Plodding versus dancing

Musical chairs: isn’t that a game for a five-year-old’s birthday party? Why let the kids have all the fun? It’s much more fun for adults to play and watch!

If you were born on the dark side of the moon and don’t know the rules of musical chairs, here we go. If you have 20 people playing, you need 19 chairs set up back to back. Music, live or recorded, is played while people walk or march around the 19 chairs. When the music suddenly stops, everyone scrambles to sit on a chair, one seat per human bottom. The person left standing is sent to the sidelines, and a chair is removed. This stopping and starting continues until you have two players and one chair. When the music finally stops, the seated player is the winner.

Most of the fun is actually in watching the game and its strategists, however. The players sidle slowly past the chairs, always with their “behinds” pointed at the chairs. When rounding the line of chairs, they hurry around to be near a seat just in case the music stops. This causes collisions and laughter with the folk on the opposite line of chairs.

When it was my turn to provide the devotions at our daily worship time at the ministry where I worked, I arranged for the employees to play musical chairs. Of course, we started the devotions with a hymn, some joyful scriptures, and ended as usual with prayer ministry for those who write or call in with prayer requests. But in the middle 20 minutes, we partied! At the piano, we played bits and pieces of Christian music and stopped every few moments to mix it up. Our friends laughed and cheered, and plotted how best to get that open chair—yet their “luck” ran out and they were sidelined. The winner of the game got a box of peanut butter cookies to share with coworkers later in the day. 

So often, we plod staidly through life, doing what we’re supposed to do, and what’s expected of responsible adults: color inside the lines. Stay inside the box. Act our age – or older! Remember the importance of our tasks and the calling of our ministry. 

But when we’re following Jesus, He counsels joy! Jesus rejoiced, exuberant in the Holy Spirit. “I thank you, Father, Master of heaven and earth, that you hid these things from the know-it-alls and showed them to these innocent newcomers. Yes, Father, it pleased you to do it this way.” Luke 10:21 MSG

Jesus said to His disciples in that highly-charged week before His crucifixion, I've told you these things for a purpose: that my joy might be your joy, and your joy wholly mature. John 15:11 MSG

Joy? How is that possible? Does this sort of playfulness and laughter, this break from the supreme importance of taking the gospel to the world, really please the Lord? Aren’t there deadlines to be met? What about our stewardship of time and diligent work that shows our respect for financial supporters? Should we really take time away from studying prophecy or learning the way of righteousness? 

Um, yes. Pretty much. 

Make that a resounding yes!

Jeremiah the prophet was not the most cheerful of guys, and who could blame him with all the physical abuse he endured. He wrote “Lamentations,” remember. But he also recorded this message from the Lord: I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful... Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. Jeremiah 31:4, 13 NIV

One of the many Hebrew words for rejoicing, singing, and sometimes even dancing, is “gil.” That’s a word used to describe the Lord’s strong emotion over you and me! Do not fear, O Zion; do not let your hands hang limp. The LORD your God is with you, he is mighty to save. He will take great delight in you, he will quiet you with his love, he will rejoice over you with singing. Zephaniah 3:16-17 NIV

So the Savior sings and dances like a bridegroom at a wedding? Over you and me? Apparently so! Remember the verse in Luke, that He was “exuberant.” That word is defined as “effusively and almost uninhibitedly enthusiastic, abounding in vitality; extremely joyful and vigorous.” 

One final word, friends. We ask you—urge is more like it—that you keep on doing what we told you to do to please God, not in a dogged religious plod, but in a living, spirited dance. You know the guidelines we laid out for you from the Master Jesus. God wants you to live a pure life…Regarding life together and getting along with each other, you don't need me to tell you what to do. You're God-taught in these matters. Just love one another! You're already good at it; your friends all over the province of Macedonia are the evidence. Keep it up; get better and better at it. 1 Thessalonians 4:1-3, 9-10 MSG

So enjoy the fellowship, live a little, laugh it up, love one another. No plodding allowed for a little while—try that living, spirited dance! Go wild with your coworkers at lunch time, and play a rousing game of musical chairs. Play like you’re five again. Have a peanut butter cookie. It’s all good. And Jesus says it’s OK.

