1 00:00:00,000 --> 00:00:06,720 When someone tells you that you're called to a higher purpose, how do you react? 2 00:00:06,720 --> 00:00:07,720 Are you apprehensive? 3 00:00:07,720 --> 00:00:10,960 Do you feel like you're not the right person for the job? 4 00:00:10,960 --> 00:00:15,240 Or do you take the opportunity head on, even if you aren't quite prepared for it? 5 00:00:15,240 --> 00:00:19,240 Well, no matter how you react, it's something that we all go through at some point in our 6 00:00:19,240 --> 00:00:22,600 lives, it is not exactly the easiest thing to handle. 7 00:00:22,600 --> 00:00:26,260 And that's why on this season, we'll be looking at how to handle our purpose with one of my 8 00:00:26,260 --> 00:00:31,800 favorite shows ever, and whether you consider it an anime or not, it's kind of up to you. 9 00:00:31,800 --> 00:00:35,600 But that show is Avatar The Last Airbender. 10 00:00:35,600 --> 00:00:45,160 Hey, what's going on guys? 11 00:00:45,160 --> 00:00:48,960 My name is Nate, and you're listening to the Otaku Liberation, a show where we help you 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,260 break the chains that will hold you back in your life by connecting some biblical principles 13 00:00:52,260 --> 00:00:54,000 with themes from your favorite anime. 14 00:00:54,000 --> 00:00:58,680 And without further ado, let's get right on into it. 15 00:00:58,680 --> 00:01:02,840 So the whole idea of purpose, right? 16 00:01:02,840 --> 00:01:09,200 It seems to be this whole mystical journey that we all kind of go through, that we all 17 00:01:09,200 --> 00:01:11,800 trying to figure out in our lives. 18 00:01:11,800 --> 00:01:18,060 And I don't know about you, but I honestly wish I had some instructions, some really 19 00:01:18,060 --> 00:01:22,340 clear instructions on what I need to do at every given moment, because I just think my 20 00:01:22,340 --> 00:01:24,760 life will be a lot easier. 21 00:01:24,760 --> 00:01:25,760 Maybe that's just me. 22 00:01:25,760 --> 00:01:26,760 Who knows? 23 00:01:26,760 --> 00:01:34,440 But what I do know is that God did create all of us for a purpose. 24 00:01:34,440 --> 00:01:43,040 And honestly, that overarching purpose is the same, is to bring people to the kingdom, 25 00:01:43,040 --> 00:01:48,320 to bring them to salvation, to help them know him in a better light. 26 00:01:48,320 --> 00:01:55,920 But the method that each of us uses is going to be different and be tailor made to how 27 00:01:55,920 --> 00:01:57,880 God made us. 28 00:01:57,880 --> 00:02:03,920 So before we get too deep into it, the verse I want to cover for this episode is Ephesians 29 00:02:03,920 --> 00:02:05,400 chapter two, verse 10. 30 00:02:05,400 --> 00:02:11,040 It says, for we are God's handiwork created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God 31 00:02:11,040 --> 00:02:14,520 prepared in advance for us to do. 32 00:02:14,520 --> 00:02:17,640 And the Lord said it better than I could, right? 33 00:02:17,640 --> 00:02:22,680 He created us for good works, for us to do good works. 34 00:02:22,680 --> 00:02:26,600 And I guess the good thing is those works are already prepared for us, right? 35 00:02:26,600 --> 00:02:33,160 They're already here just waiting for us to really mature enough and to get to the point 36 00:02:33,160 --> 00:02:35,800 where we can handle it. 37 00:02:35,800 --> 00:02:43,360 And that's a long and daunting process, but it's one that honestly, once you get to the 38 00:02:43,360 --> 00:02:50,000 other side of it and you look back to see where you started, that's his own reward, 39 00:02:50,000 --> 00:02:51,000 at least for me. 40 00:02:51,000 --> 00:02:55,600 Again, you guys let me know if you feel the same or maybe I'm just talking crazy. 41 00:02:55,600 --> 00:02:56,600 Who knows? 42 00:02:56,600 --> 00:03:00,160 After all, I'm just in here in my room talking into this mic. 43 00:03:00,160 --> 00:03:05,000 So I just have to pretend that you guys understand what I'm talking about. 