March 19, 2006
Monday Morning: Epic
I didn't start out to frame our new series, Found, the way I did. I had planned to play off our thematic hook from Lost, the television series, which I did to begin my message.
But, Mike Graham, who is leading the LifeGroup Kim and I are currently in had given me a copy of John Eldredge's newest book, Epic, which I took on my trip to MS this past week to join a group with Relief Now Network for more hurricane relief.
When I began reading the book on the way down to serve, I knew this was the framework in which I should present the series. (I also realized Eldredge had condensed his book Waking the Dead into this more readable tract for those of us with a shorter attention span.) If you want to see some of the content and see a cool site, Eldredge has created epicreality for you.
What struck me about Eldredge's presentation was that I did wonder why I was moved by certain films. Did I have a hero complex? Was I Walter Middy? No, I soon realized that the reason I was drawn to characters like Neo (The Matrix Trilogy), Frodo (,The Lord of the Rings Trilogy) and Nathaniel Poe (The Last of the Mohicans) was that I longed to be in the adventure they were living. I wanted my life to count for something as significant as theirs...no matter the danger, risk or potential loss of life as I had known it.
What film or story characters bring out this feeling in your life?
The truth that struck me from Epic and the one that helped me realize that my life in Christ WAS the adventure God wrote on my heart to live was,
Every story, great and small, shares the same essential structure because every story we tell borrows its power from a Larger Story, a Story woven into the fabric of out being...All of these borrow from the Story. (12, 13)
I had longed for a time and place far away to live the adventure I wanted to live, but as I probed my heart for what drove me to desire lives like my heroes, I found God had already put that adventure in me. My life in Christ and my life with my family and Legacy was the most challenging, dangerous, adventuresome saga I could ever be cast in. I realized I had a crucial role to play in the story of God.
Read the book to see how Eldredge describes the Author of The Story we have all fallen into. God's Story is The Story of our lives, and when we trust that is true, we'll be altogether better for it.
So, our series Found the next three weeks is about The Story: God's Story, Your Story, and Their Story. We will review God's Story of how Jesus, our Hero, Savior, and Rescuer, has made it possible to live the life God created for us to live.
Your Story will be about your unique tale whether it involves the Author or not. My Story is my tale of how God found me and showed me the adventure he had for me to live within the Epic of his love.
Their Story will remind us everyone has a tale to tell and we who are on the adventure with God need to pause long enough to hear their story to know the role they may play in the things of God.
What is it about people's stories that tell you about the bigger story we are all a part of?
Donnie Robertson and I will be guiding a group through Becoming a Contagious Christian starting this Wednesday evening at 6:30 in room A215. If you want to know how to tell God's Story and your story, join us! We will have the books with us.
Posted by Gene Wilkes at March 19, 2006 08:54 PMI loved how you made the distinction between those who want to live just in their own little story (without Christ) and those who see the larger story rooted in the Biblical account.
On movies...
My wife's favorite movie is Pollyanna with Hayley Mills. Even though it is Debbie's favorite, I had never watched it. This weekend I did. I was surprised how much I enjoyed it. Why did I like it? Because it was another story of an unlikely hero. Pollyanna was a small girl who made a huge difference because she boldly but thoughtfully led.
Yesterday's service was really powerful, Gene. Epic, Lost, Found--each of these weave together nicely. And Leston's leading, especially during the response, was amazing.
I agree with Allen: great analogy, especially when you talked about staying in the comfort of the little story rather than the risky feelings of the unknown.
I look forward to the remainder of the series.
As for movies, without a single hesitation, Mike said, "Schlindler's List".
I went through "To Kill a Mockingbird","Raiders of the Lost Ark","Shawshank Redemption", "It's a Wonderful Life", and ALL of the ones you named, but I keep coming back to "Casablanca". When the patrons at Rick's sing "La Marseillaise" at the top of their lungs in the presence of the German officers, I just want to stand up and salute! Then there are all the many ways to look at love, intrigue, and sacrifices made by everyone to win WWII; this movie always speaks to the romantic in me.
Posted by: patsy at March 20, 2006 02:49 PMAfter thinking about the stories and movies that I like most, and taking into consideration what Allen had to say about Debbie's favorite movie, I thought probaly like many other women I like stories with female heroines. Two of my favorite female heroines would be Eliza Dolittle in "My Fair Lady" and Esther from the Bible. Both of these women needed to be rescued, what woman doesn't love the "knight in shining armor" analogy, both had a mission or purpose that seemed insurmountable considering their natural abilities and circumstances, and both of them got to wear beautiful gowns and don jewel-studded crowns.
Then God laid on my heart that I do have a gallant "knight in shining armor" ,beyond my own sweet husband. His name is Jesus! As my Rescuer He gives my life a purpose that has eternal value, He equips me through the power of the Holy Spirit to accomplish my purpose with abilities that exceed my own natural limits, He loves, protects and cherishes me beyond my own comprehension and at the end of the day I get to have the biggest BLING ever. I get to wear "the crown of life".
Here's a big AMEN to "happily ever afters", knights in shining armor and the princesses that they rescue!!!
Alan, i think the coolest part of the Story are the unlikely heroes! You can sure find them in the Bible...
Patsy, Doh! "Schinler's List" was one of those films I didn't leave for 20 minutes after the credits rolled...too powerful. "Casablanca" is...Casablanca. No need to say more.
Tammy, love the BLING analogy...now there's a story...
Posted by: Gene at March 20, 2006 03:51 PMGene - can't wait to hear the rest of the message - sounds like a great start to the series.
i identify w/ lots of movie characters ... but somehow, always think of Maria in 'Sound of Music' and Belle in 'Beauty and the Beast.'
They each risked a life of ease for something outside of themselves. they were both forced to step into someone else's story which meant considerable sacrifice for them. But - when they embraced the sacrifices it called for, they contributed to changing the lives of those they were called to serve. their own lives were enriched by the experience and they end up becoming 'heroes' themselves.
oh - and of course the fact that they sing, they dance and they live in austria and france couldn't hurt!
;-)
Kris,
I agree with your choices of heroines! I must admit that Belle and Maria are female coutnerparts to the characters I chose...Glad I had daughters with whom I got to watch those characters...
Posted by: Gene Wilkes at March 22, 2006 09:12 AM