July 14th, Day 38. B-roll scenes shot.
July 15th, Day 39. Lord’s Day – Rest!!!
July 16th, Day 40. Editing, V.O. recorded

Okay, maybe this post fits better over at the 7th Ranger Regiment. At any rate, here are some thoughts about what the Lord has been teaching me through the making of this film.

As I’m getting closer to the August 1st deadline, the more I see that I am 90% done and yet still have 90% to go. I think I can better understand the Rebelution’s challenge to Do Hard Things, as I am trying to make a high quality film in less than 2 months, working afternoons 4 days a week, helping out with our re-roofing project, and trying to squeeze in practice for the intensive Sforzando String Camp music we will be playing next week (including Mozart’s 40th Symphony!). Needless to say, life is extremely busy right now.

I guess one of the principles here is the fact that what we sow, we also reap. If we do hard things for Christ, if we do things to bring Him honor and glory, we know that we will not go unrewarded by our Heavenly Father. Christ did the ultimate hard thing; that is, He sacrificed His very life. Christ is the example. Since I am in Christ, what do I have to loose? I can loose everything, including my own earthly life, but rest assured in the truth that I will be with Him!

Christ was (and is!) the ultimate Rebelutionary. He rose above every expectation ever made. He created. He lived. He died. He lives. Is this not reason enough to Do Hard Things?

Doing hard things isn’t a light task. Look at Jim Elliot; he did a hard thing and got speared. Look at John and Betty Stam; they did a hard thing and got beheaded. Look at the signers of the Declaration of Independence; they did a hard thing and many lost most of what they had. Look at Alex and Brett Harris; they’re doing hard things, and it’s certainly no ball game. But we must remember: whoever will try to save his own life shall lose it, and whoever is willing to lose their own life for the sake of Christ will gain life.

It’s not easy to do hard things. That’s why it’s called doing hard things. It’s not easy to live as a Christian with a sin nature. But God calls us to risk everything (earthly speaking) and do hard things for His honor and glory, and to live a holy life. Indeed, this is only reasonable service! Did He not create us? Did He not sacrifice for us? Are we deserving of so great a gift such as eternal life and knowing God? No. It is a gift from God to be able to live under the sun that He created and work as His servant and to know Him personally. In attempting great things for God, and expecting great things from God, we enter into a deeper enjoyment of relationship with Him. He is our strength to Do Hard Things, and we must never forget that.

I praise His Holy Name for His hand of blessing I have seen on this project! He is the One who has guided, sustained, and worked through this project from the start. Soli Deo Gloria!