Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year—Dark City

Dr. Death terrorizes Gotham, but he is not Batman's biggest problem . . . for The Riddler is winning. He has the city under dark and under his control, and Batman, Jim Gordon, and Lucius Fox keep coming up empty in their attempts to stop him. Time is running short, with military jets inbound, so riddle me this, Batman—can you save Gotham this time?

This continues the 'zero year' story arc, looking at the origin and early years of Batman. It does a good job, and explores more of Bruce Wayne than prior tales.

Rating: A-

Daredevil: Born Again

Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin, has a new title: Mayor of New York City. Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil, mourns a dead friend and ponders what comes next. As both embark on new chapters of their lives, they will each wrestle with their past (and present) darkness. Can anyone truly change their stripes?

This 9-episode arc picks up the story (now on Disney+) where Netflix's Daredevil show left off six years ago (after season 3). I was impressed. The original cast is all back, and they did a good job mirroring (even improving) the tone of the former seasons. It is suspenseful, dark, and sometimes gruesomely violent. It is also stirring in places, reminding us of the darkness within each of us even as some citizens wrestle with how to fight for the light.

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year—Secret City

The Red Hood gang owns Gotham, committing random crimes with no purpose or pattern. People who once flocked to the city for the hope it offered now live in fear.

Bruce Wayne is back. Declared legally dead years ago, he tries to live secretly in the city as he thinks on his goals and purpose. But he cannot hide forever, and Batman will soon be born. Will he be enough to save the city?

This is yet another origin tale of sorts, with familiar themes, characters, and scenes (to include Axis Chemicals and flashbacks to training, echoing scenes from prior comics and movies). It highlights different aspects, though, which was refreshing and avoided it feeling stale.

Rating: A-

Moneyball

It is 2002. The Oakland Athletics have no money, forcing GM Billy Beane to think creatively on how to field a winning team. And he thinks there is a way, by spurning conventional wisdom and looking at different metrics to evaluate players. With the help of Yale economics graduate Peter Brand, he will implement this approach and, against all odds, produce winning clubs (though they would never get far in the playoffs). Moneyball is his story.

This film is highly regarded, and I see why. It presents several themes worthy of contemplation, including what ultimately matters/drives us and challenging convention. And about not necessarily becoming the best (even if it inspires others, using your methods, to be—the Red Sox would win the world series two years later using Beane's methods, even if Beane would not). Recommended.

Rating: A

Cultural Sanctification (Stephen O. Presley)

"The Christian call to cultural sanctification is a call to pursue holiness and conformity to the likeness of Christ within any and every cultural context. Neither retreating nor assimilating, firm in their identity and theological and moral convictions, Christians are to live with faithfulness to the truth of God revealed in the Scriptures." - Stephen Presley

In Cultural Sanctification, Stephen Presley presents how the early church in the ancient world lived in and engaged the world around them. This is before Constantine, when the Roman Empire was openly hostile to, and actively persecuted, Christians. He looks at the following topics; a summary follows.

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- Identity

The ancient church recognized that cultural sanctification started with Christian identity, which was crafted "through catechesis (or discipleship) and liturgy (or worship). If Christians do not know the basic contours of Christian doctrine and morality, how can we expect them to live Christianly in a pagan world?" After all, Christianity is not just "mental assent to a set of propositions but about a commitment of the whole person to a larger community." And so the early church focused on discipling and liturgy ("the ongoing performative expression of the church's doctrine and morality.").

- Citizenship

"Political theology in the early church rested on three core assumptions: a firm conviction in divine transcendence and providence, a belief that God granted political authority to certain earthly rulers, and an active citizenship that proceeded from a political dualism." (Dualism means living in the tension of being both citizens of heaven and any earthly kingdom in which Christians lived.) Early Christians respected "the proper functions of the state, [and] they honored civil authorities, prayed for peace and stability, paid their taxes, defended religious liberty, and generally promoted virtue."

- Intellectual Life

Every era has prevailing attitudes, and the Christian should be ready to give a defense of the faith (see 1 Peter 3:15). The "early church valued intellectual engagement with culture around them." In one important example, a Christian debated a pagan "on his terms and with his sources, and he used his authorities to persuade him." "Thus, the early church's cultural engagement required theological education and discipleship to marshal a chorus of voices ready to provide the populace with a compelling Christian vision." "The strategy of assimilating and conquering the ideologies of the competition comprised the aim of early Christian apologiests in response to the prevailing intellectual world." 

- Public Life

"Pagans viewed Christians with negative assumptions and misconceptions. In response, the early Christian vision of cultural sanctification exacted a process of resocialization, among considerations of contingency, sanctification, and improvisation. That is, after joining the church, Christians had to struggle through the evolving circumstances of the social world, always trying to manage their cultural absorption or acculturation. All the while, they sought perfection and conformity to the likeness of Christ. This entailed cultivating "a culturally discerning" spiritual life—one that was actively indigenizing within the culture but always sorting out the virtues and vices lodged within it."

- Hope

Finally, Christians were driven by a vision of hope markedly different from the surrounding culture, and it enabled them to weather the persecution, estrangement, and even death some would face for their faith. "Christ, in reigning now, allows Christians to live through all circumstances in faith, hope, and love." Christian hope is "defined by two key tenets: the future kingdom of God, and eternal life or beatitude."

