For those of you have been so faithful to read this blog, thanks for being with us! This is going to be my last and final post, but no worries! We'll see you at the brand new "John" website in a brand new blog. Call it version 2.0, coming very, very, very soon....!!!
Stay tuned to www.gospelaccordingtojohn.com
I've just done it.
I just faxed over the signed contract for the construction of our new JOHN website to the good folks at ChristianPathway.com
Here is a mock up of the new site they're doing for us. It won't look exactly like this, but it will give you a rough idea of what it's going to look like.
Image © 2007 Marchiano MinistriesAccording to Webster's Dictionary, to anticipate means:
1 : to give advance thought, discussion, or treatment to
2 : to meet (an obligation) before a due date
3 : to foresee and deal with in advance : FORESTALL
4 : to use or expend in advance of actual possession
5 : to act before (another) often so as to check or counter
6 : to look forward to as certain : EXPECT
My heart is filled with anticipation...i am pregnant with the hope and anticipation of what God will (and is) doing. JOHN truly is being borne and birthed through the prayers of the saints. Lord, let the window open! Lord, let the dam break! Lord, you are the one who provides seed to the sower. Let your people sow -- not into a "Christian movie" -- though important and precious -- but, rather into the birthing of souls!!!
In developing the new JOHN website, we are getting closer. One thing i'm anticipating will happen is the new Discussion Board feature. This will allow the saints to communicate and pray for one another regards to JOHN in a more effective way.
So far we have been only been able to use the Comment feature every time I post a new blog entry. But the Discussion Board is going to take off! And God knows where he wants to take that!
I just received words of deep encouragement from a fellow commenter through our blog. There is really no way for me to personally respond in the blog forum, so suffice it to say that I am going through some stuff right now in my personal life and those words just confirmed the faith that I had about the goodness of God and his heart toward me.
Saints, let me share my testimony. I hope it encourages you as you walk the adventure that is life in the Kingdom with our God who is (as the late Rich Mullins has described him) "a wild man."
God is shifting -- as tectonic plates -- the ground under my feet, transitioning me and "catapulting me into new dimensions of ministry and life."
When you're on God's catapult, the first part is CONFUSING. What's going on? The questions run through you as you feel as though you are sinking and being tied down onto that catapult.
Then you are sprung into the air and at the apogee -- the height of your free-flight -- it is the most TERRIFYING because you are no longer soaring, but you are realizing you're about to plummet to the ground and death is looming into view.
But as the ground comes up closer you realize you will SOON TOUCH DOWN SOFTLY onto "green pastures" that the Great Shepherd has provided.
So I'm at that apogee and fear is giving way to hope and hope to assurance that "all things work together for good to them that love God who are the called according to his purpose"(Rom. 8.28).
This is the hope that He has called us to:
To trust and believe that His heart toward us is good...
Meanwhile, work on the new website continues in God's grace!
I've been a little MIA on the blog. Sorry about that.
I'm right now in the process of taking our current website www.GospelAccordingToJohn.com through a "face-lift" not only to make it look better, but also to add additional features and make it all-around easier to navigate.
Along the way, any updates about the new website construction, I'll post here.
Until then...
Please follow the link below for "A Message From Bruce."
http://www.brucemarchiano.com/direct/directfrombjune3.htm
Hello friends.
I hope you're catching all the latest news from Sharon via the email newsletters available at gospelaccordingtojohn.com and brucemarchiano.com
Bruce has always said that God is building a testimony through the making of JOHN, and I find it to be very true.
Psalm 25:4 reads like this in The Message paraphrase: "Show me how you work, God / School me in your ways." As we pray for Bruce's dad through his health ordeal, I find that I am no more making JOHN than it is making me -- as people, things, and events connected to JOHN become a tool in God's hand to broaden and deepen my ability to trust Him.
Every day is a new adventure for me. Of course this "adventure" includes cliff-hangers, soaring heights of emotion, but mostly (and most powerfully) moments of quiet submission to God in simple trust.
"Yes, LORD, walking in the way of your laws, we wait for you; your name and renown are the desire of our hearts"(Isaiah 26:8).
On the Journey...
Please Note: MarchMin does not promote and is not responsible for content of external video links.
Please Note: MarchMin does not promote and is not responsible for content of external video links.
What is a miracle?
A miracle took place in my heart this week. A realization. A clear view of where the Lord would have me go. And I feel so free -- yet at the same time I feel the gravity of what it means to embark on this new journey. It will take a new kind of determination and hard work.
Hard
Work.
But, it's worth it.
