Jan. 2, 2022, column from the Amarillo Globe-News:
God provides inspiration in variety of forms
God may have been trying to tell
me something in 2021. Three experiences that I already have written about
inspired me – and my wife, Kathy, too – to be more confident and intentional
about the biggest story in history.
On
vacation in the Blue Ridge Mountains, we realized the Billy Graham Library was
within driving distance, as was the Billy Graham Training Center at The Cove. We
visited both on consecutive days, expecting – at least in my case – more
history and nostalgia than motivation.
We found out it would be hard to
walk through the displays and videos of either of those Billy Graham facilities
without having the great evangelist’s words penetrate to the heart like they
did for so many during his almost 70-year ministry. The focus of the
library/museum and the training center is squarely on the gospel, and we walked
back to our rental car both days with a renewed sense of urgency about the
Christian message.
Both of us recommend visiting
those places in Charlotte and Asheville.
That perspective on heaven truly
made me feel better about Ginger and Mike, plus others who have moved on, and
the prospect of being with them again in much better circumstances.
We recommend the book to
supplement your reading of scripture.
And then there’s “The Chosen,”
the first presentation of the life of Jesus in the form of a TV series. I know
that everybody isn’t comfortable with expanding on the biblical accounts to
show what daily life would have been like for Jesus and his chosen followers,
but the producers emphasize that they don’t show anything that conflicts with
scripture and that the storylines – such as Mary Magdalene’s first encounter
with Christ, her backsliding and her being forgiven – are plausible
representations that fill in some of the blanks not revealed in the gospels.
We see a less stiff, more human Jesus, making ironic jokes with the disciples, feeling exhausted after a day of healing and nudging one disciple to take notes, knowing that the young Matthew later will write one version of Christ’s ministry.
Like many viewers, Kathy and I
have been delighted to see Jesus and those around him in a fresh light. And
we’re happy that so many people have said the series is driving them to the
Bible to read the authoritative accounts.
After seeing the half-hour
“Chosen” adaptation of the nativity story along with a diverse group of
musicians and singers plus some of them delivering heartfelt words about why “People Must Know,” we don’t hesitate to
recommend it.
The past year had other
spiritual highlights. My brother, David, nephew, John, and friend, Mark, attended
the Promise Keepers “comeback” rally at the Dallas Cowboys’ stadium in
Arlington, which fired up thousands of men. And of course, Franklin Graham came
to Amarillo with his “God Loves You” tour, offering the same message that his
father did for decades. I have written about those, and they also are
recommended.
We can hope that God will place
other points of motivation and encouragement in each of our paths in 2022 so
that more will experience his love now and forever.
Mike
Haynes taught journalism at Amarillo College from
1991 to 2016 and has written for the Faith section since 1997. He can be
reached at haynescolumn@gmail.com.
Go to www.haynescolumn.blogspot.com for other recent columns.
