#in my heart it's just a mother 3 rom hack

[eeveelynx3]

bionicle rpg that only exists in my head i love you dearly

[hellastico-blog]

Games as a means of sharing non-typical cultures

In terms of my experience as a gamer much of what games are today is a wide variety of choices, some shit, and some great. 

Beyond the realm of edutainment you get to a variety of genres which aren’t necessarily pick’em up, but do deal with some stereotypes. For one I’d like to complain about Life is Strange if only because as a time travel visual novel, its not really a ground breaking game nor is it frankly that good of a game.

When you get down to it a game is an immersive experience. From the text based MUDs to the open worlds sandboxes very much common today. Just like how museums aim for a complete sensory experience, Consider the following, how many gamers are familiar with Japanese mythology and culture through video games? Games like Ōkami are very steeped in this aspect where you are playing as one of the many gods. 

For instance we can see the Earthbound games and how its kitschy pop culture references depict how Japan views America. There are various cultural differences present in the series which when brought over had to be changed. It’s less obvious that one of the main character’s best friend (Tony) is in fact gay which makes it all the more striking he’s in the Britain analogue where only decades earlier being gay was a crime.  Mother 3 has a much more deeper story dealing with the corruption of utopia , themes of loss, modernization, family, brotherhood, gender roles, gender identity, and society as a whole. 

Like having time to write about how Mother 3 is such a good story and also a good game is not something I can truly say.  I can link one essay here and a panel here (some spoilers because Mother 3 is a game to be experienced. Enough Game Play walkthroughs exists to get a gist of it, but the level of details make playing it yourself.) Of course given that Mother 3 is a decade old at this point you need to find an emulator, a rom, and download the 

Of course barring the American indie scene you have rise of Eastern Europe. See the Witcher series by CD Projekt S.A which is very much a Polish game. For a more historical game we can see the upcoming Kingdom Come: Deliverance which is a historical game set in medieval Bohemia (now Czech Republic/Czechia). Here’s a summary of the game.

The year is 1403, the region Bohemia, located in the heart of Europe, rich in culture, silver and sprawling castles. The game is based on a true story – a story of kings, heirs, a kingdom, castle sieges and bloody battles.The King is dead and his eldest son Wenceslas IV becomes the new King of Bohemia.Wenceslas’s enraged half-brother Sigismund imprisons Wenceslas and invades the country with his mighty army. Unfortunately, in the midst of this chaos, your character Henry suffers. The mercenary army destroys your home and kills your family, you are the sole survivor of the bloodbath and it is here that your road to redemption starts. Enjoy the detailed reconstruction of the 15th century landscape. Use weapons that were used by knights. Take part in epic historical battles that happened in Middle Europe and in castle sieges!

What is incredible is how historically accurate it is from the locations (many of which are actually visible) to the combat (a traditional sword fighting style unlike the typical hack and slash of rpgs like Skyrim) to the historical background of medieval Europe (in which you need to be a monk to be any form of literate).

Ultimately ever since the mid 2000′s games have been protected as art by the Supreme court. There will be good games, bad games, educational games, mind numbingly dumb games, but ultimately enjoyment triumphs over all criticism. But then again, this is a person who sunk hours into Zoo Tycoon 2 and really wishes a Greek Revolution game is made. 

[formerpresenceandessence-blog]

when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also.

-  2 Tim 1:5 (NKJV)

As I read 2 Timothy again recently, the words 'genuine faith' or in other translations 'sincere faith' stood out for me. The original greek word for 'genuine' in this verse meant "unfeigned, without hypocrisy", and it meant so much for me in this season.

Faith - something that is a core in the Christian belief, yet sometimes we take it for granted, especially after knowing the Lord for awhile. Let us take some time today to rediscover what genuine faith in God is like.

1. Faith is an assurance

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.

- Heb 11:1 (NIV)

Other translations may translate it to "substance", "reality" or "assurance", and they all point to one thing. Faith gives us confidence in what we believe in, it gives us something to stand upon; a set of evidence on its own.

As a former atheist, I used to mock this whole concept as this sounds like delusion to me. I used to proudly claim that I have no use nor anything as ridiculous as faith in my life. Yet, after coming to know the Lord, i discovered that everyone has a certain degree of faith in all aspects of their lives.

Take for example, before we even sit on a chair, we need assurance that it will not give way and fail us. But do we always use a substitute to test the chair thoroughly before sitting on it just because we are told it is a chair? We have faith in this chair that it will not fail us based on what we had known of it.

Take again for example, we breathe because we need to, but what gives us the confidence to breathe this air instead of trying to secure for ourselves oxygen masks? We don't at every moment in our lives hold a test to check out the condition of the air around us before taking a breath do we? We breathe because we need to, and because we have faith in the air around us. We build this basis of confidence, a kind of faith that the next breath we take will not kill us on the knowledge that the last breath did not kill us, and facts around us - both in time pass and the immediate reality seen in other living things.

Faith is not absurd a concept. It is something everyone has, and the explanation to why life can continue without us having to be robbed of a sense of security. If one indeed lives without faith in their lives, this person will get nothing done as he/she will be busy suspecting everything in the world. Faith is something that begins our walk with Jesus, and it is that which will bring us to the end while transforming us to be more like Him while we are still here on earth.

