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with comments by David Bruce
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receive a lot of e-mail. I am not able to post all the mail. I have
included a good sampling, however. If the subject is the same I might
group the newer messages with similar older ones. Also, my response
may appear a few days after the original posting. I can't do HJ everyday.
You must include your "name" and e-mail address within your comment
if you want it posted, otherwise it will not be posted (there is a privacy
issue here and we respect that). I do, however, encourage you to give
your "name" and e-mail so others can respond to you personally.
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E-mail and Comments:
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This
page was last updated on April 10, 2002
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POP
CULTURE AND GOD
Subject: Goodness_In_World_NL35
Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2002
From: "arose"
From the time I discovered
the Paintings section of Encyclopedia Americana, in third grade in a one-room
Kansas schoolhouse in 1950, I have loved art and have fed my soul by it,
even during my teen years when I was angrily questioning God's intent. And
in our proud, uptight presbyterian church, only the art of Bach and Handel
reached my heart.
Years later, after I
had given my life, and intellect, to Christ, it occurred to me to look at
nature in the same way I looked at great art -- at the time I was standing
before the coral fish at the Boston Aquarium. There really are no words
to describe what happened to me next; I was in the presence of the most
daring, compassionate, exquisitely refined, humourous, surprising, graceful
art I had ever experienced. And living! For more than an hour I went from
one display to another, weeping and laughing aloud all at the same time,
tears running down my cheeks. I know now that God has actually painted for
us here and there in His world, as an artist paints. Real art, with all
the dimensions of intellect and heart and spirit which we look for in human
art, only the artist is much greater.
MOVIES have been a second
such epiphany for me in recent years. I just opened my eyes all at once
and began seeing them -- some of them -- as ART. And some of them are SO
EXCELLENT! Often they have spiritual depths which seem to go unnoticed in
all of the reviews. Sometimes I thank God for the people who make and perform
them; I am sure some are called by God to do the work they do. They are
the Michaelangelos, Beethovens and Shakespeares of this century.
But more than that, I
believe the movie as an art form brings two new things which have never
been available to art before ( except in limited form on stage.)
First, this art form
works with LIVING JEWELS -- the soul/character of the individual actors.
(I think this is mentioned in passing by Lawrence Fishburne in the film
about the making of Apocalype Now.) Like DNA of spirit, some performers
possess an "amazing grace" not of body but of character, and pass their
patterns, their ways of being, to us like vitamins -- much as Tolkien's
books are spiritual vitamins. Directors and producers work with this as
part of their art form.
Second, this art form,
like the fish-paintings of our Creator, is a LIVING CREATION because it
is the product of a large group of artists working together. It is not from
one ego; it is inspired by private creative vision but it is tribal. It
can only become great if the individual efforts jell together in service
of the shared vision. That's love. (And when the jell doesn't happen, viewing
the painfully embarrassing failure helps us appreciate how a good movie
is born out of a kind of 'happening'.)
Well, that's my salute
to all you beautiful artists. And hats off to you, Hollywood Jesus, for
being Christian without any spirit of fear, and for looking with an open
heart at our culture. The truth will make us free! |
JESUS'
SON
Subject: jesus' son
Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2002
From: "arose"
hello - just discovered
your site and really am delighted!
i'm curious to know your opinions on a movie which in its own way is as
good as THE APOSTLE -- but i don't find it listed among your reviews.
it is called JESUS' SON.
as a person who stumbled through the sixties and emerged deeply christian,
i find this movie full of grace and wisdom. have you seen it? |
IN
ADDITION TO EVERYTHING ELSE...
Subject: A Beautiful Mind
Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2002
From: Ed Chinn
In addition to everything
else written about the movie, it is also a powerful illustration of II Corinthians
12:9 - 10. Because God's power is revealed in our weaknesses, we can be
"well content with weaknesses...distresses...with difficulties." In fact,
finding contentment with one's weaknesses is often the key to success. For
this reason, one of the best moments in "A Beautiful Mind" comes when Thomas
King (Austin Pendleton), representing the Nobel prize committee, shows up.
