Interesting account of a screening of the Mel Gibson passion movie.
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----- Original Message -----
From: Wes Eby
Mel Gibson's Movie - a new review and update
Hello friends and family,
Nathan and I wanted to share with you that we were able to attend a private screening of the new Mel Gibson film titled "The Passion Of The Christ" this past Monday night. We unexpectedly got on the list to go and view it at the First Baptist Church, Hendersonville, TN. Neither of us were reallyprepared for what we viewed. It's really hard to find the words to tell you how life-changing this film was for both of us.
First of all, Nathan and I felt completely out of place. We got in somehow through Don Donahue (thank you Don) but most of the crowd was the Country Music Industry...artists, radio and press. Ricky Scaggs sort of hosted the event.
This movie changed our lives forever. The room was full of the sound of weeping and loud sobbing, including our own. I told Nathan on the way home that I only wish that I would have seen it as a young teen.
It is so fitting that the whole movie begins with a black screen with the text of Isaiah 53:5, "But He was wounded for our transgressions, He was bruised for our iniquities , the chastisement for our peace was upon Him, and by His stripes we are healed".
I've attached an e-mail below from Lisa Bevill who attended the viewing as well. She very beautifully describes the experience of viewing the film and then getting to have a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself. (PLEASE take time to read it because she goes into great detail about the Q & A time that we had with Mel...it was so cool.)
The room was silent as the movie ended and even as Mel walked down the isle of the chapel people remained completely stunned by the film. After he was formally introduced, everyone stood and applauded him loudly. He so graciously answered each question, and was very candid with us. It was very apparent, though there was a huge absence of "christian lingo" coming from his mouth (breath of fresh air...thank you) that he has a deep relationship with God, he believes that Jesus is the Messiah, and that he's coming back to get his people.
Mel and his small band of believers around him are asking the church to take on a "grass roots" approach to this film. They are asking us to tell everyone we know about it... They are wanting artists to show the DVD trailer at concerts, to do pre-sales on tickets through churches and FOR EVERYONE TO GO SEE IT OPENING WEEK! It really does matter that you go the first 2 weeks of opening which is FEB.25TH. It is so important!! THIS MOVIE IS LIFE-CHANGING AND I PROMISE YOU IT IS ANOINTED BY THE SPIRIT OF GOD. THIS MOVIE WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.
I fell in love with Jesus on Monday night. Either for the first time, or all over again. It is so amazing that the same King who endured that cross and was broken for me, lives inside of me! I am in Him and He is in me. I cannot wait until Noah and Elliana are young teens so that we can let them view this movie.
Please pray for Mel Gibson. Pray for protection for he and his family. Pray that God would pour back on him 100 fold what he spent on this movie so that MORE MOVIES LIKE THIS CAN BE MADE! He spoke about the major warfare that has been going on over this movie. He also told us about several miracles and conversions that happened throughout the making of this film. (Lisa tells about these in the letter below) So amazing...
Anyway, we just wanted you to know about this so that you can have a huge part in the success of this film! Lisa gives out the website info as well below. You can put a link to it on your website and you can also request promotional materials from their website as well.
Blessings to all of you in the name of our Lord!
Christy and Nathan Nockels
(E-mail from Lisa is below)
Hey friends and family,
Last night I attended a private screening of Mel Gibson's movie ... 12/8/2003, at Ricky Skaggs' church in Hendersonville. I attended with Bonnie and Brent King. There were about 200 people in attendance.
Well,....let me just say that I am speechless, moved beyond words and sobered by what I saw last night. I'm sure many of you will be receiving emails from some of your friends who were there as well...and you'll probably be bombarded with their own personal stories..
There were many country artists as well as Christian artists there, along side some radio and press folks.
The movie was in a rough cut version...but still I thought a very finished state, ...special effects had not been added yet, nor was the music complete. ..still it brought uncontrollable weeping from everyone.. I couldn't stop crying through the whole movie. And when the movie was over, there was complete silence in the church.. I wanted the story to go on and on...for another two hours.... I think the movie was about 2 hours long. It got started late, like around 7:30, and the next time I looked at my watch it was 10:30... so I actually don't even remember. There was a question and answer time with Mel Gibson himself, so who cared what time it was. Every moment of the movie was captivating,..breathtaking....still there are no words.
The beating and suffering of Christ was almost unbearable to watch. The scenes with flashbacks of Jesus when he was a little boy and a scene of his mother running to comfort him and then cradling him in her arms after he had fallen down about the age of 4 or 5.....was interlaced with scenes of him falling to the ground carrying his own cross, so bloody and unrecognizable.. and then her holding him in her arms after he had been taken down from the cross. Her face then stared into the camera while she was holding him...and you could just imagine the things she was thinking. Every parent who was seated near me ... fell apart.
