Recently, a friend of mine emailed me a cool video that was on You Tube. Apparently, a pastor in Amarillo, Texas had several people from the congregation prepare a 'cardboard testimony.' Each person, or persons, had a piece of cardboard that on one side told what they were like before putting Jesus first in their life; and then on the other side, they wrote something that described their life after putting Him first.
As I watched the video, I observed a couple of things. First, it began in silence, with people being respectful and quiet. Then, with each proceeding 'cardboard testimony,' the audience freely began to applaud, and encourage--depending on the statement of God's goodness. That was moving to watch.
Also, towards the end, Pastor Tommy Politz wraps it all up and is visible moved as well. But what I caught, was that this was the third time that weekend they had done this! It still touched him! Wow! What a powerful exercise in God's goodness, grace, mercy and forgiveness! I posted the video below so you can see for yourself.
That's not where the story ends. A few days after I'd received that email, a woman from my congregation called asking to see me. At that appointment, she told me that in a dream God had shown her all the 'garbage' in her life (her words, not mine) and the damage she was doing to her husband and kids. She went on to read a portion from her journal about her dysfunctional upbringing, resulting dependence on prescription drugs, and struggling marriage. Her next request blew me away: she asked if she could read this 'confession' this coming Sunday morning, in front of her entire immediate family. She was ready to come clean in a big time way, and ask forgiveness from the people she had hurt directly, as well as ask for the support of her extended church family as well. So, after prayer and a little work on my part, I agreed, and put two and two together.
That Sunday, her story was integrated into the message portion of the service. To drive home the point that a church should be a place of love, acceptance, forgiveness and healing, I captured the 'Cardboard Testimony' video and showed it as well. In effect, the message we sent--to her, and to one another--was, without Jesus, we're all messed up in one way or another. And we welcomed her to the family!
By the way, I found my own piece of cardboard, and wrote out my 'cardboard testimony.' I don't have any visuals of it, but on the front side it read: Consumed by selfishness & lust. On the flip side I wrote: Crucified with Christ! -Galatians 2:20- That pretty much sums up the story of my life.
What would your cardboard testimony be?
Thursday, July 31, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Gazelle Intensity
During the last two months I've been working through the Financial Peace University material on a weekly basis with a group of about 8-10 other families. It's really been challenging and helpful--both personally and as a group.
One of the phrases it uses often is gazelle intensity. In the context of FPU, it generally means that unless you really get inspired, motivated and downright angry to change, you won't change your behavior. To illustrate, Dave Ramsey mentions a proverb for daily life, written by that timeless millionaire, Solomon: "Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." (Proverbs 6:5, NIV) Obviously, for FPU's purposes, that proverbs applies to financial issues such as unnecessary borrowing and debt (the context of the proverb bears this out--Proverbs 6:1). However, like many principles, this can also be applied to other areas of our life. Such as our passion, intensity and inspiration for pursuing a one-on-one relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
A gazelle is one of the fastest animals on the planet. But, it is not 'the' fastest. That distinction belongs to the fleet-footed cheetah. However, did you know that gazelle is one of the cheetah's favorite meals? But, just because a cheetah decides it wants a gazelle for dinner, doesn't mean it's a slam dunk. Though the gazelle isn't as fast as a cheetah, it can avoid being captured, killed and devoured by running in serpentine patterns to avoid the cheetah. In so doing, it wears out a much faster predator and spares it's own life!
What a picture for us! When it comes to an intensity to pursue God, there is an equally aggressive foe to deal with known as the devil and sin. Like the gazelle, we must run a more strategic, smarter, defensive path away from these in order to free our self, and remain passionately in pursuit of God.
I shared this with some of my friends at First Assembly last Sunday, and used the video below to illustrate. I found a You Tube video of a gazelle and cheetah encounter that I captured. Then as I reproduced it for my illustration, I was able to mute the audio and dub in a choice of my own. I think you'll see how I adapted the sound track to reflect a little more of my personality. (The song is an excerpt from Can't Get Away, by one of my growing favorite groups Rush of Fools. Check out their stuff by clicking the link, or going to www.myspace.com/rushoffools)
One of the phrases it uses often is gazelle intensity. In the context of FPU, it generally means that unless you really get inspired, motivated and downright angry to change, you won't change your behavior. To illustrate, Dave Ramsey mentions a proverb for daily life, written by that timeless millionaire, Solomon: "Free yourself, like a gazelle from the hand of the hunter, like a bird from the snare of the fowler." (Proverbs 6:5, NIV) Obviously, for FPU's purposes, that proverbs applies to financial issues such as unnecessary borrowing and debt (the context of the proverb bears this out--Proverbs 6:1). However, like many principles, this can also be applied to other areas of our life. Such as our passion, intensity and inspiration for pursuing a one-on-one relationship with our heavenly Father through Jesus Christ.