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This book presents several important concepts and insights, and I think the author does well to look at the ancient world (before Christianity became dominant in the West) for guidance on how to interact with our current, post-Christian age. That said, there were three aspects of this that could have been better:

- The author presents the ancient church as an excellent model for how to interact with culture. He does mention it wasn't perfect, but I think he glosses over significant failures (and their impacts). A better approach may have been focusing on some examplary believers in that age vs. painting an overly-rosy picture.

- The author presents the current Western age as one that used to be Christian but is falling away. True in some respects, but again, I would challenge the notion: even when Christian values were more actively mentioned (and supposedly supported) in society at large, there has always been plenty of hypocrisy, compromise, and syncretism. Many true Christians have been persecuted by seemingly-Christian societies.

- The text is repetitive and over-long; the author's points could have been conveyed in an essay.

This book overlaps with concepts in You Are What You Love and Faith Speaking Understanding; I think these other titles cover the material better.

Rating: B-

Superman IV

At home, the employees of The Daily Planet grapple with new, sensationalist ownership more committed to making money than printing truth. Abroad, the nuclear arms race is heating up between America and the USSR. Amidst such fear, Superman takes things into his own hands and vows to rid the world of all nuclear weapons. As he does so, he might be playing right into Lex Luthor's hands . . . for the self-proclaimed genius is intent on destroying the Man of Steel by using his own genetics against him, and Lex's creation, Nuclear Man, may just be the being that finally fells Superman. Who will prevail?

I remember this 1987 film better than the others (see reviews of Superman I, II, and III in prior posts). This film marked a return to the flavor of the first two, yet fell short of them in two ways:

- the effects were somehow worse (budget cuts, probably)

- the story was rushed, with huge plot holes (apparently 45 minutes was left on the cutting room floor, leaving a 90-minute film where the previous offerings were north of 120)

It was better than Superman III, but only just.

Rating: C-

Superman III

Gus Gorman, a recovering criminal, gets a fresh start in a new career as a computer programmer . . . only to figure out how to swindle the company. The CEO, Ross Webster, is miffed but sees an opportunity . . . and enlists Gus in greater evil schemes. Superman intervenes in one of them, turning Ross's attention to the 'big blue boy scout' and how to destroy him. A synthetic kryptonite might do the trick . . . or make things weird. Does Superman have a chance?

Lana Lang (from Smallville) features here, and that is a bright spot. Otherwise, this movie strikes a markedly different tone from the first and second, and not in a good way. It is more goofy, with Gus (Richard Pryor) being more a clown then a villain, and it features a little too much slapstick comedy. It also got weird at the end when a giant computer becomes self-aware and goes nuts. The music is lacking, the Superman's inner struggle (basically going dark for a bit, like Spidey does in his third movie) is the most interesting part (and yet gets resolved in an uninteresting fashion). Overall, not a fan—though my kids liked it better than the first two.

Rating: D+

Superman II

Escaped! Lex Luthor is out of jail. But worse—so is the evil Kryptonian General Zod and his two cronies, all of whom have the same superpowers of the Man of Steel. Can Superman fend them all off? Or will the Earth kneel to Zod? 

The second installment in the Superman series is much like the first—great music, important (if underexplored) themes, and a mix of adventure and romance. And dated effects. I rate it a notch under the original, but it's about the same.

Rating: C+

Superman the Movie

The last son of Krypton, Kal-El is sent to Earth in a capsule before his homeworld's destruction. There he is raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent in the Midwest as Clark Kent. As an adult, he works as a reporter for the Daily Planet, a newspaper in Metropolis, with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. He tries to blend in, but people need help, and when the evil Lex Luthor hatches a plot to kill millions, Clark may be the only one who can stop him. Some know him as Clark Kent . . . the world knows him as Superman.

It was fun to watch this 1978 film with my boys; It had been so long I remembered only snippets. The movie is definitely a product of its time, with dated special effects, some corny dialogue, and caricatures (of hero and villain alike) that distract from the good components. I think that it tries to be too much, mashing romance, humor, adventure, and philosophical exploration (into responsibility, power, limits, and so on) into an experience that at once felt rushed and overlong. Even so, it is an iconic film, has memorable moments, has timeless music, and touches on important themes, so I'll rate it generously.

Rating: B-

The Way of Christ in Culture (Quinn & Greeson)

In this work, authors Benjamin Quinn and Dennis Greeson offer a descriptive look at, and prescriptive framework for, how Christians engage in everyday life (i.e. culture). 

Descriptive: they overview the story of the Bible, offer a definition of culture ("the ways and products of creatures in creation"), survey approaches for how Christians have related to culture in the past (including Niebuhr, summarized here), and considered the significance of God as Creature (and thus the author of culture) as well as the significance of us as creatures embedded in cultures that emerge in creation.

