Wednesday, September 21, 2016

Christianity and Power - We don't do well when we are in power.

Some dream of a Christian Society in their society. Where Christian ethos, values and work style runs the predominant style of the people.

It has been done has it not?

In Europe, now "Churches are being de-consecrated as bingo halls" (Lee Kuan Yew, 1990, Change and Continuity Talk at NUS https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YEcIsRo-m0A ).

Typing this as I hear that video. Lee Kuan Yew in that talk, describe a resurgent religiousity (which was barely in its infancy in 1990, and now full blown). How a resurgent group of religious people, whether "Charismatic Christians" or Muslims dream of their society to be ruled by their religion.

Christians too, dream so.

Europe was historically done so. But in the values of the kingdom, we do worse when we are in power. Our King was almost forced to be ushered to be a forceful Messiah when He fed the 5000. But He was distressed and went to His Father.

Centruries later, when martyrdom was a norm of being Christian, the emperor Constatine was converted. It was a humbling time. However, when the values of the kingdom, mixes with the politics of power, the people over centruries will not see the True Kingdom, but live and see that they are simply being ruled by the ruling class. And since Christianity of that day was the ruling class, people simply lived without meeting Christ and having His Spirit transform them.

John 15 & 16, Jesus says that people will definitely persecute the christians, for if they went after the leader, they will go after the followers.

So some ramblings yet to be fully developed in my increasingly phone-addicted, youtube listening, immensely distracted, unproductive mind. That we christians function best when we are weakest.

Thursday, September 15, 2016

The Bible Miniseries (2013) by Roma Downey, Mark Burnett

One of my all-time Favourite bible summaries, in dramatic form.



※ Creator: Roma Downey, Mark Burnett
※ Produced by: Roma Downey, Mark Burnett, Richard Bedser, Dirk Hoogstra, Julian P. Hobbs
※ Directed by: Crispin Reece
※ Written by: Richard Bedser, Alexander Marengo, Colin Swash, Nic Young
※ Based on: The Bible
※ Narrated by: Keith David
※ Production company: Lightworkers Media
※ Country: United States
※ Language: English
※ Original channel: History
※ Original run: March 3, 2013 - March 31, 2013
※ Running time: 440 minutes
※ No. of episodes: 10

Cast
Diogo Morgado as Jesus Christ (5 episodes)
Darwin Shaw as Peter (5 episodes)
Paul Brightwell as Malchus (4 episodes)
Roma Downey as Mother Mary (4 episodes)
Greg Hicks as Pontius Pilate (4 episodes)
Sebastian Knapp as John (4 episodes)
Amber Rose Revah as Mary Magdalene (4 episodes)
Adrian Schiller as Caiaphas (4 episodes)
Andrew Brooke as Antonius (3 episodes)
Louise Delamere as Claudia (3 episodes)
Matthew Gravelle as Thomas (3 episodes)
Simon Kunz as Nicodemus (3 episodes)
Joe Wredden as Judas (3 episodes)
Fraser Ayres as Barabbas (2 episodes)
Paul Marc Davis as Simon (2 episodes)
Paul Freeman as Samuel (2 episodes)
Will Houston as Moses (2 episodes)
Melia Kreiling as Bathsheba (2 episodes)
Dhaffer L'Abidine as Uriah (2 episodes)
Francis Magee as Saul (2 episodes)
Con O'Neill as Paul the Apostle (1 episode)
Leila Mimmack as Young Mary (2 episodes)
Stephanie Leonidas as Rahab (1 episode)
Mohamen Mehdi Ouazanni as Satan (2 episodes)
Gary Oliver as Abraham (2 episodes)
Andrew Scarborough as Joshua (2 episodes)
Clive Wood as Nathan (2 episodes)
Hara Yannas as Michal (2 episodes)
Jassa Ahluwalia as Young David (1 episode)
Nonso Anozie as Samson (1 episode)
Jake Canuso as Daniel (1 episode)
Peter Guinness as King Nebuchadnezzar (1 episode)
Langley Kirkwood as Old David (1 episode)
Paul Knops as Adam (1 episode)
Darcie Lincoln as Eve (1 episode)
Hugo Rossi as Isaac (1 episode)
Conan Stevens as Goliath (1 episode)
Kierston Wareing as Delilah (1 episode)



