The Passion (discount cameras)
By Mitchel Crane
Were you there, when they crucified my Lord? That is the title of a well-loved old hymn. Imagine standing on that hill 2000 years ago witnessing the nailing of Jesus on the cross. Here he is already near death after a heavy crown of thorns had been sunk deeply into his skull. His back is covered with deep, oozing stripes caused by merciless flogging, and his strength had completely waned under the weight of the cross, which he had been forced to drag outside the gate of the city of Jerusalem.
This Jesus they crucified with three nails; one through the middle of each hand, and one through his two feet. They needed to make sure that this guy would not escape! Why? Because he had claimed to be the Son of God. Just one week earlier multitudes thronged around him as he rode into Jerusalem on a donkey, waving palm branches and shouting: Hosanna: Blessed is the king of Israel who comes in the name of the Lord!” They had been witness to and/or recipients of the thousands of miracles Jesus had performed in their midst. They knew he was no ordinary man. Although they did not understand the hundreds of prophesies about what the messiah had to go through and why, they knew he was a man of God, and they wanted to crown him king. (John 12)
Here now on the cross: “he is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief; and we hid as it were our faces from him; he was despised, and we esteemed him not. (Isa. 53: 3) This is no pretty picture. This is the portrayal of one man on whom was placed every sin and every sickness that ever would be committed! “Himself took our infirmities and bare our sicknesses” (mat.8: 17) and: “Surely he has borne our griefs and carried our sorrows; …but he was wounded for our transgressions, he was bruised for our iniquities; the chastisement of our peace was upon him; and with his stripes we ARE healed.” (Isa. 53: 4-5). Yes, this prophetic verse foretold his crucifixion hundreds of years earlier. Yet, there in print it tells you that you ARE healed - in the present tense, as if it had already happened!
They then pierced him with a sword to ensure that he was dead, fulfilling the scripture: “They shall look on him whom they pierced.” (John 19) Many other scriptures were realized that day, including the power of forgiveness, as he spoke over his persecutors: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.” (Luke 23:34) At the moment of his death the heavy veil of the temple was rent in two from the top to the bottom, giving us a symbolic direct access to the God. No more do we need to go through a mediator! (Mat. 27:51-53).
Standing there in your mind’s eye surveying the cross and looking upon his scarred, unrecognizable face and body, thank Him for your healing, and believe that you have it. Now you can look straight into his glorious face as, subsequent to his descent into hell, he was raised up by the Holy Spirit and is now reigning on high! He “spoiled principalities and powers (the devil), he made a show of them openly, triumphing over them in it” and He did it all for you! You can now live a victorious life here and with Him in eternity. He did it once and for all, summing it up with His very last words: “It is Finished.” (John 19:30)
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The Benefits and Risks of Genetics
By Mitchel Crane
Genetics (and, by extension, genetic manipulation) is a field of science that has the potential to stir more controversy and protest than any medical issue that came before it. This is because understanding the principles and controlling the variables of genetics opens up the possibility of humanity taking the reins of its own evolution from nature. The ability to alter genetics and “design” future generations, however, can pose consequences that may be unknown to current scientific thought such as the fictional “genetic saturation” seen in the anime series “Gundam SEED.” In the series, genetically upgraded humans, while possessing mental and physical abilities surpassing their genetically “pure” counterparts suffered problems related to their sexual health.
A few episodes of the series noted that genetic superiority came at a cost that none of them had anticipated: sterility. Their physical capability to engage in sexual intercourse was not compromised, but their sexual health suffered in the sense that those who didn’t have genetically “pure” parents could not sire offspring. The problem, according to dialogs on the show itself and background information released by the creators of the series, was that the upgraded genes had “saturated” the gene pool, to the point that combining one’s upgraded DNA with others who had genetic upgrades effectively “shut down” the ability to procreate naturally. The only solution found within the series that did not involve sacrificing genetic superiority was to add further alterations to the human genome. This was stated to be little more than a stop-gap measure, a short-term fix for a dangerous sexual health problem. According to the follow-up series, “Gundam SEED Destiny,” further changes to human DNA would only compound the problem within “two or three generations.”
