Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy

Shortly after Joker's endgame . . . 

Batman is missing and presumed dead. Commissioner Gordon agrees to take up the mantle, operating within the existing city police structure rather than as a mercenary. As he learns the role, he squares off against the latest supervillain . . . Bloom has been preying on Gotham's underworld, giving people temporary surges of power that always end poorly. His goal is unclear, but his power is undeniable . . . and without the real Batman around, what hope does Gotham have?

This is an interesting twist to Batman's story . . . parts were rushed, but it was solid overall. Ending on a cliffhanger, I look forward to see where it goes.

Rating: A-

Hope for All the Earth (Mitchell Chase)

"The whole Old Testament is the story of Jesus Christ," but it can be hard to remember that when reading various parts. In this book, Mitchell Chase summarizes the Old Testament—from Creation to fall to Abraham to Egypt to Exodus to David to exile to return to prophetic silence—in just 86 pages. Along the way, he points out how Jesus fulfills (and has foreshadowing echoes in) these ancient texts.

In such a short book, you'd expect over-simplification, and there were occasionally spots that felt like important omissions. That said, I was impressed. It is a solid summary, it does point to Jesus, and I did learn a few things.

Rating: A

Batman, Volume 7: Endgame

The Joker is back, and he's not fooling around. Well, he is, but this time it's different. He is intent on a final showdown with Batman, and wants to see him fall for good. When the Clown Prince spreads gas over Gotham, turning even allies against Batman, Bruce realizes now is the time to pull no punches. But this time, even his best may not be enough . . .

This is a decent story told too quickly. There are cool plot points, and familiar storytelling boundaries are crossed, signaling that this is indeed different. But it's too rushed. Still, I am intrigued at what comes next.

Rating: B

Every Good Endeavor (Tim Keller)

How we work—in the context of our particular culture, time in history, vocation, and organization—is something we all need to be thinking through in our own communities. But the answers will all hang on this essential theology: the knowledge of who God is, his relation to man, his plan for the world, and how the good news (or gospel) of Christ turns our lives and the way we work upside down. - Tim Keller

In Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller looks at this concept of work through a Biblical lens. ("There is no better starting point for a meaningful work life than a firm grasp of this balanced work and rest theology.") He breaks it down into three parts: 

• God's Plan for Work
• The design of work, its dignity, work as cultivation, and work as service
• Our Problems with Work
• work can become fruitless, pointless, selfish, and reveal our idols
• The Gospel and Work
• The Gospel gives us a new story, conception, compass, and power for work 

Work matters. It is good. "According to the Bible, we don’t merely need the money from work to survive; we need the work itself to survive and live fully human lives." "God gives us talents and gifts so we can do for one another what he wants to do for us and through us."

Work is impacted by the fall like everything else. In a fallen world, work can be pointless or fruitless. It can be selfish and reveal our idols. We can make it the main thing to the detriment of ourselves and families. "Work is not all there is to life. You will not have a meaningful life without work, but you cannot say that your work is the meaning of your life." 

The Gospel changes everything, enabling us to view work rightly. "Since we already have in Christ the things other people work for—salvation, self-worth, a good conscience, and peace—now we may work simply to love God and our neighbors." We can ask the question “How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God’s will and of human need?”

Keller talks about other (related) topics, too, like culture, worldview, and much more. Including common grace—it's important to remember that "Just as God equips Christians for building up the Body of Christ, so he also equips all people with talents and gifts for various kinds of work, for the purpose of building up the human community." So we shouldn't look down on the work of non-Christians; a sovereign God can (and does) use all people for His purposes.
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Ultimately, this book is a call to reflect on and wrestle with "who God is and how to relate to him," including in your work. In so doing, "our church will grow in humility, love, truth, grace, and justice; and that our neighbors in the city will flourish because we were here."

This is an amazing book; highly recommended. Don't go through your life working to live (or living to work). Having a right view will transform your attitude toward, and performance in, every endeavor.

Rating: A

Tales of the Underworld

Tales of the Underworld is a six-episode series of shorts (each running 14-15 minutes). It is in the same vein as Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire. It focuses on formative moments in the lives of two people in particular: Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane.

As with previous releases, it is hard to get any real depth in such short episodes. The first three were about Ventress; the last three were about Bane. The first half was decent; the second was excellent. You should be familiar with Ventress and Bane, though, to really understand any of this (the Clone Wars series). These are more connective tissue between established tales than independent stories. 

Rating: B+

Men's Retreat

This past weekend, I attended my church's annual men's retreat. The speaker was Dr. Peter Lee, who gave a series of excellent talks on Daniel. Below is a summary of each.

Talk 1: Daniel in History

The Old Testmant (OT) book of Daniel is set in the time of Israel's exile. What is that? In a nutshell (and skipping a good deal), the Lord had promised to make Abraham a great nation (the Jewish people) and provide a land for them. Abraham's descendants went to Egypt due to famine; there they would stay and be enslaved for generations. The Lord rose up Moses, who led the Jews out of Egypt and (after a good deal of wandering) into the promised land* (Israel). That fulfilled God's promise (see Joshua 21:43-45). During that time, God gave His people a law (the book of Deuteronomy) to guide their conduct. With it was a blessing for obedience and curse for disobedience (see Deut. 28). If Israel obeyed, they would stay in the land and prosper. If they disobeyed, they could expect exile from the promised land unless they repented.

