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with comments by David Bruce

HIDDEN MEANING
Subject: Powder
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: "stian eriksen"

THE HIDDEN MEANING OF EXISTENCE i belive to know the hidden meaning of the film, even if i havent seen the whole movie only a bit over an hour.the movie is about a person who by some freak accident suddenly got to be a thought human of the future.this is because we are all "gods" and the abillities resambles those of a god and therefore that of an human. the future beings will have all of powders abbilities in this universe of time and space or (just to tell you ,i havent eaten any shrooms:)=)i know i am correct and you all will soon know i am correct as future 2012 will be a turning point in human history.just read my letter once and whatch the movie please:))
by by take care then
phalarisacid@hotmail.com

PURE BEAUTY
Subject: Moulin_Rouge
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Rebecca

hey, thanks for highlighting the pure beauty of Moulin Rouge. When I saw the film, my sky just burst before me; it was like watching my own life on the big screen. A week before I saw the film, my boyfriend had just died from Cancer - only three months after we fell in love. Even the lyrics that Satine mutters before things go wrong were the very same lyrics that I played to Rishi, my boyfriend, when i met him: If I should die this very moment, I wouldn't fear. As I've never known completeness before like knowing you. Wrapped in the warmth of you, loving every breath of you, you are the one, i've waited for... [Gorecki, by LAMB] The review was beautifully written.
Thank you, Rebecca
"The greatest thing you'll ever learn is love and be loved in return."

RESPONSE TO NEWSLETTER #30

GOOD VS EVIL
Subject: Newsletter_30_Harry_Potter
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: sharon

I cannot wait for the Harry Potter movie, loved the books. Most of the story is happy and fun but it does point out that there is evil around and you need to fight the evil with your good heart and deeds. I think Harry is a good role model for every one, no matter what your age. It teaches you to stand up to your fears and overcome them. I'm 49 and my cousin who is 42 have already bought our tickets for the movie in advance. American hearts need magic right now.

WHAT DILEMMA?
Subject: Newsletter_30
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: gord taylor

What dilemma? I am a Christian and a parent of four children who have loved the Harry Potter series and eagerly await the next installment. Fiction is just that, fiction. They may learn something from fiction, but clearly the books are entertainment and not taken on as sources of factual information. The series has very positive values and vivid imagery. They are great stories. I guess some Christians have never gotten over the idea that everything is a proselytizing tool. Even if that was a worry it is misplaced, Magic or Witchcraft is not what is being put forth here as alternative to religious belief . The magic (merely mechanical) is not the main point of the books, it is the means to look at very human issues and solutions to one's problems in a context similar to but different than one's own. The values of the books are: Love, friendship, confronting fears, self control, etc. in a world that is often dangerous, unfair, and evil. Anything wrong here? Yes, the books can be scary. Guess what? So can the real world. I would rather my children have read of people who overcome or deal with real and scary issues than be unexposed to what is real and live in some Pollyanna world some Christians would prefer everyone to inhabit and to which an awful lot of contemporary Christian marketing is targeted? I'd prefer them to read creative, wonderful, imaginative and well wrought books, rather than hacked together unimaginative, derivative 'Fish sticker' books. Good fiction or utter rubbish. What's the Dilemma?
Gordo

GIVE ME A BREAK?
Subject: Newsletter_30
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: "Don Dawson"

The saddest part of the whole controversy is that J.K. Rowlings, the author of Harry Potter, is a Christian (Canadian and Protestant). She, like Tolkien (a Catholic), uses her faith to inspire her fantasy, and her fantasy to pass along the message of her faith. These people who are on a witch hunt need to be fighting real evil, not other Christians. If they really want to have a witch to burn, it would be the one who sent them out after a fellow Christian to distract them from their real work!

WHY?
Subject: Newsletter_30 Satanic_Hysteria
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Darrel Manson

I've never understood why some people feel a need to look for something to fight. You're right in comparing some of these crusades to McCarthyism. If you can find something to point to as enemy, it makes it look like you're doing something positive, when in reality, you may only be diverting your energy from the mission of sharing God's love with the world. And in the case of some, their egos (and pocketbooks) grow when people cheer them on in their misdirected work.

There really are, of course, some enemies to be confronted. But they are almost always the enemies that are a part of our very selves: greed, racism, injustice, violence. But it is tough to understand that (as Pogo said -- does that date me or what?) "We have met the enemy, and he is us." -- Darrel Manson ><>Artesia Christian Church ICQ 5624184 ><>Artesia, CA http://netministries.org/see/churches/ch01198 One day we must come to see that peace is not merely a distant goal we seek, but that it is the means by which we arrive at that goal. -Martin Luther King, Jr.

FANTASY AND RELIGIOUS IMAGINATION
Subject: Newsletter_30
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: "Meg Gilley"

Stories of magic and fantasy are important, because they help us to see kingdoms beyond our own, to see meaning beyond the routine and every day. They help us explore what it means to be human in a way that is safe. They allow us to play "let's pretend" in our imaginations and stretch our vision of what is possible in life. They create another world where unexpected things can and do happen, where the images of our dreams and nightmares act out stories of good and evil on a grand scale. All the things we experience every day are in there, but they become more intense, more significant.

