I am sorry to say that I have come upon some difficult times and my Internet is about to be shut off. I lost my cable TV some time ago and that was very harsh because for the first time I’ve had to face life without the CBC. [Gasp!] In the “olden” days when you couldn’t afford cable you still got TV signals through the air. So we still received at least the CBC (Canadian Broadcasting Corp) and CTV (Canadian Television). Now with this new way of transmitting: No box; No TV. Now my Internet is going too. I’m not sure how life will look like without that. So much of our business is done on the Internet. But I’ve been in this position before and knew that God would restore me to the Internet if He wished me to be on it (and He put me back on it for 3 more years). Also, without TV, in the extra quiet time, I have been able to hear Jesus say all sorts of things. (I wonder how much God says that we don’t hear simply because everything else is turned up too loud?) But I must admit that I have missed watching a few TV shows. Especially Masterpiece (Downton Abby and The Paradise) on PBS and The Mentalist on CBS and the new show, Hostages. And of course the sermons of Charles Price (Living Truth), Charles Stanley (In Touch) and David Jeremiah (Turning Points). Sunday just hasn’t been the same ! But as to “The Mentalist”, I have written much on the identity of Red John and just as we are about to learn his identity, I am shut down. (Although, I'm certain I already know who Red John is - and I'm sticking to my theory. It's not over until the series is ended ... and they start filming a Mentalist Movie).
However, I don’t want my faithful readers to suffer, so I have asked Hal Cull (who is responsible for all the great Red John COMMENTS) to continue posting on this blog as a “resident guest writer”. Hal will continue to summarize episodes of The Mentalist and give us his keen insight as to the identity of Red John which has made my viewing of the show much more enjoyable. I know you will all appreciate what he has to say and give him a warm welcome. I have never bestowed the privilege of “ resident guest writer” to anyone on ANY of my blogs, so that should tell you how much I value what he has to say. Thanks to you Hal for making my Mentalist viewing more interesting and entertaining because I could share it with you. Go get ‘em. I have been watching TV and movies since I was in diapers. It is truly my most enjoyable pass time. But I warn you to remember to NOT settle for anything sub-par. You vote for what you want by what you watch, listen to, read and especially what you spend your money on. If you don’t accept garbage, then they will stop making it! “Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable - if anything is excellent or praiseworthy - think about such things. (Philippians 4:8) Love Laura-Lee Rahn
I’ve often referred to the creators/writers of The Mentalist as a “magicians”. Their story line is full of decoys and misdirection. So let’s take a moment to look at what are real clues and what are clues meant to misdirect us.
I’ve notice that they give you a clue but it’s not the real clue. The real clue is usually somewhere nearby the false clue. Like a magician who tells you to verify that there is nothing up his right sleeve, when there is really something up his left sleeve. By getting you to focus at one place, he can do whatever else he wants at the other place (even if it’s right next to where he wants you to look).
Example: When Lorelei tells Patrick that he is so much like Red John and is surprised they didn’t become friends when they “shook hands”. The writers have us focus on the fact Patrick has shaken hands with Red John in the hopes we will dismiss the other things Lorelei told us. Like her saying they were exactly alike.
Examining OCTOBER 6, 2013, Sunday Episode: Example: Patrick discovers that his former psychiatrist, Sophie Miller, has been murdered by Red John. They send Rigsby over to examine Sophie’s files on any new, male patients. Rigsby lists four patient names. Then they focus on the person who’s name means “Red” in German. But being aware of their “magician” writing, let’s look at the other names on that list (the ones that Rigsby said quickly, but were not focused on). Also, on Sophie’s dictated notes she gives a physical description of Red John. While we listened to her description, faces of people from the “list of 7” were flashed on the screen for us to see and analyse. However, there was one name in Sophie’s files that stuck out to me AND matched her physical description of the patient as well. Once again, those clues were revealed frankly, but they instantly diverted our attention to someone else.
The name: “WASHBURN” got my attention. Then I considered the physical description.
Is anyone else thinking "Walter Mashburn" ?
Then lets put together other details about Walter Mashburn: 1) someone with huge power ( from having a lot of money) 2) who knows about Red John 3) doesn’t seem at all like a serial killer 4) has an “intimate” connection with the CBI 5) has shaken hands with Patrick Jane 6) wears a lot of red clothes 7) drives red car 8) was on the original suspect list then discarded ...
Follow the LINK to a site that has a lot about Mashburn. (It helped me to remember even more things about him)
(The Mentalist Writers vs. Joe Public for the best conclusion.)
I’ve been writing since I could first use a big, fat pencil in grade one. I’ve been crazy about TV shows and movies since before that. I cannot count how many times my mother and I would discuss the potential ending of a show (especially mysteries) and come up with an ending that surpassed the actual ending. We’d walk away feeling let down and saying, “We should be the ones writing stories!”
