Scott Freeman

Because Amy requested it, and much to my wife’s chagrin, here are the lyrics to my country song.

Understand, this was 15+ years ago, it was written while sitting in my Greek Philosophy class, and was a weak attempt at satire.  I do not advocate drinking to excess and shooting off body parts. If you are humor challenged you should probably stop reading now.

Sometime today or tomorrow morning when I finish work I will be going on vacation.  Therefore, there will be a series of light-hearted posts over the next 10 days or so.  My mind is fried.

Anyway, here goes:

The Jukebox plays, lonely in the night

I’ve tried so hard to make it right

Baby, I don’t know why you had to go

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my toes

It’s been so long, the days are still hard

Your pink flamingos still stand in the yard

They stand their guard waiting for you to appear

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my ears

I can’t describe this pain that I feel

I always thought that our love was real

But now you’re gone, taken your own ship

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my lips

(Chorus) Oh, I’m down on my luck

I’m lonely and drunk

It breaks my heart

As I shoot off my body parts

To know she’s gone

And I’m alone

When we first met it felt like a storybook

I fell in love that very first look

When you left you said you no longer cared

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my hair

I threw away the bed, it reminds me of you

I sleep on the floor, beside my dog “Boo”

He keeps me warm, but he can’t take your place

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my face

(Repeat Chorus)

It’s cold today, the rain is falling outside

No storm can match the tears I’ve cried

When we were together I felt the best

I think I’ll get drunk and shoot off my chest

I stand here alone, my gun is now empty

Because you’re gone there’s not much left of me

“Excuse me, madam, can you give me a ride?

I really think that I’m too drunk to drive.”

Copyright 1991 Scott Freeman Music

Feedback?  Do I have a hit on my hands?  Any changes? Suggestions for a title?

With Patrice gone, all remaining rockers have a chance.  But, with last night’s show we see that nothing is certain.  I’m afraid that we might see one of my favorite’s go home:

Lukas Rossi–Lithium: If mumbling, incoherent cocky front-men are what you are searching for (and I’m getting the impression that is the case) then Lukas is your man.  For the life of me, I cannot see the appeal.  Dilana did this in week one and blew the doors off of the place. But then again, she can actually sing.  Can anybody help me see why the band likes this guy so much?  They talk about range.  What range?  If he is there guy they will have an even more limited shelf-life than they already have.

Magni–I Alone: Now, here’s a guy who can actually sing.  Magni was tremendous bringing energy and vitality to one of my favorite tunes of the ’90′s.  I don’t think he has a chance of winning unless they want to go in a more serious direction.  He’d be a great choice but Tommy has more pull than Jason, I’m afraid.

Ryan Star–Clocks: This guy has moved into my top 3.  He’s my favorite male performer left and last night proved that he has what it takes to be a serious contender.  His performance was astounding, hitting the high notes with precision and commanding the stage.  I bought his album last week on iTunes and he is skilled at piano rawk, ala Ben Folds or Keane.  I’m not sure if Supernova would bring out his strengths, however.

Storm Large–Bring Me to Life: Sigh, I love Storm but I’m afraid she is in danger of going home.  She has dropped back in the pack over the last couple of weeks and last night’s song choice did not help her chances.  I thought she was incredible but it’s obvious that the band has lost enthusiasm for her. I hope she gets another week but it’s obvious that her days are numbered.

Toby Rand–Rebel Yell: Was it just me or was he channeling Lukas last night?  Performance style, swagger and mumbling were hallmarks of this performance.  I wasn’t impressed but I still like him.  And I’m really beginning to like his chances.  He’s likeable, he’d help Tommy score chicks (pulling all the girls on-stage was a shrewd move) and he can perform anything.  If they decide that they need a good male vocalist to front their band then he is their best choice.

Dilana–Mother, Mother: Putting the missteps of the last week behind her Dilana showed why she has been the front-runner all year long.  She is far and away the best performer and if this band is serious about staying together longer than an album and a six-month tour, then she is the one.  Her performance was inspired and one of the best overall of the season.