John Nash looks at him and then asks a student if King is really there!
What a wonderful acceptance of a weakness. He had moved far beyond being
threatened or intimidated by his delusions.
Many of the "voices"
which influence our actions exist only in our head. If we can face that
reality, accept it (and even occassionally nod or speak a greeting to the
illusions!), we can go on with our lives. We don't have to give them control.
Not only is this one of the best movies, it is one of the best sermons I've
heard in years.
And, by the way, who
cares if the movie mirrors the facts of John Nash's life? Do some people
really not grasp the concept of art? Being unable to discern (or accept)
the difference between the painting and the actual landscape is, in itself,
delusional. The "truth" of art is in the way it helps us to see ourselves
and our environment. |
HICKS
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Sun, 07 Apr 2002
From: Casey
ive enjoyed all of your
thoughts...i only have one of my own...hicks was an atheist.
thank you,
CAC |
The
doctor and the stabbing
Subject: Jacobs Ladder
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002
From: Cyntac
I do believe that Jacob
was the doctor who created the drug and that Jezzie was in fact some kind
of demon that wanted to stop him from realising his true self and coming
at peace. I beleieve all the scenes with Jezzie are there to convince him
he is alive and to distance himself from the whole 'Ladder' drug. We see
him looking at his degree certificate that clearly say Arts on it. Something
to further convinvce him that he is not in fact the doctor who invented
the drug. Also i never saw any scarring from the stab wound he should have
after returning from Nam. I thought that maybe he created the drug and tried
it on himself which is perhaps why he was the only one in the hospital tent
and the doctors say hes strangely at peace and about the "hell of a battle"
However reading some of the e-mails on this site made me forget it. I think
perhaps he goes thru his life before vietnam and many of the "visions" he
sees while dying are in fact actual experiences before Nam and he is going
back thru his life trying to attone for his sons death, leaving his wife
and creation of the drug. Culmonating finally in returning to his old home
and then acsending to heaven.
Also what significance
did the name of the cab driver have?
Top Film but i gotta
watch it again. |
WILL'S
TOP TEN SPIRITUAL FILMS
Subject: My_blank_Films
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: Will
ok these are not in any
particular order, they speak to me but evey one is different
1-american
beauty
2-true romance
3-the last temptation of christ
4-slingblade
5-the straight story
6-the matrix
7-o brother where art thou
8-the city of lost children
9-to kill a mockingbird
10-the elephant man
go check them out for your self recommended for the openminded only |
I
HAVE NO RELIGION
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: "Bust"
Let me start by saying
that I have no religion. I believe in freewill. Why do you have to believe
in something to be righteous. I believe that tools lyrics are written to
make people form opinions on what their talking about. Kinda like an abstract
painting, You may see it one way and I might see it another way and the
artist may have been thinking something completely different when he/she
created it. This is what separates art from basic song patterns used to
make a buck. Where you may describe the Title track Laturalus as a "proverbial
mind trip" , I see it as a way for Maynard to express how the music makes
him feel. The last lyrics of the song points this out to me. "With my feet
upon the ground, I loose myself between the sound and open wide to suck
it in , I feel it move across my skin, I'm reaching up and reaching out
I'm reaching for the random or whatever will bewilder me whatever will bewilder
me and far away by will and wind we may just go where no ones been we'll
ride the spiral to the end and may just go where no ones been. Spiral out
keep going Spiral out keep going . If he wasn't describing how music makes
him feel than then he was describing how it makes me feel when I listen
or play. But it doesn't have to be music, it can be anything that emotionally
uplifts you to come to this state. |
I
LOVED IT...
Subject: Dracula_2000
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: Kurt
...but my worry is WHY
does this movie fascinate me?
There IS someone who
will try to take Gods' creation,and remake it in his own image-the Antichrist(as
we call him). Cinematically speaking,I think the theme of betrayal was excellently
portrayed,throughout the movie. And there's a lesson in the whole thing.
Look at how the VILLAIN-representing the powers of Hell- changes people.
