Avatar: The Last Air Bender was a Nickelodeon show that originally aired from 2005 to 2008 that created a world consisting of four nations. Each nation was named after one of the four natural elements: water, earth, fire and air. Within each nation there are individuals who can manipulate and control the element that corresponds to their nation. In the show they call this “bending.” Along with the benders there is the Avatar, who is the bridge that connects mankind to the spirit realm connects to their ability to bend their elements. The Avatar is able to bend all four elements with the goal of bringing and keeping harmony amongst the four nations. When the Avatar dies, they are reincarnated; where they will be born and grow in a new nation. As they grow, they will learn of their destiny and learn to bend all four elements and grow as the leader they are destined to be.  

While this show has plenty of action and comedy to keep the attention of the young audience; there is plenty of thought-provoking life lessons for older audiences to latch on to as they grow and evolve. As stated, the four nation all connect to one of the four elements, but each of these nations also displays societies that live a variety of lives and have vast differences in theology and spirituality.  

This is the aspect of the show that I always felt a deep connection to. When I first watched the show at the age of 19, I was amazed at how seamlessly the writers intertwined life lessons that I could think through and apply to my own life. As I re-watch the show as a 37-year- old pastor, I am even more amazed at the depth of this show.  

One of the biggest themes of the show is the theme of connection. At the start of the show, it is established that there was a time where the world and the four nations lived harmoniously. Yet, through the action of the Fire-lord, the leader of the fire nation, decided to overthrow and gain control of the three other nations. This caused division and separation among the nations. When Aang, the current Avatar met with a Guru named Guru Pathik, it was revealed to him that the entire world is meant to live in harmony because all things are connected. Guru Pathik states, “The greatest illusion of this world is the illusion of separation. Things you think are separate and different are actually one and the same. We are all one people, but we live as if divided.” 

This is eye-opening. Often in churches we identify aspects of life that creates separation instead of promoting oneness and harmony. We will villainize other religions and ways of thinking instead of promoting curiosity that would allow us to ask questions and gain understanding. We would rather talk down to others who are living a lifestyle that is different than our own so that a sense of superiority is established instead of building a friendship.  

As I re-watched this moment, I began to think of the American church and the different ways that they divide instead of unite. Through this moment between Aang and Guru Pathik, I begin to realize that we too need to understand the harmony of our world and the deeper connection within our experiences and our cultures. I believe that we are meant to bring harmony to all by understanding that “we are all one people.” 

Even though we are different people with different lifestyles, beliefs and traditions, this should not divide us, but unite us. Our human bonds should allow us to stand shoulder to shoulder with our fellow humans in the moments of difficulty and injustice. It is our differences in culture, tradition and belief that makes humanity interesting. And it is our quest for understanding that creates harmony amongst humanity.  
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It is my hope that throughout my pastoral career, I will be able to remain curious about other religions and other cultures as well as build relationships of understanding that strengthens humanity as a whole instead of promoting division amongst humanity.  ​

    In rear moments in our lives we are about to impact peoples lives in the best ways. In these moments, we are able to save lives. We are able to show people that we care and that they are important.
Tru’s Calling:
    Throughout the short run of the show, the audience follows the adventures of Tru as she uses her detective skills and her supernatural abilities to save lives. In her attempts, the audience travels through loss, heartbreak and victory through the two season television show.
 
    In Tru Calling, which first aired in 2003, Tru Davies (Eliza Dushku) is given the opportunity to do just that. Tru is a college graduate who is working on finding herself in medical school. In her pursuits, she lands a job at the city morgue, working the overnight shift. While working in the city morgue, the body of a murdered girl soon asks for help. Tru’s day restarts. The victim was not dead yet. Tru had the opportunity to save this person’s life. With the details that she gathers throughout the day, Tru frantically works on ensuring that the life of the victim is spared from the untimely death that they faced the “day” earlier.

    The puzzle pieces begin to connect as we also learn that Tru’s mother met her untimely demise due to a murder. A murder that Tru witnessed at the age of twelve. We quickly discover that Tru uses the death of her mother as motivation to save the lives of those that ask for help, a calling that tru’s very mother had the decade prior.

    As soon as the audience gathers a better sense of the calling that Tru carries on her back, the writers throw us a curveball in the name of Jack Harper. Jack Harper is the exact opposite of Tru. They both relive days, yet while Tru works to save the potential victims’ lives, Jack works to keep the order of the universe by ensuring that the victim still dies by the end of the episode.

The angel of life and the angel of death.

