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QUESTION: Hi Bruce. I have a
question for you as a writer. How do you go about writing like you do? I
have lots of ideas but then I sit in front of my computer and can't get
past the first line. Do you work and work to find the right words or
does it just flow? Your books are so real and alive--like you are
sitting across from me just talking with me. How do you do that? Is it a
"style" you created or is that just who you are? I'm loaded with ideas
and creative impulses but don't know what to do with them. Help!
ANSWER: Yeah, it's so
interesting, but writing was the last thing I ever thought I would do
with my life--a complete surprise to me. And it hasn't always been
"fun." I'm not one to sit at a desk--I like to be out there and doing
things--so it's been a discipline I've had to force-feed myself. But the
neat thing is God has just shaped and shaped me, and now I'm really
quite comfortable with it--I look forward to a day of the phone off the
hook so I can write and write. Glory to Jesus! And I think a lot of that
came with the testimonies--I came to realize that these books really
touch people and that is the bottom line for me, so with that excitement
I've really grown in enjoying the writing part of my life and the
process as well. The Lord is good.
But creating--which is what writing
is--is such a personal thing. I can give you the sense of how I do
things and what works for me, but that may be a far cry from what will
work for you. And therein lies the biggest thing I can say to you about
any creative endeavor: just be you. Don't try to fit into any kind of
formula or "this is the way things are done," or pursue anything you
yourself aren't passionate and excited about, or work from a "what is
marketable" standpoint. You'll just get frustrated and your work will be
dull and lifeless. You've got to stick with your passions and your "way"
no matter what "the suits" tell you will or will not work.
You know, my latest book, Jesus Wept,
is a real story. Every publisher I took it to said they loved it but it
wasn't marketable. I was told it was too dramatic, too short, "people
aren't buying books about Jesus," too much of it centered around 9/11...
I tell you, I heard it all and I was getting so frustrated I almost put
it on the shelf. Praise God that I didn't--and praise God that I didn't
change it in any attempt to become more marketable. The testimonies are
flowing like crazy. Praise God!
So number one--don't try to write "a
book." Just sit down and pour your heart out on the page. You can always
go back and re-word it so that folks will understand it better. You can
always cut/paste paragraphs here and there--and there's the
oh-so-precious delete button. Just pour your heart out and don't even
try to make it good--at least in that initial writing. Just share your
heart the same way you would share your heart in a coffee shop with a
dear friend. That's what I do--I literally "think" out loud through the
keys. I literally talk to no one the same way I would talk in front of
an audience or sitting in a coffee shop. It's who I am and I can promise
you, the times when I got into trouble creatively were when I tried to
step out of that and fit into some mold or style or whatever--at least
for me, that never works.
Another important thing--carry a
pad/pencil everywhere you go. I can sit in front of my computer for 2
hours and go over the same line 100 times. But it always happens--I'll
get up to go to the gym or wherever, and the moment I pull out onto the
street the ideas flow like crazy. It's always when you "get away from
it" that it seems to come easily--and I've heard that from a lot of
writers and musicians. I've lost a lot of incredible things that the
Lord has shown me because I didn't stop, pull over, and write them down.
So carry a pad with you.
My pastor, Jack Hayford, as many of
you know is a prolific writer and song writer as well. I can't remember
what song it was but it's one of his well known ones. If I remember the
story he was with his wife in a department store. This song's theme hit
him while they were shopping and he had learned to not let these things
go. So he sat down right then and there in the ladies shoe department
and it just came to him--he wrote the entire song--a song that has
touched countless lives.
That's how it is with me, too. You
just have to prioritize it to that extent--where you understand the
value of these precious "revelations" God drops on you out of nowhere
that you take the time to get them down on paper--and then possibly
share them in a book! Glory to Jesus!
Finally, writing is a discipline--it
takes a lot of focus and you have to make it a priority and force
yourself to take the phone off the hook and allow nothing to interfere.
That will be hard for the people around you to understand--it just
doesn't fit into a mainstream mold. But you've got to think of it as
your job--set times, set goals (even if you keep missing them and
re-setting them). I know a well known writer who sets his alarm for 4:30
every morning, wakes and writes for 2 hours, then goes back to bed, then
rises about 7:30 and goes off for his work day. Yes, it takes that kind
of prioritizing as it's just too easy to put it off and put it off and a
day turns into a year and nothing ever gets done. Especially if God
gives you something special--you’ve got a responsibility (the parable of
the talents) and you can touch countless lives if you take the time.
Glory to Jesus!
So to actually answer your question
(oops!), yes, it's just me--it's my way, I guess. I've never taken a
writing class or even gone to anyone to ask how it's done. As for my
style (man, I don't like that word), I joke with friends that my style
(in every way!) is lack of style. I just sit down and pour my heart
out--just like I'm doing now. The way I write is the way I talk and what
I write is the way I understand things--in my prayer life and more
importantly, in His Word. I take things God "shows me" in prayer and
through His Word and then just pour it out.
I get an idea, I write a list of
chapter/topic ideas, then one by one begin to write them. One time I
tried to work with a publisher from the idea stage and it just didn't
fly. I felt cramped and constricted and like I was trying to please
people, and it just didn't work. So whatever you're passionate about,
pour your passion out. Just be who you are and talk as you talk, and
don't try to please anyone or fit into any "marketable" mold. Just write
and create from your soul, then wrap it all up and beg God for a
publisher. Glory to His Name!
Go To Top
QUESTION:
Just wanted to know what you were up to? What are you doing
professionally? Thanks!!
ANSWER: I'm guessing by "professionally"
you mean acting. Well, sorry to disappoint you, but I'm not up to much
in that department, to be flatly honest. I won't go into detail because
I have done that in response to other questions in the past, but I've
just gotten so busy with ministry I just don't have the time to pursue
my secular career any more.
Of course that doesn't sit well all the time. If
there's anything I miss in life it's being in front of that camera. To
quote an old friend, "It's the one place where you're a fish in water."
And it's so funny, just this morning I was chatting with the Lord about
how I miss it. I mean, I'm so blown away by what I do and so excited
about what He's given me to do; but these are deep-set, lifelong dreams.
It's what I'm trained to do, it's "in my blood," if I can put it that
way, and I just plain LOVE IT! It's a gift HE gave me--glory to His
Name!
But what can I say? FOR RIGHT NOW, He's just
steered my life in different directions--obvious directions that I'd be
openly disobeying Him if I turned away from. And what glorious
directions! People are getting saved in droves!! People are getting
healed!! I tell you, as fun as it is, you sure have to go a long way to
see those things on a film set!