44 00:03:05,000 --> 00:03:13,040 But the reason why I chose Avatar is one, like I say, is one of my favorite shows ever 45 00:03:13,040 --> 00:03:16,720 so I figured why not do a season on it. 46 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:24,120 But two, it's one of those shows that's been a cult classic that a lot of people, both 47 00:03:24,120 --> 00:03:29,440 who are in my generation who saw it when it first came out and those who are just discovering 48 00:03:29,440 --> 00:03:33,480 now can all agree that it's a masterpiece. 49 00:03:33,480 --> 00:03:38,640 It's very well done and there's so many different things that you can pick from it. 50 00:03:38,640 --> 00:03:41,760 So just a little bit of the overview. 51 00:03:41,760 --> 00:03:48,440 Avatar Last Airbender was created by Michael Dante DiMartino and Brian Konietzko. 52 00:03:48,440 --> 00:03:50,240 Sorry, Brian. 53 00:03:50,240 --> 00:03:54,600 It originally aired from 2001 to 2008. 54 00:03:54,600 --> 00:04:01,480 So early 2000s, just kind of finding its footing. 55 00:04:01,480 --> 00:04:07,560 For me, going back and rewatching it, because I rewatched it in preparation for this season 56 00:04:07,560 --> 00:04:13,320 and there's so many things that I didn't notice when I watched it the first time as a kid. 57 00:04:13,320 --> 00:04:18,080 Or maybe I did notice a bit the meaning of it didn't really hit home until I got older 58 00:04:18,080 --> 00:04:23,280 and just really understood the weight of the story. 59 00:04:23,280 --> 00:04:31,240 I mean, getting at this 12 year old kid who's in charge of ending a hundred year old war. 60 00:04:31,240 --> 00:04:34,360 Just think about how massive that is. 61 00:04:34,360 --> 00:04:37,160 And we're talking about our purpose. 62 00:04:37,160 --> 00:04:41,480 That's how big our purpose is here on earth. 63 00:04:41,480 --> 00:04:50,640 And sorry, just the gravity of it can make it seem impossible at times. 64 00:04:50,640 --> 00:04:53,440 And that's just the way God wants it. 65 00:04:53,440 --> 00:04:57,880 He wants it to feel like we can't do it on our own because we can't. 66 00:04:57,880 --> 00:05:01,560 But with him, everything is possible. 67 00:05:01,560 --> 00:05:03,760 And he and everything. 68 00:05:03,760 --> 00:05:10,920 So the points I want to go over in today's episode is one, the mission and two, the method. 69 00:05:10,920 --> 00:05:15,560 So in Avatar, the mission was the nations, right? 70 00:05:15,560 --> 00:05:20,800 Joining the four nations together and ending this war that was started by the Fire Nation. 71 00:05:20,800 --> 00:05:25,560 Though in a world where people have these special abilities called bending, where they 72 00:05:25,560 --> 00:05:30,520 can control the four different elements, air, water, earth and fire, the world is actually 73 00:05:30,520 --> 00:05:33,240 divided into the separate nations. 74 00:05:33,240 --> 00:05:38,480 So you have the Air Nomads who are a peaceful people who are pretty deeply connected with 75 00:05:38,480 --> 00:05:39,480 nature. 76 00:05:39,480 --> 00:05:44,400 They value freedom, enlightenment and detachment from worldly desires. 77 00:05:44,400 --> 00:05:48,600 Then you have the Water Tribe who are divided into the North and South Poles. 78 00:05:48,600 --> 00:05:52,720 They value community, family and spirituality. 79 00:05:52,720 --> 00:05:57,760 Then you have the Earth Kingdom, which is the largest and most diverse nation representing 80 00:05:57,760 --> 00:05:59,880 various landscapes and cultures. 81 00:05:59,880 --> 00:06:03,040 And they cherish tradition and respect for authority. 82 00:06:03,040 --> 00:06:10,040 And lastly is the Fire Nation, a militaristic nation who promotes ambition, discipline and 83 00:06:10,040 --> 00:06:13,320 loyalty to the nation. 84 00:06:13,320 --> 00:06:19,960 And one, I love, I just love the world building of the show because it goes deep into each 85 00:06:19,960 --> 00:06:21,760 of these nations, into their cultures. 