Merry Christmas! Back January 4th!

Well, I'm off for some long-awaited vacation, but be sure to come back here the first week of January for a look at what's coming in 2010!

Have a fun and deeply purpose-filled Christmas!

-Paeter Frandsen

Avatar (Movie Review)

With movies like Aliens, The Abyss, Terminator 2 and Titanic under his belt, James Cameron has the right to command hype with any film he releases now. And Avatar has had it’s fair share. But how does it stack up after it’s 2 hours and forty minutes are finished and the 3-D glasses come off? That depends entirely on what is important to you in a movie.

Sam Worthington (Terminator: Salvation) plays a paralyzed marine who is chosen to remote control an alien body in order to communicate with the native people on an alien planet. There are two human forces at work. The scientists(good guys), who want to study the planet and it’s people, and the businessmen and their heavily armed mercenary forces(bad guys), who wish to get rid of the aliens and mine the planet for its valuable minerals.

From beginning to end, this flick is a visual feast. I’ve seen a lot of movies, but never before have I watched one with this many visual effects. The credits boast a handful of visual effects studios employed to make this movie happen. Nearly every shot has some element of CGI, not including the constant 3-D effects. The world of Avatar is exotic and lavishly detailed. I have no doubts that this film will get the Oscar in visual effects. For the full experience, do not neglect seeing this movie in 3-D. It will cost a little extra, but you can keep your glasses for the DVD/Blu-ray release and it makes for a much more absorbing experience.

There is also quite a bit of action in the movie. The spirit of adventure and exploration is constantly at work. But try as it might, it won’t carry the movie for some. The plot is very predictable and the entire movie will be charted out by some within the first 20 minutes. This wouldn’t be such a problem if the performances were captivating, but there is not a single character I became invested in. (Very bad for all those action scenes that I’m supposed to be on the edge of my seat for.) The problem is that the movie is being carried by characters rendered by visual effects. Despite this film breaking ground in the shear quantity of visual effects, it makes little progress in the quality of motion capture. CGI characters still look animated in their mouth and facial movements. We miss the subtlety found in a flesh and blood actor’s performances that the digital wizards of the industry haven’t been able to duplicate or capture yet. Without sympathetic characters to ground me, I became numb to the barrage of eye-candy after only about 30 minutes.

The movie has a few concepts and themes that may lead to worthwhile conversation. The “bad guys” are greedy businessmen and a military force anxious for war. The bad guys loosely refer to the aliens as terrorists and the good guys describe the mercenaries as using a “shock and awe” campaign. The movie also draws from a familiar well with its theme of nature preservation. Given these clues, you can probably guess the political affiliations of the filmmakers.

You can also draw comparisons to early American settlers and their conflicts with the Native Americans. Though I can’t tell if the writers are trying to preach a particular message with this theme, or if they are simply drawing from history for inspiration.

It’s also hard to pin-point whether or not this movie supports Pantheistic theology, or is merely using it for inspiration. The alien natives have a clear mental/psychic connection to their planet. Their Deity is synonymous with their planet and they go to their planet in their afterlife. This certainly smells like pantheism. But it is pointed out by one of the scientists that, unlike similar pagan human beliefs, the aliens in this movie actually have a provable biological, neural connection to the vegetation of their planet. So technically, it’s not a spiritual concept, but a physical concept inspired by a theological concept. Either way, it certainly presents opportunity to dissect pantheism if you’re looking for a conversation starter.

So this movie is a mixed bag that some will be content to rent in a few months, particularly if they have a large television. The plot and characters are far from captivating, but those who want to see Hollywood pulling out every stop to demonstrate the cutting edge of the visual effects industry should not miss seeing this movie in 3-D.

Avatar is rated PG-13 for intense epic battle sequences and warfare, sensuality, language and some smoking.

Quality: 8.5/10

Relevance: 8.0/10

Almost But Not Quite!

I came VERY close to releasing part 8 of the Dark Ritual commentary this week, but instead decided to see Avatar so that I could review it for the podcast this weekend. So if you were hoping for the commentary this week, don't let my sacrifice be in vain! Check out my review of Avatar at spiritblade.net/paeter or hear it on the podcast this weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Non-Stop Christmas!

Wish I had some progress to report, but I ended up taking today off to get ready for some Christmas caroling! And you're welcome to join me if you live in the Phoenix/Mesa area! See the info at:

http://paetersbrain.blogspot.com/2009/12/christmas-caroling-with-purpose.html

Anyway, better get back to gathering inventory for assembling gift baskets! Hopefully I'll have some "spirit bladey" stuff for you on Friday!

-Paeter Frandsen

The Other Christmas Story

Most folks with a Christmas tradition that involves reading the Biblical "Christmas Story" turn to the second chapter of Luke's gospel. It's a very descriptive and detailed account, which is why it is read so often around Christmas. But there is a fantastic follow-up to this chapter that you might consider adding to your Christmas tradition.

In John, chapter 1, verses 1-14, we see a picture of Christ painted for us that lifts away the veil and reveals the truth and significance of the Christmas story in a way that Luke doesn't. Luke tells the story from the viewpoint of third-dimensional physical existence. John tells the story closer to God's viewpoint, recognizing the cosmic reality of who Jesus is.

You'll notice that John uses the odd title "The Word", to describe Jesus. He describes "The Word" as having existed before ANYTHING else. The Creator of everything that DOES exist. The giver and sustainer of ALL life, and a being that can NEVER be overcome by evil. He also said that "The Word" became flesh and lived among humans.

Imagine that concept for a second. If you're a sci-fi buff (and if you're reading this, chances are good that you are) you may be familiar with the science-fiction concept of a non-linear being. A being existing outside the confines of time and the 3rd dimension. Although this concept is represented in various ways in sci-fi and fantasy stories, ultimately it is portrayed in physical images for our linear, 3rd dimensional brains. In the end, we simply can't comprehend the concept of a non-linear, non-physical being.

Now consider that this infinite, timeless God chose, in ways we can't fully understand, to limit himself to the life of a human. Stew on that for a minute and try to comprehend it. God and human... at the same time. Jesus says later in Chapter 10, verse 30, "The Father and I are one." And later on in chapter 14, verse 9, "Anyone who has seen me has seen the Father." Even wilder concepts still. 

The Hebrews of the time understood "The Word" to be the acting power behind creation (Psalm 33:6) and would also have understood it to make reference to God's law and goodness.

The Greek philosophers of the day would have recognized the Greek word used for "Word" here: logos. In Greek philosophy this word was a reference to the divine source and sustainer of all things in the universe. John was writing so that both Hebrews and Greeks would clearly understand that Jesus is God in every sense.

