Anlic_Sceadu

I never really like any of the other HP movies I’d seen so far, so I was floored when I was sucked into this movie…and yes sucked in would be a pretty accurate description. I really never get so engrossed in a movie that I lose track of movements from the crowd, and totally ignore everything around me. But, today, I was totally oblivious during this movie. I actually sat in the exact same position for the whole thing and had a crick in my neck by the end. The time flew during the movie and it totally kept me entertained the whole time.

Despite the fact that I must grudgingly admit, that Harry Potter is pretty darn cute…the movie had wonderful acting, a well written plot (slightly different from the book, of course, but that really can’t be helped), and cool digital effects. It’s hard to make the magical world of Harry Potter come alive on the screen, and I think they really did achieve it wonderfully. Oh, and the emotional scenes didn’t even seem cheesy like they do usually in other movies. The action was great…hehe, I think that’s enough about the generics…I would break it down more, but I don’t want to spoil the plot for the readers.

I just have to add that Evanna Lynch who played Luna “Loony” Lovegood, was a great actor…I think she might have even made good old “Loony” my new favorite HT character. The only part that I did find kind of disappointing was when a certain someone died (again I can’t go into details for the sake of keeping my life from the raging Harry Potter fans that haven’t read the book or seen the movie yet). I expected it to be sad and heart breaking…but I didn’t really feel all that bad for him or Harry. Maybe it’s because I already knew it was going to happen…I guess all you folks who haven’t read the books yet, will have to let me know if it was kind of un-climatic for you, as much as it was for me.

I am watching Band of Brothers Release Date: 05 November, 2002

I recently had the wonderful opportunity of attending a Bible Study at my local church led by Rev. Baidaoui, a Pastor with first hand experience with our Muslim neighbors. He was of the Muslim faith and is now a LCMS Lutheran Pastor that focuses on teaching his neighbors about who Christ really is. Because he was of the Islamic faith he has a very personal and first hand perspective of what we, as Christians, should do concerning the Islamic religion.

We are at war right now with Middle Eastern countries and Muslims are in most of our daily news reports. But, they are also in our very own communities. I was walking through the mall just the other day and saw quite a few Muslim families (identifiable by the Woman’s wardrobe). They are quite literally on our doorsteps.

Rev. Baidaoui has a wonderful way of saying what the point I’m making is. He states that our Muslim neighbors are a product of how sick our world is. They are just like you and me, sinful and unclean. The Islamic religion is nothing but the symptom of a greater problem, SIN. It’s nothing new, but we as Christians know the answer to it. We know that we are saved from our sins through the grace of God, we as Lutherans know that we are shown mercy through His Holy Sacraments, and we know that through the shedding of Blood on the Cross eternal life is ours. Why then do we run from the duty that Christ gave us, saying, “Go and make disciples of all nations.” Could our task not be made any easier, the nations have come to us, we don’t have to even leave town. We concentrate so much on overseas missions (don’t get me wrong I think they’re important also) that we overlook a growing problem here in our very own homes.

As John 16: 2 & 3 (ESV) says, “They will put you out of the synagogues. Indeed, the hour is coming then whoever kills you will think he is offering service to God. And they will do these things because they have not known the Father, nor me.” We are so quick to want to sentence these people to death (yes I have heard many people say that we should just blow up all of the Middle East) when we are told instead to love them as our neighbors and pray for them, for they do not know the Triune God.

A very good example of this comes straight from the Bible. “When the days drew near to him to be taken up, he set his face to go to Jerusalem. And he sent messengers ahead of him, who went and entered a village of the Samaritans, to make preparations for him. But the people did not receive him, because his face was set towards Jerusalem. And when his disciples James and John saw it, they said, ‘Lord do you want us to tell fire to come down from heaven and consume them?’ But he turned and rebuked them. And they went on to another village.” (Luke 9: 51-56) Rev. Baidaoui calls the Samaritans in this story the Muslim people for our very situation is the same.

What James and John said is exactly what happened on September 11th. Our first reaction is always revenge, but Christ calls for mercy. In our sinful nature, we are incapable of showing any type of mercy towards our neighbors. Nothing good lives in us, for it is through Christ’s salvation that our works are good. It is through Him that we can show that mercy and tell others of His everlasting love.

