Just My Thoughts!!

The Rest of the Top Ten Comics

2005-08-03T11:22:00.000-04:00

So, the internet here has been a little wacky so I am just going to post the rest of my list and then I am turning my blog into one of pictures and mini posts. Here is the list.

Marvel

#8- Ultimate Spider-Man #5 (Stupid Me I past up the first 3 thinking the series wouldn't be worth anything.

Total Value $100

#7 Amazing Spider-Man #252 (First black costume in a Spider-Man Title)

Total Value $50

#6 X-Men #4 (First Appearence of Omega Red)

Total Value $5

#5 Moon Knight #1 (Favorite character all time in Marvel Comics)

Total Value #4

#4 Marvel 1602 #1-8

Total Value $35

#3 Origin #1-6 (The Story of Wolverine was Told for the first time)

Total Value $100

#2 Venom: Carnage Unleashed #3 (First Comic I ever bought)

Total Value $3

#1 Uncanny X-Men #266 (First Gambit)

Total Value $65

Dc Comics

#8 Idenity Crisis #1-7

Total Value $70

#7 Batman: The Dark Knight Returns #1 (A Classic)

Total Value $65

#6 Green Arrow #1-10 (Kevin Smith's Amazing start to this Title)

Total Value $75

#5 Red Tornado #1

Total Value $3

#4 Blue Beetle #1

Total Value $5

#3 DC Countdown to Infinite Crisis (Death of the Blue Beetle)

Total Value $6

#2 Batman: The Killing Joke #1 (Joker Shoots Barbara Gordon ie Batgirl)

Total Value $220

#1 Batman #608-619 (HUSH storyline)

Total Value $65

There is the rest of my top ten list read them they are great.

Number 9 (Finally)

2005-05-13T01:51:00.000-04:00

DC COMICS Legion of Super Heroes #1
I picked this book basically because it is how I got started into comics. This is what my dad read as a kid and these are the characters I was told about as a child. This book not only gets on because of the memories it brings back but because of the steal my dad got when he bought this comic a year ago. He paid $1 and it sells for over $30, one of the tops in my DC collection.

Marvel Comics Avengers Annual #10
This is the 1st appearance of Rouge. She starts out in the marvel universe on the bad side of the law but later joins the X-Men. This book like its number 9 brother is in the top of my Marvel collection selling for over $50 on a bad day. No wonder I picked this up when I found a copy for $15. It is in great condition for the price I paid. It is on the list as Rogue has a strong connection to another character that will make a visit on this list later.

I Miss That Great Man

2005-05-07T00:25:00.000-04:00

I am sorry for the delay on the countdown but, this has been on my mind a lot lately. My Grandpa truly was a great man and I miss him. He dieda few years ago and watching Hulk Hogan's last match the other night made me realize that without him I would have had some lonely high school days. He lived with us and we had some great chats after school some days.

Wow, what an ugly kid. Anyway, that is my grandpa and I chillin when I was a wee little one.

This next one is from out east when I was four and yes that is a killer whale on my hat. I was a stylish four year old. This trip is the earliest memories I have that are clear anyways.

This post was very random but my thoughts of my Grandpa cameback to me while watching wrestling with my cousins last Sun and telling of stories of how he would watch wrestling. Ahh good memories.... Thanks for allowing me to share them with you.

The Number TEN Spot Goes To...

2005-04-29T17:01:00.000-04:00

DC Just Imagine Stan Lee: Creating...
This made it into my ten spot for mostly one reason the legendary Stan Lee created these comics for DC Comics. Lee is responsible for creating most of the staple characters for Marvel comics (Spider-man, Fantastic Four, and Doctor Doom) Although he did a series of about 6 or 7 I think I only picked up two: Batman and Green Lantern. The comics retell the origins of the characters but their stories are not as dark as DC's versions especially in Batman's case. His story is almost the same as Spider-Man's in this case. Young boy loses everything fights to gain back what he lost etc. The art changes from comic to comic as he brings in new artists for each one. These two made it on based on the fact that they are unique and that Stan Lee created them. They are both only worth about 10 bucks and can be picked up for as low as 2.50 so, a profit can be made off of these two comics.

Marvel Wolverine #75B (signed by Adam Kubert)
This comic was crazy. Adam Kubert's art when it comes to any X-men related art is phenomenal. His art captures the story perfectly and one can follow the stort by just looking at the pictures for the most part.

As you can see in this issue Wolverine has his adamantium metal that is graphed to his bones ripped out by Magneto. That is why this comic is number ten on my list. The storyline is just amazing as it changed Wolverine's character for the next little while in all X-Men titles. Wolverine is able to heal form this because of his healing ability any other character would have died. After this his claws return, but just in bone form they are no longer made of metal. Also, it is signed by Adam Kubert so the profit made on this book has been great. I paid $15.00 for it and can be sold for anywhere around $60.00.

Top Ten Comics (Well Almost!!)

2005-04-27T21:58:00.000-04:00

Well thanks to my new roommate I have decided to do a top ten list of my own. His top ten list of his favourite movies has inspired me to do a list of my favourite comics from both Marvel and DC Comics. Before I start however I am going to give a list of comics that did not make my list but were close enough to make it on my blog. When I though of the list I thought about the art, writhing, worth, profit I have gained from the comic, sentimental value and impact the comic had on the company that produced it. That was the criteria that I used in order to come up with my list.
First I am going to start with the "worst comic ever made." I decided to add this in because when I read this I could not stop laughing it was brutal. Picture Dr. Seuss land plus some of Marvel's oldest heroes and that is exactly what you get. The art is not that good as it tries to capture the art that Dr. Seuss was so successful at using for his stories but the people at Marvel failed miserably. Here is a picture of the cover...

I also enjoyed Daredevil: The Target by Kevin Smith. I loved how this comic shows how much Bullseye rules when it comes to Marvel villains. The creators sure did come up with interesting and unique ways for him to take out his "targets" in this book. Plus, Kevin Smith is a genius when it comes to comics and I would recommend almost everything he has done.

Next on the list of Honourable mentions is Venom vs. Carnage. This had a huge impact in the "Marvel Universe" as it marked the 1st appearance of Toxin, the child that came from both Venom and Carnage.

