why I care about the remake of FF7

This week it was announced there will be a remake of video game called "Final Fantasy 7". It is an old RPG (role-playing game) that came out on PlayStation 1 in 1997.  The announcement of the remake of this classic game has a deep impact on many of the fans of this series. People were shouting and screaming of joy when they saw the trailer. My housemate was also screaming too, and when I saw the trailer I was also yelling.

The announcement actually increased the stocks of Square Enix by 2.9% (highest since 2008). This is insane.

Final Fantasy 7 is the first game I played from this series, and I proudly own an original copy of the PS 1 game. The game is highly excellent, a great story, very likeable characters, awesome soundtrack, and unexpected twists on the plot, a classic. There is huge debate among FF fans between which game is the greatest, and it is usually between 6 or 7. FF6 is a very solid game, but 7 is always my personal favorite as it was the first game I played, and it has influenced me to play various subsequent games from the series.

Why is this such a big deal? Mainly because many of the people from my generation grew up with this game. This was the first pseudo-3D RPG that came out and it was revolutionary, plus the story is so compelling. Also the recent installments of the series have been fairly mediocre, so this remake of the classic series is definitely a big deal.

The reason why I like RPG quite a bit is because it involves a journey, where a character goes about on the following activities:

1. there is some sort of evil, and the main character can get involved to save the world
2. saving a damsel in distress or helping dear friends
3. collect a bunch of weapons important items that are useful in the journey
4. made comrades who join in the journey
• each party member has a special set of skills, each member's strengths make up for other's weaknesses, and when all combined it is very effective in battles
5. explore the world and find information to figure out what to do next in the journey
6. fight battles to acquire more level and skills
7. use a super flashy final move to finish off the main battles

Gaming usually tend to have a negative connotation as many people use it as a way for escapism or it can be a stumbling block for time stewardship. I think some of the elements from gaming that attract us to it, tells us about certain longings we have as human. And I think we should try to satisfy these longings and bring the battles into real life (and not just fight them in the game). Each of us have a journey of faith, that involves:

1. there is much evil in the world, be proactive in getting involved to bring good (participate in furthering God's kingdom)
2. serve in your local community
3. collect knowledge from Word of God that will equip you for every work
4. get to know solid comrades in your journey, comrades who will pray for you, will encourage you,  whose strengths make up for your weaknesses, especially in serving
5. life is not always certain, trust God as you explore different possibilities
6. as you go through challenges and trials, your faith is strengthen each time, and your character is molded to be more like Christ
7. as you matured in the faith, God will enable you to do more than you can ask or imagine, and bring great victories in big struggles

champion's thirst

Recent weekend, the UEFA Champion League Final took place, between Barcelona (Spanish champion of La Liga) and Juventus (Italian champion of the Serie A).

I read various comments about the game and saw highlights multiple times, and I can conclude it was an excellent game. I was not able to watch it, because I chose to spend time with friends in Toronto, which is also very precious.

Barcelona won the game 3-1, and for many that was an expected outcome due to their formidable world class strikers and of course, the best player of the world, Lionel Messi. But Juventus did put a good fight, and had its chances as well. The Italian press have commended the Juventus team, and stated that they lost but they have nothing to regret from.

Barcelona won its 4th UEFA Champion League in last 10 years, which is a great accomplishment, and it has shown the dominance of the Barcelona team in Europe.

It is also worth mentioning that one of the symbol player and captain of Barcelona, Xavi (who is close to the end of his career) played the last game with the team. He is considered to be one of the best Spanish player ever, and he is a very classy midfielder who can direct the pace of the game with his precise and accurate passes.

There is a usual saying that it is hard to reach the top, but it is harder to maintain at the top. Barcelona has been in the top of club level soccer for a while. It is challenging because once you have conquered a trophy, the thirst for such victory might be quenched. And it is hard to find ways to refueled this thirst that will drive the players to give 110% of what they got to win the same trophy again tomorrow.

Analogous to Xavi, there is also a very classy midfielder in Juventus, Andrea Pirlo. He is good, like really good. Also near the end of his career, but he can still play at a very high level, building crazy passes, and he is considered one of the best free kick shooter in the world. After the game, there were pictures and video showing Pirlo crying. One would said this is normal, as they just lost the final, and they are disappointed. But one has to understand that Pirlo have a very successful career already; he won the World Cup with Italy on 2006, and he won the Champions League twice with his former team Milan. He had already experienced this type of victories. But in the end he cried, that shows that he is a winner, and still thirst for more.

I think both Xavi and Pirlo are great champions, who have a steadfast thirst for more.

Similarly, I remembered clearly the thirst I had for God when I first believed. But as I grew, due to struggles and busy-ness, it is easy to not have the same level of thirst for God, and one can easily become complacent. This is always a constant battle for me. 

I pray that the Spirit will cause me to thirst for God more and more.

"You, God, are my God,

    earnestly I seek you;

I thirst for you,

    my whole being longs for you,

in a dry and parched land

    where there is no water." - Psalm 63:1