Christmas At Ecclesia 2011

The First Sunday of Advent: 11-27-11
It was the First Sunday of Advent and the cutest little family said the scriptures and lit the first candle at church today. The sermon was more of the This Is Ecclesia series from the Book of Acts 8:26-40. Praise and worship also rocked!

Then I bit the bullet and volunteered to be in the Christmas choir among truly gifted singers and a few professionals (did I mention that I can't even read music-lol). The choir director, the assistant choir director and the church's musical director have chosen an eclectic group of Christmas songs with an old world feel, 2 of which I never even heard of before but instantly loved.

I confessed my lack of musical and note reading skills and my life long insecurity about singing contro-alto or near the range of the male tenors but I was gently re-assured and guided through each song (Thanks MC and MM!). Plus, there were 2 other skilled female singers singing tenor so I was good-lol. We practiced for about 2 hours then disbanded until practice next Sunday. They also got all our e-mail addresses so they could send us music clips of our respective parts and the sheet music with the notes all by e-mail, which was cool (go Gen X and Gen Y).

Then I drifted into the lobby to drop off some extra decorated wreaths that I had and I found that they were already decorating the church. I helped what little I could with the decorating and even got to decorate a small tree near my Kenya Kids art pieces. We wrapped up at church at about 3 pm then I passed down Hollywood Blvd. I saw people lining the streets and tents and seats being set up and I remembered that the annual Hollywood Christmas parade was scheduled for today. I didn't get home 'til nearly 6 pm because of the diverted traffic and other complications. My back was going crazy and the pain was way off the charts! Thank God I had my Christmas music the entire time and, luckier still, that I had a long dip in a hot jacuzzi after-lol.

The Alternative Christmas Market:
The Alternative Christmas Market at Ecclesia will be on Dec 3rd this year in its new locale in the outside garden space so it's going to be bigger and better (weather allowing). This is a lovely and novel shopping event for Christmas gifts and it has many jewelry, scarfs, belts, bracelets, purses and ornaments for sale all made by women from Africa, India and Asia. Last year, we were also able to buy or donate for a cow or chicken for a poor family in a developing country, a perfect gift for that man in your life or your young kids. The market also has opportunities of giving donations to a charity or non-profit right here in LA.

I hope to be able to make some hand made Christmas cards with the other women of the church to send to the kids in Kenya like we did last year. I'm also working on some Christmas cards made from my detailed original artwork of the Kenya Kids. Maybe I can make them into stationary, gifts etc., too. I have the concept and some sketches but I need to get more card stock and envelopes and a cheap printer for the copies. Plus, I decorated my gold wicker Christmas tree in a Kenyan/African safari animal motif and I'll be donating it and most of my Christmas decorations to the Alternative Christmas Market.

***See video of 2010's Alternative Christmas Market on an old blog post.

Update: 12/4/11
Thankfully, the weather was great for 2011's Alternative Christmas Market so I raced to church before 9:00 AM and dropped off the wicker tree at the Kenya Missions' table with other decorations then I gave a small gold wire tree to the Women's Connect table then hurried into church. Pastor Joseph's sermon was called "Imperfect" which was fitting because I was so caught up with getting the trees to the market, I had forgotten it was not only the second Sunday of Advent BUT it was also Communion Sunday. The praise and worship team wrapped everything up with the song "Pure Like You", which I had not heard before but felt to be a lovely song.

I headed to the garden after the service and grabbed some sweets from the Women's Connect table near the garden's entrance gate to the Alternative Christmas Market. Sugared up and 300 calories later, I then visited each of the eight gift stations. New at the market this year was the Heshima organization's charity, which was in a tent. Heshima, which means "smile" in Swahili, is an organization which helps kids with severe developmental and physical disabilities. Many of these children are often abandoned by their families and ostracized by society. Heshima had gorgeous jewelry all hand-made and if you wanted you could donate and get a framed picture of one of the kids you've helped. The frames were wrapped in a giraffe print craft paper which I just loved.

At the Heshima tent, I finally met the Martinez family! Abe and Amy Martinez answered the call of God on their lives and they packed up their 2 kids and moved to Kenya earlier this year. I've been following and praying for them since and following them at www.ElephantsAndOrphans.org.

After that, I moved on to another new charity at the market called Oasis and chatted a while. Oasis is a Christian organization that offers after-school programs and activities for under-privileged kids in the Hollywood area. Oasis had a table with a tree ornaments for anyone who wanted to donate money for toys for their kids. I moved on to admired the stuff at Raven+Lily and PATH and the crafts at Ecclesia's Green team's eco-friendly gift wrap table.

I moved on from there to admired the scarfs and T-shirts at the Justice League table then bought their Asante Thank you cards. The Justice League helps with the legal battles of poor women and children around the world especially in sex trafficking cases. I moved on to the CCCO (Community Church) table and bought two small hand-glittered shopping bags decorated with Christmas trees. CCCO is an organization which helps underprivileged kids in the skid row area of LA. The bags were decorated by the kids from the various programs that CCCO runs.

I saw beautiful jewelry at the Kenya table again this year again and they also had colorful safari animals made from flip-flops (you heard me). But I couldn't find earrings to match my necklace because they were practically all sold out of everything. They did have some beautiful fabric brooches remaining though, they were in the shape of flowers and they were all made by the Kenyan women. The mission's team had hung the brooches and earrings on my little tree like ornaments. I was so happy to see the tree go to a good cause and so beautifully adorned as it showcased the jewelry well for sale.

I bought a chocolate cupcake and someone gifted me a donut hole so I was now 500 calories in the hole.;) I was way over budget and over-calorie so I decided not to buy (or eat) anything else and I called it a day.

The 3rd Sunday of Advent: 12-11-11
3rd Sunday of Advent and another cute family read the scripture and lit the 3rd candle. Today's sermon was great, too. There was no choir practice today but we have practice next week Saturday with another practice immediately before Sunday's performance. And we're to practice with the music clips on our own, too.

12-18-11
The fourth Sunday of Advent and another cute family, a daddy and his little girl, The little girl read the scripture and the daddy lit the candle of Peace. Then there was child dedication for 4 kids, aged 6 to 18 months. Pastor Joseph took all the kids in his arms one by one and spoke blessings over the cuties and none of them cried (proving that he has an amazing gift with kids).

Pastor Joseph's sermon was on being a righteous man and the Nativity. We read from the Book of Matthew of how Jesus' earthly father, Joseph, had every right to leave Mary under Jewish law but God intervened and he didn't. And we were reminded that we were dead and enemies of God before Jesus saved us.

Then I performed with the Christmas choir and it was awesome! We performed the first 3 songs from backstage where the acoustics are awesome with an industrial feel and it looked real dramatic cause they had burning candles set up everywhere. Then we did the last 2 songs with the band on the front stage as the choir director asked the church to sing along. Honestly, I was near the drums so I couldn't hear myself or anyone else for that matter so I don't have a clue how we sounded that time. Still, many people commented to me on how lovely the choir's singing was including a nice lady who had a career as an opera singer in New York before relocating back to LA.

Update:
They just sent a prelim recording of the choir performing "Lo How the Rose E're Blooming" and it's crazy good! I take absolutely no credit for how well we sounded and I'm still in shock from listening to the recording. That choir is truly amazing as they made me sound good-lol. They also had a professional audiovisual guy videotape everything so I'll post it all here whenever they make it available.

Christmas Eve:
There was no service this Sunday on Christmas Day but I spent a soul-stirring time at church on Christmas Eve. First I got to spend the night with a gifted family of artists and musicians then we were off to church. Like last year's church service, we sang carols and gospel hymns at candle light which always makes me tear up. Then the story of the Nativity was read and discuss from the scriptures. After, I wished as many people as I could "Merry Christmas!" and handed out my gifts to some special people. Then I grabbed some cookies and enjoyed the festivities.

