Film Friday 3

lm theme of the week: freakish. Would you agree?

Perfect (2004)
Genre: Horror?
Run Time: 7 minutes

Perfect

The Butterfly Circus (2009)
Props to Angelica and Pablo for the tip!
Genre: Family
Run Time: 20 minutes (but totally worth it!)

The Butterfly Circus

Awkward Alana

Today I ran into a friend that I hadn't seen for six years. That's a huge portion of my life. But we recognized each other and had a short exchange :)

Late into the conversation, I realized that my friend was a slightly self conscious about being sweaty (he had ridden his bike to my campus). I laughed a little inside. There's no air condition in my dorm. Sweaty boys are nothing new to me.

When I later got back to my dorm room, I did a double take at my mirror. I had met my friend on the way back from work where I had been handling printouts from a finicky copy machine. While looking in the mirror, I realized that I had ink all over my face.

Sweaty boys are a normalcy. Inky girls are not.

Whoops!

Reluctant Recluse

This title is a bit of a misnomer. A bit.

I really did not want to spend two nights at home this weekend. I felt I would be a recluse away from college life and friends.

I was not, however, (entirely) a recluse. I spent good time with my family. As well as with Morris and Charles. Those are my mother's evil crutches. They scheme and create mischief together.

Furthermore, I thoroughly enjoyed the kids in my Sunday school class this weekend. One spontaneously began singing in the midst of our conversation. Nevertheless, his song did further the conversaion, if I do remember correctly. I will miss these kids greatly when my teaching rotation is over <3

Two movies worth watching: The Book of Eli and The Secrets of Jonathan Sperry. The former is great for everyone, the latter mostly for Christians who are willing to laugh at cheesiness and enjoy truth, almost as the mold, that pervades such a cheese.

My friends became ninjas without me.

Nevertheless, I did miss the vanquishing of evil

with a roll of wrapping paper and a heart-shaped pillow this weekend. I do look forward to my return to campus tomorrow. I'm just not as disappointed with these past two days as I thought I would be. Attitude adjusted.

Thank You, Jesus :)

Film Friday Number 2

I almost forgot that I had made this commitment! Good thing I watch short films in my free time. I won't run out of options for a while. Click the links below the images to view this week's picks :)

Messages (2007)
Genre: Sci-Fi, Chick Flick (believe it or not)
Run Time: 7 minutes

Messages

Sparks (2003)
Genre: Dance, Dark Comedy
Run Time: 16 minutes
Disclaimer: This really is unnecessarily long!! Long dance sequences. Fast forward advisable.

Sparks

I am still taking suggestions for these weekly posts :) Feel free to comment!

가위 (Gawi)

Gawi is the Korean word for torment by demons. It has very specific circumstances:

So, you're sleeping. Then you wake up. It's still the night. You realize that you can't move your body. Your entire body is paralyzed, all of it save for your eyes. You can still blink and move them around. You hear a piercing sound to your right. You slowly roll your eyes to the right and look. Beings you never could have imagined are malevolently advancing on you. They're taunting you because they know that you cannot move or pull away. These are demons.

Koreans are warned that the only way to stop the demonic activity of Gawi once it happens is to pray.

My friend was telling me about Gawi last night as we walked alongside the cemetery. It wasn't my first time being exposed to the concept. It was, however, the first time that I had an uneasy night because of it.

I was going to bed and couldn't fall asleep because I heard a lot of strange sounds. I know the familiar sounds that usually fill my room at night due to my leaving the windows open, but last night's noises were exceptionally disturbing. I wasn't sure if I wanted to open my eyes to find the source of the strange sounds or if I wanted to keep them closed. While I was still deciding, a new clamor arose that far surpassed any of the previous sounds in volume and clarity. This new one pierced the air and may have woken me up had I been able to fall asleep earlier. It was a shriek.

The familiar shriek that Carly makes when her personal space is violated. Oh, the antics of her wonderful room mate, Jennifer :)

And I slept well, knowing that all in life was normal.

All Scripture is God-Breathed and Useful

These are the verses that I am in the process of memorizing. I know that some of them are basic, but those are listed here because I've never actually memorized them before. Maybe you should quiz me on my progress when you see me.

John 3:16 For God so loved the world that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him should not perish but have everlasting life.

2 Chronicles 7:14 If My people, who are called by My name, will humble themselves and pray and seek My face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land.

