A Few Of FR's Finest....Every Day....02-25-04....Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"

dansangel

[dansangel]

A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day

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A Few of FR's Finest....Every Day was introduced on June 24, 2002. It's only a small room in JimRob's house where we can get to know one another a little better; salute and support our military and our leaders; pray for those in need; and congratulate those deserving. We strive to keep our threads entertaining, fun, and pleasing to look at, and often have guest writers contribute an essay, or a profile of another FReeper.

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~ Billie, dansangel, dutchess, Mama_Bear, Aquamarine ~

Today is Ash Wednesday. For millions of Christians throughout the world, today is the beginning of forty days of sacrifice, reflection and the anticipation of Easter, the Resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Also today, opening in thousands of theaters across the U.S. is "The Passion of the Christ," directed by Mel Gibson and starring James Caviezel. Before even being offered to the general public, this movie has already stirred up a torrent of controversy.

The Christian faith is based on the fact that Jesus Christ, Son of God, walked among us some 2000 years ago. He made the ultimate sacrifice by being beaten, crucified and dying on the cross so that we may be forgiven. The movie deals with the last 12 hours that Jesus spent on earth among those who loved Him.

Much of the controversy that surrounds this film centers on the violence and brutality depicted that Christ endured during His last hours. Some critics have charged that such graphic carnage is unnecessary. Mel Gibson feels his movie version is a more accurate protrayal what Christ suffered than the myriad of films supported by Hollywood that have whitewashed the pain and terror.

Simon of Cyrene assisting Christ with the cross

The balance of the controversy lies in charges made that the film and Gibson are anti-Semitic. It is truly a shame that a movie whose focus was meant to be on our Savior and what He did for all of us must instead be upstaged by the back-biting and histrionics of headline-grabbing mere mortals. Gibson stands firmly by his stance that the movie is grounded in history, not finger-pointing, and that the bottom line is that we *all* share culpability in Christ's death, not just a select group.

James Caviezel

If you are still unsure as to whether or not it's worth your while to see this film, please take a moment to read this powerful review by Robert Moynihan from "Inside the Vatican":

The Power and the Glory of Mel Gibson's "The Passion of the Christ"

Mel Gibson

By the time this thread goes to press on the Finest, .45MAN and I will have seen "The Passion of the Christ" with members of our church the previous night. We are hoping that others who have seen it firsthand will share their thoughts, reactions and feelings about what promises to be the most important film about the most important Man to ever live and die on this earth.

May God Bless us all here at the Finest.

THIS WEEK'S THREADS 02-23-04 Military Monday 02-24-04 Let's Celebrate Mardi Gras

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[dansangel]

[dansangel]

Please join us today at the Finest for a discussion of the movie, "The Passion Of the Christ." We would expecially like to hear from those who have seen the movie first-hand. .45MAN and I were privileged to see it with our church last night. We are still stunned, but our faith has been strengthened immeasurably.

[dansangel]

