"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son,[a] that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life."-John 3:16
(chag pascha same'ach) חג פסחא שמח فِصْح سعيد Maligayang pasko ng pagkabuhay! ¡Felices Pascuas! Христос воскресе (Xristos voskrese) З Великодніми святами (Z Velykodnimy sviatamy) Happy Easter!
Bunny Rabbit? Colorful eggs? Spring-time celebration! Growing-up, I remember going to church on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday as part of the Easter celebration. I actually thought it was a good time to remember what Jesus did for me. I would then look forward to watch the "Ten Commandments" or "Sound of Music" (my siblings thought I was cheesy watching this sing-a-long movie all them time). All this were seeds of faith growing inside of me to get where I am (personal relationship). I look back and want to continue the festivities-making sure "Jesus is the reason for the season" (like Christmas) and that we celebrate it every season all year round! I hope you all have a blessed Easter weekend and may you reflect what He did for you on that cross!....more......
"is a moveable feast which always falls on the Sunday before Easter. The feast commemorates an event reported by all four Canonical Gospels Mark 11:1-11, Matthew 21:1-11, Luke 19:28-44, and John 12:12-19: the triumphal entry of Jesus into Jerusalem in the days before his Passion.
The difficulty of procuring palms for that day's ceremonies in unfavorable climates for palms led to the substitution of boughs of box, yew, willow or other native trees. The Sunday was often designated by the names of these trees, as Yew Sunday or by the general term Branch Sunday."
" 7 He was oppressed and afflicted,
yet he did not open his mouth;
he was led like a lamb to the slaughter,
and as a sheep before her shearers is silent,
so he did not open his mouth."-Isaiah 53:7
Why - Christian Music Video - Nicole Nordeman Song - Music Videos
"This video is set to Nicole Nordeman?s song ?Why? and depicts the crucifixion of Christ. This is a pretty moving clip."
Did you know that the crucifixion scene was filmed in Italy, while the rest of the scenes were filmed in a built set? Also, did you know that the Bible's Old Testament had some verses on the detail "gory" description of Jesus' crucifixion? It was written many years (1,000?) before Jesus came to earth! (for more on prophecies in the Bible-click) Read some of the following verses in let the Holy Spirit speak to you and decide yourself=>
Bible Verses: -Isaiah 52:13-15 "disfigured-unhuman look" Isaiah 53 "oppressed and treated harshly, yet he never said a word..." Psalm 22 "My God, My God, why have You forsaken me..."
"Crucifixion sometimes began with a scourging or flogging of the victim�s back. The Romans used a whip called a flagrum, which consisted of small pieces of bone and metal attached to a number of leather strands. The number of blows given to Jesus is not recorded; however, the number of blows in Jewish law was 39 (one less than the 40 called for in the Torah, to prevent a counting error). During the scourging, the skin was ripped from the back, exposing a bloody mass of tissue and bone. Extreme blood loss occurred, often causing death, or at least unconsciousness. In addition to the flogging, Jesus faced severe beating and torment by the Roman soldiers, including the plucking of His beard and the piercing of His scalp with a crown of thorns. "
Nothing But The Blood of Jesus
"A message on the cleansing blood of Jesus set to several images of the crucifixion and the things that Jesus died for."
-Other Prophecies: Micah 5:2-"...will be ruler over Israel.." Zechariah 9:9-"..See, your king [a] comes to you,
righteous and having salvation,
gentle and riding on a donkey, .." Isaiah 7:14-"Therefore the Lord himself will give you [a] a sign: The virgin will be with child and will give birth to a son, and [b] will call him Immanuel. " Isaiah 62:11-"...See, your Savior comes! .." Psalms 16:9-10-"...because you will not abandon me to the grave, [a]
nor will you let your Holy One [b] see decay..."
This area site is dedicated to the up-coming (has passed), anticpated, gospel movie-"The Passion". I've received so many forwards from friends and kept the e-mail, so I decided to paste it on here:
The Passion Of The Christ Trailer
"Jesus Christ God Gospel The Passion Of The Christ"
THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST part 1 of 12
"The Passion of the Christ is a 2004 film co-written, co-produced and directed by Mel Gibson. It is based on Catholic accounts of the arrest, trial, torture, crucifixion, and resurrection of Jesus, events commonly known as "The Passion". The film was rated R by the MPAA for "sequences of graphic violence." The films dialogue is in Aramaic, Latin, and Hebrew, with subtitles. It is the highest grossing non-English language film and the most successful R-rated film in the United States. "
UPDATE 3/25/05 Passion Movie Outreach Report:
We had over 100 folks from the campus and community come, which majority have watched this movie after the speaker (given by Pastor Mike Saeger of Morris Evangelical Free Church) that shared (eg. comparing Jesus' sacrifice to our Traffic Court ticket being paid by our "Heavenly" father) did a tally of the audience (the ones that stayed for the post-discussion/message). However, there were reported 1:1/group conversations that followed that haven't been reported. Please pray for the "seed of the Gospel" (tracts from the "Passion" were distributed as people left) that were planted and for the Morris Area Churches (4 pastors of different churches came in support and to talk to college students) to continue "to work together" (John 17) in unity to "reach the lost" in this campus community. We appreciate your co-labor radio ministry work you do in this west central area!
As I'm creating this special website dedicating to "The Passion", I have yet to see it (Tuesday, March 2nd of 2004)! Some of the reviews down below have been added to this website before it opened last Wednesday. I decided to go more thorough after hearing so much about this movie.
Do I plan to see it-yes! I haven't had the chance yet. Before viewing it myself, I wanted to search Scriptures and research some of the topics that I've heard on this movies so far...
COMING TO MORRIS
Friday, March 12th
*note change of date (earlier it was supposed to be the 26th)
Wednesday, February 25 is the opening day for "The Passion," Mel Gibson's new movie taken directly from the biblical account of Christ's crucifixion. Icon productions has set up a toll-free ticket hotline for ordering advance tickets in the form of vouchers, redeemable at any theatre nation-wide. 1-800-353-6102. Please pray that God would be glorified by this movie & that all viewers will be touched by Him in a wonderful, lasting way! www.passion-movie.com.
"3Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...-1 Peter 1:3
"Production
Traditionalist Catholic priest Stephen Somerville was on set during the entire filming.[citation needed] Jim Caviezel, the American actor playing Jesus, is, like Mel Gibson, a devout Catholic.[citation needed]
Caviezel suffered numerous injuries and ailments during the production.[2]. He separated his shoulder while filming a scene in which Jesus falls and the cross lands on his back. The complex full-body makeup required the actor to be awake at 2 a.m. to undergo several hours of application of the appliances that would make it look like he had been viciously flayed.
Caviezel also was struck by lightning during the shooting; upon rising from the hit without major damage, he reportedly said, "I guess He didn't like that take." Key production assistant Jan Michelini was allegedly struck by lightning twice and given the name Jan "Lightning Boy" Michelini in the film's closing credits. [3] and [4]."
