Everything

I know, I know… I seem to be on a video kick. It’s just that I have found several inspiring videos that I really want to share. And yes, I am aware that all the people reading this on a Facebook feed cannot see the video. Yes, I know how inconvenient it is to have to go view it on Messiah’s site, but this Christian video has had over 14 million views, so it is probably worth your time.

Today’s video is from a youth gathering in 2006… Winterfest in Knoxville, Tennessee. It was a skit set to the song “Everything” by Lifehouse; a skit performed by youth for youth. After watching the skit, you will see how… when the Holy Spirit is moving in God’s people… a skit for youth can transcend age, gender, and situation to touch the hearts everybody.

What a powerful reminder of how strong, and how many, are the world’s influences and distractions. This is true for all of us, but especially so for our young people. These influences and distractions pull us away from God, yet even in that separation, God never stops pulling us toward Him. In God’s presence, all of those influences, distractions, and sins are defeated!

For me, it is so powerful to see Christ take the beating for all of the things that I (if I’m honest with myself) invited into my life. Every time I watch this video, I see something new. I’m moved by this video to want to seek an even closer relationship with God and a stronger walk with my Lord and Savior… Jesus Christ.

Tell me what YOU think.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

The Office

This is a parody of NBC’s hit series, The Office, using the real staff of The Branch Church in Dallas, Texas. If you haven’t seen the NBC series, you are probably really comfortable under that rock; seriously, if you haven’t seen it… watch a couple of episodes on YouTube. Many on the staff are obviously blessed with real acting talent, and the scripting and production values are first rate. It’s an awesome parody!

Besides having a whole lot of fun making it, what do you think The Branch Church is trying to accomplish with this video? Who do you think they might be targeting? What is the message?

Sometimes it helps to take a step back and contemplate how the unchurched see us. How do WE see ourselves? How do we see each other? I’m not going to try and tell you what to think about the video, all I ask… is that you think.

I’ll be on the campus and at worship on Sunday. Drop by and tell me what YOU think.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Do It Again, Lord

September 11th, 2001… a day etched in blood, and tears, and destruction on the hearts of most Americans. In the hours and days following that criminal and murderous attack, I was never prouder to be an American. I watched Americans who braved collapsing skyscrapers rush in to save people they didn’t know. I watched political, ethnic, and religious rivals put aside their differences to make the impossible… possible. Three days later, one of my favorite Christian authors, Max Lucado, wrote the following for America Prays, a national prayer vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001.

Dear Lord,

We're still hoping we'll wake up. We're still hoping we'll open a sleepy eye and think, what a horrible dream.

But we won't, will we, Father? What we saw was not a dream. Planes did gouge towers. Flames did consume our fortress. People did perish. It was no dream and, dear Father, we are sad.

There is a ballet dancer who will no longer dance and a doctor who will no longer heal. A church has lost her priest, a classroom is minus a teacher. Cora ran a food pantry. Paige was a counselor and Dana, dearest Father, Dana was only three years old. (Who held her in those final moments?)

We are sad, Father. For as the innocent are buried, our innocence is buried as well. We thought we were safe. Perhaps we should have known better. But we didn't.

And so we come to you. We don't ask you for help; we beg you for it. We don't request it; we implore it. We know what you can do. We've read the accounts. We've pondered the stories and now we plead, do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Remember Joseph? You rescued him from the pit. You can do the same for us. Do it again, Lord.

Remember the Hebrews in Egypt? You protected their children from the angel of death. We have children, too, Lord. Do it again.

And Sarah? Remember her prayers? You heard them. Joshua? Remember his fears? You inspired him. The women at the tomb? You resurrected their hope. The doubts of Thomas? You took them away. Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

You changed Daniel from a captive into a king's counselor. You took Peter the fisherman and made him Peter an apostle. Because of you, David went from leading sheep to leading armies. Do it again, Lord, for we need counselors today, Lord. We need apostles. We need leaders. Do it again, dear Lord.

Most of all, do again what you did at Calvary. What we saw here on that Tuesday, you saw there on that Friday. Innocence slaughtered. Goodness murdered. Mothers weeping. Evil dancing. Just as the ash fell on our children, the darkness fell on your Son. Just as our towers were shattered, the very Tower of Eternity was pierced.

And by dusk, heaven's sweetest song was silent, buried behind a rock.

But you did not waver, O Lord. You did not waver. After three days in a dark hole, you rolled the rock and rumbled the earth and turned the darkest Friday into the brightest Sunday. Do it again, Lord. Grant us a September Easter.

We thank you, dear Father, for these hours of unity. Disaster has done what discussion could not. Doctrinal fences have fallen. Republicans are standing with Democrats. Skin colors have been covered by the ash of burning buildings. We thank you for these hours of unity.

And we thank you for these hours of prayer. The Enemy sought to bring us to our knees and succeeded. He had no idea, however, that we would kneel before you. And he has no idea what you can do.

Let your mercy be upon our President, Vice President, and their families. Grant to those who lead us wisdom beyond their years and experience. Have mercy upon the souls who have departed and the wounded who remain. Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.

And look kindly upon your church. For two thousand years you've used her to heal a hurting world.

Do it again, Lord. Do it again.

Through Christ,

Amen.

As written by Max Lucado for America Prays,
a national prayer vigil held Saturday, September 14, 2001.
Permission to copy not only granted but encouraged.
Also available on MaxLucado.com.

We may never forget, but as Max Lucado prayed, “Give us grace that we might forgive and faith that we might believe.”

Your brother in Christ,

Dave

Better than a Hallelujah

I was listening to the radio the other day, and heard Amy Grant singing a song I’d never heard before. It touched my heart, so of course… I must share it. The YouTube video I use is one of the few that has permission by Amy Grant and EMI for publication, AND it has a great digital soundtrack provided by EMI.

As usual, the poet within me must also share the lyrics:

Better Than a Hallelujah
by Amy Grant

God loves a lullaby
In a mother’s tears in the dead of night…
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
God loves a drunkard’s cry,
The soldier’s plea not to let him die…
Better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries,
God just hears a melody.
Beautiful the mess we are,
The honest cries, of breaking hearts…
Are better than a Hallelujah.

A woman holding on for life,
A dying man giving up the fight,
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.
Tears of shame for what’s been done;
The silence when the words won’t come…
Are better than a Hallelujah sometimes.

We pour out our miseries,
God just hears a melody.
Beautiful the mess we are,
The honest cries, of breaking hearts…
Are better than a Hallelujah.

Better than a church bell ringing,
Better than a choir singing out,
Singing out…

We pour out our miseries,
God just hears a melody.
Beautiful the mess we are,
The honest cries, of breaking hearts…
Are better than a Hallelujah.

As is so common for me, this song touched a chord in me… right time, right place, and right song. Amy Grant has an official video that tells a poignant story of heartbreak, as she sings this song. Too bad EMI has blocked it from being embedded in blogs. If you want to see it, you’ll have to look it up on YouTube (look for the Official version).

Have you ever had a “better than a Hallelujah” moment in your life… a time of pain, heartbreak, suffering, or brokenness where you felt God’s presence most intensely? I imagine that the prayers of brokenness outweigh the Hallelujahs by better than a million to one.

Your brother in Christ,

Dave