the freshest kids...

interesting how an art form created in New York by Puerto Rican and Black kids...




would be refined by Asian kids.... this isn't the first time you see Japan vs. Korea in the "Battle of the Year"

Call me a prude

Call me a prude. Call me old-fashioned. Call me overly conservative; not cool, a square, whatever... But I gotta give an old-school, Dr. Dobson-style movie review of "Black Swan" right about now. I actually walked out part-way through the movie in a local theatre a couple hours ago, and I've NEVER done that.

I don't have the highest standards when it comes to entertainment, which arguably a Christian should have. But the fact remains, I don't. Some of my favorite movies have more than a few bad words, some pretty crazy violence, and an occasional sex scene. They're not my favorites BECAUSE of those things, but I'll tolerate them if it's an otherwise well-made film. Same would apply to my choice of music.

But even I got my limits...

"Black Swan", yeah, well it kinda went beyond that limit. Now I know this movie will probably win some Oscars because well, it's how do you call it? "avant-garde" or whatever. It's "edgy!", "racy!" blah blah blah. It is definitely one of those artsy films, and yes, it's very well shot, acted and directed. I was definitely drawn into the world of ballet dancers (I'm actually hoping the world of ballet dancers isn't that perverse; otherwise none of my daughters will be participating! Lol). I could appreciate the whole psychological dimension to the movie; it explored some dark parts of human personality- perfectionism, compulsive behavior, feelings of dread, the vicious competition between girls in the entertainment world, obsessive thoughts, etc.

So the movie has this sort of dark psychological theme throughout, and as the story unfolds, one is not surprised at discovering that in the dance industry, there are certain levels of sexual impropriety between members of a company, particularly between an older male director and younger female dancers desperate for a part in the big production.

The main character, played by Natalie Portman, is the hyper-dedicated, perfectionist young dancer who is "fortunate" enough to get the leading role in a modern rendition of the classic ballet "Swan Lake." One of the things that's gonna make this new cutting-edge version of the ballet more interesting is the director's insistence that the Swan Queen character be played by the same dancer who's playing the Black Swan, the antagonist in the piece. (I might be getting some of those details wrong...)

Well in order for Natalie Portman to properly play the role of the Black Swan, the director insists on her getting in touch with her dark, uninhibited side. To help her along, he has her participate in typical dance coaching exercises, you know, like asking her personal questions about her sex life, forcefully kissing her and encouraging her to masturbate at home... Ok ok, so we've all seen worse in films I suppose, and most of us by now have developed a sort of callousness to these occasional inappropriate segments in films...

But you know, after you sit through the director sexually molesting Portman in one scene; her masturbating in two later scenes, you start sensing that the sexual perversion aspect of the movie just might be one of its central themes, not merely an embellishment. A little awkward to say the least when you're watching this "piece of art" with a sister in Christ!

Needless to say, by the time the movie had progressed to a VERY explicit lesbian sex scene between Portman and another dancer while high on ecstasy, meanwhile Portman's mom is in the hallway banging on the bedroom door to get them to stop... Yeah at that point I have an obligation to my fellow Christian and to my own mental and spiritual well-being to walk out.

Come on! Even I got standards!

Marijuana, Sorcery, and Galatians 5.

Let me point what the biblical case against marijuana use is. The common one is the admonition in the Bible to be sober minded; and since THC is a mind-altering substance, by definition one cannot be high and sober at the same time. The other argument is the principle in Scripture that declares the body is the temple of God. Now pro-marijuana people like to point out that cannabis isn't AS BAD as alcohol and tobacco. Now even if that's true, it still remains that it has SOME negative effects. Those are the two common arguments, but I don't wanna focus on those reasons.

The main reason (in my opinion) for why a Christian ought to avoid pot is found in Galatians 5:19-21. In that passage, the Apostle Paul lists the works of the flesh, and he says those who do such things will not inherit the Kingdom of God. (I don't know about you, but I don't wanna miss out on being part of God's kingdom).

But anyway, in that list he includes "sorcery." The Greek word for sorcery is "pharmakeia" which means "the use of medicine, drugs, or spells."

From this word we get the modern words "pharmaceuticals," "pharmacy," etc.

Drugs, cannabis included, have always been a part of witchcraft, and other pagan, animist, and nature religions.

Fans of cannabis and those religions point that out proudly. But Christianity has always rejected those religions, and has rejected the drug use associated with them. And as a former drug-user myself I can state for a fact, that there is a very deeply spiritual element involved in being high. But that type of high, the Scripture refers to as sorcery. And it's very much against it.

That's why a Christian in good conscience cannot partake of it, and it is why I deeply regret ever using it.

Lamentations

"Lamentations comfort only by lacerating the heart still more. Such grief does not desire consolation. It feeds on the sense of its hopelessness. Lamentations spring only from the constant craving to re-open the wound."
-Fyodor Dostoyevski, The Brothers Karamazov

A sweet reggae mix. Just for you! (for best results- while one song is playing, start the next one, then fade out the volume of the first one!)

70 Things

70 Things you never asked to know about me, but which I'm sharing with you anyway! Here they are:

1. I believe December babies are the best.

2. Before I ever read the Bible, I would tell my mom it couldn't be the Word of God.

3. I grew up on 106th Street in Watts, CA.

4. I could see the Watts Towers from my bedroom window.

5. As a kid, I remembered the Watts Jazz Festival as the day all the white folks would come to town.

6. I saw Ozomatli play at the Watts Towers.

7. I was the valedictorian at 102nd Street Elementary. (now called "Florence Joyner Elementary")

8. Nobody told me in elementary school that "The Babysitters Club" books were for girls! :o

9. I was bused from Watts to Palos Verdes for Middle School (Dodson).

10. Encyclopedia Brown was the shiznit.

11. "Oh Brother Where art thou?" is one of my favorite movies ever.

