So this is me...

Sometimes these quizzes get it right. So what's your visual DNA?
Take the quiz, post your results on your blog and leave a link to it in my comments section.

Read my VisualDNA™ Get your own VisualDNA™

(Hat tip to Mir for the cool find)

I've been tagged!!

Mir tagged me for this quiz so here are my answers:

Name up to three characters (from books)...

1). You wish were real so you could meet them.

~~Hadassah from A Voice in the Wind by Francine Rivers. Why? She's like the coolest, most humble Christian from back when Christians got thrown into the arena and ate by lions in Rome.
~~Max from Roswell High. He's the cutest alien, like ever.
~~Novalee Nation from Where The Heart Is. I'll admit, I didn't finish the book, but the movie was excellent. The way she turned her life around was really inspiring. I'd like to talk to her about photography and stuff.

2). You would like to be.

umm...no one but me. But for the sake of this game, I guess I'd go with:
~~Elizabeth Bennett from Pride and Prejudice. She's witty, cool and she got Mr. Darcy in the end.
~~Elizabeth "Liz" Wakefield from Sweet Valley High. It would be fun to have a twin.
~~Maddie from Notes From A Spinning Planet: Ireland. She gets to travel the world with her hip journalist aunt.

3). Who scare you.

~~That bad guy on the horse from Lord of the Rings.
~~The lady who tried to bake the children from Hansel & Gretel.
~~Gollum from Lord of the Rings, he's one freaky creature.

So it's your turn if you want.

8 Great Risk-Taking Actors

Some actors get stuck playing the same type of roles over and over again. But here are 8 great actors who delight in taking "the road less traveled".

8. Natalie Portman

Why she's good: Natalie Portman has that old school Hollywood charm reminiscent of Audrey Hepburn. And she's smart, wicked smart--the kind that graduates from Harvard University and that's probably why she knows how to pick great roles in superb movies. After her breakout role in Star Wars Episode I should have went down the road of making fluffy teeny-bopper movies, but she didn't and ended up with an Oscar nomination. And all the film critics said amen.

Versatile roles: She shaved her head for V for Vendetta, she toted a laser gun in Star Wars Episode I, she made us ball our eyes out in Where The Heart Is with her "Walmart baby" and she wowed us as alongside Julia Roberts and Jude Law in Closer. What's next? She'll be teaming up as Scarlett Johansson's sister in The Other Boleyn Girl.

Standout performance: Sam in Garden State

7. Winonna Ryder

Why she's good: Before she was known for her shoplifting escapades, she was the darling of quirky. She started off as the young awkward girl in Lucas and throughout her career she's made her offbeat characters seem...strangely cool.

Versatile roles: She was crazy good in Girl, Interrupted, eerily cute in Edward Scissorhands, mischievous cunning in The Crucible, cheesy but fun alongside Adam Sandler in Mr. Deeds, and sinisterly sweet in Heathers. What's next? She'll be playing Wes Bentley's (American Beauty) love interest in The Last Word.

Standout Performance: Jo March in Little Women

6. Jack Nicholson

Why he's good: He's been making films since the '50s and he knows how bring so many facades to playing "the crazy guy".

Versatile roles: He's crazy funny in As Good As It Gets, a crazy villain in Batman, lunatic crazy in The Shining, crazy in love in Somethings Gotta Give, and just down right crazy good in A Few Good Men. What's next? He teams up with Morgan Freeman for one last crazy road trip in The Bucket List.

Standout performance: Randle Patrick McMurphy in One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest.


5. Denzel Washingston

Why he's good: Other than having an amazing smile and killer good looks, we like him because he brings his A game to everything he's part of whether it's in front or behind the camera.

Versatile roles: He was a sweet angel in The Preacher's Wife, an uber bad guy in Training Day, quoted Shakespeare in Much Ado About Nothing, a kick-butt soldier in Glory and an outstanding coach in Remember the Titans. What's next? He takes on the role of director for a film based on a true story in The Great Debaters.

Stand out performance: Malcolm X in Malcolm X.

4. Kate Winslet

Why she's good: We all know that two Oscars slipped through her hands for best leading actress, but that only makes us like her more. We like her accent and how she brings a strong presence to all of her movies.

Versatile roles: She was a free-spirit in Eternal Sunshine of the Mind, sisterly in Sense and Sensibility, a journalist in The Life of David Gale and a caring mother in Finding Neverland. What's next? She's teaming up with Leonardo DiCaprio again in Revolutionary Road.

Standout Performance: Rose in Titanic

3. Johnny Depp

Why he's good: He's in his forties but he still oozes cool. We never know what to expect with his movies, but however strange his characters may be, we like them, a lot.

Versatile roles: He was creepy but cool in Edward Scissorhands, superb in What's Eating Gilbert Grape, a rebel in Cry-Baby and dark and serious in Donnie Brasco. What's next? Pirates of the Caribbean 3!

Standout performance: Captain Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean.

2. Samuel L. Jackson

Why he's good: What's a Samuel L. Jackson role? It's hard to put a finger on it because he's been in so many movies and played some many different roles. And that's exactly what we like about him.

Versatile roles: He toted a gun in Pulp Fiction, a lightsaber in Star Wars Episode III, a cane in Unbreakable and rode ice waves in The Incredibles. What's next? He teams up with John Cusack in a thriller based off a Stephen King novel in 1408.

