Thoughts for the Journey from Bill Myers

As an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos, which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com

CHOOSING THE BETTER

(Martha) had a sister called Mary, who sat at the Lord's feet listening to what he said. But Martha was distracted by all the preparations that had to be made. She came to him and asked, "Lord, don't you care that my sister has left me to do the work by myself? Tell her to help me!" "Martha, Martha," the Lord answered, "you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better, and it will not be taken away from her.”  Luke 10-38-42

One morning, I was minding my own business, studying and praying, when out of the blue, a thought formed in my head. There was no voice, no choir of angels. Not even a burning rose bush. But it was such a strange thought I was pretty sure it wasn’t my own:

Son, if I were to put you in a coma and you could not talk to others about Me, could not serve Me in any way . . . would I be enough for you?”

I was startled, to say the least. And every time I tried to come up with the expected, holy-man-of-God answer, truth kept getting in the way. So I did my best to change the subject.

“Too bad about those Dodgers last night,” I said. “You ever going to give them a hand in winning?”

                 

Would I be enough?

        

“Listen, You know about my kid’s new boyfriend. I really think she could do better.

What say if You—”

                 

Would I be enough?

        

“Well, look at the time. Got that deadline coming up, better get back to work, but thanks for—”

                 

Would I be enough?

        

I tell you, for a random thought, it was pretty persistent. And so, with no other alternative, I gave my most honest—and painful—answer:

                 

“No, Lord. You would not be enough.”

        

Fortunately, there was no bolt of lightning. No angry earthquake. Not even the stern clearing of an Eternal Throat. Just the quiet and gentle sense that we were about to begin another adventure.

The adventure of learning my primary purpose was to abide with God -- to be His son and friend, not His servant and slave. My parents didn’t conceive and give birth to me to mow the lawn and do household chores. They had me so they could enjoy my company and so I could enjoy theirs. Yes, service happens, but it comes out of that friendship and fellowship. Never, never, never was it intended to come before it. 

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Thoughts for the Journey from Bill Myers

As an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos, which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com

THE JOY OF DISCIPLINE

“God is treating you as his children. For what children are not disciplined by their father? If you are not disciplined—and everyone undergoes discipline—then you are not legitimate, not true sons and daughters at all. Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness.” HEBREWS 12:7-10

One time, my cameraman and I were flying home from a shoot in Bolivia. We’d been in the jungles, traveled mountain roads for weeks, and we were dead tired. We found a row on the plane with three open seats and sat with the vacant seat between us so we could spread out and relax. But the plane was getting more crowded by the second. When people approached and asked us if the empty seat was taken, we pretended like we didn’t understand them. If they spoke Spanish, we spoke English. If they spoke English, we spoke French.

Bottom line, we were being jerks.

But it worked. The entire plane filled up, except for the one and only vacant seat between us. Ah, sweet victory! We’d gotten our way. But, even as the door shut, part of me felt bad. It wasn’t so much guilt as it was disappointment. If God really loved us, why did He let His two kids get off with such behavior?

The props revved up and the plane started forward. But we had only taxied a dozen feet before the props died down and the plane coasted to a stop. That’s when I looked out the window and saw—I kid you not—a woman weighing at least 250 pounds, waddling out of the terminal. In one hand was a giant grocery bag and in the other . . . a crying baby. She climbed on board and, of course, there was only one place left to sit.

Though we were incredibly cramped during the many hours of flight, I giggled to myself and felt pretty good. God had not let me down. I was still His beloved son. 

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Thoughts for the Journey from Bill Myers

As an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos, which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com

GOD’S WORKOUT PROGRAM

“Consider it pure joy my brothers whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

When I was in high school, I was captain of my tennis team. (No big accomplishment; my school was so small that if you owned a racket and a pair of tennis shoes, you’d make varsity). My grandma lived one block away from the school and she made great chocolate chip cookies. So on the days when the coach said, “Okay Myers, take the team on a run around the town,” I was only too happy to oblige.

We’d start off running, disappear around the block, and drop by Grandma’s, where we sat around drinking milk and eating cookies. Then, at the appropriate time, we said our goodbyes, splashed water on our faces, and staggered back to the school, pretending we were exhausted. It didn’t happen often, but when it did, everyone was happy. The coach got to go get some coffee, and we got to lounge around drinking milk and eating cookies. A definite win/win.

                 

Well, not quite.

        

For some reason, our team lost every match that year. More than lost, we were slaughtered. We just didn’t seem to have the stamina of the other teams.

Scripture is clear that God is not the author of difficulties, but it is equally clear that He is sovereign and will use difficulties for our good -- to strengthen us. “To make us mature and complete, not lacking anything.”