When Christ was on Earth,how did he change HIS followers? For example,Mary
Magdeline? |
A
SPLENDID FILM!
Subject: K-PAX
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: Rhyne
K-PAX, a splended film!
And another brilliant and knockout performance added to Spacey's heavyweight
belt.
Rhyne Pascual
Victorville, California |
reuben
please!
Subject: Television
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002
From: claire
reuben, my friend. I
can NOT stress this enough. please read over what you wrote. "what is a
good answer to help keep my mind at rest?" you're asking another man, to
provide you with an answer to a question posed TO YOU.. about a show you
like.. rueben honey, you can't have people telling you what you think all
your life, can you? and to keep your mind at rest? always test what you
think! and about the comment "...I really respect this man... [I] agree
with a lot of what he says and does...I'm not saying he is perfect but I
am saying that I wish I could be more like him." I hate to break it to you
reu, but HE ISN'T REAL. he's a character.. on a television show. I could
be way off, but I personally don't believe it's healthy to to strive to
be like someone who isn't even a real person. you have to live YOUR life,
play with the cards you've been dealt. know what I'm sayin'? look inside
to find your answers, rather than outside. you'll never find yourself outside
yourself. you're right there..the whole time! you just gotta see. ho..my..
I only hope this helps you see your statement from a different view. think
for yourself reu. give yourself the tools to facilitate your own ideas and
project them positively to all those you love.
peace to all, claire |
TOP
NOTCH WRITING!
Subject: John_Q
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002
From: claire
"people get sick on saturdays
too."
it's so true..
claire |
|
the
finest day that I ever had was when I learned to puke on command
Subject: 40_Days_and_40_Nights
Date: Sat, 06 Apr 2002
From: claire
I would like for you
to picture a twenty year old girl standing up, hands to her sides, blond
hair, comfortable clothes, with an unsatisfied look on her face, staring
straight at you..like she's got something to say. got the mental image?
she's now going to give you her review of the film "40 days and 40 nights."
....there she is, standing there... and she then bends over from the mid-section
area, hands on her knees and she spews forth gallons upon gallons upon
pounds of vomit. a wonderful array of colors, smells and chunks of who
know what. and then, very calmly and nonchalantly she wipes her left hand
across her lips to remove any left over review, and returns to her previous
upright position with a very satisfied look on her face. the previous
is a description of this young lady's review on the aforementioned film.
good day to you all.
claire
Response:
So that means you did not like it? Or, did you have bad pizza before the
film. Actually your review was not a review at all. Unless it was a comment
about pizza or you physical health. -David
|
COMMENT
Subject: Ocean's Eleven
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: Steve
David,
hey I was just wondering if you had a review out for the movie "Ocean's
Eleven". I had recently watched the movie, and I particularly like your
reviews of films. Sadly, i could not find a review on this one. It seems
it is connected with Queen of the damned. maybe you could look into that
for me. Thanks. Steve Hubbard
Response
Thanks for the tip. These things happen. I appreciate the correction.
-David
|
ANOTHER
SONG OF TOOL! TRY IT!
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: "Shakira"
What you people think
about this one ? ( being fan or not fan of Tool ?? )
Tool - Ænema
Some say the end is near
Some say we'll see armageddon soon
I certainly hope we will
I sure could use a vacation from this
Bullsh*t three ring circus
sideshow of Freaks
Here in this hopeless
f---ing hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away
Any f---ing time, any f---ing day
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay
Fret for your figure
and
Fret for your latte and
Fret for your hairpiece and
Fret for your lawsuit and
Fret for your prozac and
Fret for your pilot and
Fret for your contract and
Fret for your car
It's a Bullsh*t three
ring circus sideshow of Freaks
Here in this hopeless
f---ing hole we call LA
The only way to fix it is to flush it all away
Any f---ing time, any f---ing day
Learn to swim, I'll see you down in Arizona bay
Some say a comet will
fall from the sky
Followed by meteor showers and tidal waves
Followed by faultlines that cannot sit still
Followed by millions of dumbfounded dipsh*ts
Some say the end is near
Some say we'll see armageddon soon
I certainly hope we will 'cause
I sure could use a vacation from this
Silly sh*t, stupid sh*t...