I've got a new book coming out in March, Jesus
Wept, and I just know it's going to reach people with the love of Jesus
like "Wow!" I'm working on a new book about Jesus as the model of
masculinity, I'm developing a video series, I'm having meetings toward
another Gospel movie, the Crusades are blowing my mind, we're now going
to be building houses for the people over there, babies lives are being
saved... I mean, really, as much as I miss a film set, who really
cares!!
So yes, I hope some director phones tomorrow and
puts me in his movie. I'd jump around the room and say, "Glory to
Jesus!" But if that director doesn't call, I can promise you that I'm
still jumping around the room and saying, "Glory to Jesus!"
Glory, glory, glory to Jesus!
Go To Top
QUESTION: Bruce, I have followed your life and your dreams for years
now. It is no mystery that life has sure turned out different than the
way you wanted it or planned it, and one thing I really appreciate about
you is your openness and vulnerability. But how do you deal with all
that? Doesn't God give us the "Desires of our hearts?" How do you handle
all the disappointment?
ANSWER: Now you're zoning in on the bull's
eye. Big question that I could probably write a book to answer. But I'll
do my best to give you the 25 cent version. Glory to Jesus!
Yes, if I had to characterize it, the road of my
life's course has more or less been paved with bricks of disappointment,
and that has not always been so easy to handle or manage. In fact, I
remember one time being in my pastor's office and kind of pouring my
heart out about this. I was telling him that I struggled with how much
of the failures might be the product of some underlying "dysfunction" or
something, and his reaction was just such a blessing. I tell you, one
thing that I really appreciated about Scott was the way he just was so
practical--the way he took all the air out of these kinds of balloons,
if you know what I mean.
I remember he responded, "Well, Bruce, all I can
say is that you seem pretty healthy to me." But then he waved his Bible
at me and went on... "Besides, this book is full of dysfunctional
people, and look how God used them. So I wouldn't worry about it too
much, dysfunction or no dysfunction. Life is life and that's just life.
Believe me, you're doing just fine, so just go live your life."
Don't you just love it! "This book is full of
dysfunctional people..." Man, if that doesn't just bring rest to a guy's
soul, I don't know what will. Glory to Jesus!
But yes, there have been huge disappointments, and
it's a whole other story, but if there is one thing I've learned through
it all, it's to stop trying to anticipate what God is doing or going to
do, and just live the day fully as unto Him. Day to day faithfulness--I
promise you, that's the ticket. That's what He desires from all of us.
Glory to His Name!
Another story... I will never forget driving to
Malibu for lunch with my spiritual father, Dean Jones, and I was telling
him all about something that fell through and I remember saying the
line, "It was such a disappointment..." His response was one of those
golden phrases that is a huge part of the answer to your question. Dean
said, "Well, get ready for 250 more." In other words, "That's life, kid.
As Jesus said, 'In this world you will have trouble.' Welcome to it!"
And that's as true as can be--life is life and we
live in a broken creation and that just means you're going to be
disappointed sometimes. But the keys to living life fully and pushing
past all that disappointment are simple...
First, just acknowledging that truth--life is full
of injustice and disappointment. Once I have done everything I can
do--controlled every factor that is in my control--all I can do is leave
whatever it is at the Lord's feet, pray my brains out, trust Him, and
move on with what He's laid in front of me no matter what it looks like
(and this is key) to my understanding which is always very different
from His. Amen!
There is that Scripture in Philippians where Paul
says, "Forgetting what is behind, I press on..." That's the ticket! You
can't change yesterday--what mistakes were made were made, whatever
didn't work out didn't work out--but you can change today and press into
tomorrow! There is another Scripture in the Old Testament that says,
"Forget the former things. Open your eyes! I'm doing a new thing!" Man,
is that exciting, or what! So "don't look back" is a big thing for
me--just keep pressing forward. Gory to Jesus!
And that thing of His perspective being so vastly
different than my own. I have a missionary friend who says, "Our
disappointments are God's appointments." How true, how true! Just
yesterday I ran into a friend who came to Jesus about the same time I
did. He's leading worship at a huge church and just got married and all,
and he said to me about his wife, "Bruce, I thank God every day that He
didn't give me the women I prayed for Him to give me. Every time I look
at my wife, I thank God He didn't answer those teary-eyed prayers." Yes,
God knows far better than I do, so there you have it--and I just need to
trust that.
And maybe that's just the bottom line--He knows
and I don't. So if I beg Him for something to work out and it doesn't, I
just have to trust Him in that. And here's the exciting thing--He's got
a plan, baby! Our great and wonderful plans and visions are nothing
compared to what He plans. I know that big-time. So the thing is "Bruce,
just jump in the water and go for the ride!"
Another thing that is big with me is this reality
that we only have today. I remember once having a birthday in Africa and
I looked into the midnight sky as I sat on my cottage porch, and it was
a hot African night, and I just promised God that I wouldn't waste one
more day of the rest of my life. I promised Him that I would dive in no
matter what it looked like, pick up "the tools" He'd given me no matter
how much they were part of my plan or not, and just dive in and go for
it--day after day, go for it!
I tell you, I want to lay my head down every
single night and just smile to think that if God took me in my sleep it
would be ok because I fully lived the day. I know that might sound like
funny talk, but really, that's my approach to life--live urgently, live
today. That keeps me from drowning in all the yesterdays that don't look
the way I would have painted them. Glory to Jesus!
And then just plain focusing... Folks, I don't
care how you cut it, but it's all about souls. It's not about my great
skills or my great ministry, or how I think the world should be
saved--it's about souls--and I meet scores of them every day--you do,
too. Sometimes I'm sitting next to one in a coffee shop and sometimes
I'm standing in front of 1000's of them--it doesn't matter--all that
matters is those souls.
Sometimes I'm standing in front of a camera and
sometimes I'm sitting at home writing a book--it doesn't matter--all
that matters is those souls. Sometimes they are barefoot Africans and
sometimes they are upper class Americans--it doesn't matter--all that
matters is those souls. Sometimes I'm doing a TV interview and sometimes
I'm sweeping the floor at my church. It is all the same to Jesus and it
all looks the same--purpose, giving, reaching out to souls! Glory to His
Name!
So that focus on what He is focused on is a huge
thing. Again, it's not about me and what I didn't get from Him. It's not
about my talents not being used the way I'd like them to, or not being
able to reach out in specific ways or whatever... It's all about getting
my thinking on His page and reaching out to His souls in whatever
way--His way--He's laid before me.
