ChristianMilitaryWives

On August 4, 2009 The Board was released on DVD.  This is an inspiring Christian short film that can be used as an outreach tool.  It illustrates how a person’s soul (mind, will, emotions, heart, memory, and conscience) makes the important decision of accepting Christ.  This is a great way to tell the modern world about Christ through an entertaining and quality production. The story in the film and the behind the scenes story, make the message even more powerful.

 

The Story

     The Board is set in the fabricated boardroom of a person’s soul.  The soul consists of the mind, the will, the emotions, the heart, the memories, and the conscience of that person.  The film also explains that no matter how much hurt a person has in their heart, Christ is there and can take away the guilt and hurt. It shows how a soul makes the all important decision to choose Christ as Savior. 

     The story is that a friend has brought up the subject of salvation to this person. Now the soul must decide.  The film goes through the persons mind researching the evidence of Christ and how they can believe the Bible.  It shows how they feel about past experiences with Christians and church.  Each member voices their opinion and fights for what they believe to be true.  But they cannot disprove that Christ loves them and that He is pursuing them.  The decision they make will impact eternity. If this was your boardroom, how would you decide?

 

The story behind the film

    The Board was directed by Brett Varvel from Varvel Productions.  It is another film that follows the example of Sherwood Productions, including their church, Bethesda Baptist Church, and the congregation as actors, crew, stage builders, and lots of prayer.  The film was a family affair.  Brett Varvel also acted in the movie as Mr. Heart.  The story was written by Brett’s father, Gary Varvel.  He was influenced by a radio sermon by Rev. Colin Smith.  Brett’s brother, Drew Varvel acted in the movie as Mr. Emotion and also helped with editing the film.  Gary Varvel’s brother, Terry Varvel was also Mr. Mind in the film.  All involved feel that this is much more than a movie.  It is their hope that it will impact lives.  The main focus of this film is for it to be used as a gospel tract.  In the bonus features on the DVD they explain how God provided more than they ever expected.  Also on the bonus features on the DVD is an invitation by Mr. Heart and Mr. Will that is very moving.

    The Board is an entertaining and modern way to share the gospel. In less than 40 minutes this film can change lives.  This is a wonderful witnessing tool to be used by individuals, churches, schools, etc.  To learn more about how the film is impacting lives or to purchase the DVD go to www.boardmovie.com.  Also on the website is a bible study under the resources tab that can be used following the movie.  

Click below to watch the trailer:

On Friday night's radio show with Shannon Ethridge, I was reminded of and mentioned on the show an analogy that helped me understand  justification and sanctification. I told Shannon that I once heard an illustration using the miracle of when Christ raised Lazarus from the dead. 

Back in Biblical times it was common for a household to wrap the body of a deceased loved one tightly in strips of cloth (this is where we get the modern "mummy monster" images in horror films). When Jesus told Lazarus to wake from death and come forth it is a wonderful picture of our own awakening from death when we receive Jesus as our Savior. It's immediate and it's complete. No one is half alive or half dead - even though we use those expressions -- someone is either dead or alive.

When Lazarus was raised he still had on those grave cloths, or so we can assume. He probably needed assistance and a process ensued that freed him from the bondage he had been lying in while in death's grip. The process of removing those bandages can be a wonderful analogy (although simplified for sure) of the process of sanctification --- the daily living, trials, and times of distress when we can practice dying to ourselves and living in Christ.

Justification for the Christian comes when we fully realize our position in Christ. Sanctification is a process of when we practice dying to the flesh and living as the redeemed spirits we are! 

I am reminded of the passage in Acts 16 when the doors in the prison cells that were holding Paul and Silas came open. 

^{ACTS 31-34 -- 31}They replied, "Believe in the Lord Jesus, and you will be saved—you and your household." ³²Then they spoke the word of the Lord to him and to all the others in his house. ³³At that hour of the night the jailer took them and washed their wounds; then immediately he and all his family were baptized. ³⁴The jailer brought them into his house and set a meal before them; he was filled with joy because he had come to believe in God—he and his whole family. 

The Jailer and his entire family were justified in Christ that very night! Justification comes immediately with the saving faith in Jesus Christ alone. We realize immediately that we are not able to work out our own salvation, no matter how good we are. We stand justified before a Holy God because we are robed, through faith, in the perfect works of our Savior "in Whom God is well pleased!" 

While Paul and Silas were working on sanctification, the jailer found justification! What a beautiful picture of what a strong witness living for Christ is --- just living out the faith is a stronger testimony than human words can describe.

