no popcorn

Saturday evening, after Lily and Benjamin went to bed, I watched a movie with my two oldest boys, Dylan, age 12, and Zachary, age 10.

We didn't really laugh.

We didn't really talk.

There was no popcorn.

The movie was The Passion of the Christ, and if you are not familiar with it, it was produced in 2004 by Mel Gibson, and depicts the final hours of Jesus' life.  With Resurrection Sunday just around the corner, I felt they needed to watch it.  I think it is a great movie, but I do not enjoy watching it, for obvious reasons.

I have written the past few years about a different approach to Resurrection Sunday, and how I feel it is important to focus on both the Crucifixion and the Resurrection, to get a proper perspective.  I felt the boys were at an appropriate age to use this movie as a time of awareness to begin to focus our thoughts toward the events of Good Friday.

Before starting the movie, I explained to them why I wanted them to view it, and a little about what to expect, to prepare them for the brutal depiction of Jesus' mock trial, scourging and crucifixion.  They asked if we could watch it in the dark, which we did.  Zachary, who was sitting several cushions away from me on the sectional, asked if he could sit close to me, so he sat between Dylan and myself.  We have a pretty big sectional, but we didn't use much of it that night... we sat packed together and watched the movie in relative silence. 

I could not see the boys reactions throughout the movie, but I could tell from Zachary's breathing next to me, that parts of the movie bothered him quite a bit.  And, well it should.  After Pilate's scourging of Jesus was finished, when one would hope to catch a break in the brutality between there and the actual Crucifixion, Jesus then carried His cross through the streets of Jerusalem, where the throng of people and soldiers continued to unmercifully brutalize Him.  At some point during this walk to Golgotha, Zachary could take it no more.  He broke the silence, and with much emotion in his voice, he simply asked, "How much more are they going to do to Him, Dad?"

I did not have a good answer.

Ultimately, we know that section of the story ends in death.  But, I know what he was saying... when I watch these scenes, I wonder how humans could have been so brutal to Jesus.  It is very tough to view.  I find myself wondering how He endured it... for  me... for you?  I find myself wondering how much worse it actually was than what is depicted on the screen?

Focusing more heavily on the Crucifixion at this time of year has implications that reach far beyond the celebration of the Resurrection, however.  This focus has also energized the observance of Communion throughout the year.  For years, I participated in the observance of Communion, but it never had great significance.  I understood what it represented, but it fell fairly flat.

I love the scene in this movie that flashes back to the Last Supper, with the Disciples in the upper room, because it puts our modern day observance of Communion in perfect context.  More recently, when I have participated in Communion observances and the bread is broken and passed, and then I personally break it further by the act of chewing, I actually think back to Good Friday and focus my thoughts on the pain and brutality that Jesus physically bore in His body in those last hours before His death.  It is humbling and sorrowful to really engage my thoughts in the symbolism of the broken bread.  As the juice is passed, I focus on His sinless blood that was shed in payment for the sins of mankind... me, personally.  This is what Jesus meant when he told the Disciples, both then and now, to "remember".

If you partake in Communion in your religious observances, do you remember?  I mean really remember?

In the words of a sermon made famous by Tony Campolo, "It's Friday, but Sunday's coming!"  Praise God, Sunday's coming and Jesus was victorious over death!  It is truly a time for Christians to celebrate!

But, don't overlook Friday.  Have you ever found yourself wondering things like, "How much more are they going to do to Him, Dad?"  Spend some time focusing on Friday and the victory of Sunday will be that much sweeter.  Spend some time focusing on Friday, and the meaning of Communion will be that much deeper.

No popcorn just yet... it's Friday... but Sunday's coming!

hornblower

I recently attended the concert of a budding musician... my second oldest son, Zachary.  I have been regularly attending band concerts for two years, now, for his older brother.  But, this one was of special significance, because it was Zachary's fifth grade band's debut concert.

Zachary has seemed to have a natural "ear" for music from a young age.  It does run in his family lineage.  His Great Grandpa, Tootsie, (Jen's maternal Grandpa) plays guitar and mandolin proficiently, with no lessons.  And, another Great Grandpa, Andy, (my maternal Grandpa) was similarly proficient on the fiddle.  Since a little tyke, Zachary would "play" with Jen's piano, or the First Act harmonica, accordion and guitar that we have about the house.  Although he was "playing", it resembled something musical (moreso than the other children in our home, so far).  He was very excited to learn to play the recorder, which our school does for a fourth grade music class project.