86 00:06:21,760 --> 00:06:28,340 As you're watching the show, you begin to understand the differences that they all have, 87 00:06:28,340 --> 00:06:31,280 but also some of the similarities that they all have. 88 00:06:31,280 --> 00:06:37,400 And it mirrors today's world and the way we are now in like in real life. 89 00:06:37,400 --> 00:06:42,640 We have these different nations, different countries, and heck, even we have different 90 00:06:42,640 --> 00:06:46,320 cultures within our own countries. 91 00:06:46,320 --> 00:06:54,160 And it's just as amazing to me how a lot of us can, can see the same thing, hear the same 92 00:06:54,160 --> 00:06:57,160 thing, but interpret things differently. 93 00:06:57,160 --> 00:07:03,400 And a world so divided, it makes you wonder, how can they ever be united? 94 00:07:03,400 --> 00:07:09,480 How can they ever be brought together to be this one big, you know, happy family, right, 95 00:07:09,480 --> 00:07:12,200 that we all envision? 96 00:07:12,200 --> 00:07:14,640 But I mean, that's, but again, that's, that's the mission. 97 00:07:14,640 --> 00:07:15,840 That's the mission Aang has. 98 00:07:15,840 --> 00:07:22,320 He has, he has to end the war and not only that, but bring unity back into the world 99 00:07:22,320 --> 00:07:26,800 because that's what the, the Avatar is supposed to do. 100 00:07:26,800 --> 00:07:28,760 The Avatar represents unity. 101 00:07:28,760 --> 00:07:33,040 It represents your wholeness in a sense. 102 00:07:33,040 --> 00:07:38,080 And just like how he's in charge of the four nations of in his own world, we're in charge 103 00:07:38,080 --> 00:07:41,520 of the people in the nations here on earth. 104 00:07:41,520 --> 00:07:48,480 And again, God wants all to, to be brought into heaven, to be brought together under 105 00:07:48,480 --> 00:07:49,480 unity. 106 00:07:49,480 --> 00:07:51,160 And I mean, again, that's the reason why Jesus died. 107 00:07:51,160 --> 00:07:56,660 He died for all of us, not just me, not just you, not just believers. 108 00:07:56,660 --> 00:07:58,680 He died for everybody. 109 00:07:58,680 --> 00:08:04,480 And I hope that, you know, one, we just wake up and realize, Hey, you know, let's stop 110 00:08:04,480 --> 00:08:05,480 sinning and living. 111 00:08:05,480 --> 00:08:09,720 And lastly, you'll live the way God intended us to live. 112 00:08:09,720 --> 00:08:12,520 And the mission, the mission is, is grand. 113 00:08:12,520 --> 00:08:13,520 It's huge. 114 00:08:13,520 --> 00:08:20,800 It is, it's impossible to do by ourselves, but that's why God gave us the tools to at 115 00:08:20,800 --> 00:08:21,800 least begin. 116 00:08:21,800 --> 00:08:23,960 That's why he gave us the Bible to read and understand his word. 117 00:08:23,960 --> 00:08:26,680 That's why he, he promotes community. 118 00:08:26,680 --> 00:08:31,560 That's why we go to church and have, you know, different smaller groups outside of the church, 119 00:08:31,560 --> 00:08:37,680 you know, with your friends, your family, and just, just doing life together. 120 00:08:37,680 --> 00:08:45,600 And I don't want you to get so lost in, in the mission and just think, man, I don't even 121 00:08:45,600 --> 00:08:46,640 know where to begin with this. 122 00:08:46,640 --> 00:08:48,800 I don't even know why God chose me to do this. 123 00:08:48,800 --> 00:08:53,400 You know, all these different things that honestly have gone through my head before. 124 00:08:53,400 --> 00:08:58,480 If I'm just being completely honest, transparent, there's sometimes even now I'm thinking, God, 125 00:08:58,480 --> 00:09:00,200 I'm not the right person for this. 126 00:09:00,200 --> 00:09:03,800 And then he, you know, he slaps me and says, yes, you are. 127 00:09:03,800 --> 00:09:04,800 Okay. 128 00:09:04,800 --> 00:09:08,800 Maybe he doesn't slap me, but it's what it feels like sometimes. 129 00:09:08,800 --> 00:09:11,280 So that's, that's the mission. 