realityczech

on your person

Thu, 21 Jan 2010 10:56:50 +0100

yesterday’s theme for whiskerino was on your person. we were to take a picture of what we carry with us every day.

my list was:
_ iphone
_ “wallet” (i don’t have a wallet-i just carry money and cards in my front pocket)
_ wife

i don’t really carry her every day.

_______________

earlier this week i was directed to this amazing piece of work by sarah mullally.

she collaborated with the church under the bridge in waco, texas to photograph different people from the congregation and what they keep on them. that doesn’t seem too compelling until you realize that this church is literally under a bridge and many of the congregation are homeless or mentally ill. it is stunningly simple and equally profound as people hold things like a childhood picture, a cowboy hat, an old 7-up bottle handed down from a grandmother.

the stories are simple yet compelling to see what people with little count as valuable. If we were reduced to carrying on our person everything we owned what would it be?

an iphone?
my mac?
endless amounts of cords?
a 17 pound study bible?
eight pens with which to underline said bible?
a digital camera?

or

a picture of a loved one.
a watch given by a family member.
the word of God in its easiest most transportable form.

the more i have the more i think i can’t live without.

top nine_moments

Thu, 31 Dec 2009 09:51:54 +0100

|nine|
socal trip (jan 2-5)

this was em and my first trip after getting engaged. it was just great to be out on the open road with hours available to talk about what we wanted our wedding to be like. we did our self-portrait engagement photos there as well.

oh, and the bachelor parties and wedding were fun as well!

top nine_books

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 16:28:55 +0100

|nine|
watchmen|alan moore & dave gibbons

obviously my definition of book is a bit loose this year. watchmen is a graphic novel. it is probably the most ground breaking and significant graphic novel of all time. being a traditional comic book fan, i’d never really been interested in graphic novels until watchmen the movie was coming out. i had put off reading this for years and was able to borrow it from a friend in czech.

it takes an entirely new twist on what being a super hero is really like. there are many comics that do that now, but at the time, this graphic novel was groundbreaking.

|eight|
under the dome|stephen king

i have read every novel stephen king has written. i love his character development and his bizarre creativity. i love his desire and attempts at writing epic novels and series. this was supposed to be his next epic novel. at 1074 pages it had the chance.

it fell short of epic status, but was really good.

in the stand, king takes an in depth look at good versus evil on a national stage. a deadly epidemic kills off almost the entire us population. for those that survive some are being called to good and some to evil. under the dome investigates the same idea on a much smaller scale. on a crisp october day in a small town in maine an invisible dome appears closing off the town from the outside world. as the days move forward the town becomes polarized and the battle is on.

|seven|
taking charge of your fertility|toni weschler, mhp

ok. vulnerability time.

em and i decided that i would include this into the top nine. it legitimately is number seven on the list, but when you are talking about birth control it is always important to make sure your wife is ok with all of cyberspace knowing what route you are taking!

before getting engaged i had no idea that there were alternatives to “the pill”. and, to be honest, i just assumed that is what we’d do. but at the advice of a few friends, em had started looking into alternative birth controls and specifically what is called “the fertility awareness method (or FAM for short--i know many of you would say its also called pregnancy!)”. so we both started reading this book.

let me just say God is brilliant in the way he designed the body, specifically the female body. without getting into details it is very easy to know when the woman is ovulating and when it is “safe”. it takes a bit of work, but there are definitely signals that the body gives off and with constant observations of those cues one can know how to manage their own fertility.

we currently know four or five other couples who have been practicing this method and so far none of them have gotten pregnant until they wanted to. consequently, that is the other benefit...since you know when you are ovulating it also works well for pregnancy achievement!

this book is very insightful and i’d highly recommend it if you are interested in alternative methods of birth control!

|six|
surprised by hope|n.t. wright

i have always loved the theme of hope. we live in a world in which there are many who have no hope. whether it is illness or the economy or war, life doesn’t always leave us with a hopeful sense.

as one of the foremost theologians on the resurrection, n.t. wright ties everything that we should hope for into the future resurrection, which is predicated by the resurrection of jesus christ.

we can have hope, because some day our bodies will be raised to heaven.
we can have hope of the resurrection, because jesus was resurrected first.

|five|
1776|david mccullough

if i wasn’t so lazy, i could’ve taken the two more classes that i needed for a history minor at asu. i love history!

david mccullough is a brilliant historian bringing history to life and giving us an inside look into what really happened in history.

one of the things i appreciated most about this book is its relatively unbiased take on the revolutionary war. as an american, it is hard to look at the british fairly. i struggle to see their side very well (the opposite surely would be true had the british won the war and i was now writing saviour instead of savior).