Christmas Day:
I spent Christmas Day at a fellow Ecclesian's apartment near Sycamore. Traffic was bad from Gower to Highland as tons of tourist were enjoying their Christmas there. When I finally got to my friends, I couldn't get in and I couldn't call because I'd left my cell at home. I asked passer-bys to let me borrow their cells to make the call up to my friend's apartment 10 feet sway but no one would let me. One man in particular read me the riot act and sent me on a fictional pay phone search with an attitude reminiscent of the innkeeper who told Joseph and Mary that there was "no room in the in". I thought I would have to go home without having Christmas dinner until I found some tourists from Kazanistan on Hollywood Blvd. who let me used their cell phone. I did then I wished them "God's blessings and Merry Christmas" then waved them good-bye.

I did have an enjoyable time when I finally made it to the Christmas meal and I hung out with Ecclesians film and animation students, actors and people from Europe and both U.S. coasts. We ate, played with the kids and then exchange small gifts (I gifted the Asante :thank you cards I bought at the Alt. Market). Then we talked God and the movie industry pit falls like the casting couch for women and prejudice against Christians.


SIDE NOTE:
Am I the only one who celebrates Christmas from October all the way thru to Three Kings Day in January? One year I even celebrated Christmas way into February. My brother came to stay with me for a few days that year and saw my brown, dried up tree, which he had helped me lug home nearly 12 weeks earlier, now shedding pine needles everywhere. My brother freaked. I told him I was just too tired to take it down but the truth was that I had been on call a lot overnight at the hospital for a lot of sad pediatric cases and many of my patients were terribly ill so the tree was really comforting for me to have up as I dealt with it all.

My brother lectured me about fire hazards (even though I wasn't plugging in the tree) then he helped me take all the ornaments off, packed them then dragged the tree down from my hi-rise apartment to the elevator and then to the trash. He said my neighbors were looking at him like he was crazy cause Valentine's Day was in 2 days and there he was lugging a Christmas tree. He also pulled out the vacuum and vacuumed all the pines and tinsel from my carpet in my apartment and then he retraced his steps and vacuumed the needles he left in the outside hallway hoping no evidence was left.

My brother returned to New Jersey but I would still occasionally find traces of tinsel and a few pine needles weeks after he'd left. I'd pick them up and giggle in remembrance of our weird sibling bonding over the dried up old Christmas tree. Boy, do I owe my brother big time for helping me out on that one! But we're even now after that "chicken pox" fiasco in '93-lol. I also have a very funny but poignant Charlie Brown story about how my brother and I bought this Christmas tree at Hechinger's in the first place but I think that I'll save that part for my book.

Merry Christmas y'all and God bless!

Gunman's Rampage On Sunset

A real life drama plays out on the streets of Hollywood as a gunman terrorizes Sunset Blvd. at Vine by shooting over 20 bullets in the air and then at many drivers and pedestrian. Weirdly, I was watching it live on TV and all I could say was “Oh, my God! There's my Kinko's and the McDonald's” I hang out after seeing a movie at the ArcLight Theater”. I was due to be in the exact spot of the shooting and so I really started praying then because I know that it was only the grace of God that had kept me away and safe.

Unfortunately, one 40 year old male driver was shot in the neck and later died and 1-2 others had the gunman point the gun at them point blank. Some people, especially the out-of-towners and the foreign tourists, saw the events unfolding but thought it was a movie shoot and stopped to observe it. They soon found that it was not and had the horrific and surreal experience of running for their lives on their vacation.

Thankfully, an armed off-duty police man was in the area and he intervened after calling for back up from a full squad of police who quickly responded. The gunman was fatally shot by the “Good Samaritan” cop after he would not drop a knife he pulled when his gun ran out of bullets. The gunman died at the scene and the police quartered off the area and got reports and video from witnesses.

Update:
Police report that the gunman was Tyler Brehm and his friends blame a recent break-up and possible drug use for his rampage. Reports also say that the driver who was shot and killed was John Aterberry, a black music executive turned film producer who had worked with some of the music industry's biggest stars like rappers, Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg as well as the late Tupak Shakur. He also worked with popular singers like Christina Aguilera, Brandy, Jessica Simpson and the Spice Girls.

Ironically, Aterberry was said to be producing the Christian film “God's Country” at the time of his death. But, not surprisingly, Sunset Blvd. was back to its weird form of “normal” when I visited the following week after church. Please, pray for Hollywood!

Santa Ana Winds In H'Wood

The Santa Ana winds really reeked havoc in So. California overnight, causing numerous power outages, downed tress, school closures and states of emergencies especially in Pasadena and parts of Glendale. There was even a fire caused by downed power lines in Eagle Rock.

I slept fretfully with the noise of blowing transformers in my head and I was awaken after 4 AM to blaring of a false fire alarm triggered by the repeated power outages and wind so I grabbed my coat and headed outside. A few residents and I dodged swirling leaves and branches in the cold and wind until our trusty firemen came to the rescue (God bless fire-fighters!). The firemen reset the alarm then they were on their way to a busy night of alarms, wind related emergency calls and fire-fighting while I followed the weatherman's advice and stayed safe at home.

Update: 11/7/11
I toured Griffith Park today and was amazed at the size of the fallen tress and many of the sturdier pine trees lost 4-5 feet off their tops. Some of my favorite trees were affected, too including the tall and majestic, "Purple Lady" and "Narls Barkly lost a limb. "Teacup", a stocky, short pine, was okay as was "V" and "Breakfast" as they are maples. I guess this will encourage me to finally head to the park and sketch and/or paint these lovely trees before anything else happens.

Update:
The power is still out in Pasadena over a week after the Santa Ana winds. Apparently the restoration of downed lines is going very very slowly and people report difficulties keeping and preparing food and staying warm at home without power as the temps drop into the 40s at night. People are saying that the power company for the area, Con Edison has been slow and unresponsive and many peoples are understandably upset. All this reminds me of Hurricane season at home and our "wonderful" power company so I'm all prepared with flashlights, radio, batteries, stored water, food etc.

Oscar's Contemporary Documentary Series

I braved gale force Santa Ana winds and flying debris on Wed 11/30 to go to the Linwood Dunn Theater for the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (read the Oscars) Contemporary Documentary Series. Tonight was the final installment at the theater for 2011 and they were showing 2 films: The Lottery and Waiting for Superman.

This pairing of 2 films on the subject of the state of education in America seemed fitting and I expected that they would be a good compliment for each other. We were nearly out of luck tough and caught sitting literally in the dark for about 5 minutes after a power outage due to the windy weather. Thankfully, they quickly rebooted everything and the program started as scheduled.

Reviews:
The Lottery:
The Lottery was a poignant and tear jerking documentary that followed the fates of 4 school aged kids (ages 4-6) in the New York City public school system and their parents as they awaited the outcome of the lottery in hopes of gaining entrance into the Harlem Success Academy charter school and the greater hope of improving their ultimate future. It was an enlightening good (concerned parents) verses evil (the teachers union, the bureaucracy and red tape and the notorious dealings of Acorn) with the lives of the children hanging in the balance and I think it's a must see for all Americans.

The film was followed by a Q&A with its writer, editor and director,
Madeliene Sackler. Sackler was making a living as a film editor when she described how the idea for the doc came to her while watching the lottery on a NYC news cast. She did her research on the subject then she got together $350,000 in funding from grants and various other sources and did the film.

Apparently, it's the law in NYC and many states that a school must hold a lottery whenever that school has more applicants than available entry spots. So Sackler explained that she interviewed about 100 kids and families then selected 7 kids and their families who they then followed with their camera for the many weeks before the lottery.

The personal interviews in this film were amazing and I easily grew attached to the various families like the deaf mother and her 5 year old daughter, the married pro-union couple and their son, the ailing immigrant and his 5 year old son and the mother and her son who looks like Obama's "mini-me". Plus you have all the family, social and financial situations that surround and impact these families.

Of the 7 filmed, only 4 kids and their families made it into the film. I loved that the film showed parents and kids openly praying and thanking God for blessings which I told Sackler that I appreciated during the Q&A. I also loved that the Harlem Success Academy did the lottery almost like a NBA draft with a stage, balloons, cheerleaders (teachers and staff)and plenty of high fives.

