The Changed Lives: Miracles of the Passion” documentary has been the most challenging project I’ve undertaken in 30 years in the entertainment biz. Every step along the way has been slippery, rocky, muddy, or a creaky wooden footbridge crossing a deep chasm. Thankfully, this has provided me with plenty of opportunities to trust heavily on God to carry me across to the other side. And whenever you do that, you’re going to see miracles in your life.
I did.
While we were producing and editing the TV special, the days were long—18 hours, usually. Try that for a couple of months and see what kind of mood you’ll be in. Add to that enormous financial uncertainties (I’d taken out a second mortgage on my home to fund the show, which had not been sold yet), and obligations I’d made to pay good wages to all my crew—producers, cameramen, editors—most of whom were personal friends (and thankfully still are), and the stress starts
to add up quickly. I had some desperate prayer times that usually went something like this:
God, if You don’t show up right now, I am sunk! It’s over! I know You own the cattle on a thousand hills.. .well, I need You to sell one or two because I am about to be in deep trouble. I need You right now.
God loves that, I think.
A big problem with Christians in America is that we are not desperate for God, so we don’t usually cry out to Him and expect Him—and really need Him—to show up right then. We’re rarely in a situation where if God doesn’t show up then we’re going to die or lose our home or something else really bad will happen.
That happens a lot in places like Africa, Cambodia, and poor parts of South America, where needs are great and people are desperate for God. And guess what? He shows up! Just the way He promises. And what do you see in those places?
Miracles.
Miracles Because of Miracles
So I was desperate and, big-surprise, God showed up and supplied miracles. Financial provision over and over again, rest and refreshment beyond what a few hours sleep could provide, and terrific coworkers who believed in me but mostly in God. It was truly amazing to once again see God’s hand very present in my time of great need. He was just waiting for me to learn to trust Him and see just how trustworthy He is.
And there was more. The project itself was taking on a life of its own, and miracles were happening. People who’d been
praying for work and were near-destitute found employment. Talented entertainment professionals found answered prayer getting to work on a project that really mattered to them after working on mindless TV shows just to pay bills and be “creative” (if you’re not in this business, you have no idea how morally debilitating this can all be). We developed wonderful, warm relationships with several of the people we interviewed for the show—and they so needed a Christian brother or sister right at that very moment.
As I said earlier, when God tells you to do something, it’s a good idea to do it. From His perspective He can see the entire parade, from the beginning to the end. We only see that little part of the parade that is passing by us right then. We can’t know when we might be part of a miracle.
That happened to me right in the middle of the whole process—at a time when I needed it.
We were getting some good press on the show, particularly after my appearance on Good Morning America.
Prior to one of the follow-up interviews with a national show, I was directed to a makeup room and introduced to Cindy, the makeup artist. She was going to make me look all nice (meaning tan and younger) for the live interview. We chatted for the 15 minutes while she performed her own miracle on me!
She was very interested in my show and about the miracles. I shared with her some of the incredible stories about how God had reached into these people’s circumstances and rescued them, changing their lives forever. She shared that she used to go to church a long time ago but hadn’t been in a while. It was clear
she was hungry for some spiritual food, and she really wanted to know when my show was going to air so she could see it.
We finished, I went on the show, did my bit, said goodbye to the crew, and went downstairs to my waiting car, which was parked in front of the building.
“Coincidentally,” Cindy was exiting the building at the same time, and because of the location of my car we walked together for a little bit. She had listened to my interview, heard the stories and seen a clip from my show, and reiterated how much she looked forward to seeing it.
I followed my hearts instinct and asked, “Out of curiosity, what part of town do you live in?”
She told me it was in the valley, and “coincidentally” not far from The Church On The Way, where I’m a member. Easter was in a few weeks, so I told her about the church, that we had a great pastor/teacher, that it’s the “real deal,” and that Easter is an excellent service and she ought to give it a try—I’d be there. It was kind of a lame invitation, but I didn’t want her to think I was hitting on her...(which I wasn’t, honestly).
She told me thanks and maybe she’d check it out. We said our goodbyes, “nice to meet you,” and I got in my car and headed back to editing.
The long, laborious process of finishing the show continued for several more weeks, and on Easter weekend, the show finally aired.
On Easter morning the 11:00 service was packed, as usual. Close to 2000 people filled the large sanctuary. We had about
five services that day to accommodate everyone, so close to 10,000 would celebrate Easter at The Church On The Way I came early and got a good seat near the front. The music was triumphant, the lilies were magnificent. Christ was risen indeed! We took a moment to turn and greet people around us, and directly behind me sat a woman who looked familiar.. .it was Cindy! What were the odds of that?
I told her I was glad to see her there, “Happy Easter,” and that was that.
The message was powerful and encouraging, and the entire service was moving.
I just love Easter.
At the end of the service, as is customary at our church, the pastor gives the opportunity for anyone who wants to start a new life with Christ to acknowledge that by raising their hand while everyone’s head is bowed and they’re given the courtesy of privacy. There are often a dozen or more people who make that life-changing decision in each service, and quite a few more on Easter. Then the pastor asks the person to gently tap the shoulder of the person beside them and tell them, “I’m inviting Jesus into my life.”
Behind me, I heard Cindy whisper those words through her tears.
All those long days and short nights, all the trials and tribulations, all the fears and uncertainties, were suddenly all completely worth it.
If the only reason God had me create “Changed Lives: Miracles of the Passion” was so I would meet Cindy and invite
her to church where she would start a new life with Him, then that was good enough for me. For Cindy, it’s a miracle.
We only see a little part.
God sees the whole parade.
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