One of my favorite movie scenes occurs in 1985's "Back to the Future". You all know the story of young Marty McFly inadvertently traveling back to 1955 and his quest to make certain his future Mom & Dad will meet and have their first kiss.
The scene I love is in the coffee shop where nerdy George McFly is trying to pluck up enough courage to actually talk to the wildly popular Lorraine. Marty had been coaching his 'Dad-da-daddyo' in great opening lines, with George literally taking notes.
With a rumble taking place between Marty 'Calvin Klein' McFly and the metaphorically challenged Biff Tannen, George (reading from his notepad) proclaims his love for Lorraine with the words "you are my 'density'"!
Her puzzled look forces George to re-read his notes, and time seems to stand still as he correctly exclaims:
"You are my destiny!"
Destiny... my dictionary defines it as "the hidden power believed to control what will happen in the future".
This past weekend I was playing with Glenn Garrett (www.glenngarrett.com) down at Auburn University to a small but passionate group of students. Glenn's challenge is still ringing in my ears, that the greatest force in the universe is love, and that we all have a destiny. As Christ-followers our destiny is to love Him and love our neighbors, and in doing so both fulfill and proclaim this destiny.
I've seen many moments of this fulfillment in my faith journey... but equally as many where we've fallen woefully short of the mark. But lately I have been reminded at every turn of the longing in every heart for love, acceptance, community, and purpose. The Bible explains this desire in that "...He has also set eternity in the hearts of men..." (Ecclesiastes 3:11 NIV)
The implication is huge; in other words, this destiny is not the working of some 'hidden power', but the God-breathed and inspired plan He has for each one of us!
Now that's a destiny to look forward to!!
GV
Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Tuesday, April 17, 2007
Point of View
Hi gang! I'm heading out tomorrow for NC, home for a day or two, and then back out on the road. I've been meaning to share this editorial I found during the Easter season. It's by Roland Martin and I found it to be intriguing. I'd love to hear what you think about Mr. Martin's comments. Enjoy!
By Roland Martin
CNN Contributor
Editor's note: Roland Martin is a CNN contributor and talk-show host on WVON-AM in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith."
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant caring about only two issues, abortion and homosexuality?
Ask the nonreligious what being a Christian today means, and based on what we see and read, it's a good bet they will say that followers of Jesus Christ are preoccupied with those two points.
Poverty? Whatever. Homelessness? An afterthought. A widening gap between the have and have-nots? Immaterial. Divorce? The divorce rate of Christians mirrors the national average, so that's no big deal.
The point is that being a Christian should be about more than abortion and homosexuality, and it's high time that those not considered a part of the religious right expose the hypocrisy of our brothers and sisters in Christianity and take back the faith. And those on the left who believe they have a "get out of sin free" card must not be allowed to justify their actions.
Many people believe we are engaged in a holy war. And we are. But it's not with Muslims. The real war -- the silent war -- is being engaged among Christians, and that's what we must set our sights on.
As we celebrate Holy Week, our focus is on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But aren't we also to recommit ourselves to live more like Jesus? Did Jesus spend his time focusing on all that he didn't like, or did Jesus raise the consciousness of the people to understand love, compassion and teach them about following the will of God?
As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister, it's troubling to listen to "Christian radio" and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.
In fact, I've grown tired of people who pimp God. That's right; we have a litany of individuals today who are holy, holy, holy, sing hallelujah, talk about how they love the Lord, but when it's time to walk the walk, somehow the spirit evaporates.
A couple of years ago I took exception to an e-mail blast from the Concerned Women for America. The group was angry that Democrats were blocking certain judges put up for the federal bench by President Bush. It called on Americans to fight Democrats who wanted to keep Christians off the bench.
So I called and sent an e-mail asking, "So, where were you when President Clinton appointed Christian judges to the bench? Were they truly behind Christian judges, or Republican Christian judges?
Surprise, surprise. There was never a response.
An African-American pastor I know in the Midwest was asked by a group of mostly white clergy to march in an anti-abortion rally. He was fine with that, but then asked the clergy if they would work with him to fight crack houses in predominantly black neighborhoods.
