Movie Review ~ Chariots of Fire

People look so funny when they're running.

Movie: Chariots of Fire

Director: Hugh Hudson

Year: 1981

Set in: 1919-1924 (Climax at Paris 1924 Olympics)

Rated: Our copy G; some PG or 15. Mild language, etc. 

I would rate it PG

My rating: 7/10-ish

Eric Liddell, son of a Scots Missionary in China.


Harold Abrahams, a Jew, studying at Oxford.


Harold Abrahams raced with the sole aim of winning at all costs because of racial prejudice - he as a Jew.

Eric Liddell raced for the glory of God. He made a classic comparison of life to running a race.

When Harold loses a race, he is not himself for days, he is so upset.

Eric's sister wants him to concentrate on the mission, not racing. But Eric said he thought God gave him the gift of speed. He refused to race on Sunday. He was unswerving in that regard. The paper headlines displayed were "GOD BEFORE MAN" - as it should be.

Harold runs the final race to win for himself.

Eric runs for God's glory.


I won't tell you how it ends - spoilers! - but it is a great movie and well worth watching.

Whatever you do....

...do it all for the glory of God. 

I have been thinking lately about the way I spend my time. What I read, watch, and...blog about.
And I've been thinking I need to watch how much time I spend doing certain things.

Fandoms and blogging are not bad, but I shouldn't let them occupy the majority of my time.
Don't get me wrong, Jane Austen, Victor Hugo, Elizabeth Gaskell - they're good, I like them- but it's not good if I let those things take up all my time, and keep me from important things like prayer, or reading my Bible.

So I have been trying prayerfully to keep these things in perspective, if you will.
Part of that is a new Bible-readings system my parents, and now me and my sisters use.
It's Professor Grant Horner's Bible Reading System, which is designed so that you can read the entire Bible in a year. In this system you have the books of the Bible divided into ten lists, and you read a chapter from each list every day - lists 1-5 in the morning, and lists 6-10 at night. You don't have to read all ten every day, but if you do you should finish it in one year.

Another thing I love is music. An Australian singer, Jason Coghill (who was once a member of the band, Sons of Korah) puts Psalms to music, literally word-for-word. One night he a few years ago he came and did a concert at our church, and we got two of his CD's, Songs of Deliverance, and Peace and War.We really enjoy listening to these as music in the car or at home. You learn the Psalms he sings off by heart and I can now recognize ones he sings when I read them. I often read or hear a psalm read and I think of Jason Coghill's tune for it and start singing along in my head!

"So whether you eat or drink, or whatever you do, do it all to the glory of God." 

~ 1 Corinthians 10:31 

Hope you enjoyed this post!

(Please note I am still open for post suggestions - let me know if you have any ideas!)

Thank-you, dear readers!

who doesn't like photos, right?

My siblings and friend took some photos the other day - if you like, check them out at my sisters' blogs
here  and   here (more or less the same photos :))

Movie Review ~ Soul Surfer

         
Here's a basic summary of the movie:
Bethany Hamilton is a 13 year old Christian home-schooled girl who lives in Hawaii. Her hobby (or lifestyle) is surfing. One day, she encounters disaster when she is out surfing. The movie tells that story and the story of how, with faith in God, and help from family and friends, they coped with the change, and she got back in the water.

The Characters

Bethany Hamilton is played by Anna-Sophia Robb.

She was a great actor! She was really good at showing the emotion and really played the part.




Her parents, Mr. & Mrs. Hamilton, are played by Dennis Quaid and Helen Hunt. They really seemed to be kind, loving, caring and protective parents.

The boys, Timmy (Chris Brochu) and Noah (Ross Thomas)


They are fun, teasing, but protective brothers, and they really care about their sister.

Alana Blanchard, Bethany's best friend, is played by Lorraine Nicholson.


She and Bethany are best friends, but they have an argument or two. She is very freaked out about the attack.


Malina Birch (Sonya Balmores) is, I think, a made-up character. She is another surfing competitor and doesn't really get along with Bethany. She is mean to her, but Bethany tries to be nice to her.



In the end, Bethany doesn't win her big competition; she caught a great wave just after the time was up. Her dad is annoyed, saying, "It didn't count!" She just smiled. "It counted. It totally counted."
Malina, won over, shares the prize with her. "The judges may not have counted that last wave - but I did."


Overall, this movie is great! The acting is very good, and it is a great girl's movie :) I highly recommend it.