Israel disobeyed. A lot (see rest of OT). The prophetic books (Isaiah-Malachi) have essentially the same message: "Repent! God is holy and just!" Israel did not. The way the Jews arrange the Scripture, 2 Chronicles comes at the end, where it says Israel mocked the prophets until their was no remedy (2 Chron. 36:15-16). As a result, they were sent into exile. First, the northern kingdom [Israel] was lost to Assyria (~722 BC); the southern kingdom [Judah] would initally fall to Babylon ~605 BC (finally falling in 586 BC). Daniel was taken away around 605 BC.

Though the reason for exile is obvious, it is tempting to ask why the Lord would allow Israel to fall to a pagan peoples. (Habakkuk asks this in his book.) Though we aren't always given a reason for how and why God does things, there is hope, for it is very clear in Daniel (and elsewhere) that God is sovereign. The Lord led His people into exile in a pagan land. We see the same idea repeated many times in Scripture (Daniel 1:1-2, Isaiah 10:5-6, Jeremiah 25:8-9, Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1, Judges 14:4, Genesis 50:20 and more). The Lord is sovereign; He used even pagan kings and peoples to fulfull His will. 

And God is sovereign today. Daniel affirms a very old truth: God loves us, He gave His son for us, He is in control, He is nearby, and He is the ultimate authority. The Book of Daniel is ultimately a call to trust in the sovereignty of God.

Talk 2: Daniel as Apocalypse

What genre is the book of Daniel? We often focus on the historical or theological in nature. Or we read Daniel as a prophet, the same way as Isaiah-Malachi. But the book of Daniel is not prophetic literature; it is in the third section of the Hebrew Bible, effectively in the "miscellaneous" section. (And Daniel wasn't a prophet . . . he was a government worker!) It has similarities to wisdom literature, but it is perhaps most suitably described as apocalyptic literature.

Apocalyptic literature has five attributes:

1) Written for a persecuted community

2) to instill hope and confidence in God

3) focuses on unveiling heavenly realities

4) there are dreams and visions that are not understood (and require interpretation)

5) the theme of victory/triumph of God and how he shares that with the saints  (we see this elsewhere and in the NT, too—see Romans 16:20 and Isaiah 59:17 vs. Ephesians 6)

What is Daniel about? To give a strong message of hope and security. God is in control (see first talk), and He will share victory with His people.

The structure of the book of Daniel is viewed as one of two ways; both work.

1) Daniel 1-6, 7-12

In this breakdown, the first half is court narratives and the second is apocalyptic visions. The first half is two groups of three chapters, with wisdom contests. (1- food, 2- dream interpreted, 3- physical trial of furnace; 4-vision of Nebuchadnezzar, 5-handwriting interpreted, 6-physical trial of lion's den)

2) Daniel 1-7, 8-12

In this breakdown, the two halves break into the following structure, each with a symmetry:

1 Introduction

2 Four metals, kingdom of God

3 Martyrs

4 Madness

5 Belshazzar

6 Martyrs

7 four beasts, kingdom of God

7 Son of Man

8 Antiochus Epiphanes

9 seventy weeks

10-11 Antiochus Epiphanes

12 Son of Man

Some issues to keep in mind about Daniel:

- predictive prophecy: requires a supernatural God showing future (which is hard for secular people)

- interest in the 2nd century B.C. (Antiochus Epiphanes); See Daniel 8 and 10-12. Antiochus was a brutal persecutor of Jews and forced Greek upon them; Judas Maccabee rose up to counter him about 400 years after Daniel's prophecy. Antiochus was the Hitler of his day. 

- Language: there are two in Daniel. Chapter 1 and 8-12 are in Hebrew; chapters 2-7 are in Aramaic (the international language of diplomacy then). Why is this? We're not sure. It could be God interacting with His people in Hebrew but with foreign kings in Aramaic.

Ultimately, we should read the book of Daniel in light of Revelation, the New Testament, and Christ. The last days started with the coming of Christ. We shouldn't look for specifics necessarily, but read it broadly. We may not understand all of it, but can still take comfort and hope from its pages.

Talk 3: Daniel the Pilgrim

Remember that Daniel is in exile—not in the holy land. He is exiled in his youth until his death (mentioned in Daniel 1:21), so almost his entire life. But that doesn't mean that all is lost or hopeless.

Jeremiah (writing around the same time) talks about living for the welfare of the city in which you live (Jeremiah 29:7), and it is possible for exiles (like Daniel!) to be successful. What does this mean for us?

- Daniel is more applicable in our day than the theocracy days (David/Solomon/etc.) of Israel. Today, the NT church is the equivalent to OT Israel, and like that people, we are pilgrims, traveling through unholy land waiting for the restoration. Our faith, not our country, defines us.

