Joshua

A friend recently recommended this movie to me so we went to Blockbuster and rented it a few nights ago. Within ten minutes after the movie was over, I had gone online and bought it. This movie really was great.

Joshua was initially a novel written by Joseph Girzone. It is a story which projects what it might be like if Jesus were to have come into the world today instead of 2000 years ago. (The name "Joshua" is Hebrew and is translated "Jesus" in Greek.) The story shows how Joshua affects the small town where he comes. He is a simple wood worker who shows love to everybody. He raises the ire of the priest of the local church in the same way Jesus did with religious leaders 2000 years ago.

The movie is funny at times -- like the scene when Joshua is trying to open a CD and becomes obviously frustrated with it, showing that even God can't easily open one of those things. There is another scene where the priests asks him what he thought of the sermon. Joshua replied that it was interesting. "In what way?" the priest persisted. Joshua answered, "I've never heard anybody describe the love of God in a way that would make people afraid of Him." Finally there is a great scene in the movie where Joshua reaches out and touches the priest's chest and the priest, feeling his love, begins to weep. It is a powerful, moving scene.

So if you're sitting around one evening, wishing there were something better to watch on TV, pick up this movie. If your local Blockbuster store doesn't carry it, believe me, it's worth buying. I got mine on amazon.com. I'd say it is one of the best Christian films I've seen. Until now, "The Hiding Place" has been my favorite, but this one gives it a close run.

A Compelling Book

Now and then I pick up a book that I have a hard time putting down until I finish it. I recently read one that fits that category. It is Left To Tell by Immaculee Ilibagiza.

You probably remember the Rwandan holocaust that took place in 1994. I remember it, but am embarassed at how little I knew about it. Either it didn't get as much news covergage as it should have or else I must have had my head buried a mile deep in responsibilities at the time. Othewise, I can't imagine why I don't remember more about it. In a three month period, nearly one million Tutsi Rwandans were killed in an attempted genocide sanctioned by the government.

Left To Tell describes the mass genocide through the eyes of Immaculee. She and seven other women survived by hiding together at a pastor's house, in a bathroom so small they couldn't all sit down at the same time for 91 days. The house was searched again and again by Hutus wielding machetes that were used to hack Tutsis to death. The people who had been Immaculee's lifelong neighbors and friends were now determined to ruthlessly kill her. In the introduction, she writes:

I heard the killers call my name. They were on the other side of the wall and less than an inch of plaster and wood separated us. Their voices were cold, hard, and determined.

"She's here ...we know she's here somewhere...Find her. Find Immaculee." There were many voices, many killers. I could see them in my mind: my former friends and neighbors, who had always greeted me with love and kindness, moving through the house carrying spears and machetes and calling my name. "I have killed 399 cockroaches,' one of the killers said. Immaculee will make 400. It's a good number to kill."

I cowered in the corner of our tiny secret bathroom without moving a muscle. Like the seven other other women hiding for their lives with me, I held my breath so that the killers wouldn't hear me breathing. Their voices clawed at my flesh. I felt as if I were lying on a bed of burning coals, like I'd been set on fire. . . I wondered what if would feel like when the machete slashed through my skin and cut deep into my bones. I thought of my brothers and my dear parents, wondering if they were dead or alive and if we would soon be together in heaven.

When Immaculee would leave the bathroom after 91 days, she was to discover that her whole family and nearly every friend she had ever known had been killed. The amazing thing about this book is her description of how she came to know God intimately while hiding and how she found the strength to forgive those who killed her family. In fact, at the end of the book she confronts the man who was directly responsible for her family's brutal murder. It was a man they and she had known as a friend for most of their lives. I won't describe it. You'll have to read it for yourself. It brought tears to my eyes.

This book left me thinking, "If she can find the grace to forgive, anybody can." I was deeply moved by her story.

Like many books, you'll have to filter some things you read here. If you're the sort of person who gets offended when you hear or read things you don't agree with, this one isn't for you. But if you are wired so that you are willing to eat the meat and spit out the bones, I think you'll love this book. In other words, this isn't a theology book. But whatever weak theology you'll find here is overshadowed by Immaculee's description of how she encountered God and how she came to love and forgive those who inflicted such savage brutality on those she loved.

Audio Files From Preaching In Mexico

It is such an encouragement to me to work together with others who share the same passion for the grace walk message. This is Gerardo and Gloria Vazquez. Gerardo is the Executive Director for Grace Walk Latin America. He is not only a partner in ministry, but a dear friend.

In 2000, I was preaching in the Mexican state of Chiapas. The crusade was being held in a bull fighting ring and there were thousands of people there. My translator was a 14 year old girl who could hardly understand what I was saying. God blessed despite the language struggles.

