HEAD(hed), (n.) 1. the top part of the human body or the front part of an animal where the eyes, nose, east and mouth are. "Your brain is in your head." DIBS(dibz), (n.) 2. a thick, sweet syrup made in countries of the East, especially the Middle East, from grape juice or dates. [Arabic "debs"]--World Book Dictionary, 1976.
Sometimes the news comes quick. Sometimes the news comes slow. No matter how or when it comes, grief travels in the wake of the news. Grief is heavy, weighty, a burden, especially when it involves someone deeply loved. Grief is not meant to be carried alone. It’s too heavy and may last a while—and that’s ok. That’s what family and friends are for, to share the load. Jesus stood outside the tomb of his friend and wept but He did not weep alone. It was a deep, human moment. “ Blessed are those who mourn, for they shall be comforted ” (Matt 5:4). If anyone knows how we feel in grief, it’s Him. But His grief did not linger long, as at the mention of his name, Lazarus came forth. We are not meant to dwell in grief, but should leave room enough for it. Let it run its course. Like the song says, “ Every Storm Runs Out Of Rain .” Another song says, “ The storm We will dance as it breaks The storm It will give as it takes And all of our pain is washed away Don't cry or be afraid Some things...
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The Golden Compass
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“The Golden Compass” movie is due to be released on or about December 7, 2007. This release is just in time for parents to take their kids to the movies to be inundated with yet another fantasy-adventure just before Christmas, which means book sales will skyrocket for that gift-giving time of year.
Look interesting?
Harry Potter is a nursery-school compared to this.
Folks, this movie is dangerous, as are the books associated therewith. The author is Phillip Pullman, a devout atheist, an unashamed outspoken hater of God. Through his writing, Pullman takes his punches out on C.S. Lewis and Christianity. Here are a few highlights of the story:
1) In Pullman’s world, people are accompanied by animal spirits, who he calls “daemons” and everyone becomes a ghost at death. No daemon = no soul.
2) The “alethiometer” (“alethia” in Greek means “truth”) is a Golden Compass with Ziodiac-type markings inside. “What is truth?” is the question at the heart of the story. Truth is measured by the operator going into trances to communicate with spirit beings and fortune-telling.
3) Animals are still in process of evolution (the polar bears have opposable thumbs).
4) Witches are people who are considered to be truly free and powerful;
5) The General Oblation Board (the “church” in this story) practices castration of young boys and female circumcision to repress sexuality and maturity. Read: the church is suppressive of true humanity, expressed in sexuality. So “The Magisterium” are the bad-guys.
6) “Dust” is sin. Children do not have it, but adults can accumulate it. “Dust is consciousness, or awareness of the world around you and all of its possibilities. Children do not attract Dust because they are still innocent and are thought to have trouble understanding the world. Adults, because of the knowledge they have gained through maturation, do attract Dust. Once you become an adult, a fully conscious being, you are capable of sinning, or doing bad things knowingly. The Church authorities in Lyra’s world equate Dust with original sin. They would like to eliminate Dust, thereby eliminating the human capacity to sin. But Pullman suggests that the capacity to sin (and the ability to choose not to sin) is essential to the very idea of humanity. Without that capacity, humans would be zombies.” (see SparkNotes link below)
After that, one may begin to realize that Pullman is no athiest, but a pagan, who knows just enough about God to throw his fist up in His face.
Here are two links you will find helpful:
1) Snopes.com discusses the urban legend behind the story. 2) SparkNotes has the fullest treatment yet of the books with insight on the author.
“Keep constant guard over your perceptions, for it is no small thing you are protecting, but your respect, trustworthiness and steadiness, peace of mind, freedom from pain and fear, in a word your freedom. For what would you sell these things?” EPICTETUS, DISCOURSES, 4.3.6 b –8
Legend has it that the astronomer Ptolemy (1st century A.D.) suggested that falling stars were caused by the gods moving in the heavens, thus knocking stars out of their places. Somehow people reasoned that that if the gods were moving, they must be getting close to earth so they would lift their "prayers" or "wishes" (literally, "desires") whenever they saw the stars falling in hopes the gods would notice and grant a favorable answer. But how does one wish on falling star? Once you see it, it's gone before the wish or prayer can be made! The answer is simple: meteor shower. That's how to get your wish. Mrs. Ann Hodges had a wish fall right into her lap. Sort of. In 1954 Mrs. Hodges was sleeping on the couch when a 8 1/2 pound meteorite fell through her house and into her living room where it bounced off the radio and struck her left hip leaving her with a bruise. Not sure what she was wishing, but that's not how to do it. Epictetus hel...
