TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IV: "The Leonardo Code"

Ah, yes, yet another opportunity to practice my Photoshopping skills!

First off, I'm sorry, but I refuse to take "The Da Vinci Code" seriously. I do, however, recognize that it could yield some wonderful opportunities for us to present the real Gospel that we maybe wouldn't have otherwise. For some serious discourse on "The Da Vinci Code" from a biblical perspective, visit:

http://www.spiritualdisciplines.org/dvcode.html,

http://www.albertmohler.com/commentary_read.php?cdate=2006-05-19,

and http://stevenjcamp.blogspot.com/2006/05/da-vinci-code-moviemy-review.html .

Meanwhile, here are my most recent thoughts on the movie:

I noticed that over the Memorial Day weekend, "The DaVinci Code" only took in $43 million at the box office, whereas, "X-Men: The Last Stand," (the action-hero flick), took in $120.1 million. So, I'm thinking, maybe "Opie" should have combined the two concepts, and created a flick to appeal to a larger audience. Here's what I came up with:
TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES IV: "The 'Leonardo' Code." (Hey, it's more realistic than "The Da Vinci Code"). ;-)

So, here's the plot. The ninja turtles-Michelangelo, Donatello, Raphael, and Leonardo, are called to the scene of a brutal murder-a turtle has perished, and only his shell remains! Scattered about are used take-out pizza boxes, which hold clues that lead to a shocking discovery. A mystery, which has been protected by a secret society for hundreds of years-and it could shake the very foundations of what has been long considered a truth in society and all of the television-viewing public: Professional wrestling.......really is REAL. Not only is it real, but it was secretly brought to the small screen by none other than a bizarre, covert business relationship between Simon Cowell and Donald Trump. Professional wrestling was their joint venture, the "baby" they concocted together in a moment of heated brainstorming. And the networks will stop at nothing--including murder--to keep it a secret.

I think it could work.....



So, from this:

To this?:

Oh, Aunt Bee, where did we go wrong with "the boy? "

Gimme a Break.......Psychotherapy for Infants, Now?

Now researchers have concluded that there could be long-term benefits of providing psychotherapy to patients in infancy. (Yeah, the long-term benefits could include a country club estate and a sports car in the psychiatrist's future.......wink, wink).

Here's a link to the entire article on MSN's website:
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/12037118/
Meanwhile, I'm including some "choice" quotes from the article.

"With a growing amount of research focusing on early brain development, more youngsters — even infants — are being targeted to receive the services of mental-health professionals."

"Psychological research on this age group is a hot topic at major universities, and last year the American Academy of Pediatrics launched a task force with at least part of its purpose to push more infant/toddler mental health intervention."

"This may cause some readers to roll their eyes — especially those who believe Americans have a tendency to pathologize and treat the slightest blip of a bad mood. " I confess....I'm one of those "eye-rolling American readers." You've got me pegged! I do give creedence to the scriptures, Isaiah 26:3, Romans 12:2, and Romans 8:6.

"With the right therapy and care, many conditions can be helped significantly and often swiftly. 'Sometimes one session or two sessions and a couple of phone consultations are all you need to take care of a problem,' Dr. Thomas Anders says." Phone consultations? With an infant? I can't even have a coherent phone conversation with my 6 year old! (By the way, Dr. Anders is an "infant psychiatrist" from the University of California).
Here you go, Dr. Anders:
Psalm 139:13-16 "13 For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother's womb. 14 I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well. 15 My frame was not hidden from you,when I was being made in secret, intricately woven in the depths of the earth. 16 Your eyes saw my unformed substance;in your book were written, every one of them, the days that were formed for me, when as yet there were none of them."

Proverbs 20:24 A man's steps are from the LORD; how then can man understand his way?

Jeremiah 10:23 I know, O LORD, that the way of man is not in himself, that it is not in man who walks to direct his steps.

ETA (6/7/06): I noticed that Carla over at "Reflections of the Times" has posted an article regarding the offspring of strict disciplinarians with low levels of sensitivity, and how they (the offspring) are more likely to be fatter children by age 6. I wonder if researchers will eventually determine that failure to provide psycotherapy for your infant and toddler contributes to childhood obesity as well? (Ooops, my eyes are rolling again).

MOMMY POST-DRAMATIC EXPRESS SYNDROME

My wonderful friend Lisa, over on her Deo Volente blog, posted the following comment a few days ago, which pertained to dealing with short-term memory loss.

She writes: "Another thing I struggle with is memory. I can't seem to blame the MS on this. I have always struggled with it. Most of the time, I consider it a blessing. But the way I deal with it is that I am a "list" person. I make lists, write things I need to remember down on my calendar and cross things out so that I can remember I did them."

