The Pope's Red Shoes 547-2-23-8

A Catholic friend called early this morning to tell us that the Pope was departing the Vatican. Originally I planned to write on DQ#2 concerning eschatology and the ignorance of it by most in the Christian community and certainly, IMO, within the Catholic Church. While I'm not particularly interested in Catholic affairs, I respect Pope Benedict's intellect. That said and full disclosure, I can have a very convoluted sense a humor at times and see patterns were perhaps none exist.
As is often my breakfast habit, I was working on a Word Search puzzle and half-way listening to the bloviating about the pope’s departure. I heard a comment about his red shoes. I was not aware that the Pope wore red shoes as one of the symbols of his office. Now that Benedict will no longer be Pope he has to relinquish his red shoes.
 

Interestingly enough, one word hidden in the word puzzle was “lamb” so I thought of the comparison between the Lamb of God and the regalia of the Pope. Rather than special red shoes and royal vestment, Jesus walked about in a pair of sandals and homespun. Rather than wearing red shoes, Jesus didn't consider himself above washing the feet of his disciples; a wonderful lesson for all.

So where else were red shoes of such importance? The Wizard of Oz came to mind. Like me, most of you have probably watched the Wizard of Oz any number of times. After Dorothy's house was flung by a tornado into Oz crushing an evil witch, Dorothy was presented with said witch's red shoes.

I started to make a mental inventory of the primary cast of characters in the story. There was sweet innocent Dorothy who was just trying to get back to Kansas. There was a scarecrow looking for a brain. There was the immobilized tin man looking for a heart. It was amazing how much a few drops of oil enabled him to move his joints. Even I can't stretch this far enough to compare the oil can to the sprinkling of holy water. Completing the trio of Dorothy's new friends was the lion looking for courage.

What does all of this have in common with the Catholic Church? Perhaps Dorothy could be compared to the millions of Catholics hoping to go home/ heaven and placing their reliance on church clergy. Accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus to me would be as simple as Dorothy clicking her red shoes together. Given the history of the Catholic Church, popes such as Innocence the third could certainly have used a heart as did the tin man. Like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, there is certainly no comparison between the Catholic Church and the coming Lion of Judah. As for the scarecrow wanting a brain, I would again compare this to those who don't seem to be able to think for themselves.

So much more I could add, the Prophecy of the last pope...

The Pope's Red Shoes meets The Wizard of Oz

 Another decade, another Pope. While I'm not particularly interested in Catholic affairs, I respected former Pope Benedict's intellect. That said and full disclosure, I can have a very convoluted sense a humor at times and see patterns were perhaps none exist.

Years ago when Pope Benedict resigned I was half-way listening to the bloviating about the pope’s departure. I heard a comment about his red shoes. I was not aware that the Pope wore red shoes as one of the symbols of his office. I thought about the comparison between the Jesus and the regalia of the Pope. Rather than special red shoes and royal vestment, Jesus walked about in a pair of sandals and homespun and served as our propitiation before a righteous God.

Now where else were red shoes of such importance as at the Vatican? The Wizard of Oz comes to mind. Like me, most of you have probably watched the Wizard of Oz any number of times. After Dorothy's house was flung by a tornado into Oz crushing an evil witch, Dorothy was presented with the witch's red shoes.
I started to make a mental inventory of the primary cast of characters in the story. There was sweet innocent Dorothy who was just trying to get back to Kansas. There was a scarecrow looking for a brain. There was the immobilized tin man looking for a heart. It was amazing how much a few drops of oil enabled him to move his joints. Completing the trio of Dorothy's new friends was the lion looking for courage.

What does all of this have in common with the Catholic Church? Perhaps Dorothy could be compared to the millions of Catholics hoping to go home/ heaven and placing their reliance on church clergy. Accepting the gift of salvation through Jesus to me would be as simple as Dorothy clicking her red shoes together. Given the history of the Catholic Church, popes such as Innocence the third certainly could have used a heart as could the tin man. The requirement for oil by the tin man brings to mind the five foolish virgins who had no oil and were "frozen" in place and not allowed into the Marriage Feast. Like the lion in the Wizard of Oz, there is certainly no comparison between the Catholic Church and the coming Lion of Judah. As for the scarecrow wanting a brain, I would again compare this to those who don't seem to be able to think for themselves and/ or are lacking in Discernment of spirits.

Then there is Malachi and the Prophecy of the last pope... recall the Wizard was exposed as being little more than a puppet master operating the gears and pulleys of the Roman Catholic Church hierarchy.  When Francis became the 112th Pope the question of his name came up, Francis not Petrus. Interestingly and convoluting enough the name Peter is somehow in Francis' line.

So what of Malachi and the Prophecy of the Popes. The prophecy concerning the 112th and final pope states: “In the final persecution of the Holy Roman Church there will reign Petrus Romanus, who will feed his flock amid many tribulations; after which the seven-hilled city will be destroyed and the dreadful Judge will judge the people. The end.” 

Discuss some contemporary examples of "clouds without water." 516 - 6 -1

A very contemporary example of "clouds without water" would be the movie industry. The reasonably Biblically sound movies from decades past such as King of Kings, Bathsheba with Gregory Peck and The 10 Commandments with Charleston Heston seem to be passe. 

Today’s Hollywood/ Hollyweird seems to have caught religious fever, however, will the movie makers adhere to God’s Word or with it just be “Clouds without Water”? The mini-series “The Bible” was highly acclaimed last year and a shorten version of it, “The Son of God,” was released to theaters last month. There were deviations from the Text but on the whole, and in my opinion, it was a reasonable presentation of God’s Word.

And then there is the new movie “Noah.”

“Box Office: 'Noah' Winning Over Faith-Based and Mainstream Moviegoers”

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-noah-friday-matinees-691984

“The wait is over! Noah Movie opens today! Let’s flood the theaters and show Hollywood we want more movies that tell biblical stories”!

Really, BACs should attend the movie? I haven't seen the movie, however, I've read reviews and it seems that Noah is recast as an ecologist on steroids who considered killing his own grandchildren less they pollute the regenerated Earth. Shades of Agenda 21? Also, the fallen Angels assisted Noah both in building the Ark and in fighting off his enemies. After that, they were given their wings back and ascended to heaven somewhat akin to Dorothy clicking her red shoes and returning to her home in Kansas.

Proverbs 25:14, “Whoso boasteth himself of a false gift is like clouds and wind without rain.” While there was plenty of water from above and the fountains of the deep, the movie Noah rather echoes the Proverb.

Far more worthwhile than Hollywood’s version of Noah is "Noah and the Last Days" produced by Living Waters and Ray Comfort.

 “Ten signs of the end of the age. Indisputable evidence that we are living in the last days.”

https://www.youtube.com/user/thewayofthemaster - trailer

http://www.noahthemovie.com/ - full movie

Ray comfort interviews people on the street, asking them what they thought will be their final destination. He is very talented at pointing out how we are lost without the saving grace of Jesus.

We are living in the age of the apostate church of Laodicea, the seeker friendly church. Joel Osteen and his mega-church comes to mind. In my opinion, the closest he comes to the Word is when he waves the Bible around as he presents his prosperity gospel. Full disclosure, I've only watched Mr. Osteen a few times, so perhaps I’m being a little hard on him, however…. No rain here.

The seeker friendly church leaders should consider the following verse: 2 Peter 2:21, “For it had been better for them not to have known the way of righteousness, than, after they have known it, to turn from the holy commandment delivered unto them.” How much worse is it for those who turn thousands away from Biblical truth?