At the Movies

I’ll be honest, I don’t feel like writing this week. So this may be short and it may go up later than usual. But a blog theme has been thrown down, and that theme is … movies.

I’m caught up more in the movie that is my life than actual movies.

I have cut back on cough drop usage, but I haven’t gone cold turkey. And I’m doing public speaking in a couple of days. Hot tea, honey, lemon, repeat.

What was that about my superhero cloak of invisibility?

I probably need to mainline some chicken soup.

But I digress in my whining. While I find the prospect of curling up with a blanket and marveling at the wonders of breathing highly interesting, it doesn’t make for the best storyline.

I’m at about an hour and twenty-four minutes into a Hallmark movie. Well maybe an hour and thirty-seven. And I’ve been there like I’m Bill Murray in “Groundhog Day”. Which I keep meaning to rewatch. Truly. No pun intended.

Fear not, friends. This too shall pass and we will progress to the happily ever after or as close as it gets or, as I like to call it, an hour and fifty-seven. Happily ever after versus content. Now there’s a discussion we could have. Content. Pronounced all staccato-like. Not cahhhhntent.

I’m thinking about writing a book on contentment.

But our subject this week is movies. Maybe it’ll get made into a movie. Hmmm.

Unless you’ve been living under a rock or my cloak of invisibility has been particularly on fleek, you are aware I’ve been involved with making and promoting the movie “Brennan”. For those in the central Ohio area, details and tickets for this weekend’s screening are here. Cash at the door works, too. Snackage and beverages to benefit the youth group, plus hot and cold drinks from Ragamuffins Coffee House (so named after Brennan Manning’s “The Ragamuffin Gospel”) will be available. Our awesome friends from Final Flight Radio will be on site as well.

There has been a lot of prepping like Martha so we can sit down and enjoy the film like Mary when we cue the previews.

In discussions with friends lately it seems like everything in the world is happening this Saturday. If your weekend is highly scheduled but you can peel yourself away to join us, please just come as you are. For those not in central Ohio or who just can’t make it … check the tour dates here and/or reach out to me to get your church, college, or other venue on the list.

Besides the fact that I’m in this movie for about five seconds and I’m handling Q&A afterward, why should you make an effort to see this movie?

Because Jesus.

J

I’ve been involved in using the arts in ministry since I was a child, busting out the latest Bach or Beethoven or whatever I’d been working on during the offering at Rocky Fork Church of Christ. Technology and worship styles have changed dramatically since then, but the point is still the same. Worship. Lead people in worship. Point people to God.

It’s what I do.

People have a wide variety of experiences with church, what they think it is, what they think it should be. I say whatever biblically sound and complete approach works for you, have at it. And if the creative arts is what reaches you … well … make a joyful noise unto the Lord.

Anyone connected to “Brennan” or to “Ragamuffin”, the first movie from Color Green Films, will tell you we are all kind of in awe at the impact these two efforts have had on people’s spiritual lives. Depending on the wishes of the host venue, often an invitation is offered after each screening. And people are responding.

Because of a movie about the love of God.

A movie.

A movie about people who aren’t perfect because who is.

A movie.

If you’re not perfect, I highly suggest you see this movie.

I feel your pain, Feather. I feel your pain.

Pretty pretty pollen.

Keep looking up.

For more thoughts on Movies from my writing partners, see Sue Bowles at bebold7.wordpress.com and Leisa Herren at life4inga.blogspot.com.

There’s a river

That restores my soul

There’s a grace

There’s an endless flow

Though the earth trembles under my feet

There’s a gladness deep in me

I’ll sing it loud

I’ll sing it high

My God my savior

You’re my stronghold

You’re my shelter

I’m not without hope

You died and you rose

I am yours and you are mine forever after

There’s a river

That renews my soul

There’s a stillness

There’s a steady flow

Though the mountains crumble into the sea

There’s a peace that sets me free

I’ll sing it loud

I’ll sing it high

My God my savior

You’re my stronghold you’re my shelter

I’m not without hope

You died and you rose

I am yours and you are mine forever after

There’s a river

That someday I’ll know

Through pearly gates

Through streets of gold

When I cross the narrow sea

Oh the glory that day shall be

I’ll sing it loud

I’ll sing it high

My God my savior

You’re my stronghold you’re my shelter

I’m not without hope

You died and you rose

I am yours and you are mine forever after

~ Erik Neider’s “There’s a River”

Cloak of Invisibility

Do you ever feel like you’re invisible?

Or maybe like someone has clicked the mute button on you.

