Movies/Scenes
Representing Covenant
- Gladiator (2000)
- The old method used for making an oath was for a man to place his hand in the groin area and this is shown briefly when Maximus makes his vow to the good king (before his son kills him). I just think this is a cool clip to help bring the Bible to life. (submitted by Dave Robinson, MCYM/Club Beyond (a joint partnership between Young Life and Youth for Christ to reach US Military-dependent students) Bad Aibling, Germany)
- The End of an Affair
(1999)
- Prayer and a corresponding vow made to God are central elements in the story of the currently playing "End of the Affair." (submitted by Lynn Mason)
- The Hurricane (1999)
- When the Canadian activists promise that they will remain in New Jersey, across from the prison, until Ruben Carter is freed from prison. (submitted by Valerie Humphreys)
- American History X
(1998)
- Covenants between Derek and Sweeney, and between Derek and Danny. Negative covenant between Derek and Cameron.
- Simon Birch (1998)
- Titanic (1997)
- Jack: "You're gonna go on, and make lots of babies, and watch them grow. You're gonna die an old lady, warm in her bed. Not here, not this night. Winning that ticket, Rose, was the best thing that ever happened to me. And I'm thankful for that, Rose. I'm thankful. You must do me this honor, Rose. Promise me you'll survive. Promise me now Rose, no matter what happens, or how hopeless."
- Toy Story (1995)
- Buzz, who despairs in Sid's bedroom, is given hope when he sees his owner's name -- "Andy" -- written on the bottom of his foot. He remembers *whose* toy he is. (submitted by Meg Queior, Richmond ME)
- The
Shawshank Redemption (1994)
- Andy and Red's covenant for Red to find the box under the tree. "If you ever get out of here, do me a favor...promise me, Red, you'll find that oak."
- City Slickers (1991)
- Another scene I used just this past week in conjunction with the Lectionary passage was when "Phil" goes into the tent after confronting the drunk cowhands. While in the tent he brakes down saying that he is almost 40 years old and his life is a waste. The Billy Crystal character reminds him about that when they were children and they were playing ball that if it got stuck in a tree they would call, "do over." Billy Crystal tells Phil that his life is a clean slate, a do over. The scene ends with Phil questioning the ability to have a do over, Yet the Genesis 9:8-17 (New Covenant/Rainbow), Mark 1:9-15 (Repentance), and 1 Peter 3:18-22 all talk about a "Do Over" with God. Lent is a time we seek to live more fully in the great Do Over of God as we head to it's celebration at Easter. (submitted by Vern Gauthier, Summit Hill, PA)
- Fried Green Tomatoes
(1991)
- The bonding between the Idgie and Ruth in Fried Green Tomatoes reminds me of the relationship between Ruth and Naomi. (Mary Lautensleger)
- White Water Summer
(1987)
- Scene in which Kevin Bacon leaves a camper hanging by his safetyline on a cliff to get him to try to make it on his own after he falls. ("If you don't make a new commitment one foothold at a time, all you will do is hang there." Take Me Higher, Luke 9:28-29, Mike Slaughter, Ginghamsburg Church, January 8, 2000)
- The Muppet Movie (1979)
- The end title where the "muppets" sing the song, "Why Are There So Many Songs About Rainbows?" This can be used to introduce the wonder of rainbows that seems deeply seated in all of us. Scripturally, we can trace this wonder to Noah and God's covenantal promise to us all. The rainbow as sign of the "marvelous." (submitted by Russell Allanson, North Salem, IN)
