And So D23 Begins...

Disney had better to something fantastic! 

“After Saturday night we’ve got two reveal rooms because Josh D’Amaro is going to be doing a lot of announcements and those reveal rooms will be opening Sunday morning. We love repeat visitation, as you know, so you’re going to have to come back Sunday if you want to get in there and see some really cool sh** that is brand new and is on the horizon.”

”With that, I know you’ve all been hungry for something beyond Blue Sky. Blue Sky is really fun, but you know what? Building, delivering, putting shovels in the dirt is even better. So that’s what this year is all about and the next decade is all about.”

-Imagineering's Bruce Vaughn

Here we go...

Is This the New Ride System for the Avengers E Ticket?

Long rumored, hinted at, finally announced, and not built. At least not yet. With a property as precious as Marvel, the Disney Imagineers- and more importantly, the suits that run the show- had better do a great job with the Avengers Campus E Ticket attraction for California Adventure and Hong Kong Disneyland. (Will it come to Avengers Campus at Walt Disney Studios Paris? Probably not but you never know.)

However... I have a feeling that the BATMAN: Knight Flight attraction at Warner Brothers Adu Dhabi might have beaten Disney to the punch. The ride system is used to full effect in this cutting edge attraction. Incorporated with full sets and a thrilling storyline, I believe this to be the ride system or a variant that we'll soon find in the Disney Parks. 

The competition is still for tourist dollars- and Disney can't afford to try to recover from either the lack of opening day enthusiasm for Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge or Spider-Man Web Slingers attractions. Can they do it or will they blunder it big time?

You decide for yourself if they've already been beaten. Look at the video below and determine the thrill factor for yourself... including whether or not you'll journey to the Arabian Peninsula to ride it for yourself.

(Video by Denis S.)

Lessons from the Battlefield

This Summer at our church, we’ve been blessed with several visits and sermons from our ministry partners all over the world. Local believers in Jesus Christ who put their lives on the line every day in order to walk out what they say they believe. There’s been lots of wisdom and encouragement shared! It was challenging- very challenging, in fact. It caused me to look back on my past and look at my future! 

We as followers of Jesus are subjects of the Heavenly King – Jesus Christ no other- and we are under His Rule and Called to His Purposes. His purposes, not ours. Which means that we are called to live out a different set of priorities than the average human.

The local believers that shared stories look a lot like those who lived as Christians in the 1st Century. This happens wherever people are doing God’s work, and it should be normative for those of us who call ourselves by Jesus' name.

God is clearly on the move in our world! COVID-19 and everything the world has experienced in the last couple of years serve to remind us that we are not in control. But God is! Even in the most difficult places!

According to The London-based “Economist” newspaper/magazine, September 2020- China has 38 million followers of Jesus, up from 22 million a decade ago- and as many as 30-50 million underground believers who know it is not safe to live their faith openly. Bibles are banned; churches are destroyed; religious documents are being hunted down with citizens mandated to turn them in (read here) and more. Christians are severely persecuted!

YET- GOD IS ON THE MOVE IN THEIR WORLD!   

If you're still reading, chances are you identify as a follower of Jesus. Does this make you think twice about why we in America and Western Europe are so ineffective in sharing our faith and yet these persecuted believers are so successful? I mean, they  serve in a difficult part of the world where Jesus is the foreign god. 

These kind of questions lead me to an even bigger one- What can we do to see another great move of God in our own countries? Looking at the Bible, I can easily see it starts here with what I call the Rules of Engagement.

#1 KNOW WHO YOU BELONG TO

The great Apostle Paul wrote an incredible letter to the church in Colossae, a part of Turkey. The Colossian church was essentially a church plant from Apostle Paul’s 3 years in Ephesus. Written while he was in prison, Paul's purpose was to establish that Jesus is God in the flesh and to inspire believers to live as God desires. I think these verses get incrementally harder to live out. Tell me what you think as you read them.

Colossians 2:6-8:  Therefore, as you received Christ Jesus the Lord, so walk in him, 7 rooted and built up in him and established in the faith, just as you were taught, abounding in thanksgiving. 8 See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.

Notice verse 6- Walk in Him, Rooted in Him? Does this remind you of Jesus' words in John 15?  Here Jesus is saying He is the vine and we are the branches. IF we remain in Him, we will bear much fruit.  

The fruit of our lives, what comes out of it, displays who we are, what we believe, and what our values and priorities really are. It's not just what we say. What kind of fruit is your life producing? Mine is currently a mixed basket, if I'm being totally honest. But I aspire for different results. Don't you? I'm tired, I'm frustrated, and I'm even a bit stressed, but I am determined to persevere. 

