Let the Games Begin

So... Just today I realized that Mercenaries 2 is coming out... Well, today. A Sunday. Which is kinda odd.

Tuesday? Viva Pinata 2 and Infinite Undiscovery. Thankfully Viva Pinata is releasing for the "low" low price of $40, which is extremely awesome. Thanks, Rare.

But still... Sheesh, is the year-end rush starting already? Because if I remember correctly, Star Wars: The Force Unleashed is next week, in addition to who knows what else. I haven't looked at a schedule in awhile. I've been so caught up with Xbox Live Arcade downloadable titles (by the way, a Braid post may have to come at some point, and Castle Crashers is awesome) that I haven't looked in retail's direction.

I outright skipped Too Human (which I hear is just alright) and Tales of Vesperia (which I hear is great), and that kind of makes me sad as it is. Now I'm sure I have to skip at least one of this week's releases. Infinite Undiscovery, maybe? I mean, do I have time to play through an RPG right now?

I guess we'll see. Good thing I actually have a job this semester. Shame I also have bills.

With few flaws aside, soulcalibur IV delivers - La Vida

With few flaws aside, soulcalibur IV delivers - La Vida

Does the media make monsters? - Opinions

Does the media make monsters? - Opinions

Some Reminders

So give thanks to Arovis,
Give thanks to the Three,
For this is the way it was meant to be.

- Talebearer Creed, Britton Peele's Talebearer Trilogy

"There is a design, hidden in the chaos as it may be, but... It's there. And you have your place in it."

- Wesley, Angel

"A man who becomes conscious of the responsibility he bears toward a human being who affectionately waits for him, or to an unfinished work, will never be able to throw away his life. He knows the 'why' for his existence, and will be able to bear almost any 'how'."

- Victor Frankl

"Character cannot be developed in ease and quiet. Only through experience of trial and suffering can the soul be strengthened, vision cleared, ambition inspired, and success achieved."

- Helen Keller

"To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly be broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket -- safe, dark, motionless, airless -- it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. "

- C.S. Lewis

"A good friend can tell you what is the matter with you in a minute. He may not seem such a good friend after telling."

- Arthur Brisbane, "The Book of Today"

"I no doubt deserved my enemies, but I don't believe I deserved my friends."

- Walt Whitman

The Spirit clearly says that in later times some will abandon the faith and follow deceiving spirits and things taught by demons. Such teachings come through hypocritical liars, whose consciences have been seared as with a hot iron. They forbid people to marry and order them to abstain from certain foods, which God created to be received with thanksgiving by those who believe and who know the truth. For everything God created is good, and nothing is to be rejected if it is received with thanksgiving, because it is consecrated by the word of God and prayer.

If you point these things out to the brothers, you will be a good minister of Christ Jesus, brought up in the truths of the faith and of the good teaching that you have followed. Have nothing to do with godless myths and old wives' tales; rather, train yourself to be godly. For physical training is of some value, but godliness has value for all things, holding promise for both the present life and the life to come.

This is a trustworthy saying that deserves full acceptance (and for this we labor and strive), that we have put our hope in the living God, who is the Savior of all men, and especially of those who believe.

Command and teach these things. Don't let anyone look down on you because you are young, but set an example for the believers in speech, in life, in love, in faith and in purity. Until I come, devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to preaching and to teaching. Do not neglect your gift, which was given you through a prophetic message when the body of elders laid their hands on you.

Be diligent in these matters; give yourself wholly to them, so that everyone may see your progress. Watch your life and doctrine closely. Persevere in them, because if you do, you will save both yourself and your hearers.

- 1 Timothy 4

In the presence of God and of Christ Jesus, who will judge the living and the dead, and in view of his appearing and his kingdom, I give you this charge:
Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.
For the time will come when men will not put up with sound doctrine. Instead, to suit their own desires, they will gather around them a great number of teachers to say what their itching ears want to hear.
They will turn their ears away from the truth and turn aside to myths.
But you, keep your head in all situations, endure hardship, do the work of an evangelist, discharge all the duties of your ministry.

- 2 Timothy 4:1-5

Ink of the Faithful, Blood of the Fallen

He sat in silence as the sun went down, the wood beneath him creaking on the few occasions that he made much of a movement. He merely sat, idly twirling his blade as he counted the breaths that moved in and out of his lungs, slowly filling his chest to capacity before flattening again.

