I've back dated this post to force it to the top. Just wanted to explain.

The following posts are in reverse order from most blogs. Since I wrote this as, sort of, one long document, it works best if you start at the beginning. And since this was strictly for Blogathon 2003, it's a static site and won't be changed again after this post.

So read on, enjoy, leave some feedback, and remember...I was fairly brain dead during some of this, so be nice! ;-)

I need sponsors! July 26th, you know, is Blogathon 2003 and I'll be blogging about how the Matrix relates to my life at my life in the Matrix...getting unplugged.

The whole point, you see, is to raise money for The Lance Armstrong Foundation, (LAF), an organization that "exists to enhance the quality of life for those living with, through, and beyond cancer. Founded in 1997 by cancer survivor and champion cyclist Lance Armstrong, the LAF seeks to promote the optimal physical, psychological, social recovery and care of cancer survivors and their loved ones. The LAF works to define, refine and improve services for cancer survivors and to facilitate the delivery of those services—with a large dose of hope—to patients, their families, and other loved ones touched by the disease."

It's a great organization, founded, of course, by 4 time Tour de France winner, Lance Armstrong. (Keep up with his current defense of the jersey!)

I have a few great sponsors (thanks, everyone!) but YOU could be a part of the fun and noble venture, too! Just click on the Sponsor Me link on the right and pledge a buck or 1,000,000 bucks or something in between. You can be anonymous, you can tell just me, or you can tell the world. You can sponsor me for each hour (like, $100 per hour that I blog) or just pledge a lump sum. Check the faqs at Blogathon 2003 to see how easy and safe it is to donate!

Come on! Be a part of the cycle of hope!

Only 3 days until the blogathon begins!

I've already got my little area set up, a movie party in the works for the early evening hours and possible visitors throughout the day! I'm determined to make it all the way.

This is the first official post for Blogathon 2003!

So...what will I be talking about here?

The Matrix movies contain a great deal of philosophy and religious ideas. I will be talking about how those ideas apply in my life and how the Matrix reflects our world.

To start off, a quick recap. What is the Matrix?

It is the physical system, the network of computers or perhaps the one mega-computer that runs the program that keeps the people in the pods alive and keeps their dream world running. It is also the program itself that the system is running.

So, basically, it is a type of dream, or a type of nightmare, for the people hooked up to it.

It can also refer to the computers and machines that the system uses to keep the operation going. A type of workforce.

But mostly, it is the dream world that the people live in. A type of our world, or perhaps a type of 'life.'

What the heck is a type?

A type is a person or thing that foreshadows another.

Think of it this way. Another definition of a type is a rectangular block usually of metal bearing a relief character from which an inked print can be made. Think of typewriter...(do you remember typewriters?) You press the key, it causes a hammer to strike against a ribbon, pressing the ink side of the ribbon against paper. The impression on the hammer is left (backwards) on the paper and that impression is called the anti-type.

This is the same principle. In many stories, the characters have, well, characteristics of a person who will come later in the story. For example; in the book of John in the Christian bible, John the Baptist calls Yeshua (Jesus) the 'lamb of God.' This is supposed to remind those around him of the lamb that is slaughtered for their sins during the Passover festival. The lamb is the type, Yeshua is the anti-type.

So when I say that the Matrix is a 'type' of life, I mean that it give us a lot of clues as to the nature of our life. This is what I will mainly discuss here...how it is a type of our life and, specifically, where I can see it in my own life.

I do not believe that we are simply sleeping while a computer feeds us images to make us feel alive. Nor do I believe that we are simply participants in a pre-designed play. The Matrix, you see, is not, in my opinion, God. It is our world...the people around us.

I want to explain that, when I say 'the world' I do not mean each individual person is conciously thinking or doing something; I mean that the world as it is today, with the collective concious that it has; the way our interactions with each other in light of social politics, the way we see things outside ourselves as not a part of us...the self-centeredness that is inherent in our thinking. Not the selfishness that we may exhibit, but the way each of us can see only outside of ourselves, not seeing ourselves as beings in a collective play but as center stage in our own play. This is the Matrix.