Requiem

Titel: Requiem
Genre: Drama
Land: Tyskland
År: 2006
Regi: Hans-Christian Schmid
I rollerna: Sandra Hüller, Burghart Klaußner, Anna Blomeier, Nicholas Reinke

Handling: Michaela växer upp i en religiös familj, i en liten stad i Tyskland på 70-talet. Trots sin långa kamp mot epilepsi lämnar hon sitt hem och får känna på friheten genom att studera på universitet. Men under sitt första år får hon kämpa allt mer mot krafter inom sig själv.

Omdöme: Verklighetsbaserat med regi av Hans-Christian Schmid som jag tidigare sett filmerna 23 (1998) och Lichter (2003) av, två klart sevärda filmer. Det hela handlar om 21-åriga Michaela Klinger (Sandra Hüller) som blivit antagen till universitetet vilket möts av skeptism av modern som inte ser ljust på möjligheten eftersom hon tycker dottern ska stanna i deras närhet pga sin epilepsi. Fadern är ett större stöd och ser till att övertala modern om att det kommer fungera. Michaela anpassar sig snart till sin omgivning och är en hängiven student. Hon träffar en gammal klasskamrat från sin hemstad, Hanna, samt börjar umgås med en kille, Stefan.



Michaela spelas utomordentligt av Sandra Hüller som man inte kan förstå gör sin långfilmsdebut, men som briljerar i rollen. Hon hanterar de olika sidorna av Michaela galant och växer allt mer genom filmens gång. Filmen i sig är hela tiden intressant och präglas av en stark 70-tals känsla som man verkligen fått till. Inte bara med kläderna, bilarna och frisyrerna, utan även musikvalen som bl.a. har en Deep Purple-låt. Detta var något regissören även använde i sin film 23 på ett likvärdigt effektivt sätt. Med tanke på filmens ämne hade detta kunnat bli en ny Exorcisten, men då endast en liten del av filmen går in på djupet på detta ämne blir det mer av ett drama.



5 - Skådespelare
3 - Handling
4 - Känsla
3 - Musik
3 - Foto
--------------
18 - Totalt

Betyg:
IMDb: 7.0

Wordless Wednesday... my work "fresh"

944 Magazine
Makeup by Mary RC
Hair by Marquis
Fashion Styling by Christie Moeller
Photography by Brian Brown

Fresh by Kool and the Gang

Bare Minerals Blush in Fruit Cocktail

I have been on the search for a good blusher for my wedding day and have heard good things about Bare Minerals. I already use their All Over Colour in Faux Tan and it's one of my staple products for everyday use. This blush, callled Fruit Cocktail looks scarily bright in the container (it's brighter in person)... However, when you swatch it, it's actually a really lovely luminous, soft pink blush that (as you would expect from Bare Minerals) is buttery smooth and really finely milled. You will see from the swatch below that's it's actually very subtle and wearable. Now if you aren't a fan of blushers with a bit of shimmer then this product isn't for you. The shimmer is very fine and I personally like it, it's not over the top or glittery (think Nars Albatross). There are days when I prefer soft matte blush BUT I really like the brightening effect this product has on my face.

It's described as having "complexion boosters that infuse colour into your skin so it looks like it’s coming from within" and adds "a silky coral pink glow to your complexion for a radiant finish". I have found that this shade of blusher brings life back into my face when it's looking a bit dull and it really brings out my blue eyes. I think this would suit most skin tones as it can be used very lightly for paler girls but you can build up the colour if you have darker skin. You only need a really small amount of the product to create a lovely natural flush on your cheeks like in the pic below...

So I am definitely going to put this in the 'maybe' category for my wedding day, the only thing that's holding me back is the fact that I'm going to be ordering MAC Dollymix blush this week as part of a haul and since I've heard people raving about it so much, I HAVE to give that a go too!

