We Were There

We Were There: A Personal Take on the Jesus Revolution

The unseasonably warm weather hijacked our after-church plans, and Larry and I eagerly headed for a robust two-mile walk on our favorite trail. Upon returning to our car, we took still another turn toward spontaneity; we bought tickets to see the Jesus Revolution.

As we settled into the recliners nestling our individual buckets of popcorn, we wondered what it would be like to look back — not as hippies — but as ordinary university students who witnessed the touch of God in a movement of revival that spread from sea to shining sea.

Oh, my! The film portrays an epic period when God visited this nation with an unusual outpouring of His Spirit. More than just a walk down memory lane for Baby Boomers, the movie recounts the life of California pastor Chuck Smith, who accepted the challenge to become God’s change agent at a time of social upheaval and political unrest in the United States. For those of us who witnessed firsthand those heady days of revival, it takes us back to revisit the dramatic movement of The Holy Spirit on our campuses and in our churches.

We Were There

We were there is a gripping statement consistently expressed by moviegoers, individuals who read their own stories along with the events played out on the screen. Indeed, Larry and I were no exception. We were there. And we have never been the same.

We were there at Explo ’72, the international student conference on evangelism held in Dallas, Texas, in June 1972.

We were there among the 80,000 thousand students in the Cotton Bowl who heard the booming voice of Billy Graham calling us to a lifetime of radical commitment to Christ.

We were there in some barren open field for the massive outdoor “revival rally” when Johnny Cash (joined on stage by Kris Kristofferson, Love Song, and Andraé Crouch and The Disciples) inspired everyone in the audience to stand and sing like we were heaven’s choir itself.

We were there when the copy of Time magazine hit the newsstands and forced America to sit up and take notice of Jesus and His radical followers.

And we were there in the theatre when the Jesus Revolution movie ended and the credits rolled. Others exited, but we sat riveted in our seats. With tears streaming down our cheeks, the two of us realized that the greatest credit of all goes to God Himself — God Who gave us His Son and left us His Spirit.

Back in that unusual spiritual season, God began a true Jesus Revolution in our own individual hearts. We were there. And, by His amazing grace, we are still here. God help us! May we not let up or give up til our work on earth is done, and He calls us Home to that great and glorious eternal Jesus Revolution.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in their hearts” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

Quotes from the movie:

“There’s an entire generation searching for God.”

“If you want to reach my people, you’ve got to speak a language they understand.”

“You say you are looking for truth. I think you are just looking for an excuse to be unhappy.”

“Desperation — there is power in that word!”

“Don’t be so arrogant as to think that God can’t work through your failures.”

Questions regarding the movie:

Have you seen the movie? If so, what did you think of it?

Were you or someone you know alive at the time this movie chronicles?

Why do you think God has orchestrated this movie for “Such a time as this”?

How does the Holy Spirit want to use this story to make a difference in your own life?

A Life-Changing Easter

At this moment in your life, where do you long for God to roll away the stone?

For a few moments, write yourself into The Story on that early Easter morning. No Starbucks, no Egg McMuffin, no grab-and-go breakfast bar. Just a broken heart and a grief-stricken question: “Who will roll away the stone?”

What we know:

It was just after sunrise, and three women faced a challenging, emotional task. Someone dear to them died the day before, and they took it upon themselves to anoint the Body for a proper burial. They knew the location. Staring at a problem of gigantic proportion, they asked themselves the question, “Who will roll away the stone?”

What we don’t know:

• Who first raised the question? Was it Mary Magdalene, or Mary the mother of James, or was it Salome?

• Why had they not thought of this before now?

• Was the question one of worry and anxiety or just a concern for the obstacle?

What they discovered:

Their ordinary question received an extraordinary answer! When they looked up, the stone was rolled away and the empty tomb confirmed the resurrection!

As the Scriptures record:

But when they looked up, they saw that the stone, which was very large, had been rolled away. As they entered the tomb, they saw a young man dressed in a white robe sitting on the right side, and they were alarmed. “Don’t be alarmed, he said. You are looking for Jesus the Nazarene, who was crucified. He has risen!” (Mark 16:1-6).

Our place in the Story:

In our life journey, like the ladies, we grapple with the obstacle: “Who will roll away the stone?”

In our finances, in our family, in our future?

In our habits, in our hearts, in our hopelessness?

Yet when we look up—like Mary, Mary, and Salome—we discover that God, in His glorious faithfulness, has already rolled away the stone. Just when needed, His grace for the moment is greater than the stone, regardless of its size.

But there is more:

God always longs to accomplish a greater miracle than just rolling away the stone. In our finances, in our family, in our future, in our habits, in our hearts, and in our hopelessness, He desires to display the Resurrection of His Son!

Dear One, may this be the most life-changing Easter you have ever experienced, and may you and I pray together: Father, as I write myself into this Easter Story, I ask You to roll away the stone in every crack and crevice of my life, and reveal the glorious Resurrection of Jesus, my Lord and my God.

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

1. How would you have felt if you were walking with the women on that early morning, just after sunrise?

2. What would your concerns have been? Would you have been worried and anxious?

3. Where do you need God to roll away the stone in your current circumstances?

4. What would it look like not only for the stone to be removed, but for the Resurrection to be displayed in that situation?

Women's History Month

This one’s for you, dear reader!

Thank you:

Thank you for joining us in March for Women’s History Month. We considered the lives of Abigail Adams, Vonette Bright, and Elisabeth Elliot. Your feedback affirms that the moments shared have been encouraging.

Now, this one’s for you! As an amazing woman with a significant contribution to make in history, the moment has come for you to write your own Cameo.

Tell Your Story:

Your life is a story, which deserves to be told. Whether God asks you to go across the ocean or across the street, He wants to use your story to help tell His Story. So, in everyday situations, just speak up. Tell who Jesus is and what He means to you.

Take the Next Step:

Be ready to ask an individual the simple question: “Where are you in your faith journey?” Then, be sensitive and ready to offer an appropriate next step.

Turn to Prayer:

We live in a world populated by hurting people. Loneliness smothers our society; anxiety plagues our population. As your day brings you into conversation with individuals, gently ask the person if you can take a moment to pray with them. The very fact that you care enough to stop and bring God into the realities of a person’s challenges will offer them hope beyond belief.

Try It:

Yes! Try it. Allow the Holy Spirit to fill you, guide you, and speak through you. Take the next step in Living With Eternal Intentionality® and see what new pages God will write in the volume of your story. And you are not alone. Heaven is cheering you on!

Tell Us:

Please be sure to come back and let us know what you discover as you say, “God, I am available to let You use my story to help tell Your Story.” “Be who God meant you to be, and you will set the world on fire.” - Catherine of Sienna

Living With Eternal Intentionality®

“He has also set eternity in the hearts of men” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).

“This is to my Father’s glory, that you bear much fruit, showing yourselves to be my disciples” (John 15:8).

How do you relate to the idea that you have a story that God wants to use in telling His Story?

When have you recently seen loneliness or anxiety displayed in a conversation?

Which everyday situation comes to mind where you believe The Lord wants you to speak up?