I’m a pastor, but I’m NOT religious. I’m sure that statement causes many to scratch their heads in wonder, but there is a vast difference between religion and Christianity. The Bible teaches that there are many “religious” people who will not enter heaven’s gates. Matthew 7:22-23 says, “On judgment day many will say to me, ‘Lord! Lord! We prophesied in your name and cast out demons in your name and performed many miracles in your name.’²³ But I will reply, ‘I never knew you. Get away from me, you who break God’s laws.’

God is not interested in how much religious service you do or if you have followed all the “rules.” Instead, He is interested in whether or not you have a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. You see, “religion” is based on what man does in an effort to reconcile his relationship with a holy God; while “Christianity” is based on what Christ has already done to restore that relationship. Religion says you have to work to get into heaven, but Christianity says you simply rely on Christ’s finished work. Christianity is based on the fact that Jesus Christ died on the cross, was buried and rose from the dead to pay the penalty for our sin. Because of Christ’s death, burial and resurrection; God now offers to forgive our wrongdoings and let us spend eternity with Him in heaven. It’s that simple!

Now, some will attempt to assign the beliefs I have stated to a particular denomination; but they are Biblical, not denominational. God’s plan is non-denominational and you can read it for yourself in the Bible. Look at Romans 3:10, 3:23, 5:12, 6:23, 5:8, 10:9-10 and 10:13. Interestingly, His plan never says anything about becoming a Baptist, Catholic, Episcopalian, Methodist, Presbyterian or any other denomination. It simply says that God, through Jesus Christ, has provided a way for you to have your sins forgiven and your relationship with Him restored.

The problem is that too many “religious” people add the requirement of good works to God’s plan of salvation and twist the Bible’s teachings to fit their denominational or cultish belief system. Jesus encountered similar difficulties with the religious people of His day. They chose to maintain their personal beliefs, rather than following God’s plan. Mark 7:8 records Jesus rebuking the Pharisees. It reads, “For you ignore God’s law and substitute your own tradition.” God’s plan of salvation is simple, so don’t get caught up in the “religious” requirements and encumbrances that people try to add to it.

Jesus blasted the Pharisees and hypocrites of His day and I’m sure He would do the same with the hypocrites and legalists of this present day. Pharisees wanted to make people religious, but Jesus wanted to make them disciples!

What about you? Are you committed to Jesus Christ or to a denomination? Are you doing something to please God and earn His favor or have you simply accepted what Christ has already done? Ephesians 2:8-9 says, “For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: ⁹ Not of works, lest any man should boast.” There is a vast difference between being a Christian and being religious … Which one are you?

Dr. Gary A. Colboch is Lead Pastor at Grace Church, located at 501 NE 48 St. in Pompano Beach. For more information, call 954-421-0190 or e-mail pastor@gbcfl.org.

Shopping addiction, shopaholic and oniomania are terms used to define and describe someone who has a Compulsive Buying Disorder or CBD.

CBD is the frequent preoccupation with buying or impulses to buy that are experienced as irresistible, intrusive and senseless. The buying behavior causes marked distress, and interferes with social functioning, relationships and often results in financial problems.

CBD has three general stages:

• Preoccupation with shopping

• Pre-purchase tension or anxiety

• Sense of relief following purchase

A psychotherapy patient of mine, we will call Renee for confidentiality purposes, came to see me and told me that she is a recovering alcoholic. Renee attends Alcoholic Anonymous (AA) Meetings locally and online. She told me that she lost close to 30 lbs. since she stopped drinking alcohol and was now eating healthier foods, drinking more water and exercising regularly.

Renee has changed many things in her life for the better, but she told me she is in debt and that, over the past six months, she acquired two credit cards and she specifically uses these credit cards to shop online and to buy clothes.

Renee likes the way her body has changed and improved since she lost weight and feels she is addicted to buying clothes online in order to show off her new physical appearance. She likes the attention she receives and cried while telling me that she never received positive attention from anyone in the past.

