All about VBS

The last night of VBS (before the carnival) in pictures:

I loved Nate's lacrosse T-Shirt slogan

Learning about David and the Ten Commandments

London's Bridge
Isn't Henry's face great?!

Capture the Flag

Working hard on snack

Mrs. Weber and sons traveled to Morgantown for a visit

The game where if Evil (Mandy) or Lies (Me) touched you, you die... In short, tag--VBS style

VBS: Night 3

I think today was the best VBS night so far!

My favorite picture.

Some of the highlights:

Opening exercises were great... I love watching the kids faces as they try to do the motions. "Amen!" is our favorite bible school song. We get pretty loud and rowdy. :PDr. Knox shared with us his gift for music...

The older kids played a rousing game of soccer (minus a few rules), and the younger kids had I relay race based on the 5th commandment. (I also participated)

Dr. Jackson got a nose ring! ;-P

Nate and Mandy tried to work on crafts...

After most everyone went home, Daniel, Dee, Jake, Sammi, Josh, Jonah, and I played a game of roof volleyball... My house is so weirdly situated for this new-strange game. Of course, we weren't really keeping score, but my team still didn't win.

VBS

Just a note to share some pictures from the past two days of VBS (which-- if you can't tell-- is at my house!)

Our theme for this year
Learning the rules of "4 square" Many hand make light work Eating a snack
Singing "The Ten Commandments" Song The Great Semelini-- Our resident magician Crafts Recreation -- Volleyball

I'll share more later in the week...

A total waste of Time

Friday evening, my brother and I agreed to meet Dee and Chris at the movies to see M. Night Shyamalan’s new movie The Happening. Some of you may remember that I posted the trailer for it back in February. Well, a problem with the theater occurred, and only Daniel and I saw the movie. Dee and Chris didn’t miss much… I wasted 2 hours of my life that I will never get back.

SPOILER ALERT:
I had been warned by reviews and friends that M. Night’s latest movie was not his best, and definitely had environmentalist themes. So I thought I was prepared for anything… I was wrong. I was so disappointed in The Happening. M. Night smacks you over the head with the fact that we aren’t taking care of the earth… Therefore the earth will destroy us. The movie started out promising: our main character is a man (Elliot) who acknowledges that evolution is just a theory (and not in the scientific sense of the word). But, our story doesn’t continue in this path. Shortly everyone learns that people are dying in NYC, and it started in parks. Elliot and his wife (Alma) flee Philadelphia, and just in time… Philadelphia, and many other places in New England are being hit by this strange attack.

Elliot and Alma end up with a man and his wife trying to get out of New England. This nursery owner and wife (who look like hippie throwbacks) have a theory. The plants have evolved to protect themselves. The plants have been threatened by humans, and they are striking back. The plants communicate between themselves, and have coordinated an attack. (This man also talks to his plants like he would talk to a newborn infant.) Elliot thinks he might be crazy… but, he soon discerns the truth. The plants are attacking humans; they have evolved quickly and now emit a toxin that inhibit the self-preservation instinct in humans. In short, humans will then start committing suicide. Elliot figures it out, the plants are attacking smaller and smaller groups of people… until one person could set off the plants. But, when Elliot decides that he must rejoin his wife even if he dies trying to get to her, the attack is suddenly over. But, the handy-dandy scientist on TV can explain it all: plants rapidly evolved to protect themselves, and this first attack was just a warning. If we don’t learn the lesson this time, the plants will attack again. But this time, they will wipe us out.

Okay, I didn’t leave the theater in the middle of the movie. Though maybe I should have. Repeated references to “acts of nature” and evolution being the answer to the attacks were troubling to me. Mother Earth coming to kill the nasty humans comes to mind… As the message of this film. If we don’t wise up, the plants will destroy us.On a better note, M. Night’s cinematography is wonderful as always. His camera angles are fascinating, and I love watching his movies. He still has problems with graphics and CGI; he hasn’t learned much since Signs. But, even though I have loved every M. Night movie I have seen, I couldn’t get past the save the earth mentality or maybe even worship it… after all it seems all powerful in this movie. If we don’t learn its message, It will wipe us out. Alright, if you can’t already tell… I don’t recommend this movie. The only part I could have enjoyed was drowned out by the environmentalist mentality. In other words, the reconciled story of Elliot and Alma was not enough to counterbalance the tree hugger mallet hitting me in the head. The Lord tells us to exercise dominion over the earth to care for it, but also to use it… We don’t and MUST NOT worship it…Those of you who love this film should not be offended. In fact, if you can convince me this film is worth more than I believe, great!

The Incredible Hulk

Some of my friends were surprised to hear that I wanted to see this movie... In fact, I think we were all wondering: Wasn't the Hulk made into a movie only a couple of years ago? Yes. It was. However, if you did watch it (and survived that painful experience) then you know how bad it really was. Cheesy graphics, poor storyline, and generally just all around boring.

So why did you want to see another one? Good question... I too, when I first heard about this movie, rolled my eyes and groaned. But, I chanced to read a review on PluggedinOnline... This review alone made me decide to risk another evening with The Incredible Hulk.

So was it good?