And keep in mind, Jesus did not become God more and more as he grew older on earth. He was just as much God on the night of his birth as he was when he rose from death. Infinite, unknowable power packaged in such a weak and helpless form. Even setting aside the cross for a moment, we will never fully know what the God of the Universe gave up to live as one of us.

This is the true wonder of Christmas!

The Christmas Wars?

Can someone explain the whole "Christmas Wars" thing to me? I'm referring to the cultural controversy that seems to simmer every year centered on a battle between the phrases "Merry Christmas" and "Happy Holidays".
This year, Focus On The Family launched a campaign to help identify retailers that are more "Christmas Friendly", using the term "Christmas" in their business practices instead of "holidays", etc. You can check out the site for yourself at: http://standforchristmas.com/
The Focus site says of retails stores:
They want your patronage and your gift-shopping dollars, but do they openly recognize Christmas?
I could be mistaken, but it seems Focus On The Family wants to encourage shopping at places that (at least in some superficial way) acknowledge Christmas and to discourage shopping at stores that do not.
I'm not quite ready to wag my finger at this, because no one has explained to me the Biblical basis for this kind of behavior. But I do find it extremely puzzling. It also seems to promote a kind of "us versus them" mentality, concerning Christians and non-believers. In essence, Focus is saying to unbelievers in control of retail stores to "recognize our Christian religious holiday or we won't shop at your store." It's not quite like saying "be a Christian or else", but it leaves a similar taste in my mouth.
What I see in scripture seems to inspire a different action than what I see in the "Stand for Christmas" campaign.
In 1st Corinthians, Paul is commanding the Corinthian church to address sin within their own community of believers. In verse 9 he clarifies that when he said not to associate with immoral people, he was referring to people who called themselves Christians (or "brothers") but lived in an immoral way. Regarding the behavior of outsiders, Paul says that he has nothing to do with them (verse 12) and that God will judge those outside of the church, so we ought to worry instead about behavior within the community of believers.(verse 13) Paul does not expect non-believers to behave in a Christian way. Why should we?
The second issue here is that Christmas is not a holiday that scripture requires even Christians to observe, let alone non-Christians. If anything, we see a lack of importance given to "holy days" in the New Testament. (See Romans 14:5 and surrounding context) There's nothing bad about even a Christian not celebrating Christmas if they do it because they believe they can better serve and love God that way.
Is a recognition of Christmas as a holiday in retail stores really the best way to lead people to Christ? Perhaps instead we can aim to be good stewards of the financial blessings God has given us and look for good prices as we shop. Instead of evaluating the "Christmas friendliness" of retails stores(which by the way, are likely to sell many books and movies that are not "Christ-friendly" either way), maybe we can put our minds to work over how to engage those around us with the love Christ wants us to give and the truth he wants us to express.
How can I make opportunity for meaningful discussion with that uncle that makes me uncomfortable? How can I show my buddy that I still think well of him, even if we don't believe the same things about God? How can I use my conversations this Christmas season to stimulate discussion and provoke thought that will lead myself and others to consider the wonder of who God is and what he has done for us?
I think it would be wonderful if influential Christian organizations like Focus On The Family redirected their time and resources toward equipping us to lovingly and intelligently engage those around us with truth. But if they'd like to continue with their current strategy, I'd greatly appreciate it if they or someone else could come forward with a scriptural explanation and basis for the "Stand For Christmas" campaign so that I might see the value in it and consider supporting the idea. As it stands now, I'm left only with my concern...
-Paeter Frandsen

Truth In The Songs Of Christmas

Angels From The Realms Of Glory

Angels from the realms of glory, wing your flight o’er
all the earth. Ye who sang creation’s story, now proclaim Messiah’s birth! Come
and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!

Shepherds in the fields abiding, watching o’er your
flocks by night, God with man is now residing. Yonder shines the infant light.
Come and worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!

Sages, leave your contemplations, brighter visions beam
afar. Seek the great desire of nations. Ye have seen his natal star. Come and
worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!

Saints before the altar bending, watching long in hope
and fear, suddenly the Lord, descending, in His temple shall appear. Come and
worship! Come and worship! Worship Christ the newborn king!

Although the title suggests a song focusing on the angels
of Christmas, each verse focuses on a different group from the Christmas story,
including present day believers who now anticipate Christ’s coming to judge the
world. (Malachi 3:1)

The phrase “desire of nations” comes from Haggai 2:7,
where God speaks of both the temple and the Messiah. This song reminds me that
the truth of God becoming a man is for all. Cosmic angelic creatures, blue
collar workers leading simple lives, philosophers who may think Christ or
Christianity is beneath their complex contemplations, and believers, who place
faith and hope in Christ’s promise to come and remake the world. All are called
to come and worship Christ, the King of the Universe.

Angels We Have Heard On High

Angels we have heard on high, sweetly singing o’er the
plains, and the mountains, in reply, echo back their joyous strains. Gloria in
excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Shepherds, why this jubilee? Why your joyous strains
prolong? Say what may the tidings be which inspire your heavenly song? Gloria
in excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

Come to Bethlehem and see Him whose birth the angels
sing. Come, adore on bended knee Christ the Lord, the newborn King. Gloria in
excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

See within a manger laid Jesus, Lord of heav’n and
earth! Mary, Joseph, lend your aid. With us sing our Savior’s birth. Gloria in
excelsis Deo! Gloria in excelsis Deo!

An ancient tradition of shepherds in southern France was
to call to one another from the hilltops during the Christmas season, singing
the angelic phrase “Gloria in excelsis Deo!”, which translated from Latin
means, “Glory to God in the highest!” Although they used the same tune we now
sing, the verses were added years after this tradition began.

The word Jubilee is commonly accepted today as a term for
celebration. In Leviticus 25, it is a time during which property is given back
to its original owner. Although probably unintentional in the author's writing
of this text, it is interesting to note that Christ came to give us back the
life we threw away by sinning.

Hark The Herald Angels Sing

Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the newborn
King! Peace on earth and mercy mild, God and sinners reconciled!” Joyful, all
ye nations, rise! Join the triumph of the skies! With th’angelic host proclaim,
“Christ is born in Bethlehem!” Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the
newborn King!”

Christ, by highest heav’n adored. Christ, the
everlasting Lord! Late in time behold Him come, offspring of the virgin’s womb.
Veiled in flesh, the Godhead see. Hail the incarnate Deity, pleased as man with
men to dwell, Jesus, our Emmanuel. Hark! The herald angels sing, “Glory to the
newborn King!”

Hail the heav’n-born Prince of Peace! Hail the Sun of
Righteousness! Light and life to all He brings, ris’n with healing in His
wings. Mild, He lays His glory by, born that man no more may die. Born to raise
the sons of earth. Born to give them second birth. Hark! The herald angels
sing, “Glory to the newborn King!”

