Update On “The Hobbit” Movie

If there’s one bright spot to be had in the upcoming year (at least for me), it’s that in less than 10 months, The Hobbit will be hitting the theatres.  Despite some of its flaws, The LOTR Trilogy remains one of my favorite movie series, so I’m eagerly anticipating The Hobbit.  I semi-regularly check The Hobbit Blog, set up by director Peter Jackson, where fans can get behind-the-scenes looks on production, filming and everything else related to the upcoming film.  It’s rather fascinating.

Here’s a link to the most recent production video, that was taken just before Christmas:  Production Video #5:  On Location

Neat stuff.  I’ll probably never make it to New Zealand, but if I ever do, it’d be cool to check out Hobbiton, now that it’s a tourist-friendly destination.

But here’s something you probably weren’t aware of:  a bit of the upcoming soundtrack has been leaked.  Now, if you liked the music from LOTR, then I can only imagine what you’re going to think of this:  Hobbit Soundtrack

Dumbest Ash Wednesday Reflection…Ever!!

If I were applying ashes to Maureen Fielder’s forehead today, I’d be sorely tempted to say “Remember, ma’am, that thou art stupid, and unto stupidity, thou shalt remain.”

In recent years, I was introduced to the world of environmental/cosmological spirituality in which we emphasize and celebrate our oneness with all creation, our unity with the entire universe. It’s based on scientific accounts of the unfolding of God’s creation, which happened quite a bit differently than the way it’s told in Genesis. Humanity, like all other life, got its seed planted with the “Big Bang” as particles of matter sped out from the core. Over billions of years, this led to the creation of solar systems, planets and eventually many forms of life, including human life. We are literally made from the same “stuff” as the stars and planets!

So here’s a proposed re-wording of that Ash Wednesday ritual: “Remember (whomever) that you are stardust and unto stardust you shall return.” This could be a call to repent our ways of treating the universe — or at least our planet — so badly.

Gack.

 

 

Invasion Of The Body Of Christ Snatchers

A hollow church filled with hollow people...

I snapped a picture of this sign on the way home from work yesterday, outside a soon-to-be renovated manufacturing building.  The Cool and Hip Rock n’ Roll Bible School – or Kensington  – is moving into a permanent location not that far from my “home” parish.  They currently meet in the local public high school.  It will be their fifth metro Detroit location, and among all five, they regularly draw about 11,000 concert-goers…I mean worshipers, per weekend.

Am I concerned?  They’ve most likely already siphoned off the fence-sitters and ignorant and disaffected amongst the Catholic populace, and the majority of the “seekers” as well.  So in regards to numbers, no, I’m not.  In terms of eternal salvation and people leaving the One True Faith…that’s a whole different story, and yes I’m concerned.  At one time, the claim was that half of their membership was comprised of fallen away Catholics.  That’s 5,500 people – snatched from Christ’s Church, looking like the same person who used to attend Mass, but now strangely different and not fully themselves.

Why is that?  Why are they swayed to switch?  Well, beyond two generations of crappy catechesis…Kensington’s evangelization style is very appealing – but about as empty as their message.  Oh sure, they’re Bible based (66 books worth, at least), and they talk about God, and Jesus and love and putting God first.  But when you peel away all that, what lies at the very root of churches like Kensington is…

…Marketing.

3½ Time-Outs FAT Tuesday (Vol. 13)

Just like Conversion Diary's 7 Quick-Takes Friday, only half as long and twice as good.

Hosted by Acts of the Apostasy

1

Fat Tuesday. Standing a-tiptoe upon the Lenten morn. Which means one thing…

Pronounced "Poonch-ski"

…filling up on Hamtramck’s 400-calorie cholesterol bombs.  Oh yeaaaaahhh.

2

With tomorrow being Ash Wednesday, I suppose it would be apropos to talk a little about Lenten penances. Now, some Catholic bloggers cease blogging during Lent, while others curtail their surfing or commenting at other people’s sites. And all those observances are commendable. For many, stepping away from the Catholic blogosphere for 40 days – much less 40 minutes – can be a huge sacrifice. So, if you’re one of those types of people, I’ll see you Easter Monday.

