Superheroes, slavery and a technological age, truth stranger than fiction

DISCLAIMER: The ideas in this blog are my own and those that I feel I have recieved of the Lord, I will include some articles which I have found interesting and have provoked me to do further study. I do hope though this makes you think and pray and not take everything at face value and not swallow everything you hear in the media, all is certainly not as it seems. Like never before we need discernment and to question everything  

HAS SLAVERY ENDED?

Slavery has come in different forms over the time that humans have been on this earth. Yes William Wilberforce saw one kind of slavery abolished in 1833, but the tendency to enslave another people group or the rest of the human race has not gone away. It seems that it is an inherent sinful nature of man to oppress another or manipulate and deceive to gain power over someone else. We see this right across history. Sadly my friend it has not gone away, although it is perhaps more covert than it ever has been. 

I believe at the heart of what is happening in our world currently is an attempt to enslave people in the west once again, so that only a few of those with the money and the power and position have the freedom that we have in some ways enjoyed for a few years. 

MODERN DAY SLAVERY 

Supply chains and cheap fashion

Let us not forget though that there are many people around the world living in modern day slavery, in the form of sweatshops in the east, you may remember that a few years ago 2013 Primark and Matalan was in the spotlight for being connected to a building that collapsed in Bangladesh the Dhaka Garment factory killing over a 1000 people.

https://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/23/world/asia/report-on-bangladesh-building-collapse-finds-widespread-blame.html 

Now perhaps this was not slavery to the extent we saw of African and Jamaican people in the 17th and 18th Century, but obviously being made to work in such a building shows no regard for the worth of people's lives. Both retailers look like they have tried to clear up their act since then, but supply chains is an interesting animal as there are lots of middle people or agents involved. Our hunger for cheap fashion is keeping many in slavery, if we care about social justice we need to examine where we buy things from. This is not easy, because one site will say that they are ethical and another will say the opposite, but we can but try to source our products from ethical places. You can be pretty sure if you are buying a decent piece of clothing for a fiver you can be sure that somewhere someone is paying for your discount and practically being treated as a slave for their skill. Pretty much like the seamstresses we read about in slavery days. 

Many of those who are slaves in our world are also children, like back in the day they are born into slavery. We can think of the brick slaves in india, children and their families who are cheated out of wages 

https://www.antislavery.org/report-slavery-india-brick-kilns/

SEX TRADE 

Then we have those involved in the sex trade and those who are trafficked men, women and children. There are some awful facts coming to light now of the rich, famous and powerful who are involved in this industry. For many years we believe that those who were involved in trafficking were mainly wicked men from eastern europe and perhaps the middle east. We are now finding out that those hollywood celebrities, those who have been household names are also involved in this industry and who knows what else will be uncovered next. 

There are many more examples of modern day slavery in our society and I believe that it is trying to come closer and closer to encompass you and me. 

END TIMES 

I have heard it said many times that these are the last days and until recently I have poo pooed the idea, things were ticking along and where as an evangelist or at least married to an evangelist I have an urgency to share Jesus with others, I thought it was highly unlikely that I would see the great tribulation or the actual end times. With every article I read, every facebook article I see and each event I see occur in the world I am starting to believe that yes we really are in the actual end times or at least the beginning of them, life as we knew it will never be the same again. 

CORONA VIRUS 

Let me start by saying I believe that this virus is very very real and just because it has not touched you does not mean it does not exist. I have seen many christians saying they don't think it exists, well I heard about a friend's mother who died of covid 19 back in April and she was a nurse so yes it exists and it is real, so I believe we do need to be aware of it and be careful. I have been on a journey of working out what is truth and what isn't. How bad it is any how bad it isn't. I choose to wear a mask when I need to and to social distance where needed. I am trying to work out how to navigate this new world we are living in. 

PLANDEMIC 

Now I am starting to research into this phenomena. I remember hearing that the official line was that it started in bats and somehow mutated into affecting people in China.  I thought to myself really is that even possible. Then I heard a prophecy that the virus had been released from a laboratory in Wuhan China. I have since heard that 7 people were let out and allowed to travel around the world to spread it. 

