Cookie Jar

I haven't had much time to think about writing, much less to actually sit down and write. So for now until I make the time to start again, I will point towards others writings that I have enjoyed or been encouraged by.

This is a song titled, "Cookie Jar" by Jack Johnson. It's been around a while, but it's rare for a pop singer these days to have actual insight into anything. Which is why I wanted to post the lyrics.


I would turn on the TV but it's so embarrassing,
To see all the other people, I don't know what they mean,
And it was magic at first when they spoke without sound,
But now this world is gonna hurt, You better turn that thing down,
Turn it around.

"It wasn't me," says the boy with the gun,
"Sure I pulled the trigger but it needed to be done,
'Cause life's been killing me ever since it begun,
You cant blame me 'cause I'm too young."

"You can't blame me. Sure the killer was my son,
But I didn't teach him to pull the trigger of the gun,
It's the killing on this TV screen,
You can't blame me it's those images he's seen."

"Well you can't blame me," says the media man,
"Well I wasn't the one who came up with the plan,
I just point my camera at what the people want to see,
Man it's a two way mirror and you can't blame me."

"You can't blame me", says the singer of the song,
Or the maker of the movie which he based his life on,
"It's only entertainment as anyone can see,
The smoke machines and makeup, man you can't fool me."

It was you, it was me, it was every man,
We've all got the blood on our hands,
We only receive what we demand,
And if we want hell then hell's what we'll have.

And I would turn on the TV,
But it's so embarrassing,
To see all the other people,
I don't even know what they mean,
And it was magic at first,
But let everyone down,
And now this world is gonna hurt,
You better turn it around,
Turn it around.

Disappointed but not Surprised

The reactions that I have received from my article were almost inline with what I had expected. The one unexpected response came from, ironically, a filmmaker. I was pleased to see that, even though he disagreed, he chose to accept a challenge and not to scoff. The overall reaction has been not to stop and think but to defensively reject.

To stop and think would mean we might have to consider giving up something we truly adore. We have so much time and money invested into theater, movies and television that we view calling into question the industry as a personal attack and the responses have displayed this reaction. This is sad, but I cannot be too discomforted because though I would like to think better, I know that I am susceptible to this type of misplaced response in other ways.

So I cast no stones; I just ask people to question and think for themselves. But that's like asking a sheep to not be a sheep.

For those interested in seeking truth wherever it may be found:

This is Tozer's essay that I quoted in the article : "The Menace of the Religious Movie"

I also came across a blog by Ryan Martin that researched some opinions on acting and theater from the early Church. I would like to add that I attach this blog merely for the research he did and I am not advocating his opinion and I haven't read his entire blog to ensure no theological differences.

I especially found this excerpt interesting in Augustine's Confessions. Read Chapter II.

June Article on the Brew...

My June article for the Brew Magazine is posted. I'm very interested to see the responses I will get. I pray that it is found to be thought-provoking.