I saw Steve Taylor this evening speak at a small gathering at a college in the western suburbs of Chicago. He signed an LP copy of “I Predict 1990″ for me. The last time I received autograph from him was in 1995.

Steve’s talk was about Christianity and the Arts. He said that the Church has lost its saltiness in terms of the Arts. He stressed the need for Christians to do art honestly and originally. He also mentioned a Robert Duvall movie I need to see.

Since stepping away from music he has made two Christian films. He told the story about how Kickstarter helped him raise money for his second film “Blue Like Jazz” and then he had to call 3,000 people because he promised to call everyone who donated $10 or more.

In my view Steve’s best talent as a musician was always his incredible wit in penning lyrics and his flare for the dramatic in his music videos and live shows. Apparently he’s one of the nice former youth pastors too. I think making movies is the logical progression from his musical career. I’m hoping there will be more movies and that something of this album recorded with Peter Furler will surface. Until then I’ll just have to enjoy some Chagall Guevera and think about Lifeboat.

*NOTE* These rankings were compiled by Mark Strotman and Andrei Greska. Write-ups were done by Strotman (odds) and Greska (evens).

Juan Anderson may still be a project in his second year at Marquette. (Marquette Tribune)

14. Garrett Swanson: A transfer from Idaho State with three years of eligibility remaining, Swanson averaged 3.6 points and 1.9 rebounds in 13.2 minutes per game last season as a Bengal. A coaching change prompted his transfer to Marquette  as a walk-on, where he will sit out this season, per NCAA transfer rules. Swanson has length and a decent looking shot, but the strength and athleticism needed to see the floor must be vastly improved before he can think about playing time. Nevertheless, he provides a good-sized body at 6-foot-7 and will be familiar with his teammates having partaken in the Pro-Am this summer.

13. Dylan Flood: Marquette officially added the walk-on last week, though he had been working with the team a good portion of the summer. The redshirt sophomore is unlikely to break any rotation, and may not play at all, but he’s another practice body, at least. Buzz Williams won’t take anyone off the street to join his team (no walk-on made the team after last year’s tryouts), so it’s a safe bet that Flood is a hard-working, committed student-athlete. Just don’t expect it to translate onto the court. He won’t make anyone forget about cult hero Rob Frozena, but he has good size (6-foot-4) and made it through Boot Camp, which has to say something about him.

12. Jake Thomas: A transfer from South Dakota last year, this redshirt junior tantalized Marquette fans with his silky-smooth shot over the summer. It’s become cliche to say players can hit from anywhere on the court, but very rarely do these players warm up by hitting jump shots from half court. There’s no denying his talent (go to the 1:03 mark of this video to see for yourself), but averaging 13.3 points at a low-to-mid-major does not automatically equate to Big East success. Thomas will have a very specific role on this team, and it will be to hit from 3-point land. He won’t see extended minutes most games, but should he get hot, watch out.

11. Jamal Ferguson: Marquette’s first 2012 commitment enters his freshman campaign a bit of an unknown, but the talent is there. His value will be decided by how well Marquette shoots from the perimeter in the early-going. Ferguson can shoot from deep but is still a raw prospect who needs seasoning, much like Juan Anderson a year ago. But if the Golden Eagles struggle from the outside, perhaps their biggest question mark, Ferguson could be called in to log minutes as an offensive threat. Aki Collins was his lead recruiter, but he seems comfortable in Milwaukee and could carve out a nice role if his jumper is there.

10. Juan Anderson: The Castro Valley High School product has been beset by setbacks his first 14 months as a Golden Eagle. He was suspended for the first three games of the season, then suffered a shoulder injury in December, and capped it off by fracturing his shoulder during an open-gym in May—forcing surgery that kept him out of scrimmages and contact drills until late September. As long and talented as he is, Anderson has yet to put it together for extended periods of time. He will be behind Jamil Wilson, Trent Lockett, and possibly Steve Taylor on the depth chart to start the season, but barring injury, should see a steady increase of minutes and production from last season’s 4.5 minutes and 0.7 points per game.

9. Derrick Wilson: The stocky point guard’s role as a freshman was carved out from Day 1, and he was invaluable as a defensive stopper on the second unit. That role should stay the same playing behind Junior Cadougan, but he needs to be more consistent on offense. He attempted just 16 shots in 292 minutes. If Wilson can average even 4.0 points per game it will allow Todd Mayo and Vander Blue to play off-the-ball, where they’re much more efficient. That being said, his calling card is defense. He will need to cut down on his hand-checks as he averaged a whopping 7.0 fouls per 40 minutes. That can happen in an expanded role, which he should see as a sophomore.

8. Steve Taylor: It’s a dangerous proposition to assign value to a freshman in Buzz’s system, but Steve Taylor isn’t your average freshman. He’s long, he’s agile and he’s team-oriented. Sharing the stage with the country’s best high school player, Jabari Parker, last season, Taylor was content to do the dirty work, battling for rebounds and defending opposing centers. Not that he didn’t put up some big numbers himself, averaging 19 points and 9 rebounds en route to Simeon’s third consecutive 4-A state title. Expect more of the same from the ‘big fella’ this year, as he floats from the basket to the perimeter. He won’t be a huge scoring threat right away, but his defense and rebounding acumen will have him in the lineup early and often.

Vander Blue is a talented player, but to make the jump to stardom he’ll need to improve his jump shot. (Marquette Tribune)

1. Who will step into a star role in place of the departed seniors?

Marquette lost more than 40 percent of its scoring in seniors Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, and someone has to replace it. Buzz Williams has four players — Davante Gardner, Jamil Wilson, Todd Mayo and Vander Blue — who were nice role players on last year’s Sweet 16 team, and the addition of Trent Lockett gives him a fifth. One (or more) of those five needs to become an All-Big East-caliber player. Each of those five players have something that held them back last year, so who steps up as Marquette’s go-to player will be something to watch. Lockett, Wilson and Gardner have the best chances, but someone needs to.

2. Who is this year’s leader?

The good news is that six of Marquette’s eight best players are back; the issue is that the two gone, Darius Johnson-Odom and Jae Crowder, were the unquestioned leaders. And while the last four years Marquette had seniors who took the reins without question, Junior Cadougan and Chris Otule don’t scream “vocal leader.” Like it was two years ago, there will be an acclimation to the role. The hope is that someone takes the initiative in Boot Camp like Jimmy Butler did in 2010, but the fact remains that there are too many Indians and not enough chiefs. That’s not necessarily a problem, because there is room for someone to grow into the role…it just may not happen right away.

3. Who will score on the perimeter?

Marquette won’t match the 201 3-pointers it made last year, and more than 68 percent of those are gone in Crowder and Johnson-Odom. Buzz Williams’ teams have relied less on 3-pointers each year (ranked 63rd, 22nd, 192nd and 160th in the country in 3-point makes the last four years), but just 63 total 3-point makes return, plus 21 in Trent Lockett, but while the front court is as good as it’s been in five years, there needs to be a balance. Expanded roles for Todd Mayo and Jamil Wilson will help, but perimeter shooting is Marquette’s most glaring need. An X-factor is Steve Taylor, who has a well-rounded inside-out game that could come in handy.