Regardless of how you choose to prepare and ready yourself spiritually this season, let’s all agree on one thing.

Make Lent rock this year.

And believe me, there are plenty of things to make sacrifices for this year. I could spend time listing out all the events and circumstances affecting us on a national and global scale that need our prayers and penances, but I won’t. You’re all adults.  It’s not for me to make suggestions – but I think we all know that Lent 2012 has got to be epic. Let’s make it one to remember.

3

That being said – as far as not making any suggestions…

I do have one recommendation:  the Adopt-A-Priestess Project. If you’ve already joined and been given an adoptee, then thanks. Keep praying for that person – we won’t know this side of heaven how efficacious our prayers are, but so what. Faithfulness, not success, is what matters.

If you haven’t participated and want to, then merely click on the “Adopt-A-Priestess” logo, and you’ll be taken directly to the original post.  Leave a comment, and I’ll assign you as many as you want. Let’s keep this project going.

3½

Oh – before I forget.  Last week, Bear-i-tone, who blogs at The Spirit’s Sword, had the audacity and temerity to show the cringe-inducing cortex-twisting video Mr Roboto, from the band Styx.  Ranks up there as one of the worst songs ever.  I suspect his ulterior motive was to inflict severe penances upon his readers.  With Lent nearly upon us, it’s actually not a bad idea.  So here’s my AoftheA Penance Primer:

And think of the graces you’ll receive if you bravely watched till the very end…

Now it’s your turn – write your own 3½ Time-outs Tuesday post, steal the pic at the top, and link back to this post by clicking on the Blue Frog, and follow the instructions. It’s easy, painless and free. So join the Posse – especially you guys. This is the testosterone version of 7 Quick Takes. Your Man Card gets punched when you participate! And you have until Thursday noon to get your submission in.

Because of a formatting quirk with WordPress, the links don’t show up on this page. You have to click the Blue Frog to see who’s participated. But that’s not so hard, is it? So write up a post – I’m interested in what you have to say!

Mass For Shut-ins, Catholyc Style

The “Intentional Community” Home Eucharist Show.  Just call 1-800-Excommunicated Womynpreests, and they’ll come to your house, set up in the backyard, and you can invite your neighbors for the simulated Mass. How special.

The video is a couple years old, but I highly doubt that a) such simulations are occurring at a greater rate of frequency; b) the demographics are shifting to a lower median age; and c) attendance at these simulations are increasing.  Not that any of those factors matter in the long run – such events could be very popular with the younger crowds and happening all over every weekend – doesn’t make them any closer to being right or pleasing in God’s eyes.

Fr Z. called it funny yet sad.  I don’t find it funny at all – just rather damning and offensive.

Contraception Between Spouses Is…

…like going out on a romantic dinner date, but not eating at the same table.

…like taking a Caribbean cruise together, but on different ships.

…like going to a Detroit Tigers baseball game, but sitting on opposite sides of the stadium.

…like attending a Broadway musical, but one has a mezzanine seat, while the other sits in the front row.

…like conducting conversations exclusively via texting.

In other words, they might be having shared experiences, but something prevents the intended togetherness and intimacy from occurring.  Something inhibits the fullness of unity.  Whether that inhibitor is plastic or chemical or surgical – the total unity that God intended is thwarted.  Sin separates.

Who would take their spouse out to dinner, but insist on sitting at separate tables?  Who would go to the theatre and not sit together?  Who thinks it’s a good idea to take a cruise on different ships?

Practically no one.  But it happens in the most intimate expression of love and unity – in the time and place when it should not ever happen.

But that’s what contraception does.  Yeah, the mechanics of the marital act certainly happen – as one blogger likes to put it, gets those freak flags a-flyin’ – but the problem is, they’re not flying from the same mast.