The Way Matt Sees It

This world needs a solution.   Everyone knows it.   But no one agrees on what that solution is. One week ago (Saturday, 03/25/18), thousands across New Jersey and millions across the nation rallied together for the end of gun violence this past Saturday.   Inspired by the tragic events that happened in Florida just weeks ago, they pushed for our state to make NJ gun laws, which are among the toughest in the country, even tougher in an effort to end school gun violence once and for all.   Two days later, hundreds of gun rights activists held a demonstration of their own in NJ’s capital.   They argued that it’s not guns, but there are other things that contribute to gun violence.  This world needs a solution, but we can’t agree on what that solution is.   The thing is, this isn’t a new idea.   People have gathered together for change because they recognized that our world is broken all throughout history. Take the Civil Rig...

[Spoilers from Star Wars Episode VIII: The Last Jedi below] I would first like to say that I think that critically, Star Wars: The Last Jedi is a great film, and if I’m being completely honest, it’s exactly what Star Wars needed to stay relevant and fresh.   However, as a die-hard Star Wars fan, I was challenged along with lots of other fans about our expectations and desires for the story and characters.   After watching it a second time and reflecting on it for several days (and reading thousands of comments on Reddit), I feel like I’ve come to a better place. FIRST WATCH THOUGHTS: I first want to identify what “challenged” me.   It’s not what other people have complained about (Leia in space, Finn and Rose’s scenes, etc.).   For me, it came down to this: Luke Skywalker's role in the story. I was waiting for him to train Rey (after revealing that he was her father), swoop back in his X-Wing and personally save everyone by demonstrating hi...

THE BOOK OF EZRA I’m reading through the Book of Ezra and I came across an interesting passage.   The nation of Israel had been living in exile away from their home country for 50+ years, but a guy named Zerubbabel got special permission from Cyrus the King of Persia to go back to their country to rebuild the Temple (Ezra 1:1-4; 3:8).   As Zerubbabel is leading the Temple construction, we come to this passage: The enemies of Judah and Benjamin heard that the exiles were rebuilding a Temple to the Lord, the God of Israel. So they approached Zerubbabel and the other leaders and said, “Let us build with you, for we worship your God just as you do. We have sacrificed to him ever since King Esarhaddon of Assyria brought us here.” But Zerubbabel, Jeshua, and the other leaders of Israel replied, “You may have no part in this work. We alone will build the Temple for the Lord, the God of Israel, just as King Cyrus of Persia commanded us.”   (Ezra 4:1-3) The peop...