The Kindlings Muse

A collection of 34 posts

On Movies & Media

A Martian, Mad Max, and a Mortgage Loan walk into a bar...

Mad Max: Fury Road. Spotlight. Room. The Revenant. Brooklyn. Bridge of Spies. The Martian. The Big Short. At The Kindlings Muse, a live podcast event at Hales Brewery and Pub, I talked with Seattle Pacific University's own Dr. Jeff Keuss, Jennie Spohr, and Anna Miller about the eight

On Movies & Media

My Oscar predictions and preferences?

I try to avoid writing about the Oscars because, well, its track record speaks for itself. When you look back on the last several years, do films like The Artist and Argo spring to mind as the movies that meant the most to you? Were The King's Speech

On Movies & Media

Listen: Star Wars Cantina Surprises!

In the cantina of Hale's Ales Brewery & Pub, the following rebels against forces of scum and villainy assembled: * the director of Seattle Pacific's University Scholars program — Dr. Jeffrey Keuss; * a seminarian who is also Star Wars super-fan — Carlo Nakar; * a pastor who happens to be

Dick Staub

Now this is podcasting!

Have you felt it? A strange kindling of the Force? On November 9: Longtime Kindlings Muse podcast host Dick Staub emerges from his Orcas Island home and returns to Hales Brewery & Pub in Seattle to join the new host — Seattle Pacific University's Dr. Jeff Keuss — along with

On Songs & Albums

2015 So Far: What's your favorite music?

So far, 2015 has been an impressive non-stop parade of great albums. I could easily turn in a Top 10 of the year today if I was asked.  But we're only halfway there. Dr. Jeff Keuss of Seattle Pacific University hosted this live podcast discussion of some of

On Songs & Albums

Join me for a talk about 2015's best records so far

What's your favorite record of 2015 so far? Let me know, and I'll try to make find time to mention it during the live podcast recording of the show.

On Movies & Media

Oscars 2015: Listen to My Discussion and Debate with Dr. Jeff Keuss, Novelist Jennie Spohr, and Producer Anna Miller

Finally... an Oscar year that brings some much needed focus to a subject sorely overlooked at the movies — great men with big dreams!

On Songs & Albums

Christmas, Calling, Carols, and #Ferguson: Jeff Keuss Hosts a Conversation with Rev. Richard Dahlstrom, Dr. Brian Bantum, Anna Miller, and Myself (with Music from Eric Miller)

What can we learn from Mary, the mother of Christ, that can help us understand what is happening in Ferguson?

Noah

Podcast: Listen as a Theology Professor, an English Professor, an Ordained Minister, and a Film Critic Talk About That Noah Movie

Did the theologian think the movie was "un-Biblical"? Did the English professor think the "rock monsters" in the movie were "stupid"? Did the ordained minister think that God was absent in the film? Did the film critic think it was "the worst Christian movie ever made"?

Masculinity

Podcast: What Do Tony Stark, Bruce Wayne, and Jay Gatsby Have in Common?

Two posts back, I gave you a challenge: Close your eyes. If I say the word “masculine,” who is the first familiar face that you see? Who’s the man? In this podcast on masculinity and action heroes, one of the panelists was particularly enthusiastic about a certain actor who's been seeing a lot of ac

Moonrise Kingdom

Your Favorite Wes Anderson Movie: Which One... and Why?

Which Wes Anderson movie is your favorite? And why? I want to know. And if you're willing to share, I might share your perspective on an upcoming podcast. You might even win a portrait of Raleigh St. Clair (Bill Murray). Here are the details...

On Movies & Media

Oscars: What will win? What should win? Come on. There are better questions.

Once a year, at the Kindlings Muse - a live panel discussion that takes place at Hale's Brewery and Pub - we devote a whole show to considering the strengths, weaknesses, themes, and theological implications of popular movies. Today, the podcast of our annual Oscar show was posted,

On Movies & Media

Listen to a podcast discussion of The Tree of Life at The Kindlings Muse.

Here's the podcast recording of the discussion I had about Terrence Malick's The Tree of Life at The Kindlings Muse with Jennie Spohr and Dr. Chris Chaney. And if you're interested in attending one of these discussions live, come next Monday evening as the

On Movies & Media

Monday Night is Malick Night!