Truth’s Calling:

    On the surface of the show, it’s an exciting show of drama and mystery. It’s a show that shows a compassion for all kinds of people as well as having a loving family bond between Tru and her brother Harrison. On a deeper level the show parallels the life that we experience as Christians in the life of ministry.

    Throughout the arc of the two seasons, we see Tru work diligently and intensely to save the lives of the potential victims, while at the same time there is an opposing force that is tempting the potential victim with the same traps that encaged them the “day” prior in attempts to ensure that the events happen as they did before.

    As a Christian living to honor Chris and spread the Gospel to all those who do not have access  to the Gospel, we have a calling to lead those we meet to the salvation of Jesus, ultimately saving them from their own unnatural death. For those of us that accept this calling, there is an opposing force from the enemy himself works diligently through our culture to ensure that the masses of victims meet their untimely demise.

    In the show the audiences sees Tru’s urgency to save the lives of those that have asks for her help. Tru shows that she will stop at nothing to change the victim’s destiny and ensure that they survive the day. Watching this, the Christian audience could get the same urgency for those that we meet and see everyday. What are we willing to do to ensure that our friends, our family’s and our communities know Jesus and are saved from their untimely demise into an afterlife with God.

    This calling goes further than just going to church on Sunday and possibly attending a Bible study throughout the week. Our calling is to bring people to Jesus, where they can be healed, saved and loved in a way that they often have never experienced.

    The truth is, bringing people to the place where they can develop a honest and true relationship with Jesus is not an easy task. The recipient would need to vulnerable enough to open their hearts to the truth of God’s love and the fact is that most people are too ignorant and busy with their everyday lives to realize that they need Jesus or that they need saving.

​What would you do to save someone’s life? ​

Crayola Experience

The Crayola experience has just recently opened at Chandler Fashion Center! This bright and colorful place has annual passholder memberships available for only $30 per person.

I have not been in the Crayola experince currently. However I have been to gift shop numerous times already with family and friends! The Pick a Pack wall of color is sure to wow fans of all ages!

Gifts range from Christmas ornaments to t shirts and of course a variety of coloring products such as crayons, markers, and colored pencils. Plushies of crayons in all sizes and colors are prominently displayed. The plushie markers are tucked further back in the store.

I personally purchased the emoji marker set a great deal at only $5 dollars. I also have a green golf ball and plushie crayon keychain. With a few exceptions most of the gifts for sale seem very reasonably priced.

Inside the Crayola Experince guests can snack and create art work. There are variety of different stations to choose from. Please visit the Crayola Experience website for more information.

I would greatly reccomend this as a family trip perhaps when grandparents are coming in from out of town.

White Crow

Disclaimer this post contains movie spoilers

The White Crow is a 2019 biopic about Rudolph Nureyev. In the 1960s Nureyev made a big splash when he defected to the West. In the ballet world he is respected as one of the greatest artists of his generation.

Ballet is a great passion of mine. Most movies about ballet recently have had only about five minutes of actual ballet. So I was pleasantly surprised by the amount of ballet content in this film.

Ralph Fiennes is better known to our generation as He Who Must Not Be Named. Yes this film was directed by the same actor who plays Lord Voldimort. He used two different cinematic styles: black and white footage for childhood flashbacks and color for present day.

To be fair I enjoyed the movie greatly. But I do have some criticisms. There was a lot of jumping around time wise. Sometimes he would be in the studio six years prior and other times it would be 1961.

The film also has moments where it is shot from the point of view of the character and that was slightly jarring. For most of the film I did feel as if I was taking a trip to Paris. A beautiful city and a wonderful backdrop to the events that unfolded.

Rudolph Nureyev defected to the West at the end of the film. He does not leave for political reasons but due to artistic freedom he had not been offered at the Kirov ballet. During his time in Paris he spent time away from his Soviet company.

This film captures Nureyev's artistic temperament to put it lightly. He seems to alienate those closest to him by his abrupt anger. He also seems childlike at times like in his desire for a model train set.

Nureyev is known as a boy born on a train. His life was changed when at age six he was able to see an opera performance. It was then that he knew he wanted the stage and theatre to he his home. His home life was very simple.

The White Crow was an excellent film. It captured a moment in time that was pivotal for the dance world. The amount of actual ballet content is pleasing. However most of the dancing is a rehearsals with a few crumbs of costumed performances. Overall I would reccomend it for any dance aficionados in your life.

Additionally I must state that there are a few scenes that may make audience members squeamish. In one scene Nureyev's dance teachers wife seduces him rather directly. In Paris, Nureyev and his friends do visit a topless bar. There are also a few nude scenes involving characters getting out of bed. Due to this content I would reccomend this film for adults only.