Now that made a lot more sense than a bat, I also asked myself how on earth and why did they not contain it quicker, even in this country we did not go into lockdown until much later. I have questions on how it was contained and slowed down and what was deliberate and what was shoddy leadership and negligence, only time will tell. 

I do think it's quite funny and disturbing that anything on social media that even suggests that it was a plandemic, or anything about the virus which goes against the mainstream line. Or suggests that everything is not as it seems automatically gets shut down. Or it has a message on the front to say it is a hoax or not true or non factual. Why would people put their professtional neck on the line to speak out against what everyone is being told if there was not something about what they are saying. 

Since when does facebook get to decide what truth is, they are starting to tell us what we should be thinking and if we disagree with what the official line is we get slandered. I have even heard of christian article put on facebook which have been taken off as they do not meet the values of facebook, since when is facebook a moral guide, will talk about this in another blog soon.

I do find it interesting though that covid 19 started off a chain reaction of events such as the need to wear masks, then all this talk about the vaccine which I will come to in a moment 

MASKS  

Like I said I wear a mask quite a bit I have elderly parents and I want to keep them safe and I am honest I am not sure if it has gone and tend to be a person who takes precautions and follows the rules where I can. However I cannot ignore the parallels between wearing a mask and the masks that slaves had to wear, these were devised to muzzle slaves and to be painful. 

As the church we have been told we cannot sing in buildings because it spreads the disease, most of the church buildings have been shut down as well.  Many are saying that the authorities are trying to shut down the church, now that may be but I believe that the buildings being shut down is the best thing that could have happened to us. I will explain what I think God is doing in the church in another blog on another platform. I know that this is a movie blog and I am going to get to movies in just a minute and show you how it is all connected in a bit. 

VACCINES ETC 

I have my doubts about what this vaccine is all about, never have I seen a vaccine pushed like this one. Now I understand that there is a need to find a solution but it is being pushed so much that makes me ask questions, it does not seem to have been tested properly. Vaccines take decades to be tested and approved. Then there is the sources of the funding which if you trace them back seem to go back to a very dubious source. Why would the head of microsoft be the main funder of vaccines. Bill gates is a genius with technology not medicine unless the two could be some how linked. 

It also seems that the WHO are ....

MORE COMING .....

Just Mercy and other racial themed movies (Spoilers alert)

JUST MERCY 

Just Mercy was brought out in 2019 and it is about black Judicial Politics in Alabama in the 80's and 90's. The Story begins in 1989 where a man called Walter Mcmillian played by Jamie Fox is on death row for a murder he says he didnt commit. Lots of people say they are innocent on death row but the difference here is that there is next to no evidence. Bryan Stevenson is drafted in as the attorney of all those at the time who are on death row.  As I write this I cannot believe that the death penalty is still a thing. The death penalty still exist in 7 of America's 52 states, one of which is California not used as much but it is still there.

 Thankfully Stevenson is very perseverant because at first walter does not trust Stevenson and thinks that he is just going to get his hopes up like the last person and then just drop him and give up. He does not know how far Stevenson will go for justice. 

I can remember 1989 I was 11, that's the year I started high school now I can't remember my high school years in great deal I remember they were better than my junior ones. The point is though that I can remember it, in fact it is the year that my husband was born. It is less than 40 years ago. I have to be honest I thought that by this time oververt herd racism was a thing of the past. Nonetheless I have realised that racism is not a thing of the past not even today. In fact the systems that were in place during the slavery plantation days, when many white families owned black slaves still exist in some way today. 

That is why only 31 years ago this even happened in America, sadly if we dig a bit deeper and not too deep we will see injustices all around us that are still a reality due to these systems which were perhaps not invented but were fortified in 17-18th century. 

The whole conviction of Jonny D as he is known to his friends and community hinges on the testimony of a white convicted felon. Despite the case against Walter being so flimsy. It seems that the very fact that he is black and coming from a black neighbourhood is enough to convict him. No-one wants to re-visit this case. It was a quick conviction with the testimony of someone and they want to leave it there. 

Ryan Myers is manipulated into giving the testimony in exchange for a lighter sentence . 