12. Right up there w Pulp Fiction, Dazed and Confused, and the Sandlot.

13. I like the book of Proverbs.

14. I like the Sermon on the Mount.

15. My life falls way short of the lifestyle God describes in those texts.

16. My mom and dad split up when I was about 3 years old.

17. My mom remarried when I was about 8.

18. My step-father was born and raised in India.

19. My mother was born and raised in Suchitoto, El Salvador.

20. We were quite possibly the only Salvadorean/Indian/American family in Watts.... ever!

21. I've had about 16 jobs.

22. Even though I already had a B.A., I took the counsel of a spiritual mentor who said it is important for a man to work with his hands (ex: 1 Thess. 4:11), and I got a job at a warehouse.

23. My job there was one of my favorites ever. If i hadn't worked there, I would never have learned how to use a forklift!

24. I used to have a '67 Mustang. I can't believe I sold it! :(

25. I've been attending the same church since I was 2 years old.

26. I consider that a great blessing. It's good to have deep roots somewhere.

27. My paternal grandmother is buried in Guadalajara, Mexico.

28. I met my biological father and his parents and siblings for the first time in Guadalajara when I was 13-15 years old.

29. The first thing I ever smoked was a beedie.

30. I did lots of different drugs for most of my teen years and some of my early college years, but the Lord delivered me from all of that.

31. I have a minor in Business Management from Cal State University, Dominguez Hills.

32. While at Dominguez Hills, I was a writing tutor and a critical reasoning tutor.

33. Being a critical reasoning tutor was another one of my favorite jobs. I would get paid to attend philosophy class! So I ended up taking 7 semesters of introductory logic, taught by 5 different professors. I thank God for that experience.

34. I started playing drums when I was about 18 or 19 years old.

35. In our first little garage band, I was originally gonna be the guitarist and my brother Carlos was gonna be the drummer. We switched after a while.

36. The name of our first band was "Nine Miles," which is the name of the town Bob Marley was born in. The band included my brother on rhythm-guitar/vocals and our friend Robert on keyboard.

37. The name of our second band was "Boaz." That band also had my brother on rhythm-guitar/vocals and our friend Robert on keyboard.

38. The name of our third (and current) band is "Reggae Intermission." THIS band also has my brother on guitar/vocals and our friend Robert on keyboard. (We just keep switching bassists and lead-guitarists!)

39. My favorite rock-drumming song is "Fire" by Jimi Hendrix.

40. I love Bob Marley, but I think he's only the tip of the iceberg when it comes to ska and reggae.

41. I consider myself an amateur historian of Jamaican music.

42. I still remember Steady Beat Records gigs in the city of Wilmington and surrounding areas.

43. Steady Beat once threw an all-night, 40+ band gig that took place at the Roxy and the Whiskey simultaneously. That was one of my favorite gigs ever!

44. I've seen the Skatalites perform 4 different times. Each time I went, at least one more member had passed away. I will not see them play again. Only 3 original members are left, and I don't wanna know who's going next. :/

45. My first girlfriend was filipino.

46. The '94 Northridge Quake stands out as a good memory in my mind because I felt united to my neighbors that night. I remember everyone standing outside in their pj's.

47. Fourth of Julys on 106th Street were very cool.

48. Fourth of Julys at that one park in Torrance the last few years with my church family are also very cool.

49. I went on a missions trip to Rancagua, Chile this year. Go Team Transparent!

50. The generation of cousins that I'm a part of, which includes my mom's siblings' children and her first-cousins' children is about 84 cousins strong. And that's just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to my fam.

51. I teach a sunday school class of 12 and 13 year olds at church. I consider it a privilege.

52. I'm not a teacher by profession. But I consider myself a teacher.

53. I learned to drive on a stick-shift, though for a long time now, I've driven automatic.

54. I think anyone that likes Mazzy Star is pretty freakin cool.

55. I started taking swing dance lessons this year. Would like to continue eventually.

56. I once participated in a Carrot-Cake bake-off. I lost. But my cake actually tasted pretty good! (you haven't seen the last of me Daniela!)

57. I am the oldest of 3 sons. I have no sisters.

58. I want a bear costume, so I can safely dance in public.

59. I hope and pray that my past record of taking care of pets isn't indicative of my future parenting style.

60. I was a little pyromaniac growing up.

61. I am perplexed by poverty. Is it possible to end it? Government has spent trillions trying, and failed.

62. "Rage against the Machine politicized me."

63. I used to read "the Revolutionary Worker" and still have a copy of the Revolutionary Communist Party, USA's "Plan and Program" in my library.

64. In my early college days, every Oct. 22nd I would dress in all black and join thousands of others in a march down Broadway in L.A. supposedly to protest police brutality.

65. I once marched in San Francisco to protest on behalf of cop-killer Mumia Abu-Jamal. :( I don't get why this man still has a cult-following.

66. I came to believe in recent years that conservative politics is more consistent with Christian faith; not just because of social issues, but because if I'm a Christian, then my faith should be in God, not in government.

67. I like Diet Pepsi.

68. I'm about to eat some Raisinets.

69. My Myers-Briggs type is INFP; otherwise known as "the friendly introvert."

70. My name means either "famous friend" or "lover of the sea."

Build Steadily

Change doesn't happen overnight... so build steadily. One brick at a time, and before you know it, things in your life which you didn't think would turn around, will

you finish a book, a page at a time
you lose weight, one food decision or exercise decision at a time
you get out of debt, one payment made faithfully, at a time...

you can't undo messes you took years to create in an instant...

Be patient... all in due time... you will reap the rewards of your steady work, of your wise decisions, of your patient waiting...