I spoke with Renee about the amount of money she spends while shopping. She told me she is spending thousands of dollars shopping online, and said that one credit card she uses has notified her that they are suspending her charging privilege. I recommended that Renee attend Debtors Anonymous meetings to help her understand the reality of her spending habit and the financial damage it was creating.

We also discussed the amount of time Renee spends while shopping. She told me she is spending at least three to eight hours a day searching various online shopping sites. She would sometimes be online through the night and not get the proper rest needed.

Here are steps discussed to help Renee reduce and better manage her CBD:

• Attend Debtors Anonymous meetings

• Contact the credit card companies to be pro-active and discuss payment options

• Consider returning or re-selling purchased items

• Remove mobile phone and other devices from her bedroom to avoid any evening online shopping temptation and in order to help her get the rest she needs

• Explore new activities, such as reading books of interest, to lessen and alleviate the urge to shop online

• Explore her thoughts, feelings and behaviors around being sober, being healthy, her body image and define what shopping and clothes represent

Step by step, Renee is successfully exploring her thoughts and actions relating to her Compulsive Shopping Disorder. Her accomplishments only emphasize my belief that “Change is possible!”

Dr. Julia Breur is a licensed Marriage and Family Therapist with a private clinical psychotherapy practice in Boca Raton. For more information, call 561-512-8545, email info@drjuliabreur.com or visit www.drjuliabreur.com

By Gary Curreri
Jennifer Roberts and Braden Roberts went for a little trip in the park that included crawling on their stomachs under wires, climbing ropes and covering 22 other obstacles before finishing the race jumping over a wall of fire.
The mother-son duo from Deerfield Beach competed in their first Spartan Race at South County Regional Park in Boca Raton, and together, they enjoyed every minute of it.
“These races are awesome,” said Jennifer, 40. “This was our first one together because he is just old enough (14-year-old) to run an adult race. It was pretty cool because there were times when I needed a little help; and he was there, and times when he needed some pep talks to get him through. We carried each other for sure.”
Braden had competed in three Spartan Races as a kid.
“This one was much harder,” he said. “It really tests your physical strength on the rope climbs, the monkey bars and stuff like that. Mentally, it is tough because you have to run long distances, and you have to be mentally tough to get through it.
“It was pretty cool running with my mom,” Braden added. “Probably the most exciting part of the race was jumping over the fire at the end.”
Roberts said her family will volunteer ahead of time and then run races. She said they like to give back because Spartan Races is a “great organization.”
“I am so proud and overjoyed to be able to run his first adult race with him,” Jennifer added. “Knowing I have run so many races, but knowing he was there with me, was so cool. We kept high fiving each other. I am so proud of him.”
“In life, you have to be able to push through anything,” she continued. “You wake up in the morning and something hard hits you, you’ve got to get through it. It is the same here. Once you start, you are running and, until you cross the finish line, you have to be able to push through. You have to be able to persevere.”
It was the first Spartan Race held in Boca Raton. The Sprint course was composed of 3 miles and 25 obstacles of fast, mostly-flat running. Since it was a course laid out over flat terrains, there were some back-to-back obstacles and heavy carries. Some competitors challenged themselves by running the Sprint on both Saturday and Sunday. The Sprint is the shortest distance race in the Spartan Race series, but it’s still a favorite amongst both new and returning racers.
Garfield Griffiths produces eight of the 63 Spartan Races in the United States annually and over 200 worldwide. There are three in Florida, one in Orlando and another in Jacksonville in addition to Boca Raton. The two-day event in Boca Raton attracted more than 8,000 people, which included about 1,000 children and spectators. Griffiths said the Spartan Race concept began in 2010 in Vermont with about 200 people and has grown to what it is today.
“From there, it just took off and they started doing 10-12 across the country and other countries jumped it,” Griffiths said. “Last year, we did over one million people worldwide. I think it is one of the best and all-around fitness challenges because it has everything.”
There are several types of Spartan Races – Sprint, which is an entry race consisting of 3-4 miles and about 22 obstacles; a Super, which is 8-10 miles, and then the Beast, which is 15 miles. There is the Ultra, which is 30 miles and more than 65 obstacles.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Hyped by social media marketing, I was looking forward to seeing Ron Howard’s documentary Pavarotti. Unfortunately, this documentary seemed to open in only major cities that have newspaper critics that write syndicated movie reviews. The reviews for Pavarotti were mediocre but, nonetheless, I hope to see this movie on the big screen, since Ron Howard knows how to direct [films about music]. Three years ago Ron Howard released The Beatles: Eight Days a Week, a documentary about The Beatles tour from 1962-1966.

