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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/17/2004 8:22 PM (GMT -6) |   | What?! No Spiderman thread yet?!
Sorry, but I couldn't resist! I saw the movie today, and was struck by the number of spiritual applications in it; things like "sacrificing the one for the many"; "the greater good for the lesser evil (sound familiar?); giving up our hopes, and dreams, and desires - to have better ones take their place (Ephesians 3:20). Notice what happened when he took his focus off his calling; when he doubted who he was, and what he was "sent" to do? That's right; he lost his strength - but, when he regained his focus, his strength returned with new vigor, I might add ("Where there is no vision - the people perish"). Notice when he was willing to sacrifice himself (the one for the many) in front of the train full of people - that the people supported him; the mask came off, and he didn't have to hide who he was anymore. What a relief (He who loses his life for my sake shall find it).
OK...am I stretching this just a bit? Would anyone else like to comment, or just poke fun at this post? Don't leave me out here on this limb all by myself - please!
(I even dragged my husband along, kicking and screaming (well, not quite). He didn't get the spiritual connections; but our head elder did!
(wish I had a spider here...)
God Bless,
Jo-Anne
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/17/2004 11:01 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by moon_river_j
What?! No Spiderman thread yet?!
Sorry, but I couldn't resist! I saw the movie today, and was struck by the number of spiritual applications in it; things like "sacrificing the one for the many"; "the greater good for the lesser evil (sound familiar?); giving up our hopes, and dreams, and desires - to have better ones take their place (Ephesians 3:20). Notice what happened when he took his focus off his calling; when he doubted who he was, and what he was "sent" to do? That's right; he lost his strength - but, when he regained his focus, his strength returned with new vigor, I might add ("Where there is no vision - the people perish"). Notice when he was willing to sacrifice himself (the one for the many) in front of the train full of people - that the people supported him; the mask came off, and he didn't have to hide who he was anymore. What a relief (He who loses his life for my sake shall find it).
OK...am I stretching this just a bit? Would anyone else like to comment, or just poke fun at this post? Don't leave me out here on this limb all by myself - please!
(I even dragged my husband along, kicking and screaming (well, not quite). He didn't get the spiritual connections; but our head elder did!
(wish I had a spider here...)
God Bless,
Jo-Anne
Did I say out on a limb? Hmmmm....I meant on the side of a building. Now I've done it; I can't delete my own post.
Oops...
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/18/2004 2:08 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by moon_river_j
quote:
Originally posted by moon_river_j
What?! No Spiderman thread yet?!
Sorry, but I couldn't resist! I saw the movie today, and was struck by the number of spiritual applications in it; things like "sacrificing the one for the many"; "the greater good for the lesser evil (sound familiar?); giving up our hopes, and dreams, and desires - to have better ones take their place (Ephesians 3:20). Notice what happened when he took his focus off his calling; when he doubted who he was, and what he was "sent" to do? That's right; he lost his strength - but, when he regained his focus, his strength returned with new vigor, I might add ("Where there is no vision - the people perish"). Notice when he was willing to sacrifice himself (the one for the many) in front of the train full of people - that the people supported him; the mask came off, and he didn't have to hide who he was anymore. What a relief (He who loses his life for my sake shall find it).
OK...am I stretching this just a bit? Would anyone else like to comment, or just poke fun at this post? Don't leave me out here on this limb all by myself - please!
(I even dragged my husband along, kicking and screaming (well, not quite). He didn't get the spiritual connections; but our head elder did!
(wish I had a spider here...)
God Bless,
Jo-Anne
Did I say out on a limb? Hmmmm....I meant on the side of a building. Now I've done it; I can't delete my own post.
Oops...
OK...I'm feeling just a little  about this post. Somebody reply to it! Quit just  , and reply - please! 
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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sometimesisquint
Registered Member
Date Joined Jun 2004
Total Posts : 91
| Posted 7/18/2004 2:11 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/18/2004 2:38 PM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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Kame
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2004
Total Posts : 1
| Posted 7/18/2004 5:28 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Sorry, but I couldn't resist! I saw the movie today, and was struck by the number of spiritual applications in it; things like "sacrificing the one for the many"; "the greater good for the lesser evil (sound familiar?); giving up our hopes, and dreams, and desires - to have better ones take their place (Ephesians 3:20). Notice what happened when he took his focus off his calling; when he doubted who he was, and what he was "sent" to do? That's right; he lost his strength - but, when he regained his focus, his strength returned with new vigor, I might add ("Where there is no vision - the people perish"). Notice when he was willing to sacrifice himself (the one for the many) in front of the train full of people - that the people supported him; the mask came off, and he didn't have to hide who he was anymore. What a relief (He who loses his life for my sake shall find it).
Hi Jo-Anne! Spider-man was one of my favorite comic book heroes growing up, and I really enjoyed the latest movie! Those are some really cool spiritual connections you made as well, especially the whole sacrificing "the one for the many" thing that you pointed out. It's amazing how we can glean the most profound spiritual truths from even the most trivial of things! 
