on 2 interesting pieces that I read in gaming magazines...

Why interesting? Well, the first is because it talks about evangelising/proselytising on MMORPGs (?!?), while the second talks about the Da Vinci Code... again .*

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I read the first article in the Feb 2006 issue of Computer Gaming World (CGW). For you non-gaming communities (a.k.a. newbies, or "n00b" in leetspeak), MMORPG is an acronym for  Massively Multiplayer Online Role-Playing Game. Once the term is expanded up, I think it's pretty self-explanatory. yeaps, MMORPG is the place where people spend insane amounts of time, energy and resources to have a "good time together".*** Since so many people spend so much of their existence in virtua-community, some people have taken up to spread their faith in these places.

(Read the article on http://cgw.1up.com/do/feature?cId=3146863 )

Is this a good thing? Personally, of course it's good - spreading the Gospel is always a good thing. I think making use of technology to spread the message and bring the Church to the masses is acceptable and amazing.

Is it being done in an acceptable fashion? Here's where the debate flies all over the place, with people screaming "Foul!". How to reconcile the fact that when you are killing your enemies on-screen in a game, yet be spreading the Message of Love? Or "How dare you intrude on my personal space on the Net?? And tell me stuff which I don't want to hear! I'll smite you with my +5 Staff of Osiris, thou Christian heathen!"****

In the end, all I can say is, if this be the will of God, that nothing on this earth will stop the advent of spreading our faith through this medium. However, if God is not with us in this, we can pour out all the resources into this and it will pass like the wind blowing over the desert.

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The second piece is in Electronic Gaming Monthly (EGM), Feb 2006 issue. (Read it at http://egm.1up.com/do/previewPage?cId=3147503&did=2 ) It's about "the Da Vinci Code" video game that's coming out on PS2 and XBox gaming console. Man, I'm just wary of what other merchandising that will come out of this book. A few ideas comes to mind:

1. "Mona Lisa" - portraits, mugs, T-shirts - think the Italians will be enjoying a boom over these.

2. "I  LEONARDO" T-shirts - yea, the "Titanic" diehard fans will be reaping their investments worth over these ...

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*talk about milking the cash cow for all its worth. It's small wonder it's on the bestsellers' list, with all this furor and attention over it.

** For more info on n00b, goto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Newbie , For more info on MMORPG, goto http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mmorpg

*** whether this is good or not as another matter entirely.

**** Purely imagination on my part. I don't know of any game that has a +5 Staff of Osiris. Serious.

The Great Yokai War 妖怪大戦争 (2005)

Rating:	★★★
Category:	Movies
Genre:	Science Fiction & Fantasy

hahaha, a fantasy movie on the mythological demons and creatures of Japan. Seems like a school holiday movie produced for the kids. Good combination of puppetry and computer generated images (CGI). For japanese manga and anime otaku.

IMDB entry
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0425661/

Japanese website
http://yokai-movie.com/index.html

Super Mario Kill Bill

Super gory clip, with funny NES Mario sound effects. Watch and laugh your head off.

on reflections from that Yancey book

in case you don't know, I'm talking about "Where's God When It Hurts". Just a couple of takeaways.

First is that I rarely thought about suffering and pain in this world. I guess I'm pretty much desensitised that way. To put it in its harshest sense, I've much lost a heart of compassion for the sick and the suffering. I never really know that sending "Get Well" cards can sometimes send the wrong message to the receipient, especially for the terminally diseased and the dying. For that I repent of a cold, stony and insensitive heart.

Second is that though I have not been through major sufferings and pains in my life, the times when I do go through them, I tend to just grit my teeth and bear with them stoically. "Manly what, don't be a wimp and whine." Well, that's often my line or thought when I have pain or suffering. I don't usually go through the "Why me, o Lord? Why this upon me" routine. While I don't usually gripe about why, my response is still not correct. Somehow must learn to rejoice in my sufferings - though I'm really lost at how to rejoice and give thanks for these. Must ask the Lord for wisdom in this...

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"Therefore, O house of Israel, I will judge you, each one according to his ways, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent! Turn away from all your offenses; then sin will not be your downfall.  Rid yourselves of all the offenses you have committed, and get a new heart and a new spirit. Why will you die, O house of Israel? For I take no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Sovereign LORD. Repent and live!

 

-Ezekiel 18:30-32 (New International Version)

CG Celebrating March birthdays 2006

Tribute to all the kingfu flicks that asks the student to catch fly with chopstick

for myself and Yenling.

Photos courtesy of Jared, "Gum xia" brother!

Where is God When It Hurts?

