"The Husbands of River Song" (a guest post by Joe Vanderstelt)

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/doctor-who/12065602/doctor-who-christmas-special-river-song-recap.html

SPOILERS! (seriously I'm just saying that because it's Doctor Who) 

First a little history, River Song is a thief with patience or an archaeologist. Her and The Doctor both travel through time and space mostly in different directions. They are married but that's complicated because they don't follow the same path through time. You might need a flowchart.

The episode revolves around River Song not recognizing the The Doctor. You see River rightly believes that The Doctor can only have 12 regenerations, but "a thing" happened and he has regenerated past 12. She is unaware of the 13th (current) Doctor, she is looking for one the past 12. Even though she gives him the nickname "The Damsil", she is looking for help from him and cannot find it. She cannot see what is literally right in front of her, right next to her in her time of need, but I'll get to that. 

First let's talk about two men. Two walking down a road when another man joined them, the two men also didn't recognize who he was. At one point River was to wrapped up with what she was doing, including getting drinks to failed to see the obvious. We give her a little break, The Doctor does keep changing appearances, and the man who joined the two men we are told also changed appearances. So I think we need to give them a little break.

The two men were followers of Jesus, on their way to Emmaus, shortly after Jesus was crucified. It was Jesus that joined and for whatever reason they were "kept from recognizing him." River was kept from recognizing The Doctor because she believed The Doctor could only regenerate 12 times. Maybe, like River, they were to caught up in them selves or limited by their own understanding. 

Jesus was a popular name back then, just as “Doctor” can refer to many professions. I wonder during the conversation were the two men on the road like “wow Jesus, you really get it” to the man that joined them.

After displaying some knowledge of the inner workings of TARDIS (The Doctor's ship) River says “you are good” and The Doctor responding with “yes for a Doctor.” I can just see Jesus saying “Yes I do understand what you are telling about Jesus”. On and on the conversations go till, like The Doctor, they get to a point where he says something like "Seriously?" with a look of utter amazement that they are getting seeing who is with them. 

The Doctor, while river doesn't recognize him, goes though some interesting stages. First we see his response to her being married to someone else, Hydroflax. It's not exactly as simple as that, you might need a bigger flow chart. Then the interesting parts come. River is not just talking about, she is going to murder Hydroflax for a jewel he has in his head and is asking The Doctor for help. Seeing River in a way he might not approve of The Doctor ask "Is this what your like when I'm not...?" and them they are discovered. River reveals she is doing it because Hydroflax is evil and she will do anything to stop him. How would God see if God were with us right now? Would he see you or me as the murderous selfish type or the type that would do anything to stop evil?

After some Dr Who type fun we find The Doctor and River laying in the snow being threatened by Hydroflax's live head in a gym bag. Yes it sounds ridiculous, it is. That's why we find The Doctor and River laughing. I would like to think that if Jesus was with us he would spend time like this, laughing at the silly things and enjoying the relationships. "I can't approve of any of this, but I haven't laughed in a really long time" – The Doctor  

I'm going skip past the parallels of River telling The Doctor, not knowing it is him, that she is going to steal the TARDIS and The Doctor saying "He'll know" and God knowing everything. 

What would it be like having an honest conversation with God not knowing it has him? When the The Doctor sees River reading from the diary he gave her, notices she is sad, and asks about it. She responds with "the man who gave this to me is the type of man who would know exactly how long of a diary you would need." Seeing the sadness The Doctor responds with "He sounds awful". Then River proceeds to tell the The Doctor, the man she loves, that he is nobody special. Have you ever had those thoughts creep into your mind or said them? That Jesus/God is no one special? How would it feel if someone you loved said that about you? 

In crescendo of the episode we find River and The Doctor in some danger from some followers of Hydroflax. The Doctor so far has done everything he can to help, save, and protect River and she has still does not see that it is him. The followers are going to use River as bait for The Doctor, claiming "Your the woman he loves". The Doctor is actually standing right next to her at this point in time. Rivers responds truthfully "the doctor does not and has never loved me." "You are the woman who loves the doctor" someone claims. Did you catch that? the change in direction. "Yes I am, I've never denied it." You ever feel like River that your love is one directional? Or that God doesn't care?

"When you love the Doctor, it's like loving the stars themselves. You don't expect a sunset to admire you back. And if I happen to find myself in danger, let me tell you, the Doctor is not stupid enough, or sentimental enough, and he is certainly not in love enough to find himself standing in it with me!" - River 

Then sometimes all it takes is a few words. 

"Hello, sweetie." - The Doctor 

A lot of people talk about footprints in the sand. That's not what this is, and doesn't seem to be how God operates most of the time. It's not God carrying us through troubled times, it's God in the person next to us helping us. Standing there beside us in our times of need, when we do things he can't approve of. God's always with us how have you been "kept from recognizing him."?

Written by Joe Vanderstelt, a gamer, capable tech geek, and Whovian who is following Jesus.

The Doctor Forgives

Greetings Scholars and Warriors!

Spoilers ahead if you are not kept up with our favorite timelord. 

