Tuesday Re-mix – This is a popular post from last year, updated and resubmitted for your consideration and comments.

With all the recent news from the Sports world about Tiger Woods and the Chris Henry tragedy, and with church and political leaders continuing to behave badly in very public ways,  “accountability” seems to be on the forefront of people’s minds.  It seems we all believe that accountability, as a concept, is a good thing.  All of us are for it, even would insist on it…as long as it applies to someone else.  But let somebody suggest that perhaps we ourselves (i.e., you or I) might benefit from a little more accountability in our lives and suddenly it’s a nasty idea, ill-conceived, feels judgmental, and who are they to make such a suggestion anyway?  I suppose it is just a matter of perspective.

In my line of work as a church mediator, I talk and teach quite a bit about Christian accountability.  It may well be the most common subject I address.  Scripture is replete with references to it.  As Christians, we really are to be involved in one another’s lives.  Think about Nathan/David, Paul/Peter, Paul/Timothy, Peter/Ananias/Saphira, and the list goes on and on.  Think about Matthew 18, Galatians 6:1, Philippians 4, I Corinthians 5, James 5, and the list goes on and on and on.

But, interestingly, even though the Bible talks a great deal about the concept of accountability, I haven’t found an English translation yet that actually uses the word “accountability”.  In that way, it is much like the word “evangelism”…lots of scriptural support for it, but the word isn’t actually used in scripture.

And so, this leads to my quagmire.  Maybe you can help.

What better word can we use to describe the process by which I allow other Christians to ask me hard questions about my life in order to grow me?  It should be a word that encompasses unconditional love as the only correct motive for confronting someone.  It should include the notion that we simply cannot become the Christian God wants us to become without the help of friends who love us enough to tell us the truth about what they see in us.  And there is an element of discipline in it as well.  There is the aspect of “iron sharpening iron”.  There is the reality that we do not hold one another accountable to a set of rules…rather, we hold each other accountable to a relationship with God.  And there is the reality that accountability (or whatever we end up calling it) always works best when we pull it up around ourselves as opposed to imposing it upon an unwilling person.

So, if “accountability” is a word with too much negative connotation, if it doesn’t communicate these ideas well enough, if we’re looking for a word or phrase that is more positive, perhaps more alluring, what might it be?  Because when I suggest to church leaders that perhaps they would benefit from letting me come and teach about “accountability”, I get some pretty negative looks back in my direction.

Can you help me out?  Got a better word?

There have been a lot of “dragon movies” throughout the years. But there seems to a curse when it comes to making a “dragon” movie. Everyone of them have been box office disappointments except The Lord of the Rings trilogy, of course.

Some of the more famous ones were Disney’s “Dragonslayer” and “Pete’s Dragon” which were pretty good for what they were. There was the furry dragon in the “The Neverending Story” movies. Then there was the huge disappointment “Dungeons & Dragons” which still to this day is mocked as being the beginning of “dragon” movie curse.

This brings us to the latest entry in the ever growing fantasy genre thanks to Peter Jackson. If you were to describe “Eragon” you would have to say it’s a cross between “The Neverending Story” and some movie between Uwe Boll’s “Bloodrayne” and “Dungeons & Dragons”. Don’t get me wrong it’s better than both those latter films there is just something wrong with the film.

The film follows Eragon (Edward Speleers), a farm boy who while hunting in a forbidden forest comes across a dragon’s egg. Not quite knowing what the dragon’s egg is, he brings it home in hopes he can sell it to feed his family. After Eragon’s brother goes off to battle, the egg hatches and a wobbly pint-sized dragon named Saphira (voiced by Rachel Weisz, in adult form) stumbles out.

The mad king (John Malkovich) of the land wants the dragon dead and Eragon is forced to team up with a disgruntled former dragon rider (Jeremy Irons) to get himself and the dragon to safety. Are the boy and his dragon the key to saving the world from dark rule? What is the connection between the boy and his dragon? Was Jeremy Irons born to play a mentor?

I have to admit that Jeremy Irons is the best part about this movie. His mentor role is engaging, stimulating and is the only factor that holds you in your seat. I just wish that they would have allowed him to do this sooner in a better film. I also really liked Sienna Guillory, but really what is not to like about this strong, talented and gorgeous actress. She steals every scene she is in.

The dragon flying sequences reminded me a lot of “Neverending Story” and all I could hear when they were on screen was that annoying “Neverending Story” theme song sung by Limahl. As for the dragon animation well it is very child friendly and appropriate if the film is solely focused on that market.

I found that star Edward Speleers was adequate in the role and you have to give him credit with his rather emotional scenes with a character that isn’t there. There were times where I really liked him and other times I felt he was very wooden. Also every time Irons would scream after him I would hear the word “arrogant” instead of his name Eragon.

The film is the first directorial effort by visual-effects guru Stefan Fangmeier who has an impressive career in visual-effects but his film doesn’t feel epic, engaging or focused and at times it feels like his main focus was trying to get to that 99 minute running time.

I would have to say that Eragon is slightly worse than “The Neverending Story” but a whole lot better than either of its sequels.

3 out of 5

So Says the Soothsayer.

Brisingr, es el tercer acto en la historia de Eragon y su dragona Saphira. Mientras que los primeros libros se sienten llenos de aventuras y descubrir nuevas tierras.,Brisingr se siente más directo. Su principal preocupación es solucionar problemas  y atar cabos, dominado por las espectativas que la misma trama fue creando. En sí este  tercer capítulo cierra muchos cabos sueltos y abre algunos sólo para dar muestras de cómo ha de ser el final

Eragon ha jurado servir a Nasuada, jefa máxima de la rebelión; debe seguir su entrenamiento con los elfos, y está bajo las órdenes de los enanos, debido a que es parte del clan. En sí, entre tantos juramentos y huecos en la historia que se necesitan llenar, Brisingr es una novela CASI completamente predecible en el sentido que la novela está obligada a desarrollarse hacia donde te ha apuntado desde dos libros atrás.

A groso modo, Brisingir trata de cómo es que Galbatorix cada vez se ha hecho más fuerte, el linaje de Eragon y Murtagh, el  final del entrenamiento de Eragon, el destino de la venganza contra los Ra’Zac,  las acciones de Nasuada para intentar liberar Alagaesia y el papel de Roran con los Varden.

En sí el libro toma un tono más obscuro; sanguinario, por no ir más lejos. Es notorio desde los primeros capítulos que Paolini intentó alejarse de la literatura para niños con un método fácil: incluir violencia y tornar más oscura la trama, sin desarrollar los personajes.  Las escenas de acción son del todo satisfactorias, aunque a veces no es creíble que un personaje sea tan poderoso de la noche a la mañana. Aunque si uno se traga el hecho de que es capaz de creer todo lo que aparece en el libro, tales exageraciones serán del agrado. Eso sí, hay capítulos enteros dedicados a política y a diálogos que bien pudieron quitarse sin mayor problema, pero son tan largos y tan aburridos que hubiera preferido saltarlos por completo al leer Brisingr.

Resumiendo, Brisingr ya no es un libro de aventura donde la sensación de viajar y descubrir nuevos lugares imperaba, va más hacia el cuento épico del héroe que tiene que batallar contra el mal. Es mucho más activo que su predecesor, Eldest, y por mucho, el más violento de toda la saga.   La narración está mejor hecha y ya no se siente como tres historias cortadas y pegadas a la fuerza en un libro; tiene fluidez entre cada historia. Las secciones de diálogo y política son un bodrio, pero por fortuna no son muchas. A veces intenta  ensalzar a los personajes, pero falla en su intento, haciéndolos superhumanos. Recomendable sólo si se ha seguido la serie; pero es  un excelente prólogo para el final de este relato.

A BellyBash Perfomer

A few Fridays ago, for a friend’s early birthday celebration, I ventured to the Ballston area to attend a BellyBash.  For those of you unfamiliar with the belly dancing community, a belly bash is a gathering of belly dancers – students, amateurs, and professionals – and their dopplegangers.

Aladdin’s eatery hosted the fête and guests ate traditional Lebanese food and of course celebrated with the perfect wine pairing while musicians played drums, tambourines and created the perfect sound with a keyboard synthesizer.

The tables were arranged in two long parallel lines to form one long corridor the professional belly bash performers used as a runway to gyrate and prance down.

There were four professional dancers who performed at least twice each.  All wore traditional belly dance garb – teeny tops  that surprisingly and hardly held in their upper endowments and low cut but full length pants and skirts made of brilliantly colored turquoise, maroon and blue chiffons.  The costumes were detailed with thick brocade, sparkling jewels and sequins. Each piece looked as if it were cut for each dancer.  And thank god for that; had they not fit so snuggly we would have had to show IDs at the door!

Of the dancers, it was evident that the star was a tall and buxom woman with long dark hair and striking eyes.  Saphira.

Saphira is the Belly name of an attorney who moonlights as a belly dance instructor and professional belly dancer.  Her real name is Rachel.

