Atlas

In the Christian faith and specifically what is referred to as the born again spirit filled life (John 6:33 The Spirit gives life; the flesh counts for nothing. The words I have spoken to you—they are full of theSpirit and life) there is a belief in what is called a walk in the spirit (Galatians 5:16 So I say, walk by theSpirit, and you will not gratify the desires of the flesh). The encounter with the maker through salvation is followed by an embrace of the Sprirt of God who serves as a comforter (John 14:6 And I will pray the Father, and He shall give you another Comforter, that He may abide with you for ever) and whose role it is to guide the new believer and to provide strength as well as access and protection in the supernatural world. 

The person who walks in the faith believes and has a knowledge of power to perform miracles but this is not an end in itself. He is also ‘connected’ through this same Spirit to the Vine (John 15:1 “I am the true vine, and My Father is the husbandman. Every branch in Me that beareth not fruit He taketh away; and every branch that beareth fruit, He purgeth it, that it may bring forth more fruit. Now ye are clean through the Word which I have spoken unto you Jesus Christ) who enables him to walk in the Spirit. This is an ability to show forth fruits that reflect his new life. These are summed up in love which exoresses itself in joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, gentleness, faithfullness and self control. 

This belief in the Triune God is what makes the Christian Faith Unique and forms part of his faith confession (Galatians 5:22-23 But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, longsuffering, gentleness, goodness, faith, meekness, temperance: against such there is no law). 

So why this discussion in a movie review? 

Well, there are three major movie trends that i will address in the future which are at the heart of the Faith but that those who have had limited exposure will have little or no knowldege of. 

They are reflected or mentioned in about three movie presentations: The Twilight Series, The Dracula Story, The Walking Dead, The Thriller Music Video, The Trend Around Reality Television and the Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Push. 

Today i will mention just one. 

The Robotics and Artificial Intelligence Push

I think Jeniffer Lopez’s character does an amazing job depicting a smart lady in a complex world trying to make her presence felt while being despised by a predominantly male dominated work force. In an age where an interface between men and machines has been created, a bug arises that pushes these super-machines into a rebellion that causes them to launch an attack against their creator (Revelations 12:7 And there was war in Heaven: Michael and his angels fought against the dragon; and the dragon fought and his angels…sounds like war in heaven)? Also reminds you of the problem that scripture talks about when man is ‘asked’ to leave the garden. Later on in the book of Daniel, the prophet sees an image of a statue made up of a combination of metals (Daniel 2:23 Thou sawest until a stone was cut out without hands, which smote the image upon his feet that were of iron and clay, and broke them to pieces). At its bottom is a mix of clay and metal (my interpretation of this is a combination of man (made of clay) and metal (robots). The end of this prophecy though is told about how rock crushes the mixture and heaven triumphs. There is an interesting story about Joshua (often seen as a reference to Christ-the anointed one) and how he leads his people in s battle against AI! Hmm (Joshua 7:2 And Joshua sent men from Jericho to Ai, which is beside Bethaven on the east side of Bethel, and spoke unto them, saying, “Go up and view the country.” And the men went up and viewed Ai). 

Could this historical conversation also have an effect on the future. 

Anyhow, Ms. Lopez’s character finds herself having a conversation with a machine as she attempts to find the rebel chief (now taking refuge on another planet). The thing that makes this Android so powerful is the idea that it has managed to download all the best that men have in terms of information and weaponry as well as intelligence. 

To battle this being she has to make a choice about how to approach the attack. She has a machine assigned to her but has hurts and memories in the past that are hindering her from making the connection. 

She is fine with working alongside the robot but not okay with syncing with it and becoming one with it. 

This feels a lot like what happens when we accept the Son of God as a personal savior. Before that, we fight and engage the world with all sorts of weapons. We game the system, use everything within our power to ward off the adversary until His love overcomes all. My suggestion is that you fight with what you hwve until He overcomes you. 

Like the character in the movie, her connection with the powerful device was impossible until she accepted the pain that she had gone through. Then Creator and Creature become on and ultimately too powerful to defeat.

I imagine those want to see the agenda of Humanoids succeed have funds as do those who do not think it is viable. I notice one thing though, the use of the word ‘neural link’. 

In the volume of the book it is written of me, i desire to do your will Psalms 40:7

Those who have been following me for a while probably know that i am on assignment in Rwanda. The plan as i saw it was to visit for a week and then get some work done with regards to technology and mapping. Almmost all that was done but an unexpected change in circumstances (positive diagnosis with covid) has me here for a few more days-if we go by the authorities not less than seven days. 

