Movie Review Black Death

in an age of darkness one man will face the ultimate battle between good and evil.

This one passage abundantly testifies that this rite had its beginning from the Apostles, which afterwards, however, was turned into superstition, as the world almost always degenerates into corruptions, even with regard to the best institutions-John Calvin on Hebrews 6:1-2

In an age of darkness one man will face the ultimate battle against evil.

But what is Hope? Nothing but the paint on the face of existence, the least touch of truth rubs, it off and when we what a hallow-cheeked harlot we have got hold of.- Lord Byron

Viewed	2.28.2012
Genre	Horror
Language	English
Rated	R:Strong brutal violence, and some language
Parent Advisary	Parents should be careful as this movie is brutal and questions a number of Christian Ideas. It is important that you have a discussion with your child after viewing this movie.

I found this movie listed on Netflix, in their new release section, and felt it was a tremendous movie.   Black Death illustrates the terrible effects of the bubonic plague.  Superstition filled the time.  The church ran everything.  And anyone outside of the norm could be branded and burned a heretic.

   This movie could easily be missed, as it was produced by Europe, Germany and England, and was released in Ireland, so the "American Media" did not advertise it.  But if you were to miss it, that would be a shame. 
Why spend the time on a movie set in a far past?  This movie embraces a time of uncertainty.  This movie illustrates a historical period where the elite grasped control over its citizens. The movie looks at woman who dare survive a time that they are made the enemy.    The movie then looks at death.   Death is a very difficult thing to look at truthfully.   We often avoid the topic because death is painful. The movie explores necromancy, and answers why one may desire to raise the dead from an untimely end.
Stephen King said in an interview with the Paris Review that horror explains the cult of fear and confusion in an uncertain time.

"In every life you get a point where you have to deal with something that's inexplicable to you,"

  The message is a warning against a nation or a people allowing fear to rule them.  

Director	Christopher Smith
Prodcued By	Egoli Tossell Film (presents) HanWay Films (presents) Zephyr Films (in association with) Ecosse Films Post Republic, The (in association with)
Released	UK 26 May 2010
Special Awards or Noted Where	aired in the BBC FILM 4 Fright Fest
Locations	Blankenburg, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany (Castle Blankenburg)		Burg Querfurt, Querfurt, Saxony-Anhalt, Germany		Torgelow, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, Germany (Ukranenland)

THe Fountainhead of the Past

The following quote illustrates and points to what I am attempting to do with my stories here.  The quote comes from a book I found on the Gutenberg website, and is titled The Legends of the Jews volume 1, by Louis Ginzberg published in 1909.  I hope you enjoy the quote.

"Quote"

Men craved entertainment in later times as well as in the earlier, only instead of restoring for its subject matter to what happened under their eyes, they drew from the fountainhead of the past. ... The religious reflections upon nature laid down in the myths of the people, the fairy tales, which have the sole object of pleasing, and the legends, which are the people's verdict upon history - all these were welded into one product.   The fancy of the Jewish People was engaged by the past reflected in the Bible, and all its creations wear a Biblical hue for this reason.

Hebrews 5:1-10 Part Two

The cosmonaut, Levi entered Mel's Place, located in the corner of the galaxy.
He was hungry as his search for God knows what had taken longer than he had expected. And he hungered.  He had been out in the galaxy for forty days and forty nights only eating "matzoh, dried peas, and dried up hearing." So eating at Mel's was a thing he had been looking forward to for at least twenty days. 
Mel's was located on a small rock that looked much like earth but was a fraction of the size.   In fact, the only space that was available was held by this small dinner.

Levi entered the double doors and walked on the black and white checkerboard Formica.  He could smell the incredible delectable being served at the counter.

