I don’t normally write book reviews, but this one had to make the blog. It was refreshing to read something so simple and yet so stirring. “Going Rogue” by Sarah Palin is an autobiography diagramming much of her upbringing and eventually honing in on her vice presidential bid with John McCain.

    In the first number of pages she reeled me in like I was a family member across the table from her. She told me of her early family years and of her expanding family from definitely a Christian female’s perspective - a mom’s perspective.

    By the time she got around to the politics of her book, I felt as if I knew her personally. She chose not to use big words and therefore made the reading easy. I didn’t need a dictionary like with a lot of the intellectual books I read! I didn’t have to stop every thirty seconds to ponder what I just read. She made her points simple and easy to follow.

    I could not put this book down! I may disagree with her on some issues, but when she labeled herself as a “common sense conservative” toward the end, I could definitely see things from her perspective.

    Reading this book put me right there with her in the decisions that were made by ‘headquarters’ and how she was labeled “rogue” by simply stating things from her perspective. Her perspective is not that of a politician, but as a caring person for her state of Alaska, and as a mom. She is principled and has a backbone!

    I took the time to read on the Internet some vicious attacks by her opponents that seem like unfounded emotional rhetoric. It saddened me that Americans can’t get along in our current climate and resort to sand box tactics to win campaigns. Why can’t we get back to the Little House on the Prairie ethics where people make the backbone of this nation? Have we become savages?

    Sarah points out that we as a nation are growing into the entitlement mentality and that our posterity will pay for it if we don’t turn it around. Her points are very “common sense” and illustrated nicely for the casual reader.

    Good book!

        

Muna and her son live in the West Bank. She gets an opportunity to live in America with her sister’s family. “Amreeka” explores what it is like to live as an Arab immigrant in Illinois at the time America Invaded Iraq post 9-11.

This film is more objective than I thought it would be. It explores what it is like to leave Palestine and dive right into American culture post 9-11. They encounter problems at work and at school that were not of their own devising but rather repercussions of the war.

 I enjoyed the film and really enjoyed the performance of the leading character Nisreen Faour who played Muna. I was easily taken in by her naïve and unassuming character. She desires to be respected by her family and that causes some problems, but it only goes to show how important family is to her. You can’t help but liker her even if you disagree with some of her choices.

I would call this something along the lines of a family drama with comedic moments. Some of the problems she faces in dealing with American culture are definitely dramatic, but this film also brings out some of the humor as well.

This film has had 6 nominations and 3 wins. It is worth watching!

        

In this podcast I discuss growing up and finding the meaning of life. conradsconcerns.com
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Four kids are on a road trip to turtle beach in the midst of a global highly contagious very deadly pandemic. They wage all sorts of battles for self-preservation. Each scenario seems to pit rivaling deep-seated philosophies against another. What is interesting is all four of the kids agree on three basic rules that are not to be violated. Those rules get tested to say the least.

If you are expecting some sort of zombie film similar to “28 Days Later” you would be pleased that they are swimming through obstacles to keep from getting infected, but you would be disappointed that rabid zombies aren’t trying to kill them. In stead it would appear that plenty of rational humans are just trying to survive by not getting infected. This sometimes requires violence!

This film kept me on the edge of my seat. I also questioned my own philosophies of what I would do if I were in their situation. Think more along the lines of “I Am Legend” because there is more affinity for the characters and a kind of safe place to look forward to. I went through a roller coaster of emotions in this film. When you watch it, you may be asking questions of yourself and your own philosophies.

Good film!

        

I didn’t give this movie a low rating because of the cinematography, acting ability, or direction. I simply didn’t like the film. It was a depressing story, that remains depressing, and even the aftermath is depressing.

However, from a standpoint that this is a story that needs to be told, it definitely has to be told. This reminds me of flipping channels and seeing the starving children in other countries that need our help, but we simply change the channel. We tend to ignore other peoples problems like the bum that wants to wipe your windshield. We ignore them and want them to stay away from us with their problems. This movie throws this helpless little girl’s problems in your face. And you have to squirm through the whole thing. How much I wanted to change channels, but thought I would be a scumbag for flipping! I made myself finish it!

