January 14, 2006
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Singing and Dancing in IndiaTameasa raises a good question. Is it my routine or the children’s which needs changing? In this case, it’s really the children although usually it is mine. I just found areas which were lacking. But, I also am making some changes to the day based on needs that I see. One of them is the return to scripture memory by song.
A few years ago when we began using LeeAnn Rubsam’s excellent and easy devotional book, Character Building for Families, she suggested scripture to memorize to go along with the character trait being studied. “How will we ever memorize all of Philippian 2:3-15?” I know that I tend to remember song lyrics really well. I can sing you all of my seventh grade choir songs (not that you’d want to hear me crooning “Come Saturday Morning”). I bet that you can sing along with the 80s (or 90s!) station pretty well yourselves. So, we began making up tunes to fit the exact words from the Bible.
It became easier, however, to pick a hymn which mostly fit the scriptures instead of trying to make our own. For example, we learned Romans 12:5-21 (NASB) to the tune of “And Can It Be,” and Ephesians 4:25 to 5:4 to “I Will Sing of My Redeemer.” Right now, we are learning Psalm 31 to “Joyful, Joyful We Adore Thee” and are having a daily devotional from that Psalm.
Last night, I watched Bride and Prejudice while waiting for the good doctor to make his way home from fog-filled Philadelphia. (He wound up flying to Harrisburg and renting a car and driving the rest of the way!) Here’s a review, just in case you were curious.
“As I’m a big fan of Pride and Prejudice, I like to watch movie versions of it. I heard reviews of this film and thought, “Uh-oh. I won’t like it.” But, it turns out, I did enjoy it!
This movie is really a musical sent in India which might be enough to send some of you running for the drama section at Blockbuster. I thought so as well. It irritates me to have characters in movies burst into song at vital moments of the plot. Thankfully, these musical numbers don’t interfere with the plot but provide an entertaining glimpse of India and what they can do with choreography and some jazzy music. I liked one song and dance scene so well that I watched it twice. (The one at the party–women are like kites…) Plus, the main characters never sing a love song to each other, which always feels a bit sappy. (There are only five or six songs in the movie. Don’t expect the format of Chicago!)
The story line is that of Pride and Prejudice except everyone has Indian names (of which I do not know the correct spelling, so I’ll refer to characters by their Austen names). The characters are the same, except there is no “Kitty.” Also “Catherine de Bourgh” is Darcy’s mom. But, it all fits well.
This film is pretty mild compared to other PG-13 films I’ve seen. Unless there were suggestive lyrics in some of the songs which I just didn’t catch, the only objectionable parts occurred when her sisters are teasing “Lizzy” about “Mr. Collins.” They sing about reasons why he might be worth marrying and one line is “Wonder if he’s good in bed?” Then there is a five-second shot of “Mr. Collins” in tight undies and a shirt lying on a bed letting out a growl. Also, “Lizzy” sings that she wants a man who will look at her intelligence and not “at her rack.”
If you think you’d enjoy a funny movie with excellent choreography and some traditional Indian dancing or if you are a big fan of Pride and Prejudice and don’t mind whatever vehicle it inhabits, then I highly recommend the film to you! ”
Comments (9)
I think that movie would make me laugh…I don’t know if I could take it seriously. Thanks for calling. I just posted about Kayla, but I will try to call you back sometime this week.
Hi, that’s a great way to do your Scripture memorization. We do something similar, except I cheat a little by using pre-made songs. http://www.singtheword.com has cd’s made by a family whose mom & dad are music majors. We’re on our 3rd cd in as many years.
Check it out. 
Teacher, I don’t think I know a bigger Austin fan than you! I’ll have to try that movie sometime, even if I’m not a big fan of musicals!
Teacher, Hi ~ I’ve been stopping in each week a time or two since joining xanga at friend Sojourner’s (frear) invite. Your method of scripture memorization is great. I will have to attempt it with my children. I love hymns and it would make a great way for them to learn scripture. Thanks for sharing!
Julie
Your scripture memorization sounds fun. Our Sunday school class did songs to memorize scripture when my sons were younger. I am personally considering how I might use audio recordings of the Bible to help me memorize longer passages. I got the initial idea from you!
The whole concept of Bride and Prejudice just sounds funny to me. Like Kristen, I’d probably break out laughing at all the wrong moments.
haha…I’ve seen that movie. My roommate introduced me to it after she went to India on a mission trip. I thought it was so much fun I showed it to my little sisters. It was a little to weird for Kelsey, but Kristin liked it.
wow! i will have to check out that movie! lol. i think i have seen every other pride and prejudice version there is…but i have not seen that one! i’ve also read the book more times than i can count.
did you see the new remake currently in the theatre??? really good! (this one has donald sutherland as the father)
my favorite has always been the a&e version (starring collin first as darcy) but now i like the new remake better (because they did a better job at characterization and also with the historical setting.) i was impressed!
Bride and Prejudice sounds so corny. I will have to rent it sometime when Nick will be gone for a meeting. There is no way he would sit through that with me.