"That's really your problem," he was told.
They saw abortion as a moral imperative, but not a community ravaged by crack.
If abortion and gay marriage are part of the Christian agenda, I have no issue with that. Those are moral issues that should be of importance to people of the faith, but the agenda should be much, much broader.
I'm looking for the day when Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, James Kennedy, Rod Parsley, " Patriot Pastors" and Rick Warren will sit at the same table as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia Hale, Eddie L. Long, James Meek, Fred Price, Emmanuel Cleaver and Floyd Flake to establish a call to arms on racism, AIDS, police brutality, a national health care policy, our sorry education system. If they all say they love and worship one God, one Jesus, let's see them rally their members behind one agenda.
I stand here today not as a Republican or a liberal. And don't bother calling me a Democrat or a conservative. I am a man, an African-American man who has professed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that's to whom I bow down.
If you concur, it's time to stop allowing a chosen few to speak for the masses. Quit letting them define the agenda.
So put on the full armor of God because we have work to do.
What is your take on this commentary?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer. This is part of an occasional series of commentaries on CNN.com offering a broad range of perspectives, thoughts and points of view.
By Roland Martin
CNN Contributor
Editor's note: Roland Martin is a CNN contributor and talk-show host on WVON-AM in Chicago, Illinois. He is the author of "Listening to the Spirit Within: 50 Perspectives on Faith."
NEW YORK (CNN) -- When did it come to the point that being a Christian meant caring about only two issues, abortion and homosexuality?
Ask the nonreligious what being a Christian today means, and based on what we see and read, it's a good bet they will say that followers of Jesus Christ are preoccupied with those two points.
Poverty? Whatever. Homelessness? An afterthought. A widening gap between the have and have-nots? Immaterial. Divorce? The divorce rate of Christians mirrors the national average, so that's no big deal.
The point is that being a Christian should be about more than abortion and homosexuality, and it's high time that those not considered a part of the religious right expose the hypocrisy of our brothers and sisters in Christianity and take back the faith. And those on the left who believe they have a "get out of sin free" card must not be allowed to justify their actions.
Many people believe we are engaged in a holy war. And we are. But it's not with Muslims. The real war -- the silent war -- is being engaged among Christians, and that's what we must set our sights on.
As we celebrate Holy Week, our focus is on the death and resurrection of Jesus Christ. But aren't we also to recommit ourselves to live more like Jesus? Did Jesus spend his time focusing on all that he didn't like, or did Jesus raise the consciousness of the people to understand love, compassion and teach them about following the will of God?
As a layman studying to receive a master's in Christian communications, and the husband of an ordained minister, it's troubling to listen to "Christian radio" and hear the kind of hate spewing out of the mouths of my brothers and sisters in the faith.
In fact, I've grown tired of people who pimp God. That's right; we have a litany of individuals today who are holy, holy, holy, sing hallelujah, talk about how they love the Lord, but when it's time to walk the walk, somehow the spirit evaporates.
A couple of years ago I took exception to an e-mail blast from the Concerned Women for America. The group was angry that Democrats were blocking certain judges put up for the federal bench by President Bush. It called on Americans to fight Democrats who wanted to keep Christians off the bench.
So I called and sent an e-mail asking, "So, where were you when President Clinton appointed Christian judges to the bench? Were they truly behind Christian judges, or Republican Christian judges?
Surprise, surprise. There was never a response.
An African-American pastor I know in the Midwest was asked by a group of mostly white clergy to march in an anti-abortion rally. He was fine with that, but then asked the clergy if they would work with him to fight crack houses in predominantly black neighborhoods.
"That's really your problem," he was told.
They saw abortion as a moral imperative, but not a community ravaged by crack.
If abortion and gay marriage are part of the Christian agenda, I have no issue with that. Those are moral issues that should be of importance to people of the faith, but the agenda should be much, much broader.
