Reblogged from The Wayfarer Blog:

By Robert Neely We live in a world that loves its causes – whether you’re having a tea party or occupying something. The longing for a cause is especially pronounced among the millennial generation – those under 30. This generation is constantly pushing for social justice. If you don’t believe it, hang around some millenials and see how long it takes you to spot a pair of Toms. The passion for causes in this generation is a great opportunity for those of us who lead students and young adults. …

Teaser: The event that quakernuts fabricates as a setup for his On the Edge character, Jason Horn, takes place during the final conflict of the original Mass Effect game on the Citadel space station. Then-Lieutenant Horn finds himself thrown into the thick of the battle at the Presidium tower, and must fight his way throughout countless geth and krogan battle masters. Odds of success… slim. But with Commander Shepard drawing most of the attention, and providing the Cerberus insertion team inspiration, Jason and his comrades let their determination to save the human race push them on. But how long can the young lieutenant face his fears?

Go back in time with Lieutenant Jason Horn, before he became the commander of the cruiser-class Cerberus warship, the SIC Titan, and back to the final hours of Mass Effect 1. While Commander Shepard of the SSV Normandy takes his own team on a suicide mission to defeat the Reaper named Sovereign, you’ll get to see the battle from a whole different perspective, through the eyes of a Cerberus trooper you never knew was there.

From the events that transpired in the graphic comic centered solely around the mercenary life of Jack Harper before he became the notorious Illusive Man that controlled Cerberus. From Jack’s history, we learned that he was once a normal civilian with a family, living and working a typical life like everyone else… until the discovery of extraterrestrial life in the galaxy. After the catastrophic conflict of Shanxi between the humans and the turians, Jack withdrew to the shadows and began harboring resources from anxious investors to construct a massive shadow network that would promote the advancement and protection of the human race: Cerberus. An e-mail soon circulated around the extranet (the Mass Effect version of our internet) calling for humanity to assert its rightful place in the galaxy: a place that dominated all other species. The Alliance was unable to trace the e-mail’s origin and labeled Harper as “an illusive man” during press conferences. The label stuck.

Now we come to the entire point of this article. I’ve thought for quite a while about Cerberus’ goal for humanity and the Illusive Man’s motives for carrying out acts that the Alliance and the Citadel Counsel have labeled as terrorism. In hindsight, yes, they are extremists and on many levels terrorists. But the Cerberus we met in Mass Effect 2 was different than the Cerberus Shepard encountered in the first installment, and the Cerberus in the novels. Why? My assumption is that the authors wanted to convey the Illusive Man and his organization in different shades of gray. In ME:2, we get to meet Cerberus operatives and personally challenge their emotions towards the organization they work for. Everyone on board the Normandy SR2 (all Cerberus men and women) believe that they are fighting for a good cause, and many of them are genuinely humble – far different than the racist attitude of those like Paul Grayson in the novels Mass Effect: Ascension and Retribution. So now we see Cerberus in two different lights: one of noble causes (as Kelly Chambers claimed during a conversation in ME:2), and one of racist extremism. So which spectrum should we put the Illusive Man in? Did Shepard just happen to be placed with an all-noble crew in ME:2? I doubt it.

During the second installment to the games, Shepard has the opportunity to get Jacob Taylor’s perspective on Cerberus. He says he’s “never seen an organization with a more checkered past”. This implies that Cerberus has performed a balance of good and bad deeds – but we mostly just hear about the bad… Gee, doesn’t that sound familiar? Try turning on your television and watching what bias media organizations say about our President or the United States in general, and then pick up a history book that does nothing more than teach the facts. You’ll be amazed at the differences. In fact, you might even be lost. Why? Because comparing a history book to the media is like comparing apples to belly button lent. They’re not even in the same category.

So the games seem to offer us a confusing blend of both sides; but I noticed that the literature provides us with something almost completely different. In Mass Effect: Retribution, we lay witness to the horrible experiment that the Illusive Man personally oversees being conducted on the captured Paul Grayson – one of his best, but former, operatives. Grayson betrayed Cerberus in Mass Effect: Ascension after protagonist Kahlee Sanders convinces him that what he’s doing is wrong and that he should save his daughter from the horrible experiments that Cerberus was subjecting her to. The same organization is also responsible for the hundreds of still-born children on at least four human colonies after the Illusive Man ordered for the sabotage of Eldfell-Ashland Energy starships in their orbits, raining down dust-form element zero – a compound that is toxic to humans, but acts as an essential source of energy power and economic benefit to the galactic community – in order to ensure the birth of human biotics.

Now we come to a cross-roads. Is Cerberus good? Are they bad? Can it – or should it – even be determined? Omni Labs is currently sponsoring a collaborative fiction at Footsteps of Ghosts called Mass Effect: On the Edge. The events of the thrilling story take place one year after Commander Shepard is “killed in action” at the beginning of Mass Effect 2 (which leaves room for references to events in Mass Effect: Retribution), where four commanders and one of the Illusive Man’s most trusted operatives must work together to stall the Collectors’ advance on humans until Shepard can be “rebuilt”. Even though we will never know the true nature of Cerberus and it’s illusive leader, we can at least fill the void while we wait for the final installment of the games in March and that new book in January.