I have accidently deciphered ( I believe) whom the creators of The Mentalist have chosen as Red John. (see my original post “True Identity of RED JOHN”). After stumbling onto the answer, I started looking around the Internet to see if anyone else had come to the same conclusion. Somewhere among the hundreds of theories, I discovered many amazing conclusions. In creating a huge amount of hype around the question, “Who is Red John?” the makers of The Mentalist may discover they can NOT come up with an answer that is better than what the Public has created. The Mentalist writers definitely have their work cut out for them. They may end up “red faced” and the show may go down in history as the most disappointing series finale, ... ever. It’s not enough just to get millions of viewers interested. Once you’ve got them, you’ve got to leave them satisfied and “wanting more”.
~~ Laura-Lee BELOW: LINK to original Post on Red John Identity
**NOTE: Do a search at this blog for “Red John” and/or “The Mentalist” to see all the posts involving those topics. Remember to click on the COMMENTS section. You can leave your opinions/theories there (even anonymously) and read what others have to say about the topic.
Bruno Heller said that one of the 7 suspects on Jane's list IS Red John. Gee. I guess that means it's T-R-U-E. Because he would never lie to protect a story line. [that's sarcasm]
Think about it for a second. If the "List of 7" is just another decoy in the massively long list of diversions we have already seen in all the years of the Mentalist, how would Heller answer the question: "Is Red John really one of the 7 people on Jane's list?"
What's he going to answer? "No. We are completely messing with you. So don't bother to watch the next 12 episodes that we have created, at huge expense and that revolve around this 7 person list. The entire thing is bogus." He can't very well say that.
If anyone is actually thinking that someone on that list IS Red John let me ask you, have you even watched the show?! All of The Mentalist is about misdirection.
Right now the Mentalist is at the top of the ratings chart, which means it will not be cancelled for at least another couple years. There is no way the TRUE identity of Red John is going to be revealed before the last episode. The creators/writers have a lot of time to kill (Pardon me. I mean "fill")
(How quickly you all forget). Already they have revealed one Red John and Jane killed him. Then it's "Oops. That wasn't the real Red John". So now they bring out a list of 7 potential Red John's. What makes you think that any of them are the real one either?
How do you even know that Lorelei Martins actually met the real Red John herself? Maybe she only met another of Red John's agents. For those of you who are ready to use your grey matter and really dig into the topic of who Red John is, then follow the LINK below to a serious discussion of this topic. But be warned. You will be required to think beyond boundaries, accept nothing at face value and look in places and at characters that are not on any one's list.
And made sure you read the COMMENTS section (at the bottom of the post). That's where everyone can voice their opinions (even anonymously) and it gets pretty interesting and intense.
On this blog I've done several posts about The Mentalist, but the LINK below will take you to the one where Red John's "true" identity is revealed, along with convincing video proof. So please take the ***SPOILER**** warning seriously. Once you know it, you can't go back.
Below, creator Bruno Heller answers our burning questions about the finale and beyond.
ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY: After all that craftiness on Patrick Jane’s part, Red John is still a step ahead of him. So can we really trust that the list is accurate if Red John is so willing to confirm it? Bruno Heller: Yes, we can trust that list. As much as much as Red John has been one step ahead, Lorelei Martins’ intervention changed the game. So as much as Red John is trying to play from a position of strength in reality Jane has gotten a lot closer. This last episode of the season really sets us up for next season: The hunt is on, no messing about.
Once again, you’re making moves that make me wonder if Patrick Jane is Red John — after all, how else could he know that memory from inside his head? But by saying Red John is definitely on the list, can we rule out the theory held by some fans that Jane is actually Red John?
Heller: I would say that definitively: Jane is not Red John.
**How would you answer those questions if Red John is NOT on the List and Jane IS Red John and a multi-billion dollar show is hanging on what you answer? (time will tell if Bruno Heller is telling us the truth. Consider: If a magician doesn't tell you he has a rabbit in his pants, is that a lie?) L-L
Something that has been bugging me ever since the uber famous movie, "TITANIC" by James Cameron came out was that almost all of it was written by other people and they didn't get any credit for it.
Now set aside that the entire story of the sinking of the Titanic, the parts that don't include Rose or Jack, are amazing because they actually happened and are written in tons of history books for all to see.
But the story of Jack and Rose has been ripped off from other films that are classics. I suppose James Cameron thought that because those films were several years older there was a good chance that nobody had seen them and his "plagurism" could slip by unnoticed. Until little, tiny, annoying, Laura-Lee has come along to expose him
In Titanic when Rose and Jack meet on the front of the ship and hug and kiss while their hair and clothes are whipped around by the stiff breezes is directly from a film called, "The Lady Eve" with Henry Fonda and Barbara Stanwyck.