The beauty of movies is that there are millions of unwatched films, even for a “movie maven” like Cinema Dave. Last May, Deerfield Beach Percy White experimented with a Wednesday afternoon series titled “Comedy Club.” Presented in glorious black & white film stock, these films featured W.C. Fields, Edgar Bergen, Charlie McCarthy, Stan Laurel & Oliver Hardy. The laughs were sincere and this library is likely to resurrect this program in the autumn.

Announced for production two years ago, Stan & Ollie was quietly released during awards season. As Oliver Hardy, John C. Reilly received high praise and an award for his portrayal of the chubby half of this legendary comedy team. Besides playing Stan Laurel, Steve Coogan reunited with Philomena screenwriter Jeff Pope.

Stan & Ollie is a loving portrayal of the comedy team’s swansong. It is more of a memory piece than an accurate portrayal of history.  Based on the biographies written by John McCabe and William K. Everson, the conflict between Stan and Ollie was dramatized for artistic license.   

The fictional conflict is based on Stan’s feelings of betrayal for Ollie doing freelance work. The opposite was true…Stan encouraged Ollie to accept employment with Harry Langdon in Zenobia and John Wayne in The Fighting Kentuckian. While assigned together as work mates, the two men developed an enduring friendship that continued for the rest of their lives. 

Beyond Coogan and Reilly’s sincere performance, Stan & Ollie duplicates the team’s onstage magic. The fine line between fantasy and reality is crossed frequently, when a serious moment of human drama is transformed into a comedy gag that is executed by Laurel & Hardy. Case in point: Stan & Ollie get into a serious argument with their wives at a cocktail party with financial benefactors. The fight ends with a slapstick retaliation from Stan. The financial benefactors laugh, not knowing the serious implications of the conflict.

For those celebrating Father’s Day with their dear ol’ dads, take advantage of having some laughs with the old man. There are plenty of modern comedies that promote grossness and obscenity, but comedians like Charlie Chaplin, The Marx Brothers, W.C. Fields, Laurel and Hardy have provided family entertainment for over a century on the silver screen. Check out Stan & Ollie or any classic comedy for a successful Father’s Day weekend.

Deerfield Beach

May 29: A man reported that his home at 5007 NE 2 Way was burglarized. The suspect stole about $100 in coins and fled through the front door.

May 30: A woman reported that someone entered her car parked at 107 SE 10Ct. and stole loose change for a total loss of $30.

May 31: A man reported his bicycle stolen at 1937 NE 4 Ct.

May 31: It was reported that a woman tried to steal items from Target at 3599 W. Hillsboro Blvd. She fled when approached by loss prevention officers.

May 31: A woman reported that someone entered her apartment at 303 Oakridge Q and stole about $50 in coins.

June 2: It was reported that multiple vehicles were burglarized at a pavilion used for a 5K race at 401 S. Powerline Rd. Various items including cash, a ring, credit cards and purses were stolen from the cars.

June 2: A woman reported her car parked at 812 NW 47 St. was broken into and a phone charger was stolen.

