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| Now that I've got the new job, I have the task of finishing up all the loose ends here in NY before we move. The thesis is the biggest & most important, and it looks do-able in a month or so. HVCC will be finishing the semester in a few weeks, so I'll have some grading to do. There's ministry things at church as I need to find replacements for myself as an usher and in teaching/leading our Sunday School class. My Gideon responsibilities are ending as the new leaders take on their roles, so no worries there. Packing up everything will be a BIG chore, though, and determining what to bring and what to get rid of. We've also got to look for a house in Erie and do all the mortgage stuff with that. Most difficult will be leaving the many relationships we've built here.  It looks like a busy few months!
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| Well, I haven't posted anything recently, and now I have some BIG news.
I had another job interview last week. It was a for a faculty position
at Penn State Erie campus in their Mechanical Engineering Department.
It looks like a great job and what I was looking for - almost all
teaching (what I like doing for a job) at a small school (~3000
students) for undergrads (the age group I like teaching). It's also a
little closer to my family in Michigan (about 7 hours drive rather than
12), but farther from Darcey's (6 hours rather than less than 1). Well,
the interview went well (although the travel didn't, and I got stuck in
the Detoit airport for 16 hours), and they've offered me the job! I
talked to some people and it looks like their offering a pretty
competative salary, but I don't know all the benefits yet, but they're
probably good. I'll be letting them know tomorrow that I'm accepting
it. Now we'll be busy working out all the details of moving - finding
housing, movers, setting up utilities, banks, etc. Oh yeah, I need to
wrap up and defend the thesis before I go, too. Well, that seems like
plenty to keep me busy for the next four months. Yikes!
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| We enjoyed watching the Winter Olympics for the two weeks they were on.
Now, again, there's not much worth watching on TV. In the evening, when
we're feeding Caroline, we usually sit down and watch something, so now
we're left flipping through channels again. Fortunately, the Amazing
Race began again this week, so we're looking forward to that. We really
enjoyed watching the speed skating (normal and especially short track)
snowboarding (the tricks and the SB Cross) and down-hill skiing. It was
good to see some medals won by Americans who didn't crack under the
pressure (we were a little disappointed in Bode and not very impressed
by his rantings). I got a chance to see a little of the curling, but it
was never on at a good time to watch it. Also, the opening and closing
ceremonies are always interesting (not always entertaining, but
interesting). Anyways, it was a fun two weeks. Hope you got to catch
some of it.
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| A few interesting thoughts to my previous blog on The Seccond Chance movie (see below), but please leave more. I'm not sure if I gave an impression in my blog, but I’d really like to see the movie someday (probably the DVD). I'd support the movie mainly because it portrays a redemptive world view and shows how Christ should make a difference in the life of a believer. As far as the "objectionable material," I figure you need a little dose of reality to make it not as corny as some of the Christian films I’ve seen in the past - the real world is not always a sanitary place. I think it is much more relevant this way and will speak to more people than without. From what I’ve heard, it actually addresses the bad language in the movie as being wrong, which is far from anything people hear these days (and probably good for some Christians to be reminded of). I was listening to an interview with Smitty and Taylor, and Michael said he wouldn’t have taken the part if they had editted all the “offensive” material out. While I’m sure they could have put a lot more material in it, and I’m sure that there’d be a point at which I’d be offended, I’m not sure where that point would be. A little reality is OK, but a lot would be offensive (although some reality is offensive as I can attest to from my experience with my neighbors). There’s a difference between not offending anyone and not causing anyone to fall into sin.
The other thoughts on “Christian” movies (not that a movie can know a saving faith, but maybe that it might portray one) I was thinking about had to deal with End of the Spear. If you’re not familiar with this recent film, its based on the true story of missionary martyrs Jim Elliot & Nate Saint. While you might not find anything objectionable in the film (besides some scantily clad natives), some people weren’t happy that the main character (Nate Saint) was played by gay-activist actor Chad Allen. So, can you support a movie that casts a homosexual actor in a hetero (and Christian) role? What about the other way around - a heterosexual actor cast in a role as a gay character (i.e. Brokeback Mtn)? Neither? Both? Just thinking... What are your thoughts? | | |
| So, I was checking out the
new movie starring Michael W. Smith and written/directed by Steve
Taylor (yes, the odd Christian singer from the 90's) that opens this
weekend (not around here, though). I thought, "Great! Another good
Christian movie being put out to the masses!" But, then you notice its
rated PG-13 due to mild language and drug references. This content is
included to reflect the realism of "life on the streets," but how far
do you go before you offend your audience? Do you think as a Christian
you can support this movie? What are your thoughts?
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