One obvious thing that I managed to pick up on was the whole choice/destiny theme that's kinda run throughout both films (reminded me of a C.S. Lewis quote: "Free will is the modus operandiof destiny.") Peter Parker was given a unique gift, and thus a destiny to fulfill, but it was up to him to make the choice to do so even if it meant (temporarily) giving up what he wanted most. As someone given such great power (and as we're told in the first film, "With great power comes great responsibility!") he made the choice to be who is really was and do what he knew he ought to do. And this can definitely apply to our roles as Christians. As God's "chosen ones" in Christ, we have been given so many blessings and privileges, but with these gifts comes great responsibility! We must "live up to our titles," so to speak, and be the kind of people we have graciously been given the power and freedom to be.
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1Heart
Registered Member
Date Joined Feb 2004
Total Posts : 1128
| Posted 7/18/2004 9:58 PM (GMT -6) | | quote:
Originally posted by Kame
quote:
Sorry, but I couldn't resist! I saw the movie today, and was struck by the number of spiritual applications in it; things like "sacrificing the one for the many"; "the greater good for the lesser evil (sound familiar?); giving up our hopes, and dreams, and desires - to have better ones take their place (Ephesians 3:20). Notice what happened when he took his focus off his calling; when he doubted who he was, and what he was "sent" to do? That's right; he lost his strength - but, when he regained his focus, his strength returned with new vigor, I might add ("Where there is no vision - the people perish"). Notice when he was willing to sacrifice himself (the one for the many) in front of the train full of people - that the people supported him; the mask came off, and he didn't have to hide who he was anymore. What a relief (He who loses his life for my sake shall find it).
Hi Jo-Anne! Spider-man was one of my favorite comic book heroes growing up, and I really enjoyed the latest movie! Those are some really cool spiritual connections you made as well, especially the whole sacrificing "the one for the many" thing that you pointed out. It's amazing how we can glean the most profound spiritual truths from even the most trivial of things!
One obvious thing that I managed to pick up on was the whole choice/destiny theme that's kinda run throughout both films (reminded me of a C.S. Lewis quote: "Free will is the modus operandiof destiny.") Peter Parker was given a unique gift, and thus a destiny to fulfill, but it was up to him to make the choice to do so even if it meant (temporarily) giving up what he wanted most. As someone given such great power (and as we're told in the first film, "With great power comes great responsibility!") he made the choice to be who is really was and do what he knew he ought to do. And this can definitely apply to our roles as Christians. As God's "chosen ones" in Christ, we have been given so many blessings and privileges, but with these gifts comes great responsibility! We must "live up to our titles," so to speak, and be the kind of people we have graciously been given the power and freedom to be.
Kame
Ah, a kindred spirit at last! I was getting a bit nervous, wondering if I was the only one who saw these things, but  my "spidey senses" were right after all!
Nice to meet you. Have we met before? Some people change their names to protect their identity, and you sound like a friend I know.
Anyway, thank you for sharing your insights. I agree; with great power comes great responsibility. The challenge is to live it, not just believe it. That's where we need the community of Christ. The people on that train; the ones bearing him up, and laying him gently down - were his community. They made it safe for him to reveal who he really was. Today, our head elder gave a wonderful message on prayer, and during his message he mentioned that we should never feel alone in church. I know in my head that that is true, but I had tears welling up, and spilling over as he spoke - because there are so many hurting people in our church right now, and I know exactly how they feel. Community should be a safe place; a place where we can "unmask" and feel the support of the people, bearing us up and over, and bringing us to a place of safety - but the saddest thing in Christian community is that it is often not the safe place we dream about. The people on the train are not always what we hoped they would be. They don't "bear us up" and lay us down gently. I'm not cynical, or negative, but I've seen first hand what community is, and I only dream about what it could be, and I know that it is possible to be in the midst of Christian community, and feel very, very alone. People lift their hands, with unspoken prayer requests; sometimes to protect the ones they are praying for, but often because what they have to share is too personal, and it just doesn't feel safe enough; the risk is not worth the possible pricetag. With great power comes great responsibility. A good thought for Christian leaders. If we are going to help make community a safe place; if we are going to "bear people up" then we need to be prepared to "unmask" ourselves, to allow others to "unmask" without fear of judgement; to carry people gently to a safer place. We're all on our way to a safer place, and we need to help each other get there. I know I need that as well.
And, I think most of us have not realized that we already have; within ourselves - the power and freedom to be who we were meant to be; to live up to our "titles" as you've said - myself included.
What does the "modus operandi of destiny" mean?
Thanks, goodnight and God Bless You - whoever, and wherever you are!
And, as I was so jovially told, "The new "guy" brings the donuts!" Welcome to the board!
Jo-Anne
"Sometimes all we can do is go back to the character of God, and drop anchor there."
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quest for truth
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 479
| Posted 7/19/2004 8:17 AM (GMT -6) | | might-be-donquote:
Is the point of the story to teach us something, or just a history lesson ?
I believe that the point of the story is that Spider Man is meant to be a role model for young people to reach beyond themselves. History is full of role models with Jesus Christ being the ultimate role model --all others fail in comparison.
Jo-Anne, I did not go to the movie with my spiritual thinking cap on so I appreciate the spiritual applications! I loved the movie 
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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 7/19/2004 9:02 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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PotOnWheel
Registered Member
Date Joined Jul 2001
Total Posts : 9890
| Posted 7/19/2004 9:05 AM (GMT -6) | | | | |
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