The last of the shout outs from Marvel are X-Factor #6 and #24. These two marked the beginning of two staples in X-Men comics, Apocalypse and Archangel respectively. Both are not worth a fortune both around 12 bucks a piece. But, the impact can not be doubted as these two characters still make frequent appearances to this day.

DC's honourable mentions are few in number as I do not have as many pure favourites in my DC collection. First though would have to be the series Deadman: Dead Again. I love this comic just because of the unique story that Deadman posses. "When circus acrobat Boston Brand died, a mysterious supernatural being called Rama Kushna gave him the ability to enter and possess the bodies of the living." (http://www.dccomics.com/graphic_novels/?gn=1338) Tyndale Students will understand the citation.

The next two involve the staple of comics everywhere Superman. Supermen #204-215 are again a great story from Jim Lee. His comics are like Kevin Smith in the way that I would recommend them to anyone. The next one is Superman/Batman #1a. The title speaks for itself what more could you ask for in a comic, the team up of Superman and Batman.

The last of this list comes from both DC and Marvel. The series JLA/Avengers took too long to come into production for most comic fans. This series was planned and put on the shelf on more then one occasion. When it came out it sold out quickly.

That is my Honourable mentions list from both DC and Marvel comics. I will now start updating the top ten list from both my DC and Marvel collections. I hope you enjoy and possibly take a look at some of these books. Comment when you would like as now you all know how much of a geek I really am.

Suck It Up!!!

2005-04-12T23:36:00.000-04:00

So last Fri. night Tyndale had its annual Spring Banquet. At this event all intermurals and varsity teams are given awards for winning the championship an for team MVP's. Our team chose our MVP based upon additude and antendence to games and just pure sportsmanship. Apperently that was not good enough for one member of our team. He came up to me after the event and complained to me that I did not pick him. Yeah, he was a good player but I felt that the player we awarded the MVP was well diserving of this award and I told him that. Anyways, he goes on to say that I just made a joke of the MVP award and that next year he would appreciate it if I did not choose him for my team. That is not the additude to take if you are looking to gain appreciation for a job well done. You do not go around bragging that you are better then everyone else or more deserving of an award that you have no choice in who gets it. That outbust just helped me to see that yes I did make the right decision. Well other then that joke of a comment the night went well and I am going to post some pictures from the event as well.

2005-04-12T20:42:00.000-04:00

Feeney and I

2005-04-12T20:40:00.000-04:00

Emily and I at the Spring Banquet

2005-03-31T13:49:00.000-05:00

Emily and I at the same party.

2005-03-31T13:47:00.000-05:00

The roomies and I threw a little party on Wed. Night here are some pics.

Pain??

2005-03-27T16:36:00.000-05:00

Why is it that we have no probleb allowing Jesus to die for our pain and suffering, but as soon as we feel the littlest amount of pain we turn away from Him?? Just a quick thought while watching The Passion in church this morning.

Superman Vs. the Hulk

2005-03-14T23:18:00.000-05:00

Superman versus the Hulk: sounds like a great comic coming to a store near you but, it is just the first two chapters of an interesting book that I just started. Who Needs a Superhero? Finding Virtue, Vice, and What's Holy in the Comics by H. Michael Brewer.
Brewer starts the book by comparing Superman to Jesus. Before the hard core Bible thumpers come at me listen to what he says. (Don't say people will be offended because I have been there once already). He starts by saying that both of these twp great people (Jesus and Superman) were sent to earth for one purpose: to save the world. First similarity was that both were sent to Earth by their father to save other people. Also, just like Superman Jesus leaves his small town to teach and live in the big cities of his time to help others.
My favorite similarity that was talked about was the use both of them had for power. Both had infinite power but they only used their powers to benefit humanity not themselves. I liked this point because he talks about how both of them were tempted to use their powers by the evil ruler of their stories but were able to resist temptation and continue to use their powers for good.
This somewhat led into chapter two where the Hulk and his alter ego Bruce Banner are used as a symbol for humanities struggle with internal sin. Bruce is plagued by this monster that lives inside of him that comes out to do what it thinks is pleasure but actually eats at the goodness that is possessed by Bruce. Brewer explains the connection by saying, "…the Hulk is not a separate entity at all. The bestial Hulk represents the hidden dark side of Banner's own subconscious mind, the angry and aggressive persona Banner has always feared and repressed." We try to hide our sin and we try to justify our actions but sin has just managed to dig its way into our lives that we tend to overlook it. Brewer also says, "The Hulk is like sin, which is an addiction that always demands a little more than last time." Nathan, my roommate was talking about TV shows tonight and saying that the devil gets sin into our lives through these shows because we can laugh at what the characters are doing. The devil gets the ideas into our heads by use laughing and thinking that what they do is funny. So, if the situation comes up in our lives we find the actions justified by what we see everyday. So, Superman vs. the Hulk is not just a great comic but a symbol of the battle between Jesus and our sin.
Just in case people are wondering if I just buy into what this guy is saying and have no clue about comics they should do their research and find out that I have been collecting comics since I was a kid and have a $10,000 collection. So I do know what this guy is talking about because I have also seen some of these comparisons.

2005-03-08T02:29:00.000-05:00

Well it has been a long time since I have written anything but, I am back. Well today was my 21st birthday and what a day or should I say week it has been. It started last week when my roommates took Silas and I out for our birthdays. That was a sweet night of hanging out, drinking some beer and eating some chicken wings. There were about 20 of us that went out that night I think. Then this weekend we had our OCCAA volleyball finals were our team won gold for the second year in a row. That was such a fun weekend hanging out in the hotel with the team and the girl's volleyball team. Then today was my actual birthday. It was a very relaxing day just hanging out with the roommates and Emily and I hung out this afternoon. Tonight though was a different story. I decided to go shopping by myself and buy some stuff I have had my eyes on for a while now. The funny part was watching everyone else around me on the subway. It was insane at how much of a rush people are in. I mean usually I am the same way but tonight was different it was just me and I was not rushing anywhere. I actually did a lot of thinking while I was out and about. I was thinking about my last year and the year coming up. I decided that I need to enjoy the people I have around me at this moment. As the school year comes to the end there are some people I may never see again, which is weird to me. With volleyball over now, there will be no more practices and laughs with that group of guys again. That is kind of sad in itself because of all the good times that were had on the volleyball court. Also, it got me to thinking about my future. Am I were I need to be in order to have a successful adulthood? Will I be able to support my future family? All these things were going through my head tonight and all I could do was think about the book of Jeremiah were it says that God knows the plan for us even before we were born. Then I got to thinking that if I knew my future would I be happy with it? I really do not know the answer to that but hey it was a good thought that took up my TTC trip tonight. Thanks to everyone for the wishes.

