THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST

HELLO FAMILY, WITH THIS WEEKS RELEASE OF "THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST", I'VE HEARD SO MANY PEOPLE USE PHRASES LIKE, "WAS IT A GOOD MOVIE?", OR "I'D LIKE TO ADD THAT TO MY COLLECTION!" OR EVEN "IS IT WORTH BUYING?". I SAW THE PASSION ON ASH WEDNESDAY LAST YEAR. I SAW IT WITH MY ADULT DAUGHTER. WE LEFT THE THEATER NUMB. WE DID NOT SAY MUCH TO EACH OTHER ON THE RIDE HOME BECAUSE WE WERE EXAUSTED. EMOTIONALLY DRAINED. NO WORDS COULD POSSIBLY DESCRIBE THE "EXPERIENCE" OF THE PASSION OF THE CHRIST. I GREW UP, LIKE MOST OF US, WITH A VERY SANITIZED VERSION OF OUR LORD'S SACRIFICE. THE PASSION IS SUCH A BRUTAL PORTRAYAL OF OUR LORD"S SUFFERING, THAT I AM SURE EVEN THOSE WHO DO NOT *KNOW* JESUS WILL BE MOVED TO SOME DEGREE. BUT, I'M SPEAKING TO ALL OF YOU, MY FELLOW BROTHERS AND SISTERS IN CHRIST. WHEN I SAW THE PASSION, I CRIED BECAUSE I WAS WATCHING MY DEAR LORD, MY SAVIOR, MY BROTHER, MY FRIEND, BEING TORTURED AND RIDICULED. I CRIED BECAUSE I WATCHED HELPLESSLY, WHILE OUR DEAR SWEET JESUS GAVE HIS LIFE FOR US. I CRIED BECAUSE I AM A SINNER. I CRIED FOR FORGIVENESS. AND I CRIED BECAUSE I KNOW "I AM SAVED". I PRAY FOR ALL THOSE WHO DO NOT *KNOW* OUR LORD. I PRAY THAT THEY DO "BUY" THE PASSION. I PRAY THAT THOSE WHO "ADD IT TO THEIR COLLECTION" ARE MOVED BY THE EXPERIENCE ENOUGH TO DISCOVER JESUS. AND I PRAY THAT PEOPLE REALIZE THAT WHAT THEY ARE WATCHING IS NOT A "MOVIE", BUT A GRAPHIC DEPICTION OF WHAT TRUE LOVE IS REALLY ABOUT. I LOVE ALL OF YOU VERY MUCH, WE ARE ONE IN THE BODY OF CHRIST. PEACE TO US ALL, CARMELLA

Hi Carmella, I did not get to see The Passion of the Christ when it was first released. I knew that it would be on sale in August but when it was ... I did not have the money to purchae it. On Tuesday two of my friends called me up and asked me if they could come and visit me. During their visit they presented me with a DVD of The Passion of the Christ. I thank God for answering my prayers and I thak Him for friends that listen to His instructions. I am planning to watch it on Saturday with my family. God bless you, Georgeann

I went to see it with my Hubby, our teenage son, our Pastor and his Wife and friends from Church...I cried softly through most of the movie-and I don't cry easily. It was a heartbreaking movie to see what really happened-to this Lord and Savior *****sides within my heart-we left the theatre in silence with sorrow and thankfulness in our hearts...I don't want to own it-or to see it again, I don't think I could take it again...it made huge changes in me, and I thank God that Mel Gibson had the courage and conviction to make this movie

Dear Sister--your love for our Savior was so moving to my heart I cried as I read your post..I too, wept through this movie.I wanted to stand and shout"That's my friend,Jesus you are hurting!!!!" The theatre was so silent after the movie..what was there to say? Jesus said and did it all and I too pray for those who are seeking..that this will be a way to find Him. Carmella-you are a treasure.Love,Shelley

I found a book at Costco a few days ago. It was a small book explaining the movie to those who might not understand what is going on. It was only $5.00. I plan to purchase the movie and lend the book and movie to some of my friends.