One great big festering
neon distraction,
I've a suggestion to keep you all occupied
Learn to swim
Mom's gonna fix it all
soon
Mom's comin' round to put it back the way it ought to be
Learn to swim
f--- L. Ron Hubbard and
f--- all his clones
f--- all those gun-toting
Hip gangster wannabes
Learn to swim
f--- retro anything
f--- your tattoos
f--- all you junkies and
f--- your short memory
Learn to swim
f--- smiley glad-hands
With hidden agendas
f--- these dysfunctional,
Insecure actresses
Learn to swim
'cause I'm praying for
mayhem
And I'm praying for tidal waves
I wanna see the ground give way
I wanna watch it all go down
Mom please flush it all away
I wanna see it go right in and down
I wanna watch it go right in
Watch you flush it all away
Time to bring it down
again
Don't just call me pessimist
Try and read between the lines
I can't imagine why you
wouldn't
Welcome any change, my friend
I wanna see it all come
down
Suck it down
Flush it down
A dream of life, and
how it should be. People ponder and worry their minds about when the world
is goi ng to end. Will it be tommorow or today? Who cares? We have lost
focus of what life is. It isn't about what we own or who we are friends
with. Life is about this moment, who we are inside and out, what we share
with each other. I feel that Maynard paints a clear picture of how society
has become a monster. We lost the whole meaning of life. We have become
obssesed with money, sex, and power. Not about love for each other, the
ability to understand someone else, to share the pain someone feels, to
care about what we do. The morality has been lost and it's time we brought
it back. I believe Maynard just used L.A. as an example. The whole U.S.
is like it. The world is like it. To me the sweetest taste is the one of
revival. A new and fresh start. It's like when you wash your face when you
wake up. Cool and soothing. It hurts to see the insainty, to hear people
hate so much. To know what people feel. And personally, seeing all this
hate and lack of compassion make some want to have faith in something more
powerful than us. Because that is what it would take to make things right
again. Put aside our petty wants, and feel for a change. Money, drugs, meaningless
sex, it is all false realities. Something to hold you in one place. Think
outside the box. Think outside of your body and trust in your spirit. Allow
your soul to join with others and celebrate life. But many don't see it,
they just want to be laid, intoxicated, famous, and rich. Money is a object,
not a prson. Why love it. Why put aside you awareness to feel helpless?
Why share yourself with someone you don't care about? Why waste your life
worring about what people think of you, and not focus on what you think
about you. Be who you are, you're better that way. Seems like it does need
to be washed away. He said it best, "Don't just call me pessimist
Try and read between the lines!" |
JESUS
OF NAZARETH
Subject: hello!
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: Pat
I am very interested
in the movie "Jesus of Nazareth,that I saw for the first time this Easter
weekend, on the History channel. I thought it was extraordinary, and would
like to purchase one, but my real question, besides where I may purchase
it, is WHO was the fantastic director! It was Franco F________, and it is
driving me NUTS! I watched it for 8 hours and his name just flies out of
my head! Any info on this picture would be of great help to me, I also like
your website, and my SECOND, now after J of N religious movie, has always
been, well, actually 2, "King of Kings" with Jeffrey Hunter, and "The Robe"
with Victor Mature, who, as an aside, went to school in KY. with my mother,
she was an ardent fan. I love all biblical epics, the bigger the better,
I say.........the historians on the History Channel, while discussing Robert
Powell's performance, said that the actor, in playing Christ, was told by
the director to NEVER blink, which he did, and that is what gives that hypnotic,
lovely, holy stare, just wonderful, so subtle, yet so striking! I MUST buy
a copy, I thought Anne Bancroft was amazing.They say Pacino was up for the
part, but was not chosen because of his eye color, imagine! I just do not
see him as Christ, although I am a huge fan. Thank you, and Good Luck,
Pat |
SAVE
BRIMESTONE
Subject: Brimstone
Date: Sun, 7 Apr 2002
From: elaine
i only caught brimstone
on tv by accident,it broadcasts here in england at the awful time of 4am.the
kiss of death time for any program...i get up for work at 4am or i would
never have known this terrific program existed.I was hooked on it right
from the word go,its a brilliant concept..incredibly well acted and well
filmed,why broadcast something of this quality at a terrible time when 99%
of the population are asleep leaving us all day with tv crap like docusoaps
and game shows,given a good spot this show could take off over here
.......elaine.. |
| |
Homer,
Hunger and Heaven
Subject: Spirituality_Is_Increasing_Because
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002
From: "Ken Priebe"
I think Homer Simpson
makes an interesting (paraphrased) point:
"I live a good life,
why should I go to church just to hear that I'm going to hell?"
