back in the day when "money train" was in the theater....there was a fire and we had to evacuate. We were given free passes to return another night. So, I guess it happens.

Interesting to hear what your kids thought up to the point that they had to leave???

Po baby. I wish you some good rest when you have the chance to get it!

Talk to you soon.
Saphy

I saw it sunday, and i have lots of thoughts. first of all, i am catholic, raised by ultra conservative, pre vatican II parents. I liked the portrayal of Mary and her son. It was touching yet not sappy. The graphic nature is hard to take but it isnt flashy like today's media does usually. The portrayal of evil was good. It is touching and I recommend seeing it late and with a ton of hankies, see it where you can openly sob .. it is embracing to see how much this man went through for us. a coupla things i didnt like, but i want to wait till others have some input too.

Hello again. It's been quite some time since my last post. (I believe it's still listed in my post history) Since then i am a bit more open, still very skeptical.

I, honestly, didn't know what to expect when i walked into that movie theater today. Take into account here, i have never gotten the least bit teary eyed over any movie, i guess for the fact that i know it never happened and it's fake.

However, i kept in mind that this could have happened. Not a half an hour into it, during the whiping part; i started feeling it run down my cheek. I felt foolish. It took all my energy to not bust up with waterworks. When i think about it, i was thinking no human, no matter who, deserved that. They beat the living tar out of him, and yet the crowd cheered. The whippers laughed.

Overall, this is very lifelike, unlike those movies whom i could never see really happening, more like fairy tales. This story was tangible.

I am left to think about it.

augghh.. I haven't seen it yet and apparently since it's the number one movie 2 weeks in a row, I must be the only one

I'll see it this weekend - who else wants to go?

Count me in...I saw it with the kiddos last weekend but I missed a lot of the subtle meanings...since I was so overwhelmed (not sure that's the correct word) by the brutality of the beatings....so give me a holler....

I saw the movie when it first came out. bloody, graphic, yes.
But JESUS did this for US, each and every one of us. Remember how lost we were, lost, alone,sinners with no hope for heaven, no peace, no nada. Jesus died, was beaten, bruised, humiliated, mocked, laughed at, because of OUR sins, remember HE never sinned!
I was also overwhelmed with the humility He endured, the beating, the blood. What a loving father we have, He allowed His only Son to endure what we now are able to see a little more clearly, through " The passion" ( no sugar coating here)
It's time the entire world wakes up to the reality of what Jesus actually did for them, for us.
Use discretion when taking little ones, due to the beating, blood, violence.
You will be touched in areas, you forgot existed.
As to the amt of $ the movie has made, my prayer is that M. Gibson prospers even more than he gave, we must remember He did this film, IN OBEDIENCE to the Lord's direction.
Can we all say the same thing?

FYI


Just heard the composer for the movie will be on the Tonight Show (Jay Leno) tonight (thursday the 11th) with a chorale and orchestra.

veritas...

Wow Allen, wish I could have done it in one word like you. Saw it last night and was so glad I did. I think it is a film all believers should see for many different reasons. Keeping in mind of course it's an experience NOT for enjoyment. Maybe it's because Catholics pray the Stations of the Cross but it was pretty much exactly what I've always pictured in my mind. Graphic, yes but not at all shocking to me. I believe it made me love Him more than before if possible.

Although I didn't find it Anti Semetic, I can certainly understand why some Jews felt it could be viewed that way. I suppose anybody who doesn't get "Thy will be done" and it being God the father and God the son's choice it could appear a group was responsible for His Crucifixion.

A few of us went last night as well... we sat awful close because the theater was nearly packed again.

Here's a new story as a follow-up to the story on the radio yesterday:

Hollywood Rethinking Films of Faith After \'Passion\'
LOS ANGELES, March 14 As the overwhelming success of "The Passion of the Christ" reverberates through Hollywood, producers and studio executives are asking whether the movie industry has been neglecting large segments of the American audience eager for ...


Now we're another focus group they're gonna try to wrangle money from. They'll never get it... we're not someone who flocks to movies because they might have 'Jesus' in the title:

</font><blockquote><font size="1" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">quote:</font><hr /><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif">
Many movie executives said they were uncertain about whether to try to imitate "The Passion."

"I wouldn't know how to duplicate this," said Jeff Robinov, the president of production at Warner Brothers
</font><hr /></blockquote><font size="2" face="Verdana, Helvetica, sans-serif"> exactly, mr. robinov

I can't wait for someone to try a sequel.... LOLOL

I heard they were going to adapt it into a book.

I'm glad someone got my lame joke.

Not lame at all, painful but alas I live for painful humor

Got it too Joel. Just don't want to encourage that sort of thing. LOL

I don't know how old this is, I got it tonight. Please pray!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`


Subject: God Works in Mysterious Ways........

E-mail from a friend serving as a missionary in the Middle East -Persian Gulf area ...

Today very possibly was the most significant day we have seen in nearly 12 years of living in the Middle East. To everyone's shock and surprise, "The Passion" was released today here in Qatar. Since all of us have heard many different reactions and responses to the film, I won't add very much to that discussion here.

However, I don't think anybody who has seen this film saw it in a theatre which was ½ full of Gulf Arab Muslims - both men and women. In two short hours, more Qataris heard the Gospel than I have been able to reach in nearly 5 years of living here. The Arabic subtitles were completely accurate - they didn't water ANYTHING down or change any language that Muslims would not agree with. All of us watched the film in absolute amazement in what God had done. The Muslims sitting around us were being moved - gasping, crying and reacting with disgust to the brutality that Jesus faced.

Now - if you have heard anything about why the Arab Muslims would want to see the film, you know that it is because they 'heard' it was anti-Jewish and since they hate the Jews, they want to see it. How interesting that God is using this film to communicate the Gospel and the very opposite spirit that might be motivating them to go and see it. The message to LOVE YOUR ENEMIES, and Jesus praying for them to be forgiven while on the Cross would hit the Muslim theatre-goer in a powerful way.

Just as Satan surely felt that he was winning when Christ began to suffer, ultimately it was the plundering of his house and his complete defeat. Muslims are going to see this film because of their hatred and in the end, the message they will hear is to LOVE. Is it not just like God to do something like that? They mean it for evil, and God means it for good!!

Below is an excerpt from the newspaper article that was run today in the local newspaper:

"INTERNATIONAL blockbuster film Passion of the Christ will have a multiple release in Doha today. Qatar is to be the first country in the Middle East to screen the film..."

There is yet another motivation that Qatar had in releasing this film and that was to be "the first country in the Middle East" to show the film. Qatar is trying to change its image and portray itself as a tolerant Muslim country. Little do they know that this film is exposing their people to many truths that their faith categorically denies. (The Sonship of Christ, the Fatherhood of God, the Atoning Death of Christ for the sins of the World, and of course the commandment to "Love your enemies".).

Please pray
1) That this film will be allowed to be shown for a significant period of time.
2. That this film will cause a major shaking and stirring in the hearts and lead them to salvation.

WOW!!! Praying!!

They've got an interesting show on Fox News right now regarding the actual path Jesus walked and the 14 stations of the cross.