You speak. You communicate. Really you do. And yet it’s like you were never even there.

Human nature, I suppose.

Years ago I was in a conversation with two male coworkers. I don’t remember what it was about. I do remember that I opened my mouth and spoke and contributed to the discussion. I was, however, never acknowledged in any way whatsoever. It was the weirdest thing ever. It was like I made no sound at all.

And we were in my office.

I started to wonder.

Maybe I had been gifted with a magical cloak of invisibility.

I have superpowers!

Recently I was hanging with one of my favorite two-year-olds when he started running his matchbox cars along the wall. Doesn’t matter whose wall – no one needs car tracks and scratched paint. Oh how many times kids treat grownups like they’re invisible. After being told at least a couple times to stop, I finally raised my voice just a little. “Hey, what did I say? Not. On. The. Wall.” That took care of my invisibility problem. I got the “I’m ashamed and I know I’m in trouble” look straight in the eyes. He may be only two, but he understands English. We carried on with sending cars and trucks across the floor.

Being in sales at the moment, it’s easy to feel invisible. And it’s almost never personal. It just comes with the people-are-busy territory. We leave messages and we send emails and … sometimes we never hear a thing. Never ever. I sometimes cheer for a “no” response because at least it’s a response! Some of the folks I mentor have experience with the sound of crickets after they’ve finished a slew of contacts. Some are just learning. Be polite and be persistent. And get comfortable with your cloak of invisibility.

There’s freedom in not being seen. You can do what you want without criticism. You can avoid the current culture’s the-sky-is-blue-no-it’s-not-stop-being-a-hater mentality. Celebrities don’t get that luxury. They have to watch what they say and do and where they say and do it. Gotta maintain the public image.

But if nobody cares … well … nobody cares. And that’s sad.

On the flip side, one can be emboldened by invisibility. Well, if nobody sees me I might as well do what I want … and that inevitably will attract attention … and then I’ll be seen and I’ll be doing what I want.

Given that I’ve been feeling like I’m blending into the scenery, this verse jumped out at me when I ran across it again a couple weeks ago:

She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

~ Genesis 16:13 (NIV)

The Message paraphrases it this way:

She answered God by name, praying to the God who spoke to her, “You’re the God who sees me!

“Yes! He saw me; and then I saw him!”

He saw me! He did! He really, really likes me!

And I saw him back.

I’ve been fighting the evil germs of springtime for a solid week now. I’ve been avoiding breathing on people and – although we do have antibacterial wipes around – shared microphones. I’m not back to 100%, but honestly meds have probably kept me out of the ER and off a nebulizer. This one’s a doozy.

Taylor Swift may have teardrops on her guitar, but I have cough drops on my piano.

“I’m on Vocal 4 … and J-Gray is avoiding Vocal 1.”

With fighting off the crud, I’ve kind of wanted to be invisible. But I’ve had people in my house daily doing work that needs to be done, so yay for work being done and having help. And then sometimes God grants our wish in a most amusing way.

My view last weekend. Don’t be fooled. There is actually a map on the other side.

Don’t mind me. I’ll be over here continuing to breathe, getting back to making phone calls without wheezing, attracting attention, and looking up.

  

For more thoughts on “You Are the God Who Sees Me” from my writing partners, see Sue Bowles at bebold7.wordpress.com and Leisa Herren at life4inga.blogspot.com.

Your word is plain as the nose upon my face

And it will remain when all else fades away

And in the midst of change there's one thing that stays the same

So I walk by faith though I'm scared to even hope

That I can learn to love as my heart unfolds

But sometimes I just need an angel

To tell me not to be afraid

From out of nowhere from out of the blue

These clouds like holy prophets groan and move

On the winds of love and rage

So come Lord and wash me clean in your psalm

Until it sinks deep down into my bones

As I stand in the gentle fall

Of the gospel rain

And every leaf that falls is a kind of burning bush

And I can hear your call when I stop to look

You tell me you're there whatever happens

And I hear the trees clappin' their hands

And the word you speak is in the air I breathe

It reaches deep and somethin' moves inside of me

~ Mitch McVicker’s “Gospel Rain”

Video Killed the Radio Star

Are you familiar with the song by that name? A friend had no idea what I was talking about the other day.

  

MTV premiered with this one hit wonder in 1981. Did we have MTV at my house? No. To this day my parents do not have cable. No satellite. Just broadcast TV. They did upgrade to a digital set a few years ago. Given the current trend to “cut the cord” … and a cost-benefit analysis of paid television service … I’m not sure I’d recommend otherwise.