Hebrews 4:15-16 For we do not have a High Priest who cannot sympathize with our weaknesses, but was in all points tempted as we are, yet without sin. Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may find mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

Jeremiah 29:11 For I know the thoughts that I think towards you, says the LORD, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Galatians 4:9 But now that you know God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

1 Corinthians 10:13 No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful,  who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make a way of escape, that you will be able to bear it.

1 Peter 5:6-7 Therefore, humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He might exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him for He cares for you.

Sketchy

I've always wanted to learn how to sketch. Especially realistic faces.

Yesterday, my Sunday school kids thought that my whiteboard masterpiece Barnabas didn't look as warm and friendly as I had intended; the children thought that he was going to be the evil villain (¬_¬)

I bought a sketch pad today and will commit to learning to draw faces.

Dance Like an Egyptian (way oh way oh way...)

Tonight I celebrated my friend Deena's graduation
Along with a mostly Egyptian population

I quickly developed a fascination

For the Egyptian dance formations

I was told, "In the hips lay the key to the stance"

And to shake them a lot if I wished to advance

But in the end, my attempts at this dance

Got me caught in a bad romance

Film Friday!! A First!

So I've decided to post one or two short films every Friday on this blog. I really appreciate them, and I hope that you find my taste in films interesting. I picked two this week: Imagination and an old favorite, A Ninja Pays Half My Rent. 2002 must have been a good year for short films.

Imagination (2002) 
Genre: Fantasy, Horror (ish)
Run Time: 16 minutes
Disclaimer: the monster in this film is both gnarly AND creepy!!

Imagination

I like it because it reminds me of how our minds can be both creative and destructive. This child created her whimsical friends as well as the unwelcome monster (who burns our eyes when he dances). I think about how I struggle to keep my mind on the heavenly Father and away from my worldly intrigues. (Oh, does that seem like a stretch from this film's plot? Well I was definitely thinking that when I saw it.)

For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ, and being ready to punish all disobedience when your obedience is fulfilled. 2 Corinthians 10:4-6

Just something I've been considering lately.

A Ninja Pays Half My Rent (2002)
Genre: Comedy (duh, read the title)
Run Time: 5 1/2 minutes

I hope that you made the housing lottery cut :)


If you have short movie suggestions, shoot me an e-mail or something and I may like it enough to stick in here on a Friday!

Did you enjoy these ones?

Went for a Walk Today

Things that fluff or fly or both:

Chipmunks make a chirping hiccup sound.

It is times like this that I appreciate 16x zoom.

This bug liked my shirt. He looks like Voldemort, doesn't he?

Maybe it's an eighth horocrux?

Squirrel hears that Danforth is open again.

Japanese Beetle destroys Rose.

Red Admiral Butterfly-- found him in my butterfly book!

Blurry wood pecker will not hold still for a photo.

Anomalous and Anonymous

I understand a post about anomalies may seem exciting.

a·nom·a·ly  /əˈnɒməli/ [uh-nom-uh-lee]

–noun, plural -lies.


1. a deviation from the common rule, type, arrangement, or form.

3. an odd, peculiar, or strange condition, situation, quality, etc.  

But I must forewarn you that those anomalies which I am about to divulge to you are of an anonymous character.

a·non·y·mous   /əˈnɒnəməs/ [uh-non-uh-muhs]

–adjective

3. lacking individuality, unique character, or distinction: an endless row of drab, anonymous houses.  

Anonymous Anomaly Number 1:

I cannot type with both hands. If you saw me pecking away with my two fingers on this keyboard in Carlson, you would either laugh at me or tell me to quiet down because these keys are far too noisy for a library. The anomalous part of this story is that I am working a new job as an office assistant who must type huge evaluations into a database. You'd better believe that I will be practicing true typing skills from now forward... starting after this blog.

Anomalously Anonymous Number 2:

I wanted to begin a regular habit of posting a series called "Movie Monday" on this blog. I would watch one or two movies per week and post my movie reviews/ movie trailers/ movie clips on my blog every Thursday. Ha! No that's not the anomaly, I would have done it on Mondays. Sorry for the fake out. Anyways, I even went to see a movie last night to help me on this endeavour! But by the time I made it back to a computer after the movie, it was already Tuesday. Lame. The anomaly was averted when I refused to post a Movie Monday review on Tuesday. Although I wrote about it here... My newest idea: Flummery Friday.

Anomaly of Anonymity Number 3:

I went bowling last night. Score from my first game: 73. Score from my second: 51.

