Dear James: I’ve been listening to you for a while, and have been encouraged by various of the things you have said and done, but also discouraged by other things you’ve said. I’ve even lectured at the Presbyterian seminary you have attended, and went to Carolina with my old friend Andy Dearman, who taught there for years. He ended up being an OT seminary professor, and me a NT seminary professor, both under the considerable guidance and encouragement... Read more
This brief posts is about the absurdity of arguing about which gender can do what roles in the church based on the gender of particular nouns. In the first place languages which have gender specific nouns are quite unlike English in this regard. It is a mistake to judge other languages based on the normal practices in English. For example, the Greek word for deacon is ‘diakonos’ and it can also be used more broadly to a person who serves or... Read more
Based on the novel ‘3 Bags Full’, the runaway best movie of any sort so far this year is the Sheep Detectives. It’s appropriate for families, and really for young and old of all ages. Hugh Jackman plays a shepherd, with a field full of interesting sheep, all of whom he has named and to whom he reads murder mysteries. And then mysteriously, George is found dead in his sheep pasture, and this is when some of the sheep... Read more
Fame is a harlot Dressed for success The more gaudy the better But sadly, more is less! You wanted that attention Sold your soul for applause, Adoration, and devotion A rebel with no cause. Narcissus saw himself Reflected in the pool Ignored the imperfections Chose to play the fool. Fans are not family They’re there when you do well But when you fail or fall They let you go to hell. If you fall in... Read more
There were many who were skeptical about a movie like this being a success, not least because who in the world could play the King of Pop, as he was called. As it turns out, they didn’t have to look far— Michael’s nephew both looks like and has a voice like Michael Jackson. Here is the report from Today and the Hollywood Reporter on what happened with the singing. Jaafar Jackson, Michael Jackson’s nephew, trained extensively to embody his uncle’s voice, dance, and mannerisms for the 2026 film “Michael”. During the performances, he sang live into the microphone over Michael’s original tracks, creating a blend of his vocals and Michael’s for authenticity. In some scenes, particularly a cappella studio sessions, only Jaafar’s voice is heard, showcasing his own singing talent. Today+4 The filmmakers used a sophisticated audio process to ensure the singing sounded like Michael Jackson, blending Jaafar’s live vocals with Michael’s studio recordings when necessary. This approach allowed Jaafar to perform scats, ad-libs, and other vocal nuances that were not present in Michael’s original recordings, giving the film a dynamic and authentic feel. For younger Michael Jackson scenes, Juliano Valdi also performed live vocals, which were similarly blended with Michael’s recordings. The Hollywood Reporter+1 Jaafar’s preparation involved years of training, including practicing Michael’s pitch, cadence, and tone, as well as dancing for hours to replicate his uncle’s iconic moves. His performances were praised by audiences and family members alike, with his grandmother Katherine Jackson noting that he embodied Michael so convincingly that she sometimes could not tell the difference. Today+1 In summary, Jaafar Jackson did sing in the film, both in combination with Michael Jackson’s original voice and independently in certain sequences, making his portrayal a mix of homage and personal performance. That... Read more
So when it dawned on me that the only form of the original Greek classics, the Odyssey and the Iliad I had read was in the Classics Illustrated comic books when I was quite young, and the only spoof I read was Mad Magazine’s hilarious ‘The Oddity and the Idiot’ dealing with both classics, it occurred to me that it was high time to read the original in English translation (before Christopher Nolan’s movie emerges in early July), and... Read more
In a dramatic and important passage in 1 Kings 19, after Elijah has triumphed over the prophets of Baal, the pagan fertility and storm god, we hear this— 11 The Lord said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake. 12 After the... Read more
Sting: “Without uncertainty there is nothing worth doing. You need to put yourself in a slightly uncomfortable position in order to produce something new. I’m looking for novelty, I’m look for surprise. That is the essence of art. Without uncertainty there is no art.” For the Christian artist there is more interest in discovering what is true, rather than just what is new, but one has to bear in mind the One who said ‘Behold, I make all things new’. ... Read more
Select your answer to see how you score.
Ad-Free & Subscriber Log-In