1776 sticks to its title and doesn’t give a full account of the war. while this was disappointing at first it put emphasis on just how important and crucial the events in 1776 were to the americans winning the revolutionary war.

|four|
the reason for God|timothy keller

having taken an apologetic course at phoenix seminary, read plenty of books on apologetics and even taught on apologetics in czech, i thought there wasn’t really anything new that i could read.

timothy keller proved me wrong.

the reason for God takes a fresh new look at some of life’s biggest questions and skeptics biggest objections to the reality of God. he reviews the objections using real life situations and questions from his twenty-plus years as pastor in new york city.

it is a must read for any christian who wants to know answers to some of their own doubts and for non-christians who have objections to the existence of God.

|three|
traveling mercies|anne lamott

anne lamott can somehow be reverent and irreverent on the same page. her thoughts on faith and her own journey to find jesus is hilarious and bizarre all at the same time. her writing is a personal inspiration and i look forward to reading more of her work in the future.

|two|
the old man and the sea|ernest hemingway

this is just simply a classic novella.

i always say that you can know how well a book is written if you love the book that is written about something that you don’t necessarily enjoy. i felt that way about the grapes of wrath and i feel that way about the old man and the sea.

i love stories of hope and inspiration and i also love father-son relationships. obviously, this isn’t a father-son relationship, but the way santiago and manolin interact with one another has all the elements of a beautiful father-son relationship.

oh, and the majority of the book is about an old man on a perilous quest to catch a gigantic fish! rarely before have i been so hopeful for a man and his quest.

|one|
the mystery of marriage|mike mason

there are many reasons to love a book. you can be captivated by the story or the characters or the theme. you can love a book for its groundbreaking theme or for the sheer entertainment value. or you can love a book for how it changes you.

the mystery of marriage changed me.

well, i don’t know how much it has changed me, but it has prepared me and given me a context with which to place all of my thoughts, feelings, hopes, desires, disappointments, etc as i entered into marriage and now having been married for eight months.

it is one of the most beautifully written books i’ve read on love and easily the best book i’ve ever read on marriage. mason uses beautiful imagery to explain the loss of independence, the beauty of interdependence, the mystery of oneness, the bonding nature of sex, and other marriage themes.

the quote that has always stuck with me is, “the heart of a thirty year old man is like a densely populated city. nothing new can be built in it without something being torn down.” having been thirty when em and i were married, i never realized all the independence and stubbornness that has been built in my heart over those years. in order to put emily in her proper place, lots of demolition has had to be done and continues to be done in my heart. i hope that what is being built in it is sacrifice, love, understanding, and gentleness...

top nine _movies

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 07:18:04 +0100

its again important to remember that these are the top movies that i saw in oh-nine. for those who read my blog faithfully some of these movies were covered in my oscar award posts, so sorry for the redundancy.

|nine|
away we go

i was a bit skeptical that john krasinski could play anyone but jim (from the office) and that maya rudolph could play someone subdued, but they both were great in this unassuming movie. there was nothing flashy about this film, but it kept me laughing frequently (especially when they visited his hippie-new age friend) and had good dialogue and some decent cinematography.

|eight|
sherlock holmes

i went to this movie with very low expectations and was very surprised. i have never read any sherlock holmes, so i can’t verify the accuracy of the character, but from what i do understand about him, this movie was quite clever in the way they showed holmes’ deductive reasoning. they did a brilliant job of allowing us “in the mind” of holmes as he explains either what he is going to do or how he figured out a clue. quite fun. they did such a good job that, as the movie progressed, i found myself being more perceptive and noticing little clues.

the interplay between robert downey jr and jude law is great, and rachel mcadams plays a fiery thief who has holmes’ number.

overall, very entertaining and fun.

|seven|
unforgiven

i feel a bit ashamed that one) i saw this movie seventeen years after it came out and two) that it was only the seventh best movie i saw this year. maybe it had to do with the fact that i saw it so late after it came out. maybe i just wasn’t in the mood for a western. whatever it was, this is where it landed.

