Pastor's Message
June 2009
Greetings to the people of God:
A person once wrote and taught, “I desire to be regarded as a useless fool for Christ who before me was regarded as such, rather than as wise or prudent person in this world.” The production company has left and Robert DeNiro has gone on his way. So what was left behind?
We might say it was memories of some of are experiences. We might say it was the unique (I hesitate to say wonderful) experience for Emmanuel to have been used as a set for a movie. We probably could say several things about all that happened. What was left behind?
Robert DeNiro sat in the chair in the pastor’s office. I checked to see if anything of Robert DeNiro was left behind on it, but all I could see was a green chair. I did find an old, inexpensive folding wooden TV tray in the church that actually belonged to Robert DeNiro, but I had to give it back to him. Besides no one would have believed me that it was his because it was so insignificant looking. What was left behind?
Maybe that is the wrong question. What did any of the cast or crew take with them from their time shooting at Emmanuel? That is the better question. Did any of them at any time see Jesus or his love? You need to know that my personal prayer was that somehow God might use us to show the cast and crew that we were different. I prayed any chance I got that God would provide me with a time to witness in some way about the God of all gods. I was reminded by someone that Stone Productions merely saw all the extras, Emmanuel and the pastor of the congregation as a device in which to get their movie made. I saw their presence as a way to try and share Jesus with anyone I came into contact with on Monday and Tuesday. I tried to show kindness to all of them even when it was very hard to do so.
In one way I believe Jesus was left behind for us. In another way I hope Jesus left the building. I can only pray that one heart or life was touched by a kindness that may make us look like a fool, but reveal the glory of God. Remember that a new vision to be church is to seek ways to witness to others in THEIR environments. It is NOT about getting more people to come to Emmanuel, but about more people at Emmanuel witnessing to others were they work, live and travel. Only a bunch of fools would think so little of themselves and so much of their God that they would do something like that in these times.
One of Christ’s servants,
Pastor David Hendricks - Child of God