An Interview with Myself: On the Avengers and the Scripture

This is an interview with myself.

Why you love to watch movie?

Why you love to eat? Why you love to dance? Why you love to read? All of these are natural for human being. You enjoy food, you love to move with the tune, you love stories. Movie is my source of leisure and entertainment. Movie captured my imaginations and filled me with inspirations. I’m talking about good movies, of course.

How do you differentiate between good and bad movies?

Good movies cause you to think, not just being entertained. This is very important because the thrill of participation with the characters is what makes the movie worth to watch. Worth for my investment, RM13! For me, good movies ought to have moral values without neglecting the reality of bad influences. For action-movies like The Avengers, which is why you interview me right, we must not expecting the movie to be realistic and logic or hoping that the heroes must be perfect and good all the time… come on, movie is a movie, okay?

[In my mind, I asked and answered too many questions to myself which are not quiet appropriate for public to read. Therefore, I skipped most of it.]

So, now, tell me, what you have learned from the movie The Avengers?

Oh, many things. By the way, before I watched The Avengers (again), I watched Captain America: The First Avenger, Captain America: The Winter Soldier, Iron Man 1, 2 & 3, Hulk, The Incredible Hulk, Thor, and  Thor: The Dark World. To get the big picture of the movie, I need to do some ‘revision.’ [Smiled]

In summary, The Avengers taught me more than just cliché lessons that you get from self-help or motivational books. The Avengers – this might sound unusual to you – helps me to recaps what some of the Scripture’s values that I have learned as I read and study it. I mean, by watching The Avengers and other Marvel movies, it help me to see how some Biblical values can be seen in each heroes and situations.

For examples, Hulk taught me how to be angry. Almost all references in the Scriptures about angry are negative because by nature angry is a sin. But there is such thing as righteous-angry where anger is not directed to persons but to the injustice, unrighteousness and merciless. Jesus, do you remember, overturned the tables of the money changers and the benches of those selling doves because He was righteously-angry with what He saw in the temple (Read Matthew 21:12-13). When an alien spaceship coming toward him, Captain America said something like this, “You need help to be angry?” “No,” Bruce Banner replied, “This is what you don’t know about me… I’m always angry…” And then he turned into the green beast and smashes the ship! Meaning, he had his anger under control and ‘expressing’ it toward the real enemies. 

Captain America taught me about leadership. He is mentally and physically fit. He is a fighter and strategist. He is probably one of the least members with special power but nevertheless – he is the Avenger’s Captain. He is a patriotic who value teamwork and do whatever it take to achieve the missions. He is the man who believes in God.  I remember one scene after Captain and Iron man caught Loki, Thor with raged came from nowhere took Loki out of the plane. As Iron man followed them from behind with an attack plan – that is “Attack!” – Captain was left behind. Black Widow reminds him, “Are you going after them too? They are Asgardians… they are literally, gods.” The Captain buckled up a parachute and said, “No ma’am,” he’s about to jump, “There is only one God!” He jumped and continues, “And He’s not dressing like one of those.”

Iron man taught me that people can change. He was a playboy, but now in love with one woman, Pepper. He was a billionaire who sells war machines, but now becomes a generous entrepreneur that helps to make the world a better place. He was a selfish genius, but now he fights for justice and even sacrifices himself to save many. He diverts a nuclear missile from blowing the New York City into the black hole all by himself. He, literally, saved the world. “If we can’t protect the earth,” Tony Stark said to Loki, “you can be damn sure we’ll avenge it.” Minus the language and attitude, do you hear his selflessness?

Thor taught me to be humble. He was arrogant, I know, but he now has become a matured and responsible man. When he was on earth – even though it is not relevant – he didn’t take pride of his Asgardian’s title and position. He is the prince of Asgard, heir of the kingdom throne, and god of thunder yet he remains humble, human-like in his character. He slowly learns to become human.

I haven’t told you about Nick Fury, Black Widow, Hawkeye, Maria Hill, Agent Phil, etc… maybe next time bro.

Finally, do you have anything else to say?