2005-03-08T00:08:00.000-05:00

OCCAA Champs

2005-03-01T00:13:00.000-05:00

The Roomies with Carlton

2005-03-01T00:12:00.000-05:00

The Teen Girl Squad

Humanity at its finest

2005-02-08T15:57:00.000-05:00

Last Sun. I went to the Peoples Church and took part in their youth service. I was there to start promoting the 30 Hour Famine as part of my Co-op. Jeff (a good friend from Orangeville now Toronto) led the service. He spoke on memorizing scripture and the importance of it. As he started he asked everyone to think about what takes up the most space in our memory. As I thought about it I could not understand why so many of the memories I could remember at that time were negative memories towards old friends or other people that had hurt me. All I could think of were the people that I was angry with at the moment or have been angry at over the past couple of months. I did not get it. I have had plenty of good memories to look back at over the years and many new ones that have happened recently. I took this as being told to just let all the negative thoughts or negative people go and move on. Anyways back to the service it was about scripture being the food we need to survive as a Christian. Which makes sense since it is through scripture that we learn of Jesus' humanity and the fact that he went through the things we go through all the time: Pain, suffering, temptation, hunger etc… That brought me back to the memory part of the service at the beginning. When I was trying to figure out why I could not think positively I was getting frustrated and angry and stopped listening for a bit. Then it hit me if I am not hearing the word then Satan is winning his battle over me when I am in the house of God. After putting all this together in my head I figured it out that I need to focus on what Jeff was speaking on and stop letting Satan get a foot hold on me during the service. Satan was just trying to tempt me and he was winning for a bit until all this started making sense when Jeff talked about being able to memorize scripture starting with Jesus Wept. He used that verse to talk about his humanity and then I realized that we get tempted ever day and it is up to us whether we let Satan win or not.

Wedding Show

2005-01-25T03:56:00.000-05:00

So this weekend I went to a wedding show with my cousin Josh and his fiancée Amanda and it was pretty funny. I mean it was weird to see all the different ages of couples that were getting married but the weirdest thing of all were how young some of the girls there were. I mean there were girls that were at most 14 their in groups. I don' know if they were there because they were getting married or not but, I mean come on that is kind of ridiculous. I had no idea what to think. It was fun to go with Josh and be a part of what they are doing. I also found out that I am going to be his best man. It will be good to be able to stand up there with him on that day to be a part of his big day. It was a huge honour that I am looking forward to. It will be a blast.

?????

2005-01-22T03:57:00.000-05:00

I am out of Words at the moment so I am going to post some pictures for the next couple of days.

2005-01-22T01:04:00.000-05:00

Emily and I (Dec/04)

Swollen Members might just help me sleep better???

2005-01-10T03:16:00.000-05:00

Swollen Members
Paranoia
[Chorus][Moka Only]It's all in your head, you need to unwindYou're losing your grip, the paranoia never endsIt's all in your head, what you see in your mindThere's no reason to trip, the paranoia never ends[Mad Child]Sometimes I stare at the wall when I'm alone in my roomI'm an abusive reclusive like Dr. DoomParts of darkness descend and consume meYou won't believe the gloomy thoughts that run through meI'm proof playing heads if you spend the nightYou leave the next day like "I don't think his head's on right"I try to talk to myself but I don't listenI've got split personalities in competitionAnd which one's the man, that I...I've got issuesI could be standing in front of your face and I'm not with youSchizophrenia, Shayne's brains distortedSorta compulsive, obsessive, disorderMathematical pattern addict with defect mindBefore I go to bed I hit the light switch seven timesYes it's on, nevermind, put the knife backMad Child I'm out of my mind, but I'll be right back[Chorus][Prevail]There's no one behind you, there's no one beside youThere's no one besides you, you know as well as I doThere's no voice inside you, that shadow isn't movingYou must be losing to confusion having illusionsStill you wanna prove it, paranoiaThat someone might be coming for you, no ones trying to kill you stupidThere's no Norman Bates, peeking in your windowThere's no Patrick Bateman trying to pick you up in limosYou pop another pill, to try and calm your nervesBut prescriptions make the descriptions a lot worseYou seeing red bursts, and then your head hurtsYou should have checked under the bed firstCrawling on all fours, locking all the doors

Tonight I was walking back to my apartment listening to Heavy the newest Swollen Members cd which reminded me of the amazing night with Nathan, Silas, and Tyler when we got to meet them and have a drink with them backstage. Honestly one of my better adventures while being at school. As I listened to the song it began to hit a little deeper. I have not been able to sleep since last Saturday night. My doctor told me I need to relax my mind and as I listened to the chorus of this song I began to think of all the stuff we allow to build up in our heads. This whole sleep thing is in my head but, I cannot rewind and relax my mind. I replay things in my head or worry over the littlest things that I know are ok but, I begin to question. Also, I went back to my childhood and remembered all the things that we allow to affect us and cause paranoia. For me it has always been my physical appearance. I was always made fun of because I have big ears. Yeah I know that but, as a child it can take a huge affect on you mentally. For a while I did not think anyone would ever see me in a good light I thought that all they saw was ears and that was all. Some people probably already do but hey that is them who cares. I think that the 'who cares' attitude has caused the most problems. I just pushed all those memories and feelings aside and did not care what people think. I do not blame the people that bugged me about it but it did and does take an affect at some times. I just need to realize that all of it is in my head. I need to just relax and get on with my own life. Allow those to say what they want. Although I cannot get back into the who cares mentality but I can let it take a less of an affect if I just realize that people will always judge before they get to know the person. The more I write here the more I realize that I still have the who cares mentality, man I need to work on this. I think one of my goals for the year is to be more upfront with people and not allow all these little hurts build up to one huge hole that I feel I am in.

2005-01-09T01:29:00.000-05:00

I miss the Old Days!!!

