Here’s some of what I loved in July:
1. When Paris Sizzled: The 1920s Paris of Hemingway, Channel, Cocteau, Cole Porter, Josephine Baker, and Their Friends by Mary McAuliffe
A really fantastic look at a intriguing era in Parisian history! McAuliffe is a great story teller and does a fantastic job of walking us through the ups and downs of the age, and more interestingly, the detailed lives of some of the most prominent citizens in Paris during the 20s. I loved reading about these individuals and Parisian culture during one of the most intriguing periods in history. A great read.
2. Spiderman: Homecoming
THE BEST SPIDERMAN MOVIE YET! Out of all the attempts to bring the wall-crawler to the big screen this effort by Disney/Marvel is by far the best. With a great script, quality acting, great humor, awesome action, and overall fun this is a good movie. It fits nicely into the MCU and yet holds its own as a distinct film. I was thrilled with Homecoming and excited to see where the Spiderman series goes in the future!
3. Getting a Contract with P&R Publishing
I am humbled and super excited to have the opportunity to publish a book with P&R. I will be contributing to a counseling series edited by Deepak Reju and my particular volume will deal with addictive habits.
4. Woodpile BBQ
This is a nice little joint over in Clawson, MI. Beautiful outdoor seating area, amazing food, and quick service. I suspect this place is hopping on the weekends, but I met a friend there for lunch on a Tuesday and it was the perfect spot to enjoy nice weather and good bbq.
5. Cornerstone: Twenty Years and Counting
This is a great little documentary on my favorite festival of all time! Cornerstone Festival ran for 29 years and invited people from all walks of life to come together and enjoy music, art, study, and God. I loved this festival and am sad that it’s now gone, but this is a well-done doc with interviews from the founders, bands, and others who have been part of this amazing legacy.
6. Forever Yours by Shorthanded
This is a bit of nostalgic fun for me. This album came out in 2000 and was a favorite pop-punk record for me. Released by Tooth and Nail, Shorthanded sang about the Christian life (among other things) with honesty and grit. Their fast-paced pop-punk sound blended with some great bass lines to make a really good record. I loved the songs “Doing Better,” “Agony & Ecstasy,” and “Goddess.”
Pastor Dave Online 