Well, I can totally relate! I call these "Mommy Moments." And I have a dented, screeching garage door; dented countertops; a scratch that runs the length of my minivan; and numerous other household imperfections to prove it. I thrive on lists, too. Do you ever forget to put something on your list, realize that it needs to be done, and then after you complete the task, add it to the list so that you can have the immediate gratification of crossing it off your list?

Many times, I find myself setting out for downstairs to do something, and forgetting what it was by the time I get there. So, I have to go back upstairs to the exact spot in the same room I was in when I originally thought of it, so that I can "jog my memory" (by returning to the scene, I guess). Do you ever do that?

I'll tie out our dog on the back deck, then forget to let her back in. Then, when I do finally remember to let her back in, five minutes later, I return to the back door once again to let her in (completely forgetting that she was already back in the house).

Someone emailed me a "textbook case" of a fictional disorder called, "Age Activated Attention Deficit Disorder (A.A.A.D.D.), but I renamed it "Mommy Post-'Dramatic Express' Syndrome," (MPES), and re-wrote it to make it more of a personal account of one of my typical days.

This is how it goes: I decide to clean out the van; I start toward the garage and notice the mail on the kitchen counter. OK, I'm going to clean out the van.

But first I'd better go through the mail. I lay the car keys down on the kitchen counter, discard the junk mail and I notice the trash can is full. OK, I'll just put the bills on my desk and take the garbage out.

But since I'm going to be near the mailbox anyway, I'll pay these few bills first.
(Yes, it's a very brick mailbox that etched a huge scratch down the passenger side of the van because I pulled way too quickly out of the driveway when I was running late one afternoon). Now, where is my checkbook? I go upstairs to my computer to find my checkbook. Oops, there's only one check left. I'd better call the bank and order more. Oh, there's my coffee I was drinking.
I'm going to look up the phone number to the bank.
But first I need to put my coffee further away from the computer, oh maybe I'll warm it up in the microwave. . I head downstairs to the kitchen and the dog catches my eye, she needs to be fed. (Yes, she's one of those ->"adorable" West Highland White "Terrors)." I put my coffee mug in the microwave and notice my bottle of vitamins. I was looking for them all morning! I'd better put them away first.

I walk down the hall to the bathroom to put away my vitamins, and notice that the laundry hamper is full (again); I need to start a load of laundry. I load the washer and turn it on, and on the way back, I notice that my houseplants need water.

I fill a container with water and head for the flower pots. Someone left the TV remote in the kitchen. We'll never think to look in the kitchen tonight when we want to watch television.

So I'd better put it back upstairs in the family room where it belongs. I splash some water into the pots and onto the floor. I throw the remote onto a soft cushion on the sofa and I head back downstairs trying to figure out what it was I was going to do.

End of Day: The van isn't cleaned; the bills are unpaid ; my coffee mug is still in the microwave ; the flowers are half watered ; I still have only one check in the checkbook with no more on the way, there are clean, wet clothes sitting in the washing machine; the remote has fallen under the couch cushions, and I can't seem to find my car keys!

When I try to figure out how come nothing got done today, I'm baffled because I KNOW I WAS BUSY ALL DAY LONG! I realize this is a serious condition and I'll get help,
BUT FIRST I think l'll check my e-mail.

GOING THROUGH A TRIAL?

Read the words of Keith Green, as he wrote about the ultimate result of our trials:

Trials Turned To Gold

He's brought me here, where things are clear, and trials turn to gold.

He shared with me, His victory, He won in days of old.

Oh Lord, I don't deserve, the riches of your word,

But You've changed my filthy rags to linen white as snow.

The view from here is nothing near to what it is for You.

I tried to see Your plan for me, but I only acted like I knew.

Oh Lord forgive the times, I tried to read your mind.

Cause you said if I'd be still, then I would hear your voice.

My Lord, my King, my urge to sing and praise the things above.

No words can say the glorious way you changed me with your love.

He's brought me low, so I could know the way to reach the heights.

To forsake my dreams, my self esteem and give up all my rights.

With each one that I lay down, a jewel's placed in my crown.

Cause His love, the things above, is all we'll ever need.

He's brought me here, where things are clear, and trials turn to gold.

Copyright 1977, SBK April Music Inc.

SAYINGS OF BIBLICAL MOTHERS

* "Samson! Get your hand out of that lion. You don't know where it's been!"

* "David! I told you not to play in the house with that sling! Go practice your harp. We pay good money for those lessons!"

* "Abraham! Stop wandering around the countryside and get home for supper!"

* "Cain! Get off your brother! You're going to kill him some day!"

* "Noah! No, you can't keep them! I told you, don't bring home any more strays!"

* "Peter! If I've told you once, I've told you 10 times--stop swimming in the ocean."

* "Gideon! Have you been hiding in that wine press again? Look at your clothes!"

* "James and John! No more burping contests at the dinner table, please. People are going to call you the sons of thunder!"

* "Judas! Have you been in my purse again?"