Rose and Jack making out in the old car on the freight deck while being searched for is directly from the film, "Now, Voyager" with Bette Davis.
AND almost word for word is the talk they have in the car after having sex. It's right from the movie, "Say Anything" with John Cusack and Ione Skye.
And, as I mentioned before, every other part of the Titanic story is straight out of history. What I find amazing is that nobody seems to have mentioned this to James Cameron before now. He certainly does more than his share if interviews.
If it were me and I had taken 90% of my story from other people, I would have a difficult time just sitting there and taking all the glory and praise for someone elses work.
There is no doubt that James Cameron is a wonderful director. One of the best in this generation, but he seems to have left his ego at the bottom of the sea. It seems the only line truly his is "I'M THE KING OF THE WORLD". (but I may be wrong because I haven't seen as many films as James Cameron has.)
As for myself, I'm just happy if at some point people realize that "Laura-Lee Was Here" [.blogspot.com]
Being a writer I always love good dialogue in a film. Here's some memorable film statements. Can you tell me what movies they come from and who said it ( either character or actor's name is fine - if you can give both you're AWESOME!)?
1) "Don't try; don't fail."
2) "Yeah, well, real life isn't that great. It's just a bunch of odd smells and disappointment."
3) " You keep a horse in the basement?"
4) " I like to keep this handy [click, click], for close encounters."
5) " I've been slimed!"
6) " I'd give real money if he'd shut up."
Good luck. Have fun. (And if you want to add some of your own, add them to the "COMMENTS" section below.)
Here's a movie gem I just found if you're looking for something good to watch for the week end with the whole family. It's called, "Crossroad" , was released in December 2012 and directed and written by Shervin Youssefian.
SHERVIN YOUSSEFIAN
"How many coincidences does it take before something ceases to be a coincidence?"
This is a question I have asked many people when debating if God exists and if he intervenes in our everyday lives. So I was pleased when I was watching a movie trailer that asked that exact same question.
"Crossroad" tells the true story of what happened to a group of people who randomly met one morning at a small dinner thinking they were each there for their own different reasons and personal purposes. However, when the dinner is suddenly held up by two gunmen they rapidly begin to discover that their lives are undeniably and amazingly intertwined and they actually have very much in common.
As coincidence is added to coincidence and the links in their lives proves to be remarkably intricate, even the most hardened skeptic has difficulty denying there is more going on than first meets the eye. As each person makes individual choices, it only reveals deeper links between them and they each must personally decide if they believe the events are random coincidences or the hand of God and make life or death decisions based on their conclusions. This film is well acted, fast paced and most of all suspenseful in a gripping way. It reminded me in atmosphere and intensity of the Audrey Hepburn thriller, "Wait Until Dark", except the events in "Crossroad" are real (as hard as that is to believe). It catches you quickly from the beginning and the events are so amazing, it is impossible to guess or anticipate what will happen next. But whatever you believe, you definitely will wish to stay to the end to find out what will happen next.
It has some violence in it, but ultimately is appropriate for viewing by all except the very youngest and most sensitive members of the family. Whether you watch this movie merely for it's entertainment value or you wish to experience an amazing, remarkable and inspiring true story, you won't want to miss this one. (Even if you believe finding this review was just a coincidence).
In my last book review (Revealing Jesus: a 365 Day Devotional) I mentioned that there were two types of books that I don’t like very much. The first was the “tie-in” book and the second was what my mother always called the “name exchange” book. That’s when an author, usually of romance novels, tells basically the same story, but simply changes the names of the lead characters. When I picked up “Sweet Mercy” by Ann Tatlock to read and review from Graf-Martin, I suspected it might be another “name exchange” book. I am rarely so happy to be so wrong.
In the Prologue this story creates it’s foundation. An elderly lady entering an abandoned old country lodge with her young grandson, goes rummaging through the attic in search of a mysterious box. It appears like their task will take quite some time, so Eve’s grandson talks her into telling the story of the last time she was in the old lodge and why it’s so important for her to come back to retrieve an old box. That’s our cue to settle in for a trip to the past via the small town of Mercy, where Eve first came to live as a 17 year old in the early 1930’s.
Suddenly the cobwebs melt, the dust disappears, a breeze stirs her memories and all is fresh and new again as Eve remembers the summer she first came with her parents to live at the “Marryat Island Ballroom and Lodge” owned by her father’s brother, Cyrus Marryat.