It is our society's idea that we must 'look out for number one,' that success equals wealth or power, that we are some how weaker if we can not 'keep up with the joneses.' Yes, for the most part I will be talking about the American society, as it is the one in which I have the most experience, but I am also talking about the ideas that are common to most societies. Things like, other people can measure our worth, that if we do not measure up to our culture's idea of what is 'good' then we are tainted in some way.

You see, I am not referring to Truth when I mention the Matrix, I am referring to all those things that oppose it.

In order to truly show my life as it is reflected in the movie, it is important that I explain who Jesus the Christ, or Yeshua, as I refer to him here, is typed by...because Yeshau (his name in Hebrew) is too important in my life to ignore.

In the movie, the main character, Thomas/Neo, represents Yeshua. For example: Thomas means "twin" which could be a reference to Thomas/Neo's two identities. As Agent Smith tells Neo, "You have been living two lives." (In some ways, Thomas is also a type of you and me. But that's later.)

Anderson - The Greek root "andr" (from andros) means "man." The ending "son" refers to him being "man's son" or "Son of Man," another title given to Yeshua.

Neo - The name "Neo" means "New". Thomas Anderson, "Son of Man" will become a "New person" when he is unplugged from the Matrix.

Yeshua, of course, is the Messiah, the One sent to save humanity from our sins. He is both God and flesh, just as Neo dies towards the end of the movie and comes back to life, Yeshua died on the cross and was resurrected three days later. Yeshua is referred to as both the 'son of God' and the 'son of man.'

So, you see, I will also be talking more about Yeshua in my life. But I will stick to how Yeshua, represented by Neo, is my savior, my light, my salvation and my life.

Wow...this is harder than I expected it to be.

I didn't put my posts together ahead of time beccause, to me, that is the point of the blogathon; to spend 24 hours writing and uploading original content. But, whew...who knew?!

One of the most important (in my opinion) points in the movie is about faith. Neo must learn to put his faith in what is true, not in what he believed all of his life to BE true. For instance...he learned certain laws of physics that he must begin to understand are now bendable, sometimes breakable. This is not an easy lesson, as anyone who has tried to break their own concepts of physical laws can attest to (two balls of different sizes, dropped from the same, height really DO travel at the same rate!)

In my life I have learned many lessons, as well, that are not truth. For example; it seems best, when given the choice of two jobs, to take the one that pays better, has better benefits, or allows me to do the least amount of work while making the most money. However, the truth is that following God's plan for my life, what ever it may be, is better. So He may want me to take the job that pays the least but gives me more time for ministry, or the job that will teach me the things He wants me to learn for the future. "I know the plans I have for you, plans for prosperity and not for pain." This doesn't mean there WON'T be pain, it just means that, in the long run, it will glorify God and will benefit my soul, not necessarily my pocketbook.

Yes...truth.

Some things are understood, taught even in kindergarten such as the 'golden rule,' treat others as you would like to be treated. But some things are deeper, and more difficult to understand. The book of Proverbs has a wealth of truth.

The fear of God is the beginning for knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and discipline. Fear? OK...respect is actually a more correct word, respect and an understanding that He is who He says He is and He does what He says He will do. But the idea here is that we must look to God for truth.

Neo, too, had to search for truth. In the movie, however, he found it inside himself. Of course, as a type of Yeshua, the Christ, he was also a type of God, since the Christ was (is) both man and God. So by looking inside himself he was looking, in effect, to God. (No, I don't think that was the point the writers of the movie were trying to make, however, it IS neat.)

I find a LOT of places where I need to unplug mentally from my society, just as Neo had to unplug physically AND mentally from his.

One example is television. The most popular shows on television right now are the so-called 'reality' shows. They aren't exactly reality, since the people are put in controlled settings (yes, even on Survivor and the Race shows there is control on the settings); they are given set amounts of money, they can drop out at any time and remove the consequences of the show or their decisions in the show from themselves, except, of course, the obvious one...if they quit they get no reward, either. This is especially true of the 'find your great love' shows. The participants are put in artificial situations and must make decisions fast, so emotional intimacy is forced and has no time to grow naturally.