Lighthouse Point

May 28: Police responded to a call at 3580 N. Federal Hwy. of a dog barking inside of a car with the windows rolled up. The car was running and the A/C was on. The owner responded and showed officers a temperature system that would alert him if the temperature got too high.

May 28: The resident was worried that a dog continued to jump a small fence at 2601 NE 48 Ct. Police responded and were able to block the gate to prevent further occurrences. 

May 30: Police responded to a call of property that was found at the post office at 2091 NE 36St. The owner of the property was contacted and said that the card that was found could be destroyed.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

Sally Ling speaks about history

Thursday, June 13, 2 p.m.

Percy White Library

837 E. Hillsboro Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Historian Sally Ling will speak about her new book about Deerfield history and the history of the Deerfield Beach community.

Lord & Taylor Fashion Show

With Broward Sheriff’s Office

Thursday, June 13, 7 p.m.

Wyndham Resort

2096 NE 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Broward Sheriff’s Office deputies will be outfitted by Lord & Taylor for the fashion show. Held poolside. $15 donation for admission gets complimentary drink and appetizers. Proceeds to benefit the crime prevention fund for the city.

Line dancing

Friday, June 14, 1 p.m. to 3 p.m.

Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Every Friday. No partner needed. Great music, fun and exercise. The Center for Active Aging offers transportation services. Need a ride? Please call. For more information, call the Center for Active Aging, 954-480-4449.

Mary Poppins Returns

Friday, June 14, 5:30 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Pompano Citi Centre (Space C104 next to Foot Locker)

1955 N. Federal Hwy.

Pompano Beach, FL 33062

Enjoy “Summer Movie Nights” at the Pompano Citi Centre with free face painting & free popcorn. Seating is limited. Bring your blankets or bean bags. Goody bags for the first 100 kids!

Wings and Wheels

Saturday, June 15, 3 p.m. to 6 p.m.

Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex

445 SW 2 St

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

This year’s event will once again feature the infamous Wing Cook-Off for the community to come out, taste, judge and vote for the People’s Choice Wing Champion. Wing tasting is free to those in attendance. A family-friendly event — Enjoy the tasty wings, take in a car and bike show & let the children spend the afternoon cooling off on waterslides! June 12th is the deadline to enter into the cook-off competition. To enter or for questions, visit www.dfb.city.wings-wheels, or call the Oveta McKeithen Recreational Complex at 954-480-4481.

Food Truck Night

Saturday, June 15, 5 to 9 p.m.

BrandsMart USA

821 Natura Blvd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Presented by Island Boyz Conch Shack. Come enjoy all the best food trucks in one location.

Bison Tackle Football & Cheer

Registration & BBQ

Saturday, June 15, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.

McDougle Family Foundation

49 S. Dixie Hwy.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

During registration there will be music, food and fun games. Also learn more about how you can get involved and join a Bison Volunteer Committee. In addition to learning football and cheer fundamentals, the program will include strength and conditioning training, and educational and mentoring opportunities. The season will be packed with a host of family style fun activities for everyone, including a Summer Fun Pool Party, Kick-off Celebration, High School and College game day experiences, Family FUN Night Outs, FYFL Competition, a Homecoming Celebration and many fun team activities wrapped up with an awesome end of the year banquet honoring participants and volunteers. The football and cheer registration fee is only $75 for Deerfield Beach residents and $85 for non-residents. However, participants can register with a $25 deposit. Practice will be daily Monday to Thursday 6 to 8 p.m. at Deerfield Beach Middle School Complex, 501 SE 6 Ave., in Deerfield Beach.

Mizner Park Downtown Drive Car Show

Sunday, June 16, 10:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Mizner Park

327 Plaza Real

Boca Raton, FL 33432

Everyone from families to window shoppers to car aficionados will enjoy the Mizner Park Downtown Drive Car Show on Father’s Day. More than 100 cars, including antiques, classics, street rods, custom builds, race cars, sports cars, imports, hand-built cars and one-of-a-kind autos from 1900 to present day will line the streets of Mizner Park. Admission is free. 100 percent of car show entry fees and donations will benefit Make-A-Wish^®Southern Florida. If you have questions, contact Hillary Reynolds at 954-815-1186.