Presecriptive: they offer a fundamental proposal that "the biblical notion of 'walking in the way of wisdom' is the best approach for cultural engagement." After exploring wisdom and what that looks like, they "offer a framework for how to think about culture, using the very biblical metaphor of walking in the way of Christ as cultural creatures." But this framework is "a set of questions worth asking in any cultural context in which you find yourself." In short, that framework has the following components:

• Orientation (When are we?)
• What time is it? [in the Biblical arc of history]
• How should we live in the time in between? [the 'already and not yet']
• Interpretation (Where are we?)
• Worldview: what is true?
• Worship: what is good and desirable?
• Procession (How do we get there?)
• How should we walk? [in a given situation, what is my aim? Is it a worthy goal that can be directed toward the worship of Christ and love of neighbor?]
• Whom can we follow? [as others have gone before and offer valuable insights]

Ultimately, "we are charged by God to pursue the ways of the King and his kingdom in every square inch and every waking hour of our lives—especially in our engagement with culture." So it is important that we know both 1) the ways of the King and 2) the ways of our culture as we seek to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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I enjoyed this book. It is an introduction to this topic, but unlike the one I read prior, this goes a little deeper and is more thought-provoking. It does seem to meander at times, and I was dissatisfied in places (mainly because of the meandering), but other sections I found excellent and worthwhile.

Rating: A-

Every Square Inch (Bruce Riley Ashford)

Christians are called to obey God in every area of life. This goes well beyond the Ten Commandments; everything we do, think, and say should be faithful to and reflect Christ. That includes engaging the culture around us. In Every Square Inch, Bruce Riley Ashford provides an introduction for how to do just that. After starting with general thoughts on culture and a theology of it, Ashford looks at the arts, sciences, politics, economics and wealth, scholarship and education, and a few other areas of our lives. In each, he revisits the basic Christian story (creation-fall-redemption) and how that story shapes how we approach a given topic.

This is a mostly solid, if basic, introduction. I was already familiar with a fair amount from my other readings, but I did learn a few new thoughts and concepts I found useful. I questioned a few of his statements (especially in the 'economics and wealth' chapter), but overall, this is a good introduction for those unfamiliar with the idea that being a Christian affects how we live in every sphere—it is far more than going to church each Sunday.

Rating: B

Henry V (Dan Jones)

Henry V is a biography of the same by popular historian Dan Jones. Jones spends the first half the book covering Henry's life (1386-1422) before ascending to the throne of England, from his tumultuous childhood (watching his father, the eventual Henry IV, outlawed from the land by Richard II) to a series of tough battles against Welsh rebels. The second half of the book is on Henry as king, though much of his reign was spent in France, fighting to take back Norman lands (a part of which is his famous success at Agincourt) and beyond, eventually securing an agreement to become king of France upon Charles VI's death (though Henry would end up passing away from illness before he could wear that crown). 

Ultimately, Jones take a traditional view of Henry, agreeing with his Medieval contemporaries who "saw in him a paragon of Christian, knightly virtue and the living embodiment of traditional kingship."

This is a straightforward work, with two unique aspects of note:

1) As I said, about half the book is before Henry becomes king. Giving unusual weight to his pre-king days gives the reader insight into the experiences that shaped Henry and influenced his approach to rule.

2) Jones writes in present tense, as though you are there with Henry as he is actively dealing with the various trials and situations given him. This enables an element of suspense (and allows for speculative asides on what may have been going through Henry's mind in a given scenario).

I enjoyed this work for its unusual style (it did help you feel "in the moment" with him) and decent pace. Covering an entire life in 360 pages means events (and differing interpretations/opinions of Henry's actions) will be glossed over or ignored entirely, so there is a degree of trust that Jones has done his homework and rightly assessed (and interpreted) what is worth presenting.* All told, this is a good read.

Rating: B+

*I suppose this is true of any historical work; I've read other historians who try to cover the conflicting views in more depth, though.

Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny

It is 1969. Twelve years after his last adventure, Indiana Jones is retiring from teaching and mourning personal tragedies (omitted here to avoid spoilers). But he may have one more adventure in him, like it or not . . . a figure from his past, a powerful artifact, and a Nazi intent on changing the world (via unusual means) will make for interesting times. What, exactly, is the destiny of Indiana Jones?

The fifth (and supposedly final) installment of the franchise has cool components but mixes them in a way I found unsatisfying. Like the other movies, this one had long (sometimes over-long) action sequences, cool archaeological exploration, and high stakes. But uneven plot development, too many threads, some bizarre elements, and a long run time diminished this for me.

Rating: C+

P.S. Having seen four of the five films in the past week, here is how I would rank each in the franchise:

1. The Last Crusade

2. Raiders of the Lost Ark

3. The Kingdom of the Crystal Skull 

4. The Dial of Destiny

5. The Temple of Doom

Vast: The Crystal Caverns

Today's review is of the 2016 release, Vast: The Crystal Caverns. For 1-5 players, it takes 75-150 minutes.

Overview

Vast is a dungeon crawler . . . with a twist. In this asymmetric game, your win condition depends on your role:

- Knight: slay the dragon

- Dragon: escape the caverns

- Goblins: slay the knight

- Cave: place all cave tiles, then collapse tiles until five crystal tiles are gone

- Thief: stash six treasure or dragon gems

Each role has a corresponding game board and rules summary sheet that outlines your turn structure, actions, and so forth. Note that one player is the cave itself!

game in progress; image from here

So will you be the goblin hordes, a sleepy dragon, the daring knight, a sneaky thief, or an unstable cavern? Whatever you choose, use your actions wisely . . . lest another take the crown.