So my mind is racing. I was very curious what Rwanda was like. This is my first time here and i wanted to see if i have sharpened my spiritual senses enough to at least get a deep understanding what the country is up against and therefore what i must prepare for. My answers tend to come in convoluted ways. 

Let me explain. For the last 16 years since my return to Africa, Uganda has been my home. I did little to try to determine where i went to worship God but i found myself attracted to first the Calvary Chapel Kampala located at Gadith House, then Mavuno Church Kampala which has been my home to date. Mavuno is the place where i met a group of believers many of whom are now close friends even if we have now scattered in our own different directions. This is important because i gauge my spirituality and my need based on the name of the church that i often attend. For example Calvary was the place where our saviour was crucified, while Mavuno is the place of harvest-the term mavuno is a swahili term meaning harvest time. So loosely, i have moved from Calvary to Harvest in those 16 years and am currently still in a period of harvest time. 

When i was planning my visit to Rwanda, i souhgt to connect with some people that were part of my life in my very early years almost 37 years ago. The father and son team played great hosts when we met at Bourbon MTN.

The main point for me was that the first spiritual experience in Rwanda was with these two who are affiliated with the Good Shepherd Community Church in Kigali. The pastor stated that he had a congregation that was really devoted to Worship (and i can testify to that after joining them for Sunday morning service). Anyway if names are anything to go by the sole experience of my Rwanda trip was going to Focus on the nature of Christ as our Shepherd…at least for me. If that is you then embrace it and believe it for your life too! No better pla e to be than to be in God’s fold where you have his Son as your Good Shepherd. So i have moved and continue to enjoy the experience from Calvary to Harvest to the Good Shepherd.

So what can you expect from the Good Shepherd? Well go to Psalm 23 

1.The LORD is my shepherd; I shall not want.

2.He maketh me to lie down in green pastures:

he leadeth me beside the still waters.

3.He restoreth my soul:

he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

4.Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil: for thou art with me;

thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.

5.Thou preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies:

thou anointest my head with oil; my cup runneth over.

6.Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life:

and I will dwell in the house of the LORD for ever.

So meditate on that thought for a while or take as much time as you need to let it sink in. 

My gracious host and long time friend Allan Jude Jingo a Civil Engineer by profession and architect took me around the city and we were priviledged to see how well organized the city center is. We also visited a memorial that was devoted to 10 Belgian Matyrs who died alongside the Prime Minister who had taken refuge with them. There were other sites but i am afraid i was too scared to view the remains of all those precious Rwandan lives that were lost during the dark days of the genocide

Elijah and Elisha: called out of retirement and eternal rest

I see a major confrontation taking place between two major historical allies. In the U.S it may be take on a different manifestation. On the surface it will seem as though it is the refusal to pander to lobby groups. Naturally the clearest and most obvious target is the Rifle Association. But the future will reveal or at least being to the surface an additional scuffle. This will be with the lobby that protects Jewish interests in the U.S. 

In my studies locally I have bean to see an increasingly friction filled relationship based on historical truth and realities but held closely enough by teaching of biblical writers such as Paul who in the book of Romans reminds those who subscribe to the faith of the idea of one being the graft of the other. 

Maybe instead of seeing this as a negative this we should think of this as a handing over of mantles between Elijah and Elisha. The former comes onto the scene when the Kingdom is in distress. He confronts a historical queen Jezebel who has gathered for herself a fair Share of adherents. He is discouraged but reminded that God does have a group of men who have not bowed their knee (he places the number of them to about seven thousand). Elijah is the prophet to makes this major encounter happen on Mount Carmel. His God answers with Fire and He the prophet responds with Sword. It is important to note that Elijah amidst all the fireworks discovers the quiet gentle voice of his God but the extent of the battle is too great for him to endure. His descent into depression is notable. Fast forward a few hundred years and Elijah is back in the form of John the Baptist who confronts a 'Jezebel' of his own in the name of a dancing girl and her mother. He, John it is reported loses his head on a platter to a girl whose bidding her 'Ahab-like' father is unable to ignore. 

Elijah overwhelmed is then forced or encouraged to pick a successor. This he does in the name of Elisha who he finds with twelve oxen. We see this number on old and new covenants as a representation of e twelve tribes and the twelve disciples (24 elders if you look at the book of Revelation). 

Maybe this departure of Elijah with the Chariots of Fire is a pattern for the Doctrine of the Rapture (where Saints) are taken up to be with the Lord. Maybe the transfer of mantles is an awakening for Israel and the close of a chapter that was for the Gentiles. This could be the significant shift that takes place and that is often communicated by those who subscribe to the idea of dispensations. 