Free Skin Screening

Monday, June 17, 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Broward Health North’s Cancer Center

201 E. Sample Rd.

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Join Broward Health for a free skin screening by Jason Green, DO, Dermatology. Light refreshments will be served. Must R.S.V.P. by calling 954-759-7400.

Chronic Disease

Management Workshop

Wednesday June 19

10:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.

The Center for active Aging

227 NW 2(Eller) St.

Deerfield Beach, FL  33441

Do you have a chronic illness such as heart disease, diabetes, COPD, arthritis or hypertension? Come join for an interactive course that includes educational classes to teach you how to manage and live healthy with your chronic condition. Pre-registration is required as space is limited.  If you are interested, please call Robin Marzullo, Health Support, at 954-480-4446 or e-mail rmarzullo@dfb.city. 

PB Chamber dinner

Wednesday, June 19, 7 p.m.

Hillsboro Club

901 Hillsboro Mile

Hillsboro Beach, FL 33062

Dinner, live auction, guest speaker. Celebrates Board members, trustees & graduates of the Leadership Program of North Broward.

Senior Prom

Friday, June 21

10:30 a.m. 11:30 a.m.

Center for Active Aging

227 NW 2 St

Deerfield Beach, FL 33441

Appearing live are Shane LeMar and The Ink Spots (courtesy of Lisa Slinley, Concierge Insurance Solutions). Come join them as they take a trip down memory lane! Bring your dancing shoes. Enjoy the music and fun. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, contact Ann Sico, recreation coordinator, at 954-480-4447 or asico@dfb.city.

Woman’s Club Trips

Vizcaya Museum & Gardens

Thursday, July 18, 8:30 a.m.

Deerfield Beach Woman’s Club invites you to a wonderful day trip to Miami. It includes door to door transportation, a tour of Vizcaya (driver & tour guide, gratuity included), a visit to Lincoln Road Mall and sit down lunch. Cost is $80 per person. Limited seats. Men are welcome too. Call Sally 954-427-2175 for more information.

Navy Seal Museum

Tuesday, Aug. 13, 8:30 a.m.

Deerfield Woman’s Club is delighted to offer a very special trip to Ft. Pierce and Stuart. The National Navy Seal Museum is home to one of the most unusual collections of artifacts and exhibits of any museum. Cost is $90 and includes round trip motor coach transportation, a tip to your driver, a visit to the museum and a sit down lunch overlooking the beach, as well as a visit to historic downtown Stuart. Limited seats. Call now. Men are welcome too. Call Sally 954-427-2175 for more information.