The nails being hammered into his hands was the most real thing I had ever seen. One scene of Jesus and the interaction with his mother...just reminded me of every 20-year old man/child and mom relationship. Where she is trying to get him to come to eat...and has to remind him to wash his hands before eating...she brings water to wash his hands..and after washing, he gently splashes water on his mother..but then wraps his arms around her and kisses her on the cheek....and takes off running to the food.. I don't know -it just reminded me of something my 15 year old Cody would do to me..... And the thought of one of my boys going through that, just made me want to die inside...
Anyway... I could go on and on....but I truly have no words....as you can tell by the book i'm writing here....haa
There was a question and answer period last night with Mel himself. We had heard rumors that he's been showing up to these screenings. I got brave enough to put my hand up and ask a question about the miracles that we had heard about, on the set. And he began to talk about so many I couldn't really keep track. I remember hearing about one of the actors being hit by lightning twice yet walking away from it..with only smoking fingertips, healings , conversions on the set,..but I especially remember him talking about a two-year old child's, hearing and sight being restored...and he said ..you know you can't fake that when you're two. So we know it was real.
He was asked about Spiritual warfare on the set...and he just laughingly said..."Oh yeah..just being in Italy alone was enough warfare,..but he said it was intense.
He said that the bad press surrounding the movie..is just a few small pressure groups that are causing all the noise. But seem to have the loudest mouths. And that became the reason for having these small private screenings..is to get the word out and to start a grass roots campaign into a swell. WOW....that sounds familiar. We all get the chance to be Christ's disciples all over again, in a fresh new way...
Ricky Skaggs asked the final question of the night to Mel.....about how we can pray for him, help him, spread the word etc. He said that "prayer was the most powerful thing. And not to pray for all our enemies to have warts grow on their faces, (laughter), but to pray for our warring angels tofight against satan's angels, because the people don't know any better, they are clueless...and they are just being used by satan."
It was mentioned to everyone in the crowd who were artists, press folks, radio..and such..anyone who had a website...to get on a mailing list and sign up. That they would be sending links, so that everyone could put it on their websites,...there would be movie trailers that artists could take on tour with them, show at concerts....any type of promo material on product tables etc.
They passed out a poster flyer last night as we left...and the official website address is www.thepassionofchrist.com This is the address they have on all promo materials for the movie. It was a little easier to see the trailer on this site....as it was equipped for all computers video capabilities.
You can go to this website and register to find out more info on how to help. This other site that is listed will just give you more info on press stuff and more press on the miracles that happened.
www.passion-movie.com
The movie comes out February 25, 2004.. Ash Wednesday...in theaters nationwide. And the movie's official title is The Passion of the Christ. Mel said that he spent 35 million of his own money to make this movie.
Mel,.. I have to say is a man of the word! He knows the Bible..and is a sold-out believer. He said that this movie has been his passion for the past 12 years....just 3 years ago did the Lord begin to give him landmark signs that now was the time to start filming the movie. He mentioned some of them...but one that stuck in my mind, was him saying that some random little old lady in France I think...came up to him and said something to him that nobody could've known, I don't know what she said to him..but he said the signs to get started on it, were unmistakable.
Ok....well...I know that I am changed...and I pray that what I saw will be etched on my brain forever...and Lord, help me to never forget the price you paid for us all. Whenever I begin to argue, or complain....shut my mouth Lord. And help us all to remember,...we are not home yet...that heaven awaits all of us who believe in Him....and that we all have a part to play, a heart to share, a burden to carry...and a story of love and hope to spread ...
Thank you for the cross LORD! Make it a point to take your entire family to this movie!!!!
Lisa B.
MORE BELOW ABOUT THESE PRIVATE SCREENINGS> MEL at the Vatican.
December 10, 2003
Gibson Shows 'Passion' at theVatican
STEPHEN M. SILVERMAN
After an initial postponement earlier this month, Mel Gibson screened his controversial film "The Passion of Christ" for three highly influential Vatican congregations and has received a strong endorsement from at least one American official, according to the Zenit international news service, which chronicles Vatican news and communications.
By the same token, says the Hollywood Reporter, the words of praise have fueled another demand from America's Anti-Defamation League for Gibson to make his film available for review over its purported anti-Semitic content.
This past weekend, says Zenit, "The Passion," which is an account of the last 12 hours in the life of Christ, was screened for members of the Vatican Secretariat of State, the Pontifical Council for Social Communications and the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith.
The Zenit account, however, did not specify names of attendees, but said that the screening resulted in "unanimous appreciation and approval" of the film by those present.
http://www.msnmessenger-download.com/tracking/reach_customize
PASSION OF CHRIST: Mel Gibson Film THE PASSION of Jesus with Caviezel and Bellucci