Well, that was one amazing episode of Doctor Who that aired this last weekend. We find the Doctor out to deal with a separatist faction of the shape shifting Zygons who are upset about the deal with U.N.I.T. You know, the deal made in the "The Day of the Doctor".

He eventually gets their leader, who has taken the form of Clara. She has this box in front of her that might let all Zygons reveal themselves, or might be more harmful. U.N.I.T. also has a box, one that might let out a gas that will destroy all Zygons. What does the Doctor say? Well, here it is in this nice meme:

Sorry, I have forgotten who made this meme! If you find out, please let me know! Anyway, the Doctor asks her to do one amazing thing: forgive. He asks her to forgive all of the transgressions she feels are coming at her and to live in peace. "Bonnie", the lead separatist Zygon, says she can't do that. That the humans would never let her go after what she has done.

The Doctor's response? "That is what all of you always say...but guess what, I forgive you." You see, the Doctor is able to forgive because he has been there. He has participated in a huge war that ravaged a universe and he has come so close to pushing a button himself. Then, he wipes some memories of those around them, but not Bonnie. He wants her to remember. She is stuck as "one of them" now. Oh, and he makes a comment at one point about the "other 15 times" the cease fire has been in danger.

Will you break the cycle around you? Will you forgive others? Forgiveness is an attitude and it takes work and time to live it out, but you can get there. At the end of the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus told us that God will forgive us only as we forgive others (see Matthew 6).

I am not hitting all of the nuances of this scene. You really should watch it for yourself if you can find it online or catch a rerun. 

Confusing Deeds of Saving

Greetings Scholars and Warriors.

This season of Doctor Who has been very interesting (I almost used "quite interesting" but I didn't as that has the opposite meaning in Brittain as here in the US). I think it is confusing to see who he saves and who he doesn't save. Time after time we see the Doctor saving people, and sometimes people he shouldn't save. Other times he is accused of ignoring deaths.

Found at www.kasterborous.com

Think about it:

He went back to save Davros, whom he knew would create his worse enemy.
When facing the ghosts he seemed to try hard to save people yet was accused of allowing some to die.
He saved Ashildr/Me (Maise Williams) even though he felt he was breaking rules.
Then, he worked to redeem her when he met her later on.
He told soldiers this last episode to kill as few Zygons as possible, even though they were starting the war.

I think we get way more confused by God's salvation. We look at the death in the world and we think He isn't doing enough. We hear stories of people's lives changed by Him and wonder "why that person and not my friend/brother/etc.?" In both cases, God and the Doctor, the subject of our confusion is doing a lot more than we can see.

Think about what we have done since God created our species: We have lied to each other and tried to lie to Him. We have cheated. We have damaged the planet He put us on. We have killed each other and blamed God for death/suffering that comes from our own poor choices. We have a terrible track record. Some claim He is doing nothing for those in droughts and natural disasters.

No news station is going broadcast huge stories on God's miracles of salvation. They don't talk about that. When someone is healed of cancer miraculously, you don't find TV cameras trying to film it. The news just won't show us that part of life. We could come up with a lot of excuses and blame for this, but that won't help.

God told Moses in Exodus 33 that he would "have mercy on he whom I will have mercy". In other words, God won't let you decide his plan of salvation. But here is the amazing thing...God does want anyone who is willing to come to Him. Jesus called for the "weary' and the "sick" to come to Him (i.e., those who were filled with sin and would admit it). During Matt Smiths reign as the Doctor he once said that he had never met anyone who was unimportant. That is how Jesus will respond if you tell him you are unimportant. If you ask for salvation for your friend, well, God wants that to. But he won't force it on your friend.

Those who are around the Doctor have to choose between trusting him or not. "Me" had to make the same decision at one time. She had been living a life of crime after the Doctor had given her a way to live for a far longer time than she would have gotten. At first she chose to ignore her life as Ashildr and use the Doctor to help a dangerous alien. Then, when she realized she was helping with an invasion, she changed.  We have the same choice with God. We can either work with Him in salvation just as a parent expects a 5 year old to help clean their room, or we can throw a tantrum and see what it gets us. What will you choose?

The Network

Tek Ma Te Warriors and Scholars!

Well, have you seen Ant Man yet? I did! I laughed several times and really enjoyed the relationship between Scott Lang and Hank Pym. I thought that they kept the montra "It's all connected." quite well.

One of those little connections was pretty big news. During the second montage of Luis explaining a complicated story of how he got some information, we heard this: "We got one who jumps, one who swings, one who crawls up walls." The first MCU reference to our friendly neighborhood Spiderman!

Now, this is really exciting, but most of the blogs and articles I've seen about this have not talked about something. There is a network. This scene showed us that as various small time heroes have stepped out to fight crime something else is happening. A network of people has been built that is providing routes of communication and support and networking. Presumably, the network has reached from NYC where a conversation between one of it's members and an Avenger all the way to San Francisco where our man Luis is telling Scott Lang about the conversation. I am unsure of the location of the club where this conversation happened, but I'm guessing it was in New York.

Now why is this important? Well, because we find at least some people who do not have cool tech suits or super powers joining in a huge work that is all about fighting evil and crime. Not everyone making a difference in the MCU is a spy or a great engineer or a super soldier. Some are just normal people who want to help out.