Next comes a more difficult challenge. Be established in the faith.  Read the Bible, know it and understand it, but most importantly, live it out. Stay intimate with Jesus! Knowing the Bible is not the same as living the out God's Word. Jesus condemned the Pharisees for this exact thing. They thought mental ascent was enough. In living like this, they missed the point, and the missed out on a joyous life that God desires for each who follow Him.

Then comes verse 7, another challenge. A big one for me- Abound in thanksgiving! We should be thankful. Very thankful. We should be joyful. As Christians who believe God's Word to be fully true, we should be thankful for the new life we have in Christ and for the eternal life we have in the future. But for most of us, unfortunately, we live in a world that is constantly telling us we do not have enough. I fall prey to this all too often. For me, my eyes can be on this next trip, the next project, the next "fill-in-the blank". And I miss what God is doing and wanting because my eyes are not looking at Him. Then, I forget who I am and what I'm really made for. But it's a downhill slide.

I say it is time we remember who we were before we knew Jesus and what we turned away from. Why? It fires up thankfulness- and it fuels our desire to share with others our good and faithful and loving God who gave his life in exchange for ours, dying for our sin and brokenness and a destiny in Hell separated from God. 

Remembering who we were is good, but walking in who we are in Christ is very important! We're no longer bound by our failures as we've been forgiven. We are victoriously Jesus' and His priorities are ours, setting out true values into place. 

In the book of Galatians, chapter 2:20- Paul says-  

“ I have been crucified with Christ. It is no longer I who live, but Christ who lives in me. And the life I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me.””

This is God's view of who we are! When we as believers are baptised, we are publicly proclaiming our own death but also our new life in Jesus alone. Our persecuted family living in places where they pay a high price for their faith already understand this. In their world, choosing to follow Jesus Christ means believing differently than their family and friends, but it also means losing their community. They are rejected for worshiping a different god. What is the result of you living out your faith? For me, it meant losing all of my friends as each one rejected me and my new life. It was painful, but I couldn't go back. Jesus has encountered me, and I was no longer the same. Ask yourself- Is the cross of Christ my foundation for living? 

Now this next verse, verse 8 is a huge challenge! This one is at once so subtle and yet now so overt. Let's reread it:

 “See to it that no one takes you captive by philosophy and empty deceit, according to human tradition, according to the elemental spirits of the world, and not according to Christ.”

How can we avoid deceitful human philosophies? I'd say that it's almost impossible! We are bombarded with ads, news stories, the rhetoric of our political parties, humanism, and the simple philosophy of being an American that permeates our life. 

Here's a quote from the American Humanist Association - listen to these taglines:

 “Good Without God” and “ADVOCATING PROGRESSIVE VALUES AND EQUALITY FOR HUMANISTS, ATHEISTS, AND FREETHINKERS” and a further explanation- “Humanism is an approach to life based on reason and our common humanity, recognizing that moral values are properly founded on human nature and experience alone.”

I don’t know about you, but my human nature and experience before Christ was broken, sinful, and hopeless! And I can still fall into that trap. We’re humanists at heart- this goes back to the Garden and being deceived when the man and woman trusted their own thoughts instead of what God said. 

Humanism – relying on mans power and his logic is in fact its own religion. Isn't humanism then syncretism- a fusion of religious thoughts with others that result in beliefs that are unbiblical? Yes. And it's everywhere, including communities of faith.

Humanism is infecting the church! We look more and more like the world. And because of that, we are ineffective in reaching it. There's no contrast to be seen, so why would anyone adapt a new way of living? We no longer can identify sin (other than the current "sin" of political incorrectness), so there's no need of a savior. Swimming in this mire, we're lost, and we don't know it.

Make no mistake, God alone defines goodness. He is the standard by which all else is measured. Jesus himself says no one is good but God alone. (See Luke 18:19.) 

Here's a quick little quiz that can tell you if humanism has infected your life and youth faith. Ready? 

• Do I rely on my own wisdom and strength to direct my life?  

• Do I “identify”? By my work, my status, my sexuality, my nationality, my political party, or my denomination?  

• Has comfort become my idol?

• Are my hobbies extreme and time consuming- but my faith low risk?

• Do I fit in more easily with the world and its philosophy than with those who make up the church?

• Lastly- Do I live my life in a way that no longer requires the empowering of God? 

In other words, am I becoming lukewarm in my faith?

We’re not sold out to our nation! We’re not sold out to a political party! We are not even sold out to a denomination! We are sold out to Jesus Christ! We belong to Him! We were bought with a price (I Cor. 6:20)!

You belong to God or you do not! There's no middle ground. So, the first Rule of Engagement is KNOW WHO YOU BELONG TO.  