The Passion of The Christ: Songs (Lost Keyword/Wind-Up)
Released August 2004
reviewed by Andree Farias (Christianity Today) "The album opens strongly with "I See Love," a picture-perfect pop-rock anthem manned by Steven Curtis Chapman, Third Day's Mac Powell, and MercyMe's Bart Millard; the tune examines the different characters that people see in Jesus: a teacher, a healer, a dreamer, a "fool dying for his dream," according to the lyrics. "But I see Love, light of heaven breaking through." This early high is quickly dulled by the unimpressive "Relearn Love," the much-publicized solo debut of former Creed frontman Scott Stapp. The song's theme is noble�how Christ's love helps reshape our own view of love�but the melody and structure of the song are unorthodox and even awkward. Despite its lyrical brevity, P.O.D.'s "Truly Amazing" is up next, recalling the haunting balladry from their Satellite days. Things flow well until the duet between Brad Paisley and Sara Evans kicks in, a heartfelt country lullaby recounting a dialog between a questioning Mary and her loving son Jesus, but that feels misplaced in the context of the three rock-laced tracks preceding it.
Stronger than anything on their major label debut, Big Dismal's "Rainy Days" brims with melodic confidence and wisely sidesteps the marked Creed pretensions the band was previously indicted for. At this point, the pacing suffers one more time with Lauryn Hill's "The Passion," her first composition since 2002's anticlimactic Unplugged album; the cut itself is percussive and organic, but the undermixed vocals make Hill sound tired and noncommittal as she repeatedly sings, "If they only showed love like this before."
Perhaps the most explicit reaction to the movie is Kirk Franklin and Yolanda Adams' "How Many Lashes," a first-person confessional in which Franklin likens Jesus' lashings to each of his sins, while Adams' vocal ad-libs punctuate the guilt even further. The powerful impact of the song quickly fades as MxPx's rough-around-the-edges "The Empire" and Charlotte Church's saccharine "Finding My Own Way" try to find their place amidst the other stylistic choices. If not for Tonic bassist Dan Lavery, who turns in a surprisingly good classic rock performance with "To Give Love" (and sounding every bit as gritty as PFR's Joel Hanson in the process), the inconsistencies would outweigh the few inspired moments.
I guess my biggest qualm with The Passion of The Christ: Songs is how tamely it reflects the flurry of emotions that the film elicits. A number of lyrics even verge on antiseptic religious pop, like the airy "Finding My Own Way" or Big Dismal's passionless "Reason I Live," two tracks that aren't necessarily strong, faith-affirming statements. Considering that Gibson's cinematic experience requires a lot from the viewer, it's a disappointment that this collection demands so little involvement from the listener, at times sounding more like the soundtrack to one of those harmless Lifetime original movies than an aural testament to the greatest sacrifice of all. " Stapp: I Am a Christian
by Mark Moring
posted 08/09/04 (Christianity Today) "When you first saw The Passion of the Christ, how did it affect you?
Stapp: At first, I was saddened and disheartened. I couldn't believe this is what Christ had to go through. I knew the story, but I was seeing it through different eyes. It was not just a Bible story that I had heard since I was four years old. It made sense to my life as a man, and as a father and as a friend and as a son. I was shocked that someone loved me so much that they would do this for me. I also got angry at various times during the film.
Angry at what?
Stapp: At how Christ was being treated. But then that would turn into a humility about understanding the sacrifice. I had a whole gamut of emotions�love, peace, anger, humility, sadness. I left the film exhausted; I was drained. But also, I was happy, because it helped me get a visual picture of what I finally understood.
Did you meet Mel Gibson?
Stapp: Yes. He was excited that I was interested in the songs project. He said, "I don't know much about music, but my kids love your band." I had a little demo of "Relearn Love" and I played it for him, and he said, "Listen, man, I'll leave that stuff up to you." He was like, "This is your experience, and I want you to express it however you want."
So you were writing "Relearn Love" even before you saw The Passion.
Stapp: Yes, and The Passion came along and gave me focus. It was kind of God's final confirmation that I was moving in the right direction.
Can you give me a specific example of how that "relearned love" is manifesting itself in your life?
Stapp: It's simple for me: It's giving without expecting anything in return. Prior to this, the way that I loved people around me, I always expected something�even if that was just expecting them to treat me like I treated them. But now I understand that real love is just giving without expecting anything. That's what love is to me, and that's what I feel that Christ showed us." Relearn Love, from stlyrics.com "On a dark and lonely highway
I need the Son to raise my head
I come before you, I am naked...
The man I am now must be shed
I've weathered storms and I am broken
My beaten heart is in your hands
What I really need is shelter
And a chance to relearn love
(chorus)
Teach me all over, all over
To relearn love
Show me again�
So I can relearn love
The comfort of your arms around me
Your tender hands caress my head
I lay beside you I'm not worthy
This jaded man's not who I am
I touched the flame and I've been burned
All I need's a second chance
Give me eyes of a child
And teach this man to relearn love
Teach me all over, all over
To relearn love
Show me again�
To relearn love
Teach me all over, all over
To relearn love
Show me again...
So I can relearn love
I was selfish, but you still love me
You gave the greatest gift of all
And it set me free
When time means nothing
And your world is standing still
Listen world he's calling
When you feel me drop and kneel
Can you feel it?
Just remember
Oh remember
�to relearn love
(to relearn love) (show me again) (to relearn love)
Relearn my love (teach me all over, all over)
Show me, show me to relearn my love (to relearn my love, show me again)
Teach me now, now, teach me all over (relearn my love)
To relearn, relearn my love
So I can relearn love" Creed Feed, in audio-version
...more on Creed, alternative rock
3. FOOD FOR THOUGHT - COMING ASH WEDNESDAY
Subject: Fw: Review for the movie "The Passion for Christ"
There is a movie coming out during the Lent and Easter season produced and
directed by Mel Gibson, titled "The Passion". You may have heard about it
on the news, as it has received a lot of attention already - even before
it's been viewed. Some have however - a select audience by Mel Gibson.
Below is a review by Chonda Pierce - many remember her from the Women of
Faith Conferences. You will find this interesting, and I hope you see the
film this coming Easter season.
Mark
AN EVANGELICAL REACTS TO "THE PASSION OF CHRIST" [ Patrick Madrid ]4
Comment(s)
Chonda Pierce talks about the impact this movie had on a room full of
people who came to preview it
12/11/2003
December 9 -- Quick Road Report...
I plan to write an extensive Road Kill Report about this later...right now
my heart is still pounding and I'm ready to stand on the street corner and
sell tickets if I have to -- so for now, a quick note will suffice.
I don't think I have words to convey to you the overwhelming observations I
had last night at "the movie." It is interesting to fill up a room with
"somebody's" -- they're hugging folks, shaking hands, talking shop -- but
barely looking each other in the eye, because everyone is too busy looking
over your shoulder to see "who else" might be in the midst! And I'm the
worse -- I'm such a geeky fan! It's obnoxious...
I don't want to exploit anyone's privacy -- but the room was filled with an
array of the biggest names in entertainment from the Nashville community.
Producers, songwriters, artist -- most from the Country music world. But a
few from Christian music as well. TV, Radio, Print media... If you were
looking for a record deal, an autograph or a photo-op...it was the place to
be. But in a room of less than 250 people -- you couldn't find a camera or
an ink pen.