I’ve never met Rachel, but her alter ego Saphira is one impressive piece of belly!  Keeping time with the music’s rhythm with her hips and other lower jiggly parts, she twirled and vibrated up and down the long aisle between the lines of tables.  Every couple of feet she performed a special move or changed the speed of her hips to impress a male or – less often- female spectator.

Her moves were impressive: standing backbend while seductively swaying her arms behind her head all while shimmying her hips like a rattlesnake, the figure eight shimmy: moving her hips in a figure eight while shimmying them as well (seriously, try it, it’s impossible), and the coup de gras was a move that made my friend pretty nervous.  At the end of Saffira’s second routine (for which she rather vainly made a costume change) she pulled out the empty chair beside my friend and jumped onto it.  She then proceeded to do a shimmy routine atop the chair, rocking it until I was sure the legs would fall off beneath her.

As I visualized the look on the paramedic’s face should one be dispatched to scrape the middle eastern delight off the floor, I smiled and took another bite of fatoush.

This is the latest character/story that I want to start working on. Saphira Beccascant is the daughter of Darien and Lyra Beccascant, who adopted Garnet Ramses. If anyone read the piece on Garnet and David you might know a little bit about the place they live it. Except that Saphira lives at the Mage University Island, part of the Tigra Islands and freely admits that she has only been off the island twice in her life, both times to visit the Royal Family in Marclay.

So, the rest of this might ramble a bit, mostly because I don’t know where I’m going with this.

At twenty-three, Saphira is the oldest of three children. Her younger brothers are twins (I haven’t picked names yet, but both are very powerful mages and have left the University. One works for the Tigran government as the personal warder of the Queen and the other travels Marclay, finding ancient places of power). Saphira has not left the University Island and has been teaching for the last three years. Mainly, she teaches instruments and how to play the piano, flute and lute, rather than the magical portion of it. While she is as powerful as her brothers (all three have the title of Great Mage, like their parents) she doesn’t use her magic.

Part of what she competes with is the invisible ghost of Garnet. As she says, “My father never expected me to be him or anyone other than myself. However, everyone else expects me to be her.” Her being Garnet, Saphira’s adopted older sister, who Saphira never met. Garnet was dead for several years before Saphira was born.

So, I’m not sure what Saphira is going to do. First she has to come to terms with her magic and how to use it (Part of the reason she doesn’t use it is because Garnet’s minor magic was magical. And musical magic is not seen as ‘Great” magic, even though Saphira can bring down a building with the right instrument, intention and notes). Then she has to leave the island and her mother, Lyra (by the way, Darien is dead by now. He was nearly 20 years older than Lyra to begin with and nearly 60 when Saphira was born, I think. I have to check my notes).

Saphira has to become what she expects of herself, like her father did, rather than the dead woman that everyone else expects her to be. I really don’t want to bring Garnet into it much, only as a presence in the back of Saphira’s mind, much like I did with Opal (I don’t think I have anything on Opal on this blog though).

Hmm… I’m going to have to sit down and work through this one with extensive outlines and profiles. It might help if I name her brothers and flesh out more of her background, other than her parentage. Actually, it might help if I typed up Opal and worked out all the knots is that plot before moving onto another story in the Legion Jewels. And I know how I’m going to finish this: in Legion, where it started.

By Christopher Paolini

Place: Publisher & Year: New York: Alfred A. Knopf, 2008

Genres: Fantasy, adventure

Series: Inheritance; 3

ISBN: 9780375826726

Intended audience: Young adult, adult

Number of pages: 763

Setting: Alagaësia

Time period: [medieval]

Plot summary: Following a brief synopsis of Eragon and  Eldest, Brisingr picks up where Eldest left off.   Eragon and Saphira first must fulfill their promise to Roran to help him save Katrina.  Then it’s back to fulfilling obligations to the Varden and trying to defeat the evil empire.  However, Eragon and Saphira also must find the time to meet with their mentors, or they have no hope of defeating Galbatorix.  Eragon is also in need of a Rider’s Sword since Murtagh claimed Zar’roc on the Burning Plains.

Appeal factors:

Pacing: Most of the story is very fast paced, however, there are some slower moving episodes interspersed throughout the book.

Characterization: As in Eldest, most of the story is told in third person from Eragon’s perspective; other character perspectives include Saphira’s, Nasuada’s, and Roran’s.  Readers continue to learn more about the primary characters in this story.

Frame: The frame is set early on in the story when Eragon punishes a person for his crimes.  Eragon and his allies continuously strive to fight evil without succumbing to it.

Story line: The third installment of an exciting coming of age story about friendship, loyalty, trust, and self-discovery in the magical and war-torn realm of Alagaësia.

Subject headings:

From PCPL:

Dragons — Juvenile fiction.

Magic — Juvenile fiction.

And buried in the MARC display:

650  1 Fantasy.

650  1 Dragons|vFiction.

650  1 Magic|vFiction.

650  1 Youth’s writings.

From NoveList:

Dragons

Boys and dragons

Battles

Teenage boys

Allegiance

Loyalty

Duty

Responsibility

Elves

Good and evil

Fantasy fiction

Teenagers’ writing

Similar authors:

From NoveList’s featured article “Here be Dragons” by Tara Bannon:

Dragon flight by Anne McCaffrey – first in the Dragonriders of Pern series

Dragonhaven by Robin McKinley

His Majesty’s Dragon by Naomi Novik – first in the Temeraire series

Dragon’s Keep by Janet Lee Carey

Personal notes: Lots of valid criticism of this story can be found in the reviews on Amazon.  While I didn’t enjoy this book as much as the first two, I still enjoyed it.  Yes, it is violent, but I’m not sure I would consider it more violent than the first two – there were some gruesome scenes in the first book.  Readers do have to deal with more killing in this book (as well as idiot captains and subversive dwarves) – the rebel movement is now a full fledged war.  Some of the pacing did feel off to me – (like when Eragon has to go deal with dwarf politics after the action packed beginning) – but the story still held my interest.  I think this book may have had a rough start from the get go with readers in that the third book was originally supposed to be the last.  Obviously, things didn’t turn out that way and I think some readers may feel let down because they feel that the story is too long.  I’m going to withhold judgment on the length of the story until after the final installment….  And it doesn’t bother me that we haven’t seen Galbatorix yet.  Lots of evil villains don’t show their faces until the final scenes (if then…  Sauron never showed his face in The Lord of the Rings…)

Other (themes, diversity): Diversity – female warrior, female leader

Kate Langenburg/A&E Groove

Today I am going to post a blog about one of my guilty pleasures. So don’t judge me, okay?

The third book in the Inheritance Cycle is the best yet! Photo from alagaesia.com.

I have read the first two books in the Inheritance Cycle by Christopher Paolini. I am just about to finish the third. You may know each individual books by their true names: Eragon, Eldest, and Brisingr.

If you’re thinking of the movie Eragon right now, STOP IT. It was horrible and didn’t live up to the book at all. Seriously guys, read the book. You’ll be hooked on this stuff. It’s technically a children’s literature adventure series, but, like Harry Potter, many adults are now reading it.

Paolini weaves a web of a distant land called Alagaesia, in which dwarves, elves, and humans all live together in sometimes not-so-perfect harmony. Of course, all this comes after the main character, Eragon, finds a dragon egg in the middle of the forest. Little does he know, it holds his destiny. 

So now, three books later, I’m still just as engrossed as I was in the first novel. There are intense battle scenes, colorful characters, and a fantasy world that has sucked me in. Sometimes I even daydream of riding on a dragon…

But here is my beef. The fourth and final book in the series does not have a release date. It doesn’t even have a title or book cover yet. So what I’m thinking is that it won’t come out until some time next year when all the information I’ve read has been lost inside my jumbled brain.

Come on Chris, chop chop! I need to know what happens at the end of the series! The only consolation is that he usually provides you with a little synopsis at the beginning of each novel to let you know what already happened in previous books. Looks like I’m going to have to rely on that!

The most interesting that about the series is that Paolini might well be a genius. He finished writing the first book, Eragon, when he was only fifteen years old. So young for a 760 page book. Kudos, Chris.

You can find out information about the series, the author, and what is to come at Alagaesia.com. But keep in mind that they’re not giving away too much about the series. Brisingr!

Da. Free lancer fiind, imi permit sa citesc. Sa stau in pat si sa citesc. Daca luni am teminat cartea “Barbati care urasc femeile”, aseara pe la 2 am mai terminat o carte. Eragon-Brisingr scris sa de Christopher Paolini, un tip de aproximativ 25 de ani. S-a apucat sa scrie Eragon cand avea 15 ani, vrand sa scrie o carte asa cum i-ar fi placut lui sa citeasca.

Si a scris. Si a scris. Si a facut o pauza, dupa care a scris din nou. A scos 3 volume pana acum, prima intentie fiind sa scoata o trilogie, dar, dupa cum chiar el spune, romanul va prinde forma unei serii, pentru a lasa evenimentele sa curga intr-o ordine mai fireasca, fara a grabi nimic.