You'll have to watch the doc yourself to find out if any of the 4 would win the lottery to the prestigious Harlem Success Academy. But I would suggest you keep a few tissues handy because even Sackler remarks that she can't watch those tearful last scenes of who was in and who was out.

Sackler was very generous with her time and she talked a while with me about doc film making during the brief intermission. I had some questions about the documentary process for a documentary I've been wanting to do since 2004. Sackler gave me her card and e-mail and I plan to follow up with her when I get my stuff in order. Sackler's next documentary effort is about a group of underground theater actors who are trying to overthrow the last European Dictator and I seriously can't wait to see it.

Waiting For Superman:
Speaking about waiting, I've been waiting for an opportunity to see Waiting For Superman since it debuted in 2010 and it didn't disappoint. The film is directed by Davis Gugenheim director of TV shows and films such as The Shield, Alias, 24, ER and Training Day but he is probably most known for his documentary An Inconvenient Truth in released in 2006. Gugenheim comes from a family of award-winning filmmakers, namely his award winining father, Charles Gugenheim who produced and directed many theatrical and political films. Gugenheim is also married to actress, Elisabeth Shue (Leaving Las Vegas, Back To The Future II, Cocktail).

This film followed five kids (age 6-12) and their families as they waited for the results of various lottery for charter schools like Harlem Children Zone, and the KIPP(Knowledge Is Power Program) in NYC, L.A., Houston, D.C.. And we heard more from Geoffrey Canada the innovative Harvard trained educator seen in the Lottery and we learn the heart-breaking story of how the title of the film came about.

We also were introduced to Dave Levine and Mike Feinberg, who are teachers and founders of KIPP. This duo obserevd another teacher then formulated a rapping style of teaching math that inner city kids seem to learn easier. And we met Michelle Rhee, the maverick behind the push for change in D.C. public schools and the bitterly entrenched teachers union.

These 2 films could have been redundant and cancel each other out but they escape that fate only due to the vast powers of "the man of steel"(lol-I just loved those old TV series footage of George Reeves as Superman that they used). Seriously though, Waiting For Superman's tone was very comical and more politically focused than the emotional the Lottery. The film used old news footage to explain the history of the problem and to also poke fun at the "broken system".

The film even showed the U.S. presidents from LBJ, Carter, Reagan, Bush 1, Clinton, Bush 2 as they made promises on education. They also showed the federation of teachers (the teachers union) as a powerful force against the charter schools and of any positive change. While the lottery made me sad but hopeful, this film made me mad and I wanted to do something to help educate these kids properly. I was practically booing the union leader by the end of the film and I decided to check out the L.A. schools featured in the film to see how I can help. I especially think of Daisy who wants to be come a doctor or a vet.

WFS did a good job of explaining in depth most of the issues and players that were brought up in The Lottery. And they showed that it was a nationwide problem and not just in lower income neighborhoods but in rich suburbs as well. It also showed the agony parents have when they realize that schools and teachers can fail on a massive scale.

This film also had a quirky animation reminiscent of School House Rock that explained some jarring statistics about the U.S. educational system like how less than 25% of 8th graders on avg. are reading and math proficient nationwide or like how only 1 in 2500 ever get fired (with loss of their license) v.s. 1 in 57 for doctors and 1 in 79 for lawyers.

Though we spent less time with the kids and families in this film, I still got attached to them, especially Anthony and Daisy, who are wise beyond their years. And I was also please to see kids and parents praying and thanking God in this film, too. An added plus was the musical score which included music by John Legend.

As with the first film, there is tense hope, fears and tears during the lotteries (from names on index cards pulled out of a bowl, to a rolling ball system ala the regular money lottos and the high tech computer picking random numbers). Plus, there was Michelle Rhee's ballsy maneuver of offering 2x the pay to teachers. I won't give away the ending but the overall results are touching. This film is another must see for all Americans.

50s Hollywood Style Icons Rock!

Westside Story's 5oth Anniversary and those fab 50s Fashion: (see previous post)


Marilyn Monroe is still as hot as ever in the industry as my post on Michele Williams does Marilyn Monroe revealed: (see AFI 2011 post). The upcoming NBC TV show SMASH also is loving on Ms. Monroe. SMASH is produced by Steven Spielberg and it stars former American Idol Katherine McPhee as a young actress fighting for a role as Marilyn in a Broadway stage production. This show also features my favorite actors, Debra Messing and Angelica Huston, so I'll definitely check it out. Monroe's statue, likenesses, live impersonators and her Walk of Fame star are also very popular along Hollywood Blvd.

Elizabeth Taylor Rocks!
Elizabeth Taylor literally rocks as countless pieces of her jewelry collection will be on display at Christie's Auction House in New York City. This collection is legendary and includes costly "rocks" and sparkling "ice" diamonds as large as 8 carats. Can you say "B-L-I-N-G"!

Those Ruby Slippers:
It's all about the shoes, girl! I saw on TV that the original ruby slippers from the Wizard of Oz were being shown at Solange jewelers on Rodeo Drive in Beverly Hills so I raced on down there for a fashionista-grade close-up and a trip down memory lane.

The Wizard of Oz was always shown on TV every Easter/Resurrection Sunday when I was a kid and I've loved Dorothy (iconically played by Judy Garland) and her ruby slippers since. Every time I bought a red shoe of any kind, it had to live up to the quintessential standard of the original and I frequently went shopping looking for a red sparkly shoe. (In fact, even bought a tiny pair for my sister's daughter for Christmas when she was only 2)!

I did some research on the slippers online and found out that there were actually 7 or 8 pairs of the ruby slippers made for the movie but this particular pair is the most famous ones because they are the ones Judy Garland wore in the scene when she clicked her heels to return back home to Kansas (“there's no place like home”). Some believe that they are the ones taken off the flattened witch, too.

I got to the jeweler and saw that the slippers were housed in a glass case with a mock up of the Emerald City but lots of beefy security men were around too, all wearing slick black suits and a hint that they were packing heat. I hesitated a bit 'til a pleasant lady in a black pant suit greeted me and ushered me right up to those slippers. I got about an inch away from the case to make sure I got a good look and I was looking for a few minutes before I realized I was holding my breath-lol.

The shoes are a little scuffed and faded to a pink in areas but I still got a tingle being so close to them. They have “Judy Garland #7” (or 7th pair) hand-written in ink on the insides and I'm told they are a size 6 or 6 and a half like Garland was. The sparkle of the shoe is not from jeweled appliques or glitter like I had thought but from is from rows and rows of sequences carefully sewn on with great skill. IMHO, it's the height of the heel and the delicate bow detail, along with that ruby sparkle, that makes this shoe the show stopper it is.

This is the last time these ruby slippers will be seen by the public because they are soon to be auctioned off with bids starting at 2 million dollars. So save that cash girls, 'cause Christmas is right around the corner.

The Visual Arts In LA

Los Angeles is second only to New York City in its number of artists, art shows and museums spaces dedicated to the arts. There are also lots of artistic enclaves around town with style vibes ranging from the classic fine art greats to “retro-groovy”, to graffiti to “edgy- in your face” to “just way way out there”. Ecclesia Church is not to be left out and so they are having a Visual Arts exhibit the end of November that will be faith-based.

The theme we are to follow is about how Jesus, born into flesh i.e. the Nativity, is intersecting with our lives now or intersections of our faith in our reality in 2011, I guess. I was a bit confused with the concept initially but now I want to take the approach of Ecclesia “the called out ones” as Pastor Joseph discussed in church (listen to the downloadable sermon at www.ChurchInHollywood.com ) and how we live “the Jesus in us” or a broader view of how the Holy Spirit operates and the “This Is Ecclesia” series we are delving into in the book of Acts . Then I guess I'll just let the Holy Spirit direct me from there :) .