The next rule of engagement requires us to see clearly, so put on your top grade binoculars if you will, and look at life a little differently...

# 2- UNDERSTAND GOD’S MISSION, AND ALIGN YOUR PRIORITIES

We are made for His Purposes and for His Glory. Our works will be judged by his guidelines for us. Period.  

We know God desires none would perish- but will we be His voice on the earth and do His work?

The Bible tells us these truths :  

• God wins- and so do His People (Rev. 20:10) BUT

• The Days are Evil (Ephesians 5:16)

• The World is Under Satan’s Temporary Control until Jesus Returns (1 John 5:19)

• Our enemy seeks to devour and destroy believers (1 Peter 5:8)

• People that don’t know God are captives of the enemy-  (2 Tim 2:24-26)

• Satan uses all kinds of tactics to blind people to the message of the Gospel (2 Cor. 4:4, Galatians 4:8)

• Hell is real, not a fantasy and not something to be mocked or ignored. People are at risk of spending eternity in Hell!  (Rev. 21)

• We are called to be faithful and proclaim Him and do the works of God (Matthew 28, Acts 1, John 14:12)

We can forget that God has saved us, and we forget our main mission. However, our enemy the devil does not!  Lives are at stake! This is war- and we are living in enemy occupied territory.

Let's read in the next chapter Colossians 3:1-4 : 

"If then you have been raised with Christ, seek the things that are above, where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God. 2 Set your minds on things that are above, not on things that are on earth. 3 For you have died, and your life is hidden with Christ in God. 4 When Christ who is your life appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

THINK BIGGER! THINK BEYOND YOURSELF! THINK ETERNALLY!

Let’s be honest, here. Life is hard at times, and we all suffer! Yet, if we wait long enough to see things play out, we eventually know our struggles are stories that display God’s faithfulness. We may not know until eternity, but that's God's call not ours. In the midst of life, we can get stuck in our hardships and failures and forget our true calling, our mission from God.

Who doesn't have events in their lives that we wish we could change? We're broken by our choices that disappoint us (and God!) and hurt by the wounds others inflict upon us. In other words, we're all alike in this area. I want to try to hide this from people. Do you?

When we are wanting to look perfect, we lose the opportunities to meet people where they live so we can be encouraging and share about the work Jesus has done and is doing in us. Our hard stories are God's successes. Taking one step back, we can even see that God's character and his truths are made real as we work out faith and walk out our lives. Don't miss the chance to show God's heart by being real. 

Next question- and it's a big one:

HAVE YOU NOTICED THE TEMPORARY THINGS OF LIFE ONLY BRING TEMPORARY SATISFACTION?

(Why do I have to keep learning this lesson over and over and over again?) When we are focused on things other than God, we are living out of an identity that is not ours. God makes us dissatisfied with the temporary so we would learn to focus on the truly important things. The things that will last; the things that will bring us joy that lasts.

Our life is Hidden with Christ, and our priorities should reflect His priorities- Eternal Ones! Know what you're made for- and stay focused. To recap so far- 

# 1- KNOW WHO YOU BELONG TO.       

# 2- UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION, AND ALIGN YOUR PRIORITIES

and now, 

# 3-  PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION, AND PREPARE FOR BATTLE

We know that we are not saved because of what we do (Ephesians 2:9), but we also know that faith without works is dead (James 2).  So what does putting our faith into action look like?

(A little side note here- this is why social justice alone won't save us or fully change the world. Human nature has to be dealt with, and only in turning our lives over to Jesus can we really be free and given a new life. This is what "born again" is referring to. But social justice is a part of what God requires and is an extension of what we as Christians believe.)

Think of Jesus' words to his followers. These same words apply to us today:

• If you love me you’ll obey what I command. (John 14:15) 

• Streams of living water will flow from our lives (John 7)

• Bear much fruit, showing ourselves to be his disciples. John 15:7

When I came to put my faith in Jesus Christ, I knew I was being called into battle. Thankfully, Pastor Greg Laurie (look him up) preached a message that explained my life would no longer be my own. This meant that my life would be different than those who belonged to the world; that I would be exchanging a life of ease for a life of difficulty but of great reward- just like Jesus and the Twelve. I've never forgotten that. What does this all mean?

We can't be victorious without engaging an enemy! By choosing God's ways, we are rejecting the ways of man. From this very definition of faith, we have to be in a battle to be victorious; you have to participate to be declared a winner; you have to engage in order to make a difference. There's no way around it.

All this means you must take a risk.

Makes me think of Indiana Jones!

Let me ask you: WHEN DID CHRISTIANITY BECOME SAFE?