A lack of cable in the 1980s could result in one being considered uncool. Or just rural. I remember watching MTV at random get-togethers and slumber parties at friends’ houses. We’d buy vinyl albums of the artists we really liked and play them on our parents’ big ol’ stereo consoles. Some of which also played 8-track tapes.

“Video Killed the Radio Star” represents change to me. Changing times. Changing technology. The dawn of an era. An era that at this point has kind of gone away.

So. 

Last week I was on the radio. Internet radio. Talk about changing times and technology and eras.

My friend Sue has been connected with Final Flight Radio for some time. The show recently went online-only but has been around in a broadcast format for decades. They play classic Christian rock. I’m talking Stryper and Petra, people. Get excited! There’s a good variety, and the second hour includes newer selections. We are told that back in the day Rich Mullins liked to stop by the station when he was in town. His favorite thing was to read the weather report. Sounds about right.

Sue reached out to Final Flight a few weeks ago to gauge their interest in helping promote “Brennan”. To our delight, they enthusiastically jumped on board. They have been promoting the movie for several weeks, and they will be at the April 30 screening in Pickerington, Ohio.

They also scheduled an interview with Sue last week. Being that we work together with Color Green Films, I was invited to tag along. I said ahead of time I wasn’t sure if they were putting a mic in front of me or if I was just in charge of spreading sunshine and grace. Didn’t matter to me either way.

I met Sue at her house and rode along to the in-home studio at an undisclosed location in central Ohio. If you’ve ever heard of any of our “ragadventures”, navigating – and I use that term loosely – through the mountains of western Pennsylvania for example, you might not be surprised by some of the happenings along the way to the studio. I speak only hypothetically of course, but it’s possible that while navigating – again a loose term – through several turns and winding subdivision streets … it is possible that the following conversation was had:

“I don’t want to alarm you, but do you realize you just blew a stop sign back there?”

“Really?”

“Yeah. I checked for traffic. I would have screamed if any cars were coming.”

Not the stop sign we blew. But this is my pic. Excuse me, allegedly blew.

We arrived safely and on time and unscathed. Dinner was first, with a lovely and fun group of people. Then on to the show and Sue’s interview. And then they put a mic in front of me.

My view in the studio.

I’m really happy with how the interview turned out. You can catch it here. It will be on a continuous loop at the web site this week, and if you download the app you can listen to archived shows on demand. (I’ve downloaded the app, and I like it.) Look for the first hour of the 4/9/16 program.

P.S. Yours truly may be responsible for the dc Talk selection.

It was largely a Ragamuffin-themed weekend. In addition to the radio show … and the insanity that is my life right now … home reno, don’t even get me started … I did some movie promo around town ... and then …

Sunday I met up with friends for dinner and a “Brennan” screening. We almost were late for the start of the movie. Reason one … we were ministering to our server, who was awesome and good at his job, by the way. Reason two … um, well … we sort of dead reckoned our way to the church.

J

A legal (!!!) u-turn by multiple vehicles may have been involved. It was a most interesting parade. Poor Nigel, my hot British GPS dude, was feeling a little out of sorts as it was, but I might need to whip up some tea and crumpets to apologize for the trauma. At least – praise Jesus – the skies did not open up until after we safely arrived. Travel home on a dark and stormy night was, um, interesting, but everyone arrived home safely.

The dawn of a new era. It happens all the time. Good. Bad. Indifferent.

Well, we had high hopes for the weeping cherry. And then it snowed. 

I'd tell Reading Angel to keep looking up, but she might get snow in her eyes. 

For more thoughts on Video, Radio, and Stars from my writing partners, see Sue Bowles at bebold7.wordpress.com and Leisa Herren at life4inga.blogspot.com.

Bright lights swing across the road

But no one seems to know

Just where I'll put my feet down next

Brown eyes, come with me tonight

You could be my Bonnie

And I will be your Clyde

I know who I am, my dear

I'm a wanted man

The world I see looks good from here

Right from where I stand

Together we could disappear

I'm a wanted man

So come and get me

You know we are so alive

That even if they kill us

We would never die

I know who I am, my dear

I'm a wanted man

The world I see looks good from here

Right from where I stand

Together we could disappear

I'm a wanted man

So come and get me

Hey, hey, I am on the run

Because of what I've done

My mistakes are stacked a mile high

I know who I am, my dear

I'm a wanted man

The world I see looks good right here

Right from where I stand

Together we could disappear

Cause I'm a wanted man

I know who I am my dear

I'm a wanted man

So come and get me

~ NEEDTOBREATHE’s “Wanted Man”

The Light at the End of the Tunnel

I see it  Hope it’s not a train.

