In the past month, two trusted pastors from around the country have spoken encouraging words to our church. Both men used rain as the metaphor to describe God’s blessing and both men said the rain is coming soon. New Life could sure use some rain and I am thankful for the forecast. The past month has been especially difficult for many of us as the painful issues of our past have been opened again. Today, though, I feel a burden has been lifted.
One of the pastors described a scene from the movie, “The Shawshank Redemption.” It is one of my favorite movies, too. Andy is one of the main characters and was an inmate at the state prison in Maine. He was there for a crime he did not commit and for many years he slowly chipped his way through his cell wall using a small rock hammer. One night during a thunderstorm, he slipped through the hole in the wall, and crawled several hundred yards through a sewage pipe which led to a creek outside the prison walls. When he finally reached freedom, he tore off his old clothes and stood with his face and hands lifted in the pouring rain. Andy was free and he was letting the rain wash away the stench of his journey.
New Life can relate to Andy standing in the rain. Our church family is finally crawling out of the long sewage pipe of scandal and terror and can smell the fresh rain ahead. The journey has been long and difficult and I am sure no one wants to repeat the trip, but what we have learned about God, each other, and ourselves is priceless.
God is not finished with New Life. In fact, I am convinced our best days are still ahead and God will receive all the glory. So, let it rain! Lord, open the floodgates of heaven, and let it rain!
February 23, 2009 at 2:08 pm
Yes, Yes, and Amen I do believe the rain is coming. I believe we are coming into the rain season by way of the desert. “Oh, God, You are my God; Early I will seek You. My soul thirsts for You;
My flesh longs for You In a dry and thirst land Where there is no water. So I have looked for You in the sanctuary, To see Your power and Your glory. Psalms 63:1-2. NJKV Many of us feel as if we are army crawling through a dry and parched land, but I do believe we are shedding many things in this time, and that we know more than ever that Our Lord, Alone Satisfies! “For You, O God, have tested us; You have refined us as silver is refined. You brought us into the net; You laid affliction on our backs. You have caused men to ride over our heads; We went through fire and through water; But You brought us out to rich fulfillment.” Psalms 66:10-12.NJKV Praising God for His faithfulness to His Covenant People. Lord may Your Word, fall like rain, accomplishing that which it is sent out to accomplish! kathy walton
February 23, 2009 at 8:27 pm
The message of rain coming was absolutely divine in its timing. It could not have been more perfect. Both for the church body, and for me personally as an individual. I think it’s fascinating that Dr. Ulmer was led to use the example of Shawshank Redemption and Andy standing in the rain, arms spread wide, face and hands toward Heaven. This almost the exact same position that King Solomon assumed when he prayed the prayer that Dr. Ulmer recited Sunday morning.
“…for Solomon had made a bronze platform… and he stood on it, knelt down on his knees…, and spread out his hands toward Heaven…” II Chronicles 6:13
This message was absolutley God-inspired! Now it is up to us as warriors for God’s knigdom to use this rain as a stepping stone to seek and save the lost.
Let It Rain!
March 2, 2009 at 9:43 am
Amen! Amen! Amen! Thank you for standing with us, Pastor Brady, and helping us move in to the future and all that God has for us. I appreciate you!
March 9, 2009 at 10:41 am
I am from Gulu-Uganda, East Africa. I have known this church this year as I was looking for worship music by Pastor Ross Parsley. I loved the songs because theys spoke about brokenness, desperation for God. I was down and had become cold in the faith. Pray for me to gain back my first love.
I would like to say that I love New Life Church. I have hardly known you and I got to see many interviews about what happened there and I know you guys have a great Pastor. I get the messages on the New Life Church website and it blesses my life. It is helping me to get back on track. I love you guys at New Life Church and I am proud of the character you have placed before you in this era of healing. God is not done with you as He is not done with me too.
God bless you and You have great Pastor. God bless you Pastor Brady Boyd.
August 7, 2010 at 8:27 pm
Honestly, I am voiceless. The Shawshank Redemption is terrific. I’am not too old film fan, as a matter of fact, this film is realised whenI was born, and so I’am more used to movies with astounding special effects, edge-of-your-seat action, et cetera. This movie has none of that, and however, it appeals so close to me . The way Frank Darabont uses the narration of Red to drive on the tale, the excellent the music used (note the harmonica used merely earlier Red getting the letter at the end). The entire movie, from start to finish, from actions to sound, is a beacon of hope, judgement, and redemption. The cast is mastered, Morgan Freeman(Red) really brings about a fresh feel to the story, and that is exactly what the movie is, what a film should be. Really recommended for every film fan.