Chronicles of Narnia: Voyage of the Dawn Treader

I'm so glad to see the third Narnia movie (Voyage of the Dawn Treader) making its way into theaters on December 10, 2010. As a high-profile marriage of Christian content and Hollywood artistry, the films made from C.S. Lewis' Narnia books represent an incredible opportunity for the church to catch the attention of the masses as we again pass through the intersection of culture and Christianity.

This time around, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie join forces once again with their royal friend Prince Caspian as they are whisked away on a mysterious mission to the Lone Islands, and beyond. On this bewitching voyage that will test their hearts and spirits, the trio will face magical Dufflepuds, sinister slave traders, roaring dragons and enchanted merfolk. Only an entirely uncharted journey to Aslan's Country – a voyage of destiny and transformation for each of those aboard the Dawn Treader – can save Narnia and all the astonishing creatures in it, from an unfathomable fate.

In the World, Of the World, Until...

UPDATE 6/15/10: Samme was told that 713 people called into CBN and made a 1st time decision for Jesus after his segment ran on the 700 Club!

This is the testimony of a buddy of mine, Samme Palermo, which is being featured on CBN today (6/10/10). Samme enjoyed pleasure-seeking the night away as a DJ, but when his wife became a Christian, his life took a different turn. A great video segment about a great guy.

Gulliver's Travels Trailer

Here is the new trailer for Gulliver's Travels, starring Jack Black, due out December 22, 2010. By the look of the trailer, it appears 20th Century Fox is going for a family-friendly vibe. That's a good thing. If Hollywood did their job right, churches will be able to use the cultural impact of the film (or even merely the promotion of the film) to point to the Christian origins of the story - and thereby get a foot in the door to talk about Christianity.

Gulliver's Travels: Christian Classic

A new Gulliver's Travels movie is coming out in December. In this modernized version, Jack Black stars as Lemuel Gulliver, a free-spirited travel writer who, on an assignment in the Bermuda Triangle, suddenly finds himself a giant among men, when he washes ashore on the hidden island of Liliput, home to a population of tiny people.

Of course, Gulliver's Travels was written by Jonathan Swift, one-time Dean of St. Patricks, Dublin. The fantastical (and very entertaining) adventures are window-dressing for the cleric's satirical commentary on issues of faith and politics.

Coming in the same year as Alice in Wonderland, another Christian classic, 2010 is a banner year for church outreach opportunities that leverage the promotional efforts of Hollywood to impact our communities at the crossroads of culture and Christianity.

Nashville Flood

Some of you who know the ministry is based in the Nashville area have been kind enough to ask how my family and I made it through the recent flood. We did fine. My parents and one of my sisters did experience some property damage related to the flood, but it was not much compared to the multitudes of people who lost everything. This was a 500-year flood event (meaning it is estimated to occur only once in five centuries), and the majority of those that suffered property damage did not have flood insurance. Those are the folks that most desperately need our prayers. Please pray for those in need and those helping them.

Alice in Wonderland Church Movie Night

With the release of the Tim Burton/Johnny Depp Alice in Wonderland to DVD on June 1st, churches across the country have a wonderful opportunity to engage their communities with the Christian heritage of Alice in Wonderland. A church movie night with Walt Disney's new Alice movie might draw in a crowd of both believers and seekers - who would then be surprised to learn how deep the rabbit hole goes with the revelation of what the Reverend Charles Dodgson (author of Alice) was actually saying through his heroine and the Wonderland characters. Futterwacken dance lessons optional.

How Lost Lost Its Way

For a TV series that seemed so ripe with issues and imagery of faith, in my humble opinion, Lost certainly lost its way. One way in which the show failed was in refusing to provide answers to some of the big (and small) questions it raised. To wit, the embed below. As another blogger wrote, I was okay with the way Lost ended... until I saw this.