revival

Transformed – One Family at a Time

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Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewal of your mind, that by testing you may discern what is the will of God, what is good and acceptable and perfect. Romans 12:2 ESV

A lot is said about revival: how we need it, what we need to do to get it or why we aren’t experiencing it. But, often we overlook the simple fact that God’s definition of revival is played out in real time in our real world, one person and one family at a time. This week at Life Care Center, we opened the service listening to the personal story of Gena and her daughter Lindsay. Gena is a single mom, whose teenage daughter Lindsay is autistic and nonverbal. In spite of those challenges, God put it on Gena’s heart to begin volunteering at Life Care Center for a few hours 2-3 days each week. Over four months, Gena even began helping us during our Friday service by passing out song books, opening our meeting with prayer and encouraging the residents to participate. So, when I heard that Joni and Friends ministry was having a family retreat nearby, I got Gena connected with the regional director. With the challenges of financing, scheduling and convincing her daughter Lindsay to go, I wasn’t sure if it would happen, but God worked out every one of those details. Yesterday, Gena shared what she called, the “Miraculous experience,” God did in her life and in Lindsay’s heart over that week. Gena’s testimony really touched all the residents at the nursing home. They could all easily identify with having special needs because they struggle with many of their own. And Gena’s story reminds all of us that no one is more delighted than Jesus to help those with special needs. The one who took time to listen to a father of a child struggling with seizures and forgave and healed a lame man lowered through the roof by his friends, truly loves those the world overlooks. He listens to our prayers, and He is willing to give grace to anyone who will reach out to Him. If you would like to learn more about nursing home ministry, consider liking or subscribing to our channel. To learn more about Joni and Friends Ministry you can find them on Facebook or at joniandfriends.org.

Love Vast as the Ocean

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But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 5:8 ESV

“Here is Love Vast as the Ocean”, was the signature song that marked the great Welsh Revival of 1904, first, under the preaching of a Methodist pastor named Joseph Jenkins and later on under a Baptist pastor named Evan Roberts. How interesting that this world-shaking revival would spring from such an out of the way place, and that its mighty waves of repentance, faith and conversion were founded not on Fire and Brimstone but on “Love Vast as an Ocean.” Maybe amidst the problems, demands and complications of your life, it has been a while since you dipped your toe in that ocean. Why not take a moment as you listen; to quietly kneel and allow the words of this song and the waves of God’s vast love roll over your heart and soul?

Jesus Revolution – A Personal Perspective

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Nancy and I went with friends on Saturday to see the newest and heavily marketed Christian film, called The Jesus Revolution. Whether you love this movie or hate it, it will probably get you to think (and maybe rethink) about how the events portrayed in it have reshaped the American church over the last generation. The story begins with a young man named Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) and his mom, a struggling Pastor named Chuck Smith and a hippie-preacher called Lonnie Frisbee. For those of you younger than me, who think that these guys are strange and the plot line unlikely, let me assure you that it is not far from the truth. Not to reveal too much of the twists and turns of the movie, I will tell you that I really liked how the script probes beneath the surface of the success story of Calvary Chapel and uncovers some of the complexity of the people involved. I especially enjoyed Kelsey Grammar’s portrayal of Pastor Chuck Smith and it was interesting seeing Jonathan Roumie (who is Jesus in The Chosen) as the controversial Lonnie Frisbee. So, what are my take-away’s? First, the impact of this story will affect you differently depending on which of those major characters you identify with. I was definitely more like Greg Laurie and I briefly lived in Los Angeles right about the time of this film. My fellow blogger, Mitch Teemley probably remembers that besides those Calvary Chapel folks, there were all kinds of strange Jesus people groups like, The Children of God and the followers of Tony and Sue Alamo traipsing up and down Hollywood Boulevard every night. To me the miracle is that despite all the craziness and confusion, God was working above it all and in those who truly received the unchanging message of Jesus Christ. While I have my doubts that this particular movie will spark a revival, I do love the questions that it stirs in us. It gives me hope because it reminds me that just as Jesus didn’t give up on my generation, He also hasn’t written off the Gen-Z crowd today. If you have seen the film, I’d love to hear your perspective too.