In the church we tend to take certain gifts and abilities and treat them as some sort of ultimate achievement. Some do this with the gifts of teaching and preaching. There are churches out there where it is all about the preaching pastor and that is it. Some do it with speaking in tongues. They claim you must do this to show evidence of being truly saved. But what does scripture say?

"There are different kinds of gifts but the same Spirit distributes them. There are different kinds of service, but the same Lord. There are different kinds of working, but in all of them and in everyone it is the same God at work." 1 Cor. 12:4-6

Paul later goes on to describe the church as a body. This is where we get the phrase "the Body of Christ". He comments "how can you see without an eye?" and "how can you hear without an ear?" Some people have a gift for helps. They just come in and help around the church by cleaning or setting up tables. My brother, Dad and I are on the tech team. My Dad runs a video camera multiple times a month and I run lights and my brother runs sound. Some have an amazing heart and ability for prayer. They never really "teach" or set chairs up or stuff like that but they will pray for hours every week for people in the church and within their influence.

EVERYONE is important. I remember that line from the 11th Doctor, "In 900 years I have never met anyone who wasn't important." God feels the same way and he has given you a gift to serve with. You might have to do some exploring to find it, but it is there. There are a lot of online spiritual gift surveys to take to find it, but in the end you will need to step out and try something. Your gift might be really helpful in areas of your church that you have never thought about.

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.

Disagreements, The Doctor, and Falling Skies

So I just watched a episode 9 of the current season of Falling Skies. There were several sets of characters who were in significant disagreement about various things. The two older brothers were arguing. Tom Mason and Anne Glass had a significant argument at one point (after Tom made a crazy decision for the group). Pope and Sara (played by Mira Sorvino) were at odds. Pope found her looking for a pain pill and jumped to the worst possible assumptions.

Most of these pairs had arguments this episode that did not go well. But for Tom and Anne it was different. Tom realized his strong suit and Anne's. His is hope but her's is faith. They both agreed that they needed to cling to one another, despite their disagreements. They came to a deeper understanding of each other in the middle of their argument.

So far the others have not, but I have yet to watch episode 10.

"Deep Breath", the new episode of Doctor Who also showcased disagreements and how to handle them. Clara was having a very difficult time adjusting to the Doctor's regeneration. She felt like she lost someone and wasn't sure who it was she was now with. She also found herself in a heated discussion with Vastra about this whole change. This discussion was fairly fruitful in that both participants came to a closer understanding of each other.

So how do we handle disagreements? They will happen throughout life. That is a sure thing. It is unavoidable.

James 1:19 has some good points about this:

^"My dear brothers and sisters, take note of this: Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry,..."

Yes, that's right. Now, I will grant you that Tom Mason did not exactly slow down to listen to Anne in their conversation...but she did listen to him, after she had voiced her frustration. It ended very well for them. I am really enjoying watching this relationship unfold. They are learning to recognize each others' strengths and appreciate them, even in disagreements.

Whoever said that nerds are slow to speak has not watched us react to casting announcements. We get really upset and really vocal about the choices we do not like. Yet the reality is that quick anger and quick speaking will not help us build healthy relationships.

James does not say we should never be angry or that we should never speak boldly. He tells us to find out all the information before we do this. Clara was simply asked to give this new generation of the Doctor a good chance. Not to like everything about him.

The important thing is not in winning arguments, but in building healthy relationships. In learning to trust and cooperate together. That is what James is pointing to.

Who do you need to be listening to?

Identity

Who are you?  I am not asking how you view yourself or what you think your identity is, but who are you really?  Why do we love the characters we love?  For many it is that they know who they are.  The Doctor knows exactly who he is.  Sure, he still finds limits he didn't realize he had (or does not admit that he has).  But he never questions who he is.  Think about the difference in Clark in "Man of Steel".  He begins not knowing who he is.  He knows he has powers but he doesn't know exactly why.  Many of the flashbacks really are about him finding his identity.

When Loki is talking with his adopted mother in "Thor:The Dark World" she comments that he is "so perceptive about everyone but yourself".  Have you ever felt like that?  Do you see who everyone else is?

Right now identity is a big deal.  Many people are finding their identity in so many things.  Nerds try to find it in our hobbies and in our community.  But should our identity be in what we do?  I think for many of us it is not just in the hobbies themselves, but in the persona equated with the community around it.  We enjoy the community so much that we think our identity is all in this just because we enjoy this and feel safe there.

Genesis says that God looked at the first human he created and said "It is very good."  Then, later, after man fell, after many tried to gain something which could make him more like God, this same God stayed with us.  He loved us enough to send His son into the world to experience death on a cross solely to save us.  So, who are you?  Don't lie about it.  Be honest. 

Your identity is not in your hobbies or your actions or your relationships.  You might be tempted to think that it is in your sins and faults.  Although I encourage you to be honest in these, God sees much more in you! 

You are a child of God.  Simple as that.  As Kalel came from Jorel and the Doctor came from Gallifrey, we come from GOD!  Find yourself in Him. 

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.