Primele doua carti au fost absolut geniale. A treia, cea pe care am terminat-o acum 10 ore, este putin dezamagitoare. Stilul in care a fost scrisa a fost schimbat. Se vede clar maturizarea autorului, ceea ce nu e neaparat un lucru rau. Actiunea lipseste mult. Foarte mult. Intr-o carte de 700 pagini, aproximativ 100 sunt de pura actiune, in rest foarte multe detalii. Jules Verne style. Se uita la o piatra si iti zice cate fire de praf are si ce lucruri din jur influenteaza asta.

Am citit 200 de pagini in care nu a zis nimic, in schimb daca eram vreo duduie ahtiata dupa dragoste pura eram uda toata. La fel ca si Harry Potter, au dat-o foarte mult pe legaturi de dragoste si pe nunti si capitole numite “Saruta-ma dulce”. Papi, am luat cartea nu ca sa vad ca se fute Roran, ci ca sa citesc cum coltii Saphirei musca si raman cu o bucata din miezul inimii lui Thorn. Sau daca tot vrem futere, da, vreau sa vad cum Eragon ( eroul principal pozitiv) il fute pe Galbatorix ( eroul negativ ).

Cartea se incheie cu mentiunea autorului ca in volumul patru, care va aparea cel mai curand in 2 ani!!!, se va da marea lupta intre cei doi si ca va fi cel mai tare volum de pana acum. Cred si eu. La cat l-am asteptat si o carte de desenat cu numele Eragon volumul 4 o sa mi se para geniala. Ca o tipa care-si pastreaza virginitatea pana la 25 de ani. Cand da atunci de … ( sunt porc, nu mai continui )

un petit croquis de saphira que j ai grifonné pendant que je devorais le dernier tome d’ Eragon! J adore toujours autant les histoires d elfes, de dragons, de chevalerie et de magie! quoiqu il y a quand meme pas mal de bouquins capables de me rendre autiste a tout ce qu il y a autour .

Who will be Saphira’s mate?

 Well we all know Glaedr is out of the picture for that.  He already refused her once so Saphira probably wont try again.

Shruikan

The only real way Saphira would mate with either of them is if Galbatorix captured her and forced her to mate with one of them.  Considering nothing bad has happened to Saphira yet, this unlikely.  She may mate with Thorn only if he and Murtagh turn good.  Well there both unlikely, but I’m rooting for Thorn.

The green dragon will probably be as likely as  Thorn or Shruikan, because the green dragon is currently under the control of Galbatorix.   Likeliness is that the Varden will capture the green dragons egg, he will hatch for someone(like Roran or Elva.  I’ll talk about this more later.) Saphira will fall in love with him, and they mate.  Yeah also Saphira’s gonna have to wait for the green dragon to mature.  If he hatches with Galbatorix he will be forced to grow rapidly like Thorn, if with the Varden he will have to mature like Saphira.  Even if he grows with Galbatorix, his rider will probably end up being with Galbatorix too, how else would he hatch then.  Anyway likelyness is Saphira will mate with the green dragon.  Hope not, I vote Thorn.

Many questions rise up when one comes to Brisinger; what happens to Murtagh, who’s actually Eragon’s real father, who will become Saphira’s mate, who will ride the green dragon. Stuff like that.  Well i went to www.shurtugal.com and they had some compelling theories on what might happen next.  I will start with what will happen to Murtagh

What will happen to Murtagh?

In Brisinger, Eragon tells Murtagh that changing the way he and Thorn act and their personalities, they will change their true names, thus Galbatorix would lose power over them.  Murtagh argues that Galbatorix probably has something to alert himself about Murtagh’s and Thorn’s true name changing.  Anyway Eragon tries to convince Murtagh that he can save him, and it shows hits that Murtagh does want to be saved, but his fear for Galbatorix is greater.  This shows us Murtagh has some good in him, that he is only doing this because Galbatorix is forcing him to.  I believe Murtagh and Thorn will attempt to change to good, or die trying.  His conversion, or the hatching of the green dragon, I believe, will change the tides in the war to the Varden.

Who’s actually Eragon’s Father?

Listen to this because Shurtagal.com has a great explanation. Murtagh said that Morzan was his father in the ancient language, and since you can’t lie in the ancient language, Morzan must be his father!” We all Know Selene was Murtagh and Eragon’s mother right, well they both assumed Morzorn was also both their father.  However, this is not at all true, and in reality Morzan is not Eragon’s father. It is Brom.

It makes way more sense. It also says you can tell an untruth in the Ancient Language if you believe it is truth.  Murtagh believed he was full blooded brothers with Eragon,  they share a mother, and there was no proof to say otherwise, so he assumed he was Morzorn’s son and spoke it in the ancient language.

Proof

P. 546

“Son and Father alike, both blind as bats”

It’s about betrayal. Brom was blind to Morzorn’s betrayal and Eragon to Murtagh’s.  Also in Eldest, Oromis tells Eragon about Morzorn.  He tells him how Morzorn was his greatest failure and how Brom idolized him.  Brom followed Morzorn everywhere, never contradicted him, and never believed that he could best Morzan in any venture.  Morzorn took advantage of Brom’s devotion a hundred different times, and Morzorn became proud and cruel.  But, before Oromis could seperate Brom and Morzorn, Morzorn helped Galbatorix steal a dragon hatchling, (Shruikan) to replace Galbitorix’s dead dragon, killing it’s original rider. Then Morzon and Galbatorix fled together.

Direct quote from Eldest, pg 280

“You cannot begin to fathom the effect Morzan’s betrayal had on Brom until you understand the depth of Brom’s affection for him. And when Galbatorix at last revealed himself and the Forsworn killed Brom’s dragon, Brom focused all of his anger and pain on the one who he felt was responsible for the destruction of his world: Morzan.”

Well there it is, Brom was majorly pissed off at Morzon, so of course he would do anything possible to get back at him.  Well Selene had fled from Morzorn after she had Murtagh, well she went to Carvahal.  Brom was in Carvahal, or went to Carvahal, anyway Selene ended up having another baby, Eragon.  The actual father was never disclosed, only assumed.  Why wouldn’t Brom comfort the woman abused by Morzorn?  Why wouldn’t he fall in love with her in the process?  Why wouldn’t they end up having a baby?  Of course it would be kept secret, to avoid issue.  Brom ends up killing Morzorn, and takes his sword.  The end of Morzorn.  Anyway it fits. After Selene died, why would Brom stay in Carvahal. He clames he was staying there waiting for the new Dragon rider.  It was also he wanted to keep an eye on his son.  Also of course the next dragon rider will probably end up being his own son, of course.  He was so quick to pick up on Eragon’s dragon riding because he was looking for it all along.

Anyway another little tidbit that i noticed is Morzorns dragon was red that’s why Zarroc is red. Ok Murtagh’s dragon Thorn is red.  Brom’s dragon the original Saphira was blue, Eragon’s  dragon Saphira is blue.  Coincidence i think not.

anyway i have go so I’ll talk about this later.

]]> http://mt1820today.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/die-person-des-heiligen-geistes/ Mon, 01 Jun 2009 22:01:45 +0000 JNj. http://mt1820today.wordpress.com/2009/06/02/die-person-des-heiligen-geistes/

Translation here.
Text als PDF zum downloaden

Entgegen vielen andersartigen Lehren und Behauptungen lehrt die Heilige Schrift im Alten und im Neuen Testament ganz eindeutig, dass der Heilige Geist nicht lediglich eine unpersönliche Kraft ist, sondern die dritte Person der Gottheit:

“Er wird mich verherrlichen, denn von dem Meinen wird er empfangen und euch verkündigen.”

(Johannes 16, 14)

“… auf welchen auch ihr gehofft, nachdem ihr gehört habt das Wort der Wahrheit, das Evangelium eures Heils, in welchem ihr auch, nachdem ihr geglaubt habt, versiegelt worden seid mit dem Heiligen Geiste der Verheißung, welcher das Unterpfand unseres Erbes ist, zur Erlösung des erworbenen Besitzes, zum Preise seiner Herrlichkeit.”

(Epheser 1, 13 – 14)

“Wenn aber der Sachwalter gekommen ist, den ich euch von dem Vater senden werde, der Geist der Wahrheit, der von dem Vater ausgeht, so wird er von mir zeugen.”

(Johannes 15, 26)

“… und ich werde den Vater bitten, und er wird euch einen anderen Sachwalter geben, daß er bei euch sei in Ewigkeit, den Geist der Wahrheit, den die Welt nicht empfangen kann, weil sie ihn nicht sieht noch ihn kennt. Ihr [aber] kennet ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.”