Review

I enjoyed this asymmetric experience. As with any such game, there are a lot of rules, and it pays to be familiar not only with your role (and possibilities) but also everyone else's. That makes for a steep learning curve, and the game time does seem long. Those things aside, this is a winner.

Rating: B+

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull

It is 1957. Indiana Jones finds himself caught by the Soviets, who are intent on retrieving an object of great power. As Indy contemplates what to do next, he learns that someone very important to him—involved in looking for the same thing—has been kidnapped. As he heads to South America, Indiana will have to use his brains and brawn to save the day. Can he pull it off one more time?

This 2008 film brought the titular professor/archaeologist/adventurer back to the big screen after a 19-year hiatus (see yesterday's post). How was it? In many ways, almost exactly like The Last Crusade, only with updated effects and marginally better dialogue. I agree with Roger Ebert, who said it was "same old, same old," in an enjoyable way: you got what you expected from an Indiana Jones film, both good and bad. The action sequences were over-long and over-done in my opinion, and the subject matter took the film towards a bizarre ending (which was then glossed over as the characters returned to normal life with astonishing speed), but that aside, it was a solid homage to the franchise.

Rating: B-

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade

It is 1938. When his father goes missing looking for the holy grail, Indiana Jones sets out to find him. His adventures will take him through Europe and beyond, and surprises are around every corner. Nobody can be trusted, and success will require an act of faith. Does Indy have it in him?

This 1989 movie is the sequel to the first installment and returns to familiar goals (pursuit of a Christian  relic) and foes (the Nazis). It is much better than The Temple of Doom, and may be the best of the trilogy for its humor, and more developed plot (though there are still some rushed areas). Of course, the theology surrounding the grail is terrible, but there are a few redeeming moments. The effects are dated, and it isn't a perfect film, but it is fun.

Rating: B

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom

Indiana Jones is in Shanghai, China, in 1935, seeking an artifact exchange with a local crime boss. When that goes south, he escapes (accompanied by "Short Round," an orphan sidekick, and Willie Scott, singer) . . . but things don't go as planned. Ending up in India, they come upon a village decimated and struggling. There, Indy learns that an evil cult is growing in a regional palace, and that cult has stolen the village's children and sacred stone. Indy sets off determined to save both. Can he do so? 

Two years ago, I started getting my kids up to speed on Indiana Jones' films by watching the first, but we didn't continue. We watched this one (the second in the series but the first chronologically) last night to re-start the effort. It was . . . okay. This 1984 film definitely has its share of action/adventure, spectacle, and memorable moments. But my comments on Raiders of the Lost Ark hold true here: the plot was extremely rushed, some dialogue was cheesy, the effects often underwhelming (though sometimes cool). This film is darker (and gross in places), as it involves a cult practicing pagan worship, slavery, and human sacrifice. (Aside: apparently the PG-13 rating was invented shortly after this film to account for flicks like this that were too much for PG but didn't warrant an R rating.) Overall, I like this one less than the first film, and it hasn't aged well.

Rating: C

Here to Slay

Today's review is of the 2020 release, Here to Slay. For 2-6 players, it takes 30-60 minutes.

Overview

Assemble your heroes, conquer monsters, and best your friends in this fantasy card game! 

game in progress; image from here

To setup the game, shuffle the two decks (monster deck and draw deck). Each player chooses an oversized party leader card (with a class and ability). Three monster cards are placed in the center, visible to all players, and the remaining monster deck is placed face-down nearby. Each player is dealt five cards, and the draw deck is placed face-down nearby. The game begins!

In Here to Slay, the game play is simple: each turn, you have 3 action points. You use these points to draw cards, play heroes/items, and fight monsters. If you can be the first to assemble 6 heroes (or defeat 3 monsters), you win!

But there are no guarantees: most actions (like fighting monsters and using hero abilities) involve dice rolling, with penalties for failure. There are modifier cards to help your roll (or hurt your opponent's), and challenge cards that can stop another player in their tracks. 

Review

This fast-playing and simple game is solid. A deliberately light game that can accommodate up to six players. I really like action point allowance games, and this one is a good one.

Rating: B+

Home (Marilynne Robinson)

Jack Boughton, the ne'er-do-well son of his Reverend father, has come home to Gilead, Iowa. After twenty years away, he returns bearing a past buried in alcoholism and secrets. The Reverend, now old and nearing the end, withers away as we awaits his death and yearns for Jack's salvation. Glory, a daughter with her own broken past, cares for the old man and now Jack, even as she has her own burdens.  

Glory knows Jack won't remain at home. He'll never feel comfortable there. But as he gets ready to depart forever, he and Glory have a parting exchange:

"I hope I haven't been too much trouble. There's a lot I regret." 

"All I regret is that you're leaving . . . now you know where to come when you need help."

"Yes. Ye who are weary, come home."

"Very sound advice."  

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Set concurrently with Gilead, but in a different household (one oft-referenced in the aforementioned work), this is another remarkable book. Much of what I said about Gilead applies here—it is a poignant portrait of the painful realities of this age. Yet it is beautiful in its way as it points to the futility of sin, the hope of grace, and the unwavering forgiveness and love of a father who simply wants to welcome his son back home.