4. Is Trent Lockett a nice player or a program-changer?

Marquette’s biggest acquisition was Trent Lockett, a graduate student who averaged 13.0 points and 5.8 rebounds as a junior for Arizona State. His background story is known, but what isn’t is how he’ll adjust to a brand new system, an up-tempo pace and a leadership role. Buzz Williams needs his seniors, and though Lockett is new he’s no exception. He should enter a similar role to that of Jimmy Butler, who spent most of his year playing from inside 15-feet, getting to the free throw line and playing lock-down defense. Williams brought him in Lockett to provide leadership and a scoring presence, but whether that translates into a program changer will be easily seen.

5. Can Vander Blue make “the jump” with his jumper?

Offseason reports out of Milwaukee said Vander Blue has made significant improvement with his jump shot. But to be fair, the same was said about Jamail Jones a year ago. Blue has an above-average-or-better check mark next to every part of his game except his jump shot. He’s a two-guard who has made 12-of-56 3-pointers in his two seasons at Marquette. With his quickness and court vision, defenders are learning not to guard Blue on the perimeter, almost baiting him to shoot from outside. He’s as hard a worker as there is on the roster and his confidence is sky-high from an impressive end to last season, but he needs to improve his jump shot if he intends on taking the next step as a player.

6. How effective can Chris Otule be on a surgically repaired knee?

Fifth-year senior Chris Otule was on the verge of a career year before a torn ACL ended his season just eight games in. He suffered the injury 10 months ago, and had surgery on Jan. 10. That puts him nine months out of surgery on a leg needing to support 275 pounds of weight and cutting on a 6-foot-11 body. Marquette showed last year they can be effective without his services, but he’s a vital part of the interior with Jae Crowder gone. More will be known next week on Otule’s status, but his minutes will be something to track all year long. If he can go full contact, it frees up Jamil Wilson and Steve Taylor to play their more natural, face-up forward position instead of makeshift center.

7. How many minutes can Davante Gardner log?

Marquette needs scoring in 2012, and no one supplies it in more efficient form than Davante Gardner. He’s Marquette most talented offensive player, draws fouls and held his own defensively late in the season. The issue is, at his weight, is how many minutes per game he can realistically average. He played 19.5 minutes per game last year, but to truly reach his full potential he needs to average somewhere near 25 minutes per game. Is that possible? His knee is fully healthy, but conditioning is an issue until he proves it isn’t. Despite a talented front court, Marquette needs Gardner to be in peak condition or he’ll just be a talented role player, which could spell doom for the Marquette offense.

8. Is Jake Thomas simply a walk-on, or will he contribute?

The 3-point line in the Big East is the same distance in the Big East as it was in the Great West Conference, where Jake Thomas played for two seasons. That’s good news, because Thomas’ range, as witnessed at South Dakota, could come in handy on a team with very few reliable outside shooters. The question, however, is whether or not Thomas’ role will be as a spark off the bench or as a rotation player. He has the size, and he’s been practicing with Division-I athletes for more than a year now, but he’ll need to prove he can keep up with the pace of Big East basketball. An early guess is he falls somewhere in between.

9. Steve Taylor: Instant contributor or freshman with potential?

Tony Benford, the lead recruiter for the Simeon power forward, was giddy about  Steve Taylor’s star potential earlier this year. Benford is gone, but Taylor remains a potential impact freshman with a skill set perfect for Buzz Williams’ offense. He has the height, but the question of whether he has the size to bang in the Big East 15+ minutes a night. He dominated at the Milwaukee Pro-Am, albeit with the help of Junior Cadougan, but then again he’ll have the senior point guard to work with in 2012. Marquette has talented front court forwards in Davante Gardner and Jamil Wilson, but if Taylor is an instant contributor it makes the Golden Eagles even more dangerous inside.

10. How much improvement will Juan Anderson show in Year 2?

An injury during individual workouts in the offseason, a suspension to begin the season and a shoulder injury at the midway point limited Juan Anderson to 24 games his freshman year. The talent is there for the once-top-60 recruit, but he had shoulder surgery this offseason and is just getting back on the court. He’s behind, and he’ll have to prove he’s both recovered from injury and showing improvement or it could be another lost year with serious talent coming in at his position next year.

Mark Strotman: Marquette had the luxury of one of the premier players in the Big East last season in Jae Crowder, who averaged 8.4 rebounds per game. That ranked eighth in the conference, and while he’s since graduated there are plenty of rebounds to go around this year. The early favorite this year is Davante Gardner, the leading returner in rebounds per game (5.2). While Buzz Williams doesn’t count players grabbing their own misses as rebounds, the NCAA does. And no one does that better than Gardner, who averaged 2.6 offensive boards in just over 19 minutes per game.

We talked about how 2012 will be a year of players stepping up, and Gardner stands to see a real uptick in minutes if his conditioning allows it. If he can average anywhere close to 25 minutes per game, 7.0 rebounds is not out of the question for the 6-foot-8 junior. Had he qualified, Gardner would have ranked 15th in the country in offensive rebounding percentage (15.9 percent). I won’t lie and make a direct correlation, but I doubt Marquette matches their 45.2 field goal percentage from a year ago. That should mean more chances for offensive rebounds, where Gardner will be sitting in the paint to grab them up. Getting Chris Otule back will hurt his minutes, but not enough to keep him from leading the Golden Eagles in rebounds.

Andrei Greska: The most impressive stat regarding the Mavericks’ newest signing wasn’t the total number of rebounds hauled in as an undersized big. No, Crowder’s most astounding feat was the rate in which he grabbed them. According to KenPom, Jae grabbed 20.7 percent of available defensive rebounds. That means one in five misses ended up in his hands. Who picks up the slack? I’m hesitant to peg it to Gardner simply because he does not get boards outside of his zone. Granted, he is tremendous in carving out good position down-low and uses his big body well to shield defenders, negating his athletic limitations. However, I still don’t think he will average 25 minutes or more because that would theoretically limit Chris Otule to 15 minutes a game. I think Gardner does get a bulk of the plying time, but it won’t be a 10-minute disparity.

Davante Gardner is one of the top offensive rebounders in the country. (Marquette Tribune)

More important, Marquette will have one of its best rebounding teams in Buzz’s tenure. Gardner and Otule combine to average about 10 rebounds, Jamil Wilson improved tremendously as the season wore on, Vander Blue may be the best pure rebounder, with Todd Mayo not far behind. When you add Trent Lockett and, even to some extent, Steve Taylor, you get a host of good-to-very good rebounders on the court at all times. Much like the scoring situation, I don’t foresee any one player averaging more than six boards per game.

