:

A true story, based on devastating events, set in Huntington, West Virginia, about a small town steeped in the rich tradition of college football. For decades, players, coaches, fans and families have come together to cheer on Marshall University's "Thundering Herd." For this team and this community, Marshall football is more than just a sport, it's a way of life. But on a fateful night in 1970, while traveling back to Huntington after a game in North Carolina, 75 members of Marshall's football team and coaching staff were killed in a plane crash. As those left behind struggled to cope with the devastating loss of their loved ones, the grieving families found hope and strength in the leadership of Jack Lengyel, a young coach who was determined to rebuild Marshall's football program and in the process helped to heal a community.

In the movie, the plane crash takes place in the opening minutes of the movie and from there on out we see the story unfold of how a town and college deal with the loss of so many people and the potential loss of a football program. At that moment I could feel the emotion begin to well up within me and the tears began to flow. As the story unfolds we learn about the people left behind how they try to cope with such tremendous loss.

I never stopped crying. In fact, I don't know that I have ever cried that long before in my life. This story touched my life in a deep and profound way.

We Are Marshall is a story about loss. I must confess that I am still processing all the emotion from that day. The good news is that while loss is a reality of life, Jesus can bring healing. Tye out.

Ray Charles plays the saxophone!

Ok, they say that if you ain't learning, you're dying? Today I learned something I didn't know and that is that Ray Charles actually played saxophone. I'm not completely surprised - talented people like Ray could probably do about anything in the music realm he set his mind to. Click here to watch the video. And, if you didn't see the movie Ray, you missed a treat.

He obviously had incredible ears and you have to dig those cool Bird licks. It's uncanny the way almost the entire solo is one Bird lick after the next.

Ray had a ton of God-given talent. It really is too bad that he lived such a sinful life. We'll never know where he stood with the Lord (we can only know that about ourselves) but maybe someday we'll see him in heaven playing in the big band up there. Tye out.


P.S. It is amazing how Ray looks like Jamie Foxx, or is it the other way around?

Life is a Highway - Rascal Flatts' got it going on!

Ok, it's 3:10 PM and I've been hard at it since about 4:55 Am this morning so I'm going to take a break and spend a few minutes with you. So, this is somewhat random.

I just finished watching a video online from the movie Cars. O MY! Country music has come a long ways! So, with that intro, here goes my first ever music critique.

Life is a Highway by Rascal Flatts

WOW! This group has got it going on! They were this year's CMA Vocal Group of the Year. No wonder! Life is a Highway is cool tune with a lot of cool elements. Joe Don's lead vocals take off from the very beginning. It's hard to believe how high he sings, so effortlessly. I especially like that contemporary country sound (minus the steel guitar) but yet with a touch of banjo and electric fiddle in the background. But between the lead guitar and bass player it's a toss up for best performer. Those guys crank out some great riffs in unison that add to the cohesion of this group. Check out the bass lines throughout - he uses nearly every inch of that bass! And dig the electric guitar solo! If you listen carefully you can hear those great Hammond B3 pads laid down in the background. I would have run it up a little in the mix, but it's still not bad.

These guys are a great group and I love hearing them sing. There's nothing like watching skilled people perform their craft and that's exactly what you get with Rascal Flatts.

Tye out.

Cinderella Man

Chronicles of Narnia

I never read the book - allegory is not my thing. Neither was Lord of the Rings. But this movie was really good and gave us a glimpse of the genius of C.S. Lewis who wrote the book upon which the movie was created. My wife and I went to a private showing of The Chronicles of Narnia this morning and it was very well done! The way I understand it the same special effects group that did Lord of the Rings also did this movie (see Weta Digital Ltd.) Filmed primarily in New Zealand (I think) the cinemaphotography is absolutely phenomenal and reminiscent of Lord of the Rings. The children are all from the UK (in real life) and they have gorgeous accents. The White Witch is played by Tilda Swinton who hails from Scotland and puts in a wonderful performance.

The best part was the allegory, even though I'm not good at that kind of thing. If you know the scriptures it was easy to tell what they were alluding to and what they were trying to illustrate. I especially like the part when Aslan "resurrects" and the stone cracks in two. The power of sin is broken and has been atoned by the sacrifice of Aslan.

Because the White Witch has taken over Narnia it is always winter there. But, word has it that Aslan has been seen and since his arrival winter is giving way to spring and summer. That's how I feel. Before the Lord came into my life, it was winter. When Jesus comes everthing is made new and your perspective on life changes.

Jesus came to die for our sins. Until then, it's always winter in Narnia. The white witch - satan - rules until the head of the serpent is bruised. Jesus was hung up for our hang ups. Have you received from him the free gift of eternal life?

But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed. Is 53:5NIV