Doing my best to keep that focus, forcing myself
to see what's in front of me instead of what's behind or what isn't,
pouring myself out like tomorrow won't come, forcing myself to trust Him
even when the only place it looks like His Word is in His Word... I tell
you, it's just Jesus, Jesus, Jesus--souls, souls, souls--and there's no
disappointments there, baby--and it is wonderful! Glory to His Name!
Go To Top
QUESTION: Hi, Bruce! Next to Jesus, who are your favorite characters
in the Old & New Testament?
ANSWER: Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!!!
He's all there is for me, baby!! Glory to Jesus! No, really, the thing
about other characters in the Bible--and I know this is a bit of a mind
bend for some folks--but other characters in the Bible are not
"characters," if you know what I mean. They're people--people no
different than you or me.
I know we tend to glamorize them and
interpret them as bigger than life, but that's religious fiction all the
way. In fact, it's going to be funny when we get up to heaven and meet
these guys and women--we'll just be so shocked at how "un-different"
they truly are.
I have this picture of Paul which may
or may not be so true, as this little guy with a big nose and thick
eyebrows who's just in your face all the time. And then there's Peter
who is always pictured as this real big, tough kind of guy. But I kind
of see him as more of a big, sweet, well-meaning "lunkhead" kind of
guy--kind of like Hoss Cartwright from the old Bonanza TV show, but not
quite as thinking, if you know what I mean.
And talk about sin--here he walks
with Jesus--sees miracles upon miracles--then acts like he doesn't know
Him when Jesus needs him the most. I tell you, have you ever denied
Jesus? Even a little? Welcome to the club of great Biblical characters!
Then there's David who was so
non-eventful as a man that his father didn't even bother to introduce
him to the prophet, Samuel, when he came to anoint one of his sons to be
king. And then when he was king, along with everything he did right,
here he is getting this guy's wife pregnant then murdering him to cover
it up--talk about "just as human as the rest of us." Forgive me, but
that seems a little more human than the rest of us--hopefully, anyway!
Moses--another murderer--his first
reaction to God is, "I can't speak!" Jacob spends most of his time lying
and deceiving his way through things, then wrestles with God instead of
just bowing to Him (sound familiar?). I mean, the list goes on and on,
and the bottom line is there is only one who is perfect--only one who
should be looked upon as a model--and that's Jesus. Amen!
But I tell you, off the top of my
head, a guy who really needs a little more attention is Daniel. This guy
had guts, man. I mean, more than once he faced horror beyond horror, and
all he had to do was play the game like everyone else and act like he
honored the king of Egypt more than God. All he had to do was apply a
little "balance" (does that word sound familiar?), or maybe be a little
"seeker-sensitive" by not being so out there for God. But no--he refused
to compromise his love for God, or mask it, or even couch it in socially
acceptable ways. He refused in the face of death threats, and in the
middle of the fulfillment of those threats he still stood for God. I
tell you, this guy was amazing.
He walked in the middle of the most
God-less society, refusing to bow in a bow-down world, refusing to allow
fear to steal all he was born to be in God, seeking God with all His
heart, never compromising in any way, performing his work with
excellence, doing everything "as unto God," leaning on God's
faithfulness all the way--even unto the miraculous. I tell you, wow,
wow, wow! Again, Daniel was amazing.
So off the top of my head, Daniel's a
guy I like a lot, and the amazing thing--he's no different than me. He
faced the same choices I face--the same choices you face--in every day
life, though obviously on a much more dramatic, life/death basis. I tell
you, if Daniel can do it, so can I--if Daniel can do it, in the fullness
of the Holy Spirit, SO CAN YOU! So go get 'em, all you Daniels and
Daniel-ettes! Glory to Jesus!
Go To Top
QUESTION: I read somewhere that
you had a part in Columbo. My husband and I are Columbo fans. Which
episode? What did you play?
ANSWER: Man, I tell you, I did that episode
so long ago! I can tell you one thing about being an actor, you'd better
choose your roles and shows carefully because it will follow you all the
days of your life. Amen!
But forgive me that I don't remember the episode
name and as I sit here typing I can't remember the star who was in it--I
can see the guy's face but I just can't put a name to it--sorry! And I
only had a tiny role in it as Peter Falk's forensics guy, and of course,
after they got done editing things (all centering around Peter, of
course), my screen time was miniscule.
But that's not the reason I thought I'd answer
your question. The reason I thought to talk about it is because there's
a tremendous testimony that goes with it that I've never before told.
Here goes...!
I was probably just months into being born again,
struggling along as an actor, going through a real dry patch of no work
after a strong season just the season before. I had crossed the line of
saying "No more small roles," and it was working well. (The word 'no'
gets a guy good respect in the film business and I had been doing so
well I could afford to say it). But again, things had changed and I made
that call to my agent that no actor ever wants to make--"just put me in
for any size role--I need the bucks."
So one day as a new Christian I was sitting over
my check book and my bills trying figure out how the two could come
together. And to this day I can remember--I needed $800 to meet my
monthly minimum. I was carrying about $2500 in debt, I remember, believe
it or not from paying my rent on my credit card 5 times (welcome to
Hollywood), but I could squeak through the month with $800.
So Bruce-y did the only thing he could do--he got
on his face and begged God for $800. I couldn't imagine where it could
come from, and it wasn't some holier-than-thou "walking in faith." I can
promise you, it was sheer unsophisticated desperation, I need You and I
need You now!"
So guess what? The next morning my phone rings--my
agent. She has two auditions for me--one for the lead in a film and the
other for a tiny role on Columbo. "Praise God for the film--this looks
like God's answer to my prayer! And 'Ugh' for Columbo--I don't want to
do it but I'll go anyway."
I remember the script for the film arrived by
courier, and I tell you, that always makes an actor feel mighty
important (hee hee!). As for the scenes I would use to audition for
Columbo, well, I could pick those up at Universal TV Casting when I go
for the audition--no big deal.
I tell you, I studied and studied for that film. I
can't remember what it was all about, but I really thought I could nail
it. I went in and gave the director everything I had, and man, he was
impressed--an actor can tell when he's made a good impression.
"Oh yeah--got to run over to Universal for that
Columbo--almost forgot!" I promise you, my attitude in that casting room
was so casual. I remember going in, reading the lines, tossing the
script pages on the casting director's desk and saying, "Well, that's
it. Thanks!" Then I turned and walked out the door. Man, what a "cocky"
guy!
