by Cory Woodroof | Apr 11, 2012 | Opinion
Blue Like Jazz is a rarity. Once in a blue moon, the Christian base in Hollywood will strike lightning in a bottle, producing a satisfying look at faith and religion through unfiltered eyes. More often than not, audiences are served up a fresh bowl of faith-based pabulum – be it in the form of a “Kendrick brothers original” (Facing the Giants, Fireproof) or another off-brand copycat you might find at the local Redbox. Films made by the faithful often lack any bite. The projects are too focused on being happy, inoffensive and resolved. The end result is harmless, but a typical Sunday morning sermon usually finds greater success. This past August, golf-centric melodrama Seven Days in Utopia succeeded in slightly rising above the genre, providing a decently endearing story while staying within the confines of the churchyard. Having a cast featuring Robert Duvall and Melissa Leo didn’t hurt. Still, I wondered when the right movie would come along at the right time to finally put an end to the usually languished faith-based fare. I wondered when a filmmaker would be bold enough to portray the daily walk of a Christian without a coating of fresh sugar. Blue Like Jazz, adapted from Donald Miller’s best-selling memoir, finally offers Christian audiences a film they can be proud of – a journey into faith and life through the eyes of a scarred believer. Don Miller (Marshall Allman) stands as the example of the perfect Bible-belt Christian until a horrid discovery sends him from his Texas home to Oregon’s Reed College, a super-secular institution based in free expression. Miller begins to struggle with...
by Emily Snell | Apr 2, 2012 | News Slider
Lipscomb’s chapel office has scheduled daily activities to help students reflect on the last week of Jesus’ life, prior to the celebration of Easter next Sunday. Assistant Campus Minister Keela Evans said the staff wanted to create events that mirror the life of Christ each day of his last week on Earth. “We really wanted to walk through what the week leading up to the cross was,” she said. “We wanted it to be a teaching experience for our students, not just events, but letting them see the week leading up to Easter.” Evans said the campus ministry staff intentionally designed the events to give students an opportunity to experience Jesus. “There are some students on campus that don’t know Jesus at all and don’t believe, and we want to love them and honor them but share the gospel with them,” she said. “We want to really focus on community repentance. It’s not just about my sins, but it’s about us as a community walking toward the cross together.” Evans recognized that students who’ve gone to church their entire lives can find it difficult to deeply engage with annual holidays like Easter. She said she identified with that problem until a few years ago when her perspective changed. “This is the day we celebrate Jesus being absolutely free from the grave, free from death, beating death and being raised and resurrected,” she said, encouraging students to soak in the reality of Easter’s meaning. “It’s more about knowing that the Holy Spirit raised Jesus Christ himself from a murdered death. And now he is living among us, he is living...
by Emily Snell | Jan 20, 2012 | News Slider
Donald Miller, Christian author and speaker, gave students his “rules to living a meaningful life” in The Gathering on Thursday. “The things it takes to live a good story are the same things it takes to live an interesting life,” Miller said, explaining that he learned a lot about storytelling while working with experts to produce the movie version of his book Blue Like Jazz, which will appear in theaters April 13. Miller said people have the ability to choose to live an interesting, enjoyable life or a boring, meaningless one. “The things that we’re doing with our lives actually shape whether or not we appreciate it,” he said. According to Miller, the first step toward living an interesting life is “you need to want something.” Miller said the reason people get bored during movies is the same reason they feel that life is meaningless–it’s unclear what the protagonist wants. “If I paused your life right now,” Miller asked, “and came to your closest friends and asked, ‘Ok, what do they want?’ Would anybody know?” Miller said he thinks people believe they have to want only God’s specific plan for their lives. But, Miller said he believes God doesn’t always have a detailed plan but allows people to choose what they do with their lives. He said too many people view God as “a dysfunctional dad who is controlling.” “I just see this picture of God as a dad, and He rolls out this big piece of butcher paper on the floor and He gives you a box of crayons,” Miller said, sharing his perspective. “And you and God get to...
by Cory Woodroof | Jan 17, 2012 | News Slider
Lipscomb freshmen can begin attending Freshmen Interest Groups to help them get connected on campus, starting Wednesday, Jan. 18. A Freshmen Interest Group (FIG) allows those newer to Lipscomb to connect with other students who share in the same interests. All freshmen are welcome to attend any meetings available. Six different interest groups will be featured. Those with a knack for service can meet with Christin Shatzer on Wednesday at 4 p.m. in the Johnson conference room to join the community service/service learning FIG. This group also offers opportunities with the SALT program. Students looking for recreational activities can meet with Matthew Abplanalp in the Student Activity Center lobby at 4 p.m. Wednesday to join the Campus Rec FIG, aimed at promoting healthy living. Also on Wednesday at 4 p.m., those with a love for travel can meet Melissa Swan in Arlo’s to discuss world-wide exploration with the travel FIG. On Thursday at 3 p.m., Campus Minister Jake Burton will lead the spiritual FIG in the Campus Ministry office. This group will take a closer look at God’s work on campus and address spiritual questions. Any film buffs can join Dr. Matt Hearn in Swang 102 on Thursday at 5 p.m. to discuss the art of cinema with the movies/film FIG. Those with a love of the culinary arts can meet with Dr. Autumn Marshall at 3 p.m. Friday in Ezell 107 to delve into the world of good food with the culinary/food FIG. If you are unable to attend any of the Freshmen Interest Groups but still desire to know more information, please contact any of the group facilitators below. Other...
by Whitney Jarreld | Nov 10, 2010 | News Slider
Back for another year, Dodgeball: No Escape showcased numerous teams that battled it out for the title and the trophy. The prison-like atmosphere made for an intense evening of dodgeball in Fanning’s courtyard. Starting with single elimination games, some were went out quickly. Other teams, like California Boys and Dumbledore’s Army, came close but didn’t quite make it to the championship game. Teams Campus Safety and Robin Hood Men in Tights had a showdown in the championship round. The winner was to be determined in a best-out-of-three round. The first game went quickly to Robin Hood Men in Tights. The second time around, both teams fought harder for the win, but Robin Hood Men in Tights prevailed in the end. Please upgrade your...
