A Prestigious Occupation

In a July 2006 Harris Poll, teaching was considered by adults to be one of the six most prestigious occupations. Since Harris began asking adults in 1977 to rate the prestige level of various occupations, teaching has been the only occupation that has shown an increase. Go teachers!

Movies Worth the Time

We recently enjoyed an independent film with a rather unusual title “Marilyn Hotchkiss Ballroom Dancing and Charm School.” It is a movie that I thought demonstrated the power of devotion, forgiveness, and moving on to embrace life after loss in a very offbeat and entertaining way.

Smile is a surprise winner and one that touched our hearts. It tells the story of the Doctor’s Gift program, where doctors go to other countries to do surgery on people with facial deformities – giving them a new identity and outlook on life in the process.

Another movie with a somewhat misleading title is Seducing Dr. Lewis. This is one of the funniest movies I have seen in years. A small town wants a factory to locate there, but the factory won’t come unless there is a doctor there. What the townspeople go through to get a doctor to locate there is great fun and amusing deception!

If you like classical music and having to think through several layers of a story, check out Taking Sides. It draws the viewer into the life of the great German conductor, Wilhelm Furtwangler and the questions that swirled around whether or not he was a Nazi sympathizer. Does art transcend politics? Very entertaining with no Hollywood ending!

Another surprise is the movie Something the Lord Made – the true story of the unlikely pairing of two medical pioneers who worked on a medical breakthrough in heart surgery. Very well done and one that can be viewed with the family as well – helps to educate about past racial history and break down barriers. Outstanding movie.

Lest you think that I have been viewing movies a lot lately – the movies above were viewed over the course of this past year! One movie we did watch on vacation this summer was also very entertaining and illustrated a life of great resolve and character. We were very pleasantly surprised by The Prize Winner of Defiance Ohio – a true story of how a 1950’s stay at home mom (didn’t they all then?) kept her family afloat financially and spiritually by entering and winning contests. My wife and I also found it fascinating from a historical/cultural context as we remembered many of the toys, commercials, furnishings, etc. that are used in the movie.

So - any good movies to recommend?

A New Challenge

I have recently begun consulting work for Christian Schools International, while maintaining my current work on a half-time basis for Holland Christian. I am excited about this new opportunity to serve in a consulting/developing/networking role with other schools in CSI (Christian Schools International, not the TV show!)

Among other things, I hope to begin another blog soon related to faith nurture wearing my new CSI hat and will activate this link to it when I have it up and running. On this blog I hope to share books, movies and reflections on our culture on a more informal basis.

Interesting Stuff...

Stuff…The average American now spends more money on entertainment than gasoline, household furnishings, and clothing, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. The most affluent 20 percent spend more on cable TV, high speed Internet connections, movies, sports events, and other diversions - $4,516 a year – than on health care, utilities, clothing, and food eaten at home. (from The New York Times, quoted in The Week, December 2, 2005)

Room for the Stuff…The average U.S. home is now 2,349 square feet, a 12 percent increase from 10 years ago. (from The Economist, quoted in The Week, November 18, 2005)

Eating habits…Americans are so busy that they’re turning their cars into dining rooms. On average, we eat 32 restaurant-purchased meals in our cars every year, up from 19 in 1985. (from USA Today, as quoted in The Week, October 14, 2005)

Fill ‘er up…At the current price of $2.07 per gallon for commercial jet fuel, it costs $110,975 to fill up Air Force One. (Associated Press, as quoted in The Week, October 21, 2005)

Heavy metal…recent tests show that Beethoven actually died of lead poisoning, according to scientists at the Argonne Laboratory in Chicago. X-rays of six of his hairs and a few pieces of his skull showed lead levels about 100 times higher than normal. Scientists surmise that he got the lead exposure from his liberal overindulgence in wine consumed in lead cups or from a lifetime of medical treatments, which in his day were laced with heavy metals. (Grand Rapids Press, December 11, 2005)

Transported

It has been a while since I have contributed to this page. The past few months have been a time of loss and healing - as well as a retreat from this writing. It was a great shock to get the phone call that my brother-in-law, riding home from his cottage on an unusually warm and beautiful Saturday afternoon in October, had struck a deer with his motorcycle and was instantly transported to heaven. He loved creation, and often remarked that he hoped that he died while out on a hike or ride outdoors - for him that would be the best way to go. We believe that all things happen within, not outside of, God’s plan, that death is not the final answer, and rejoice that LOVE WINS. We miss him, but are happy for him to be reunited with his son Brian who was killed in a car accident when a junior at Calvin College, with his dad, and his grandfather Poel.

Refreshment

Three recent events really helped to lift my spirit: 1) last Saturday we had the privilege of attending the Psalm Festival at the Calvin College chapel. What a rich experience as we heard the Psalms performed in a variety of styles, in a variety of a languages, by a variety of groups, and were able to participate also in word and song. The service began at 5:00 and continued past midnight until all the Psalms were performed! I was encouraged by the number of students there. 2) last Sunday a number of area churches participated in a Hymn Festival at a local downtown church. It was great to sing in a choir with a variety of people from other churches and experience a glimpse of what is to come – singing with a great combined voice and a variety of instruments to our Creator and Sustainer! 3) Last night we watched a great movie called The Chorus that was very well done and demonstrated grace and the difference that one person can make in the lives of others. I highly recommend it – inspirational!