obviously this movie has one of the greatest casts of all times and is a classic. the acting is excellent and eastwood shows us (for the first time, really) how great of a director he is (and will be).

|six|
the soloist

robert downey jr shows up for the second time in this top nine here in the soloist. there were many people who didn’t like this movie, but i was so stirred by it. over the past four years or so my heart for the poor has grown and this film did an excellent job of opening a window into the world of homelessness, but even more so, into the world of the mentally handicapped. it shows us the deep connectedness between those two worlds as well and the maddening futility (at times) in trying to help the homeless.

there are moments where i felt the despair of the characters and the helplessness felt by downey’s character. it is a truly moving film.

|five|
star trek

i am not a trekkie.
i’m not even sure i spelled trekkie correctly.
this is the first star trek movie i’ve ever seen.
i don’t think i’ve ever watched a full episode of the tv show.
i loved this movie.

but being a fan of pop-culture and understanding enough of the trek-world, this movie nailed it. the cast was great (even thought it was hard to not see syler in zachary quinto’s spock character). the story line was fun and fast moving in classic jj abrams style.

it’s not going to make me go back and watch the previous movies or stop on the tv show when i’m channel surfing, but i’ll surely go see the next one.

|four|
frost/nixon

(taken from my february third review)
i never thought a movie about an interview would be good.
i am usually pleased with ron howard movies.
i like great acting.

well, the second and third statements proved false the first one.

frost/nixon, a movie about the famous david frost interview with richard m. nixon, is compelling. it tells the story of british talk show host david frost and his pursuit of a confession from president nixon.

i was fascinated to watch the interplay between frost (michael sheen) and nixon (frank langella). the slow panning back and forth between the two during the final interview adds drama to an already dramatic scene and langella’s portrayal of nixon is brilliant.

ron howard does so much to make a movie about an interview not only interesting, but also human. there are times in which i begin to feel for nixon, but times when you really feel the hated towards him. especially significant is the character, james reston jr (sam rockwell) whose disdain for the president and sole desire to see him brought down captures the hurt and pain felt by many during this period.

the scene in which frost finally gets his confession, is reminiscent of (and i’d even say better than) the famous confession scene from a few good men. I guess reality is always better than make believe!

|three|
the blindside

this is the first of two movies with redemptive story lines in my top three. based on the true story of michael oher, a homeless boy who turns into an all-american offensive lineman and first round draft pick in the nfl with the help of a wealthy family from the other side of memphis.

in honesty, i found myself fighting back tears multiple times throughout the movie. i loved the family dynamic and interaction as they struggled to incorporate this “outsider” into their upper-middle class lives.

the acting isn’t exceptional.
the cinematography isn’t mind-blowing.
but a great story doesn’t come around very often, especially a redemptive one.

|two|
bella

bella is the story of three lives dramatically changed by one fateful moment. jose (played by eduardo verastegui) has just signed on to play football in europe on a multi-million dollar contract when tragedy occurs and his life is changed forever. after a few years in prison, jose is working at his brothers restaurant and befriends the newly fired nina. their friendship will change more than just their two lives.

the acting and story is exceptional. it is refreshing to watch a movie with a redemptive ending and also to see a movie about a love relationship that is strictly plutonic between a man and a woman; to show that a man can love a woman and want nothing more than her best.

|one|
slumdog millionaire

i can’t believe i saw this movie in oh-nine. it felt like i saw it forever ago. one of my favorite movies ever.

(taken from my january thirtieth review of the film)
wow! this movie was absolutely brilliant.

the story itself is charming and refreshing. by no means an innocent love story, this movies tracks the love affair of two young indians that verges on the edge of tragic and disturbing at times, but is equally redeeming.

the cinematography was fabulous, accentuating the dread and despair of slum life with the vibrant colors of indian culture.

the acting is actually great as well. they are a group of unknowns who blend seamlessly as a collective whole. i really wouldn’t say that one stands out above the rest, but that isn’t because of mediocrity, but rather because of the exceptional acting of all. its obvious why they won outstanding performance by a cast in a motion picture.