Aquaman

Disclaimer there are spoilers in this post.

The holiday season gave us Aquaman as the gift we didnt know we needed. Aquaman a character from the DC universe who is a part of the Justice League.

Aquaman is the heir to the kingdom of Atlantis and he lives with his father who is a light house keeper. Aquaman's name is Arthur and he grows up believing that his mother has been killed for her love of a human and escaping an arranged marriage.

Arthur is contacted by Princess Mera because she needs his help to defeat his half brother who seeks to become Ocean Master. To do this, they must travel to find the Trident of Atlan.

The first part of the movie is when Arthur's parents meet and fall in love during a storm. Then we see Arthur grow up and we meet his arch rival the Black Manta. Black Manta wants revenge because he holds Aquaman responsible for his father's death.

Then the second half of the film takes Arthur and Mera on an incredible journey from the Saharra desert to Sicily in search of clues to point them to the location of the Trident of Atlan. Romance blossoms between the strong willed princess and her rather begrudging tour guide.

The final third portion of the film begins with finding out that Queen Atlanna is still alive and Arthur is reunited with his mother. After claiming his birthright of the Trident of Atlan Aquaman returns to fight his half brother.

The film concludes with a reunion of Arthur's parents.

This movie has everything to root for in a superhero film. Plenty of.fight scenes and action sequences. Just the right dose of comedic timing. And a cast that is fairly easy on the eyes. I am sure that Arthur and Mera will inspire plenty of fan fiction.

If you are looking for a film to ride you over until summer's latest block buster hit, look no further than Aquaman!

A pet cemetery is a special place; a mysterious place. It is often a place where we learn to deal with loss, most of the times at the youngest of ages. In this special place we learn to hold on to the wonderful memories of our best of friends.  
 
Yet, what happens when you are unable to deal with the death? What happens when you your grieving results in not letting go of the pet, or person, that you’ve lost? This is the situation that the audience is forced to face in the newest adaptation of Stephen King’s Pet Sematary.  
 
While adjusting to a new life, in a new home, Dr. Lewis Creed and his wife, Rachel, must begin to cope with the loss of their child after a trucking accident. Amid his grief, Lewis buries his child in the mystical Pet Sematary that rested just behind their home. Soon the once dead child returns home to her father, but there’s something wrong with her, she’s not that same. The family soon must face the deadly consequences of Dr. Lewis Creed’s actions when the living-dead child tries to reunite the family through death.  
 
Looking deeper into this story, the audience is given the opportunity to observe the spiritual, yet lethal, consequences of not being able to deal with death in a positive and healthy way. Watching the movie, the audience can relate one of the members of the four-person family. It could the mother Rachel, who goes to stay with her parents after to child’s death. It could be Lewis, who tries to hold on to the past when he buries his recently deceased child in the mystical cemetery because he “wanted more time with her.” 
 
Without being an expert about death and how to deal with it, it’s plane to see that there are two different ways that the parents display to deal with the death that they face. These two coping mechanisms can also be applied to our spiritual life.  
 

1. Rachel- In the wake of the tragedy that Rachel faces, she seeks comfort and compassion from family and friends. Without hesitation, she gathers her remaining child and travels to her parents' home. This allows Rachel to build a barrier of support and love from family and friends. This allows Rachel to face the death head-on, which allows her to grow. This does not mean that she doesn’t love her daughter, but it allows her to put the grief to rest. Throughout the film, Rachel displays areas of weakness, but she makes progress.  Rachel is eventually able to return to her new home and face the living dead version of her child, showing a real growth in her journey. When the living-dead child approaches Rachel, trying to gain trust in the mother, Rachel can resist the temptation to embrace the child.  
   

 

1. Lewis- In the aftermath of his daughter’s death, Lewis find himself isolated. When his wife and toddler child travel to his in-laws, Lewis decides to remain home, claiming that he still had work to complete. In his moments of isolation, he is continuously reminded of his daughter. In the times of isolation, Lewis faces a difficult decision; to let his daughter lay or to place her in the Pet Sematary, hoping she would return the same as before. Throughout the film Lewis is given multiple opportunities to communicate his grief and pain with a friend or a loved one, but he continually suggests that he is fine. On the return of the child, Lewis refuses to admit to himself that his daughter is not normal; he refuses to admit that his daughter is dangerous.  
   

 
These two examples are examples that I believe many of us would also fall into when you we deal with loss. We can gather around friends and family and find solace in them as we work on moving on, or we can emotionally dig up the past and not actually deal with the emotional and spiritual toll that this takes.  
 