Ecclesia supports many churches around the world and they are very dedicated to their support of the church in Kibera, Kenya, one of the African nation's most notable slums. Ecclesia's mission team went there recently to share the gospel with the children and teens of Kibera and I've wanted to do some art about that trip ever since.

In fact, a few Sundays back, various Kenya missions team members took the stage and shared their experiences with us at church and I can say it was life changing for me. I wasn't the only one touched by their words and pictures as there were many teary eyes and open hearts to go around. One member even shared that before going on this missions trip, she had been simply checking things off her “Christian bucket list” and not letting the Lord move her (something I 've been guilty of myself).

So Kibera's kids it is and our artwork is due in less than a month so I needed to start sketching quick. I bugged my friend M.W., a Kenyan missions 2011 team member, for any pictures he had of the mission team in Kenya and he had tons. I think that the final work will be in pencil, charcoal, ink or maybe oil pastel crayons because I am not able to work with paints and brushes as well these days. I may make it a 3D multi-media display or a performance piece but I'm still working on the concepts right now.

I'm a little nervous about submitting my art because most of the people submitting work were gifted artists many working currently in the field while my last official art classes were in high school in the 80s. I was found to have artistic skills at age 6 and I was blessed with wonderful art teacher from elementary school all the way through. I also come from a very artistic family and I watched my older brothers drawing at home up through high school then I frequented the fine arts building exhibits during college. But then I went off to medical school to do the doctor thing and I rarely did art after that.

I returned to art in 2001 as therapy and it works well as a distraction but some of my skills suffered I think. I usually do about 3-4 pieces a year now (body willing), most seen only by me in my small “art studio” at home so if I get this done, it would really be a dream come true.

UPDATE: 11-13-11
I submitted eight 9 x 12 inch matted portraits of the Kenyan kids done in graphite pencil and charcoal on paper today so wish me luck. I did them all in about a week and a half and I really wanted to present something for those young mission team members at my church who go yearly to the slums of Kibera. The faces of these kids and teens from Kenya make you want to do for God and give your all and all I can do for them right now is my art.

All this my art is Holy Spirit inspired work because this is not the technique I had before. I also didn't have much supplies but an artist from church hooked me up (thanks R.R.) and another artist matted them for me at a discount in his frame shop (thanks A.B. and fam).

Seriously, seeing my work properly matted and mounted was heavenly and worth the effort. God is amazing! Oh, and I named my pieces as a group, Ecclesia, the "sent out ones": Lives Touched, Kibera.

UPDATE- 11-16-11
Good news! I just got word that 3 of my pieces made the cut and will be on exhibit at the historic Pacific Theater on Hollywood Blvd during Ecclesia's church hours or exhibit hours throughout the Christmas Advent season. I'll make sure to video tape the opening reception especially since I'm going to wear the authentic Kenyan Masai necklace that I bought at the Alternative Christmas Market at Ecclesia last year.

The Alternative Christmas Market:
Speaking of which the Alternative Christmas Market at Ecclesia will be on Dec 3rd this year in its new locale in the outside garden space so it's going to be bigger and better (weather allowing). This is a lovely and novel shopping event for Christmas gifts and it has many jewelry, scarfs, belts, bracelets, purses and ornaments for sale all made by women from Africa, India and Asia. You can also buy or donate for a cow or chicken for a poor family in a developing country, a perfect gift for that man in your life or your young kids.

I plan to make tons of hand made cards with the other women of the church to send to the kids in Kenya like we did last year. I'm also working on some detailed original artwork for Christmas cards, stationary, gift wrap and Christmas trees with an Kenyan/African safari feel for sale on Dec 3rd. I have the concept But I need to get more card stock and envelopes. I'm also going to make my own stamp and logo the old fashioned way. If I get this done, I hope to sell them as a box set of five with the profits going to help the mission in Kenya. I plan to do my pine cone work, too so I have to get cracking now.

***See video of last year's Alternative Christmas Market on an old blog post.

The International Day of Prayer (IDOP)

The International Day of Prayer (IDOP) for the Persecuted Church was this past Sunday and we saw a video about it at church which drove home the fact that every 5 minutes a Christian is matyred and numerous others persecuted, imprisoned or killed.

Our pastor asked us to be bold in support of our faith like Peter and John were when they were pulled in for questioning after healing the man at the Gate Beautiful. In fact, Pastor Joseph and many others have extended observance of IDOP to a week of prayer and fasting because of the seriousness of this growing humanitarian crisis.

I've been praying and fasting too... in the dark with a single candle (which represents "the light of the world" that we Christian are to be), a prayer shawl and a small clock that ticks a loud 5 minute count down. Every time I think I'm hungry (which is often) or my stomach growls, I try to think of a Christian in a North Korean prison on meager food rations... when my body hurts (which is often too)I think about a man sore and bruised in India or Saudi Arabia... beaten only because he believes in Our Lord... When the candle blows out and I'm left in darkness, I mourn those Christians killed in Egypt, Iraq, Somalia... And I think, "tick-tock"...

Rita Moreno & Westside Story's 50th Anniversary

God is amazing! I spent he day yesterday strolling Hollywood's Walk Of Stars and chatting with talented Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Grammy award winner, Rita Moreno for over 20 minutes as we searched for her star then took pictures.

Moreno was in for the 50th Anniversary ceremony for Westside Story and had her hand/feet prints immortalized in cement. I had planned to go to this event but I ended up getting there late and missing most of the event. I could barely see anything when I got there because the crowd was barricaded on the other side of the street across from Grauman's Chinese and across 2 lanes of traffic. I waited to see if one of the stars would came to greet the crowd but most of the crowd was leaving. Then I spied Ms. Moreno, her daughter and grandson and a small entourage making their way up Hollywood Blvd and I waved to her and ask if I could join them. Moreno said, "sure, just keep up the pace" and I did (barely)- lol.

Ms. Moreno is so tiny and beautiful and she wore a stone washed fitted jeans jacket, a floral dress with ruffles and sparkly blue low-heeled shoes. Moreno is also still very spry and light on her feet from years of training as a dancer. In fact, she was walking so fast that I struggled to keep up with her as we walked the last 2 blocks.

She was also very sweet to put up with me gushing about her role of Anita in Westside story (both on film and on stage), her roles on Electric Company (Millie, the little girl in pink, the director, Otto), her role on Oz, and her most recent role as Vincent D'Onofrio's mother on Law & Order Criminal Intent... (read yada yada) as we walked to her star. I even got to tell her how only God could have allowed us to meet in the way we did.

I have to work harder on suppressing my natural campiness because I so wanted to sing and dance to the song "In America" as Moreno posed on her star but I had it all recorded on my iphone but my phone died on me. I also resisted asking Moreno to yell her signature "hey, you guys!" like she did in the opening of each Electric Company episode but it took me literally biting my tongue to do it.

Ms. Moreno signed my drawing depicting her on the LIFE magazine cover in 1954 and she gave me a 1,000 watt smile, too. Moreno's manager, John, also took a pic of Ms. Moreno and I and some other picture for me as my hands were just shaking. Then Moreno's family, friends and her grandson gathered around her and we all gave a shout out to Puerto Rico where Moreno was born. Boriqua!

Just Seen October 2011

Here are some more tasteful (hopefully) star sightings:

Matthew Gray Gubler, who plays BAU's resident cute and nerdy genius, Spencer Reid, on the hit CBS TV show Criminal Minds (along with my TV favs Thomas Gibson, Joe Mangtena, and Shemar Moore) seen crossing the street sipping soda from a straw and cup on the corner of Vermont and Prospect near the Mexican take out place in Los Feliz Village.

Gubler is also one of my TV favs so I tapped him on the arm as we crossed the street and told him, "I love you". He looked at me apologetically but genuinely confused like he wanted to love me back too but couldn't remember ever meeting me and he was quickly running a whole lot of scenarios through his mind as to why a strange woman he just passed walking on the street loved him.