Credits to: https://gloria.tv/user/nr1qjHp2x6FaHVwFVi1EaEQdq/videos/ Easter Lamb for uploading







PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 1: In the Beginning - Noah, Abraham thru Jacob, Israel begins
Noah tells of the Creation story and Fall while aboard the ark; Abrahamic covenant; the Battle of the Vale of Siddim; Hagar and Ismael; birth of Isaac; Abraham is tested; Sodom and Gomorrah; Moses learns of his roots, kills a soldier, and flees Egypt


 






PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 2: The Exodus - Pharaoh, Moses, Red Sea and Ten Commandments
God speaks to Moses through the burning bush; Moses returns to Egypt; ten Plagues of Egypt; Moses leads the Israelites in The Exodus; Moses parts the Red Sea; Moses receives the Ten Commandments at Mt. Sinai; Joshua becomes the leader of the Israelites; the Israelites camp outside of Jericho; Joshua sends spies into Jericho.




PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 3: The Homeland - Joshua, Samson, Judges, David & Goliath
Joshua invades and conquers Jericho; Delilah betrays Samson, a hero of the Israelites who battled against Philistines.






PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 4: The Kingdom - David, Saul, Solomon
Samuel anoints Saul as king, a move that could throw the nation into civil war; Saul is consumed with jealousy over the crown when David defeats Goliath; King David ushers a golden age for Israel, but is soon seduced by power and lust for Bathsheba; God forgives David, and Solomon builds God's temple in Jerusalem.









PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 5: The Survival - Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, Daniel, Jews return to Jerusalem
Zedekiah, Nebuchadnezzar, the Jews are enslaved in Babylon; Daniel is thrown into the lions’ den, but when his faith endures and God spares him, the Jews are allowed to return to Jerusalem.







PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 6: The Hope - Roman, birth of Christ, John the Baptist, Jesus and Peter
During the time of Roman occupation, the Angel Gabriel tells Mary she will bear a child; Joseph takes Mary to Bethlehem for the census, where Jesus is born; the Holy family escapes Herod’s order to kill Bethlehem’s male babies; Judea comes under the ruthless rule of Pilate; John baptizes Jesus, who is now ready to take on his mission – and his revolution; Jesus and Peter meet.





PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 7: The Mission - Pharisees, Jesus, miracles, Disciples
Jesus feeds the crowds in Galilee and brings a dead man, Lazarus, back to life; Jesus enters Jerusalem riding on a donkey – a declaration that he is the Messiah; Jesus turns on the money-changers in the Temple.







PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 8: The Betrayal - Last supper, Judas, Peter's Denial
Caiphas coaxes Judas into betraying Jesus; Jesus throws the disciples into turmoil at the Last Supper; Jesus is arrested and condemned to death as the disciples scatter.








PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 9: The Passion - Nicodemus, Caiaphas, Pilate, Crucifixion, Resurrection
The crucifixion and the Resurrection of Jesus through Ascension, Pentecost and Revelation. During this last episode, Peter denies Jesus and Judas hangs himself; the crowd clamors for Jesus’s death; Jesus is crucified, but when Mary Magdalene goes to his tomb, a figure walks towards her - he is back; Jesus commissions the disciples to “go and preach to all creation,” but their godly mission meets with hatred and even death.






PG § The Bible 2013 Miniseries § Episode 10: The Courage - Jesus returns, Holy Spirit comes, Disciples die, John survives death, exiled to Patmos, Revelation
Paul has a vision and experiences a miraculous change of faith on a journey to Damascus; Martyrdom of the Disciples, John's survival and exile to Patmos, John receives a revelation - Jesus is coming back, and all who keep the faith will be rewarded.