The whole thing was so secretive that we had to sign a form that we wouldn't
take pictures, or call the National Guard... someone did ask if we can tell
about the experience and they said, "Yes, we need to get the word out!" So,
of course -- I'm on a mission!!
A country entertainer named, Ricky Scaggs made some opening comments and
then began the night in prayer. The lights went out and the movie started. I
have to tell you that in a room full of people that sometimes sing about it,
read about it, write about it -- you would think that they had just
understood it for the first time because less then ten minutes into the
movie -- you could hear literal sobs across the room. As the story unfolded
and the brutality of what we were watching set in -- people were moaning --
I will never forget it.
I had invited my Pastor and my brother. Both men that have dedicated their
lives to "Go ye unto all the world and preach the gospel.." and several
times I saw them wipe tears away, stir in their chairs at the impact that a
piece of magnetic tape rolling through a projector had on them. It was
incredible....
Me? I had a good cry for sure. I had heard bits and pieces about it -- so I
came prepared with two packs of tissue. I used both of them. My husband and
I sat throughout this thing mesmerized by all that was taking place on the
screen and off.
When the movie was over -- no one moved. It was as if the room could not
take a breath. There were no words -- silence. A few minutes later a man
stepped up to the microphone as they slowly turn the lights on and quietly
asked, "Do you have any questions?" Still silence....he broke the ice by
saying, "Well, maybe Mel could answer your questions." And in walked Mel
Gibson -- less than 10 feet away. He was incredibly humble yet excited as he
took the microphone and sat on the edge of the stage.
The room erupted with applause, shouts of gratitude. I looked at my Pastor
and said, "I wonder if he has a clue of what he has just done. No wonder he
is coming up against persecution, brick walls, slammed doors -- He has just
unleashed hell on himself." Pastor Allen said, "Our God is greater." I knew
that! I guess a reminder is good!!
It's a brutal movie. It will be rated R and half the Christian community
will stew over it! Mel Gibson's comment to the brutality, "If you read the
Bible -- the whole thing is pretty much rated R!" He's right. And to truly
express artistically what Christ went through? You have to be brutal.
When asked what his goal is for the movie, what he hopes people will glean
from it he said, "I hope they watch the movie and want to read the book!"
... "I hope they are changed." When asked what he's doing to combat some of
the persecution in getting this movie distributed he said, "You know, I just
pray for my enemies. I don't pray for curses on their heads -- I pray the
good angels will go beat up the bad angels that are making them say and do
evil deeds." Mel's a better person than I am. After watching what Christ
went through for me -- I was ready to knock someone in the head!I'm thinking
Lethal Weapon Part 5!
He spent over 35 million dollars of his own money, risked the doors of his
world being slammed in his face and when asked "why?" he simply said, "It
was time. I just had to do it. It was just time to tell this story."
I for one, will love stronger... Work harder... Live bolder -- embracing the
sacrifice made for my sins...I am changed forever. We'll talk more about it
later -- but make plans now and DO NOT miss this movie..... The Passion of
the Christ, released Feb. 25th.
From : Ron
Sent : Sunday, October 12, 2003 9:34 PM
To :
Subject: Passion, the movie
How ironic that when a movie producer takes artistic license with historical
events, he is lionized as artistic, creative andbrilliant, but when another
takes special care to be true to the real-life story, he is vilified.
Actor-producer Mel Gibson is discovering these truths the hard way as he i
having difficulty finding a United States studio or distributor for his
pcoming film, "The Passion," which depicts the last 12 hours of the life of
Jesus Christ. Gibson co-wrote the script and financed, directed and produced
the movie. For the script, he and his co-author relied on the New Testament
Gospels of Matthew, Mark, Luke and John, as well as the diaries of St.Anne
Catherine Emmerich (1774-1824) and Mary of Agreda's "The City ofGod."
Gibson doesn't want this to be like other sterilized religious epics. "I'm
trying to access the story on a very personal level and trying to be very
real about it." So committed to realistically portraying what many would
consider the most important half-day in the history of the universe, Gibson
even shot the film in the Aramaic language of the period.
In response to objections that viewers will not be able to understand that
language, Gibson said, "Hopefully, I'll be able to transcend the language
barriers with my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it'll
be a monumental failure."To further insure the accuracy of the work, Gibson
has enlisted the counsel of pastors and theologians, and has received rave
reviews. Don Hodel, president of Focus on the Family, said, "I was very
impressed. The movie is historically and theologically accurate." Ted
Haggard, pastor of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, Colo., and resident
of the National Evangelical Association, glowed: "It conveys, more
accurately than any other film, who Jesus was." During the filming, Gibson,
a devout Catholic, attended Mass every morning because "we had to be squeaky
clean just working on this." From Gibson's perspective, this movie is not
about Mel Gibson. It's bigger than he is. "I'm not a preacher, and I'm not a
pastor," he said. "But I really feel my career was leading me to make this.
The Holy Ghost was working through me on this film, and I was just directing
traffic. I hope the film has the power to evangelize."
Even before the release of the movie, scheduled for March 2004, Gibson is
getting his wish. "Everyone who worked on this movie was changed. There were
agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity...[and] people being
healed of diseases." Gibson wants people to understand through themovie, if
they don't already, the incalculable influence Christ has had on the world.
And he grasps that Christ is controversial precisely because of WHO HE IS -
GOD incarnate. "And that's the point of my film really, to show all that
turmoil around him politically and with religious leaders and the people,all
because He is Who He is." Gibson is beginning to experience first hand just
how controversial Christ is. Critics have not only speciously challenged the
movie's authenticity, but have charged that it is disparaging to Jews, which
Gibson vehemently denies. "This is not a Christian vs.Jewish thing. '[Jesus]
came into the world, and it knew him not.' Looking at Christ's crucifixion,
I look first at my own culpability in that." Jesuit Father William J. Fulco,
who translated the script into Aramaic and Latin, said he saw no hint of
anti-Semitism in the movie. Fulco added, "I would be aghast at any
suggestion that Mel Gibson is anti-Semitic." Nevertheless,certain groups and
some in the mainstream press have been very critical ofGibson's "Passion."
The New York Post's Andrea Peyser chided
him: "There is still time, Mel, to tell the truth." Boston Glove columnist
James Carrol denounced Gibson's literal reading of the biblical accounts.
"Even a faithful repetition of the Gospel stories of the death of Jesus can
do damage exactly because those sacred texts themselves carry the virus of
Jew hatred," wrote Carroll. A group of Jewish and Christian academics has
issued an 18-page report slamming all aspects of the film, including its
undue emphasis on Christ's passion rather than "a broader vision." The
report disapproves of the movie's treatment of Christ's passion as
historical fact.
The moral is that if you want the popular culture to laud your work on
Christ, make sure it either depicts Him as a homosexual or as an everyday
sinner with no particular redeeming value (literally) In our anti-Christian
culture, the blasphemous "The Last Temptation of Christ" is celebrated, and
"The Passion" is condemned. But if this movie continues to affect people the
way it is now, no amount of cultural opposition will suppress its force and
its positive impact on lives everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith and
courage. Please copy this and send it on to all your friends to let them
know about this film so that we'll all go see it when it comes out.