MS: Wilson is an intriguing player as it pertains to the boards. For his height, athleticism and minutes he was underwhelming as a rebounder. His 4.1 rebounds per game were fourth on the team (fifth, including Otule), and while he averaged 5.5 rebounds in the last 11 games (against some steep competition), there’s a lot to be desired. He’s the most talented athlete on the team, and could make a serious jump from role player to star, but he needs to become more physical and, as former assistant Aki Collins told Paint Touches, he needs to realize how good he can be.

I think Gardner leads the team in rebounds, but Wilson’s ceiling leaves room for him to be a candidate. It was tougher for Wilson to grab boards given Crowder’s impressive numbers, but there are no excuses this year. Steve Taylor’s production may take away from Wilson, but Wilson is going to be called upon to step up. As important as his scoring may be, he could be equally as important on the glass.

AG: I think if we are honest, Wilson was missing some aggressiveness when it came to attacking the boards last season. It seemed like he deferred way too much to Crowder at times, and simply didn’t win many battles for positioning. To put things in perspective, Jamail Jones, a player without Wilson’s height or length, grabbed 14.0 percent of defensive rebounds compared to Wilson’s 10.8. His height is good for three rebounds every single game, so there is no reason why, with a year under the tutelage of a player like Crowder, Wilson can’t close in on six rebounds per game.

One player who will be a welcome “addition” is Chris Otule. Should he get back to the form he was in before his ACL injury last season, he will work wonders on the boards. His presence isn’t always felt in raw numbers, though. His well-documented vision problems prevent him from averaging high single-digit numbers, but his size and physicality sets the table for others to come in and grab them. My question is this then, Mark: Would you agree with that assessment, or are you of the opinion that Otule’s presence won’t do much on the boards?

MS: It’s easy to forget about just how far Otule had come over the last year and eight games, but he truly was becoming one of the premier interior defenders in the Big East. He peaked at the Paradise Jam, grabbing nine rebounds and blocking four shots in Marquette’s 59-57 win over Norfolk State. He matched up against current Orlando Magic center Kyle O’Quinn, who had just 10 points on 3-of-8 shooting. The obvious question is how he returns from surgery on his torn ACL, which I won’t even attempt to guess. IF, and it’s a big if, he returns to where he was pre-ACL injury, Otule is certainly a real player in Marquette’s defense rather than a plug-and-play.

Can Chris Otule return to his pre-ACL injury form, or will be limited on the interior? (Marquette Tribune)

And whether fans want to use it as an excuse or not, his hand-eye coordination limits him. He has had the eye condition his whole life, and he claims it doesn’t affect him in terms of catching the ball (or rebounding), but his hands are below-average, simply put. That being said, he’s Marquette’s strongest player (again, pre-surgery) and his 6-foot-10 body will be out there. There’s definitely a cap there, where his minutes could be limited all year (remember, he’s injury-prone), but a healthy Otule can average somewhere in between 4-to-5 rebounds and a block per game.

As seen by last year’s production without him, I don’t know how important he is to Marquette’s success, but he’s a major addition if he can go. I still want to see a 2-3 zone set with Otule, Steve Taylor and Jamil Wilson in the front court. Now we’re talking rebounding.

AG: My how things have changed. Remember when Marquette was throwing Lazar Hayward out there as a 6-foot-6 center in 2009-’10? Now if Buzz was to play the lineup you just described with Blue at the point and Mayo at shooting guard, you’d have a legitimate size advantage at four of the five positions against almost any team in the country. Not to mention that, as far as rebounding goes, that lineup would completely lock up the glass. It goes without saying that height alone does not lead to high rebounding numbers, but as the coaching staff has instilled a never-say-die attitude when it comes to hustle plays, I think my imagination is not simply running wild on me. (While we’re at it, would there be a better blocking lineup in the Big East than having Otule, Wilson and Taylor on the interior?)

Marquette had five players tally triple-digit rebounding numbers last season, and six players did so the year before that. What this tells me is that rebounding is emphasized as a team stat over an individual accomplishment by Buzz and co. Every player, no matter the position, has a role to play and should be ready to grab the rock. That mentality has kept Marquette in the top-50 in terms of rebounding totals the past two seasons. I can’t tell you if Gardner can double his output, or if Wilson can be more aggressive. However, I can guarantee that as a team, Marquette will be in the upper echelons of Division I basketball when it comes to cleaning up the glass.

1.    Regardless of what I think, people have had it worse than I do.
I’ve read facebook and done enough pastoral counseling to know that most people in the middle of crisis think that no one has possibly dealt with the pain and suffering they are currently enduring. It’s human nature. Ask any teenager that has had their heart broken, and they’ll let you know that in a hurry that this is way worse that any heartache you had as a teen. Funny thing is the people I know that have truly been wounded, hurt beyond imagination, are usually the first to put their hurts aside for others. I have a friend who has suffered more hurt than I could imagine, and yet this friend makes me feel as if I’ve had it far worse. Far too often, we want to hold on to our hurt, thinking it somehow makes us loveable or brings attention to us. What we really want is to feel loved and respected. Realizing that we haven’t really seen the “rough side of the mountain” gives us perspective to see others hurts.

2.    It’s perfectly natural and ok to question everything sometimes.
During this conversation, it was intimated that people who are genuinely hurting and feeling overwhelmed somehow were less spiritual or mature. As a worship pastor, I’ve read most of Psalms once or twice over the last 25 years of ministry. That David was a whiner sometimes. “Why have You turned from me, God?” or “How long must I suffer?”. And yet somehow this whiner is called a man after God’s own heart. Now right about now some of you are yelling (excuse me, discussing intently) at the computer that David wasn’t whining, he was simply crying out to God. Isn’t that most of our whining is, a cry for attention? We find it easy to give David the benefit of the doubt because we know the rest of his story. We know that despite his failures and whining, he repented and sought after God. How would we react if we knew that the “whiner” we tell to “suck it up”, would become a great person of God for the kingdom? Would we tell them that their whining gets on our nerves and probably annoys God too, or would we encourage them and find a way one on one to help them seek the God’s attention in a right way?

3.    Jesus is more for losers than we care to admit.
Steve Taylor had a song several years ago that was titled “Jesus is For Losers”. I’ve always loved the song, because it drives home the point that Jesus’ kingdom is one full of paradoxes. The last shall be first; you must lose your life to find it; servant king; all of these paint a picture that doesn’t look like many of the churches I visit today. We have reserved parking for the pastor and deacons and staff, while visitors park wherever. We tell inside jokes and speak this Christian jargon that unchurched guests don’t understand. Much like the Pharisees, we as religious leaders often strive to keep the people separate from the clergy to maintain our place of power. Jesus called fisherman and tax collectors. God announced Jesus arrival to shepherds. The rich and powerful found out from the losers. Isn’t it time we quit trying to prove we are superior, and embrace the fact that being a loser isn’t as bad as we thought in high school?

