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Previous Posts
The Last Text Message
Today is my last day with Beliefnet, and my last day as the author of this blog. The Text Messages archives will remain live at this location, but posting will cease. If that sounds gloomy, it's an accurate reflection of my mind this afternoon. I've chosen to pursue new opportunities, but I'm n
posted 3:47:12pm Feb. 04, 2009 |
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Quitting Church: A Q&A with Julia Duin
Why do people stop going to church? This big question is the subject of Julia Duin's small book, Quitting Church: Why teh Faithful are Fleeing and What To Do About It. Duin is not a disinterested observer of the phenomenon of church-dropping; rather, she's a churchgoer who wants churches to work wel
posted 4:03:51pm Feb. 03, 2009 |
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Rob Stennett vs. Marilynne Robinson
I'm overjoyed that my good friend Rob Stennett has won the Award of Merit from Christianity Today for his novel The Almost True Story of Ryan Fisher. (Here's CT's review of the book.) Stennett's hilarious book is about a real estate agent who joins a suburban church in order to reach the Christian h
posted 2:36:44pm Jan. 30, 2009 |
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What is spiritual restoration?
Slate asked for an essay on Ted Haggard's spiritual restoration. I'm okay with what I came up with for now, but the more I think about it, the more I think we need better thinking on what restoration looks like for very public, outspoken, influential men and women like Haggard:Most people who fail n
posted 9:00:56am Jan. 29, 2009 |
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It's Not TV; it's Ted TV
A blog might not be the best medium for an essay like this. But I want to offer some more considered thoughts on Ted Haggard and his HBO documentary; I hope this performs some kind of service in a story that I hope will end--in its public iteration--very soon. This was written as a stand-alone essay
posted 3:57:44am Jan. 28, 2009 |
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posted January 12, 2009 at 8:56 pm
My favorites for cheering myself up are:
Galaxy Quest, Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Contact, and What the Bleep Do We Know…also K-Pax. All a little spacey I guess (no pun intended…!)
posted January 12, 2009 at 8:59 pm
Bonnie Bonsor
January 12, 2009 8:56 PM
My favorites for cheering myself up are:
Galaxy Quest, Hitch-hiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Contact, and What the Bleep Do We Know…also K-Pax. All a little spacey I guess (no pun intended…!)
posted January 12, 2009 at 10:05 pm
“Comfort movies?” Interesting. Let’s see….
“The Sandlot”; “Young Frankenstein”; “An American President”; “Toy Story”/”Toy Story 2″; “Roxanne”.
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:13 am
“Young Frankenstein” is the best. I must say “Mama Mia” is up there now also.
posted January 13, 2009 at 11:46 am
Four Weddings and a Funeral
Pretty in Pink
The Adventures of Gumby
Say Anything
A Christmas Story
I strongly advise nothing by Lars Von Trer. His movies are so upsetting, they may cause hospitalization if you are already ill.
posted January 13, 2009 at 1:36 pm
A few more:
I agree on “A Christmas Story” and “Galaxy Quest”.
More:
“This Is Spinal Tap”
“Places in the Heart”
“The Princess Bride”
“Wayne’s World”
posted January 13, 2009 at 3:17 pm
I can’t believe I didn’t think of “The Princess Bride.” Triple duh. I’d also add “Waiting for Guffman.”
posted January 13, 2009 at 4:38 pm
Lots of good selections here!
I’m with Jes regarding Von Trier. Much as I loved “Breaking the Waves,” it’s pretty bleak to watch when ill. And the rest of his ouvre is just pretentious and misogynist and…ugh.
My five:
The Godfather
Waiting For Guffman (or any Christopher Guest mockumentary, really)
The Winslow Boy
Wings of Desire
Rear Window
posted January 13, 2009 at 8:39 pm
I have to agree with some that have been mentioned.
Princess Bride
Rudy (I am a sucker for that movie)
Band of Brothers
Warren Miller’s ‘Off The Grid’ (any Warren Miller movie)
DOA (The one with Dennis Quaid and Meg Ryan)
Man it is hard to limit yourself to only five, but right now those are what comes to mind…Tomorrow it might be different.
posted January 14, 2009 at 11:39 am
I agree re. Bottle Rocket. Also enjoy Galaxy Quest but since I’m limited to five I wouldn’t put it on my list.
it also depends on what kind of crummy day I’m having, but here are some old reliables that always cheer me up:
Abbot & Costello Meet Frankenstein
Some Like It Hot
Guys & Dolls
Truly Madly Deeply (only if I want to be cheered up AND cry copious tears)
The Man Who Knew Too Little (an underrated and hysterical Bill Murray movie)
posted January 15, 2009 at 11:42 pm
I love all these suggestions! I am sorry I had to limit my list to 10 as I had a lot of runners-up. Maybe I’ll make it an annual tradition.
posted January 15, 2009 at 11:45 pm
(Oh, and can you please correct the spelling of my name? Nell Minow — and many thanks for mentioning my gallery.)
posted January 16, 2009 at 10:02 am
Sorry, Neil! Fixed now.