My wife and I recently vacationed in Myrtle Beach, SC. Upon entering the condo, we immediately headed for the covered balcony to get our first glimpse of the South Carolina coast. Without even thinking, we leaned our weight against the handrail of the balcony located on the 11th floor! Those were the first minutes of many hours we spent on that balcony. We even let our 22-month-old granddaughter play on the balcony. One day, it occurred to me that none of us would sit on the patio, much less let an infant play out there, without the presence of the handrail. That handrail was a boundary that provided us with the peace of mind to freely enjoy the beautiful view from the balcony.
I had a similar experience many years ago when our children were young. We bought a house on a canal, and the yard was not fenced when we moved in. We noticed that our children would go only from the back door to the swing set and back. They never wandered near the water, nor to the sides of the yard. We eventually put a fence around our back yard and noticed that our children started using the entire back yard. They went down to the fence line at the canal and also began venturing toward the neighbors houses on each side of us. Again, it dawned on me… by defining the boundary, it gave a sense of security for our kids. It kept good things in, bad things out, and gave freedom to use the entire backyard, rather than only a small portion of it.
While some would argue that boundaries restrict freedom, the truth is that boundaries expand our freedoms and protect our interests. Within the boundaries of marriage, couples create confidence, establish trust, learn the art of partnership, experience greater happiness, increase their emotional health, enjoy guilt-free sex … and all of this without looking over their shoulder, worrying about STDs or wrestling with emotional pain and guilt. Traffic boundaries also illustrate the point. By staying between the painted lines (boundaries), a vehicle will most often reach its destination without incident. Athletes try to keep their feet in bounds; businesses operate within the boundaries of the law and governments protect those who live within their borders.
Establishing personal boundaries is a healthy part of life. Dating boundaries help maintain purity. Physical boundaries help protect against abuse. Intellectual boundaries allow opinions to be shared respectfully. Emotional boundaries keep us from personalizing everything. Digital boundaries help us avoid pornography, gossip sites, cyber bullying or even attempting to impress others by embellishing our posts on social media.
The spiritual boundaries found in the Bible are also there for our protection. Just as God set boundaries for Adam and Eve in the Garden of Eden, the Bible reveals boundaries for daily living. Loving God first (Matt 22:36-38), loving others second (Matt 22:39-40) and following the 10 Commandments (Ex. 20:1-17) are good places to start. The Bible discusses boundaries regarding doctrine, conduct, friendships, business partnerships, relationships, work/rest, idols and so much more. God loves us enough to set boundaries that protect us and that allow us to enjoy life to the fullest. The bottom-line is that the boundaries established by God do not restrict our lives, they enhance it (John 10:10).
Dr. Gary A. Colboch is Lead Pastor at Grace Church (501 NE 48 St. in Pompano Beach). Contact info: 954-421-0190 or pastor@gbcfl.org.

By Gary Curreri

Jevon Williams concluded his junior year at Blanche Ely High School with a bang and two state championships in track. Williams, 17, of Pompano Beach, swept the 110-meter hurdles (14.08) and a personal best in the 300-meter hurdles (36.54) for the Tigers at the FHSAA Class 3A state championships at the University of North Florida.

Williams’ fastest time in the 300 (36.54) is the fourth fastest in the nation, while his personal best time of 13.87 in the 110-meter time earlier this season is good enough for 18^thin the country.

“My year was pretty big,” said Williams, who is also a wide receiver for the Tigers football team. “I accomplished a lot in winning the 300 hurdles back-to-back and I look forward to next year and doing the same thing. Winning the 110-meter event at state was somewhat unexpected.

“This year, there was a lot of pressure since I was coming from a winning season last season in the 300 hurdles,” Williams said. “Winning the 110 was a blessing. I worked hard for it this season. My mind was set on just coming back and winning the 300, but when I got to state I wanted to win both.

“It wasn’t a surprise,” Williams said. “I knew I could do it. If you put your mind to anything, you can achieve it. I am always going to remember the 300-hurdles at state. It was probably the toughest race I have ever run, to be honest. States 2019 is something I will always remember.”

His college options are open. Williams said he is being recruited by Mississippi State and Texas A&M and has interest in LSU, Texas, University of Miami, Kentucky and Oregon in addition to Mississippi State.

“I am proud of how I improved in my major events and I am now a three-time state champion,” Williams said.

Simply Soccer registration begins

Area residents are invited to take part in the Simply Soccer camp series that is about to begin its 31^styear of soccer camps for children 5-15 in nearby Coral Springs.

There are three sessions each day ranging from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; extended hours at camp are from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and a Tiny Tot program for kids ages 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to noon. Full day campers must bring a soccer ball, swimsuit, shin guards, water bottle and lunch. You do not have to be a city resident to attend.

The dates are June 10-14; June 17-21; June 24-28; July 1-5 (No camp 7/4); July 8-12; July 15-19; July 22-26; July 29-Aug. 2; Aug. 5-9.