Henry the Bee was never always “Henry the Bee”, of course. His name would change; so would his background and appearance. But overall, he was the same kid that he always was. Somewhat shy, kind, caring, but always one to become so easily discouraged or worried. He was never without teenage angst, bullies teasing him left and right, or – in my more advanced works – a restless mind. Anything that I have experienced personally has been portrayed in some manner through this one iconic character. Much of it won’t make sense, because it’s hidden in between the lines of ink. At other times, it’s as clear as day, but you don’t notice it because it seems so common. I believe this is how many characters in modern literature are created and portrayed – how they speak to the reader. There is never a clear, concise message that is delivered. Take Fitzgerald’s Gatsby for example. I won’t get into how I think the character is a portrayal of Scott, himself, as I’m currently in an online book club and we’re discussing this famous work (don’t want to spoil my thoughts prematurely), but Gatsby is riddled with clues and windows into Fitzgerald’s life. There are far more clues to his experiences than just the Buchannan’s East Egg palace, or Nick’s deeply personal voice. A lot of it is found the main character – one that isn’t actually the hero of the story.

In way, Henry was always similar. Whatever was on my mind at the time, Henry would be thinking it too. Whatever I was going through, Henry was in the same slump with me. And whenever Brett drove me up the proverbial wall, Henry was buzzing his way to the top of his hive. Eventually, a subtlety began to form with the way Henry and I shared our experiences and our thoughts. I started to take my experiences with working with others and merging them with Henry’s ever-evolving character. I still kept my own personality within him alive and distinct, but I would split the icon into two. In each work I began to create after that moment on, I had two characters that were very similar. Sometimes Henry would be the youth that he always was, and other times he would be a full-grown adult. Whatever Henry was, his doppelganger – of sorts – was the opposite. The second iconic character of the work would be blend of both mine and others’ experiences, as a way for me dissolve what I had learned and attempt to understand it. Like emersion in a language.

The writer’s job is to tell the truth…

~Ernest Hemingway

The youthful character (whether it be Henry or his “other”) became a permanent teenager when I started working with the youth at my church, Community. Listening to them during meals, interacting with them during games, and getting to know them more personally during mission trips all contributed to the “other’s” character. Soon, a multiple personality within one character formed, and I would pick one color (so to speak) of the many that I had blended and use that for each separate prose. This character was never the same as anyone in the real world, however. I never copied, and I hardly borrowed. The experiences of the character’s past were drastically altered, many times completely different. They became the fruits of the inspiration I had gathered by listening, interacting, and getting to know others that shared the character’s age. That way, not only did I avoid mimicking, I could fabricate something that was still connectable to my target audience. On the website Footsteps of Ghosts, I had recently described myself as both an inspirational and coming-of-age author. I firmly believe this is what I am. While my audience can definitely include adults, I only do so, so that they may learn from the youth of today. Issues like sex, depression, anti-social behavior, and especially homosexuality or just plane flamboyancy is greatly misunderstood by the forever aging “Generation X”. Let’s face it, Gen X began as early as 1960… I think we need to rub our eyes a little and re-examine a growing gap in understanding. This is what coming-of-age authors do. They use fiction (and non-fiction as well) to help bridge that gap for both the youth and the adults. However, their books are mostly found in sections labeled “Teens” because their target audience is for that particular age group.

As far as the inspirational part goes; I can definitely say I’m one of these, as well. While I’m no Max Lucado, I make a note to incorporate Christian ideology in all of my works; no matter how intense or subtle that may be. Incorporations can range from a simple prayer, to something as more definite like actual scripture quoting or direct dialogue about God. And to sort of go along with Omni’s current theme, I had to praise Mass Effect for doing similar, by not only talking about the “soul” but also quoting Luke 8:30. Such small “eggs” constantly remind the reader (or gamer, in Mass Effect’s case) that Christians aren’t leaving anytime soon, nor will the message they have to deliver.

So, there you have it. How I have composed my stories has never changed; nor will it, as far as I can tell. Henry was, and is still, the iconic character that has survived from Miss McKenna’s fifth grade class to today in the Air Force. He’s seen everything from school bullies, to captured terrorists; and has travelled from a small town in Texas, to undisclosed locations on the other side of the world. Every experience, every deep ponder, and every moment of memorable dialogue that has circulated in my mind has also circulated in his. The story in those staple-clad notebook pages still goes on to this day…

Creativity, as has been said, consists largely of rearranging what we know in order to find out what we do not know. Hence, to think creatively, we must be able to look afresh at what we normally take for granted.

