Firework or Sunbeam?

For a lot of reasons I do not stay up-to-date on the pop music scene and only occasionally listen to pop radio stations. I prefer gospel music, talk radio (when in the mood), light jazz (when I can find it), and sometimes I’m a little bit country (I grew up in Texas, what can I say?) and sometimes a little bit rock and roll.

However, even though pop music is not a #1 priority with me, because it often permeates society (clips of popular songs often show up in commercials and at ball games, etc.) I learn about songs I otherwise would not know about. One such song is Firework by Katy Perry. Even though it has been on the charts for almost a year, I finally paid attention to it a few weeks ago at Stadium of Fire in Provo, Utah. (That is kind of an appropriate place for a firework song to show up since Stadium of Fire is the biggest stadium fireworks show in the country, if not the world.) Appropriately, a clip of the song was played during the fireworks display.

Just this week I heard the song again, with new words, when a YouTube video was pointed out to me. The name of the video was Firebolt and was a BYU Divine Comedy sketch using new words to the Katy Perry song to send up Harry Potter and his firebolt scar. I have to admit, it was a fun video.

This particular video set my curiosity a blaze and I decided I needed to learn more about the song Firework. That led me to YouTube again for the actual Firework music video by Katy Perry. That was an interesting experience. I will admit that it is a fun, energetic song that appears to have a positive message. However, I shut the video off before it even finished because it promoted homosexual behavior, “parties,” and immodesty.

In For the Strength of Youth we read:

While much entertainment is good, some of it can lead you away from righteous living. Offensive material is often found in web sites, concerts, movies, music, videocassettes, DVDs, books, magazines, pictures, and other media. Satan uses such entertainment to deceive you by making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. It can mislead you into thinking that everyone is doing things that are wrong.

Do not attend, view, or participate in entertainment that is vulgar, immoral, violent, or pornographic in any way. Do not participate in entertainment that in any way presents immorality or violent behavior as acceptable.

While the words of the song Firework are not, on their own, immoral or deceptive, the music video was full of deception. It was clearly making what is wrong and evil look normal and exciting. I, therefore, without fully knowing it at the time, took the advice of For the Strength of Youth—I stopped watching it.

But then I got to thinking about the message of the song—that we are fireworks. That each of us has a spark of light within us and that we should let that light shine “across the sky.” On the surface, that seems like a fantastic message. However, after a while the philosopher in me kicked in.

Think about a firework for just a moment. How long does that light shine? Hours? Minutes? Seconds? Yes, fireworks are exciting and powerful and colorful (and I love fireworks). But they are also short-lived. Even the most beautiful firework fizzles out in seconds. The light will not even last a full minute. And once the light from one firework fizzles out, in order to keep the excitement going another must be fired and then another and then another. Usually, the best fireworks shows go through a few hundred fireworks, last about 30 minutes, and then they are over. The light is gone.

Fireworks are exciting and colorful, yes. But they are also temporary. Is that what our Heavenly Father wants for us? Temporary light? To be a burst of excitement and then we are over?

I believe the answer to that question is resounding “No.” Heavenly Father wants much more for us—much, much more. He wants permanent light. He wants sunshine. That is when the words to a children’s primary song came to my mind:

Jesus wants me for a sunbeam,

To shine for him each day…

These words may seem trite or even childish next to an exciting song by Katy Perry, but think about sunshine. What are its characteristics? It is warm. It is life-giving and life-sustaining. It is more permanent than a firework—much more permanent. In fact, according to scientists, our sun as been in existence for about 4.57 billion years.

The sun is also more powerful than a firework. In fact, there is no question that the sun is the most powerful force in our solar system.

We also know that even the stars are actually suns from other solar systems whose light has reached our planet after many light-years of travel. Imagine the power of a sun that emits a light that lasts 24,000-26,000 years—the distance our solar system is from the center of the Milky Way galaxy. And that is just our galaxy—there are a multitude of other galaxies beyond the Milky Way!

