Reading List just got Longer

Looking forward to a couple of good reads- both by Thomas Sowell,Rose and Milton Friedman Senior Fellow at
The Hoover Institution, Stanford University...Intellectuals and Society and The Quest for Cosmic Justice.

Ordered our Tickets

Looking forward to this at ATL next Sunday-

This musical tribute to Ella Fitzgerald is an amazing performance that takes a trip down memory lane with a legend and her band. It’s a trip you won’t want to miss! Featuring breathtaking songs like “That Old Black Magic” and “They Can’t Take That Away From Me,” and stories of her extraordinary life and personal resilience, Ella captures the essence of the woman behind the microphone, delivering a sensational live concert that channels her remarkable voice.

When the veil shall part

When the veil shall part, Christ will rend our hearts
And the truth shall be revealed.
When the veil shall part, then repentance starts
And we shall be truly healed

When our minds are confronted with a new reality
When the hearts of the hunted are given eyes that truly see
And the shadows of darkness lift and give us clarity
We shall then be free, yes truly free…

When the veil shall part, we will fill our hearts
All the cravings that have been concealed
By our fallen minds and eyes that are blind
In His light our spirits shall yield
For then we shall see him as he truly is
We will bend the knee and in one accord believe
As we see, finally see and bend the knee
Clearly see with clarity
So part the veil so we may truly see!

Anthony Foster
January 26, 2009

Free Spirit

In the final analysis, when it comes down to dust,
There only one way to be free, one place to place your trust

Free to serve the mighty King
All else becomes our slavery
Bound to passions that will clip your wings
But whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

There’s only one way to be free
And that is as a prisoner of love
Held fast forever is the true liberty
Bound by the chains forged above.

There’s only one way to be free
And that’s to be held captive by grace,
God’s heart’s desire and yours agree
That is the only unencumbered place

For his yoke is easy and his burden is light
And this is the only place where all is right
Your spirit soars as it is freed
Whom the Son sets free is free indeed.

Anthony Foster
January 25, 2009

Earthbound

Earthbound follies leave us vacant
Earthbound follies leave us lost
For we were never created
To suffer such a cost
Missing the glory
Missing the beauty
Missing the profound way,
Made for dancing in the deep
But sitting in decay.

So curse God and die… if you must
But it’s so much better to tie yourself to trust

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

There’s only One that is faithful
Only One that is True
Only One Savior
He’s waiting for you.

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Bless my Memory

I awaken with a start, pulse a- pounding with my heart
As I’ve dreamed another nightmare of the soul
Like a vision dark but clear I am flushed with fiery fear
And I’m on the verge of losing all control.

For a moment I’m a prisoner of a still fresh memory
My past life rears its ugly head as my mind plays tricks on me
And I need a check on my reality.

For in those moments chains of doubt
Come to my heart and find me out
I surely need your Grace to see me through
For I was lost but now I’m found
That former life can’t keep me bound
But sometimes Lord I find it hard to trust
You understand that I am only dust.

So I will remember the day when you taught me how to pray
And pray I will until my knees are sore
For there is no lack in you- my hard heart hasn’t got a clue
Yet you dwell inside me at my very core

That’s what you have promised, and that’s what I believe
I’ll trust, adhere, rely on this thing impossible to conceive
This gift that I have received

There are moments chains of doubt
Come to my heart and find me out
I surely need your Grace to see me through
For I was lost but now I’m found
That former life can’t keep me bound
But sometimes Lord I find it hard to trust
You understand that I am only dust.

But I see the transformation and I see the evidence
And I’ll walk by faith and not by sight in growing confidence
As I cast myself upon your mercy seat
I pray my consecration be complete.

Forgive my sin as I confess
Restore my soul to righteousness
Help me Lord to bless this test…
And bless my memory.

Anthony Foster
January 25, 2010

Life Preserver

Preserve our life, secure us, your own
Preserve our life-consecrate it to you alone
Not to us oh Lord, not according to our ways
But to You be all the glory, all honor and praise!

Preserve our life within your holy place
Reserve our life as vessels of your grace
Defend our cause, plead our case
Deliver us from the Evil one
Until your Kingdom Comes.

If we glory let us glory in the way that we are weak
For power is perfected in the powerless who seek
To cast their all upon the living altar made of flesh
The sacrifice made once for all- this bread that’s ever fresh.

Preserve our life within your holy place
Reserve our life as vessels of your grace
Defend our cause, plead our case
Deliver us from the Evil one
Until your Kingdom Comes.