Yes. Religious people often told me to “Stop watching worldly movies”, “Don’t watching this and that movie, it’s no good”, “You’re influencing our youth to worldliness.” I appreciate their concerns but I sense their hypocrisy. Even though they didn’t watch movies in cinema, they themselves watch movies on television, gossips in Twitter, watch videos on YouTube, and always read nonsense news on Facebook. I only take advice from those who have integrity and sincere.

Okay, I fully understand that watching too much movies or addicted to it will affect and pollute our mind but in everything we do – whatever it is – balance, priority and discernment are require. Those who make so much fuss with me watching The Avengers and told me to read the Scriptures more, I have two questions for you: 1) Do you know  Spiderman and Superman, Batman and Iron man, Thor and Hulk, Captain America and Wolverine? Maybe the answer is “No.” Then, since you don’t watch movie and love to read the Scripture, do you know Cain and Abel, Miriam and Aaron, Korah and Dathan, Ruth and Naomi, Abigail and Rahab, Ahab and Joshua, Elijah and Elisha, Esther and Mordecai, Amos and Obadiah, Nadab and Abihu, ect.? [Pause]

The Avengers and everything in this world are just faded mirror reflections of what is really real – Jesus Christ and the Kingdom of God. Of course, if The Avengers have taken our hearts and minds over the Scripture, we have issues with God. Therefore, Repent.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Mengkhabarkan Berita Baik kepada Orang Lain

“Setiap hari, baik di Rumah Tuhan mahupun di rumah orang,

mereka tidak berhenti-henti mengajarkan dan mengkhabarkan Berita Baik

bahawa Yesus itulah Penyelamat yang diutus oleh Allah”

(Kisah Rasul-Rasul 5:42, BM)

Sungguh indah perbuatan mereka! “Mengajarkan dan mengkhabarkan Berita Baik” kepada orang yang belum mengenal Yesus. Ini ialah panggilan bukan sahaja kepada pemimpin-pemimpin gereja, tetapi kepada semua orang Kristian yang benar-benar telah menerima Keselamatan daripada dosa dan hukum dosa melalui Yesus Kristus, Tuhan dan Juruselamat kita.

Apabila Kristus dan kasih Kristus tinggal di dalam hidup kita, Dia akan mencurahkan kasih-Nya ke dalam hati kita supaya kita boleh mengongsikan kasih itu kepada orang lain. Dengan cara ini, Kerajaan Allah diperluaskan lagi. Setiap orang yang memiliki kasih Kristus pasti akan berkobar-kobar untuk mengkhabarkan Berita Baik itu.  

Inilah yang berlaku kepada Gereja Kristian yang pertama apabila Yesus diangkat ke syurga dan Roh Kudus datang memenuhi mereka. Selepas kejadian pada hari Pentakosta (Kisah Rasul-Rasul bab 2), semua orang pergi dan menyebarkan Berita Baik tentang kasih Kristus yang mereka telah alami sendiri secara peribadi. Ada seorang penulis bukan Kristian pada lingkungan zaman itu menulis bahawa agama Kristian tersebar dengan sangat cepat sekali kerana setiap mereka yang baru menerima Kristus akan pergi menyebarkan Berita Baik itu kepada orang lain kerana mereka dipenuhi dengan kasih Kristus.

Tetapi ini tidak berlaku kepada gereja kita sekarang! Ramai orang (yang mengaku) Kristian tidak peduli untuk memenangkan jiwa kepada Kristus. Kasih mereka sangat lemah dan mudah berubah menyebabkan mereka tidak ada keinginan untuk menolong orang lain. Wahai orang Kristian, semoga masa bagi kita untuk bangun dan bangkit daripada ‘ketiduran rohani’ akan datang sekarang juga! Semoga kita berkobar-kobar untuk ““mengajarkan dan mengkhabarkan Berita Baik” tentang Yesus dan kasih-Nya semula.