This is billed as a re-telling of the parable of the prodigal son (read the Biblical story here or my summary of Tim Keller's excellent analysis of the same here). There, as here, there is more than one lost child in the story. Both have pain; both need healing; both have their father's love.

Rating: A

The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game

Today's review is of the 2024 release, The Fellowship of the Ring Trick-Taking Game. For 1-4 players, it takes 20 minutes.

Overview

You hold a ring of great power; one that must be destroyed. It all starts with leaving home. Can you travel through the Shire successfully, or will the challenge prove too great?

This cooperative game is played over a series of chapters. In each, you will be dealt a hand of cards, choose an available character (the pool differs from chapter to chapter), carry out that character's setup instructions (if any), and play begins. To win a chapter, each player must meet their respective character's goals for the round (generally, winning a certain number of tricks or ring cards) unless the victory condition for that chapter says otherwise. If you meet the condition, move on to the next chapter. Play proceeds until you've won it all . . . or Sauron has.

Example cards; image from here

Like all trick-taking games, each card has a suit (forest, hill, mountain, shadow, ring) and number (1-8 for most, 1-5 for the ring cards); in a given trick, the high card in the lead suit wins . . . unless the one ring is played (for that rules them all—which in this case means he who played it chooses who wins that trick). You cannot share your hand with the other players, so pay attention and play strategically to make sure you each meet your respective goals. 

Review

My boys and I played the first two chapters of this . . . I really like it. It is easy to learn, hard to master. The characters with their differing abilities and win conditions make things interesting. The chapters add another level of variation and fun. And I assume (based on the name) that we might see two other games to round out the trilogy. You can learn how to play here . . . highly recommended.

Rating: A

Maps of Middle-Earth (Brian Sibley)

J.R.R. Tolkien, famed author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings, loved languages, myth, and maps. Some argue his tales started with a map. In this book, Brian Sibley presents four maps related to Middle-Earth. For each, he provides a brief history/overview and dictionary of place or terrain names explaining their relevance to a given story. The four maps:

- Beleriand (from the First Age, since lost underwater save for its easternmost reaches, which are now the westernmost Midde-Earth shores in the Third Age)

- Middle-Earth (from the Third Age—the map most familiar to readers, showing lands described in The Lord of the Rings)

- Wilderland (from the Third Age—a 'zoomed-in' map showing lands relevant to The Hobbit)

- Numenor (from the Second Age—an island also lost to the oceans)

Included in this book is four full-color fold-out maps (each measuring roughly 16"x16") drawn by John Howe based on the original Tolkien drawings; one example is below.

This book exceeded my (modest) expectations. I expected it to be a vehicle to make money (and basically sell you four maps). I think it is that, partially. But it is also done well. The overviews for each map include some backstory on when Tolkien (or his son) made them, and how some names have changed over time, which was helpful. Sibley also mentions key events and characters from the major works (including The Silmarillion), which, along with the maps and place names, helps visualize and contextualize where things happened in some of the less well-known tales. 

This is a quick read, and perhaps not for everyone, but for big Tolkien fans, check it out.

Rating: B

The Warden and the Wolf King (Andrew Peterson)

Shortly after book three . . .

Gnag the Nameless knows the Wingfeathers are in the Green Hollows . . . and he will stop at nothing to get them. Makng a stand against his armies, the Hollish muster for a desperate defense. 

Across the sea, Artham and others look to reclaim Dugtown from the Fangs. But treachery abounds, and trust is short.

In the ensuing battles, lives will be lost, hope will hang by a thread, and events nobody could have foreseen will shake to the core. Has the Maker abandoned the Wingfeathers? Who will prevail? 

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The Wingfeather Saga concludes in a most satisfying fashion. The longest book by far (almost 500 pages), there is a lot to tie up, but Peterson does it well (though some parts felt rushed). It was powerful and moving. Suspenseful and satisfying.

Looking at the series as a whole, the author does a good job presenting key principles/lessons of Christianity in a way that is all at once real, raw, hard, beautiful, and painful. And he does so without being preachy, moralistic, or judgmental. Overall, most impressive.

Rating: A

One Last Look

The Eagles' Super Bowl defense in a picture

Two weeks after the Super Bowl, the Eagles are still on my mind. I'm sorry! Here is one final post, focusing on the defense. 

The reason the game (and season) resonates with me is defense. Everyone talks about the offense—Jalen Hurts, Saquon Barkley, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, Dallas Goedert, and that fabulous offensive line were indeed amazing. But I believe the reason for the Birds' success this year is defense.

The Eagles' defense went from nearly last in the NFL last year to the best this year. After sputtering to a 2-2 start, defensive coordinator Vic Fangio made some changes and the results were immediate (and effective).

I love defense. And the Super Bowl was a clinic in how to play it. The Kansas City Chiefs didn't cross half field until late in the third quarter. Their points were scored in garbage time, when the game was already decided. The Eagles got after them at every level: the defensive line (6 sacks without blitzing, one of which produced a fumble), the linebackers (an interception and general smothering play), and the secondary (a pick-six and big stops). It was amazing to watch (if you are an Eagles fan). And it wasn't new; all season long, the team has played great defense at every level. Watch the NFC Championship and Super Bowl highlights. Amazing. So how did they get there?

