Sunday, July 22, 2012

Colorado Theater. ‘Dark Knight.’ Cultural Influencers. Euphemisms. Real Men Don’t Swear. National Debt. Emancipation. Tithing.

For Scripture Sunday”:

Colorado Theater Massacre: Why Now? And What Next?

“Many are stunned by the images, video, and testimony coming from Aurora, Colorado, where a young gunman strolled into a crowded movie theater on Thursday night and killed 12 people, injuring 50 others.  What is happening in our society?  Should we fear being in public?  What should we do?

The alleged shooter is a 24-year-old neuroscience student who dropped out of his Ph.D. program at the University of Colorado-Denver last month. As I write this, any motives for his horrific action remain unknown.  However, by all accounts he had to have planned far in advance to be so well prepared for his onslaught.  After inspecting the young man’s apartment, Aurora Police Chief Daniel Oates told journalists, “We have a whole bunch of bomb techs from a whole bunch of agencies. We have pictures inside the location. We are trying to determine how to disarm flammable or explosive material that’s in there. We could be here for hours. We could be here for days trying to get in there and get whatever evidence there is. The pictures are pretty disturbing. It looks pretty sophisticated in terms of how it’s booby-trapped.”

But even if the killer’s motives were known, they could not relieve us of the terrible sense that, if our world is the sort of place where such terrible plans can be conceived at all, let alone acted upon, how can any of us be safe?  What kind of society produces such people?

The suspect’s upbringing, background and political beliefs will surely be examined. Any statements he has published or placed online will be scrutinized. Analysts will do their best to determine the cause of the massacre.  Ultimately, however, its cause is much deeper than they will find, and it ties together with a common thread all such atrocities—across demographics, ideologies, and political lines.

Jesus Christ said, of this present age, that “lawlessness will abound, and the love of many will grow cold” (Matthew 24:12).  The Apostle Paul said that “in the last days perilous times will come: For men will be lovers of themselves… unloving… without self-control, brutal” (2 Timothy 3:2-3).

Meanwhile, many of our leaders happily remove the Ten Commandments from the halls of government, and even strive to remove any vestige of godly, moral instruction from our institutions of learning.”     Complete article at: http://www.tomorrowsworld.org/commentary/colorado-theater-massacre-why-now-and-what-next

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Our attitude to violence is beyond a joke as new Batman film, The Dark Knight, shows

“The new Batman film reaches new levels of brutality, so why are we letting children watch it? Jenny McCartney looks at a society seduced by sadism.”

“If I were 10 years old, would I be badgering my parents to take me to see the new Batman film, ‘The Dark Knight’? You bet I would. It's the latest and biggest release in the superhero genre, which children instantly understand as a direct appeal to their special interests.

Playing the Joker: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, with Christian Bale as Batman

Playing the Joker: Heath Ledger in The Dark Knight, with Christian Bale as Batman

It's also touched with the alluring suggestion of forbidden fruit: the maniacal, deranged face of The Joker, grippingly played by the late Heath Ledger, leers from posters all over town.

If I were the parent who relented and took a 10-year-old child to see The Dark Knight, would I be sorry? Once again, you bet I would.   It's different from other superhero films, as fans are quick to point out. Certainly, there are surprises in its swooping camera angles and darkened, ominous screen.

But the greatest surprise of all – even for me, after eight years spent working as a film critic – has been the sustained level of intensely sadistic brutality throughout the film.   It's also touched with the alluring suggestion of forbidden fruit: the maniacal, deranged face of The Joker, grippingly played by the late Heath Ledger, leers from posters all over town.

If I were the parent who relented and took a 10-year-old child to see ‘The Dark Knight’, would I be sorry? Once again, you bet I would. It's different from other superhero films, as fans are quick to point out. Certainly, there are surprises in its swooping camera angles and darkened, ominous screen.   But the greatest surprise of all – even for me, after eight years spent working as a film critic – has been the sustained level of intensely sadistic brutality throughout the film.

