The Passion is a new film by Mel Gibson. It tells the Easter story with all its brutality and emotion. It is NOT for the faint hearted! The reality of the torture and crucifixion of Jesus comes over as never before in any film, partly because of the total Christian conviction of Mel Gibson.

If you see this film, or read the book (the Gospels) you will see just what it meant for God to send his Son Jesus. This is not a religious film. Jesus didn't die on a cross between tow candlesticks in a cathedral! This was reality. Even the scourging which Jesus received was enough to kill a fit man let alone the agony of hanging from a cross of wood for hours.

The Easter message is at the centre of the Christian faith. When we complain that things go wrong, thing God is not fair, or say there cannot be a God because of all the suffering in the world, it is the Cross of Christ which tells us just how great is God's love for us and how deep is the sin and degradation of the human heart.

Why not look out for Mel Gibson's film this Easter and get along to see it. You may well find as a result you want to talk so please phone me on 841001. You may well want to pray and so here is a suggested prayer and a poem which might help.

O God I come to you now. I never realised that your Son Jesus died that terrible death on the cross for me. So now I turn to you with all my heart. Forgive me the selfishness that put you on the cross, and now please come into my heart to be my Lord. AMEN.

I very much hope you will attend one of our local churches this Easter.

Alan Dodds