Dark Supremacy

The sun recedes and Day-sky hides her face
and nets of stars are cast to take their place.

A sun-bleached satellite now rules on high
as planets wander through the velvet sky.

A lone coyote chants its mournful lay
while furtive field mice haste to hide away.

A million creeping creatures join the song
upon the breeze of night carried along.

Dark wings unfold to beat the restless chill--
Nocturnal nestlings hungry for a kill.

I lie awake, broadcasting senses wide
to hear and see and smell life's nightly tide...

'til finally, that world becomes a dream--
yet one more realm where darkness reigns supreme.


MNA
2.24.16

Movie Review: RISEN

The resurrection of our Lord Jesus is indeed the pivotal point of history: not just HUMAN history, but COSMIC history.

The 2016 Columbia/Sony Pictures film "RISEN" is the first major motion picture within my memory that treats Christ's return from death both seriously and (essentially) Biblically. Even my favorite Jesus-related TV movie, Jesus of Nazareth, glossed over this important event, treating it as a spiritualized thing that might or might not have only happened in the minds of the Lord's devoted followers.

The crucial thing about Jesus' resurrection that absolutely must be depicted, if a movie is to have any genuinely Christian impact, is that He was raised in a real, physical body, interacted as a physical person with His disciples as well as others, and that He physically ascended to His Father in heaven.

Except for the ascension, which was handled rather mystically and "into the sunset," this movie scores high marks on all of the above requirements.

It's so effective that the story in the film uses a pagan Roman officer as its reluctant protagonist. Joe Fiennes does a superb job balancing sympathy with skepticism as he investigates the disappearance of Jesus' body. His character leaves no stone unturned (literally!) in his attempt to unearth the answers to the mystery. Both Pilate and the Jewish Sanhedrin are convinced the disciples stole the body while the guards were asleep, but Clavius, the Roman tribune insists on following the evidence wherever it leads him.

Without providing any "spoilers" to those who haven't seen it yet, let me say that this dedicated investigator finds his answers--in fact, more answers than he's ready for.

I've glanced at some reviews of "RISEN" by the conventional news reviewers. They generally think the movie too simplistic or predictable or "Sunday School"ish. But I respectfully disagree. The production values, acting, and especially the content, of this movie are very impressive, and I expect that the most jaded and skeptical Christian viewer will be encouraged in knowing that at least one person in Hollywood cares enough about the good news of Christ to get the resurrection right!

Vaster

Diamond blades cannot cut through it,
though it be as precious--as delicate as spring...
Rembrandt’s brush quails at the hand that drew it
on the yearning canvas of an ageless king.

Flames of Orion never will bend it,
though with rust and damage its surface be scored...
Shakespeare’s pen sublime has nought to end it--
Love his Lady bathes in, brimming from her Lord.

Fires from the furnace ‘neath Babylon’s throne
leave no whiff of burning, though she stand alone.
Heart full of hope like Vesuvius shall erupt,
Remembering the love feast together they’ve supped.

From a million meadows, no flower can best it,
though bedecked with wrinkles and silver it be...
Sirens sing their challenge...and Cerberus test it...
Love shall ever last, far vaster than the sea.


MNA
Feb. 18, 2016

Sweet, Sweet Dissonance

My wife and I have just returned from a sweet time of fellowship with another Christian couple, who introduced us to one of the local theaters we had never visited before. There, the four of us sat together, enjoying a free concert in which the local symphonic band performed “The Planets,” a seven-part suite by English composer Gustave Holst.

This wonderful piece, written to imaginatively portray the characteristics of the planets in our solar system: Mars, Venus, Mercury, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune and Jupiter, struck me as similar in many ways to the later works of screen composer John Williams (Superman: The Movie; Raiders of the Lost Ark; Star Wars; Jaws; Close Encounters; E.T., etc.). As I listened, especially to the first two movements, I almost expected C3PO and R2D2 to come skittering out onto the stage.

Another thing I found striking about the music was the way that dissonance was used. Dissonance is usually a term used to describe countermelodies or chords or other combinations of sounds that “clash.” Sounds that seem disagreeable to most ears, that do not harmonize in a pleasing or restful way. Dissonant chords are useful in almost all kinds of music, adding a feeling of unrest, of stressful disturbance, of a troubled striving between musical lines or notes that cries out for resolution. Indeed, the longer and more strident the clashing sounds become and are prolonged in a piece, the greater is the pleasure the listener experiences when a sweet major or minor chord is reached, bringing a feeling of rest...of peace...of home.

Dissonance in music, much like bitterness or sourness in some foods, adds interest and fascination to the art. Without elements of bitter and sour, we’d never fully experience the robust flavor of a good coffee, for example, or the tang of a juicy orange. Without dissonance in music, all our pieces would be no more interesting than nursery songs like “Twinkle, Twinkle” or “Go Tell Aunt Rhody.” 

In my life, I am constantly running into people and situations that I might interpret as “dissonant” --things that rub me the wrong way. People who seem to show up in order to spoil my day. And, honestly, many times it is the person staring back at me in the mirror that I find to be the worst culprit of all. Some times I look back at the end of a day and wonder at my own words, thoughts or actions that struck chords of horrible disharmony throughout that day.

My beloved pastor is teaching a current Sunday School series on the subject of “The Precious Things of God.” Things upon which our Father in Heaven places a high value, and which the world at large would never consider valuable at all. In previous weeks, Pastor Jon has covered the preciousness of Jesus Christ, and our Faith. This morning, he explained that God considers the Trials he sends our way to also be a commodity of surpassing value to Him. And to me.