• When the work of ministry became a profession for a select few

• When faith mingled with politics and was watered down

• When we quit advancing faith and just intellectualized it

WHEN THE CHURCH DOESN’T TAKE RISKS, IT RISKS LOOKING JUST LIKE THE WORLD!

AND THEN IT BEGINS TAKING ITS CUES AND COMMANDS FROM IT!

The same truths apply to individual believers in Jesus Christ. Ouch. 

The early church (and the persecuted church of today) grew rapidly and powerfully because they stepped out in faith and trusted God with the results. When they didn't, God made sure they moved on to obedience. (Check out what happened immediately after the execution of Stephen in the New Testament- Acts 7:54- 8:1-3.) God wants a vibrant and sacrificial church that carries His DNA and looks just like Him.  The following quote just kills me: 

“The risk-free life is a victory-free life.

It means life-long surrender to the mediocre

and that is the worst of all possible defeats.”

Jamie Buckingham, pastor and author, 1932-1992

If you haven't thought about your faith this way, please know it's never too late to change your course. When you do, please realize you will have a target on your back. When brings us to the next point:

EXPECT OPPOSITION. I cannot stress this enough! Choosing to serve Jesus passionately is to invite warfare. Our enemy will hate it, and even our friends who profess faith may not understand it when you decide to go against the culture of our day. Why? Our faithfulness challenges them to have to encounter God and then make their own choices. Oh, the stories I could tell of folks I know who are risking it all to make a difference. But here's the truth:

PASSIVE FAITH IS JUST PHILOSOPHY UNDER THE DISGUISE OF RIGHTEOUSNESS! 

Take a look at Ephesians 6:10-11  

“Finally, be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. 11 Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil. 12 For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.”

The devil is real and demonic activity is not limited to less advanced places or foreign lands. Our enemy will not give up the battle until he is forced to and the end of all things happens. 

The state of our own country should prove that to be a fact. Division, pride, strife, a focus on sex and pleasure, greed, rampant hatred for the things of God. All these things speak to the reality of a spiritual battle for our souls. 

OK, I'm winding it down now, but bear with me...

# 1- KNOW WHO YOU BELONG TO       

# 2- UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION AND DEFINE WHAT YOU’RE MADE FOR

# 3- PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION AND PREPARE FOR BATTLE

Here's the last one, the last Rule of Engagement:

#4 -  USE GOD’S WEAPONS TO DO GOD’S WORK

This one gets a bit controversial because we know not everyone who calls themselves by the namer of Jesus believes His Spiritual Gifts are still available to us today. 

The good news for those of us in the battle is that we do not have to fight this battle in our own strength. Wouldn't that just be another form of humanism? Can you imagine how that grieves God when we refuse to go to Him?

We have the Bible, prayer, the Armor of God and all the Gifts of the Holy Spirit- the natural ones as well as the supernatural ones.  (See Ephesians 6; Romans 12; 1 Corinthians 12.) When Jesus returns to judge the earth, these gifts will disappear- and not a moment before.

Let me say this as emphatically as possible: A PHYSICAL WAR REQUIRES PHYSICAL WEAPONS. BUT THIS ISN’T A WAR AGAINST FLESH AND BLOOD. SO- A SPIRITUAL WAR REQUIRES SPIRITUAL WEAPONS. 

And God provides them. We serve a good Father, a loving God, who prepares us well for battle. He provides spiritual weapons for a spiritual battle. As we use them for His purposes, He gets the glory for the work that is done. (And that is an important question to ask as you see people do what they claim is God's work- "Who is this bringing glory to?")

^^^This world is the fantasy, not the reality.

I love the Marvel movies, but the reality is that these Avengers have nothing on the people of God, the men, women, and children (yes, children!) who love God and are called to His Purposes. We have each other. This battle is not a solo event. It's a team effort.

We can also learn from the past- our mistakes, our victories, and the lessons others have learned as they have stepped out in faith. Both Biblical heroes of old and those who live in our modern world. 

We have the gifts of time, money, and talent. And God has given us places in which we live and work to serve others and a position in which to do so. Nothing goes to waste in His Kingdom. Nothing is left to chance. And nothing and no one is overlooked. That includes YOU.

GOD HAS PUT MORE IN YOU THAN YOU REALIZE, BUT YOU WON’T KNOW IT UNTIL YOU STEP OUT.

If you hold onto the past- good and bad- you will miss out on what God is doing now and what He wants to do. You have to take those steps that require God's power. 

“I don’t want my life to be explainable without the Holy Spirit. 

I want people to look at my life 

and know that I couldn’t be doing this by my own power.” 

