a little renaissance to stir the soul

I was on facebook the other day and I saw a great quote. It said, “I learned everything I need to know from Disney movies.” This made me laugh. I love the classics, they are my most favorite movies. The “Disney Renaissance” is a celebrated time of high quality animated motion pictures. Some would argue how long it lasted, but the general time is 1989-1999. Which is the prime of my youth. These movies were a creative explosion of minds and hearts coming together. They literally helped shape a generation. Movies are powerful, they impart whatever was in the hearts of their maker. Four movies in particular left an imprint on my heart. I've never seen a better movie because I've never received such a strong impartation from other movies.

The Little Mermaid (1989): The part of the movie I want to talk about is when Ariel sings "Part of Your World." Whether the song writer knew it or not, the message of this song is right out of the Bible. Every time I hear it I get tears in my eyes. She starts out the song with how thankful she is for her home and all the things she has. But she quickly moves into how she wants more, she isn't satisfied. She wants to dance and walk on her feet! When I hear that I feel warmth in my soul. I want to dance and walk on my feet! Banning Liebscher, a pastor at Bethel, taught me that I must always stay thankful, and at the same time never be satisfied with what I have. The two go hand in hand. In God there is always more. He values thankfulness, and wants us to stay grounded in that. But He never sets limits for us, we set our own limits.

Beauty and the Beast (1991): Whoa! A movie that moves the heart. This movie shows the power of a curse, and more importantly, the power of love. There was a dream in my spirit for a long time that my soul didn’t really know was there. David had to command his soul to rejoice because it wasn’t as quick as his spirit. I know that to be true in many ways. At the end of Beauty and the Beast there is an amazing scene where Beast is pulled up into the air and is transformed into the prince. At last love conquered the curse and his dream became reality. As a young boy my spirit captured that image and God set it in me. My soul never realized it was there. I never talked of it. I believe the reason why God gave it to me is because God wanted to show my spirit who I am, how He actually views me, and what He wants to do with me. I am that prince and love has conquered this disease. My King conquered every curse. It will be reality on earth. The scene was implanted in my spirit and has never let me go.

Aladdin (1992): This movie showed that I knew I wanted a princess. I believe that Aladdin is one of the most romantic movies ever. I knew I wanted to love well. To love every girl as a beautiful princess. Women are free and powerful. In the movie Jasmine is on the streets and she is trying to stay hidden, she has a hood on. She sees the palace guards capturing Aladdin, and she commands them to let him go. They push her and laugh, saying by who's orders? She stands and removes her veil and says, “by the orders of the princess!” Whoa! The princesses of the world must be unveiled. Creation and mankind are waiting for their orders. Aladdin makes a transformation from pauper to prince. Like most of us he tries to become someone he's not. It's what we do when we don't know our identity. He realizes Prince Ali is just not him, and he gives up hope. He betrays Jasmine's trust by not being himself. Unfortunately like most of us, he sees himself as a pauper and unworthy of love. But he finds out he was born to be a prince. He breaks old mindsets. He is worthy of love and the princess. It's a journey in the depths of his heart.

The Lion King (1994): Mufasa is power. He is so big and strong. He is usurped by Scar in an act of violent love. He gives his life for his son. Scar releases shame and condemnation to Simba. He runs away like so many of us do. He becomes careless and apathetic. He reunites with Nala, and he tells her bad things happen and there's nothing you can do. She responds, “it's your responsibility!” We like to take the responsibility off ourselves. But in fact God left us in charge. We cry out to God for help. I love the secret place, it's a great time to yell, scream, cry, and rejoice. We make an exchange, our stuff for His heart. But we must understand Jesus already defeated everything we face. It's our responsibility to enforce His victory. Mufasa appears to Simba and tells him, “remember who you are.” Simba goes to defeat Scar, taking back his throne. His kingdom is restored.

face to face

I really can’t wait to be married. It’s such a huge desire of my heart. When I was in high school I wasn’t looking for a girlfriend, I was looking for a wife. I’m excited to give everything I have to my wife. I’ve never been married, obviously, but I’ve seen many marriages in action. One of the most important things is to give, give, give, and when I’m sick of giving, I give some more. I’m excited to love her as a daughter of the King, and to fight for her heart. I’m excited to fight along her side, displacing darkness for the Kingdom of our Father. I’m excited to start a family and have children. A family after God’s heart is powerful and is dangerous to darkness. They cultivate the very heart of our Father. More than all of that, I want to know my wife. I’m not going to get married to know about her, but to know her intimately. I plan on actually being with her, and liking it. I want to know what makes her heart beat, what she cries out for when no one is looking. I want to partner with her and God to see her dreams fulfilled. I want to know her so well that I’ll know what she thinks without talking. I believe she is a daughter of the King, and she really is royalty. That’s not a theory, it’s a reality. It’s my privilege and responsibility to know her as she is. And to not live as though it’s a theory.

The same goes with my relationship with Father. I talk a lot on this blog about miracles, signs, and wonders. You will get no apology from me. I want my full inheritance as a son of God. I won’t settle for less. But it’s important to keep the main thing, the main thing. I’m alive to know and love my Father deeply. Even deeper than my wife. People throw a lot of phrases out, including me. “Jesus is the lover my soul.” “I’m an abandoned lover and worshiper of Jesus.” Most of my life these truths have been a theory. But I can honestly say it’s now a reality in my life. People don’t know the extravagant love Father has for us. If people really knew Jesus and His love, people would literally RUN to Him. Most Christians settle for religion. Religion says God is distant and impersonal. We settle for knowing about God. What does your heart cry out for more than anything else? Well I really want to walk. We also want money, blessing, peace, and joy. But more than all that, our hearts ache for love. What in the heck tells us God doesn’t want love even more? Oh right, religion. Father is aching for our love. He is the Lover of all lovers. This is not a theory. Jesus is a person, waiting to be known. He’s longing to know us. I want to know what makes His heart beat, what He cries out for when no one is looking. I want to partner with Him and my wife to see His dreams fulfilled. I want to know Him so well that I’ll know what He thinks without talking. Holy Spirit is my best friend. The love of my life. I live to know my Father face to face.