The Phil Files

A couple of weeks ago, I shared a short video put together by two friends, Stephen Corbett and Rob Marcelain. We used during our church gathering. The post and video are entitled, Is It In You? Over the last few days, this video has “gone viral” — it’s reached the point where folks are forwarding it and sharing it so that it has developed a life of it’s own as it spreads rapidly. Many of you have commented on the video either on my blog or via email. Many more have forwarded this YouTube video to friends, who’ve forwarded it their friends, who … well, you get the picture.

Much of the power of Jesus’ good news message of the Kingdom is found in the “gone viral” principle. People begin to share, person to person, their excitement, hope, and joy found in Jesus. This is an overwhelming and powerful force, especially during times of challenge, oppression, persecution, and difficulty. You see it lived out powerful in Acts 11:19-30. (Note: Scripture links provide a pop up window with the Scripture text!)

The short letter of 1 Peter is a message about being a holy people for God, living exemplary lives before a hostile culture — see especially 1 Peter 2:9-12 and 1 Peter 3:14-16. The goal is to live in such a way that even critics recognize the character and quality of the believers’ lives and turn to Christ. This is viral living at best.

Unfortunately, however, the other side of “gone viral” is negative. Just like viruses in computers and human bodies are bad, so also “gone viral” can be bad in the life of believers if fear, innuendo, gossip, suspicion, and criticism become an acceptable value in a body of believers — for example, Galatians 5:15. Truth gets lost in rumor and respect for leaders gets lost in partisan positioning.

So the real question for each of us is what viruses are we spreading? Let’s make sure that what is in us, what can “go viral” from us, is what blesses and heals and restores and redeems.

Special thanks to Stephen Corbett who shot and produced this video and to Rob Marcelain who did the actiing! Other videos from Corbett and Crew can be found on the church website.

In you, LORD my God,
  I put my trust.
  I trust in you;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    nor let my enemies triumph over me.
  No one who hopes in you
    will ever be put to shame,
  but shame will come on those
    who are treacherous without cause.

  Show me your ways, LORD,
    teach me your paths.
  Guide me in your truth and teach me,
    for you are God my Savior,
    and my hope is in you all day long.
  Remember, LORD, your great mercy and love,
    for they are from of old.
  Do not remember the sins of my youth
    and my rebellious ways;
  according to your love remember me,
    for you, LORD, are good.

  Good and upright is the LORD;
    therefore he instructs sinners in his ways.
  He guides the humble in what is right
    and teaches them his way.
  All the ways of the LORD are loving and faithful
    toward those who keep the demands of his covenant.
  For the sake of your name, LORD,
    forgive my iniquity, though it is great.

  Who, then, are those who fear the LORD?
  He will instruct them in the ways they should choose.
  They will spend their days in prosperity,
    and their descendants will inherit the land.
  The LORD confides in those who fear him;
    he makes his covenant known to them.
  My eyes are ever on the LORD,
    for only he will release my feet from the snare.

  Turn to me and be gracious to me,
    for I am lonely and afflicted.
  Relieve the troubles of my heart
    and free me from my anguish.
  Look on my affliction and my distress
    and take away all my sins.
  See how numerous are my enemies
    and how fiercely they hate me!

  Guard my life and rescue me;
    do not let me be put to shame,
    for I take refuge in you.
  May integrity and uprightness protect me,
    because my hope, LORD, is in you.

  Redeem Israel, O God,
    from all their troubles!

\o/ — Comments Psalm 25: In You, my LORD and God, I put my trust! — \o/

We have all sorts of ways of trying to find significance, fulfillment, and meaning in life. Reading this Psalm reminds me of all the ways I need to turn to the LORD for my identity and security. I am vulnerable and in need in so many areas — physical safety, physical health, spiritual health, spiritual correction, spiritual nurture, spiritual growth, … the list could go on and on. Yet when I am honest with myself, I realize that I cannot manage, much less fix, any of these situations. I am profoundly dependent upon the LORD and His care. My cries in this honesty are very much the same as the psalmist:
… show me Your ways!
… guard my life!
… do not let me be put to shame!
… be gracious to me!
… free me from anguish!
… forgive my iniquity!

Now if I can with full heart put my trust in God and have my hope fixed on Him! Ah, this is my goal form this day forward … to rely on the LORD, His grace and strength, and not rely on my own ways, but tune my heart and life to honor Him.