Thoughts and Prayers

I play the card game Magic: the Gathering (and enjoy it so much I dedicate a separate blog to it). As I am in various social media groups about it, I see random fan-made cards. Recently, this one caught my eye:

For those unfamiliar with the game, this card is basically saying: "pay any amount of mana [the resources in the game]; it will do another player no good." And the card title gives away the author's point: in his view, saying 'thoughts and prayers' to someone is pointless. There is both a lie and a truth here; I look at each in turn below.

The lie: prayer is ineffective.

The Bible is clear that prayer is effective. Jesus prayed often. He promised it is effective (if given in faith). We see prayers answered in many places (one and another example). We're commanded to do it constantly, for many people (including leaders), about many things, be they physical or spiritual matters, being watchful with thanksgiving, for the ears of the Lord are open to the prayers of the righteous. At the end of days, the prayers of the saints are mentioned as an offering. The Christian is to pray expectantly. It does not guarantee the result we wish, for in our fallen nature, we don't even know how to pray as we ought, but the Spirit intercedes, and so we can pray with confidence, all while saying "not my will, but yours [God's] be done."

The truth: prayer is insufficient.

Though effective, the Bible is also clear that actions matter. We are to help not only with our prayers but also with our actions: our resources (time, money, etc.), abilities, and so on. Faith without works is dead, and in that passage, James makes it clear:

If a brother or sister is poorly clothed and lacking in daily food, and one of you says to them, “Go in peace, be warmed and filled,” without giving them the things needed for the body, what good is that?

Prayer matters. Actions do, too. Practice both. Constantly.

Similo (The Lord of the Rings edition)

Today's review is of the 2019 release, Similo. For 2-8+ players, it takes 10 minutes. Many versions of this game have been produced; here, I look at The Lord of the Rings edition.

Overview

One player (the "Clue Giver") shuffles the deck of cards, draws the top 12, secretly looks at one, and then lays out all 12 in a 4x3 grid pattern (see below). That same player draws a hand of five cards, and the game begins.

Example Lord of the Rings Similo layout; image from here

In this cooperative game, the goal is to remove every character from the grid *except* the one secretly known to the Clue Giver. The game is played over five rounds. In each, the Guessers (everyone except the Clue Giver) will have to remove a number of cards from the grid. Here is how each round works:

In round 1, the Clue Giver choosed one card from his hand and plays it horizontally next to the grid. 

The played card has "something similar to one or more cards the Clue Giver would like the Guessers to remove." The Guessers choose and remove one card, and if the secret character remains, the Clue Giver draws a card (replenishing their hand to 5 cards) and the next round begins.

Rounds 2-5 play out the same way, except there are differing numbers of cards to remove in each:

- Round 2: two cards

- Round 3: three cards

- Round 4: four cards

- Round 5: one card

If, at the end of round 5, the secret card alone remains on the grid, everyone wins! If at any time the secret character is chosen to be removed, everyone loses.

Review

This is a light, fun, and fast game; I think of this as a party game. The theme matters; I played with friends with varying knowledge of The Lord of the Rings, which is a twist (the one who knew nothing about the movies ended up being a great Clue Giver). The differing numbers of cards to be removed each round makes the Clue Giver think about when to play which card. And the game has high replayability given the number of cards. Overall, this is a winner.

Rating: A

Good News for All the Earth (Mitchell Chase)

Mitchell Chase summarizes the New Testament in Good News for All the Earth, as he did in another book for the Old Testament.

The Old Testament points to Jesus. The New Testament shows us Him, the God-made-Flesh, and covers:

- Jesus' birth and the proclamation of great joy

- The beginning of His ministry, from His baptism to temptations

- The teachings of Jesus as He traveled in the region and gave the people "Kingdom Words and Wonders"

- His passion [his death on the cross]

- His resurrection

- The rise and spread of the early church (as captured in the book of Acts)

- Letters from the Apostles

- Apocalypse [Revelation] of the end times

Like his first book, this is a deliberate overview/simplification. The focus is not on the events or words of Jesus per se, but a structural overview of the New Testament with some observations along the way. It is a solid offering.

Rating: A

Enduring the 2025 Orioles

It's been a long year in Baltimore

Each year, I blog about the Baltimore Orioles. The tone last year and the one prior were positive, full of hope based on solid play, a good (young!) core, a promising farm system, and good records. This year has been another story.

The Orioles have struggled on both sides this year. 

- Their pitching, predicted to be poor, has been. They were unable to re-sign Corbin Burnes (who got injured with his new team, anyway). They have three key players injured (Grayson Rodriguez, Tyler Wells, Kyle Bradish). The replacements (Charlie Morton, Kyle Gibson, and others) have been a disaster. There is some promise with Tomoyuki Sugano, and Zack Eflin is sometimes okay, but things have been rough all around.

- Their batting, predicted to be good, has not been. Their core remains, but most players have slid from their previous performances. Jackson Holliday has been a nice highlight, Cedric Mullins remains solid, and Gunnar is doing decently well, but it's been disappointing in general.

Looking at their depth chart (current as of today), I still really like their fielders. If only they could start hitting more, and improve the pitching.

One highlight this year has been the return of all-orange uniforms (a nod back to the 1971-72 seasons). Those have been a (literal) bright spot.

