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"Nobody's Shalom" - World Premiere Laemmle Sunset 5 Hollywood California Written and Directed by Jullian Dulce Vida Academy Qualified for Live Action short category Oscar race 2008

There's an old sea story about a ship's Captain who inspected his sailors and afterward told the first mate that his men smelled bad... The Captain suggested perhaps it would help if his men changed their underwear occasionally. The first mate responded, "Aye, aye sir, I'll see to it immediately!" The first mate went straight to the sailors berth deck and announced, "The Captain thinks you guys smell bad and wants you to change your underwear." He continued, "Pittman, you change with Jones; McCarthy, you change with Witkowski and Brown, you change with Schultz." THE MORAL OF THE STORY: Someone...

It is a simple story that our Lord tells here. A man who is preparing to leave on a journey entrusts his possessions to his servants. He distributes his wealth among three servants, apportioned to them on the basis of their abilities. To the first he entrusted five talents, to the second two talents, and to the third one talent. The first two servants quickly272 set to work with their master’s money. The third servant did not invest his master’s money at all; he dug a hole in the ground and buried his master’s money. When the master returned, the...

Not so long ago and in a pasture too uncomfortably close to here, a flock of sheep lived and grazed. They were protected by a dog, who answered to the master, but despite his best efforts from time to time a nearby pack of wolves would prey… upon the flock. One day a group of sheep, more bold than the rest, met to discuss their dilemma. “Our dog is good, and vigilant, but he is one dog and the wolves are many. The wolves he catches are not always killed, and the master judges and releases many to prey again...

“Whose Vineyard Is It Anyway?” (Luke 20:9-20)Our text today occurs early during Holy Week, when Jesus is teaching in the temple. The journey to Jerusalem has been completed, and now it is time to pronounce judgment on Jerusalem. Jesus does that in a parable often called “The Parable of the Tenants.” It’s the story of some tenant-farmers who have been given charge of a vineyard, to manage it on behalf of its owner. But these tenants forget the fundamental question--a question we also need to keep in mind--and that is, “Whose Vineyard Is It Anyway?” So let’s listen to the...

“The Prodigal Father” (Luke 15:1-3, 11-32)Our text today is probably the most familiar and well-loved of all of Jesus’ parables. It is the parable usually called “The Prodigal Son.” But this morning I would like to suggest another name for this story, and that is, “The Prodigal Father.” Yes, “The Prodigal Father”--he really is the hero of this story. Well, first I guess I should explain that word “prodigal” and why we can apply it to both the wayward son and the waiting father. “Prodigal” is an old-timey word, isn’t it? We don’t use it much in our day, other...

Heard any good books lately? Come and listen to Ron Hansen's _Atticus_, a work that Publisher's Weekly described as "...an examination of the mysteries of the human heart." _Atticus_ is an achingly beautiful portrayal of a difficult father-son relationship presented in a recasting of the parable of the prodigal son. Listen to it now ONLY on Catholic Radio International's Cover to Cover - where books are heard.

The Paraable of the Sower is very revealing and convicting about the reasons for the failure of our lives in Christ to produce fruit. One of the very profound lessons in this parable is we determine what kind of ground we are.

Anonymous: A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new communist government. In the midst of his story he looked at...

LukeChapter 15 11 Then he said, "A man had two sons, 12 and the younger son said to his father, 'Father, give me the share of your estate that should come to me.' So the father divided the property between them. 13 After a few days, the younger son collected all his belongings and set off to a distant country where he squandered his inheritance on a life of dissipation. 14 When he had freely spent everything, a severe famine struck that country, and he found himself in dire need. 15 So he hired himself out to one of...

Catching Wild Pigs - A chemistry professor in a large college had some exchange students in the class. One day while the class was in the lab the Professor noticed one young man (exchange student) who kept rubbing his back, and stretching as if his back hurt. The professor asked the young man what was the matter. The student told him he had a bullet lodged in his back. He had been shot while fighting Communists in his native country who were trying to overthrow his country's government and install a new Communist government. In the midst of his story...

“The Parable of the Sower” (Matthew 13:1-9, 18-23)Many of you have gardens. And all of us--whether we’re gardeners with a green thumb, or just simply couch potatoes whose thumb never gets off the remote control--all of us probably know something about planting seeds. We know that not all the seeds which are planted into the ground end up as full-grown plants. Some of the seeds which are planted don’t make it along the way, for a variety of reasons. But even so, we know that the seeds we plant will, in many cases, produce plants and yield a crop of...

Despite the honest policy disputes over Kevin Murray's bill to seal financial records in divorce cases, the debate over S.B. 1015 has focused on just about everything but policy. The story of this bill is a story of how lawmakers and advocates make political calculations. It is about how to know when you're beat, and about cutting your losses to limit the political damage that your opposition may inflict on you down the road. To some, it is a tale of political cowardice. To others, it is a tale of the ultimate political pragmatism and democracy in action. It is...

There was a boy by the name of Steve who was attending Seminary in Utah. In Utah, Seminary classes are held as part of the curriculum. Brother Christianson taught Seminary at this particular school. He had an open-door policy and would take in any student that had been thrown out of another class as long as they would abide by his rules. Steve had been kicked out of his sixth period and no other teacher wanted him, so he went into Brother Christianson's Seminary class. Steve was told that he couldn't be late, so he would come in just seconds...

One summer day the US found a nexus between the 9-11 attacks and Iraq and further found serious violations of many UN Resolutions, in addition to genocide and war-mongering on the part of Saddam. "This is wrong!" said the US to herself. "I will correct it." She asked France: "Will you help me correct the violation?" "Not I," said France. She asked Germany: "Will you help me correct the violation?" "Not I," said Germany. She asked Russia: "Will you help me correct the violation?" "Not I," said Russia. She asked Turkey: "Will you help me correct the violation?" "Not I,"...

A School Yard Parable for September 11 A parable that boils down the motives for the September 11 attack to their basic level A Schoolyard Parable for September 11 In the giant yard of the school called “Universe”, many children played. These children came from all over and had many different backgrounds. One sturdy little boy named Ulysses stood out from his fellow classmates. He was of a different parentage. His ancestors comprised the blond Swedes, black Ethiopians, swarthy Spaniards volatile Italians, mystical Celts and many other groups. In fact, Ulysses carried within him all the races and nations...