Dott G. Collins
Eastern Kentucky University
Subject: Paul Harvey Comments on the Passion by Mel Gibson
The majority of the media are complaining about this movie. Now Paul
Harvey tells "The rest of the story" and David Limbaugh praises Gibson.
Most
people would wait and see a movie before giving the reviews that have been
issued by the reporters trying to tell all of us what to believe.
Paul Harvey's words:
I really did not know what to expect. I was thrilled to have been
invited to a private viewing of Mel Gibson's film "The Passion," but I had
also
read all the cautious articles and spin. I grew up in a Jewish town
and owe much of my own faith journey to the influence. I have a life long,
deeply
held aversion to anything that might even indirectly encourage any
form of anti-Semitic thought, language or actions.
I arrived at the private viewing for "The Passion", held in
WashingtonDC and greeted some familiar faces. The environment was
typically
Washingtonian, with people greeting you with a smile but seeming to
look beyond you, having an agenda beyond the words. The film was very
briefly introduced, without fanfare, and then the room darkened. From the
gripping opening
scene in the Garden of Gethsemane, to the very human and tender portrayal of
the
earthly ministry of Jesus, through the betrayal, the arrest, the scourging,
the way of the cross, the encounter with the thieves, the surrender on the
Cross, until the final scene in the empty tomb, this was not simply a
movie; it was an encounter, unlike anything I have ever experienced.
In addition to being a masterpiece of film-making and an artistic
triumph, "The Passion" evoked more deep reflection, sorrow and emotional
reaction within me than anything since my wedding, my ordination or
the birth of my children. Frankly, I will never be the same. When the film
concluded,
this "invitation only" gathering of "movers and shakers" in Washington, DC
were shaking indeed, but this time from sobbing. I am not sure there was a
dry eye in the place. The crowd that had been glad-handing before the
film was now eerily silent. No one could speak because words were
woefully
inadequate. We had experienced a kind of art that is a rarity in life,
the kind that makes heaven touch earth.
One scene in the film has now been forever etched in my mind. A
brutalized,
wounded Jesus was soon to fall again under the weight of the cross.
His mother had made her way along the Via Della Rosa. As she ran to
him, she flashed back to a memory of Jesus as a child, falling in the
dirt road outside of their home. Just as she reached to protect him
from the fall,
she was now reaching to touch his wounded adult face. Jesus looked at her
with intensely probing and passionately loving eyes (and at all of us
through the screen) and said "Behold I make all things new." These are
words taken
from the last Book of the New Testament, the Book of Revelations. Suddenly,
the purpose of the pain was so clear and the wounds, that earlier in the
film had been so difficult to see in His face, His back, indeed all
over His body, became intensely beautiful. They had been borne
voluntarily for love.
At the end of the film, after we had all had a chance to recover, a
question and answer period ensued. The unanimous praise for the film, from
a
rather diverse crowd, was as astounding as the compliments were effusive.
The
questions included the one question that seems to follow this film,
even though it has not yet even been released. "Why is this film
considered by some to be "anti-Semitic?" Frankly, having now
experienced (you do not "view" this film) "the Passion" it is a
question that is impossible to answer. A law professor whom I admire
sat in front of me. He raised his hand and responded "After watching this
film, I do not understand how anyone can insinuate that it even remotely
presents that the Jews killed Jesus. It doesn't." He continued "It made me
realize that my sins killed
Jesus" I agree. There is not a scintilla of anti-Semitism to be found
anywhere in this powerful film. If there were, I would be among the
first to decry it. It faithfully tells the Gospel story in a dramatically
beautiful,
sensitive and profoundly engaging way.
Those who are alleging otherwise have either not seen the film or have
another agenda behind their protestations. This is not a "Christian"
film, in the sense that it will appeal only to those who identify
themselves
as followers of Jesus Christ. It is a deeply human, beautiful story
that will deeply touch all men and women. It is a profound work of art.
Yes, its
producer is a Catholic Christian and thankfully has remained faithful
to the Gospel text; if that is no longer acceptable behavior than we are
all
in trouble. History demands that we remain faithful to the story and
Christians have a right to tell it. After all, we believe that it is the
greatest
story ever told and that its message is for all men and women. The greatest
right is the right to hear the truth.
We would all be well advised to remember that the Gospel narratives to
which "The Passion" is so faithful were written by Jewish men who followed
a
Jewish Rabbi whose life and teaching have forever changed the history
of the world. The problem is not the message but those who have distorted
it
and used it for hate rather than love. The solution is not to censor
the message, but rather to promote the kind of gift of love that is
Mel Gibson's filmmaking masterpiece, "The Passion."
It should be seen by as many people as possible. I intend to do
everything I can to make sure that is the case. I am passionate about "The
Passion." You will be as well. Don't miss it! This is a commentary by
DAVID LIMBAUGH about Mel Gibson's very controversial movie regarding
Christ's crucifixion.
It, too, is well worth reading.
MEL GIBSON'S passion for "THE PASSION"
How ironic that when a movie producer takes artistic license with
historical events, he is lionized as artistic, creative and brilliant, but
when
another takes special care to be true to the real-life story, he is
vilified. Actor-producer Mel Gibson is discovering these truths the
hard way as he is having difficulty finding a United States studio or
distributor for his upcoming film, "The Passion," which depicts the last
12 hours of the life of Jesus Christ.
Gibson doesn't want this to be like other sterilized religious epics.
"I'm trying to access the story on a very personal level and trying to be
very real about it." So committed to realistically portraying what
many would consider the most important half-day in the history of the
universe,
Gibson even shot the film in the Aramaic language of the period. In
response
to objections that viewers will not be able to understand that
language, Gibson said, "Hopefully, I'll be able to transcend the language
barriers with
my visual storytelling; if I fail, I fail, but at least it'll be a
monumental failure."
To further insure the accuracy of the work, Gibson has enlisted the
counsel of pastors and theologians, and has received rave reviews. Don
Hodel,
president of Focus on the Family, said, "I was very impressed. The
movie is historically and theologically accurate." Ted Haggard, pastor of
NewLifeChurch in Colorado Springs, Colo., and president of the
National Evangelical Association, glowed: "It conveys, more accurately
than any other film, who Jesus was."
During the filming, Gibson, a devout Catholic, attended Mass every
morning because "we had to be squeaky clean just working on this." From
Gibson's perspective, this movie is not about Mel Gibson. It's bigger
than he is. "I'm not a preacher, and I'm not a pastor," he said. "But
I really feel my career was leading me to make this. The Holy Ghost was
working through me on this film, and I was just directing traffic. I hope
the film has the
power to evangelize."
Even before the release of the movie, scheduled for March 2004, Gibson
is getting his wish. "Everyone who worked on this movie was changed.
There were agnostics and Muslims on set converting to Christianity...[and]
people
being healed of diseases." Gibson wants people to understand through the
movie, if they don't already, the incalculable influence Christ has had on
the
world. And he grasps that Christ is controversial precisely because of
WHO
HE IS - GOD incarnate. "And that's the point of my film really, to show
all
that turmoil around him politically and with religious leaders and the
people, all because He is Who He is."