I'm looking for the day when Jerry Falwell, Pat Robertson, Joyce Meyer, James Dobson, Tony Perkins, James Kennedy, Rod Parsley, " Patriot Pastors" and Rick Warren will sit at the same table as Jesse Jackson, Al Sharpton, Cynthia Hale, Eddie L. Long, James Meek, Fred Price, Emmanuel Cleaver and Floyd Flake to establish a call to arms on racism, AIDS, police brutality, a national health care policy, our sorry education system. If they all say they love and worship one God, one Jesus, let's see them rally their members behind one agenda.
I stand here today not as a Republican or a liberal. And don't bother calling me a Democrat or a conservative. I am a man, an African-American man who has professed that Jesus Christ is Lord, and that's to whom I bow down.
If you concur, it's time to stop allowing a chosen few to speak for the masses. Quit letting them define the agenda.
So put on the full armor of God because we have work to do.
What is your take on this commentary?
The opinions expressed in this commentary are those of the writer. This is part of an occasional series of commentaries on CNN.com offering a broad range of perspectives, thoughts and points of view.
Sunday, April 15, 2007
A Kind of Homecoming
Hi... it's me again! It's Sunday evening, and I need to tie up some loose ends from the past week and the end of the Reveal Tour. We finished up this past Friday night in Meridian, MS, and with only 300 miles between me and Thompson's Station... you guessed it! I headed for the house. As I drove, my thoughts became more and more centered on home. But many of the events and images from this tour kept flooding my mind and I realized that 'home' was more central to the week than I imagined...
In a high school auditorium 'less than full', I was humbled on Thursday night by sight of the 4 or 5 folks who came home that night. God's way of measuring success is far better than mine!
In Meridian on Friday night, I watched a student struggle to answer the call for home. I saw a miracle take place as spiritual warfare waged inside this teenager. The result? Another homecoming!
As I drove through the night to get home, the sight of a dazzling lightning storm had me spellbound. With each bolt
crossing the sky, I couldn't help but think of how God casts my sins as far as East is from the West. My desire to get home to my family was nothing compared to the thought of the 'homecoming' to come, and how soon and quickly it will happen.
Thanks again to all of you who prayed for us this past week. I truly wish you could see what I get to see... lives that had no hope, suddenly filled to overflowing with the Hope that only Christ brings. I am always humbled by the fact that God chooses to use broken and shattered people to point the way toward Him, and that I have the honor to use what skills I have in His service.
This Wednesday I head up to Asheville and the Biltmore Baptist Church for one last event tied to this tour...
The 'homecoming' concert!!
Love you all!
GV
In a high school auditorium 'less than full', I was humbled on Thursday night by sight of the 4 or 5 folks who came home that night. God's way of measuring success is far better than mine!
In Meridian on Friday night, I watched a student struggle to answer the call for home. I saw a miracle take place as spiritual warfare waged inside this teenager. The result? Another homecoming!
As I drove through the night to get home, the sight of a dazzling lightning storm had me spellbound. With each bolt
crossing the sky, I couldn't help but think of how God casts my sins as far as East is from the West. My desire to get home to my family was nothing compared to the thought of the 'homecoming' to come, and how soon and quickly it will happen.
Thanks again to all of you who prayed for us this past week. I truly wish you could see what I get to see... lives that had no hope, suddenly filled to overflowing with the Hope that only Christ brings. I am always humbled by the fact that God chooses to use broken and shattered people to point the way toward Him, and that I have the honor to use what skills I have in His service.
This Wednesday I head up to Asheville and the Biltmore Baptist Church for one last event tied to this tour...
The 'homecoming' concert!!
Love you all!
GV
Wednesday, April 11, 2007
No 'Biloxi Blues' tonight
Whew! What a day! I just got back to the hotel after a full day. I've already mentioned the VBS at the FEMA trailers, the senior adult lunch at FBC Biloxi, and the setup for tonights' event. That alone would be plenty to qualify as a productive day.
