Good Triumphs Over Evil

The Star Wars trilogy is one of my all-time favorite movie experiences. I'm a huge science fiction geek, and there is no greater story in my mind than the one imagined by George Lucas. But oddly enough, I don't watch it all that much. And even when I do watch it, I'm usually distracted or I don't pay that much attention to what is going on. I mean, I already know what is going to happen. I know who is going to live and who is going to get blasted. I can actually tell you when to look for the storm trooper who bumps his head on the door.

But tonight was different. It was like watching the movies again for the first time. I had already watched the first movie with one of my friends and it was her first time. That made it pretty exciting for me, and I think she actually liked it. But then I had the next two movies to watch by myself. I had started "The Empire Strikes Back" a couple of days ago, and I remember I wasn't paying much attention to it then. It was a very different story this evening.

I was watching so closely I amazed myself. Suddenly I forgot that Darth Vader was waiting in the conference room on the cloud city of Bespin. I stared in amazement as Yoda lifted the X-wing out of the swamp. I dodged and twisted on the couch as Vader and Luke dueled with their lightsabres, and for the first time actually saw the astonishment and pain in Luke's face as that immortal line was spoken, "Luke, I am your father."

By the time I got to "The Return of the Jedi," I was chomping at the bit for some rebel revenge. I won't retell the story here, you should go watch it yourself!! Anyway, as I got to the end, I was really appreciating the special effects added by Mr. Lucas. At the very end where the show the celebrations all over the universe; on Tatooine, Bespin, Coruscant...I know it wasn't in the original movie, but it was awesome. And I actually liked that they put in the 20-something actor who plays Anakin in the newest movies. No one recognized the other actor, anyway. To be perfectly honest, I was a little teary eyed at the end.

I have just finished watching "The Return of the Jedi" and now I remember why the Star Wars saga has always been one of my favorites. The story is epic, the characters are personifications of qualities we all have to a greater or lesser degree, and in the end, good conquers evil. The love of a father for his children returns freedom to the world. Now, I'm sure that George Lucas was no C.S Lewis; Stars Wars was not meant to be a metaphor for the life of Christ. But, amazingly, for the first time after having watched it, I can see the parallels. Another case of art imitating life.

JHN 3:17
"For God sent not his Son into the world to condemn the world; but that the world through him might be saved."

I know many people will think it's a bit of a stretch, but I think it's a good thing if I can find God's message in every place that I see.

-Matt

The picture that started it all:

http://meetme.hotornot.com/r/?emid=KUSMHYG

BIGjac1006: that's not him!
Living4Him5534: It IS him!!
Living4Him5534: C'mon, it IS!!
BIGjac1006: lol
BIGjac1006: it kinda looks like him....at age 15
Living4Him5534: Isn't that hilarious?
BIGjac1006: why are you looking at dudes
Living4Him5534: IT'S A GIRL!!
BIGjac1006: WHAT!!!!!!!
Living4Him5534: BWA HA HAAAA!!
BIGjac1006: I don't believe it

What a hilarious coincidence.

-Matt

I Did It!!

I'm a five star monkey now!!


FIVE STAR MONKEY!!


Bow down before me!

-Matt

Late Night

How come I can never get to bed earlier than 1:00am? Hmm? Anyone?

I have a problem with sleeping, I think. Or maybe I so dislike my regular work days that I stay up all night to postpone them from actually begining. Or MAYBE I just have messed up sleeping patterns.

Either way, I just read that the study that showed light alcohol consumption is beneficial for your health has been found to have some variable flaws. It turns out that the people who drink socially, on average, have a more active lifestyle. So the alcohol might not have anything to do with the health benefits, it might be that age-old secret of getting off your fat ass.

I'm grumpy, apparantly. But I also have four stars on Monkey Snowfight. So take THAT.

PSA 23:4
"Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me."

I know you're always with me, Lord. But sometimes I need someone who'll talk to me, or who'll head with me to Wal-Mart. Not that the Wal-Marts around here are open at night. Stupid California.

-Matt

Fuming With Rage, Shaking With Fear

I don't even know how to being this entry. I'll try to flesh this out in an understandable manner.

I have taken to listening to a lot of talk radio lately. There are never any good songs on the FM band anyway, and it's good to hear the news and some intelligent conversation. I've actually had the pleasure of speaking on the air with Rick Roberts, the morning guy on 760Am KFNB San Diego. After him is Bill O'Reilly (I'm usually working then), then Sean Hannity (one of the most intelligent men on radio or TV), and finally Michael Savage.

When I first started listening to "The Savage Nation", I thought Mr. Savage had some good ideas, but was WAY to radical to really be listened to seriously. You'll have to listen to him to understand. But while I was wandering around Barnes and Noble looking for a new political book to read, I saw one of his earlier works titled "The Enemy Within." His newest book was hardcover and too expensive for me. It's titled "Liberalism is a Mental Disorder," and I think that should give you an idea about the content of "The Savage Nation." I thought I'd give it a try.

