Media | Life and Photos by Andy

Yesterday I put forth a theory that media may be a contributing factor to killing off the community of the church and society as a whole. Today I want to add to that theory: Has media created a society that doesn’t want to listen?

Specifically I want to address church. I have noticed that many kids are telling me that church is boring because they are just preached at and then they leave. When do they get to contribute? Church has largely been a model where one person spoke from the front in one way or another for the majority of its existence so why are kids saying this and not only kids but young adults and indeed… older adults as well? Has church really changed that much or has society changed that much?

I believe it is the latter. Media has created an idea that either you are being entertained with television or your social interaction is limited to 140 characters (let’s be honest, who reads longer FB posts than that in their entirety?) We have become a society that can skim and judge and put out our opinions with the touch of a screen. Everyone has something to contribute but no one cares about what other’s have to say. If it isn’t a meme or a photo, it’s not going to get nearly as many “likes” or “hits.” This is not conducive to active listening. In fact, the slew of media that are introduced to our young people at such a formative age does not train them to listen and that, I believe is contributing in a huge way to the decline of our culture in church.

So the question is, does the church change to fit the times and create a whole new model based on the idea of allowing everyone to contribute and no one to listen? Are Twitter churches in our future? Is personal community where we look in peoples eyes and listen to what they say and pray for an attitude of understanding during a service to hard to maintain in our Instagram world?

Truth. My family loves movies.

Growing up, when a particular situation comes up and a great movie line goes with it, my family is GREAT at pulling from the memory banks as we have all seen so many movies.

Truth. Most of my favorite movies are oldies. Is it nostalgia? Is it the connection I have with my family members? Is it the fact that older movies had less to work with and therefore were forced to create a better story? I think it could be a little bit of all of those. There are a few new movies that I particularly like as well.

A list of my favorites:

Mulitiplicity – Maybe it’s just the great lines, the great acting or the combination but I love this story. It makes so much sense, in a totally unrealistic kind of way. I really get a kick out of Three every time he says ANYTHING! I love to laugh and this movie can put me in stitches. Micheal Keaton is a hoot. Check out his performance in Much Ado About Nothing.

The Tourist – Maybe just because everyone is so beautiful in this film. But I was a bit surprised by the ending. I loved the story. I actually liked Angenlina Jolie but best of all… JOHNNY DEPP! Need I say more?

Benny and Joon – And speaking of Johnny Depp… Even a crazy Johnny Depp is an awesome Johnny Depp.

The Emperors New Groove – A kids movie with the best lines EVER! Kronk. Seriously. If you want to watching something with your kids, get this one.

The Amazing Spiderman – I never read the credits of a movie so carefully until I had a friend in them. I do love this movie but the stunts were AWESOME! Yep, I know the stunt double and I’m not above bragging about it. It’s pretty cool.

The Sting – Great Story. Young Robert Redford. Nuff said.

French Kiss – Meg Ryan. She is so damn cute and the comedic timing in this movie is AWESOME! Kevin Kline is great in this movie as well. He’s kinda hit or miss for me. Sometimes the projects he chooses are… iffy. However, this one is a total winner.

I.Q. – More Meg Ryan. What can I say? When I’m in a mood and I want girlie, she is my go to. I tend to love pretty much anything with Walter Matthau.

Charade – More Walter Matthau. I originally watched this to see if he ever looked young. He didn’t. I keep watching it just because I love to hear Audry Hepburn talk. And I love her clothes… and I love her… and the plot is quite interesting.

Roman Holiday – More Audry. My dad and I went to Italy and did Rome and it was awesome and I see our trip all over again every time I watch this movie.

The Man from Snowy River – Is it the accents? Is it the overt manliness? Is it the sweat, the tears, the fact that I can feel like I’m in the outback with horses and dust and dirt without the smell, clean up or ever having to get out of my PJs? All of the above. I love this movie. I love the story. I love the landscape. I love Kirk Douglas. It’s kinda awesome. Don’t see the squeal. It doesn’t live up.

The Scarlett Pimpernel – Sad that Anthony Andrews never did anything else of note in film. He is a remarkable actor. As a child I envied the beautiful curls of the young Jane Seymour. The whole movie is full of great lines and the love story is so cute. I can hardly stand all the great plot twists. I find myself watching it with first timers and pausing it every ten seconds to say, “Did you get that? Do you know what’s going on?” I’m a wierdo like that. My husband has a shock collar for me for just such occasions.

The Princess Bride – One of my all time favorites. Of course. Who doesn’t love this movie? It’s witty, it makes fun of itself and the book is just as awesome as the movie. Who hasn’t said at one time or another, “You killed my father. Prepare to die.” Mandy Patinkin has to HATE that line by now but it was one of the best ever uttered. There are a multitude of one liners in that movie that make for a great plug in real life. Mom says, “Stop it now, I mean it.” Your response, “________________________.” (Come on. You know you totally said it.)