130 00:09:11,280 --> 00:09:18,960 And now the method that, you know, God uses that the world needed an avatar is actually 131 00:09:18,960 --> 00:09:21,840 the people in this case, the avatar himself. 132 00:09:21,840 --> 00:09:29,360 And like I said, the avatar is someone who has to be a bridge between all four of the 133 00:09:29,360 --> 00:09:30,360 nations. 134 00:09:30,360 --> 00:09:35,920 And in order to do that first, he or they, they have the ability to master all four of 135 00:09:35,920 --> 00:09:41,600 the different elements because the different bending arts and stuff are typically only 136 00:09:41,600 --> 00:09:46,000 to one culture or the other air bending to the air nomads, fire bending, fire nation, 137 00:09:46,000 --> 00:09:47,200 et cetera, et cetera. 138 00:09:47,200 --> 00:09:53,000 But the avatar is the one person who can actually learn and master all four of them. 139 00:09:53,000 --> 00:09:57,120 And it goes beyond just learning the actual martial art of bending. 140 00:09:57,120 --> 00:10:01,480 It goes into actually understanding all four of the cultures. 141 00:10:01,480 --> 00:10:05,640 The avatar is tasked with actually keeping the balance in the world while also acting 142 00:10:05,640 --> 00:10:10,160 as a bridge between the physical and the spiritual. 143 00:10:10,160 --> 00:10:15,520 Now if you're a believer, this sounds vaguely familiar, right? 144 00:10:15,520 --> 00:10:20,600 You know, as, as Christians were called to be in the world, not of the world we have 145 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:26,680 in order to help and to help heal the world, we have to understand it. 146 00:10:26,680 --> 00:10:32,560 But us being as Christians believe as Christ followers, we are called to a higher standard. 147 00:10:32,560 --> 00:10:34,960 So it's hard. 148 00:10:34,960 --> 00:10:37,920 It is just hard because we're here. 149 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:39,180 We want to save the world. 150 00:10:39,180 --> 00:10:48,520 So we have to actually live in it, but we also know we are true home is, is in heaven. 151 00:10:48,520 --> 00:10:54,600 And sometimes bridging that gap for ourselves is hard, let alone for people who are lost. 152 00:10:54,600 --> 00:11:00,960 And that's why it's important to just really understand why God made you who he called 153 00:11:00,960 --> 00:11:05,040 you to be and who he is and what his heart says. 154 00:11:05,040 --> 00:11:10,840 And all of that just comes from being in the word, being in the scripture, praying and 155 00:11:10,840 --> 00:11:16,480 praying and fasting, all of these different tools that we have, but it's a gradual process. 156 00:11:16,480 --> 00:11:17,760 You know, it's a journey. 157 00:11:17,760 --> 00:11:24,400 This whole thing about purpose and understanding why we were made, why we are here is something 158 00:11:24,400 --> 00:11:26,880 that's going to take a lifetime. 159 00:11:26,880 --> 00:11:32,840 And we may not even fully figure it out until we're standing in front of them for judgment. 160 00:11:32,840 --> 00:11:35,400 That's the way it feels sometimes. 161 00:11:35,400 --> 00:11:46,000 But that's why just like the avatar who is acting as this bridge is, is I think the whole, 162 00:11:46,000 --> 00:11:49,240 the whole, what's the word I'm looking for? 163 00:11:49,240 --> 00:11:55,600 The whole depiction of somebody being a bridge between the two worlds that you live in. 164 00:11:55,600 --> 00:11:58,880 It just, it sums up, it sums up being a Christian perfectly to me. 165 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:05,880 And it just, I couldn't have said it any better or given a better illustration. 166 00:12:05,880 --> 00:12:11,960 And it's also kind of daunting because you're someone who wields this awesome power, but 167 00:12:11,960 --> 00:12:15,240 you also have so much responsibility. 168 00:12:15,240 --> 00:12:17,520 We have awesome power because we're made in God's image. 