    Andy Stanley preached a series earlier this year that completely wrecked me. It dealt with the term Christian and how historically and by our actions it isn’t an accurate term. The term Jesus and his followers used was disciple. It’s a term clearly defined in scripture, but uncomfortable to live up to. I realize that the term is semantics to an extent, but in my life, I’ve determined to be a loser disciple that sometimes whines like David, but will one day make good on the investment God made in him.

When Tony Benford accepted the head coaching position at North Texas on Apr. 24, it left Marquette in a bind for more reasons than Buzz Williams losing his top assistant of four years. Benford recruited Chicago, a pipeline Marquette has used often to bring in top players from the neighboring city oozing with talent. So when the time came for Williams to fill Benford’s role as assistant coach, one reason Illinois assistant Isaac Chew was the right choice was his ties to the Windy City.

The Chicago native grew up playing basketball on the West side, but never considered coaching growing up. Chew has family in Chicago and, though his coaching career began and flourished in Kansas City, he has kept a close eye on Chicago talent and has connections in the city he has already begun using in his stint at Marquette.

And while the Marquette campus doesn’t have the state affiliation the Illini do, a place Chew spent six weeks after a year under Frank Haith at Missouri, Chew is finding that more players are understanding the proximity Marquette has to Chicago, a short, hour-and-a-half drive, and is using it in the recruiting process.

“No question, you have to use that leverage, and that’s a recruiting tool,” Chew said of recruiting Chicago prospects. “Once people get around to how many actual Chicago-area students attend Marquette, it’s a rather large number, because it’s really good academically and relatively close enough to get to home, but far enough away. And Marquette has been a situation where, from what I’ve found, kids from good academic backgrounds come to the school.”

Recent Marquette recruits from Chicago have included Dwyane Wade, Todd Townsend, Jerel McNeal, Maurice Acker, and more recently Reggie Smith and incoming freshman Steve Taylor. And with Chew’s addition, Marquette should continue to have the inside track on some of the top name’s from every class in Chicago that Benford and Williams have built to this point.

Chew fed multiple players to local Missouri as a rising AAU coach in Kansas City, and built lasting relationships on the circuit before being hired by Billy Kennedy at Murray State, where he spent four years from 2007 to 2011. He knows the benefit of using the recruiting ties he has gained for more than a decade, specifically Kansas City and Chicago.

“I just think you have to recruit where you can get a player,” Chew said. “You tend to go to areas you have familiarity. So for Buzz, that’s Texas because he’s from there. I coached AAU in Kansas City for eight years, so I have some ties there and I have some ties to Illinois, and I’ve been to places to recruit. So you go where you can find people and have relationships.”

Chew fills a need for Marquette in his ability to recruit 90 miles south of Milwaukee, but he was also a perfect fit to coach under good friend Buzz Williams because what he looks for in a recruit is what Williams built Marquette on the last five classes.

“My philosophy is to recruit guys that have a passion for competing, have a chip on their shoulder and play with reckless abandon and play with purpose,” Chew said. “They’re grounded fundamentally and defensive-oriented.”

While he plays to his coaching relationships and recruiting ties, searching for the best player available still comes first for Chew. Last year’s Murray State team that won 31 games that Chew helped recruit had just one player from in-state Kentucky; All-American Isaiah Canaan is from Mississippi, OVC Defensive Player of the Year Donte Poole is from Las Vegas and second team All-OVC Ivan Aska from Florida.

Isaac Chew wants to recruit the best players to Marquette, but will certainly use his Kansas City and Chicago ties to help in his efforts. (US Presswire)

“We’ll always get the best player available, that’s the best process to have when you’re recruiting,” Chew said. “Just look at how some of the teams were built.”

Chew has been hot on the recruiting trail since he was hired by Williams in late May, but his first major event will be at Marquette Madness on Oct. 12, when the coaching staff will bring in recruits on both unofficial and official visits. Chew said the effects can differentiate based on where a prospect is in the process, but is important nonetheless.

“If a player chooses to come for Marquette Madness, that’s great for us no matter the class,” Chew said. “But I think it’s all about the timing and where he is with his process. Some guys, you want to come because they’re new to the process and you want them around to see the atmosphere and how we do things in special times. We want them around because they’re close to the decision-making process.

“The key to recruiting is what the best atmosphere for a young man and his parents to be around that will allow him the best experience. It’s all about each individual and where they are,” he added.

Multiple players from Chicago are expected to be in attendance, and of those players, there are sure to be Williams’ favorites: switchables.

In his five recruiting classes, Williams and the coaching staff have transformed a roster from undersized, speedy guards to a more complete, balanced roster growing in height each year. The roster consists less of specific positions and more athletes who can play different positions. That, Chew said, has given him more freedom on the recruiting trail.

“He says switchables, I say versatile players,” Chew laughed. “They’re just guys that can play multiple positions, so it makes the job easier. You recruit basketball players, and you just figure it out from there.”

One player who fit that bill for both Marquette and then-Missouri assistant Chew was Taylor. The incoming Marquette forward was recruited by the Golden Eagles and, later in his process, Haith and Missouri. While Chew, Taylor’s lead recruiter for the Tigers, was late on recruiting the Simeon star, he understood why Marquette was the ultimate destination.

“[Marquette] had done such a great job and we had to make up ground, so I had no ill feelings when he made his decision. The kind of player he is fits the players they’ve had,” Chew said, referencing Jimmy Butler and Jae Crowder. “And at the time, we didn’t have a player at Missouri we could say, ‘You can be that guy.’”

And while Chew is unable to comment on unsigned commitments, 2013 point guard Duane Wilson considered Missouri before choosing Marquette. There’s a good chance Chew was hard on the trail during Wilson’s recruitment.

So just as he did with Murray State and Missouri, Chew plans to help build future Marquette recruiting classes on the same foundation of athleticism and discipline he saw while watching Williams’ program from afar, whether the kids were from Chicago or not.

“I always respected how they compete, bringing their lunch pals to work and sawing wood,” Chew said. “One thing you always walked away saying was, ‘Man, those guys play hard.’ And that’s a huge respect factor when you get guys that compete at that level all the time. That speaks volumes.”

The Controversial I Predict 1990 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Music has always been an obsession in my life.  I was five when I stumbled across my mom’s old collection of 45′s and began listening to Buddy Holly and Elvis Presley.  At age 6, I discovered the Beatles when Yellow Submarine was shown on Television on July 4th.  What better way to spend Independence day, hamburgers, sparklers, and then a psychedelic soundtrack in pure Beatles harmony.

At age 8, I bought my first 45 with some money I had saved from allowance.  I bought “She Loves You” by the Beatles on Parlaphone.  I played both sides until I had memorized every note and word.  My first LP purchase was the double LP soundtrack of the movie Grease.  I loved the old 50′s style with a twist of Olivia Newton John.  What a combination!