This song is filled to the brim with wonderful truth. It
is first helpful to understand the old English which can keep us from hearing
the message of this song. Ironically, that is the exact opposite effect the
author would prefer. The original first line read, "Hark how all the
welkin rings", but as the language became dated, Charles Wesley, author of
the text, made changes to modernize it and make it more understandable. A few
other hands were involved in further modifications in keeping with the times.
However at some point, despite previous efforts on the author's part, tradition
locked it into its current state.

Hark comes from the word harken, which means “listen”. A
herald is an announcement. So to “Hark the herald angels sing” means to “listen
to the announcement” the angels sing. And in this song, the announcement is the
Good News in a nutshell: God and sinners are being reconciled. The relationship
between them is being repaired.

This is news worth getting excited about! It means that
mankind, by the power of Christ, can have triumph over death, hence the
“triumph of the skies” we are encouraged to join in celebrating. The second
verse talks about the mystery and wonder of God becoming man. Christ, who is
adored in heaven, who is the eternal, everlasting Lord, was born into flesh. As
a man, Christ was still part of the Godhead, but “veiled in flesh”. He was
content to live as a man among men; To be Emmanuel, “God with
us”.

The last verse makes reference to Christ’s coming judgment
by quoting Malachi 4:1-2. The Lord warns of the coming judgment where the
wicked will be burned up and completely consumed, but for those who fear the
name of the Lord, the “Sun of Righteousness” will rise “with healing in his
wings”, and will set free those who believe in the Lord. How is this possible?
It was Christ’s mission, as the rest of the verse explains. Paraphrased, it
says:

Mildly, the eternal God laid down his infinite glory,
and was born so that man would not have to die anymore. He was born to raise
humanity (the sons of earth) from the dead, and give them a second birth. For
this reason, listen to the announcement the angels sing, “Glory to the King of
the Universe, who has just been born.”

Joy To The World! The Lord Is Come

Joy to the world! The Lord is come. Let earth receive
her king. Let every heart prepare Him room, and heav’n and nature sing.

Joy to the earth! The Savior reigns. Let men their
songs employ while fields and floods, rocks hills and plains repeat the
sounding joy.

No more let sins and sorrows grow, nor thorns infest
the ground. He comes to make His blessings flow far as the curse is found.

Based on themes in Psalm 98, this is not really a
“Christmas” song. Psalm 98 is in anticipation of Christ coming to rule the
earth. My favorite verse is the third. When sin came into the world, death came
with it, effecting not just people, but the world in which we live. One day,
Christ will make a new earth, where there will be no sin and no corruption in
nature, such as the thorns that infest the ground. He will make his blessings
flow wherever the curse of sin is found, and death will be eradicated.

O Come, All Ye Faithful

O come, all ye faithful, joyful and triumphant. O come
ye, o come ye to Bethlehem. Come and behold Him, born the King of angels. O
come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ
the Lord.

God of God, and Light of Light begotten. Lo, He abhors
not the virgin’s womb. Very God, begotten, not created. O come let us adore
Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord.

Sing, choirs of angels. Sing in exultation! O sing all
ye citizens of heav’n above. Glory to God, all glory in the highest. O come let
us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the
Lord.

Yea, Lord, we greet thee, born this happy morning.
Jesus to Thee be all glory giv’n. Word of the Father, now in flesh appearing. O
come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ
the Lord.

If you are one of the faithful, or one “full of faith” in
the Lord, you can come into the Christmas season full of Joy, because Christ
has made it possible for you to know God personally. You can also celebrate the
season with a sense of triumph, because you know that Christ has given you
victory over death. For this reason, we begin this song singing “Come, all ye faithful,
joyful and triumphant.”

This song is a call to worship for all believers. We’re to
come and “adore” Him. To worship and honor Him, recognizing that he is God.
We’re to focus our minds on the baby who, amazingly, was born a King. And not
just any king, but the King of angels. Angels.... terrifying, awe-inspiring
cosmic creatures with power beyond our ability to imagine, trembled and
worshiped in the presence of this baby Jesus.

The second verse attempts to describe the eternal nature
of Christ, along with His complete humanity. He is God and He is Light, yet he
was willing to sit inside a womb. Like us, He was “begotten” or “caused by an
effect”. Unlike us, He was not created. Simply wrestling with that paradox
reminds me of the incomprehensible nature of Christ’s being.

In the third verse, it is unclear exactly who is implied
by the “citizens of heaven”, but is exciting to think that those we have lost
that are now with Christ are worshiping Him with us whenever we express our
love and adoration for Jesus. In that way, whenever we have a worship service,
ALL believers are joined together.

In John 1, we are told that “The Word” created everything
that is. Everything that exists anywhere was made by “The Word”. The final
verse of this song reminds us that the creator of reality itself became flesh
and bone. Even if He had done nothing else but that, He would deserve our
unending praise. This song doesn’t even call attention to what He has done, but
calls us to adore Him simply for who He is.

O Come, O Come, Emmanuel

O come, O come Emmanuel and ransom captive Israel that
morns in lonely exile here until the Son of God appear. Rejoice, Rejoice!
Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

O come Thou Rod of Jesse. Free Thine own from satan’s
tyranny. From depths of hell Thy people save and give them vict’ry o’er the grave.
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

O come, Thou Dayspring, come and cheer our spirits by
Thine advent here, and drive away the shades of night and pierce the clouds and
bring us light! Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

O come Thou Key of David, come and open wide our
heav’nly home. Make safe the way that leads on high and close the path to
misery. Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

O come, Desire of nations. Bind all peoples in one
heart and mind. Bid envy, strife and quarrels cease. Fill all the world with
heaven’s peace. Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

O come Thou Wisdom from on high and order all things
far and nigh. To us the path of knowledge show and cause us in Thy way to go.
Rejoice, Rejoice! Emmanuel shall come to thee O Israel!

This song finds its origins in medieval monasteries, where
the numerous verses were originally sung by specific monks, during specific
days before Christmas, without the refrain “Rejoice, rejoice…” which was added
later. It highlights various prophecies about Jesus from the Old Testament:

The first verse remembers Israel's prayer that the Messiah
would come and “ransom” them from their captivity to Babylon.

The "Rod of Jesse" reference is from Isaiah
11:1.  A rod or a shoot would grow from
the line of Jesse, and He would be filled with the Holy Spirit and rule with
fairness and righteousness.

"Dayspring" comes from Zechariah’s prophecy in
Luke 1:78-79. Zechariah said that because of God’s mercy, a light from heaven
would come to show us the path to peace. Light from heaven is translated as
Dayspring in the King James, a reference to the sunrise.

"Key of David" is first referenced in Isaiah
22:22. The Key was a symbol of authority, allowing you to grant or block
access, and the one who had the Key of David had the highest authority. This
verse reminds us that Christ has the power and authority to grant access to
heaven.