(Johannes 16, 16 – 17)

Was ist unter dem Begriff “Person” zu verstehen? Eine Person ist ein individuelles, geistiges Wesen, das durch Wille, Verstand, Gefühl und Handeln gekennzeichnet ist.  Die Personalität des Heiligen Geistes wird an vielen Stellen der Heiligen Schrift deutlich. So besitzt der Heilige Geist Intelligenz/Verstand:

“… uns aber hat Gott es geoffenbart durch [seinen] Geist, denn der Geist erforscht alles, auch die Tiefen Gottes. Denn wer von den Menschen weiß, was im Menschen ist, als nur der Geist des Menschen, der in ihm ist? Also weiß auch niemand, was in Gott ist, als nur der Geist Gottes. Wir aber haben nicht den Geist der Welt empfangen, sondern den Geist, der aus Gott ist, auf daß wir die Dinge kennen, die uns von Gott geschenkt sind;”

(1. Korinther 2, 10 – 12)

Der Heilige Geist besitzt Emotionen, Gefühle. Er liebt:

“Ich bitte euch aber, Brüder, durch unseren Herrn Jesum Christum und durch die Liebe des Geistes, mit mir zu kämpfen in den Gebeten für mich zu Gott …”

(Römer 15, 30)

Er kann betrübt werden:

“Sie aber sind widerspenstig gewesen und haben seinen heiligen Geist betrübt …”

(Jesaja 63, 10)

“Und betrübet nicht den Heiligen Geist Gottes, durch welchen ihr versiegelt worden seid auf den Tag der Erlösung.”

(Epheser 4, 30)

Der Heilige Geist besitzt einen Willen:

“Alles dieses aber wirkt ein und derselbe Geist, einem jeden insbesondere austeilend, wie er will.”

(1. Korinther 12, 11)

Fassen wir zusammen: Der Heilige Geist besitzt Intelligenz, Emotion/Gefühl und Willen, also die drei grundlegenden Merkmale einer Persönlichkeit.

Der Heilige Geist spricht:

“Während sie aber dem Herrn dienten und fasteten, sprach der Heilige Geist: Sondert mir nun Barnabas und Saulus zu dem Werke aus, zu welchem ich sie berufen habe.”

(Apostelgeschichte 13, 2)

“Und er kam zu uns und nahm den Gürtel des Paulus und band sich die Hände und die Füße und sprach: Dies sagt der Heilige Geist: Den Mann, dem dieser Gürtel gehört, werden die Juden in Jerusalem also binden und in die Hände der Nationen überliefern.”

(Apostelgeschichte 21, 11)

“Wer ein Ohr hat, höre, was der Geist den Versammlungen sagt! Dem, der überwindet, dem werde ich zu essen geben von dem Baume des Lebens, welcher in dem Paradiese Gottes ist.”

(Offenbarung 2, 7; vgl. auch: Offenbarung 2, 11; 2, 17 & 2, 29)

Der Heilige Geist erinnert, bezeugt, lehrt:

Wenn aber der Sachwalter gekommen ist, den ich euch von dem Vater senden werde, der Geist der Wahrheit, der von dem Vater ausgeht, so wird er von mir zeugen.”

(Johannes 15, 26)

“Der Sachwalter aber, der Heilige Geist, welchen der Vater senden wird in meinem Namen, jener wird euch alles lehren und euch an alles erinnern, was ich euch gesagt habe.”

(Johannes 14, 26)

Der Heilige Geist verwendet sich fürbittend für uns im Gebet:

“Desgleichen aber nimmt auch der Geist sich unserer Schwachheit an; denn wir wissen nicht, was wir bitten sollen, wie sich’s gebührt, aber der Geist selbst verwendet sich für uns in unaussprechlichen Seufzern. Der aber die Herzen erforscht, weiß, was der Sinn des Geistes ist, denn er verwendet sich für Heilige Gott gemäß.”

(Römer 8, 26 – 27)

Der Heilige Geist leitet uns, kann uns aber auch hindern, etwas zu tun:

“Wenn aber jener, der Geist der Wahrheit, gekommen ist, wird er euch in die ganze Wahrheit leiten …”

(Johannes 16, 13)

“Sie durchzogen aber Phrygien und die galatische Landschaft, nachdem sie von dem Heiligen Geiste verhindert worden waren, das Wort in Asien zu reden …”

(Apostelgeschichte 16, 6)

Der Heilige Geist spricht und beruft zum Dienst:

“Während sie aber dem Herrn dienten und fasteten, sprach der Heilige Geist: Sondert mir nun Barnabas und Saulus zu dem Werke aus, zu welchem ich sie berufen habe.”

(Apostelgeschichte 13, 2)

“Habet nun acht auf euch selbst und auf die ganze Herde, in welcher euch der Heilige Geist als Aufseher gesetzt hat, die Versammlung Gottes zu hüten, welche er sich erworben hat durch das Blut seines Eigenen.”

(Apostelgeschichte 20, 28)

Der Heilige Geist wirkt Zeichen und Wunder:

“… in der Kraft der Zeichen und Wunder, in der Kraft des Geistes [Gottes], so daß ich von Jerusalem an und ringsumher bis nach Illyrikum das Evangelium des Christus völlig verkündigt habe, …”

(Römer 15, 19)

“Als sie aber aus dem Wasser heraufstiegen, entrückte der Geist des Herrn den Philippus; und der Kämmerer sah ihn nicht mehr, denn er zog seinen Weg mit Freuden.”

(Apostelgeschichte 8, 39)

Heilige Geist überführt von Sünde und ist betrübt, wenn Menschen sich nicht überführen lassen:

“Da sprach der HERR: Die Menschen wollen sich von meinem Geist nicht mehr strafen lassen; denn sie sind Fleisch. Ich will ihnen noch Frist geben hundertundzwanzig Jahre.”

(1. Mose 6, 3; vgl. Jesaja 63, 10 & Epheser 4, 30)

“Petrus aber [sprach] zu ihr: Was ist es, daß ihr übereingekommen seid, den Geist des Herrn zu versuchen? Siehe, die Füße derer, welche deinen Mann begraben haben, sind an der Tür, und sie werden dich hinaustragen.”

(Apostelgeschichte 5, 9)

“Ihr Halsstarrigen und Unbeschnittenen an Herz und Ohren! ihr widerstreitet allezeit dem Heiligen Geiste; wie eure Väter, so auch ihr.”

(Apostelgeschichte 7, 51)

“… wer aber irgend wider den Heiligen Geist lästern wird, hat keine Vergebung in Ewigkeit, sondern ist ewiger Sünde schuldig …”

(Markus 3, 29)

“… wieviel ärgerer Strafe, meinet ihr, wird der wertgeachtet werden, der den Sohn Gottes mit Füßen getreten und das Blut des Bundes, durch welches er geheiligt worden ist, für gemein geachtet und den Geist der Gnade geschmäht hat?”

(Hebräer 10, 29)

Der Heilige Geist steht in persönlicher Beziehung zu Gott, dem Vater und Gott, dem Sohn:

“Gehet [nun] hin und machet alle Nationen zu Jüngern, und taufet sie auf den Namen des Vaters und des Sohnes und des Heiligen Geistes …”

(Matthäus 28, 19)

Der Heilige Geist steht in persönlicher Beziehung zu dem Herrn Jesus Christus:

“Er wird mich verherrlichen, denn von dem Meinen wird er empfangen und euch verkündigen.”

(Johannes 16, 14)

Der Heilige Geist leitet die Versammlung (= Gemeinde/Kirche) in enger Beziehung mit den Gläubigen:

“Denn es hat dem Heiligen Geiste und uns gut geschienen, keine größere Last auf euch zu legen, als diese notwendigen Stücke: ….”

(Apostelgeschichte 15, 28)

Der Heilige Geist ist eine deutlich von Gott, dem Vater und Gott, dem Sohn zu unterscheidende Person:

“… und ich werde den Vater bitten, und er wird euch einen anderen Sachwalter geben, daß er bei euch sei in Ewigkeit …”

(Johannes 14, 16)

Hier wird zum einen gesagt, dass der Herr Jesus Christus den Glaubenden “einen anderen” Tröster geben will, d.h., dieser andere Tröster ist eindeutig eine andere Person als der Herr Jesus Christus Selbst.  Und es wird gesagt, dass dieser andere Tröster von Gott, dem Vater erbeten ist, d.h. Er ist auch eine deutlich von Gott, dem Vater zu unterscheidende Person. Dass es sich bei diesem von Gott, dem Sohn gesandten und von Gott, dem Vater, erbetenen anderen Tröster um den Heiligen Geist handeln muss, wird deutlich, wenn wir Johannes 14, 17 lesen, wo der Herr Jesus Christus diesen anderen Tröster als “den Geist der Wahrheit” bezeichnet:

“…den Geist der Wahrheit, welchen die Welt nicht empfangen kann, denn sie beachtet ihn nicht und kennt ihn nicht; ihr aber kennet ihn, denn er bleibt bei euch und wird in euch sein.

(Johannes 14, 17)

Und in Johannes 14, 26 wird dieser andere Tröster von dem Herrn Jesus Christus eindeutig als der Heilige Geist identifiziert:

“Aber der Tröster, der Heilige Geist, welchen mein Vater senden wird in meinem Namen, der wird euch alles lehren und euch erinnern alles des, das ich euch gesagt habe.”

