On November 21,1998 -- artwork from Carrollton Artists
were hung on the walls at 5 East Benton Street downtown.
The typical one day exhibit was extended this time.
It would be up for two days straight.

On the first night, at seven o'clock I was at the movie theater
watching the film Pleasantville. When the "malt shop" scene
 appeared, tingles ran through my body,  and I began to cry
with joy. It was as if someone dear to me had slipped into
the empty seat beside me. "Pay attention to this scene,"
came the thought. "There is something I want to show you."

Later that same night, I was home asleep and at two am
I awoke, the tingles had returned, He was nearby. 
Reaching over to the night stand, I flicked on the light and
with 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.
      It pictures the out pouring -  more of Jesus - being
      renewed - entering in - experiencing Jesus-as-you-
      never-knew-before.

      In the scene where everyone gathers around Bud at
      the malt shop and asks what is outside Pleasantville.
      There is hunger and thirsting written on everyone's
      face. Longing to know. Waiting.

      Then, 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).
 
      In the scene where citizens have library books with
      blank pages.
 
      As Bud recounts what he remembers of the stories,
      the text appears in the blank books for all to read.
      (There is a speaking forth of what God has shown
      him - the people receive it - and drink it in for
      themselves !!!)

       Color starts appearing in this town of grays.
      There are new experiences of intimacy on Lover's
      Lane, an awakening.
      These point to a deeper 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 grayness to the city is all the citizens have ever
      known. They can't comprehend this transformation.
      As they begin to see colors appearing in their city -
      it brings confusion - it's loud - it seems dangerous -
      it's uncomfortable - it does not feel safe.

       After the face of a wife changes from grays into
      color. She doesn't want to face the rejection of
      her husband. So Bud applies grey makeup over her
      face to hide her transformation.
      She puts on the appearance of a former way of
      thinking.

       The appearance of color brings out the arts.

      The Spirit of God opens
      the hearts and minds and eyes of citizens
      to see Jesus
      through personal expression praises
      poetry impressions rejoicing
 
      The Artist has been given eyes  
      for the "beauty of Jesus" under the grey appearances.
      Just like the Soda Man, Jesus lovingly removes the
      outward appearances in order to reveal the color,
      which is more of himself, more of his nature, more
      of his presence, more of his life.

        With color  comes compassion - passion for Jesus
       - from the passion he has for us - that he reveals
       to us. Citizens are 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.
       Like knowing the Scriptures, but not recognizing
       Jesus - not experiencing the fullness.

       Bud 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 town mayor issues a decree to forbid
       the expressions of color - 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. Citizens are fearful,
       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 join him and stand
       with him in the rain. Catching rain drops with their
       mouths turned upward. Laughing.

       They wake up the next day all in color (renewed -
       baptised - awakened in Christ)  They had fallen asleep
       in the rain. Only to awaken together in that place 
       the next morning. Color is every where.
          
       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 who are longing,
       waiting, thirsting, and hungry.
          
       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.

       Acknowledging the beauty of Jesus
            - brings recognition
                - receives the color that He applies
             - melts our hearts
      ( 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 - and pour out our
      hearts to Jesus, Jesus comes to draw us to himself.
      He reshapes us. He refreshes our mind. He calms
      our heart. We rejoice with gratitude. Embraced.
      It's all about Jesus.

       Bud tells the judge that the color is for him too.
       When the color changes the judge and he sees
       how he has Christ - he runs out of the courtroom
       aware he can no longer despise.

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



   The next day, November 22, was the second day of
the art show at 5 East Benton. Citizens came to view
the art pieces. Then at four pm the artists took down their
work and went home.
    These words, these phrases, made me excited.
1998 was the same year I did the mural painting on
Washington Street, whose theme welcomed outsiders
to the area of Carrollton. The Land of Opportunity.
People still come and plant and build and raise their
families. The painting was bathed in worship during
its creation to bless the city, the citizens. It was like a
mantle of beauty that was applied to a wall in a part
of town that once was dangerous and unsafe. I was
an artist and a painter.
I was also like Bud.
Jesus, come and stir our city. 


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