Posted 4:35 PM by Robert
I know I've been a slacker with updating this. And it's not going to get updated for another week, because I'll be in Canada on a school trip. Don't worry, I'll tell you all about it when I get back. But before I leave, I briefly want to conclude my last post.

As I mentioned, my former roommate Chris came back to Lincoln for a concert on Wednesday, the 25th of February. He was going to leave Thursday afternoon, but decided to stay and hang out. That night was our dorm's floor night out, so we went to Smokey Bones down in Springfield to have some awesome food and a great time. After that, we went to go see "The Passion of the Christ." Simply put, it was amazing. I can't say I enjoyed it, because I certainly didn't like seeing my savior attacked and persecuted, but it was a great movie. I honestly thought it would make me cry, but it didn't. However, I teared up at a couple of the scenes, and I cringed during the beating and crucifixion.

When the movie ended, it was just like people said it would be: the entire theater just sat there in silence, staring at the credits. The only sound was a few people crying. Even as the lights came on, I sat there paralyzed, unable to move. It took everything I had to put one foot in front of the other and walk to the car. And on the way back to the school, no one said a word. It was more than a movie, it was an experience. I tried to think to myself, "There's Jim Caviezel, playing the part of Jesus." But I just couldn't see the actors, all I saw was the story.

I later realized why I wasn't able to cry, and why I could barely move. The film was so moving and so intense that it forced me to focus every one of my senses on it. I watched, I listened, I cringed. All my energy was devoted to absorbing what was happening on the screen in front of me. And when it was done, I was drained, mentally and physically. I couldn't move. I couldn't think. All I could do was feel. I just didn't have the energy to cry.

The paradox of "The Passion" is that it's as real as the crucifixion could ever be to us, it's closer than we could ever imagine, and yet, it's still too much for us to comprehend. We will never experience what Jesus did on the cross, and we'll never understand the grace and compassion we've received from it.

Personally, I didn't find the film to be anti-Semitic in any way. I understand the tension involved with this issue, but people are still missing the point of this movie. The media keeps looking at the pointless trivia surrounding the movie. Nobody realizes the most important thing of all -- Christ died for us, and then rose again! As I watched Jesus get beaten, as I watched get nailed to the cross, I thought to myself, "You did that for me. You knew I'd be a sinner, and you did it anyway." There's no other way to explain it. It's just amazing.

There's no good transition from that point, so I'll just tell you that last Friday was pretty basic, and last Saturday, our women's basketball team won the regional championship (which LCC hosted). It was kind of cool to watch them cut down the net after the game. Our men's team also won their region, and as of yesterday, both teams had won their first game in the national tournament. I probably won't find out how they finish until I get back next week. Still, for me, this won't compare with winning the volleyball championshp. I guess I'm just a little biased.

Anyway, I've got to finish getting ready, since we leave in about two hours. If you wouldn't mind, please pray for our safe travel, and opporunities to be a bold witness for Christ. God willing, I'll be back next Saturday, telling all about my Canadian adventure.