You can register daily from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the Coral Springs Gymnasium, 2501 Coral Springs Dr., Coral Springs. For information on the camp, call 954-345-2200.

By “Cinema” Dave

http://cinemadave.livejournal.com

Based on the box office performance of Aladdin and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the 2019 summer blockbuster season will be filled with action, adventure and a little romance. Unlike the sustainability of an Adventures: Endgame, both Aladdin and Godzilla: King of the Monsters have a noticeable box office drop after the opening weekend.  

After the events of Kong: Skull Island and Godzilla: King of the Monsters, the world has learned that Titans are real. On one hand, the Titans are seen as a destructive force. Yet, after the havoc these monsters cause, the earth has become a greener place.

But those meddlesome members of Monarch (the crypto-zoological agency) have created a frequency radio device to track and control Godzilla, a fruitless enterprise.  Greedy environmental terrorists have decided to use the device to unleash dormant Titans and create world havoc. From Mexico to China, from Sedona to the final showdown in Boston, the monsters are unleashed and have stomped upon mankind. 

Unlike the classic Godzilla, where Japan was the scene of constant disaster, this new “King of the Monsters” is a global affair. Like a harem of insects, the human actors (Kyle Chandler, Vera Farmiga, Millie Bobby Brown & Charles Dance as the Master villain) deal with the rampaging monsters, who are actually a metaphor for their own domestic concerns.

As a monster maven, there is much to like about Godzilla: King of the Monsters. The creators acknowledge not only the myth of the standup fire-breathing lizard, but acknowledge local cultural myths from the seven continents. (Rodan rising out of a Mexican volcano owes a debt to the Aztec myth of Quetzalcoatl). Besides a cover song of the Blue Oyster Cult classic, there is the original theme from the first Godzilla film produced in 1954.

Yet, many of these tender mercies are lost in this overreaching new film. Eschewing actors wearing monster suits, there are computer-generated giant monsters who wreck havoc upon major cities with historical landmarks. Given that most of the monster battle scenes occur at night, one computerized action sequence looks the same as the other computerized action sequence. There is no sense of character development of the monsters, unlike the character growth of Kong from Kong: Skull Island.

As the closing credits infer, Kong and Godzilla are heading for a showdown next Memorial Day weekend 2020. Hopefully, the action sequences will follow the lead of Kong: Skull Island and will not be mired in darkness.  Writing a good review or a bad review, Cinema Dave will be at a Saturday Matinee with a gallon bucket of popcorn on his lap.

Deerfield Beach

May 21: A man reported his car burglarized and headphones, a wallet and a PayPal card were stolen. The incident was reported at 116 SW 9 St.

May 21: A home at 204 SW 3 Ct. was burglarized and four shirts and four pants were stolen.

May 21: A man entered a BrandsMart USA at 821 SW Natura Blvd. and stole a Robo vacuum valued at $855.

May 22. A jet ski was stolen from 164 SE 18 Ave. It was later found by police in Miami Shores and three suspects were arrested in connection with the theft.

May 22. A man entered a CVS at 2 S. Federal Hwy. and stole $180 worth of merchandise and fled.

Lighthouse Point

May 24: A resident who lives on the 2400 block of NE 21Ave. contacted police because he thought he was the victim of a vehicle burglary because he was unable to locate his wallet. After further investigation, it was determined his wallet was missing since there were no signs of forced entry to the vehicle and other items were still in place.

May 25: Police responded to a call of two Rottweilers in a park at 5200 NE 31Ave. When they arrived, the dogs were gone.

May 26: Police responded to a burglar alarm at 4121 NE 23Terr. When they arrived, they walked the perimeter and found the home secure.

(This is a partial list. For Deerfield Beach Crime Watch in full, visit www.DFB.City and click on “Sign Me Up” to receive the city wide report.)

Remember, if you see anything suspicious, call 911 immediately.