The phrase “Desire of Nations” comes from Haggai 2:7,
where God speaks of both the temple and the Messiah who would be present on
earth with us.

In 1 Corinthians 1:30, it’s said that “For our benefit God
made Christ to be wisdom itself. He is the one who made us acceptable to God.
He made us pure and holy, and He gave Himself to purchase our freedom.”

As I sing this song, I think of Israel today, and how as a
whole, they have rejected Christ and are still waiting for the Messiah. When we
think of this song now, we can change the word “shall” to “has”, and pray that
God’s chosen nation would recognize their Savior, and that He has ransomed
their lives with His own.

Silent Night! Holy Night!

Silent night! Holy night! All is calm, all is bright
‘round yon virgin mother and Child. Holy Infant so tender and mild, sleep in heavenly
peace.

Silent night! Holy night! Shepherds quake at the sight:
Glories stream from heaven afar, heav’nly hosts sing “Alleluia! Christ the
Savior is born!”

Silent night! Holy night! Son of God, love pure light,
radiant, beams from Thy holy face with the dawn of redeeming grace. Jesus, Lord
at Thy birth.

Alternate
Translation:

Silent
night, holy night. All is dark, save the light shining where the mother mild
watches over the holy child. Sleep in heavenly peace.

Silent
night, holy night. Shepherds first saw the sight, heard the angels song,
“alleluia”, loud proclaiming near and far. “Christ our savior is here.”

Silent
night, holy night, God's own son, oh, how bright shines the love in thy holy
face, shines the light of redemption and grace. Christ the incarnate God.

This text is translated from the original German text of
“Stille Nacht”. I believe this song has been misunderstood, as many Hymns have,
because the musical phrasing does not lend itself to comprehension of the
sentence structure.  I have included
another translation from the same German text. To better understand the
traditional translation, I would also humbly offer this paraphrase, which will
hopefully express what I believe to be the original meaning of the traditional
translation.

Paeter's Paraphrase:

Silent night, holy night. Everything is calm, and yet
everything is bright around this virgin mother and her Child.

Tender, holy and mild Infant, Sleep. Sleep with a peace
that is like the peace experienced in heaven.

Shepherds shake with fear at the sight of glorious beams
of light from heaven. Meanwhile, angels sing “Alleluia! Christ the savior has
been born!”

Son of God, the pure light of love is beaming radiantly
from your holy face. It’s beaming with the beginning of grace that will be
given to redeem the world. From the moment you were born, Jesus, You were Lord
over everything.

Beat Collection

Well, I still can't say what the "Secret Project" is for 2010, but I can tell you that I'm FINALLY working on it again after spending half the week in a mountain of e-mails. That's what happens when I take a few days off, and it's likely fixin' to happen again! I'll be taking several days off next week, so I apologize in advance if I'm a little slow to answer e-mails.

Anyway, as far the Secret Project goes, I can say that I found some really cool beats this week for one of the songs I'm working on for it. Some hard, even nasty sounding percussion that dirties things up in a way that makes me feel all warm inside. Can't wait to start stitching the song together!

-Paeter Frandsen

O Come O Come Emmanuel!

 

Well, it's Christmas time again, and all you "Bladers" that have been here since the beginning know what that means! My dark, electronic rendition of "O Come O Come Emmanuel" is back up at spiritblade.net for free download!

As is customary each year, I did just a teeny bit of tweaking to the audio (because art is never finished, just abandoned) and added some embedded artwork. You can get it now at www.spiritblade.net/freestuff ! But only during the month of December!

Enjoy!

-Paeter Frandsen

In Search Of Truth, 2 Corinthians 5:1-4

 

In an effort to “fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen”, we’re going to spend a little extra time looking at the first few verses of chapter 5. At the beginning of this chapter, Paul gives us a glimpse of what the future holds for those who trust their eternal existence to Jesus.

 

The “earthly tent” refers to the current physical body a believer has and the “building from God” refers to the kind of body believers will be given in the future and keep for eternity. There are a few details we can gather about these future bodies from verse 1.

 

They will be created for us by God and will not simply be improvements on our existing bodies. The phrase “made with hands” was used by Jesus to describe his own body before crucifixion (a body formed through biological process, despite being conceived miraculously) and he used the same Greek phrase “made without hands” to describe his resurrection body as we see here. (Mark 14:58) Jesus said his first body would be destroyed and another built in its place. Jesus served as the first of all believers who would be given new bodies in this way. (1 Corinthians 15:20) Therefore, if he started with a body “made with hands” and was resurrected with one made by God, so will all believers.

 

These bodies will also be “eternal”. The Greek communicates the idea here of being non-temporary, unable to be lost, broken or destroyed. The life these bodies have will be as eternal and everlasting as God himself!

 

Notice that Paul says that we “have” these bodies right now. They already belong to us, though the time to claim them won’t come until later. Currently, they are “in the heavens”, meaning with God, as the term “heaven” commonly implies in its New Testament usage.

 

As our bodies are now, we all long for something better. We look at ourselves and see our physical flaws, our shortcomings, our weakness or dysfunction. (v.2) Public nakedness is a shameful state, but with our new bodies, we will be “clothed” in some way, without shame of any kind.(v.3) Our natural mortality will be “swallowed up” by life. The Greek word here for “life” refers to the highest and best form of life possible. Whatever life may be like for believers in eternity, it will not include any of the negative aspects of life here on earth in the bodies we live in now. (v.4)

 

Next Week

 

Gaining Some More “Eternal Perspective”

 

Coffee House Question

 

What aspect of living in your body would you most like to live without?

 

Ninja Assassin (Movie Review)

Ninja Assassin grabbed me with it's visually exciting trailer and the fact the that Wachowski brothers were producing. But they should have stuck to just making the trailer this time.

Fans of old school martial arts movies with there unrealistic violence (guy gets stabbed 10 times and keeps on fighting like nothing happened) will enjoy this throwback that that level of realism. With a lot of action and blood spraying everywhere, this is a visually intense movie. At first. But the shocking combat violence that starts the movie and had me on the edge of my seat gave way to repetitive CGI blood splattering that was over the top, fake and devoid of emotional intensity. How many times can you really be shocked by a pint of blood squirting out of a single wound? Add to this the fact that the blood looks extremely digital and you've got an experience that seems to be shooting for "style over substance", but doesn't even quite get that right.

I will say that many of the action scenes are a real pleasure to watch, despite the blood FX. The cast is composed of people who can execute fight scenes extremely well and the movie shines in this department. If you want some cool, violent, ninja action, you won't want to miss this flick. Sound effects and complimentary CGI give the action some comic book, over the top flavor that is mostly cool, rather than fake. (But yeah, still a little fake.)