Finally, he realized I meant I loved his work on the show. He then smiled back politely and a bit sheepishly and said "Oh, yeah. Thanks." like he forgot that he's on TV nation wide once a week (twice if you count ION). His attitude was so refreshing and very un-Hollywood as he was totally unaffected by fame and very down to earth. I tell you, I love this guy-lol!

I did feel a little bad about confusing Gubler though so I smiled an apology and I resisted the urge to hand him my script (seriously, I have written a role for him in my feature- only in LA. :) I waved Gubler on his way and he nodded back, raised his eyebrows in acknowledgement and waved good-bye to me with his cup then we both headed off in our respective directions.

I looked back minutes later and saw that he'd crossed the second cross walk and then had strolled over to the area near the Rite Aid store. I guess he was in need of some mundane items like a new tooth brush, after shave or Motrin. I would have guessed he was heading to Rite Aid to get chips to soothe his cravings for munchies, too but that's very unlikely as Gubler is a very slim, lean and lanky guy and, at about 6 feet tall, weighs only about 155 pounds tops. So I doubt he does late night snacking-lol.

This is the second sighting I've had of Mr. Gubler, the first being after the Fantastic Mr. Fox premiere in 2009 when he was right next to me.

Film Bio:
Gubler also played one of the best friends of Joseph Gordon-Levitt's character in 500 Days of Summer and he is the voice of Simon (my fav) in the animated movie, Alvin and the Chipmunks. As well as acting, Gubler was a model and he studied film at NYU's Tisch School. He's also a director of TV and film and he does art sketches, too. Gubler is apparently a big fan of Twitter and Tumblir and he maintains many online accounts that I enjoyed visiting.


Faith Encounters:
On the serious side, I have indeed written a role for Gubler in my first feature film script. I usually carry my script (read, "my baby") around with me but I had left it at home in favor of a book of Bible readings as I was heading to church. I had a beautiful day at church then I stopped to pick up some groceries and stuff at that same Rite Aid then I crossed the first intersection.

I was in pain as I walked and my head was bowed, looking up just enough to keep an eye on the crazy LA drivers. I was also truly agonizing over the likeliness of my script ever getting to the big screen and I wondered whether or not my time in Hollywood was just a wasted dream and a big financial drain on my meager budget.

In desperation, I started to pray as I finished crossing the first street and stood on the landing before I started crossing that second street and God just calmed my spirit enough for me to exhale, then for me to smile. The crossing sign flashed walk and I looked up and stepped out and crossed and then Gubler appeared. If I had had my head down with worry I would have totally missed him and the instant encouragement that the encounter with him gave me. Amazing God!

Psalm 3:3
But you, O LORD, are a shield for me; my glory, and the lifter up of my head.

Gospel Greats BeBe & CeCe Winans Get Their Star!

Gospel greats, BeBe and CeCe Winans get their star on Hollywood Blvd

Benjamon and Priscilla Winans the award-winning brother-sister gospel singing duo known as BeBe and CeCe Winans received their star on the Walk of Fame in Hollywood on Thur 10/20 at 11:30 a.m. and I was blessed enough to be there!

This duo has been in the industry for over 20 years and have won many Grammy, Dove and Stellar awards. Their star was the 2,452nd to be placed on the Walk of Fame and Bebe and CeCe join Mahalia Jackson and Andre Crouch as the only other gospel artists honored in this way. The ceremony was held at 6125 Hollywood Blvd in front of the Music Box at the corner of El Centro and it was a full red carpet event. As an added touch, Bebe and Cece's names were on the Music Box's marquee sign above.

I arrived late so I missed the actual ceremony which I was told involved the pair signing a couple of praise songs from their various albums and then comments from them and their industry friends. I was told that Bebe and Cece gave God full credit for their longevity and success in the business and thanked God for the respective gifting in each other and the entire Winan family. Speaking of family, Bebe and CeCe's mother was there front and center as well as their respective kids and some of their Winan siblings including their brother Pastor Marvin Winans and I think I saw Vicki Winans.

I got to meet, hug and take pictures with both Bebe and CeCe after the ceremony and they signed my “Heaven” CD that I'd been traveling with for over 20 years. The songs on that CD helped me through a lot of tough times in the past and it still does today so I was glad I got to tell BeBe and CeCe that and to love on them a bit. Other fans had their self-titled first album which they gladly signed also. That album was released in 1987 around the time that Bebe and CeCe where singing with the Praise The Lord/PTL singers but it is now a near impossible album to find.

Bebe and Cece were very generous with the fans even though they had to be exhausted from all the photographers pics and interviews. CeCe was a true fashionista but very down-to-earth. In fact, she even jokingly mentioned that she'll have to go so because her "feet hurt". I told her that I could could sympathise as she was wearing a pair of beautiful but punishing 6 inch black stiletto leather and suede boots to match her leather skirt and jacket suit, She wore the leather suit with a belted ruffle blouse that was very cute. BeBe was dressed sharp too, wearing a dapper dark jacket top, open necked shirt and jeans.

I got to see many of the other celebrities who were in attendance, too including Tina from the gospel singing sister duo Mary, Mary, Yvette Nicole Brown form NBC's Community and jazz musician David Koz. Last but not least, I met Mr. Quincy “Q” Jones! Jones wore the coolest purple overcoat and he smiled, waved and shook my hand, too. Wow, God is amazing!

Update:

Bebe and CeCe did a series of free concert performances at the in West Covina last week at Faith Community Church. Faith Community Church has a membership of about 10,000 people and it is pastored by Dr. Jim Reeves, who was also a guest of the Winans at the star ceremony.

Update:
Found out today that one of the guests I saw at the star ceremony (an understated gray and bearded guy in plaid and a cap) was Jim Bakker, the once scandal plagued pastor formerly of PTL. He actually looked quite happy and at peace spiritually (Thank God!) but he was totally unrecognizable.


Sources:
www.walkoffame.com www.dagospeltruth.com www.gospelpundit.com


links:

Angelus Film Festival & Awards

More Favor!
Last Saturday, I got FREE tickets to go to the Directors Guild of America (DGA) Bld at 7920 Sunset Blvd to see the Angelus Student Film Festival and Awards. I'd never been to the DGA before but I was praying that God would be present and evident at this event. Turns out that the Angelus is an organization formed by Holy Cross Catholic church and the Family Theater Productions so most of the films had a love, faith, family or humanity angle and God, love or faith was mentioned often and to much applause by the crowd.

The Event:
Student films from around the world were judged and the honorable mentions shown earlier in the afternoon in the lush DGA theater. Then the winning films were shown at the evening screening ceremony hosted by the Film Freak aka Leo Quinones and Fr. Willy Raymond. The films were all introduced by past Angelus winners and the awards were presented to the winners at that time.

The students took the stage after their respective films screened and were lead onstage by a hostess in a red satin dress plus there was musical accompaniment by a stellar 3 piece band playing music from the respective student films just as the Oscars do (goose bumps). Then each student accepted their awards, made short acceptance speeches, had their pictures taken then were played off to a reception backstage.

Here are the winners:

Angelus Director’s Choice Award3:25 SHOOT THE MOON (Alexander Gaeta, Chapman University) 24 mins
Angelus Outstanding Animation Award
THE LIGHTHOUSE (Po Chou Chi, University of California, Los Angeles) 8 mins
Angelus Director’s Choice Award
TEAMWORK (Seo Yun Hong, New York University) 12 mins
The Priddy Brothers Outstanding Documentary Award
LOVE HACKING (Jenni Nelson, Stanford University) 22 mins
The Fujifilm Audience Impact Award
THE LOVE SONG OF ISKRA PRUFROCK (Lucy Gaffy, Australian Film Television and Radio School) 16 mins
The Mole-Richardson Production Excellence Award
BE STILL (Karrie Crouse and Will Joines, Columbia University) 17 mins
The Peter Glenville Foundation “Triumph” Award
THIEF (Julian Higgins, American Film Institute) 25 mins
Grand Prize Winner - Excellence in Filmmaking Award
RAJU (Max Zahle, Hamburg Media School, Germany) 24 mins

My IMHO Reviews:
First off, I must say I loved the awesome body art segments that introduced each of the categories. The specifics of each award was tattooed on various body parts of different people and then presented to the camera as a close-up shot. I'm not a fan of tattoos and this may have been simulated tattoos or temporary tats but I think it was a novel idea.

