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How should the Church respond to Covid-19

Embed from Getty Images “I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

In the sheer panic and fear that has engripped the United States and the better part of the world. God has called His church into action. No more standing on the sidelines hoping the head coach does not call on you to enter the game. No the Church, the whole Church needs to be proactive during this time.

So what are some practical ways the Church can help during a time of “social distancing?” First and foremost, love your neighbors. Text or call them ask how they are doing, if they need anything. The same for family and friends. Always pray with each person as you check on them. This will help to lower panic and hopefully with the help of the Holy Spirit fears will become less elevated.

Next always make sure you are leaning into God for peace, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God.” Philippians 4:6. If you have children of any age, they and your spouse will react according to how you both present things as well as react to things. Again, bring prayer in as you tend to your house.

While people wear masks and gloves (which is absolutely fine!) it can be a starting point at stores. Tell them while P.P.E. is very good, God provides everything we need Proverbs 18:10 tells us “The name of the LORD is a strong tower; The righteous runs into it and is safe.”

What the Church also needs to be during the day in which we live is to be like Daniel, to stand in a cave with roaring lions (or a global pandemic) and be willing to pray and make intercessions for the world, the countries, the sick, the worried and the fearful.

It is my opinion, God is giving His Church this time to shine. This is extremely important. Do not be lukewarm, for the sake of the world!

 

 

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Star Wars: the legacy of Luke Skywalker

Embed from Getty Images When I was a kid, I wanted to be Luke Skywalker. He was the closest thing that resembled my life. So I felt there was an instant connection. Along with the battle of light side versus dark side, Star Wars is also a story about personal growth and adulthood.

Luke Skywalker started out as a farm boy and ended up a legendary Jedi. Through dealing with evil, Luke then trying to sort out his own failures he ended up soured into bitter sadness.

Luke Skywalker, once the hero of the Rebellion, built a Jedi school on Jakku. In a moment of part his own guilt and horror and part weakness and fear, he thought about killing his nephew, Ben Solo. Perhaps the evil intent in Ben’s heart hit too close to home who had dealt with a father with some evil in him as well and Luke did not want to go down this path again.

Like many of us who fail at something we want to hide. Luke was driven to Ahch-To in part by his own feelings of unworthiness as a teacher. He would self-distance himself, or in today’s terms social distance himself.

Luke needed Yoda to remind him that he is a very important part of the Jedi Order’s history.

Luke blames his own hype as a “legend” for his actions. Yoda does not deny this, but he does tell Luke to stop focusing on the past, the future, and the dreams of the horizon. Luke’s last lesson is meditative: to live in the moment.

Luke’s arc in the Original Trilogy took him from farm boy with good aim to the Jedi who threw away his weapon when he was offered the opportunity to rule the galaxy.

Luke Skywalker’s legacy is not one of wanting and gaining power, Luke’s legacy is about laying down one’s life for his friends, about being willing to say no to injustice even when there is no hope of a future without a hint of yes.

“The Last Jedi” showed how powerful Luke Skywalker was. Luke understood, his real power was not violent or aggressive.  His last act is a trick, a misdirection used to save people. No anger, no hatred, Luke simply projected and won.

In the Bible, Jesus tells us “Greater love has no one than this: to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” John 15:13. That is Luke Skywalker’s legacy.

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Star Wars Rogue One spinoff, Cassian Andor will have little used or never seen creatures

Embed from Getty Images Rogue One: A Star Wars Story is getting a spinoff. Cassian Andor. The show will be part of Disney Plus streaming. An early report is that the show will serve as a second chance for Star Wars creatures who might have only gotten a small amount of screen time, or a place for previously unused creatures all together to finally make their way to a galaxy far, far away.

When the release of Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker released  Neal Scanlan, the creature and special make up effects creative supervisor of the five most recent Star Wars movies. Scanlan has been making lots of headlines recently by dropping an interesting clue about Star Wars productions, when Scanlan turned his attention to the upcoming Cassian Andor Disney Plus show, which features Diego Luna reprising his role from Rogue One as a Rebel spy, Scanlan revealed some more interesting tid-bits about the series.