But around 6:30pm, the student room at FBC Biloxi was almost full (close to 300 folks) as Kevin and the band began to lead worship. Let me stop right here and brag on Austin, Preston, and Zack for doing an incredible job in the band. These young guys have been working tirelessly to prepare for this tour. Not only are they hanging in on the worship set, but they are kicking on the choir songs. What makes this significant is that we are playing along to prerecorded tracks with extra musical parts. This means that these guys are having to play along with a click track while using in-ear monitors; there are a lot of adult pro musicians who can't do this! And an honorable mention goes to Frederick, one of the soloists who is helping us lead worship, and our buddy Zack B. running monitors. What a talented bunch of students!
Tonight was pretty incredible. Due to the nature of a production like this, there's little or no variation in the concert from night to night. But our speaker, Gary Permenter is bringing a fresh message each time, weaving a thread to our tour theme of 'what are you waiting for?' And that pretty much sums it up. Gary presented the Good News in such a simple and powerful fashion. It was a significant moment for many as Holy Spirit moved and did his work.
I couldn't help but notice this one young lady on the other side of the room from the band. After the invitation had finished and the choir prepared to end the night with a big number, this girl still had her head bowed... her face in her hands. The student pastor of this church was sitting next to her and was quietly praying. God's Spirit was so strong that she literally was humbled in His presence.
So, no big numbers to report, no 'evangelistic exaggeration' of the dozens and dozens of commitments... just the awesome sight of God moving in such a powerful way. For me, this was the high point of this tour so far. We may be tired, but we don't have a case of the blues; far from it! Tonight there are several new members of God's family, and we had the humbling privilege of being able to sing His praise and tell the story of His love, mercy, and grace!
Tomorrow brings the last day of our VBS outreach, as well as our work projects. Our venue tomorrow is a local school auditorium and we're hoping that the crowd there will be as excited and receptive as tonight. On Friday we'll be up in Meridian, but I don't want to rush too far ahead; I can't wait to see what's in store for tomorrow.
Thanks to those of you who've written with words of encouragement and prayer for this week. I'm certain that you have had a hand in the success of this tour. Thank you!!!
Until tomorrow, God bless!!
GV
But around 6:30pm, the student room at FBC Biloxi was almost full (close to 300 folks) as Kevin and the band began to lead worship. Let me stop right here and brag on Austin, Preston, and Zack for doing an incredible job in the band. These young guys have been working tirelessly to prepare for this tour. Not only are they hanging in on the worship set, but they are kicking on the choir songs. What makes this significant is that we are playing along to prerecorded tracks with extra musical parts. This means that these guys are having to play along with a click track while using in-ear monitors; there are a lot of adult pro musicians who can't do this! And an honorable mention goes to Frederick, one of the soloists who is helping us lead worship, and our buddy Zack B. running monitors. What a talented bunch of students!
Tonight was pretty incredible. Due to the nature of a production like this, there's little or no variation in the concert from night to night. But our speaker, Gary Permenter is bringing a fresh message each time, weaving a thread to our tour theme of 'what are you waiting for?' And that pretty much sums it up. Gary presented the Good News in such a simple and powerful fashion. It was a significant moment for many as Holy Spirit moved and did his work.
I couldn't help but notice this one young lady on the other side of the room from the band. After the invitation had finished and the choir prepared to end the night with a big number, this girl still had her head bowed... her face in her hands. The student pastor of this church was sitting next to her and was quietly praying. God's Spirit was so strong that she literally was humbled in His presence.
So, no big numbers to report, no 'evangelistic exaggeration' of the dozens and dozens of commitments... just the awesome sight of God moving in such a powerful way. For me, this was the high point of this tour so far. We may be tired, but we don't have a case of the blues; far from it! Tonight there are several new members of God's family, and we had the humbling privilege of being able to sing His praise and tell the story of His love, mercy, and grace!
Tomorrow brings the last day of our VBS outreach, as well as our work projects. Our venue tomorrow is a local school auditorium and we're hoping that the crowd there will be as excited and receptive as tonight. On Friday we'll be up in Meridian, but I don't want to rush too far ahead; I can't wait to see what's in store for tomorrow.