Here’s how it shakes out to me:

Repeat Performance: Dilana (or Lukas)

Bottom Three: Lukas, Storm and Magni

Going Home: Magni (It could be Storm if they decide to overlook Magni’s repeated return to the Bottom 3)

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In other TV news, did anyone watch Fox’s Celebrity Duets last night? Was that brutal or what?  Somebody needs to stop Simon Cowell from creating shows.  Stick to American Idol, buddy.  That’s what you do best.

A great night of witty banter and trash talk made for a memorable inaugural Blogger Bowl Draft.  I’m still a little cheesed that the husband-wife team scored the first two slots and I was jammed all the way back at #8.

I’m not very pleased with the overall tone of my team.  Nothing like my church league.  Here’s how my team shapes up:

Round 1: Ronnie Brown–He’s ranked as high as #5 on some lists.  And he won’t be sharing the ball with that toker this year.

Round 2: Lamont Jordan–He’s a hoss but I’m not completely confident here.

Round 3: Willis McGahee–He knows that he is the best back in the league.  Too bad nobody agrees with him.  Still, he will pull in the yardage.

Round 4: Eli Manning–When he pulled that little stunt 3 years ago during the draft I said I would never select him.  I eat crow.

Round 5: Roy Williams–Hopefully he now has a quarterback who belongs in the NFL.

Round 6: Matt Jones–Drafted too early but I wasn’t letting Borland get him in both of my leagues.  With Jimmy Smith’s retirement he could be the man.  This is my heart pick.
Round 7: Dominick Rhodes–Here’s hoping he can hang on to his starting job.

Round 8: Joe Horn–Good middle-rounder.

Round 9: Laurence Maroney–Corey Dillon won’t last.  Here is your rookie of the year.

Round 10: Jerry Porter–Good pick here.

Round 11: Ben Roethlisberger–He probably won’t a great fantasy qb, but he makes a nice back-up.

Round 12: Mike Bell–Here’s hoping he hangs on to the starting job in Denver.

Round 13: Kevin Curtis–Should emerge as the #2 in StL.

Round 14: Phillip Rivers–Roll the dice.

Round 15: Marcus Pollard–I have to draft a TE.  That’s the rules.

Round 16: Cincinnati D–I need a D too.

Round 17: Sebastien Janikowski–Rule number 1 of fantasy football: never draft a kicker before the last round.

Again, I’m not all that jazzed here.   Compare this to my church league:

Shaun Alexander
Ronnie Brown
Larry Fitzgerald
Cadillac Williams
Terrell Owens
Daunte Culpepper
Mike Bell
Joey Galloway
Ben Roethlisberger
Deuce McAllister
Jerry Porter
Wali Lundy
Braylon Edwards
Phillip Rivers
Kellen Winslow Jr.
Eagles D
Lawrence Tynes

Now, that team will play for the championship.

Thoughts?

I’m different. I know that.

I always have been. You can ask any of my readers who have known me since my high school days: I march to a different drummer.

Somehow, God uses that for good, I think. But since, I’m in the mode of full disclosure, I thought there was more that I should tell you.

I was a horrible student. I hated directed learning. I loved to read, loved to learn. I just hated being told what to study. As a result, my mind typically wandered in classes.

In college I majored in Philosophy. Most of my classes I would listen intermittently while writing stupid stuff in my notebooks. I have a few of those remaining and thought I would share with you some of what I wrote. I’m not proud.
This is from my Greek Philosophy class (fall 1991, I’m 23, next to last semester of college):