Now, these are obvious places that I know I can get no truth or ideas for ways to live my life. But advertising and talk shows...these are the places I am expected to find truth. 'Truth' in advertising? Surely I can find peace in my life without 'gellin' or using Sure deoderant. I don't need a certain perfume to make people notice me, or even NEED people to notice me. I may 'deserve' a vacation or a new whatever they're selling, but does that mean I should rush out a buy it? (The answer is no...I mean, they might make me want it pretty badly, but the answer is still no.)

Now here is where people get confused.

There are quite a few talk shows that even the most deceived in our society know they can't find truth. Jerry Springer. Need I say more?

However, there are certain people that are looked to for truth. I won't name names because I don't people getting off-track if they think I'm attacking their favorite. The principles are the same, anyway. Talk shows (not including the ones that mainly talk to the famous) invite people on who have something to say or something in their lives that society has shown an interest in. Those people give their opinions about what worked for them and what may work for the rest of us. Some of these people have great things to say. But are the issues they are pressing really important to us? SHOULD they be important to us? And haven't I heard most of what they have to say before? (Yes...I have.)

Most talk shows spend a great deal of time with people who are dealing with things that our society finds offensive or titillating. Romantic or sexual relationships between more than
two people at a time, people who's opinions go against either the flow of society or at least the flow of the audience that usually participates in that particular show.

These types of things make our society seem more deranged than it actually is which, I believe, encourages us to follow their lead to some degree. For example, if there are THAT many people out there in sexual triangles, is it really that big a deal if I cheat on my husband? Well, yes.

If all the world is doing what ever they want to, a lie is STILL a lie.

The wisdom of man is foolishness to God. Come again? The wisdom of God is foolishness to man.

I make a lot of decisions in my life that people around me don't understand. (Spending 24 hours online, writing my thoughts and posting them for the world to see is just one of them!) Things like taking a job close to home because I want to be more available for the students in our ministry (my husband and I run a college ministry at a two-year college in our town) doesn't make as much sense as keeping the job that is a little further away but pays better. Driving 45 minutes to a church is another thing that seems to not make sense. Even telling the truth is sometimes a mystery, when a 'little white lie' could make me look better, or could at least keep me out of trouble.

But if I can have faith that God knows what is best for me, that He sees further than I do, both into the future and into the hearts of people, then I can begin to do those very difficult things that people consider foolish. I don't do this to be a martyr, or to get glory for myself, and any thanks I get is usally silliness to me because the rewards God plants in my heart and in my life are so much greater than that.

This may seem to stretch the point of looking to God for truth and unplugging myself from the Matrix of our society's truth, but I don't think so. I think it just takes the point a little deeper.

The truth that our wisdom reflects can be very hard for people to accept. Truth hurts. It was true for Neo when he learned that the life he thought he had lived was just a lie that the Matrix had feed him while he slept and it is true for us as we are confronted with the mess we make of our own lives and the understanding that God's ways are better.

We spend a great deal of time and energy deceiving ourselves. Take relationships for example. Many parents have a difficult time admitting to themselves that their child is a drug addict, even when all of the signs are there and are obvious to every one else. Many people refuse to accept that their spouse is having an affair, even when other people have pointed out the truth. It's hard. It hurts. We don't want to admit that, maybe, just maybe, someone else has an answer to the question 'what is life about' and that He might require something from us if we want to take part in it.

The hardest part, of course, is letting go of the things in my life that, although pleasant for the moment, or even for a long time, are not good for me, are not Godly, do not represent God as He is. Because, face it, I wanna be the star of my play, too.

No, this has nothing to do with the Matrix.

But puppies are so sweet! At least, mine are. And I want you to go take a look at jessica's blog, because she's blogging for her local animal rescue league, which is a great cause!

And, hey, go get your animals neutered! (And check out the Daily Post, too...I'm guest appearing there from 1pm-2pm est.)

We are told to Walk by faith, not by sight.

I really believe this is the main theme for the Matrix movie. But there is another truth that fits in here.

Remember the first time Neo tries to jump? He falls, right? But what does he do first? He goes to the edge and looks down. Exactly where he doesn't want to go, right? Exactly where he DOES go, right?

We DO have to watch where we are going, er...where we want to go. Once we know what the truth is, if we spend all our time looking at the lies, well, we'll go where the lies take us. Kind of like mountain biking. Don't want to hit the tree? Then watch the trail!

A lot of people have trouble with this line in the Matrix. But I like it. Let me explain.