January 28, 2010
Anthony Foster

The Faithful Fiery Few

Like Gideon’s army who were held to a higher account
Change us from vacant visionaries to a never flagging fount
Living water flowing through us in directions that are true
Lord hasten your arrival, make us the faithful fiery few

From broken cisterns that are stagnant cause your river now to flow
Turn our passion to compassion as we rise against the foe
Rend our garments in our outrage put on raiment that is new
Quicken now our broken spirits make us the faithful fiery few

Lord revive us as your remnant and our numbers multiply
Fill our wineskins with your Spirit as we overturn the lie
May your power mount within us, by your Spirit make us new
We your purpose powered priesthood make us the faithful fiery few

Lord then take this revived remnant and let the fire grow
Until we’ve become a multitude of soldiers on the go
Till we cover all the nations and we do what we must do
Until many see and fear you, make us the faithful fiery few.

Anthony Foster
January 26, 2009

The Ark Sails On

Timeless and eternal, no markings or measures
In an endless flight toward endless pleasures
Mark one, mark two, mark three, mark four.
We sail through the way who is the door
We soar, we soar, we soar-
Through endless wonder evermore.
All aboard, all aboard
Open the ark fling open the door.
Come inside and abide
In this ark we shall glide to that peaceful shore.
The flood is arising so come inside.
Oh sinner, what are you waiting for?

Endless journey, endless flight
Riding o’er chaos into that sweet night
Gone is the turmoil on this glassy sea
We would drown in the depths of His serenity
He still hovers over the deep as He sings
And we hover with him beneath his sweet wings
So gone is the legacy o’er which we weep
Gone is the fear of the eternal sleep
For lo we are waking to eternal dawn
And with our soul’s captain we sail on and on.
Now the tumult that would take us under
Is quiet and peaceful and still
For all us voyaging pilgrims
Who would sail to the end of His will.

Timeless and eternal, no markings or measures
In an endless flight toward endless pleasures
Mark one, mark two, mark three, mark four.
We sail through the way who is the door
We soar, we soar, we soar.
Through endless wonder evermore.
All aboard, all aboard
Open the ark fling open the door.
Come inside and abide
In this ark we shall glide to that peaceful shore.
The flood is arising so come inside.
Oh sinner, what are you waiting for?

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Slow in the Wonder (Idle My Soul)

Take me on a journey,
Take me down the road
To Emmaus or wherever
Just as far as we can go

May the walk clear my vision
Let it idle my soul
May I slow in the wonder
As I see what you show.

Take me on a journey,
Take me down the road
In step with your Spirit
As I carry a light load

Keep me from the detours
Keep me from the slough
Make my path a straight one
As I’m following You.

The walk will clear my vision
Let it idle my soul
May I slow in the wonder
As I see what you show.

Anthony Foster
January 28, 2010

Be Our Sight

I’ve the memory of a prisoner, in a life that’s been unbound
These memories of being lost now help me know I’m found
I remember well the precious day
When Lord Jesus taught me to pray
And I was transformed from darkness into light
And the change was made complete
As I cast myself on His mercy seat
Then desolation gave way to vibrant sight

Show us your plan and purpose, show us your mercy sweet
Show us the road before us where compassion is complete
From memories of darkness guide us to the glorious light
Where despairing cries of anguish turn to songs that fill the night.
Be our sight, be our sight, be our sight.

Now the tremors in our souls give way to pure and profound peace
Resting in your righteous refuge Where the prisoner is released
Fathomless fear gives way to faith as we’re held safe and secure
No more nightmares of our former ways, sweet dreams instead endure.

Show us your plan and purpose, show us your mercy sweet
Show us the road before us where compassion is complete
From memories of darkness guide us to the glorious light
Where despairing cries of anguish turn to songs that fill the night.
Be our sight, be our sight, be our sight.

Anthony Foster
January 27, 2010

Starting a fire takes practice

This struck me as analogous to evangelism at many levels...

The important lesson to learn is how to properly use a firesteel in combination with cotton tinder, followed by effective fire building skills at home or in a controlled camping environment before you embark on a backcountry journey in which a lack of these skills could inhibit your safety.

* Practice sparking the firesteel onto tinder at home
* Practice adding kindling to the tinder
* Practice building small fires from the kindling
* Practice keeping a fire going

There is a theme that seems to be occurring here - practice, practice, practice. Use the following informative photos as a starting point. Keep in mind that the striker has an 'up' and 'down' side. The method by which the metal is pressed creates a sharp edge and a dull edge. The side marked 'up' should be facing you when you strike so that the sharp edge causes sparks.

Godmodes

Here's a link to an artcle on hidden access points to Windoze 7, notwithstanding delusions of grandeur.

