Predictor Pete - Week 17

The Bucs came back from behind late to tie and eventually beat the Falcons in overtime. This week, the Bucs can win the NFC South with a win against the 3-12 Saints. By winning the South the Bucs would be the third seed in the playoff standings and would get a home game. They could make the playoffs if they lose this game, but they need to close out the regular season with a victory and win.

The Saints are having one of the toughest season on record. Playing away from home all year, with an owner who doesn't want to move them back to New Orleans, a coach who is at the end of his contract and has been on the firing line for the last few years, and a QB that's been benched and replaced... it doesn't get any tougher than that.

My Heart: Bucs 27-14.
My Mind: Bucs 21-17.
My Colon: Saints 13-10.

My Pick: Bucs 23-10

The Saints are only playing for pride, but with all of the unknowns still awaiting for them in the off season, I don't even think finishing out the season will offer any closure. If the Bucs can score early, the game should be over.

My Record: 9-6

Anything But Christian

From World Net Daily comes another story from California where public schools can teach anything but Christianity.

Apparently, parents were upset that their kids were being taught how to "become Muslim" in one of their classes. The tasks for this included... get this... for three weeks 12-year-old students were:
- placed into Islamic city groups
- took Islamic names
- wore identification tags that displayed their new Islamic name and the star and crescent moon
- were handed materials that instructed them to 'Remember Allah always so that you may prosper'
- completed the Islamic Five Pillars of Faith, including fasting; and memorized and recited the 'Bismillah' or 'In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate,' which students also wrote on banners hung on the classroom walls.
- students also played "jihad games" during the course, which was part of the school's world history and geography program.

The court ruled that the school was not indoctrinating students about Islam when it required them to adopt Muslim names and pray to Allah!

Where's the ACLU? Where's the secularists? Where's the athiests? Can you imagine them allowing the same thing to be done with Christianity?????

I guess they school will now have students...

- placed into Christian denomination groups
- take Christian names
- wear identification tags that displayed their new Christian name and the cross.
- handed materials that instructing them to 'Accept Jesus so that you may be saved.'
- completed the sacraments of Catholicismm as well as fasting for Lent, memorizing the Our Father, Hail Mary and Apostles Creed.
- students will also play "crusade games" during the course, which was part of the school's world history and geography program.

Not a chance in hell, or should I call it California.

The blatant attack on Christianity and the hypocrisy when it comes to other religions is becoming more astounding, offensive and worrisome.

As Christians we are called to turn the other cheek, but that does not mean to allow the faith to be forcibly removed from our lives. We must defend our faith stronger than those who are currently attacking it or else our nation and our future will truly be lost.

You can read the article here.

Superman = Jesus?

The Superman film series is about to take a much needed jolt with the soon-to-be-release of Superman Returns, from Bryan Singer, director of X-Men 1 and X-Men 2. The original Superman film series had four films... the first two were good, the last two were awful. So, Singer has wisely chosen to ignore the third and fourth movie and introduces Superman Returns to take place after Superman II.

They newly released trailer for the film is very beautiful, but the voice over by Superman's father sounds vaguely familiar... Oh, wait a minute, now I remember, it's from the bible!

Here's the voice-over by Superman's father in the trailer... sounds a lot like God speaking to Jesus, does it not?

"Even though you have been raised as a human being, you are not one of them.

They can be a great people, Kal-El (Superman's real name), they wish to be.

They only lack the light to show the way.

For this reason, above all, their capacity for good, I have sent them you... my only son."

Superman is the light to show the way. He is the only son sent to save them. He lives with humans, but is far greater than they. I don't remember the Gospels speaking of Jesus wearing blue tights with a red cape, but maybe I slept through Sunday School that day.

I guess one savior isn't enough. Hollywood had to go and make another one.

The Island (2005) - Hollywood's Accidental Pro-Life Film

I'll admit it, I have a weak spot for Michael Bay movies. Bay, who got his start shooting music videos, has often struggled between style and substance with his films, but, in the end, he usually provides an enjoyable ride. The media, however, loves to pile criticism on Bay's flicks. Bad Boys was a surprise hit, helping launch Will Smith into the upper eschelon of film actors. The Rock did very well at the box office and made Bay an official popcorn-movie filmmaker. Armaggedon got hammered and deservedly so. Pearl Harbor, which I actually enjoy, got pounded and under performed at the box office. Bad Boys II was financially successful, but was an awful film with no moral compass. Bay then followed that offensive sequel up with the intriguing sci-fi drama, The Island.

The Island takes place in the near future and is a Logan's Run-esque cloning action flick starring Ewan McGregor and Scarlett Johansson. McGregor and Johansson portray people in a futuristic isolated underground society, where the world has been contaminated and where the only place left outside that is uncontaminated is called... The Island. Residents of this underground society are randomly chosen through a lottery to go to The Island to help repopulate the planet.

The reality, however, is vastly different and disturbing. Each of the underground residents are actually clones of people in the real world who are in need of organs. When people go to The Island, they are actually "harvested"... meaning they are killed and the needed organs of the clones sent to replace faulty organs of their doubles in the real world. McGregor uncovers this secret and must save Johansson before she gets sent off to The Island. That's where the action really kicks into high gear.

The Island is a good mix of sci-fi and action, while dealing with serious and morally challenging subject matters. What is humorous is that, in The Island, Hollywood inadvertently created an extremely pro-life film. You could just as easily replace "clones" with "fetus" and all of the moral arguments against the destruction of them remain intact. Clones are created and discarded to cure illnesses or for human spare parts. Fetuses are created and discarded for stem cells to cure illness and repair failing organs.