Anything beyond that will likely escape you, however. The script, despite being co-written by comic book giant J. Michael Straczynski, drops the ball by giving us an unneeded b-plot that centers on a female international police-type person investigating the hidden world of Ninjas. She is naturally caught up in a dangerous world she had no idea existed and blah blah blah... Her character is never given any substance and so I couldn't have cared less about what was happening to her. They would have done much better to spend more time on the protagonist. A Ninja who defected from his clan of assassins and is now on the run from them. His back-story had far greater potential and some very good moments. Straczynski's comic book banter came through with a few cute one-liners, but the actors didn't seem to know what to do with them, making them feel out of character and out of place for the movie.

The cast, as I mentioned, is composed of many very good stuntmen, but no strong actors. The "B-plot" actors did alright much of the time, but gave me no reason to invest in them. Our "good-guy ninja" had little personality, but a good plot thread to keep me interested.

This movie is highly unlikely to lead to worthwhile conversation. One character briefly states that "everything has a heart", even plants and trees. This, along with obvious elements of revenge and a misguided sense of "honor" in the Ninja clan might act as springboards for conversation, but the movie is not written well enough to provoke any significant thought and is ultimately a fun but forgettable experience.

Rated R for strong bloody stylized violence throughout, and language

Quality: 7.0/10

Relevance: 5.0/10

Smokin' Deals!!

 

For some crazy reason I'm virtually GIVING stuff away again this Christmas season! Just like last year, you can buy the 3 Disc set of "Dark Ritual" and get the 2 Disc set of "Spirit Blade" for FREE! And now, buy one "Pilgrim's Progress" and you can "gift" one for FREE!

Check the deals out while they last at www.spiritblade.net !

In Search Of Truth, 2 Corinthians 4:10-18

 

Paul refers to his suffering as “carrying around the death of Jesus” in his body. Paul made the point in previous verses that his own weakness and frailty showcases the power of God by contrast, as God uses Paul despite his weakness. The same idea is continued in verses 10-12. In the Greek, the phrase “life of Jesus” doesn’t refer to biological life, but to the spiritual being. So, although following Christ can be difficult, even painful at times, there is great potential for Christ himself to be “revealed” in those times.

 

Have you ever been encouraged by another believer who was experiencing pain or difficulty? As odd as it sounds, we can sometimes be most effective in encouraging others when we’re experiencing pain. As we maintain our trust and dependence on God in the middle of suffering, others can sometimes see that and find themselves trusting God more as a result. We may not even be thinking about trying to encourage anyone. (In fact, we’re likely just holding on to God for every breath!) But God can use those moments of our weakness to impact others with the “life” of Christ (v. 12) in ways we’re completely unaware of and may never even see in this life.

 

Paul quotes a fraction of Psalm 116:10 to illustrate the natural behavior of genuine faith. It leads to speech. Let’s be clear, faith is not measured by the amount of speaking or “witnessing” we do. But think about it for a minute. If you are passionate about something, if you believe in a cause, admire a person or love a movie, you talk about it with someone. The same is true of our faith. If we are passionate about it, it will “show up” in our conversations and activities. (v.13)

 

Why does Paul believe? Look at verse 14. Because he “knows” that Jesus was raised from the dead and that he (Paul) and all believers will be raised, physically, from the dead as well. The Greek word used here for “know” means to perceive with the eyes or some other sense. Paul was an eyewitness to the reality of Christ’s resurrection (Acts 9) and this was the basis for his faith. The Bible does not ask us to believe blindly, but to search out truth and use our minds. A few verses on this theme worth checking out include:

1 Corinthians 15:14, Isaiah 1:18 , Mark 12:30, Proverbs 25:2 and Acts 17:10-11.

 

The amazing promises of the Bible can seem fantastical. They can be easy to compartmentalize into a back corner of our mind that “believes” in a sense, but not in the same way that we believe the sun will appear tomorrow. But there is no need to keep our faith in that emaciated condition. The Bible asks to be scrutinized, because it can take it. If your faith is fading because of doubt, seek out the evidence for the truth of scripture and you will begin to develop the kind of “eyewitness” faith that Paul had. The kind of faith that sees the eventual bodily resurrection of believers to be just as real as the computer screen in front of you.

 

Paul recognized that his ministry, with all the pain it brought with it, was for the benefit of the Corinthians. Paul was being used as a tool of God’s undeserved favor (grace) toward the Corinthians, so that they would ultimately live lives that recognized who God is and what he has done for them, and repeatedly thank God as a result. (v.15)

 

It’s this perspective that “renews” Paul’s attitude and keeps him from “losing heart”, even though he is experiencing severe difficulty. He knows he will eventually share in an “eternal glory” that outweighs any difficulty he can potentially experience in this life.

 

So what is this “eternal glory”? Romans 8:17 indicates that believers will be “co-heirs” with Christ. We will share in everything that he possesses. Imagine that for a moment. We will have all the wealth, excitement, and discovery that can be potentially found in what an eternal, infinite God has to offer us. According to this verse we will also share in Christ’s “glory”, meaning we will reflect who he is. We will become like Christ(1 John 3:2) and become perfect reflections of who he is. All the aspirations we may have for who we want to be and what we hope to accomplish will seem like nothing when we become perfect reflections of Christ. And this future we look forward to will never fade, or become stale. Unlike the temporary things of this life, believers will eventually have fulfillment that lasts forever.

 

Next Week

 

A Glimpse Of What Is To Come

 

Coffee House Question

 

Have you ever met a believer in pain, or heard a story of one, that encouraged you to put more trust in God? Don’t be shy! Let’s hear about it! (‘cuz we all need encouragement, too!)

 

 

The Box (Movie Review)

Although the trailers for “The Box” were not flashy or filled with special effects, the premise caught my interest and I had the feeling that this movie would provide a unique experience in some way. I was right.

Within the first 20 minutes of the film, I felt as though I were watching an episode of the classic “Twilight Zone” tv series. A couple experiencing financial frustrations is offered a strange box by an even stranger visitor. They are told that if they press the button on the box, they will be given 1 million dollars… and someone they do not know will die.

The obvious moral dilemma plays out in ways one might expect, but the mysterious origins of the box and the stranger kept me interested in seeing where the story was heading. Odd happenings begin to pile up around our main characters, setting a weird and sometimes creepy atmosphere in which the story unfolds.

It’s obvious that effort was made to re-create a “classic sci-fi” feel to the film. The story is set in the 1970’s (which somehow aided the strange feel of the movie) and the score feels a bit like 1950’s sci-fi scoring, but with a modern enough sound to never feel antiquated.

Performances were handled well by all involved and the script portrays the lead characters realistically in most respects. Special effects are few and nothing new, but not particularly bad. Where the movie fails a bit is in the last third of the movie, where the nature of the antagonist is revealed(though not fully) and feels a bit unoriginal. Considering how effective the movie is at setting up a complex mystery, it fails to deliver a satisfying reveal.