So my phone rings again, and you can guess the
rest of the story--"You didn't get the film, but they offered you the
role on Columbo." (Now here comes the good part) "Bruce, I have to tell
you, I'm really speechless with this--it's only one day's work and they
offered you $800 for the day (Screen actor's Guild scale, which is what
they generally offer for small roles like this was probably around $400
at the time).
I remember being stunned--I couldn't believe my
ears. Out of nowhere, for no reason I could figure, they offered me
$800! God had done it, and in an extraordinary way. Glory to His Name!
But that's not even close to the whole story. I
reported to work--I remember we were on location in a house in
Malibu--and it was just one of those days when everything was going
wrong on the set. I literally sat on this porch overlooking the Pacific
ocean the entire day and into the evening, and they never got around to
shooting my scenes. So they asked me to return the following Friday.
"Man, at $800/day, of course I'll come back! Glory to Jesus!"
So there I was thinking I had another $800 coming,
and Friday came and I reported to the set, and then sat around the
entire day that day until they finally shot my scenes late into the
night. Again, praise God!
Well, one day I opened my mailbox and there was
not one check for $800, but 3 checks for $800! And then there was
another check for, in my memory, around $2400. I didn't understand, so I
called my agent. Apparently when something like this happens, by union
rules they have to pay me for the days I work and also for the days
between--praise God! Then, after 5 pm Friday we go into what is called
"golden time," which is double time, so for every hour I worked into the
night, I got paid double, which was the $2400. Hallelujah!
I tell you, I sat down with my check book and I
paid off every outstanding amount I had. I stocked up my refrigerator, I
bought Chub a new doggie toy, I paid off every cent of debt and every
penny I ever borrowed from my father or whatever--I just cleaned the
slate across the board--glory to Jesus!
And I will never forget sitting down with my check
book after all the dust was settled, balancing it out, and guess what I
had left over? That's right--$800. Now tell me that God isn't amazing!
Glory to His Name!
I tell you, I just cried and cried that
day--"Thank You, Jesus... thank You, Jesus." It was an amazing show of
His goodness, His faithfulness, His glory, His ability to do anything He
wants any way He wants, His love for a silly guy like me... And then
there's that kingdom principle--the evidence of a true work of God is
that there's no way any man can even being to take any credit for it. It
will always point 100% to Him, His hand, to His glory. "Then they will
know that I am the Lord their God..." Glory to His Name!
So that's my Columbo story--I've never told it
before, though I think of it often. I pray it is encouragement to
someone out there. I can promise you, God is still God, still good, and
as the Word says, "Not by (man's) might, not by (man's) power but by My
Spirit, says the Lord," and "He will do it." Glory to His Name!
Now forgive me, but Ben Hur is on--one of my
all-time favorites, and they're just about to go into the chariot race
scene--one of the greatest movie scenes in film history. Gotta go, gotta
go! "Coming, Judah! Don't start the race without me! Watch out for the
spikes on that other guy's chariot!" Gotta go, gotta go--glory to Jesus!
Go To Top
QUESTION: Mr. Marchiano, I know you get asked
this question almost everyday, so sorry about that. But my question is
that when you were playing the role of Jesus, what was it like to hang
on a cross?
ANSWER: Well, you're pretty much
right--most every day since I hung on that cross, I get asked that
question. I have to confess that sometimes it wearies me, and that's
only my human desire to "move on in life," so to speak. But those times
are rare. God gave me a tremendous experience and a tremendous testimony
flowing out of it, and what a privilege to have the opportunity to see
so many lives transformed through the telling of it, and man, the
excitement that rises in me every time I do. Glory to the Name of Jesus!
But the answer to your question is already posted
in the "Behind the
Scenes of Matthew" section of this web site along with
photos
and all. And of course, I wrote a whole chapter trying to describe it in
In the Footsteps of Jesus, and in the "Audio
Message" section of the web site I have the testimony there
for you to download and listen to in a couple different messages. So
forgive me for not answering your question in these paragraphs as well.
I'd just be repeating myself all over the place! So feel free to buzz
around the web site and give the audio a listen or take a look behind
the scenes.
But you know, there's another reason--it just
would take too many pages. As it was, when I handed the chapter to my
publisher they just laughed at me because there just was no way they
could include all I'd written--it was a whole book all by itself, it was
so long! And just to tell the story, it was the hardest chapter to
write--there were just no words big enough or deep enough to even come
close to doing the experience justice. I remember I was writing just
that chapter for an entire 6 months, and then guess what happened? The
computer whiz that I am, one day I accidentally leaned on a button and
the entire chapter--all 6 months of work--disappeared--poof!
I remember I was sitting at my kitchen counter and
it was in the middle of the day, and I tell you, I just started to sweat
and sweat, and shake all over--"Stay calm, Bruce... Stay calm..." I
remember doing my best to keep from going bananas--6 months of work down
the drain in the blink of an eye. To this day I don't know what that
button was that I pushed!!
Anyway, I remember just taking a little walk and
saying to myself over and over, "It's just got to be God wanting me to
start over. Maybe there was too much of me in it, or I was missing the
mark, or... But I just have to trust that God is in control and He just
wants me to start over." Glory to His Name!
So anyway, feel free to poke around as the
testimony is all over the place, the operative line from my journal
being, "Every believer should hang on a cross for just 30 seconds--his
life would never be the same." Filming the cross was one of the 3 most
significant days of my life, transforming my life in every way, stepping
into the beginnings of a unique understanding of what Jesus did and what
that means about who He truly is, and of course how He truly
feels--about you, about me--He loves you--Jesus. Glory to His Name!
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QUESTION: Mr. Marchiano, what do you do when you are not preaching
in South Africa?
ANSWER: I recover
from preaching in South Africa! Ha! No, really, as you can see from the
answer above, when I'm home I'm going a mile-a-minute, just popping with
trying to get projects off the ground and going, and of course, my
preaching ministry here in the US keeps me busy, too.
Otherwise, I can't tell you
how simple a guy I am. My parents live close by and when I'm home I make
sure I see them most every day. My brother and his family--my nephews
and niece live a couple hours up the highway, and if I have a weekend
free, I'm there.
I tell you, these kids are a
total blast--especially my niece--she just slays me. We have this new
thing--when I'm there she sits facing me on my lap and tweezes out all
those hairs that are growing where a guy doesn't want them to grow
(ugh!). It's become quite a fun "game" and she really gets into it,
grabbing my nose and turning my face this way and that way... Great fun.