top nine_verses

Mon, 28 Dec 2009 08:57:09 +0100

|nine|
it is the Lord who goes before you. He will be with you; he will not leave you or forsake you. do not fear or be dismayed
deuteronomy thirtyone8

i heard this verse during our time at missions training and it is just a great verse as em and i head out to do God’s work. He is the one who goes before us and as we think about leaving family and friends and going and sharing the hope of Christ with those who are antagonistic to the good news we have to remember that God is one who goes before us into this place and prepares the place for us.

|eight|
Him we proclaim, warning everyone and teaching everyone with all wisdom, that we may present everyone mature in Christ.
colossians one28

this was one of the theme verses for josiah venture fall conference this year and while em and i were in the states, we still listened to the sessions (ok, well, we actually only have listened to the opening session). but, i want to be a man who is a disciple of Christ and makes disciples of Christ who make disciples of Christ who make disciples of Christ...

|seven|
but in your hearts honor Christ the Lord as holy, always being prepared to make a defense to anyone who asks you for a reason for the hope that is in you; yet do it with gentleness and respect.
first peter three15

this was my theme verse for the year. every year our church in cesky tesin gives everyone a book make with a verse on it to be a sort of theme verse for the year. there have been years in which the verse has been directly correlated to my years and others just loosely. i’d say this one was more of a loose connection this year, but was a constant reminder to set Christ aside in my heart and to be ready to share about the hope that Christ gives me to anyone who asks.

|six|
do nothing from rivalry or conceit, but in humility count others more significant than yourselves.
philippians two3

there is a great chance that this could be a top verse every year. i am selfish. i am prideful. i think of myself first. my prayer is to be a man who thinks of others as more important than myself. that i would be a giver of my life to all that i come in contact with. if you are reading this and you know me, then you know that this isn’t a pervasive quality of my life. i see Christ working in me and changing me and making me more like Himself who “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but make Himself nothing”.

|five|
gracious words are like a honeycomb, sweetness to the soul and health to the body.
proverb sixteen24

i have a great tendency to place guilt on others or to use it as a motivator. i have noticed this in myself greatly over the last year. one of my prayers for the year is that i would be a man of grace. that i would be quick to extend grace and forgiveness and that gracious words would come forth from my mouth. unforgiveness and guilt poison the soul. i want to be one who gives life.

|four|
husbands, love your wives, as Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her.
ephesians five25

you may start to notice a trend in these last four verses. nothing shows you your sin like marriage. getting married is like having someone run a scalpel down your chest, peel away the skin, crack your breast bone and then peel you open. did i mention how much i love emily? getting married is exposing. everywhere you go there is a mirror showing yourself your sin and your great self-centeredness. a hurricane starts in ones heart as two powerful winds converge: the wind of despair in seeing how much of a sinner that i am and a wind of love and grace that comes in realizing that in all of this frailty and sin, this person still chooses me.

my call as a husband is to love my wife (the easy part) and to give myself up for her (the hard part).

|three|
husbands, live with your wives in an understanding way, showing honor to the woman as the weaker vessel, since they are heirs with you of the grace of life, so that your prayers may not be hindered.
first peter three7

it is interesting how much men complain that they don’t understand their wives. it seems like an impossible task at times. i often feel like our expectation as husbands is that our wives be more understandable. but the verse here puts the onus on us! it is our responsibility to live in an understanding way with our wives. if any men out there have figured out how to do this please email me at nhughes@josiahventure.com!

|two|
husbands, love your wives, and do not be harsh with them.
colossians three18

i am so harsh. i knew that i spoke my mind often and that i can be forceful, but i never realized how harsh i am. this has become even more evident as a husband. sometimes i speak so harshly to em. and what i’ve noticed is that the harsher i speak to her the less respect she has for me. what usually kicks off a fight for us is me speaking harshly. i love that God understands this and instructs us to not be harsh to our wives. this may be a top verse for the rest of my life...

|one|
set me as a seal upon your heart, as a seal upon your arm, for love is strong as death, ardor is fierce as Sheol.
song of solomon eight6

from the moment i read this verse as em as i studied song of solomon during our engagement, i loved it. i love the powerful and eternal imagery of sealing my wife upon my heart and upon my arm. love, our marriage really, is as strong as death. i don’t understand what happens really when we die. how our marriage continues or doesn’t continue after death, but the commitment that em and i have made to each other is as strong as death and i seal her upon my heart...