Levi's favorite incredible delectable was Mel's Reuben.  Mel's Reuben was rated by Zagat 2222 as "The  Best Sandwich In the Whole Galaxy." 
What made it great? Here I'll tell ya. 
First they started with home-made rye bread from the recipe of an old Polish Jewish Grand-Mother. She was remembered speaking at Sheul that she loved to bake for her eynikl.   The grandson sold the recipe to Mels.  And Mel's was now selling it to the elected cosmonauts who found this corner of the galaxy.  Enough about bread onto the rest of the Sandwich.  So then Mel's smoothered the bread with  1,000 Island Dressing.  Then they added Sour-Krout.  Then they put the sandwich in the oven and baked it perfectly so that all the ingredients communed into one delicious shintke.
You might ask yourself, "Where is the cheese?"  The sandwich is Kosher, so why would they include cheese on it you shmo!!!

What made Mel's the Dinner to be destined on Route 77 was that when you entered you could hear the heavenly choir play a song beyond description.   The music of the orbs was formed from the tension between the strings of truth, and the strings of compassion.

Note: This is where I am stumbling in telling this.  I am attempting to explain the unexplainable so that maybe one can say it better than myself.  But here it goes....
Perfectly arranged by Jesus the composer of a heavenly endowed symphony.
Here is a symphony so pure that only some can hear it. The sound was one of the energizing truth and the comforting compassion, perfectly arranged for the believer. A believer who has set his heart on Jesus as the author.
The composition held the sacred truth endowed by Christ.  Christ had arranged the notes perfectly to effectively move us towards a pure melody.  The symphony called us to rely on him for intercession.  Jesus melody enabled the congregation to move from the dark caves toward the lighted valley.  A way for the congregation to move away from the hidden, undoing discord.  The tune(s) that we have buried deep within the secret corridors of their hearts.  Jesus as John Owen said, "authored an endless, unchangeable, and permanent song of salvation to all those who come to him."  If we hear this tune today we shall dance faithfully, to the harmony of the Triune Tune. 

St. Peters in Rome

I am so thankful for the encouragement from Ms. Hamilton.
I agree with her comment, "Stepping away from familiar into a complete unknown."
Though, I was not truly sure what I was attempting to say. I get an impression and go with it. And allow the impression to shape my thoughts.
I do not start with a proverb or a key thought and then shape my stories around that proverb.  What I do is open my journal while Dave is preaching.  I attend to the thoughts that collide in my head from a combination of words in the sermon and the inner creative spark.   It is a meditative prayer of some sort.  I have to accept the gift that is given to me and then form it into an expression.
  Sometimes the clearest way is a story.  Sometimes the clearest way is a poetic form like Haiku.  Sometimes it is just a picture.   What ever way I attempt it hopefully glorifies God.

Journal Response to Sermons

Every week I will attempt to write a short piece of fiction that was connected to the sermon by David Martin at Redeemer.  As I am a big fan of science fiction, fantasy, and Stephen King Novels, the story will take a fantastical bent.    I think this is the best way that I can respond to the service and worship with my true heart.   I will also attempt to draw a picture (and as you can tell I am creative but not really an artist at least in pictures).  I hope you find this as an encouragement.   If you find anything that is heretical or misguided than please respond to my story.   I am interested in your thoughts and hope to hear your own stories soon.

 

Hebrews 5:1-10

Boldness Entering A New World Where Men Entered Space

Hebrews 4:14-5:10 English Standard Version (ESV) 16 Let us then with confidence draw near to the throne of grace, that we may receive mercy and find grace to help in time of need.

He boldly stood before the threshhold repeating to himself the old hymn:







"I will enter his grace with trembling in my heart.
I will enter his grace with praise.
I will rejoice for he has made me glad.
I will enter his gates with praise.
I will rejoice for he has made me glad."


The congregation, he had prepared with, echoed in the chamber of his mind. He stood on the ramp leading to space. He stared into the infinite space. He trembled.   The congregation prepared the astronaut by encouraging him in the word of God.
"He has made me glad... I will enter his gates with praise."
He repeated to himself as he was terrified at the emptiness that laid before him past his green spaceship.
   He remembered the pastor talking of the "LORD's Shekinah Glory".
  He had gone through the ritual of purification, for he had to be pure to enter the LORD's infinite temple.   His natural self would never be allowed in this space.  But he was ready to commune with the LORD in the infinite space of his temple.  
So he thought, "Have I done enough? Am I ready to enter?  Will I return back home? Will the chord that connects me to my space-ship stay connected?"
 But doubt trembled inside... as he took a step into infinite space. 

