Precipice

FADE IN:

It's been weeks now that Bruce has been praying. Serving. Caring. For his father who is battling what doctors tell him is an immune system malfunction leaving his blood deficient in platelets.

I myself was diagnosed (in March 2006) with chronic kidney disease due to IgA Nephropathy - my kidneys have been declared unviable. It's a degenerative disease. I'm 23-years-old, and my doctors have told me that my immune system has been silently attacking my own kidneys since I was (roughly around) 13 years old, and that there's no stopping it.

But, now I'm showing signs of recovery. Barely a week out of the hospital I was taken off of all my blood pressure meds. And two months ago the evaluation was: "Your kidneys are holding up." As of last week it's: "Your kidneys are stable."

And starting this past Sunday, I can feel a renewed surge of energy and clarity of mind, that I hadn't known since March.

Bruce's father, too, is healing. Doctors can't figure it out but they took him off all meds 2 weeks ago, and suddenly, "unexplainably" his platelets are rising. Today they crossed into six figures - more than twice what the doctors were aiming for. (Bruce is now praying harder than ever, though - says he's holding out for perfect!).

Is it okay if I believe that these are simply manifestations of God's healing grace, "For by His wounds we have been healed."

And now JOHN is "front page news" over at ChristianityTodayMovies.com

DISSOLVE TO:

The title of this blog entry is "precipice." Webster's Dictionary defines the word this way: "a very steep or overhanging place."

That's exactly where I feel I am in my life. (What is going to be the final outcome? How will these themes play out in my life?) And that seems to reflect the current nature of this JOHN journey - as if He's pushing us toward another precipice. But, exactly what it is, or where it's headed, or how all the details will weave together in His hands, is a mystery to me.

And that's when I remember what Bruce has been saying all along - that God is building a testimony through JOHN. That, the story of the making of JOHN will ultimately be a testament to the sheer "bigness of God," unimaginable, and that testimony is as important as JOHN itself.

This is why Bruce is approaching JOHN the way it's being approached, as God put it on his heart and as God led him. Bruce has said it many times: God desires to build a testimony through the making of JOHN by which it will be impossible for anyone to take credit or glory - by which it will be so obviously only by HIM.

I'm a youth pastor. My heart goes out for my students and today's teen-agers who don't remember the passion and joy-of-Jesus that was the film Matthew. (They don't remember Star Trek, either - in any of its various incarnations.)

All kidding aside, I think it's time the Gospel be put on film one more time - for the Boomers with their emptying nests, for Generation X-ers with new families, and for my generation - the Millenial Generation - who are growing up in a distinctively artificial world of MySpace and iPod.

And if it means going through the Refiner's fire one more time, that's okay. If it's going to mean more souls coming face-to-face with Jesus the Son of the Living God - then it's worth it all.

Because, on the other side of this precipice, I know Who stands there to catch me.

Bruce on the RADIO #6

Mornings with Scott & Lorri
7:30 AM (CST)
Sirius Radio ch. 159
July 26, 2006

Abiding in Christ
Syndicated Daily Radio Program
(Check local listing on Sirius Satellite Radio)
July 28, 2006

A Second Prayer for JOHN

This is from an email we received from one of our supporters in the State of Washington, Kathy R. Hope it blesses you, as it did me.

Father in heaven, what would you have me do now to encourage Bruce and the [Marchiano Ministries] team?...

I speak a blessing over them in Jesus' Name, to prosper God's work in their hands, to turn that Sword of the Spirit in their hands, this way and that, so that the light sparkles off the Word in all directions, so that the light flashes into people's eyes and catches their attention. As light sparkles on the blue waters, so let the light of Your favor sparkle on the Word as they hold that Sword up...

Oh, Lord Jesus, give them strength, courage, and wisdom to hold You up high. Draw all men to Yourself. Draw those trapped in Islam. Draw those snared in materialism. Draw those blinded by humanism. Draw all men, all men, all women, all children, all, all, unto Yourself, Lord Jesus. To the glory of God the Father, to the heart's joy of God the Father, to the expansive shout of joy of the Holy Spirit, Holy Breath of God singing over creation, exulting in the power of Your strength, mighty to save...

