The void

A strange thing happened as I read the story of Tito Ortiz and Jenna Jameson.

Just a quick catch-up. Early this week, Ortiz was arrested on suspicion of domestic violence against his girlfriend (whom he lives with), the ex-porn star. Ortiz claims he never hit Jameson and said she is addicted to the pain medication Oxycontin.

I didn't stop to think about whether Ortiz is guilty, or if they will stay together, or any of that crap that's none of my business. Instead, I thought about the drug addiction, and what it means for Jenna.

People turn to drugs to fill a void in their life. It may be a feeling of non-acceptance, or lack of love, or wishing you were someone or something else. JJ hasn't lived the cleanest life, but none of us have. And now that she's considered old in her line of work (along with other demons she faced growing up), the pain could be catching up with her.

If it were 10 years ago, I'd have coldly written her off as a well-paid prostitute. But now I realize that she's still a child of God. That's not an excuse for her lifestyle choice in any way (again, I ain't exactly first prize), but it's a reason to pray that she heals rather than give a quick "as ye sow, so shall ye reap" judgment.

Some of my favorite movie scenes

It could be a good script or a gunshot, but here are some scenes from my favorite movies that impress me with their slickness, style and confidence. BTW, just cope and paste the links if you want to see them. I can't figure out why embedding isn't working for me right now.

Doc Holliday

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IDK3ts1JimQ&feature=related

Val Kilmer gives the best performance I've ever seen in this movie (I'd like him more in real life if he wasn't a jerk). He brings a charisma to Doc Holliday that just makes your jaw drop. His expressions would make a frowning stick figure smile (I'm your huckleberry is my personal fave) and his quick, cold efficiency in capping Johnny Ringo leaves no doubt that you'd rather flick a cigarette in the Incredible Hulk's face than hear Doc yell "Say When" within 50 yards of you.



Collateral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-zJlsc8GU50&feature=related

Part of what I love about movies is when they don't have to resort to confusing editing, special effects or any of that other crap to show you something impressive. Here, Tom Cruise (Vincent) has his briefcase swiped out of Jamie Foxx's cab, and Cruise confronts the two thugs about it. At this point, the director could have done some direct-to-video-quality camera cuts and ended with both muggers on the ground, leaving the viewer to think Vincent busted some spectacular move on them. Instead, he finishes two thugs in not that many seconds while we watch in astonished silence.


Ocean's 11

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9mWymlaejbs&feature=related

I'm a writer. Writers are suckers for good writing. A well-penned script sounds like a natural conversation, but has just enough funny and clever expressions thrown in to keep the talk from sounding mundane. This was a great scene from Ocean's 11 where Matt Damon and Brad Pitt are discussing the dangers of heisting ruthless casino mogul Andy Garcia. You could just hear "this is crazy" or "you're going to get us all killed" or "this is crazy, you're going to get us all killed", but thankfully, the script office didn't phone this one in. Who loves 'em, baby? I do.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rH3mLKIXOe4&feature=related

This clip is shorter, but funny as well. Wish I could think of smart-aleck remarks this fast.

The wrong ministry

Few times in my life have I said that I'm truly disappointed and ashamed in someone. But that's the case with the Westboro Baptist Church in Kansas.

You may have heard of them ... they're the ones who protest at the funerals of soldiers, spouting off about how God is happy that these soldiers are dead because it's His punishment for our country's tolerance of homosexuals.

Hate the sin but love the sinner. We all have our own sins and imperfects, but it doesn't mean that God loves us any less. Sometimes I'm so mad at myself that I can't look in the mirror. When that happens, I'm holding one of God's children in contempt; looking at him as a lower form of life. God hates that behavior, but He loves me. The message that this "church" conveys of God high-fiving the angels when a solider falls is absolutely wrong, and not reflective of God's loving relationship with us. For that, I'm ashamed of them.

Just as bad, this church will look at anyone who opposes them as "oppressors". I say this not to oppress, but to inform. God loves all his children equally and beyond what we can measure. That doesn't mean we are never rebuked or that bad things can't happen, it means that God sticks with us through the junk and wishes us no harm. I pray that this church learns about the true forgiveness of God, and in time, I'll forgive them for trying to pollute the pure word.