Does all of this give a deeper, broader meaning to the phrase, “Jesus wants me for a sunbeam?” I say “Yes!” We can be suns! We can be a light in the lives of those around us. We can warm their lives. We can give them lasting life. All we have to do to be this kind of light is be obedient to God’s commandments. As the First Presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has taught in For the Strength of Youth:

Because the Lord loves you, He has given you commandments and the words of prophets to guide you on your journey. Some of the most important guidelines for your life are found in this pamphlet. We testify that these principles are true.

We promise that as you keep these standards and live by the truths in the scriptures, you will be able to do your life’s work with greater wisdom and skill and bear trials with greater courage. You will have the help of the Holy Ghost. You will feel good about yourself and will be a positive influence in the lives of others. You will be worthy to go to the temple to receive holy ordinances. These blessings and many more can be yours.

I truly believe our Father in Heaven wants us to be more than fireworks, which are exciting for a few seconds, but then disappear. Our Father in Heaven wants us to be sunbeams—real, powerful, lasting, life-giving sunbeams. And to have this permanent light in our life, all we need to do is follow Him.

Acknowledgement: A special thanks goes to my friend Valerie Dimick who’s lecture on the subject of “sun” versus “light bulbs” helped to inspire this message.

How Would You Rank Your Favorite Pixar Films?

Recently, MSN.com published an article that ranked all Pixar films from “best” to “good” (there are no bad Pixar films, or as the author said, all of them are very good but most of them are fantastic). What surprised me about the column was that the film the author ranked as #1 was WALL-E (link here; downloaded on July 5, 2011). What?!? Only an environmentalist would think that WALL-E was even close to number 1! Frankly, that film is on the bottom of my Pixar list. (Not that I don’t care about the environment, because I do. Other values just come first for me.)

I am unabashedly a fan of Pixar. And it is not the animation that impresses me so much—it is the quality of their stories. For the most part they are unique, creative, family-friendly, and family values-oriented narratives. Pretty close to 100% in accordance with what Latter-day Saints 'seek after' (AofF 13).

In all Pixar has now released 12 films, including the brand new Cars 2 (June 24, 2011). As far as “ranking” them goes, what we learn from MSN.com is that personal values obviously play a role in a decision like, “Which one do you like best?” A tree-hugger might vote for WALL-E, a person who values personal growth (or even NASCAR) might choose Cars, and someone who loves children might go for Monsters, Inc. or the Toy Story trilogy.

While I have my own personal rankings (I have seen every Pixar film and do think some of their stories are better than others), I thought it would be fun to see what the American people thought. After all, as the saying goes, people vote with their feet, or in this case, their money. So, I researched the inflation adjusted US box office numbers and was able to find a list on a website called The Movie Times (link here; downloaded on July 5, 2011). There were 169 films on their list (Box Office Mojo only had 100). While adjusting for inflation is not an exact science, it appears to my uneducated eyes that they have done a decent job. (FYI, both lists have Gone With the Wind as number 1 and Star Wars as number 2.)

As might be expected, not all of the Pixar films were on The Movie Times list—but, surprisingly, more than half were (i.e. 7). (I think that says something right there.)

So, drum roll please, here is how the American people ranked Pixar movies with their feet (at least at the box office). According to The Movie Times adjusted for inflation US box office list, the top 7 Pixar films are, in reverse order:

7 – Cars (#167; so much for the critics, like at MSN.com, who put it on the bottom of their lists)

6 – Up (#159; sweet, sweet story and my #5)

5 – Toy Story (#122; the one that started it all)

4 – Monsters, Inc. (#108; adorable; my personal #3)

3 – Toy Story 2 (#94; shows that even a masterpiece can be improved)

2 – Toy Story 3 (#69; …and improved again!)

And…what do you think American’s chose as #1? The Incredibles? Ratatouille? Finding Nemo? A Bugs Life? Or, as MSN.com predicted, WALL-E? (The not-so-biggest hint I can give you is that 4 of the above are not on the list.)

The envelope please…According to US movie-goers, i.e. the adjusted for inflation box office, the number 1 Pixar movie is:

1 – Finding Nemo (#63; my personal #2 and a gorgeous, fabulously animated film about a father moving heaven and earth to find his son)

WALL-E was not in the top 7. In fact, in raw numbers (not adjusting for inflation) WALL-E ($223.8m in 2008) comes in behind The Incredibles ($261.4m in 2004--source: Box Office Mojo; downloaded July 5, 2011). Using the Box Office Mojo "adjuster" formula (The Movie Times did not provide a formula), WALL-E comes in dead last behind A Bug's Life and Ratatouille. (It seems I am in sync with the American movie-goer and the MSN.com author is not.)

