Athens in Greece

(The Acropolis in Athens)

I shall be away to Athens, Greece from today until 1st September 2007. I shall not be updating this blog until my return. In the meantime, enjoy my previous posts.

Athens in Greece

(The Acropolis in Athens)

I shall be away to Athens, Greece from today until 1st September 2007. I shall not be updating this blog until my return. In the meantime, enjoy my previous posts.

Action and Contemplation

Next, you ask me why you should put down such thoughts under the cloud of forgetting, since it is true that they are good of their kind, and when well received they do you so much good and greatly increase your devotion. My answer is that you must clearly understand that there are two kinds of lives in holy Church.

One is the active life, and the other is the contemplative life. The active life is the lower and the contemplative life is the higher. The active life has two degrees, a higher and a lower; and the contemplative life also have two degrees, lower and a higher. Further, these two lives are so joined, neither of them can be lived fully without having some part in the either. For the higher part of the active life is the same as the lower part of the contemplative life.

Hence a man cannot be fully active unless he is partly a contemplative, nor can he be fully contemplative here below unless he is in some way active. It is the nature of the active life both to be begun and ended in this life. Not so, however, of the contemplative life, which is begun in this life and shall last without end.

Chapter VIII

The Cloud of Unknowing

Action and Contemplation

Next, you ask me why you should put down such thoughts under the cloud of forgetting, since it is true that they are good of their kind, and when well received they do you so much good and greatly increase your devotion. My answer is that you must clearly understand that there are two kinds of lives in holy Church.

One is the active life, and the other is the contemplative life. The active life is the lower and the contemplative life is the higher. The active life has two degrees, a higher and a lower; and the contemplative life also have two degrees, lower and a higher. Further, these two lives are so joined, neither of them can be lived fully without having some part in the either. For the higher part of the active life is the same as the lower part of the contemplative life.

Hence a man cannot be fully active unless he is partly a contemplative, nor can he be fully contemplative here below unless he is in some way active. It is the nature of the active life both to be begun and ended in this life. Not so, however, of the contemplative life, which is begun in this life and shall last without end.

Chapter VIII

The Cloud of Unknowing

Planet Hulk

The Incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner is not one of my favourite Marvel heroes. Nevertheless, I have been reading the Hulk stories and of various incarnation of the Incredible Hulk; from the mindless Rage “Hulk smash!” to the grey “Mr. Fixit” and then to the present incarnation after the movie where we have an intelligent Hulk. What drew me back to the Hulk was a powerful science fiction fantasy story arc that ran quietly in the background in Incredible Hulk issue #92-105 from 2005-2007 while the rest of the Marvel universe was turned inside out. This story was crafted by sci-fi writer Greg Pak and was collected in 2007 as Planet Hulk.

This storyline started with a secret meeting of the most powerful leaders of the Marvel superheroes: Iron Man, Reed Richards, Dr Stephen Strange, Namor, and Black Bolt (of the Inhumans). Apparently these have gathered to plan for the protection of the earth. One item on the agenda was the Hulk, whom the group thinks is dangerous to the humans on earth. Like many in leadership positions, they have the Messiah complex and think that it is their duty to save the world!

To do that, they came up with a plan to maroon Hulk on an uninhabited planet where as Reed said to Hulk later, “There will be no one there to hurt you. And no one you can hurt.” I really cannot imagine that Iron Man, Reed Richards, Dr Stephen Strange, Namor, and Black Bolt will do that to the Hulk. Apparently that’s what they did. Under the guise of a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D. to destroy an artificially intelligent satellite which has gone rogue, Hulk went into space, was betrayed by his friends and marooned on the planet Sakaar.

Instead of an inhabited planet, Sakaar was full of alien races ruled by the tyrant Red King. Hulk was sold into slavery and forced to fight as Green Scar, a gladiator. Then follows a riotous storyline that is like Spartacus, Conan, and Gladiator rolled up like a California roll sushi. Green Scar united his gladiators friends, overthrew the Red King and gain access to space. The Green Scar/Hulk led his army into space to seek revenge on his former friends on a planet named Earth! I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a Hulk storyline so much. Hull/Banner seems to have integrated into one who comes out as a person with integrity, wise leader and fair judge.

