A Knight's Blog

Since the advent of Television there has been concern and criticism. Early fundamentalists called the first TVs "devil boxes". David Wilkerson, the late pastor of Time's Sqaure Church was laughed off the pulpit when he prophesied that pornography and pernicious programs would be available via TV. His prophecy came true. What is very disturbing about Television is its power to bespell people with its hypnotic waves and keep them couch bound for hours upon hours. Originally to amuse ourselves we had to participate in physical activities such as sports. This trance TVs leaves people in has deprived many believers from entering God's Tabernacle. Entertainment has such a grip on us that it has turned our minds from meditation on The Lord to Television. On the other hand there are TV programs that can enhance faith such as TBN, EWTN, and list of other Christian Shows. However, despite the good that comes forth from the screen that dominates our homes, there is much d

The Battle for the Soul of Christmas is at hand! In one corner is the origin source of the holiday, Jesus Christ himself. In the other is the folklore sensation Santa Claus. Only one can win as master of the holiday! Let the battle begin! STATS Name : Jesus Christ Alias : Immanuel Title : King of Kings, Lord of Lords, Prince of Peace, Son of God, and Messiah. Height : Unknown Weight : Slim to Average Powers : Holy Ghost Force Push, Flying, Teleporting, Water Walking, Creating Anything, Invincibility, Healing, and an infinite more powers. Description : Jesus is the Son of God, endowed the Powers of the Most High and capable of anything because he is God. Jesus was born to the Virgin Mary and grew up to testify to the Truth and die for the sins of mankind. Jesus conquered death and rose from the dead on the Third Day. Those who believe in Christ are granted eternal life. Name : Santa Claus (Odin) Alias : Kris Kringle Title : Father Christmas and King of the Norse gods

The History of the Christmas Holiday is a dance between faith and folklore. For many the holiday is about giving presents and perpetuating the belief in Father Christmas or Santa Claus. For Christians around the world it is the celebration of the true origin of the holiday: Christ's birth in Bethlehem. The name of the holiday Christmas comes from the word Christ-mass , meaning to have mass gathering of believers come together to honor Jesus Christ. While juxtaposition of the Savior with Santa seems odd, in truth Santa Claus is caricature of St. Nicholas who in Turkey was known to secretly give gifts to the poor and leave coins in people's shoes (it is a custom in Turkish and Asian culture to take your shoes off when entering a house). Christmas Time is also a time of commercialism. Major companies gear up to sell their products right after Thanksgiving to potential Christmas shoppers. The Black Friday tradition is so ingrained in our culture, that it has become part of th

  There is something about villains. Wither it be the iconic Darth Vader or the insane Joker in Batman; bad guys have bewitched fans and film goers alike. Many have speculated about why antagonists get such a following. I have my own theory and shall present it presently. But first let us examine evil and why it creates more empathy in us than good. Theolgians argue about the origin of evil. Some claim that it began with Satan and the angelic host that fell in the Great War in Heaven. Others hold the compelling belief that evil has always existed; that it is a choice and only becomes personified by those who disobey or rebel against the source of goodness; God. So why then do people find themselves empathizing with evil? Why does the villain illict more compassion and connection than the hero? We may want to be the hero, but for some reason the bad guy is always cooler and more complex which creates a connection in us because we desire approval or to be cool and we are complex

  WARNING: Spoilers "I am always amused by how excited people are about war. They think that they hasten to meet their enemy, but instead they hasten to meet me." -Death The Book Thief is a film that will steal your heart and leave the pages of your soul touched. It is visually a Les Miserables set in Germany. The scenes of the Swastika swaying in the wind of the stone clad streets and alleys of abodes leaves you with a surreal feeling. The Book Thief is two movies. It is about a young little girl named Liesel Meminger (Sophioe Nelisse) who finds a new life with her foster parents in a German ghetto during WWII. It is also a narration and reflection by Death  on humanity and It's complexities. Lisel's story begins on a train and it there that Death makes her acquaintance. Her younger brother dies and is buried in a graveyard near the rail road tracks. From there Young Lisel's is taken from her birth mother and placed into the care of her foster parent

Today (Nov 22) is the 50th Anniversary of the Assassination of President John F. Kennedy. The event shook the entire nation and the world on this day, 1963. I myself was born long after Kennedy and have only recently become acquainted with his life. A week ago I got the opportunity to view "Killing Kennedy" on Neo Geo, starring Rob Lowe and Ginnifer Goodwin . The film does a brilliant job of making you connect with JFK and Jaquline, his wife. The emotional turmoil of the events of the Cuban Missile Crisis and the battles JFK has with his health and woman problems really balances the often saintly depicted president. Yet, despite his flaws you become convinced that Jack, as he was called by his brother Bobby and close friends, was a good man trying to do the right thing. Then enter Lee Harvery Oswald. The villain in the Kennedy Story. Oswald is Marxist who flees America in search of his dream land Russia. There he hopes Marxism will flourish, but to his dismay he is una