Years like this make one wonder 'what went wrong?' Their offseason free agency losses (Anthony Santander and Corbin) have not produced for their respective new teams, so no regrets there. Injuries are never predictable and always lamentable. I think the real problems must be in:

- free agent pitching (or lack thereof)

- some bad trades last year (giving up some good prospects for people that haven't panned out)

- coaching? (hard to know why everyone would take a step back)

There's blame to go around, but in general . . . they're still the O's. And you stick with your team through the ups and downs. They may turn things around still—they have been 15-8 in their last 23. Go Birds!

John Calvin's Illustrated Institutes (Book 1)

John Calvin, the immensely influential Christian Reformer, first published The Institutes of the Christian Religion—a summary of Protestant beliefs—in the 1530s. He would expand it over time, publishing four more editions (the last came in 1559). Now cherished as one of the classic works of Christian faith, today's review is of a graphic novel adaptation for children, covering chapters 1-5 of Book 1 of the Institutes. 

Here, Calvin covers:

- True Wisdom (which has "two inseparable parts: knowing God and knowing ourselves.")

- Knowing God ("true knowledge of God is not merely intellectual or theoretical; it is profoundly personal and relational." "The purpose of knowing God is to teach us fear and reverence," so we "worship God with sincere hearts that fully trust in his loving care and provision.")

- The Seed of Religion ("all people are born with a natural awareness of God . . . imprinted on their hearts.")

- The Corrupted Seed ("sin has corrupted the seed [of religion] and prevented it from producing the good fruit of genuine devotion and true piety. Instead, it bears rotten fruit that leads humanity away from truly knowing God and worshiping him alone.")

- Creation and Providence (God has "revealed himself to use through creation, which serves as a dazzling theater that displays his majesty, power, wisdom, and goodness." He also "reveals himself through his providence—his rule over all creation and human history." The purpose of both is "to lead humanity to know, love, and glorify him.")

I have yet to read Institutes, but this version is excellent. I know it covers only five chapters of the work, but it presents the material with clarity and power.

Rating: A

Visions of Vocation (Steven Garber)

In Visions of Vocation, Professor Steven Garber argues that our responsibility as humans is to be 'common grace for the common good.' He explores several themes, including:

- learning to have eyes that see and ears that hear; to see things rightly.

- what it means to know and [yet] love the world (AKA our neighbors), for we are "pilgrims in the ruins"—glories and shames all at once. 

- how to engage (and not be numbed by) the world and evil in it, for "They who know the most must mourn the deepest." (Lord Byron)

- understanding our responsibility in the world. "Knowing what you know about yourself and the world, what are you going to do?" With so much wrong in the world (and in ourselves), do we see ourselves as responsible? Can we make a difference?

- "we must not only know rightly, but do rightly." Brilliant people in history have done terrible things. "Knowing and doing are at the core of every examined life, but putting the two together is the most difficult challenge we face." "To have knowledge of means to have responsibility to means to have care for."

- the Hebrew concept of relationship, revelation, and responsibility, looking at how the Lord interacts with his people. "Each time a covenant is made, a relationship is offered, a revelation is given, and a responsibility is expected." The Lord is basically saying "Remember who I am. Remember who you are. Remember how you are to live." 

- the importance of the incarnation [God made flesh]. "Words have to become flesh." Its key meaning? "God knows us and still loves us." 

- vocation as integral (not incidental) to our mission. We are to be 'hints of hope', knowing and yet loving others (not just coworkers but the world at large) in and through our daily jobs.

- learning to live proximately—understanding the failures, futilities, and learning that something is better than nothing, even as isn't everything [i.e. perfection].

Overall, this is an excellent work. Garber references many examples from artists throughout history as well as personal experience, all revolving around the above concepts. The book did get repetitive, and it wasn't a systematic or exhaustive look at these topics by any means, but it was helpful and thought-provoking.

Rating: A-

Superman and the Savior

I re-watched Man of Steel with my boys today, completing our exploration of Superman on film. Since April, we have watched all six modern movies that focus on the Big Blue Boy Scout. Below are links to each film, in release order, with my grade of each following.

Superman the Movie (B-)
Superman II (C+)
Superman III (D+)
Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (C-)

Superman Returns (B+)

Man of Steel (A-)

Like most superhero stories, Superman tales often explore the concept of a uniquely powerful person and the questions that arise from that, including:

- what is their responsibility? Does their ability give them a mandate? If so, what?

- under whose authority are they?

- how/why are they special? What makes them so?

- what are their weaknesses?

- what are their limitations?

- what are their joys? What are they 'allowed' to enjoy given their 'otherness'?

- are they human in any degree? How so (or not)?

- who are their enemies? Are they also uniquely powerful?

- should we regular humans see ourselves in these stories? Can we imitate those with great powers, or admire them only? How can we be 'superheroes' in our lives?

- who pays for all the property damage?*

Implicit in some of these questions are higher-level ones:

- what is wrong with the world?

- why can't we fix it?

- who can?

- why do we hope for someone outside ourselves? What does that tell us about our belief in humanity?

All worthy questions for reflection. Most stories have them in some way.

As I think briefly on these films, I believe our conceptions of Superman are a statement of what we  kind of a savior we want. In this, we see a window into our souls. So here are just a few thoughts on the theology of Superman films, looking back at the above movies for frequent themes:

- we acknowledge the world is not the way it should be. There is death, injustice, tragedy, and other terrible things. 

- we acknowledge humans need someone to fix it—someone who can do things we cannot.

- we want that person to be strong and beautiful, physically and spiritually.

- we want that person to inspire us to do what we can to right the wrongs in the world. 

