Day: December 29, 2015

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A Casserole on the Eve of the Eve of New Year’s Eve

A Casserole on the Eve of the Eve of New Year’s Eve   
   

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Star Wars, Episode VII, The Force Awakens, 2015

Fast on the heels of my last review comes another one I best put down on paper before it all begins to fade away…

This is an enjoyable movie with a lot of the excitement of The Empire Strikes Back, and with some better script writing, even.  For someone who hasn’t seen the entire series of episodes (or sequels as I might have called them otherwise), I’m glad to report that one wouldn’t be at a great disadvantage to follow along without too much difficulty.  And of course, for all those die-hard fans, I’m sure there was much nostalgia and joy in the many throwbacks to the old characters who still wielded the power to amaze and fascinate.  But beyond the old characters, there were several new ones who infused new life into the franchise, chief among them a young woman who seems to be the anointed one and the mantle-bearer for the inevitable future.

State-of-the-art computerized imagery, cutting-edge cinematography, incredible sound effects, and a cast of characters that represent what a lot of the human race currently looks like is what the new appeal of this film is going to be for the current generation and for generations to come.  Oscar Isaac, the extremely good-looking actor from who-knows-where (and no relation to self) adds greatly to the story, as does Daisy Ridley who plays Rey, the intense girl who grew up too soon and has seen too much, but will not let anything keep her from doing the right thing.  There.  Is that vague enough so as to not inadvertently give off any spoilers? 

Suffice to say, the Force is most certainly awakened.

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Speak Up For Those Who Cannot Speak for Themselves

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ZECHARIAH 14:1-21 | REVELATION 20:1-15 | PSALM 148:1-14 | PROVERBS 31:8-9

The parallels to the readings in Zechariah and the Book of Revelation may be drawn quite easily in that the former contains the apocalyptic writings of the Old Testament that appear in John’s writings many hundreds of years later. 

We are fast approaching the end of the Book of Revelation, and have arrived at the end of the book of Zechariah.  This last chapter is the culmination of the great battle of Armageddon, the restoration of Israel, and the descent of Christ.

Chapter 20 in Revelation bears the account of the capture and imprisonment of Satan, the dragon/serpent into the abyss for a thousand years, and outlines the commencement of the millennial reign of Christ along with the believers who were faithful to the testimony of Christ despite pressure and persecution.  These saints are raised from the dead to rule with Christ during this era of utopia. 

May it be, dear Lord Jesus, that I would be found among this group if your reign so happens after my death.

We turn now to our reading of the Psalms, and find that David’s psalm of praise for the day is one that invokes all of nature to praise the Lord.  Most everyone and everything seems to be covered in these verses:

7 Praise the LORD from the earth,
   you great sea creatures and all ocean depths,
8 lightning and hail, snow and clouds,
   stormy winds that do his bidding,
9 you mountains and all hills,
   fruit trees and all cedars,
10 wild animals and all cattle,
   small creatures and flying birds,
11 kings of the earth and all nations,
   you princes and all rulers on earth,
12 young men and women,
   old men and children.

Finally, the verses in Proverbs today are pearls of wisdom.  May it be that we practice this all the days of our life:

8 Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves,
   for the rights of all who are destitute.
9 Speak up and judge fairly;
   defend the rights of the poor and needy.

May God bless the reading and reflection of His Word.  Amen.