0 Harry Potter and The Great Debate

Harry Potter is a household name these days, however some prefer to think of him as he who must not be named.  Whether it's the critically acclaimed seven part book series by author J.K. Rowling or the billion dollar blockbuster films - Harry Potter is everywhere.  I thought with Halloween upon us and the release of Part I of the final Harry Potter film this November we should kick this hornets nest and see what kind of discussion we can stir up.

For those unfamiliar with the series - Harry Potter chronicles the adventures of the adolescent wizard Harry Potter and his best friends Ron Weasley and Hermione Granger, all of whom are students at Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. The main story arc concerns Harry's quandary involving the evil wizard Lord Voldemort, who killed Harry's parents in his quest to conquer the wizarding world and subjugate non-magical people. - wikipedia

Once the books became best sellers, many Evangelical Christians were very outspoken in their disapproval of the magical stories - some going as far as holding old fashioned book burnings and others calling it a "gateway" book that will lead uninformed children into the worship of pagan practices.  Many other Christians, myself included, are not as eager to compare the series to demonic magic as they are stories of fairy tale magic - such as Cinderella, The Chronicles of Narnia, and The Lord of the Rings - the latter two of which are beloved by the Christian community.

So how do you know if Harry Potter is a good thing or not?  The catch is that there is really no way to figure this out other than to read it.  Whether you are trying to determine this out for your child or yourself there is only one way to know.  I think if you read the first book you will find that the book is really not about magic.  Yes, it has magic in it, but that's not what it is about.  The clear theme of Harry Potter is that love conquers all; that courage and bravery in the face of evil, particularly death, are noble and virtuous moral choices.  Emphasis on the choice part.  There is evil in this world, and if you haven't picked up on it yet, I am no longer talking about Harry Potter.  True evil is out there, and while we may not come across it on a daily basis (or ever) there is such a thing as evil magic, the bible tells us this much.

Finally, let us not forget that in every choice we make in life, even reading Harry Potter - we have a responsibility.  A responsibility to question things and search our the answers through the Lords written word and prayer.  Harry Potter is what it is.  Just as wine is simply a drink, Harry Potter is a fantasy story.  In the hands of a weak man, either can corrupt; yet when mixed with a little responsibility both can be enjoyed.

This topic could probably be discussed for years and I encourage it and hope that you leave some feedback if you have read the books.  Try to keep your comments spoiler free for anyone who is on the fence still.  You don't have to agree with me - I have spoken with some people who strongly disagree with me, yet we still respect each other.  So again, please leave some feedback with your thoughts.  Thanks!

Raleigh

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2 Top 5 Inspirational Football Movies

The wait is almost over for college football to start up again!  If you're looking for a movie to help you get in the spirit, or you need something to watch as you bum around the house on your day off from work Monday, here is a list of my Top 5 Football Movies based on inspirational true stories.  Enjoy!

5. Invincible

When the coach of Vince Papale's beloved hometown football team hosted an unprecedented open tryout, the public consensus was that it was a waste of time--no one good enough to play professional football was going to be found this way. Certainly no one like Papale--a down-on-his-luck, 30 year-old, substitute teacher and part-time bartender who never even played college football. But against these odds, Papale made the team and soon found himself living every fan's fantasy--moving from his cheap seats in the upper deck to standing on the field as a professional football player.

4. Blind Side

Michael Oher, a homeless African-American youngster from a broken home, is taken in by the Touhys, a well-to-do white family who help him fulfill his potential. At the same time, Oher's presence in the Touhys' lives leads them to some insightful self-discoveries of their own. Living in his new environment, the teen faces a completely different set of challenges to overcome. As a football player and student, Oher works hard and, with the help of his coaches and adopted family, becomes an All-American offensive left tackle. 

3. We Are Marshall

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.

2. Remember the Titans

Based on the true story of the explosive events that took place in Alexandria, Virginia in 1971 when African-American football coach Herman Boone was hired to guide an integrated but racially polarized high school team--the T.C. Williams Titans. Angry, stubborn and a rigid taskmaster, Boone faces a cool reception from the team's players as well as an awkward relationship with assistant coach Bill Yoast, a local white man with seniority and a tradition of winning who was bypassed for the job. It's made clear that Bill has feelings of animosity for having to be an assistant under a black man. As the two men learn to overcome their ignorance and bigotry and realize that they have much in common--integrity, honor, and a strong work ethic--they work together to transform a group of angry, unfocused players into a dynamic winning team of responsible young men. In the process, they also unite a divided community and ensure that Virginia will always "Remember the Titans."

1. Rudy

Rudy grew up in a steel mill town where most people ended up working, but wanted to play football at Notre Dame instead. There were only a couple of problems. His grades were a little low, his athletic skills were poor, and he was only half the size of the other players. But he had the drive and the spirit of 5 people and has set his sights upon joining the team. -IMDB.com

Descriptions from movies.yahoo.com 

Let me know what you think.  Did I leave off your favorite movie?  Totally get the order wrong?  Let us know with some feedback below.

-Raleigh

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0 Movie Review: Eat, Pray, Love

Eat, Pray, Love the movie was a great adaptation of the book written by Elizabeth Gilbert.  It tells a story about a woman that leaves her New York City lifestyle to  travel around the globe to Italy, India, and Bali in search of everything.  Julia Roberts brings the character of Liz to life as we watch her transform from sad to happy by the end of the movie.  It is an intimate story of one woman's quest to find pleasure, peace, and love on a year of self discovery.

While the theater seats were occupied by majority females; I wouldn't necessarily describe this movie as a typical Julia Roberts film.  The beginning of the movie starts with Liz being very sad and confused about her life.  When she first arrives in Italy, she is majorly coping with a horrible breakup and her character is battling depression.  We see a lonely woman that finds comfort in food.  Soon, she meets new Italian friends and enjoys the essence of the city.  By the end of her stay in Italy, she starts to find healing and is ready for the next segment of her adventure.  Her stay in the Indian ashram is probably the most difficult portion of her journey for self-discovery because she has to spend a lot of time dealing with her mind.  The film did not go too deep into spirituality or her views on God but it did show the difficulty of clearing out space in one's mind to find peace.  The last leg of her journey was in Bali, and here Liz finds the balance between pleasure and peace.  By chance, she also discovers what it means to love again. 

I enjoyed this film but I didn't walk away in love with it.  I think the reason I wasn't in love with the movie is it was a rather sad film.  That doesn't make it bad, but right now I don't want to watch anything sad.  I want to be swept into a fantasy land of happiness when I go to the movies. It was a beautiful movie that was a cross between a Food Network and Travel Channel film.  I, like many others who saw it, want to travel more after seeing this movie.  Julia Roberts did a great job portraying her character and it was a great version of the book.  They used some of the exact lines from the book, which I thought was great.  All in all, it was a good movie that made the viewer ponder their own lives and that continual search for peace and happiness.

Till next time, let your light shine!

Blessings, christen

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