Star Wars meets The Ten Commandments

Could you imagine a movie that combines "Star Wars" with "The Ten Commandments"? Pastor Richard Gazowsky of the Voice of Pentecost church in San Francisco said that God spoke to him, "commanding him to make a million-dollar science fiction blockbuster," according to The Maneater. The film that he's working on as a result is a futuristic retelling of the biblical story of Joseph, tentatively titled "Gravity: The Shadow of Joseph".

A documentary, "Audience of One," has been made about the filming of this blockbuster. While the documentary was made, only two shots of Gazowsky's movie were actually filmed. A biblical sci-fi epic. . .sounds interesting.

God's role in a revival

God is present when we are gathered in His name. But in the case of Lighthouse United Pentecostal Church in Jackson, Tenn., God was present even when people were intending to gather in His name, but didn't. You see, Lighthouse Church was planning on having a revival on Feb. 5, the night that a tornado hit the church:

But the pastor canceled service because of the storm. [Pastor Donald] Lance has said, 'I just didn't feel right about having service.' The tornado hit at 7 p.m. The service had been set for 7 p.m.

Church board member Tim Britt said he believes that God spoke to Lance.

'Pentecostals don't cancel church,' Britt said. (Jackson Sun)

The tornado ended up toppling the church's sanctuary. While the church rebuilds, they are holding services at Northside Assembly of God. Lighthouse Church eventually hopes to get the OK to hold services in its gymnasium.

Charter school founder chose to help children instead of commit suicide

An article recently ran in The Dallas Morning News about Delores Beall, founder of a charter school called Lynacre Academy. Thanks to God, she chose to help children instead of taking her life:

She once described herself as a wild child who carried a switchblade in one pocket and a gun in the other.

But Delores Beall said her life changed course the day she tried to slit her wrists.

'The voice of God spoke to me,' she told a reporter in 1995.

In that pivotal moment, Ms. Beall realized she should pursue a life of charity, not rebellion. She built a reputation for keeping troubled kids out of gangs and in school. Lifting children out of a drug-infested, poverty-stricken existence became her mission.

Unfortunately, Beall now is in the midst of a financial scandal regarding the school, which closed on Feb. 1.

What it means to be a Dangerous Man

The Dangerous Man Day was very intriguing. There were many different sessions on topics applicable for men, such as becoming a servant leader, dealing with anger and forgiveness, and more. The keynote speaker was Chuck Stecker. He had six key points about being a dangerous man for Christ:

1. We need to see ourselves through God's eyes. God still looks at us as His sons.
2. We have favor with the King because of who we are, not because of what we do.
3. We need to take everything that we have and put it on the altar.
4. We need to daily be transformed into the likeness of the life of Jesus Christ.
5. We need to guard our hearts.
6. There are no routine operations.

One of the key points that I heard out of the day is that we are soldiers in a spiritual battle. Dedicating our lives to Christ does not make them easier. It, in fact, makes them harder, because we are declaring battle with Satan at that point.

The importance of fathers

Al Sanders grew up fatherless and on welfare in Fort Valley, Ga. He was on the wrong path in life, doing drugs and getting into any kind of possible trouble.

In 1996, Sanders was serving in the Air Force in Saudi Arabia when there was a terrorist attack that nearly killed him. About a dozen of his co-workers died, and it shook Sanders to the core. He turned his life over to Christ shortly thereafter. According to the Macon Telegraph, Sanders was moved by Christ to give back to his home community in Fort Valley by creating the Feed Center, a place for fatherless boys:

'God spoke to me and told me to come back here and do this,' Sanders said. 'I came back and saw some of my friends addicted to crack and cocaine and meth, and that really moved me, and I knew why God sent me here to do this.'

Men, do not underestimate your role in your family. Both your sons and your daughters look to you for validation. It's going to be a battle, because Satan will try to take you out. But with the strength of Christ, you will persevere.

The 50th anniversary of Teen Challenge

This year marks the 50th anniversary of Teen Challenge, an evangelical Christian recovery program. LubbockOnline recently ran a story on their local Teen Challenge center. For Kevin Thompson, a graduate of that program, God was the reason that he entered the program:

'I was sitting in the backseat of a patrol car,' he says, 'and I looked out the window and saw a church. God spoke to me - Are you tired of running yet?' That's the moment I decided to change, and I said, Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it.''

I'm sure that there are many amazing stories about how people decided to go into the Teen Challenge program. In addition, I have heard many amazing stories personally from graduates of Minnesota Teen Challenge of how the program has changed their lives. So many broken families and hearts have had an opportunity to mend thanks to this program.

Dangerous Man Day

On Saturday I will be attending Dangerous Man Day at Grace Church. The purpose behind Dangerous Man is to enable men "to recklessly follow Christ with abandon wherever He leads them, and discover the adventure, risk, and satisfaction we were created for."

I'm ready for this journey. It should be exciting, and I'm eager to follow Christ to wherever and whatever He has for me.