When Neo repeats, 'there is no spoon' while in the elevator (remember when he and Trinity blow up the elevator?) it seems to me that he is reminding himself that he is able to bend and break the laws of physics that he has been taught are true.

To me it means something quite similar. It reminds me that the 'truths' that surround me do not exist. There is a higher truth that I need to have faith in. If I am doing something that God has required of me, then I can know that He will be faithful to bring me through it. Sometimes I need that reminder. I appreciate the person who gave me the spork (you know, the fork/spoon thing that KFC and Taco Bell made famous?) It's a great visual reminder that there is no spoon!

Well, neither am I. Fortunately, the Matrix movie has types for us, too. Neo is sometimes a type of Every man...he has to search to find the truth, just as we have to search.

But in both cases, the search is going on both ways. Not only is Neo searching, but Morpheus, who has the truth, is looking for him. And God, who has our truth, is searching for us. God's longing for us is far greater than our longing for Him. He stands at the door and knocks...waiting patiently for us. He seeks us out when we are not able to search for Him.

He also tells us in Acts that He has sent us the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us. We might still struggle to understand, but He does everything He can to make the struggle easier. In fact, it is usually not understanding the truth that we wrestle with; it is accepting that truth.

You need a break as bad as I do?

OK...take a break from all of this difficult stuff and check out jazz...she's blogging for Docors Without Borders and is a huge Tolkien fan. She's also very smooth! You could even sponsor her!

One of the second themes in the Matrix movie is choice.

Neo is constantly faced with choices. Even at the beginning of the movie this point is made. Neo answers the door and it's Choi with his girlfriend du Jour. Choi, spelled choix in French and pronounced choi, means choice. du Jour means 'of the day.' Neo will have many choices, and not just this day!

At this moment it is a choice to stay home or go seeking truth. This is a choice we make every day. Do we look for God's will today, or do we just go about our business and not worry about Him? If we ask His will there is another choice...to do it or not. There are so MANY choices!

Doors in the Matrix movie represent choices, too.

When ever there is a door (in the apartment when Choi shows up, at the Adams street bridge when Trinity meets him with the car, etc) there is an opportunity and, therefor a choice.

If we look closely, we can find many doors that God opens or closes for us, too. I have often found that, when I have an opportunity, a little prayer goes a long way. If I ask, it is easy to see when God makes that opportunity more possible or less possible, as if He is opening or closing the door for me so I understand what I should do. It sure makes things easier!

When Morpheus says this to Neo, that he will have to walk through it, he is telling him that the choice is entirely up to him. Morpheus can point out the truth, but accepting it is up to Neo.

God, too, allows us to decide if we will walk through a door or not. He does not simply open a chasm beneath us so that we fall into His will (although I think I might be willing for Him to do that so I am not so unsure of myself!) He leaves us a way out of His will. We can walk through door number 1 or door number 2. He gives us this opportunity every time. I'm not going to go into a complete discussion of free-will versus pre-destination here, but I think we can all agree that, throughout our lives we are faced with the choice of whether or not we will do something we are sure He doesn't want us to do.

The first choice, of course, is whether we believe God at all or not. If we make the decision that He exists and that at least the main outline of the Gospels is true, then we have to decide whether we will put our faith in Him completely or if we will make our own choices.

When faced with the decision of which pill to take, the red or the blue, Morhpeus tells Neo, "This is your last chance. After this, there is no turning back. You take the blue pill, the story ends...You take the red pill, you stay in Wonderland and I show you how deep the rabbit hole goes."

It is the same for us. Once we decide to follow God, there is no turning back. Not that He won't allow us to turn back. I believe He will. But we are forever changed and we will never again be able to say, "I didn't know I should follow God...I didn't know His way was best."

It is a hard choice to make, actually. Many Christians forget how hard it was to make the choice to put our faith in Him. But most of us are still working on it. We put our faith in Him on some things and not on others. I can trust that Yeshua died for my sins and I am forgiven, but trusting Him for my food every day...that's harder. Mother Teresa trusted Him to feed not only her, but anyone she took care of. And He was faithful. I don't think He has asked this specific thing of me, but I know I spend a great deal more time worrying about my bills than I should. If I truly trusted Him (and if I was truly faithful with the money He has given me) I wouldn't have to worry. Fortunately He is understanding and is patient while we work these things out.