Fantasy also helps to stimulate the religious imagination. It awakens our hearts to a sense of something beyond ourselves, to a sense of mystery. This kind of vision has to be caught, it can't be taught. Stories like Harry Potter can open us up to a sense of the presence of God.
Meg Gilley
meg.gilley@durham.anglican.org

SHIELD OF HOLINESS
Subject:
News Newsletter_30
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Chris Utley

would it be okay if i reposted part of the email i sent to you regarding Harry Potter. too many responses are hiding behind the "shield of holiness" and i don't see too many people telling the truth i shared...that parents-Christian and non-Christian-have the common sense to remind their children that Harry Potter is ONLY A FANTASY MOVIE/BOOK. IT IS NOT REAL.

i feel a need to reemphasize that point so the holy-rollers can get knocked back to reality.
Chris Utley

RESPONSES TO NEWSLETTER # 29

GOD'S JUDGEMENT
Subject: Newsletter #29
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Dan

Greeting in the Precious Name of our LORD Jesus Christ

I believe that when the judgement of God is sent forth, all people will know the Source. This continuous second guessing and self declaration of being a prophet is growing weary. The many false prophets of old were the first to recieve the retribution and judgement of God. When these false naysayers of today are struck by power from on high, we will then know that God has moved.

There has always been war between people of the earth and it will continue as the LORD allows for fulfillment of His Master Plan with a complete timeline known only to Him.

If all the donated dollars were spent evangelizing and serving God, there would be less fear and greater joy in the kingdom. It matters not when He returns or what judgement befalls - to those that are on the salvation side and spreading the Gospel to the fullness of time.

I am much more concerned that people are thumbing their noses at God and then sending children into movie theatres that are blatantly teaching witchcraft as the healthy way of life or reading popular childrens books that bring it directly into the home. Let us reason together and quite standing alone hoping to be the top dog of the church world. Let us prophesy that God's glory will once again manifest itself on a people that are united and serving in one body and that being the Body of Jesus Christ.
IN His Service
Bro. dan

GOD OF LOVE AND JUSTICE
Subject: Newsletter #29_Revising.John_3_16
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: "Stan Wieber from JESUS INC."

The God of the Bible is a God of Love and Justice. He will eventually judge people by their deeds, good or bad. But He can only judge nations on this side of eternity. And the Old Testament has plenty of examples of His judgement on Israel and surrounding nations.

People like David Wilkerson simply point out that God is a God of His Word. What He did to judge evil in the Bible He will be consistent in this present time. We should not be surprised when God allows the Destroyer to wreck havoc on America. A nation whose sins have caused its protective divine covering to be eroded. One should not be too fast to speak against those who alert people to what scripture says about the nature of God's ways of dealing with the nations.

Repentence is a gift from God to lead us back to Him. Unless His Church in America follows His Word in II Chronicles 7:14 we face a time of greater lawlessness and upheaval in American society.

This scripture states: "If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land."
Stan Wieber

Response: No matter how you couch it, I do not believe that God is responsible for 9-11. In your logic you make the Church the guilty party for not repenting. So God permitted 9-11 because the Church was not praying. Hmm. I think not. -David

THOUGHTS
Subject: Newsletter #29 _Revising.John_3_16
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Steven

I agree to a certain point I guess, I will have to think about what you've said even more but I want to thank you for helping me to think a little deeper on this. I just turned 50 on Friday and I teach a Sunday School Class made up of mostly 65-75 year olds and they have this doomsday attitude and to a point I guess from talking to them I have gotten it to. Thanks again and I may just read this to the class in a week. It just gives us something to think about.. thanks again
My Web Pages http://www2.wcoil.com/~shollar

Response: Yes it is time to get these precious people to think different. May God be with you. -David

ALTERING SCRIPTURE
Subject: Newsletter #29 _Revising.John_3_16
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Dave

I believe altering scripture is blasfemy,,even pro wrestlers and austin 3 16 or other people mocking scripture;;but WE must LOVE the sinner and Hate the sin . I agree with your article..in Christ
Dave

GOD DID NOT ORCHESTRATE 9-11-01
Subject: Newsletter #29 _Revising.John_3_16
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Pam Dabon

I know that my God is a God of love and would never have orchestrated or approved of the 9-11-01 attack on America. I believe He loved us so much, that not only did He originally send Jesus to save us, John 3:16, but on 9-11 he sent America into action, saving and helping one another. In my heart I truly believe He has turned a horrific terrorist attack into drawing Americans not only closer to one another, but closer to Him. We all witnessed the attacks and the people I know and associate with, did not blaspheme God for this, but PRAYED to God for healing and for our President. No matter what has become of our nation, what lifestyles people choose, God still loves us! He is no respecter of persons, and we have no right to judge others. That is God's job. Judge not lest ye be judged. I thank God every day that He has chosen me for one of His own.
God bless you all!
Pam

Response: Thank you -David

REPENTING
Subject: Newsletter #29
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: Liz Hunt

Hi David,
What have you got against repenting? We all grieve God in some way or other, so why wouldn't we want to say we're sorry? I believe that we, the Church, are the ones called to repentence (2 Chron. 7:14. if MY people ...). I don't believe we are called to point our finger at "sinners" who are not believers. Jesus' example was "Let him who is without sin cast the first stone."
Many blessings! --
Liz Hunt ps I'm from Canada

Response: Repenting is good. It means "changing one's mind" in Greek. -David

TRUTH FROM NATIONAL TV
Subject: Newsletter #29
Date: Tue, 13 Nov 2001
From: "Kath

Re your last one on "Does God hate USA." etc. God loves everyone, even murderers. He died for everyone. He does not favour one nation over another. He calls all people to respond to him in repentance and faith. See the following message by Ann Graham for some wise perspective.
Kath Wells

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