Nuff’ said.

more of my comments on other comics and mangas here.

Planet Hulk

The Incredible Hulk/Bruce Banner is not one of my favourite Marvel heroes. Nevertheless, I have been reading the Hulk stories and of various incarnation of the Incredible Hulk; from the mindless Rage “Hulk smash!” to the grey “Mr. Fixit” and then to the present incarnation after the movie where we have an intelligent Hulk. What drew me back to the Hulk was a powerful science fiction fantasy story arc that ran quietly in the background in Incredible Hulk issue #92-105 from 2005-2007 while the rest of the Marvel universe was turned inside out. This story was crafted by sci-fi writer Greg Pak and was collected in 2007 as Planet Hulk.

This storyline started with a secret meeting of the most powerful leaders of the Marvel superheroes: Iron Man, Reed Richards, Dr Stephen Strange, Namor, and Black Bolt (of the Inhumans). Apparently these have gathered to plan for the protection of the earth. One item on the agenda was the Hulk, whom the group thinks is dangerous to the humans on earth. Like many in leadership positions, they have the Messiah complex and think that it is their duty to save the world!

To do that, they came up with a plan to maroon Hulk on an uninhabited planet where as Reed said to Hulk later, “There will be no one there to hurt you. And no one you can hurt.” I really cannot imagine that Iron Man, Reed Richards, Dr Stephen Strange, Namor, and Black Bolt will do that to the Hulk. Apparently that’s what they did. Under the guise of a mission from S.H.I.E.L.D. to destroy an artificially intelligent satellite which has gone rogue, Hulk went into space, was betrayed by his friends and marooned on the planet Sakaar.

Instead of an inhabited planet, Sakaar was full of alien races ruled by the tyrant Red King. Hulk was sold into slavery and forced to fight as Green Scar, a gladiator. Then follows a riotous storyline that is like Spartacus, Conan, and Gladiator rolled up like a California roll sushi. Green Scar united his gladiators friends, overthrew the Red King and gain access to space. The Green Scar/Hulk led his army into space to seek revenge on his former friends on a planet named Earth! I cannot remember when I have enjoyed a Hulk storyline so much. Hull/Banner seems to have integrated into one who comes out as a person with integrity, wise leader and fair judge.

Nuff’ said.

more of my comments on other comics and mangas here.

Partnership with God

Prayer unites the soul to God, for although the soul may always be like God in nature and substance, it is often unlike him in condition, through human sin. Prayer makes the soul like God when the soul wills as God wills; then it is like God in condition as it is in nature. And so he teaches us to pray and have firm trust that we shall have what we pray for, because everything which is done would be done, even though we have never prayed for it. But God's love is so great that he regards us as partners in his good work; and so he moves us to pray for what it pleases him to do so, for whatever prayer or good desire comes to us by his gift he will repay us for, and give us eternal reward.

Short Text, Chapter 19

Julian of Norwich

Partnership with God

Prayer unites the soul to God, for although the soul may always be like God in nature and substance, it is often unlike him in condition, through human sin. Prayer makes the soul like God when the soul wills as God wills; then it is like God in condition as it is in nature. And so he teaches us to pray and have firm trust that we shall have what we pray for, because everything which is done would be done, even though we have never prayed for it. But God's love is so great that he regards us as partners in his good work; and so he moves us to pray for what it pleases him to do so, for whatever prayer or good desire comes to us by his gift he will repay us for, and give us eternal reward.

Short Text, Chapter 19

Julian of Norwich

One Night with the King

This is a 2006 movie about how Hadassah, whose Persian name was Esther, became the queen of the Persian Empire and saved her people from genocide. The storyline followed closely the biblical book of Esther. However there was an interesting twist in which the story was presented.