Christ has already won all of our battles for us, now it is His salvation that has won our War. We are the victors through Christ, and the Muslim people should also know what Christ has done for them, for he did come to save ALL men from their sin. So, we should not damn them to hell, but instead share the Gospel. They are our neighbors, and they deserve to know the truth that God has given us through Word and Sacrament.

P.S.
For a good book on an ex-militant’s journey of faith I encourage you to read “From Jihad to Jesus” by Jerry Rassamni.

For more information on POBLO mission to the Islamic people please visit this website.

I am reading Next Release Date: 28 November, 2006

Well, after half an hour or more of commercials and previews the movie was finally underway. (Oh! There was this wonderful preview for National Treasure 2, which you can view here.) I have to say I found the beginning to be the saddest part…but it does make you hate the British, and it makes me wonder why they like this movie over there…Anyways, this swashbuckling film begins where else, but on the Caribbean. Our favorite characters unite and have a grand old adventure. Some die, then come back to life, die again, and so on…or was it you only think their dead…but they aren’t really? Hmm…

Filled with outrageous fight scenes, battling ships, and fathers you didn’t expect…it starts to sound like a Star Wars episode. But fear not, Sparrow won’t be battling intergalactic fiends anytime soon! The movie had some twists and turns totally not expected and really brought out the conniving nature of man. Let me tell you, the back stabbing in this movie truly shows that it’s not only pirates who would bend so low…or maybe it was just pirates…or pirates at heart as the case may be.

But, in all seriousness now, it was a great movie and deserves the title of being the blockbuster hit of the summer. There’s nothing I can really say bad about it. Great comedy and action combine perfectly together to form what has become the trademark of “Pirates of the Caribbean.” In fact, the only problem I had with the movie was the people that came to watch it. First off, if you’re going to view movies in the movie theater then keep your bloody mouth shut. No one wants nor cares how cute Orlando Bloom is, and no one wants to hear your rambling throughout the entire movie. Secondly, do not bring your little kids to it. I mean, come on parents be responsible and realize this movie is rated PG-13 for a reason. I don’t care if you think your kids can handle it, the rest of the viewing audience hates it and if your bringing toddlers to the movie then something is wrong. For the courtesy of those around you and for the sake of your young child’s mind, please heed the rating warning before you take your child off to such a violent tale and try to use your best judgment.

I am watching Band of Brothers Release Date: 05 November, 2002

Many of you have more than likely heard this song also, because it’s a bit old (coming out in 2006) and as I mentioned before, a bit over played. The well-known Chad Kroeger wrote “If Everyone Cared” for his band Nickelback. The song, conveniently recorded in my backyard of Dallas, Texas, quickly climbed the charts. For those of you who may not have already heard the song, just skim through some alternative rock stations or check the Internet. Believe me, it’s everywhere. The music video is also still playing on MTV and VH1.

Anyways, as I listened to this song when something hit me about the lyrics…being the crazy Lutheran that I am, something was quite fishy with this song. After some daring detective work, which consisted of watching the music video online, looking up the lyrics, and checking out what my favorite source (Wikipedia) had to say about it, I finally figured out what had been bugging me.

The music video was predictably well done and totally caught my attention with the footage featured. It shows Nickelback singing in a studio and has various film clippings spread throughout. To quote Wiki (because I’m to lazy to type it up myself), “Scenes of this are intercut with images and videos of past social justice and human rights events, essentially when an individual "cared" and ended up changing the world. The people shown are Betty Williams, who lead a march of 35,000 women to the gravesites of three Irish children upon hearing of their deaths, Bob Geldof starting up Live Aid, Peter Benenson igniting what would become known as Amnesty International, and Nelson Mandela leading South Africa to its first democratic election, (which would end the racist apartheid regime that had divided the country for 46 years). The video ends with a quote from Margaret Mead that reads "Never doubt that a small group of committed people can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has."”

Now you must be thinking that this video sounds quite inspirational…which it does have this warm and fuzzy feeling that makes you want to go out and save the world. But, something about it still just bothered me. Never mind the fact that, yes, a small group of people can save the world…but if they effect it for the better or worse apparently doesn’t really seem to matter. But that isn’t what was really eating at me about this song. No, the heresy that this song leaves its audience with was the real problem.

