I Don't Want To Lose Heart

I recently ready John Eldridge's Waking the Dead. Very good. I needed to hear much of what he wrote. In it, he tells a portion of the Tin Man's story from The Wizard of Oz that fails to make it into the movie. Originally, the Tin Man was a real man, who was really in love. But the Wicked Witch carried out an evil plot against the Tin Man. She cast a spell that would eventually harden his heart. Every time the Tin Man was injured, his injured body part would be replaced by tin. Stronger. More durable. Safer from harm. But after a series of blows, his humanity was reduced to efficiency. I think as of late, I too have seized upon efficiency, busyness, and productivity over real life.

Perhaps it's the result of a difficult move (difficult in the sense that it was hard to leave where we moved from - where we've moved to is great). Whatever the reason, I find myself driven more by duty than love lately. I find myself yearning to have my heart back. I don't want to lose heart.

It brings to mind a scene from Braveheart. The young prince, Robert the Bruce, has just returned from the battlefield, where he had betrayed the Scottish hero William Wallace, to report to his father (now near death due to his leprosy).



"Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life." - Proverbs 4:23

How do I do that? What helps? Starting my morning out in God's Word. Worshiping him in private on my guitar. Lately, I've been going back and listening to some of the music I listened to when I first gave my life to Christ. For awhile, I've been sensing I need to start doing a monthly DAWG (Day Alone With God) day. Whatever it is, I better do it. I don't want to lose heart.

How about you? What helps you guard your heart?

Masterpiece Theater

I love classical literature and reading through such books as Treasure Island, Swiss Family Robbinson, A Little Princess, and A Jungle Book with my children has been a great joy. What strikes me about the writing of that time is the prodigious number of Scriptural references woven in the the fabric of the writing of that time. Even non-Christian authors from that period refer to events in the Bible we'd consider obscure by today's standards. The Bible was the literary common ground of the people in that day and age. Preachers today cannot refer to Moses, Abraham, Jacob, or even Paul without having to explain who they were. All of this led to the following clip we filmed with the help of Celebrate Church (www.celebratesf.com).

Cheesy I know, but I hope it might inspire some to dig into the true Masterpiece. Thank you, Cory Vinz for all your work on this project. It was a joy working with you.

And When I Run, I Feel His Pleasure

More from Chariots of Fire. I love this scene. Though many have supported and encouraged Eric Liddel in his bid to run for England in the 1924 Olympic games, one very close to him hasn't; his sister Jennie. She's concerned that this running and talk of medals is derailing him from his true calling (in her mind); the mission in China. It all comes to ahead when Eric is late for a missions meeting because of his training.

"And when I run, I feel his pleasure." Rick Warren would say Eric understood his S.H.A.P.E. (Spiritual Gifts - Heart - Abilities - Personality - Experiences). There are things I do that when I do them, I can feel His pleasure; reading to my kids, tucking them in at night, reading, studying, teaching, preaching, drumming, presenting Bible truths to the kids at church, etc. How about you? Are there certain things you do that when you do them, you can feel God's pleasure?