I will attempt to confine my plot spoilers to the opening: the film begins with a heist carried out by men in sinister clown masks. As each clown completes a task, another shoots him point-blank in the head. The scene ends with a clown – The Joker – stuffing a bomb into a wounded bank employee's mouth.  After the murderous clown heist, things slip downhill. A man's face is filleted by a knife, and another's is burned half off. A man's eye is slammed into a pencil. A bomb can be seen crudely stitched inside another man's stomach, which subsequently explodes. A trussed-up man is bound to a chair and set alight atop a pile of banknotes.

A plainly terrorized child is threatened at gunpoint by a man with a melted face. It is all intensely realistic. Oh but don't worry, folks: there isn't any nudity.”         More at: http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/celebritynews/2461820/Our-attitude-to-violence-is-beyond-a-joke-as-new-Batman-film-The-Dark-Knight-shows.html

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From me: The trailer of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ doesn’t seem to be any better as a waste one’s time: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1345836/  Why would people want to see such violence, brutality, cruelty and expose their kids to this?  And we wonder “What’s the matter with kids today?”  Song starts at 1.20.

http://youtu.be/1wCXr_6wgns

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Cultural Influencers

July 20, 2012 - “Movies and music are among many influences shaping our morals, ethics and behavior. What—and who—should be shaping behavior in ourselves and in our children?”

“We awoke this morning to the news of another tragic incident in Colorado in the United States where someone opened up shooting in a crowded movie theater at a very late night showing of a new released movie this summer. And at current reports 12 people have died as a result of this. Steve and I were planning to do a program, or BT Daily here on the impact of culture on behavior from a different point of view when this news came in here. But we thought we'd go ahead with this because there are lessons to learn for all of us in regard to the impact of culture upon our own personal behavior, and where to go for the answers to influence behavior in a positive way.”:

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/christian-living/cultural-influencers

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Euphemisms: Should a Christian Avoid Euphemisms for God?

Euphemisms: Should a Christian Avoid Euphemisms for God?“What are euphemisms, and what euphemisms do Christians need to be concerned about? Do euphemisms for God's name break the Third Commandment?

Webster’s Dictionary has this definition of euphemism: “The use of a less direct word or phrase for one considered offensive.” There are many categories of euphemisms, but the two Christians are most concerned with are those that violate the Third Commandment and those that ask God to condemn others. Unfortunately, many who claim to be Christian unknowingly use these types of euphemisms that disobey His instructions.

Euphemisms misusing God’s name

The Third Commandment states, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7; Deuteronomy 5:11). “In vain” literally means to use God’s name in an empty or trifling way, without appropriate reverence for God.

In our modern world we hear this commandment violated overtly and frequently all around us, with “God,” “Jesus,” “Christ” or “Lord” uttered merely as filler words, exclamations, expressions of anger or contempt or in conjunction with cursing or profanity. One of the most pervasive abuses of the name of God is the phrase “oh my …!,” which has become so commonplace it now has its own anagram (OMG) for text messaging.

In addition to blatantly saying God’s names, there are euphemisms that have modified the same names into less explicit or softened forms; but because they are merely modifications of God’s name(s), they likewise are violations of the intent of the Third Commandment.

The list is provided to help you identify common euphemisms for God’s name, in order to avoid inadvertently making irreverent references to God’s holy name.”      List and more at: http://lifehopeandtruth.com/bible/10-commandments/profanity-third-commandment/euphemisms/   (You can find more information in many dictionaries that include slang words and euphemisms.)”  

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Real Men Don’t Swear

Man holding up sign with #@!*? on itApparently, foul-mouthed guys help sell movie tickets and attract a TV audience. But in real life, cursing and swearing just make you sound mean, boring and out-of-control.