What I found is that he is a much more eloquent, poignant, and intelligent writer than I ever thought he was, based on his radio show. If you consider yourself a Republican, or conservative, or if you just love America and it's traditional values, you MUST read this book. Even if you're Liberal, or a Democrat, or whatever else, you owe it to yourself. I can't even really begin to describe it without some difficulty. The things I've learned (it's all annotated and backed up, everyone is quoted properly, there is no twisting of phrases) about the agenda and methods of the ultra-liberal left in this country made me angrier than I have been in years, and frightened me more than anything I've ever read.

Here are some examples:

1. The Judicial System: Doug LU Chen, a Chinese immigrant who had lived in New York for a year with his wife learned that she was having an affair. "Several weeks later, on September 7, 1987, Chen whacked his wife in the head eight times with a hammer." She was killed, and during his trial a professor of anthropology argued that "Chen's wife's infidelity would be viewed in the traditional Chinese culture as a sign of Chen's weakness. Murdering her could be explained by understaaaanding his cultural background(author's emphasis)." Nobody argued he was crazy, just that there were cultural differences. "Chen ended up with a charge of manslaughter in the second degree and was sentenced to only five years probation after murdering his wife in cold blood (author's emphasis)." The Judge on the case, Justice Edward K. Pincus, declared that "cultural factors lessen the defendant's responsibility for certain crimes."

2. Health-Care Reform: Did you know that the Center for Disease Control (CDC) spent nearly 30% of it's $7 billion budget on AIDS and HIV research, despite the fact that AIDS is not even close to being the leading cause of death in this country? "Cardiovascular disease is the leading killer of men and women from all races." "In fact, more American adults, ages 25-44, die from heart disease, cancer, and suicide than from AIDS." Why does is so much money earmarked for this purpose? "Because HIV infection is the only politically driven disease." And still the liberal groups fight for more funding and have launched a " 'Stop the war on HIV prevention' campaign when more is being done for their lascivious lifestyle than for providing vaccines for children." He then goes on to show the misspending of millions of dollars of your tax money.

3. Assault Against God: "Take Patsy Ireland, the former head of the National Organization for Women. Patsy we appointed CEO of the Young Woman's Christian Association. This bisexual, pro-abortion feminist, who managed to penetrate the YWCA, likes to pretend she's pure and holy, but in reality she's making a mockery of everything that this religious institution represented for 145 years." This is just one of the many examples of liberals "infiltrating" religious institutions and changing and destroying policies that have been around for hundreds, if not thousands (in the case of the openly gay Episcopalian priest), of years. If we don't do something, after they get rid of God in this country, they'll come after those who believe in Him. That's you and I.

This book will shake you to your very core. We are at war here at home. America's values are under attack and make no mistake, the Liberals are winning! Think about all we have lost in the past few years: the words "under God" from the pledge, removing the Ten Commandments from our public institutions of law, and now the assault on traditional marriage. I'm not trying to sound like an alarmist here, but we need to pay attention!! You must read this book to understand the depths of insanity this country has sunk to, where convicted felons in prison can receive organ transplants before law-abiding citizens because the state requires equal health care for criminals. This is nuts!! Read this book, please. It has really opened my eyes to some scary truths.

I'm glad I can end on a truly joyous note. A long-time and very dear friend of mine has just recently accepted Christ as her only Lord and savior. I had been praying for her for a very long time and I was so happy to hear this news I was speechless. God is so faithful and good. He hears all prayers and works for the good of those who love and serve Him. Thank you Jesus! We can win, for "If God be for us, who can be against us?" ROM 8:31

GEN 6:5
"The LORD saw how great man's wickedness on the earth had become, and that every inclination of the thoughts of his heart was only evil all the time. The LORD was grieved that He had made man on the earth, and His heart was filled with pain."

Let's give Him something to smile about, okay? Let's stand up for Him.

-Matthew

Random Acts of Kindness

How many times do we hear about a person helping someone else out when that person was down on their luck? Do you ever stop and think, "Yeah, I do that if I was in their shoes." I'd like to believe most of us would help someone else out if it really wasn't that much they were asking for. You know, giving a friend a ride to a party (he just lives down the street, after all), or standing in on someone else's shift (you didn't haven't anything planned that night, anyway). But what about when it actually puts you out a bit? When faced with that kind of situation, what do we decide to do?

