If your first thought when hearing about Marathon’s March 5th release date was how that would immediately clash with Destiny 2’s plans for a major update for Renegades on March 3rd, well good news! It’s not going to get in the way anymore because Bungie is delaying that update for nearly four months. Wait, no, that’s the opposite of […]

Like most game series that have survived from their original 8-bit NES incarnations into the modern era of photo-realistic graphics, Final Fantasy has come a VERY long way. When this franchise first started in all of its original pixel-based glory, nobody would have ever imagined it would grow over the years and transform into some of the most graphically impressive games of each console generation. But while the dream was always there, the graphical capabilities of the hardware didn’t exist to fully realize that vision until now… and now that the technology has finally caught up with the imagination of the team, we get to experience these stories in all of the fullness of the design team’s intentions.

The Lord places dreams and desires in our hearts for us to fulfill them, but there is still a growing period we must experience before His vision will reach fruition. Just as Joseph grew his character and his leadership skills in his roles as a servant and a prisoner before he was elevated to his destiny as second in command of Egypt, the Lord builds each of us up slowly… not because He is testing us, but because He is TRAINING us. His plan for us requires our “hardware” to catch up to our calling, so let’s embrace each challenge we face as a part of growing into His larger destiny for us. These small beginnings have big endings.

I will not drive them out from before you in one year, lest the land become desolate and the beasts of the field become too numerous for you. Little by little I will drive them out from before you, until you have increased, and you inherit the land. Exodus 23:29-30

Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to see the work begin. Zechariah 4:10a

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While Kingdom Hearts is a fairly linear gaming experience, it doesn’t mean that every item that our missions require or each character we are tasked with helping are easily discovered… many are only revealed when we are forced off of our preferred path and into an area that we never intended to explore. While these moments may seem like an undesired time-wasting detour at first, they are often the places where I discovered something that I didn’t even know I should be searching for. Whether it was a valuable item that changed the way I played the game or a path to helping someone I didn’t know was there, these unwanted diversions helped to push Sora to places he wouldn’t have reached any other way.

We will all face unwanted detours in life, but these inconvenient situations are often used by the Lord to advance His kingdom in ways that wouldn’t have happened otherwise. Many times, these are the paths that He uses to guide us to our destiny the same way Joseph found in his journey from prison to prince, and other times these diversions are actually a divine intersection to reach one singular soul for Christ like Paul and the repentant jailer. If we allow Him to open our eyes to the possibilities beyond our present discomfort, we will find that He truly does work out all things for good… according to His purposes, not ours.

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

But as for you, you meant evil against me; but God meant it for good, in order to bring it about as it is this day, to save many people alive. Genesis 50:20

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While each title in the original Halo trilogy has a small amount of exploration in it, the central storyline remains a linear experience. If we want to make progress, we must take on the missions and perform the actions that Master Chief has been assigned to do. Sure, we have the flexibility to either walk or pilot a vehicle to get to our destination and pick up a shotgun instead of a battle rifle, but at the end of the day we’re all still following the predetermined path John-117 was designed for. It may seem limiting that we don’t get to select what he says or how he saves the day, but that is kind of the point… this isn’t our story, it’s HIS. The fate of the universe is at stake, so the game doesn’t give us an option to do things our own way. The only question it allows us to answer is “What would the Master Chief do”?

The choice to accept the gift of Christ’s grace and follow Him places our feet on a path that is no longer about pursuing our own will, desires, or preferences. If truly we want to see His will done on this planet and experience the fullness of His blessings in our lives, we have to do it His way and live our lives on His terms. While it may feel reductive or simplistic to ask “What would Jesus do?” before each word we say or action we take, those are the guidelines for today’s missions… because there’s only one way to save the world.

I have been crucified with Christ; it is no longer I who live, but Christ lives in me; and the life which I now live in the flesh I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me. Galatians 2:20

Abide in Me, and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you, unless you abide in Me. I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. John 15:4-5

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Justin and Bree discuss WoW Midnight, Gloria Victis' revival, the Cryptic mess, Neverwinter, and Albion Online, with a run-down of all the cool stuff coming in early December (WoW's housing, LOTRO Kingdoms of Harad, EverQuest Shattering of Ro, Destiny 2 Renegades, Guild Wars Reforged, along with adventures in LOTRO, Guild Wars 2, and WoW, plus a mailbag topic on predatory MMO monetization.

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Well, today is the day when Destiny 2 marries Star Wars for reasons: Destiny 2 Renegades is officially live for fans who can make it make sense in their head or just, you know, love the heck out of lightsabers and John Williams-esque music. Which is most of us. “Today, Bungie launches Destiny 2: Renegades, […]

Most of the iconic protagonists from our favorite video game franchises get placed in some pretty unfair situations that would be fairly difficult to appreciate… but the truth is nobody would be interested in playing a game about a plumber who just travels to people’s homes and unclogs their toilets or a furry blue hedgehog who lounges around all day eating chili dogs. The adversaries that pulled them out of their places of comfort and the unpleasant circumstances that pressed them into service may not seem like something to be grateful for on the surface, but the only reason we all know who Mario and Sonic are is because these unwanted predicaments were thrust upon them. The worst things they have endured are actually the BEST things that ever happened to them, and that’s something to be thankful for.

Counting the blessings that make our lives more comfortable and enjoyable is easy, but being grateful and thankful for those situations that cause us discomfort doesn’t come naturally to any of us. But when the Bible tells us to give thanks in ALL things, it is reminding us that even the unpleasant challenges we face in life serve purposes that we should be thankful for, knowing the Lord will use them to press us into our best destiny. Let’s be thankful and bless our enemies… we can’t get where we are going without them.

Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you. 1 Thessalonians 5:16-18

And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose. Romans 8:28

Let the peace of God rule in your hearts, to which also you were called in one body; and be thankful. Colossians 3:15

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Capcom has released a playable demo for their Onimusha 2: Samurai’s Destiny remaster, letting fans try the remaster on modern platforms. The new demo is now available for all platforms, though save data cannot be transferred to the full game. Here’s a brief blurb on the game, plus a new trailer: Reclaim Your Destiny. Onimusha […]

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