Life Perspective: Reviews & More

Anyone who knows me well knows I have loved Tolkien's "Lord of the Rings" books for my lifetime. The feeling holds true for Peter Jackson's movies based on the books. The Christian faith of J. R. R. Tolkien shines through the pages of the books, and even Hollywood has not been able to obliterate it. The Hobbit movies -- a look at Tolkien's faith through elves and dwarves  "The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug" is scheduled to release on December 13, 2013 and will pick up where 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' left off with the Dwarves, Bilbo and Gandalf after their escape from the Misty Mountains. Their journey will take the company through Mirkwood where viewers will see Evangeline Lilly ( Lost ) as the e lf maid Tauriel and Lee Pace ( Twilight Breaking Dawn Part 2 ) as Thranduil as well as Orlando Bloom (The Lord of the Rings) resume his iconic role as Legolas. Continued at: The Hobbit movies -- a look at Tolkien's fai...

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' racks up nominations  Congratulations to The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey which has racked up awards nominations like a dragon accumulating a hoard of gold. Peter Jackson's movie has received a noteworthy number of nominations to kick off 2013. Article at: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' racks up nominations - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

Professor, soldier, author as well as devoted son and husband, John Ronald Reuel Tolkien was born on January 3, 1892 in Bloemfontein, South Africa. He became best known as the author of "The Hobbit" and "The Lord of the Rings." It is customary to toast Professor Tolkien each year on his birthday. In honor of his birthday, here is a collection of articles and links related to J.R.R. Tolkien and his works: About J.R.R. Tolkien   A toast to J.R.R. Tolkien for his January 3 birthday - author of faith-based Lord of the Rings The birthday of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien, author of The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings is on January 3 . Although Tolkien passed away in 1973, his birthday is traditionally celebrated by raising a toast to the beloved professor and author. Article at: A toast to J.R.R. Tolkien for his January 3 birthday - author of faith-based Lord of the Rings - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner   The Fellowship of J....

The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings  When "The Fellowship of the Rings" came out on December 19, 2001 -- on my birthday, no less, it was the nicest birthday present I could have ever wished for. Peter Jackson did a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of Tolkien's Lord of the Rings trilogy, and I found much that was noble, right, pure, and lovely in the movie trilogy. New Zealand made a perfect Middle Earth... Lens at The Hobbit & The Lord of the Rings / Squidoo Also see: How Much Money Does J.R.R. Tolkien Make? 2012 Income Salary  

I am so excited by the response to this movie -- including my own! I went to see The Hobbit on Saturday and was blown away. To say I loved it is an understatement. This article was written and submitted on Dec. 4 but Yahoo did not post it until almost midnight on Dec. 16. Fortunately, the article covers much more ground than the pre releases. 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' -- Overview, Pre-Reviews & More Far to the Wast over ranges and rivers begins the tale of Bilbo Baggins of the Shire. Filled with familiar faces including Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood and Andy Serkis as Gollum, "The Hobbit: an Unexpected Journey" introduces new characters played by Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt and Ken Stott. Penned by Christian author J.R.R. Tolkien , " The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey " begins the three-part epic fantasy prequel to "The Lord of the Ring" that int...

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey another Middle Earth adventure - review & photos Peter Jackson's version of " The Hobbit " begins with the almost three-hour long "An Unexpected Journey" starring Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Ian Holm, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, and Elijah Wood. Review at: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey another Middle Earth adventure - review+photos - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner Also see: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey gets mixed but positive previews (slideshow) - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

How Much Money Does J.R.R. Tolkien Make? During his lifetime, Tolkien earned a humble to moderate income as a soldier and a professor, but it was as an author of high fantasy novels that he became wealthy enough to move to Bournemouth, a resort for the upper middle class Article at: How Much Money Does J.R.R. Tolkien Make? 2012 Income Salary

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey gets mixed but positive previews (slideshow) The story of Bilbo Baggins of the Shire is about to become fleshed out thanks to Peter Jackson's three-part prequel to "The Lord of the Rings." The first of the three Hobbit films, which star Ian Holm, Ian McKellen, Hugo Weaving, Cate Blanchett, Christopher Lee, Elijah Wood, Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, and James Nesbitt, has already been previewed with mixed but overall positive results which were released this week. Article at: The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey gets mixed but positive previews (slideshow) - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner

Tolkien journal 'Silver Leaves' Issue 4 features art, essays, poems & dragons “It does not do to leave a live dragon out of your calculations..." -- J.R.R. Tolkien The respected Tolkien-based journal, “Silver Leaves” Issue 4 , is back from the printer and ready to ship. Published in Canada by the White Tree Fund as a literary and artistic journal for Tolkien and fantasy fans, the theme of this issue is Dragons. I am so pleased to have three of my own poems included in this edition of "Silver Leaves" -- "Dragon," "A Friend Like Sam," and "Snow Sprite." Article at: Tolkien journal 'Silver Leaves' Issue 4 features art, essays, poems & dragons - Nashville Gospel Music & Entertainment Examiner Related Blog Posts: ' Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' - Yahoo! Voices 'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems ...

'Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' Issue 4 of the esteemed literary journal " Silver Leaves " was published on September 22, 2012--also known as "Hobbit Day." The journal begins shipping in October 2012 with the title "Here Be Dragons." The academic Tolkien journal features three of my own poems among the works of many esteemed artists and respected writers. Read the article at: 'Silver Leaves' Looks at Dragons in Their Many Forms in Issue 4 'Here Be Dragons' - Yahoo! Voices Also see: 'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems & Essays | Christian Activities  

I was honored to receive notice yesterday that three of my poems had been published in Issue 4 of "Silver Leaves: The Journal of the White Tree Fund."  'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems & Essays Issue 4 of the high fantasy artistic literary journal "Silver Leaves" is releasing this month. Titled "Here be Dragons," Issue 4 contains essays, poetry, fiction, and art inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien as well as writers like C.S. Lewis. Article at: 'Silver Leaves' issue 4 Releases Featuring Christian Art, Poems & Essays | Christian Activities

If you read my blog regularly, it is no secret that I am a huge "Lord of the Rings" fan and have been since I was 12. Evangeline Lilly to Play Elf Maiden in Peter Jackson's Two-Part 'The Hobbit' Movies Director Peter Jackson announced yesterday that Evangeline Lilly of "Lost" fame has been cast as a Mirkwood elf maiden in the two-part " The Hobbit," the prequel to "The Lord of the Rings" trilogy.

 I am a huge Lord of the Rings fan -- have been since I was 12, and a Hobbit fan since I was 11. It's no wonder I am following the new Hobbit movies closely! The two faces of Bilbo Baggins: Holm & Freeman Good news for Tolkien fans - ’The Hobbit’ titles & release dates announced Christian author J.R.R. Tolkien's timeless classic book "The Hobbit" is finally going to see the light of day as a two-part movie adaptation some 6 years after it was first announced that MGM would film "The Hobbit." More at: Good news for Tolkien fans - ’The Hobbit’ titles & release dates announced - Examiner  'The Hobbit' Movie Release Dates & Titles Announced: 'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' & 'The Hobbit: There and Back Again'  Great and long-expected news for fans of "The Lord of the Rings" and "The Hobbit!" The movers and shakers behind the two-film adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien ...

 I am pleased to announce the release of the 3rd edition of Silver Leaves. My poetry, articles and reviews have been featured every year in this fine international journal! Tolkien journal Silver Leaves releases with articles, artwork and poetry inspired by J.R.R. Tolkien Wednesday, July 14th, 2010  Silver Leaves -- Tolkien Journal Issue 3 of the Tolkien-based journal "Silver Leaves," an annual publication of the White Tree Fund, was just released in Canada on Monday, July 12, 2010. The overall theme of the scholarly and artistic journal is J.R.R. Tolkien , but other high fantasy literature and artwork are included, and essays and artwork inspired by Christian author C.S. Lewis were a prominent theme of issue 2 of "Silver Leaves."

More birthdays of gospel artists and Christian entertainers - this time from January including my favorite author, J.R.R. Tolkien (below)! What gospel artists were born in January? Jeremy Camp, Kirk Franklin, Phil Joel, Elvis Presley... Friday, January 1st, 2010 Which gospel music artists and Christian entertainers were born in January? This list will let you know. January birthdays of gospel artists include:   Jeremy Camp , Kirk Franklin , Phil Joel , Nichole Nordeman , Elvis Presley , Nicole C Mullen , Matt Odmark , Leon Patillo , Rachael Lampa , Carman and many more. Keep Reading » A toast to J.R.R. Tolkien for his January 3 birthday - author of faith-based Lord of the Rings Friday, January 1st, 2010 J.R.R. Tolkien Born January 3, 1892 The birthday of Professor J.R.R. Tolkien author of The Hobbit and  The Lord of the Rings , is on January 3 . Although Tolkien passed away in 1973, his birthday is traditionally celebrated by raisi...