Nothing to see here

Not much to report on today. I'm having a good day but just not feeling particularly inspired. I'm not really interested in faking some deep spiritual insight so I'll keep it brief. Some of you have been asking about getting a copy of the sermon from this past Sunday. I have to apologize that I haven't been particularly on top of getting our sermon recordings archived and onto the web in the last couple of months - it's fallen somewhere between updating the sign out front and keeping up with my reading of "The new Roberts Rules of Order 2nd Edition" (no, seriously - I've been trying to work my way thorough this book in preparation for District Conference this June).  If anyone feels a burning passion to get involved with this ministry and make it their weekly commitment to archive, upload and post the sermons to iTunes I would be grateful (hint, hint) but until then I'll do my best to get to it when I can. But because some of you asked so nicely, you can download The Lesser Man here.

Today's Transformer is one of those iconic characters that manages to find his way into nearly every continuity (he even found his way into a cameo on Beast Wars which is an achievement few can claim). This is Classics Starscream.

Starscream is famous for being Megatron's scheming and ambitious lieutenant. Officially his title was Air Commander Starscream and his story is one of the most interesting in Transformers lore - even if it keeps morphing. The common themes amongst the various back stories that complicate his history are the ideas that Starscream was once a well regarded scientist on Cybertron and in that capacity he worked closely with Jetfire (Skyfire) until circumstances caused them to end up on opposite sides of the great war; that Starscream despite his poor attitude and unchecked ambition is actually a formidable warrior who is not to be taken lightly in battle, and that Starscream possesses some mutant indestructible spark (the soul and life-force of Transformers) which makes him nigh-immortal even though he has spent many years as a disembodied spirit. In the 1986 animated movie Starscream meets a demise that is second only to Optimus Prime in memorability when after finally ridding himself of Megatron and declaring himself the leader of the Decepticons he is utterly destroyed by Meagtron reincarnated as Galvatron. Galvatron obviously possessing a different psyche than his original form wastes no time doing what many people thought Megatron should have done eons ago - and basically vaporized the usurper of his throne - turning Starscream into dust.

Starscream is also the figure that my little brother Keegan collects in much the same way I collect Hot Rod/Rodimus. So he's special in that way too.

Until tomorrow,
Chris