• Why ask why? Because it’s my friggin’ nature. Why? Beats the heck out of me.
• Lucretius–wrote some poem I need to know about
• Legs do not a body make, but they are a good start
• I stand naked and bleeding with only my countenance for clothing. The old man in the coonskin hat points me in a direction I do not want to go. I’ve been there before. My fate sends me there again for man cannot return to a place he’s never been. I stumble forward using only the blood-red light that precedes me. Where life begins so must it end.
• If only I knew what he was talking about, I would take notes
• Why am I still sitting here? Maybe it’s because I hang on every word Dr. Frothingham says. Maybe it’s because I really get a rush for Greek philosophy. Maybe it’s because of the chick sitting next to me. Maybe it’s because I don’t want to stand. Maybe I don’t have a reason. That’s probably the most accurate answer. If I had to have a reason for everything I did I would still be sitting her. Well, I am still sitting here, but you get the point. What is the point? Is there a reason to anything? There’s no point to what I’m writing. I mean, why worry about the deficit? Let’s take some money, buy some more mints, print up a whole wad of cash and give it to the government. If we need more money, why don’t we just make more? Let’s take some of this new money, pay off the deficit and put the rest in CD’s. When we build up enough interest we can buy Japan. Then, after shipping them all to Bangladesh, except for any of the good-looking women, we can loot the place for anything that might be beneficial to us. Then we will have that much more money that we could put in some kind of federal reserve and we could all quit our jobs.
• Phythagora–used math–reason? He presupposes it would make my life hell.
• A Poem: Well, the Big Man’s coming and He’s looking for you/He’s gonna find out if you’re naughty or true/It won’t be pretty you can be sure/Only the good will survive The Rapture, The Rapture/Wafting to the clouds on the wings of love/Looking on the heathen down from above/People left on earth due to sin’s allure/Will be mighty confused during The Rapture, The Rapture
• If these guys are so smart, why are they all dead?
• Potential band names: Diaspora Solipsism, Dyslexic Epistemae, Tender Blender
• This is my third semester of philosophy. I have one more to go. How will I afford therapy? The strange looks when I tell people I am a philosophy major are, I believe, justified. Maybe the fact that I am the only declared philosophy majore I know of should tell me something. What it should tell me is that I have a sado-masochistic personality type that deviates dramatically from that which is perceived as normal acceptable behavior. What is the point of this stuff? What do I know now that I didn’t know two years ago, that is now a major difference in my life? Let’s take a quick review of the classes:

• Existentialism–Yes! I enjoyed it immensely and am using it in everyday life.

• Good and Evil–All I learned was that Nietzshe was an idiot and that women don’t have a clue. But I knew that beforehand.

• Effective Thinking–I learned that if you try to think effectively, you usually don’t. If I had been, I wouldn’t have taken the class in the first place.

• Philosophy of Psychology–I learned how to spell psychology, reaffirmed my belief that Freud was an idiot, and found out that I am not a narcissist. I didn’t need a three hour course for that.

• Philosophy of Social Sciences–Come On! I learned that I could fake my way through an entire semester and score an “A.”

• Greek Philosophy–Enough Said

• Psychology of Religion–My classmates make learning impossible

• Independent Study–This is fine cause I don’t have to deal with anybody. But I’m not doing anything I wouldn’t do on my own time.

• Intro to Philosophy–I almost forgot this one. Largely because I don’t remember it.

• Name: Plato of Athens Date of Birth 2/30/48 B.C.

Height: 7’4 Weight: 385

Favorite Soap Opera: Another World

Favorite Book: Decline of the West–Oswald Spengler; Any Max Lucado

Least Favorite Movie: Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. “I should have had that                 part but they gave it to that moron Socrates.”

Favorite Album: Soundtrack from Xanadu

Favorite Saying: “Hey, what’s the big idea?”

So, there’s proof in the pudding that my kids don’t stand a chance. I didn’t include half of what I wrote that semester. I even omitted the lyrics to my first country western song.

I love books, so I am excited about this particular tag from both Tracy and Jason.

Here goes:

1. One book that changed your life:
That’s tough.  Ragamuffin Gospel did a number on me.  There is so much in Lewis, Tozer and others that impacted me.  Yet, right now it has to be Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship. It came along at just the right time in my life.  It’s the most important book I’ve read in the last 10 years.

2. One book that you’ve read more than once:
This list is short.  I don’t reread books usually.  Nor do I like to watch movies over and over. I’ve read Camp’s book 4 times in the last 2 years.  I’ve also read Pat Conroy’s Lords of Discipline several times.

3. One book you’d want on a desert island:
The Worst-Case Scenario Survival Handbook or this one looks really good.  Otherwise, maybe Lewis’ Narnia series.

4. One book that made you laugh: 
Little Green Men by Christopher Buckley. 

5. One book that made you cry: Suzanne’s Diary for Nicholas by James Patterson.  More importantly We Wish to Inform You that Tomorrow We Will Be Killed With Our Families: Stories From Rwanda.

6. One book you wish had been written: 
Peace: How the Christian Church Resisted Militarism and Embraced Pacifism. 

7. One book you wish had never been written:
So many to choose from.  Pick anything from Robert Shuller and the self-love, prosperity group.

