I have to tell the world about the prettiest place in Ontario Canada. I'll give you three guesses. Nope, wrong all three times. It's called Perth, and it's absolutely gorgeous. It's currently celebrating it's 175th anniversary as a town. Most of the buildings are totally from yesteryear. The quaint little shops and restaurants make it a tourist hotspot. Stewart Park, which is a huge blessing, since every event done there is free, and open to the public, is located in downtown Perth. This past July they had a free music concert in the park, which was very cool. Lots of different styles and performers for an entire weekend. I don't think I've ever seen so many weddings happen in one place either. It's like an Irish Spring Soap commercial or something. It's exceptionally green and the flowers are vibrant and colorful. There are times I pinch myself, and ask if I'm on a movie set.
Speaking of which, I just found out recently that filming any building externally is "fair game" from the mayor of Perth. This is incredibly exciting since I've always wanted to film, but often found conflict with getting permission from businesses or administration in government in order to do so. This is like music to a musician's ears. I'm currently working on a few different projects. The first one is a short documentary film called "What is God doing in Perth?" for my church's website, and the other is a modern take on an old kids book called "The Phantom Tollbooth".
This may sound looney, but I've decided to abandon trying to make something happen within the world's market. Why should I have to compromise my ethical standards in the name of entertainment? I think Christian's are just as creative, talented, and intelligent as anyone else, and should be free to create media that glorifies Jesus Christ, and is completely submitted to His authority. It's always been my dream to bring the truth in high definition. Obviously, I need to have the reality check of making sure that it's not just a good thing, but a God thing with whatever I'm doing to serve Jesus. However, I don't think that God makes mistakes, and has given me gifts that need to be used, not abused, to bring the Gospel to an apathetic generation that's more selfish and logical, than selfless and genuine. I've decided to dub this grassroots production company "JESUS-WOOD", because I think it's all about the cross and denying myself, and taking up Jesus wooden cross. This is all so much easier to type on a keyboard, or even read, but quite challenging to live. Let's do what Jesus has asked us to do. Love one another. Speak words that are gracious and affirming. So many films are filled with filthy language, sexually course speech, and derogatory attitudes toward men and women. If for no other reason than that alone, should be enough for us to change things.
"Do not be overcome with evil, but overcome evil with good"
-Apostle Paul
"Who is good except God?"
-Jesus
We don't need lots of money, or any of Hollywood's so called stars. With no deadlines, and no budget, I can take as much time as I want on a film AND I don't have to worry about some producer deciding to sacrifice integrity in the name of entertainment, or even worse, cultural relevance. I believe Ravi Zacharias was absolutely right when he said that the order of society should be "Truth is King, and Culture is Relative" not the other way around. Culture is a beautiful thing. Diversity to me is like a pallette full of different colors and tones. Each one of them is special and unique. However, the painting really takes shape, when there's a clear direction for all the colors to align to on the painting.
The saddest thing I've ever scene is an artistic timeline on my home campus, at the Leepa-Rapner Museum in Tarpon Springs, FL at SPC Tarpon campus. In the past few hundred years, all the artistic designs have gotten harder to distinguish. It's almost like the artists have given up trying to trace God's footsteps. As if His fingerprints all over creation aren't beautiful, or that his symmetry is not something to be lost in wonder of. Why must we be either an expressionist, or a modernist? Living somewhere on the extremes of either wild emotion, or pure intellect. Why can't they be balanced? There is beauty in truth, and there is also truth to be found in God's beauty. There's is wisdom in faith, and I have faith in God's wisdom. Do you see the beautiful correlations between the mind and the heart? God did not give us both of these things so that they would be divorced, but so that they could be forever entwined.
I know that the Arts are not given that much priority in our world. A rich man's pleasure, is what some think of this part of society. Similar to classical music, people think they have to wear really nice clothes to enjoy something exquisite. Let me say that the robe the Father gives to the Prodigal Son is much cleaner and warm than anything we can produce. Let's receive God's grace and believe that God can be glorified even in something as trivial as a drawing, painting, movie, tv show, album, statue, or building structure. I know that Art has long reigned with no Ruler. But that isn't true is it? There's always been One King whose name is Faithful. However as the Scripture says,
"..but men hid themselves in darkness, lest their deeds should be exposed.."