2005-01-09T01:25:00.000-05:00

Ok so I know a lot of you are wondering why is he putting a picture of hockey on his blog. The answer is very simple. Tradition. I sat around tonight watching football. I know that does not sound bad but, it is a Saturday night. Does anyone remember the days of Hockey Night in Canada? Well, the kids that are at the age where they can start to remember what they actually do won't. I look back at my childhood and it involved a lot of hockey games whether it was with my dad, Josh or the guys in the sixth floor lounge last year. Hockey is a great way to get together with friends, have a slurpee and watch an exciting game. What are we supposed to watch now? Movie Night in Canada, I don't think so. I miss the hockey games it became like a Saturday night tradition hang out then watch hockey. I miss that. I also feel bad for the kids that have to wait to start that tradition with their parents. Another thing that bothered me as I flipped through the channels tonight was seeing wrestling. My grandpa used to watch it as much as he could and I would join him just to be able to spend time with him but, back in the day it was actually entertaining. There was no 30 min. long speeches, sex-capades, just two guys in a ring beating each other up. It was fun to watch and I miss those nights with my grandpa more then anything but, as I look at it now I don't think we would spend as much time watching as we used to.

2005-01-08T12:20:00.000-05:00

News of the day, Brad and Jennifer split up wow, Brad Pitt is on our 5 coolest guys ever list (Nathan and I made up the list. Full list up next week)

A look back at 2004!!!

2005-01-08T00:00:00.000-05:00

This really isn't a look back more like a top moments type deal. Well there is a lot I would like to leave in 2004 and never really look at again but, there was some good. I turned 20 in March which was a little weird. I defiantly wanted to stay 19 forever because there does not seem to be as much pressure about your future when you are a teenager still. Once out of that we have to honestly look to your future. What you are going to be and how you are going to obtain it become questions that are repeated over and over. I started college and that was really exciting. It helped having an amazing roommate which made the beginning a lot easier to handle. The classes were good and challenging, both academically and spiritually. As the year went on I made some new friends that I now live with and I would not trade them for anybody. In May I got to watch my cousin Jan, who babysat me as I grew up get married to a great guy that I really get along well with. That was a great night filled with tears and laughter I still do not know if they saw the message on the tape that I left them. If they did not know about it they do now. I also saw my other cousin, Neil get married and there were some births and engagements throughout the year that made it interesting. I worked at camp this summer which was trying for many reasons. Those reasons will come in another blog another day. I have to say 2004 was a very difficult year as I learned some valuable lessons from numerous people but, as a whole not my favourite year of my life. I did enjoy the nights out with Josh and the guys from collage but my favourite moment that has stayed with me throughout the year is talking to my guy campers around the fire about God and why I have a relationship with him. We had some in depth conversations as well as some that caused me to get up and walk away but, hearing their stories about life was really touching and challenging. I did not know what to say all the time but, talking to them around that fire was just a great experience I never want to forget. That is probably the best thing about the summer at camp the alone times with my CO and my campers. Also, December brought with it the school banquet and a start to a new relationship with Emily. The two of us have been able to get to know each other better and have been able to share are love of God with each other as well. 2004 ended and 2005 started with Emily and I hanging out with Jan, Pat and Gabrielle and I hope that I can keep moments like that going through 2005 and into 2006 and beyond.

2005-01-07T23:58:00.000-05:00

Josh and I at Jan's Wedding last May. He is just like my older brother I never had.

2005-01-06T21:36:00.000-05:00

Roomies and I

Flee, Fight or Forgive

2005-01-06T04:24:00.000-05:00

I am reading a new book now called Just Like Jesus by Max Lucado. A wonderful Christmas gift that will help me with my relationship with God. One of the side bits so far is whether or not you flee, fight, or forgive a person after a conflict. They are all pretty general concepts to grasp. Fleeing means you run away from the conflict and do not look back. Fight, you just argue with the person and make a little something into one big something. Forgiveness is that you can forgive and just move on from the situation. This really hit me hard. I looked back at it and when I get hurt I tend to flee or fight. What does that leave me? Nothing, I have either lost those friends, family or whatever. I need to be able to forgive and let go. I used to justify myself by saying that I do not need that person but there are times when that person could have been the one to help you through something horrible or something that is just so excellent you can not even put it into words. So here is what I am asking. What do you do and how can you try and bring that around to forgiveness? That way you can Be Just Like Jesus just as Max implies in the title.

Let me know what you think by clicking the comment link and leaving me a message.

Home??

2005-01-03T22:55:00.000-05:00

Ever have those places that feel like home but, really aren't. At a time were I am trying to figure out what home is between the parents house and the apartment with friends it is always good to have that one place that makes you feel comfortable no matter what. That place for me has always been in Brampton. Whether it is at my aunt Deb's and uncle John's with Josh or at Jan and Pat's I have always been able to go there and feel like myself. I was reminded about that this afternoon while watching the live action movie Master's of the Universe with Pat. I used to watch that with uncle John and Josh all the time and this viewing just helped me remember all those memories. I am forever grateful that I have these two places to go to when home is such a question. I know my parents will always love to have me there but, sometimes things just wont work out. What I am trying to say in this article is to be aware of the places that you can go to feel like home. I have been lucky to find two places that are filled with family that will always love me and help me through everything. Congrats needs to go out to Josh and Amanda, I couldn't be happier for them. Thanks to all my family for all you have done for me and to Jan and Pat for always allowing me a room in there house when I am in need.

Cancelled crazy weather

2005-01-03T01:18:00.000-05:00

Well, the sermons didn't happen today because of the crazy weather we had up here this morning. Here is what I was going to say anyways. Nevermind some of the grammatical errors the only copy on this computer is my rough copy. Hope you enjoy it!