You ask - "What the... has Greg lost it... but heck this song reminded me of the temptation of Jesus in the desert.  he was much stronger than I could ever hope to be.  Because if the Devil tempted me I would have succumed to that cheeseburger in paradise.  Or a Reuben on Rye?

Walking in the Light Not in the Veil

Matthew 2:1-12:
I love that my Auntie Gail is currently writing a blog (Wonderings by Gail +) every month. Gail is an Episciple Priest and has great knowledge in the word of God. 
Last month on January 6th she wrote of the Magi and the light they saw. The light that led them to Jesus Christ. There is so much in the details of the Magis in Matthew 2:1-12. She inspired me to write a few notes in response that I would like to share with my readers here. Hopefully this inspires you.


God's continual work is amazing. I am amazed that God is always there despite our weak selves. Or because of our weak selves. The Magis"saw something so incomprehensible, so beyond normal, that they felt compelled to follow." What could compel yet not terrify-a light. We were drawn by a new light in the sky - in the ceilo - the spanish word for heaven. It was written in heaven before the Magis saw the light.

Think of light speed...

The problem with the light is that we are attracted to it. But we must be careful to search and study God's word because Light is neutral. It can be both good and evil. God's light is purely good.
Lucifer means light but as we know he is the distorted twisted good and ultimate evil catalyst for our fall from Eden. Thank God we have our ultimate hope in Jesus Christ our savior and redeemer. We must not grow discouraged in our careful walk through the valley of the shadow of death. It is a dangerous walk we tread because there are archers in the hills and we must get low.

Remember God's light is purely radiant goodness.  However, when this light gets mixed with us humans it becomes impure.  An impure light. And without the word of God we will dwell in the shadowed regions.
We know we must follow with the good news and the good light that will emanate from our communion with God. This light has the power to cut through the darkened veil that Lucifer casts in order to deceive our fallen eyes.
In summary, God's Pure Word lights the path; everything else fails to cut through the shadowed veil.

Time Turns on a Dime

Time According to Stephen King: Impressions from 11.22.63

Note:this review on the premise that time travel is possible, in order to avoid getting stuck in a review of time travel 

 

Time harmonizes with itself.    One can imagine a classical guitar player playing a melody, so pure that the million strings on the million string guitar gets tighter and tighter, then the crystal breaks and shatters as the customers scream.  Time knows how many strings are to be played at any one time.  King shows that if one goes back in time the harmony may get too pure that it will reverberate across the time strings.  The tune will have costly results.

Time is not something to play with. We all have a need to reset some part of our past.  The day we walked into the local newsstand and bought our first porno magazine.   The day we missed an important deadline.  The day we blew off our dad or mom when they needed us most. But time turns on a dime. The tune has already been perfectly harmonized.   So what does that mean to the troubles of a time? 
Well that is part of the harmonization.    However, this is not a bitter note.  This is a note that life is life.  And one’s hopes are important, because when people lose hope there is bound to be explosions.

Movie Reviews: Sharing Movies That Speak to the Gospel

Buck (2011)

Viewed on 1.16.2012 via Netflix Instant Que also on Show Time (until 1.17.2012)

Genre: Documentary
Language: English
Age Group Best: Highschoolers hanging in the parking lot to Old Men Playing Checkers

Length: 1:28:48

Short Summary-No Spoiler

Buck Branaman is a great horseman, who learned to harness his own pain from his abused youth, in order to train people how to treat their horses with love and respect.

"God had him in mind when he made a cowboy."