At two hundred and forty one breaths, the truth hit him more fully than before, sickening his stomach and nearly making him shake.

At four hundred and sixty seven breaths, he was panicked, still unmoving as he was. Would he fail? Would he be forced to stand by as the beautiful city fell? Worse, would he become the villain, and not the hero? Would the soldier fall, taking some of his comrades with him?

At one thousand and nineteen breaths, the fear had ebbed. It was still there, but it had been moved behind more important things. The sickness had left him... For the time being. He was himself again, and knew that he would be able to weather the storm.

It was only a matter of how.

He could feel the angel behind him, not showing itself or speaking aloud, but offering what support it could... Which was all that was needed.

He decided to voice one of his many questions aloud. "Will I be able to save them?"

No answer. That was expected. Why should he, of all people, be told what would come to pass? Multiple potential futures, maybe... But nothing more.

After a moment he got a response. Not what he wanted, but it was something. "They have to save themselves... They have to let Him work."

The soldier sighed. Careful not to wake the others, he rose and walked to the window. The floor squeaked underneath him, but he hoped the sound fell on deaf ears. Let them sleep.

He gazed longingly at the city expanse before him, shining beautifully as the setting sun cast its light on the buildings at just the right angle.

"So blessed," he said to both himself and to the angel. "I've been offered so much... So much potential and so many possibilities. And yet I always find myself wanting what is worst for me."

The angel, unmoving behind him, said, "Others before you have made their mistakes. But still you can rise above them. Do what they did not, and do not do what they did."

The soldier sighed. "You speak of greatness, and yet I can't even save the ones closest to me... The ones I want by my side at the front line. How, then, can I help others?"

There was no movement by the spirit, but he felt its arms wrap lovingly, protectively around him. "That is not for you to know. Not yet. Perhaps you will help the ones you love, or perhaps they will be reclaimed by another."

The soldier closed his eyes. The pain, worry and sickness was threatening to encroach again. "Or else they fall, and I live life wondering if and how I could have stopped it."

There was no response from the angel. He took that as a solemn agreement.

"Do any of us even deserve grace, considering what each of us has done?"

The angel held the soldier tighter. "It wouldn't be grace if you deserved it."

"I need help. I'm dangerously close to breaking. I wasn't meant to handle this much."

"You are given precisely what you can handle, even if you do not think it at the time," replied the angel. "And you are not alone. You have Him. You have your comrades... And there will be others. Friends, partners, a lover... All in due time."

His mind raced through all the images of those closest to him. The men and women he would always live for. Fight for. Die for. Relationships of all kinds, yet none more important than the other.

He took several deep breaths, calming himself before the fear of the future overtook him. "As it was told..." he began.

"So it shall be," the angel finished. "Do you see what I see?"

A single star appeared in the darkening sky, brighter than any he had seen before. A beacon, he was sure. Leading him to something... His future? Salvation?

The shock of exhaustion hit him like a brick. He could fall asleep then and there if he wasn't sure that doing so would result in a painful fall.

There was so much to do... It was both exciting and terrifying.

But he was not alone.

And he would stand tall, victorious, with his loved ones at his side.

They would all stumble, and it was possible some would fall, but he would do everything in his power to bring them all up again... As he knew they would do for him.

Mistakes would be made, love would be lost, lives would be mourned... But as long as he lived, he would make sure that each and every one of his group would stand tall in the end.

Together.

This? This was the way it was meant to be.

As long as they all would see.

Dawn Broke At Midnight

My sister and I made the trek out to the local Wal-Mart earlier this evening to pick up Breaking Dawn, the 4th book in Stephanie Meyer's Twilight Saga. Like Harry Potter before it, it released at midnight, 'cuz the buzz was big!

We were the only ones there.

Granted, we live in a very small area, but the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows launch at the same Wal-Mart at least had a line. This was totally a non-event. We just walked up to a lady unloading boxed full of the books and said, "Uhhh, can we grab a couple of those from you?"

Lady then said, "Not until 12:01."

(Note: It was 12:01 as she said this.)

So I looked at the other nearby books for a couple minutes (there are a LOT of Hannah Montana books, apparently. And they practially lined an entire shelf) before the lady handed us our spoils.

Then we checked out and left.

Thus, victory was achieved.

I'm sure the book will be great, though. My sister is already reading it. I'm probably gonna wait until work tomorrow, 'cuz I totally read on the job.