Happy Birthday David!!!

Hi everyone,

We just wanted to wish David a Happy Birthday, today, March 2nd. Some of the writers here at HJ have written some notes to get us started. Feel free to pitch in and let David know how much you appreciate him and the site!

HJ Staff



David,

You are indeed a visionary, a one-of-a-kind minister of Christ, orbiting somewhere out on the dim outer boundaries of a church that envisions itself as the center of the solar system. Thanks for helping us free ourselves, at least a little bit, from the gravitational pull of out static, inward-turned institutions, and for allowing us a taste of what ministerial EVAs feel like. I, for one, will be eternally grateful for my short walks with you among the stars, and for time spent communing through God's spirit with today's Samaritans and Gentiles, those spiritual aliens whom God truly seeks. Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Greg Wright


Dear David,

You share your natal day with Dr. Seuss along with the premiere of Time magazine and the classic King Kong. Wilt the Stilt commemorated it with a century. But in our book, these events need to make room for you.

Because of your vision and passion, the world has been graced with a new meeting place -- for lovers of film and other media, and those of us who see our faith working itself out through those expressions. Although many of us have never met face to face, we are bound together through your ministry in a web of humanity that's seasoned with Christ's spirit.

May your day be full of the richness we share in Christ,

Tom Price


Dear David,

You have always been a quiet encourager, quiet in that cheerleader sort of way. I thank God for your gift of recognizing talents in others, harnessing them with your vision, and using them to advance the kingdom. All while keeping the spotlight off yourself and focused on Christ. You are an example to me in how I want to live missionally and how I want to be as a Christian. Thank you for your time, your sacrifices, your kinds words, and most importantly your love.
Maurice Broaddus

When I think of David Bruce, two things instantly come to mind--without fail. First, there's that cool-looking Amish hat you've always got. That signifies individuality. If it weren't for your originality--your unique David Bruce style--Hollywood Jesus would not be what it is today. God knew exactly what He was doing when He put HJ in the heart of a pop-culture-loving pastor/filmcritic/producer/administrator/publisher/ manager/filmmaker/father/etc. Despite the human bridges that would be burned from such a radical trip to "the fringes," you heard God's call and you trudged forward, not sure of the outcome, but focused nonetheless.

When I think of what could give a mere human the strength to traverse uncharted waters and steer away from countless whirlpools (i.e. quarter-million dollar offers and encounters with Ted Baehr), I can only come to one conclusion: the Amish hat is magical. Dumbo had his feather and Samson had his curly locks, so it would only follow logic that David Bruce wears a hat blessed by some super-powered televengelist, a dearly-departed pope or a simple-living man of God named Jedediah. Could the inside of this simple accessory be lined with a Golden Fleece or Shroud of Turin? Surely no mere mortal could accomplish the feats of David Bruce!

But then I remember that you, David Bruce, are no mere mortal. Though the external "Hollywood" side of you--embodied by that signature black hat--shouts style and individuality, inside there's a "Jesus" side of the equation that's vital to your makeup, pumping through your veins at an
incalculable rate. And that is the catalyst of the second David Bruce mental image: twinkling eyes.
I normally don't make it a habit to compliment another man's eyes. Not that I'm insecure about my manhood, it just doesn't seem as profitable as complimenting a lady. But the eye compliment currently on the table isn't the typical "your eyes match your shirt" thing (thankfully, since your shirt is usually black). Truth be told, I couldn't tell you what color your eyes are. So, unlike the hat, the twinkling has nothing to do with image. Well, not yours at least. It has to do with the Image in which you were created, and letting the discovery of that Image color your worldview. I know this is starting to sound like bad poetry, but I just completed a little experiment. I surfed HJ's pages, looking for every picture I could find. I searched the HJAG page, the main page, the "About Us" section--even your list of video reviews. You know what I found? A cool hat. I think we've established that fact. But in addition to the cool hat, I found a twinkling eye. And such a twinkling eye--that constant showcasing of the Eternal Flame within--is something rare indeed. And to think, I've got e-mail access to such a rarity.

What makes up David Bruce? A God-ordained balance of external and internal, of individuality and universality, of flamboyance and humility, of Hollywood and Jesus. That makes up David Bruce. And because of that blend, I'll follow you to the ends of the earth. Because I know that David Bruce is a man of God, with a love for His children. And that is the man I aspire to be.

Thanks for letting God out of the box, and Happy Birthday!

Mark Ezra Stokes
Film Critic/Cheerleader



David,

You are such an encourager! It's been a year now, and your influence in providing me a safe place to express my opinions and explore multimedia in new ways has really let me grow as an individual. I will always be grateful for the welcoming way that you extended yourself to me and appreciate your loving, cutting edge attitude toward life in general. Thanks for your love of Jesus and the way that you share that with others!

Jacob Sahms



David,

Your ministry inspired me to think about film differently, and also encouraged me that I wasn't alone in my views of redeeming the arts for Christ. I still remember the day I read your visual review for "The Sixth Sense" and have been hooked on the website ever sense. It's been an honor to contribute to your vision, and I look forward to more years of service with you. May the Lord continue to bless you!

