So Bad It's Good

I Corinthians 16:8-9 -- "But I will stay on at Ephesus until Pentecost, because a great door for effective work has opened to me, and there are many who oppose me."

Ever the movie buffs, the three guys in my house find it most enjoyable to sit in front of the TV and invest actual time in some really horrible films. Some of their faves are "Sci-Fi Originals". Which means, essentially - the films were cranked out in less than a year with virtually unknown actors who seem to be reading their lines from off camera while "fighting" monsters thrown together with graphics/affects so cheap that my cat could have hand drawn better animation. They have dubbed these gems - "good bad flicks" in honor of a web series with the same name. In the past, this is when I put my nose deep in a good book or catch up on my Facebook. I have even been known to prefer to floss my teeth rather than watch growling sharks fall from the sky in tornadoes that spawn over what appears to be very calm tropical waters. It has taken me a long time to understand that these "cinematic masterpieces" have some real entertainment value. For me, however - the value is in observing these three film enthusiasts bust a gut as they watch a has-been thespian rip open a flying great white with a chain saw and then stand straight-faced AND blood free as he rescues a damsel in distress by reaching inside and pulling her out from the freshly opened fish. True classic cinema, ladies and gentleman.

Yessiree - my hubby and two boys sit in the middle of the living room as tears roll down their cheeks and try to explain to me that the value in the movie IS its badness. I'll take their word for it. I WILL say, however, that the bank account for the film producers DOES indeed, seem fat. So this formula must work.

Involved in a family that has moved around a lot, one becomes accustomed to periodically choosing a new church home. When in the US on furlough, the first few Sundays were spent "shopping" for spiritual home base. It is quite amazing how very different one church can feel from another. If you get the opportunity, try closing your eyes and FEELING the praise the next time you are in a new place of worship. You might find yourself surprised that you know right away if  the worship is genuine or if it's put on for show.

Now, before I continue, I DO have to admit that we missionary kids can get kind of spoiled when it comes to church. I say that with great humility and no small amount of affection. Sitting in Africa in the back of a structure that has only a thatched roof and a cow dung floor while singing praises with joyful local people was one of the most precious and true spiritual worship experiences of my entire life. The wonderful  international collection of these true praise moments has spoiled me a bit when it comes to looking for spiritual home base. I will also admit, that witnessing church politics influence praise and worship has lead me to make some unfair judgements when prospecting for a new church family. I would like to think that I have grown some in this regard. And perhaps suprisingly - this growth began with my baby brother - who is, infact, nearly eleven years younger than I am.

As I grew old enough to put down my own roots, the church hunting adventure was left to be carried out by my parents and little brother. Calling home to check in from time to time would find me asking how the hunt went. In conversational tag, my Dad would jump on the line for a quick hello, my Mom would give me her opinion, and then I'd settle in for a wonderful chat with my baby brother. David took me completely by surprise one Sunday afternoon when I asked him what he thought about the most recent church visit. I had heard my mother's very careful and very polite expression that "it was not her favorite church" and was interested in what David had to say about it.

My LITTLE brother blew me away.

A young teen-ager at the time, David grew a bit silent on the other end of the telephone line when I posed my question about Sunday Service. Eventually, he blurted out "this is the one."

What?! Well ... THAT is not what I expected him to say. Not after my mom's review and my Dad's almost non interest in this particular church. But David, even as young as he was, opened his heart up to God's view of the "worship" taking place at the church. When I asked him what in the world made him think that this church was to be their new spiritual home base - he said simply - "this is the one - because this one needs us the most."

Wow.

Just ..... wow.

David was right. And my parents did, in fact, choose the church for their new fellowship home. And as I read 1 Corinthians 16 this morning I was reminded of that life lesson so unintentionally taught by my baby brother. Paul had experienced some pretty rough waters in Ephesus. In his words, there were so very many who opposed him there. But in the middle of that turmoil, Paul saw the REAL issue. It wasn't about Paul. It was about Jesus. It's a reminder that sometimes, when we feel the most horrible in a place, when the situation seems so BAD -- it's actually ripe for spiritual harvest. As my three guys like to say .... it's so bad it's good.

Notice, Paul didn't say -- but there are so many who oppose me.  He said AND there are so many who oppose me. It was a reminder to me that spiritual triage, real healing doesn't happen to those who are already well. It happens to those who are hurting and to those who REALLY need Jesus.