You would think that it would be easy to get this conviction overturned but actually Stevenson goes through so many trials whilst he fights for Walter. A number of times he has a run in with the law because they are out to get him, not that he has done something wrong at all. His car is searched and two officers steal the documents that he has to help him with the case are stolen by the police. He is strip searched before he can see his client and they try to hang a conviction of perjury. 

I would put forward that the reason that he gets treated with such contempt and disrespect is because he is a black attorney and what's more he is trying to represent black men on death row. 

Quite frankly the story brought me to tears especially when some of the men were clearly innocent 

There is a scene which really stands out to me. When Stevenson is coming into the prison there is a field at the front and all the men are in white uniforms tilling or working on the ground. For me it was a very moving scene, it was reminiscent of other movies I have seen where Afro slaves are working the cotton fields. It could be that they were going for that imagery but it was certainly very powerful.

The movie and other movies since have made me realise that our world is a corrupt place and we cannot always trust the authorities that are meant to fight for justice for us or are meant to even look out for us. 

Now I am not saying that all authorities are corrupt or are out to get you. One needs discernment in this world. 

At this point I can make the point that I am a believer and so I don't automatically trust the authorities, or shall I say I don't take things at face value. Recent times has shown me this more and more. We need the guidance of the holy spirit more each day for every decision we make. So when we face something where there are authorities like social services, justice system, the police, doctors, lawyers, the council etc I used to assume they would fight my corner, that's what they are there for right?

In recent years I have realised that these systems are not always fair, in fact they are there for those at the top to benefit. Yes they are meant to benefit the people that need the services but I have seen that this is not always the case. Therefore we need discernment from the holy spirit when we are working out what cause of action to take.

I have also learnt that we often need to fight for those things that we are entitled to or in order to see justice. I have learnt from working with others and even in my own life that if you just go with the flow of life and just let lift happen to you then you could end up in a really difficult position.

I know there are many of you out there who are not believers and to be frank I actually do not how you live, how you make decisions without guidance. It is amazing to have the someone who tells me which way to go. I suppose many of you trust in the authorities but as you can see from this film we cannot always trust them. 

I would love to think that what happens in this movie would not happen today but to be honest I am not so sure that would be true. There are still so many injustices in the world and particularly around what are considered to be minor ethnicities in places like England and America. 

Just last year there was the George Floyd incident which shocked the world and woke us up to the fact that racism is alive and kicking. Since then I have seen a number of videos where I have seen senseless racist violence by the American police, one is a young boy who is manhandled and accosted by 6 officers yes you read that right 6 officers, the second is a disabled man in a wheelchair who is beaten up by officers and the last one is an unarmed man who is shot when he is not posing a threat. 

Now the videos have died down but this issue has not gone away. I have heard stories of kindergarden teachers who were asked to age some white and black children they ended up being the same age but the black children were aged older and consequently would receive harsher treatment. It seems we are conditioned to think that black people are criminals or at least to be afraid of them. This needs to change but we also as white need to recognise that we have been conditioned to think this way.

My heart is sad that we are not all treated the same and although I would shout that everyone should be treated the same and I don't think of colour at all, that is because nothing has happened in my life which has led me to. Nonetheless I realise that is not the same for my friends from other ethnicities particularly a black ethnicity. I have started to hear about story upon story where they have had to fight harder than their white counterparts for the same opportunities, or where they simply have not had the same opportunities. I think really in this day and age but this thing of racism is so deeply engrained in our culture and history that those of us who are white do not even recognise our own thoughts and attitudes. I am aware here that I need to be careful as I am white writing this but I am just sharing my recent journey to realising that this oppression has never gone away and it is not going to anytime soon until we start recognising that there is a problem and those of who are white need to start examining ourselves closely our thoughts and attitudes. 

I have become aware of a phrase called White Supremacy, there are things that I will never experience. There are things that I will never notice because I am white. 

HARRIET TUBMAN

MISS VIRGINIA 

I watched yet another film recently called Miss Virginia  

MORE COMING 

End Game

I think it is fairly safe to say now that most people have seen End Game. It was one of the biggest blockbusters which has come out this year. Perhaps the climax to the Marvel franchise and of course the end of the Avengers series at least for now. May I apologize now if you haven't seen End game yet, maybe read this after you have been to see it. I was very excited about going to see End game because I was expectant of what God was going to say to me through it.