The movie claimed that the enmity between Haman the Agagite, and the Jews started 500 years before when Saul, the first King of Israel defeated King Agag, the king of the Amalekites. Instead of killing all the people and live stocks as God had ordered, Saul kept back some animals and kept alive King Agag (I Samuel 15:20-33).

In the movie, Agag’s wife escaped. She was pregnant and survived to give birth to a child. The Agagites started a blood feud with the Jews and formed a sort of secret society to exterminate the Jews. Their chance for revenge came when Memucan made use of the Agagites to get rid of Queen Vashti. In the process, Haman an Agagite gained power until he came to be trusted and promoted by King Xerxes to hold the royal seal. Then he set in motion his plan to exterminate the Jews in the empire which included those living in Jerusalem, seeking revenge for what Saul did to Agag, and the Amalekites. This is an interesting twist in describing the reason for Haman’s hatred of the Jews which is more than just been slighted by Modecai. I love the guest appearances by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sahrif.

The Book of Esther is foundation of the Feast of Purim. The Feast of Purim was not established by the Mosaic Law. It was commanded by Mordecai and by Esther. The two-day feast was for remembering the goodness of God working through a number of circumstances to protect His people from extinction.

Mordecai wrote a proclamation that the Jews were to celebrate the event annually with eating, rejoicing, giving food, and sharing with the poor. The feast was called Purim because of Haman’s use of the pur . . . the lot to determine the time of the execution of the Jews in the Persian empire.

The pur became a symbol of God’s using circumstances to deliver His own.

What others think of the movie here

More of my movie reviews here

One Night with the King

This is a 2006 movie about how Hadassah, whose Persian name was Esther, became the queen of the Persian Empire and saved her people from genocide. The storyline followed closely the biblical book of Esther. However there was an interesting twist in which the story was presented.

The movie claimed that the enmity between Haman the Agagite, and the Jews started 500 years before when Saul, the first King of Israel defeated King Agag, the king of the Amalekites. Instead of killing all the people and live stocks as God had ordered, Saul kept back some animals and kept alive King Agag (I Samuel 15:20-33).

In the movie, Agag’s wife escaped. She was pregnant and survived to give birth to a child. The Agagites started a blood feud with the Jews and formed a sort of secret society to exterminate the Jews. Their chance for revenge came when Memucan made use of the Agagites to get rid of Queen Vashti. In the process, Haman an Agagite gained power until he came to be trusted and promoted by King Xerxes to hold the royal seal. Then he set in motion his plan to exterminate the Jews in the empire which included those living in Jerusalem, seeking revenge for what Saul did to Agag, and the Amalekites. This is an interesting twist in describing the reason for Haman’s hatred of the Jews which is more than just been slighted by Modecai. I love the guest appearances by Peter O'Toole and Omar Sahrif.

The Book of Esther is foundation of the Feast of Purim. The Feast of Purim was not established by the Mosaic Law. It was commanded by Mordecai and by Esther. The two-day feast was for remembering the goodness of God working through a number of circumstances to protect His people from extinction.

Mordecai wrote a proclamation that the Jews were to celebrate the event annually with eating, rejoicing, giving food, and sharing with the poor. The feast was called Purim because of Haman’s use of the pur . . . the lot to determine the time of the execution of the Jews in the Persian empire.

The pur became a symbol of God’s using circumstances to deliver His own.

What others think of the movie here

More of my movie reviews here

The Music Played-Matt Munro

The Music Played- Matt Munro

The Music Played-Matt Munro

The Music Played- Matt Munro

Watching The King and I in the Durian in Singapore

Last Friday evening, I watched the stage performance of The King and I at the Esplanade Theatre on the Bay (the Durian). I have been looking forward to watching this stage play the whole month. I have enjoyed the movie version and am now eager to watch a live stage performance. This musical is based on a true story and is also based on a novel by Margaret Landon, Anna and the King of Siam. Landon based her novel on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a 19th century Englishwoman who became governess to the children of the King of Siam.

