Machine Gun Preacher

While I was scanning the blogosphere today I came across a post about a movie coming out this fall about missionary Sam Childers. Here's a quick summary of his story.

After giving his life to Christ, Sam went on a missions trip to help repair damaged huts in Sudan. During this trip Sam stumbled across the body of a child torn apart by a landmine. He fell to his knees and made a pledge to God to do whatever it took to help the people of Southern Sudan.

Rev. Sam Childers is a former drug dealing, outlaw biker who now risks his life to rescue children in Southern Sudan from one of the world’s most vicious terrorists.

For the last 13 years Sam has been battling to rescue children from horrific violence in Southern Sudan where Joseph Kony and his rebel army known as the Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) have been relentlessly terrorizing thousands of innocent people. Over 100,000 children have been captured and enslaved into Kony’s rebel army. These children are often forced to kill their parents or be killed themselves.

Sam is on a mission to rescue as many children as he can and put an end to Kony’s reign of terror. He fights on the front line of the war zone, at times sleeping in the bush with an AK-47 on one side and a bible on the other. The people of Sudan call him the “Machine Gun Preacher”

To date he’s rescued over 1000 children and reunited 700 of them with their families. The other 300 children live in an orphanage that Sam built, where they are protected and rehabilitated to reclaim some semblance of their childhood.

This is a truly remarkable story and Sam’s biography, Another Man’s War, is currently being made into a Hollywood feature film starring Gerard Butler. The film is due for release in September 2011.

Anyone else encouraged that Hollywood is starting to tell more stories about real people and their encounters with God? Shouldn't people in a relationship with God have the best stories to tell?

Story

Do you ever feel like that?

Like you are singing someone else's song?

Living someone else's story?

Imitating someone else?

It happens so easily doesn't it. You don't know where you started to go off track, but before you know it you're singing someone else's song, living someone else's story, imitating someone else.

God wants to write a story with your life, a story that is unique to you. Complete with hurt and happiness. Brokenness and victory. A story that is yours to own.

We try to hide the aspects of our story that are less than perfect. We hide the ugly parts so that we appear to be flawless. So we are more appealing and palatable. Truth is people don't want the shinny, plastic, packaged version of you. They want the real you.

Cover bands don't change the world. Stop imitating people and find your unique voice.

Start living the story God is writing with your life.

Your story.

Feeling Good - Pt2

Shortly after I finished yesterday's post, YouTube emailed me with an update of all the videos posted by people I follow. Devin (who does amazing work) posted a new video caled "Epic Tower Jump".

I think this sums up what I was trying to get at yesterday.

Feeling Good

I was talking with some friends last night about how we need to go mountain biking, kite-boarding, cliff jumping or wakeboarding. I admit I'm a bit of an adrenaline junkie, and I'm going through withdrawal.

There's no better feeling in the world than when you huck yourself off that cliff, or when you're bombing down the mountain (Ontario mountains) just a little bit faster than you're comfortable with. The feeling of flying when you hit a kicker, or flying across the water with the throttle wide open. The feeling that you might not make it out in one piece.

It's unreal.

The rush, the exhilaration, the ecstasy.

What do you think is the best feeling in the world?

(Don't even think about trying to pull a Jesus Juke on this one.)

Cash Money

It's got Brad Pitt.

It's about baseball.

It's a biopic.

How can you not be excited about it?

Move

Something light,

fun,

and AMAZING for your Friday.

MOVE from Rick Mereki on Vimeo.

August Long Weekend

This past weekend Crystal and I ventured away from home for the first time since Kai was born 3 weeks ago. The three of us made our way north to spend some time with my family at the cottage. While it took us a good couple hours packing the car and transporting everything we own (at least that's what it felt like) up to the cottage, it was well worth it.

My parents cooked for us and looked after Kai, allowing Crystal and I to spend some time at the beach and nap in the hammock. I cannot express how thankful I am for my parents. Over the past 3 weeks they have been so helpful.

Sure, they probably want to spend time with Kai, but their first priority is to make life easier for us. Not that there is anything wrong with people coming over to see the baby, it's just so nice when they come over and clean the house for us, or cook us dinner and take care of the dishes afterwards. Then, if time allows they'll take turns holding Kai.

So... to Mom and Dad (Grandma and Grandpa), thanks so much for helping to make this transition into parenthood as smooth as possible.