Do you think that when Prince William becomes King that it will be a low key event? I sure do not think so. Then why was the greatest King crowned (born) with no one but his parents there to witness his arrival. Jesus was born in a barn with no one there. Sure, some shepherds came and some wise men, which we will talk about later. But, no one witnessed his birth, which was the greatest event in history. The wise men came seeking from the east and when you look at them in more detail you will see that they had this whole faith thing figured out. Looking at who they were, what they were doing, and why they came, you see that they came to seek Jesus. Is that not what we are told to do? In Isaiah 55:6 it says to “Seek the Lord while you can find Him. Call on Him now while he is near.” These wise men knew that the star was a significant sign that needed to be explored and by doing that we should strive to seek Jesus to the same extent they did.
Matthew 2:1-12 tells the story of men who came from the east to see the new Messiah. Matthew is the only gospel to tell of these wise men. Mathew’s gospel was used to tell events to the Jewish people and this event, the birth of the messiah was a BIG event for the Jewish people. These men from the east are often referred to as wise men. What made them so wise? Why were they there to witness Jesus as a child?
The men from the east are referred to as Magi in verse 1. This, translated from Greek, turns out to be magicians. These Magi were looked at as sorcerers or people that dealt in the dark arts. One example is when Paul tells us of Bar-Jesus in Acts 13:6.
Who was this Bar-Jesus? Well, to put it simple he was a Christian hater. He hated Christians because he knew if Saul could convert the leaders he would be out of a job. Saul refers to him as a son of the devil in verse 10 and tells us the intentions of this evil Magi. He was at the opposite end of the Magi spectrum, he practiced the dark arts so that people would look to him for answers rather then God. The Magi that we are taking about were more scholarly than followers of the dark arts.
When you look at the Persian people the Magi were usually philosophers and chief priests. These people were held up in high regard in there culture. Since we now know who they were, the question is how would they know that the star represented the coming of the Messiah. Since they came from the east, most scholars have them residing in Parthia, which was near the site of ancient Babylon. Babylon is considered to be part of Arabia, and in Isaiah. 2:6 Arabians are called people of the east. Since the Jewish exile happened years earlier, these easterners could either be Jews that stayed in Arabia or they could be scholars that studied the ancient texts, like the Old Testament which would have been left there during the exile. In Matthew 2:6 the wise men say that the prophet wrote “O Bethlehem of Judah, you are not just a lowly village in Judah, for a ruler will come from you who will be the shepherd for my people Israel.” The prophet they spoke of was Micah. He wrote that in chapter 5:2. These men obviously knew there ancient texts, enough to quote them to King Herod when asked what they were doing. Since the mystery of who these wise men were is solved we can move on to what they were exactly up to, traveling from the east.
On the surface when asked what the wise men were doing the answer seems simple, they were going to see Jesus, but they had a more important job to do. The one person we have not talked about in detail so far is King Herod. Who was this king and, was not Jesus crowned the new King when he was born. If only His life was that simple. Picture the kid that bullied you when you were younger. Now add on like 80 years and a little more anger and you will have King Herod.
Now Herod was not the rightful heir to the throne in Judah because he was not a descendent of David. In those days that would be like Osama bin Ladin as the president of the United States, it just does not make sense. Why would anyone want to be overruled by someone that is not of their origin. These wise men had the wonderful task of telling this bitter old man that a baby had just been born that would be the new King. Imagine hearing this. “Hey you, see that kid over there. He is your new boss, and by the way you are fired.” That is how Herod would have to look at this situation. A new baby was born to take over the throne and was to be the Messiah. Herod was not well liked by the people he ruled, he was put into power by Caesar not the people of Judah. So, he had many enemies and he knew they wanted him out and this was just one more enemy added to his problems. Also, with the birth of the new Messiah Herod knew that there was a good chance that the Jewish people would jump at the fact that they could rally around a new religious figure. The relationship between the wise men and Herod is an interesting one. Parthia, where these travelers were from, was the most powerful region next to Rome. So, with the birth of a Jewish king the power would swing away from Rome and this would benefit the people of Parthia because Israel would be easy prey since there was a great distance from Rome. Herod must have been aware of all of this because of the reaction he takes. In verse 7, he asks the wise men in private to come back and tell him where the Messiah is located so he can go and worship him. Herod had no intention of worshipping Jesus. He wanted to kill him to get rid of the potential problems that would come with a new religious leader. We see this in verse 16 of the same chapter when Herod “sent out soldiers to kill all the boys in and around Bethlehem who were two years old and under, because the wise men had told him the star first appeared to them about two years earlier.” Why would Herod want to worship someone that would take away all his power. The wise men were not only going to see Jesus on this journey. They were chosen to be the messengers to Herod as well. So, why did they not return to Herod? Well, in verse 12 it says that they were warned about Herod’s true actions in a dream. If these wise men were scholars they would have already known this because the reaction set out by Herod is prophesized about in Jeremiah 31:15.
“a cry of anguish is heard in Ramah weeping and mourning unrestrained Rachel weeps for her children, refusing to be comforted- for they are dead.” It does not really matter if they already knew Herod’s reactions because the true meaning of what they were doing lies in their actions towards Herod.
The fact that they went to Herod and asked where to find a new Messiah showed how brave and how much they wanted to worship this new Messiah. Their faith in this new messiah should be an example for us to follow. They risked their lives because they felt that finding this new messiah was that important. We should seek God with as much interest and as much faith as they did. To be able to travel far from home, risk our lives and to drop our everyday lives in order to please God, not because we have seen Him personally, but just because we believe just like the wise men did. Verse 12 shows us how Christianity really works if you look a little deeper into it. The wise men could not return through Jerusalem because of Herod, so this could be a sign that once we find Jesus our lives take a different route. We need to change some ways of our lives in order to be true followers of Jesus. These wise men are a perfect example for that situation.
Ok so we got the who and the what so, now it is time for the why. Why did the wise men need to go in search of this new messiah. The answer to that question lies in the gifts they were bringing to baby Jesus. In verse 11 it says that they brought Jesus gold, frankincense, and myrrh. The answer though, lies in the meaning of these gifts. Gold is a gift worthy of a king. Caesar was a king that loved the gold collected from taxes, so why not present this king with a gift kings loved to receive. Frankincense was an incense that was a gift worthy of a God. They worshipped him with the smoke of incense. Myrrh was a gift given to show Jesus’ future role to humans. Myrrh was used to embalm dead bodies. So we have gifts that show Jesus as King, Jesus as the one true deity and Jesus as the Saviour of the world. The gifts the wise men presented to baby Jesus were symbols of everything that Jesus would come to be. They showed the world that this was the Messiah that was prophesized about in the Old Testament.
They also showed us that Jesus is the only one that is worthy to be praised. Verse 10 tells us they fell before Jesus and worshipped him. But, when they visited Herod there is no account of these men showing any form of respect to this king. They knew that the real King was in Bethlehem and Herod was not worthy to be praised. Jesus was not just a king but he was the future Saviour of the world. He is much more then just a king of the people. That is also why they worshipped him and not Herod.
Some scholars have also come up with another reason why they brought Jesus the gifts. Some think that the gifts are what paid the way for Mary and Joseph to escape with baby Jesus to Egypt after Herod put out the decree that all babies under the age of two were to be murdered. Whether or not these gifts were used to describe what Jesus would eventually mean to the world or to pay the way for his families escape to Egypt, the real lesson here is that we should strive to be just like the wise men. Able to give what we have to God as a way to worship him and to show that he has a special place in our hearts. These wise men traveled a great distance to do this, yet we can not always do it when we go to church or play sports or whatever. Many of us have a problem being able to give back to God what he gave us but, we should be able to look at the lessons these Magi show us and do them.
The importance of the wise men to us today is for us to have a model to look at to show us how to show our faith and how to worship. These wise men risked their lives just because they believed that their faith would not be wrong. They traveled far just because they believed. We need to be able to show this faith as well in our lives everyday. Whether it is through prayer or just believing he exists, we should be able to show this faith because we have been shown many times in the Bible that those that have faith get blessed in the end with eternal life. In Mathew 7:13-14 it says that “You can enter God’s Kingdom only through the narrow gate. The highway to hell is broad, and its gate is wide for the many who chose the easy way. But the gateway to life is small, and the road is narrow, and only a few ever find it.” Christianity is not easy it is a hard life but the rewards are worth the trouble like it says in John 3:16. “For God so loved the world that he gave his only Son, so that everyone who believes in him will not perish but have eternal life. The way to life is through Jesus. These wise men knew the way and traveled a great distance to receive it, their road would have been long and bumpy, with Herod making it narrow as he was the way to hell. By avoiding the easy way out they showed us that believing in God has greater rewards that no human could ever give us. Also, we should be able to give all we can to God just like these wise men did. The gifts they gave were not found at Dollarrama, they were expensive and unique gifts that are hard to come by. It is also very possible that these gifts were all they possessed, yet they were able to lay them before Jesus’ feet with no hesitation. We need to give back to Jesus not only because we are called to, but if he can lay down his life for us, why can’t we give him the little amount he calls us to give. The Magi that we are told about in Matthew 2:1-12 are good examples to look to for a pattern on how to live our everyday lives for God, not just a nice comfy Christmas story.

