Disney’s Frankenstein

A CHESSY!!! intro, a droid balancing on a soccer ball! and an inefficient lightsaber! Let’s just say, I am furtherly more disappointed with the upcoming Star Wars film. I mean even the title, “The Force Awakens,” screams “sequel,” not an original idea. (Additionally, how can the Force “awaken” when it’s omniconscious? constantly shifting events, keeping itself in balance. For it was the Force that impregnated Shmi Skywalker with Anakin/Darth Vader to create balance, by defeating Darth Sidious on the second Death Star, and sadly, by nearly wiping out the Jedi, to counteract Darth Plagueis and Darth Sidious tipping the balance of the Force in favor of the Darkside through a Sith ritual (Star Wars: Darth Plagueis), and by dethroning the Jedi Order, which had enjoyed a thousand year reign of light.)  “But J. J. Abrams is directing it, no worries.” Did you watch Star Trek: Into Darkness? It was terrible! Also take note that nowhere in the logo does is says “Episode VII.” And why does the trailer focus on the younger stars? Showing a clip of the Millennium Falcon instead of Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, or Harrison Ford.

(For those who are unaware, yes, a black Stormtrooper is possible. Though some of the Stormtroopers were clones, many more of them were human males who were drafted into the Empire throughout the galaxy. And, it is sad that this particular issue is one of the biggest disputes of the trailer.)

Disney is renowned for using creative license; Elsa being a family-friendly princess in Frozen, instead of being the child kidnapper–the Snow Queen in Hans Christen Anderson’s novel–which inspired the White Witch of Narnia–is a prime example of this. There is a reason that Disney’s “family friendly” fairy tales are more well-known than their darker originals. Disney knows how to manage a business, and how to use creative license to mark their identity, which can be seen from the extent that they went to utilize their license for the upcoming Star Wars film.

Hero

“It must be nice to have magic. And be useful.”

“What’s that supposed to mean?”

“I went out there to help her. But I couldn’t do anything because I’m just . . . ordinary.”

“Henry . . . We are each given our own gifts. You have the heart of the truest believer. You brought us all together. Never think you’re ordinary just because you don’t have magic. . . . Or claws, or . . . or purple shorts. And don’t worry about Emma. She’s a hero, and as we both know–”

[In unison] “Heroes always win.”

(A conversation between Henry and Regina, with comic books in their laps, “Once Upon a Time Season 4, Episode 8 (“Smash the Mirror, Part 1”))

Oh how I can relate to Henry. . . . Still, if you would ask me today, “What do you want to be when you grow up? Anything, no strings attached.” I would answer with: “A superhero.”

Harding Chapel: The Two Pedestals: BOTH Marriage & Singleness in the Protestant Church

Here is a slice of Harding. I know that the quality isn’t the best; but please, do not let that hinder you from hearing this amazing message, shared by Dr. Scott Adair.

http://hu16-vod.harding.edu/CablecastPublicSite/show/1993?channel=1

(Skip to 14:54 for the devo.)

Fear: Phobias

Fear, we all have it, yet different triggers. We all have the same diagnosis, yet experience different symptoms. Ranging from anxiety, to crying, to the fetal position.

Many suffer from arachnophobia. Fear from the small spider they could easily smash. True, there are some spiders that grow to be a size larger than your hand, but, they’re more common in a South American, Asian, or African jungle or desert, than an urbanized neighborhood in the U. S. A fear sparked from a traumatic experience as a kid? Or a natural instinct to avoid that which can harm you, such as the threat from the bite of a brown recluse?

There are many in my generation who suffer from coulrophobia, “fear of clowns.” Does its origins lie from a traumatic experience as a child? such as being held by one as a toddler? Or most likely, the of watching Stephan King’s It at an age too young. With the Joker being a reinforcement of the distrust of those with face make-up and red noses.

Praying for the Past

Can our prayers affect the past?

First off, I’m not omniscient, and I don’t/never will have all the answers. This blog is the exploration of this question and an opinion on it, “Can our prayers affect the past?”

This thought just materialized into my mind one Sunday morning as I was walking to my car after service. When I asked a friend this question, she responded with: “Yes, because we can pray for forgiveness for our past sins.” I fully agree with her, for the blood of Christ ransoms us from all sins–past, present, and future. However, this fact also provides evidence that we can take this thought a step further.

Take into consideration:

1. God is a deity not dominated by time; He created time.

2. Prayer is powerful.

3. We pray for the present and the future. (We can even pray with the possibility to change God’s mind (Genesis 6:6, Exodus 32:14, Jonah 3:10, Luke 18:1-8)).