Eve’s father, in the midst of the depression and laid off work, accepts his brother’s offer of a job at the Marryat Lodge on the outskirts of the town of Mercy. For Eve it is a safe haven to escape the gangsters and corruption that had taken over the streets of St. Paul Minnesota which were also responsible for Eve having witnessed a brutal murder that continued to haunt her. Thinking she has found the next best thing to the garden of Eden, Eve settles in to her job and new life in paradise unaware that her past, her fears, first love and adulthood are all just around the corner and completely inescapable.
With the scene set, Ann Tatlock breathes life into a period of history that few of us know much about by making it as familiar as our own neighbourhood and as current as our own teen years. And Tatlock doesn’t hesitate for a moment from inundating us with words and references that went out of use and style decades ago, but jump off the page with potency at the merest touch of her story telling talents.
A time when men wore pomade on their hair, fedoras on their heads, lived in Podunk towns, rowed punts, drove a jitney, shantytowns prevalent, the poor were willing to do a days labour for a plate of food, Rudolph Valentino was the big movie heart throb and people were fox trotting to “Keep a Song in Your Soul” by Duke Ellington with "some kind of dynamism"(*1).
The plot moves along at a steady clip, we get to know characters both interesting and recognizable and are educated about a time in history where prohibition was the law, the Volstead act was enforced and politicians’ pockets were lined with money from gangsters and rum runners.
But the best thing about Ann Tatlock is the way she seamlessly weaves history and fiction together, describes scenery so vividly that you know you’ve been there and does it without wasting a single word. She doesn’t subject us to long descriptive paragraphs when she can simply interject, “ a small steel bridge humped like the back of a frightened cat”(*2) to instantly draw a mental picture. Or a quick reference like, “ that life seemed far away like the torn edges of an early morning dream”(*3) to allow us immediate access into the heart of our heroine.
But Ann Tatlock’s techniques and talent aside, at it’s core “Sweet Mercy” is the quintessential coming-of-age story told at it’s best. We meet Eve when she is vulnerable yet passionate and about to cross the line from carefree childhood to the adult life of difficult choices and joyous sorrows.
But what Ann Tatlock truly excels at is all the feelings we have when we are first in love. The feelings of inadequacy, worry about never seeing the object of our affection again, a attraction so electric you can barely speak, floating instead of merely walking, those happy sighs and "this sense of connectedness, however fragile and brief, a blessed reprieve from solitude."(*4) and to be "lovelier than I might have imagined."(*5) But if I could describe “Sweet Mercy” with one word it would be “infectious”. (Infectious as Eve's new friend, Marlene). But this is the kind of infection you will want to catch. It is the perfect book for a summer read. You will relate to the hot days by the water, the warm tender evenings, games, laughter, family vacations, barbecues and new summertime friends. But you’ll want to keep this book handy, because right about the time the cold winds come, when the snow is piled high, you have to dig out your car and you keep checking your furnace to see if it’s still working, the town of Mercy will be a wonderful place to visit again for your winter holiday.
A solidly written; thoroughly enjoyable read. I happily give it an 8 out of 10 Golden Christian Fishes.
For those of you who don’t know the word in the title, let me assure you that I am not swearing at you. It’s actually the name of a movie. Let me tell you a little story (because I wouldn’t be me unless I told a “little story” in every situation).
Last weekend was a long one for Canada. We celebrated Queen Victoria’s birthday by taking Monday off. (I don’t know why we celebrate her birthday, but a holiday is a holiday) I had just finished a mostly crappy week, was feeling like I was coming down with a cold and was still grieving Mom’s death pretty heavily. I decided it would help to order a Dominos Pizza and watch a few good movies. I felt the need to escape for a few hours. I went to iTunes to see what I could rent. Since I haven’t been to a movie theatre in about 8 years, I’m not very “up” on current movies, so I went to the “Top Movies” page at iTunes to get some ideas. I downloaded a couple films I had heard of and then I saw the listing for movie called, “Escape” and since that’s exactly what I was looking for, an escape, I read the blurb about it. It said something like this:
“In 1363 Norway, after the Black Death has killed half the population, lawlessness runs rampant among the country, but there are still a few people who go wandering to find a new life. A teen age girl watches while her family is killed by a ruthless gang, before they take her captive. Facing a “fate worse than death” she makes her escape. But the gang won’t let her go that easy and the hunt is on.”
Sounds pretty cool, eh? Or at least, a bit of mindless escapism for a couple hours.
When the film began there was that Production Company logo thingey. Disney has it’s Castle, Spielberg has that kid fishing while sitting on the moon and Pixar has a bouncing desk lamp. This particular film started with a polar bear. I’m a Canadian, so the polar bear was fine with me. Then the film started with writing all over the screen. But whatever language it was, it certainly wasn’t English. Then the subtitles began and my hopes dropped. “Oh no. A Norwegian subtitled film! What did I get myself into? How do I get my $4 back?” I began to look around for a crayon and a piece of loose leaf paper in order to write iTunes a nasty letter, but I never got to it. Because within the next 120 seconds (just 2 short minutes) I was hooked. Thoroughly.