Blue Like Jazz

2004-12-25T03:52:00.000-05:00

Wow, that is my final thoughts on an amazing book. I have to admit I was a little hesitant to read Blue Like Jazz just based on the fact that everyone at school had read it before and loved it. What if I thought it was the worst book ever? I would be considered an idiot. I know most of you already do but, beyond that I had read parts before and I never really got it. Then I figured out the key you have to read the whole thing in order to appreciate it. Well here are some parts I enjoyed with a little of my thoughts.
I enjoyed the part when Donald Miller recounts a friend's story about a navy SEAL and how he relates it to God becoming a man. We says that the SEAL's go in to a room of hostages but, the hostages are so scared they do not trust the SEAL's. It was not until one of then soldiers went down and cuddled right up next to them that they gained their trust. here is where God fits in. God became human so that we can relate better to Him. At least that is what I think anyways. God went through everything that we as humans go through. he was tempted but, succeeded. He was bullied, ridiculed, tortured, beaten and he was killed for being Him. Why can we not relate this to our lives. We go through the same things every day. The only difference is when we go through this we blame Him instead of looking to Him for guidance. Faith is not a picture book, it is a tough beat you down novel that you want to through out the window. Why is it like this, simple if it was easy then everyone would be able to do it and the would be no Fall. Faith takes work that is what makes the rewards so great. "I made the mistake of wanting spiritual feelings to endure and remain romantic. Like a new couple expecting to always feel in love, I operated my faith thinking God and I were going to walk around smelling flowers." Donald Miller pg. 60
He also talks about how we as Christians need to confess our sins to the world. I liked that concept, I know there are people that I really cannot think very Christianly towards. That is not healthy and I need to work on that.
well it is Christmas so I am going to say Merry Christmas to everyone and I am also going to say Happy Birthday to Emily and I hope you have a great day.
This book is great and I am not done writing on it as there is one more part I want to mention but, I am getting tired so I will save it till next week. Read this BOOK it is amazing. Blue like Jazz by Donald Miller.

Prayers!!!

2004-12-24T04:26:00.000-05:00

Ok, so a little while ago Emily and I sat down and shared some of our favorite bible stories with each other. I was drawn to one of my favorites which happens to be Proverbs 30. I like this passage not only because it is a little strange but, also I found it when during a time when I was worn out and ready to just throw everything in and give up. I got injured in my last year at high school during the volleyball season which I covered up nicely to finish the season but, afterwards I felt wrecked, useless and completely out of shape. I turned to this passage which I have used as a prayer since then when I feel down. I do not know who you all may feel about that but, to me prayer is a conversation with God about how you feel. This summed up how I felt at that time.

I am weary, O God; I am weary and worn out, O God. 2I am too ignorant to be human, and I lack common sense. 3I have not mastered human wisdom, nor do I know the Holy One. 4Who but God goes up to heaven and comes back down? Who holds the wind in his fists? Who wraps up the oceans in his cloak? Who has created the whole wide world? What is his name--and his son's name? Tell me if you know! 5Every word of God proves true. He defends all who come to him for protection. 6Do not add to his words, or he may rebuke you, and you will be found a liar. 7O God, I beg two favors from you before I die. 8First, help me never to tell a lie. Second, give me neither poverty nor riches! Give me just enough to satisfy my needs

Ok, so obviously I do not use the whole 8 verses for my prayer mainly the first little bit about being worn down and not knowing God. I add the not knowing part in because sometimes I do struggle with my faith but when I look back at all the times I am worn out I know that God has helped me through it.