- we want to be able to control that person. We look for ways to contain or weaken them.

- we don't want him to be able to control us. We want salvation only, with no expectation of response on our part other than gratitude. 

In a sense, these films show us the reality that we both require and reject a savior. We know we need one, but on our terms.

If you know the Jesus of the Bible, think on him and how he differs from (or is similar to) the above. 

- Isaiah 53 is a good place to start. Jesus had no beauty that we should desire him (v2), he was despised and rejected by men (v3), yet he bore our griefs (v4) and transgressions (v5) and took the our iniquity upon Himself even as we strayed (v6). He saved us from what really matters—our sin—but doesn't wear a cape or have amazing abs. 

- Jesus' salvation is not without cost to us. He demands that we follow him, obey him, and to lay down our lives as a living sacrifice for him (salvation frees us from the slavery of sin and makes us slaves of God). 

- Jesus is making all things new and commands that we participate by using our gifts (given by him). Yet he knows our weakness; we can do nothing without him, and so our lives are an ongoing dependence for the strength to do what is right and live transformed lives, seeking to glorify God and be a blessing to each other as we are called to do.

So much more could be said here . . . but for the sake of time, I think this introduction highlights the main differences between our conception of a Savior presented in Superman movies and the one presented in the Bible. The films have echoes of powerful messages, but miss the mark in other ways. So, as with all content, we 1) enjoy what reflects the good and true even as we 2) reject the false parts of a message.

*a joke. But honestly . . . most Superman films have a good deal of destruction. Like, a lot. 

Batman, Volume 10: Epilogue

In Batman: Epilogue, we get a variety of stand-alone stories that wrap up the larger story arc that was itself part of the "New 52" series. These tales are largely reflective, looking at the nature of Batman, Gotham, and Bruce Wayne. One looks forward to a dystopian future where cloning plays a major role.

This conclusion was decent, if not as cohesive as I'd like. Actually, that's true of all ten volumes in this series—a number of interesting story lines that don't always tie together in ways I could see. (Perhaps I was supposed to read parallel "New 52" titles to get a fuller picture? I'm not sure.) The first few volumes, focusing on Court of Owls, was the highlight for me.

Rating: B

Superman Returns

Superman has been missing for five years. 

Lois Lane has moved on, living a storied life with a beau and son, as she enjoys the Pulitzer won for her article Why the World Doesn't Need Superman. But everything is about to change . . . for Lex Luthor has weaseled his way out of prison, into an inheritance, and has his sights on yet another evil scheme to remake the world to his liking. Only one person can stop him. And thankfully, Superman has returned.

This 2006 film was ostensibly the sequel to Superman II, ignoring Superman III and Superman IV because they deviated from the original two films. And this movie does a great job of capturing that original magic—the characterizations are spot on for Clark/Superman, Lois, Perry, Jimmy, and Lex. It was solidly done, with much better effects and a decent (if predictable) story line. The one thing I enjoyed the most was the following dialogue, as Superman challenges Lois' assertion that the world doesn't need a savior:

Superman: Listen; what do you hear?
Lois Lane: Nothing.
Superman: I hear everything. You wrote that the world doesn't need a savior, but every day I hear people crying for one.

Very true. Superman is an echo; a reminder of our inadequacy and need. The film's not all gold—there are some questionable things—but the main point is solid.

Rating: B+

Batman, Volume 9: Bloom

Shortly after Superheavy . . .

Bloom is proving too much for James Gordon's Batman. And everyone else, too. Bruce Wayne has survived but has no memory of his former life (and no desire to return to it). But when all else fails, he may have no choice . . . 

This one was a mixed bag. Bloom is an interesting supervillain. Bruce Wayne's return was okay, even if that was predictable (and the means to bring it about far-fetched). Overall it feels this story arc is rollicking from one heavy event to the next, from Riddler to Joker to Bloom. The intensity remains high and I'm wondering where this is all going. 

Rating: B+

Andor: Season 2

After Andor Season 1 . . .

Cassian Andor ponders his role—if any—in the Rebellion, as he and Bix eke out a difficult existence.

Luthen Rael and his assistant, Kreya, continue their mysterious mission and dubious methods.

Senator Mon Mothma navigates a double life of prestige and covert support for those who resist the Emperor.

Dedra Meero, Imperial Security Bureau, closes in on Luthen while learning not is all as it seems in Palpatine's Empire.

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Here, the 12 episodes are divided into four three-episode 'pieces', each set a year after the former and counting down to the Battle of Yavin (Star Wars Episode IV)—the first three are set in BBY 4, the second three in BBY 3, and so on. And obviously, it sets the stage for Rogue One.

Season 2 started slowly. I wasn't a fan after the first episode or two . . . but wow did it end up blowing me away. Like the first season, this one is about sacrifice, but it packs a bigger punch this time around. You know how it ends for most of the characters . . . but the show draws you in with suspense and struggle (both internal to characters and between those on the same side). And they do a good job portraying both noble actions and annoying flaws in characters on both sides—you know who the good guys are, but they do some extreme things, making you feel the complexity and difficulty of the time. 

The storytelling, both within a given episode and between them, skims along the wavetops (like a Hemingway novel)—a lot goes unsaid, implied, in the shadows. The subtlety was brilliantly done and a refreshing change from the "hand-holding" a lot of modern television shows do. 

In short, it is an unusual but refreshing Star Wars offering, and one most welcome. Now to re-watch Rogue One.