I started watching TV and movies when I was still in diapers. So when I say “I’ve forgotten more movies than you’ll ever watch”, it is not an exaggeration. Rarely is there a film I watch that I am not dissecting and analysing. But every once in a while a film is done so well that I can simply give myself over to the story. “Flukt” is such a film.
The iTunes blurb gives a pretty accurate idea about the plot, but it’s the believability that makes this film worth watching. And it is far from mindless. I have watched “Flukt” 6 times and am still finding layers to it. Also good about it, is that it’s audience can be found in every demographic. I can’t think of an age group or gender that will not find something in the movie for themselves. And there is not one scene in it that is a waste. Nothing that doesn’t need to be there. Each scene communicates something (even though you may not know it) and they all blend seamlessly into flawless story. The director, Roar Uthaug (great name, right?), knows how to craft a film. How to build suspense. How to balance moments of intense action with moments of quiet tenderness. The actors competently portray their characters individually, yet work together selflessly to create relationships and group dynamics that are very recognizable to us in the here and now. And in doing so, we are transported to another place and time that none of us have ever been. Isn’t that what good story telling should attain to? Whether it’s a book or a film or the past, when a travelling minstrel’s supper and bed for the night depended on how good a tale he told. A story should enlarge your perspective and add to your experience and ultimately change you in some way.
From the teenage heroine, who discovers she’s capable of much more than she ever imagined, to her younger side-kick who has lived an abused life and struggling with loyalties and choices, to the leader of the gang, a harsh, brutal woman both in control and not. Any way you approach this movie it is about women realizing their power and Roar Uthaug is smart enough to let his female leads run with that.
Don’t get me wrong though, this is not a film where a bunch of Vikings sit around and discuss their feelings or get in touch with their feminine side (my apologies to Ingmar Bergman). At it’s center is a nightmarish chase that is reminiscent of “The Terminator”. Roar Uthaug knows how to create suspense and tension. He grabs your attention at the beginning and won’t let it go until the credits roll.
I was about to tell you to take note of the lead actress, Ingrid Bolso Berdal, but there is no need to. There is no way you CAN'T take note of her. Her character is the foundation of this film and she carries it effortlessly. She is definitely a talent to keep your eyes on. After watching “Flukt” I was so impressed that I spent the remainder of the weekend exploring Norwegian cinema by watching 6 more films from Norway. All of them very different and extremely impressive. Four of those films also had Ingrid Bolso Berdal in them, but she is such a chameleon that I watched a movie for 10 minutes before I even recognized her. And since she just signed to do to the “Hercules” movie with Dwayne (the Rock) Johnson, I predict she is about to become known to the American public in a huge way.
I think I’ve raved and blabbed on about this movie long enough. But keep in mind what a rare thing it is to find a movie so enthralling. For all the movies that are bad, boring or just give you some cheap thrills, “Flukt” redeems them. Watching movies like this makes me grateful for the invention of film.
So as the American long weekend arrives, do yourself a favour and watch “Flukt”. And no matter where you find it or whether you buy it or rent it, make sure you do NOT get interrupted the first time you watch it. There is a very good reason that “Flukt” was found on the “Top Movies” page. It is the little Norwegian film that could. People continue to watch it, are impressed and recommend it to people they know. I just can’t stand the idea of you not knowing too. So consider this my “random act of kindness” for the week.
NOTE: “Flukt” is also know as “Escape” in English. At iTunes, you have to search for “Escape” to find it.
There is some scenes of graphic violence, but it is actually mild in comparison to what is seen on regular network television. However, younger children would probably find several scenes disturbing so “Parental Guidance is Suggested” (which usually applies to every situation anyway).
I LOVE it! My favorite action film dubbed into SPANISH from it's original NORWEGIAN and not an English subtitle anywhere. It is currently at YouTube in it's entirety.
If this version appeals to you and you don't need English (I don't because I've seen it so many times,) GO FOR IT!
However, if you haven't seen it yet and speak ENGLISH, view the English SUBTITLED version so you don't mess up your first time viewing this wonderful movie. LLR
Once again that lovely publishing company “Graf-Martin” has asked me to review a book, which I am always happy to do.
As you know by now, I am an avid reader. Going way beyond the “Bookenitus Wormochious” classification. I love to get a new book with it’s clean, smooth white pages (which I will immediately change when my pencil and highlighters come out). Then I get the joy of finding out how another human being thinks. Feels. Processes their world. [sigh] It makes me feel so privileged.