Gibson is beginning to experience first hand just how controversial Christ
is. Critics have not only speciously challenged the movie's
authenticity, but have charged that it is disparaging to Jews, which
Gibson vehemently denies. "This is not a Christian vs. Jewish thing.
'[Jesus] came into the world, and it knew him not.' Looking at
Christ's crucifixion, I look first at my own culpability in that." Jesuit
Father William J. Fulco, who translated the script into Aramaic and Latin,
said he saw no hint of
anti-Semitism in the movie. Fulco added, "I would be aghast at any
suggestion that Mel Gibson is anti-Semitic." Nevertheless, certain
groups and some in the mainstream press have been very critical of
Gibson's "Passion."
The New York Post's Andrea Peyser chided him: "There is still time,
Mel, to tell the truth." Boston Globe columnist James Carroll denounced
Gibson's literal reading of the biblical accounts. "Even a faithful
repetition of the Gospel stories of the death of Jesus can do damage
exactly because
those sacred texts themselves carry the virus of Jew hatred," wrote
Carroll. A group of Jewish and Christian academics has issued an
18-page report slamming all aspects of the film, including its undue
emphasis on Christ's passion rather than "a broader vision." The report
disapproves of the movie's treatment of Christ's passion as historical fact.
The moral is that if you want the popular culture to laud your work on
Christ, make sure it depicts Him as an everyday sinner with no
particular redeeming value (literally). In our anti-Christian culture,
the blasphemous "The Last Temptation of Christ" is celebrated and "The
Passion" is
condemned. But if this movie continues to affect people the way it is
now, no amount of cultural opposition will suppress its force and its
positive impact on lives everywhere. Mel Gibson is a model of faith
and courage.
Please copy this and send it on to all your friends to let them know
about
this film so that we'll all go see it when it comes out.
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"
Over the past fifty years, C. S. Lewis's bestselling classic fantasy series The Chronicles of Narnia has fascinated generations of readers and millions of ..."
Aslan as Jesus
By Duncan Rize, from thenarniaacademy.org "The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe and the Bible do not sound like they go together, however the author C. S. Lewis parallels Aslan with Jesus. Some people say this was just a coincidence that there is no parallel to the story and the Bible. Conversely many people strongly argue the striking similarities of the texts.
Aslan and Jesus were both the sons of powerful beings. Aslan is the Son of the Emperor Over the Sea as Jesus is the Son Of God Creator of the Universe. Aslan was portrayed as a lion and ruled the land of Narnia. Similarly, Christ is often referred to as a lion and lived in the town of Nazareth. Aslan sacrificed himself so Edmund, one of the children, could be spared. Edmund was supposed to be killed by the Witch, even though he betrayed Aslan. Aslan gave himself so Edmund could be saved. Likewise, Jesus sacrificed his own life so that mankind could receive salvation.
Another similarity between the two texts can be seen when both Aslan and Jesus are preparing to be sacrificed. While Jesus was on the cross he was tortured and humiliated by the Roman Soldiers, and had a crown of thorns on his head. Similarly, in The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe, the Witch’s followers cut off Aslan’s mane and make fun of him. Aslan was bound and put on a stone table and a muzzle was put over his mouth.
After Aslan died the two children who loved him dearly, Lucy and Susan, stayed behind to bury him properly. After seeing more than they could bear, they turned away from Aslan. After hearing a noise, they turned back around and discovered the stone table cracked and Aslan missing. They heard a voice and when they turned around they saw Aslan resurrected. Similarly, a woman who loved and adored Jesus, Mary Magdalene, was at his killing. When she went to visit his tomb three days later, she found the stone in front of it moved and the tomb empty. Later, Mary Magdalene found Jesus alive and well.
Jesus died for all our sins. Aslan, the character in C.S. Lewis’s book, is depicted as full of love and forgiveness, just like Jesus. Jesus loves everyone: even those that have betrayed him. Further, Aslan forgave Edmund just as Jesus forgave those that betrayed Him. In short, many similarities can be drawn between Aslan and Jesus, making this just one the many parallels that connect C.S. Lewis’s The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe with The Bible.
I grew-up watching all sorts of films about the life on Jesus. As a little kid, it really got my attention and intrigue my curiosity on my Catholic faith. Especially during Easter season, I was fond of watching anything about Jesus.
*first heard about this on "Good Friday" while re-watching scene by scene of the "Passion for Christ"-Reflection
The Cross Film Trailer Nationwide Friday March 27, 2009
"Gener8Xion Entertainments feature documentary The Cross The Arthur Blessitt Story opens nationwide March 27, 2009. The Cross is the story of one of the most unique individuals to walk the face of the earth. For the past forty years Arthur Blessitt has done something no one else has ever done, carried a twelve foot wooden cross through 315 nations, territories and island groups - or in other words every inhabited place in the world." About the Film "THE CROSS is the story of one man carrying a twelve-foot wooden cross on a pilgrimage around the world. It is a mission of love, peace, blessings and Jesus. It is one man walking out his purpose and destiny, one step at a time.
This compelling story is an inspiration and an adventure of life on the roads of the world and the reactions of people to the cross and, more importantly, its life-changing message.
Arthur Blessitt's story began with a simple act of obedience...making a large cross to hang on the wall of "His Place," a Jesus coffee house he had started in Hollywood, California. Then, in 1968, he began taking short trips with the cross along the Sunset Strip, giving out food to hungry hippies and telling them about Jesus. Soon, he began to feel Jesus calling him to carry the cross across America. He left Hollywood on Christmas Day 1969, beginning a journey that would see him walk across the entire country to New York and then on to Washington, D.C.
The next year, Arthur felt called to carry the cross in war-torn Northern Ireland. This kicked off what he soon discovered was to be a step by step, nation by nation, walk around the entire world. In 1988 he felt Jesus tell him to carry the cross in every nation. Ten years later, in 1998, he completed this mission, gaining access to North Korea through a series of incredible circumstances. Yet God still had more for him to do. And so he launched out to carry the cross in every island group throughout the world as well.
In June of 2008, Arthur finally completed his mission with the faithful assistance of his wife, Denise, who has been with him in 291 of the nations and island groups he's visited. Listed in the Guinness World Records for the "world's longest walk," Arthur has carried the cross in 315 nations, island groups, and territories and walked 38,102 miles -- a distance that circles the globe more than one and a half at the equator.
Arthur's true joy, however, comes from the Gospel and becoming part of the people groups he visits. For Arthur, the world is his home and family. "I love God and I love people," says Arthur, "I try to keep it simple." As he carries the cross, he stops to speak with people about Jesus and prays prayers of blessings. he has gone into many war-torn and troubled areas of the world. Huge crowds have often greeted him; yet most of the time he has walked the roads alone, except for the Presence of God. He has met many of the world's leaders, yet is at home with the poorest people on earth.
