This is a criticism on the youtube video accessed at this link

www.saintbirgitta.com is overlaid across the bottom of the video. This is a web site run by Swedish monks promoting the writings of the Roman Catholic Saint Bridget.

Here is a list of the accusations that the speaker makes against Disney. The small bullet points are my responses.

· There are levels of Satanism, Witchcraft, Pornography and Spiritism present in Disney’s videos

· The Little Mermaid, 3rd column from the right is and erect phallus – a video of child pornography

o See http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/mermaid.asp. I would not have notice that resemblance. Did you notice that when the film was in the cinemas?

· The Little mermaid, a Jamaican group is singing words to curse every child listening to the video.

o I can find no evidence for this assertion.

· Aladin: if played in slow motion a voice can be hears saying “Good teenagers, take off your clothes”, which cannot be made out at normal speeds

o See http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/aladdin.asp. It is an odd piece of sound but I can’t make out the word Teenagers. In any case, who would ever notice it an normal speed?

· Pocahontas is an ‘Indian’ word with two meanings” Poca mean ‘Spirit’ and Hontas means ‘Abyss’. If you say Pocahontas you are invoking the Devil from the Abyss to the side of your children.

o I can find no evidence for this assertion.

· That TIME magazine called the Lion King “the most dirty, most perverse and most cgarged with violence than any other video Disney has produced”. That children who watch the Lion King today will be the murderers of tomorrow.

o I’ve searched on TIME magazine’s website and can find only complimentary reviews of The Lion King.

· John Smith, the producer of the Lion King is a homosexual man who died of AIDS in New York, and made the lion walk effeminately.

o Nobody called john Smith was involved in the Lion King at all. (see http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0110357/fullcredits and http://www.lionking.org/endcredits.html ) .

o The Lion King was produced by Don Hahn assisted by Alice Dewey , Sarah McArthur and Thomas Schumacher.

o Kevin Smith animated the adult Simba, and he is happily still alive and working. (See http://www.imdb.com/name/nm1918990/)

· The music for The Lion King is “of the new age of Shirley Mclain”, hooks children to the screen, is from Hell, and is dedicated to the devil.

o I can find no evidence for this assertion/rant. Tim Rice is a successful Lyricist and Elton John is a successful performer. I’m not a big fan of either but I have no evidence the score is from hell.

· The Lion King a cloud of dust can be construed to spell out the word SEX.

o See http://www.snopes.com/disney/films/lionking.asp. It doesn’t look like letters to me. If anything the theory that it says SFX as a self-congratulatory message from the Special Effects department is more convincing.

· James Dobson, of Focus on the Family has written a report concerning a Disney video “Growing Up Gay’ introduced by Mickey Mouse. That Disney has created two gay Mickey’s and two lesbian Minnies. In the video a Disney spokesman invited all male teenagers to explore the “wonderful world of homosexuality”.

o I can find nothing about this on Focus On The family’s web site. One comment I found on FotF is their support for an end to the boycott against Disney! I have emailed Focus On The Family’s information line for further comment.

· Michael Eisner owns 60% of Disney stock; left his wife (in Burbank) and married a homosexual man at Disney World, Orlando FL 3 months ago.

o In truth, Michael Eisner is married to Jane Breckenridge and has been since 1967. He was very well paid during his 20 years with Disney, and I don’t know his stock holding but it’s not credible that a single private individual owns 60% of this giant publically traded stock. He doesn’t work at Disney any more.

· Disney is a satanic empire, intent on destroying your home and children.

o This is obviously one opinion. My opinion is that they are an essentially worldly family entertainment company. I prefer Veggie Tales myself.

· His advice is to destroy all copies of Disney videos you may have.

o I don’t condone ‘book burning’. What entertainment we allow in our homes is something that parents need to prayerfully consider. I choose not to buy Disney products. But my reasoning isn’t to do with satan. It’s to do with a poor depiction (or frequently no depiction at all) of fathers in families in Disney products. I think Veggie Tales and Pixar creations are far superior.

It's Wednesday morning and the reality of what just happened on Sunday is sinking in. That it was just a land mark moment in our church - which means in my family and in my life too. We won't have another Sunday quite like that - maybe for ever. I am very happy. Here's why:

1) 16 families have made a huge, deep, sacrificial commitment to God, but specifically to be deeply involved TOGETHER to build the Kingdom of Jesus Christ here in Londonderry, and LCN. That blows me away. It wasn't long ago that we had perhaps 6 families that were 'core'. Now we have 16. That's so far. And there are potentially 9 or 10 more that are still praying and considering their pledges. I can begin to imagine what God can do with 16. 20 full-on committed families. When I match that thought with the depth of talent and skills in us....wow. Then I pull back for a moment and look around the church as we interact. Gentleness, kindness, involvement,...love. Jesus is here - He is walking through our church.

2) Yes, I suppose we have to talk about money - because we live in a world where ministry costs money. So far, as of last night, $213,000 pledged. We only need another $119K to get this building started. That's peanuts. God, has showered his blessing on us just like the morning rain on Sunday. We can do this. The whole thing is being provisioned by Him. I believe that the money is nothing to God. He wants our commitment.

3) The actual Celebration Sunday was something very special. It seemed everyone was doing something. How can you thank a whole church for their careful planning, time, excellence and most of all loving kindness?

Just when all this is sinking in I had a conversation yesterday with a wonderful brother who always blesses me. As we leaned against his truck, he spoke quietly about the hunger all around us. I heard his sense of deep urgency to get this ministry building started, finished, and get the ministries rolling, get the community to hear the gospel, to see lives changed for Jesus. "If only we have done this a year ago" he said. I love his focus. It was another moment where I heard Jesus speaking. I've heard that 'voice' in so many ways this past few weeks. It's not just that The Call is God calling us to ministry. It's Him calling us together.

Lord, I'm amazed by grace.

Today I start a new journey, as I try to settle into a new life-rhythm in which I spend Friday's intentionally in the presence of God. of course, he is always with us, but we are not always focused on Him. i hope I will become a more mature Christ Follower and a better pastor.

Here is a great scripture to think on. It's the opening lines from the opening psalm - the hymn book of the Bible:

¹ Blessed is the man

who does not walk in the counsel of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

or sit in the seat of mockers.

² But his delight is in the law of the LORD,

and on his law he meditates day and night.

We start by walking with non Christ Followers, then we stop and stand with them, and eventually we end up sitting with them. It's a progression. How true it is that we become like the people we spend time with. The converse, happily, is true. If we spend time with other Christ Followers, and especially, spend time with God Himself, then we become more like them, Him. Today I will take time to meditate, consider, mull over, enjoy, relish, God's TORAH (law) perhaps better expressed as His Word - His will, His - self.

Let me be blessed, Father, as I delight in Your Word - Jesus Christ. Let me meditate on Him while shopping, doing some housework, gardening, writing, calling brethren, planning, singing, and other acts of life-worship. Amen.