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Superman (or Jesus?) Returns

Upon watching the teaser trailer for the new Superman movie coming out this summer, a certain phrase caught my ear as I was taking in all the cool visual effects:  "my only son".  huh?  did i hear that right?  so i played it again and just listened to the voice track.

Voiceover from Superman's dad: "Even though you're being raised as a human being you are not one of them.... They (all the humans) can be a great people, Khal-El (Superman's Kryptonite name), they wish to be. They only lack the Light to show the way. For this reason, above all, their capacity for growth, I have sent them you: my only son."

Okay, here it is.  **Aarrrrgggghhhhh!!!!!! I CAN'T BELIEVE IT!!!!!!!  NOOOO!!!!! This nation is going to hell in a handbasket, and Hollywood is bringing us to the gates of Hades!!!!  How blasphemous!!! Let's boycott 'em till they bleed Red Vines!!!**

No, no, no.  You misunderstand.  Superman has always been, to quote a totally legit religious journal, "The American Pop Culture Movie Messiah". Read it.

Even from the original days on TV with Adam West.  Oops, that's Batman. Make that George Reeves.  Not to be confused with Christopher Reeve.  From Wikipedia: "Because of the similar surnames, people sometimes surmise that George Reeves is related to Christopher Reeve, an actor who would later portray Superman on the big screen. The similarity is coincidental: the two are not related, as the last names differ in spelling. Nor is there any relation between him and Steve Reeves, the actor/bodybuilder
from the same era; nor any known relation to a character actor named Richard Reeves a.k.a. Dick Reeves, who appeared in several "Superman" episodes. George Reeves changed his last name from Brewer when entering show business."

"Here he is to save the dayyyy!!"

Now that that's out of the way, here's the big fish to fry:  Do you believe that it is blasphemous to consider Superman a Christ figure?  My take: no.  Yours? (You really ought to read the journal article in full, and then comment)

i'm not complaining

but i feel horrible.  no, it's not the weather, because it could have been had i not been taking my meds.  yah, meds.  hate them.  stupid Zyrtek. :(  it's all your fault.  slight nausea, massive headaches, some dizzyness, high fatigue, big time drowsiness.  hate. hate. hate.  oh, and a 99.5 temperature.  so i have a fever too.

i'm off it. no more. i hate this stuff. i'm calling up the MD soon and letting him know.  maybe he can help me out. grrrr.

school is killer

yah, it is.  killer. i need prayer.  i just don't feel like really putting my heart into my schoolwork now.

so, i was translating 1 Thessalonians 1 from the Greek New Testament last night and at the same time I was listening to the new Casting Crowns CD on my ipod.  well, i came to verse 9 in my traslation: "For they themselves report concerning you of what sort of entrance we had to you, and how you turned to God away from idols to serve the living and true God..." and at the same time that i was translating that verse the song "Set Me Free" came on which tells the story of the demoniac of the Gerasenes from Mark 6.

It hasn’t always been this way
I remember brighter days
Before the dark ones came
Stole my mind
Wrapped my soul in chains

Now I live among the dead
Fighting voices in my head
Hoping someone hears me crying in the night
And carries me away

Set me free of the chains holding me
Is anybody out there hearing me?
Set me free

Morning breaks another day
Finds me crying in the rain
All alone with my demons I am
Who is this man that comes my way?
The dark ones shriek
They scream His name
Is this the One they say will set the captives free?
Jesus, rescue me

As the God man passes by
He looks straight through my eyes
And darkness cannot hide

Do you want to be free?
Lift your chains
I hold the key
All power on Heav’n and Earth belong to me

You are free
You are free
You are free

I can't describe the incredible feeling i experienced right there in my seat at B&N.  WOW!  The combination of all my senses and faculties - thinking, writing, hearing, emotions - brought this great, overwhelming sense of awe at how God can work in ANYONE'S life, from demon-possessed people to idol worshippers, and radically turn their life around and bring them into a loving relationship with Himself.  God is so cool!  Thanks.