One flaw in this film is the vantage point is from a linguist. This is fine from a clinical point of view, almost turning this film into a documentary. So the angle is wrong for a moving story line. It is a story with a message that the system is messed up and people can be unusually cruel.

Don’t watch this unless you need to be depressed.

        

In this podcast I explore bad habits and how to change them. Download this episode (right click and save)

        

        

        

        

        

Hey guys!
 

I know I have been out of action for a while.  I am sorry.  I am moving and working on another project that is very time consuming. Podbean has informed me that they have had a serious problem with their servers and I have to reupload my podcasts.  I simply don’t have time to do that now.  

Please be patient, and I will be back up and running delivering the same content you would expect!

Jesus Rules!

        

A short rant of how life is like a box of chocolates, or is it a garden, or maybe even a boat!  I was bored - please enjoy! Download this episode (right click and save)

        

Sometimes I find myself in the throws of despair and angst brought about by my many seemingly trivial agreements to succumb to another’s wishes.  Our desires to please others under the guise of selflessness actually may not be the most excellent route in our lives to take.  Sometimes we have to reexamine ourselves, and with  introspection determine if we are in fact making Jesus Lord of our lives.  Or have we unwittingly usurped His throne in our life by allowing the selfish desires of others to manipulate us?  

Love you neighbor as you love yourself.  A commandment that without a doubt is very important.  However it falls second, and even I would say a far second from, Loving the Lord thy God will all thy heart, mind, and strength.  Jesus is Lord of our lives, not our neighbor.    

Because our God is invisible, our carnal mind is tricked into thinking that He isn’t around.  Often times when we sin thinking it is in secret, we are only tricked into thinking that we are not surrounded by a cloud of witnesses.  To the carnal mind, God is perceived to be out of sight, and therefore out of mind.  Then our fleshly eyes looks to the things that are immediately surrounding us.  This is friends, neighbors,  family, television, radio, the internet etc...  As our consciousnesses focuses on the things of the flesh, is it no wonder that those things we see with our fleshly eyes become our Lord?  

When, I find myself focusing more on the things of the flesh, and pleasing others I often overlook it for some time not perceiving fully the damage that is being done in the spirit.  And then eventually, at a moment of clarity much like the cognition of the prodigal son, I take the time to revamp my life. I unplug from what the world calls reality, and delve into the spirit.  I go back to the old paths.  I go back to the ways I know are right.  I fend off the flesh with its lustful desires.  I go back to God.   I repent!  

It can be called revamping!  

This revamping can appear to be utter chaos to someone on the outside looking in.  If you choose to revamp your life for Christ you will find that those people who exude control over you, will start freaking out.  They see that they are losing their power, and attempt to dig their claws in deeper scratching furiously at every ounce of integrity you have.  

But you and I must go back to the ancient paths.  We must travel the narrow way.  And the narrow way has no room for the flesh.  The narrow way makes Jesus Lord, and not our neighbor.  The narrow path submits to God and resists the devil.  

If we don’t take the time to revamp our lives towards God, then we find the subtle agreements we have found ourselves making with the devil and the world will knock us off our calling.  Many are called and few are chosen.  The people who maintain the discipline of the narrow path are the most likely candidates for being chosen.  

If you find that you are a people pleaser, ask yourself these questions:

Are you making Jesus Lord, or are the people you are attempting to please your ruler?

Do you pray in the closet with the cell phone off, or do you pray in the car and answer your cell phone during prayer?  

Do you spend time each day with the Lord, or do you allow things to crowd out time with Him?

Do you spend time reading the bible, or do you watch TV and not read your bible at all?

Do you keep your vows to the Lord, or do you let someone else trick you into breaking your vows?  

Do you worship God with all your heart, mind, and strength, or do you look around to see who has come into the church building?  

Do some soul searching.  Maybe it is time to revamp!

        

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