Arthur is the first to admit that he is the least likely of all for God to have chosen for such a calling. Thus, beyond all the rousing adventure, beyond all the lives that God has used Arthur to touch, lies the true heart of this documentary -- the story of facing life's challenges and pressing on. It is about smiling in the most difficult times and bringing hope in the face of despair. It is about inspiring audiences across the country to step out of the theater and into the destiny God has waiting for them, walking it out one step at a time. "
List of Nations "
The thrilling story of the Cross being carried in
Every Nation and major island group on Earth for the glory of God!
List of Nations in alphabetical order below.
Select a nation for the journal entry.
This listing conforms to almost all the list of Travelers Century Club and Guinness World Records. Although some are not actually countries in their own right, they have been included because they are removed from parent, either geographically, politically or ethnologically. Some of the listings like United Arab Emirates or Indonesia have within them seperate island groups or 'nations'. http://www.travelerscenturyclub.org/country_status.html"
Remember Jesus did it! I give Him all the glory and praise! AFRICA Tangle.com
Africa Changes Blessitt's Outlook
"After touring Africa with the Cross, and seeing the joy that the people had, even though they had close to nothing, Arthur Blessitt realized how much of the comfort and materialism we take for granted in America."
ASIA
-Papua New Guinea "...January 1, 1981 - God did a mighty miracle today. Peace was the word and salvation came. There is deep violence in this nation and in this area it is at its worst. There is war between the tribes. There was no traffic on the highway today, only Army and police patrols. Load after load of them drove down the highway toward the fighting. We were warned by the Christians not to walk, but I felt we couldn't concede one day to the devil. We can't concede one moment to him!
We were on the road at 4:30 a.m. Crowds were waiting all along the way to see the cross, not to fight. The police were amazed. This was the first peaceful New Year's Day in many years. Everyone was waiting for the cross.
War and Peace
Today deep conviction, the glory gets more, more, if it's possible. I climbed up an 8,093 feet mountain. Not many people were at the top, but when we came down... wow! It was unbelievable! We met a crowd of about 100 men dressed in g-strings and war masks, all carrying spears and bows and arrows. I learned they had come from miles around. One of the chiefs, through an interpreter, said, "We welcome you. We have gathered to greet you. You are a man of God." Then he held up a spear and presented it to me. He said, "This is our spear of war, but the cross has brought peace to us. We surrender the spear to the power of the cross. We have heard about Jesus and the cross, now we've seen it." I then preached to them. They all knelt and gave their lives to Jesus Christ. Hallelujah! ..."-Papua New Guinea
* Journal
-Philippines "...Late this afternoon, three ladies arrived at the little house where we were staying. They had one of the few vehicles on the island, and had driven for two hours trying to find us. They were sick and wanted to be healed. One of the ladies had huge, swollen legs and the other two had crippled hands. They believed that they would be healed. I explained the gospel to them, we prayed and they gave their lives to Jesus. One of the ladies was in charge of the school system. As I knelt to pray for them again I knew that God could heal them, but I didn't know for sure that He would, because most of the time I don't see the people healed. I remembered other mighty miracles that I had seen. I started to pray louder to compensate for doubt. I started to pray longer, hoping that time would make my prayers more persuasive, but then I cast that all aside to speak frankly to Jesus.
"Lord, I know you have the power to heal these ladies. I don't understand why most of the time I don't see people healed, but I know You can. I don't know that You will, but I ask You to, I trust them into Your hands. Heal them right now in Jesus' name."
"It's a miracle!" they cried out. (Arthur's Diary)
I looked up. The lady's legs were in perfect condition and the other two ladies' crippled bands were absolutely healed! I was shaken. They begged me to come to their town and pray for more sick people. "We need you, we need Jesus," they said..."-Philippines
* Journal
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Ministry: Healing EUROPE
-Spain "...I was arrested in Irun, Spain, and jailed in San Sebastian, but the government gave me permission to carry the cross through Spain and to give my testimony. I was in jail only part of one day but the cross was in jail for three days! I learned a lesson; don't leave jail without my cross. The cross was the problem, not me.
The goverment gave me a permit to carry the cross on through Spain...."-Spain
* Journal
LATIN-SOUTH AMERICA
-Panama "...My deepest hurt was that the gospel was not going out and what I wanted was to preach in all the villages with Tom interpreting and Jerry filming. But God has His own way. It was me, Him and the cross here. God seems to want me to do this alone and has put me face-to-face with Himself in a beautiful way. What a joy it is to face the struggle of life alone with God. This trip is for me, if for no one else. Like Moses on the mount, or Jesus in the wilderness, it is my time of inner revival and refreshment. I return to the simple-God, me, the Bible, the cross, and a struggle to live. How powerful! It refreshes the inside to make me unshakeable. Never a thought of not going on-only the question of how to do it, which way to go. This mission will be carried out. I will make it with the cross through the Darien Gap!...-Panama
* Journal
NORTH AMERICA
-United States of America "The call to carry the cross
In 1967 I felt the call of God to go to Hollywood, California to begin a street ministry and open a Christian coffee house on Sunset Strip. The building we named “His Place". The story of these years of ministry is told in my online book on my website at: http://www.blessitt.com/books/turned.html...
The Lord spoke more. "I want you to take the cross into the roadsides and streets of the world to identify my message in the streets with the common man. I am sending you into the secular world. I am going to put the gospel on television, on the radio, by your walking. I want you to bear witness of My life and My love, proclaim My peace in the streets." ...
The Cross
We needed a life'‘size cross hanging on the stage with colored lights on it so the cross would immediately impact everyone who walked in. Young people stoned on drugs or drunk would never forget the cross. We needed something visual to go with the spoken word, to point the way to life in Christ. We were getting cable spools to use as tables from an electric company in Santa Monica where we found the cross beams used for big light poles, four-foot by four-foot, and soaked in creosote to preserve them. These would make the perfect "old rugged cross...."-Walk Across America
* Journal
*see GoodnewsEverybody.com Issues: Gangs, Hoodlumns, etc.. The Cross (film)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "..Production
Twenty years ago Crouch had made a documentary about Blessitt . Then, in the summer of 2008, Crouch and Blessitt "ran into each other" on the cusp of Blessitt's final trip to Zanzibar, an island off the coast of the continent of Africa, which gave them the idea to create a brand new documentary that would finish telling the story of Blessitt's journey.[3]...
The Katinas "Carry the Cross"
"A video/trailer from an upcoming movie called "The Cross". The song was written and recorded by The Katinas (Carry the Cross) "
"
Cover artwork for Arthur Blessitt's book The Cross
In his new book, The Cross, readers can follow Arthur’s journey from his initial call from God to carry a cross from Hollywood, where he was known as 'the minister of Sunset Strip,' across America, and then the world.
Arthur Blessitt, author of The Cross, recently consented to the following QandA session.
Q: Having carried the cross over 38,000 miles, you are listed in the Guinness Book of World Records under “World’s Longest Walk.” In the early days of your ministry, did you ever think you would achieve this kind of recognition?