2. Faith is grounded in the Word

What does it profit, my brethren, if someone says he has faith but does not have works? Can faith save him? If a brother or sister is naked and destitute of daily food, and one of you says to them, “Depart in peace, be warmed and filled,” but you do not give them the things which are needed for the body, what does it profit? Thus also faith by itself, if it does not have works, is dead.​

- James 2:14~17 (NKJV)

Faith without works is dead. There is a huge difference between knowing and living it out. The Word of God is given so that we can know our God and to know how we should live that we can experience the life God intends us to have; a life of true liberty and peace. So how should it come to life? What is the basis of a Christian's faith? It is in none other than Jesus Christ Himself.

"Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock.​

​- Matt 7:24 (NIV)

Jesus taught us that whoever hears His words and put them into practice, it is likened to having built our lives on a firm foundation, a rock that stands the tests and trials to come. As mentioned earlier, we can have faith in anything and everything, but it is not necessarily beneficial nor 'right' (subjective, based on perspectives). We need to remember that as exciting and attention-catching the power of God can be, the only thing that does not pass away is the Word of God. The Word of God is equivalent in its eternal status as God - something that will not pass away. The Word of God is from God to teach us and to allow us to understand Him. We are made in His likeness and image, we are made to fellowship with and worship Him. All of us are made with a specific purpose in life.

It is therefore important that we always come back to the Word of God to know Him, and to let our faith rest and grow upon. Our faith should not be built on the power of God, not on the feelings we get when we come before Him, but on the Word of God that shows us the nature, the heart of our marvelous God.

3. Faith imputes to us righteousness

He did not waver at the promise of God through unbelief, but was strengthened in faith, giving glory to God, and being fully convinced that what He had promised He was also able to perform. And therefore “it was accounted to him for righteousness.” Now it was not written for his sake alone that it was imputed to him, but also for us. It shall be imputed to us who believe in Him who raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead, who was delivered up because of our offenses, and was raised because of our justification.

- Rom 4:20~25 (NKJV)

No one can earn the grace of God, it is the unmerited favour from Him to us. but we receive our justification through faith in Jesus, that He indeed had suffered and died for our sins, that we can rise again like He did out of the grave.

for though the righteous fall seven times, they rise again, but the wicked stumble when calamity strikes.

- Proverbs 24:16 (NIV)

The righteous person may have many troubles, but the LORD delivers him from them all;

- Ps 34:19 (NIV)

All of us have become like one who is unclean, and all our righteous acts are like filthy rags; we all shrivel up like a leaf, and like the wind our sins sweep us away.

​- Isa 64:6 (NIV)

There are many promises in the Bible that God gives to the righteous - and no one can be righteous by their own efforts. The only way we are made righteous is through faith in the resurrection of Jesus. Abraham received righteousness because he trusted in the promise of God to him. Today, we have the manifested promise of God - Jesus Christ who came to take away the sins of the world. We too, receive righteousness if we can trust in the manifested promise Himself.

4. Faith should be without hypocrisy

Do not be deceived: God cannot be mocked. A man reaps what he sows.

- Gal 6:7 (NIV)

Now we know that God's judgment against those who do such things is based on truth. So when you, a mere human being, pass judgment on them and yet do the same things, do you think you will escape God's judgment? Or do you show contempt for the riches of his kindness, forbearance and patience, not realizing that God's kindness is intended to lead you to repentance? But because of your stubbornness and your unrepentant heart, you are storing up wrath against yourself for the day of God's wrath, when his righteous judgment will be revealed. God "will repay each person according to what they have done." To those who by persistence in doing good seek glory, honor and immortality, he will give eternal life.

- Rom 2:2~7 (NIV)

​The Word of God is a mirror, something that allows us to conduct a self-check, a foundation and basis which we use to account to God our daily life. I like to think of it as a guidebook to life - it's basically like a hack in a game which allows you to have understanding of the gameplay and everything that is happening, thus giving you an advantage towards the ultimate end / goal. It is for us to discover God, and to help us be transformed and renewed to be more like Him. It should not be used as a tool for us to pass judgement on people. Sure, we are called to preach the gospel and share the warnings of God, but it is never to be used to elevate us above others. We are all sinners saved by grace through faith. None of us deserve salvation, but God gave Himself for us on His own accord to grant us salvation and redemption. Therefore, everyone must settle an account with Jesus Himself at the end of times. Judgement belongs to God.

Faith without hypocrisy will lead us to repentance, producing fruits of repentance.

Think with me. If you truly believe in something, will you not do things according to it? If you trust the manual that accompanies an electronic product you've purchased, do you not always go back to it for instructions and operate the product according to it? Likewise, true faith will always lead us back to God, and to the ways of God. Faith without hypocrisy... it is something that only God can judge, but we can work on it ourselves using the Word of God as our foundation and relying on God to help us with it.It is not something that we boast about. It is something that will eventually transform us to be more like  Christ. It is not fixed in time - it can only be seen in continuity, and i would even say, only at the end of time.

"Dear Heavenly Father, I thank You that You permit us to have faith in You. You are good. You give all of us opportunities to turn to You, and an abundance of signs all around us to point towards You. I pray that You help me work out my faith towards You, let it be without hypocrisy. Help me to follow You. This prayer I make today, it is the same as the one I have made when I first knew You. Help me to follow You. Help me grow my faith in You, that I may be transformed more each day to be like You, and to love You more every day. In Jesus's name I pray. Amen"

Let us continue building our faith in God with the Word of God. Faith enables us to trust God at every step of the way. It can grow or diminish if we are not careful, therefore, let us rely on God and not be proud. God exalts the humble, and He gives grace to those who trust Him and fear Him.

God bless!