How do you build a defense? How do you make the worst unit in football into the best? It was a combination of good drafting, player development, quality free agent pickups, and a willingness to change what isn't working. (Note: starting lineups generally list 12 players, showing 'regular' and 'nickel' formations, so the below numbers reflect that total.)

- Good drafting (and undrafted pickups): this unit had eight starters drafted by the Birds, seven of whom were still on their rookie deals. (One more, Reed Blankenship, was an undrafted free agent.) In the below graphic, only three players were offense . . . the Eagles built this team through good drafting.

- Player development: a handful of defensive players (drafted or otherwise) didn't seem to play that well in the last few years, only to break out this year. That matters and points to good coaching. It is easy to write off players who don't pan out in a year or two, but the Eagles have consistently shown patience in this area.

- Free agent pickups: the Eagles had three on D. Darius Slay was traded to the Eagles years ago, and re-signed with them. He has been a veteran leader in the secondary. C.J. Gardner-Johnson was on the team in 2022, went elsewhere in 2023, then signed back in 2024. He is an example of a player who excels in a specific system; he has been excellent on the Birds both years on the team, while he struggled in his year elsewhere. Finally, linebacker Zack Baun was the find of the year. Relegated to special teams on the Saints, he signed with the Eagles for cheap and ended up an All-Pro (which also points to player development).

- A willingness to change what isn't working. What may be missed in the Eagles' success this year was their two big misses: 1) they signed Bryce Huff to a big contract. He didn't perform and was benched a few games into the year. 2) they signed LB Devin White, who was the expected starter. He didn't work out and was cut a few games into the year. Why does this matter? Good coaches get the best out of their players but also identify the ones that aren't working out. Even though Huff and White had more money (or attention) on them, the coaching staff made changes based on need and not 'flash.' It paid off.

Jalen Hurts was the Super Bowl MVP. And he had an amazing game. But me? I would have given the award to the entire defense. "Defense wins championships" is the common wisdom in the football world. Yet awards show what we really value; the last time a defensive player won the NFL MVP was 1986 (Lawrence Taylor). Since then, over 30 quarterbacks have taken home the award, with the rest being running backs. Super Bowl MVP stats are similar; they are almost always QBs. So the defense can get disrespected, which points to a final reflection: excellence doesn't always get recognized. You can be the best—and be a key part of a championship team—without getting accolades. And that is okay . . . we're not called to collect trophies, but to be faithful in the tasks given to us. 

Go Birds. Thanks for a great season. And thank you, defense. You gave us something to cheer for in an uncertain time. UPDATE: one Eagles fansite just released a 2024 defense highlights video. Check it out!

On the Road with Saint Augustine (James K.A. Smith)

"This is not a book about Augustine. In a way, it's a book Augustine has written about you. It's a journey with Augustine as a journey into oneself." So writes James K.A. Smith in his introduction, who goes on to say "I've been on a ride with Augustine. Here's what I've seen; here's what he's shown me (about myself); here's why you might consider coming along."

We're all (metaphorically) on the road in life. We are looking for something or someone. We know something is missing; we're looking for home. And where we end up resting "is a matter of what and how we love."

We often look and rest in the wrong places. We focus on the finite, with unrealistic expectations. It never satisfies, but we never stop. With Augustine, maybe we should consider that "the finite is given as a gift to help us get elsewhere." Things here are "doomed to disappoint if you've been made for another shore." As Augustine spent a lifetime learning, "you [God] have made us for yourself, and our heart is restless until it rests in you."

When we look to God, it changes everything. But we are still in the world. Still subject to futility, tragedy, and sorrow. "Conversion doesn't pluck you off the road; it just changes how you travel." "The key is to know where we are, and whose we are, and where we're headed, and not be surprised by the burdens of the road." 

After the above introductory content, Smith looks at topics through Augustine's eyes, to include freedom ("how to escape"), ambition ("how to aspire"), sex ("how to connect"), mothers ("how to be dependent"), friendship ("how to belong"), enlightenment ("how to believe"), story ("how to be a character"), justice ("how to protest"), fathers ("how to be broken"), and death ("how to hope"). It turns out the ancient bishop knows a good deal about our contemporary world and these matters. 

Select highlights:

- on freedom: "coming to the end of myself is the realization that I'm dependent on someone other than myself if I'm going to be truly free." And true freedom is not a freedom from rules or boundaries but graced empowerment for a purpose.

- on friends: "the true friend is the other who has the courage to impose a conviction, who paints a substantive picture of the good, who prods and prompts you to change course and chase it—and promises to join you on the way."

- on story: "The point of a story isn't originality or ingenuity . . . [but] to give a gift to the listeners, to create a world in which listeners could see themselves, orient themselves, and maybe even see a way forward, a way out." "Your story is only useful because others have lived it and will live it again."

----

Ultimately, this book "offers a fresh articulation of Christianity that speaks to our deepest hungers, fears, and hopes" (from the publisher's dust jacket review). This is a way to learn about who you are and what God offers, not from a recitation of facts but through analyzing the struggles of Augustine of Hippo (A.D. 354-430), an African who spent years spiritually wandering until he found his home in Christ. He invites us to do the same, not in a heavy-handed way, but through his famous Confessions (and many other works) where he openly acknowledges his failures and wanderings. He's been there; he knows what you're going through. And he knows the way out.