In pursuit of Dominion

Genesis 1:28

And God blessed them, and God said unto them, Be fruitful, and multiply, and replenish the earth, and subdue it:and have dominion over the fish of the sea, and over the fowl of the air, and over every living thing that moveth upon the earth.

I believe that part of heaven's strategy for the creation of great men is found in the beginning in what we refer to as the creation story. 

One of the original man's initial tasks is to name the animals that he has been out in charge of. It is a simple task but that calls for observation and the ability to link what you see and what you assign. 

So he gains mastery over his environment by a set of multiple acts of naming. So take time do define for yourself your circumstances. Give yourself time to inquire about what names you may have acquired in your life on earth. What do these names say about your failures? Have you become too lenient with yourself in matters of truth. Are you like the son of Abraham true to your name to the extent that even the Angel calls you supplanter?  Has your reputation gone before you and ruined everything you touch? 

Genesis 25:26

And after that came his brother out, and his hand took hold on Esau's heel; and his name was called Jacob:and Isaac was threescore years old when she bare them.

Genesis 27:36

And he said, Is not he rightly named Jacob? for he hath supplanted me these two times:he took away my birthright; and, behold, now he hath taken away my blessing. And he said, Hast thou not reserved a blessing for me?

Genesis 32:28

And he said, Thy name shall be called no more Jacob, but Israel:for as a prince hast thou power with God and with men, and hast prevailed.

Think of your situation as your assignment and then carefully begin to give a name to those things which at the start you may find puzzling. This will be your first act of mastery. No matter how strong and scary the people or things that you meet, your ability to define is also an ability to confine and restrict. This is your key to mastering those things that concern you. It is your job.

Subdue and dominate the earth. That is what you are here for! 

A motley crew of priests and Kings

One of the ideas that emerges from the study of the old testament is that of the merger between two very separate and distinctive offices. That of the priest and the King. You could see some of this order in the first few books as the people of God moved from captivity into liberation. Those who were responsible for putting up the tabernacle and those whose task it was to minister before the Lord. 

As these functions developed and as the people faced challenges and grew, you begin to see the tribes take on roles of their own and the ancient prophecies and blessings of the Fathers become more evident. There were also some characters that arrived at a time of need such as the judges who really were an amalgamation of all these roles. Samuel is an interesting example of this. The book of judges is also filled with these expressions. 

At times it seems as though these offices were in conflict with each other. You get the sense that many times prophecy was going to go either way. When you read the story of David, you get little glimpses of this. David also probably knew this and maybe this is why he was so cautious when dealing with Saul his predecessor. 

There is an emergence of this theme too in the life of Jesus when he begins to take on Kingly and Priestly roles. Now that's fine but it gets complicated when we find out that the people of God in these last days will be referred to as priests and kings. 

Revelation 1:6

6 And hath made us kings and priests unto God and his Father; to him be glory and dominion for ever and ever. Amen.

Revelation 5:10

10 And hast made us unto our God kings and priests:and we shall reign on the earth.

In Uganda, there is a strange knowledge about the workings of the supernatural a list of do's and don'ts regarding sacred things and non sacred things. We are aware of what we can and cannot touch. In the villages, there are certain cases that are quickly referred to the 'a broad term used in reference to healers, practitioners and masters of the darker arts. They are said to have the ability to catch thieves, find items that fall into the category of abominations like horns (amayembe) which are known to have the ability to 'kyankalanya' (disrupt, destroy and disorganized) whole villages. This they often so with a mixture of sacrifices often innocent members of the fowl species, as well as a mix of herbs and logs which are burnt in an effort to reveal ills and remedies. 

So the idea of priests is not foreign and some of the roles are still the same. 

We have in some respects expressions of the same in the Catholic Church which through a set of complex rules has been able to preserve the priesthood and the keys from Peter (and the interpretation they use of him as the Rock) right to the present day. In a succession of priests and popes, and cardinals and the seat in the Holy See. 

We see in this same group the same idea of intercession and ministry and an office that is designed to stand between people and the God. 

Some if this began to change when conflicts rose between the church of England and the Catholic church. What we saw then was a time when the Vatican was seen to overreach in the life of Henry who in this one conflict transformed the role of the king and merged it with that of the priesthood. 

In the present day, I find some interesting expressions of similar ideas in many of our pulpits. As we try to debate the validity of the move of God here, I see some similarities between these churches. The first is that many pastors because of the time that they have put in and the access that they command on resources are increasingly being viewed as Kings. They make things happen. They can speak (decree) and things happen. But they also have the ability to cleanse (even if there are disputes about the same). 