Rating: A

Batman, Volume 8: Superheavy

Shortly after Joker's endgame . . . 

Batman is missing and presumed dead. Commissioner Gordon agrees to take up the mantle, operating within the existing city police structure rather than as a mercenary. As he learns the role, he squares off against the latest supervillain . . . Bloom has been preying on Gotham's underworld, giving people temporary surges of power that always end poorly. His goal is unclear, but his power is undeniable . . . and without the real Batman around, what hope does Gotham have?

This is an interesting twist to Batman's story . . . parts were rushed, but it was solid overall. Ending on a cliffhanger, I look forward to see where it goes.

Rating: A-

Hope for All the Earth (Mitchell Chase)

"The whole Old Testament is the story of Jesus Christ," but it can be hard to remember that when reading various parts. In this book, Mitchell Chase summarizes the Old Testament—from Creation to fall to Abraham to Egypt to Exodus to David to exile to return to prophetic silence—in just 86 pages. Along the way, he points out how Jesus fulfills (and has foreshadowing echoes in) these ancient texts.

In such a short book, you'd expect over-simplification, and there were occasionally spots that felt like important omissions. That said, I was impressed. It is a solid summary, it does point to Jesus, and I did learn a few things.

Rating: A

Batman, Volume 7: Endgame

The Joker is back, and he's not fooling around. Well, he is, but this time it's different. He is intent on a final showdown with Batman, and wants to see him fall for good. When the Clown Prince spreads gas over Gotham, turning even allies against Batman, Bruce realizes now is the time to pull no punches. But this time, even his best may not be enough . . .

This is a decent story told too quickly. There are cool plot points, and familiar storytelling boundaries are crossed, signaling that this is indeed different. But it's too rushed. Still, I am intrigued at what comes next.

Rating: B

Every Good Endeavor (Tim Keller)

How we work—in the context of our particular culture, time in history, vocation, and organization—is something we all need to be thinking through in our own communities. But the answers will all hang on this essential theology: the knowledge of who God is, his relation to man, his plan for the world, and how the good news (or gospel) of Christ turns our lives and the way we work upside down. - Tim Keller

In Every Good Endeavor, Tim Keller looks at this concept of work through a Biblical lens. ("There is no better starting point for a meaningful work life than a firm grasp of this balanced work and rest theology.") He breaks it down into three parts: 

• God's Plan for Work
• The design of work, its dignity, work as cultivation, and work as service
• Our Problems with Work
• work can become fruitless, pointless, selfish, and reveal our idols
• The Gospel and Work
• The Gospel gives us a new story, conception, compass, and power for work 

Work matters. It is good. "According to the Bible, we don’t merely need the money from work to survive; we need the work itself to survive and live fully human lives." "God gives us talents and gifts so we can do for one another what he wants to do for us and through us."

Work is impacted by the fall like everything else. In a fallen world, work can be pointless or fruitless. It can be selfish and reveal our idols. We can make it the main thing to the detriment of ourselves and families. "Work is not all there is to life. You will not have a meaningful life without work, but you cannot say that your work is the meaning of your life." 

The Gospel changes everything, enabling us to view work rightly. "Since we already have in Christ the things other people work for—salvation, self-worth, a good conscience, and peace—now we may work simply to love God and our neighbors." We can ask the question “How, with my existing abilities and opportunities, can I be of greatest service to other people, knowing what I do of God’s will and of human need?”

Keller talks about other (related) topics, too, like culture, worldview, and much more. Including common grace—it's important to remember that "Just as God equips Christians for building up the Body of Christ, so he also equips all people with talents and gifts for various kinds of work, for the purpose of building up the human community." So we shouldn't look down on the work of non-Christians; a sovereign God can (and does) use all people for His purposes.
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Ultimately, this book is a call to reflect on and wrestle with "who God is and how to relate to him," including in your work. In so doing, "our church will grow in humility, love, truth, grace, and justice; and that our neighbors in the city will flourish because we were here."

This is an amazing book; highly recommended. Don't go through your life working to live (or living to work). Having a right view will transform your attitude toward, and performance in, every endeavor.

Rating: A

Tales of the Underworld

Tales of the Underworld is a six-episode series of shorts (each running 14-15 minutes). It is in the same vein as Tales of the Jedi and Tales of the Empire. It focuses on formative moments in the lives of two people in particular: Asajj Ventress and Cad Bane.

As with previous releases, it is hard to get any real depth in such short episodes. The first three were about Ventress; the last three were about Bane. The first half was decent; the second was excellent. You should be familiar with Ventress and Bane, though, to really understand any of this (the Clone Wars series). These are more connective tissue between established tales than independent stories. 

Rating: B+

Men's Retreat

This past weekend, I attended my church's annual men's retreat. The speaker was Dr. Peter Lee, who gave a series of excellent talks on Daniel. Below is a summary of each.

Talk 1: Daniel in History

The Old Testmant (OT) book of Daniel is set in the time of Israel's exile. What is that? In a nutshell (and skipping a good deal), the Lord had promised to make Abraham a great nation (the Jewish people) and provide a land for them. Abraham's descendants went to Egypt due to famine; there they would stay and be enslaved for generations. The Lord rose up Moses, who led the Jews out of Egypt and (after a good deal of wandering) into the promised land* (Israel). That fulfilled God's promise (see Joshua 21:43-45). During that time, God gave His people a law (the book of Deuteronomy) to guide their conduct. With it was a blessing for obedience and curse for disobedience (see Deut. 28). If Israel obeyed, they would stay in the land and prosper. If they disobeyed, they could expect exile from the promised land unless they repented.