Waiting on a train. Sorry, no tunnel.

This week’s blog theme started with me writing down a verse during Sunday’s sermon. As I attempted to recall it without my notes I said Ecclesiastes 3:17 maybe?

I said to myself,

“God will bring into judgment
    both the righteous and the wicked,
for there will be a time for every activity,
    a time to judge every deed.”

Bahaha! Nope.

My notes said Ecclesiastes 11:17. Go look it up.

Ha! It doesn’t exist. But Ecclesiastes 11:7 (NIV) …

Light is sweet,
    and it pleases the eyes to see the sun.

I like the sun. I don’t accomplish nearly enough beach trips to commune with the sun and the sand and the water. Continuing on to verse 8 for good measure, though …

However many years anyone may live,
    let them enjoy them all.
But let them remember the days of darkness,
    for there will be many.
    Everything to come is meaningless.

The groovy version of the bible says (MSG) …

Oh, how sweet the light of day,
And how wonderful to live in the sunshine!
Even if you live a long time, don’t take a single day for granted.
Take delight in each light-filled hour,
Remembering that there will also be many dark days
And that most of what comes your way is smoke.

Ah Ecclesiastes, I do love your existential moodiness.

A friend posted a passage from John 1 in the Message version, so I started reading through that chapter again.

What came into existence was Life,
    and the Life was Light to live by.
The Life-Light blazed out of the darkness;
    the darkness couldn’t put it out …

The Life-Light was the real thing:
    Every person entering Life
    he brings into Light.

Blazed out of the darkness. Yeehaw.

It pleases the eyes to see the sun.

Current situation. A little difficult to tell, but there ain’t no sun out there. Rain is dripping (pouring?) off the awning.

How wonderful to live in the sunshine.

I loved being outside as a child. My parents say I would get as brown as an Indian in the summer. In today’s hypersensitive environment I’m bound to be accused of racism for that comment, but as a direct descendant of Pocahontas … in spite of my current state of extreme paleness … pretty sure I inherited the Irish pastiness gene from the melting pot … I feel I have a right to appropriate that aesthetic because I lived it and I am it.

Maize anyone?

With a side of potatoes and sauerkraut?

But I digress with run-on sentences.

These days I wear my SPF30 or 50 like a good girl when I’m becoming one with the sun. I was never a baby-oil-slathering, go-for-leather-skin-by-age-thirty person, but I think SPF15 was about as strong as we had. I vaguely recall an SPF7 or thereabouts or maybe it was SPF4 for building a tan purposes. Playing in the pool all day, followed by whining about picking green beans in my grandparents’ garden, followed by one last jump in the water if we moved fast enough was a common occurrence in my childhood.

I don’t have any green beans to pick, but my plate overfloweth right now. I’m just gonna sign off and keep my eyes fixed on the blazing life-light …

 

Let there be light. And let it not be trimmed in brass.

Keep looking up.

For more thoughts on lights and tunnels and such from my writing partners, see Sue Bowles at bebold7.wordpress.com and Leisa Herren at life4inga.blogspot.com.

Where could I go, where could I run

Even if I found the strength to fly

And if I rose on the wings of the dawn

And crashed through the corner of the sky

If I sailed past the edge of the sea

Even if I made my bed in Hell

Still there You would find me

'Cause nothing is beyond You

You stand beyond the reach

Of our vain imaginations

Our misguided piety

The heavens stretch to hold You

And deep cries out to deep

Singing that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

Time cannot contain You

You fill eternity

Sin can never stain You

Death has lost its sting

And I cannot explain the way You came to love me

Except to say that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

If I should shrink back from the light

So I can sink into the dark

If I take cover and I close my eyes

Even then You would see my heart

And You'd cut through all my pain and rage

The darkness is not dark to You

And night's as bright as day

Nothing is beyond You

You stand beyond the reach

Of our vain imaginations

Our misguided piety

The heavens stretch to hold You

And deep cries out to deep

Singing that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

And time cannot contain You

You fill eternity

Sin can never stain You

And death has lost its sting

And I cannot explain the way You came to love me

Except to say that nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

Nothing is beyond You

~ “Nothing is Beyond You”

(Rich Mullins, Mitch McVicker, Tom Booth.

Listen to the Amy Grant version.

You’re welcome.)