We have all read in the papers over the past month about Mel Gibson's fall from grace in Hollywood. His fall off the wagon was a huge one and the prognosis for his recovery is still up in the air.

I just finished watching The Passion of the Christ for the 5th time and again was amazed at how this movie was able to depict the last 12 hours of Christ's life. When the movie came out in 2004 it was amid much controversy. The Jewish community accused Mr. Gibson of anti-semitism and felt his movie depicted a negative attitude towards them. Is this accusation legitimate? If we look at the story one could easily see that they have a good point. But you can't change history and I suppose some jews could read this and think that I too am anti-semitic when that is very far from the truth.

Mr. Gibson did not help his cause when he was pulled over for driving while under the influence and was recorded by police to have said some very unflattering things about the Jews during his arrest. The next day Mr. Gibson gave an apology which many thought was short on sincerity. A couple of days later he gave another apology which seemed to reach out more to the Jewish community and offer some hope that the differences between them could be bridged and there could be some genuine healing. Some of Mel's co-stars from his movies have even come out to defend his name. Jodie Foster being among the bigger names. Some of his Jewish friends even came to his defense.

Then there are those who doubt very seriously that Mel was sincere in either of his public apologies. Kirk Douglas thought the second apology was more of an afterthought done to control the damage. Now Mel has pleaded no contest and has checked himself into a rehab clinic.

I don't believe he is anti-semitic. I do believe he has a problem that he needs to deal with head on. I don't think that having this problem excuses his actions and words on the night of his arrest. None of us has excuse to tear one another down. I believe that if Mel Gibson is truly Christian that he is forgiven by the Lord and Savior himself. It is known that in the movie it is Mel's hand that we see driving the nail in Christ's hand.

We may as well put ourselves in that role as we are all guilty of Christ's crucifixion, but the end result is what is important here. Christ came to earth for the very purpose of dying with the weight of the world's sin rested upon him and he gave up his spirit when the time came. We did not take his life from. He gave it for us. Mel, if ever you read this know that you are forgiven your sins by the blood of the lamb of God shed for the remission of sin.

Greek is now officially over and I passed. Whew! what a relief. I was more nervous after I took the test waiting for my grade than I was to take the test. Now mind you I am not a Greek master or anything, but I at least can read the New Testament.

The neat thing, I think, is that starting with the fall quarter I will be studying the Greek text of the new testament with many of the guys I was in class with. I hope that Tom Bartsch is in one of my classes because this guy was the tops in the class. If your not good at something, hang around those who are and hopefully learn something about how to study from them. Congratulations Tom! His brother Jim is no slouch either. I graded one of Jim's quizzes and he did pretty well. See you guys in a few weeks.

For all those people who were praying for me I thank you very much for those prayers you sent on my behalf. He must have heard them because he enabled me to do well enough to pass the class.

With only 5 days left until the final, I will not accept any new taggings from anyone. I hope to write more of my "GREEK" experience after the final.

God Bless

I have been tagged again by Dan Head (this game is getting a bit old, how about Capture the Flag next time ;))

1. One Book that changed your life:

The Book of Concord after of course the Holy Bible

2. One book you've read more than once:

Luther, The Reformer by James Kittelson

3. One book you'd want on a desert island:

The Holy Bible (ESV)

4. One book that made you laugh:

Tim Allen's "The Naked Man"

5. One book that made you cry:

Books don't make me cry. Bad movies do

6. One book that you wish had been written:

God's guide to perfect parenting: A supplement.

7. One book that you wish had never been written:

The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren
The fact that Christians in some Lutheran Churches bought into this drivel bothers me greatly. It is bad enough that American Evangelical churches followed this pattern. Lutherans should stay away from Fad-driven ideals.

8. One book you're currently reading:

Anatomy of an Explosion by Kurt Marquardt

9. One book you've been meaning to read:

St. Augustine's Confession (started it, but haven't finished it yet)

10. Now tag three people.

Richard Shields
Michael Scheuermann
Sandra Ostapowich