01.21.06 END OF THE SPEAR
I saw new independent film End Of The Spear last night - the true story of a missionary’s journey into the dense Amazon basin of Ecuador in hopes of making contact with a violent tribe of pagan warriors. The images of vast rain forest and stone age tribal living are beautiful and worth seeing on the big screen. The soundtrack is the only glaring weakness of the film for me, the formulaic orchestrations and CCM sounding closing credits song were distractions for me as a musician - actually causing me not to feel as much as I would have watching with no soundtrack at all. But if you see the film strain to listen beyond the Back To School Special music bed and you’ll hear, even see in action, a powerful argument for Christian non-violence against pagan enemies. (Pacifism, some might call it).
As the missionary at the center of the story prepares to embark on a trip into the savage jungles of Ecuador his son hugs him goodbye and asks if his father will shoot the notoriously brutal natives if they attack him. His dad quickly answers in profound simplicity, “We can’t shoot them. They’re not ready for Heaven yet...and we are.”
Amazing how this film spoke to me more potently the core principles and priorities of Christianity than sermons, theology books and hours of debate often do.
Sonflower said:
I’m going to see it tonight!
Anonymous said:
Weird
I just read this over at challies about the movie and stuff.
http://www.challies.com/archives/001605.php
Stephen said:
I saw it tonight and thought it was well done, for the most part. (Although the music didn’t really work for me, either.)
I would recommend that everyone see it.
Amy said:
I saw it last night as well. It’s such a powerful story of grace and forgiveness. The music didn’t really bother me, and I did feel a bit lost at times during the story. Between that movie and a conversation that I had today with missionary to Muslims in Guinea, I’ve had more to chew on and process than in months. Certainly more than the sermon at church tonight. I encourage y’all to see it and watch Beyond the Gates of Splendor the documentary.
GrovesFan said:
Shaun,
We did go see the movie today. It was very good. The scenery is breathtaking and the story is timeless. I’ve seen the documentary that they show bits of at the end and it’s very good. As for Scott, he’s home for about 90 days we think. He will be rotating back to Qatar every 90 days for this entire year at least if the war continues and the squadron sticks to the plan they have laid out now. It sucks, but we’re used to it now. His homecoming was great and we had a wonderful day todgether today. The kids were out sledding on a friends’ farm from church all day so we had a great day alone together. Another friend has offered to take the kids in March so we can go to the “Worldview Conference” in Jamestown. We’re also looking forward to a ski weekend next weekend with the whole family.
Thanks for all your prayers and encouragement while Scott was gone. It’s means more to both of us than we can put into words.
Beth
Stephen said:
I’ve been looking forward to seeing this. In thinking about this event over the past couple of weeks, I’ve had the same thoughts about non-violence, etc. I posted some of them on my blog here
Shaun Groves said:
THAT’S AWESOME BETH!!!! WOO HOO!!! He’s back. Is he home for good?
GrovesFan said:
I hope to see it today with my husband who’s just returned home (finally after 3 months in the desert). I’ve read about this and seen a documentary about it too. Great stuff!
Beth
keith said:
Not sure why this movie wasn’t promoted better. I didn’t hear about until it was reviewed in the paper yesterday.
Anonymous said:
Not that i have anything against the movie, just ironic that i read the 2 posts back to back. Bottom half of post talks about the movie.
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