But the last time she turns my head and grabs my ear and says, "Man,
Uncle Bruce, you've got a crop growing in here." Then she plucks a
little and stops, shakes her head and says, "I think we should just get
some Weed-Be-Gone."
OH my gosh--I tell you, I
came unglued. ..too, too, TOO funny. So anyway, the family is big. Then
of course, there's my softball (went 4 for 4 the other night!) and all
the office stuff that goes with running the ministry, and my afternoons
in the gym, and mornings on the patio in prayer, and then just the
step-by-step pursuing of all the projects and all the phone calls and
emails that go with those steps... and that's about it--whew!
I can promise you, there
aren't enough hours in the day, and if there's one skill I have yet to
master, it's the skill of taking time off. If I'm home, I'm working,
sometimes starting in the AM and going until 11/12 at night. Then I turn
off the computer, hop into bed, flip on Turner Classic Movies or CNN,
and shuffle off to dreamland... Glory to Jesus!
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QUESTION: We have a 13 year old
daughter who truly wants to be an actress. She definitely wants to get
into movies. I want to encourage her dream, but I'm concerned that she
will have to compromise her values and relationship with God to make it
in Hollywood, which is where she wants to move when she's grown. Any
suggestions?
ANSWER: Yeah, lock
your daughter in the closet and don't let her out until she's 42. Ha!
Now of course I was
kidding--but to be really honest with you, I'm not kidding all that
much. I get asked this kind of question a lot everywhere I go, and that
troubles me. It troubles me because it means a lot of our Christian kids
have their eyes on the wrong things--that even though they know Jesus
and know what He offers, they're drawn to this empty nowhere thing
called show business, pop star, actor, whatever fame--the same thing
"the world" foams at the mouth over.
But that having been said,
I've never had kids so I have no idea how to deal with them in such a
situation. I can tell you just flat-out, and I know that a lot of my
Christian peers in the film industry will argue with me on this, but
there just is no way in today's film industry that an actor can achieve
real success without bowing to unrighteousness in one way or another.
Whether it's playing the wrong role in the right movie or playing the
right role in the wrong movie...
Forgive me, but there just
isn't enough good stuff being produced for an actor to make an adequate
living and limit himself to those good movies at the same time. I can
promise you, there isn't an agent in town who's worth his salt that will
even represent an actor on that basis--unless you're a star already.
And that's just the way it
is. I know it's not what your daughter wants to hear, but it's reality.
I hope it changes tomorrow so that I can go out there and achieve my
dreams, too, and still be able to sleep with myself, but that's the way
it is today. Sorry.
I was so blessed a few
months ago watching in an interview on Fox News--and I can't remember
his name right now--this guy who did a lot of television. He was a
Christian and I remember a long time ago, thinking, "How can this guy do
these kinds of shows and then beat the drum about being a Christian?"
(Then I repented for being judgmental, of course. Glory to Jesus!)
But then here was this guy
and I was so blessed. He had dropped out of TV and was telling the
interviewer why. He said, "I just couldn't escape it any longer. Here I
was doing shows that I wouldn't want my daughter to watch, and I
realized that if that's the case then I had no business doing them."
Then he made the statement, "I realized there's just no way to make a
living in this town and stick to your moral base."
Well, I got so excited--I
mean, it was only a couple years ago he and I were doing an interview
show together and that was when I had to repent about what I was
thinking. It's so cool to see how the Lord just brings us all along.
But it's true--you can't
really make a good living and stick to your moral base--it's just
impossible. And I tell you, I praise God that I can sit here today
totally free of that "seduction of Hollywood." I love to make movies,
but I love to see people get born again a whole lot more. Exciting!
So here's the thing--you're
right in not stepping on your daughter's dream. Just smile a lot and
then go into your bedroom and PRAY YOUR BRAINS OUT. If for some reason
the Lord is actually putting that dream in her heart and it's not what
it usually is--a misled infatuation--then just love and support her all
the way, and trust God even more. He has a plan with it.
But you are right in
thinking this town is dangerous, especially for a girl. This town chews
them up and spits them out like nothing else, and it is heartbreaking.
But here's the real issue--your daughter needs to treasure God's plan
for her life more than any acting dream, more than any other dream,
well-founded or otherwise.
She needs to seek Him for
that with everything she is, and pursue that far beyond anything else.
Yes, all she needs to know is what God has for her life, and the rest
just falls into order. That's the only place of real goodness for her,
success, fulfillment...
So keep praying--keep giving
her Jesus and keep praying that she'll catch an overwhelming passion for
Jesus--one that will make the seduction of Hollywood look as interesting
as yesterday's news. Glory to Jesus!
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QUESTION:
Hi Bruce. I wanted to know what your thoughts were on the war with Iraq,
and what advice you have for those that have a personal relationship
with the Lord on what we should particularly be doing at this moment and
time.
ANSWER: This may be
the easiest answer I've ever had to give - we should be praying, clear
and simple. We should be praying, and praying, and praying, and then
praying some more. "YOUR kingdom come! Lord, YOU reign in this
situation. Save the people's souls, Lord! YOUR will be done." I tell
you, beg down the kingdom of God and shout glory to His Name!
And then there's the really
tough part - we should be praying as Jesus would pray, with HIS
priorities, His hopes for the salvation and goodness of ALL the souls
involved, American, British, Australian... and yes, Iraqi. I mean, His
will is clear and unarguable - He wills that ALL the people would be
saved - and that is right where our prayers need to be, right along with
begging Him to protect our sons and daughters.
I'll never forget Jesus'
words as I recited them for the Sermon on the Mount - "...but I say,
love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you that you may be
sons of your Father in heaven." Hey, now that's a real tough one. But
the bottom line - we uphold our troops in prayer, we ask God to protect
and save them, to save their souls. We uphold all those people who are
living day-to-day in mortal fear and anguish like you and I will never
know fear and anguish. We even beg God to touch those we would consider
our enemies - the ones that no one is praying for. Why? Because that's
what He calls us to do - it's clear and unarguable.
And then we get out and
share His love. We talk of His love, and we display His love, and we
stay out of all the fear and hate and self-righteous conversation, and
we just get down and love - we 'be' Jesus - we serve and love. No matter
who, what, when, or where, we serve in the Name of Jesus, and we love.
Glory to His precious Name!
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QUESTION: Bruce, I work out at a
gym everyday and I don't know about where you work out but my gym
doesn't exactly play praise and worship music! How do you keep the rock
music from entering your mind?