However, … there are a few exceptions. And one of them is the “tie-in”. You know what that is. When one thing makes money and everyone at Corporate Headquarters gets together in a big board room and tries to figure out how to milk more money out of the first idea that already made a bunch of money. In most cases it works for them. They make a bunch more money. But the next item they “crank out” is merely a pale image of the original.
Being a Christian for many (many) years, I already know about Darlene Zschech. The Australian singer who brought us one of the most famous worship songs ever: “Shout to the Lord”. (I’ve sung and worshipped by it very often).
But for those of you not “in the know”, as I am, let me give you a quick idea who Darlene Zschech is.
She is an Australian singer/song writer/ worship leader who has been involved with the Hillsong Church in Sydney for many years. She has travelled all over the world singing many songs, giving many concerts, winning many awards, making many Cd's, meeting and helping many people and now lives in lovely New South Wales with her handsome husband, Mark, as they minister as Senior Pastors at the Hope Unlimited Church and live out their happy life together.
And since her in-concert CD/DVD called “Revealing Jesus” did so well, the 'Corporates' got together and said, “how do we make more money from this?” The Darlene Zschech T-Shirt? Handbag? Paperweight? I know. Darlene Zschech action figure. Then some Board Member got the brilliant idea that Darlene could maybe ‘whip off’ a 365 Day Devotional. That way people would think about Darlene Zschech every day of the year. Who ever had that bright idea … [pause], I think I will owe a lot some day.
Now you know the attitude I have for tie-ins and the of frame of mind I had when I cracked open my copy of “Revealing Jesus: A 365 Day Devotional” by Darlene Zschech.
This is my first time reviewing a daily devotional and it presented me with a problem. I didn’t have 365 days to review it and a devotional is not meant to be “crammed” into my brain as fast as possible. You take it a little at a time and let it sit with you for the whole day. So what I decided to do was not worry if I got through the entire thing. I reached for it 3 times per day, reading from different times of the year. Then, even if I didn’t have an entire day, at least I would have several hours to mull things over. I didn’t make it all the way through, but I think I know enough to give you an adequate review.
Even though the book is called, “Revealing Jesus” it also reveals a great deal about Darlene (which is why I call her by her first name now). As most of you know, my mother died at the end of March, so I am still deep in the grieving process. Plus my mother lived a life of excessive suffering for which I had a front row seat. So the first things I realized about “Revealing Jesus” and what Darlene had to say is that she is familiar with suffering. The ‘up close and personal’ type of familiar. But also she is familiar with Jesus. The ‘up close and personal’ type of familiar.
The Devotional is designed that each day equals a page. And each page begins with a small portion of the Bible. One or two verses at most. Then Darlene tells us her thoughts and revelations about that portion of Scripture and at the bottom of the page you will find a prayer. These elements are meshed together to lead you to the Bible, to prayer time and ultimately, to Jesus.
This book is a bit of a misnomer because, although Darlene does reveal much about Jesus, what she does most is lead you to Jesus, where he reveals himself. It almost felt as if each day Darlene would show up, encourage me herself and then take my hand and lead me to the only person who can truly heal my wounds and guide my future. I suspect that was her intention all along.
I’m not sure if it’s her Australian heritage, but I’ve also noticed she approaches the Bible in a unique and interesting way. She uses Scripture verses that not many people talk about (who spends days delving into the book of Philemon?!) and she brings my attention to things I’ve never thought of before. When she quotes from the Scripture, she has deeply considered the frame of mind and circumstances the person writing was experiencing. It not only demonstrated her extensive knowledge of the Bible, but also added dimensions to the verses. It encouraged me to think beyond the page and outside the box. Which is usually when you begin to know the real Jesus. We can only begin to know him when we except that we will never know ALL of him while still on this earth in our limited state. But by “revealing Jesus” Darlene gives us the sense of how all encompassing Jesus is. A taste of the “splendor of his majesty”. People usually discover this truth through music and worship mostly, so it doesn’t surprise me that Darlene knows all about God’s ‘bigness’.
This book was not ‘whipped off’. It is the culmination of a lifetime. A life spent meditating on God's Word, living out her faith, learning through experience (much of it painful) and simply and deeply loving Jesus through it all. I’m grateful to Darlene for sharing what she knows and sharing intimate parts of herself with the rest of us. She will indeed be with me throughout the year. Daily nudging me to go to Jesus, learn from his humble and loving ways and allowing him to be revealed through me as well. I believe that with the launch of this devotional, a crop will be planted that will see Jesus revealed in all sorts of places and circumstances. Wonderful things will happen when we take our faith “out of the box” and reveal Jesus to a desperate world that’s hungry, lonely and afraid.