Francis Chan, pastor, author, missionary

Let me close with some words from Jesus, words that challenge and inspire us to take action:

“Truly, truly, I say to you, whoever believes in me will also do the works that I do; and greater works than these will he do, because I am going to the Father.”  (John 14:12)

-------

RULES OF ENGAGEMENT

NUMBER 1- KNOW WHO YOU BELONG TO       

NUMBER 2- UNDERSTAND YOUR MISSION, AND ADJUST YOUR PRIORITIES

NUMBER 3- PUT YOUR FAITH IN ACTION, AND PREPARE FOR BATTLE

NUMBER 4- USE GOD’S WEAPONS TO DO GOD’S WORK

Calling All Those Named Chris

Chris Hemsworth, Chris Evans, Chris Pine, and Chris Pratt. Hmm. Who to pick? Tough call and one not even with making a contest over. Yet some television writer and producer I've never heard of, a woman named Amy Berg (not to be confused with the infinitely more incredible Amy Coney Barrett) seems to think we have to choose one over the other.  With Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy movies and many popular television appearances, you'd think he'd earned his place. Not so in a Hollywood gone crazy. It's time for all the other guys named Chris on the list to speak up in defense of a great guy.

Captain America Shows His... Stuff

Chris Evans seems like a good guy. A real good guy. He helps a lot of people and is especially caring to children. I mean, who doesn't like Captain America? He was a hero before he was a hero. But it's not like he doesn't make mistakes. Chris mistakenly shared a photo of his penis on social media. My initial thought was "We all make mistakes." Yes, that's true. Then later on it hit me that I had become desensitized to a world where posting sex videos and other inappropriate material was now the norm. Wow. I mean, why would you even photograph your own genitals? It's time for it to stop. And it's time for everyone to think twice. "Nothing in all creation is hidden from God’s sight. Everything is uncovered and laid bare before the eyes of him to whom we must give account." (Hebrews 4:13) God sees all and knows all and loves us- calling us to Him. If only we are willing to listen to Him and live in a way that pleases Him, we will never be ashamed. Hang in there, Chris. This too shall pass.

My Favorite Posts of 2019

The end of another year, and in my case, the end of the tenth year of the Insights and Sounds blog. Here's a look at some of my very favorite posts from 2019:

Super Hero Physical Exam:
In all the Marvel universe, Captain America is the true super hero. Being a hero internally before he was engineered one, reveals a true heart of humility and always doing what is right. Could YOU make the cut of a true super hero? Take the exam for yourself.

Just Around the Horseshoe Bend:
Our friend Len Yokoyama is on hiatus, but this article about a nature land of God's own design is stunning. The photos alone are worth the view.

Disney Parks Attraction Score Card 2010 - 2019:
A nature land of man's own design- the Imagineers. Cars Land may be the pinnacle of Imagineering art for the decade. Maybe not. How did the Company under Iger do in investing into the parks this past decade. Take a look, park by park.

My Honor to be Part of Randy L. Schmidt's New Book on the Carpenters:
What an unexpected treat to be contacted by Randy and asked to be interviewed on my thoughts about the beloved duo's 1976 album A Kind of Hush. 

Epcot Controversy and Turning the Park Upside Down:

A mixed bag for sure, but Epcot is finally getting some attention. Will it be better or worse? Settle in for a lengthy and in-depth article on the coming transformation- and a look at this park's incredible past.

A Fresh Look at Carpenters' A Song for You:
The finest female vocalist of the 20th Century recorded an album that stands the test of time. Was this brother Richard's production masterpiece and Karen Carpenter's finest collection?

The Outlaw King:
Rebels are in! Who is tops? Chris Pine's outlaw could be one of the best but certainly not the only one.

Rare Art for Discovery Bay:
Not the piece above. In the article, here's a rendering only a few have seen- unless you've already read this article. Plus a look back via concept art of all that was planned for Tony Baxter's unbuilt land for Disneyland's northern berm.

Disney's Hollywood Studios at 30:
Thirty years of the first Studios park. Concept art, history, trip report. It's all here. Probably the lengthiest of all posts on the blog.

Alternative Layout for Indiana Jones Adventure:
Sometimes the best Imagineering ideas don't make the cut. You decide if we got the best version or not.

Here's to 2020!

Originality Still Trumps All Else at Hong Kong Disneyland

What overseas attractions would make you want to visit the Chinese Disney parks? Certainly, Shanghai Disneyland means Pirates of the Caribbean. For Hong Kong Disneyland it's no competition: Mystic Manor! It's still the centerpiece of a continually revitalized Hong Kong Disneyland. And what a terrific piece of Imagineering concept art this is. The orange and gold highlights play perfectly off the darker, richer, blues, greens, and violets. Hong Kong Disneyland may have been purposely played down in favor of its newer mainland sister, Shanghai Disneyland, but it is coming into its own with a stunning, reimagined castle, a Frozen themed area, and an Avengers E Ticket sure to be a crowd pleaser. 