When Morhpeus offers Neo the red or blue pill, there is symbolism there that tells us which choice is right, even if we don't understand the difference between them.

The blue pill is offered in Morpheus' left hand. The left side is used to represent something that is backwards or weaker (a left-handed compliment). Blue is symbolic of sleep and dreaming.

The red pill is in the right hand. The right side represents what is just, good, or proper. Red is associated with blood, such as the blood of Christ. It is also symbolic of danger, anger, and Satan, which are things Neo (and Christians) have to deal with if they choose the Red Pill.

In the Matrix movie, Trinity spends a lot of time watching over Neo before and after he is unplugged from the Matrix.

She is the one on his computer at the beginning of the movie; she is the one who meets with him to warn him of the danger he is in; she is the one who is able to calm his fears during the car ride to meet Morpheus; she is the one who resurrects him with a kiss.

In the same way, Yeshua watches over His sheep. He is often called the Good Shepherd, sent us the Holy Spirit to guide and comfort us, even laid down His life for us! What a great relief to know we're never alone!

OK...since I'm eating dinner I thought I'd give you a chance to help other people have dinner.

Go check out Elkit...she's blogging for Heifer International, a charity who gives animals to families in need. These animals (and training in their care) offer hungry families around the world a way to feed themselves and become self-reliant. Help them out by sponsoring her!

So how do we go about unplugging, anyway? Remove ourselves from our society?

Well, no; I don't think so. Neo didn't avoid the Matrix world; but he did spend a great deal of time training, talking with other people on the Neb, and thinking in terms of this new truth he understood.

We can do the same types of things. In Romans 12 we are told to renew our minds. We can do this by filling our minds with things that are Godly. We can spend time with other people who are living a Christian life; study scripture and the writings of respected Christians; learning and growing in our new found truth. Then when we go into 'the world' we are prepared to distinguish the things that are good for us from the things that aren't.

Don't you hate it when your dial up hates you?

Sorry to keep you waiting for that last post. I know you were waiting.

Light is an interesting item in the Matrix movie.

Towards the end of the movie, Neo jumps into Agent Smith and breaks him open with bright, shining light. I love that scene.

Yeshua is called the light. The truth, the way and the light, but let's concentrate on the light for now. In John 8:12, Yeshua says that He is the light of the world. That light shines into the darkness of our world and exposes those things that keep us away from Him. He shines into the emptiet of our spaces, filling them with His love and with truth.

This is so much harder than I expected it to be.

What topic should be next? How much should I post at once? How can I convey how much this movie affected my outlook? These are the questions I am asking myself 12 hours into Blogathon 2003.

In the Matrix movie, the scenes that are 'in the matrix' are tinted green.

Wouldn't it be easier if everything that was bad for us were tinted some other color? We'd always be able to see the danger long before getting close to it...we'd always be able to avoid what would hurt us, we'd always know how to find the truth.

Wouldn't that be nice?

The first time we see the Oracle, she's in the kitchen taking something out of the oven. She appears to be homey and simple, yet she lays some stuff on Neo that really bakes his noodle.

Who's to say Neo's mind wasn't the only noodle she was baking?

Appropriately enough, here are some noodles you can bake up-- a chocolate lasagna-- chocolate pasta filled with sweetened ricotta cheese. Hints of orange zest and Grand Marnier. Dark chocolate shavings in between layers. All baked to a wonderful, creamy goodness. Don't you think you want to try it at least once? Here's how to do it.

Now...go check out her great chocolatada blog! She's blogging for Book Aid, so give her a little support, too!

One of the moments in the movie that reminds me of myself is the scene where Neo is standing at the window, trying to make himself go out on the ledge and onto the scaffold.

Neo says to himself, "I'm going to die. I can't do this." Then he looks down, drops his phone and gives up.

I do this to myself; talk myself out of doing the right thing because I am afraid. Even though I know that God will give me what I need to do His will, I am afraid of failing. Even when I know He won't LET me fail. I guess that means I believe Him, but don't really have faith. Gotta work on that. Or I'll end up like Neo...with a bug in my naval.