“We also have this backlog of characters. A lot of the characters that we built for all of the films either didn’t make it to the final cut, because that’s just the way that the film process happens, or that they are seen so momentarily that there is this wonderful second opportunity to bring back some of the characters that we’ve made and bring them to this new storyline in a more, shall we say, integrated way. I think it’s going to be tremendous. I find that it’s a second opportunity for everything that we’ve made, plus the opportunity of moving TV along, in a sense, at what will not at all be diminished as far as the level of quality, the level of things that we are going to try and achieve.” Neal Scanlan told reporters.

With many aliens and creatures at his finger tips, this is good news for Star Wars junkies (of which I am one.) It will be fun to check out the finished product when Cassian Andor hits Disney Plus streaming 2021.

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“The Mandalorian” is bringing a Star Wars fan favorite to season two

Embed from Getty Images Ahsoka Tano, is coming to “The Mandalorian” season two and fans could not be more excited. Rosario Dawson has been cast as a live action version of the popular “Star Wars” animated character Ahsoka Tano, Anankin Skywalker’s Clone Wars time frame Padawan.

Ahsoka’s co-creator (also co-creator of The Mandalorian) Dave Filoni directed two episodes of season one, and has signed on to direct at least one episode of season two, currently in pre-production. Filoni has reportedly signed off on the character’s appearance.

Rosario Dawson, who is said to have made pleas dating back to 2017, to play the widely popular Tano looks to have had her pleas answered.  Many view Dawson as the perfect fit to play the would-be Jedi.

Fans and media are now speculating that a possible Ahsoka Tano spinoff could be coming to Disney Plus in the near future. Something Disney has hinted at. That would go over big with die-hard Star Wars fans and Ahsoka fans.

While Star Wars films are sure to still be made and hit theaters. Disney streaming is wise to fill the gap with stories and characters that have impacted fans. For Ahsoka Tano to appear in the smash hit “The Mandalorian” is enough to make the already sky high anticipation for season two, hit hyper drive.

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Steve Yzerman built the 2019-20 Detroit Red Wings to lose, and that’s okay

Embed from Getty Images With some nice prospects in the pipeline but more needed, Detroit Red Wings general manager Steve Yzerman felt the quickest way for a turn around was icing a bad hockey team. So a tanking by design has worked well in this suspended NHL season. When the season picks back up and closes the Red Wings will know their draft lottery slot.

Quinton Byfield, Alexander Holt, Lucas Raymond, Alexis Lafreniere, there is a really good chance one of the prized prospects will be wearing a Winged Wheel after the NHL draft in June (or whatever will be the draft makeup date or month.)

Steve Yzerman was not lying when he said the Detroit Red Wings would not tank. He is dead against it. However, Yzerman did not say he would field a team (except for the young core players of Dylan Larkin, Filip Hronek, Tyler Bertuzzi and Anthony Mantha) that were just not good.  In other words this seasons version of “The Yzer-plan”  was to let it sink naturally. Check.

The Red Wings and their general manager hold nine draft picks including six picks by the third round. Steve Yzerman wants to add talented young prospects and is armed to do so.

It is safe to say the Detroit Red Wings will be improved after the draft. They also will have a lot of much needed salary cap space. For a rebuilding team it is not wise to spend big money on big names. First the core players need to be identified then players can be added to give support or help the team make a playoff push.

It is a process that can seem long. That said, the Red Wings do have talent, a couple lottery drafts and they will be right back where fans expect them to be, the NHL playoffs. Yzerman said he understands what is expected in Detroit “playoffs and Stanley Cups.”

There is little doubt he will deliver. The right now is not fun. But it is fixing to be fun again. This years draft will set the tone for when the Red Wings pull out of the rebuild and begin to ascend to the top again.

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The world is full of gripping fear and chaos, there is hope

Embed from Getty Images Unless you live under a shoe or do not watch, listen to or ignore the news. Unless you have not been to the grocery store, odds are very good you know what is happening in the world. A pandemic of epic proportions is and has swept the globe. Leaving fearful people everywhere. So how do we find peace?

The answer in short is Jesus. Jesus is the calm and peace the world needs. I am not going to add fear and panic on top of fear and panic. The Bible does talk about the end of the age and the return of Jesus to this earth. Let’s take a look at the facts.

“And afterward, I will pour out my Spirit on all people.” Joel 2:28, This is what God promises before he even thinks about coming again. That he will send his Holy Spirit to open peoples eyes and wake them spiritually. In my opinion that is what is happening now.