Why? Why are Trials so precious to the Lord? Trials like illness, unfriendly people, unfair criticism, times of intense loneliness, loss of loved ones...why are such things valuable? 

Because they strengthen my faith. Because they purify my faith and prove it is genuine because it doesn’t give up under the stress of trials. Because trials help to cure me of stubborn self-reliance. Because they drive me to my knees in prayer. Because they send me running to Jesus. Because I get to know Him best, when I need Him the most.

My life in Christ is like a piece of symphonic music. All kinds of people and situations and inner desires are sounding out notes and melodies and chords both sweet and sour. And, like Gustave Holst, the divine Composer is steering my life into points of painful dissonance, during which I am tempted to cover my ears in horror and despair. But God assures me that “the light and momentary trials” I experience are as nothing, compared to the harmonious future that draws closer and closer every day. The final day when, by His grace, I’ll reach my eternal destination.

We were created in God’s image. We all fell into sin and that image was marred and cracked and distorted almost beyond recognition. Our harmony with heaven was ruined. But once we turn to Christ and place our trust in Him and His work alone for salvation, things begin to change. Life begins again in a brand new key.

And day by day, movement by movement, measure by measure, note by note, our lives can be rewritten to reflect the glorious and holy harmony found in the voice and face of Christ. God will bring trials into our lives that seem discordant and scream for resolution; often it seems the dissonance will never end!

But even at those moments in my life’s “score,” I can rejoice. The Composer/Conductor knows what He’s doing. And some day very soon, the perfect resolution will resound.

And I’ll be home.

Peace Now

“Peace I leave you. My peace I give to you. Not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.” -Jesus

I grew up and came of age during a freaky period in world history. The sixties and seventies saw our western culture coming to a tipping point. The Cold War between western democracy and eastern communism was in full swing. The Vietnam War was claiming more and more young lives. Peace advocates were losing all faith in traditional governments and religious institutions. Many of our most promising young people were doping up and dropping out. The struggle for civil rights was causing riots in major cities and racist crackdowns throughout the South.

War...Weapons...Fear...Injustice...Desperation...Rebellion...Competing Ideologies...Crime…

In the midst of all this conflict and encroaching chaos, I was growing up in an oasis of peace. My mom a registered nurse...my dad a New York State trooper...our family enjoyed a quiet, sheltered, “Father Knows Best” upbringing in the Finger Lakes region of rolling hills, scenic vineyards, clean-scrubbed schools and respectable churches.

And, in the middle of that idyllic boyhood, I had the awesome privilege of meeting the Prince of Peace. During a week-long first-time experience away from home at LeTourneau Christian Camp on the shores of Canandaigua Lake, I prayed a simple eight-year-old prayer to invite Jesus Christ into my heart. But what I failed to realize at that time was that this new Friend and Savior was, by entering into my life, bringing the end of the most earth-shattering war anyone could imagine.

For all of the bloody earthly battles and far-flung international conflicts, all of them put together can’t hold a candle to the War of Wars. The way-beyond-this-world war that erupted at the very dawn of time. A war that began in Heaven, with a magnificent angelic being named Lucifer.

Isaiah chapter 14 describes Lucifer’s fall into the God-defying sin of pride and arrogance that got him thrown out of Heaven along with an evil host of like-minded minions. Genesis 3 tells how this fallen angel general, in serpentine form, lured our first parents Adam and Eve into enlisting as fellow combatants against the sovereign authority of their kind Creator and King.

The Battle of the Ages had begun. And from that day on, mankind has been at war with the very God who gave him breath, with each other on an individual--as well as global--scale, and even with himself. The choice to disobey God in the Garden, gave rise to the innate impulse to go on disobeying Him in our every thought, word and action. We chose, and go on choosing, along with the devil of hell, to withhold all that rightfully belongs to God: our devotion...our obedience ...our love.

Even worse, we insist on lavishing those precious inward gifts on a pantheon of god-substitutes made by our own hands, dreamt up in our own deluded minds. We continually devise new and more ingenious ways to sin and depose God in our imaginations.

As I said, it was a rare privilege for me that Jesus invaded my mind and heart at so young an age, granting me the childlike faith to accept His free gift of forgiveness and eternal life. From that point on I had the sweet and joyful relationship with my Creator and King that countless millions lack...a relationship against which I can measure all the troubles and turmoil that cross my path and come my way.

A friend of mine has been telling me for some time now that he feels worthless. That his life is meaningless. That he’s made too many bad choices and just wants his agony to be over. He wants his life to end. He just wants peace. I’ve tried and tried to point this friend to Jesus, but he won’t, or can’t, see it. He says he doesn’t want God’s help, because he knows what he is, and there’s no hope.

I know that there’s a war going on, even now, in this friend’s heart. But I also know that Christ holds this guy’s heart in His almighty hand. I pray that soon the war, for him, will be over. That Jesus will grant him the same gift he gave me when I was eight.

If you know a child who has yet to hear the good news of Jesus, don’t wait until the War of the Ages grows heated and overwhelming in his or her soul. Tell that little one of the Prince of Peace. Spare a child from a lifetime of turmoil and battle scars.

If you’re a believer, your own inner conflict may be over. But you and I are still in a war.

Keep fighting the good fight of faith!