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Hello Great Family,

Julie and I went on a date to watch the movie, “Jesus Revolution”.  As a general rule of thumb, I am not a huge fan of “Christian” movies.  In my opinion, they typically have poor acting and come off as pretty cheesy.  However, I like this movie.  Here is how the makers of “Jesus Revolution” explain the plot, “In the 1970s, young Greg Laurie (Joel Courtney) is searching for all the right things in all the wrong places: until he meets Lonnie Frisbee (Jonathan Roumie), a charismatic hippie-street-preacher. Together with Pastor Chuck Smith (Kelsey Grammer), they open the doors of Smith’s languishing church to an unexpected revival of radical and newfound love, leading to what TIME Magazine dubbed a JESUS REVOLUTION.”

It was the second time in my life that I wanted to shout, “Hallelujah” in a movie theater (the first was during The Passion of the Christ).  The movie also brought me to tears at times.  Instead of coming off as the crazy guy sobbing and shouting, I just slurped more Diet Coke and tried to keep cool.

Julie and I both liked that this movie tells the real-life story of God doing incredible things using flawed people.  I’m pleased that they showed a powerful revival but also displayed the truth behind the story – MINISTRY IS MESSY!!  Messy, not because of God, but because we are messy people.  Pride enters in and things get messy.  Hurt enter in and things get messy.  Fear enters in and things get messy.  But God uses all of this to accomplish His will. God’s will is good and perfect yet He uses not so good and not so perfect people to bring life changing power into His world.  This gives me hope!  This should give us all hope!

Come to messy church this Sunday.  Yes, you might see some of that pride, hurt and fear while you are here but you might also see God doing something great and powerful.  Granted, you will have to get up an hour earlier because it is “time change” Sunday and we have to “Spring forward” but I’m looking forward to being with my messy church family in a place where I can sing and shout, “Hallelujah”!

Join in and participate this Sunday at 9am or 11am.  See you there!

God Bless,
P.D. (Psalm 139)