We all experience these miracles in our hearts. It comes after an extended season of praying and seeking God. Some of us fast. Some of us meditate on the Word. Some of us talk to our pastors or a trusted brother or sister in the Lord. But, mostly it is all of these in combination with life-events that God uses to speak to us.
And when He speaks, it's a miracle. A miracle takes place in our heart. How could it be any other way when the Living God speaks to your heart?
When Bruce and I pray about JOHN, we experience this kind of miracle of the heart every week. The presence of God couldn't be thicker. And we feel the embrace of God and we know that God's people are praying. And we know that the Holy Spirit is touching hearts to be invovled. To roll up their sleeves and be a part of this project born out of a burden for the lost and a deep restless hunger to see Jesus lifted high.
But, how many of us allow ourselves the chance to experience this miracle of the heart? How many of us are willing to say "Yes and Amen" when God whispers in our hearts -- "This is the way in which you should go!"
If only we would say yes.
I'm at a loss for words to describe this miracle of the heart. That moment when we bow our hearts, and say "Yes and Amen" to His call!
(Yes, I'm back because the Lord's compelled me to continue writing! A new video blog is up. This one is a two-parter as well. It is up on MySpace and will soon be up on YouTube as well.)
PRAISE JESUS!
Our Jesus goes before us in this kingdom endeavor! We praise Him for paving the way to be able to take JOHN to the next level on our way to "making the film." So, as part of the transition to the video blog format, I will no longer be posting on this blog. Please keep in touch via our MySpace and YouTube channel, and of course our official film project website and JOHN eNewsletter.
Please remember that both YouTube and MySpace have the capacity to receive comments.
PRAISE JESUS! See you on the vblog!
Please Note: MarchMin does not promote and is not responsible for content of external video links.
Please alert your friends, pastor(s), neighbors, co-workers, family/relatives about our new video blog. It is in the coming together of the Body of Christ in prayer and with practical support that JOHN will become a reality as we together put our hands to the plow of God.
Cast your bread upon the waters, for you will find it after many days. (Ecclesiastes 11:1)
Please Note: MarchMin does not promote and is not responsible for content of external video links.
We're on MySpace.
Go to www.myspace.com/gospelaccordingtojohn
Another tool to spread the word about JOHN.
See you there!
Hello, everyone.
Been a while. I'm working on another video blog. But it's taking a while. But, in the mean time, Bruce's interview with RealFusion.com is airing this week exclusively on www.realfusion.com
This week only!
Check it out.
The good folks over at RealFusion.com came out yesterday to interview Bruce.
RealFusion.com is a cutting edge online youth video show encouraging a closer walk with God, generating thought-provoking discussion about "What's Real Today," and what matters in eternity.
And just for you, here on the JOHN BLOG, is a behind-the-scenes look at the making of the episodes that will feature Bruce.
Enjoy!
When up-and-coming actors Ben Affleck and Matt Damon were interviewed about their Oscar win for Best Original Screenplay for their 1997 film Good Will Hunting, they said their inspiration was the story behind Rocky (1976) -- how an unknown actor wrote a screenplay, and held out until the producers would agree to let him star as the title character. Affleck and Damon said to each other: "Rocky did it!" and set off to write their own film, that has now become a part of Hollywood lore about actors trying to make it in the business.
In December of '06 we saw, "The Greatest Underdog Story of Our Time [....] Back for One... Final... Round," in Rocky Balboa (2006) .
What does all this have to do with JOHN?
We are a true underdog production, because our goal is to win souls. Period. It's not about "making it in the business," it's about bringing Jesus to the hearts of many, who is the Hope of the nations.
And, as in this final Rocky film, a priest says to Rocky, "I'm now going to read to you from Zechariah: 'It is not by might, not by power, but by His Spirit that we have the victory in Jesus Christ.' Amen," -- the power behind JOHN is not Big Studio. It's not star power. (Even Good Will Hunting had Robin Williams.) But, we have the Spirit of God, moving the hearts of men and women around the globe, to see this Christ-honoring, Word-exalting film come to life...THE GOSPEL ACCORDING TO JOHN.
And I can take that "to the bank." I can put my hope in Jesus Christ. He will never disappoint. I can hear in my head, stirring themes from movies such as Rocky and Braveheart.
And I feel like I'm on board an airplane that is fueling, and the Captain has just lit the Fasten Your Seat Belt sign. Because we're about to take off...
In Matthew 9:29 Jesus said, "According to your faith, be it done to you." And I say, Year 2007, here we come, because our trust in Him is growing ever-stronger!