Jesus who came as the sacrificial Lamb of God, in order to both allow us to go before a Holy God as sinful people and open the doors of Heaven wide for all. When he comes again He is coming as judge and jury.

“Behold, He is coming with the clouds, and every eye will see him, even those who pierced him, and all tribes of the earth will cry on account of him. Even so. Amen.” Revelation 1:7, this is peace filled. To see God is all His glory coming. Unless you have rejected Him or not even thought about Him.

“But concerning that day and hour no one knows, not even the angels of heaven, nor the Son, but the Father only.” Matthew 24:36 “Therefore you also must be ready, for the Son of Man is coming at an hour you do not expect.” Matthew 24:44.

I submit that this is a good time to take Jesus at His word. I have been blessed to have visited Israel. I walked the same places Jesus walked. I have little doubt that what is happening right now is God is demanding the attention of the world.

God and God alone will bring you the peace that is absent from your life. “Peace I leave with you, my peace I give you: not as the world gives,  let not your heart be troubled, do not let it be afraid.” John 14:27.

I offer you this, a way to accept Jesus as your personal Lord and Savior: “If you confess that Jesus is Lord and believe that God raised him from death, you will be saved. For it is by our faith that we are put right with God; it is by our confession that we are saved.  Romans 10:9-10. Pretty easy.

I think it is time to look in the mirror and do some soul searching. Be blessed.

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Who are some of the best minor characters in the Star Wars movies

Embed from Getty Images Yoda, Han Solo, C-3PO, Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Emperor Palpatine, Kylo Ren, Rey, the list goes on and on. Star Wars has always had strong main characters. I want to look at the minor characters who give body to the stories. This is my opinion and is hopefully a launching pad for discussion.

Dianoga- Star Wars: A New Hope, for all I know this thing was a swimming eye. Upon further examination it looks snake-like with a sing eye. As a child seeing Star Wars for the first time made me less enthused about swimming for fear Dianoga would suck me under the water.

Labria- Star Wars: A New Hope, the  Mos Eisley Cantina is a place I want to visit every time I watch Star Wars. One character I think I would steer clear of is Labria. You know, the guy who looks like the devil?

TT-8L/Y7 gatekeeper droid- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, I always thought it would be both cool and entertaining to have a mechanical robot eye pop out of my front door. I mean it would be a great way to chase unwanted people away and give a scare into neighborhood kids.

Paodok’Draba’Takat Sap’De’Rekti Nik’Linke’Ti’ Ki’Vef’Nik’NeSevef’Li’Kek aka Pao- Star Wars: Rogue One, someone bless me. Just kidding. This mighty warrior is the only nonhuman on the team that assaults the Imperial base on Scarif.

Lobot- Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, the stoic and famously bald, Lobot is a human aided with a cyborg construct attached to his head. In charge of Lando’s security on Cloud City.

 Plo Koon- Star Wars: Attack of the Clones and Revenge of the Sith, the coolest looking Jedi in the prequels.

 

Nien Nunb- Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, The Force Awakens, The Last Jedi, Nien Nunb is one of the most beloved minor characters in Star Wars history as well as Lando’s co-pilot.

There are many more characters, some who are great. This is only my list of the ones that stuck out to me.

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Just how did Palpatine survive the fall in “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi”

Embed from Getty Images Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker, which in my opinion is the best film in the sequel trilogy sparked a debate and conversation, and the conversation around the blockbuster has not slowed down since. Not one single bit. Star Wars fans would have it no other way.

First off, nobody expected Emperor Palpatine to return. The fact Star Wars The Force Awakens and Rise of Skywalker director JJ Abrams gave no such hint the popular Star Wars villain would be showing up in the trilogy until the teaser trailer was a stroke of genius.

The prequels, the original trilogy, and now through the sequels all have one common thread, They are all the story of how the light side of the Force battled against the dark side of the Force and even more specific greatest Sith Lord of all time.

The first, and unarguably the most important, clue came back in Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith. Palpatine attempts to lure Anakin Skywalker to the dark side.

“Darth Plagueis was a Dark Lord of the Sith,” Palpatine explained to a very captivated Anakin, “so powerful and so wise he could use the Force to influence the midichlorians to create life… He had such a knowledge of the dark side that he could even keep the ones he cared about from dying.”