From ages 8-14. I spent most of my free time glued to a record player or radio, soaking in the best of the old and new sounds of popular music.  Groups like Soft Cell, A ha, Billy Joel, and U2 began to fill up my own record collection.  If I wasn’t listening to music, I was reading about it.  I used to go to the library on a weekly basis to read Billboard magazine and to see the Top 200 album charts.  Other than Billboard, I read bios on the Beatles and had Rolling Stone’s massive encyclopedia of rock.  I read it almost as much as I read the Bible.

Christian Music

Somewhere in my early teens, I began to become aware of  something called Christian Rock.  Rock music that was from a Christian point of view and a more hip look to the covers-well sort of…  My first taste of Christian music was Amy Grant and Sandi Patti.  I enjoyed some of Amy’s early stuff, but a little too soft.  Sandi was just so canned and opera sounding that I hated it instantly.  It didn’t help that I had a Baptist aunt (we were Presbyterian-after all) who insisted that Amy Grant was not Christian and that Sandi Patti was the best thing since chocolate.  It only made me hate Sandi and like Amy more.

These early tastes, left me with the impression that Christian music was pretty much limited to soft rock.

Steve Taylor & Stryper Rock My World

I think it was a Sunday school teacher who told me about Steve Taylor.  He said I might like it, so I trekked on down to the Christian bookstore and found a $4.99 cassette (blue-kind of cool to see a blue one) by Steve Taylor called I Want To Be a Clone.

I took it home and popped this blue meanie into the cassette player…and it shocked me.  It was actually kind of cool. The music was modern (at least, modern for 1984) and the lyrics were biting and sarcastic.  What teen couldn’t relate to biting sarcasm?

I played the tape to death and was fascinated by Taylor’s Christian worldview put to a pop rock soundtrack.  I was hooked….

My next trip to the Christian bookstore, I spent over an hour just browsing all the different artists, meticulously studying the covers to try to pick my next purchase.  I think the manager thought I was trying to shoplift, because she kept poking into the section and asking if I needed help.

Actually, I did…since I didn’t know what any of these groups sounded like.  I told her I liked Steve Taylor and she directed me to the rock cassettes.  She also pointed me to a cassette deck and told me that they had demos of all the groups.  I was free to listen to the demos to help me find my next big group.

I wasn’t really a metal fan at this point, but I had vaguely heard of a group called Stryper.  The cover looked very cold war meets Motley Crue and the title was Yellow and Black Attack.

I purchased the Stryper cassette and hoped it would live up to its repuatation.  I stuck it into my player at home and the thrashing and slashing came pounding through my stereo as Stryper launched into “Soldier Under Command”.  At one point, I ran over to the player and switched it off.  Michael Sweet was screaming Jesus so loud, that I wasn’t sure if it was ok or not.  I had never heard anything like it.  Could you really play metal music and still be a Christian?  These guys sure seemed to think so.  But the spandex, screaming, and feminine make up and hair doos had me wondering if this was really Christian at all.

A few times through the cassette, and I began to enjoy the intricate guitar work and layered vocals…even if I wasn’t into the spandex, I was willing to overlook it.  These guys were good and the music rocked, while not being raunchy.  If anything, they were down right Evangelical in their lyrics.

This was my first foray into Christian music and began a journey that would last over 25 years.  A journey that started as a fan and turned into a profession.  One that had many strange twist and turns.  One filled with many fun and musical moments.  Others filled with politics, money, and the hypocrisy that seems to follow.

One that I enjoy remembering in one sense, but also fills me with a measure of regret.  I’ll explain more as I get the chance.

TO BE CONTINUED…

First, a disclaimer – Blue Like Jazz is not your typical squeaky-clean, come-to-Jesus Christian film. The bulk of the story takes place on the campus of extremely liberal Reed College, and both the setting and the characters therein come across as entirely true-to-life. That realism goes a long way toward making the movie great, but it also means that it’s not one you’ll want to watch with the kids.

That said, if you’re not a kid, you will most definitely want to watch Blue Like Jazz. While the book of the same name is a collection of essays and thoughts on spirituality, the Blue Like Jazz movie focuses in on one chapter of Don’s life – his first year in college – with a tightly-scripted intensity. After a shocking revelation at home pushes Don away from his Southern Baptist upbringing, he heads off to Reed College in Portland, “the most godless campus in the country”, to try to escape from God. As he navigates the ups and downs of his new life and befriends several wildly different fellow students – from straight-laced activist Penny to the unpredictable robe-and-miter wearing ball of energy known only as “The Pope” – Don comes back again and again to the question of whether or not God exists and, if he does, whether or not he’s worth following.

Blue Like Jazz is far and away the most thought-provoking movie I’ve ever seen. Every scene, every line is designed to raise questions and offer insights, often on multiple levels, and if you’re willing to engage your mind with those questions you’ll find a wealth of food for thought. Best of all, all of this thoughtfulness is encased in an atmosphere of complete authenticity lacking in most stereotypical “Christian film”. The characters are real people, they express genuine emotion, and their stories are the sort with which anyone can identify. I’ve seen the movie three times, and upon every viewing the final scene brings me to the brink of tears (in a good way). If you’re a human being who likes to think and appreciates a good story, I can’t recommend Blue Like Jazz highly enough. Five out of five stars. It’s available in Redbox and at Walmart and Best Buy all over the country, so you’ve got no excuse – go check it out! You won’t regret it.

About a dozen advocates and supporters of Planned Parenthood gathered at Akin’s district congressional office in suburban St. Louis on Wednesday to deliver the petitions. Akin aide Steve Taylor collected them and invited five of the protesters in for a face-to-face meeting.

Steve Taylor, aide to Congressman Todd Akin with Planned Parenthood’s M’Evie Mead

Akin, the Republican nominee in the Senate race, has been at the center of criticism since an Aug. 19 TV interview in which he said that in cases of what he called “legitimate” rape, a woman’s body is able prevent pregnancy. He has since apologized many times for the word “legitimate” and said his facts about preventing conception were wrong.

The petition denounced Akin’s comments, but stopped short of calling for him to drop out of the Senate race.  Akin, who was not present, has said he intends to stay in the race “for the long haul.”

Taylor read a statement saying Akin apologizes for the comments he made that were “hurtful and medically wrong,” but does not apologize for his “ardent pro-life principles.”

For that, the 65-year-old 6-term Congressman has stirred outrage from feminists on the Left, and from his own party’s leaders and colleagues who have urged him to quit as the GOP’s Senate candidate in Missouri. For his part, Akin has since apologized, saying he “misspoke.”

For that remark, Akin has received death threats and rape threats against his staff and family!

Rep. Todd Akin

NewsMax.com reports, Aug. 24, 2012, that Akin said there have been threats against him since his remarks. “There have been threats, both on life and on rape,” Akin said, adding that House rules barred him from disclosing more.