A: You know, I never did. Though I’d begun preaching at the age of 15, I hadn’t ever been particularly drawn to the cross as a symbol. My first cross walk was down the Sunset Strip and back to His Place, the coffee shop where I preached the gospel to hippies and drug addicts in the late sixties. The cross attracted a crowd, and they followed it back to our little shop. One night in 1969, I heard the voice of the Lord clearly calling me to carry the cross across America, so I did. Once that was finished, I was told to visit Northern Ireland, so I did. Before long, I was off to every sovereign nation…then to every major island group. My journey was never about setting a record. It was about obeying the call to bring the cross to everyone, everywhere.
Q: The cross is an almost universally recognizable icon, but the messages associated with it vary widely from place to place. What does the cross say to you?
A: So many people feel that the cross is against them. They look at the cross and the think the cross is against my sexual orientation or I had an abortion or I drink beer or I smoke cigarettes, so God hates me. I don’t believe that the cross stands for any of those things. The cross is a sign from God that says, "I love you. I care. I came down and got involved in this mess of life. I became flesh and sacrificed myself on this cross to show you this love."
As I journey around the world, I find the cross to be a symbol of God’s love that can be understood in spite of language and cultural barriers. But in many places—particularly in Muslim countries—the cross has historically been a sign of offense. It has not been a friendly symbol. These people often share the words of Mahatma Gandhi, "I like your Christ; I do not like your Christians. Your Christians are so unlike your Christ." I try to counteract these negative attitudes when I walk with the cross. Instead of talking about Christianity, I try to focus on Christ and the love and grace of God. I have had the wonderful privilege of reinterpreting the cross—to walk into Muslim countries and not only to survive, but to be welcomed.
Q: In the summer of 1980, you walked through the war zone of West Beirut, where you were invited to meet with Palestinian Liberation Organization Leader Yasser Arafat. What did you say to him? How did he respond?
A: When I met Arafat face to face, I saw someone whose eyes were alive and sparkling. There we were, two radicals seeking to make men free. One had a cross and the other a gun. As we sat down, I said, "Sir, it’s 2:00 AM. You have had a long day and a long struggle. I’m not here as a politician or a diplomat or a reporter. I’m just a simple man with a cross. And I would like to read you some of the words of Jesus." I started with the beatitudes from the Sermon on the Mount in Matthew 5. "Blessed are the merciful…blessed are the peacemakers." I read and shared many more Scriptures. Then I took Mr. Arafat’s hand and prayed.
When I finished praying, he spoke softly. "There is no doubt the Bible is more powerful than the gun or the sword. The Romans tried to kill Christians. They beat, imprisoned, and murdered them. But slowly the believers, the Christians, took Rome, and Rome became Christian. They took it by heart. They did with the cross what no army had done." Arafat did not respond to my offer of salvation or my plea for him to lay down his weapons, but I left with the impression that I had just been with one of the most gentle and kind men I had ever met.
Q: What question do you hear the most as you travel the world?
A: You know, a lot of people are fascinated by the adventure stories. But I’m not a walking story. What moves me is my relationships with people, my encounters with individuals. And the question I hear most from those individuals around the world is: Tell me what you know about God. Why did I walk through war zones? I wasn’t in search of adventure. I was drawn to the people in those places who needed to know about God.
Q: What is one of the most important lessons you have learned through your journey with the cross?
A: One of the most important things I have learned in my journeys around the world with the cross is that I should focus not on if, but rather on how. How do I get the visa I need? How do I get into a country that is difficult to enter? How do I get across that river or up that mountain? Those of us who want to go where Jesus sends us should remove from our vocabulary the small but potentially destructive word if.
I have carried the cross in 315 countries and island groups. In most of these nations I have had great experiences, although 52 of these countries were at war. I have seen beautiful places and wonderful people, but I have also seen horrors and tragedies. I faced a firing squad in Nicaragua; I was almost stoned and beaten in Morocco; I was attacked by police in Spain; a Los Angeles police officer tried to choke me in Hollywood; a man in Birdseye, Indiana, tried to burn the cross; a man in Nigeria broke the cross. I learned this simple lesson long ago: We need to follow God’s call regardless of whether people love us or hate us. God’s call is not conditional. It doesn’t depend on favorable conditions, warm weather, or good moods.
Q: What is the most beautiful thing you’ve seen as you’ve walked around the world with the cross?
A: People! One of the privileges of carrying a cross around the world is meeting all kinds of beautiful people. And just as Jesus related to all people, I have tried to do that myself as I carry his cross. In our world today, it seems few of us desire or are able to relate to various kinds of people. I’ve had encounters with world-famous people like Pope John Paul II, Jimmy Carter, and Yasser Arafat. I’ve also shared meals with the poorest of the poor, the homeless. I’ve slept in remote villages where mine was the first white face any of the people had seen. And always, I have been awed by the beauty and joy of the children. In God’s view (and in mine), all of these people are equally valued and equally loved.
Q: Having carried the cross through Communist, Islamic, and Hindu nations, what can you tell us about the power of the cross in those nations?
A: Christians in the West sometimes talk about nations that are “closed” to the gospel. Though it is true that some governments and people groups are resistant to the good news of Jesus, at least as they perceive it, I think we need to be careful: Focusing on the concept of 'closed nations' can send a negative message. Christians often ask me, "When you were in such-and-such nation, didn’t you feel darkness and the power of Satan?" Or, "When you met such-and-such terrorists, didn’t you feel the evil?" My reply is, “No, I felt the Father, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit.” The earth is the Lord’s and the fullness thereof. I will not concede any place or any person to the Devil.
Q: What keeps people from doing big things for God?
A: Many people have dreams and visions of doing mighty things for God and making an impact on the world. That was my prayer also. And then Jesus said to lay it all down, and let your vision be no bigger than the next person you meet. Following that vision has carried me around the world. The most important thing God will ever tell you to do is the next thing. It’s as simple as that. To follow Him is to live a life of obedience, and not to complain. Many times projects fail to move forward because people don’t take one step at a time. They don’t break things down into small, simple steps. As a result they are soon overcome by the insurmountable challenges that face them, and they give up.
You may never walk around the world carrying a cross. But I know God does have something He would like you to do. And the only way you are going to fulfill this calling is by starting our simple and following His call, step by step by step.
The Cross by Arthur Blessitt
Authentic Publishing
ISBN: 978-1-934068-67-0/221 pages/softcover/$17.99
www.authenticpublishing.com www.arthurblessitt.com
For review copy and interview information, contact:
Audra Jennings
Senior Media Specialist
The B&B Media Group
1-800-927-0517 Ext. 104
ajennings@tbbmedia.com
Visit us on the web at www.tbbmedia.com
109 S. Main
Corsicana, TX 75110
Fax: 903-872-0518 "
"Monumental epic Biblical film about the story of Jesus Christ (New Testament), USA 1965
(a.k.a. Die Groesste Geschichte aller Zeiten)
Directed by George Stevens
Produced by George Stevens
Music by Alfred Newman, Hugo Friedhofer & Fred Steiner + Georg Friedrich Haendel (from oratorio "The Messiah: Hallelujah Chorus") &
Giuseppe Verdi (from "Messa di Requiem")
Starring Max von Sydow, Charlton Heston, Martin Landau, Donald Pleasence, Telly Savalas, Sidney Poitier & John Wayne "
The Greatest Story Ever Told
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia "Pre-production
The Greatest Story Ever Told originated as a U.S. radio series in 1947, consisting of half-hour episodes inspired by the Gospels. The series was adapted into a 1949 novel by Fulton Oursler, a senior editor at Reader's Digest.[1] Darryl F. Zanuck, the head of 20th Century Fox, acquired the film rights to the Oursler novel short after its publication, but never brought it to pre-production.[2]...
