Dune - The Sleeper Must Awaken

In Dune Leto Atreides is talking to his son Paul about what it means to be a ruler. He told Paul the there comes a time in every mans life in which the "sleeper must awaken". It's a point where a person says, "I will cast off playing like a child and stand for what is right". A point in which you take up responsibility for your actions and move to the call that God has placed in your heart. Leto was preparing Paul for his time of rule; knowing that he would probably not be present long.

In a way, this is exactly what Christ did for us. He knew His time here was coming to a close and with His life and death; provided everything we needed. Even after His ascension He provided us with a teacher, a guide and healer; The Holy Spirit. Some of us as Christians are sleepers. We live our everyday lives much as everyone else. We do not take up the call to go and tell people the good news of Christ. We do not reach out to those unlike us in style or mind set. We do not live, we sleep like the dead comfortable in our boxes surrounded by the dirt we know.

Christ calls us to more than just our comfortable day in and day out lives. Ephesians 5:14-16 says, "... This is why it is said: "Wake up, o sleeper, rise from the dead, and Christ will shine on you. Be very careful, then, how you live- not as unwise, but as wise, making the most of every opportunity, because the days are evil." Awaken sleepers, your Father in heaven awaits your cry to Him to go for him!

Pride of the Apple Jack

Recently I've fallen victim to the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic virus that is sweeping the internet. As I watch this show I realize the reason why it entrances me to the extent it does is because they are first and foremost morality stories. In Episode 4: Apple Buck Season; you can see the lesson of humility that is also taught in The Bible. Apple Jack tries to harvest the whole farm after her brother gets hurt and can't help her. In her pride she refuses the help that is offered to her twice and refuses to listen when other ponies tell her that she should get help. At the end of the episode she basically ends up falling down and asking for help when Twilight Sparkle insists upon giving it to her.

In The Bible Proverbs 16:18 states "pride goes before destruction and a haughty spirit before a fall." In this case both happen to Apple Jack. When helping Rainbow Dash with her flying she can't concentrate enough to land on the X to launch Rainbow into the air and perform her incredible feats of dare devil flying. When she goes to help Pinkie Pie create wonderful muffins, she is so tired she can't understand what Pinkie is saying and only gets half of the ingredients. What we end up with is earth worm, soda and potato chip muffins instead. When she tries to help Fluttershy with rounding up the baby bunnies, she ends up scaring them all into a stampede that devastates Ponyvilles flowers and crops.

Apple Jack tries to do it all herself and fails miserably. Proverbs 13:10, "Only by pride comes contention: but with the well advised is wisdom." During the whole episode Twilight Sparkle is trying to tell Apple Jack that she needs to let them help her and it becomes an argument between the two of them. Apple Jack standing on her pride and Twilight Sparkle trying to get her to accept what is right, and take the help.

When you rely solely on yourself you cause trouble, disaster and unrest. As Christians we should be careful we do not become like Apple Jack toward each other. 1 John 2:16 says this, "For all that is in the world, the lust of the flesh and the lust of the eyes and the pride of life, is not of the Father, but is of the world." Be careful Christian that you don't have your Apple Jack moments. When you need help, ask for it. When help is offered, take it. Just like in the end of this episode where all the ponies became closer through their work, you become closer to your Christian brothers and sisters through help and dedication to the Love found in Christ for each other.

Why church is great; even when your DATA

In Star Trek: The Next Generation the character DATA can do just about anything. He figures out all the things the humans scratch their heads at. He's super fast, super smart, super strong and super efficient. He only lacks one thing: emotional capacity. DATA, although given an emotion chip, chooses to live without it. He chooses to make his best friend Jordy LaForge, instead of the ships computer. He chooses to learn from the flawed humans he works with and does not understand. In essence he chooses to fellowship with others who aren't like him and who never will be. How does this bring us to the church? The word church comes from the word ekklesia, which basically means a gathering of people called out to a purpose. As Christians we are called out to love God, love others and love your fellow Christians. 1 Corinthians 12:21-27 says it the best: we all have different jobs and are all different, but we all belong with and to each other. Even if you can do it all yourself, you benefit from being together. Just like DATA who chose to stay himself an:d gain friendship through dedication and essentially, love. We are the same as DATA, even when we think we can do it all, the people Christ puts in our life enriches and grows us. So, church is good, even if your DATA.

A Little Christ in a Faerie Tale

While watching an episode of Jim Hensons' Storyteller called The Three Ravens, I heard a line that describes the Christian walk perfectly. The line was this:

"...and the girl who kept faith and had but one face for everyone was rewarded with sons and brothers and sweetheart and a crown."

The princess in story of The Three Ravens kept her faith and was rewarded with all her heart desired. She was rich in family and rich in monetary means. Her hearts desires had been met and her needs surpassed; all by keeping her faith. As Christians we have a similar promise given to us in Matthew 6:31-33 and Luke 12:31-32. They basically say, seek the kingdom of God first and all your needs will be taken care of and that it is Gods' "good pleasure to give you the kingdom." (Luke 12:32).

Keep the faith as steadfast as the silent girl trying to free her brothers. The Great I Am sees your dedication and rewards you "with sons and brothers and sweetheart and a crown."

Dune "Fear"

Let us paint the picture of fear.  Biologically it's something built into us to give us an understanding of our past pains.  Fears is often caused by a memory of pain, either our own or someone elses'.  Watching Frank Herberts' Dune brought all the old ideas of pain that I used to have back.  Much like the ideas in the movie about pain and fear, I also believed that it was something I could control.  That I could repeat something however many times and the fear would just vanish. My beliefs, however, never rang true.  The more I tried to control my fear the more it grew inside me.  At the time  I even tried the Bene Gesserite mantra for fear:
                                                I will not fear
                                               Fear is the mind killer
                                               I will face my fear 
                                               I will let it pass through me
                                               Where the fear has gone there shall be nothing
                                               Only I will remain.
As silly as that sounds when you live your life without Christ and His nurturing care you will try anything to keep your emotions in check.  After becoming a Christian I learned that fear will not longer have a hold on me.  1 Peter 3:14 says, "But if you suffer for righteousness sake, happy are you and be not afraid of their terrors, neither be troubled."  Such an odd statement can only be followed if I understand that, "The Lord is in the midst of you, He is mighty, He will save..." (Zephaniah 3:15-17) and that He "will help me and I will not fall to my enemies." (Jeremiah 39:17-18 paraphrased).  Once I understand this concept I stand on the solid ground of Christ.  Like Muad'dib I stand boldly and declare the things that are true.  With Christ I say:
                                                 I will not fear
                                                 Fear is conquered through Christ
                                                I will give my fear to the Lord
                                                I will let Christ flow through me
                                               Where the fear has gone there shall be love
                                                Only Christ will remain.