8. One book you’re currently reading:
Thy Kingdom Come :How the Religious Right Distorts the Faith and Threatens America: An Evangelical’s Lament by Randall Balmer.

9. One book you’ve been meaning to read:
Dallas Willard’s The Divine Conspiracy

10. Tag five others:
How about some readers: Matt Elliott, Jeff Richardson, Phil Wilson, Greg Kendall-Ball, and Travis Stanley

If you are a member of my blog fantasy football league remember that our draft is this Monday night at 9 PM Central. 

I think I have included everybody that requested a team.  I do have room for 2 more teams if anyone else is interested.  Here’s the deal: It has to be 2 teams.  We have 10 teams now.  So, if two of you are out there, let me know and I’ll hook you up.

Here’s who is lined up:

Johnny Jets

Matt Wisdom

Phil Wilson

Chris Borland

Jon Mower

Greg Kendall-Ball

Jason Bybee

Darren Knowles

Ruthie Knowles

And yours truly.

On second thought, this isn’t a fantasy football league.   It’s an evangelical tour-de-force.

Anybody else got the guts to belly up?  Let the smack begin.

I figure if I ever run for public office this blog will be dredged up to discredit me. So, I feel it is important that I come clean now with a disturbing truth about me: I love 70′s and early 80′s soft rock.

There, I said it. I’m not ashamed. You probably like a lot of it, as well. Come out and stand proud with me. Barry Manilow rules.

To ease the pain of coming forth with such a potential life-change confession, allow me to give you 20 of my top guilty pleasures for your listening enjoyment.

You’ll thank me later.

After your family disowns you for listening to this stuff.

1. Weekend in New England (Barry Manilow) I still blame my sister for this, but I’m a huge Manilow fan. Nobody sings a love song better, and this is one of his best. “When will our eyes meet?/ When can I touch you?/ When will this strong yearning end?/ And when can I hold you again?” Doesn’t that just rip your heart out? Topped out at #10 in 1976.

2. Read ‘Em and Weep (Barry Manilow) The only thing better than a Manilow love song is a Manilow love song penned by Jim Steinman. This version is far superior to the Meatloaf one. You can find this on Barry Manilows Greatest Hits III. That’s 3! Pop genius, my friends.

3. I Am…I Said (Neil Diamond) Now, it’s cool to be a Diamond fan and you will not find a more touching song of loneliness anywhere. Although, I’m not convinced that the chair didn’t hear. I wonder if it just wasn’t listening. It topped out at #4 in 1971. “Done Too Soon” was the flip side. Another great song that somehow links Jesus Christ and Fanny Brice together.

4. Superstar (The Carpenters) You cannot deny the silky beauty of Karen Carpenter’s voice and when she lights in to “Don’t you remember you told me you love me baby/You said you’d be coming back this way again baby/Baby, baby, baby, baby, oh, baby, I love you I really do” I get chills. Taken from us too soon, this is one of the greatest voices ever. #2 in 1971

5. Making Love Out of Nothing At All (Air Supply) Another Steinman lyric that is so over the top you just have to smile. Air Supply reigns as the premiere early 80′s cheese-meisters. This is their Mona Lisa. I still remember jumping up the first time I saw the video when the girl turns her car around upon hearing this song to get to the Air Supply show just in time. #2 in 1983.
6. Just As I Am (Air Supply) They followed that up two years later with a sonic tour de force of unconditional love. This song is too often overlooked in their canon of soft pop excellence. #19 in 1985.

7. It’s All Coming Back To Me Now (Celine Dion) First of all let me clear up a few points: I like 3 Celine Dion songs, that it (and not that god-awful Titanic song); yes, she’s 90′s music, but she embodies the heart of 70′s schlock, and this is another timeless Jim Steinman lyric. #2 in 1996.
8. The Only One (Lionel Richie) Forgive him for thrusting Nicole upon us, he is the consummate balladeer. This song is buried on his excellent second solo disc Can’t Slow Down released in 1983. I still remember thinking about this one girl everytime I heard this song. Obviously, she wasn’t The Only One. But my 17 year old self sure thought she was.