Capitol Police and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are investigating “at least one threat they deem significant,” Steve Taylor, a member of Akin’s congressional staff in Missouri, said in a telephone interview. Calls to the congressman’s office urged the “rape of Congressman Akin’s official staff, the congressman and members of his family, and there’s also been some suggestions that some people die,” Taylor said.

Capitol Police and Lauren Ellis, Akin’s chief of staff, also confirmed the investigation.

Capitol Police are working with the FBI “on a reported threat against Congressman Akin,” Lieutenant Kimberly Schneider said in an e-mailed statement. “This is an active, open investigation. Of course, we don’t discuss the security of members of Congress — this includes our security operations and procedures.” The FBI didn’t respond to requests for comment.

Meanwhile, Akin has reiterated his vow to continue his campaign to unseat Democratic Sen. Claire McCaskill despite pressure to abandon his bid from Republican leaders, including presidential nominee Mitt Romney. The Missouri Senate race may be pivotal for control of the Senate.

Akin beat St. Louis businessman John Brunner and former State Treasurer Sarah Steelman in an Aug. 7 primary.

The National Republican Senatorial Committee has said it would no longer help Akin. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce, which had previously funded ads against McCaskill, won’t continue to be involved in the race, a spokeswoman told the Associated Press.

Akin’s campaign tried to use opposition within the party to his advantage, saying in one fundraising appeal: “Party bosses have been clear: They want nothing to do with our effort to unseat liberal Claire McCaskill.” Akin’s campaign claimed to have raised more than $100,000 in contributions in an appeal to donors this week.

~Eowyn

At Blanchard Warrenville tomorrow morning, we’ll be looking at Paul’s amazing challenge to the Philippian church in Philippians 3:7-14.  As a small, start-up church, we’ve had our fair share of challenges–as all start-ups do–to get moving in the same direction and focused clearly on our future together.  We’ve been stretched by significant leadership changes (Pastor John’s upcoming transition as our senior pastor notwithstanding…), along with people coming and going for all kinds of reasons, volunteer fatigue from the burden of wearing three or four hats to staff the various ministry needs required for our weekly worship gatherings, and the list goes on…

I think Paul’s letter from prison to the church in Philippi can really encourage us at Warrenville today.  Stuck in his chains in Rome, his firm confidence and conviction in the gospel of Jesus Christ is breathtaking, summarized no more succinctly than in the verse which powerfully captures the theme of the entire letter,

being confident of this, He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus. (Phil. 1:6)

His imprisonment preventing Him from completing the missionary work God had called him to, ever-determined Paul affirms his affection for the Philippian church by reminding them that the Church is never dependent on people to complete the work, but Christ Himself.

He goes on in chapter 2 to encourage them to let “likemindedness” characterize their relationships with one another, led by the gracious, humility of Jesus Christ.  (2:1-18)

The crescendo of Paul’s confidence in Christ builds into chapter 3 as he powerfully refuses to claim any credit for any trophy or prize he could take pride in as “a Pharisee of Pharisees”, considering them all as a putrid, rank pile of manure, casting all the titles, power and accolades aside in exchange for the pursuit of knowing Christ.

With his vision set upon Christ and fully mindful of the incredible grace bestowed upon him, a murderer and persecutors of Christians, he forgets what’s behind him to strain with all his might for the finish line ahead of him…

I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus.

In remembering Paul’s words to the young Philippian church, I understand Jesus’ plan to meet treacherous Saul on the road to Damascus.  Just looking at his ruthless determination to fulfill Christ’s mission is so humbling, revealing my own lack of focus on my calling as a much-to-learn pastor of  a church start-up.  While Paul had a “thorn in the flesh”, my brain cancer and the fits & starts of helping a young church find its footing has nothing on the true nature of suffering.  There are many days I need to be reminded of the encouragement that Christ will not be denied–he will complete his work of making me and us like Christ.  When I want to belly-ache and complain because the race I’m on is just too hard to keep straining for the finish line, Paul’s words quiet my heart and still my tongue to remember that Jesus is trustworthy and will do what He says He will do.

It might seem funny to you, but in this stillness, I’m reminded of an old Steve Taylor song, which captures Paul’s sentiments in Philippians perfectly.  In “The Finish Line”, Taylor sets up a comparison of a runner in Christ’s race with two different outcomes, sort of like those books I used to read as a kid where you could choose the story’s path at the end of each chapter.  On the first path, the boy on the race starts strong, but gets distracted and tempted along the way only to become “deaf and joyless and full of it”.  On the second path, the boy stays focused, despite the odds and the “gilded gods” and falls into the arms of his Father at the finish line.  You can stream the song with lyrics on YouTube here.  As you listen and ponder your own race, which one are you?

I have faith that all of us, like Paul, can remember Christ’s sure promise to complete His work in us, dust ourselves off and strain for the finish line.

“I can verify that the Capitol police are working with an outside law  enforcement agency regarding threatening contact with our official office,” spokesman Steve Taylor said.

“The office of Congressman Akin has received threats of rape of his official staff, family and the Congressman himself along with suggestions that individuals should die.”

Taylor’s statement confirmed earlier rumors which surfaced Thursday regarding possible threats made against Akin’s congressional office in Washington.

Twitter name: @alexbass75

Since: 2011

Last season: 12th

Trophy cabinet: Olisadebe Euro 2012 winner

Sympathies: Charlton Athletic

Darts music: Entry of the Gladiators

Outlook: The Olisadebe Euro 2012 champion manager is yet to prove himself in ‘the best league in the world’, and with £40m on the front two he’s really had to gamble with the rest of side. Considering his poor outing in Poland, Given for £13m wasn’t a great start.

No Brambles.

Second transfer window – 1 February 2013

First transfer window – 26 October 2012

Power forward/center

Talk to this point on how Marquette can round out their 2013 class has orbited around whether or not Chris Otule returns for a redshirt sixth season. He should be eligible, but both Otule and the Marquette coaching staff must agree to it. Much will depend on whether or not Otule desires to play a sixth year, or if Marquette feels he can be an asset on a surgically repaired knee.

Should Otule return for a sixth season, Marquette’s defense would see a major boost. When healthy, and at this point that’s a question mark with his knee, Otule is as good an inside defender as there is in the Big East. His rebounding numbers may not compare to that of a Fab Melo or Henry Sims, and may never, but there’s something to be said for Otule’s inside presence and shot-blocking capabilities.

A torn ACL limited Chris Otule to eight games in 2011, but he showed plenty of promise when healthy. (Marquette Tribune Photo)

Marquette stands to have plenty of offense in 2013, so Otule’s niche seems to be carved out for the next two seasons. That, and Davante Gardner is as good a complement as there could be for Otule.

The 6-foot-8 power forward is fully recovered from a knee injury that hobbled him midway through the Big East season last year, and his stats through two seasons (56.1 and 57.6 field goal percentages, respectively) have been impressive, and much of it has come as the third option on offense. Gardner could easily be the No. 1 option by 2013, and whether or not he extends his range to 15 feet would be an added bonus.