It was certainly an incredible film which had me on the edge of my seat until the end, it was very long, however I would love to go and see it again, as I am sure there is much about it that I didnt take in. 

If you have read any of my other blogs you will know that I get a lot out of films, this blog is all about the way that God speaks to me through films. As I taught a bunch of students recently I believe that God can speak through anything as he is spirit so he can use anything if he can use a donkey like in the bible. If this is something you would like to cultivate in your relationship with God it's all about developing a relationship with the Holy Spirit. 

As often happens it wasnt until a few days later that I was in Prague and I was setting up for an event when I have some revelation about the film. Funnily enough it was whilst I was watching the trailer which made me want to go and see the film again. I will talk about that a little later in this blog. 

I always get excited when I see avenger or super hero movies as it reminds me of 2 Corinthians 5:20, where Paul reminds us that we are ambassadors. 

We are therefore Christ’s ambassadors, as though God were making his appeal through us. We implore you on Christ’s behalf: Be reconciled to God.

 Jesus said to the disciples before he ascended that do not do anything until you are clothed with power from on high 

On one occasion, while he was eating with them, he gave them this command: “Do not leave Jerusalem, but wait for the gift my Father promised......

But you will receive power when the Holy Spirit comes on you; and you will be my witnesses in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and to the ends of the earth

As Christians we have the Holy spirit living inside us. The Holy spirit can often be translated as Dunamis or dynamite. That is who and what we have living within us. That is why I always say that as Christians we can think of ourselves just like Avengers or superheros.   When I see the scenes where all the avengers are going out to save the world. I see us as Christians going out transforming the world, changing the atmosphere and taking responsibility of the places where they are. 

Just as the avengers have to come together to actually make an impact the same is true of us we cannot change the world by being mavricks we really do need each other to make a difference. 

It's interesting the way that after the end of the last film Infinity war which actually ended quite badly for everyone involved on a cliff hanger with us all desperate for the next movie to come out. 

We see the reintroduction of each character as the are found and called back into the cause of saving the world. Sometimes we can be like this going into hiding, to some extent the church has gone into hiding in the face of a culture which is shouting so loud. However if we do not speak out if we do not take our place as an avenger or superhero then someone else will and as the church we cannot allow some  of the darkness and evilness to bully us into hiding. Just like in the time of esther we have been called for such a time as this, as it say is in the book of Esther. 

If we look into the word we can see that we have such an arsenal of  weapons available to us just like the super powers of our heroes in the Avengers. 

It was a few days later when I was watching the trailer of the film when the scene where America was annihilated. God showed me that this is what the enemy does to this world spiritually and we once again are the avengers going to the gates of hell to get people back from hell like the avengers get people back from the quantum zone. This is an incredible privilege, we are superheros in the Spirit. So if you are a child of God and you have a relationship with him, you have spiritual super heroes.

One of my favourite verses is Ephesians 3:20

"Now to him is able to do  immeasurably more than you can think as or imagine. "

We have an incredible identity, we have an amazing inheritance. We are the sons and daughters of the one that made the universe that trumps Thanos or the equivalent. We have incredible heavenly DNA.

Part of that identity is we have the authority to cast out demons, heal the sick, set the captives free,and raise the dead. Generally these super heroes could not do this.

And these  signs will accompany those who believe in my name, they will cast out demons they will speak in new tongues, they will pick up serpents with their hands, and if they drink deadly poison, it will not hurt them, they will lay their hand on the sick, and they will recover."

We have authority as sons and daughters of God to do all these things and much more, we have authority to make disciples, and effectively make little Christs. So in other words God's children we are not God but we are meant to be like him and that is huge its a tall order but its also fun and exciting. 

The Christian life is meant to be like these super hero movies, our lives are meant to be action packed. Full of enjoyment and fun. Your life is not meant to be boring, even in the boring and mundane you can find the exciting. 

Our lives are meant to mirror a roller coaster,a super hero movie,a wonderful adventure :)

We also not of this realm we are of the heavenly realm we are seated in heavenly places

A star is born and I can only imagine

I went to see a star is born a few weeks ago and it made me look at Lady Gaga in a new way. I wish we actually knew her name, that is to say I wish that she allowed herself to really be who she is without portraying a plastic copy of herself. Although the film is a remake of a film in which Barbara Streisand was in many years ago in some ways I believe it reflects her own journey but also the journey of countless other pop stars and quite frankly it is extremely sad. 