The musical was a Rodgers and Hammerstein's production with memorable songs like "Shall we dance?", "Hello, Young Lovers", and "I Have Dreamed." The King and I opened on Broadway on March 29. 1951, where it was shown for three years (1,246 performances). It received five Tony Awards.

In 1956, The King and I musical movie was released starring Deborah Kerr as Anna and Yul Brynner (who stared as the King on Broadway) reprising his role as the King. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and received five. In Singapore, Anna was played by Brianna Borger and King Mongkut of Siam by Paul Nakauchi.

While enjoying the wonderful music and lyrics, the fascinating backdrops, the exciting choreography and the wonderful cast, it was the story of the King of Siam that fascinates me. Here is a man who realises that his country is in danger of being made into a protectorate by the British and tries his best to bring his country into the 'scientific' modern age. Hence he employs an English woman as a school teacher to his children. He realises that education is the key to the survival of his country and his family. Yet this also means betraying his culture and tradition by adopting a "western" approach. The clash of civilization is at times both hilarious and sad.

The King is tormented by inner struggles as he wrestled to be a good King, a good Buddhist, a good husband (to many wives) and a good father. In his struggles, his humanity comes out clearly as he struggles between compassion and duty. I cannot help but identify with him in his pride, his pain and his loss. Clearly this is a great man who struggles to be human, to be a good man in circumstances that would not allow him to be so.

Paul Nakauchi performs superbly as the KING but it is difficult to fill in the shoes left behind by Yul Brynner.

Watching The King and I in the Durian in Singapore

Last Friday evening, I watched the stage performance of The King and I at the Esplanade Theatre on the Bay (the Durian). I have been looking forward to watching this stage play the whole month. I have enjoyed the movie version and am now eager to watch a live stage performance. This musical is based on a true story and is also based on a novel by Margaret Landon, Anna and the King of Siam. Landon based her novel on the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, a 19th century Englishwoman who became governess to the children of the King of Siam.

The musical was a Rodgers and Hammerstein's production with memorable songs like "Shall we dance?", "Hello, Young Lovers", and "I Have Dreamed." The King and I opened on Broadway on March 29. 1951, where it was shown for three years (1,246 performances). It received five Tony Awards.

In 1956, The King and I musical movie was released starring Deborah Kerr as Anna and Yul Brynner (who stared as the King on Broadway) reprising his role as the King. It was nominated for nine Academy Awards and received five. In Singapore, Anna was played by Brianna Borger and King Mongkut of Siam by Paul Nakauchi.

While enjoying the wonderful music and lyrics, the fascinating backdrops, the exciting choreography and the wonderful cast, it was the story of the King of Siam that fascinates me. Here is a man who realises that his country is in danger of being made into a protectorate by the British and tries his best to bring his country into the 'scientific' modern age. Hence he employs an English woman as a school teacher to his children. He realises that education is the key to the survival of his country and his family. Yet this also means betraying his culture and tradition by adopting a "western" approach. The clash of civilization is at times both hilarious and sad.

The King is tormented by inner struggles as he wrestled to be a good King, a good Buddhist, a good husband (to many wives) and a good father. In his struggles, his humanity comes out clearly as he struggles between compassion and duty. I cannot help but identify with him in his pride, his pain and his loss. Clearly this is a great man who struggles to be human, to be a good man in circumstances that would not allow him to be so.

Paul Nakauchi performs superbly as the KING but it is difficult to fill in the shoes left behind by Yul Brynner.

An Emergent Manifesto

I was about to write a review of this book when I came across a set of posters from Emerging Grace (HT: bob k). Grace has allowed me to use her posters which expressed so well what I have read in this book that I shall let the posters be the review.

Click on the posters for a bigger and clearer view.

An Emergent Manifesto

I was about to write a review of this book when I came across a set of posters from Emerging Grace (HT: bob k). Grace has allowed me to use her posters which expressed so well what I have read in this book that I shall let the posters be the review.

Click on the posters for a bigger and clearer view.