In our spiritual lives, it seems that we often dig up our past, not letting it rest. Often, we find that when we refuse to let our past rest, it begins to corrupt and corrode, destroying us from the inside. In the wake of our spirits corroding, the despair and depression can often seep out and entangle our family in the same corruption. This unrest can often destroy a family, “killing” everyone involved.  
 
Here's the good news for us: we don’t need to let our grief and despair destroy us and our families. There’s hope for us all in these difficult times. There’s a God that loves us and knows our pain. God wants to heal us in a healthy way. Therefore, we are involved in community to strengthen us and encourage us through our most difficult times.  ​

Aladdin comparison

disclaimer there are spoilers ahead!

May 24th 2019 marked the opening weekend for the live-action version of Aladdin.

Join familiar characters such as Genie and new character such as Jasmine's handmaiden Dahlia, as we return to Agrabah.

First I will give a brief synopsis of the Aladdin story. Then I will highlight what I enjoyed about the new film adaptation. Finally i will compare the live action version to the animated film.

Aladdin is story of a young man and how he changes his destiny. Due to help from his monkey Abu, Aladdin possess the lamp and its genie. Genie makes Aladdin into a prince so he can marry Princess Jasmine, who he saved earlier in the marketplace. Their love is thwarted by Jafar the evil grand visir and his pet parrot Iago. Jafar is turned into a genie and sent to the Cave of Wonders. Genie is freed by Aladdin. Jasmine's father the Sultan changes the law so that she and Aladdin can marry. Other supporting characters include the tiger Rajah, Jasmine's best friend, and a magic carpet that can fly, named Carpet.

Now that you are caught up on the story, here is what I enjoyed about the live action version. The movie was visually stunning according to critics and I have to agree. From the background and the costumes to the use of flower petals is was a treat. Jasmine this is her movie with the new musical number and anthem called "Speechless". Will Smith as the genie was so fun! The only thing I did not enjoy was Iago as he was much funnier in the animated version. Jafar also was quite scary but as a villian this was fitting for his character. I loved this film! I cant wait to see it again!

Aladdin as an animated film premiere in November of 1992. It started the late and great comedic actor, Robin William's, as the genie. Will Smith did an excellent job as the genie, but in the hearts of our generation, Robin William's will always be our genie. In the animated film, the lyrics to the songs differ slightly than the live action version. Iago, Jafars parrot, was much funnier in the animated film. In the live action adaptation, the genie falls in love with Jasmine's handmaiden Dahlia. I liked this touch of romance and plot.

The true question is this: Does the story stand the test of time? The answer, for this reviewer is a resounding Yes!

Both films are a treat for children of ages and are sure to delight! So, head on over to your local theater and revisit Agrabah with Disney's Aladdin!

Won’t you be my neighbor?
Mr. Rodgers was the creator of Mister Rogers’ Neighborhood. He was inspired to create the show after seeing what was available to children at the time. In his quiet manner, he invited the television audience to be his neighbor. Mr. Rogers spoke on a variety of topics. He sang songs, most notably, “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” and “It’s Such a Good Feeling”, which are the opening and closing themes of each episode. During the course of each episode, viewers were introduced to various characters from the Land of Make-Believe, such as Daniel Tiger and King Friday. The Bio-pic “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?” explores the shows history as well as the life of its creator, Fred Rogers.
Fred Rogers was a Presbyterian minister from Pennsylvania. He was a devoted father and husband. Throughout the extensive run of the show, Mr. Rogers taught his audience about love, which he proudly initialed with the number ‘143’.  Fred Rogers also believed that each person was unique and he often declared that he liked people just the way they were. This is easily a movie that will find its way into our personal DVD collection.
 
Lessons from “Won’t You Be My Neighbor?”

1. In times of high criticism, never respond in anger- throughout his life, Mr. Rogers dealt with his fair share of critics, whether it was about the contents of the show or his personal life, yet, he refused to allow these critics to drive him to be angry.
    
2. Love is greater than hate- Fred Rogers believed in the power of love. He showed love to everyone that he met. He believed that through love, the world would change for the better.
    
    
3. It is okay to let people know how you feel- Fred Rogers believed that everyone has feelings, therefore it was healthy to share your feelings with the people who care about us.
    
4. It’s important to let people know that you believe in them- Fred Rogers believed in people. He believed in their uniqueness and he believed that they had special talents that they could share with the world and he wasn’t afraid to let them know it.
    
    

Encouraging others should be our number one priority- Fred Rogers ensured that he encouraged the people around him to be their best, both on the show as well as off the show.