March 1 "The Jesus Revolution"

Wednesday:  My sister and Terry are about 95% moved in to their place here at Leisure Village. Today, we had a little bit of "free" time and decided to see "The Jesus Revolution".

Here's the thing: The movie tells the story of the late 60's and early 70's of the Jesus Movement. I was 16, 17, and 18 during that time and was very impacted by the hippie movement and also what God was doing among them by His Spirit to bring them to Christ. "Papa" (Jim) was greatly impacted by the Jesus Movement too; and when he first became a believer (1974), he met other Christians at a downtown coffee house run at that time by Calvary Baptist Church. Pastor Dan Dinsmore was a regular down at the coffee house and regularly spoke with Jim to encourage him in his faith. Pastor Dinsmore was the best man in our wedding back in 1975.

And also, Terry was hugely impacted by Pastor Chuck Smith (and Calvary Chapel) and his ministry in California. Terry has been to Calvary Chapel and met Chuck Smith many years ago. He has often mentioned how much Chuck Smith means to him personally. 

I'm so glad we went to see the movie. We felt it was an accurate portrayal of that explosive time in our country and all over the world. People like Timothy Leary were shown advocating drugs that could make a person "be like God" and the movie also depicted quite accurately what "stoned" people's lives devolved into.

All of the folk who highlight this movie were flawed human beings--and the movie shows that quite clearly; but in spite of their sins and errors and bad judgment (at times), God used them to draw hopeless and broken people to a healing relationship with Himself.

After witnessing (via Youtube) the spiritual revival that took place at Asbury College (Kentucky) over the last few weeks, this movie is very timely in its release. It actually rated #3 at the box office last week in spite of its very limited release--something like 2400 theaters nationwide. 

Perhaps ... (please Lord?) many young and old people will see this film, turn from their hopelessness and sin and embrace God through Christ's life, death and resurrection. That is surely my prayer. Thank you, Lord, for this film and for how You used it to remind me of all those years ago and what happened to so many people through the moving of Your Spirit.