James K.A. Smith is an excellent writer, offering profound, hard-hitting, and succinct statements of truth in a compassionate, inviting way. It took me a while to understand the approach/point of this work, but if you keep his stated goal in mind, it makes sense. Recommended.

Rating: A

Parading Around

On Friday, we did a day trip to Philly for the Eagles' Super Bowl parade. This post recaps that experience . . . and what a day it was.

The party: me, my three kids, my friend, one of this kids. Six total.

The plan: leave at 6:30am, get to Wilmington Delaware to catch a regional rail to Philly, watch the parade, and do the same in reverse.

What happened: 

We left on time, got 15 miles down the road . . . and got a flat tire. Pulling over by a BGE substation, we called a tow truck, but when their time of arrival was (potentially) an hour or more, we opted instead to put the spare on ourselves and return home, get my friend's van, and try again.

We left (again) from our home, but this time at 8:00am. The last train departed Wilmington at 9:30 . . . and it takes about that long to get there. It was going to be close. We made good time but couldn't find parking once we arrived; that, plus a long line and uncertain status of the last train (would we fit or not?) led us to keep driving to Philly.

We arrived in Philadelphia at 11:00am, slowed by bad traffic outside the city. Mercifully, we found parking easily (at 8th and Market Street, just east of city hall). The parade started at the time we arrived, but we suspected we had time to get in place; they started at the stadium and would take hours to go north on Broad Street before snaking around city hall and heading northwest to the Art Museum.

people standing on the johns . . . dicey  move

Finding a good spot was hard (good spot meaning we could actually see the buses once they came through). Seven years ago, we had done something similar but taken the train and arrived much earlier; this time, we were dozens of people from the front. As the barriers prohibited crossing the main thoroughfare, we were stuck on the east side of the route. We snaked around city hall (north, then south, then north again) before ending up in Love park. We ended up with a reasonable view given the circumstances; 80 feet from the road. The map below shows the route (in red) and were we parked/walked (in black).

our view

We got as close as we could and hunkered down to wait. And then . . . something magical happened. Jason Kelce, recently-retired Eagles legend, just happened to walk right through the crowd about 10-15 feet from us:

It was very cool to see him with the fans. (He would later jump onto the parade route and walk down the street with the team.) At one point, a fan handed him a beer, he chugged it, and kept walking.

As we waited, the crowd really pressed in. I started growing concerned for my youngest, who could have been smothered. I kept a small bubble around him as best I could.

Finally, around 12:45pm, the buses came into view. The crowd went wild, phones went up, and I had to keep lifting my youngest above the throng so he could see. (I'm still sore . . . but it was worth it.) The below video was taken by my daughter.

There were more buses than I remembered from last time. At least five, maybe seven or more. It may have taken 20 minutes all told for them to go by, based on the slow pace and frequent stops. The players were spread throughout (the owner, coach, GM, and Jalen Hurts were in the front bus . . . probably more, but I couldn't see everyone). We saw Jalen, Zack Baun, Dallas Goedert, and a few more people I don't recall now. Each one of us may have seen different players based on where we were looking.

After they passed, the crowds largely dispersed, forced by the barriers to head east. I then noticed they had modified Love Park's iconic sign to read "Love, Hurts." Nice.

Heading east led us to Reading Terminal Market, where we swung in, waited in a long (but fast-moving) line for Beiler's Doughnuts, and then kept heading back to our car, stopping one more time for Philly's Pretzel Factory twists (or a cheesesteak). 

We left around 2:30pm, getting one last view of the Linc (the Eagles' stadium) on the way out. 

We got home at 5:30 or thereabouts; traffic was predictably slow getting out of the city.

Reflections

It was a long day . . . was it worth it? The kids gave a resounding "yes." We couldn't get as close as I hoped, but it was very cool seeing Kelce so close, and it was a fun atmosphere regardless of your view. "Everyone is so nice here," said my daughter. (I definitely saw some tense moments between people jostling for a view, but that aside, she was right.) It is fun to be in a crowd of people united. To celebrate regardless of personal inconvenience. To enjoy the moment.

Would I do it again? Depends on how quickly the Birds win their next one. It is a chore going up and back in a day. But you never know when you'll get moments like this, so taking advantage was wise.

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword

After the war with the mages, England is at peace. Or is it? When his power-mad Uncle Vortigern usurps the throne and kills his father, young Arthur escapes and survives on the streets being aided by women in a brothel. Vortigern knows, though, that Arthur must be alive . . . and the powerful sword in the stone can be wielded only by him. Obsessed with finding the heir, Vortigern will make any sacrifice . . . while Arthur wants no part of power. Still, he may not have much choice . . . and from nothing will come a king.

I've had this 2017 film on my list for quite a while. It was definitely different; a visual spectacle with powerful music and some unique (and fun) storytelling methods. Those aspects I enjoyed. What I didn't:

- an emphasis on the mystical. Vortigern is building a tower that (apparently) makes him powerful somehow, Arthur's sword yields superhero-like strength, and there are mages that can control animals. And some other really weird stuff.