9. I Still Can’t Get Over Loving You (Ray Parker, Jr.) I listened to this ode to unrequited love incessantly back in 1984.  It took me awhile to realize that this great love song that I dug so much was really kind of creepy.  The dude is threatening this chick!  “I’m getting mad at you girl/Don’t you ever try to leave/It’ll be the last thing you ever do”  The fact that is buried in a song that seems so sweet lends to its genius.  #12 in 1984.

10. You Can’t Change That (Raydio) Before Ray Parker went on to solo success he fronted this 70s R&B group, the minor league Commodores.  But they churned out some pop nuggets, this being one of them.  This is really the precursor to “I Still Can’t Get Over Loving You.”  Seriously, this dude is a stalker. #9 in ’79.
11. A Woman Needs Love (Ray Parker, Jr. & Raydio) Sure, he’s creepy but the man can croon, ya’ll.  Here he warns a dude that he better take care of his main squeeze.  No doubt, Ray is sitting outside this couple’s house with binoculars, a cooler stocked with beanie-weinies and Colt .45, and a Magnum just waiting for this dude to mess up.  #4 in 1981.

12. Seasons in the Sun (Terry Jacks) This may very well be the third worst lyric of all time (behind Bryan Adams Have You Ever Loved a Woman and John Mayer’s Your Body is a Wonderland) but it’s pure pop goodness.  I defy you to listen to this song about a dude about to crap out and not singing it the rest of the day with a smile on your face.  It’s a feat to sing a song about telling your little girl goodbye and feel good doing it.  To think part of these lyrics were written by Rod McKuen.  #1 in 1974.

14. Alone Again (Naturally) (Gilbert O’Sullivan) This downer of a song will make you want to join the main character and hurl yourself off a tower.  It’s a great companion piece to Seasons in the Sun. #1 in 1972.

15. Everything I Own (Bread) In case you aren’t depressed enough after the last tune, here is the ultimate bummer song.  I first truly heard this in a class at a youth rally.  It was one of those manipulative classes that is often the stock and trade of youth ministers.  You know, get ‘em wailing to the baptistry type of classes.  I was sure my parents were going to die before I got home. #5 in 1972
16. Love Conquers All (Seals and Crofts) I can still see the closing scene of One on One with Robby Benson and Annette O’Toole playing basketball with a couple of kids. This was one of my favorite movies of the 70′s and this end track was a fitting homage to the beauty of love and basketball.  Where have you gone, Robby Benson?

17. The Goodbye Girl (David Gates) Really, David?  Then where is my sequel? Marsha Mason left holding Richard Dreyfuss’ guitar standing in the rain is not proof enough that he comes back.  If he became a star he could buy another stinking guitar, right?  I want closure.

18. Don’t Give Up On Us (David Soul) Who knew Hutch could sing?  But he belts out a beauty on this 1977 hit that shot to the top of the charts.  Apparently, his plea to a lover to stick with the relationship did not apply to his US patriotism.  He is now a citizen of the UK.  I’m not mad.  He did leave us this morsel of pop confection.

19. Who’s Holding Donna Now? (Debarge) Shortly after getting my license I remember sneaking off to the mall to buy this LP, Rhythm of the Night. This tune was a standout and peaked at number 6 in 1985.

20. Sometimes When We Touch (Dan Hill) What better way to close this playlist than an overly dramatic, emotionally overwrought song of non-commitment.  Is there a more beautiful tribute to riding the fence on a relationship than this?  He ain’t committing to the relationship but it sure sounds good.

What about you? Any thoughts or memories on these songs?  Will you still vote for me?  There are so many more songs I could throw out there.

For the record:

• If a scantily clad super-model plops herself down on my desk, I’m probably going to lust.
• If I accidently cut my leg off with a power tool, I’m probably going to mutter some choice words.
• If someone impersonates me and begins to earn money speaking at NRA rallies, I’m probably going to get angry.
• If someone tells me an off-color joke that is the funniest thing ever told featuring midgets, tambourines and hot air balloons, I’m probably going to laugh.

I’m human. I sin. I know that to do any of those things would be wrong. But I’d probably do it anyway. If we sit here long enough you could probably propose an absurd enough scenario where I would succumb to temptation.

The fact that I would fall under the right circumstances does not negate the fact that these are still sins.
So, if:

• Osama bin Laden was able to mask his identity, smuggle across the US border, elude all of our federal agents and crime-fighters and find himself holed up in our house when we come home to find him unexpectedly wielding a knife at my wife and children I would probably fight to the death.