(Johannes 14, 26)

In Johannes 15, 26 sagt der Herr Jesus Christus, dass Er den anderen Tröster senden würde, den Er vom Vater für die Gläubigen erbeten hat:

“Wenn aber der Tröster kommen wird, welchen ich euch senden werde vom Vater, der Geist der Wahrheit, der vom Vater ausgeht, der wird zeugen von mir.”

(Johannes 15, 26)

Hier ist eindeutig eine Ich – der Vater – der andere Tröster – Beziehung beschrieben, eine Beziehung zwischen drei eindeutig unterscheidbaren Personen.

Der Heilige Geist ist Gott:

In Apostelgeschichte 5, 3 – 4 sagt der Apostel Petrus, dass Annanias und Saphira Gott, den Heiligen Geist, belogen haben:

“Petrus aber sprach: Ananias, warum hat der Satan dein Herz erfüllt, den heiligen Geist zu belügen und von dem Erlös des Gutes [etwas] zu entwenden?  Konntest du es nicht als dein Eigentum behalten? Und als du es verkauft hattest, war es nicht in deiner Gewalt? Warum beschlossest du denn in deinem Herzen diese Tat? Du hast nicht Menschen belogen, sondern Gott!”

(Apostelgeschichte 5, 3 – 4)

In 1. Korinther 3, 16 und 1. Korinther 6, 19 lehrt der Apostel Paulus, dass die Gläubigen ein Tempel Gottes, des Heiligen Geistes sind:

“Wisset ihr nicht, daß ihr Gottes Tempel seid und der Geist Gottes in euch wohnt ?”

(1. Korinther 3, 16)

“Oder wisset ihr nicht, daß euer Leib ein Tempel des heiligen Geistes ist, welchen ihr habt von Gott, und seid nicht euer selbst.”

(1. Korinther 6, 19)

Der Heilige Geist ist ewig, Er ist ungeschaffen, wie Gott, der Vater und Gott, der Sohn:

“… wieviel mehr wird das Blut des Christus, der durch den ewigen Geist sich selbst ohne Flecken Gott geopfert hat, euer Gewissen reinigen von toten Werken, um dem lebendigen Gott zu dienen!”

(Hebräer 9, 14)

Der Heilige Geist ist allwissend:

“Uns aber hat es Gott offenbart durch seinen Geist; denn der Geist erforscht alle Dinge, auch die Tiefen der Gottheit.“

(1. Korinther 2, 10)

“Aber der Tröster, der Heilige Geist, welchen mein Vater senden wird in meinem Namen, der wird euch alles lehren und euch erinnern alles des, das ich euch gesagt habe.”

(Johannes 14, 26)

“Und siehe, ein Mensch war zu Jerusalem, mit Namen Simeon; und derselbe Mensch war fromm und gottesfürchtig und wartete auf den Trost Israels, und der heilige Geist war in ihm.  Und ihm war eine Antwort geworden von dem heiligen Geist, er sollte den Tod nicht sehen, er hätte denn zuvor den Christus des HERRN gesehen. Und er kam aus Anregen des Geistes in den Tempel. Und da die Eltern das Kind Jesus in den Tempel brachten, daß sie für ihn täten, wie man pflegt nach dem Gesetz, da nahm er ihn auf seine Arme und lobte Gott und sprach: HERR, nun läßt du deinen Diener in Frieden fahren, wie du gesagt hast; denn meine Augen haben deinen Heiland gesehen, welchen du bereitest hast vor allen Völkern, ein Licht, zu erleuchten die Heiden, und zum Preis deines Volkes Israel.”

(Lukas 2, 25 – 32)

Der Heilige Geist ist allgegenwärtig:

“Wo soll ich hin gehen vor deinem Geist, und wo soll ich hin fliehen vor deinem Angesicht?“

(Psalm 139, 7)

Der Heilige Geist ist heilig:

“Verwirf mich nicht von deinem Angesicht und nimm deinen heiligen Geist nicht von mir.”

(Psalm 51, 13)

“Aber sie erbitterten und entrüsteten seinen heiligen Geist; darum ward er ihr Feind und stritt wider sie.”

(Jesaja 63, 10)

“Petrus aber sprach: Ananias, warum hat der Satan dein Herz erfüllt, daß du dem heiligen Geist lögest und entwendetest etwas vom Gelde des Ackers?”

(Apostelgeschichte 5, 9)

Der Heilige Geist ist allmächtig:

“Der Engel antwortete und sprach zu ihr: Der heilige Geist wird über dich kommen, und die Kraft des Höchsten wird dich überschatten; darum wird auch das Heilige, das von dir geboren wird, Gottes Sohn genannt werden.“

(Lukas 1, 35)

Gott, der Heilige Geist war an der Schöpfung beteiligt, wie Gott, der Vater und Gott, der Sohn:

“Der Geist Gottes hat mich gemacht, und der Odem des Allmächtigen hat mir das Leben gegeben.“

(Hiob 33, 4)

“Und die Erde war wüst und leer, und es war finster auf der Tiefe; und der Geist Gottes schwebte auf dem Wasser.”

(1. Mose 1, 2)

“Du lässest aus deinen Odem, so werden sie geschaffen, und du erneuerst die Gestalt der Erde.”

(Psalm 104, 30)

“Wer hat ihm die Erde anvertraut? Und wer den ganzen Erdkreis gegründet? Wenn er sein Herz nur auf sich selbst richtete, seinen Geist und seinen Odem an sich zurückzöge, so würde alles Fleisch insgesamt verscheiden, und der Mensch zum Staube zurückkehren.“

(Hiob 34, 13 – 15)

Das Schöpfungshandeln des Heiligen Geistes wird auch bei der geburt des Herrn, in Seiner Auferweckung und bei dem Bewirken der Wiedergeburt im Gläubigen deutlich:

“Der Engel antwortete und sprach zu ihr: Der heilige Geist wird über dich kommen, und die Kraft des Höchsten wird dich überschatten; darum wird auch das Heilige, das von dir geboren wird, Gottes Sohn genannt werden.“

(Lukas 1, 35)

“Wenn aber Christus in euch ist, so ist der Leib zwar tot um der Sünde willen, der Geist aber ist Leben um der Gerechtigkeit willen. Wenn aber der Geist dessen, der Jesus von den Toten auferweckt hat, in euch wohnt, so wird derselbe, der Christus von den Toten auferweckt hat, auch eure sterblichen Leiber lebendig machen durch seinen Geist, der in euch wohnt.“

(Römer 8, 10 – 11)

“Jesus antwortete: Wahrlich, wahrlich, ich sage dir, wenn jemand nicht aus Wasser und Geist geboren wird, so kann er nicht in das Reich Gottes eingehen!  Was aus dem Fleische geboren ist, das ist Fleisch, und was aus dem Geiste geboren ist, das ist Geist. Laß dich’s nicht wundern, daß ich dir gesagt habe: Ihr müßt von neuem geboren werden!”

(Johannes 3, 5 – 7)

Viele weitere Aussagen der Heiligen Schrift machen deutlich, dass der Heilige Geist eine Person der göttlichen Dreieinheit ist. Er besitzt alle Eigenschaften und Kennzeichen einer Person. Keine unpersönliche Kraft kann lehren, erinnern, betrübt werden, lieben etc. Welche Konsequenzen hat dieses Wissen für Ihr persönliches Glaubensleben?

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Giornata splendida, ritrovo al mitico bar il girasole, ovviamente gestito da un motociclista in sella a 1098… si parte dopo una piccola sosta carburante per i due compagni buellisti arrivati da torino e via… già nelle prime curve sulla strada di cesana mi sento rinascere… stress nervosismi e problemi svaniscono… libertà di pensiero e di azione… in poco tempo raggiungiamo briancon un piccolo paesino turistico arroccato sulle montagne a mio giudizio molto grazioso… nn ci fermiamo, mla voiglia del primo colle è troppo forte… proseguiamo la strada, purtroppo l’izoard è ancora chiuso, le grandi e intense nevicate di quest’anno hanno ritardato la stagione motociclistica di un mese abbondante..pazienza sarà per la prossima volta… si prosegue in un tratto di strada abbastanza noioso, lasciamo i cavalli rilassarsi e ci godiamo il paesaggio stupendo di prati e montagne che vedono i primi fiori… arriviamo così alla rotonda di guillestre dove imbocchiamo la strada per il col du var… piccola sosta per noi, 4 chiacchere e commenti su quello che abbiamo i visto, compresi i gendarmi col laser!!! Poi in sella e si sale partono subito i primi tornanti, ragazzi che spettacolo, curve pennellate in un paesaggio da cartolina, fin su in cima dove l’altitudine si a sentire e troviamo ancora un paesaggio innevato che solo sole quasi acceca, in cima lasciamo spazio alle macchine foto e ci sbirrazziamo in mille scatti dai più belli ai più stupidi “tipo collezione estate inverno® by slay”… poi si scende lo stomaco chiama e quindi pausa pappa a barcellonette dove ci sediamo al ristorante “saint tropez” che di buono aveva solo il nome, si sa che la cucina francese non è delle migliori, credo che ancora adesso il mio povero pancino stia accusando quella salsina chimica sopra l’entrecote (senza offesa per le entrecote)… A stomaco pieno e con occhietto calante ci incamminiamo nell’ultimo pezzo interessante che subito ci fa svegliare… infatti percorriamo il tratto di strada che passa dietro il lago de savines e ci porta fin sul colle che guada sopra il lago regalandoci una vista memorabile e sempre magnifica pur essendoci passato ormai dozzine di volte, qui la strada è decisamente divertente una curva dopo l’altra, la strada dritta si conta sulla dita di una mano… cosi il rientro fino a ripercorrere un pezzo dell’andata per poi farci i saluti a cesana… ma non ho resistito, cosi ho accompagnano i “flat asses” fino a sestriere per il loro rientro a pinerolo e poi torino… Grazie ragazzi delle curve e della bella giornata… buena vida

