Preface: It was November 21,1998  Art from Carrollton artists hung
       on the walls at 5 East Benton Street. This time my arrangement would
       be up for two days straight. At 7 pm I was watching the movie Pleasantville
       at our local theater. When the "malt shop scene" appeared, tingles ran through my body,
       and I began to cry with joy. It was like someone dear had slipped into the seat beside me.
       "pay attention to this scene...there is something I want to show you"... At 2 am I awoke
       from sleep, the tingles returned, he was nearby, reaching over to the night stand,
       light flicked on, pen in hand, I wrote down these words.....

       a story of romance - between art shows
          revealing "it's ok-it's alright to be given the Holy Spirit."
          
      The movie Pleasantville is prophetic...talks about the out pouring,
      more of Jesus, being transformed, entering, experiencing Jesus-as-
      you-never-knew-before.

       The scene where everyone gathers around Bud at the malt shop
       and asks about outside Pleasantville. There is hunger and thirsting
       written on everyone's face. Longing to know. Waiting. Bud declares
       that the roads don't go in a circle  * but they go on and on (into the
       deep riches of God in Christ Jesus). They have books that have no stories.
       As Bud recounts his rememberance of the stories, the text appears in the
       blank books   for all to read. (A speaking forth of what God has
       shown him  and the people receive it, drink it in for themselves !!!)
       Color starts appearing in Pleasantville's black and white and gray.
      The new experiences of love making on Lover's Lane, and the wife of Wayne,
       point to intimacy with Jesus. His passion for us transforms our lives.
       We are never the same again. We can't go back to the former understanding.
       The black, white, and grayness of the city is all the people have ever known.
       They can't comprehend this transformation. They begin to see colors
       appearing in their city. It brings confusion - it's loud - it's dangerous -
       it's uncomfortable - it's not safe.The wife of Wayne doesn't want to face the
       rejection of her husband. So Bud puts grey makeup over her face.
       She puts on the appearance of a former way of thinking.
       The color  brings out the arts.  Jesus opens eyes to see himself through
       painting. The artist has been given eyes   to see the beauty Jesus has
       in union and relationship with him) - the "beauty of Jesus" under the grey
       appearances. Like the Soda Man, Jesus lovingly removes the outward
       appearances to reveal the color ( more of himself, his nature, his presence, life)
       With color   comes compassion - passion for Jesus - from the passion
       he has for us - that he reveals to us. Released to have compassion for people.
       Like Bud has for his TV mom and real life mom. Bud tenderly wipes away
       his real mom's tears with a Kleenex.
           There is "this confidence and knowing" about Bud. At first he resists the
       changes being unleashed in Pleasantville. He doesn't want this world to be
       tampered with or changed. He knows the TV program so well, each scene
       and every episode. Not unlike knowing the Scriptures, but not knowing Jesus
       - not experiencing the fullness. he comes to recognize the benefits of sharing
       what he has been given.  What he knows from his real life, he teaches to others.
       He helps them receive, trust, believe, and come to know more of Jesus.
       He tells them "it's OK."
            From that one soda shop scene forward, Bud is not fearful of the changes.
       Love comes to him. He is loved and transformed (by the girlfriend he
       never had (Jesus). Bud understands the awkwardness of living a life of color
       (of Jesus). He encourages it gently.
           When the own mayor issues a decree to forbid the expressions of color -
       expressions of Jesus - persecution happens. In the shattered vandalized soda shop,
       Bud encourages the believers to rebuild and press in. Bud and the artist go forward
       to bring color to the city wall - (Jesus, prophetic vision, the arts, more of Jesus)
       Both the artist and Bud embrace the stigma of the Holy Spirit - and co-labor for Christ
       The town is transformed.
           Real rain comes. People are afraid   not understanding about the out pouring.
       (the presence of Jesus is like a soaking rain) Bud tells his friends, "Come with me out
       in the rain. It won't hurt you. See?" His friends stand with him in the rain.
       Catching rain drops
        with their mouths turned upward. Laughing. They wake up the next day all in color
        (baptized - awakened in Christ) they had fallen asleep in the rain. Only to awaken together
        in that place  the next morning. Color everywhere.
          
       I believe the movie it is a picture of what God is doing right now in Carrollton.
      
       More of Jesus is for everyone - for all the grey people in traditionalism.
             Bud and the artist go to trial. Bud testifies to someone greater - the color (Jesus) for each person.
       Even his TV dad Wayne. Bud talks to his TV dad about his wife's new beauty.
      "Hasn't he noticed how much more beautiful she is since the color?"
      Wayne nods with tears in his eyes.
      "Wouldn't you like to tell her how beautiful she is?" asks Bud. Wayne nods.
       And the color comes over Wayne.

          u Acknowledging the beauty of Jesus - brings the transformation
                                                                       - is receiving the color.
                ( isn't Jesus more beautiful? Don't we long to tell him that? Don't we want to do that now?! )
                Yes- through the arts we can tell him - and when we do tell him - the color of Jesus
                transforms us in his presence. As we worship - interceed - long for - and pour out our
                hearts to Jesus, Jesus comes to draw us to himself. He reshapes us. He brings revelation.
                Fullness. It's all about Jesus.

            Bud tells the mayor/ judge that the color is for him too. When the color changes the mayor
            and he sees how he has Christ- he runs out of the courtroom in embarassment.

            There is someone greater here. It is Jesus !!!

   uuuuu
      
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