In the same scene I mentioned in my previous post, Neo says, "What'd I do? I'm nobody. I didn't do anything."

Well, we know this isn't exactly true, but I want to focus on a different aspect. He says he's nobody...but he is, in fact, a very important body.

People tend to think this way. I'm just me, what can I do to make things better in the world? Well, the truth is, we are children of God and can do anything if it is in His will. He equips us, he makes the paths straight for us. We are heirs to the kingdom! But even Moses complained that he stuttered and couldn't possibly be the right person for the job God had for him, and look how wrong he was!

A much missed moment in the Matrix movie is when Morpheus mentions the birth of A.I.

He doesn't say artificial intelligence, even though that is what he means.

In Joshua chapters 7-10, the city of Ai is mentioned. The name means 'ruin' and it is a city that Israel tries to take. During the first attack they were not faithful to God and they were quickly defeated. But after Joshua prays and fasts, repenting for the nation and God delivered the city into their hands. A great lesson for us all.

You should go check out Jazz.

She's blogging for Doctors Without Borders. She's a Toklien fan and a lot of fun, so think about sponsoring her while you're at it!

Zion is another place that is mentioned both in the Matrix movie and in the Bible.

In the movie, it is the last human city, deep underground near the earth's core. In the Bible, it is mentions several places in Psalms as Heaven and as a Mount Zion. It is also mentioned in Isaiah as Jerusalem Holy City.

I thought it was a nice touch...the place that the humans long to be. A safe place, a place of rest.

I'm looking forward to that rest.

In the Matrix movie, sleep and death are metaphors for sin. This is appropriate because Thomas/Neo is asleep in his pod and we are dead in our sin.

Upon waking, however, Neo is removed from his pod and begins to see for the first time. He begins to truly feel and to learn the truth. The same is true when we are made alive again through acceptance and obedience to Yeshua!

Another metaphor for sin is the Matrix itself.

Morpheus tells Neo that the Matrix is everywhere, it is all around him. "You can see it when you look out your window or when you turn on your television. You can feel it when you go to work, when you go to church, when you pay your taxes. it is the world that has been pulled over your eyes to blind you from the truth."

The truth that "you are a slave, Neo. Like everyone else, you were born into bondage, born into a prison that you cannot smell, or taste, or touch. A prison for your mind."

Someone just metioned this to me.

Here I am blogging about not being plugged in and yet, I AM plugged in. What does that mean?

I'm going to have to give that some thought. Perhaps we'll come back to this.

How is that like sin?

Sin is such bondage...in my own life, anyway. When I get a thought in my head that I know is wrong, sometimes it is to HARD to give that thought up. I agonize over wanting to let it go and feeling unable to. Paul says he 'does not do what he wants to do and does what he does not want to do.' I am so totally there with him.

Some things are almost laughable...I realize what is going on in my head and I just laugh, just joke myself out of the thought. Other times, though, those thoughts are just too enticing; they just hold me there until I find myself deeply involved in something I didn't want to be involved in.

My previous post gave the impression that I think thoughts can be sinful.

That isn't exactly true. I mean, yes, some thoughts can be sinful...not the thought itself, but dwelling on a thought. Yeshua teaches that to lust after someone can be adultery. But it isn't the initial thought, but the harboring of that thought.

I was actually referring, however, more to thoughts that lead to actions. I can fight with a thought for a long time before I give into the actions, but sometimes it is hard to resist falling into the action. Well, ok. That's not true. I FIND it hard to resist, but Paul does teach in 1 Corinthians 10:13that 'there is no temptation will seize you beyond what people normally experience, and God can be trusted not to allow you to be tempted beyond what you can bear. In fact, along with the temptation he will also provide the way out, so that you will be able to endure.' And 'we can handle all things through Christ who give us strength.' Philippians 4:13

Just as Neo had to strengthen his muscles when he was rescued from the Matrix, we have to strengthen our spiritual muscles when we are learning to live a Christian life.

It is not surprising that we struggle throughout our lives with various temptations. I don't believe God holds that against us, but He does expect us to rely on His strength to get through it. Actually, it isn't really our spiritual muscles, but our faith, again, that we need to strengthen. In our weakness, as we rely on Him, He is glorified.