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Thoughts for the Journey from Bill Myers

As an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos, which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com

VICTORY THRIVES IN DARKEST PLACES

“Mr. Myers, as our director, on the first day of filming, you will be required to burn incense and sacrifice a pig to our local gods.”

I looked at my producer and blinked. “You’re kidding, right?”

She shook her head. “You Westerners, in your arrogance, trample all over our gods and beliefs. As a result, during the filming, someone is always hurt or killed. If you do not perform the ceremony the cast and crew you see before you will not work for you.”

The room grew silent. Tomorrow would be our first day of filming in Hong Kong. Tens of thousands of dollars had already been spent in preproduction. If I did not comply, the movie would be over before it started.

                 

Somehow, I nervously and gently explained that as a Christian I couldn’t perform the a sacrifice.

        

My producer smiled. “This I know. That is why your assistant director will do it for you, instead.”

Talk about being in a jam. If I said “yes,” I’d not only betray my faith, but I’d be dedicating the film to other “gods.” If I said “no,” my cast and crew would walk.

I stared down at the table, silently praying for any suggestions. Then, “out of the blue,” a thought came to mind. It wasn’t much, but it was all I had.

I looked up and said, “First of all, you need to know, I don’t doubt these gods you’re afraid of exist. But we have another name for them.” I swallowed hard. “We call them . . . demons. But you also believe Jesus Christ is a god, don’t you?”

                 

“Oh, yes. Absolutely. One of the top 10. Yes, a great god.”

        

“And if push came to shove, He could probably take on those smaller gods you’re so worried about?”

                 

“Oh, yes. He is a most powerful god.”

        

“Well, He and I are pretty good friends. What if, instead of offering a prayer to those little gods we know He could beat, what if I offered a prayer of protection to Jesus, instead?” I saw the crack of light and pushed on. “Better yet, why don’t we do it together, every day . . . you know, just to be safe?”

                 

Ever so slowly, they began to nod.

        

The results? No one was killed. Not a single person injured. And, by the time we were done, at least two actors, along with their families, put their faith in Jesus Christ. It’s also the most powerful film I’ve directed. I recently spoke to a missionary from South America who said he’s still showing the film, and after 25 years, it’s still bearing fruit.

Why? Because I’m such a genius director? Hardly. Because I’m such a mighty man of God? Guess again. It was simply because I took God at His Word. God never plays defense. He only plays offense. As a sovereign God, if we trust Him, He’ll always flip things around for the good. Maybe not by our standards or by our time frames, but as Paul says, one way or another . . .

“All things work together for the good to those who love the Lord and are called according to His purposes.” Romans 8:28

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Thoughts for the Journey from Bill Myers

As an author and film producer, Bill Myers’s work has won over 70 national and international awards including the C.S. Lewis Honor Award. His books and videos, which include Eli and McGee and Me, have sold 8 million copies. His most recent book, The Jesus Experience - Journey Deeper into the Heart of God, explores how he went from a burned-out evangelical to someone head-over-heels in love with his Creator. www.billmyers.com

THE JOY OF OBEDIENCE

As a child in Seattle, I loved going to the Seafair Parade – especially when the Seafair pirates threw handfuls of candy onto the street from their float. That’s when the kids would run out, screaming and fighting, pushing and shoving, to get a piece of candy . . . as their parents laughed and clapped and shouted encouragement.

This was called “entertainment.”

One time when I was four or five, we got a perfect seat right on the curb. From there, I would be able to race ahead of the other kids and get a piece of candy, maybe two. But as the float approached and I prepared to make my move, my mom bent down to me and said, “Billy, I don’t want you going out there.”

What? I couldn’t believe my ears. I had the perfect seat. I was primed and ready. And now I was just supposed to sit there and watch everyone else run out to get their prize? Talk about unfair! It made no sense. But I obeyed. I sat there brokenhearted, tears streaming down my face as the pirates threw candy and my friends screamed and fought and laughed and pushed for their piece. I’ll never forget the pain and disappointment.

But there’s something else I’ll never forget . . .

As the float approached, it slowed to a stop. Through my tears I saw the head pirate reach into the barrel and pull out a giant handful of candy. He stepped down from the float and, in front of everybody, walked directly to me, bent over, and dumped the entire handful into my lap.

The incident changed my life.

At the tender age of four or five, I learned the power of obedience, even when it didn’t make sense. I learned that if I did God’s will, some how, some way everything else would fall into place. Take my word on that. Better yet, take His:

“But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.” Matthew 6:33

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