Here is where today comes into play. I found out tonight that I will be preaching on January 2nd in two churches. I am a little nervous but, more anxious about doing this. I wonder if I can, I know some of you are doubting me that is just everyday life there are always people that will doubt your abilities. So, that is sitting on my mind but, most of all I wonder if the older generations of the church will accept some 20 year old to preach to them at their old country church. Do not get me wrong I have met a lot of good people at these churches but, will they listen. That is where I stand at the moment. I am worn out after thinking this through, probably over thinking and now I just need to do it. If you all could pray for me that I can do this and also that someone will hear what I have to say that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so Much...

Just a little something as I go, God can give you the strength you need to do anything as long as we ask and are grateful for all he gives us.

Old Sermon

2004-12-23T02:39:00.000-05:00

A couple of years back I was asked to speak at our small house church. I figured that since I eventually would like to get into speaking I thought why not. Looking back at this it was important to me for a number of reasons: 1) It was a year after I lost my grandfather something that still hits me hard every year. 2) I was able to come out with some fears I had when i was a child. I know that now these may seems pety but, back then they were big. Obviously they had an impact on me growing up. also, when I read this again for the first time since I told it to a group of campers this summer I realized that as i grow older I don't lose fears but, I pick more up. That is something that I might look into as i continue writing. Here it is boys and girls enjoy if you want.

Fear Not, For I Am With You
For Sheep Fellowship
Aug. 3, 2003
Psalm 23: 1 - 5
The Lord is my shepherd, I have everything I need. He lets me rest in green meadows; he leads me beside peaceful streams. He renews my strength. He guides me along right paths, bringing honour to his name. Even when I walk through the dark valley of death I will not be afraid for you are close beside me. Your rod and staff protect and comfort me.

This Bible verse is very important to me. It has helped me through some rough times and helped me realize and get over my biggest fear: Death. In grade 6 the realization hit me like a ton of bricks during the night. I woke up from a dream and I realized I wouldn’t exist one day. This confused me. What would death be like? All I could imagine was black and that scared me. Probably because I don’t like the dark either, but I’ll get to that later. So, from that point on, I was frightened of Death. Every night it would come back and I caused my parents a lot of sleepless nights over this. But like most things in life, an answer comes out of nowhere. I was reading Psalms one day and I found that verse and I felt better. The Lord answered my prayers and helped me find an answer. I found out what death was. It was Jesus. After Death, comes Life. Life in Jesus. This is just one example of someone or something showing up in times of fear or mystery to help you get through the situation. Jesus does work in mysterious ways.

I remember another situation when my fear was subsided by an unusual situation. I was about 7 or 8 I think and I was staying at my cousin Josh’s house. I would get extremely homesick when I was a child and Josh liked the complete darkness and that frightened me also. So Jan, Josh’s sister, allowed me to stay in her room with the light on. That solved One problem but I was still homesick so I looked for something to keep me busy. I found a pinwheel. So I was watching it spin for a while, then I read what was on it. It was a Bible Guidance wheel. It helped me find some verses to help me through the night. Psalm 30: 5 says weeping may go on all night but joy comes with the morning. This helped me realize that no matter what I do or how I feel during the night, morning will always come and things will get better. Another verse that helped to comfort me was Psalm 42: 5. Why am I discouraged? Why so sad? I will put my hope in God! I will praise Him again, my Saviour and my God. That taught me that no matter how you feel God can always make you feel better.

It isn’t just in my life that fear is overcome by God’s unusual but successful tactics. In Matthew 8: 23 and Matthew 14: 24 Jesus calms the fears of his disciples during storms while they were sailing across a lake. Both times, Jesus calms the storms for the fearful disciples to show them He is truly the Son of God. God helped the disciples get over their fears by sending Jesus to show them the right paths in life. God sends unlikely help to overcome fear and to show his unlimited power and resources.

Another time a fear of mine was relinquished, came with the help of a close friend. Just like my father, I struggled with a fear of public speaking. But I would not faint like my dad did. I would get very nervous, stutter over facts and forget my topics. Jon came along during grade 11 Natural Disasters class and showed me that presentations go better if you make a fool of yourselves. Ever since that class we have been scientists that erupt volcanoes, reporters on a failing newscast, sumo wrestling fish eaters, cowboys and Indians, Superheroes and Russian dictators. All this in 2 ½ years. God sent Jon into my classes and my fear of public speaking was erased. God sees the fears in our lives and sends the most successful unit necessary in order for us to overcome these fears that are holding you back.

Fear holding a person back reminds me of Moses. A man that was fearful of a Pharaoh found his fears quenched by a burning bush. God spoke to Moses through this bush and told him what he needed to do. Of course, the sight of the bush scared Moses at first, but as God talked to him and told him to be strong and fearless, Moses realized his destiny. His destiny was to overcome his fear and take down the Pharaoh. God calmed Moses’ fear through an object. God will use anything in His world to help out His brothers to overcome their fears. That story comes right from the Holy Bible in Exodus 3.

Another key factor in my fear of the dark and the unknown, stems from my cousin Josh. You see, growing up with Josh meant that him and my uncle John would be watching scary movies every Friday night. The scary movies were only the start of my fear. The movies scared me but it was lying in bed that scared me the most. There was this movie, Dr. Giggles, and the main character had a very distinctive laugh and Josh could mimic it perfectly. He waited until I fell asleep, climbed under my bed, grabbed my foot and started doing the laugh from the movie. I never ran so fast out of a room in my life. Another time after watching Gremlins, Josh told me that gremlins lived in his basement. And of course I was young and did not know better and I believed him. Even to this day I have dreams of gremlins running through his basement, chasing me, trying to eat my toes. The Lord once again sent an unusual answer. This time it came in the form of my Uncle John. After explaining to him why I couldn’t sleep he decided to show me that Josh was just trying to scare me. I don’t remember exactly what happened, but he scared Josh like Josh did to me. He sat me down and explained that the dark wasn’t scary and everything Josh did was fake. Jesus once again sent someone to help me overcome my fears. There are not just three separate stories because I have many more stories like it. My dad got me over being scared of thunder storms. You see, God sees our weaknesses and sends someone to help us get through them. He does not like to see His children suffer through fear.