Jangan hanya membaca tulisan ini untuk menambahkan ilmu pengetahuan semata-mata. Baca dan lakukan sesuatu. Biar setiap kita menilai diri masing-masing, berdoa kepada Tuhan Yesus, berfikir bukan sahaja tentang Keselamatan diri sendiri malah orang lain juga, setelah mengalami sendiri kasih Kristus, ingin supaya jiwa-jiwa yang hilang akan menemui Kristus dan kasih-Nya. Saya percaya barang siapa yang melakukan perkara ini akan beroleh kebahagiaan yang sebenar dan sukacita dalam membawa orang lain mengenal Yesus Kristus Tuhan kita. Berdoalah dan biarlah Roh Kudus yang memimpin kamu dan saya. Amen.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

C.S. Lewis on the Church

Go to Hell and You Won't Find Any (Born Again) Christians There

A young man had been brought up in a home where God and the Bible were revered. Although the Gospel was often presented to him with loving urgency, he refused to believe and became increasingly rebellious. Finally he said, “I’m sick and tired of Christians. I’m going to look for a place where I can avoid them.”

His mother wept as he packed his suitcase and left home. He boarded a train, only to find that two passengers seated behind him were discussing the Scriptures. “I’m not going to stay here,” he muttered.

At the next stop he left the coach and entered a restaurant. To his dismay, some elderly women were talking about the return of the Lord. Knowing a ship was docked nearby, he decided it might be a way to escape the ‘religious chatter’ he encountered at every turn. But when the steamer embarked, he discovered that it was filled with happy young students from a Bible academy.

Thoroughly disgusted, he made his way downstairs to find the bar. Approaching the captain, he exclaimed, “Say, can you tell a man where he can get away from all these cursed fanatics?” The skipper looked up and said with a grin, “Yes, just go to hell. You won’t find any (born again) Christians there.”

These startling words caused him to realize his eternal peril and when he returned home, he received the Savior.

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.

Nelson Mandela on the World's Children

John Stott on Social Responsibility

A Timorese Student Explore the Art of Reading

I rewrite this article from a Timorese student name Natalia Reali because it is very good written. I have asked for permission from Jovem Bravo Magazine (First Edition I/XI/2012, page 13), a Timor Leste English-Tetun magazine, to post this article in my blog.

Now, I know that when we get to this certain age in our teens, most of us tend to think that reading is boring, or is just homework, but I hope to prove you wrong. I am already a teenager and I love reading! Reading for me is a way to broaden your vocabulary, to learn new things and even to be able to travel without needing to leave your room! Some books can captivate you on the very first page. They sometimes include characters that are going through the exact same thing as you. Books can make you feel all the emotions the characters are going through, they can invite you in to live the fairytale along with them.

Books can allow you to travel the world at every page, they can make you smell things, feel things, hear things and see them. I personally find reading a book way more effective then watching a movie. A book is more personal and it allows you to leave some things to the imagination. Books are also great for other things, books for one inspired and still inspire me to do great things, like I am sure I want to become a published author one day. Books can teach you lessons, give you ideas and tell stories at the same time!

Nowadays getting a book is so easy! There are public libraries in Dili such as ‘Xanana Gusmão Reading Room’ or ‘Camões Institute’ at UNTL, where you can borrow a book for a few weeks. You can also download books for free from the internet and read them in any computer. It is easy to access them online, so we have the freedom to do so, and already be able to have a book in a few minutes. There are also already a few public places in Dili where you can get free internet (like the ‘Lecidere Garden’).

There is a really good website where you can find over 36,000 books for free (www.gutenberg.org/). This website is named in the memory of Johannes Gutenberg, a famous German inventor who made the first book that wasn’t handwritten. He was born in 1398 and died at around 1446 (approximately 70 years old). This was a very famous discovery because before that, only the rich were able to afford books, because they were handwritten and cost a fortune. The first book he made using his invention was the Bible (known as the Gutenberg Bible).

Now I challenge you to immerse yourself in a fantastic world of reading and discover how much fun you can get from home with a book in your hands!

I, Richard, challenge you too!

THINK BIG. START SMALL. GO DEEP.