better sooner than later
well, if you were holding your breath, go ahead and take a 'nother.
I decided to come back sooner than I had expected...meh, there's just something about the blog that keeps bringing me back...
okay, time for a real post now:
Passion
...at Jenna Powell's house these days. We just got back from seeing
The Passion of the Christ. ...I feel a long post comin' on. Here we go...
COMIN' IN JESUS-Y
I knew it was good from the beginning:
Right before the movie started, one of the pastors from Jenna's church came up to the front of the theater to give the obligitory "I'm going to preach on this" announcement. He also explained that the movie was the most accurate portrayal of Christ's last hours. Immediately I was a little disturbed. Having read about 15 different articles on Gibson's Passion play between Life of Christ and New Testament class, I knew that Mel Gibson brought his own interpretations and a hefty grande latte of graphic brutality with a double shot of Catholic doctrine/tradition into
The Passion of the Christ. I had spent most of the day pondering how people were going to accept Mel Gibson's interpretation of the Bible plus. (plus meaning the visions of
Anne Catherine Emmerich, 18th Century nun and "prophet")
There's a lot of ...
stuff in this movie. It's pretty beefy. Afterward, I wonder what I would think if I weren't a Christian or if I didn't already have a firm grasp on Christ's purpose in his work on the cross... Would I have understand Jesus in a way that I hadn't before? I might understand the physical pain that he underwent. I probably did get a better grasp of Christ's humanity, which has been something that I've been forced to think about anyways in my classes recently.
But the more important question is:
Would I understand WHY this happened? Why would Jesus endure such pain just to die. If he was the Son of God, why would God let himself be humbled like this? I really don't know if I would really "get" this movie if I didn't bring my presuppositions to it. If I didn't already believe that Jesus was the Christ, the long-awaited Messiah... If I didn't have some understanding of Hebrews chapters 5 and 7-10... If I didn't already know the Gospel message... What would I have gotten out of this movie? I really don't know.
"The Premier International Fan Website."
What's up with that? This website claims to be "for fans, by fans." How can you be a fan of that? I suppose the only way that works is because they qualify it with "for Mel Gibson's
The Passion of the Christ," so at least people are being fans of the movie, not the actual beating and crucifixion of Christ. Still, this was a movie that I don't know if I ever want to see again. It definitely will not be one that I will buy, nor will I purchase any of the movie posters. I mean, I think that people (especially Christians) should definitely see this movie, but I don't believe that I ever want to ever see it again.
On the other hand, it was a vivid reminder of how Christ covered up our debt of sin. It gave me a renewed gratitude for that reason. hmm. Joel just said something echoing my own thoughts:
"I came away from that movie disgusted with myself, not disgusted with the movie or the brutality...how brutal people can be...but with the wickedness of sin...even my own sin." The sin of the world was so bad that Christ would have to go through such pain and torture and death just to cover it up. That's crazy. Why would he have such mercy on us?
...something...
I dislike the fact that when I clicked on the opening link to this "Premier Fansite," an advertisment popped up for "The Book that Inspired Mel Gibson". Upon following this intriguing link, I found
The Dolorous Passion, which is the book of the aforementioned Anne Catherine Emmerich, nun and "visionary". I'm not so sure that I'm real keen on the whole Dolorous Passion deal.
Hint:
dolorus = full of grief, sad, sorrowful, doleful, dismal. If this word is referring to Christ's atoning sacrifice on the cross, I'd rather not think of it as many of these definitions, especially dismal. While it may have been a horrible experience, we should be immensely grateful for it, because had it not happened, there would be no perfect sacrifice (
Hebrews 10:1-4,11-18), no New Covenant (
Hebrews 9:11-15), no way to get to Heaven (
John 14:6). Gibson, moved by Emmerich's account, did an excelent job on picking up the terrible-ness of the crucifixion, but what he did not pick up on was the rest of the Passion...the resurrection.
MOMENT OF (as they say in room 311) ZEN:
Jordan just discovered Luke 23:12, which both of us found pretty humorous for some reason. I won't expound any further--I guess you'll just have to read it.
other MOMENT OF ZEN:
During the movie, Caiaphus (I think) says something like: "How can you say that you can destroy the temple and rebuild it in three days?" At this point, Caiaphus throws up 3 fingers to visually punctuate his sentance. Now--this would have been you're everyday ordinary 3-finger's-up illustration, but I noted that the actor actually used only
two fingers and his thumb. Now--this would have been nothing more than an unusual arrangement of fingers in a normal gesture if it had not been for Dr. Bibza. For about the last week or so, this gesture has been known as Bibza's method. Anyways, so the movie's right in the middle of this serious part, and Jordan and I lean forward to look at each other, hold up our two-fingers-and-thumb, and promptly laugh.