Another important lesson for Neo is that anyone can be an agent of the Matrix.

We, too, have to watch out for those around us. This is one way that the Matrix is like Satan. Anyone can be used to tempt us. For example, a friend might encourage us to make a choice that is bad for us when they believe it to be good for us. Take a look back at the posts about truth. I mention this there a little, too. It isn't that the person is trying to decieve us; they honestly believe it is a good decision. But only God know what is best for us, and we must measure any advice we get to God's will.

One of the things we talk to our students about is making decisions about the people they spend time with. This goes back to my previous post about Satan and how anyone can be His agent.

If the people you are spending time with tend to encourage you towards unGodly behaviors and decisions, they are probably not people who are helpful in your faith life. Look for people who encourage you to look to God, encourage you to seek His will and who support you when you make decisions that the rest of the world may see as foolish. These are the people you want to spend time with. These are people who are unplugging from the Matrix and who can help you unplug!

"If someone among you thinks he is wise (by this world's standards), let him become "foolish" so that he may become really wise. For the wisdom of this world is nonsense to God." 1 Corinthians 2:18-19

The best example in the Matrix movie of a person being an agent for the Matrix, actually, is Cypher, the traitor.

Cypher means zero, or one that has no worth or influence, is without value, or something that is hidden (such as a code). What he is hidding is his hatred of Morpheus and his 'cause'.

In one scene, Neo walks up to Cypher while he is at the Matrix consoles. Cypher immediately hides what he is doing by turning the screens off. He then distracts Neo by giving him a drink and then asking about his status as 'the One.' He indicates that Morpheus is doing Neo a diservice by rescuing him from the Matrix. He plants doubts in Neo's mind just as Satan does to us every day. C.S. Lewis even mentions that if Satan had only one weapon, it would be discouragement.

Cyper offers Neo negativity and false camaraderie to win his trust, but hopes to influence Neo to give up in his quest for truth. The next scene proves our distrust of him is warranted when he talks to an Agent about turning Morpheus in.

When even your friends are against you, what is a Savior to do?!

Agent Smith, when he captures Morpheus, spends quite a bit of time trying to break into his mind to get the information he wants.

It immediately made me think of the way Satan whispers to us sometimes. Those annoying remarks like, "they don't like me," "God won't forgive me," "I'll never be able to be a good Christian, so what's the point?" Those aggravating lies that we buy so easily in our vulnerable moments. It's not quite the same thing the Agent Smith wants to do, but it achieves the same result, the fall of a Godly person.

So what are Godly people to do? Exactly what Neo does...

When Neo is killed and then resurrected, he looks down the hallway and sees the building and the agents in code rather than flesh and steel. He is shot at and raises his hand to the bullets. A simple "no" brings them to a halt. The scene, for me, is a literary portrayal of the verse "Submit therefore to God, reisit the devil [Neo putting his hand up to the bullet] and he will flee from you [the agents flee]." James 4:8.

Not that we can stop bullets in their tracks. But if instead of bullets they are lies, well, these we can stop before they imbed themselves into our minds. It's a great principle, even if we need to tweak it a bit for the real world.

We can say that Neo "takes up the shield of faith, with which [he] will be able to extinguish all the flaming missiles [bullets] of the evil one." Ephesians 6:16 and that "No weapon formed against [him] shall prosper." Isaiah 54:17

It is not lack of sleep that tortures me at this early hour of 6am. It is the lack of a good position to sit or stand.

I have tried them all. They are all uncomfortable now. My max comfortable blog time seems to be 20 hours.

Well, maybe I am getting a bit sleepy now. I'm amazed that it's taken this long. I haven't even been drinking Dew with caffeine, just caffeine-free! And I'm still plugged in here, posting away!

The Wachowski brothers, who wrote and directed the film, truly love symbolism, so there is a great deal of it.

Reflection is one they use throughout the entire movie and, I suspect, will use it throughout the entire trilogy. It's a great tool.

Relections can be symbolic of truth, wisdom, self-understanding and, in the Matrix, a reminder that the matrix world is one reality out of many possible realities, worlds within worlds.

They are a great reminder for us, too. We are living in this world, but we are truly of another world. The truths we find may be only dim reflections of the truths that await us as we grow more and more like Yeshua.