Israel disobeyed. A lot (see rest of OT). The prophetic books (Isaiah-Malachi) have essentially the same message: "Repent! God is holy and just!" Israel did not. The way the Jews arrange the Scripture, 2 Chronicles comes at the end, where it says Israel mocked the prophets until their was no remedy (2 Chron. 36:15-16). As a result, they were sent into exile. First, the northern kingdom [Israel] was lost to Assyria (~722 BC); the southern kingdom [Judah] would initally fall to Babylon ~605 BC (finally falling in 586 BC). Daniel was taken away around 605 BC.

Though the reason for exile is obvious, it is tempting to ask why the Lord would allow Israel to fall to a pagan peoples. (Habakkuk asks this in his book.) Though we aren't always given a reason for how and why God does things, there is hope, for it is very clear in Daniel (and elsewhere) that God is sovereign. The Lord led His people into exile in a pagan land. We see the same idea repeated many times in Scripture (Daniel 1:1-2, Isaiah 10:5-6, Jeremiah 25:8-9, Isaiah 44:28 and 45:1, Judges 14:4, Genesis 50:20 and more). The Lord is sovereign; He used even pagan kings and peoples to fulfull His will. 

And God is sovereign today. Daniel affirms a very old truth: God loves us, He gave His son for us, He is in control, He is nearby, and He is the ultimate authority. The Book of Daniel is ultimately a call to trust in the sovereignty of God.

Talk 2: Daniel as Apocalypse

What genre is the book of Daniel? We often focus on the historical or theological in nature. Or we read Daniel as a prophet, the same way as Isaiah-Malachi. But the book of Daniel is not prophetic literature; it is in the third section of the Hebrew Bible, effectively in the "miscellaneous" section. (And Daniel wasn't a prophet . . . he was a government worker!) It has similarities to wisdom literature, but it is perhaps most suitably described as apocalyptic literature.

Apocalyptic literature has five attributes:

1) Written for a persecuted community

2) to instill hope and confidence in God

3) focuses on unveiling heavenly realities

4) there are dreams and visions that are not understood (and require interpretation)

5) the theme of victory/triumph of God and how he shares that with the saints  (we see this elsewhere and in the NT, too—see Romans 16:20 and Isaiah 59:17 vs. Ephesians 6)

What is Daniel about? To give a strong message of hope and security. God is in control (see first talk), and He will share victory with His people.

The structure of the book of Daniel is viewed as one of two ways; both work.

1) Daniel 1-6, 7-12

In this breakdown, the first half is court narratives and the second is apocalyptic visions. The first half is two groups of three chapters, with wisdom contests. (1- food, 2- dream interpreted, 3- physical trial of furnace; 4-vision of Nebuchadnezzar, 5-handwriting interpreted, 6-physical trial of lion's den)

2) Daniel 1-7, 8-12

In this breakdown, the two halves break into the following structure, each with a symmetry:

1 Introduction

2 Four metals, kingdom of God

3 Martyrs

4 Madness

5 Belshazzar

6 Martyrs

7 four beasts, kingdom of God

7 Son of Man

8 Antiochus Epiphanes

9 seventy weeks

10-11 Antiochus Epiphanes

12 Son of Man

Some issues to keep in mind about Daniel:

- predictive prophecy: requires a supernatural God showing future (which is hard for secular people)

- interest in the 2nd century B.C. (Antiochus Epiphanes); See Daniel 8 and 10-12. Antiochus was a brutal persecutor of Jews and forced Greek upon them; Judas Maccabee rose up to counter him about 400 years after Daniel's prophecy. Antiochus was the Hitler of his day. 

- Language: there are two in Daniel. Chapter 1 and 8-12 are in Hebrew; chapters 2-7 are in Aramaic (the international language of diplomacy then). Why is this? We're not sure. It could be God interacting with His people in Hebrew but with foreign kings in Aramaic.

Ultimately, we should read the book of Daniel in light of Revelation, the New Testament, and Christ. The last days started with the coming of Christ. We shouldn't look for specifics necessarily, but read it broadly. We may not understand all of it, but can still take comfort and hope from its pages.

Talk 3: Daniel the Pilgrim

Remember that Daniel is in exile—not in the holy land. He is exiled in his youth until his death (mentioned in Daniel 1:21), so almost his entire life. But that doesn't mean that all is lost or hopeless.

Jeremiah (writing around the same time) talks about living for the welfare of the city in which you live (Jeremiah 29:7), and it is possible for exiles (like Daniel!) to be successful. What does this mean for us?

- Daniel is more applicable in our day than the theocracy days (David/Solomon/etc.) of Israel. Today, the NT church is the equivalent to OT Israel, and like that people, we are pilgrims, traveling through unholy land waiting for the restoration. Our faith, not our country, defines us.

- We need a sojourner mentality. Peter writes to exiles (1 Peter 1:1-2), and says we need to keep our conduct pure (2:12-17) and fix your eyes on Jesus. We are a church in the wilderness. As Israel during their wilderness wanderings (see Numbers 14-on), the push is to not look back, but look forward to rest in the promised land (see Hebrews 3:7-19 and elsewhere).

As spiritual exiles, how should we live? Daniel gives us important lessons.

