It’s Kind Of A Funny Story

I was browsing the videos at the store and stumbled upon another movie by accident, that turned out to be good.

“It’s Kind Of A Funny Story”. It’s a little weak in starpower but the characters make up for it.

The movie centers around a 16-year old guy named Craig. He has depression and is stressed out by family relationships and school. He checks himself into a psychiatric hospital for five days where he befriends five patients each of whom have various mental disorders. He builds a relationship with each and by the end of the movie all the patients begin to overcome their stresses.

The highlight of the movie is the song “Under Pressure”. The patients are in a group session and each is asked to play a musical instrument. Most have no musical abilities, including Craig. The doctor asks Craig to come to the front of the class to sing! The scene switches to Craig’s imagination, where all the patients are dressed like extreme rock stars, performing the David Bowie/Queen song under the lights, all rockin’ out, in their right minds. It’s brilliant!

On the down side, there’s a bit of language junk in the movie. Most movies have profanity or sex scenes that are over the line for me and usually those scenes could have been toned down without breaking the continuity of the story. Such is the case here.

However, the character development makes up for the junk. Each of the personalities are enjoyable people and their mental disorders are obvious, real and handled with respect.

As someone with depression, which is a mental illness, this movie spoke to me differently than it might have, had I not acquired this disease. Maybe that’s why I like it so much.

Here’s the trailer.

My Easter Ride

Here's how I spent my easter Saturday.

Toronto - Here We Come!

If you have not heard, Trust Communications Ministries, which owns LIFE 100.3, is applying for a license to broadcast a new Christian station in Toronto. Exciting? Oh ya!

I’m working with two consultants and both tell me that our application is “a long shot”, however God is bigger than a long shot! Please pray for favour with the CRTC.

The details are here!

Judging Without A License

On Friday, my devotional was about ‘judging others’.

The devo commented that there are two types of judgements we should not make. The first is judging a person’s motives. The reason why someone did what they did, or said what the said. Unless we ask them “why”, we don’t know why. Only God knows their heart.

The second judgement is based on appearances. I’m not thinking of skin colour, but the house they live in, the car they drive, or the job they have. If they live in a big house then we think they must make a lot of money. If it’s more than we make, it must be too much!

I’ve heard the saying, “you are the car you drive.” That’s a guy thing. How do we know that the car they have wasn’t a gift? Or maybe the result of an insurance claim or the blessing of an inheritance? Do we have all the facts? And - is it really any of our business?

The most serious judgement is whether or not someone is a Christian. I think this is a really dangerous conversation. “Is so-and-so really a Christian? They don’t act like it.” Act like what? Like, if they aren't gentle, kind, self-controlled or patient then their faith is fake? LOL - in my case, I flounder on all of those characteristics - but I do know who my Lord is. I’m trying to work on the list - and it ain’t easy. Gimme a break, ok? Tomorrow I get another chance.

“Do not judge or you too will be judged. For in the same way you judge others , you will be judged, and with the measure you use, it will be measured to you.” (Matthew 7:1-2)

I take it quite hard when people who are wiser than me, more learned than me or (gasp) have been to Bible College (!) make judgemental comments. I’ve confronted them, only to have them cleverly say, “I’m not judging”. But they are. And if these people are in a leadership position, they seem to think that they have the license to always be right. Why do I look up to people who are looking down on others?

All of us who profess our faith are working out our faith. Sometimes we get it right. Other times we mess it up. But we’re working it out as best we can.

Only God can judge. Everyone else needs to take a chill pill.

Me and "SCC"

Tuesday night I was the guest speaker for Full Gospel Business Group in Owen Sound. Had an absolutely awesome time! Great food! Great fellowship. Tom Roe from the LIFE sales department was leading worship and I took along my drum kit - the two of us jammed out, together! Great fun!

I ran into a guy who looks like Steven Curtis Chapman - the "new" SCC. The SCC with the gottee and glasses. I said to him, "so do you think everyone looks like someone?" And he says, "ya". "I think you look like Steven Curtis Chapman" and he tells me that he's had a couple of people say that.

So, here's the photo of me, with the extremely talented and famous Steven Curtis Chapman, also known as Nathan Crawford.

Who Wins Idol? I know!

Who’s your pick to win American Idol? Now that we have less than ten, the end is in sight. Who’s going home this week? They’re all good. They all have style. And eventually, everyone but one is going home. It’s no shame to be disqualified when you’re in the top 10.

The real winner is no longer on the show. Robbie Rosen. He didn’t make the top 24. Big mistake. I hope he comes back next year, or better yet, that a record exec took notice and Robbie gets a break without Idol.

Here’s my top choices:

#3 - James. He’s got a great scream and an enthusiastic excitable performance style, but I can’t hear him “screaming” on a top 40 radio song. Once a week on Idol - ok. Every four hours on the radio? No thanks. He’s number 3 - and yes I think he’s amazing.

#2 - Lauren. I’ve liked her since she and Steven Tyler sang “I Don’t Want To Miss A Thing” on the first show. Recently she’s been up and down. Some weeks are better than others. That’s cool. That’s what makes for an unpredictable show.

#1 - winner - Scotty, the country guy. Let’s face it, the kid has a great voice. He sounds like a pro already. How he can be so good and not already have a recording contract is unbelievable. Recently I’ve been digging cross-over country artists like Keith Urban, Carrie Underwood and Lee Brice. Ya, I like Scotty, too! He’s my pick to win.

Now for the judges. Next year, Randy and Jennifer are back. Steven - he’s gone. He’s been outrageous and breathed new life into the show. But I think he’s bored.

Idol! Can’t wait for Wednesday!

Soul Surfer

New movie - LIFE 100.3 presents “Soul Surfer”. It’s the true story of a teenage surfer who loses her arm in a shark attack. Crazy, I know!

Carrie Underwood plays the church youth leader. Dennis Quaid is the dad - and I hear that his Christian faith was restored after having played the role.

It opens tonight/Friday in Peterborough, Newmarket and Barrie. Gonna flash my media pass and see it! Let me know if you like it!

Here’s the trailer!

The Current Hits

Here is what's burning up my iPod in heavy rotation.

B. Reith - Knockin’ On My Door
Keith Urban - I Put You In A Song
Geoff Moore - I Believe
The Light Division - Fear and Fortune
Lecrae - Background
Grits and Jade - Neverland
Chris Bray - More Each Day
To Tell - Safe To Say
Taylor Swift - Men
Easton Corbin - A Little More Country Than That

For a guy who has programmed radio stations, this list is quite a messed up format! But, it works.

The First Ride

Sunday. 9 degrees and sunny. Good enough. As a recovering asthmatic, the cold is hard on my lungs, but I couldn’t let today pass by with my Fuji Roubaix in the basement.

Yes, I’ve bought a new bike - a Specialized Roubaix. It’s on order so the Fuji will have to do for a couple of weeks. That's ok - the Fuji is a great bike.

My new Axiom biking pants what a great investment! Snuggly warm! And the Activa biking jacket is everything-proof. Wind, rain and probably nuclear blast. Nothing gets thru it. So, the cool day was a pleasant day in the saddle after all.

I love biking! Let the odometer logging begin!