All this expansion, however, leaves the elegant Mystic Point's premier attraction as the one I most want to see. It's an original to this park and a brand new concept from scratch- something I wish we saw more of in all the Disney parks.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Super Hero Physical Exam

How do these Super Heroes do what they do? Brains? Brawn? Have best friends who are also super heroes? Special weapons? Perhaps all of the above! Captain America once went against Iron Man in Civil War, and now they all work together for the Endgame. The whole thing is...

Complex. The entire thing is complex. Being a real super hero in a world that wants to drag us down takes more than just brains, brawn, best friends, and the latest weapons of warfare. 

                              

Ask yourself, "What is my endgame? Where do I want to end up?"

Let's do a Super Hero physical exam and find out where we are at. Are we good enough from Marvel's team of Avengers- or even something bigger? What about in God's Kingdom?

Heart Exam- Be a man that chases after what is important to God. Take the time to stop and look deeply at your life and compare it to Jesus. After all, He is not only God in the flesh, he is the standard of what a man should be. Pure, holy, and powerful. 100% sold out to complete the work the Father had given him. And you we glad He did? King David was called a man after God's own heart. Not because he was perfect- he wasn't- but because he kept going back to God again and again. 

Loins- Do you use your body for sex in a way that pleases God? Don't be a Deadpool kind of guy, jumping on anyone who makes your pulse race. Life is so much more than fulfilling your lusts. Drop the porn and the cheap sex to move on. (No, I haven't intentionally seen the movie. I did, unfortunately sit a few rows over from a guy on a plane who was watching what looked like hard core porn graphically simulating anal sex. Then I realized the actor was Ryan Reynolds. What a major disappointment to see him doing this!) 

Examine your Head-  Are you thinking Biblically? Do you think like those in the world or are you being transformed by an ongoing diet of God's Word and applying it? Don't be deceived by the world's way of thinking: "See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the elemental spiritual forces of this world rather than on Christ." Colossians 2:8.

Neck- Are you easily turned to the right or left when God speaks? Or do you live intentionally and with purpose to please God and make him known? What is the depth of integrity in your life? Be the same person everywhere you go.

Hands- Keeping your hand to the plow takes effort. Constantly. Giving up is just so easy at times. Look what Jesus himself says to someone who wants to follow him in the book of Luke Chapter 9- "Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.” Stay at it!

Knees- Be a man of prayer! It's easy to try to do what we think is right and miss the mark. It's much more difficult to move in a wrong way if you are constantly before God in prayer, speaking to Him and seeking to listen to him. He wants to speak to you!

Feet- Walk where God tells you. Does the road look long or hard or one where you'll travel seemingly on your own? Doesn't matter!  Do what He says. Obedience is the issue. Does your road lead to death? It should at least lead to "death to self."

Mouth-  Speak well of others and of our God. Harder than you'd think! In fact, the book of James in the New Testament tells us that even large ships are directed by a small rudder. Our tongue can get us into trouble too many times. Use it wisely.

Weapon Check- Are you prepared? God doesn't call us out to Spiritual Warfare without giving us what we need! The Armor of God gives us the list of weapons: the belt of truth, the breastplate of righteousness, the shoes of the gospel of peace, the shield of faith, the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit - The Word of God. Our Creator also gives us the Gifts of the Holy Spirit: everything from Miracles and Discernment to Leadership, Mercy, Administration and more. (Twenty-five or so to be exact.) Don't forget- spiritual war is fought with spiritual weapons. You can't do this in your own strength. Like the fictional Steve Rogers, we must be worthy. Ready to be self-sacrificing for things eternal. But it is not our worthiness I'm talking about, because in that case, we all fall short. It is only through the blood of Jesus cleansing us from all sin and brokenness that makes us worthy. He paid the price on our behalf. That is where our true value comes from.

So, how did you do on our Super Hero Physical Exam? Not perfect? Me, neither! But let's agree to keep working on it. We need each other to succeed. Just like real life, a life of faith requires partnership with others. We can't do this alone.

(Images copyright Marvel and DC Comics.)

Will Hong Kong Disneyland Be the True Center of the Marvel Universe?

A little research doesn't bring the most satisfying information. Marvel additions to the Disney theme parks seems like the brand will experience its own withdrawal in spite of the billion dollar plus sales of Avengers: Endgame. 

Let's be honest here: No one seems all that thrilled with what's happening at California Adventure. The epic Spider-Man being reduced to a shooter game a la Midway Mania with similar plans for the same attraction at the struggling Walt Disney Studios Paris? The redo of Twilight Zone Tower of Terror into a Guardians of the Galaxy ride? 