169 00:12:17,520 --> 00:12:23,680 We can do anything because he can do anything as long as we do it with him. 170 00:12:23,680 --> 00:12:28,400 And that power is in each and every one of us. 171 00:12:28,400 --> 00:12:34,240 But like the Spider-Man cliche, with great power comes with great responsibility. 172 00:12:34,240 --> 00:12:42,480 And it can be daunting to those who either don't want the responsibility, which is fair. 173 00:12:42,480 --> 00:12:47,800 I mean, after all, you didn't ask to be a shepherd. 174 00:12:47,800 --> 00:12:51,960 You didn't ask for this. 175 00:12:51,960 --> 00:12:57,520 But whether you ask for it or not, that's what God calls you to do, calls you to be. 176 00:12:57,520 --> 00:13:03,960 And for those of us who are destined to do great things are often the ones who are asked 177 00:13:03,960 --> 00:13:04,960 the most of. 178 00:13:04,960 --> 00:13:09,480 And again, God's placed you here for a purpose, to act as a bridge between his kingdom and 179 00:13:09,480 --> 00:13:11,680 those who don't know him. 180 00:13:11,680 --> 00:13:17,440 And because he has you here for a great purpose, he's going to ask a lot out of you, a lot 181 00:13:17,440 --> 00:13:24,320 from you, but he's also going to pour into you just as much, if not even more, because 182 00:13:24,320 --> 00:13:28,520 he knows living on this earth is hard enough. 183 00:13:28,520 --> 00:13:34,560 Just trying to survive, let alone trying to help and bring other people along for the 184 00:13:34,560 --> 00:13:38,480 riot and to do what we were called to do. 185 00:13:38,480 --> 00:13:40,720 So I mean, he knows that he fully understands that. 186 00:13:40,720 --> 00:13:45,960 That's why he's prepared these things for us. 187 00:13:45,960 --> 00:13:47,560 That's why he continues to pour into us. 188 00:13:47,560 --> 00:13:49,280 Because again, he knows it's hard. 189 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:50,280 He knows it's hard. 190 00:13:50,280 --> 00:13:53,400 He knows it's going to be a difficult journey. 191 00:13:53,400 --> 00:13:56,680 But it's going to be so worth it in the end. 192 00:13:56,680 --> 00:14:05,120 And sometimes I wish we were kind of like the Avatar because again, when the Avatar 193 00:14:05,120 --> 00:14:11,000 is told of their identity, because they don't know right away, kind of like how we are, 194 00:14:11,000 --> 00:14:13,520 we don't know about God and all that when we're born, right? 195 00:14:13,520 --> 00:14:16,080 Someone has to tell us. 196 00:14:16,080 --> 00:14:22,040 And typically the Avatar are told when they turn 16 that they are in fact the Avatar 197 00:14:22,040 --> 00:14:27,440 and that begins their training for the different elements and all these different things. 198 00:14:27,440 --> 00:14:34,440 But what they have, which I wish we had, is that they have the ability to actually communicate 199 00:14:34,440 --> 00:14:36,500 with their past lives. 200 00:14:36,500 --> 00:14:44,040 So the way the Avatar works is they are actually a fusion between a human and the spirit. 201 00:14:44,040 --> 00:14:48,560 And the spirit is actually what allows them to be able to bend the four elements because 202 00:14:48,560 --> 00:14:52,880 it's acting as like a medium of sorts. 203 00:14:52,880 --> 00:14:59,320 And every time the Avatar dies, they get reincarnated into what's known as the Avatar cycle. 204 00:14:59,320 --> 00:15:02,000 And it goes from each element. 205 00:15:02,000 --> 00:15:07,400 It goes from air to water to earth to fire. 206 00:15:07,400 --> 00:15:13,160 So in Avatar the last airbender is an airbender first, right? 207 00:15:13,160 --> 00:15:18,040 Because his past life he was a firebender and in his next life he's going to be a waterbender. 208 00:15:18,040 --> 00:15:23,200 But the Avatar have this kind of built in instruction manual being their past lives. 209 00:15:23,200 --> 00:15:30,760 They can actually tap into that and be able to communicate with some of their past lives. 210 00:15:30,760 --> 00:15:38,720 Just get more insight, more instruction, more direction just to help them along this journey. 