- Daniel excelled in his job (see Daniel 3, 6, and Proverbs 10:4, etc.) Consider that God's people were in some cases excelling over their native captors!

- Daniel excelled in his studies. (see Daniel 1:4-5 and 17-20, Proverbs 22:29, 16:3)

- Daniel thought creatively on how to obey God in a life lived under a pagan king. (see Daniel 1:8-16, Proverbs 16:7) Daniel thought of a test to be loyal to God and 'safe' for his pagan masters. Covenant life can take varied expressions of faithfulness.

- Daniel had the wisdom to know what to change (and not change)—where to draw the line. He conformed to many Babylonian cultural norms (potentially even being made a eunuch!); he tolerated many things, but didn't violate his faith.

In short, Daniel had the MO for life in exile, and we can learn from his principles. 

Talk 4: Daniel the Righteous Sufferer

Daniel was faithful and obedient to God, and yet he suffered and was persecuted for so doing. Unlike Israel (who suffered for their sin), Daniel suffered for his obedience. We need a robust theology of righteous suffering, and we see a good example here; Daniel is a glimpse of Christ, who is the perfect model of righteous sufferer (2 Corinthians 1:3-11).

Consider that many Psalms are laments from those of a righteous sufferer (Psalm 13, 44, others). And of course, remember Job. You can do everything right and suffer; sometimes, it is because you are doing things right that you suffer.

In 1 Peter 4:12-13, Peter reminds us not to be surprised when a fiery trial [maybe a reference to the furnace in Daniel?] comes upon us, but to rejoice when suffering. Rejoice! Not "brace yourself," but rejoice. We see that theme elsewhere in Peter (1 Peter 1:6, 2:19-21, 3:14, 5:10). And in Paul (Philippians 3:10-11, 1:29). The expectation to suffer for being righteous, and yet also the call to have a joy unspeakable when so suffering. Why? because it is fellowshipping with Christ! How well do we want to know the full Christ? For true joy, we need to partake in His sufferings. Suffering is a gift. 

Luke 24:25-27 and 44-48 are so important for this concept. These verses speak of suffering and glory of Christ, and that all Scripture testifies to it [aside: thus the OT is a revelation of Christ]. This is true first for Christ, but then for His church. We will share in both as we are by faith united with Him (Ephesians 2:11-22). And we see this movement from suffering to glory all throughout Scripture. Psalms have much suffering and lament, but then move to praise in Psalms 146-150 (the final ones). Daniel can have joy because he shared in Christ's suffering. 

Talk 5: Daniel the Visionary

The end of trials and hardships is glory. After trials, Daniel and his friends are glorified/receive blessings (Daniel 1:19-20, 3:26-30, 6:19-28). Daniel may have even been King of Babylon for a very short time (see Daniel 5). But these are temporary and point to the final kingdom of God and glory there.

The book of Daniel has several pictures of the eternal kingdom of God (delivered to Daniel through visions). We know our end is glory to and with God. And even the pagan kings see glimpses, too, and glorify God (Daniel 2:47, 3:28, 4:34-35, 6:26). 

Similarly, we see this idea of the Ancient of days in Daniel 7. The four beasts there signify four empires, and Daniel sees the throne room of God and Son of Man. In 7:27 we see the kingdom given to the people of God, under King Jesus. The end is glory!

Finally, we see the Sabbath kingdom in Daniel 9. In that chapter, there is this idea of 70 sevens, which is a Sabbatical number, which points to eternal rest. And Daniel 12:2-3 is perhaps the clearest reference to the resurrection in the OT. And it, too, shows eternal glory.

The major point is clear, even if details are uncertain or hard to understand (like Revelation, which borrows so much from Daniel (and Isaiah and Ezekiel)). When we suffer, we need reminders of our Heavenly homeland and where it ends—life with Christ. The book of Daniel pushes us to look to the kingdom of God and Christ the king. We, by faith with union in Christ, will be there. Soli Deo Gloria.

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*this promised land is a picture of the new heavens and new earth, which is why holiness for its inhabitants was so important and thus why the Lord ordered Israel to wipe out nations in it.

Batman, Volume 6: Graveyard Shift

Batman Volume 6 collects standalone tales from various story arcs in the series so far, from 'zero year' to 'Batman Eternal'. Here, Bats will take on an 'improved' Clayface, an ancient and sinister enemy in Arkham, a serial killer, and the Red Hood Gang. He'll even take on a sidekick—Bluebird. 

As this was a collection of individual stories, it is hard to give an overall rating. I enjoyed each tale for what it was, though their disparate nature (and my general unfamiliarity with the myriad story arcs they reference) made it hard to follow in places. Still, not bad.

Rating: B+

Batman, Volume 5: Zero Year—Dark City

Dr. Death terrorizes Gotham, but he is not Batman's biggest problem . . . for The Riddler is winning. He has the city under dark and under his control, and Batman, Jim Gordon, and Lucius Fox keep coming up empty in their attempts to stop him. Time is running short, with military jets inbound, so riddle me this, Batman—can you save Gotham this time?

This continues the 'zero year' story arc, looking at the origin and early years of Batman. It does a good job, and explores more of Bruce Wayne than prior tales.

Rating: A-

Daredevil: Born Again

Wilson Fisk, AKA Kingpin, has a new title: Mayor of New York City. Matt Murdock, AKA Daredevil, mourns a dead friend and ponders what comes next. As both embark on new chapters of their lives, they will each wrestle with their past (and present) darkness. Can anyone truly change their stripes?

