Category Archives: Movies

The Wife

Posted on October 13, 2018 by hessd

How shall we see this picture?  This is a letter from a fan, on the one hand.  Bette and I saw The Wife partly because Glen Close’s performance was getting very high praise–fully justified, I can now say.  But what … Continue reading →

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Nicodemus lives in the Matrix

Posted on September 30, 2018 by hessd

  In John 3, in part of Jesus’ extended colloquy with Nicodemus, he says that believing in him—believing that Jesus is who he says he is—makes zōen aiōnion available. What does that mean? Literally, it means “the life of the … Continue reading →

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“Did something happen to you?”

Posted on August 5, 2018 by hessd

I intend this as a general celebration of the Netflix series, Shetland, so I will present just a little information about the series generally.  Here’s the blurb from imdb.com. Created from the novels by award winning crime writer Ann Cleeves, … Continue reading →

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It’s not about time travel

Posted on July 19, 2018 by hessd

I just saw Richard Curtis’s 2013 movie, About Time. [1]  I know, it’s about time I saw it, but I had never heard of it and of all the stars, Bill Nighy is the only one I had ever heard … Continue reading →

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There is no Starbucks in Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood. Sigh.

Posted on July 2, 2018 by hessd

Bette and I went to see Won’t You Be My Neighbor yesterday, as good a way to begin a July as I could think of.  I knew I needed to see it, but I was hesitant, too, because Mr. Rogers’ … Continue reading →

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All the “Yes” you will ever need

Posted on June 5, 2018 by hessd

I have been thinking this year about the Resurrection.  There is no way to avoid it, really, because at the First Presbyterian Church of Portland, Oregon (hereafter, “my church”) Easter is not a “day,” it is a “season.”  So on … Continue reading →

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Pentecost, 2018

Posted on May 15, 2018 by hessd

I’ve had the basics of an essay of Pentecost in mind for awhile now. And next Sunday is it, so I am going to try to pull a set of analogies together for you. These analogies are emotional access points … Continue reading →

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Back to Burgundy

Posted on April 26, 2018 by hessd

I know scarcely any French at all and most of what I do know, I learned from movies or jokes. [1] I was curious, of course, when I saw a movie about French siblings coming to grips with their lapsed … Continue reading →

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“Resurrection Appearances”

Posted on April 1, 2018 by hessd

Two quick things. Yes, this is Easter Sunday. [1] No, this isn’t about the resurrection appearances of Jesus, except, perhaps, analogically. This is about the movie, Michael, and John Travolta plays the reappearing angel, Michael. I’ve written about this movie … Continue reading →

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Goodbye, Billy

Posted on February 22, 2018 by hessd

When Robert Dahl died some years ago, I wrote an essay I called “Robert Dahl, R.I.P” That seemed about right, but today, as I am saying goodbye to Billy Graham, it occurs to me that a big part of Robert … Continue reading →

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