Next Monday evening in Seattle, you're invited to a live podcast discussion of the films of Terrence Malick. You're invited to the Kindlings Muse! Read on for details. Come join us at Hales Pub & Brewery. Enjoy dinner, listen to the discussion, and stir things up

On Movies & Media

The Kindlings Muse Podcast on the Election... I Mean, on Zombies and Vampires

“Oh the Horrors!" What's the best way to regain perspective after election-week madness? Listen in as Dick Staub talks about vampire and zombie movies with his special guests: Kindlings Muse producer and ordained Presbyterian minister Jennie Spohr; Dr. Christine Chaney, associate professor of English and chair of

Reader Mail

Day-making Email about "Auralia's Colors" and The Kindlings Muse

Two years ago at this time, I was frantic to wrap up revisions on Auralia's Colors. Last year, I was frantic to wrap up revisions on Cyndere's Midnight. In the next three weeks, I'm wrapping up revisions on Raven's Ladder... if my

On Movies & Media

The Kindlings Muse Movie Show is Back!

After taking the summer off, I was happy to reunite with the team for another Kindlings Muse movie show, recorded at Hales Pub and Brewery. Jennie Spohr was not able to join us; she's home enjoying the company of her newborn. Congratulations, Jennie! But I enjoyed a lively

On Movies & Media

God and Hollywood: Have Movies Improved Since "The Passion of the Christ"

One week ago, beer-drinkin' believers gathered at Hale's Brewery in Seattle to discuss The Passion of the Christ, "faith-based filmmaking," and whether Mel Gibson's movie heralded a new era for Christian filmmaking (as so many believed it would), or a new era in

On Movies & Media

The Kindlings Muse Reviews "Prince Caspian," "Indiana Jones," "Mongol," and More

For all of those people who wrote to me asking, "What do you think of Bella? Isn't it great? Don't you love it? Isn't it the best movie of the year?" Well, I've finally delivered a review. It's

On Movies & Media

Change We Can Believe In... At the Movies

The Passion of the Christ inspired speculation—in Christian and mainstream media—that things might be changing for Christians in Hollywood. Some used stronger language, declaring that the gate of Hollywood were swinging open wide for faith-focused filmmakers. Some Christians began to speak with an Obama-level fever for CHANGE in

On Movies & Media

Kindlings Muse at the Movies: Iron Man, Standard Operating Procedure, I'm Not There, and many more...

A couple of weeks ago, Dick Staub, Jennie Spohr, Greg Wright, and I discussed Iron Man, Standard Operating Procedure; The Visitor; I'm Not There; The Adventures of Baron Munchausen; Steel City; and the upcoming summer blockbusters that we're hoping will turn out to be worth seeing.

On Movies & Media

Ebert defends Indy's Standing-O; C.S. Lewis on Mysticism

Indy's standing-o Indiana Jones IV got a standing ovation at Cannes. And Ebert thinks it was genuine. * What did C.S. Lewis have to say about mysticism? Listen to this intriguing podcast at The Kindlings Muse... The Riddle of Joy

On Movies & Media

Horton, Deckard, Sweeney, Amadeus, and a Red Balloon!

Free download! Listen to Dick Staub, Greg Wright, Jennifer Spohr -- and me! -- as we discuss Horton Hears a Who, Expelled, Snow Angels, Blade Runner, Sweeney Todd, Once, Amadeus, Flight of the Red Balloon, and Lady Jane on this month's Kindlings Muse movie podcast.

On Movies & Media

The Kindlings Muse on "U23D" and Many More...

At The Kindlings Muse, you can now download the latest podcast conversation about movies between Dick Staub, Greg Wright, Jennie Spohr and me. On that fine afternoon a couple of weeks ago, we discussed... * U2 3D * 4 Months, 3 Weeks and 2 Days * The Other Boelyn Girl * 3:10 to

On Songs & Albums

"The Bonofication of Christianity"

Don't miss this podcast of Dr. Jeff Keuss and Nigel Goodwin as they discuss Bono and his influence on Christian culture. Dr. Jeff Keuss is Associate Professor of Christian Ministry at Seattle Pacific University, where among other things he teaches courses in Theology and Popular Culture. He received