Of course, sexual health is rarely considered to be an aspect of human existence that would be compromised by artificial genetic upgrades. In most science fiction shows that exhibit it, writers seem to be more concerned with the moral and cultural implications of being “genetically superior.” One such example can be found in Gene Roddenberry’s “Andromeda,” where a human sub-race known as Nietzscheans had drastically opposite values from normal humans. The Nietzscheans, as a race, take pride in their genetic superiority and will go to great lengths to both ensure that they pass on their genes and prove that they have superior genetics. This extends not only to unaltered humans, but also to their fellow Nietzscheans. This takes the form not only of physical conflict, but also in political, social, and physical backstabbing, betrayal, manipulation, and competition. To the typical Nieztschean mentality, passing on superior genes is the best way to ensure that the entire race is made stronger with each successive generation, ensuring their continued survival and superiority over the much more numerous ordinary humans.
The pursuit of genetic superiority, however, has fueled a phenomenon in science fiction that has a frighteningly realistic parallel. Even with just the prospect of manipulating genetics looming somewhere on the horizon, there are already groups opposing studies going into that area. There are clear benefits aside from genetic superiority, such as the possibility of ridding humanity of diseases with genetic links. However, there are several groups that are throwing religious and theoretical arguments against genetic manipulation. Science fiction has echoed this sentiment in several stories, with most sci-fi worlds that have genetically superior humans being opposed by armed, militant groups of the “genetically pure.”
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Reasons for Buying Paintings
By Mitchel Crane
The big question is, why do people buy paintings? Is it just to feel like they’ve bought something, to fill up the wall so it’s not covered in white, or because they were love and appreciate art, especially a work of art.
Now, for a lot of people, a painting is simply a filler, to cover up that white stuff on the wall, so that when someone comes in the house they don’t complain about being blinded by all the white, or so they don’t say your house is too “plain”, you know how it is.
Other times, people just buy to feel good about themselves. They’re cruising around a world market place and see a photo, they have a little bit of extra money to spend, and next thing you know, there goes money down the drain.
But, what about those art galleries where paintings sell for thousands of dollars, why would anyone pay so much? Painting is a form of art, some people are born with that gift, to paint.
Some people see a painting as a painting, others see it as a masterpiece, and to those people, paying good money for a work of art is completely acceptable. On top of that, artists often spend their life struggling to sell their artwork.
They do it for the passion, the love of art, not for the money. But it is a great plus when you score big on a piece of art that you created all by yourself, that no one in this world can exactly replicate.
Everyone has their own style, whether it is far out, or very similar to others, no one artist is exactly the same. That means, that there is no bad artist. Your letters might not be readable, but thats okay, because its a form of art. Thats the beauty of it.
You don’t have to be perfect when it comes to art. For example, beach oil paintings are never perfect. Oils travel in places that aren’t desired, but thats what makes it even more of an art, not the exact play-by-play booklet on how to draw a beach.
Same with village paintings, you see a lot of village paintings that the little houses roofs aren’t even attached right, but thats okay, because it’s art.
These paintings are two great of examples of why you don’t have to be perfect, simply due to the fact that even if your roof’s aren’t attached, or a beachgoer’s leg drifted off into the sand by a curious oil spill.
Great paintings are born from mistakes, imperfections. A painting in a room can make all the difference as to how you feel in the room, if its a dark room, with a dark painting, it might make you feel depressed, or not as happy.
On the otherhand, a bright and colorful painting, whether is be beach oil paintings or village paintings, those can give good vibes, ones that put you in a better mood because you can see the light.
The little things, the small details are the things that make all the difference when it comes to paintings. Its not about the perfect lines and the exact shading, its about the creativity and originality put into it.
Along with that, the effort. You can tell a painting that is effortless, and one that took effort. But even more so, heart. Heart is something that shines through paintings. You can see someones passion for what they do with the little details, and you can see a lack of passion.
Art is so deep, that it is sometimes impossible to grasp. We may not understand it forever, or we may realize a few years down the road what something meant, or sometimes it might come to us instantly. Art that has passion carries a message, whether it is known or not, the message is there, it is for us to uncover that message.
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