Celebrating Thinking Differently

I really enjoyed two books that I read recently because they bring a fresh approach to the subject matter and are presented in such a positive manner. I have never been to Rob Bell’s Mars Hill Church but know that the ministry has blessed many people. So I was curious to read his first book, Velvet Elvis. The design of the book is very cool and is written in a very easy style to read. Rob has thought about how to bring Jesus to his generation and raises appropriate questions about the church. His honest and straightforward style is very refreshing and I found I was blessed by this book as it made me look at my Christian beliefs in new ways.

Another great book that I have been talking about and recommending to people is entitled A Whole New Mind: Moving from the Information Age to the Conceptual Age by Daniel H. Pink. He presents a strong case for the future belonging to those who are able to maximize the right side of their brain – the artistic and holistic side. He effectively uses research to back up his contention that six aptitudes will be essential in the future: design, story, symphony, empathy, play, and meaning. These aptitudes are what essentially separate humans from machines (he includes spirituality under meaning). The development of these aptitudes has huge implications for education and industry as well as basic human fulfillment in life. The loss of human dignity that occurs when man is replaced by machine is restored through recognizing, developing, and celebrating the gifts uniquely found in humans. Although I do not believe that the author is a Christian, he leads the reader through the discussion of spirituality and meaning such that the pump is very primed for next steps toward belief. This book led me to sing praise to God as I understood in new ways how we are made in the image of our Creator. Here is a good article about the book.

Summer reading fun

It was a great summer for reading since we didn’t take the usual vacation time due to family schedules. I am currently very interested in increasing my understanding of contemporary culture, especially as it impacts and relates to faith. (Sorry, but I didn’t take the time to link these.) If you would like more details or want to discuss a book, please leave a comment.

Here is a list of quite a few of the books I read and some brief notes about them:

Mediated: How the Media Shapes Your World and the Way You Live In It – DeZengotita – demonstrates how much we are impacted by the media in all aspects of our lives.

Epic: The Story God is Telling and the Role That is Yours to Play – Eldredge – a great overview of the Christian story to give to someone seeking or who needs to see the bigger picture.

I Can’t Believe You Asked That – Milano – based on a newspaper column where people send in questions that they wouldn’t or aren’t able to ask others for fear of offense. Someone from that racial, ethnic, gender, or religious group then helps to provide an answer to the question. Very frank and interesting.

Branded Nation: The Marketing of Megachurch, College Inc., and Museumworld – Twitchell – the significance of getting the brand right for the best results.

The Wisdom of Crowds: Why the Many are Smarter Than the Few – Surowiecki – the title says it all.

Calvinism in the Las Vegas Airport: Making Connections in Today’s World – Mouw – excellent book for Calvinists and others – some good explanation of difficult points…a generous and contemporary updating of Calvinism.

A Painted House – Grisham – yes, I do make it a point to read some fiction! I remembered seeing the movie after I got into the book.

Plan B – Further Thoughts on Faith – Lamott – yes, a second book that isn’t non-fiction. I loved her discussions of dealing with her son, her aging and her church involvement. Salty, real and laugh out loud funny…yet a bit ranty and self-indulgent as well at times.

Hustling God: Why We Work So Hard For What God Wants to Give – Barnes – a helpful look at the story of Jacob – yes, I am guilty as charged – good to read for personal devotions – a chapter a day.

American Mania: When More is Not Enough – Whybrow – our national addiction documented - very thought provoking – recommended.

The World is Flat: A Brief History of the Twenty-First Century – Friedman – bestseller – gives a great explanation for the layman of how technology has changed the world and some hopeful thoughts about how strong, interconnected economies can bring world peace.

A Generous Orthodoxy – McClaren – English teacher turned pastor turned “emerging church” leader lists what he likes about various denominations and theological perspectives while reminding us to follow Jesus rather than men.

Well, the reading may suffer now for a while…it is back to school and to catch up on some professional reading that got neglected since June.

Conquering the Rabbit

My friend and I decided to kayak the Rabbit River today between Hamilton and New Richmond. While we planned for a "three hour tour" it actually stretched out to closer to 5.5 -6 hours (and we began to worry about getting to the destination before dark.) We must have portaged about 10 times around fallen trees blocking the river and pushed ourselves over 75-100 more that were down. It was a beautiful day and much of the scenery very beautiful. It was also very physically demanding, but great fun! We saw ducks, herons, hawks, and as my friend went around one bend, a big turkey flew across his path - he said it sounded like a 747 taking off! I think we accomplished a feat today that very few other people have attempted this summer - to kayak the Rabbit - they obviously are not as crazy as we are! I am thankful for a safe return home, for ibuprofen, and for a non-physically demanding job tomorrow. :)

Adults and (the lack of) a Christian Worldview

Wow - a new survey recently released by George Barna indicates that only 5% of adults possess a Christian worldview. The article tells how he defines a Christian worldview. He states that only "one out of six adults claim that they make their moral choices based on the Bible."