The last example I am going to look at is probably the weirdest example of God sending someone, or in this case something, to help a person get over his fear. As you may have already guessed, I am talking about Jonah. The story of Jonah was told by God in the book, ironically called, Jonah. Jonah was told by God to go to Ninevah. But Jonah knew the wicked ways of the people of Ninevah, so Jonah ran, or sailed, in the opposite direction. God helped him get over this fear by sending a great fish to swallow him up. While in the fish’s stomach, Jonah realized God’s plan for him and asked for forgiveness. Jonah left his fear of Ninevah inside the fish’s stomach. God needed Jonah and he saw his fear and weakness so he sent the best tool to cure him of this fear. God can use anything and everything to strengthen his children in their walks of faith.

Many times throughout the Bible, God has answered His people’s fears in visions or extreme objects. He shows these people His full power to show them that fear is a weakness and weakness is a sign of the devil. Once a person gives his heart and soul to Jesus, they then realize that the only fear is fear itself. God tells us plenty of times the power He possesses. So why do humans fear anything? If you give your heart to God, he says that he will be with us and will keep us safe. For God so loved the world that He gave His only Son, so that everyone who believes in Him will not perish but have eternal life. That comes from the most used verse in the Bible, John 3: 16. After reading that statement, no person should fear anything because God tells us that He is with us and He will always protect us. The only fear is fear itself!!! AMEN

Stupid People and Us!!!

2004-12-20T04:25:00.000-05:00

Immediately Jesus reached out his hand and caught him. "You of little faith, he said, why did you doubt. Matt. 14:31

So, I have been asking myself why do we as humans doubt what we are doing everyday. Then I figured it out, it is because of all the stupid people in the world that tell us we cannot do different tasks. Lets, use an example that has happened lately. I wrote my first blog on this site a week ago or so after numerous doubts about what people would say. I am pretty secure about myself when it comes to what people think about me, usually I do not really care. I mean people can think what they want I know what I thought when I did it, RIGHT?? After this I was a little less sure about doing this sort of thing.

Here is what happened after my last entry someone (I know who) wrote a very inappropriate comment on my site which was wrong to begin with, being as it was not even accurate but ohh well. After that I was very cautious about coming back to it.

Then I read that verse and realized that people should not be strong enough to make us struggle in our own lives. We have Satan that tries to that enough we do not need more people trying to make us stumble. The good thing about Satan is that God defeats him so he does not even matter.

Our faith in ourselves should not be compromised because of stupidness at the hands of someone else. Our actions do not need to be justified by others. The only one that should justify our actions is God.

That earlier caused me to block the comments on the site but, if you do have feedback feel free to email me at supertones9@msn.com . Once again these are only the ramblings of a 20 year old not a brilliant thinker.

If Only it was this simple!!

2004-12-08T04:15:00.000-05:00

In the same way, you husbands must give honour to your wives. Treat her with understanding as you live together. She may be weaker then you are, but she is your equal partner in God's gift of new life. If you don't treat her as you should, you prayers will not be heard. 1 Peter 3:7

Ok, I know you are all thinking what is this 20 year old idiot doing taking about marriage. But I was to a Promise Keepers event a little while ago and the seminar on marriage has stuck with me even after weeks going by. This is a summary of it with some of my comments added in. I really think that if us; guys took this into our relationships now things would just be set on the right track. Which in the end would get rid of all the games we all hate to play?

James Macdonald gave six ways to keep a marriage strong and keep it focused on God. I really think with a little switching we can add this in our own relationships.

The first thing was to spend time with them. I know if you are married then you live with them but how can we deal with this. Simple take the time to be with them. We all make the same excuses: sports, friends, cars and for some work. We all know the saying bros before... well you know it but there needs to be compromise. Guys, if you are really perusing things seriously then take the time out of your busy lives to show them that you value the time you get with them. Take them to dinner, dancing even a walk all that time is a good way to just relax with each other and have quality time. How hard is it to do honestly?

Number two was to study your partner. Guys get to know the girl you are with. How else are you going to know if she is the one? If you don't know her, how can you stay out of the doghouse? Here were some of his suggestions: 1) Guys when she says nothing it could mean just about anything. 2) She is bugged by the things we do not even think of. He used the example of biting your toenails but, I think if you are doing that in front of them then you have your own problems. 3) Romance comes from sacrifice. Take the time to plan; do not just expect her to love every minute of everyday. Plan the romantic times so that she remembers them. These moments take time to plan; she knows it and will appreciate the thought that goes into it. Plan romantic times do not use the excuse of being to busy or not having the time. 4) Well this was for the married folk and I am assuming that this will mostly be friends reading this that it does not need to be added. 5) Genuine comments are key. Guys, this is not the I love yous to get what you want. These are the little comments that come from within. The you look amazing, stunning, good work today whatever. The girls know when we mean what we say. I know we may think we can fool them but, lets get serious they know when we mean something and when we just want something. 6) A little help goes a long way. Again, probably more towards the married couple but, we can help out the ladies when they need us.

The third topic speaks for itself guys: Honour you wife or significant other. I do not feel the need to ramble about this.

Fourth was to protect her as the weaker vessel. Ok before I take a hit on this it is just coming from the verse up top. Show patience guys, I know this is a struggle for me at times but, I work at it. Hold back the frustration, talk things out. The second part was to insure that she is safe when we are gone. Girls like being safe. Something about being secure they like. So for the married guys the suggestion was to have someone make sure she was ok when you are gone. Also, manage the anger. Nothing ruins a relationship more then un-necessary aggression. Do not let our pride take over our actions.

Number five and six I am going to group together because I feel they can relate to each other. These were to open up to your wife and to pray with you wife. How much more open do you get, then when you pray. Prayer brings out everything: fears, loves, insecurities and hopes. Ok, this is from an experience I just had and totally felt changed how I look at my own relationship. Tonight was the first night I prayed with a girlfriend straight up about how we felt about each other and our growing relationship. It totally felt like a big weight was lifted off my shoulders. Just knowing that we have the same faith, and some joy in God was an eye opener. Guys this is just me speaking but, I felt that this situation was a giant benefit to my relationship.

Okay guys, this was just my thoughts on a seminar take them how you like but, I think it made sense. It really made me think about my own relationships and guys we only have one verse in the Bible telling us how to do it. Just look up the opposite side of things we got things easy. I just think that we as guys need to step up and really take care of those that we care the most about. It only makes sense. Again this was just a comical view of relationships by James MacDonald with some of my comments thrown in. I really do wish that life was this simple though.