Rating:	★★★★
Category:	Books
Genre:	Health, Mind & Body
Author:	Philip Yancey

From the author of "The Jesus I Never Knew". I borrowed a copy from a friend, and it has been lying in a corner of my room for the past 3 weeks. Picked it up yesterday afternoon, and couldn't put it down till I finished reading it just now.

Yancey wrote this book when he was in his mid 20s in the mid 1970s, to search for an answer to that eternal question, "Why would a Good and Loving God allows us to go through pain and suffering?" Years later, with more knowledge and wisdom, he updated and revised the book in 1990 to address the many important issues that have arisen during that time.

It's a fascinating read, as the book truly open my eyes to an oft-neglected area in my life. Why, indeed, do God allow pain and suffering? Is it a good thing? Why must we suffer from pain? How do we cope with our own pain and that of others? What is the value to suffering? Go and read this modern classic to search your own answers to these questions.

Alive - Raico 雷鼓

 

http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/naruto/
(Anime) Naruto: ALIVE (N/A)

4th Ending Song

Artist: Raiko

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
kono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time
    (RAP)
    That's right, breathe in a silent breath
    Look to the vast sky, jump in
    Take a break once in a while when it rains
    Let the wind take the destination
    All the regrets you carry
    Can't let these scars go to waste
    Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go  as long as we love
    That's right,  from here on is the Show Time

ah iroasete kono PORA naka de ikiteru kako no jibun toka
itsumo TSURU nde hi no nai you ni
ibasho mitsukete hiataru you ni
konna kanji de hibi kattou ippo fumidasu beki ganbou
makkou shoubu jibun ni muke issou koko de kono uta hibikasou
    Ah Like the past that lives in this fading polaroid picture 
    Just like the days we hung out
    We searched for a place so we can sit in the sun
    We fought every day like this  The one step you gotta take for your desire
    A real fight for yourself  Let's sing this song forever in this place

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
kyou hajimari o tsugeru asayake yume to genjitsu no hazama de
What's Say kono koe kareru sono hi made
korogari tsudzukeru Another Day
shuppotsu shinkou kamase in o shindou kaitaku michi ippon yeah
yagate toori ni hanasake soshite mirai ni mugete habatake
genjitsu omoku nokkaru ga mezase chouten Like a No Culture
saru ga saru ni shikanarenai Oh
jibun wa jibun ni shikanarenai Yo
asu o ki ni shite shita muku mae ni
kyou no jibun no ki no muku mama ni
saisei kyou wa chou kaisei nanimo nayami nankanaize
    (RAP)
    Morning dawn tells you the beginning  Between the borders of dream and reality
    What's Say until the day my voice dies away
    keep on truckin' Another Day
    All aboard ready to go  Develop a single road yeah
    Soon flowers bloom along the way  And will spread its wing toward the future
    Reality burdens real heavy but go for the top  Like a No Culture
    A monkey can only be a monkey Oh
    One can only be himself Yo
    Before you worry about tomorrow with your head down
    Be what you wanna be today
    Rebirth,  today's a fine day  I've got nothing to worry for

omoku no shikakaru genjitsu ga
ima no boku o semetateteru
kantan ni wa ikanai na
sonna koto kurai chouchi shiteru yo
    Reality leans heavy on me
    And it's torturing me 
    Nothing comes easy
    I know that well enough

dare datte shippai wa suru nda
hazukashii koto janai
kono kizu o muda ni shinai de
waratte arukereba ii
takusan no koukai o matotte
aji no aru hito ni naru sa
kanashimi mo kaze ni kaete
tsuyoku susunde ikereba ii
    Everyone makes mistakes at times
    It's not something embarrassing
    Don't waste these scars
    Keep on going laughing, and it'll all be good
    With all the regrets I've gone through
    I'll be a person with taste
    Even turn sadness into a wind
    Keep on going strong, and it'll all be good

(RAP)
sou shizuka na kuuki suikomi
hiroki sora ni kao age tobikomi
toki ni ame ga futtara hito yasumi
jaa yukusaki wa kaze fuku mama ni
takusan no matotteru koukai
sono kizu o muda ni shicha shounai
ude ni kunshou kizami ikoukai shougai
sou kokkara ga Show Time
    (RAP)
    That's right, breathe in a silent breath
    Look to the vast sky, jump in
    Take a break once in a while when it rains
    Let the wind take the destination
    All the regrets you carry
    Can't let these scars go to waste
    Carve an emblem into your arm, lets go  as long as we love
    That's right,  from here on is the Show Time


Transliterated by Pazuzu <pazuzu@inanemanga.com>

Translated by MoMo <LostAlienOnEarth@aol.com>
http://www.geocities.com/project_doll/

(Taken from http://www.animelyrics.com/anime/naruto/alive.txt)

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Raico OfficialWebsite:

http://www.raico.net/