ANSWER: Yeah, I know
that gym music. I, too, am in the gym every day, and it's one of those
gyms where the girls have more tattoos than the guys. And the music,
well, just to give you an example, I overheard the funniest thing from
one of the guys there the other day. He remarked to his workout partner,
"What's with this penitentiary music they're playing?" I tell you, I
just cracked up. Too funny.
Then there's this other guy
who works out every day, and he's all dressed in black - gloves, hood,
dark glasses, black sweats... Head to toe in black. And then he does
these strange exercises. He hangs from the squat bar upside down - just
hangs there. Very odd.
But this other guy turned to
me and said the funniest thing. He had this kind of 'disgust' in his
voice, and he was a huge guy, so no one was going to mess with him. He
looked over at the guy hanging in black on the squat bar and said, "What
is this guy, the human bat or something?" Oh, I tell you, I just laughed
and laughed.
But the bottom line is this
- the world is full of lostness, and as long as we're in it, whether
it's the gym or a workplace or school... we're going to be slapped in
the face with all the ugliness it has to offer. And that's everything
that opposes the living God, and everything that would seek to cut
everyone off from the fullness of God's presence and goodness in our
lives - glory to the Name of Jesus!
It's kind of like in the
physical. I don't know about you, but I go about my day and all, and by
the time I get home there's just soil from everywhere I've been and I
can't wait to get out of my clothes and take a nice shower. Especially
if I'm running around some big city environment - the dirt just can't be
avoided physically and otherwise, and it's just everywhere.
So how to get through it? I
can tell you seriously, I just pray my brains out all day long. Under my
breath, in the back of my mind, just dwelling on the Lord, worshipping
Him, seeking Him, even asking His protection when I'm confronted by
something especially ugly.
It's not intense prayer or
anything, just 'thinking' about Him and looking for Him, aware of Him
and anticipating Him, acknowledging Him... And I can tell you, it's not
only wonderful, but sometimes just the most practical thing I can do to
get through a day without a scratch.
In the gym especially,
because guy to guy, if the music is the hardest part for you, you're
doing better than the rest of the male population. I mean, sometimes the
only place I can look without you-know-what slapping me in the face is
the ceiling or the floor.
But I also carry a Walkman
with me, and flooding through the earplugs is my worship music. It's
wonderful! In fact, every once in a while I catch myself singing along
out loud. One time I was sitting on the bench press between sets and
just singing away. I looked up and you can only guess what all these
faces staring at me looked like. Too funny!
Then there is the simple
excitement of being light in that place. I tell you, many of these
people are lost and even more lost, and I can't tell you how many times
the Lord has given me an opportunity to minister to them. Just recently
I overheard a woman talking about having shoulder surgery and the Lord
nudged me to pray for her. As you can guess, I was pretty uneasy about
it, but finally went to her and asked her if I could pray for her. You
should have seen her face change and the loveliness of vulnerability
take over. So there's an instance where in the middle of a gym's
ugliness, the love of God reached into a person's life.
So I guess all I can say is
protect yourself in prayer - the headphones will help a lot with that.
And just shine with the goodness of Jesus for all the people to see. You
be the one guy who doesn't stare at the girls. You be the one guy who
doesn't talk trash. You be the one guy that everyone who sees you there
every day can come to for a touch from God.
Ask the Lord to bless your
times in the gym. Ask Him to use you. Pray for the guys around you while
you're working out - pray over every piece of equipment you use that God
would touch everyone that uses it. Go into all these environments with
an expectation of God depositing His glory through you everywhere you
go, and watch Him do wonders! Glory to His Name!
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QUESTION: Bruce, with all the
terrorist threats there are today, are you afraid to travel
so much - especially to Africa. What if you had your own
family? Would you risk taking them with you to Africa? Thank
you for being such a blessing!
ANSWER:
In a word, no, I am blessed with absolutely zero fear in that regard. In
fact, I was in Africa on September 11, and flew home just a few days
after, as soon as they opened the airports. Of course, there were very
few people on the plane and I could see the fear on every face around
me. I remember all the flight attendants got on their cell phones to
call their families just before the doors closed. You never heard, "I
love you," so much, as you can imagine.
But on a
practical level, my take is that it's never been more safe to fly, with
security at its highest level ever. And on a spiritual level, this
sounds strange, but I just know I've got a long way to go. I know the
Lord has much more for me to do still and will not take me just yet. And
if I'm way wrong on that, well, who can beat going off to glory? I can
promise you, I'd have a far better time up there with Jesus than down
here. And I mean that with all that I am - if the Lord takes me today,
"Yippee! Glory to Jesus!" Outside of my family and their heartache, I
can promise you, I have no reservations about that.
And I can
tell you another thing - fear is not of God. It is completely of the
devil, who would love nothing more than for me and others like me to be
too scared to go off in the Name of Jesus. In fact, I had a thought the
other day which was really quite profound - we as people tend to fear
everything but the one 'thing' that really deserves fear - the one
'thing' we are called to fear and most definitely should be 'in fear' of
- the living God.
Yes, fear of
God is a huge thing, and I can promise you, look around and you'll see -
He's the only One that by-and-large we don't live our lives in fear of.
He's the only One before whom we easily conduct our lives without
caution - and I'm talking about 'us' as well as nonbelievers, but that's
a topic for a whole other time. Amen!
If I had a
family would I take them with me to Africa? Yes, I would. I would
certainly not take them any place where they felt uncomfortable or where
harm and danger were too strong a possibility. Africa is like any place
in the world including the city I live in - there are certain places you
stay away from if you know what's good for you, and basic caution is the
better part of good sense.
As it is,
many of the places I minister in South Africa, I make sure to go in
there after the sun rises and get out before it falls. Like I said, a
little common sense goes a long way - a little common sense and the
strong hand of our almighty God. Glory to His Name!
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QUESTION: Hi Bruce - I noticed in
your Travel Journals that you mentioned several times about "taking your
coffee, Bible and a pad of paper" out to your porch for your quiet time
with the Lord. My question is - do you journal your prayer time? I get
confused about whether I "should" journal or not. Thanks.
ANSWER: 'Journal' may
be too strong a word for what I do, but here's the thing - what I do is
not the end-all of what the Lord is calling you to do or anyone else for
that matter, so if you feel an urge to journal your prayer time, GO FOR
IT! That is definitely an urge that comes from heaven, as it certainly
wouldn't come form the enemy. Anything you can do to draw close to
Jesus, by all means, do it! Glory to His Name!