This is an interesting
dilemma. Much of it really boils down to our basic mindset as humans since
the Fall. Many ordinary people view Christianity and church stuff as being
all about "rules:" don't have sex until you're married, don't steal, don't
lie, don't get tattoos, etc. The serpent told the first people, "Eat this
fruit and you can make up your own rules and decide for yourselves what
is right and wrong." We've all been like that ever since, and increasingly
more so in this age of moral relativity/"political correctness." Some church
organizations then try forcing people to be holy, to be perfect, to be good,
for what reason? Because if you don't, you're going to Hell and you're not
welcome until you clean up your act. So people try to clean up their act
and realize that they can't do it, so they don't go to church because they
feel guilty.
People don't want to
hear this. We all would rather hear that everything's all right with us
and all we need to do is try our best to be good people. This poses another
problem.
We all have, as they
say, a "God-shaped hole" in our hearts that needs to be filled by something
other than earthly pleasures. When this hole can't be filled by the message
of so-called "Christian" organizations, there creates a spiritual vacuum
that the serpent is more than welcome to fill. New Age ideas and Eastern
religions are attractive to people because they offer the thrills of religion
without the cost. You can have a sense of peace and purpose without all
that stuff about sin and judgement thrown in. There is a whole section in
most book stores devoted to "self-help" and "self-improvement." Some of
these books are very inspiring and contain good practical wisdom for improving
your life. However, a significant portion of them are also filled with pap
that brainwashes people into thinking that all they need to feel good, successful,
and "spiritual" is within them. Basically they say you don't need a savior
other than yourself, and that you can be your own god. Sound familiar? Who
could possibly be trying to convince people they don't need to be saved
by the only One who can? Who could possibly be behind all this increasing
"spirituality" that goes against so much of what the Bible says? (Insert
famous quote by Saturday Night Live's Church Lady here.)
Most of the world, particularly
North America, thinks that Heaven is puffy clouds and harps, Hell is fire
and pitchforks, that all religions are the same and you just live the best
life you can and God will pick up the slack. The Bible, when read correctly,
tells a different story. The Bible tells us we are completely dead in our
sins and transgressions, until we are made alive in Christ. Without a sense
of brokenness and ultimate need for salvation through him, we are kidding
ourselves; we are DEAD!
Seen from this angle,
there is a dark side to this increasing spiritual movement that we should
be aware of. But I like to think, and I pray this for people, that delving
into all of the New Age deception would be a stage that ultimately will
lead to salvation through faith in Christ, hopefully for as many as possible.
This has been my experience. I had such a hunger for God and truth, and
wanted a belief system I could live by. I had been turned-off by the smug-ness
and creepy happiness of most Christians I had met, so I turned elsewhere
for divine inspiration. I read many self-help books and got into New Age
philosophies and comparative religion/mythology. When events in my life
turned me back towards Christianity again, I began to see the difference.
But it happened when God knew I was ready for it. He called me and showed
me the truth when he knew I would understand it. And knowing all that other
stuff only makes my faith stronger and gives me first-hand knowledge for
witnessing to others.