~George Kneller

Answer: Well, my faithful reader, BioWare’s Mass Effect 3 will soon be here in March – among other new video game franchise titles – and so far we’re anticipating this one the most; yes, even over the release of the new Assassin’s Creed: Revelation title in Novemeber. Once again, take charge of the Normandy as Commander Shepard, hero of The Citadel and now savior of the galaxy. Earth has fallen under attack by bio-mechanical creatures called Reapers, whose only goal is to wipe out all sentient life in the galaxy with a casual stroll every few millions years. But it’s time for that little tradition to come to an end, and the former N7 marine and his team will make sure of that.

As we rev up for the release of this new action-packed sci-fi game (one that leaves Lucas’ Star Wars in the dust), we’ll be providing you with small media flicks that you can get your hands on, courtesy of BioWare and EA. Look out for Omni Labs exclusive graphic creations as well, ones that we design ourselves to aide in our anticipation.

See you around, Commander.

The fun didn’t start with the crazy dancing, however. After we landed, we had to tow the plane from one location on the runway, to the flight line far on the other side of the area from where we were at. In order to make sure that we could stop the plane due to bad brakes, we had to have two guys on each side to throw chalks in between the wheels when we were told too – if that was necessary, of course. The brakes still worked for the most part, but it was still a gamble. We figured: no problem. As we were walking, the four of us (two loads, and my partner and I) decided to switch out with each other five minutes; two would walk by the wheels as the plane was being towed, and the other two would rest on the back of the ramp.

About half way to the flight line the loads either turned their thinking caps on or off… I’m not sure which. One of them strapped a cargo belt to the outside of the plane and sat on it so he wouldn’t have to walk. Funny. I would have gotten a picture, but alas, my iPod touch doesn’t have a flash to it. The second load master thought it would be a hoot to grab a glow stick and parade around behind the plane; that was before he ran up to the cockpit, popped the forward escape hatch on top, and boosted himself out of the hole to spin the glow stick around in the air above the plane.

I love this crew.

Hope your sunrise is a fantastic one!

Good morning, America! Hope you have some fresh coffee brewing for the Monday mayhem! Before you sit down to start a new work week, how about some motivation to get you pumped? Let’s see what I can bring you today.

Belief creates the actual fact. 

-William James

This particular quote by psychologist William James offered me a smile today as I sat down to work on my next major post for Omni Labs concerning atheism and secular thought. I know we’ve seen a lot of hatred lately in the media about religious affairs and an ever-growing struggle between the atheist community and the Church. When I stumbled across William’s few but powerful words, I couldn’t help but feel reassured that what I know to be the truth is all I need.

Do not pray for easy lives. Pray to be stronger men. 

-John F. Kennedy

If you are out to describe the truth, leave elegance to the tailor. 

-Albert Einstein

I know there’s a lot of controversy on Einstein’s personal beliefs in God, but I believe he had a good point here. A lot of us get so wrapped up in trying to water down Christ to make him “acceptable” or more “tolerable” to the outside world. But is this our job? No. You can’t change Jesus, only He can change You. So I agree with Albert here and will reiterate what my dad once told me: “You can only plant a seed. It’s up to God to do the rest.” It’s our job to share and forgive; but let God introduce Himself personally. It’s His house, after all.

Commerce with all nations, alliance with none, should be our motto.

-Thomas Jefferson

I wonder if ol’ Tom saw China coming two hundred years ago…

And my last quote for the day…

A pessimist sees the difficulty in every opportunity; an optimist sees the opportunity in every difficulty.

-Winston Churchill

This particular picture has actually been rendered into a mural painting on one of the many concrete barriers at my current deployment station in honor of the Chaplain Corps. I'll post up a picture of it when I can; it's really cool!

Thought I would start up these inspirational posts in between my occasional longer posts to keep the activity up on the blog. I’ll try and post these in the mornings (morning for all you guys back in the States, that is) so you can wake up and maybe read the right quote or inspirational message to start your day off right. Enjoy!

I recently re-watched one of my all-time favorites with Steve Carell, Evan Almighty. I thought I would dedicate this post to some funny and inspiring quotes from the film.

God: Let me ask you something. If someone prays for patience, you think God gives them patience? Or does he give them the opportunity to be patient? If he prayed for courage, does God give him courage, or does he give him opportunities to be courageous? If someone prayed for the family to be closer, do you think God zaps them with warm fuzzy feelings, or does he give them opportunities to love each other? 

[Rita voices her disbelieve in Evan's ark] 
Rita: Look, I go to church every Sunday. 
[Evan doesn't believe her] 
Rita: Every “other” Sunday. 
[Evan still doesn't believe her] 
Rita: I’ve been to church! 

Evan Baxter: [on the ark, addressing a big crowd] People! The flood is imminent! 
[everyone looks around, bewildered, and up at the sunny sky. Evan addresses the heavens] 
Evan Baxter: Is it too much to ask for a LITTLE PRECIPITATION? 

Joan Baxter: Honey, maybe God didn’t mean a literal flood. Maybe he meant a flood of knowledge, or emotion, or awareness. 
Evan Baxter: If that’s true, I am going to be *so pissed*. 

Evan Baxter: Do I know you? 
God: Not as much as I’d like.