Then there’s junior college forward Jameel McKay. The 6-foot-9 forward will arrive at Marquette with two years of eligibility, and will be a focal point of the offense from day one. Whether he starts is another question, as Otule, Gardner and Jamil Wilson all have legitimate cases to be in the lineup, but McKay will play. And what that means is Marquette will have four players taller than 6-foot-8 in their rotation in 2013 (Steve Taylor included).

McKay helps in that he can play the perimeter as a “switchable,” although his size may force him inside more often than not to help with Marquette’s lack of it in the paint.

Buzz Williams won’t need any size for the 2013 season, but recruiting a big in the class would ready them for 2014, when only McKay and Taylor remain. In that scenario, another junior college transfer might even make sense. Any college coach is willing to take as many “bigs” as possible, and while Williams’ recruiting classes have centered on guards and switchables, it’s only a matter of time before he hauls in a top-50 post player as well.

With three hit singles on it, Shut Up And Dance could be a big album for Abbotsford’s Victoria Duffield. LP is out Aug. 21. She headlines the West Jet stage at the PNE on Aug. 27 and opens for Big Time Rush, Sept 16.

After three years, Faber Drive has a new LP, Lost In Paradise. It’ll be out Aug. 28, but you can hear the first single, Candy Store, on YouTube.

Bryan Adams welcomes the arrival of his first book of photography next month. His sideline as a photographer has been growing for years. Exposed, the book’s title, comes with a foreword by Sir Elton John. Subjects include Morrissey, Amy Winehouse and Michael Jackson.

Having played jazz in Mother Of Pearl and sung opera, Lauri Lyster turns her attention to the theatre.  Lyster is The Drummer Girl, which opens Sept. 20 at the Firehall Arts Centre.

Madchild’s Dopesick album is released Aug. 28. A tour with Tech N9ne will bring him to the Commodore.

Devin Townsend caps the promotion of his 15th solo LP, Epicloud, with a date at the Commodore, Sept. 18.

Japandroids are at the Rickshaw, Dec. 22. Its album, Celebration Rock, has been getting tremendous reviews. The duo is on tour in Europe as this is being written.

Fine Times releases its first album on Light Organ, Sept. 18. Produced by Howard Redekopp, whose resume includes Tegan and Sara.

Jonathan Chan is playing next week for a  1696 Stradivarius cello valued at $7.5 million. The Langley musician is competing with 30 others to have the right to “own” the instrument for three years. The cello is one of the prizes of the Canadian Council Musical Instrumental bank, which loans its valuable instruments to promising players.

Sean Byrne, known to those who followed Celtic music as Mr. Irish Music, has died at 85 years old.  Byrne was a kind of liaison between the traditional and more modern but not the wild stuff.

Delhi 2 Dublin’s Turn Up The Stereo is available, Aug. 28.

The next concert at North Van’s Shipbuilder Square presents Neil Osborne (54-40), Jesse Ferrel, Dave Genn (54-40), Wil, Headwater, Wetherman, Babe Gurr, Carli and Julie Kennedy, Aug. 25.

GARAGE CD OF THE WEEK

The name might say Steve Taylor’s Drum Boogie, but Taylor’s album, Hot Nuts, is not dominated by drums. Rather, Taylor does what he’s always done in the roots community, which is to provide sympathetic but strong rhythm. If there is one difference it’s that he has challenged himself by playing a variety of percussion pieces. Not too flashy but a good test as not every drummer can play a boogie and then switch to a country waltz. The music is a merger of jump blues and breezy country hitting a middle ground evocative of Texas Swing . . . or Asleep At The Wheel’s version of it.

CDs IN

These came in the mail to The Garage: Steve Taylor’s Drum Boogie: Hot Nuts; Omnisight: Path; Christa Couture: The Living Record; Jim Byrnes: I Hear The Wind In The Wires; Delhi 2 Dublin: Turn Up The Stereo.

GIGS

Steve Gidora and Neil Harnett, both with recent CDs, are collaborating (Beecher St. Cafe, Aug. 22), Kickaxe reunites (Venue, Aug. 23), Five Star Motel (Shipbuilder’s square, Aug. 24),  Black Mountain, Ladyhawk (Waldorf, Aug. 25), Steve Dawson, Dave “Boxcar” Gates (New West’s Concert On The Quay, Aug. 26), Headwater, Heidi Morgan (Firehall Arts Centre, Aug.  26)  David Ward sings his ambitious new recording The Arrival (Shark Club, Aug. 31),  Some X Six launch a new CD, The Hoodoo Shake (Cottage Bistro, Aug. 31).

These films never quite managed to get to the realm of “edgy” perhaps because they weren’t trying to tell a story, but to preach a point. Second Chance deserves better company, but gets tossed in because it made use of an Evangelical Culture icon as a hook – and it wasn’t necessary to do so. Fireproof seemed to have characters who existed only to preach a sermon and then walk off camera, never to be seen again. To Save a Life reduced the powerful story of a high school senior facing his own guilt over abandoning a friend and impregnating his girlfriend as he began to embrace the faith to a tract. One tried to tell Christians, “See, we can be artistic too” and the other two devolved into evangelistic crusades. Actually, Fireproof had never actually evolved in the first place, that flick should only be watched with a Riff Trax. Sadly, one does not yet exist.

Then along comes the film Blue Like Jazz. Based on Donald Miller’s book of the same name, Blue Like Jazz finally manages to leave behind both the “us too-ism” of so much Christian art and the “get ‘em saved” mentality of an evangelistic crusade. The result is a film that isn’t “edgy,” but transcends the gimmick in order to become “art.” Steve Taylor, who also the force behind Second Chance, has put together a film which finally depicts a crisis of faith in a way which finally rings true. Amazingly, the movie manages to hold on to a main theme from the book, “Jazz, like life, doesn’t resolve.” In similar fashion, the resolution of the film is unresolved. It is the beginning of Don’s new faith journey, rather than the solution to all the conflicts he confronts throughout the story.

Blue Like Jazz breaks from it’s evangelical roots in other ways. Instead of masking language, and other social practices common to the college atmosphere (and Reed, in particular) it shows them as part of that world. As Don proceeds through his crisis of faith he blends in to the culture surrounding him and partakes of all the vices introduced to him. This isn’t depicted as “Don rebelling” but as “Don exploring a different world.” When Don comforts his lesbian friend and asks if she would consider “putting out” it fits the story. When Don is confronted by a scheme of the “Pope” and responds with, “I need a beer” it feels like that’s what Don would do at that point. The authenticity of these moments are important – they aren’t gimmicks but artistic decisions so the story can be authentically told. Without this authenticity the beginning of Don’s new spiritual journey would have come off sounding like its “evangelistic tract” predecessors. By managing to to deal honestly with the characters, Blue Like Jazz at last depicts a faith journey through the art of film.