It amazes me how some people will immediately dismiss the idea of non-violence when we see first-hand that it is the way of Christ. For some, in the church, non-violence is a heresy. (And that’s not hyperbole).

Yet those of us who subscribe to a non-violent view, who believe unswervingly that that is the way of Christ in this world, who denounce all war as unjust have just as much a say in the kingdom.

You may believe that there are times when violence is justified but I encourage you not to turn a deaf ear to our voices.

Invariably when talk turns to non-violence, people trot out that same old tired extreme scenario, as if the extreme situation would somehow invalidate the entire belief.

It as if the burglar in our house somehow trumps the words of Christ to love our enemies, to pray for those who persecute us, to turn the other cheek. The New Testament and the words of Christ are OVERWHELMINGLY slanted toward living a peacable life.

Extreme and/or absurd analogies will not alter that.

To answer the scenario, I would probably kick, scream, bite, wedgie, choke, pummel and good ole fashion jack-slap if pushed in this regard.

But I hope to grow past that. You see, that is my gut fleshly reaction. As I grow in the way of Christ I pray that my reactions to situations will grow to reflect more and more the person of Jesus.

That it will become natural for me to love first.

That it will become natural for me to always consider the peaceful, Christ-like option.

That it will become natural for me to turn the other cheek and embrace and advocate peace.

That is the way of Christ. He responded non-violently, not passively.

To love so completely, so sacrificially is not wimpy or weak-kneed.

It is bold, daring and invites rejection.
The way so many in the church marginalize this view is proof enough of that.

But the way of Christ is counter-cultural, life-changing. Soul-tranforming.

It is the only way to rid this world of violence.

The war to end terror will never end terror. Only the love of Christ can.

Foolish, you say? That’s Jesus, for you.

Now, excuse me. I have a super-model to get off my desk.

There was major movement among the top contestants last night.  It’s really getting interesting at this point.  Dilana is still at the top, but under her is a lot of jostling.

Patrice Pike–Beautiful Thing: Nice song, if you like boring.  There is no way that Cynthia Nixon lasts past tonight.  There is way too much talent ahead of her, and this original song was completely non-descript. She would be swallowed alive fronting this band.

Magni–Smells Like Teen Spirit: Great, I was starting to miss the Nirvana songs.  But Magni was great.  He had complete vocal control over the song and had a great stage presence. 300,000 Icelanders can’t be wrong.  It was a good performance, but he slipped a notch last night.

Ryan Starr–Back of Your Car: I think Ryan has propelled himself into the top 3 with this phenomenal performance of his original song.  He gets better every week and he showed last night that he can write music that would fit Supernova.  His intensity, presence and vocal command provided the song of the night. I’m downloading his solo album today.

Storm Large–Cryin’: Oh, how I love Storm Large.  Last night, she pulled off a song that no one else was willing to try and she was amazing.  However, it did not stand out.  For the second week in a row she has failed to stand out.  I’m afraid she may be fading back into the pack.  She still has the chops and the persona to front this band, but if they are going in the female direction, there is no doubt it’s Dilana.  But she should get props for doing the most difficult song of the week.
Dilana–Every Breath You Take: I’ve exhausted my plaudits for Dilana.  She is far and away the best of this group.  She has consistently brought in one of the top 2-3 performances each week.  Last night was no exception. She delivered this song with naked and heartfelt emotion.  The only thing that could trip her up would be inability to pull off an original song, which she has not done yet.

Toby Rand–Layla: I hated this arrangement.  His showmanship was great but I was completely underwhelmed by his vocals.  I wasn’t impressed.  He stands firmly behind Ryan and Magni at this point.

Lukas Rossi–All These Things That I’ve Done: I just don’t get it.  If punk, whisky-swillin’ swagger is what you want, then he is your choice.  But HE CAN’T SING! I’m afraid he will be one of the final three because the band sees something that I don’t.

So:

Encore: Ryan

Bottom Three: Patrice, Toby and Storm (it hurts to write that.  It should be Lukas)

Going Home: Patrice

Thoughts?

First things first: Prison Break returns tonight with its second season premiere.  Don’t miss it.