Michael Ende's fantasy
novel "The NeverEnding Story" speaks of every road that leads to the Water
of Life as being the right one. New Agers and sincere spiritual seekers,
though they may be deceived, are on the right track in that they are searching
desperately for the reality of God. While the devil has many false ideas
out there, God still says "Seek and ye shall find." Such a sincere and desperate
effort to be moral, spiritual, and committed to one's self-destiny is ample
preparation for becoming a humble follower of Jesus, because anyone who
tries ultimately fails. Hopefully we come to the realization that we need
to succumb to the will of God in Christ and accept his gift of salvation
in order to be "spiritual," because then we can worship and participate
in the true God's divinity rather than the false impression of our own.
It would obviously also
help if more Christians would study the Bible more effectively, not withdraw
from the world but study it too, and ultimately focus on Jesus. Ya gotta
pray.
Here's a challenge: if
you only had 30 seconds to share the message of Christ with a total stranger
in an elevator, how would you do it?
Cheers,
Ken Priebe
http://www.geocities.com/madkap75.geo |
|
comments
on TOOLS LATERALUS
take
another look
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: Avatarati
to unlearn1 i think
you need to take another look at the song opiate again and actualkly analyze
it before making a passionately misled response like you did. while i
may be wrong i would like to offfer another interprtation of the song.
for starters the song is being spoken from another point of view, he is
sarcastically commenting on the institution of the church, not the ideal.
the title "opiate" refers, i believe to the marxist statement that "religion
is the opiate of the masses". karl marx believed that religion was sedating
people from realizing the oppression of the proleteriat. here maynard
is again preaching, sarcastically, his motto of " think for yourself,
question authority". here he is specifically challenging blind faith in
religious authorities. towards the end of your quoted text he does present
a belief of his that , i believe, isn't sarcastic "Jesus Christ, why don't
you come save my life. Open my eyes and blind me with your light and your
lies." this can be seen in two different ways the obvious way would be
to interpret this as a direct attack on jesus and his teachings, which
oif course has merit, the other would be to see this as a personal struggle
with faith; and faith should be a struggle, you should debate constantly
your beliefs, the only way you can have a healthy relationship with your
god is to open a dialougue with him or her. i think that maynard is simply
opening a forum for debate. before i end this i would like to say that
this is only my interpretation of the song and i would encourage any who
disagree to post thier opinions.
thanks .
stop
worrying about if tool, megadeth or for that matter creed are devil worshippers
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002
From: will
i saw tool play at
ozzfest a few years ago, throughout their set maynard parodized the stereotypical
televangelist, before they went into into push*t he basis that the bible
has alot of good messeges such as love.i don't think they have anything
against christianity, they admired bill hicks the comedian who was a christian
but mocked what christianity has become. but, isn't what really matters
is as artists tool has free will what god gave us to seperate us from
animals and ultimatly it is their choice what they believe in be it crowley
or christ. if tool's music bothers you then how strong of a christian
can you be. their most important messege is to think for your self. stop
worrying about if tool, megadeth or for that matter creed are devil worshippers.
tool's lyrics hold a better understanding of what jesus was really about
than creed , p.o.d or any body else trying to make money off of god. by
the way he is coming back soon if you don't believe it just watch the
news . get right with god on your own terms and stop worrying about everyone
else
JUST
THE WORD SPEAKS VOLUMES TO ME
Subject: Tool_Lateralus
Date: Thu, 04 Apr 2002
From: Tom
Tool. Just the word now
speaks volumes to me. Tool have done things that 10 years ago would have
seen unrealistic. In our current world that is centred around commericial
capitalisation and exploitation Tool have taken something so unprecedented
and unparralled and taken it to te top to a state where it so big no longer
can it be ignored.
Tool's impact continues
well beyond the music and the lyrics. Tool have tapped into a world of thought
and insight that has only previously been approached by interprative art.
Tool's performance philosophy seems to be working along the lines of forget
everything else let's do art. How else can you explain the cerebral exploration
that is the film in the background during their live performances of Parabol/Parabola?\
The only previous example
of this kind of experience I can recall is Led Zeppelin's live perfromance
of 'Dazed and Confused'. Tool tap into a whole new realm with their music
something I believe they would have never considered upon their inception.