"On a final note":
This morning I was perusing Jenna's local paper, the
Rochester Democrat and Chronicle (sorry, I couldn't find the specific story to link to...) and on page 2A, I read the following:
For a few hours Wednesday, the movie database imdb.com gave credit where supreme credit was due. For The Passion of the Christ's writing credits, the dot.com listed, alphabetically: "Benedict Fitzgerald (screenplay), Mel Gibson (screenplay), God(novel)."
At the end of the movie, I dilligently scanned the credits, hoping that a similar crediting might have been in the official movie credits, but alas--YHWH was not even mentioned. I was saddened. Upon returning home, I thought to check
IMDB to see if it was still up, but also alas--no mention. Again, I was saddened. Well, at least somebody gave credit where it was ultimately due. Then again, Mel Gibson's
The Passion of the Christ (fanclub in tow) certainly brings its very own interpretation, and perhaps all the credit is given where it
is truly due.
here's to the night
lately, i've been tired, but not enough for sleep.
the lights are out, and so am i
"it's a brand new night
with the same old stars..."
i've been wandering around for a while now
maybe this time it'll be you i run into
i know i've been this way a hundred thousand times,
but i'm here, still waiting to know you.
my dreams are all too big for this canvas.
i think i'll take leave from it for a spell...
so don't wait up or hold your breath.
i'm sleepy
hmm...i just noticed that though i wrote a post on my computer a couple of days ago, i guess i forgot to post it.
meh...i'll take care of that sometime...
Bob Dylan, Neo, and Jesus (and
soon, David Bowie)
They're all looking over my shoulder right now. Trust me.
You'd understand if you were here right now.
It has been too long since I've taken a walk in the dark
This time, I mean that only in
the literal sense. Actually, I've been doing just that in recent days.
Pledge week was really stressful for me. This led to a re-discovered love
of walking alone around campus after dark. Also, I've also grown to
appreciate the cold for it's more ...frigid qualities. The ice over
Wolf Creek has been a regular source of support for my midnight walks. In
fact, when Spring comes, I'm going to terribly miss standing in the middle of
the creek to clear my head.
Earlier I was sitting on the wall below the quad, watching the sun set. I
had to sit on ice. My bum is still wet. and some people took my
picture.
I was sitting there thinking and I saw three people walking up the road by the
Thorn field. After getting to pretty much the best viewspot, they stood
there for a minute and looked up in the direction of the flagpole, which I had
been sitting beside for about fifteen minutes. I wondered if they were
waiting for me to move out of the picture. I guess they either were far
enough away not to see me very well or didn't care that I was in the picture,
because I saw a red light and then the flash of a camera. They stood there
for another few minutes, so I figured I would get up and move so I wouldn't be
in the picture again. Plus, my rear was becoming numb, and that's just not
a desirable feeling. I guess I ruined that picture, because they took it
right as I was getting up and standing in front of the flag. Oh well,
maybe they like those kind of pictures.
on a more petty note:
I'm proud of the fact that I searched again for Decembrists lyrics, and it
turned out that my brog had moved to numero uno on google. That's exciting in a
really pathetic sort of way. Anyways, check this out:
weird conversations begin again:
Last year I had conversations with some people that insisted that I was some guy
they knew named Kyle, and they kept telling me that if I narced on them, they'd
beat me up. It was funny, and I laughed a lot. hmm...Archives say
that was 5/16 and 5/20.
Anyways, so Andrea (or Andrea's computer) instant messaged the me last night,
and then this conversation ensued:
MStwirler (12:02:06 AM):
hey, who's this?
gstreet4life
(12:02:17 AM):
hey, who's this?
MStwirler
(12:02:28 AM):
It is not who you think it is.
gstreet4life
(12:02:33 AM):
oh okay
gstreet4life
(12:02:38 AM):
welp, hi
MStwirler
(12:02:46 AM):
What is "welp?"
gstreet4life
(12:02:49 AM):
well
gstreet4life
(12:02:51 AM):
welp
MStwirler
(12:02:55 AM):
interesting
gstreet4life
(12:02:58 AM):
yope
gstreet4life
(12:03:13 AM):
Is it who you think it is?