This movie easily provides opportunity for meaningful discussion. It presents an unforgiving view of natural human tendency(that of selfishness). Do we value human life when it is not someone we personally know? Additionally, two references to Jean-Paul Sartre and one character’s “afterlife” experience make this an undeniably philosophical film. Given that Sartre was an Existentialist, there is nothing concrete or objective stated about the afterlife (as most forms of existentialism teach that meaning and religious truth are created by and for the individual only), but it is certainly implied in the film that, much like dogs apparently do, all protagonists go to heaven. Or at least to a “warm embrace”, as the script describes it in character dialogue.

Overall, this is a good movie that “Twilight Zone” or classic sci-fi fans should definitely not miss, but that has a third act that may not satisfy some. It plays with themes of human moral nature, right and wrong, the value of human life and the afterlife, all of which could easily lead to good discussion afterward.

Rated PG-13 for thematic elements, some violence and disturbing images.

Quality: 8.5/10

Relevance: 8.5/10

Secret Project Starting Up!

 

If you've been to spiritblade.net recently, you may have noticed that there is a "Secret Project" due to be released during the first half of 2010. No, it's not the Spirit Blade Audiobook, but it's something fans of the Spirit Blade series will dig, and something I've been excited about doing for a little while now. 

Anyway, I just wanted to let you know that I've started working on it again as of this week (I've already spent some time working on it during the production of "Pilgrim's Progress") and it's coming along great! I've been through a few sound effects and musical ideas to narrow down the basic feel of what I want and today things started coming together nicely. My wife got a preview and it brought a wide grin to her face. Hopefully it will do the same for you in a few more months!

-Paeter Frandsen 

The Dark Ritual Commentary Part 7 Is Here!

 

Part 7 of the Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual Interactive Audio Commentary is now available to download for free at www.spiritblade.net/freestuff !

What wildly alternate sequence was replaced in the final version of the script? What went horribly wrong during the recording of "Veritas"? And what does "Dark Ritual" say about questioning your own religious beliefs? All this and a fart joke await you! Don't miss out!

-Paeter Frandsen

In Search Of Truth, 2 Corinthians 4:1-9

 

After stressing the superior ministry of the Holy Spirit (versus the ministry of the Old Testament Law), Paul points to it as the reason he does not lose heart, even though he constantly faced both physical and emotional pain and danger. (v.1)

Because the strength of Paul’s ministry does not rely on himself or his reputation, he lives his life transparently, without secret habits hidden to protect his public approval. He also doesn’t use his leadership position to manipulate people through his teaching.  It can be an easy thing to look at scripture and “make it say” something that it doesn’t. But Paul was committed to presenting only the truth to others. He let everyone see who he really was and allowed them to evaluate him in the presence of God.(v.2)

Paul models confidence so well for us. We’re often told today that we need more self-confidence and more self-esteem, but as we examine ourselves, we find ourselves repeatedly disappointed by a lack of reasons for self-confidence. But Paul’s sense of self worth and purpose was completely wrapped up in the Holy Spirit, not in his own strengths and accomplishments.

The active power of the Holy Spirit does not mean that the truth cannot be obscured. Paul says that for those who are perishing (in other words, those who are on the road to rejecting God forever) a “veil” created by Satan (the “god of this age”) has been placed over the good news(“gospel”) of who Christ is(his “glory”) and what he reveals about God (being God’s “image”) and his loving gift of redemption. This veil blinds and enables those who do not want God to interfere with their lives. (v.3-4)

Paul again deflects the importance of his reputation, stating that he preaches CHRIST is Lord, not himself. And that he is serving the Corinthians for the sake of Jesus. Paul does what he does because of the powerful compelling of God inside him. The same God who spoke light and creation into existence, put a “light” within Paul that revealed the knowledge of who God is (his “glory) and who Christ is. (v.5-6)

Clay jars in Paul’s time were cheaply available and often broke. So when Paul says that the treasure he has (the knowledge, worth and purpose given to him by God) is stored in a jar of clay, he’s referring to his own body and weakness, which contrast the power and effectiveness God has given him, and makes it easy to see that Paul is not the source of his own strength. (v.7)

Paul is no stranger to pain, but take a more careful look at verses 8 and 9. Although he experiences difficulty, Paul knows that he is never ultimately defeated by his difficulties. As we’ll see later in verse 17, Paul has an eternal perspective and knows that whatever pain or difficulty he experiences now is temporary. Even ongoing, life-long pain is only a dot on the line of eternity.

But how can we gain the same perspective? When life is assaulting us with difficulty and pain, how can we have realistic hope? How do we develop the kind of faith that sees the world and our lives so differently than we naturally do?

Romans 10:17 says that “faith comes from hearing the message”. In that context, “the message” refers to who Christ is and what he has done for us. The entire Bible has been given to us so that we can better understand that message. The more time we spend in the Bible, the more our worldview will be affected.

The Psalms are a wonderful place to read from regularly, in or out of pain. The Psalmists openly expressed fear, doubt and anger to God, but they also recognized him for who he was and what he had done. At the end of the day, even in their difficulties, they knew to trust him. We can learn to trust him too!

A few Psalms you might find helpful include chapters 13, 27, 33,103 and 111.

Next Week

More Perspective On Purpose Amidst Pain

Coffee House Question

What passage or verse in the Bible have you found to be helpful when you’ve encountered pain or difficulty in your life?

 

Spirit Blade Audiobook On The Horizon!

 

With the main thrust of my publicity efforts for "Pilgrim's Progress" slowing down, I'm finally finding time to give attention to the next project on my list: The Spirit Blade Audiobook!

"But wait a minute. We've got a Spirit Blade Audio Drama. Isn't an audiobook a bit of a step back?"

Not in this case. For one thing, this audiobook is actually the unpublished novel that I wrote which, after numerous changes and restructuring, formed the basis for both Spirit Blade and Spirit Blade: Dark Ritual! Far from a re-treading of what you've already heard, the Spirit Blade audiobook will be a very different story with new characters and plot threads you've never seen or heard before!

Like the "Pilgrim's Progress" audiobook bonus feature included with our latest audio drama, this audiobook will be enhanced with sound effects and a musical score, drawing some scoring from Spirit Blade and Dark Ritual to maintain a tone similar to those projects.

But unlike our previous projects, the Spirit Blade Audiobook will be available for free!

Recording for the project is finished and production has already begun. So keep your ears open for this one in the next few months!

-Paeter Frandsen

Powering Through Publicity

 

Although I had hoped to speed through my "publicity e-mails" for Pilgrim's Progress in a single day this week, my memory has not served me well regarding how long this sort of thing takes and how I want to approach it. It just takes time, plain and simple.