Concerning the films, I was late so I missed the two Director's Choice and the animated category but I enjoyed viewing all the others. My favs were Love Hacking, a short documentary about inter-racial, inter-faith love among a computer geek and a Nepalese woman, The Thief, the story about Iraq with the Saddam Hussein look-a-like, and the heart wrenching, Raju, about child abduction in India. Be Still was touchingly sad also as was the 2 live singers on stage singing the lyrics "Mother Ado, I'm so sorry for you" from a country gospel song about heaven that was featured in the film. Look to see one of these films to nab an Oscar nom in a few months.

Summary:
Angelus screens some of the best humanity inspired live, animated and documentary short films world wide, many of which are sure to get Oscar nominations in 2012.

Speaking of Oscar, Luke Matheny, the tall, exuberant, pencil-thin, curly headed writer, director, actor and 2010 Oscar award-winner was at this event. In fact, Matheny was one of last years Angelus student winners also and he went on to win an Oscar for his short film "god of Love". He came back to introduce one of this year's student winners and he mentioned that he didn't have much experience with God but that the Angelus film committee had shown him about God by supporting him and being like family during last years Oscars.

After the screening, I got to speak to Luke about how good God is and I encouraged him to believe God! I also spoke to him about his film, his peculiar journey to film making and his amazing Oscar speech. And, as a bonus, I got to run my hand through his vibrant curly 'do. :D

Wow!
I am continually amazed at how much access God is giving me here in Hollywood, all to His glory! More adventures to come so stay tuned!

Fall Movie Previews 2011

IMHO:
Due to recent financial constraints, I'm having to be extremely picky about which movie I'll spend upwards of $13 to see. The result is extensive online and print research on the movies before I even venture out. But sadly, most of the recent movie releases have not been to my liking and I haven't even been moved to see a single movie in over 3 months (which is totally unlike me).

Drama/Action:
Hopefully, my slump will end soon as there are a few Fall movies being released that are garnering a bit of Oscar buzz among them are Moneyball with Brad Pitt and Jonah Hill and Ides of March starring Ryan Goslin and Oscar fav, George Clooney. I like baseball movies like The Natural, League Of Their Own, Field of Dreams, Hardball and Angels In The Outfield so I might see Moneyball but it had better be good cause I'm tough on sports movies.

And I'm even tougher on Mr. George "if I'm in it then it deserves an Oscar nod" Clooney than I am on baseball movies, so I may not go to see Ides either. Clooney appeals to many women but his Box Office numbers never seem to be that impressive outside of the Ocean's Eleven franchise and maybe Up In The Air but maybe Ides will be a home run.

Drive (also starring Goslin) got some good reviews but it seems that it's an acquired taste due to the violence and the quirky choice of the director to have minimal dialogues in some scenes. Still the movie has not done well in the young male demographic that was its target audience. I’m not young or male but I wasn’t sold on Ryan Gosling in the lead as an action or dangerous type. In fact, I was hyped to see Drive when I mistakenly thought it was Daniel Craig on the movie poster-lol. And what's up with that neon pink lettering on the poster? All that being said, if I’d known Bryan Cranston was in Drive I would have been first in line to see this movie!

Another violent actionner, Killer Elite, opens in a few weeks. It stars Clive Owens and Jason Statham paired with the great, Robert DeNiro as dueling special ops teams but I somehow don't have high hopes for this one.

Bromance/Comedy:
50/50 a movie about a young guy with cancer starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Seth Rogen comes out in a week. I really like JG-L especially in 500 Days Of Summer but Seth is definitely an acquired taste.

Chick Flicks:
The summer hold-over The Helpis still doing well in theaters and I am actually seeing people reading the book, too. Expect to see these women in contention for at least one Oscar this season. Sarah Jessica Parker is also back on the big screen in a rom-com called Don't Know How She Does It , a movie that I'm sure I've seen before. SJP is a hard sell for me outside of the Sex And The City movies so I think I will skip it.

Kids/Family Releases:
Still, kids and family favorites like the re-release of The Lion King in 3D have dominated the box office and A Dolphin Tale's numbers are growing. Though I've seen the Lion King tons of times, I'll still be at the El Capitan Theatre to see it in 3D and look forward to its Blu-Ray release.

Real Steel (starring Hugh Jackman) is due to open in October but I felt the trailers were a little campy. It might do well in the Transformers demographics or if the 45 plus demographics remember their love for the Rock 'Em Sock 'Em Robots-lol. Well, we'll see.

Duck!!! More Remakes Are Coming!!!!
All I can say is, remaking The Thing? Why?!?!?

MJ's Doctor's Trial Begins

The trial of Michael Jackson's doctor, Dr. Conrad Murray, just began and I couldn't resist watching a bit of the testimony. This case comes down to one thing, irregardless of what MJ may have done, doctors take an oath that holds us legally responsible i.e. that we must "cause no harm". Dr. Murray, the dermatologist, the pharmacists and all the other health professionals that treated MJ could have stopped all this and force MJ to rehab at any moment instead of enabling him to his death.

I only knew MJ from TV, media etc. but I could tell he had serious mental issues from childhood(or lack of it) and that he had some type of abuse/addiction problem. So if you are unwise enough to sign on to be a doctor under these circumstances, you assume the risk. Propofol IV medication for sleep at home is crazy enough but why not set up in a proper setting with monitoring equipment and staff to give the drug or wean the drug appropriately. In fact, why not send him to a sleep or addiction specialist clinic while you're at it?

And if Murray didn't know all that was going on with MJ or found out suspicious things were going on (Demerol use etc), why clear him medically for the tour and have them add 20 more shows to the initial 30? Why not just tell AEG the situation, document it medically, quit as his doctor and have them replace you?

Also, why be in another room on the phone with frivolous calls when your patient is in potential risk of his breath stopping due to propolfol.

The moral: Doctors can not afford to be impressed by celebrity when they treat or care for celebrities because it will always end badly.

9-11 Ten Years Later

9/11 And Prayer:

Mayor Bloomsberg is keeping prayer and Christian religious leaders out from the memorial ceremonies but God bless Bishop TD Jakes for posting a wonderful prayer at www.huffingtonpost.com!

9-11 was all about our need for God and prayer. I was in DC during the 911 attacks then I was blessed to have been able to provide health care to the World Trade Center survivors and first responders for 2 years in NY/NJ after 9/11. Though these first responders and survivors struggled with the horrors of what they experienced, all of those I met were Christians and they expressed their faith in and need for God (Father, Son, Holy Spirit).

Many had respiratory problems and all had great emotional scars which needed attending. We arranged for them to get the appropriate medical and mental health specialty care for free but many still asked for help through our mutual faith and so I would hold their hand or shoulder and pray with them in the quiet of a small exam room.

I recited every healing scripture I could remember and held them all like family. I let them know that they were "mighty men and women of valor" and that they made me proud to be an American. I told them that I and everyone I knew had been praying for them since the first plane hit nearly a year before, though we'd never met any of them.

I told them that their experiences and heroic acts that day were the reason I had gotten over my own medical problems of chronic pain and burn-out to return to medicine and to be now caring for them in their time of need. I told them that they had inspired me to believe God for healing even more than I've ever done in my 20 years of medicine!

After some "AMEN"s and a few tears, we were all very comforted and ready to continue the fight of faith for our healing. I have since moved on from New York and New Jersey and from medicine but I still pray for these men and women even now, 10 years later. I also pray for all the families who lost love ones in the World Trade Center attack, Flight 11, Flight 77, Flight 175 and Flight 93.

I tell all who are in need of healing of any kind, "Believe in the Great Physician! Believe GOD!" and "may God bless the USA!"