The most important take away that I see in this is the clear emergence of a need for some very serious counseling. If you watch the ministry of 'abizayo' he who send them back (a man who has a refutation of sending witchcraft back to its source), you will be amazed at the skill with which he manages to get the most honest confessions from people and the weight of distress many often carry. The wand is not really the key here but a simple conversation and assurance that things will get better. At times he settles on his rather large throne like chair and simply listens and then maybe even makes declarations. And that is all it takes (I have not followed up on any of the members) to give a semblance of rest. 

Often though the people are not as cooperative and some even have the 'nerve' to challenge him on many aspects of his judgements. 

But the expression of Kingship and the Priestly expression are undeniable. 

So what does that mean of the believer? 

Well firstly it means that if you are going to get anywhere close to earthly kings, you are going to need to be excellent.

Daniel 5:12

12 Forasmuch as an excellent spirit, and knowledge, and understanding, interpreting of dreams, and shewing of hard sentences, and dissolving of doubts, were found in the same Daniel, whom the king named Belteshazzar:now let Daniel be called, and he will shew the interpretation.

The second thing that will differentiate you from others is your ability to stand by your word and to deliver. This is what some refer to as the gentleman's code. Or his handshake. 

Third is understanding the existence of other monarchs and being willing to show respect. 

Forth is the ability to stand between men and God and intervene on behalf of both parties. So have a foot of clay on one hand mingled with the Rigid and steadfast part of iron. This off course is a priestly function. 

When David was being readied for his call and was still being pursued by Saul, he was castigated for performing a priestly role. His predecessor lost his call after failing to wait for Samuel. 

Fatherhood, Heritage and Legacy.

A few months ago, I heard a message from a very intense female preacher. She has a ministry in Uganda and was basically talking about Fatherhood and spiritual authority. She talked about many things but here is what stood out for me. She mentioned how she got a call from one of her mentors. He was planning a trip to the city and wanted her to know that he would honor her. 

The message has many applications but I think one of the most important things that comes with this is feeling of empowerment, protection, love and approval that can make the toughest of struggles bearable. 

The other benefit that I have found in heritage is that if for example you sit under the 'ministry' of one, you tend to get the advantages of all those that have contributed to the health and wealth of that particular 'Man of God'. 

It is the same with all sort of other disciplines. 

Politics, art, music and much more. When you study history and philosophy as well as other mainstream disciplines, you often concentrate on the historic aspects of the study to understand how the people that developed those theories thought. It also allows you to connect with them on an intellectual level but also in a much stronger spiritual level. 

The trick is being able to 'endure' the time spent with these people who if they know the trade will often be nasty on purpose just to make sure that they give out their gift to the right people. 

It may also be a secret to living longer...or forever. Finding someone who can be a useful vessel for your spirit when you pass (but that is a discussion for another forum). 

The Rise of double meanings and Risqué Advertising.

Back then, I was having some trouble working with my device. Airtel, Warid and I have some history. I used to give them quite a lot of trouble with the customer support. But this is different. I once sent a request to client support. There was a problem with my device or sim card. The device was 'seeing' my phone as though I was in a foreign country (roaming). When I requested assistance from support, the person on the the side simply said. 

Please Remove and Re-insert. 

One of my followers or Airtel Support followers (people who can see our conversation), replied with quite a lot of laughter and humor. Apparently he had interpreted the conversation and taken it out of proportion to the point of some innuendo. 

This kind of thinking does not come from the Telcos...this is much too risky for global players but it is often used when for example you wish to have conversations regarding adult matters in the presence of Children. You can find similar uses of language when you tune in to local radio at say about 3AM. 

But this got me thinking. Do we have a universal acceptance for at-the-edge advertising?

Example 1

I am asking because another major player recently decided to have an ad campaign dubbed-Threesome! Probably some calling things that could let you have three way conversations with people on the same network and at a low cost. 

Example 2 

A local retirement and social security service provider has decided to create a program called 'friends with benefits'. The first time I heard this term was way back in 2000 while in the U.S. we were 'working' with some young people (was sent to us for community service). He casually mentioned the term 'benefits' in reference to an agreement between two young people that allows them to 'enjoy' the additional opportunities that they may accrue out of a relationship (I use my words with caution). 

Example 3 

There is another provider that has created a service that allows users to have access to social media during weekdays for the services are least costly. They are calling it WTF. That fine for Wednesday, Thursday and Friday but unacceptable when you do a search for new emerging terms often used on social media. So imagine my shock when I found a post on twitter where I had thanked the provider for WTF! 

Other casualties can be found in Charles Dicken's book but you have to read it all to know what I am talking about.