God Bless Our Military

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Below are names of some of our FReepers' loved ones who are serving our country. If you have someone you would like to add, please address a post to Billie; Dansangel; Dutchess; Mama_Bear; Aquamarine; and we will add their name to this list. As we pray for them, we pray also for all our nation’s leaders, and military personnel, and their families and friends. May God hold them close to His heart.

~~~~~~~~~~   ~~~~~~~~~~

We ask Lord, that You guide the leaders of our great country in their hour of decision. The burden that has been placed on their shoulders is overwhelming. We ask that with Your infinite wisdom You guide them gently to the right decisions.

Please give us the strength, Lord, to get through each difficult and devastating day that faces each of us and our country. Protect and guide our Military that are now being called to duty, strengthen them in their trials and temptations; give them courage to face the perils which beset them; and grant them a sense of your abiding presence wherever they may be; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

OhioWfan........................son mystery-ak..........son, husband Gogrammy................grandson Inspectorette...................son Blessed American..........nephew Slip18..........................nephew anniegetyourgun...........nephew Pippin....niece,nephew,loved one Doug from Upland......son-in-law weldgophardline.....brotherinlaw Future Snake Eater..........cousin WaterDragon...son-in-law,grandson BeforeISleep...................son The Mayor........................niece LadyX.........................grandson fawn796.....................nephew ValerieUSA................2 sons Warrior Nurse...........active duty SK1 Thurman...........active duty David Osborne.........active duty fc2tomschermuly......active duty bkwells..................active duty LongCut..................active duty Trish.......................active duty StarCMC......................brother TexKat...................son and stepson Atomic Conspiracy....half-brother, niece, and nephew Dubya......................nephew SunflowerGal.......grandson cookcounty........son

Maigrey................cousin ladtx....................2 sons Mama_Bear...........2 nephews gator girl............husband severa.........husband, brother Hostel...................cousin MozartLover......son, nephew LBGA........................son SpookBrat...........nephew Himyar.....................son boxerblues............2 sons the piper...................son sheeza...............husband kemathen7...........husband Diver Dave........niece, nephew deadhead................cousin JimRobinson.....2 nephews Armymarinemom.....3 sons Consort..2 daughters, son-in-law Darheel..................niece dixie sass.............nephew BeAllYouCanBe.........son AgThorn...............2 sons homeschoolmama.......nephew kneezles.................son kimmie7...............brother Tiffee4Bob.............boyfriend Visualops...cousin, adopted Marine ODC-GIRL............active duty Donaeus............nephew thumperusn.........active duty katykelly.........son Rose in Rosebear...cousin's husband

[ppaul]

One of the best interviews of Mel Gibson ever.....

Mel Gibson discusses The Passion with Dr. James Dobson: http://boss.streamos.com/real/swn/oneplace/rm/ffd/ffd20040223.ram (RealPlayer)

[onyx]

This is absolutely beautiful dear girlfriend. I'll be back, when I get up for good later this morning.

[JohnHuang2]

Awesome! Absolutely awesome! Kudos and G'morning to ya :-)

[.45MAN]

Good morning to all. As you have read we viewd the Passion last night.. I am thinking slowly today because I am still digesting what I saw. The movie was brutal, it was beautiful, it brought to the surface every emotion that I can think of. It has made me ashamed that I have not been more of a Christian to the people around me. Today I am not the same person that I was yesterday and I hope that I will have the faith to stay that way the rest of my life. I cried. I don't know how a human could not, watching what went Christ went through and what Mary went through as his mother. I thank Mel Gibson for such a gift to all Christians.

God Bless.

[dansangel]

Thank you ((((((onyx))))))

I'm going to try to slip in and out during the day on my breaks from work.

[dansangel]

Thank you ((((((JH2)))))))

The kudos goes to Mel Gibson, James Caviezel, et al. Our God is an awesome God and they have nailed that down perfectly.

[JohnHuang2]

The kudos goes to Mel Gibson, James Caviezel, et al. Our God is an awesome God and they have nailed that down perfectly.

Amen, my friend. (((((((((((((dansangel)))))))))))))

[dansangel]

((((.45MAN)))))

Dittoes to all that you wrote. I feel very small today, but now I know what I am capable of doing. It is truly a blessing that we have this movie to awaken our faith.

[Aeronaut]

Good morning Angel.

[.45MAN]

ping

[dansangel]

expecially = especially

OK, I admit it up front (((((skinny dood))))) - flame away.....

[sigh]

:-)

[dansangel]

Good Ash Wednesday morning (((((Aeronaut))))))

[dansangel]

(((((ppaul)))))Thank you for the link. I nearly missed your post - need coffee......

[JohnHuang2]

You made Quote of the Day! Congrats! ;-)

[MeekOneGOP]

Mornin', everybody ! Happy Wednesday !

[Vigilantcitizen]

Good morning to all. As you have read we viewd the Passion last night.. I am thinking slowly today because I am still digesting what I saw. The movie was brutal, it was beautiful, it brought to the surface every emotion that I can think of. It has made me ashamed that I have not been more of a Christian to the people around me. Today I am not the same person that I was yesterday and I hope that I will have the faith to stay that way the rest of my life. I cried. I don't know how a human could not, watching what went Christ went through and what Mary went through as his mother. I thank Mel Gibson for such a gift to all Christians.

God Bless.

Powerful commentary neighbor.

God bless you and dansangel.

And you too JohnHuang2.

[dixie sass]

I do so Pledge.