Another one of the famous Casting Crowns’ hits captured my heart from the first time I have heard of it. This heart-warming song greatly reminds us that Jesus knows everything that we are going through and how heavy our burden is. This song also encourages us to continue our race in faith and to never give up even if the pressures of this world are catching up with us. Just as Jesus never fails us and even took our place up on that tree, we should never give Him less than all our life and praise.
Listen, be inspired and sing along with Casting Crowns as they perform their brilliant composition, the 2008 Dove Awards Song of the Year, EAST TO WEST, from the album “The Altar and The Door”.
Here I am, Lord, and I’m drowning in your sea of forgetfulness
The chains of yesterday surround me
I yearn for peace and rest
I don’t want to end up where You found me
And it echoes in my mind, keeps me awake tonight
I know You’ve cast my sin as far as the east is from the west
And I stand before You now as though I’ve never sinned
But today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way.
Jesus, can You show me just how far the east is from the west
’cause I can’t bear to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
’cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
I start the day, the war begins, endless reminding of my sin
Time and time again Your truth is drowned out by the storm I’m in
Today I feel like I’m just one mistake away from You leaving me this way
I know You’ve washed me white, turned my darkness into light
I need Your peace to get me through, to get me through this night
I can’t live by what I feel, but by the truth Your word reveals
I’m not holding on to You, but You’re holding on to me
You’re holding on to me
Jesus, You know just how far the east is from the west
I don’t have to see the man I’ve been come rising up in me again
In the arms of Your mercy I find rest
’cause You know just how far the east is from the west
From one scarred hand to the other
One scarred hand to the other
From one scarred hand to the other
Zombie Loan is a Japanese manga series created by Peach-Pit; Banri Sendo and Shibuko Ebara. An anime adaptation was announced and started broadcast on the Japanese network on July 3, 2007. It contained a total of eleven episodes, with the final broadcast on September 11, 2007.
Chika, Shito and Michiru
When I first stumbled upon this anime, I was very intrigued of the title and I also thought that maybe the story is nice because the illustrations of the characters are very good. (I love beautifully illustrated cartoons/anime.) So I watched all the 11 episodes and marveled at Chika and Shito, the series’ main characters. These two are working at the Z-Loan office and are hired and paid for eliminating zombies. They work for different reasons and circumstances, which are not that clear to me up to now. That maybe because the last time I saw this was September last year and I kind of forgotten the whole story already.
I actually have never read any part of the manga, but I am as equally thrilled with this anime as I was with Fushigi Yuugi during its era. Its not that I am not interested in reading, I just don’t have the time. And so, a few days ago, my friend who is also a fan of this anime informed me that there are two new episodes for Zombie Loan. After a few research, it is confirmed. There are indeed episodes 12-13, which were released last April.
Zomibe Loan
The two new episodes are entitled “Wheel of Destiny” and “We Want to Protect”, respectively. The DVD copies are already available at your favorite anime stores, so what are you waiting for? Grab one now and enjoy the show.
Claymore is an anime based on the manga by Norihiro Yagi. The manga is still ongoing but the anime was concluded last September 25, 2007 with a total of 26 episodes (episodes 23-26 deviating from the manga). After I watched about 2 episodes, it quickly became one of my favourites. It takes place in a world where humans and demons (which they term ‘Yoma’) coexist, as well as ‘Claymore’s; half yoma, half human creatures (they look just like human but with silver hair and eyes). They are cold-blooded people who avoid contact with humans, and humans fear them because they still view them as ‘monsters’ but Claymores actually work for humans to get rid of Yoma, when requested.
At first, I didn’t think Claymore would strike me as an entertaining series because of the dark colors and some scenes are gorey like people’s hands/limbs getting chopped off. Even though that sounds gruesome, it is not as bad as one may think. Although the battle scenes do show limbs flying off, you don’t actually pay attention to them because of the action, and the plot is strong and interesting.
However, I don’t like the ending of the anime. It’s way too rushed. They divide Clare’s awakening into 2 parts, and they make Priscilla FURTHER awaken. Clare defeated Priscilla, and tried to take revenge for Teresa but Raki tried his very best to stop Clare.
My favorite part of this anime are the episodes where Teresa appears, when the anime goes into the protagonist Clare’s past. That is the most interesting part of the anime. It has an EXCELLENT hook that will make you keep watching. It’s also emotional yet filled with suspence and action all at once. Because of the twists in the anime, it makes the anime unpredictable and obviously enjoyable. It’s amazing. Overall I would highly recommend this anime if you like some good action and tired of the mainstream “school girl/days” type of anime. The concept of the story is well brought across. We know much about Clare and we understands all the situation she and Raki is going through. That is what makes a good anime. The main reason why Claymore is so popular is because of it’s well balanced gore and action scenes. None are over-done, and none are under-done. It certainly makes you hunger for more, and lets you think what may happen next.
Of all the animes I’ve seen, Claymore is on the top of my list and I give it a rating of 9 out of 10. I know everyone who had seen the series will agree with me that Claymore is very addictive.