Anna-Sophia Robb and Bethany Hamilton

The Friend Tag

Firstly, my sincerest apologies for having disappeared from this blog of late - I have been very busy with life and my other blogs.
Today I thought I'd post about a really good topic - friendships. Friendships are great, especially when you have a very intimate friend. My most intimate friend (here I mean as in the person I tell pretty much EVERYTHING to) is probably my older sister. (You can find her here) She's amazing : )

But, yes, I do have other friends who aren't my sisters :)

I have decided to create a Friends award/tag. But there's a special rule:

RULES

1. Let your tagger know that you received notification.

2. Post the award picture and rules to your blog,

and answer your tagger's five questions.

3. Tag five blogger-friends, but at least ONE OF THEM

HAS TO BE A FRIEND YOU MADE VIA

BLOGGER : )

4. Give them five questions and notify them that you have tagged them.

5. (Optional Rule: Give your readers a freindship quote at the

end of your tag post : )

[P.S. You may tag group-bloggers]

Okay, so you know the rules...I am tagging:

-Elizabethany (the aforementioned sister)

-Laura King

-Amy Dashwood (met via Blogger)

-Melody (met via Blogger)

-Violet

My Questions

1. What is your favourite colour?

2. What food would you never eat and why?

3. Do you have a favourite place to meet with your friends?

4. What do you and your friends like doing together?

5. How do you greet your friends every time you meet them? What about on Blogger?

Sorry the first two aren't really friend-related!

My Answers (just for fun)

1. Blue-green (turquoise)

2. Umm, Brussel Sprouts. They have a bad reputation.

3. Yup! We usually meet at Church or Catechism classes or Spanish/Soccer practice.

4. Ah...oh, yes! We tickle eachother. All the time. Yes, I know it sounds crazy, at least 13-yr-olds. 

running around giggling and stuff. Yup, we're a bit silly sometimes. Sometimes.

5. Hugs!!! (And tickling)

Yes, I should probably be getting off now....

Here's your quote!

                                         



: )

Bible Reading Plan

I have comprised my own Bible reading plan. It includes the chapter sub-headings from my NIV version and tick-boxes for when you're done reading. I thought you might like it if I shared this with you. Here is the first one - the book of Genesis. You are most welcome to download this for your own use. I have not as yet discovered a straight-forward way to add the PDF to this post, I shall have to email it to any interested. If you would like this, please contact me at erreitsma@gmail.com, and leave the following: name, email, what you intend to use it for (just to confirm, cases can vary, you see),  & any other preferences. Please also feel free to ask me any questions about this or anything else at the above address.


God bless,










P.S. If you have any tips on how I could add the PDF to the post for easy download, please let me know!

Violets & Daisies Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award

Violets & Daisies Brilliant Blog Bouquet Award

Firstly, thankyou so much Violet of Violets & Daisies for awarding me!

Blog Award Rules:

Put a link to who gave you the award
Post the award to your blog
Answer the questions
Choose 5 blogs to receive the award
Let them know you've awarded them

Blog Award Questions: 
1. If you could have a "flower pen name" like we have here on our blog, Violets and Daisies, what would it be?
2. What is your favourite ever Bible verse and why?
3. What are the blogs which inspire you most?
4. If you and your friends could visit any country in the world, where would you go?
5. If you have one, feel free to share your testimony as to how you became a Christian.

And my answers:

1. Hmm, probably Poppy.

2. I have heaps! If I had to pick one, it would most likely be Psalm 116 verse12: "How can I repay the LORD for all of his goodness to me?" I like it because it is such a beautiful verse and reminds me that I can't possibly repay God for all he has done - it's that great!

3. I have to say that Violets and Daisies is probably the most inspiring blog I have ever come across!

4. Our family have friends who live in the United States and family that live in Canada, and one of my best friends comes from the States, so the USA, and probably Europe and the UK. (My great-grandmother lived in England as a little girl during WWII.)

5. I don't really have one, I have grown up in a Christian household with good Christian friends and family, which I am very thankful for. But there is, I suppose, one's own conviction of Salvation. 

The five blogs I would like to receive the award are:

Lily  of  Violets & Daisies
Laura of Books, Poems and Everyday Life
Miss Margaret Dashwood of An Accomplished Young Lady
Miss Marianne of The P&P95 Forever Club
Hyancinth of Violets & Daisies

Thanks again for awarding me Violet!