But what I do is just 'be
ready' for whatever the Lord might 'speak' to me. I've found that I can
lose a moment of leading from the Lord in its purity and sometimes
completely lose it to distraction if I don't write it down right away.
I've lost many Jesus-ideas to laziness in that, or delay, or
procrastination... So now I just carry a note pad and write it down
immediately. I do the same while I'm driving. For some reason I often
hear the Lord well while I'm driving, so I carry a note pad and a pen in
my truck to write these things down.
And I can promise you, it's
breathtaking to look back on all these little notes down the line, and
see God's astounding faithfulness - the way He breathed a word of
'leading,' and then one day it's just a reality - it's so exciting!
So go ahead and write things
down - there's just no way you can go wrong. The Lord will bless you out
of your socks - and I know you're wearing them because it's winter! Ahhh!
Glory to Jesus!
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QUESTION: Bruce, as I
struggle daily in my walk I mentioned to someone about how the Lord has
used you to change something in my life, and that I'd sent you emails to
tell you that and encourage you to keep going. She mentioned that it was
probably too much and that I should stop. H-m-m-m... I never had anyone
tell me to stop being nice to someone. So now my question, is it okay to
email encouraging things?
ANSWER: Well, I can
only speak for myself, and all I can say is that the testimonies of what
God is doing through the things that I do play a huge part in what keeps
me going.
I'm not going to go into
details, but it's not so easy all the time. A lot of guys are making a
whole lot more money and gaining a whole lot more respect and
progressing in their careers and families and all... In fact, just this
afternoon I was in the gym and there was this actor whose face everyone
seemed to know but me (gee, where have I been? Africa, that's where!
Hallelujah!), and he was chatting it up with lots of folks and talking
about all his latest projects, and I guess he was on NYPD Blue or
something, and his was the shiny BMW everyone looks twice at when they
come through the doors... You get the picture.
Well, it wasn't a big thing,
but being perfectly honest, as I overheard him talk, I had a moment
where I thought about all the movies I never made. And all that is to
say, there is a cost - make no mistake about it. And for the record, I
wouldn't change what God has given me for all the Oscars in the world.
Amen!
So all that to say, your
words of encouragement and testimony really fuel me - especially in
those days when I run into these kinds of things. I can't tell you how
many times I stood at the edge of 'moving on,' and God used a letter or
email to turn me around.
So the bottom line - your
friend is wrong. I'm thankful for all the testimonies and encouraging
words I get, so bring them on!
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QUESTION:
Dear Mr. Marchiano, I have a question for you it's only one. When
playing the role of Jesus how did you feel? Was it like hard or anything
like that?
Thanks,
Praise
ANSWER: First,
forgive me for including your name, but I just LOVE your name. Glory to
Jesus! And I sense that you're pretty young, and that is REALLY cool, so
bless you, Praise.
Praise, it would take me a
whole book to answer your question - in fact, I wrote a whole book about
it! But as you can imagine, it was the adventure of a lifetime, and yes,
it was VERY hard. It was also very excellent, and breathtaking, and
wonderful, and exciting, and amazing, and stunning, and awesome, and all
of those kinds of words.
In fact, I was just on the
phone with a guy who was there working with me on 'Matthew,' and we just
talked and talked about all the wonders that we experienced out there.
To catch a glimpse of the heart of Jesus, and His absolute passion and
desire and love, love, love for you, you, you. It was so wonderful,
Praise, and I just give glory to His Name.
Now go to bed because you
have to be up for school in the morning, ok? And did you do your
homework? I hope so. And one more thing - before you turn out the light,
tell Jesus you love Him - tell Him I love Him, too. Thanks, Praise.
Bless you!
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QUESTION: Have you ever thought about
directing? Is it something you're interested in doing?
ANSWER: Yeah, I'd
love to direct. Not that it's anything glamorous--it's probably the most
stressful position in a film production. But the few times I've had a
chance to explore it I had a blast. It is such great fun, creating real
life situations and exploring ways to tell the story with a glance here
and a camera angle there. Subtlety and reality, passion and human
dynamic are the things that really excite me as a film-maker, and it'd
be fun to bring all that together to tell a story, which is what the
director does.
At home I only watch a
couple of channels--CNN (or BBC World when I can get it), and Turner
Movie Classics. I mean, if it's filmed in black-and-white, you can bet
I'm going to love it. But just last night I saw two incredible films.
One was 'Wuthering Heights' with Merle Oberon and Laurence Olivier, and
the other I turned on after it started so I don't know the name--some
Burt Lancaster film where he was so in love with this woman he did crazy
things and paid the price for it in the end.
But I tell you, it got my
movie-making juices flowing like crazy. Just watching the way the
director did so much with suggestion and amazing dialogue, and just a
glance here and there, or a shadow across the face. Another thing I love
about those old movies is the rare use of close-ups so that when they
did use a close-up it just would make you stop in your tracks. It is
really such an wonderful art.
But it really got me excited
to direct, and I hope the Lord opens those doors for me in the future.
Like I said, the couple times I've tried it, it turned out great and it
was great fun. Of course, I've got loads to learn about the camera, and
how it works, and how to use different shots to convey different
emotions... But the bottom line is, I'd love to do it and really pray
the Lord gives me that opportunity.
In fact--and I'm letting a
tiny cat out of the bag and teasing you a little, here--I'm currently
developing an idea for a video series which, assuming it comes together,
I'll not only act in, but just because I'm the guy who's
producing/developing it, I'll take a turn or two behind the camera and
'test my directing wings,' too. It'll be great fun, and I can't wait!
"Action!"
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QUESTION: If you could do only one
thing in the film industry what would it be?
ANSWER: Well, I'm not
quite sure exactly what you mean. The obvious answer is get everyone in
it saved! Hallelujah!
But I'm guessing that you
mean in terms of a project, what it would be. Unquestionably, 'The
Gospel of John.' I don't even have to give it a moment's thought. The
potential to blanket the world with the reality of Jesus and His heart
for people no matter who they are or where they are in their lives - the
reality of His grace and the power of His blood - it would just be
Jesus, Jesus, Jesus like no one has ever imagined Jesus - love and
power, authority and grace, joy and integrity, truth and bigness, glory
and heroism, gentle mercies and beauty in righteousness... I tell you, I
get so excited, and I can just see it all in my imagination - the people
would just be blown away as truth explodes in their hearts, and
salvation flows in a veritable torrent of eternal life.
Sounds fun, doesn't it?