Try going to bed listening to Tool and see what thoughts you wake up with.
Tool's music drives people into new places both physically and mentally.
Just take the many postings on this bullentin board as evidence. Tool produce
a sonic experience that allows the listener not only to enjoy the general
groove created but upon deeper analysis of the songs provokes an exploration
of different interpretations of the same words. That's how i found it at
least.
So thank you Tool
all religious discussions aside the longer Tool remain a band of this
calibre I believe the music scene is going to go places that we could
never dream of.
|
|
Pretty
Cool!
Subject: The_Replacement
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002
From: R****
Hi David,
Found your site while trying to find out the meaning of the name Shane
Falcon? I was watching it for the second time today and felt led to write
about and then I found your site so have a look! God Bless, R****
4-04-02
The Replacements
After spending time with
the Lord and writing most of the morning I was looking forward to the tuna
salad I had made earlier. I sat down with t.v. control in hand and was flipping
through the church channels. I was bummed that there wasn't anything on
that spoke to me and I said: "Oh, Lord, I want to watch something that feeds
me spiritually while I feed my self physically...not those exact words but
close. I was getting ready to turn off the t.v. when I decided to flip through
the cable channels and came across the movie " The Replacements." Having
watched this before I knew that there was some profanity involved so I was
getting ready to change it when I felt like the Lord said: "I have something
I want to show you in this movie." I said "ok Lord" and it was instantly
opened up in my spirit. This was a movie about a pro football team going
on strike and replacements were called in to play. These replacements were
once professional athletes who either had been injured in some form or had
obstacles get in there way, either way they were thought upon as washed
up-has beens. I perceived the Lord to say that He is calling in His replacements,
those of His children who have been injured, wounded, outcasts, prostitutes,
washed up-has beens! These outcasts are coming in as the Lord's replacements
ready to fight with a fire that cannot be put out! They have lost everything
there is to loose in life and therefore they have nothing else to lose,
they are ready to die for Christ and they are equipped in God's Holy Armor!
The replacements in the movie were ridiculed, made fun of and called scabs.
I did a little research on the word 'scab' on the internet and found a speech
first given before the Oakland Socialist Party Local, April 5, 1903. Quote:
"Thus the generous laborer, giving more of a day's work for less return
(measured in terms of food and shelter), threatens the life of his less
generous brother laborer, and at the best, if he does not destroy that life,
he diminishes it. Whereupon the less generous laborer looks upon him as
an enemy, and, as men are inclined to do in a tooth-and- nail society, he
tries to kill the man who is trying to kill him." "A scab is one who give
more value for the same price than another. God is calling in His scabs,
they will move far beyond the walls of normal Christianity . They are sold
out for Jesus! The church walls that have not allowed the Holy Spirit to
come in and clean up will not see these replacements being sent from the
Lord, they will be threatened by them. As in the movie the pro-footballs
players on strike were very threatened when they started seeing them win
games! In the beginning of the movie the replacements having all come from
different back grounds were a bit unorganized but as they began their training
Unity began to flow among them because they all shared the same goal: The
EndZone! God's replacements have been called in and they come from all different
backgrounds, color, and race but they all share the same goal 'The EndZone"
Jesus, His Glorious Kingdom! In the end of the movie the commentaries were
quoted as saying: These guys are playing like there is no tomorrow, because
there isn't! Well, guess what? God's replacements are marching in His Army
for lost souls like there 'is no tomorrow' because there may not be! Proverbs
27:1 'Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring
forth.' (NIV)
The replacements did
win their final game because they knew this was there second chance and
they were taking it. We in God's Army have been given a second chance to
Hear His Voice, to take heed to His commands. This isn't finished yet because
I feel the Lord leading me to find out more on the name Shane (gift of God)
Falcon..........#16........Great movie,
R**** |
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RESPONSE
TO NEWSLETTER #35
Amazing
Grace
Subject: Amazing_Grace_Number_One_NL35
Date: Sat, 6 Apr 2002
From: "Patricia"
Answer:
(A) Becuase even though
people try to concentrate on materialistic things too much, there will always
be a place that no one else could fill in our hearts but God.