Also, Spike Lee’s two-part, four hour documentary on Hurricane Katrina, When the Levees Broke, premieres tonight.  Set your Tivo’s.  It looks compelling.

I set the month of August aside for a return to the world of fiction.  I’ve moved more toward non-fiction in the last few years. Part of the reason was that in the past I had read primarily mysteries and thrillers.  My kinder, gentler self that has emerged in recent years has lost much of my desire for that kind of reading.

But, last month I read The Kite Runner, and realized that I missed delving into stories. So, I set aside this month to read fiction.  I decided to focus on 5 books that have been recommended to me.  I finished the last of those yesterday.  Some thoughts (you can find the Amazon link to each of these books on my sidebar):

The Time Traveler’s Wife is a stunning, beautiful tale.  I’m not much for love stories but this transcends the genre. I devoured this 500+ page book in about 3 days reading deep into the night. I still find myself drawn to the story of Henry and Clare. This novel will tug at your heart without being manipulative.  You will come to care about the characters.  If you haven’t read it, pick it up now.

Never Let Me Go is a dystopian tale told from the perspective of Kathy, a “carer” who looks back on her days in an English boarding school and her relationships through the years with Ruth and Tommy.  There is a mystery here that is not all that difficult to figure out.  I still don’t know if I liked this book or not.  I don’t really think that I did. Sure I get the themes of innocence lost and the dangers of progress but it left me cold.

The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time is narrated by a fifteen year old autistic boy.  He finds his neighbor’s dog mysteriously murdered and set out to solve the crime. The novel is light, unorthodox and creative.  Although I felt that it lagged a little in the second half it was still a delightful read.

The Life of Pi was sent to me by my good friend Jim MacKenzie.  This is a story of faith in the midst of life’s bizarre trials.  It is captivating and, as someone has said, will make you believe in God.  What do you want to believe? The simple story that makes the most sense? Or the story that is the most improbably but the most life-affirming? The story of mere survival? Or the story of overcoming?  Get this book.

The Chosen was sent to me by my good-friend-who-I-haven’t-met Matt Elliott.  I first encountered this classic almost 25 years ago when HBO would play the movie incessantly.  I remember watching it but many of the details were blurry in my mind.  I’ve known people through the years who have read it and loved it.  Now I know what all the fuss is about.  I read it in about a day. This book is a must-read.  It’s themes of faith, friendship and religious differences are timeless.  Danny is raised in an authoratative, legalistic community and becomes friends with Reuven who is a modern Orthodox Jew.  Their disparate backgrounds serve as the context for their growing alliance.  Get this book.

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For those of you who have read The Chosen I have one thought I’d like to share: we all know that our view of our father’s often shape our views of God.  But I see in Danny’s father an allegory for how many of us who are a part of more traditional Christian fellowships might see God as well.  Rabbi Saunders raised Danny in silence, speaking with him only when they are studying the Talmud.  Or when he explodes in anger.

How often do we view God that way?  That He only engages and delights in us when we are doing “holy” things.  We often believe that God is pleased with us only when we are reading the Bible, going to church or praying.  That is one of the reasons why I believe we have created such a legalistic, works-oriented approach to church, prayer and Bible study.  The rest of the time, when we are at work, play or leisure we feel that God is standing by silently (and often disapprovingly) waiting for us to “get our priorities straight.”  And if we stray too far then we invoke His explosive wrath.

But I believe Reuven’s father gives us a greater insight to the character of God as Father: one who delights with us in all of our endeavors, who celebrates in our victories, who encourages our growth, who weeps in our pains and shapes us into someone greater.  God is actively involved in our lives, not just in the “going to meeting” times.

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I guess my month of novels is over early.  Now, I have a very eclectic selection of non-fiction books to read.  Here are the topics: the Kingdom of God, Marijuana growing in Michigan, universalism, and Shakers.

I’m about half-way through The Myth of a Christian Nation. It’s good but really offers nothing new from what I have previously read.  If you have not tackled Yoder, Hauerwas, or Lee Camp’s Mere Discipleship, then this may be a great way for you to dip your toes into that water.  Myth is more accessible than those offerings and really is a primer for these other works.  He seems to borrow heavily from those guys as well as from Richard Hughes’ Myths America Lives By