I'm still hoping to "power through" the bulk of my e-mail publicity stuff this week, but I'm interjecting some other work as well, to prevent me from going insane from the mind-numbing tedium of it all!

Some grand and distant day when I have money I'm going to be paying someone else to do this...

-Paeter Frandsen

In Search Of Truth, 2nd Corinthians 3:7-18

 

As Paul compares the ministry of the Old Covenant (or, we might say Old Agreement) to the ministry of the new one, he refers to Exodus 34:29-35, where Moses comes down from Mount Sinai with instructions from God on stone tablets, and his face is literally glowing because of the time he spent with God. But the radiance didn’t last forever. And the delivery of God’s instructions to humanity did not solve our sin problem.

Still, there is a real glory in the “Old Agreement” that we are often quick to dismiss. The Greek word Paul uses here for “glory” is “Doxa” and refers to a revealed appearance or reputation. God’s “glory” reveals who he is!

Many Christians today view the Old Testament as obsolete and unneeded. But the Old Testament gives us a detailed picture of who God is and what he cares about! It may be difficult to understand at times and more suited for study than for casual reading, but Paul says that there is glory in it, and we don’t do ourselves any favors by neglecting it.

That said, Paul goes on to say that the New Covenant, God’s new way of relating with people, is even more glorious. (v.7-8) The Holy Spirit, God himself, actually lives inside every believer in some mysterious way. This connection to God has greater impact and is far superior to merely receiving instructions from God. We might compare it to reading a letter from someone verses being married to someone!

As we observed last time, the Law only announced condemnation. The Holy Spirit actually makes us completely righteous in the eyes of God! (v. 9)

Although by itself, the Old arrangement between God and humanity revealed who God is, it reveals nothing in comparison to a life lived intimately connected to God through the Holy Spirit! The Law was static and etched in stone. Moses experience on the mountain faded. But the Holy Spirit produces lasting and ongoing change in the life of the Christian.(v.10-11)

The firm and reliable hope Paul had because of this immense change in the God-Humanity status quo, gave Paul the ability to be bold in his speaking and teaching. (v. 12)

Paul says that because of Moses’ veil, the Israelites couldn’t see the radiance left by God fading from his face.(v. 13) They couldn’t see that the outward sign of being in the presence of God was fading. And up until Paul’s day (and still in many places today!), people don’t see the truth of the fading, inadequate nature of the Law to truly change us forever. Only through Christ can we see the inadequacy of the Law. (v.14-16)

Although the Law reminds us how far we fall short of God, the Holy Spirit brings freedom into the life of every believer. The forgiveness we’re given and the righteousness that is “transplanted” onto us from Christ, frees us from living lives weighed down by guilt and a sense of inadequacy.

If you are a believer in Christ but you’re living with a constant sense of inadequacy, remember what Christ has done for you! In the eyes of the only judge that matters, you have been made perfect! You have the freedom to fail while you aim for the highest mark! Make every effort to rewire you’re brain and see yourself as God does.

When life is lived with this kind of freedom and purpose, people will see who God is through you, and they’ll see it more and more as time passes. (v.17-18)

Next Week: Living On Purpose In The Middle Of Pain

 

Coffee House Question

What is it that keeps you from seeing yourself the way God sees you? What action can you take as a first step toward seeing yourself more the way God sees you?

Out Of Town

Hey Folks,

Just FYI, I'm out of town for the weekend. See you back here on Monday!

-Paeter Frandsen

What Listeners Are Saying!

 

It's been really cool to hear from folks that have listened to "Pilgrim's Progress". The reaction has been extremely positive!

Here are a few choice links you can check out to see what people are saying about "Pilgrim" and Spirit Blade Productions. Of course, it may not be as exciting for you, but it sure puts a smile on MY face!

Regarding "Pilgrim's Progress"-

http://www.examiner.com/examiner/x-20886-Evansville-Geek-Culture-Examiner~y2009m10d29-Spirit-Blade-Productions-reimagines-Pilgrims-Progress-as-genre-fantasy

http://www.valenciahills.com/pastorsBlogEntry.aspx?parentnavigationid=1700&viewblogentryguid=28ea7961-f6c6-4d31-a88e-ddc5a59f60d2

A Two Part interview of me about Spirit Blade Productions-

http://alt.roneyzone.com/2009/10/28/roneyzone-radio-140-paeter-frandsen-part-1/

http://alt.roneyzone.com/2009/11/04/roneyzone-radio-141-paeter-frandsen-part-2/

Enjoy!

-Paeter Frandsen

No Podcast This Week

 

Well, normally you'd be looking at "In Search Of Truth" here right now, but I will be out of town this weekend. Since I don't like to get "out of synch" with the podcast, I'm going to hold off on "In Search Of Truth" until next week.

And for those who listen to the podcast, SORRY! I completely forgot to mention it on the podcast!

-Paeter

Marketing Is Lame, Audio Is Cool

 

If you've got a story or message you're passionate about that you want others to experience who have never heard about it, you have to engage in some form of marketing. But despite my passion for what I do and create, the marketing is my least favorite part of running this little company, second only to all the technical internet stuff I have to keep afloat.

The last few days have been filled with e-mail writing and e-mail sending. Not to folks I've interacted with before, but to folks with blogs and podcasts that I think might be interested in what we're doing or who might be willing to help get the word out. It takes me well outside of my comfort zone and I sometimes agonize over my choice of words in an effort to avoid coming across like a salesman. But at the end of the day, I've got a product that I think others will want. And if I want them to buy, I have to sell. A necessary chore.

Thankfully, mixed in with that has been my work on the Spirit Blade audiobook, which I have now been able to resume work on. I am about two-thirds of the way through recording it and am hoping to take two days next week and just barrel through the rest of it. Mixing the audiobook for "Pilgrim" took much less time than I had originally anticipated, and so I'm realistically hopeful that you guys will be able to start listing to the Spirit Blade audiobook before Christmas! I'm not positive what the release method will be, but I do know that it will be available free of charge!

It's also been really great to hear the positive and energetic responses from those of you who have listened to "Pilgrim's Progress: Similitude Of A Dream"! Your encouragement means a lot! Thank you!

Have a great, safe Halloween weekend!

-Paeter Frandsen

Battlestar Galactica: The Plan (Movie Review)

Battlestar fans have been waiting for this direct to DVD release in hopes of getting one more fix of the Battlestar they loved so well. Did it come through? Sure! Depending on what you were hoping for.

BSG is known for several storytelling elements: Action sci-fi battles, human emotional drama, philosophical/social commentary and unraveling mystery. The Plan has a fair dose of all of these, but certainly seems to exist for the latter. Not that it sets up the mystery. The series did that. Producers admitted that despite the claim that the Cylons "have a plan" at the beginning of every episode, they did not pay off that idea as well as they should have in the series. So "The Plan" exists mostly to remedy that.