A gazelle is one of the fastest animals on the planet. But, it is not 'the' fastest. That distinction belongs to the fleet-footed cheetah. However, did you know that gazelle is one of the cheetah's favorite meals? But, just because a cheetah decides it wants a gazelle for dinner, doesn't mean it's a slam dunk. Though the gazelle isn't as fast as a cheetah, it can avoid being captured, killed and devoured by running in serpentine patterns to avoid the cheetah. In so doing, it wears out a much faster predator and spares it's own life!
What a picture for us! When it comes to an intensity to pursue God, there is an equally aggressive foe to deal with known as the devil and sin. Like the gazelle, we must run a more strategic, smarter, defensive path away from these in order to free our self, and remain passionately in pursuit of God.
I shared this with some of my friends at First Assembly last Sunday, and used the video below to illustrate. I found a You Tube video of a gazelle and cheetah encounter that I captured. Then as I reproduced it for my illustration, I was able to mute the audio and dub in a choice of my own. I think you'll see how I adapted the sound track to reflect a little more of my personality. (The song is an excerpt from Can't Get Away, by one of my growing favorite groups Rush of Fools. Check out their stuff by clicking the link, or going to www.myspace.com/rushoffools)
Thursday, July 3, 2008
What Does It Look Like to Be 232 Years Old?
If you've seen the movie, Mr Magorium's Wonder Emporium, you have a fictitious idea what a 243 year-old man looks like. But what would a 232 year-old look like? Well, if you're talking about a 232 year-old country, she'd look like America.
This July 4, we will celebrate our 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which set forth why the founding fathers were separating from England. In the almost two-and-a-half centuries since then, these United States have transformed from a 13 colony, rag-tag republic, to the superpower of the 21st century. The great democratic experiment still continues, and with much success!
However, not all is well on the horizon. Though we live in the richest nation on the planet, a large percentage of Americans have borrowed themselves into bondage. Though we enjoy the opportunity of education, capitalism and free enterprise, many are dependent on the government coffers for their regular subsistence. It is, as Dickens once wrote, it truly is "the best of times, the worst of times."
But all is not gloom & doom yet! If we would only return to our roots, and get back to the basics our forefathers built America upon, we would find that our best days really are in front of us and not behind us! I'm convinced that we're right where the Sovereign King of Kings wants us. At the end of ourselves, and looking to Him for help. After all, He was the One who inspired the first Declaration of Independence! And if He did it before, I have it on His Word that He's still able to do it again (look up Hebrews 13:8 if you're not sure)!
So, happy birthday America! And, as we like to sing, "and many more!"
Here's the trailer for our next series at church, Back 2 the Basics.
This July 4, we will celebrate our 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, which set forth why the founding fathers were separating from England. In the almost two-and-a-half centuries since then, these United States have transformed from a 13 colony, rag-tag republic, to the superpower of the 21st century. The great democratic experiment still continues, and with much success!
However, not all is well on the horizon. Though we live in the richest nation on the planet, a large percentage of Americans have borrowed themselves into bondage. Though we enjoy the opportunity of education, capitalism and free enterprise, many are dependent on the government coffers for their regular subsistence. It is, as Dickens once wrote, it truly is "the best of times, the worst of times."
But all is not gloom & doom yet! If we would only return to our roots, and get back to the basics our forefathers built America upon, we would find that our best days really are in front of us and not behind us! I'm convinced that we're right where the Sovereign King of Kings wants us. At the end of ourselves, and looking to Him for help. After all, He was the One who inspired the first Declaration of Independence! And if He did it before, I have it on His Word that He's still able to do it again (look up Hebrews 13:8 if you're not sure)!
So, happy birthday America! And, as we like to sing, "and many more!"
Here's the trailer for our next series at church, Back 2 the Basics.
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