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Tag: Bible Passage

John D. Rockefeller, Cold Mountain, Chariots of Fire, Simon Sinek, and a Bible Passage

Sunday Supplement #122 (September 10th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“I do not think that there is any other quality so essential to success of any kind as the quality of perseverance.”

– John D. Rockefeller

Book of the Week:

Cold Mountain – Charles Frazier

Charles Frazier’s Cold Mountain alternates back and forth between the stories of W.P. Inman, a Confederate deserter, and Ada Monroe, a minister’s daughter from Charleston who moved to the rural mountain community where Inman is from.

Inman and Monroe only knew each other briefly before Inman went off to war, but the hope of seeing Ada again drives Inman to desert and make his way back to Cold Mountain.

The story follows Inman’s journey and Ada’s struggles to run a farm, with flashbacks of their history together interspersed throughout.

Cold Mountain became a bestseller, won the U.S. National Book Award for Fiction, and was adapted into a successful Academy Award-winning film.

The book might be dated in a few places, but the narrative and writing style are worth checking out. It’s a well-written novel and Frazier’s debut.

Movie of the Week:

Chariots of Fire

The 1982 Academy Award Best Picture winner follows two British track athletes determined to win in the 1924 Olympics.

Devout Christian Eric Liddel struggles against the interferences in his running journey of the obligations of his faith. Harold Abrahams, an English Jew, battles adversity and prejudice in his journey. 

In addition to winning Best Picture, the film won an Oscar for Best Costume Design and Best Writing – Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen.

Chariots of Fire had an all-star cast, with Ian Holm receiving a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role.

The Hugh Hudson film is a classic in cinema worth checking out and has an iconic soundtrack permeating pop culture since the movie’s release.

Brainfood of the Week:

What to Do When You Want to Give Up | Simon Sinek

Simon Sinek is a bestselling author and speaker. He spoke at the UN Global Compact Leaders Summit in 2016 and has an imprint at Penguin Random House, Optimism Press.

In this video, Sinek talks about his struggles writing his book Leaders Eat Last and how he got to the point where he couldn’t do it.

Sinek got to the point where he was going to give up. He called a friend for advice. The story about the friend is told in full in the video.

The message from Sinek is how important it can be to have someone in your corner. Reach out if you need help; don’t always take things on alone.

I’ve featured Simon Sinek in previous Sunday Supplements, and I find his videos informative and motivational. Check them out if you enjoyed this video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“But you, take courage! Do not let your hands be weak, for your work shall be rewarded.”

– 2 Chronicles 15:7

This Bible passage reminds me to keep moving forward and pursuing the things you want in your life.

It can be easy to take a break from your goals and dreams, and sometimes, it’s necessary to rest and recharge.

However, you can’t take a permanent vacation without becoming weak in some way. Whether physically or mentally, you need to keep challenging yourself to stay strong.

The Bible passage reminds me not to get too down on myself when things aren’t going as planned and to continue working on my goals.

Keep growing and persevering, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Leo Tolstoy, The City and the Stars, 28 Days Later, Sadhguru, and a Bible Passage

Sunday Supplement #116 (July 30th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”

– Leo Tolstoy

Book of the Week:

The City and the Stars – Arthur C. Clarke

Arthur C. Clarke is one of the legends of science fiction. His novel 2001: A Space Odyssey is probably his most well-known due to the Stanley Kubrick adaptation.

However, his bibliography of over 50 novels, novellas, and short story collections has many gems worth exploring.

The City and the Stars is set in the future city of Diaspar. Humanity built the Utopian city that ended up being the last refuge from alien invaders.

For a millennia, its protective dome shuts out the creeping decay and danger from the world outside. A Unique, born into the human population, sets out to test the city’s boundaries.

I’ve featured another Arthur C. Clarke novel in Sunday Supplement #49 worth checking out if you like the brilliant and thought-provoking The City and the Stars

Movie of the Week:

28 Days Later

Danny Boyle’s 28 Days Later follows a London bike courier, Jim, after he wakes up from a coma one month after a zombie-like virus was unleashed in the UK.

Jim, played by Cillian Murphy, has no idea what transpired during his coma and has to adapt quickly with the help of survivors Selena (Naomie Harris) and Frank (Brendan Gleeson).

I’m not a huge fan of horror or zombie movies, but this film is a brilliant story about humanity in chaos and the will to survive.

The popular show The Walking Dead (adapted from the comics) took part of the premise of 28 Days Later for their story, which is a testament to the concept of the story.