Musings on God's Will

Just posted this to Rob's site... who is...

"pondering the much taught principle of knowing God's will BEFORE we make decisions."

Paradox here. We walk by faith and not by sight. It's much harder to become aligned with God's will than knowing God's will, I think, but a "prayer for alignment" is one God will answer with an "amen" (James 1:5). Staying clean by the power of the Spirit before Him gives us sensitive ears to hear Him shout the obvious. But I find He often says "...trust me, not your senses." We may even come to points where we doubt in the darkness what we heard in the light but 2 Chronicles 16:9 still attains. Holiness implies devotion, and we often like Abram have to engage in going without knowing. There are many levels of trust that reveal themselves in different contexts, by grace. Power is perfected in weakness, and grace is ever sufficient. So the better we know His character the better we can apprehend His will.

Christmas Epiphany Theophany

January 6 is celebrated variously as Christ's birthday (Armenia), the revelation of the Trinity at the baptism of Christ (Theophany), or the celebration of the Incarnation (Epiphany). Here's a little ditty in remembrance of Him...

Whom have we, Lord, like you?
The Great One who became small,
the Wakeful who slept,
The Pure One who was baptized,
the Living One who died,
The King who abased himself to ensure honor for all.
Blessed is your honor!
It is right that man should acknowledge your divinity,
It is right for heavenly beings to worship your humanity.
The heavenly beings were amazed to see how small you became,
And earthly ones to see how exalted.
~ St. Ephrem the Syrian

E sursum Agnus mittitur
laxare gratis debitum;
omnes pro indulgentia
vocem demus cum lacrimis.

The Lamb descends from heaven above
to pardon sin with freest love:
for such indulgent mercy shewn
with tearful joy our thanks we own.
~ Prudentius, Vox Clara

A pastiche of themes in Avatar to ponder

Spoiler ALERT!

I have heard from several people recommending that I see the movie- which I had already planned to do- I believe to comment, one must have seen the source material.Forgive me if what follows contains redundancies, as I started typing and this is what emerged.

What did I think? My simple aesthetic response in review is that I thought that visually, it was what was to be expected. What was amazing to me was the poverty of the story. I saw it as utterly predictable, and a rehash of so many other movies.

There were so many layered, multiple allusions to other stories without total commitment to any of them. Elements of animism, pantheism, near eastern,and indigenous paganism emerge. One thing one must grapple with on the front end is Cameron's role in the culture as a Christ hater who actively puts resources and influence into denying the resurrection- that makes him an antichrist according to the definition of 1 John 2:22 (that's not the only definition). It is difficult to ignore this when approaching the film.

On another level, critically, I thought the movie dangerous to undiscerning minds, and that includes far too many who should know better. This was a vehicle for what has re-emerged as Gaia-theology, environment as mother goddess. But it's not that simple- animism and pantheism, which are logically similar but different drop their distinctions here and join in the fray, and the particular chunks of specific belief systems held by native Americans are layered in as well. Everybody seems to want to identify with native American pagan ritual today. The victimization of this people group by colonialists in the history of the world does not change the fact that their religion is false.

Nature worship origins go back to the fall, and are at the basis of the Babylonian Tiamat/Marduk enmity wherein a male deity imposes order on chaos. It includes the notion that all belief that will bend the knee to it has a place at its table as seen in the subsumation of Dr. Grace Augustine, the missionary/scientist of the plot. The bible attests that here are many antichrists. If indeed there is an ultimate antichrist and beast that can fool the elect, we should entertain the possibility that it won't come necessarily from Europe or the Middle East per se, but from this inferior theological point of view.

A few for instances of the looting of other stories:

Pandora. In Greek mythology was the first woman created by the gods and who released all manner of evil upon the earth out of curiosity. So what was the point of hanging this moniker on the moon-world? The negative connotations of Pandora ring true to my point of view, but not Cameron's. I think this is a key to the modus operandi- so many negative connotations of the referecned myths become reconstituted as the good the true and the beautiful here. From the viewer's POV, evil is invested with good and good is portrayed evil by an unmitigated focus on fallen aspects in this place where the hero loses the sense of which is real- the dream or reality- another theme from the spirit of the age...

Anyone who has spent any time in Muhlenberg County Kentucky will know of the evil of the rampant rape of nature by man. But this film extends the guilt of that to any stewardship of nature, inequitably, and clearly points to the US military industrial complex as being the embodiment of evil in the world. This broad brush approach is pretty stupid.

The heroine Dr. Grace Augustine who goes (as a missionary) to the NaVi to educate them eventually is saved by them as she is wounded by her own people and then subsumed in the Mother Goddess. Even as she encounters the deity she wants to "take some samples." This is a blatant attack on missions in general. This is another rejection of modernity, and constitutes a call to pre-modernity, even the primordial as an alternative.