"When asked whether they believe moral truth is based on absolute standards or is relative to the circumstances, Americans are divided into roughly equal segments. About one-third (35%) contends that moral truth is absolute – that is, it is not dependent upon the circumstances. Another one-third (32%) says that morality is always determined by the situation. The remaining one-third (33%) indicates that they do not know if moral truth is absolute or relative."

When does worldview develop? We know from historical wisdom and recent research that it is fairly well formed by age 13 or 14, even though it may not be able to be articulated well by a young person until late high school or college. What are the implications of this for educating children?

Faith Development of Children

Over the past two years, I have been developing language and materials around this subject within the context of educating students in a Christian school setting. If you are interested in viewing these resources you can access them at my website - www.hollandchristian.org/dbeerens. I have given multiple presentations and have enjoyed working with various schools as they consider how best to nurture the faith of their students. I would enjoy further dialogue on this topic.

Kids Today

Two recently released studies that were done on a large scale have been helpful to me in better understanding today's kids and how they are engaging in media and spirituality: one by the Kaiser Foundation of kids 8-18 and their use of media http://www.kff.org/entmedia/7250.cfm and the study of 13-17 year olds reported in the book Soul Searching by Smith and Denton (see previous entry). Their ongoing website is: http://www.youthandreligion.org/news. I recommend them to you!

Summer Reflections

"The earth is the Lord's and everything in it."
Psalm 24:1

Counterculture Fraud

While in Ottawa this weekend, I picked up and read a copy of The Rebel Sell:Why the Culture Can't Be Jammed by Joseph Heath and Andrew Potter (called by a different title in the U.S.- Nation of Rebels: Why Counterculture Became Consumer Culture). It is a very thought provoking book that made me rethink some of my cultural/societal assumptions. They effectively argue that being countercultural can actually increase consumerism and consumption. As a child of the 60's and 70's, I began to realize how many assumptions I had been making about how the world really works and how much I had bought into countercultural explanations. I agree with the authors: "...concern for social justice became redirected and absorbed into an increasingly narcissistic preoccupation with personal spiritual growth and well-being." (page 57). While the authors do not appear to be Christians, their critique clearly shows the empty promise of mankind ever achieving utopia due to the reality of evil as coming from within man. They also recognize that "unrestricted freedom does not promote peace, love, and understanding." (page 304) While they advocate more rules, not less and plugging the loopholes in our economic system, they do not give solutions or get into the motivation for living a virtuous life - where is the coherent worldview (for example that Christianity offers) that helps the individual to rise above self interest and act in ways that demonstrate love to neighbor borne out of a higher calling?

Lee Strobel's latest book

I just picked up Lee Strobel's new book, The Case for a Creator the night before last at Barnes and Noble and then from my Christianity Today email tonight learned that it has been named the Christianity Today Book of the Year in apologetics! I am looking forward to reading it as I have been reading things related to the intelligent design/evolution argument over the last couple of years. My interest was renewed recently as I heard Chuck Colson speak about truth, science, evidence of a Creator through DNA, etc. at the Holland Christian Schools Living Stones dinner - it is great to be part of a school where we acknowledge that all curriculum reflects creation and its truly awesome Designer!

Good books - part two

Soul Searching by Smith and Denton reports the findings of the National Study of Youth and Religion done from 2001 to 2005 - the largest of its kind ever completed (to the best knowledge of the authors). Their findings are fascinating - one of the most interesting is that our kids are quite a bit like us - "we get what we are" in the words of the authors. I really appreciate their comment about people being mistaken who refer to teenagers as being "alien creatures" - they go on to show that today's kids are really much less rebellious and suspicious of parents and other authority figures than was the generation that the author (and I) grew up in! So let's stop the name calling! Yet at the same time the authors point out that they are also the most "left alone" generation ever - separated from adult influence. This disconnection has some serious ramifications. Their points at the end of the book are right on from my perspective as a parent of teenagers and a life long educator.

Good books I have been mulling over

I recently had some excellent reading time available due to spring break. I was able to finish some books, start some new ones, and re-read and take notes on others. One of the books I re-read was The Millenium Matrix: Reclaiming the Past, Reframing the Future of the Church by Rex Miller. He has put together a matrix that summarizes the history of the church and examines the oral, print, broadcast, and digital periods. We can clearly see the impact of communication on worship and spirituality. He does a great job of showing how we can respond to our digital future.


Other books I would recommend and may comment on in future posts:
The Scandal of the Evangelical Conscience by Ron Sider
Speaking My Mind by Tony Campolo
Out of the Question, Into the Mystery by Leonard Sweet
Soul Searching: The Religious and Spiritual Lives of American Teenagers by Christian Smith with Melinda Lundquist Denton

Wade in the water

Well, this is a new adventure sport for me! I am intrigued by the blogging concept and after having read many recently, have decided to get into the water instead of standing on the shore. I really wonder if this isn't just a way for introverts to converse in a more reflective way. It seems like fun to connect to other minds though...so here goes!