The Closer On My Patio

The TV show The Closer filmed at my apartment today and it was real fun! I got to hang out and to pick the brains of the producer, PA, and location crew at poolside then I returned to my apartment and the cool A/C as they shot a scene about 4 feet from my patio. The cast and crew chatted with me in between takes about production issues and about my friends BBQ grill on my patio. They even joked about skipping the craft service food and instead hopping down on my patio for BBQ ribs!

Unfortunately, Kyra Sedgwick, G.W. Bailey and most of the primary cast were absent but I got such industry insider access including a Sunshine Kids shout out as Oscar-winning producer, Andy Sacks discovered that both he and I were wearing Sunshine Kids tees! G.W. Bailey is the executive director of the Sunshine Kids and most of the Closer's cast and crew are active with the organization and I volunteer occassionally with the Sunshine Kids so it was a win-win. AMAZING GOD!!!

I found that it was real hard to stay quiet on set(more proof that I talk too much-lol). I took a few pics but it was a closed set so I couldn't take many or do videos. Watch for this episode of The Closer and visit The Closer at www.TNT.com & visit www.SunshineKids.org or find them on FACEBOOK. Thanks again Lord!

Captain America & Comic Con

Tue 7/19/11
Comic-geek alert! I was on Hollywood Blvd for the red carpet premiere of Captain America at the El Capitan Theater today and boy did they transform Hollywood Blvd into a patriotic and splendorous sight. They draped the entire block in red, white and blue and the stars and stripes and they erected a 30 foot high shield with a large crane. I saw many stars and top directors including the movie's star, Chris Evans, and the other Avengers- Oscar winner, Robert Downey, Jr.(Iron Man), Samuel Jackson(Nick Fury), Chris Helmswort (Thor) and actor/director, Kenneth Branaugh.

Obviously all this was a lead up to the upcoming ensemble Avenger movie projected for 2012. I don't know how much longer the comic book/super hero movie craze will continue in Hollywood but I for one am eager to see Captain America. The trailer is just the right blend of patriotism, 40's/WWII nostalgia and good action without the over-hyped CGI heavy effects that have taken over the industry these days. The story seems very solid so I think it will be worth the ticket price which is crucial in these tough financial times. My movie review will be posted later with the end of summer movie wrap up.

Captain America Fashion:
All the men looked suave but, with no A-list Hollywood female stars on the cast, the red carpet for this movie was not fashion heavy. A bespectacled Evans looked very nice but he blew off the entire crowd including a 7 year old boy who had bean waiting for him to stop and sign his miniature Captain America shield (boo Chris!). Everything else was great though, plus they had the classic 40's silver roadster from the movie parked along the boulevard and the free mini red(strawberry), white(vanilla) and blue(berry) flavored ice cream cones they handed out were a hit.

I thank God for the opportunity to be in this industry rich environment and the time to enjoy it and I'm especially glad that God has me under His big shield!

COMIC CON UPDATE:
Comic Con starts this Thursday night but I'm less eager for Comic Con this sort of tame year. With the exception of Steven Spielberg first appearance at Con with Tin Tin (what took him so long???) and the premiere of Cowboys and Indians at the event, there are no other big tent pole movies expected.

SUMMER MOVIE AND COMIC CON WRAP UP: Mon 7/25/11
Oh, Oh. Cowboys and Indians is getting poor word of mouth and the Conan movie trailers seem “meh” to me so I'll be skipping that, too. I guess it'll be Kung Fu Panda 2 for me 'cause no other movie is talking to me.

Praying For Hollywood Event

Please join us in the Together In Hollywood prayer event on Saturday July 9th where churches from around Los Angeles will be praying for Hollywood and openly joining together to express our hope and faith in the Lord to impact Hollywood through a series of activities running all day long.

The event will start in Northridge at from 8 a.m - 1p.m. with Pastor Netz Gomez at the Houses of Light Church, 19408 Londelius St, Northridge, CA 91324 then it moves to the Hollywood Prayer Network on Gower where they will have a prayer walk and a walk of faith to strategic Hollywood spots. Finally, we all will reconvene at 5 p.m. - 9 p.m. at Ecclesia Church in the Pacific Theater for spectacular worship and community prayer.

Scheduled to appear at the event are Sid Roth from It's Super Natural , Karen Covell of the Hollywood Prayer Network and more. Please try to attend if you are local or pray with us wherever you are at the times listed above. And, of course, we pray that the Holy Spirit presence will be there also.

Resources:
www.hollywoodprayernetwork.com
www.churchinhollywood.com
www.ca4jesus.blogspot.com/2011/06/day-of-prayer-july-9-2011.html

Cineminklings and Larry Crown

The Cineminklings (a group of Ecclesians who love movies) met as a group to view and discuss the new Tom Hanks, Julia Roberts movie, Larry Crown this past Sunday afternoon at the Arclight Theater on Sunset.

Movie Review:
I couldn't go with the Cineminklings this week but reviews for this movie on industry websites have been poor. I am waiting to hear from the group who saw it but I'm not expecting much.

Update:
The Weekend Box-Office results are in and Larry Crown seems to be tanking. This is a bit surprising with such high profile and award-winning stars as Roberts and Hanks but there last pairing tanked also.

IMHO:
I think Julia Roberts can still do rom-coms that appeal to the 35 and under crowd but Tom Hanks, not so much. Tom Hanks is looking bloated and aged so he needs to give up rom-com and stay in dramas or super-natural thrillers or if he does rom-com he needs to star paired with older award-winning actresses like Streep, Glen Close, Helen Mirren and Diane Keaton. I do think there is still some rom-com mileage left in Julia Roberts especially if paired with younger male stars like Ryan Reynolds (ala Sandra Bullock) or Gerard Butler or Colin Farrel (ala Jeniffer Aniston) which might be highly entertaining.

4th of July 2011 in Hollywood

4th of July 2011 in Hollywood
I watched gospel TV on Daystar with several sermons on spiritual freedom and independence (Charles Stanley's sermon was great) then I sunned, swam and thanked God during the entire afternoon. At sundown, I broke out the American Flags and candles and watched fireworks as I ate Mexican food with my neighbors/girl friends at a patio picnic where I live. We could see the lovely firework displays from Pasadena, Burbank and Atwater Village all from the comfort of our apartment complex.
Good times!

Theology On Tap!

Don't miss the new monthly gathering offered by Ecclesia Church called Theology On Tap! It offers deeper theological discussions off-site. Each session will be lead by Pastor-in-Residence, Scott Nassau and a panel of Ecclesians at 1736 Public House in Los Feliz.

Wednesdays @ The Pacific in Hollywood

Ecclesia has started a mid-week gathering on Wednesdays @ The Pacific Theater. There was live acoustic music then a short devotional on Psalms 88 related to the Transparency teaching sermons followed by a round table discussion plus time to hang with fellow Ecclesians and soak in the word.

I attended last week (6/29)for the first one and I had an amazing time. I had been missing the mid-week community group meetings that was on hiatus so I was stoked to attend as seemingly others were too, as there was over fifty of us there. The atmosphere was so lovely with the lobby lit only by candles and the tables intimately draped in dark cloth and "playbills" on the tables listing the musical artists in the series and the Biblical scriptures for the night.

I sat under a baroque chandelier in front near a small stage and listened to tall lanky Dave Torstenson as he shyly introduced himself then played some alternative styled gospel songs that he had written himself. Dave appeared without his band who couldn't make it but he played the guitar and several other instruments as he sang five songs solo including one on an accordion that has a funny relationship with Weird Al Yankovich (God has a sense of humor)!

Then the Director of Communications came on stage and lead us through the scriptural reading and her personal reflection from the Transparency series last week on Anger Towards God. Then each table's small group discussed our own personal reflections on the scriptures for the night including:

Psalm 88
Jonah Chapter 4
Zephaniah 3:17

Then each table's small group discussed our own personal take on the reflection questions for the night.