Sure, it's fun, but one day soon, somebody at the Disney headquarters is going to have to breakout and come up with an exciting, fresh, and powerful concept for a new attraction that's worthy of the Marvel name. This is not it. The real Imagineers can do it if given the right budget and space. Unless that means Hollywoodland goes away soon to provide more breathing room, as far as it looks now, California won't be the Marvel headquarters the company would like fans to think it will. Star Wars, yes. Marvel, no.

Walt Disney Studios Paris? Well, an Iron Man redo of Rock n Rollercoaster is a start, but again, it's only a cheap and easy way to slide him into place in a struggling park. (Plans for the exterior have already been leaked. Unimpressive. The above image of the Parisian Marvel coaster, by the way, comes from Jake Sully at Disney Central Plaza Forum.) What comes afterwards will be more telling, and it had better be compelling.

This leaves poor little Hong Kong Disneyland. Starting with the Iron Man Experience and now the long titled Ant Man adventure, this Chinese park could be the little park that could make it the true place to go for great Marvel themed adventures. Yes, it is a simple revisioning of Star Tours technology and the Buzz Lightyear attraction, the latter a misfire it seems, but just maybe that new mega coaster in 2022 (or later) could kickstart the whole thing. Is a unified land even possible? The answer is unknown. Perhaps after a newly redesigned castle and a Frozen land, things will look up there.

Not always, but sometimes, bigger is better. Think bigger and better, Disney suits! Marvel fans are expecting something worthy of the brand, and what you're currently planning is not it.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

Marvel's Other Superheroes

Have we seen the last of the Avengers? Educated guesses run the gamut, but one thing we can be sure of: Disney will keep rebooting the Marvel based series as long as it acts like a printing press for cold hard cash.  The backstories of these characters are fascinating! The more you dig, the more interesting it gets. Check out this link and discover a whole side of Marvel you probably never knew existed. 

(Art copyright Marvel Studios.)

Working the Bugs Out of Marvel at Disneyland

It's about time! Look, California Adventure has always been a very mixed bag of themes and attractions. In 2001 at grand opening, the Golden State theme was there but poorly executed. Perhaps the most consistent theme and feel came after the 2012 mega expensive, major Re-Imagineering of the park.  Buena Vista Street, Cars Land, and the refreshing of Paradise Pier, made the park very good, much closer to Disney quality than Six Flags. It was a great beginning.

The park has always evolved more than any other Disney park on the continent. Opened quickly after the Disney suits realized they'd built a flop, A Bugs Land was very well themed and charming but full of cheap carnival rides. Just a quick fix to give kids something to do and also keep parents in the park. With the copy of Animal Kingdom's film It's Tough To Be A Bug as part of it, the whole thing just felt forced. (Check out my series on Bargain Basement Imagineering to see how bad it was! (Part One, Part Two, More, finally Reimagining a New Dream, and some Rare DCA concept art.)

Now, the Avengers are coming! Just announced, it's finally time for goodbye to Bugs, and time to say hello to Marvel and the Super Hero Universe. Send those kids to Pixar Pier.

As bad as the California Adventure park was at opening in 2001, the worst themed land there (and maybe in Disney park history) has always been the Hollywood Pictures Backlot aka Hollywoodland. Currently, it's only worse now with the Guardians of the Galaxy layover attraction sitting in the middle of it all. My bet is the Hollywood themed area will eventually be incorporated into the new space.

Perhaps the new Marvel themed Super Hero Universe will tie all the elements together. Here's hoping. A great coaster with a story would be a plus, but the land needs a family friendly dark ride as well. If the Bugs theater gets reused for a film attraction, it's a missed opportunity. Will the suits allow the Imagineers to do something as focused and substantial as Star Wars: Galaxy's Edge? That is the bigger question. Whatever it is, Disney says the new land debuts in 2020. Better get going.

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company.)

More Marvel for DCA, Prime Pandora, Promising Pirates

Now that Guardians of the Galaxy Mission: Breakout is a bonafide hit, its a safe bet that the already leaked plans for a Marvel themed expansion happen sooner than later. California Adventure will finally begin expansion in earnest after a long wait from the opening of the 2.0 remake which brought us Cars Land and Buena Vista Street. It's about time. 

The photo above is making rounds on the web, photographer unknown. Found text to the Tower - I mean power plant fortress- is a small piece of eye candy promising future Avengers attractions. Anyone who has read the articles and blogs and discussion boards knows Disney cannot use Marvel's key characters in Florida. California wins again, showing another reason why the Disneyland Resort will be the place for theme park fans to vacation for decades to come. I'm not entirely sure how I feel about it all and the placement of these particular film properties in Disney parks there, but I have no doubt, it will be successful. With Star Wars Land at Disneyland, Marvel in California Adventure and a resort expansion coming, the suits will find the original Kingdom to be a long term money-maker, never again to be left to rot as under the days of Paul Pressler. 

