Join us with self-published authors: Casey Bordovsky Chavez, Tricia Simmons & Francis Boafa as we explore the topic: I Wrote It, Now What?!
Sept. 20 Sharpening Session
Open Faces June 13, 2008
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“…it broke me, daily it breaks me. It broke me into a 1000 pieces. But in that brokenness I found a wholeness.” –Bishop Kenneth Phillips
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Theologians record various spiritual awakenings that have occurred in our country’s history. Books and articles venture into the invisible chasm of life’s meaning. Even television shows now explore the unseen, the untouchable, the seemingly unknowable.
The basic premise is always the same: a human connecting with the Supernatural.
On June 4, 2000 at PromiseLand Church in Austin, Texas, a human did connect with the Supernatural. And with this connection came a broken floodgate of reaction and repentance.
To see June 4th clearly, one has to take a step back a year in time. During this spiritual prelude, the church was taught about intimacy with Christ and about thorny ground hearers. Members were encouraged to get closer to God through prayer and supplication. Challenges were posed: What thorns choke your seed? Which of life’s comforts hinder a closeness with your Creator? The deceitfulness of riches and the cares of this life were targeted as thorns. It was lamented that we should have normal church in such extraordinary times.
Bishop Phillips focused on preparing a church for a grand harvest of souls. And as he walked this path, he began to search his own life for thorns and for comforts reserved special for himself.
So—on a seemingly unassuming Sunday, a sermon message was presented in a simple, but entirely elegant manner: A Notable Miracle. The book of Acts chapters 3 and 4 tell the story of a 40 year old man who was never able to walk. Daily, he was brought to one of the temple’s gates and would spend time asking for monetary handouts from those passing by. On one particular day, Peter and John passed by and commanded in the name of Jesus that he should walk. Of course, the religious leaders of that period were not happy about the actions of these two apostles, especially the part of them evoking healing in the name of Jesus. We later find these leaders mulling over the situation in Acts 4:16:
What shall we do to these men? For that indeed a notable miracle hath been done by them is manifest to all them that dwell in Jerusalem; and we cannot deny it.
After 20 some odd minutes of setting his case, Bishop Phillips turned the message to himself. He had been fasting and seeking for a notable miracle in his church. He was willing to give up anything that was holding up Divine plans. And so he did.
The result of this action is called the Awakening for our church.
He says of that day, “…it broke me, daily it breaks me. It broke me into a 1000 pieces. But in that brokenness I found a wholeness.”
Reactions were swift and in a range. Many ran to the altar to pray. Others knelt at their seats. There was wailing. There was a feeling of astonishment. There were some who started the journey to look at themselves: Lord, what can I give you? Lord how do I measure up against your standards? Lord, I am not prepared for such depth!
Imagine a visit to a museum that holds rare gemstones. A trained eye can look at a jewel and tell you its value, the type of cut and from what area of the globe it hails from. An untrained eye may say the jewel is pretty, shiny glass, but you can’t be certain it’s real.
With our awakening, some members saw the gem: multifaceted selfless worship and radiant yearning. Others saw cut glass and walked away untouched and unaffected.
For the jewel see-ers, renewed commitment and repentance came through a deeper search of scripture, more time given to prayer and a change in lifestyle and offerings.
But the Awakening is not an event to be confined to one day or one year. Its flame continually burns for those present and consumed that day. It lives on for new seekers who joined us along this journey. It is for you reading this article. It is for those who will come tomorrow.
We all, with open face beholding as in a glass the glory of the Lord, are changed into the same image from glory to glory, even as by the Spirit of the Lord.
II Corinthians 3:18
Sparse Pepper May 12, 2008
Do you like pepper on your food?
A well placed exclamation point can add spice to your piece. Experts use this punctuation to mark a forceful, surprising or alarming comment.
Just as too much pepper can spoil the dish, being too liberal with the exclamation point can annoy your reader at best or make your writing sound like an out of shape jogger!
On the plate of your next essay, shake out an exclamation or two. A little spice is always nice.
Just Write May 12, 2008
I present to you a ludricous question.
What if you only bathed when you felt like it?
Here’s another: what if you only prayed or witnessed when you were in the mood?
Many of you would say that you only write when inspired.
I offer to you an alternative process: just write.
Whatever the mood, the feeling or the situation.
Write with expectation and hope. Write with the knowledge that the syllables and phrases will be read by another to encourage, exhort or save.
I am thankful for the writing gift God has given you.
Remember…the world waits for your words.
Your challenge: write for at least 15 minutes every day for 15 days.