By looking up the lyrics there is no denying the fact that this feeling good song, with a slight gospel sound, is just another tune that leaves it’s audience with little to no substance. Just read the chorus for yourself:

“If everyone cared and nobody cried
If everyone loved and nobody lied
If everyone shared and swallowed their pride
Then we'd see the day when nobody died”

Now can everyone repeat after me slowly…”WORKS RIGHTIOUSNESS!” Yes, my brothers and sisters in Christ, this song is one happy feel good bowl of mush, sugar coated, and served to you on a warm plate of “We Can Save Ourselves” goodness. My friend, this song is sin shining through at its best. Oh, and how we wish it were true.

First off I have to point out that there is no possible way for all of us to do anything proclaimed in this song because of our own sinful nature, and second off we better not even try because that truly is the road to hell, for our works can never and will never make us alive. No, I’m not saying we shouldn’t hope for good things, but you need to watch where your hope and faith begins, and what it is focused on. The plain un-sugar coated truth is that NO ONE can get everyone to care, and it’s only through THE ONE that we can see today that nobody dies. Yep, it’s through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ, that our sin is dead and we are made alive.

So through his saving grace I can truly sing:

“Singing Amen, I, I'm alive
Singing Amen, I, I'm alive"

I am listening to Minutes to Midnight Release Date: 15 May, 2007

I can honestly say that I never thought such tragedy could happen in this world as the one yesterday. Then I realized what a sheltered world I live in. But it wasn't from a lack of knowing, but a lack of not wanting to know, that I could be in such disbelief over the attacks at Virginia Tech. I was quite young when the events happened at Columbine, and I was only a bit older during September 11th. It's funny how you can look back on these events and compare your point of view on death. How when your young and innocent, that the idea of death doesn't have much of an effect on you.

I have to admit that I've lived a very fortunate life. I've only been to about three funerals in my lifetime, and only one of those happened to be for someone that I still have memories of today. I still had this naive idea of death, not fully able to comprehend it. It's kind of funny to actually think about death and life. To realize how fleeting a life is, and how easy it is for it to disappear.

As I've grown older, I realized I had looked upon life as an action movie. Good plot, hero saves the day, and oh yeah...those background people "died." Although, we all know that Hollywood doesn't actually kill people, so it's all good. Now, I view it as much more, because I realize just how short life is.

I'm going to see if I can get you to grasp this strange abstract idea that just hit me. I want you to picture life as if it was a Hollywood action film. We have our dashingly handsome hero and his beautiful damsel in distress running from the bad guys through a crowded street. Shots are fired and of course our stars are fine, but common people begin to fall. We don't really care much because our two leads are perfectly fine. We don't know those other peoples’ characters and we don't care if they die. Sounds quite selfish, doesn't it?

Now, I want to equate this little Hollywood film to our own lives, because so many people are exactly like this. We constantly have this point of view that as long as I'm safe and those I care about are safe, then nothing matters. They're just background people, in the story of my life. Hopefully that sounds just as sadistic and horrible to you, as it does to me. But, by listening to the radio and reading online, I realized that this is the exact viewpoint of many people in the world today. Scary ain't it?

I was horrified and floored to listen to people calling in and complaining yesterday to a music radio station when they decided to withhold their normal "game show" activities in respect for the dead. One woman even had the gall to proclaim that, "In times like this we need to carry on living our lives and we need to be happy." Come off it! Can't you even give people a day to morn the lives lost?! But no, we must move on right away and totally forget a little thing called respect for the families and loved ones.

This terrible feeling of "it didn't affect me so why should I suffer" seems to have impregnated our culture. And we wonder why people forget the cost of lives on September 11th, or other such horrific events. We live in such a self-centered, it's all about me me me, society and it's quite literally terrifying.

Anyways, to end my rant, I must ask that you as the future of this country take a good look at how you view such events in life. I know as Christians we pray for those left behind in mourning, and show our respect. In times of such sorrow please show your support and don't end up like those self-centered people surrounding our culture today.

Also, be sure to read myTH: Oh That You Would Slay the Wicked by Rev. Rich Heinz.

I am listening to Led Zeppelin Release Date: 07 September, 1990