The NaVi are a conglomeration of pantheistic and animistic belief layered on a Gaia personal Mother goddess. The NaVi have much in common with a African and Native American pagan system of belief. Indigenous paganism is the zeitgeist, and it rules in this film.

At another level this is a diatribe demonizing the American military-industrial complex. Even the VA is targeted. The Marines as bad guys? We know Cameron hates Christ, so that makes sense, I suppose.

I've heard many say this is "unlike anything you’ve ever seen before?" No way. Films that this film cherry picks-

The Matrix
Fern Gully, the Last Rainforest. The Hexxus and the Leveler come to mind when watching the movie- remember that?
Dances With Wolves
Final Fantasy I and 2
Iron Man and The Hulk closing battle sequences
Jurassic Park
Return of the Jedi-Ewok versus the Empire
Apocalypse Now
The Pocahontas myth
Features of Gilgamesh, Ishtar, and Lilith myths.

and I could go on but you get the picture.

Even the 3D effects were tiresome after a while, as was the ratatattat of the machine gun fire drumming a tattoo on one's psyche.

The NaVi take liberally from the lifeforms they share Pandora with and let them return to the mother goddess. I didn't hear any of the beasts saying "you're welcome" as they were being thanked for giving up their lives to be eaten. The NaVi see this as somehow different than the aliens who take what they want by their survival of the fittest mentality.So this turns out to be a fallen Eden after all. The idea that Er-wah "only keeps the balance of life in check" was the deistic notion that was proposed- but then it responded to the high priest Jakesully. Even the deity's name sounds a bit like Yahweh.

It is also anti-colonialist- therefore anti-American propaganda wherein the alien is demonized as destroyers of their world and out to mine another. While the US is certainly not without fault, this is an oversimplification and perversion of the role the US has played in the world.

The sky people are said to be greedy and thoughtless like undisciplined babies who have to learn the righteous way. Sully becomes a proselyte of the NaVi and then their messiah. He is initiated as a warrior by doing battle with a dragon-figure and subduing it. Sully and Neytiri mate before the mother goddess and that joins them for life.

"Sully" as a (does this evoke the recent heroism of Captain Sully) character is also “sullied”- Jacob Sully –as in the biblical deceiver Jacob who is redeemed by wrestling with the Angel of the Lord and is crippled for life.

Sully joins with and prays to the Tree of Souls as a high priest figure.

As a warrior he leads the people forward as a foil against imperialistic evil forces- the sky people. Is this an allusion to the prince of the power of the air? Sully puts on NaVi flesh and comes to them to warn them of impending doom and ends up leading the fight against the forces coming in the air to "take what they want." after the defeat of the enemy, then he retires from messiahship and fully identifies with the NaVi and spends his life with the female leader of the People. Sounds like Cameron's view of the Christ.

The nature goddess’s seeds light on Sully and “choose” him, surrounding him in light like the Holy Spirit descending as a dove. This constitutes a “sign” from the goddess.

Jake calls the tribes from the four winds as the rider on the chariot of fire- the big red bird-dragon thingy.

“I see you” is a theme that recurs frequently and culminates when Sully is seen for who he is- a frail and damaged human.

Every NaVi person is born twice- once into the world and once into the People.

The hero is a paraplegic who takes the place of his scientist brother who died- a picture of Adam and the second Adam? In this case it is the modern scientific paradigm being displace by the brave heart that is unscientific and becomes not postmodern, but is transformed into a pre-modern purity.

Jake becomes the perfect mediator as fully human fully NaVi- but far short of the Christian messiah who is God/Man. This is closer to reincarnation than regeneration.

Jake is initiated as a warrior after he becomes enlightened.

The giant tree is destroyed but it is just an image or type of the tree of souls to which the diaspora flees as they are forced from their land.

The avatars are tabernacles.

So, as I see it, such a melange of competing ideas from existing stories is subsumed by the overarching Gaia idea. That idea becomes a metaphor for a false spirituality. The interconnectedness of all of life is related to spiritual connectivity and whatever you believe can be subsumed into this conglomeration as easily as Dr. Grace Augustine was.

In biblical terms, man is to steward and build the earth- culture is built from nature.That includes cutting trees and planting them, mining the earth and conserving it. The film creates an us and them, simplistic world that belies reality.

100 things we didn't know last year...

It's always nice to learn a hundred things in a small amount of time...I knew quite a few of them, but learned a few things too...and I adm it, there are some I have never thought about till now.