–>visualizza percorso<–

Monted by Fla@sset

Amen_Pilotino ha parlato

ciao slay che si fa domani

ma non so, le previsioni danno schifo su schifo….

propongo il piano, sveglia alle 743 guardiamo fuori e decidiamo…

ore 748:

sms: sole con qualche nuvola qua e la, ritrovo ore 942 bar girasole!!!

sms: colazione e parto, 937 sono li.

ore 8:02 nuvole ovunque tranne un raggio di sole, tanto si apre… non si molla, la decisione è stata presa, vediamo se ne varrà la pena…

ore 9:49 si parte direzione monginevro, dopo ilprimo colpo di freddo spunta il sole timido dietro le montagne e ci godiamo queste dolci curve che ci accompagnano fino a claviere… che sensazione strana viaggiare in moto e superare macchine con i portasci e gli autisti che ti guardanmo stralunati…

comunque una volta su abbiamo deciso di riscendere, si il sole c’era ma anche un po ti fastidiosa tormenta di neve e delle nuvole all’orizzonte davvero inquietanti… cosi in discesa si prende la via di cesana, una volta al bivio due impavidi guardando quel famoso raggio di sole timido tra le nubi si incamminano in quel di sestriere… anche qui macchine che scendevano con gli occhi fuori dalle orbite nel vederci… chissà come mai, forse i 10 cm di neve sui loro tetti avrebbe dovuto darci un sentore del motivo…. strada sempre magnifica, un po bagnata a tratti ma bella quel tanto per qualche piega ben fatta… ultime curve e il bagnato diventa fiume… che si stava sciogliendo la neve messa nella notte e la la temperatura non era proprio delle migliori… sosta per qualche scatto

e poi giu verso fenestrelle, pragelato fino a pinerolo dove abbiamo anche preso un po di pioggia che non guasta la nostra voglia di moto… ma a pinerolo tutto cambia, seguiamo una via bellissima immersa nel verde con un sole incredibile, la nostra testardaggine è stata ripagata come dice il detto chi non risica non rosica….

cosi arriviamo fino ai laghi dove facciamo sosta pappa al sole e al caldo…. una bella bistecca con insalata e poi qualche attimo di sole ancora… le nuvole ci stanno accerchiando di nuovo… bhè giro abbastanza corto ma divertente, io e compagno slaymer ci salutiamo e prendo a strada del rientro… un po più bagnata da un acquazzone che di certo no mi ha fermato…. due belle pieghe nei tornanti di susa e poi dritto fino a a oulx a mettere a riposo Saphira…

Alhoa e buena vida…

Amen pilotino ha parlato…… basta pioggia solo sole!!!

Title:  Brisingr

Author:  Christopher Paolini

Hardback:  764 pages

Publish Date:  2008

Publisher:  Alfred A. Knopf  (div. of Random House)

ISBN:  9780375826726

Miscellaneous:  Brisingr is the third book in the Inheritance Cycle.

By the light from the coals in the oven, Eragon studied Sloan’s hands; the butcher lay a yard or two away, where Eragon had placed him.  Dozens of thin white scars crisscrossed his long, bony fingers, with their oversized knuckles and long fingernails that, while they had been meticulous in Carvahall, were now ragged, torn, and blackened with accumulated filth.  The scars testified to the relatively few mistakes Sloan had made during the decades he had spent wielding knives.  His skin was wrinkled and weathered and bulged with wormlike veins, yet the muscles underneath were hard and lean.

Eragon sat on his haunches and crossed his arms over his knees.  “I can’t just let him go,” he murmured.  If he did, Sloan might track down Roran and Katrinan, a prospect that Eragon considered unacceptable.  Besides, even though he was not going to kill Sloan, he believed the butcher should be punished for his crimes.

… What, however, would constitiute proper punishment?  I refused to become an executioner, thought Eragon, only to make myself an arbiter.  What do I know about law?

-Brisingr by Christopher Paolini, page 75

As we return to Alagaesia in this, the third book in the Inheritance Cycle, we begin the journey of growing up as most of the old leaders, Brom, Ajihad, Hrothgar, and Durza all died in the second book and Eragon, Roran, Nasuada, Orik and Murtagh have all stepped into the positions of leadership their deaths left open.  This concept, that of the younger generation stepping up and carrying the banner, is the continuing theme throughout Brisingr by Christopher Paolini.

To be completely honest, I doubt this book could be a stand alone novel.  There is so much that occurred in the two previous books that has led to the events in this book, and most of those events are not referenced, it is assumed that the reader already knows.  Even though I’d read the first two, and had read them less than a year ago, there were still a couple times where even I failed to remember what previous happening was alluded to.

What’s more, Brisingr seems to be a bloated and under-edited cry of “look at me!  I’m so smart!  I has talents!” from Paolini.  Yes, Eragon (the first book of the series) was an impressive show of skill, partly because if the story and writing, but also because of the fact the author was 15 when he wrote it.  And Eldest was a continuation of that book.  Both were exciting and fascinating, with dragons and elves and the battle of good versus evil.  Both contained sword fights and duels of magicians, and the fight to protect one of the most basic rights people have, to have and be safe in one’s own home.  Disappointingly, though, Brisingr drags on and on, with pages spent on day trips of hunting or flying around, and with Eragon’s whining.  I got so sick of his whining by the end of the book!

It is not entirely bad, though.  There are several things that I loved about this book.  SPOILER ALERT… warn you ahead of time.  I appreciated Eragon’s difficult choice not to kill Sloan, who’s decision to betray the village of Carvahall to the Galbatorix led to the death of many and the ultimate destruction of the village.  He chooses not to be an executioner, yet he also realizes justice demands Sloan’s punishment.  Eragon shows a depth of character and the ability to think on many levels with the punishment he imposes.  He does not abandon Sloan to the desert, being an executioner by proxy, but takes up the responsibility for the man’s life throughout the book.  Another facet of Brisingr I truly loved is Eragon’s true parentage.  I cannot think of a better or more noble resolution to the struggle Eragon goes through after Murtagh revealed to him that they were brothers.  In fact, this little nugget makes me hate the movie version even more, because it was never touched (That movie will have negative stars before the end of this series!).  Also, I have enjoyed watching Roran come into his own as a leader within the Varden, no longer viewed solely as the cousin of the Dragon Rider.

Seriously, Brisingr by Christopher Paolini leaves a lot to be desired, but it’s one of those things that I’m glad I did now that I’m done.  I wanted to finish it because I loved the first two books, and I will buy and read the final book when it comes out.  I give it 3 out of 5 stars.  Maybe they should make a condensed version?  Does Reader’s Digest do fantasy books?

Other reviews of interest for Brisingr:

ImpishIdea Brisingr Review

Ngewo’s Dirty Little Mind Brisingr Review

Material Witness Brisingr Review

In the following video, two teenage guys try to make sense of two popular YA books. Twilight versus Brisingr…. who will win?

Finalmente la stagione motociclistica è iniziata… e come iniziarla nel migliore dei modi??? Andando al 2°Superga Day, un raduno organizzato dal Ducati Club Torino ma aperto a tutte le moto…. e quindi ore 8:15 si parte in direzione Torino con un compagno di viaggi… Forse dalle vostre parti è già scoppiata la primavera, da noi dopo un piccolo assaggio di qualche giorno il freddo è tornato a farsi sentire e il termometro casalingo diceva -5….. Ma niente mi avrebbe diviso da questo giorno… e poi l’adrenalina di risalire sul mio cavallo dopo l’inverno era tantissima e mi bastava quella a scaldarmi oltre ovviamente a vari strati di indumenti tecnici!!! A torino troviamo il terzo guerriero Slaymer con la sua buell ulisses  e ci dirigiamo verso Corso Cairoli…Ragazzi che folla, abbiamo riempito la piazza del monumento di Garibaldi che ci gurdava compiaciuto… 220 moto circa, alla partenza non potete immaginare il boato della partenza e la nuvola di calore che si è alzata… cosi diretti verso Superga sulla strada panoramica… dovete sapere che questa è stata chiusa al transito delle moto da circa 18 anni ma il D.C.T. ha ottenuto l’ordinanza di passaggio, che curve anche se le velocità erano da passeggio ma l’importante era godersi quel momento in compagnia di altri centauri… Infine su giro panoramico ammirato dalla basilica c’è stata la benedizione del prete con sagge parole… ha usato la bibbia e attraverso le parole del signore ci ha suggerito di non fare i coglioni con le nostre moto … Una bellissima giornata, il sole era caldo e la gita è proseguita fin a miesino dove abbiamo pranzato in compagnia di Giancarlo Falappa gentilissimo e disponibile per autografi e battute, del ducati torino e del reparto R.C.V. … poi rientro su per le valli con Temperature decisamente migliori dell’andata…. Wow… 

torno a casa goduto da mon tresor e dal mio polletto… he si he… che bello che è.. cresce a vista d’occhio ed è sempre più simpatico e tenero… ci tiene compagnia e ci fa scassare dalle risate delle volte….

