Remember John the Baptist, The Prisoner in the Third Cell

Christian storyteller Gene Edwards writes about John the Baptist in his book "The Prisoner in the Third Cell".

With simple English, Edwards effectively conveys the life and thoughts of John the Nazarite juxtaposed with the thoughts and prayers of his cousin Jesus during the crucial moments.

The following are excerpts from different chapters in Edward's story book that so powerfully reminded me of the call that the Lord may have on a few and to not be offended by him when things don't happen the way one would have expected of him or others. 

The thoughts of Jesus towards his cousin John when the latter was imprisoned and awaiting his death ...
You will never live to see your thirty-third birthday, nor will you know exactly why I have called you. Nor will you know if your life on this earth counted for anything. Those long years in the searing desert, you denied yourself of everything this earth affords except food and water, and only enough of that to keep you alive. You did this all for me. Yet, as you face death, there is no evidence that your life was anything but wasted. Have I forsaken you in the hour you need me most?

"And blessed are you,

if you are not offended with me"

Despite John's seeming immaculate life of devotion to his Lord, the Lord was silent during John's time of suffering and despair.

Today you are resentful of those who so callously hurt you. But no, not really. The truth is you are angry with God because, ultimately, you are not dealing with men, you are dealing with the sovereign hand of your Lord. Behind all events, behind all things, there is always His sovereign hand. 


Will you follow a God you do not understand? Will you follow a God who does not live up to your expectations?


Your Lord has put something in your life which you cannot bear. The burden is simply too great. He was never supposed to do this! 


That God should allow John the Baptist to be beheaded in response to Herodias (Herod's second wife) as entertainment for Herod and his guests in spite of John having lived a life completely devoted to God.


But the question remains, "Will you continue to follow this God who did not live up to your expectations?"

"And blessed are you 

if you are not offended with me"

If we were never to understand why life circumstances are the way they are or if life seems utterly disappointing, unfair, or just completely against what you believe or expect in your pursuit of truth, righteousness and justice ... that we would never take offense or walk away from living the life he has called us to - one of trust in Him and obedience to His bidding in every way. 

For in doing this, we abandon ourselves to worship him with all our heart, soul, mind and strength.

The Philosopher's Stone

Fullmetal Alchemist, Episode 45

The Philosopher's Stone
Those who possess it are no longer bound by the Law of Conservation in alchemy
They don't have to sacrifice something of equal value in order to gain something
We sought after it and finally obtained it.

The world of alchemy through the Elric brothers' adventures

I have been indulging in the Japanese anime Fullmetal Alchemist series this Chinese New Year break. An unusual activity for me but most addictive now that I am getting into the story as each episode gets played.

Who would have thought that such a simple story line could be so interesting ...

The story goes like this ...

Two boys, barely in the teens, discovered alchemy, after their father mysteriously disappeared. Edward and Alphonse Elric accessed their father Hofhenheim's study, read the letters he wrote to his fellow alchemist friends and combed through his alchemy books. They began to draw the transmutation circle and transform things into other things that they desired. 

Their mother smiled each time her boys come up with something using alchemy because it reminded her of her husband,  their father, who used to create flowers for her. Those were good memories.

After a short while, their mother passed away while they were barely teens. In their depth of sorrow, the boys tried human transmutation to bring their mother back to life. They desperately missed her smile. 

People cannot gain anything without sacrificing something.

You must present something of equal value to gain something.

This is the principle of equivalent trade in alchemy.

We believe that was the truth of our world when we were young.

And so they tried bringing their mother back to life, but failed tragically. What ensued was a body-less, younger brother Alphonse (probably about 11 years old at that time) and a handicapped Edward. With only one good arm and one good leg, Edward - the more gifted in alchemy of the two - only managed to bind Alphonse's soul to a metal armor that was lying in their father's study. 

The next day, Alphonse - now with his strong metal body and frame, carried his badly injured older brother to their neighbor's home, where Winry - their childhood friend and her grandmother stayed. They performed surgery on Edward and provided him with a auto-mail (metal/robotic) limbs, so the latter could pursue alchemy to become a State Alchemist.

And so the great adventures began as they set out on a journey to learn how they can restore their bodies to the original state ... more so for Alphonse who was no longer able to feel the warmth of his own brother's embrace and was soon forgetting what it was like to even have a normal body. 

Oh ... and after 51 episodes, which by the way will take me a long time to get through (what with Chinese New Year public holidays ending today), I am pleased to know that there is a sequel to the first series called Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood.

I hope the sequels are as engaging as the first.

If you, like me, enjoy Japanese anime, then be sure to also checkout my other favorite Howl's Moving Castle.