"The powerful song "Remember Me" serves as a background for this video about our Savior and what he did for us. The footage is from the movie "Jesus" and the music is by Mark Schultz. I put this video together about 2 years ago and recently decided to update it. Free DVD upon request. Just send me your name and address!"
MODERN CRUCIFIXIONS
"Crucifixion, while rare in recent times, was used at Dachau during the Holocaust and in a number of wars, such as in Cambodia under the Khmer Rouge and during the Sino-Japanese war, where it was used among the many methods of torture and execution used by Japanese soldiers against Chinese civilians -- largely in emulation of medieval Japanese military practices, says the website http://www.nationmaster.com/encyclopedia/Crucifixion.
During World War I, there were persistent rumors that German soldiers had crucified an Allied (Canadian) soldier on a tree or barn door with bayonets or combat knives, the website says. The event was initially reported in 1915 by private George Barrie of the Canadian First Division. After the war, investigators tried to determine the veracity of the story of the crucified soldier, but it was inconclusive.
Thenazareneway.com website reports there are persistent stories that crucifixions continue to occur in certain parts of Africa, particularly in Sudan.
Amnesty International reported on August 22, 2002 its �grave concern that time was running out for 88 people, including two children, sentenced to death by hanging or crucifixion in Sudan, for their alleged role in ethnic clashes in Rizeigat, Southern Darfur.
"Everything is wrong with this case. Not only have death sentences been passed, which Amnesty International opposes unconditionally, but they were passed after an obviously unfair trial. Those sentenced include two children, despite the worldwide ban on sentencing children under the age of 18 to death," the organization said at the time.
Amnesty said that Emergency Courts, sometimes known as the "special courts" sentenced the 88 people to death by hanging or crucifixion in Nyala on 17 July 2002, on charges including murder, armed robbery and public disturbances. The charges were all related to recent clashes between the Rizeigat and Maalayia ethnic groups in Southern Darfur.
Africa Newswire Network citing IRIN, the United Nations Integrated Regonal Information Networks, from the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs, said international human rights organizations expressed concern over the fate of 88 people, including two children, who were sentenced to death by hanging or crucifixion in Sudan's Darfur region for taking part in ethnic clashes.
The report stated the Sudanese government reportedly said it would not overturn the death sentences against the 88 people convicted of taking part in May clashes between the ethnic al-Muraalia and Reizagat tribes. At least 50 people were killed in the clashes.
According to Amnesty, the "emergency courts" sometimes known as "special courts," were established in Darfur under a 1998 state of emergency, which grants wide powers to circumvent Sudan's Criminal Procedures Act. The courts are headed by two military judges and one civilian judge and do not permit legal representation for the accused, the agency said.
The Geneva-based International Secretariat of World Organizations Against Torture (OMCT) said it was deeply concerned over the health of the detainees and the "continuing wave of arbitrary arrests and detentions" in Darfur.
In a statement, the OMCT urged the Khartoum government to carry out an impartial investigation into the "arbitrary circumstances" under which some of the prisoners were arrested and detained, as well as reports of the use of torture.
"More generally, OMCT is concerned by the reported worsening human rights situation in Darfur, which includes mass arrests, harsh detention conditions and the continuing persecution of the people from the African tribes native to the region," it added.
"The government of Sudan must now ensure that the sentences are not carried out," Amnesty International said. "It should put an end to this cruelty."
Paul H. Liben contributed the article "Science Within the Limits of Truth" to the December 1991 issue of First Things, the Journal of Religion, Culture, and Public Life, which was posted to the Firsthings.com website.
He said Jubilee Campaign, a Christian human rights organization, noted "mounting evidence of the crucifixion of the male populations of entire villages."
When the Vatican protested in 1992, Khartoum replied: "The Catholic Church has become the enemy of the Sudanese government. We know how to deal with it."
Liben said: �What was meant was apparent. Last summer, according to Vatican Radio, four Catholics were arrested, flogged a hundred times, and then crucified.�
Liben wrote that according to a 1993 State Department report, the "government of Sudan forces routinely steal women and children. Some women and children are kept as wives. Others are shipped north where they perform forced labor or are exported, notably to Libya."
He said that in his scathing 1994 report to the UN Commission on Human Rights, special investigator Gaspar Biro confirmed that �the (Sudanese) north is kidnapping women and children and selling or using them as concubines or slaves. Biro also notes that the present regime allows the crucifixion of children as young as seven.�"
"This statement by the Apostle Paul refers to the Jewish Feasts as a "mere shadow" of things to come, the substance of them being found in Yeshua, the Messiah. What Paul is saying here is that the feasts were prophetic types, or symbols, that pointed to the Messiah and which would be fulfilled in Him. (NASB)
Before we pursue that point to see how the feasts were fulfilled in Jesus, let's first of all familiarize ourselves with the feasts...."
As Mel (My Space Site) shared in an interview with Diane Sawyer the Monday before it opened, he hopes that viewers will not just comment on the gore and graphic details on this movie. Instead, he hopes (based on my view of the interview) that people would come out and think twice about the message of the cross..forgiveness and that the rest of the story of the Good News will be shared to them.
I pray that many will come to a new or renewing personal relationship with Jesus after seeing this movie.
God sacrificed His Son Jesus Christ for us, so what sacrifices can we make for Him? I know He doesn't expect anything from Him-except our love, but how can we show this love to Him?
Want can I give what can I brings is an offering?...I'll offer up my love in spirit and truth.."-?
Old Testament:
"Then Jethro, Moses' father-in-law, brought a burnt offering and other sacrifices to God, and Aaron came with all the elders of Israel to eat bread with Moses' father-in-law in the presence of God."-Exodus 18:12
New Testament:
"Therefore, I urge you, brothers, in view of God's mercy, to offer your bodies as living sacrifices, holy and pleasing to God—this is your spiritual act of worship."-Romans 12:1
"The Resurrection-
1On the first day of the week, very early in the morning, the women took the spices they had prepared and went to the tomb. 2They found the stone rolled away from the tomb, 3but when they entered, they did not find the body of the Lord Jesus. 4While they were wondering about this, suddenly two men in clothes that gleamed like lightning stood beside them. 5In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, "Why do you look for the living among the dead? 6He is not here;he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: 7'The Son of Man must be delivered into the hands of sinful men, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.' " 8Then they remembered his words.
9When they came back from the tomb, they told all these things to the Eleven and to all the others. 10It was Mary Magdalene, Joanna, Mary the mother of James, and the others with them who told this to the apostles. 11But they did not believe the women, because their words seemed to them like nonsense. 12Peter, however, got up and ran to the tomb. Bending over, he saw the strips of linen lying by themselves, and he went away, wondering to himself what had happened."-Luke 22-24 (New International Version)
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