It starts with an aspiring singer Ally and a really well known one jack who has a terrible addiction to everything drugs and alcohol in time this spirals out of control but he keeps it fairly hidden at least to the public. It’s alive story about their relationship and how he woos her and shoots her to stardom. Sadly a producer gets hold of her and she becomes a completely different artist singing about nonsense and having a plastic persona. It’s sad because she starts with authenticity and yet she allows herself to be seduced into the pop world and becomes someone she isn’t. I guess it does sell because people buy into this fantasy or sordidness and sexual fantasy. This is the story of many pop starts when you look back you think wow they had talent what happened they let themselves get sucked into what they think the public want but actually these gimmicks get boring and then they need to reinvent themselves each time getting further away from who they really are and often going down a dark path. 

It’s funny but what people actually want is authenticity and yet not many will admit it. 

Although we may not be stars we can get seduced by the world into being someone we’re not. The world needs you to be you, no one does it better than you. 

Now you can’t be you without knowing the one who created you and asking him how you work and you tick so get to know Jesus he will let you know what makes you you. 

Now there is another element to the star is born story and my apologies to anyone who hasnt seen it spoiler coming right up still you probably see it coming from way off especially if you’ve seen the first movie. 

Bradley Cooper’s character Jack buys into this lie that only the producer with lots of money and contacts can get her where she needs to be even though he knows at the back of his mind authenticity is best. 

The truth is Jesus is not in this storyline so sadly there is no happy ending and no redemption, the end of the movie is pretty depressing quite frankly. I won't spoil it for you and tell you what happens, but if you haven't seen it yet you will need your tissues. 

Since I watched the movie I have really wanted a dog lol - the closest I can get to it at the moment is borrow my doggy hehe. 

Let's go back to a movie that was out earlier last year features the lead singer of mercyme a christian band in America. Now I was quite taken a back as producers even in the christian music world are still quite ruthless, in fact there were moments when I asked myself are these producers even Christian. 

Just like Jack who we figure must have had a pretty awful past Bart who is the main character in 'I can only imagine also has a terrible childhood where is father beats him up on a regular basis. 

Only the difference is Bart has hope in his life because he has Jesus in his life and that means hope. Bart goes through an internal battle but finally he forgives his father and this is so powerful that it leads his father to become christian and before he dies he is completely restored and transformed. It's a beautiful story of redemption and forgiveness. 

There is another part which can be compared with a star is born. He is told many times that he won't cut it that he is not good enough to make it and that he wasn't what they were looking for. This nearly breaks him and he almost looses his faith, interestingly enough this is when he faces his past and it leads to forgiveness of his father. The event of losing his father causes him to dig deep and as he thinks about where his father has gone and heaven he writes this incredible song called 'I can only imagine.' It's authentic raw and it takes everyone by surprise. 

The difference between the two characters is the first Jack's was that he only went off what man said and without a saviour he could see no hope and nothing at the end of the story.

However Bart who came to a hopeless place finds hope in worshiping Jesus he knows there is more, and I believe that the song was not just a hit outside the church but inside as well. 

With Jesus the most hopeless situations can contain hope and produce a beautiful song. 

The justice league

So I went to see the latest DC film last night I have to say I still prefer marvel but it was a ok movie as superhero movies go. I can't help thinking that there are a few movies I have missed out on which might have helped my understanding but the general superhero themes were there. Now perhaps I have written something along the same lines before but I believe it still needs saying so here goes. 

Straight after the film I had zero information but as I was brushing my teeth ( the bathroom often figures for light bulb or revelation moments). 

I had a sense that God was speaking to me through the verse we have the mind of Christ. I remember saying to my significant other who will make a guest appearance at some point that I wish I had as much strength as Wonder Woman to which he answered you do honey. Now I know I'm not going to be going in for any weight lifting competitions nor do I have the agility or physical strength she has. However it got me thinking strength goes beyond physical strength which is good for me lol. 