Thanks to those of you who've written with words of encouragement and prayer for this week. I'm certain that you have had a hand in the success of this tour. Thank you!!!
Until tomorrow, God bless!!
GV
Gulf Coast update
If you're keeping score, it's Day Three of this tour; and yes, that means no entry for Day Two, but it was both busy and good! Today I'm sitting in the student room of FBC Biloxi while setup goes on around me.
We just finished doing a few songs for a Senior lunch and Gary Permenter brought a hilarious yet timely message about who we can and should forgive and have compassion for. He made a statement that is so true... 'hurt people hurt people' and that we should remember that when we encounter people difficult to love and accept.
Yesterday and today Kevin and I did a few songs for the VBS outreach we're doing each morning at the FEMA trailers. Imagine a really large mobile home park and you'll have an idea of the housing that many of the displaced Katrina survivors now inhabit. We've seen a dozen or so kids come out and play and listen to us sing songs and tell the Good News about Christ.
The concert last night at Petal-Harvey BC went well. While we have been playing mainly to church folks, Elizabeth (a junior girl from the Reveal Choir) said it best in the luncheon today; 'we are passing our joy onto the people in this area'. If we can give Hope to the hopeless, we'll gladly let Holy Spirit do the rest!
Pray for us tonight! We kick it at 6:30 and last year at this church was simply rockin!
God bless!
GV
We just finished doing a few songs for a Senior lunch and Gary Permenter brought a hilarious yet timely message about who we can and should forgive and have compassion for. He made a statement that is so true... 'hurt people hurt people' and that we should remember that when we encounter people difficult to love and accept.
Yesterday and today Kevin and I did a few songs for the VBS outreach we're doing each morning at the FEMA trailers. Imagine a really large mobile home park and you'll have an idea of the housing that many of the displaced Katrina survivors now inhabit. We've seen a dozen or so kids come out and play and listen to us sing songs and tell the Good News about Christ.
The concert last night at Petal-Harvey BC went well. While we have been playing mainly to church folks, Elizabeth (a junior girl from the Reveal Choir) said it best in the luncheon today; 'we are passing our joy onto the people in this area'. If we can give Hope to the hopeless, we'll gladly let Holy Spirit do the rest!
Pray for us tonight! We kick it at 6:30 and last year at this church was simply rockin!
God bless!
GV
Monday, April 09, 2007
Putting the 'Road' in 'Road Journal'
Hello from Meridian, MS and Day One of the Biltmore BC Reveal Student Choir tour. It was about this same time last year that this BIG group of students (along with adult leaders) hit this area to help with Hurricane Katrina relief, and to spread the Good News through song.
Me? I'm just the guitar player, but I'm honored to once again be a part of what I know will be a life-changing experience for many. Tonight we have a full production rehearsal at the Petal-Harvey BC right outside Hattiesburg. And what a production... a kicking sound system, a cool lighting rig, video, and a full band and close to 200 singing/dancing excited students! Our first concert is tomorrow night, but the coolest part of this whole deal is that during the day the team will be assisting the Katrina relief effort. Last year this included some pretty heavy demolition and clean-up; this year will be strictly painting, so that means a great deal of work has been going on in our absence.
I'll be blogging every day and will do my best to describe our efforts, and will put up a pic or two when words fail. Expect a LOT of pictures! lol
Thanks for praying for us... I know the God we celebrated yesterday will be doing incredible things today and tomorrow!
GV
Sunday, April 01, 2007
"Infiˈdelitē"
It's been 13 days and about 1300 miles since my last post. The past fortnight has had me in Tupelo with our friends at Trace Crossing, down with the Kevin Williams Band in a revival for FBC Brandon, MS. Tonight I'm writing from the Asheville, NC area, where I've been working with the Reveal Band in preparation for their student choir tour down on the gulf coast area (yes, still in great need from the effects of Hurricane Katrina).