On the last night after the service ended, I was lying in the bed in my hotel. I prayed, "Father, you know I'm in Mexico because you led me to establish the ministry here. I printed Grace Walk in Spanish before I even knew anybody here. You have led me here, but Father, I need somebody to work with in Mexico -- a man who is perfectly fluent in Spanish and English. And Lord, if you'll make him be, not just a translator, but a preacher -- that would be great."

The next day I went to Guadalajara, where I was to preach for the week. That day I met Gerardo Vazquez. He is a Mexican who lived many years in California. He tells how that the first night he translated, he thought I was preaching heresy. By the second night, the Holy Spirit was speaking to Him and by the next night, he had seen and understood the grace walk message. On that night, he literally wept with joy as he translated. Before I left Mexico that week, I knew beyond any doubt that he was the man God had sent.

We have traveled to many places preaching together. You can click this link and hear us preaching in a big crusade in Mexico. Steve & Gerardo Preaching This is a page on our Spanish web site. Scroll down the left side of the page until you see "Steve McVey y Gerardo Vazquez." Click on any of the topics under that and you can hear us preaching together.

If you are curious about our Spanish site, you can check it out at http://www.caminandobajosugracia.com

This is Craig Snyder, the Director of Missions for Grace Walk Ministries. Craig and I have shared our lives and hearts together for many years. God is using him in a tremendous way to reach out in missions through Grace Walk Ministries. He is preaching today in Mexico with Gerardo. They were in Chetumal training pastors for several days, then went to Cancun yesterday where they will speak today and tomorrow.

I am so thankful to be able to work together with such good friends. But right now I'm jealous that they are preaching together in Mexico while I'm here! :)

Sailing Down The Intracoastal Waterway

Melanie and I spent three days this week with our friends, Roger and Jan Dean aboard their sailboat, Grace Upon Grace. Roger and Jan are sailing from Hilton Head, SC to Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We met them at St. Augustine and went as far as Daytona Beach onboard their boat.

They live in Atlanta and have been good friends for years. They and we have traveled with a group to the British Virgin Islands for a number of years, where we sail from island to island on two or three boats. We always spend a week there and I usually speak to the groups about sailing as a metaphor for the grace walk. I have outlined a book on this subject and plan to write it at some point. Because of our ministry trip to Norway next month, Melanie and I won't be able to make the trip with them to the BVI this year.

The pictures in the slideshow above are a few I took as we traveled along the Intracoastal Waterway between St. Augustine and Daytona Beach. The three days passed quickly.

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship

On Monday night I spoke at Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship in Dallas, Texas, where my friend, Dr. Tony Evans is pastor. The church is celebrating their 30th Anniversary this week. I have enjoyed speaking there several times in the past and always enjoy preaching there. This time I spoke from Revelation 4 on the topic, "The King And His Throne."

Anthony Evans sang a "mini-concert" that was the most powerful worship experience I've had in church in a long time. (Anthony is Tony Evan's son.) If you haven't heard his music, trust me, you need to go online and buy one of his C.D's immediately. Tears came to my eyes as I listened to him worship through music and, in the process, lead us all into a powerful awareness of our Father's presence and love.

Kirk Franklin is also a member of that church and I had the chance to visit with him for a little while. I so admire Kirk. He has sold more gospel albums than anybody in history, won Grammy Awards, and has a worldwide ministry through his music that is mind-boggling, yet he maintains a humilty and evident passion for Christ that is rare.

Kirk's testimony is that God used Grace Walk to set him free from pornography by teaching him his identity in Christ. You can read his story in "Contemporary Christian Music Magazine" by clicking this link. His is an amazing story of grace.

Oak Cliff Bible Fellowship began in the Evans' living room with 10 people and now has over 7000 members. The church is reaching out to the Dallas area in many creative ways, such as adopting over 70 public schools. The ministry is called "Project Turnaround." You can learn more about it by clicking this link.

When they dedicated their 172,000 square foot Educational Building used for youth and children's ministry, Preident Bush spoke at the church and called Oak Cliff "a model for the nation." I agree. What God is doing through this group of Christians is amazing.

More Sunrise Over Tampa Bay Photos

I took these at dawn one morning this week. I used a Canon PowerShot S2-IS.These were straight shots with no special lens. Such a beautiful place at the perfect time of day.

Your Father's Heart (from Psalms)

"YOUR FATHER'S HEART" is a short video I did using Movie Maker. It is a selection of verses, all from Psalms, which I think paint a beautiful picture of our Father's heart toward us.

Anyway, I'd like to know if you enjoy the video. I'm thinking of doing more from other books of the Bible.