- We need a sojourner mentality. Peter writes to exiles (1 Peter 1:1-2), and says we need to keep our conduct pure (2:12-17) and fix your eyes on Jesus. We are a church in the wilderness. As Israel during their wilderness wanderings (see Numbers 14-on), the push is to not look back, but look forward to rest in the promised land (see Hebrews 3:7-19 and elsewhere).

As spiritual exiles, how should we live? Daniel gives us important lessons.

- Daniel excelled in his job (see Daniel 3, 6, and Proverbs 10:4, etc.) Consider that God's people were in some cases excelling over their native captors!

- Daniel excelled in his studies. (see Daniel 1:4-5 and 17-20, Proverbs 22:29, 16:3)

- Daniel thought creatively on how to obey God in a life lived under a pagan king. (see Daniel 1:8-16, Proverbs 16:7) Daniel thought of a test to be loyal to God and 'safe' for his pagan masters. Covenant life can take varied expressions of faithfulness.

- Daniel had the wisdom to know what to change (and not change)—where to draw the line. He conformed to many Babylonian cultural norms (potentially even being made a eunuch!); he tolerated many things, but didn't violate his faith.

In short, Daniel had the MO for life in exile, and we can learn from his principles. 

Talk 4: Daniel the Righteous Sufferer

Daniel was faithful and obedient to God, and yet he suffered and was persecuted for so doing. Unlike Israel (who suffered for their sin), Daniel suffered for his obedience. We need a robust theology of righteous suffering, and we see a good example here; Daniel is a glimpse of Christ, who is the perfect model of righteous sufferer (2 Corinthians 1:3-11).

Consider that many Psalms are laments from those of a righteous sufferer (Psalm 13, 44, others). And of course, remember Job. You can do everything right and suffer; sometimes, it is because you are doing things right that you suffer.

In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter reminds us not to be surprised when a fiery trial [maybe a reference to the furnace in Daniel?] comes upon us, but to rejoice when suffering. Rejoice! Not "brace yourself," but rejoice. We see that theme elsewhere in Peter (1 Peter 1:6, 2:19-21, 3:14, 5:10). And in Paul (Philippians 3:10-11, 1:29). The expectation to suffer for being righteous, and yet also the call to have a joy unspeakable when so suffering. Why? because it is fellowshipping with Christ! How well do we want to know the full Christ? For true joy, we need to partake in His sufferings. Suffering is a gift. 

Luke 24:25-27 and 44-48 are so important for this concept. These verses speak of suffering and glory of Christ, and that all Scripture testifies to it [aside: thus the OT is a revelation of Christ]. This is true first for Christ, but then for His church. We will share in both as we are by faith united with Him (Ephesians 2:11-22). And we see this movement from suffering to glory all throughout Scripture. Psalms have much suffering and lament, but then move to praise in Psalms 146-150 (the final ones). Daniel can have joy because he shared in Christ's suffering. 

Talk 5: Daniel the Visionary

The end of trials and hardships is glory. After trials, Daniel and his friends are glorified/receive blessings (Daniel 1:19-20, 3:26-30, 6:19-28). Daniel may have even been King of Babylon for a very short time (see Daniel 5). But these are temporary and point to the final kingdom of God and glory there.

The book of Daniel has several pictures of the eternal kingdom of God (delivered to Daniel through visions). We know our end is glory to and with God. And even the pagan kings see glimpses, too, and glorify God (Daniel 2:47, 3:28, 4:34-35, 6:26). 

Similarly, we see this idea of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7. The four beasts there signify four empires, and Daniel sees the throne room of God and Son of Man. In 7:27 we see the kingdom given to the people of God, under King Jesus. The end is glory!

Finally, we see the Sabbath kingdom in Daniel 9. In that chapter, there is this idea of 70 sevens, which is a Sabbatical number, which points to eternal rest. And Daniel 12:2-3 is perhaps the clearest reference to the resurrection in the OT. And it, too, shows eternal glory.

The major point is clear, even if details are uncertain or hard to understand (like Revelation, which borrows so much from Daniel (and Isaiah and Ezekiel)). When we suffer, we need reminders of our Heavenly homeland and where it ends—life with Christ. The book of Daniel pushes us to look to the kingdom of God and Christ the king. We, by faith with union in Christ, will be there. Soli Deo Gloria.

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*this promised land is a picture of the new heavens and new earth, which is why holiness for its inhabitants was so important and thus why the Lord ordered Israel to wipe out nations in it.

Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift

Batman Volume 6 collects standalone tales from various story arcs in the series so far, from 'zero year' to 'Batman Eternal'. Here, Bats will take on an 'improved' Clayface, an ancient and sinister enemy in Arkham, a serial killer, and the Red Hood Gang. He'll even take on a sidekick—Bluebird. 

As this was a collection of individual stories, it is hard to give an overall rating. I enjoyed each tale for what it was, though their disparate nature (and my general unfamiliarity with the myriad story arcs they reference) made it hard to follow in places. Still, not bad.

Rating: B+

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."  

--------------------------------------------

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? 

----

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!