I can only remember 2 times when I have literally wept tears of joy. Both occasions have been in the last few months.
When Ben played to me for the first time the songs he had recorded for our new album “Singing My Father’s Song’ tears welled up.
They were not just tears of sentiment but were expressing a deep gratitude that our Heavenly Father (whose songs we now together sing) would through the inspired work of our son, reap an eternal harvest in the lives of those ‘with ears to hear’
Yesterday morning I was in tears again.
On Monday we had the local screening of The Big Green House documenting so beautifully the story of Hilary and my life together.
The Lord had led us to hold this premiere at the historic Riverview theater in Minneapolis.
Today is the 50th anniversary of the day when Hilary walked down the aisle and my best friend became my bride.
Hilary was born in the same year that the Riverview was built, 1948.
We just discovered that the first movie shown at the Riverview was called……
June bride.
Are not all our times and places written in His book?
Tony, a friend of Ben’s, and award winning film director, and the team of professionals who were inspired to make the documentary, gave of themselves freely to do it.
I shudder to think what this would have cost to do ‘commercially’
Then this morning I received the following email from the owner of the Riverview whom we had befriended and who had sat in to watch the film.
Paul,
We’re glad everything went ok. We appreciated hosting the screening, and no problem with the schedule as we had some flexibility built in. It’s a wonderful story.
Best wishes for success with future screenings of the film and with all that happens at the Big Green House. (And as just a small contribution, we won’t be cashing your check).
Loren Williams
Riverview Theater
Again, tears came to my eyes. I knew it wasn’t about the money, but about the transformative power of God’s love in the hearts of those ‘with eyes to see.’
I have never spoken to Tony or Loren about their religious beliefs, but as I say in the movie, “It’s not about religion, rules and rituals…..It’s about a relationship.”
‘Simply make friends and be true friends.’
‘Only sing for friends, and never ask for money’
These were our marching orders from the Lord when we came to America.
“Now you are reaping what you have sown.’ Father said to me.
This week Tucker Carlson interviewed Liz. Collins, an independent journalist about The Fall of Minneapolis’ over recent years.
You can hear it here….
Tucker asks at the end. ‘Is there any hope?’
We don’t need a revival of religion in Minnesota. We need a spiritual awakening.
That awakening is already here. It is as we look and listen with the eyes and ears of God and we will find ourselves ‘caught up’ in this glorious work of grace he is and always has been doing as the kingdom seed falls on ‘good and honest hearts’
Indeed for us the song has come true,…..
‘For though we go out weeping carrying seed to sow,
We’lll bring back a harvest faces all aglow.’
Here is a link to the song….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=01QQ0W8IdhU&list=OLAK5uy_kc3eNoXX3-8qAGA3IaDVgc4h5Da2MZ9tY
Q and A with the Directors Tony and Ryan