Links:

www.christian-thinktank.com is simply the best place on the web to find answers (unbelievably thorough answers, I might add) to deep seated questions about God and the Bible. Wonderful resource for seminary students and those new to the faith who are looking for more then the average website can provide. Its particularly useful if you are looking for a study on women in the Bible, genocide in the Bible, and the Trinity. All work on it is compliments of one incredible man, Glenn Miller.

www.internetmonk.com is the personal web page of Michael Spencer, a very eclectic minister/writer/teacher. He posts frequently and on a variety of topics.
His reflections on culture, faith and life are often insightful. Among my favorites are his thoughts on "worship" music and a beautiful piece about liturgy in church. He's a strong Calvinist (I am not) and I don't always agree with him, but I find him down to earth and thought-provoking.

www.frederica.com Thoughts from the Orthodox side of life. A unique perspective you don't often hear from. She was a hippy-agnostic turned Episcopalian turned Orthodox. She has some wonderful essays on marriage and family. She's also authored a number of books. I whole-heartedly recommend her, especially to women.

-NORA

Film Review: Commando (1985)


Before John Cena's recent attempt to foul our multiplexes with faux-tosterone, there was director Mark Lester's COMMANDO. Arnold hauls logs in the opening credits, cavorts with bubbly Alyssa Milano, teaches her some lighthearted karate, feeds a brazen deer out of his hand, and engages in all the trappings of good single-parenting permitted by a life spent undercover in the woods, with rogue agents wishing his death.

After a smattering of one-liners, Rae Don Chong, and a single-melody soundtrack consisting almost exclusively of steel drums punctuated by an impossibly sultry saxophone riff, Arnold annihilates a small south-american army holding his daughter hostage. Arms are severed, heads opened with sawblades, (spoiler alert!) and automatic weapons are gracefully emptied through scenic palatial flowerbeds. While glam rock with lyrics like "We fight for love" screams over the credits, Alyssa meets her new mommy, and Arnold's superior officer looks on knowingly, fondly, soundly confirming what we've come to learn in the past 80 minutes, "There goes one hell of a Commando."

We shall not see it's equal in our lifetimes. For John Cena has no bubbly daughter, nor logs to carry, or a new mom to bring home to his daughter through the course of his PG13 explosions and partial nudity. Joel Silver never resorted to such half-measures; but at least we have Arnold to keep our dvd players spinning.


-Nick

Patron Saint