Sabato e domenica salirò sul primo gradino della mia carriera da istruttore di Spin… ci sarà la certificazione e diventerò Star 1… ma è ancora lunga l’avventura per l’ultimo passo verso Star3….

Amen_Pilotino ha parlato

om mig själv idag. tror att jag är sjuk, o jo jag bara tror. har vaknat med dunder huvudvärk o jag är svag i kroppen. vaknade vid 7 tiden men har inte stigit upp förrän nu, nästan 10. sitter här med en kopp kaffe o undrar vad jag ska göra. känner bara för att krypa ner under täcket igen men har lite jag känner att jag måste göra oxå.

hade bestämt med systersonen att han skulle komma idag för att sova över igen. men har pratat precis med dom. jag behöver nog inte ha dåligt samvete för att jag inte orkar o känner för de idag. morfar ska ta med “oscar” o “eric” till busfabriken i halmstad så dom är ju fullt sysselsatta iallafall.

nä nu blir de lite köksbestyr o sen är de under täckte en timma eller två…….

livet rullar inte med många knop idag. men har varit hundvakt nån timma åt “saphira”. men de var bara jobbigt, mina små råttor blev som galna o ville inte låta henne vara ifred o hon blev irriterad hela tiden. som tur var …….. var de bara nån timma o då kan man stå ut. hade bestämt att åka till svärföräldrar med en annanaspaj o fika men en viss person tyckte visst inte de var någon bra idé så de får väl bli nån annan gång……….. desto mer paj åt mig o barnen.

de är så typiskt att när man inte känner sig så uppe så är de en strid ström av människor i mitt hem. lotta kom när jag var på väg att köra tillbaka saphira. mamma ville ha skjuts för att utföra lite ärenden. o sen när jag till sist slagit mig ner i soffan med en cappucion o lite paj så kom pappa o lillebror. pappa ville

träffa döttrarna som inte var hemma men dom satt en stund o fika, till o med lillebror tyckte min paj var god :O)  o sen var jag ute o provkörde pappas nya bil …….  en volvo V50  supersnygg, jag gillar inte volvo speciellt mycke men den är riktig snygg……. o skön att köra oxå  :O)

döttrarna har gått iväg till kompisar o jag tänker bädda iordning min säng o sen får de bli sängläge resten av kvällen…………. försöka sova mycke o länge……. o hoppas att jag mår bättre imorgon.

God Natt ……………..ZZzzzzzzz

Finalmente consigo postar a crítica há tanto prometida ao terceiro livro do ciclo da herança de C.Paolini. Tentei ter cuidado e inserir o menor número de spoilers possíveis, contudo eles estão presentes… por isso cuidado! O texto que se segue é apenas fruto de uma opinião pessoal, terei todo o gosto em receber todos os comentários, quer os leitores concordem ou não com a minha apreciação;

Muito se esperou pelo terceiro livro da “Trilogia da Herança”, o livro que nos traria o fim da história, que nos mostraria o destino de toda a Alagaesia, o destino dos homens bem como o destino dos Dragões. Mas, passados mais de dois anos de espera, eis que surge uma noticia que tudo mudaria: já não esperávamos pelo final da história! A mesma teria sido impossível de ser explanada apenas num livro. Assim morreu a “Trilogia da Herança” e, dando os seus primeiros passos, nasceu o “Ciclo da Herança”. Correndo o risco de ser injusto a minha primeira reacção a esta notícia não foi positiva, ficando no ar um cheiro incomodativo de um colossal engodo, de um livro que pouco contribuiria para o desenrolar da história, enfim, de uma tremenda jogada de marketing com vista ao puro e simples lucro. Mas como quase sempre as primeiras impressões se revelam erradas decidi esperar para ler Brisingr e depois perceber se me encontrava certo ou errado. Finalmente o livro foi publicado e não demorou muito tempo para que tivesse oportunidade de adquirir um exemplar. Iniciada a leitura rapidamente me senti de novo impregnado na história, de novo me identifiquei com o universo de Paolini onde fluía a verdadeira base do enredo: o laço que une Eragon ao seu Dragão, Saphira. Página atrás de página a leitura foi-se revelando agradável e, para minha surpresa, sentia abandonar os meus receios iniciais. Foi este o primeiro contacto com a nova obra de um autor que não goza agora do estatuto de juventude dos primeiros tempos, e a quem lhe é exigido nos dias de hoje, por parte de críticos e fãs, uma maior maturidade na sua escrita e um desenvolvimento rápido das suas capacidades. Contudo, à medida que avançava nas páginas uma lenta monotonia pareceu abater-se sobre as linhas, onde teimavam em não aparecer verdadeiros desenvolvimentos na acção principal, tendo o autor escolhido desenvolver alguns pormenores que se prendem essencialmente com as personagens algo secundárias, ao invés de incutir na sua escrita maior incisão para um ritmo mais acelerado. Fiquei, no entanto, muito satisfeito com a maior presença de Roran na história pois é, sem dúvida, a personagem que mais prefiro. Com Roran as cenas são mais intensas, onde surgem batalhas frenéticas das quais destaco o fenomenal salvamento de Katrina. São as cenas de Eragon que de novo trazem o marasmo, que chega a ser doloroso aquando da estadia do cavaleiro do dragão em farthen-dhur, no concilio dos anões. Aqui a única cena de real interesse é o ataque movido a Eragon por parte de um clã que jurara vingança contra ele no primeiro volume do ciclo, onde é interessante ler a forma como Eragon repele os ataques ainda que esteja muito longe de Saphira, tão longe que nem conseguem comunicar um com o outro. Esporadicamente surgiam cenas que me despertavam, como se o livro ganhasse nova alma, conseguindo o autor conquistar-me com a questão sempre presente da ausência de uma espada adequada a um Cavaleiro do Dragão, levando-me a sonhar com o momento em que cavaleiro e dragão conseguissem resolver o enigma do homem-gato, resgatar a arma que se esconde debaixo da árvore Menoa. E depois, sem mais nem menos, sem um aviso prévio, aparece uma personagem fantástica, no estilo de Tom Bombadil: é agora – pensei – agora a história ameaçava uma viragem, e li incessantemente, degustando cada palavra, sonhando com o velho misterioso que parece não fazer qualquer esforço ao executar magia, que parecia deslocado, poderoso, misterioso…que procurava a resposta à grande pergunta da vida… e Paolini surpreendia-me. Preso à trama avancei sem medos para este mistério que subitamente…acabou…e assim ficou apenas um mistério, devido à  fuga de Eragon… Esperei por uma justificação mas nenhuma, repito, nenhuma explicação surgiu que levantasse o véu sobre a personagem!

Foi o forjar da espada do Cavaleiro do Dragão que mais me maravilhou, para descrever este desenvolvimento não tenho adjectivos, muito bom mesmo! E para aqueles que ainda não leram: preparem-se para a surpresa total, quando perceberem porque tem este livro o nome de Brisingr!!! Descobrido o grande segredo dos Dragões e dado o primeiro sinal de verdadeira presença de Galbatorix eis que chega o final do livro com uma cena que prometia imenso: a saída de Glaedr e do seu cavaleiro da cidade Élfica para defrontar Murthag e Thorn… Eu antevia uma batalha de proporções bíblicas mas o autor escolheu remeter esta batalha para segundo plano, tendo sido narrada em off-scene, onde nos chegavam pequenas informações da batalha e por fim o resultado da mesma…

Na globalidade Brisingr é um excelente livro, no nível de Eldest, mas onde os problemas políticos tomam conta da maior parte do enredo que é explorado pelo autor com alguns sinais de mestria, mas que tornam o livro um pouco pesado (e pensar que o editor rejeitou 200 páginas a Paolini), onde os grandes acontecimentos nos prendem até ao último instante… é pena que estas cenas mágicas aconteçam muito espaçadas entre si; Muitas vezes desejei um ritmo mais intenso, muito por culpa da minha leitura dos mundos de Goor de Pedro Ventura, onde o ritmo é avassalador e não existem pontos mortos; Destaco no livro, pelo lado positivo uma grande evolução nas descrições do universo de Alagaesia, uma evolução no relacionamento de Eragon e Arya que dá um bom toque de romance à história, uma boa incursão na mitologia e na religião desse mundo que culmina no aparecimento de um Deus, as batalhas de Roran, a travessia de Eragon pelo Império, entre outras cenas em que a evolução de Paolini é visível, ainda que espasmodicamente.