This 9-episode arc picks up the story (now on Disney+) where Netflix's Daredevil show left off six years ago (after season 3). I was impressed. The original cast is all back, and they did a good job mirroring (even improving) the tone of the former seasons. It is suspenseful, dark, and sometimes gruesomely violent. It is also stirring in places, reminding us of the darkness within each of us even as some citizens wrestle with how to fight for the light.

Rating: A-

Batman, Volume 4: Zero Year—Secret City

The Red Hood gang owns Gotham, committing random crimes with no purpose or pattern. People who once flocked to the city for the hope it offered now live in fear.

Bruce Wayne is back. Declared legally dead years ago, he tries to live secretly in the city as he thinks on his goals and purpose. But he cannot hide forever, and Batman will soon be born. Will he be enough to save the city?

This is yet another origin tale of sorts, with familiar themes, characters, and scenes (to include Axis Chemicals and flashbacks to training, echoing scenes from prior comics and movies). It highlights different aspects, though, which was refreshing and avoided it feeling stale.

Rating: A-

Moneyball

It is 2002. The Oakland Athletics have no money, forcing GM Billy Beane to think creatively on how to field a winning team. And he thinks there is a way, by spurning conventional wisdom and looking at different metrics to evaluate players. With the help of Yale economics graduate Peter Brand, he will implement this approach and, against all odds, produce winning clubs (though they would never get far in the playoffs). Moneyball is his story.

This film is highly regarded, and I see why. It presents several themes worthy of contemplation, including what ultimately matters/drives us and challenging convention. And about not necessarily becoming the best (even if it inspires others, using your methods, to be—the Red Sox would win the world series two years later using Beane's methods, even if Beane would not). Recommended.

Rating: A

Cultural Sanctification (Stephen O. Presley)

"The Christian call to cultural sanctification is a call to pursue holiness and conformity to the likeness of Christ within any and every cultural context. Neither retreating nor assimilating, firm in their identity and theological and moral convictions, Christians are to live with faithfulness to the truth of God revealed in the Scriptures." - Stephen Presley

In Cultural Sanctification, Stephen Presley presents how the early church in the ancient world lived in and engaged the world around them. This is before Constantine, when the Roman Empire was openly hostile to, and actively persecuted, Christians. He looks at the following topics; a summary follows.

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- Identity

The ancient church recognized that cultural sanctification started with Christian identity, which was crafted "through catechesis (or discipleship) and liturgy (or worship). If Christians do not know the basic contours of Christian doctrine and morality, how can we expect them to live Christianly in a pagan world?" After all, Christianity is not just "mental assent to a set of propositions but about a commitment of the whole person to a larger community." And so the early church focused on discipling and liturgy ("the ongoing performative expression of the church's doctrine and morality.").

- Citizenship

"Political theology in the early church rested on three core assumptions: a firm conviction in divine transcendence and providence, a belief that God granted political authority to certain earthly rulers, and an active citizenship that proceeded from a political dualism." (Dualism means living in the tension of being both citizens of heaven and any earthly kingdom in which Christians lived.) Early Christians respected "the proper functions of the state, [and] they honored civil authorities, prayed for peace and stability, paid their taxes, defended religious liberty, and generally promoted virtue."

- Intellectual Life

Every era has prevailing attitudes, and the Christian should be ready to give a defense of the faith (see 1 Peter 3:15). The "early church valued intellectual engagement with culture around them." In one important example, a Christian debated a pagan "on his terms and with his sources, and he used his authorities to persuade him." "Thus, the early church's cultural engagement required theological education and discipleship to marshal a chorus of voices ready to provide the populace with a compelling Christian vision." "The strategy of assimilating and conquering the ideologies of the competition comprised the aim of early Christian apologiests in response to the prevailing intellectual world." 

- Public Life

"Pagans viewed Christians with negative assumptions and misconceptions. In response, the early Christian vision of cultural sanctification exacted a process of resocialization, among considerations of contingency, sanctification, and improvisation. That is, after joining the church, Christians had to struggle through the evolving circumstances of the social world, always trying to manage their cultural absorption or acculturation. All the while, they sought perfection and conformity to the likeness of Christ. This entailed cultivating "a culturally discerning" spiritual life—one that was actively indigenizing within the culture but always sorting out the virtues and vices lodged within it."

- Hope

Finally, Christians were driven by a vision of hope markedly different from the surrounding culture, and it enabled them to weather the persecution, estrangement, and even death some would face for their faith. "Christ, in reigning now, allows Christians to live through all circumstances in faith, hope, and love." Christian hope is "defined by two key tenets: the future kingdom of God, and eternal life or beatitude."

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This book presents several important concepts and insights, and I think the author does well to look at the ancient world (before Christianity became dominant in the West) for guidance on how to interact with our current, post-Christian age. That said, there were three aspects of this that could have been better:

- The author presents the ancient church as an excellent model for how to interact with culture. He does mention it wasn't perfect, but I think he glosses over significant failures (and their impacts). A better approach may have been focusing on some examplary believers in that age vs. painting an overly-rosy picture.

- The author presents the current Western age as one that used to be Christian but is falling away. True in some respects, but again, I would challenge the notion: even when Christian values were more actively mentioned (and supposedly supported) in society at large, there has always been plenty of hypocrisy, compromise, and syncretism. Many true Christians have been persecuted by seemingly-Christian societies.

- The text is repetitive and over-long; the author's points could have been conveyed in an essay.

