With Captain America coming out in a movie finally, there are several reasons to go watch it, but there are two reasons that especially say why.
1. We all like the underdog and good guy winning.
Everyone likes to cheer for the underdog to win. While Captain America certainly doesn't seem like an underdog, he certainly starts off as one before becoming a super soldier. Think Peter Parker before he became Spiderman. We also like seeing the good guys win. While heroes like Wolverine are cool and well liked, they tend not to be very morally upright, which is why they're rightly called anti-heroes. So whenever a hero comes along that is cool and is also very morally upright, it kinda encompasses everything we want to see.
2. We all like watching an American beat up on a Nazi/Communist
This should go without saying. We always like watching America triumph time and time again when the movie is set in WW2. This is easily seen in video games as well. The Call of Duty series has always dealt with Nazis or Communists where other games that try to be a more realistic, like Medal of Honor, which deals with the Middle East and terrorists don't sell as well. Since Captain America is created in the WW2 setting, that means we will see plenty of action against Nazi's, specifically in Captain America's enemy, Red Skull.
And also a side benefit of this movie is in the fact that Captain America's entire outfit is the American flag. Where there has been a lot of anti-American feelings in the last few years, this movie could help reestablish some positive feelings. Of course this is assuming the movie does great and isn't a flop like other attempts at making super hero films have gone. But then again, this is post is just merely to rep this movie and tell people why they should see this movie like I know I will. I, like most of you, will have my fingers crossed that this movie will be as great as we expect it to be.
And remember, Don't Panic, and never forget your towel.
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Anger and Self Control
Self control is something all of us work on, or at least I hope everyone does. Biblically, self control is one of the hardest things to do, but something that is stressed for us to do. All too often, people will say that self control is important unless...(fill in excuse here). These excuses range from anger, to a specific insult, person, or anything else a person can make up. Examples of this happening are everywhere, whether it is in sports, arguments, or video games.
The reason I mention the excuses is because once the person makes the excuse, they think they can go ahead and act like an immature and selfish child. When confronted later about this, they merely shrug it off by saying, "Yeah self control is good, but when you get angry/upset, you just can't help it." Or my personal favorite line, "In the heat of things, stuff just happens."
These excuses may seem harmless, but the results in the long run can be disastrous. If you do not see the issue that comes with losing control of your emotions, usually anger, it will lead to habits and subtle things that will change in your behavior. The Bible is very clear when it says how we should never give Satan a foot in the door. Even if you argue this, it has been proven that those who anger you control you, so not practicing self control is just begging for people to manipulate you.
Also, a person's mental health is greatly improved through self control. I won't go into detail about this since things like this we have been told of time and time again growing up. I merely want to bring it back up since simple things we are told as children we tend to overlook and forget as we grow older. I also bring it up cause as Paul commands us, we are to grow up, mature, and throw off childish things and take on things of an adult. And acting like a child or throwing a tantrum just because emotions begin to run high is very much of a child.
And remember, Don't Panic, and never forget your towel.
The reason I mention the excuses is because once the person makes the excuse, they think they can go ahead and act like an immature and selfish child. When confronted later about this, they merely shrug it off by saying, "Yeah self control is good, but when you get angry/upset, you just can't help it." Or my personal favorite line, "In the heat of things, stuff just happens."
These excuses may seem harmless, but the results in the long run can be disastrous. If you do not see the issue that comes with losing control of your emotions, usually anger, it will lead to habits and subtle things that will change in your behavior. The Bible is very clear when it says how we should never give Satan a foot in the door. Even if you argue this, it has been proven that those who anger you control you, so not practicing self control is just begging for people to manipulate you.
Also, a person's mental health is greatly improved through self control. I won't go into detail about this since things like this we have been told of time and time again growing up. I merely want to bring it back up since simple things we are told as children we tend to overlook and forget as we grow older. I also bring it up cause as Paul commands us, we are to grow up, mature, and throw off childish things and take on things of an adult. And acting like a child or throwing a tantrum just because emotions begin to run high is very much of a child.
And remember, Don't Panic, and never forget your towel.
Friday, March 4, 2011
WWJD
This is a phrase that I have heard countless times over my life. Just four simple words; What Would Jesus Do? I've seen it on t-shirts, bracelets, anklets, stickers, and various other things, but have we ever thought about this phrase?
I say this because for a long time I hated that phrase because to me, it isn't a question over what Jesus would do, it was more along the lines of what he did and the fact we should follow that example. As human beings, we are filled with sinful desires so to think what Jesus would do would be impossible since our thoughts would be tainted with sin.
Though through discussions I've had with various people over the years, I have come to a new realization of this phrase, most likely one that not too many people consider, perhaps saying what would Jesus do is more of setting him as a standard than trying fool ourselves into thinking that we are just like him.
This came to a head during my philosophy class when we discussed virtues as defined by Aristotle. Aristotle said that virtues are things, like bravery, generosity, wit, etc., that we practice so much that it eventually becomes second nature to us so we're able to do those things without even thinking about it. When asked how Aristotle would think of WWJD, my teacher responded that he would love the concept of this as a great beginning point since it placed Jesus as the virtuous standard for us to live by. Where he would be upset is that the church and Christians don't pursue it after that. We don't think of living so much by the standard of Jesus that his virtues and teachings become second nature to us. This would lead to the end of WWJD since we would know what should already be done in an instinctive manner.
As I thought this over, it made perfect sense. We are called to be like God and Paul even says that we should flat out stop sinning. This could only be accomplished by living by the standards of Jesus to such an extent that his virtues would become our own. I love how this works together since many people believe philosophers cannot be Christians or have ideas that can be very biblical. Now whether or not Aristotle knew God cannot be known until we go up and see for ourselves, but what I like is that his ideas can easily work hand in hand with what we have been commanded to do by Jesus.
So from now on when I see WWJD, I won't think it's some poor attempt at people trying to think like God. It's people having Jesus as their moral and virtuous standard.
And remember, Don't Panic, and never forget your towel.
I say this because for a long time I hated that phrase because to me, it isn't a question over what Jesus would do, it was more along the lines of what he did and the fact we should follow that example. As human beings, we are filled with sinful desires so to think what Jesus would do would be impossible since our thoughts would be tainted with sin.
Though through discussions I've had with various people over the years, I have come to a new realization of this phrase, most likely one that not too many people consider, perhaps saying what would Jesus do is more of setting him as a standard than trying fool ourselves into thinking that we are just like him.
This came to a head during my philosophy class when we discussed virtues as defined by Aristotle. Aristotle said that virtues are things, like bravery, generosity, wit, etc., that we practice so much that it eventually becomes second nature to us so we're able to do those things without even thinking about it. When asked how Aristotle would think of WWJD, my teacher responded that he would love the concept of this as a great beginning point since it placed Jesus as the virtuous standard for us to live by. Where he would be upset is that the church and Christians don't pursue it after that. We don't think of living so much by the standard of Jesus that his virtues and teachings become second nature to us. This would lead to the end of WWJD since we would know what should already be done in an instinctive manner.
As I thought this over, it made perfect sense. We are called to be like God and Paul even says that we should flat out stop sinning. This could only be accomplished by living by the standards of Jesus to such an extent that his virtues would become our own. I love how this works together since many people believe philosophers cannot be Christians or have ideas that can be very biblical. Now whether or not Aristotle knew God cannot be known until we go up and see for ourselves, but what I like is that his ideas can easily work hand in hand with what we have been commanded to do by Jesus.
So from now on when I see WWJD, I won't think it's some poor attempt at people trying to think like God. It's people having Jesus as their moral and virtuous standard.
And remember, Don't Panic, and never forget your towel.
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