Tonight I went out to rent some movies (Jackass is hilarious, but my copy of Sky Captain was scratched, thank you Blockbuster) and buy some food. I had been craving popsicles and I am spoiled on pay day, so with some Good Humor frozen treats in the backseat and a smile on my face I headed to the gas station to fill up. I got out and started to gas up when I was approached by a clean cut guy who then asked if I was headed towards base because he was rideless. Without even really thinking I told him no, I wasn't, but if he needed a ride I'd be glad to give him one.

I finished filling up as he introduced himself as Adam, a Marine Corporal. We got in the car and he started telling me about why he was at the gas station in the first place. Apparantly he had spent the last week in county jail because his wife had him arrested for domestic abuse. It turns out his wife had cheated on him while he was deployed (sadly, a VERY common story) and he had sent her back home while the divorce was being processed. She had come back to California and according to Adam she wanted to cause trouble, hence the arrest. For those who are not familiar with Marine Corps Military Police SOP (Standard Operating Procedure), any time there is a call for a domestic dispute and/or violence, the man is automatically taken away. No matter who is hitting whom, or who is yelling at whom. He was released because there was simply no evidence of any wrongdoing on his part, but the mandatory restraining order awarded his wife meant he couldn't go back to his house. Luckily, a buddy had offered to put him up for a while and this was where I was taking him.

Adam is 21 years old, and his story is pretty common for the Marine Corps as far as young marriage goes. I know, you're saying, "How can you trust this guys word? Maybe he did hit her?" Well, I just didn't get that kind of violent vibe from him. He was just really sad and wanted it all to be over with so he could get on with his life. He stayed in jail for a week instead of signing the plea bargain saying he had hit her because he refused to lie and be branded a wife beater. Anyway, I believe the guy, and there's more to show you why I felt this way.

So in the course of speaking, I tell Adam a bit about my own relationship troubles and how the thing that has been helping me through the ordeal is God. He stops for a second, and mentions how he hasn't prayed in two years. He is afraid to because he thinks that God will be angry with him for only coming to Him when he's having problems. Adam tells me he doesn't want to have to be confronted with that on his day of reconing. I told him that God does not keep track of wrongs like humans do, and that when he asks for forgiveness with remorse in his heart, God will always welcome him back with love and open arms and he will have a clean slate. I knew it because I had just experienced it. Adam told me he hoped I was right. I offered to pick him up for church next Sunday and he said he'd think about it.

We talked about some more stuff as he directed me to the housing area. As we pulled up to his friend's house, he thanked me, and then said, "You know what? I think I will go with you to church next week." I gave him my phone number, we shook hands, and he got out of the car. I wound my way back out to the main road and headed home, hoping my popsicles weren't melted.

I don't know if Adam is going to call me. I hope he does, I'd like a church buddy. I was struck tonight by God's ability to work through me when I just open myself up to His will. When I honestly and truthfully seek Him, He reveals Himself to me and guides my life. I am overwhelmed sometimes by his faithfulness. Thank you for allowing me to reflect your love to another human here on Earth, Lord. I'll be your mirror any day.

GAL 5:13
"You, my brothers, were called to be free. But do not use your freedom to indulge the sinful nature; rather, serve one another in love."

It's amazing what God can do with you when you let Him.

-Matt

Me (Not Pictured: Jesus)

"It Has Begun..."

I am now one of the bloggers. My brother has one, my friends have theirs, and now I have mine. It'll be my own special little place; a window into my thoughts. Well, all the thoughts that I want to share with any person who happens to stumble upon my blog, that is. I mean, if you're THAT important to me, you'll already know the really deep stuff, right?

Mostly what this is going to be, I'm sure, is a forum for me to vent out all of my frustrations with the world, laugh about all the silliness I encounter, and try and get some sympathy for the hurts I absorb. Also, I'm hoping it will improve my writing abilites. I've often found that some people who write these things get pretty pretentious with them..."...today the sun vanished with a million nuclear explosions painting the sky with beauty that struck my heart dumb and made me weep and mourn the passing of the day, blah blah bladey blah." You know who I'm talking about. Not everyone. If the shoe fits and all that. I'm anti-puffed-upedness, so help me to keep things normal over here. Imagine I'm talking to you, and if you'd tilt your head in a confused way in person to any of the words I use, just let me know I've gone over the top. Well, sure, I'm going to sonfuse you sometimes. I'm weird. But I think you know what I'm talking about. Thanks.

I'm starting more than just a new blog today. I'm also renewing my relationship with Jesus. I've fallen away from Him and I miss Him so much. So I've been working my way back to Him, and I think this might help me. Plus, I can get a bunch of feedback on my religious/faith-based questions and having a huge religious community to feed off of will be great. Even if you're not a Christian and you want to contribute, feel free.

So...here it is for now. All of the rest of the entries will be much more interesting, I hope. I look forward to writing again soon, and I hope you'd like to stick around and read. This should be fun.

Jhn 15:5
"I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing. "

Let's all bear some fruit.

-Matt