To put it in few words as possible, it was incredible. Okay, I can see the tomatoes being thrown my way. :) To be serious, this movie is probably one of my favorite superhero movies, and I have only seen it once.

The mild manner exterior of Bruce Banner seriously belies the raging beast inside him. But this man or "Hulk" is the hero of this story. When his heart rate increases, in a moment's notice, Bruce becomes a terrifying 9-foot green anger-management session waiting to happen. Cue antagonist, there are those in the U.S. Army who want to use the "Hulk" for a weapon. But, Bruce knows better than anyone this thing is not controllable... And shouldn't be forced on anyone. Hiding from the U.S. Army isn't easy, and Bruce enlists the help of his former girlfriend, Dr. Betsy Ross. Things get complicated, because general chasing Bruce is Betsy's father.... And I haven't even mentioned the crazy super-soldier with a desire to defeat the Hulk.

Okay, admit it! Aren't you even a little intrigued? This story exemplifies good themes: Justice, sacrifice, and the danger of power for power's sake alone. Bruce is a unlikely hero, but one the audiences sympathizes with. We want him to escape from General Ross, we want him to have a normal life with Betsy, and we cheer him on as he fights to save those he loves. Alright, I've said enough... Go see The Incredible Hulk.

Note: After posting this, my brother told me I should post a disclaimer.... Disclaimer: This movie is not for everyone. I highly suggest reading Plugged In and Charity's reviews.

Thoughts from Edith Schaeffer

"One reason for the loss of family life today, I believe, is the incessant emphasis on dividing ages into tight categories. There are the kindergarten group, the juniors, the intermediates, the seniors, the young business people, the young married ones, the older married couples, and the 'senior citizens'. There are high school groups, college groups, university groups, and professional groups; everyone segregated from everyone else who is not the same age, and often of the same occupation. This seeps into the family unit, too, so that people just do not expect to enjoy each other or really communicate unless they are exactly the same age. The family should be the place where an opposite trend is begun." (The Hidden Art, pg. 201-202)

"There is no real possibility of an integration that is true and meaningful in the total sense unless it is based on the inner integration which God has made possible through the Second Person of the Trinity, Jesus Christ. He died so that man might move out of his 'segregated' position, segregated from Go0d, from other men, and even from himself in so many aspects, into a true integration. This true integration comes only when man is integrated with the Trinity. "(204)

Couldn't have said it better myself... Though, I do see a huge argument for homeschooling right here. :-)

My Brother's Artwork

One thing about my brother that tends to amaze me is his artistic ability in the weirdest situations. While pressure washing our decks, he also left a message for anyone who walks by...

The Dark Knight

For those of you who know me this will come as no shock... I was raised on Superheroes. From watching the Spiderman cartoons or Lois & Clark, and playing Batman with my brother was a daily activity. I don't know whether or not my parents purposely chose heroes for us. People who exemplified sacrifice, justice, and strength.
But, regardless of whether or not they intended this... I love these stories, these mythologies even now. That is why I love Spiderman (1, 2, &3)... It is why I love Superman (Lois & Clark, Superman Returns, even Smallville ---depending on the episode), and it is why I love Batman.
This is why I am so thrilled that my favorite superheros are again coming to the big screen in my adulthood. This summer, The Dark Knight sequel to Batman Begins comes to theaters. This trailer is the best I have seen so far; if my guess is right, this movie will be even better than the first. Long live the Superheroes!


My brother and I still argue over which superhero is more noble: Batman or Spiderman... But you all will have to decide for yourselves.

CHEWV Conference

Hurray for better pencil sharpeners!

Okay, maybe some of you won't understand that previous statement, but this past weekend was the Christian Home Educators of West Virginia Conference. It held a graduation ceremony, encouragement, and fellowship with like-minded Christians.

I had never heard Kevin Swanson speak before... WOW! What a wonderful speaker! If I wasn't already convinced myself of the benefits of homeschooling, he would have convinced me. He gave a great commencement address. I wish many of my family and friends could have heard him.

The vendor hall held great books! Just walking into the room, I could feel the money slipping through my fingers... :P

But beyond all these things, my good friend Keely graduated..I can't wait until next year's conference.

Visit with the Field Family

During this year's Memorial Day weekend, the Field family came to visit mine. Ken, Debbie, and little Lisa are such a blessing, and the fellowship with them was wonderful.

My family first met Debbie when she moved to Morgantown when I was twelve... She came over for dinner, watched movies, and generally came to be a close family friend. That is why we were so excited when we found out she was getting married to Ken Fields, an OPC elder in California. That was three years ago... Now they have a sweet little girl named Lisa.

We were all very much looking forward to this weekend, and it didn't disappoint. Friday night the Fields arrived, but there wasn't much visiting done as it was late.
Saturday, both families went to Cooper's Rock for a leisurely hike...

Sunday, we had more fellowship with the Fields, but my family couldn't be selfish and keep the visit all to our selves... Therefore Pastor and Mrs. Semel came over to enjoy the conversation.

Monday afternoon the Fields left our home, but we're hoping to visit them in November (and perhaps tour Washington, D.C.). I can't wait to see all of them again. Their conversation is lively and encouraging. God has blessed me family with wonderful friends.