From the movies and TV, you’d think that swearing makes you tough, powerful or funny. But think about the people you know who can’t get a sentence out without some form of profanity or cursing. Why is it that they often seem shallow, weak and pathetic?

What does God say about swearing?

In giving the Ten Commandments, God thundered out, “You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain, for the LORD will not hold him guiltless who takes His name in vain” (Exodus 20:7).

One of the most common sins is using God’s name lightly—without respect and honor. If you are using God or Jesus Christ’s name in every sentence or in anger or to condemn someone, that is breaking the Third Commandment. The people who changed how they said His name just slightly to make it sound more socially acceptable or funny (euphemisms like “gol durn”) missed the point. That’s still treating His name disrespectfully.  People who use God’s name to emphasize what they are saying rarely think about either the truthfulness of what they say or the disrespect they are showing to God.”     More at: http://cogwa.org/man-blog/entry/real-men-dont-swear

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America's National Debt

Understanding the national debt at the individual level.

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-daily/finances/americas-national-debt

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On This Day:

Lincoln tells his cabinet about Emancipation Proclamation, Jul 22, 1862:

“On this day in 1862, President Abraham Lincoln informs his chief advisors and cabinet that he will issue a proclamation to free slaves, but adds that he will wait until the Union Army has achieved a substantial military victory to make the announcement.

Attempting to stitch together a nation mired in a bloody civil war, Abraham Lincoln made a last-ditch, but carefully calculated, executive decision regarding the institution of slavery in America. At the time of the meeting with his cabinet, things were not looking good for the Union. The Confederate Army had overcome Union troops in significant battles and Britain and France were set to officially recognize the Confederacy as a separate nation.

The issuing of the Emancipation Proclamation had less to do with ending slavery than saving the crumbling union. In an August 1862 letter to New York Tribune editor Horace Greeley, Lincoln confessed "my paramount object in this struggle is to save the Union, and it is not either to save or to destroy slavery." He hoped a strong statement declaring a national policy of emancipation would stimulate a rush of the South's slaves into the ranks of the Union Army, thus depleting the Confederacy's labor force, on which it depended to wage war against the North.

As promised, Lincoln waited to unveil the proclamation until he could do so on the heels of a successful Union military advance. On September 22, 1862, after a victory at Antietam, he publicly announced a preliminary Emancipation Proclamation, declaring all slaves free in the rebellious states as of January 1, 1863. Lincoln and his advisors limited the proclamation's language to slavery in states outside of federal control as of 1862. The proclamation did not, however, address the contentious issue of slavery within the nation's border states. In his attempt to appease all parties, Lincoln left many loopholes open that civil rights advocates would be forced to tackle in the future.”

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The program on WGN this morning:

Tithing: God's Financial Key to Success

“Discover how tithing is an act of worship from which God learns much about our hearts and our treasure.”

Transcript at: http://www.ucg.org/beyond-today-program/faith/tithing-gods-financial-key-success/

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Yesterday:

Prime, my foster cat, was picked up and chauffeured to Adoption Day.  I was all ready bathed and dressed for church, so I went early and was there for the Bible Study.  This was a continuation of the texts from the last lesson in 1 Thess., and this one was from chapter 4, verses 1-12 about “True Love”.  The cross references were from 1 Cor. 6: 13-20.  The sermon was along the same lines.  The pot luck lunch was good, mostly for the fellowship. 

On Friday, I had taken some smocks, and big dresses out of my yard sale stuff, washed them, and yesterday I took them to a lady in the congregation who is expecting her second child.  Maybe she is having twins, she is so big.  She was grateful, as she said she didn’t know what she was going to wear anymore.  She still has a month to go.  There are two lovely nurseries there at that church with windows over looking the main hall, but usually the babies and toddlers are in with the congregation. But babies and toddlers will act up now and then, so the sermon is piped into all parts of the building.

Prime was brought home around 6.00PM, and as usual the foster mom said that she had been a sweet, good girl for Adoption Day.

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