JanineThrossel.com

Did you go to the movies last weekend?   If so, what’d you see?   Guardians of the Galaxy ?   When the Game Stands Tall?   The Giver ?   Not too many years ago, Christians complained that their faith and moral standards weren’t fairly represented on the silver screen. The ‘60s, ‘70s and ‘80s were nothing like the golden era of The 10 Commandments (1956), Ben-Hur (1959) and The Robe (1953). I wasn't alive in the 1950s, although I did eventually see The 10 Commandments and Ben-Hur with my parents.   I do remember a few big-screen Christian hits, though. My childhood was marked by The Cross and the Switchblade , Joni , The Hiding Place , A Thief in the Night (how terrifying was that one, by the way?), and Jesus .   The 1980s brought the beautiful film Chariots of Fire and the Robert DeNiro picture, The Mission .   Prince of Egypt was delivered to us by Dreamworks in the 1990s, and got rave reviews.   But you have t...

California is known as the Golden State, famous for its sunshine.   But the past three years have brought more sunshine than we're used to.   The entire state is now reported as being in a serious drought.   In fact, more than 50% of the state is listed as being in the top-level category of "exceptional" drought.   Some communities have already run out of water.   Lakes and rivers are low. Wildfires are burning, with 216 reported in just one week.   A fire has even been burning in beloved Yosemite National Park, reknown for its world-class waterfalls.   Last month, California decided on a first-ever statewide rationing program that fines people who use water inappropriately.   Before any panic ensues, that basically means the following: 1. No spraying off your concrete driveway or walkways. 2.   No washing your car without a hose shut-off valve. 3.   No oversaturating your lawn until the water runs off into the street. 4....