REFLECTION:

1. How can anger reveal the kingdom you're willing to fight for?
2. When is anger appropriate?
3. Do your relationships in community affect how you handle anger? If so, how?

Wednesdays @ The Pacific Theater will continue through July with:

6/29 Dave Torstenson
7/6 Marcos Estevez

7/13 Cristina Kaufman

7/20 Joseph Barkley (Pastor)

Don't miss the Wednesdays @ The Pacific Theater weekly gathering!

Sports Wrap Up: Oh, the Drama!

I don't usually write about sports unless it intersects with Hollywood so here goes...

NBA B-BALL:
The Lakers have gone Hollywood and it has affected their game! Kobe Bryant got a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, Pau Gasol is acting in TV forensic shows and Lamar Odlum is in reality show with one of the Kardashians. Now rumors of wife and girl friend fall outs abound. The rumors may or may not be true but perhaps all this "drama" did lead to the LA Lakers being unfocused and running out of gas, eventually getting them swept: So, no fairy tale ending for P.J. Maybe time to shake everything up on this team--

With Spurs and Celtics out that leaves juggernaut Miami with Lebron, D-Wade and Borsch to dominate. If they win they vindicate Lebron's choice on his way to his first ring and a building of a dynasty. Lebron has his own problems (mommie drama)and ego( a TV show for your announcement- really) but he looks like a nice enough guy so all the hate coming from Cleveland at the beginning of the season actually had me praying for the big guy.

Not only is LeBron a great player, he also has an animated TV show on the air and he is a very good pitchman for various products. As Kobe ages, LeBron will be the face of the league for the future so he will be playing basketball or peddling products on TV for years to come.

Speaking of pitchmen, Shaq looked old and hobbled and barely played for Celtics in their lossing effort but he is still one of my favs. Will he retire this season? If he does it will be with a stellar career, 4 teams (LA, Miami, Phoenix, Celtics) and 4Championship rings.

Dallas is looking good but I'll take a wait and see approach to predicting the NBA Championship finalists.

Questions:

Will there be an NBA lock out?

AND

Will they eject players for saying the other "f" word?


FOOTBALL:NFL Lockout threatens season!

BASEBALL:
Dodger's Ethier (a face made for Hollywood if I ever saw one ;) gets hit record with 30 consecutive but broken in Mets game.

HOCKEY:
A player did a serious hat trick in a play-off game on 5/14!

Update: 5-26-11
Lakers new coach is Mike Brown who was also LeBron's old coach from Cleveland Cavaliers.

Resurrection Sunday and Baptisms!

I placed my green "He is Risen!" paper cross that I'd crafted on the outside of my apartment door then I raced to make it to church. I was late due to detours along Hollywood (commemorating the Armenian genocide) but I finally made it.

I entered the church in extremely high spirits as today was my first Resurrection Sunday (Easter) service at Ecclesia church and what beautiful service it was! The wooden cross was back in its place near the rafters and Pastor Joseph finished up the Tougher Love series by read various scriptures. He also gave his personal testimony about his struggles and his coming to faith or as he said it “coming from death and bondage in to life”. He invited all of us to choose to do the same.

He made the lovely analogy that Baptism is a public statement that you have chosen to follow Christ almost like a wedding ring shows to all that the person is married. Pastor then called for anyone wanting to be baptised to join the others lining up for baptism and/or prayer. Pastor Joseph also joked that so many people were baptised in the earlier service that he was now soaking wet.

They had a new baptismal tank draped in black and surrounded by a line of potted white lilies of the valley flowersin pots which were wrapped with a deep magenta colored metallic paper. The base of the stage and the foyer also had matching potted flowers.

Greg and the praise team lead us in singing wonderful praise and worship songs and the baptisms began. The were 5 initially scheduled then another 5-6 more made the choice to be baptised just that morning. So at least 11 people came to Christ! Some were new to Christ while others were long time Christians who were baptised as infants but all are welcomed to the body of Christ. As usual, I could not contain myself and I stood and clapped, whooped, cried and yelled “Hallelujah!” for everyone single one.

So many people were queueing up for baptism that Pastor Joseph asked the praise band to play more music for us to sing to as the pre-baptised changed into their baptism clothed. Pastor eventually had to ask us to sit because we had been standing so long during the baptisms. It was so beyond lovely and a blessing
to be there to see these baptisms and the Holy Spirit was definitely present there.

Christ is Lord and He is Risen!

Holy Week In Hollywood 2011

Mon 4-18-11 Passover

I spent Passover reading about the First Passover with Moses, the Israelites and the blood of the Passover Lamb in the Book of Exodus . I also spent some time reviewing Jewish Passover (Pasach) traditions (bitter herbs etc.) and how they are related to the First Passover.

4-21-11 Good Thursday

I spent Good Thursday reading the accounts of the Last Supper and Christ's Crucifixion in the books of the Gospels. I found many gospel programs on TV that were also reviewing the scriptures so it was a good study. I looked up the meaning of Maundy Thursday (another name for Holy Thursday) and fell in love with some of the Medieval traditions associated with it.

As a result, I couldn't resist watching to see if Queen Elizabeth of England would keep with tradition and hand out gifts to the poor or washing their feet. She did meet with some of her lesser (commoner) subjects but there was no gift giving or foot washing done. As it was the Queen's birthday, too I decided to let her slide (plus , she is planning a Royal Wedding-lol).

I also started my 3 day pulse fast and did more soul searching and praying. I had already given up chips and salty snacks for the entire season of Lent but it seemed right to avoid all meat and dairy for those 3 days that Christ was on The Cross.


4-22-11 Good Friday

Tonight's Good Friday service was amazing! Ecclesia's The large wooden cross that usually hangs high in the ceiling of the theater was now on the floor and leaning against the foot of the stage. The stage lights were down and the cross was back lit with floor lights and lighted candles were placed on a small table in front of it.

Pastor Joseph, the elders and the prayer team read from the scriptures about Christ's Crucifixion. The Gospels of Luke, John, Mark and Matthew were all read. Psalm 22 and Isaiah Chap 53 (by his stripes we are healed) were read also and one candle was put out after each reading. In between the readings, we confessed that we are sinners and not worthy but that Christ is our only hope.

Soon all the candles were extinguished and the room was dark. As an elder, Kevin, read the scripture and said "Crucify him! Crucify him!" with a booming voice I actually felt chills (boy does the theater have wonderful acoustics and Ecclesia has a wonderful production staff). A female from the prayer team read the scriptures describing how Christ's body was broken on The Cross and I again
felt physically affected.

I was already holding back tears when Pastor Joseph announced that we should consider that we are at a funeral then 4 men picked up the cross like if it was a casket. They placed the cross on their shoulders and bore it outside like if they were mourning pallbearers.

Then we sang praise and worsip songs about the Cross like Jesus Paid It All with heartbreaking lyrics “sin has left a crimson stain but He washed me white as snow” www.youtube.com/watch?v=ix7LNWzfFKU and Oh, the Wonderful Cross with lyrics “Oh, the wonderful cross! Bids me come and die, And find that I may truly live” www.youtube.com/watch?v=_sKcw9_PQYA

Pastor Joseph prayed over us then he encouraged us to spend Saturday in seclusion, as the Disciples did after the cruxifiction. Seclusion not out of fear as they did but out of sacrifice like secluding yourself from Facebook etc. Pastor Joseph also asked us to exit mindful of the solemness of the night.

We exited the room solemnly, some like myself, in tears. We passed vases of flowers at the entrance (almost like sympathy flowers), just as someone attending a funeral would. There was great grief at our loss, with reflection of the life of our passed loved one and with the hope and confidence of us meeting again. It was all wonderful and soul inspiring!

To God be the glory that He gave His only begotten Son for us on The Cross and may Ecclesia and its leadership and members always be blessed for the amazing job they did tonight!

Sat 4-23-11

I Spent Saturday mostly in seclusion as I continued my praying and fasting. I was also commercial TV free and almost Facebook free but I'm not that into Facebook so that wasn't that hard :D