Then I started to think about the potential we have as humans and the thought that we are only using a fraction of what God has given us. If we think for a moment what man has accomplished. I believe that is because whether those people are believers or not they are made in God's image and it goes without saying the wonders God has created well you and me for starters and well basically anything you can see. 

Furthermore for those of us who know Christ and who have a personal relationship with him the word says that not only were we made in God's image which means we have some of God's characteristics the possibilities are endless. Let that blow your mind for a second. Not only that but as believers we have the mind of Christ. That triples the possibility for creativity and sheer genius right there. Do you get this because Christ is not only some random dude but he is God so that means you have God's mind well at least you do if you will only tap into it. I don't know about you but this totally explodes my brain. 

The little Prince

I had the pleasure of watching the little prince a few months ago with one of my friends and her niece. She was so excited about watching it and so was my friend. As the film unfolds and goes through a storyline which makes absolutely no sense to an adult where a child enters the world of imagination and laps it up. Why couldn't a rose grow on a planet which is tiny and where the little boy is the prince of the planet in out of space. Children don't believe that there are any limits or impossibilities. They dream of being an astronaut or rock star. Then there is the whole concept of Santa Claus. Children believe what ever you tell them. Sometimes you have to work hard to get them to not believe. That is why jesus tells us to have faith like children. Children say things like lets go to the moon for a picnic. 

It's made me realise that imagination is so important in our lives and we can learn so much from children. The way they trust and believe is so refreshing inspiring and challenging. 

Imagination is like an entry into the spiritual world. For Christians when we allow God to inhabit our imaginations the divide between heaven and earth becomes a little thinner. Our imagination are a window into the heavenly realm and the spiritual. 

 What if we didn't limit what God could do and we actually believed that we really do heavenly resources at our disposal. He is a little prince and he believes that because of that he has an inheritance which is this planet. We too have an inheritance too which is this planet. If your a believer then you are a child of God and that means your a prince or a princess if the kingdom of God. I think being a child makes it easier to believe this truth to actually visualise it but also live as it is true. 

Never let me go

So I watched a movie in my birthday which I thought would be nice little quaint film I could not have been more wrong. We are tricked into thinking that this film is going to be about a love triangle. This is the story line which develops in the first quarter of the movie. In fact it is a thread which weaves its way through to the very end of the movies and  causes some heart warming moments. 

Nevertheless it is the main plot which is shocking to the core and leads the viewer into quite a sinister world, one that I dread to think could happen in the future. 

At this point I must give a disclaimer if you want to watch this film please do not read on unless you don't mind knowing what happens. 

You see the characters are actually clones not humans after all or are they?  The young people who we meet when they are about 8 and who we follow for twenty years have been produced for the sole purpose of being organ donors more than one.

There are many questions raised by this story one of which is what makes someone human? We are told that these young people are not actually human they are merely clones. Now I don't know about you but I've only thought of dolly the sheep when I think of clones. Now perhaps that is the way those with the power want us to think. I do think that there is something in these conspiracy theories, however that is for another Blog and not this one. 

So back to these characters who to all intents and purposes seem like normal young people with emotions, feelings and personalities. So would clones have personalties, how much would they be affected by the one that they were cloned from. 

Is any human who is created in which ever means still human even if they were a copy. The time of babies being made naturally have gone in some cases and so created life is still life. 

I think the bottom line we have to come to is that Life is life no matter how it is created. 

Creating cloning farms is just barbaric, if we were to have such people to save others even if they are clones is simply wrong. I think we need to get our ethics on this straight before it comes up as normal as I fear could happen in the future. 

It's interesting that even with mercy killing we are making excuses for why it is acceptable. I do not believe that killing people is ever right for the gain of someone else or another race. We need to be careful that we do not accept the dehumanisation of some age groups or people groups. 

This kind of mindset reminds me of a theory which I studied in philosophy which is called utilitarianism which is basically the greatest good for the greatest number. Who decides what is the greatest good and who decides who deserves this greatest good. We think that we can make these decisions, however we are so wrong because our selfishness and need to survive at all costs takes over. 

Life is precious human life that is, God made that very clear. Unfortunately we may twist things and create our own life to some degree nonetheless even that life is precious too. God created man in his own image, therefore even a clone would hold that fingerprint too.