Oiden "The Traveler" There is a trend in the entertainment industry. A mythology has returned that is embedded in almost every fantasy story on the big screen, flat screen, and mobile screen. The mythology I speak of is Norse. Norse Mythology derives from the Nordic People and it is the legends or tales of their gods. Key deities in theses stories are Oiden , Thor , and Loki . Let me survey if I will the entire collection of Norse entertainment that is currently available: The first is a Marvel superhero film that retells the story of Thor, son Oiden. A sequel to this film has just recently been released in theaters: Prior to Thor: The Dark World was The Avengers film which featured a rival god of Thor known as Loki, who is a "trickster" and very Satan like in character: (see top of poster) In Norse Mythology Loki is a god that is from different family of deities. He bares no relation to Thor. Beyond these obvious tributes to the Norse Mythologi

Jesus warns us in the Gospel of Matthew that we can serve only one of two masters. He says, "You can serve God or Mammon." (Matthew 6:24). I have taken an extensive look at Mammon in my blog post "The Three gods of America." However, there is something very relevant I want to explore. Let us rename Mammon a more familiar name, let us call it Gold. I have often scoffed at the power precious metals, gems, and coins have had over people. How can people like Christopher Columbus abandon his God given quest for the pursuit of gold? In his last moments of agony, Columbus is not able to give up is insatiable desire for the glittering metal. What is the power gold has over us? Is it a god or is it something else? Gold quickly becomes a god to man because of It's value. Few can forget the "Gold Rush" and how people from all over the America and Europe sought fortunes in the gold mines of Alaska and California. Gold has a power and that power should not be

  Growing up, there was tradition in my family. We were all cinephiles (movie enthusiasts) and once a week we would go to our local video rental store. The first video store I remember was a ma and pa like sanctum for video viewers. It was small, probably around 1200 square feet. It wasn't until my mid childhood that we started going to the bigger and better Blockbuster Video Store. In those days we would on weeknight and weekends go inside and see that familiar blue and yellow. I would stroll down the aisles looking for films and rendezvous with my father or mother. I also would go to Blockbuster for memorabilia. Often they would have collectables from my favorite video game franchises. I remember being introduced to my first FPS game at Blockbuster: 007 Goldeneye. Videos have gone the way of the record and Amtrak. Few in Generation Y I think can recollect rewinding their movies before returning them to the store. Now we have DVD, Bluray, and Digital Downloads. The advent o

It sure is beginning to look like Christmas! I once was a critic that scorned having Christmas décor and designs out before Thanksgiving. However, I have converted! Christmas has always been my favorite time of year and now I am celebrating it early! In fact, I am not alone in my precelebrations. Two friends of mine have already started decorating and one of them is already listening to Xmas music. I even found complete strangers at my local Target looking for trees and ignoring the discounted Halloween and Harvest items. I think the reason people are "decking the halls" early has to do with the times we live in. The world is growing darker and people are under such stress to pay their debts. Under the gloom of high deficient and failing economy, people want an escape. They want some light and wonder in their lives. Christmas certainly has an allure. The Spirit of the Season falls on you and you can't help but be swept away. For myself the holiday is a combination of

  When we think of discipleship, we often think academics. We envision a study group or being tutored by theologian, priest, or pastor. We claim to be Christ's disciples, but do we know what that really means? In a culture of convenience and cognitive dissonance; it can be difficult to convey the truth of discipleship. When we think of the First Disciples, The Apostles, what comes to mind? Do we picture men and women who's faith was on display when it was convenient? No! We picture John, Peter, and James following Christ everywhere; ministering via the Holy Spirit and dedicating their lives to imitating their Lord. How come we do not have this same view of ourselves as disciples? Why has the term evolved to mean every believer, even those who honesty put God last on their list of priorities? Christ makes it absolutely clear. He says to be a disciple you must, "deny yourself, pick up your cross, and follow him." Jesus then follows this up with further detail, &qu

For many Protestants and reformed denominations, All Saints' Day is not celebrated. The holiday is associated with orthodox churches like The Roman Catholic Church, The Greek Orthodox Church, and The Eastern Orthodox Church. Sainthood is associated with pious men and women who seem larger than life. It encompasses the lives of bishops, monks, and other holy men who led extreme lives for Christ. These venerable people seem to must of us untouchable; as if they were filled with a greater holiness. This view is propagated by the orthodox, but the truth is that everyone who believers in The Holy Trinity is a saint. There is no distinction between St. Benedict and Billy Graham before God. Thus, All Saints' Day is truly a celebration of every believer who lives and who is in celestial paradise with Christ. This holiday celebrates us all! Still, I think it is worthwhile to revere saints that inspire devotion and resolve in "running the race" of our faith. I have been s

Sonic 2 I have written many blog posts about the insidious truth about some of the most beloved franchises. The Truth of The Lord of the Rings, Narnia, and Star Wars comes to mind. Having reflected on the famous shows, films, and video games I have been involved in. There is a common theme of disrespect towards Christ and Christianity. Let me give you exhibit A: Sonic the Hedgehog. In Sonic The Hedgehog 2 for the SEGA Genesis and subsequent installments, the Blue Blur can run across water. For children this is affirmation that Sonic is a superhero and that he can run so fast that he merely glides across the surface of water. What this does subconsciously however, is downplay Christ walking on water. It creates in young children's minds the concept that running across water is more amazing and action packed than Jesus walking on the water. It in subtle way makes young people think they Sonic can do something more spectacular than the Son of God! To even drive home the point, Son