People in the film argue that clones have no souls... there is no proof of this... it is just that the powers that be have determined as such. The same argument is used today with fetuses... those who are pro-choice do not believe... or should I say cannot believe that the fetuses have souls. There is no proof of this, but the powers that be have determined as such.

Human history is replete with society making such moral justifications in order to allow inhuman acts against sectors of society... see slavery... see communisim... see facism and Nazi Germany... see concentration camps... see abortion clinics. The first step is to marginalize the people with whom will be treated inhumanely... Call Jews less than human. Call Africans uncivilized savages. Call unborn babies fetuses. It's all the same process which we repeat over and over again so that those in power can take advantage of those without power.

The Island dares to approach these sensitive questions in an entertaining and occasionally disturbing way. It asks questions that we are afraid to ask... it just wraps the subject matter with beautiful actors, cool action sequences and slick explosions. But, when the film is over, what sticks with you isn't the actors, the action sequences or the explosions... what remains are the images and questions revolving the sanctity of life and where the moving line is currently drawn on which life has rights and which life does not.

You can watch the Trailer Here.

Saints and Soldiers (2003)

I was in Family Christian Bookstore before Christmas and was browsing through the DVD rack and saw a film called Saints and Soldiers. The film is based on the actual events surrounding the Malmedy Massacre where 84 U.S. prisoners were shot by the Germans in World War II. The film uses that real event to catapult the story forward and is about four soldiers that avoid that German slaughter to find themselves behind enemy lines, looking for a way home. The film had garnered multiple Best Picture awards at a minimum of 13 film festivals and looked like a high quality product.

I checked on Netflix and found it available so I ordered it and I watched it last night. Saints and Soldiers is very good film with incredibly high production value, considering it was shot for under $1 million. The costumes, props, vehicles and planes are all authentic and the actors are up to the task. The cinematography is amazing and the soundtrack, reminiscent of the soundtrack from Saving Private Ryan, was composed by J. Bateman and Bart K. Hendrickson and is powerful and moving, eliciting a sense of heroism and sacrifice.

The most intriguing storyline in the film revolves the interaction between two of the four soldiers, Private Stephen Gould, the medic, played by Alex Niver and Corporal Nathan "Deacon" Greer, a sharpshooter played by Corbin Allred. Deacon is nicknamed as such because of his strong faith in God, where Gould has determined God does not exist. Both have seen the horrors of war and use those experiences to validate their differing opinions on the Almighty. It's an interesting dynamic and, over the course of the story, evolves into a very satisfying conclusion.

The film has occasional violence, but it is very limited in actual bloodshed and is 99% less graphic than other recent war films such as Saving Private Ryan. The real story involves the journey of these men as they try to escape from behind enemy lines and reach safety.

I want to support these filmmakers so I will make sure and purchase this DVD. It’s rated PG-13 and it is a film I will make sure my children watch when they are able to handle the occasionally intense subject matter. If you can, check this film out.

You can watch the Trailer Here.

Tuesday Morning QB - 12/27

The Bucs rebounded from a bad loss in New England to win one of the most exciting games in history... or so they say. I didn't actually get to see it, due the Christmas Eve holiday events. I had scheduled it to record on my DVR, but something happened and it didn't work. I was not a happy camper.

My prediction: Bucs 21, Falcons 17

Score: Bucs 27, Falcons 24 in OT

Offense: As I did not see the game, I cannot comment, but the running game did well and they scored on the last drive of regulation to tie the game.

Defense: Again, didn't see the game, but they stopped the Falcons on a three-and-out at the end of OT to allow the Bucs enough time to score the game winning field goal.

Special Teams: C. From the highlights, they missed a field goal and fumbled a kickoff in OT. However, they also blocked a field goal and made the game winning field goal, so it all evens out.

Coaching: Did enough to win.

Outstanding Players: Williams, 150 yards.

Things That Drove Me Nuts: Sitting in my recliner after having heard we won an amazing game, ready to watch my DVR recorded copy of the game only to find out it didn't record. I exclaimed a Darth Vader-esque "Nooooo!"

Bucs Record: 10-5.

Next Opponent: The Bucs can clinch a playoff birth and the NFC South division by beating the Saints at home next week. A must win game, because, even though they lead the NFC South, they could still be out of the playoffs if:
- The Bucs lose to the Saints.
- The Cowboys beat the Rams
- The Giants lose to the Raiders
- The Redskins beat the Eagles.

But, that probably won't happen. The best way to make sure is to beat the Saints and secure the third seed in the playoffs.

Christmas Surplus

Christmas was a great time. My kids got gifts aplenty and Santa made his annual visit to our house.

The most unique gift received was a gift my mother-in-law gave my daughter... it was an oyster in a can of water... you open the oyster and inside is a pearl. Accompanying the oyster was a necklace where the pearl is placed and a chart showing you what the color of the pearl was to represent.

Really cool gift.

Overall, the day was wonderful. We attended Mass Saturday evening and spent the day with my wife's family. Monday Father Morris came over for a visit and later this evening three of my nieces, Merrill, Laura and Catherine, all drove up to spend the evening. We watched old home movies and laughed all night long.

Unfortunately, the vacation comes to an end as I have to go to work tomorrow. But, we all had a great time this Christmas season. Thank you Lord for your infinite grace and kindness.

Merry and Blessed Christmas

I want to wish all of you a happy, merry and blessed Christmas.

My Jesus' example and His guiding spirit be reborn in you this Christmas season.