I never watched The Walking Dead, but I can’t imagine it explores the premise more profoundly than 28 Days Later. Check the film out, and let me know what you think.

Brainfood of the Week:

Resisting Change is Resisting Life | Sadhguru

Sadhguru is an Indian yogi and bestselling author. His YouTube page has over 11 million followers and over 1.5 billion video views.

In this video, a woman asks Sadhguru about change and how she looked forward to change when she was younger but avoided it as she grew older.

Sadhguru discusses the comfort zones we create as we get older and how change creates disturbances in those comfort zones.

When we resist change, we create suffering through non-acceptance of life and what we can do about it.

I’ve featured Sadhguru videos in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Check them out if you enjoyed this video.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“There is a time for everything and a season for every activity under the heavens.”

– Ecclesiastes 3:1

This Bible passage could have many different interpretations. For me, I think of learning to accept situations and changing how you view them.

A classic example is a rainy day being miserable for some, but if you wear the appropriate clothes and have an umbrella, it can still be beautiful.

The seasons change, and this Bible quote reminds me to stay aware of the seasons in our life and to adjust appropriately.

It’s easy to wallow in bad times, but after accepting and processing any situation, it’s time to move forward.

See what situations you can positively change your approach to, and have a blessed week ahead!

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Moliére, Tales of the South Pacific, A River Runs Through It, Psych2Go, and a Bible Passage

Sunday Supplement #104 (May 7th, 2023)

Below is another Sunday Supplement with a quote worth sharing, a book worth reading, a movie worth watching, brainfood worth consuming, and a spiritual passage worth pondering.

Please take something away from these recommendations that enriches your week ahead!

Quote of the Week:

“If you suppress grief too much, it can well redouble.”

– Moliére

Book of the Week:

Tales of the South Pacific – James A. Michener

James A. Michener’s Tales of the South Pacific is a Pulitzer Prize-winning collection of sequentially related short stories about the Pacific campaign in World War II.

Michener wrote these fictional stories based on anecdotes he collected while stationed as a US Navy lieutenant commander.

The short stories have powerful narratives covering a variety of persons and events from the Pacific from the American perspective while offering an insight into the Islanders’ experience.

Tales of the South Pacific is a fantastic novel that, while written in 1946, offers a brilliantly deep look into the experience of the war and its effect.

The book was loosely adapted to the Broadway musical South Pacific, but I highly recommend checking out the novel.

Movie of the Week:

A River Runs Through It

Robert Redford’s A River Runs Through It is based on the 1976 semi-autobiographical novella by Norman Maclean.

The film is set in Montana, and the story follows the two sons of a Presbyterian minister as they grow up and come of age during World War I to the early era of the Great Depression.

Many themes are explored in the narrative of A River Runs Through It, including family help and helplessness, and eternal nature vs. human frailty.

The film is beautifully brought to life from the adapted script by Richard Friedenberg and stars Craig Sheffer, Brad Pitt, Tom Skerritt, Brenda Blethyn, and Emily Lloyd.

A River Runs Through It won the Academy Award for Best Cinematography and was nominated for Best Music – Original Score and Best Adapted Screenplay.

Brainfood of the Week:

5 Things About Grief No One Really Tells You | Psych2Go

This video from Pysch2Go is an excellent reminder of the complicated grieving process and gives five points that can often be ignored.

One of the sayings often offered to someone grieving is to stay strong. This can often be a step of avoidance or denial.

Another point from the video is that acceptance can be more complicated than admitting a loss. The process isn’t always straightforward and can happen more than once.

Check out the video for the complete insight into the five things about grief that no one really tells you. They are helpful and are worth the look.

I’ve featured Pysch2Go videos in a few previous Sunday Supplements. Their mission is to make psychology and mental health more accessible to everyone.

Closing Spiritual Passage:

“Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again, and you will rejoice, and no one will take your joy away.”

– John 16:22

I’ve found Bible passages (and many spiritual passages) to be sources of comfort or wisdom through their metaphors in relation to our life experiences.

This verse reminds me of the importance of grieving. We all experience moments of loss, but sometimes we suppress it instead of making time to process it.

By giving ourselves time and space to grieve, we give ourselves permission for the feelings of loss to be seen.

I’ve found that only by fully embracing moments of loss for a period am I able to heal and move forward back on a path of joy.

Give yourself time to grieve, heal, move forward in love and joy, and have a blessed week ahead!

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