‘Crazy Rich Asians’ is perfect and we need more!

Crazy how my last blog post here was about the trailer to this movie. Now I return so I can share it all with you.

I remember telling my friend that this movie was going to be my people’s “Black Panther” in which all the Asian folks will flock the theaters and be so proud of their heritage. This movie had so much high expectations for me. I wanted it to be that important for my people. And even though it won’t live up to the hype of T’Chala and Wakanda, I couldn’t have asked for a better movie for my people.

The hype leading up to the movie’s release was the same narrative: First major Hollywood film with an all-Asian cast since “The Joy Luck Club” 25 years ago. And that narrative needed to be repeated over and over again. I was too young to even know about “The Joy Luck Club” and the portrayal and representation of Asians in American pop culture is so minimal. There are few leading roles and they’re a lot of stereotypes. And also there are a lot of whitewashing Asian roles. It’s a hard thing for me to grow up with not having any true representation.

The ‘Crazy Rich Asians’ trailer is here! YES!!!

When was the last time Hollywood had a movie featuring an all-Asian cast?

Yeah, it was “The Joy Luck Club” and that was released nearly 25 years ago.

I loved the book and I really was excited to see that it was being made into a movie. Now as we get closer to the release of the movie, I am very anxious about it.

‘I Can Only Imagine’ is a rare Christian movie that isn’t awful

 

So last week I finally got to see this movie because there was a lot of buzz surrounding it. It was presented to me as a movie that is a must-see because it is a Christian movie that isn’t bad.

Because nearly 95% of all Christian movies I see are so bad. But this one wasn’t. It wasn’t super amazing, but I actually viewed this as a pretty decent film.

But this was a rare treat because unlike all the other Christian movies I have seen, this had a believable story (well, it was based on real events), the acting was competent, and the basic structure of lighting, sound, etc all seemed pretty good.

So Easter is tomorrow

I still think about how every year we approach Easter and that the message of Christ is kind of lost in it between the sales, the eggs and all that. Or maybe I have been so busy that I can’t really see how much Jesus is being talked.

But I do know that it is so important for the message of the resurrection to reign supreme.

But it’s not an easy thing to just explain to people who don’t know. I mean, how can you really believe a story about a man who rose from the dead?

But it’s true. And that’s the challenge. In this world, it’s hard to imagine the impossible. Unless you are willing to let the impossible be a reality. And that is hard to take in unless you believe in a God who can allow of this to happen.

Maybe this will help me understand and see Easter in a new light. More from the perspective of the outsider. This is a side of the Easter testimony the churches haven’t really taught me how to do well.

Hmmm, something for me to ponder.

Good Christian Fun is really good!

Thank you so much @christianfunpod!!! pic.twitter.com/EQUhorXLnI

— Sam (@phutmasterflex) March 18, 2018

What do you get when you take comedy and awful Christian media? You get this podcast that I am so in love with. Good Christian Fun is honest in breaking down some of Christianity’s good and bad media productions like music and movies.

I went to their live show on Saturday and I literally was in tears crying because it is so funny with hosts Kevin and Caroline just talking freely about Christianity like that. They are Christians but they aren’t afraid to be honest. If something sucks, it sucks. If it’s good, it’s good. But man, we have to have a sense of humor and not be overprotective of these things. Not everything in Christian media is good. Some of it is just real bad.

I laughed so hard. Oh it was a riot having guest Matt Gourley also share about his experience.

I can’t wait for this episode to go out to the public. I am listening to this over and over again!

PHOTOS HERE

 

Christianity: I don’t get what you’re saying

Take a look at the above graphic. Oh I love it!

If you are in a Christian circle, you’ll know what this is about. Christians have these certain lingos that we throw around so often that it either loses meaning or it actually makes the person hearing it react differently that intended. It’s not to say it’s just Christianity. Every group has their own lingo. But having been in a Christian circle pretty much my entire life, I know these terms and it can get annoying.

For example, I shared this.

Popping pimple toy thing is stupid

People have acne and it is a serious condition. But hey, let’s make it a kids toy or something like that.

This also reminds me of people who wear glasses simply for fashion, not a prescription. I wear glasses because I need it to see. How are you turning my condition into a fashion statement?

This is your America!

People stealing my food from office fridge

pic.twitter.com/SSyjh07VnT

— Sam (@phutmasterflex) February 12, 2018

Well, it’s happened again.

As you can see, I left food in the office fridge on Friday so I can eat it the next day when I came in. When I got there the next day, the food was gone. I don’t know who did it and this is not the first time someone stole my pizza.

I got co-workers who support me. HR is going to investigate as this apparently is an ongoing trend around the building.

WOW! Sam making changes.

Upset over poor word choice

Yeah this looks bad. But I also know that it was just worded poorly. You wouldn’t have “good” in quotes unless it is implying something about it.

Teacher could have worded it by saying “Name three reasons why slave owners wanted slavery” or something along those lines. It’s necessary to understand why people do certain things, even if it’s bad. But this is just poor word choice.

Saying farewell

It’s hard to deal with death when it involves somebody you knew. It’s a different feeling you get when it involves different people and how the relationship was with them.

I remember a couple years ago I found out an old co-worker took his life. I only knew him for the several months we worked together so it wasn’t a deep relationship and we hadn’t talked since. But it hurt me knowing that someone who had a small impact on my life is gone.

Today I found out that a friend of mine passed away. It’s hard thing to take in right now. We had known each other since we were in elementary school and through high school. Although our friendship wasn’t extremely close, I still consider our friendship a good one. We would interact a little through Facebook and we saw each other at school reunions.

But it hurts right now because I don’t know how to take it in. I wonder if I had never moved from the Bay, we probably would have had a better friendship seeing each other. I also know that in those brief moments we did share together, they were fun and full of joy.

I feel sadness. I feel heartbroken. Even though we weren’t close, it breaks my heart. My buddy was my age. At such a young age too!

I have memories that I hold on to with my buddy. I keep remembering the great things I learned. One of the best writing tips I learned from you. The love of life, I picked up from you. I always felt that I could trust you when I needed help.

This is hard. Rest in peace my friend.