Founders Conference: Raymond Perron

ARBCA/RBMS missionary in Quebec, Pastor Raymond Perron, recently spoke at the SBC Founders Conference in Owasso, OK, on the subject of "Preaching the Gospel in a Secular Culture." Thanks to the great live-blogging by the guys of TeamPyro, session notes and summaries can be viewed here.

A True Summer Blockbuster!

As I bought my ticket online approximately 9 hours ahead of time, I was already very excited about the movie. To tell you the truth, I bought into the terrific marketing hook, line, and sinker. 2 hours and ten minutes after Transformers began, I was ready to buy myself another ticket to see it again.

Transformers is what every movie that calls itself a summer blockbuster should be! Forget Jack Sparrow; I’ll take this cartoon-turned-action flick over a washed-up pirate tale any day!

[Secretary of Defense Keller]: We're facing war against a technological civilization far superior to our own! Our enemy can take any shape! They could be anywhere!

With some of the best visual and audio effects ever experienced, and action scenes too large to even wrap your mind around, this Michael Bay-directed movie transformed the 1980’s kid’s cartoon into an intense, over-blown sci-fi/action epic for boys and girls of any age, especially those now grown-up fans in their 20’s and 30’s.

Bay takes the viewer on a wild ride from the sands of the Mid-East to urban big-cities of America. With fantastical imagery, heart-pounding action, wonderfully timed comedy, and a familiar “high school dork has mega-crush on teen-aged babe”-love story, this film rouses a medley of emotions bound to leave any movie-goer pleasantly satisfied.

Frankly, I was surprised by the well-roundedness of the film. I expected the amazing CGI and in-your-face cinematography, as I likewise anticipated the Biggie-sized action sequences seen in many of Bay’s other movies (Bad Boys, Armageddon, The Rock, Pearl Harbor, The Island). But it was the acting that truly took me unawares, specifically Shia LaBeouf’s tremendous job playing the primary protagonist. He was funny, fast, and fun to watch. Additionally, his character’s parents gave me the most laughs by their chemistry as a couple with great idiosyncrasies. Kudos to the filmmakers for a job well done with the casting of all the characters!And while I'm sure some critics may fault the writers for the film's cartoonish dialogue (especially bewteen the robots), I argue, "That's the point--it's a live-action cartoon!"

[Optimus Prime]: Before time began, there was... the cube. We know not where it comes from, only that it holds the power to create worlds and fill them... with life. That is how our race was born. For a time we had lived in harmony, but like all great power, some wanted it for good... others, evil. And so, began the war. A war that ravages our planet until it was consumed by death. And the cube was lost to the far reaches of space. We step in across the galaxy hoping to find it and rebuild our home. Searching every star. Every world. And just when all hopes seem lost;message of a new discovery took us to an unknown planet called... Earth. But we were already too late.

These opening lines from the movie allude to the powerful and time-old “Good versus Evil” struggle. This theme is central to the film and is communicated effectively, especially in the movie’s finale when the Autobots and Decepticons battle it out between the skyscrapers. Apart from many contemporary movies produced by post-modern Hollyweird, Transformers contains a concrete conclusion satisfying to the whole audience.

It is also interesting to note the many familiar images from current pop culture and shameless plugs of well-known brands such as Microsoft, HP, Apple, GMC, and Panasonic that litter the movie and allow it to hit its audience dead-on in 21st Century reality.

Exploding with action sequences bigger than Independence Day and faster than Spiderman, and tough enough to make even John McClane wet his pants, Transformers will make my summer of 2007 memorable for years to come. If you haven’t seen it yet, go now! (And if you do, don’t forget to stay through the credits for an additional teaser!) Now please excuse me while I go to see it again.

Moving On Up

Sorry I have been out of the game lately, but I believe I have had good reason: Paige and I have just closed on the purchase of our first house!!

We are praising the Lord for His goodness to us through the entire process. It is quite the improvement from the apartment which we were rapidly outgrowing with our continual accumulation of "stuff" (books, furniture, decorative pieces, books, and more books). We are completely excited to be proud homeowners as we near the 2-year mark of marriage (7/16).

"The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness." Lam. 3:22-23

We look forward to many joyful years in this home. Our hope is that this home may be a place where we grow closer together in our marriage, raise obedient children who come to know Christ, and serve and show hospitality to others, all to the glory of our great God.

Luther Myths

James Swan recently posted on AOMin.org a series of Martin Luther myths--debunked. Some of these are just plain funny!

Here is a sample:

• Luther's Evangelical Breakthrough Occurred in the Bathroom
  
• Luther's Hymns Were Originally Tavern Songs
  
• Luther Spoke in Tongues
  
• Luther Was a Drunk

Check it out ...You may be enlightened!