Zach has watched Dylan progress as a percussionist through fifth and sixth grade band, and into our school's marching band in seventh, and has looked forward to his turn.  When fifth grade neared, I encouraged him to pursue percussion, as well, thinking it would be fun for him to catch up with Dylan in a few years and be on the drumline together (and, I already owned the instrument).  But, he had his sights on the trumpet.

So, meet one of our Middle School's newest trumpeters... Zachary!

Handsome!

You can find Zachary blowing his trumpet in this photo if you look halfway between the brightest light above and the black ballcap below.

 

 

Enjoy a sample of our fifth grade band.  Considering that these kids mostly began in September knowing nothing about music, or their chosen instrument, I think their progress is pretty amazing!

 

Great job Zachary... I'm proud of you, buddy!

geo-gear

Geocaching. High-tech hide-and-seek. "The Great American GPS Stash Hunt", as it was originally named on May 3, 2000, when Dave Ulmer, a GPS enthusiast, hid the first "stash" in Beavercreek, Oregon. The idea was simple: put some small items with a visitor log book in a watertight container, hide it, record the GPS coordinates of the location and publish the coordinates. Others then use their GPS units to find the container (stealthily, without the muggles knowing!), log their visit, trade a trinket (if they wish), and replace the container as they found it for others to find. Little did Dave Ulmer know that what started as one simple GPS "experiment" would rapidly blossom into the world-wide hobby phenomenon now known as Geocaching, which just crossed the 2 millionth worldwide active geocache milestone on February 28, 2013.

It is a simple idea, but it is not to be taken lightly. There is responsibility involved with being a good geocacher. Geocaches are owned by fellow cachers (I currently own 9), who place them for others to find, which is how the game grows and continues. The caches should always be placed with permission, if applicable, and those who find them should always put them back like they found them, or better, if they have been disturbed, for others to find. Geocachers should respect private property, and abandon a find if they are in doubt about possible tresspassing. Geocachers should also be "stealthy"... trying to find them in such a way that does not attract other non-geocachers to disturb or move them.

It really takes very little to geocache.  The biggest expense is a hand-held GPS, but you can cut costs here by using a smart phone app.  A basic membership to the geocaching website is free, and that is all you need to download cache coordinates and log your finds.  With over 2 million active geocaches around the world, there is a good chance that there are some within walking distance of your home, or at least a short drive.  Just about everywhere you go... you probably drive past them daily.

Here is an overview of my geo-gear:

I recently invested in my geo-pack ($9.99 at Wal-Mart).  I kept switching between a few different packs for my gear, but I wanted a dedicated pack that is just for geocaching.  This one is a perfectly sized fanny pack and it came complete with 2 water bottles, in case I go out for a long day of caching.

This is what I carry in the geo-pack front pocket:

• Pens (for signing logs)
• Paper (in case I need to take notes or figure out a puzzle for a multi-cache)
• Spare batteries (AA for the GPS and AAA for my flashlight)

And, in the geo-pack main pocket:

• My tool kit (black case)
• GPS (navy case)

My GPS unit is a Garmin eTrex Legend H.  I store it in an old cell phone case (from days gone by, when cell phones were a bit larger).  This unit was about $125.00 a few years ago from Amazon.  I have been very happy with it.  It is, by far, not the fanciest hand-held GPS unit available, but it does everything that I need it to do.  This model has a black and white display screen.  Garmin makes a similar unit with a color screen, which would be nice, but the battery life on this one is about 4 hours longer than the other.  I hate changing batteries, so the black and white works fine for me.

Lastly... my geo-toolkit.  It is a zippered travel case from a Schick non-electric razor.  Why a non-electric razor needs it's own travel pouch is beyond me, but since I never throw anything away, it was just hanging out waiting for the perfect use.  It is perfect for my geo-toolkit, which contains everything pictured here (except the Swiss Army knife, with tweezers for removing log sheets from micro caches, which I always carry on my key carabiner):

• Small flashlight
• Small Cabela's multi-tool in nylon sheath
• Telescoping magnetic retrieval tool
• Telescoping mirror
• 4' of coiled sheathed copper wire (for "fishing" caches out of tight places)

The only thing that I should add to my geo-pack is a glove, for reaching in tight places where hazards like spiders lurk.  I have several pairs lying around the garage... I just need to grab one.

 

The only two items that I bought specifically for geocaching is the fanny pack and the GPS unit.  Everything else (all fairly inexpensive items) were items I already had, and compiled into a caching kit.  With the exception of the GPS unit, geocaching is low-budget fun and adventure!