The movie takes you through some major events of the series, weighing heavily on the first season, and inter-cuts old footage with new to give you a "behind the scenes" look at the Cylons during major BSG events. A few questions are answered that may have gnawed at hardcore fans (like who Caprica 6 was talking to after Baltar walked away from her outside waaaay back in the mini-series), but the revelations are by no means important for casual BSG viewers. While adding an additional layer to the series, The Plan falls short of the magnificent "Razor" DVD release.

Special effects were equal but no better than the series. A tiny shame for a DVD movie release, but still wonderful if viewed with a TV show in mind. The opening chapter presents another look at the attack on the Colonies, which is very well executed and gives a much stronger idea of the hopelessness humanity faced against the Cylons. They have never appeared more unstoppably destructive.

I didn't hold out hope that "The Plan" would answer the questions that SHOULD have been answered at the end of the series and weren't, but it would have been nice to have a more interesting philosophical theme than "love outlasts death", which ultimately comes across as an ethereal, insubstantial statement in its execution here.

What fans will enjoy is a MUCH deeper look at John Caval, the first model of human looking Cylons. Dean Stockwell does double duty carrying this movie, as the plot focuses on two model 1's and their different internal journey's regarding the Cylon agenda. Although Stockwell was not given exceptional material to work with, he is fascinating to watch.

In the end, this is a BSG story that has little focus on the cast you watched the show for, but has some enjoyable action/sci-fi/effects sequences and adds new layers for your second or maybe third time through the series on DVD. Although it does deal with some philosophical themes, they are not focused enough to come through and be worth discussion afterward unless you're especially looking for a topic over coffee.

Hardly the best BSG, but definitely something fans enjoy seeing and many will want to buy.

Unrated by MPAA.

Quality: 8.0/10

Relevance: 7.5/10

Evaluating Options

 

Well, now that "Pilgrim" is out, I am finally emerging from my production cave to re-evaluate my online marketing strategies and how I can make the best use of my evaporating time.

I'm looking into Twitter, which I've avoided because the nature of the beast lends itself to sharing only short thoughts with little substance, and I'd much rather share ideas than tell you all that I'm eating cereal or mixing audio (in which case, I'm not really doing either because I've wasted time to stop and say that I am.) But I've learned that I CAN use Twitter to let folks know when a blog post has gone up or a podcast episode has been published, which sounds cool! And I think I've got it worked out so that I don't have to do anything extra to make that happen. I don't know, it's set up now, so this post will act as a sort of "test".

I'm also currently wondering about MySpace. I'm very hesitant to add anything to my "posting ritual", which already takes up more time than I'd like. I've been unable to find a tool that will allow me to simultaneously post blogs to Typepad, Blogger, Facebook, my two Ning groups and Myspace, so I currently manually copy and paste my weekly posts for both blogs into all of those places.

I'm looking for ways to subtract time from this ritual and I've got my crosshair on my MySpace web presence.

Is it worth it to keep a presence there? If so, is it worth it to paste my blog posts there? I get comments regularly on Facebook, Blogger and Typepad, but it's been almost a year, maybe more, since I got a comment on MySpace.

Should I just keep the two pages (one personal and one "Spirit Blade") with LINKS to my blogs but not worry about actually copying my blogs to them, or should I keep those blogs going on those MySpace pages, even though it's the same blog material you'll find on Blogger (Paeter's Brain) and Typepad (Spirit
Blade Underground).

Recently, it was suggested that I try "Ping.fm", which I had tried a year ago. This free service allows you to update multiple social networks at once, but a year ago I didn't get any further than signing up because they weren't compatible with all of my social networks. So I tried it again today.

Ping.fm failed me again.

It lured me in with the promise that I could post to all of my social networks, but when I began to create posting groups (so I can post to some social networks and not others) it revealed that if I choose "blogging", my options are severely limited. It looks as though the only places it can send blogs to, among my social networks anyway, are Facebook, Blogger and Typepad. I can only microblog and do status updates at all the others. So again I am faced with what to do about Myspace and Ning. Especially Myspace.

Should I continue to copy my blog posts there, or just put a referral link on the Myspace page and hope they check out my Typepad blog?

Any web geniuses out there that have this problem solved?

In Search Of Truth, 2 Corinthians 3:1-6

Continuing the defense of his reputation and ministry, Paul suggests the idea that he is commending himself with his previous words in this letter, or that he needs letters of recommendation. (v.1) He then counters this idea by pointing to the superior, living evidence of his ministry’s integrity: The Corinthians themselves.

 

The lives of those in the Corinthian church acted as a living letter of validation for Paul’s ministry, because of the outward evidence they displayed of God in their hearts. This validation of Paul’s ministry was superior to a letter of recommendation in a couple ways. It was more than a document written in ink by a human. It was brought about by the Holy Spirit. God himself! It was more than a record fixed in stone, waiting to be read. Paul’s “letter of recommendation” was a living community of believers, active and impacting others. (v.2-3)

 

This is the kind of impact we should pray God will allow us to have on others! Imagine investing your time and passion into helping someone know and love God more deeply and then later seeing that person do the same for someone else!

 

Paul also makes a comparison here (which he will expand on later) to the Law given to Israel through Moses. (Tablets of stone vs. human hearts in verse 3) The power of Paul’s ministry to change lives was the Holy Spirit putting God’s will into people’s hearts, not the written law. This is a key function of the Holy Spirit as he lives in believers. This kind of ministry is superior to the Law, and was promised to Israel by God. ( Jeremiah 31:33, Ezekiel 36:25-27)  

 

As we allow the Holy Spirit more influence in our lives, we will be better led by him as we make decisions, discern truth and prioritize our activity.

 

Paul’s confidence about the superior nature of his ministry doesn’t come from himself. His confidence is all “through Christ” as he recognizes him as the source of his strength and capability. (v.4-5)

 

Sometimes, when we’re experiencing success, we can start to believe that it came about because of our own talent or intelligence. We forget that the opportunities presented to us are orchestrated by God and that he is the one who made our talents and provided people and opportunities to increase our knowledge and refine our skills. No one is the source of their own success.

 

Paul refers to himself as the minister of a “new covenant”, which refers back to Jeremiah 31 and a “spirit-based” covenant promised by God. This covenant would be superior to the covenant of the Law, because “through the law we become conscious of sin.” (Romans 3:20) And the payment we receive for sin is a death sentence. (Romans 6:23)

 

The Law announces a death sentence for us! The standard it sets is too high and impossible to keep, and so it brings about our death. But when the Holy Spirit enters every believer, they are transformed and rescued from death. (v.6)

 

Next Week- New Versus Old

 

Coffee House Question

What areas of your life do you tend to forget to credit God for, either to yourself or to others?