Zack has been a big help

This week we are in the studio with a very special Egyptian Evangelist, doing the Arabic version of Open the Bible: the Gospels (OTB). I’m very happy to be creating content for people in their heart language and also really please to have our MA staff so actively involved in making it happen.

Tyler Gibson, (our son) has been taking the lead for all the audio/Voice over narration. It has been a big challenge for him but he has stepped up equal to the challenge.

Zack Brackman, has also taken on a huge responsibility in the editing room and has done a stellar job of organizing and editing the content

Mike Winters, who is new with us is an amazing servant helping with make-up, time charting and doing the clapper in the studio.

Joel Arrellanes brings 10 years of professional TV experience to the project which makes this very special.

More then anything else, knowing that what we do today, will carry the witness of Christ to literally millions of people in the Arabic speaking world via internet and TV broadcast makes the long hours a sweet and delightful investment. Your investment in us is the icing on the cake!

I spoke this past sunday at the Madrid International Church. It was a really good time. I watched in peoples eyes as I spoke about a Jesus who surprises us by doing the unexpected thing. This teaching from John Chapter 5 really focuses on Jesus’ question to the lame man. “Do you want to be healed?” Better asked, “Are you ready to change?” The thought of change, even long desired change, can look nice from a distance but down right scary!

A Business axiom states “the best predictor of future behavior is past performance.” Now, I want you to know, I believe this to be true for everyone else but not for myself!” I don’t want to believe that what I have always done, I will always do. I need to believe that I am capable of change, of growth, of improvement. The truth is without Jesus showing up, we have little hope of real change on our own.

So I’m looking to Jesus to keep working in me just as he promised he and the Father would! John 5:17.

I have been meditating on Philippians 3 this past week in preparation for our staff
devotional time. I’m awestruck by Paul’s simple, singular focus and straight forward
statements.

“I consider EVERYTHING loss….”
What do I have to lose? Honestly, I look around and there is a lot I would have a
hard time letting go of. Status, reputation, comforts - these are the superficial and
yet seemingly important. Can I consider them loss? Family, ministry position,
health - now this gets real serious and sacrifice starts to touch my soul. Really Paul,
everything? Yet when we get to the core of loss, you know what we find? Joy!
Rejoicing in the Lord is what keeps Paul going. The tenor voice coming from a dark
Philippian jail sings, “Jesus is enough for me.”

“This ONE thing I do…”
His goal is clear, “I want to know Christ!” His practice is simple. 1. Don’t look back.
Your past is not going to supply you with what you will need now. Both the trophies
and the trials of our past will only weigh us down. 2. Keep focused on the prize.
Anyone who knows me, knows I like to have a plan. I like to write things down and
then cross them off. Do I plan for my growth in Christ like I plan for the growth of
ministry? I’m challenged to do the One thing well. 3. Strain with all you’ve got. Give
yourself to the moment. Everything else is a distraction from what is needed at this
moment.

Paul reminds us that he has not “arrived” and I know I sure haven’t. Expecting
perfection of myself and others around me is insane. But I can’t let myself off
too quickly, While we should never expect perfection, we should always expect
progress.

So I ask myself, “Is Paul’s hunger my hunger?” Do I long for perfection in my
body, soul, and spirit? Do I yearn for the moment when I cross the finish line?
John Piper has said “the evidence that you have God is to want more of God.”

As the director of IMM, I want to encourage myself and our team to give all we’ve
got until we reach our goal of knowing Christ and so making Him known. Even so,
Lord Jesus, come.

]]> http://jerryandgwen.com/2010/09/the-one-thing/feed/ http://jerryandgwen.com/2010/09/images-that-stir-your-soul/ http://jerryandgwen.com/2010/09/images-that-stir-your-soul/#comments Wed, 08 Sep 2010 11:05:42 +0000 Jerry http://jerryandgwen.com/?p=349

Recently I came across this devotional thought. It’s true how the writings from the Psalmist awaken our imagination to spiritual truth! Images do that for me. How about you? What strong images come to mind when you think of God?

THE LORD IS MY ROCK -PSALM 18:1-3

He is my Rock and my Fortress

It turns out that we humans reason largely by means of our hearts and not by our head. As French mathematician and theologian Pascal noted long ago, “The heart has reasons that reason does not know.”
Poets, singers, storytellers and artists have always known this. They use symbols and metaphors that speak to our hearts rather than to our minds. That’s why their ideas penetrate where everything else has failed. And that’s why we say,” A picture is worth a thousand words.” Images remain in our minds when all else is forgotten.
David wrote, “The Lord is my rock and my fortress…. my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold (Psalm 18:2).He was thinking of physical elements that convey spiritual realities. Each picture expresses a deeper thought, linking the visible world to the invisible realm of the Spirit. David doesn’t wander into definition and explanation, for explanation can blunt imagination. Each picture is left in our minds-images that evoke mystery, arouse our imagination, and deepen our understanding.
David wakes up what is hidden deep within us. It’s good to think long thoughts. What does this mean to you: God is my rock, my fortress, my shield? -David Roper