The bottom line question is this…Do our favorite movies often reflect our personal values? What does this say about Americans choosing Finding Nemo as their #1? What are your Pixar favorites? What are your overall favorites?

Epilogue: In case you are wondering (I did only disclose 3 of my top 5), my #4 is The Incredibles. I think it is a great film about how family can be our “greatest adventure” (to quote Mr. Incredible). And, my #1 personal favorite is…Cars. I love it because the racing is fun and the story is about how a self-centered young man grows up and learns that there are more important things in life than money and fame. He learns the value of friendship, respect, and how to care for others. To me, that is a priceless lesson.

One of the Best Holidays of the Year: The 4th of July

For many years, the 4th of July has been one of my favorite holidays. But, it has taken me almost all those years to figure out why. Yes, I love the fireworks, the picnics, "Stadium of Fire" (a Utah tradition), the parades, the 10Ks, and other celebrations. But that is not why it ranks so high with me. Behind Christmas and Easter, celebrations with obvious messages about our Savior, I think the 4th of July is the most important holiday for surprisingly similar reasons.

You see, Latter-day Saints believe this country came into being for a purpose. We believe that the founding fathers (or brothers, depending on your author) were inspired by God to separate from England (and we believe they knew that, too). But not only that, we believe the Constitution was also inspired. In the Doctrine and Covenants we read:

According to the laws and constitution of the people, which I [God] have suffered to be established, and should be maintained for the rights and protection of all flesh, according to just and holy principles;...And for this purpose have I established the Constitution of this land, by the hands of wise men whom I raised up unto this very purpose, and redeemed the land by the shedding of blood (D&C 101:77, 80).

A lot of scholars note that since the formation of the USA, its constitution has been duplicated in many, many countries. While this is an important purpose, I truly believe there is one primary reason this country came to be--freedom of religion. It is only a country where the supreme law of the land guaranteed freedom of religion could the fullness of the gospel of Jesus Christ be restored to the earth.

Prior to the birth of this nation, not one country allowed freedom of religious thought or practice--not one. Only here and only after 1787 did that freedom exist on the earth. Less than 20 years later, on December 23, 1805, Joseph Smith was born and less than 25 years after that, on April 6, 1830, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints was officially organized. On that day, the church officially had 6 members, all US citizens. While the church struggled to survive for several years due to religious persecution (something the Constitution helped them overcome), the martyrdom of its first prophet, and by being driven into the Mexican territories, today it has over 14 million members. Church materials are available all over the world in 166 languages.

While some will cling to the belief that the greatest gift the USA has given to the world is constitutional democratic republics, and I do believe this is partly true, I say (and I bet I'm not the only one) that the 'true' greatest gift the USA has given the world is the restored gospel of Jesus Christ as found in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. To me, that is why the 4th of July is my third favorite holiday.

Jesus said in John 8:32, "And ye shall know the truth and the truth shall make you free." Because of this nation, the gospel of Jesus Christ was restored. The truth was restored. To me, that is something to celebrate. Let freedom ring!!

Glenn Beck, Fox News, and Ratings Spin

While I am not a huge Glenn Beck fan (he is edgier than I prefer), I really appreciate his approach. It is very educational. He is honestly trying to teach his listeners/watchers about things they may not know. I say, "Bravo!" There are not many people in media with that kind of drive for knowledge. Knowledge is, after all, power and I say more power to him.

As Mr. Beck makes the switch from 'on air' to online, I found one parting story quite fascinating. It appears the left-wing media is trying to spin this move as evidence of a ratings failure. Glenn's response? Facts. Knowledge. I found the following article to be very educational.

http://www.glennbeck.com/content/blog/stu/the-truth-about-glenn’s-ratings/

While I will not be following Mr. Beck to his website ($4.95 to me is $4.95 too much), I wish him the very, very best and I hope he is successful.