And if all that isn’t enough for you, let me tell you this. Even though I also love Jesus dearly, this season of grief has left me much of the time in a lonely place where it feels like the oxygen has been sucked out of the room. But Jesus used this devotional to refresh me, comfort me and to speak to me. If He has given this book a “good review”, how can I do less?
It receives my highest. 10 out of 10 Golden Christian Fishes.
And by the way, if someone could get me the name and address of the person who suggested this book to Darlene, I owe him/her at least a “Thank You” card.
Keep scrolling down to get the LINKS you’ll need to discover more for yourself.
Love Laura-Lee
P.S. FYI. If you wish to purchase either the book or the CD/DVD combo, click on these Christian Book Distributors (CBD) Links below to get a wonderful bargain (just because you came to "Laura-Lee Was Here"). But I've also added the Links to the "Revealing Jesus" pages at Amazon (Canada) and Amazon (USA).
From the original songwriter of dozens of today's most performed songs comes a live worship project that seeks to make Christ known to all! Featuring guest appearances from Michael W. Smith, Kari Jobe, Israel Houghton and others, Revealing Jesus includes "God Is Here," "All That We Are," "Best for Me," "Victor's Crown," and more. CD/DVD edition includes audio and video of the performance, captured at the Church of the Highlands in Birmingham, Alabama.
A few months back I told you that I had inadvertently stumbled onto the identity of Red John, the serial killer in the TV Show “The Mentalist”. Several people wrote to me to say I was “arrogant” and “full of it”, but I still didn’t reveal anything, not wanting to ruin the surprise for anybody.
But you may also know that my mother, who was also my best friend, died a month ago. I have no idea where I’ll live or what will happen to me next or even how much longer I’ll be able to keep my blogs going. And keeping the secret of “who Red John is” is NOT at the top of my priority list right now. So I thought I would let YOU decide if you wanted to know. But part of me feels that not telling you is unfinished business I need to take care of. So I'll tell you, but I must warn you, if you don’t want the surprise ruined, STOP READING NOW.
I must admit that it does take some of the thrill out of the show once you know who it is. And once you do know, it becomes so obvious you will wonder how you could have missed it. And once you know it, you can’t UN-know it. So, if you don’t wish to know who Red John is, you’ll have to stop reading right now. (I know you’re probably thinking I have no idea who he is, but do you want to take that risk and perhaps ruin the surprise for yourself ?) So here it goes. One last chance for you to bail out and just be content to not know.
For those of you who are continuing to read, … you asked for it.
Let me start by telling you how I figured it out.
I have a talent for philology. Which is the study of language. That also means I am able to discern different aspects of speech.
It was during the first broadcast of the episode “The Crimson Hat” in which Patrick Jane meets Lorelei that I found the answer. Through Lorelei, Jane meets up with a man he thinks is Red John, sitting in the backseat of a car.
I was quite excited and very attentive at that moment. Patrick Jane and Red John were finally going to meet. Up until then Red John had been frustratingly out of reach. You think they’re going to get near him, but he has so many people working for him that he's too isolated to get close to. It reaches the point where Jane actually kills someone, believing him to be Red John, and it turns out not be him at all. I figured that since Patrick Jane is the only one that Red John has any respect for, he'll be the only one Red John will allow to get near him. The only one who has an intellect equal to Red John. Patrick Jane is the perfect nemesis for Red John.
Then I heard the voice of Red John in the back seat of that car and my Philology “kicked in” and I realized the truth. Patrick Jane IS Red John!
My mind had never even considered it before that moment. But when I heard “Red John’s” voice I thought, “Hey. The actor portraying Red John has the exact type of cadence of speech as Simon Baker.” Then all the pieces of this mystery quickly fell into place in an instant. Also, in my area that same episode was rebroadcast only one hour later, so I got to listen to his voice again right away. I’ve heard Simon Baker with a British accent, a Southern American states accent, his regular American accent and, of course, his normal Australian accent, but even as talented as he is, he cannot disguise the cadence of his speech.
The next thing I thought was, “Maybe they just didn’t have the money to hire another actor and just got Simon to do it. Or maybe the actor who was supposed to do it got sick that day and they asked Simon to fill in.” I dismissed both those excuses immediately as pretty stupid. But I simply didn’t want the mystery to be over. Because once you know Red John is Patrick Jane, it is VERY obvious. It’s like the example of the magician that I often use when discussing the plots of “The Mentalist”. Once you know how the magician does a trick, then he can’t trick you the same way anymore.