This book overlaps with concepts in You Are What You Love and Faith Speaking Understanding; I think these other titles cover the material better.

Rating: B-

Superman IV

At home, the employees of The Daily Planet grapple with new, sensationalist ownership more committed to making money than printing truth. Abroad, the nuclear arms race is heating up between America and the USSR. Amidst such fear, Superman takes things into his own hands and vows to rid the world of all nuclear weapons. As he does so, he might be playing right into Lex Luthor's hands . . . for the self-proclaimed genius is intent on destroying the Man of Steel by using his own genetics against him, and Lex's creation, Nuclear Man, may just be the being that finally fells Superman. Who will prevail?

I remember this 1987 film better than the others (see reviews of Superman I, II, and III in prior posts). This film marked a return to the flavor of the first two, yet fell short of them in two ways:

- the effects were somehow worse (budget cuts, probably)

- the story was rushed, with huge plot holes (apparently 45 minutes was left on the cutting room floor, leaving a 90-minute film where the previous offerings were north of 120)

It was better than Superman III, but only just.

Rating: C-

Superman III

Gus Gorman, a recovering criminal, gets a fresh start in a new career as a computer programmer . . . only to figure out how to swindle the company. The CEO, Ross Webster, is miffed but sees an opportunity . . . and enlists Gus in greater evil schemes. Superman intervenes in one of them, turning Ross's attention to the 'big blue boy scout' and how to destroy him. A synthetic kryptonite might do the trick . . . or make things weird. Does Superman have a chance?

Lana Lang (from Smallville) features here, and that is a bright spot. Otherwise, this movie strikes a markedly different tone from the first and second, and not in a good way. It is more goofy, with Gus (Richard Pryor) being more a clown then a villain, and it features a little too much slapstick comedy. It also got weird at the end when a giant computer becomes self-aware and goes nuts. The music is lacking, the Superman's inner struggle (basically going dark for a bit, like Spidey does in his third movie) is the most interesting part (and yet gets resolved in an uninteresting fashion). Overall, not a fan—though my kids liked it better than the first two.

Rating: D+

Superman II

Escaped! Lex Luthor is out of jail. But worse—so is the evil Kryptonian General Zod and his two cronies, all of whom have the same superpowers of the Man of Steel. Can Superman fend them all off? Or will the Earth kneel to Zod? 

The second installment in the Superman series is much like the first—great music, important (if underexplored) themes, and a mix of adventure and romance. And dated effects. I rate it a notch under the original, but it's about the same.

Rating: C+

Superman the Movie

The last son of Krypton, Kal-El is sent to Earth in a capsule before his homeworld's destruction. There he is raised by Jonathan and Martha Kent in the Midwest as Clark Kent. As an adult, he works as a reporter for the Daily Planet, a newspaper in Metropolis, with Lois Lane and Jimmy Olsen. He tries to blend in, but people need help, and when the evil Lex Luthor hatches a plot to kill millions, Clark may be the only one who can stop him. Some know him as Clark Kent . . . the world knows him as Superman.

It was fun to watch this 1978 film with my boys; It had been so long I remembered only snippets. The movie is definitely a product of its time, with dated special effects, some corny dialogue, and caricatures (of hero and villain alike) that distract from the good components. I think that it tries to be too much, mashing romance, humor, adventure, and philosophical exploration (into responsibility, power, limits, and so on) into an experience that at once felt rushed and overlong. Even so, it is an iconic film, has memorable moments, has timeless music, and touches on important themes, so I'll rate it generously.

Rating: B-

The Way of Christ in Culture (Quinn & Greeson)

In this work, authors Benjamin Quinn and Dennis Greeson offer a descriptive look at, and prescriptive framework for, how Christians engage in everyday life (i.e. culture). 

Descriptive: they overview the story of the Bible, offer a definition of culture ("the ways and products of creatures in creation"), survey approaches for how Christians have related to culture in the past (including Niebuhr, summarized here), and considered the significance of God as Creature (and thus the author of culture) as well as the significance of us as creatures embedded in cultures that emerge in creation.

Presecriptive: they offer a fundamental proposal that "the biblical notion of 'walking in the way of wisdom' is the best approach for cultural engagement." After exploring wisdom and what that looks like, they "offer a framework for how to think about culture, using the very biblical metaphor of walking in the way of Christ as cultural creatures." But this framework is "a set of questions worth asking in any cultural context in which you find yourself." In short, that framework has the following components:

• Orientation (When are we?)
• What time is it? [in the Biblical arc of history]
• How should we live in the time in between? [the 'already and not yet']
• Interpretation (Where are we?)
• Worldview: what is true?
• Worship: what is good and desirable?
• Procession (How do we get there?)
• How should we walk? [in a given situation, what is my aim? Is it a worthy goal that can be directed toward the worship of Christ and love of neighbor?]
• Whom can we follow? [as others have gone before and offer valuable insights]

Ultimately, "we are charged by God to pursue the ways of the King and his kingdom in every square inch and every waking hour of our lives—especially in our engagement with culture." So it is important that we know both 1) the ways of the King and 2) the ways of our culture as we seek to do everything for the glory of God (1 Corinthians 10:31).

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I enjoyed this book. It is an introduction to this topic, but unlike the one I read prior, this goes a little deeper and is more thought-provoking. It does seem to meander at times, and I was dissatisfied in places (mainly because of the meandering), but other sections I found excellent and worthwhile.

Rating: A-