But tonight I have been thinking about infidelity. You know... the act or state of unfaithfulness. It's true that the infidelity of a well-known Christian evangelist has made the news in a big way. And the reaction to this bombshell has been alarmingly varied. Beyond the shock and disbelief, the admission of evangelist Rick Ousley of his lack of fidelity has shaken many people to the core.
My own reaction was alarming even to myself. I served with Rick for seven years. He's been a friend and help to me and my family in ways too numerous to count. I, too, felt shock... and didn't want to believe, and I've been alternating between sadness, anger, and fear. These emotions were nothing compared to what I felt when I read some of the recent blog sites that have sprung up. While there are a few voices advocating prayer and mercy for all, most of the voices are raised in anger, vowing to keep Rick from ever preaching again.
Should Rick be allowed to one day again present the Word? I honestly don't know. But I do know that there is another issue that's far more important to consider. With the angry mob demanding this and that, and disenfranchised Pharisees egging them on with words of what can't and shouldn't and must not ever be... I stop and wonder what Christ would say and do.
I know exactly what he'd do. With the crowd gathered for the kill, stones in hand... Jesus would kneel and draw in the dirt. You already know what he'd say, too. Let those with no sin whatsoever in their lives throw the first shot.
With my rock in hand, poised to throw, I think of the thousands of ways I've commited infidelity. Usually we think of this in regard to sexual relationships, and this is a biggie, with physical and spiritual rammifications and consequences beyond our initial grasp. But equally big in God's eyes is our unfaithfulness when we look on someone or something in lust. What about being unfaithful to help and to pray for those in need? What about the infidelity of gossip?? Of failure to give to God the first fruits of our labor? What about setting myself up in the place of God as judge?? The list is as endless as the 'moral failure' in each of our lives.
There are no winners in this current mess, that much is clear. And only time will show the truth of how Grace will work in this situation and in the lives of all involved. But there is not one person on this planet that is worthy of forgiveness and mercy and grace.
But God extends it anyway. Even to those we don't want to have it.
I think I'll drop my rock now.
In His Mercy,
GV
But tonight I have been thinking about infidelity. You know... the act or state of unfaithfulness. It's true that the infidelity of a well-known Christian evangelist has made the news in a big way. And the reaction to this bombshell has been alarmingly varied. Beyond the shock and disbelief, the admission of evangelist Rick Ousley of his lack of fidelity has shaken many people to the core.
My own reaction was alarming even to myself. I served with Rick for seven years. He's been a friend and help to me and my family in ways too numerous to count. I, too, felt shock... and didn't want to believe, and I've been alternating between sadness, anger, and fear. These emotions were nothing compared to what I felt when I read some of the recent blog sites that have sprung up. While there are a few voices advocating prayer and mercy for all, most of the voices are raised in anger, vowing to keep Rick from ever preaching again.
Should Rick be allowed to one day again present the Word? I honestly don't know. But I do know that there is another issue that's far more important to consider. With the angry mob demanding this and that, and disenfranchised Pharisees egging them on with words of what can't and shouldn't and must not ever be... I stop and wonder what Christ would say and do.
I know exactly what he'd do. With the crowd gathered for the kill, stones in hand... Jesus would kneel and draw in the dirt. You already know what he'd say, too. Let those with no sin whatsoever in their lives throw the first shot.
With my rock in hand, poised to throw, I think of the thousands of ways I've commited infidelity. Usually we think of this in regard to sexual relationships, and this is a biggie, with physical and spiritual rammifications and consequences beyond our initial grasp. But equally big in God's eyes is our unfaithfulness when we look on someone or something in lust. What about being unfaithful to help and to pray for those in need? What about the infidelity of gossip?? Of failure to give to God the first fruits of our labor? What about setting myself up in the place of God as judge?? The list is as endless as the 'moral failure' in each of our lives.
There are no winners in this current mess, that much is clear. And only time will show the truth of how Grace will work in this situation and in the lives of all involved. But there is not one person on this planet that is worthy of forgiveness and mercy and grace.
But God extends it anyway. Even to those we don't want to have it.
I think I'll drop my rock now.
In His Mercy,
GV
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