MStwirler
(12:03:36 AM):
I don't know who I am thinking it
is
gstreet4life
(12:03:48 AM):
that's sad
MStwirler
(12:04:11 AM):
Kind of, yeah.
gstreet4life
(12:04:31 AM):
i'm sorry
MStwirler
(12:04:46 AM):
Who normally has this computer?
gstreet4life
(12:05:12 AM):
what? the one you're using or
the one i'm using?
MStwirler
(12:05:19 AM):
both
gstreet4life
(12:05:45 AM):
mm...Andrea usually has that
one, and I usually have this one
MStwirler
(12:06:30 AM):
yeah?
gstreet4life
(12:06:39 AM):
yep
MStwirler
(12:06:58 AM):
Wow. This is a stimulating convo
MStwirler
(12:07:11 AM):
As much as I would like to continue
it, I really have to pee.
gstreet4life
(12:07:29 AM):
well, i hope that goes well
for you
MStwirler
(12:08:36 AM):
I think it has the potential to be
a really, really good time.
MStwirler
(12:09:26 AM):
Thinks you that?
gstreet4life
(12:09:59 AM):
alright, two things:
gstreet4life
(12:10:38 AM):
1) I'm not really into
pondering the more "entertaining" aspects of peeing
gstreet4life
(12:11:07 AM):
2) Don't get all "Yoda" on me
with your "Thinks you that" crap.
MStwirler
(12:11:27 AM):
ok! On that note,
gstreet4life
(12:14:30 AM):
have a nice day
well, wasn't that loverly...hm...too
bad I can't think of anything good to say these days.
Right now I'm smashing Honey Nut Cheerios
underneath my feet. Apparently I dropped some under my desk while I was
eating them the other morning. Oh well.
new music:
Jack Johnson, specifically
"Taylor" from
On and On
Blues Traveler, as in "Run-Around"
from
Four
I realize that Blues Traveler isn't real new, but I haven't ever listened to
them much. It's good stuff. I found out earlier today that
iTunes has like a hundred internet radio
stations, and I've been enjoying fact that ever since. I'm a fan of
FM102 out of SanDiego...anyways,
let's hear it for DC++ and super quick (9.8MB/s) internet in
HAL--nothing
makes my
Monday night class more interesting.
MOMENT OF (as they say in room 311) ZEN:
Okay, today in New Testament, we get into this big discussion about the story
where Jesus casts the demons out of the guy, the demons go into the pigs, then
the pigs commit suicide.
Some girl quietly asks: "How did the demons know it wasn't the time for their
destruction if no one but the Father knows when the Kingdom of God will be fully
consummated?"
Guy in the back of the room: "What did she ask?"
Bibza: "She asked how I can be so ridiculously good-looking and still be pushing
54."
...everyone laughs at Bibza's funny joke.
Guy in the back of the room: "What was the answer?"
Bibza: "...hmm.....uh, Botox
injections?"
...everyone laughs at Bibza's other funny joke.
hmm...That wasn't as funny as I remembered it being the first time...
MOMENT OF MORE ZEN:
Today, while we were
in line for dinner, Neil turned around and put a fork in my pants pocket, so
when he faced forward again, I took it out and put into the hood of his jacket.
He didn't notice, so I picked up another one and put it in there. Well, he
didn't notice for a while, so I just took a handful and put them in one by one.
By this time, Joel, Littell, and Jordan see what I'm doing and are laughing.
Neil turns around and says, "Are you laughing at me?" I reply, "Yep," to
which he nods and faces forward again. At this point I thought it was
getting ridiculous because he was so oblivious, so I decided to put a place in
his hood. Well, after trying, it wasn't going to fit, so I got a saucer
and tried to stick that in. At this point, it was time for me to get my
food, so I didn't stick anything else in there. We go and sit down at the
table and Matt says, "Hey I need a knife!" and I say, "Ooh, I know where one
is." Neil just looks at me like: "Man, you're weird, stop standing there
and staring at me.." and then Jordan says, "Hey Neil, could you give me a
knife?" He just kind of looks at Jordan, so I say, "Here, I'll get one,
and pull one out of Neil's hood. He looks suprised, so I pull out the rest
of the silverware collection and set it on the table. There's like 10
forks and 5 spoons, but no knives. Everyone laughs, and we marvel at
Neil's obvilious-ness.
the best part
After about another five minutes I offer to take the silverware off Neil's
hands, so he gives it to me. Immediately I start sneaking them back into
his hood while I'm sitting right next to him. This time Neil notices by
the time I get 5 in there, so at least he's getting better. the end.
