The Passion

On This Day In History
1957: John Lennon meets Paul McCartney for the first time

Quote Of The Day
"The first time I ever saw John Lennon, he got on the bus. He was like this slightly older guy with this sort of rocker hairdo - lots of grease - black jacket, sideburns, sideboards as we call them. And I just remember thinking, "Well, he's a cool guy. No idea who he is.""
(Paul McCartney)

I had an intense day of viewing yesterday. It started with a particulary intense episode of Paranormal Nightmare - Manifesting DEMONS. I have so much love and respect for the Fourman brothers. There are many ghost hunter channels on YouTube but this is the only one I watch because these guys are not looking for kicks, they do what they do to help people and families who are terrorised by paranormal activity. I defy anyone to watch this, or any other episode of Paranormal Nightmare, and not believe in the existence of ghosts, demons and the power of God.

I then watched this fascinating video about the incredible and mysterious events which occured before, during and after the making of the film The Passion Of The Christ. Perhaps the most mysterious occurence was that, during the filming of the crucifixion scene, Jim Caviezel, who played Jesus, was struck by lightning which caused him to bite through his tongue and cheek and have two heart surgeries, including an open-heart surgery. Then, during the same shoot, the Assistant Director, Jan Michelini, was also struck by lightning - twice. Was some higher power trying to prevent this film from being made?

Of course, after watching that fascinating documentary, I simply had to watch The Passion Of The Christ myself, which I had never watched before. Wow! What a powerful film! Actually, I might say that it is more than just a film, it is a rite of passage. I recommend you not to be put off, as I was, by all of the negative publicity that surrounded this film when it was released. It is an incredibly powerful work of art. As someone said, Jim Caviezel does not play Christ, he endures His suffering. Indeed, Caviezel claims to have spoken with God while he was filming the crucifixion scene. I can believe it.

After watching The Passion Of The Christ I watched this incredibly powerful interview with Jim Caviezel in which he talks about the profound experience which filming the movie had upon him. It ends with him reciting this amazing poem about how we can become slaves to being liked:

Your name may not appear down here,
In this world's Hall Of Fame,
In fact you may be so unknown that
No one knows your name.
The Oscars and the praise of men
May never come your way,
But don't forget that God has rewards
That He'll hand out some day.
This crowd on Earth,
They will soon forget when you are not at the top.
They will cheer like mad until you fall
And then their praise will stop.
Not God.
He never does forget.
And in His Hall Of Fame,
By just believing on His Son,
Forever there's your name.
I tell you, friend, I wouldn't trade my name,
However small,
That's written there beyond the stars 
In that celestial hall,
For all the famous names on Earth,
Or the glory that they share.
I'd rather be an unknown here,
And have my name up there.


Amen to that, Jim.

Higher Love