211 00:15:38,720 --> 00:15:45,400 And I mean, I'm sorry, even though I've written all this stuff down from my script, 212 00:15:45,400 --> 00:15:49,420 sitting here talking about it just really opened my eyes to a lot of different things 213 00:15:49,420 --> 00:15:54,160 is that one, we have the Holy Spirit that dwells within us, right? 214 00:15:54,160 --> 00:15:56,000 So that's the spirit. 215 00:15:56,000 --> 00:16:02,360 And we're never truly dead because we're going to live forever in heaven. 216 00:16:02,360 --> 00:16:09,160 And now though we can't really talk to our past lives because we only have the one life, 217 00:16:09,160 --> 00:16:10,160 right? 218 00:16:10,160 --> 00:16:15,640 We have to look to those who came before us in the Bible, right? 219 00:16:15,640 --> 00:16:18,040 These people died thousands of years ago. 220 00:16:18,040 --> 00:16:22,320 They lived and died thousands of years ago, even more so actually. 221 00:16:22,320 --> 00:16:25,960 And just we have those instructions just there for us. 222 00:16:25,960 --> 00:16:32,080 We just have to know where to look, how to look, and how to interpret it. 223 00:16:32,080 --> 00:16:37,520 And I'm sorry, I can keep going on and on about it because I love this stuff, guys. 224 00:16:37,520 --> 00:16:38,520 You know it by now. 225 00:16:38,520 --> 00:16:40,320 I'm in season what, seven? 226 00:16:40,320 --> 00:16:42,360 I can keep going on and on. 227 00:16:42,360 --> 00:16:48,160 But the key point I want you to get from today's episode is that God has a purpose for your 228 00:16:48,160 --> 00:16:50,160 life. 229 00:16:50,160 --> 00:16:56,320 It's a big one, it's a daunting one, but He has equipped you with everything that you 230 00:16:56,320 --> 00:17:00,280 need and it's a step-by-step process. 231 00:17:00,280 --> 00:17:05,440 He doesn't expect you to have all the answers right now or ever because we're never going 232 00:17:05,440 --> 00:17:07,280 to have all the answers. 233 00:17:07,280 --> 00:17:12,360 But what He does want you to do is just to be obedient to Him and to take those steps 234 00:17:12,360 --> 00:17:20,320 to begin walking in your purpose or even just begin finding your purpose, right? 235 00:17:20,320 --> 00:17:26,400 Because I believe I found what mine is right now, but I'm still working out the kinks. 236 00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:31,000 And who knows, five, six years from now it may change in pivot because God may say, you 237 00:17:31,000 --> 00:17:32,000 know, that wasn't it. 238 00:17:32,000 --> 00:17:34,120 You were close, but that's not it. 239 00:17:34,120 --> 00:17:37,720 And I just got to be ready to move. 240 00:17:37,720 --> 00:17:43,120 And it may suck, but hey, that's what I'm here for, right? 241 00:17:43,120 --> 00:17:47,520 But until that happens, or if that happens, you guys are going to hear me week in, week 242 00:17:47,520 --> 00:17:54,260 out talk about anime and the Lord and how the two can actually come together and benefit 243 00:17:54,260 --> 00:17:56,520 all of our lives. 244 00:17:56,520 --> 00:18:00,040 But hey, if you like what you heard today and you want to take a deeper look into today's 245 00:18:00,040 --> 00:18:05,560 episode, head on over to the otaku liberation.net where you'll find a blog article that covers 246 00:18:05,560 --> 00:18:08,640 today's episode in a little more detail. 247 00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,800 And don't forget to join me next week as we take a deep dive into the last end render 248 00:18:12,800 --> 00:18:17,620 himself, that's Avatar Aang, and see what it looks like when you aren't really ready 249 00:18:17,620 --> 00:18:20,600 for your purpose when your purpose comes calling. 250 00:18:20,600 --> 00:18:24,780 And hey, always remember, you are the main character of your story and that story doesn't 251 00:18:24,780 --> 00:18:26,680 end until he says so. 252 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:39,040 Alright, be blessed.