I'm not asking for money. I just want prayer. I've decided to stop fighting with my Maker, and use the gifts He's given me for writing and creativity. I'm not a second class citizen in God's Kingdom. There is no class system in God's kingdom. No dictators, or despots, middle class, poor, or somewhere in between any of those things. There's just Jesus and His Bride (the Church). I must admit that as a worship leader, my primary responsibility is to worship the Lord, and lead others into His presence (that's with and without music). I'm called to be a servant, just like everyone else. Sure, I've got some deep thoughts, and a wild imagination. Aren't these some of the same traits we find in God? I'm not saying that I'm God, because I'm definitely not, but we all have similar characteristics that mirror a part of who He is.
There's a great book that I haven't read yet, because it's not intended for me, called "Created to be His Help Meet" by Debi Pearl. In it, she describes three characteristics of men that are all true of who God is. Command Man, Mr. Consistent, and Mr. Visionary. God knows how to get things done by being a strong authority figure. He's also incredibly faithful, and sticks with things until they are complete. God is also able to speak to us in a way that casts a vision of hope, love, peace, and redemption. He can map things out and inspire us to dream big. I've been told by others that I'm a Mr. Consistent, with a touch of visionary.
In summation, humility and a heart that longs to be like Jesus is all my desire in everything, whether that's washing dishes, or writing the next great American novel, it's the same thing. I still have to come to the cross daily and hand over my right to be ambitious, but there is this strong yearning I have. I just want to say "I love you so much Jesus" with everything I have in me. It's unwise for someone to think they will ever match the love that God has poured out on us. However, it's also unwise to over look what Jesus said was the greatest commandment.
"Love the Lord your God with
ALL your heart (that's your emotions),
ALL your mind, (that's your thoughts)
ALL your soul, (that's your will, feelings, and intellect)
ALL your strength, (that's your physical body)
And the second is like it, Love your neighbor as you love yourself"
I cannot love my neighbor, if I am not filled with a love for God. Church, let's get back to serving and loving on Jesus. If the economy is in the tank, that's okay, cause Jesus kingdom will never end. His promises are still in effect. Nothing He has written will fade away.
"The Word of the Lord endures forever"
Let's take up the practice of praying and calling out to Jesus again, whether we have food, money, or even clothes. None of those material things will ever change God's everlasting truth and goodness. I'm convinced there are some children in Africa who will wake up in Heaven's glory and will receive more honor than some, because they genuinely believed that Jesus would save them, and because Jesus said himself,
"Many who are first shall be last, and many who last shall be first..."
I'm not saying that it's not a high honor to forever be with the Lord by itself, but I think we place far too great a value on what we possess, or can manufacture, and have completely forgotten the Lord and all the amazing things He has provided to us abundantly. Last time I checked, God didn't charge Adam and Eve for eating all the other trees in the Garden, He just punished them for disobeying Him by eating from the one tree they couldn't eat from. Those children in Africa have absolutely nothing, and have lived in a war torn country for years, stricken by poverty and hopelessness. I'm not saying that we should all feel guilty for living so well, I'm just saying "Wake up!" If we're just living for what's good here and now, what's gonna be our reward THERE and THEN in Heaven? I'm not advocating we should all quit our jobs, or depend on the governement to meet our needs. I'm saying we should divert all our attention, focus, and time on being with Jesus. That's the only thing that's going to last for all eternity.
If a goofy song accomplishes that, praise the Lord. If a gripping movie, causes one soul to repent, Amen. And if one person reading this, decides to take God up on His Word, and encounter the Lord in a very real and vibrant way, then my scatterbrained writing will not have been written in vain. Like the prophets in the Old Testament, the Spirit of God moved on their hearts, and they spoke.
Please forgive me for such a long rant. But I've been thinking about these things for a very long time, and could use some feedback on them.
This will be my final quote for this entry.
"The Church used to act as a thermostat, setting the temperature for society. Now, it acts like a thermometer, only giving a current reading.."
- paraphrased, Martin Luther King, Jr., from "A Letter from Birmingham Jail"
Church we need to repent, and then we can lead others into repentance. Personal revival must happen first before local, regional, national, and international can take place. Obviously, authentic revival only occurs as God the Father directs, and people are faithful to Jesus leading, and the Holy Spirit is given freedom to work. We should never worship a formula, but the God whose mind is unsearchable and fathomless. His name is Jesus. Let's worship Him.
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