Bible Study Tips

This is the symbol for Human Heart Pride

 

 

I find it useful, when studying proverbs, to have a visual guide to each stanza.  I will leave it up to the reader to find the symbol that works best for them.   For the human heart themes I draw a heart and then put a capitol letter inside the heart.  See picture.
The themes include:

Human Heart
Human Heart Pride
Human Heart Anger
Human Heart Broken Spirit
Human Heart Hatred
Human Heart Self Control
Nature of God
Adultery
Drinking
Tongue
Poverty and Wealth
Industry and Laziness
Home Life
Worthy Woman
Marital Matters
parents and Children
The Nation
Numerical Riddles
Friendship
Name

 

The Bard of Roth Classic Worship Jukebox

How DO We come to Faith?

Eric Metaxas conversion story is presented here.  He was immersed in his humanistic secular world being a Princeton Grad; but then he had a dream.   The dream woke him up to the reality that is found in Christ.  It is a moving story... check it out here.

Revelation 16:20 And every island fled away, and no mountains were to be found.  

The end of revelation 16 reminded me of how my dad and I were playing with a photo on GIMP, and we used Van Gog at its most extreme and it whipped away all of the structures.  All that was left was the sand. The sand led to a background which was pure black. If this happened in real life then it would make me crumble to my knees and pray to our LORD for mercy.   I should pray like this all of the time.  

Reviews: BBC 4 Documentaries: Pop Goes the Bible

Interesting notes from BBC Radio 4 Documentary of the week POP GOES THE BIBLE.  I really thought it was incredibly fun.   Check it out!

Review: The Love and Respect Experience by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs

Review to Come.... I will tell you one thing before my more formal review: I enjoyed this book so much that I bought a copy for my kindle. 

Review Rewrite: The Gospel According to Jesus

 One of my good friends recommended that I rewrite my review for The Gospel According to Jesus.  I hope this review shows a clearer head.   I have kept my other Gospel review in order to maintain my credibility and show that at times one does fall short in writing.  But the big thing is to get up and do it again.  Here is the updated review.   Thank you for your timely criticism, I hope this one is more clear.
The Gospel According to Jesus by Chris Seay

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


What is the gospel?  I had a hard time coming to terms with this question posed by Chris Seay.  It is a question that sent me on a year and a half long journey and nearly cost me my ability to stay connected in the flux of my momentary sanity.  The book tells of a Gospel that speaks to individuals broken from a rebellion from God, to a place of reconciliation.  This place of reconciliation will be a place where a holy people can regain a peaceful relationship with God.

The Gospel According to Jesus, in short, is a brilliant investigation into the Gospel and a stepping stone to a personal journey and revelation into authentic Christianity. He has provided us fellow pilgrims a resource for our Christian Walk.

What I liked about the book:

* The book was a pleasure to read.

* Good resources were provided in the book.  I loved the prayers.

* It kindles a search into Jesus and the Gospels and makes you want to dig deeper.

What I didn’t like about the book:

* As a primary guide it falls short in Christian Theology because it is works based.





View all my reviews

Review: The Fight of Our Lives

William Bennett helped me re-tune to the political spectrum in his book A Century Turns, which was published in 2010.  Now that it is 2011 and Bennett gives room for my fears in the book The Fight For Our Lives.   The Obama administration has exemplified what was wrong with the tenants exposed to me in my 1970’s elementary education, Free To Be You and Me, it allows the Bullies ample room to dictate the rules of the playground. 

But instead of Bullies with large arms and Neanderthal Thoughts, we have a world being run by the terrorists, and our President and Leaders say, "Hey as long as you don't bother us too much, you are free to be the way you see best. Even when this may be a violent notion towards our people."  As if we are asking, "Does it work for you." 

The United States use to reign in the fight for freedom, now we have abandoned our post and let the Barbarous Destructive Theologians free reign to do as they see fit.  This is not good, not good at all.  A bully does not change because they are cuddled and loved.  Bullies change when they know there are consequences to their actions.  This book is a hopeful wake up call to the United States, hopeful in waking the United States up before it is too late.