I think they are going to conclude the show by saying that Patrick Jane has Multiple Personality Disorder. They have already alluded several times to him being in a mental facility and seeing a psychiatrist before he came to work at the CBI. The writers have left a lot of open doors so they don’t write themselves into a corner, but I’ll leave all of you to try and figure out the minute details.
But the fact remains that if Red John is so isolated that even the people working for him don’t know who he is, then he definitely can be Patrick Jane. And now that you know, it will become obvious to you too.
In the episode following “The Crimson Hat”, when Patrick breaks Lorelei out of prison, there is a HUGE clue to the identity of Red John. (I gave you a hint in a previous blog post but I don’t think anyone picked it up). Lorelei says to Patrick that he has shaken hands with Red John. And for several episodes since then Patrick has been trying to remember all the people he’s met and shaken hands with. BUT that wasn’t the actual clue. What Lorelei said in it’s entirety was, “You and Red John are exactly alike. I don’t know why you didn’t become friends as soon as you shook hands.” As a good magician would do, the writers made us look at the “Shaking Hands” part of that statement so that we wouldn’t notice the line about, “You and Red John are exactly alike”. And really, if Patrick shot a man thinking him to be Red John, how does Lorelei know she's been with Red John at all. In fact, she hasn't been. She's just been another one of Patrick Jane's "agents" that he hires and assigns duties during the times he believes himself to be Red John. That's the reason Red John is too smart for him. He is him. (Actually it's quite brilliant writing)
But you don’t have to take my word for all this and I don’t have to prove it to you anymore. I’m attaching a video with the conversation in the car, so that you can hear it’s Simon Baker as the voice of Red John.
Also, as you watch the next episodes (and especially watch the reruns) you will see that the writers have it written so that Patrick Jane is Red John. However, it’s not as obvious in the first two seasons of the show because they may not have completely decided it would be Patrick Jane yet.
So now you know. I hope it doesn’t ruin the show for you too much. It’s still a good show and worthy of watching even now that you know.
Thanks for taking the time to read all this. It was my one piece of business on the Internet that felt I needed to resolve before I left. But it’s been a long time since a television show has kept me interested and guessing for several years. Well done “Mental People”.
Sincerely, Laura-Lee
P.S. Now that you know who Red John is, it might be interesting for you to go back and read my previous posts on this topic. They may make more sense to you now.
I very, very rarely give a critique or review of a website. Especially a personal website. But I came across one, quite by chance (which is I suppose the point of ‘surfing the net’ ) and I thought I would describe it to you. It’s , uh …. well, it’s kinda like a … No. It’s actually much more like a … Ok. Ok. Just give me a second. I suppose if I had to put it in just one word, this website I’m talking about is completely …, uh. Hmmm. This may be a bit harder than I anticipated. Let me start by telling you what you WILL find in it, instead of trying to sum it up. There’s some … [pause] …, uh, some noises that sound like a person with bad digestion, the themes from the “Golden Girls” and “Cheers” (with most of the words just hummed), … [pause] … a pink hat made of 80% cotton and 20% Lycra which causes allergies, a photo of a cute, little white dog, a floating top hat, (yes. I said “floating”), doodles everywhere, … [pause] … some sort of Godzilla monster, a Ferris wheel, … Um. What else.
For all the years I’ve been writing and all the words I know, I don’t suppose I’m sounding very clever. But I’ll keep trying to describe it. There are some sections with familiar titles that I recognize, like “Radio”, and “Movies” and “Links”. And when one clicks on them you will be taken to … ? ALRIGHT ! Let me try to start again from the beginning … I very, very rarely give a critique or review … Oh. Never mind ! If you care to enter the bizarre, the unique, the complex, the humorous and one-of-a-kind mind of Matthew Gray Gubler, it is definitely worth your while to click your way over. But DO NOT expect the usual, the average or the mundane, because you will be disappointed.
Matthew Gray Gubler plays DR. Spencer Reid on the TV show, “Criminal Minds”. That part I’m sure about. But the rest of it, …
It’s not the typical website of a Hollywood actor. He is not there to promote his acting career. You will not find 8x10 Glossy Photographs, or him bragging about the fact he has directed some of the Criminal Mind episodes, or what he does in his free time, or whom he dates, Etc.. But in a world where people are always trying to “be like” and “out do” all the other people, I can’t help but admire Matthew for “marching to a different drummer”. Or in his case, probably a entire “different band”! Matthew Gray Gubler: A breath of fresh air in an Internet filled with the “same ol, same ol” stagnant banality.
“Thank you God for people who ‘dare to be different. What a boring world this would be without them.” Oh. If you don’t hear from me for a while. It’s because I’ve backed my bag and headed for an extended holiday to Gubler Land.
“Having a great time. Wish you were here. Love Laura-Lee xxoo”
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ME & MONTY (watching TV)