Sisters, do you remember daily that you were an empty vessel serving no real purpose in this world until you met the Lord Jesus Christ and accepted Him as your very own personal Savior? Just like the empty pots at the wedding feast in John 2?  The Lord had servants fill them with water and He miraculously transformed the water into wine -- a symbol of joy and celebration! Do you remember daily that your life is now filled with the wine of life? The Holy Spirit fills you with life and with a joy that no earthly wine could ever give!

Sisters, do you remember that like in Isaiah 61 we are to "bind up the brokenhearted, to proclaim freedom for the captives and release from darkness for the prisoners." We are full of the same Spirit that gave Paul and Silas the courage to set prisoners free even while they were held in a physical prison. They remembered that they were free in Christ -- a freedom that NO one can ever take from us. 

Sisters, do you comfort those who mourn and are in your path? Do you realize that when we focus so much on our own hurts and pains we forget to look to the Light of the world? The One that darkness could not comprehend?

Where are your eyes focused today? Are they looking to the One who illuminates our path and guides our feet in this process of sanctification? Or are you focused inward? Are you watching your illuminating joy lose it's luster?  Do you offer the oil of gladness that is talked about in the Isaiah 61 passage or do you offer ashes of despair? 

Mourning is something that military families do more than almost any other group of people I can think of. We mourn the loss of friends. We mourn the lost time we long to spend with our loved while he's deployed or away. We mourn the loss of health, the loss of security, and a host of so many other legitimate griefs and concerns. 

Even in the darkest times can you take comfort in this passage from I Corinthians? 
10-13: No temptation has seized you except what is common to man. And God is faithful; he will not let you be tempted beyond what you can bear. But when you are tempted, he will also provide a way out so that you can stand up under it.

 He has called us to be on the home front, and rest assured, those whom He calls, He equips. If you feel ill-equipped today, can you pray?

Will you ask your Father in Heaven to help you remember that He is a good Father who will always give you what you need? Pray that He will help you see where to step next on that path of faith and sanctification?

Will you reach out to other sisters who are there on that path with you and let them speak words of truth and encouragement to you? Will you speak words of truth and encouragement to them? We have Him first and foremost, but He has certainly blessed us with one another as well. 

I am currently studying the Gospel according to John. It's one of my favorite of the four Gospels because of its deep philosophical roots. John was an intellect, and the use of his words in the first 5 verses of the book shows the depth of his thought:

¹In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. ²He was with God in the beginning.
 ³Through him all things were made; without him nothing was made that has been made.⁴In him was life, and that life was the light of men. ⁵The light shines in the darkness, but the darkness has not understood it. 

The title or name he uses to place Jesus in these passages is the greek word "Logos." The greeks had used this word since the time of Socrates and before to describe "the Essence" or "the Originator." John boldly takes their language to proclaim to them that he, himself, had met the One and Only Word! 

As humans we can fully comprehend the "man" Jesus. We know he grew tired, he got hungry, he was tempted, he laughed, he cried, he was disappointed, and he faced fear. He prayed. He communed. He observed the Passover. What we struggle with is comprehending the Infinite Christ -- the undiminished Deity that resided here on earth in a man's body. We can only comprehend the finite -- because the finite can not comprehend the infinite. It's OK though because Paul later reminds us that we see dimly in a mirror, but one day we will know Him face to face.

After studying and contemplating those thoughts, I was actually taken back by a much more subtle passage in the first chapter of this marvelous love letter, penned by one who loved Jesus and who was deeply loved by Jesus -- a love letter inspired by the Holy Spirit, and signed with love from the Father. 

It is found later in the first chapter when John (the author of the Gospel) begins to follow Christ himself. He heard John the Baptist declare "Behold the Lamb of God!" John and Andrew immediately began their journey with the Lord. Jesus, knowing he was being followed, turned to both of them and said:

³⁸Turning around, Jesus saw them following and asked, "What do you want?" They said, "Rabbi" (which means Teacher), "where are you staying?"³⁹"Come," he replied, "and you will see."  So they went and saw where he was staying, and spent that day with him. It was about the tenth hour.

The disciples answered Jesus' question with a question. I don't know about you, but I often do that when I am not quite sure how to answer. 

It sounds like such an easy question, doesn't it? Yet, a man of high intellect like John is bewildered for a moment (or so that's my take on it) when he looks into the face of eternity and is asked by the voice of his Savior "What do you want?" 

This left me pondering how I would answer Jesus' question of me. Claire, What do you want? Would I say "Lord I want safety, security, financial prosperity, friends, love, life, happiness..." Would I call Him "Rabbi" (or teacher) and tell Him that I want feet that will follow Him no matter the cost?  Would I tell Him "Savior, I want You, and anything else is just settling?" 

What would you tell your Savior today? What do you want?