Across the States over at Animal Kingdom, Pandora's another breakout smash. The Imagineers, the suits, and Joe Rohde are enjoying a very successful opening and positive word of mouth on a project many thought to be out of place, me included. From what I can see, there's not many animals in this kingdom, but the lush flora and fauna do seem to bring a beautiful fantasy element to a gorgeous park. As the quality of attractions in the park seems to go up and up, it's time for Expedition:Everest to see a repaired yeti and time to finally say goodbye to Chester and Hester. Neither can happen too soon.

The above nighttime photo is from Blog Mickey. It's an absolute stunning photo as is but even more spectacular when you click on it to see it full size. The photo report is one of the best on the web. 

Bit the bullet and saw Pirates 5 last night. In IMAX, not worth the extra expense. Promising beginning with some old school Jack Sparrow swagger (humor and action) and an eerily effective villain. The storyline remains fairly clear, but I had to wonder when the writers will run out of legends and myths of the sea to exploit. Seeing it, I was reminded a bit of Indy 4. With much promise came a healthy dose of weak closure to it all as the emphasis shifted away from the beloved Captain to other characters. Whether or not attendance and financial returns mandate another chapter in the series, fans need something better than this to close out the saga. I hope it happens. As with many, the original remains the best.

There's much more to say on the Disney front, especially after D23.  In the meantime, enjoy your Memorial Day and thank God for the brave men and women who gave their lives to keep us free.

Real Magic

What follows is an absolutely incredible statement by Lee Stoneking as he address the United Nations General Assembly on April 22, 2015. 

In a world where Disney magic is the order of the day, where imaginary superheroes like Avengers dominate the entertainment headlines, and where the atrocities of man against man are everyday news, Mr. Stoneking's words could not be any more timely. Definitely worth your listening time.

Avengers Age of Ultron- New Poster for Marvel Movie

Pretty nice, huh? This new poster for Marvel's Avengers, Age of Ultron gets the point across quite well. I'll be in line on May 1!

Captain America on His Way!

As one of my favorite comic heroes, I cannot wait to see Captain America: The Winter Soldier.  I love his heart to do what's right in the face of evil. Chris Evans brings an inner strength to the role,  making him an equally effective Marvel hero to Robert Downey Jr.'s sarcastic, witty, and talented Iron Man. Speaking of Iron Man, I'm ready for another Avengers as well. Bring on the summer flicks and the popcorn!

(Art copyright The Walt Disney Company / Marvel)

Captain America on His Way

While Thor looks uninteresting to me, (and the first one was just plain bad), Captain America is more my style. Retro looking, patriotic hero, and it tells of a man full of courage on the inside not just one gifted with supernatural powers. I'm in! 

The next chapter in the Steve Rogers story is The Winter Soldier, an April 2014 release from Marvel / Disney. Playing our hero, Chris Evans knows exactly when to show restraint and when to burst forth. It's the variety and subtlety of human emotion that adds depth to an already interesting storyline. 

Oh yeah, a Marvel themed third park at the Disneyland Resort? Since we're never getting Westcot, bring it on.

Wall Street Journal: Marvel Comes To Hong Kong Disneyland

“Famed Marvel Comics superheroes like Spider-Man, X-Men and the Fantastic Four will soon call a part of Hong Kong Disneyland home, when the theme park opens an area dedicated to the comic-book stars.

On Wednesday, Hong Kong Financial Secretary John Tsang said the theme park, which is 52%-owned by the city’s government, will add an area featuring “Marvel heroes” as part of the resort’s expansion program.

...........

The addition of Marvel in Hong Kong will be the first of its kind of any Disney resort, and could be a big draw for mainland Chinese tourists after the success of several Hollywood smash-hits that featured Marvel characters. Marvel superheroes could also attract older and more affluent visitors, as opposed to the younger audiences that the traditional Disney characters target.

The Marvel addition is the latest move by Disney aimed at reaping the benefits of its $4 billion acquisition in 2009 of Marvel Entertainment. In May, “The Avengers”, the first Marvel film to be released by Disney since its Marvel purchase, shattered box-office records.

Earlier, Disney said it would prioritize plans to introduce theme-park rides based on Marvel superheroes.”

What do I think of this development? How will this affect Shanghai Disneyland, Disneyland Paris, and the Anaheim original? More on that later...

(Text from Wall Street Journal, artwork copyright The Walt Disney Company.)