The Devil of the Bible

     In the same way, these dreamers pollute their own bodies, reject authority and slander celestial beings. But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not dare to bring a slanderous accusation against him, but said “The Lord rebuke you!” – Jude 1:8, 9

     We are told that the devil is bad and YHWH is good. If you are a child you accept that simple answer, but as adults we begin to dig deeper. The Bible does not support the idea that the devil is bad at all. We are taught that the devil lied to the couple of Eden and caused the fall of humankind out of the grace of YHWH. Yet, the only one who did not suffer any consequences for the fall of humankind is the devil. Adam and Eve get thrown out of paradise, the serpent loses its legs, but the devil goes home to the realm of YHWH. When we look at the story with open eyes we see that the devil did not lie about YHWH not wanting Adam and Eve to know what YHWH knew. YHWH did not want them to know because they were not mature enough to handle the information. Adam and Eve show their lack of maturity by never questioning God or the devil like a Moses or Job. They never spar or struggle like Yeshua or Jacob. So in the end they failed the test of the greatest tester of all time, the devil.

Apocalypse Now

     Apocalypse Now directed by Francis Ford Coppola reminds us to do the most important task, that is to take the long difficult journey inward. Capt. Willard cannot function outside of war, so he is sent into the heart of Vietnam to deal with a rogue Colonel named Kurtz. This mission takes Willard through many phases of the war where he discovers more about himself. In the end Willard answers the ultimate question, how is he going to be while on earth.

     What if we all saw our lives as a journey to figure out what principles we are going to stand for in our lives. Our lives would be well spent. Too many people coast through life satisfied with their mediocrity. The great accomplishment of so many is to work at jobs that are killing them long enough to receive a pension. Once they reach the point of retirement, beaten down physically and mentally, the pensioners spend their time watching television and buying things. The  Pensioners should watch Apocalypse Now while they are plopped down in front of their televisions, at least then they will be exercising their minds.

    One scene in Apocalypse Now shows Willard at a bridge that the Vietnamese and American soldiers are fighting for. Willard finds these African – American soldier on the front lines. He asks them where is your commanding officer. One of the soldiers answers ain’t you our commanding officer.

    This scene makes me wonder what is happening on the ground in Iraq and Afghanistan. I have been watching as well as listening to alternative media and according to them, the picture is not nice at all. On the bases corporations are over charging soldiers for services. On the battle field American soldiers do not know who is in charge of which village, town or province that sits away from their base of command. Sometimes American soldiers are guarding poppy fields used to make heroine that makes it back to their neighborhoods here in the states to destroy their neighbors. Bombs are every where. The child that our soldiers share candy with today could plant an explosive devise next week. Meanwhile we are no safer here in the states because the money spent on the war is draining our economy. This drain is causing enough stress that we are committing violent acts on each other for money, or a sense of security. I wonder why we keep allowing leaders to kill our family members for the sakes of their own egos.  

Black Men Succeeding in America

     Of my father I know even less than of my mother. I do not even know his name. I have heard reports to the effect that he was a white man who lived on one of the near-by plantations. Whoever he was, I never heard of his taking the least interest in me or providing in any way for my rearing. But I do not find especial fault with him. He was simply another unfortunate victim of the institution which the Nation unhappily had engrafted upon it at that time. - Booker T. Washington’s Up From Slavery (Chapter 1)

     Booker T. Washington gives us all the blueprint for how an African man can succeed in the American system. He must forgive any person in power who wrongs him, his family, and/or his community. In the 21^st century the African man must perform more acts than forgiveness. He must: erase the bass from his voice, tighten his lips and the rest of his body to minimize African features, show hatred of African people or an indifference to their suffering. If an African man shows any of the attitudes mentioned or a combination of those attitudes, he will succeed in the current American system. You do not have to look to the most famous examples to see African men twisting themselves out of their minds, just look around you, these men are closer than you think.

Waking Life by Richard Linklate

            If you would like a brain rush you should watch Waking Life directed by Richard Linklater. It will not feel like a painful brain freeze, it will feel more like a soothing brain warmer. Waking Life will answer the questions that you have about life and some that you did not know that you had. The film is animated, so it is easy on the eyes and the character deliver plenty of comic relief. The laughter is sweet coating on the pill guaranteed to cure apathy or ignorance. Waking Life is a small powerful film that will travel “straight to the head” as the young people say.