Do Good to the Those Who Exterminate You

So I've been watching a lot of Doctor Who lately. Over the summer I watched much of the classic Who available on Netflix, including quite a bit of the "Key to Time" storyline. Lately I've been watching "Nu Who".

Announcing that the Master will be in "The End of Time".

Today I watched both "The End of Time" which is our last storyline with Mr. Tennant (apart from "The Time of the Doctor" 50th Ann. Special) and also "Into the Dalek"; our second full experience with Mr. Capaldi on Doctor Who.

What has been amazing to watch is how both these story-lines show an attempt to win over a mortal enemy. In "The End of Time" the Doctor takes on the Master. The Master has implanted himself into all humans around the world through a device that was part of a space ship that fell. He intends, as always, to take over the universe.

"You are so brilliant. So beautiful" Says the Doctor. "Come with me. You don't need to own the whole universe; just see it!" He tries so hard to get the Master to change. Of course, the Master refuses and the Doctor has to run away for a time while he figures out what to do.

Jesus said the following about enemies:

"If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them. "If you do good to those who do good to you, what credit is that to you? For even sinners do the same. "If you lend to those from whom you expect to receive, what credit is that to you? Even sinners lend to sinners in order to receive back the same amount." Luke 6:32-34
                                                                                                                  

In "Into the Dalek" we have this weird experience of a Dalek that has seen that Dalek's must be stopped. He is damaged and the Doctor and a few people actually miniaturize to go inside the Dalek to find what is wrong and fix it. The Dalek, who was named Rusty by the Doctor, talks of seeing the birth of a star. "Resistance is futile" he says, trying to explain to the Doctor that as much as Daleks try to destroy life, it will always be rebuilding itself.

After repairing the Dalek, it starts back into normal "dalekism". Rusty starts attacking the rest of the ship's crew and then sends out a signal to a large Dalek ship which brings more Daleks on board. While the Doctor starts to point out how evil Daleks always are, Clara looks at him. "Is that what we've learned here today?" she asks him. No. It isn't.

Found on Denofgeek.com

What we learned is that even Daleks can be reached; at least to a point. As Clara climbs around in a Dalek's memory center to bring back the image of a star being born; the Doctor goes to be face to face with Rusty and gives him a link to his mind.

After seeing the beauty of a star being born and seeing more beauty in the Doctor's mind; he starts a change of mind. Now, the Dalek doesn't quite take the lesson as the Doctor wants him to...but he does change. He stops the Dalek attack on the Aristotle and changes to a new trajectory in life. Unfortunately the most impacting find in the Doctor's mind was his hatred of Daleks.

Jesus told us to pray for those who persecute us and love those who hate us. This is hard to live out. As the song "Jesus, Friend of Sinners" by Casting Crowns says:

"No one knows what we're for only against when we judge the wounded
What if we put down our signs crossed over the lines and loved like you did"

You don't have to start big. You can start small, like saying "hi" or getting someone a cup of coffee or water. But Jesus calls us to start somewhere.

The Fire without the Doctor

My house burned on the Day of the Doctor...and he was not around.  There was no blue box.  No "whirr-wrrrr" of a time machine that is bigger on the inside than the outside.  All 13 of him were busy moving a planet.  Gandalf didn't come.  I hear he was on a journey with or preparing for a journey with a hobbit named Bilbo.  Thor didn't come because he was fighting dark elves.   I do not know where Superman, Luke Skywalker, or Chuck were.

I do know that he Lord God was with us.  I won't tell you how it started, but the flames went right between my Dad's legs as he was running out of the room it started in.  NOT A SINGLE BIT of his jeans was burned.  God was with us.  He protected us. 

"To You, Lord I call; you are my rock, do not turn a deaf ear to me.  For if you remain silent, I will be like those who go down to that pit.  Hear my cry for mercy as I call to you for help, as I lift up my hands toward your Most Holy Place....Praise be to the Lord, for he has heard my cry for mercy" Psalm 28

 

Tennant, Smith and the Transfiguration

Greetings in Christ.

Are you excited about this weekends 50th anniversary of DOCTOR WHO??!!!!!

I am!  I am excited to see the 10th and 11th Doctors together and to find out more about John Hurts character, "The War Doctor".  This will be interesting seeing the 3 discuss, argue, and have adventure.  I am looking forward to see what they do with Rose Tyler, as it seams from the trailer has something more going for her on than just another journey in the Tardis.  Will Bad Wolf come back?

Now as we get excited about this combination of characters and actors, imagine how Peter, James, and John felt when they and Jesus reached the top of the mountain for the Transfiguration.  He had done so many miracles for them, and to be sure they didn't even realize how much he had yet to accomplish!  But then, he became as bright as the sun in front of them and was immediately joined by Moses and Elijah, two of their other heroes!  Then, a "bright cloud" surrounded them and a voice from this cloud spoke of love for Jesus and commanded that they listen to Him.  In their culture that meant not just hearing, but obeying.  

Peter wanted to do something of a service for them by building shelters for them.  I love that his first thought with them there was one of service.  It is such a far cry from our culture which would be screaming and pushing for autographs. 

We know that they talked with Jesus as they came down the mountain, but I wonder if, before that, there was some silence.  They had heard a voice from God the Father that came from a bright cloud surrounding them, met two of their heroes from scriptures and history, and seen their master Transfigured with blinding light.  I am amazed that Peter was able to speak out in the middle of all this to suggest building a shelter!  I mean, yeah, just meeting Moses and Elijah might not have taken a persons breath away, but the cloud, Jesus becoming light, the voice of the Father.  This was a lot to take in!

In the middle of our excitement about Christmas gifts coming, the 50th Anniversary of Doctor Who, the future possibilities of Star Wars Episode 7, Avengers: The Age of Ultron, Batman/Superman film, many video games and board games and conventions, let us keep our focus on our Christ as if He is always Transfiguring before us.  In awe and service let us trust in Him.  

A couple quick things:  If you haven't read the story of the Transfiguration in a while I encourage you to open your Bible up to Matthew 17 and do so.   Secondly, remember that I extended the deadline for the King David stories.  Email me your story about King David meeting a fictional character with no more than 1,000 words by December 1st.  My email is ericanderson25@gmail.com.