- there is very little Arthurian here; a few nods to the legend get buried in what feels more like Robin Hood or A Game of Thrones at times.

- I can't tell what the overall message is. It appears to be that Vortigern's evil created Arthur. Suspect theology.

Still, there was at least one good message in the film: Arthur's transformation. He doesn't want to embrace who he is. At one point, when he's resisting that, his companions put him through a test. One fears they are going too far and might kill him, but another replies:

You don't want all of him to survive, that's the point. You have to break his old self completely, wear him down. You want him to think big? Give him something big to think about.

Later, to Arthur directly, she encourages him to stop running, and reminds him that: 

You will face it when it's worth it to you.

We are reminded consistently in Scripture about putting off the old self and putting on the new, and putting worth in what truly matters (vs. our old desires). So that subtheme was done well.

Overall, I both liked this more than I expected but was somehow also disappointed. The aspects I enjoyed made it fun, but my disappointment came in its claimed ties to Arthur.

Rating: C+

Go Birds

That was satisfying. Yesterday the Eagles won the Super Bowl by clobbering the Chiefs, 40-22, and it wasn't that close (they were up 40-6 before putting in their reserves and yielding two late TDs). This post looks at their year.

The Team

Two years ago, the Eagles lost the Super Bowl to the Chiefs. That team was amazing but fell short. (Still, there are lessons in a loss.) This year's team featured 20 players from that roster (by my count) plus 33 others; turnover happens quickly in the NFL (consider: only 4 players remain from their last Super Bowl victory in 2018). The depth chart is below: note two injuries on defense (to Nakobe Dean and Brandon Graham) affected, but didn't deter, the Birds from success.

The Highlights

There are many . . .

Offense

- Saquon Barkley

What a player. What a pickup. Coming over as a free agent from the New York Football Giants, signing Saquon was considered a risky move by some given his age. It wasn't; he rushed for over 2,000 yards in the regular season, had several amazing playoff performances, and modeled humility to boot. He won the NFL offensive player of the year for his achievements.

He is a true team player and talent, the latter of which is perhaps best epitomized by his 'reverse hurdle' earlier this year:

- The Offensive Line

The Eagles have a history of strong offensive lines, and this year was more of the same. Lane Johnson, Mekhi Becton, Cam Jurgens (who replaced Jason Kelce), Landon Dickerson, and Jordan Mailata simply dominated. Mekhi in particular has a powerful story—written off as a bust, he came to Philly and resurrected his career. He could be seen crying often on the sidelines in thankfulness and joy.

- The Regulars

Jalen Hurts, A.J. Brown, Devonta Smith, and Dallas Goedert have put together a string of successful seasons in Philly. It's fun watching them play.

Defense

- What a turnaround. Last year, the defense sputtered and looked lost. This year, they were the best. And defense wins championships. There was elite talent at every level, and new coordinator Vic Fangio put them in position to be successful. Several players drafted from years (Nakobe Dean, Nolan Smith, Jalen Carter, Milton Williams) past stepped up and performed at higher levels; free agents pickup Zach Baun went from special teams player to an all-pro; and this years' draft picks transformed the secondary from one of the worst units to one of the best.

This defense completely dominated in the playoffs, with a +13 turnover margin in four games. In the Super Bowl in particular, they looked unstoppable. 

Staff

- Nick Sirianni, head coach redeemed. 

Nick had a rough year in 2023, watching his hot 10-1 Eagles skid to a 11-6 finish and first-round ouster in the playoffs. There was talk of firing . . . instead, he stayed on and changed his approach. With two new coordinators and a new mindset, it worked. He righted a team that felt lost last year . . . quite an achievement. Generally, you don't come back from losing the locker room . . . Sirianni did.

- Howie Roseman, GM extraordinaire.

I don't know how he does it, but Howie finds ways to draft well, supplement through free agency, and sign the key players to long-term extensions in fair (but team-friendly) deals.

- Kellen Moore and Vic Fangio, new (to the Eagles) coordinators.

After last year's trainwreck, the offense and defense needed makeovers in the coaching department. Enter Kellen and Vic. The offense looked off at times, but found ways to win through it all. The defense skidded to a 2-2 start but caught fire and never looked back. 

The Amusing

- A.J. Brown's Book Club

During a lackluster game (where Brown was frustrated by a lack of targets), he was spotted on the sideline reading a book.

The book ("Inner Excellence") became an instant bestseller.

- ELGSES

During the playoffs, Philadelphia's mayor led a crowd in an Eagles chant, only to mis-spell Eagles during it. The Internet reacted predictably.

- "Exciting Whites"

Reed Blankenship and Cooper Dejean, two players in the Eagles secondary, are they only two white people on the defense. They became known as "exciting whites" based off of a meme about wine (read more about that here). You can buy shirts, folks.

- The fans

Eagles fans don't disappoint. Memes and videos about them don't, either.  

- Go Birds

This is a phrase specific to the region around Philly, and is the east coast version of 'aloha.' It means basically whatever you want it to mean.

The End

It is nice to see the Birds get their second championship in seven years. But even better is the way they played together this season. Throughout, it was clear you could describe the team with one word: "unselfish." Different players dominated different games. Everyone stepped up. And now . . . they are the champs. Go Birds.