Christ Animated

Hands, wrists, arms, feet, ankles - 8 digging probes before I lost count, though feet and ankles were spared the needles. Three nurses at once, each on a different limb, tourniquets on each, tapping, probing, sticking, wiping, shaving, twisting, apologizing. They were attempting to start an IV for my scheduled GI scope. Once, with a 12 penny nail being inserted into my right wrist just below the thumb, a swarm of angry bees attacked the back of my left hand. I could never survive torture. I'm not sure a tattoo is even a possibility. Then, with my hand shaking and blurry vision, I signed something similar to my name on two forms, giving the surgeon permission to attempt to insert a central line in my jugular. After 20-plus painful and frightening minutes, the surgeon patted my leg and said, "Sorry, chief". Nothing else to try. No procedure today. Other than this, of course. I now think I know what it's like to be simultaneously choked and stabbed in the throat r...

Do you long for a movie about Jesus that sticks tightly to the words of the Gospels and leaves no room for “what ifs”? If so, then Risen is not for you. Set against the backdrop of Judea, 33 A.D., this film follows events in the life of Roman Tribune Clavius, as portrayed by Joseph Fiennes, as he investigates the death of Yeshua (whose translated name is Jesus), portrayed by Clive Curtis. The narrative begins with Clavius resting from travel in a desert inn, and concludes there, as well, the Roman soldier having recounted the events of the film to the spellbound innkeeper. His story arc begins as a faithful, effective and ambitious warrior quelling Jewish rebellion and serving Pilate, the Prefect. “Tribune, Pilate summons you,” are words heard repeatedly throughout the story. Charged with finding the body of a troublemaker Jew whom some have proclaimed the Hebrew's Messiah, Clavius interviews and interrogates witnesses, and investigates the evidence to see what...