“The dark side of the Force is a pathway to many abilities some consider to be unnatural,”

It appears Palpatine loved himself and wanted to contiune his rein over the galaxy. That line would be repeated by Palpatine this time to Anakin’s grandson Kylo Ren (Ben Solo.) Albeit Palpatine was scared and blind from the surge of falling down the reactor chamber. Or so it would seem.

This quote explains that the Sith can use the dark side of the Force to gain mastery of life and death, and that Palpatine was taught the method by his master the legendary Darth Plagueis.

While it is clear it gives no information as to the method. We know that through the cannon comic series,  Palpatine had owned a mask of Lord Momin. It goes on to say that Palpatine altered the mask. A mask that would end up on the head of Anakin Skywalker after he was beaten by Obi-Wan Kenobi. The mask would bring Anakin now Darth Vader back from the dead.

One more detail is the in the comic series Palpatine worked with a scientist named Cylo. Cylo had created a personality map that could be stored and downloaded into clone bodies. In the older Expanded Universe, there was consciousness jumping into clone bodies.

We now know that this was the method Palpatine used to survive his Return of the Jedi fall, he had clone bodies created, and his consciousness eventually found its way into one. So the soul of Palpatine entered the clone.

This shows the importance of the clone factory on Kamino, in “Star Wars: Attack of the clones.”

 

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Star Wars fans want to know when Emperor Palpatine started to influence Kylo Ren

Embed from Getty Images In what was perhaps the most interesting, yet creepy moment of “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker,” fans have been wondering when Emperor Palpatine began to invade Kylo Ren’s head and thoughts. Let’s take a closer look.

Now that Disney and Marvel Comics are filling the backstory of Kylo Ren, I thought this would be a good time to see when the evil took over Ben Solo, and seeped into Kylo Ren.

“The Rise of Kylo Ren” comic series brings us close to finding out that Ben Solo never really stood a chance as Palpatine had been in his head earlier than we thought. The comic series tells us how Kylo Ren came into contact and joined the Knights of Ren.

In order to become a mener of the Knights one had to deliver a ‘good kill.” Throughout the series we learn that Ren has been talking with Supreme Leader Snoke.

It is around this time Palpatine starts to play a major role in Ben’s final steps into becoming Kylo Ren , we hear Palpatine tell Ben: “Now you will be who you are. Who you were always meant to be… Claim your birthright and strike him down.”

The him is Tai, a Jedi student who had been trying to get Ben to return to the Light Side.  So there it is! Palpatine had been encouraging the young would be Sith to take his final steps, kill the Jedi student and become who Palpatine wanted him to become, his next apprentice. He used both Snoke (whom he created) as well as speak directly the newly named Kylo Ren.

Showing that as we all know, Palpatine was in control the whole time.

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Marvel’s newest comic book series, Star Wars: Bounty Hunters

Embed from Getty Images Marvel Comics announced it is releasing a brand new Star Wars comic series for fans to enjoy, and it’s focus is all on the deadliest beings in the galaxy. Star Wars: Bounty Hunters will bring the best of the best bounty hunters together in the same series, but that does not necessarily working together.

Writer Ethan Sacks, wrote Bounty Hunters #1, which takes place after the events of “The Empire Strikes Back.” In the kick-off graphic novel, the bounty hunter, business is booming. However, a bounty gets informed with the recent whereabouts of one Nakano Lash, a former bounty hunter notorious for betraying her crew on mission to Corellia which failed years earlier.

Lash’s crew consists of Beilert Valance who is a cyborg, Bossk the Trandoshan, and the legendary Boba Fett. These are not bounty hunters anyone would want to cross, and they’re about to show us why they are feared.

After Bounty Hunters #1 shows the betrayal in the past, it jumps back to present time. A bounty is still a bounty, and others will be interested, it’s just that these three in particular have personal axes to grind.

The comic explores Bossk, current failure of not being the one to catch Han Solo and Chewbacca, learns about Lash from none other than Doctor Aphra and the Wookie Black Krrsantan. Boba Fett receives a call from a bounty broker, who informs him of Lash as a courtesty. Despite still having Han Solo frozen in carbonite en route to deliver him to Jabba the Hutt, Fett takes the job offer, free of charge.

Bounty Hunters #1 is a very good start to a series that looks to be high action with plenty of double crosses and deadly gun fights to keep fans guessing as to who will come out on top. The hunt is on!