Happy Birthday!
Michael Ray Mitchell



David,
All I can say is that you and what you have created at HJ turned out to be much, much more than I had first imagined. Thinking I would join a cool movie review group with this kind of wacky webmaster, the whole experience turned out to be an anchor in my turmoil. Many times I wanted to give up on the reviews, too frustrated with the busy life of a new mother. Your encouragement kept me here time and again. Now, I don’t ever want to give it up. This ministry has turned out to be food for my soul – that small percentage of things I do to hang on to the old Melinda, the person I was before motherhood took over my entire life. Now I feel like there is some balance, and I feel fulfilled in both roles. I cherish that gift more than you know. Thank you for allowing me to be a part of this community!

Happy Birthday!
Melinda Ledman

Academy Award Nominations 2005 - Reaction & Aftermath

Here is the complete list of Oscar Nominations: http://tinyurl.com/9xaqe

I pose the same questions as last year:

Which films are you rooting for?
Which of the 5 Best Picture/Actor/Actress nominees will have the most longevity (both consciously and spiritually) over the years?

And a new question this year: What films do you feel were neglected by this year's Oscars?


Share your thoughts


Chris Utley
HJ Staff

Brokeback Mountain

In light of the success and overwhelming controversy of "Brokeback Mountain", here are a few questions to ponder:

1. Are you planning to see the film?
2. What are your thoughts on it's success?
3. What's the best way to intergrate Christ into the discussion of this film -- without taking the "been there, done that" route of rehashing Old Testament scriptures and of gay-bashing and denigration disguised as "telling the truth in love?


Chris Utley
HJ Staff

Narnia and the Deep Magic

In October, Time asked, "Has [the Narnia movie] reproduced the Christian character of C.S. Lewis's book?" The magazine further proposed "a kind of evangelical sniff test" as a means of answering that question. It postulated that, if certain lines from the book did not survive intact, "the film may be a classic, but never a Christian classic. And its revenues, large as they may be, will reflect that." Those lines? Take a look:

The White Witch: "That human creature is mine. His life is forfeit to me. His blood is my property."

Aslan (later) : "The Witch knew the Deep Magic. But if she could have looked a little further back... she would have known that when a willing victim who had committed no treachery was killed in a traitor's stead, the Table would crack and Death itself would start working backwards."

Narnia scholar Bruce Edwards has this to say about what the movie actually did present:

Aslan is risen! Hurrah. But listen closely to his explanation of the witch's downfall: she misinterpreted the deep magic, he says. No! Aslan, what about the deeper magic? Why is that written out, skipped? Aslan's explanation is that the reason good has triumphed is that he has the superior understanding; true, but that's not what's at stake here: it's his superior LOVE that dispenses grace and mercy to the unworthy. It's the deeper magic beyond time, not the proper hermeneutics issued within time. It's not what's written on the stone table, rightly interpreted, that saves; it's the unmerited favor of a Lover who will not let his beloved alone to die.

Is this difference between Narnia's "Deep Magic" and "Deeper Magic" just too deep a concept to convey on film? Do you think that the difference managed to come across anyway?

Is Edwards expecting too much? Was Time setting too high and too unfair a standard?

And even if Disney and director Andrew Adamson "got it wrong" according to such standards, how much does that really matter? Is the "Christian character" of the Narnia stories the most important thing about it, or something else?

Greg Wright
Senior Editor and Narnia Blogger

Narnia and Imagination

"There is death in the camera," C. S. Lewis said, meaning that films kill the imagination. Andrew Adamson, director of the upcoming The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, has said that he wanted to film what the book spawned in his own imagination.

So as we get ready to see the Narnia film, what's in our imaginations? Tell us. Let it all out; no inhibitions.

And do you think that the Narnia film will kill your imagination? Was Lewis really right?

Greg Wright
Senior Editor and Narnia Blogger

Academy Award Nominations 2004 -- Reaction and Aftermath

Hey folks.

Now that the nominees for Oscar 2004 have been announced, what are your thoughts? Which films are you rooting for. Which of the 5 Best Picture/Actor/Actress nominees will have the most longevity (both consciously and spiritually) over the years.


And...the REALLY BIG QUESTION: Are you upset that TPOTC was snubbed in the major categories? I'm attaching a link to a fellow critic is livid over the whole issue. She and I even got into a fender bender over her thoughts (http://churchofthemasses.blogspot.com/2005/01/sinning-against-holy-spirit-oscar-noms.html)

Share your thoughts...


Chris Utley

What are your favorite 2004 films?

Happy New Year everyone...

Would you guys mind listing your favorite films of 2004 along with a little blurb explaining your choices? Hopefully Dave can post our lists when he has the time. My list will take some time...it's gonna take another week or 2 to catch the remaining films on my list.

Blessings and good writing in 2005...

Chris Utley