(B) It does'nt matter
who you are or how rich nor poor you maybe there is one God for all, this
inlude the people who do not want to experience God' existence, He really
is an Amazing grace who will be there with His Grace to provide what is
needed then, in every situation, as for instance the day in the bar, they
felt a differance though they were not in the church.
Thank you
Patricia
South Africa
my
opinion re goodness in the world
Subject: Goodness_In_World_NL35
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: "Dianne"
I agree with you re
goodness in the world ... I disagree with the hothouse environment of
some professing christians ... I experienced it just recently on a easter
camp .... it maybe good for these friends ... but it doesn't sit right
with me and my faith. There is a lot of good uplifting words and melodies
in secular music as well as films ... plays ... operas etc. ... after
all doesn't everything good come from GOD ... what do other people of
faith say?
Dianne Sullivan
Amazing
Grace
Subject: amazing_grace_number_one_nl35
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002
From: Ray
In my opinion this song
owes its universality to two things. A simple soul wrenching melody and
the universal understanding of Romans 6:23. In a purpose driven worshiper
friendly politically correct church one does not use the word sin. It has
negative connotations. In the Greek it simply means missing the mark. They
may translate it into something Martha Steward like "a bad thing."
Every human in very culture
has come up short or hit the wall behind the dartboard of life. Every human
being understands what it means when you say "I was blind, but now I see."
The epiphany that is summed up by Homer Simpson in TV culture (slap your
head and say it. You can't help it) means, "I missed, but now I know why."
I was blind, but now I see.
Every human being understand
what loneliness is. You can go to any country that does not practice pre-arranged
marriages and find a dating service. In one European country they include
a monthly trip to a brothel as a part of retirement. People understand what
it means to be found because they spend so much time being lost. Even secular
humanists who embrace Darwin as their god understand being lost and feeling
like they have hit uncharted waters. People who listen to this song can
connect because it was written by a man who spent almost as much time being
lost in the inhuman slave trade as he did in the pulpit. He was lost, but
got found by Jesus. Praise God!
The rest of the song
undeniably embraces Paul's statement to Timothy in his final letter to his
successor and spiritual son. Paul tells Timothy in his second letter to
him, "I am not ashamed of the Gospel." Neither was John Newton the one who
penned the lyrics to Amazing Grace. He accepted Jesus in a life boat after
his ship went down. He never took his hand off of the plow and never looked
back once he left the helm for the pulpit. He was not an instant Christian.
It took him a while to fully comprehend what had happened to him. Because
of where he came from and where he ended up John could easily communicate
to both sides of the spiritual fence. What is worse than a man who once
viewed human beings a cargo and accepted a 40% plus loss as acceptable?
What is more enviable than a man who spent 50 years in the pulpit and wrote
over 300 hymns? |
ENCOURAGEMENT
Subject: encouragement
Date: Thu, 4 Apr 2002
From: CC
Hello,
Just a brief note to let you know that I really appreciate your movie reviews
and (especially) your newsletter.
You challenge me! You
present ideas that are different and make me think. You write with Christian
love and respect.
Previously, in my younger
years, I knew so many more answers. Now, as I age, I find I don't know nearly
so much.
You are doing a good
work. Please keep it up!
(BTW, I find I have a
growing interest in foreign films. May I suggest "Italian for Beginners"
and "Son of the Bride"? I have seen neither, but have heard good things
about them and plan to see them. Ditto for a movie titled, "Croupier", another
movie I am keeping an eye out for.)
God bless you!!
All the best,
CC |
Iris
Film
Subject: Iris
Date: Fri, 5 Apr 2002
From: Jim Rea
Found the film slow moving
and hard to watch at times. Contracting from past to present was difficult
Jim Rea |
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