Father, what do we have to offer You but our love and our lives, and the prayer that You would make us obedient and faithful. You alone can touch our lives to bring beauty and meaning into being. Thank You, Lord. We thank You with all our hearts...

Open up the way before this Gospel film. Lift up the way. Open the doors. Open people's ears and spiritual eyes and hearts, to see what You see. We want to move with You, Lord, not ask You to move with us. Make it clear to us what is the next step. Teach us to dance with You, Lord...

And thank You so much for all that has gone before this step; all the steps up to now, all Your provision that we are discovering as we move forward with You. O God, we long for Your hand of blessing, protection, and guidance on our lives, on the work of our lives...

Father in heaven, we worship You. We lift up the needs of the people in our sphere, near and far. O God, be glorified, be lifted up. We love You, Lord.

Amen, to that.

Bruce on the RADIO #5

Date
July 17-21, 2006


Time
Nightly 6:10 p.m. PDT

Station Information
Total Impact with Kurt Goff
SOS Radio - Las Vegas

Listen online at:
www.sosradio.net

The Revelation to John

I just wanted to share with you about what I'm learning through that other book that God chose the Apostle John to write: The Book of Revelation.

"Blessed is the one who reads aloud the words of this prophecy,
and blessed are those who hear, and who keep what is written in it,
for the time is near."
(Rev. 1:3)

I've been reading the first couple chapters - the letters to the seven churches of Asia Minor. Each of those letters is a loving challenge from our Savior. And the entire book of Revelation reminds us to see the "bigger picture," of the spiritual nature of our existence.

As Bruce has said so many times, God is building a testimony through JOHN. A testimony of lives touched by Jesus. Changed by Jesus. A testimony of the love of God - that we can barely comprehend:

"O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
or the son of man that you think of him?"
(Psa. 144:3)

How He loves us, as to include us in His kingdom work! Let us pray, let us give. And let us pray. And yes - even fast. And let us keep on keeping on - and here's the key - "with all His energy that He powerfully works within [us]"(Col. 1:29).

Praise Jesus!

Email from Bruce

This is an email I got from Bruce today. Thought I'd share it with you, because...it's about the heart of JOHN, which is, the salvation of souls.

Enjoy!

JOHN is different, brother - different in it's goal and that makes it different in every way; down to the writing, casting, shooting style... as long as we keep that goal of souls before us and as long as we stay on our faces before Him we can't go wrong. Seeking, obedience no matter what it looks like to human or "film expert" eyes. Yes, that's the key. Even now as I work with this new script consultant there is the constant pull in her notes to "make it a movie," if you know what I mean. Her notes are good and they're right - if we're making a movie. But we're not making a movie - we're bringing the gospel to film. The thing that has to happen is not drama or a good story... but understanding Jesus, Salvation, the kingdom of God. I tell you, as I meet with Christian media and industry folks, I am learning that this is a very difficult thing for them to wrap their minds around. But the "everyday believers" get it - and that's the "test" we're looking to pass. GLORY TO THE NAME OF JESUS!

Spent loads of time in prayer for the funding this morning. Brother, we just plain need miracles - big miracles. What we need is for awareness to spread through the Body and for folks to be obedient when God whispers to them to give. A dollar here and five dollars there.... spread over the vast expanse of the Body, it's nothing. And that's the miracle God laid before me for the foundation of JOHN. It's a "Body" thing. Not a movie thing or "names of Christianity" thing. It's all of us coming together across nations and denominations, laying our tiny offerings before the Lord, and watching His "tabernacle" (Exodus 53, 36) be built... by His children, through their simple, humble, precious giving. Hey, God's eye is on those "give-ers." They put a smile on His face big time. Glory to Jesus!

So... I'll check in with you later. Let's hit IHOP later this week. (Yes, IHOP is the other key! hee hee!). Let me know when it's a good day.