Athlectic Tush by Andreas Johansson

via

Homotography

Diary of a makeup artist #29 "Take it easy on yourself"

WARNING IT'S A LOUD ONE------->

Which one of these hair stylists would you choose to do your hair?

Have you ever noticed that it can be quite easy to pick out a "Newly Graduated Hairstylist"? Any Cosmo Student I've ever known has gone through the same metamorphosis.  Being so excited about hair, they want to try every new hair color and technique they've learned on themselves and every willing person in their chair.  My good friend Marquis is a celebrity hair stylist, he is the one that pointed out to me that New Stylists usually have 4 different colors of hair, usually burgundy and very unnatural highlights.  You know what?  He is right!  The best stylists that make great money are the ones who know how to make hair look like one was born with their hair color.  I would venture to say that 80% of women don't want to look like they have dyed hair.  What do you think?

Guess what?  The same goes for new makeup artists.  When they start their venture, they are so excited to try each and every new product in their kit on themselves.  But what they dont know is a that clean natural makeup appearance will attract clients far more than an overdone presence.  Case in point.  The following are very well known celebrity and highly paid makeup artists.

Patti DuBroff: my personal fave, her client list is ridiculous and she is the premier celebrity artist for Dior, my fave.  And I met her once and she HOOKED me up with a stock pile of Dior, LOVE PATTI!

Pat McGrath:  Makeup Artist of top demand.  If you watch the major fashion shows on Style.com, she is the creator of all those fab looks by top top designers.

And my final example is Erin Ayanian Monroe, she is another celebrity makeup artist who has recently morphed into a fab film artist. I met her on a shoot for Premier Magazine a few years ago.

I've met quite a few celebrity makeup artists in my time, and the successful ones all have the same clean cut demeanor everyday, especially in their makeup appearance.

These days should really be behind you if you want to make it in this business. "Take it Easy Yourself" and save the products and creativity for the model in your chair when its appropriate.  And that is a WHOLE different post..

Take it Easy by Andy Taylor (American Anthem Soundtrack)

Sleek Face Contour Kit

Remember I said I was looking for a good matte contour powder and I was going to look for a MAC blush to do the trick?...Well, I have found a fantastic contour powder in the most unlikely of places... Yes, it's another product from Sleek and they have really excelled themselves with this one. I was a bit dubious when I saw the contour colour as it looked quite dark for my skintone. This compact is the Light version (also comes in Medium and Dark) and it costs £5.99. The compact also features a highlighting powder thats a super pale biscuit colour. The compact has the usual compact black packaging and mirror in the lid...

Please note that the swatches below are applied darker to show up on camera. The contour pressed powder swatches the same colour as Bare Minerals Faux Tan (my current favourite contouring powder). I have decided though that Faux Tan is slightly better suited to night time wear as it has the slightest amount of shimmer (very very small amount). I really wanted a matte powder with no shimmer whatsoever and this Sleek compact has totally delivered what I wanted. The highlighting powder looked slightly too shimmery when I applied it to my arm for the swatch but when applied lightly, it gives a really pretty effect.

I found that the best brush to apply the contour powder was my Bare Minerals Angled Contour Brush to really be precise about where I am placing the colour. You really don't need alot of product and a soft tap in the pan is enough. The contour powder is really blendable so you're not left with any patchy/streaky bits.

I wanted to give you a demonstration of how this product looks once applied to the skin (please keep in mind that I don't have defined cheekbones naturally!). However, the combination of the contour powder applied lightly in the hollows of my cheeks and highlight powder lightly dabbed along the very top of the cheekbones makes me look like have proper cheekbones! Hurrah! Yah for fooling people with clever makeup! (ignore my moody monday facial expression)

I love the way this powder is perfect for daytime use with it's matte formula. I think it gives a really natural and subtle effect. The compact comes with a guide on how to contour your cheeks, eyes and nose so for anyone who's not sure about where to place the product, this is a great way to introduce yourself to this type of product. I never thought I would find such a great product for such a reasonable price but I am so happy that I did. This product is going in my wedding makeup bag but I will be using Nars Albatross to highlight as it's just that bit more finely milled.