Fans of the book will quickly realize that film is its own entity. In the book Donald Miller becomes part of a small underground Christian group on Reed which suffers the ire of the student body not infrequently. In the movie Don’s faith is in absolute crisis for much of the story and never joins the Christian underground. The shift is notable, but wise. In the book the suffering the small group of believers experiences is set in the context of Don’s inner thoughts – and in them we find sorrow and compassion for the people who are treating the group poorly. The movie wouldn’t have been able to reveal those thoughts, and may have succumbed to an “us versus them” mentality in which Christians would be sanctimoniously throught of as “the good guys.” By placing Don outside the faith for much of the story many of the same themes explored in the book were still present, but from a perspective which managed to make Don’s journey “the story of us” instead of “the story of us versus them.”

I highly recommend this film, and would love to explore both the book and film in a group discussion at some point. If you have religious scruples about seeing swearing, sex, and drugs on screen be prepared to be ruffled a bit – none of the above is gratuitous but it’s there. I wouldn’t let my daughter see this film quite yet, but in a few years I would like to sit down with her and the the youth group as an exploration of a faith journey passing through crisis. Check it out.

Posted with Blogsy

The movie has received some decent critical reviews along with some criticism, particularly from Christian circles. I didn’t have the opportunity to watch the movie until it was recently released on DVD, so I am somewhat behind the curve. I have, however, kept up with some of the reviews, both secular and Christian. What I gathered from those reviews is that Blue Like Jazz is an ambitious movie that seemed difficult to make in how it tried to combine many sensitive themes between Christianity and secularism. In the past, an explicit treatment of Christianity has tended to be presented as a caricature, whether demonized in the film, Easy A, or shown without flaws in films like, Facing the Giants. Blue Like Jazz attempts to give an honest look at the spiritual struggles of a college kid who is also trying to fit in. I sincerely applaud the effort and I don’t believe it was a fruitless endeavor.

The film is about Donald Miller, who is about to head off to college. He is the assistant to the youth pastor, participating in all the events of the church. Meanwhile, his estranged father, makes continual jabs at Miller’s faith and challenges him to go to a secular school of which he took the liberty of already enrolling his son. This is unlikely to happen as he is about to head off to a Christian school. Miller has a better relationship with his mom, who is also a member of the church, but an event happens with his family and the church that drives him far away from Christianity to the secular Reed College.

At Reed College, the students are trendy, bold, and surprisingly dress up in costumes a good bit. This is all a contrast with Miller and his background as he tries to fit in to his new surroundings. Much of his Christian upbringing and background he forsakes attempting to distance himself from his family even further. The rest of the movie Miller is plagued by the nagging question of whether God exists, the situation with his family, and where he fits into all of it.

Upon the first viewing of BLJ, I felt like Miller’s motivations and ponderings seemed murky throughout the film. He seemed to have no problem with Christianity until the situation with his family happens, and I am left wondering if he associates Christianity with his family and that is why he becomes hostile to his faith, or whether he starts questioning God because of the contrast of the crazy subculture of Southern Baptists with the crazy secular setting of Reed College. I am sure it could be both, but most of the time I had a hard time following what the main character was feeling and what motivated him. The confession helped clear up things at the end, but part of it was a surprising realization of what he had been feeling throughout the film. This could have been part of the artistic design of the presentation, but personally I feel it would have been more engaging to be privy to some of the thought process if only through some more dialogue.

The film was entertaining though did not descend into the realms of a simple college movie. There is drinking and several sophomoric exploits, but they are not the focus of the film but rather the setting. The dialogue is interesting, and I found the most intriguing character to be the Pope in his interactions with Miller. The last scene at the confession booth is compelling and there was part of me that simply longed for more of it.

Donald Miller (Marshall Allman) and Penny (Claire Holt)

Though there is a lot of drinking and some cursing in the film,  I don’t think the director/producers would condone how it was abused in the film. I am sure this would frustrate many Christians who would have had different expectations for the film. If I watched this film without knowing any of the background (I did attempt this), I believe I would have walked away with a good message well told, specifically in the poignant confession booth scene at the end. Going into this film I felt like had to tell myself that this is not a “Christian” movie I was about to watch. At least it is not what one traditionally thinks of a Christian movie, like that of the Sherwood Pictures. But this really raises the question of what constitutes the term “Christian” being effectively used as an adjective. I don’t have the time here, but it would be a fruitful discussion in regard to movies or even music. I do believe, however, that it is a good movie with a good message done by believers in Christ. I am thankful for that.

What is beautiful about the movie that has been well translated from the book is the picture of an honest existential struggle with the Christian faith. There is an attempt to get beyond some of the mere cultural Christianity and get at the heart of true spirituality. I don’t think BLJ gives many answers to the questions raised, and I really don’t think it was its purpose. Where it succeeded most was in showing Christians as human beings with real struggles, including the struggle to understand their faith at times. I believe this is a worthy message; that believers in Christ are not perfect, nor are they always without doubt.

I resonate most with Paul when he says, “Christ Jesus came into the world to save sinners, of whom I am the worst.” (1 Timothy 1:15)

For some more resources check out the Blue Like Jazz page. Along with interviews with Donald Miller they have Bible Studies and Discussion outlines. Pretty cool.

In BLUE LIKE JAZZ, Don (Marshall Allman), a pious nineteen-year-old sophomore at a Texas junior college, impulsively decides to escape his religious upbringing for life in the Pacific Northwest at one of the most progressive campuses in America, Reed College in Portland.  Upon arrival, Reed’s surroundings and eccentric student body proves to be far different than he could possibly imagine from the environment from which he came, forcing him to embark on a journey of self-discovery to understand who he is and what he truly believes.(Synopsis from Director)

This movie was truly powerful as it gives us a chance to be the outsiders of looking at the bigger picture. This movie lets us take a step into the worlds and cultures of others to help gain a better understanding. Especially in such a diverse community that Sacramento State has to offer the school background of this movie is something that many students will be able to relate to.

Even though the actor Allman was a little tardy to the interview due to watching the premiere of the movie and the time zone differences his contribution was highly treasured and well greeted. He explained that his strong religious beliefs and customs helped in making this movie and how this movie was almost 100% funded by the fans to help make this movie come alive. Even though there was several hurdles the cast had to surpass in the making of this brilliant film the end product was stupendously executed.

Blue Like Jazz by Donald Miller spent 43 weeks on the New York Times Best Seller list and has sold over 1.5 million copies to date.  The semi-autobiographical story was adapted for the screen by Miller, Steve Taylor and Ben Pearson (Directors Notes)

Release Date: April 13^th

Directed & Co-Written by: Steve Taylor

Based on the best-selling book Blue Like Jazz by: Donald Miller

Produced by: Steve Taylor, J. Clarke Gallivan and Coke Sams

Starring: Marshall Allman, Claire Holt and Tania Raymonde

Running Time: 107 minutes

Rated: PG-13 for mature thematic material, sexuality, drug content and some language

So go check it out!!!!

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