Por fim admito que estava errado, não penso agora que a passagem de três para quatro livros tenha sido uma deliberada estratégia de marketing mas sim uma escolha do autor para tornar a saga mais densa em termos de informação! Mas será densidade a mais? Veremos, quando tivermos o prazer de ler o último volume deste ciclo mágico…

Nota 8 numa escala de 0 a 10!

Roberto Mendes

So during my incredibly short winter break I got to read “Brisingr” the third installment of the Eragon series. I was pleasantly surprised how much I enjoyed this book. I had read that the author Christopher Paolini had decided not to make Eragon a trilogy, because “Brisingr” involved Eragon and other characters facing an identity crisis. I immediately rolled my eyes and thought “why in the world would you want to add that now?” It seems that Paolini knew exactly what he was doing.

The characters in Eragon are typical of certain characters one finds in fantasy books. The elves thing they are better than everyone. Dwarves are only interested in themselves. Humans are short lived representations of light and dark. I could go on. Anyway, the protagonist, Eragon, a human farm boy who has become the last free dragon rider and is the central weapon of the resistance against the evil empire has been roughly uncomplicated in the series. He lost his family and his home. He is adopted. Most people just describe him as “Luke Skywalker” although I never thought that was incredibly fair. It is not the author’s fault that most heroes come from similar beginnings.

In any event, in Brisingr we learn more about Eragon and see him grow. If you have not read the book, please be aware SPOILERS may be discussed. I’d like to think since it was released in September of 2008. All those who might come across this will not care. Brisingr addresses something rarely discussed in fantasy novels. The obligation of heroes. Eragon and his dragon Saphira hold a unique place in the land of Alagaësia. They are the hopes for all races who wish to overthrow the empire. As a result Eragon is welcomed as a member of the a dwarf clan (no human has ever been granted that courtesy.) He trains with the elves. He is also an official member of the resistance “The Varden” which is headed by a human. Each of these races asks Eragon to do a range of things, and with their help in battle comes certain obligations. So Eragon swears oaths to do all sorts of things. Avenge this person, return for more teaching from this person, etc. Unfortunately, Eragon cannot do all of them at once, and so must try to balance these. This is an incredibly interesting thing to watch. There are times where Eragon has to justify his decisions to those who depend on him, even though the audience can see clear as day why he needs to do these things. Sharing the frustration with the protagonist is fun and certainly kept me reading.

In addition to Eragon’s story, we learn more about the strength of the other characters. Nasuada proves how dedicated she is as a leader by cutting herself in a trial of the knives, when her authority is questioned. Arya talks about how she was once close with another person, and that after he left, she has had difficulty with intimacy. Roran shows the power of love in times of war, and all that it can inspire. There are many more stories.

I was sad to see the story end the way it did, especially since I was so looking forward to the epic battle of Eragon vs. Galbatorix. However, now that I feel these characters have moved from fantasy stock to something more. I feel the battle will mean much more.

Ananias

In the book of Acts there is a very stange story indeed… one that can be a bit troubling.  You see, the church had just really gotten off the ground and things were going smashingly.  All of the disciples were selling everything that they owned and sharing it amongst themselves in a sort of communal spiritual community.  And then enters Ananias and Saphira.  This married couple, like all their new church friends, had sold their property.  But instead of offering the entire sales price to the church, they both decided to keep a little back for themselves, but to go ahead and tell the church they were giving them all of it.  If you know the story, you know it doesn’t end well.  Both of them are struck dead for lying to God. Can you imagine if that was the punishment for lying today?  We certainly wouldn’t be having any discussion of an over-population crisis.  So herein lies the difficulty.  Why would God, seemingly quite unfairly, take the lives of these two church members for lying?

For me, the answer lies in the fact that this isn’t the end of the story.  Ananias and Saphira didn’t just cease to exist after they died.  They went somewhere, although I don’t know where.  But before we go down that road, it’s important to look at what the result of this very odd occurence was.  Can we see what in the world God was trying to accomplish by it?

The result, as the Bible goes on to tell us, is that “great fear came upon all the church and upon all who heard these things.”  So, was it just so God could freak a lot of people out and make them scared of Him?   That’s the way a lot of people seem to think of it.  But, if you really study what it means for a person to begin to fear God, it has so much more to do with them coming to the realization that there truly IS a God, rather than just simple fear.  You see, you don’t fear what you don’t believe is real.  I have no fear of aliens abducting me in the night.  I have no fear of the Boogeyman.  But I do indeed fear what is real.   I fear cancer because of my family history.  I fear car accidents because I’ve been in them.  I fear what my friends might think of me if they knew some of my battles with sin because they are real people, and are important to me.  A person gaining a fear of God is a testament that God becomes real in that person’s life.  So, the result of Ananias and Saphira’s death was that people began to fear God or, in other words, God became a reality in many more people’s lives.  How could He not?  If you saw someone who was lying get struck down like that, wouldn’t God become a little more real in your life?  Same here.

So now we rejoin “the rest of the story”, so to speak.  Ananias and Saphira didn’t just cease to exist upon their deaths.  We know they went one of two places.  Heaven or hell.  I happen to think that they probably went to heaven.  After all, they were in fellowship with the church, had been taught by the apostles, and were probably saved.  They just made a stupid mistake.  Glad I never do that.  Ananias and Saphira still exist somewhere today, and that’s where this story begins to make a lot of sense.

Picture if you will, Ananias and Saphira today in heaven.  If they were saved, that’s really where they are right now.  Do you suppose they now look back on their story and feel cheated?   Do you think they are constantly complaining to God that they got a raw deal and really weren’t treated fairly?  After all, shouldn’t everyone be killed for lying like they were?  Or, would they be looking back at this story with incredible gratitude and joy.  They now have a front row seat in seeing how God turns our stupid mistakes into blessings.  God used their mistake, their lies, to reveal Himself to countless people, not only those who witnessed their deaths but to the millions of people who have read their story in the pages of the Bible since then.  The fact that they died must seem so inconsequential to them now, even though we see it as the ultimate end of their story.  For them, it was just a blip that meant they were going to their eternal reward, and yet we look at is as the ultimate judgment of a vengeful God.  I’m sure they still wish they hadn’t lied, but they must be absolutely surrounded by people who, because of the way God redeemed what they had done, accepted Jesus and gained their eternal salvation. This story has become one of the ways I understand Romans 8:28.

“And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”

It’s so important to remember as we read the word of God that death is not the end of things, not by a long shot.  The more we gain the eternal perspective that we were meant to have, the more the Bible makes sense, and the more the way God works makes sense.

igen…….. och jag har verkligen inte sovit något inatt……….. kära nån att jag har förträngt att min “man” snarkar så fruktansvärt………… nu var de väl extra högt på grund av all alkohol han hade druckit…………. men jag vakna vid halv 6 o de var inte ens möjligt att somna om när jag bytte till tinas sovrum som jag trodde skulle vara ljudisolerat eller……… haha…….… ja ja

väckte honom vid halv 10  o berätta att jag fått tag i min lillebror o att han hade “saphira”…………. o att han fick ta sin rumpa ur min säng nu för att jag tänkte köra hem honom o vovven…………… suck säger jag bara. alltså åkte vi o hämtade “saphira” o sen körde jag ut dem till arnåsholm………….. med orden — gå du in o lägg dig…………. herregud jag blev ju full på ångorna av hans andedräkt…………..

tänk att jag förträngt allt detta……………. vill jag verkligen tillbaka till detta festande jämt o ständigt…………… försupen o backfull jämt ………… ONEJ de vill jag verkligen inte………. är tacksam till min “man” idag för att han påminnt mig om verkligenheten…………. den verkligheten kan jag vara utan…………

  söta “saphira”

nu har kära döttrar kommit hem…………….. har gjort “janssons frestelse” till tinas glädje…………. även stekt lite egna köttbullar som även denna gången blev riktigt goda….. :O) ….. kanske jag har lärt mig iallafall.

tina har ätit lite med mig o packat upp sina grejer sen gick hon ut för att träffa kompisar.  nessi är hemma……. kära nån, den tilltänkta pojkvännen (tror jag iallafall)….. är ju är i SS igen. så han o hans bror är här hos nessi……….. kul för henne för jag märker hur glad hon är ………………. :O)

sitter nu framför tv:n, tänkte jag skulle titta på “sagan om de två tornen” kl 21………….. o faktiskt tänkte jag ett eller två glas rött vin…….. jo idag igen. är jättetrött allaredan o klockan är inte ens 9 ännu……….. kommer nog att somna ganska fort idag har jag en känsla…………. så därför

GOD NATT………..