Anonymously Anomalous Number 4:

I am Italian and I made pasta last night. My grandma has disclosed her super secret and super delicious recipe for red pasta sauce to me. I bought a basil plant for the express use of cooking said pasta sauce. Anomaly: my half Chinese, half Korean friend has to tell me to water my basil plant daily for it to survive. And I used Danny Wegman's Sun Dried Tomato Sauce on my pasta last night.

I had more anomalies stored up from the past few days, but they have become so anonymous to me, that I cannot bare to continue typing (especially because the letters on this keyboard are mostly worn off.)

We Didn't Start the Fire

Summer at Rochester has been characterized by humid dorm rooms and fire alarms.

Recently, my friend Jesse provoked me to this question: Were any of the fire alarms last semester merely drills? Have college students perpetually misused communal kitchens?

What Got Wet in My Bag?

Inspired by Indy Grrrl.

I got caught in the rain today. With a water-loose bag.

Luckily, I left my rented DVDs at home. AND my To-Do list! Imagine the tragedy.

But this post is about what got wet.

So, my camera case (but not its contents!)

                      and my sunglasses, of utmost utility


               hours prior to heaven's floodgate issue,


                                                                  both got wet.

My artistic utensils

were wet

but not damaged.



 

If my lanyard could get any grosser, it did so today by soaking up polluted rain water. These keys: my dorm room key, my college mailbox key, my house key, and the skeleton key to all Cadillac cars (...I'm not entirely sure what that last key opens) all got wet.

And finally, my journal and Bible got wet. But the word of God endures forever.

No Biggie fry.

What's in your bag? And did it survive today's rain?

Ickies

Two things that I considered icky: sin and confession. Sin is still icky, but confession... not so much.

Have you ever been too ashamed to tell God your sin? I was. Then it became a limb on my body and I figured that God already knew about it so I didn't have to confess it to Him. Then my sin didn't bother me.

But I knew that was wrong. In John 8:11, Jesus tells the woman caught in adultery, "Neither do I condemn you; go now and sin no more." That struck me because I know that we are sinful beings and can't fully rid ourselves of that sin nature while we are in our earthly bodies. Did Jesus really expect her to stop sinning??

But that is what repentance is about. Galatians 4:9 -- But now after you have known God, or rather are known by God, how is it that you turn again to the weak and beggarly elements, to which you desire again to be in bondage?

It wasn't until I found myself confessing my sin to a friend that I felt shame again. I wasn't numbed to my sin anymore; I was forced to confront my bondage to it.

And now I'm holding on to another one of God's promises: "Where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom" (2 Corinthians 3:17, NIV). I believe the Holy Spirit lives within me and that I have the ability to claim this freedom from the sin to which I once thought I had to be in bondage. That was the truth that came out during my time of confession and prayer with a sister.

No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it. 1 Corinthians 10:13

And that applies in EVERY SINGLE TIME I am tempted.

Now I better understand what freedom in Christ is. I also see the value of confession.

I hope you will be encouraged by these scriptures and that you will endeavour with me to cease tolerating open and rebellious sin in your life.

I will be held accountable now; I know I won't be able to ignore this certain sin anymore. I expect to see breakthrough, too. I hit a wall last night when I had to confront my sin. Prayer got me through it. Now I will have better quiet times with God and I will learn how to pray better and how to better glorify Him through my life. I know a roadblock has been removed! I can walk again with my Father!!

Extended Family

I was part of a group of five who went to the Adirondacks this past weekend. It was a lot of fun: water activities, hiking, bouldering, corn on the cob, photo opps, bugs, and family.

I especially liked the family part. Not only did I grow closer to my brothers and sisters in Christ, but I also met Carly's family. It was such a blessing! Carly's mom and I shared our experiences from and hopes for our our Sunday Schools. Carly's dad avidly wanted us to experience the lake via sail boat, and he was a real trooper about the gnarly gash and lump combo he earned from that excursion. Carly's little brother, Paul, even changed his socks to better impress me. The Sombric family was super hospitable and loving. I'm glad that I can consider them my own family too, through Christ's adoption (Galatians 4:4-6).

I really enjoyed getting closer to my Christian family this past weekend. The dynamic of the Sombric family was also encouraging to me, although I could only get small glimpses of it.

Also, I ask for prayer. I need to be more responsible in praying for the friends that I have grown close with, especially as I learn how they need God to reveal Himself to them.

I'm excited to grow closer with the other brothers and sisters that God has placed in my life! And I hope God blesses your fellowship like He has mine :)