Standout performance: Carl Lee Hailey in A Time to Kill.

1. Tom Hanks

Why he's good: He was able to carry a movie by himself in Cast Away. How many actors can do that?

Versatile roles: He was a sweet widower in Sleepless in Seattle, child-like funny in Big, a serious leader in Saving Private Ryan and a suave record label guy in That Thing You Do! What's next? He'll be teaming up with Julia Roberts in Charlie Wilson's War.

Standout Performance: Forrest Gump in Forrest Gump.

The Virginia Tech Tragedy

There are no "right" words for moments like these. What do you say to a family that has lost their son or daughter? What do say to someone who's best friend is no more? What do you say to a community that has been severely shaken? Or to a nation that stands in shock?

Where are those "right" words? Where is that perfect world? How do we make sense of it all? Sometimes all we can do, is close our eyes, steady our our breathing and say a prayer from somewhere deep down inside, hoping that somehow things will be better.

May God's love be with all those involved, from the families of those who have passed away, to those injured students, the college staff, the family of the shooter and to everyone else who watches from afar.

Please watch this video "Virginia Tech Tragedy Tribute" and pray.


Also, here is an excerpt from the lyrics to P.O.D.'s song "The Youth of the Nation":

Last day of the rest of my life
I wish I would've known
Cause I didn't kiss my mama goodbye

I didn't tell her that I loved her and how much I care
Or thank my pops for all the talks
And all the wisdom he shared

Unaware, I just did what I always do
Everyday, the same routine
Before I skate off to school

But who knew that this day wasn't like the rest
Instead of taking a test
I took two to the chest

Call me blind, but I didn't see it coming
Everybody was running
But I couldn't hear nothing

Except gun blasts, it happened so fast
I don't really know this kid
Even though I sit by him in class

Maybe this kid was reaching out for love
Or maybe for a moment
He forgot who he was
Or maybe this kid just wanted to be hugged
Whatever it was
I know it's because...

For the rest of the lyrics click here.

Real Beauty

When do you feel most beautiful? Is it when you're dressed up to go to a party? What about when you're out on the basketball court or soccer field? Is it when you're at home sitting on the couch with your sweats on and snuggled up with a good book?

Is beauty something you wear or something that you are?

I Peter 3:3-4 says,

Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as braided hair and the wearing of gold jewelry and fine clothes. Instead, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God's sight.

The world will try to bog you down by distorted expectations of what real beauty is, but don't let it. Check out this video to see just how messed up billboard beauty really is...

Evolution of Beauty



So whenever you're feeling a little (or a lot) not so pretty, let these songs about beauty inspire you:

"Do Ya" by Jump 5
"Beautiful Soul" by Jesse McCartney
"I Could Get Used To This" by Everlife
"Sparkle" by NoonDaySun
"Beautiful You" by Considering Lily
"Anyway" by Nichole Nordeman
"One Girl Revolution" by Superchic[k]

Jesus and Sex Offenders

Think Christian has a really deep and relevant post that asks, "Would your church welcome a convicted child molester?" The post was spurred by a New York Times article that features a story about a California church that is currently facing this issue. The New York Times article opens like this:

On a marquee outside and on a banner inside, Pilgrim United Church of Christ proclaims, “All are welcome.” Sustained by the belief that embracing all comers is a living example of Christ’s love, Pilgrim now faces a profound test of faith....

There are ministries for ex-drug addicts, alcoholics, ex-porn stars and ex-homosexuals. Why not a ministry for this?

So what do you think? And more importantly what do you think the Holy Bible says about it all?

(photo by Donald Davis)

Entertainment News: Kirk Franklin and Halle Berry develop projects

Here are a couple of news items that I thought you might enjoy.

Kirk Franklin: April 4, 2007 - Variety.com reported that Gospel star Kirk Franklin has a inked a development deal with Lionsgate to star in a film inspired by his life story called Church Boy. For all the details visit Lionsgate.com

Halle Berry: In Ebony's May 2007 issue, Halle Berry is featured on the cover and the article makes note of her producing a TV show called "Mixed, about a mixed-race woman".

Why is this cool? Because A.) That's one more Christian story told through Hollywood and B.) As a woman of a multi-ethnic background, I'm so glad that a TV show about a mixed woman is being produced by one.

National Poetry Month

April is a good month because "April showers bring May flowers" right along with the National Poetry Month. I almost forgot but thanks to Mir, I can shower myself in plenty of poetry for the soul.

I started writing poetry for school assignments when I was little kid but now it's something I do for my own personal joy. Poetry is pure and comes deep from the heart. It's mysteriously beautiful like a wild mustang running across the open plains.

My favorite poets are Langston Hughes, Emily Dickinson and Robert Frost. Their words have inspired me in ways that only great poetry can. If you have never read any of their stuff then why not start now? And if they don't suit your tastes then find some poets that do.

Here are a couple of haiku poems I wrote back in the 11th grade for a class assignment.

1. River

Little leaf, red, brown
Tiny pebbles flow around
Slowly dying--gone.

2. Seasons

Things come and go fast.
They change and transform now.
Always being missed.

I hope that poetry finds its way into your heart and home this month. For more info on the National Poetry Month visit their website.