Well, that's the way I picture it and that's the way I pray for it every
day and countless times a day. So join me, will you? Let's all join in
intercession and beg the Lord to make it reality - 'The Gospel of John'
- can you imagine? Glory to the Name of - let's all shout it aloud
together - JESUS!
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QUESTION: While out on the road, do
you have a covering? What do you do when Sunday rolls around? Does
anyone else travel with you?
ANSWER: No, I travel
alone, and that's purely a financial choice - there just isn't enough
money to pay for another airfare and hotel room and all. I long for the
day when the Lord gives me that opportunity to have a brother with me on
the road, but He knows that need far better than I do and all I can do
is pray about it, keep my eyes open, and leave it in His hands.
What do I do about Sunday?
Well, I'm preaching myself most every Sunday, so it is really rather
rare that I get the chance to sit in church and enjoy it. But have no
fear - going to church is a real priority to me - you know, "do not
forsake the assembly of the saints." So I limit myself to ministering
only 3 weekends a month, and then I'm in my church every Wednesday night
as we have a midweek service. My church also provides me with every
Sunday teaching tape so I can keep up with the body.
In South Africa I have a
local pastor who I report to and have an accountable relationship with.
Then of course, my pastor at Church on the Way, Scott Bauer, keeps a
strong hand on me and has given me an open door to phone him anytime day
or night from wherever I am.
So all that to say, though
I'm out there on my own, I'm well covered and well looked after. Glory
to Jesus!
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QUESTION: I have a
heart to love people, but I'm having a hard time connecting the desire
to the action. I read in Bruce's words that he has made the connection,
so I was hoping Bruce could talk more in-depth on how he prepared,
prayed, etc. to receive the Lord's heart for the lost.
ANSWER: Well, there
really is no trick here - it is just seeking and seeking, and giving
yourself over, and diving in even though you don't 'feel like it,' and
just going for it.
And I mean that - we are
always looking for some formula to flip a switch in our hearts or
whatever, but there is no formula. There is just crying out and crying
out, and I can tell you, if one is seriously asking God to give him His
heart, that's one prayer he doesn't need to wonder if God is going to
answer. That's the prayer God is longing for all of us to pray! So just
keep crying out - Jeremiah 29:13 - "When you seek Me with ALL OF YOUR
HEART I will be found." Amen!
And then there is this thing
of 'not feeling like it.' Forgive me for my honesty, but if I waited
till I felt like it all the time, I wouldn't do most anything. I'd just
play softball all the time!
But seriously, I have a
saying - the heart follows the action. The problem is we always want the
heart to lead, but I have found that it's just not that way all the
time. We dive in to do what we know is the thing to do even if it's like
chewing on glass, and eventually - maybe even quickly - the heart is
certain to follow.
I can tell you that was the
case for me for a long time. I mean, all I ever wanted to do with my
life is make movies, but then the Lord opened this obvious door of
reaching out. I was at a crossroads - do I do what I want to do with my
life, or do I do what God is obviously doing with my life?
I will never forget sitting
with my pastor once and laying all this out for him and he said one
thing to me - "Bruce, what is your life all about?" Well, he was my
pastor, so I gave him the goody-two-shoes, good little Christian boy
answer - "Bringing people into the kingdom of God." He replied, "You're
right. Now, once a man knows what his life is about, everything else is
easy. Have a good day!"
Like I said, crossroads, and
in the beginning I literally forced myself to get on those planes and
leave what I loved to do and fly to wherever God had opened the door.
And I tell you, I struggled in prayer. I mean, here people were getting
saved in droves and everyone was patting me on the back, but I still
wanted to go make movies - I still didn't 'feel like it.'
But then one night I was in
a church in Pretoria, South Africa. I spoke about Jesus and then sat
down as the pastor gave a salvation invitation in their language. And I
tell you, I can remember it like it was yesterday - the people started
flooding forward and they just kept coming, and there was a father with
his teenage son and a little granny with her granddaughter, and I can
actually see their faces it was such a moving sight - and I just broke.
Right there in the front row of that church I started crying, and out of
nowhere began begging the Lord, "Give me souls for my inheritance! Lord,
you can have the movies - just give me souls! All I want is souls!"
Something happened in me
that night - that night I began to 'feel like it.' But what no one knows
(until now, that is), that day followed a lot of struggle with letting
go - sometimes feeling good about it, sometimes not... And you know, I
can be open about that because I just know that represents a whole lot
of guys who do what I do. It's not so easy - what's that song - "The
Warrior Is A Child"?
So again, it all boils down
to that Billy Graham prayer - a prayer he obviously prayed before he
'felt like it' - "Lord, I'll do what You want me to do, I'll be who You
want me to be, I'll go where You want me to go..." And may I add, "Even
if I don't feel like it." Amen, and amen.
So seek his heart with all
your heart and step out even though you don't have it yet. You know what
your life is about - go for it. I can promise you, your "Lord, give me
souls" night will come just as mine did, and your life will never be the
same.
I can sit here today, free
of all such struggle, and honestly say, "You can take all the Best Actor
Academy Awards and flush them down the toilet, Lord. Just give me souls!
Souls, souls, souls!" Glory to Your Name!
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QUESTION: Hi Bruce. I'm sorry that
these questions may seem too personal, or not very "ministry oriented,"
but I feel they may help some of us to get to know you better. My
question is, what does Bruce do on a typical day off? What, besides
softball, are your hobbies? You mentioned a brother. Is he the only
sibling? If so, who's the oldest? You mentioned that you're from a mixed
heritage. Can you speak any other languages? Last, but not least...how
is your dog, Chub, and how did you come up with his unique name?
ANSWER: Well, I don't
mind some personal questions, as long as they're not too personal. Ha!
No, really, let me just go through your list and give you some quick 25
cent answers...
About the day off thing -
and I'm kind of laughing as I write this because my friends and family
are just grinning as wide as can be - I don't do the 'day off' thing too
well. But I'll tell you, a couple years ago the Lord showed me He wanted
me to take a Sabbath every week - a day to just be still and quiet
before Him. So whenever that day is, depending on how my schedule shapes
up that particular week, during the off-season when there's no one down
there, I'll climb out of bed in the morning and drive down to the beach
and just walk the beach and sometimes take a swim. It's beautiful -
dolphins and California Gray Whales in the right season - it's
wonderful, and the Lord has surely met me there many, many times.
Otherwise, I'm just a very
simple kind of guy. I've never been one for wild recreation like
jet-skiing and this and that, though I do take a snow-ski week every
spring. But just give me a cup of coffee on my porch in the sun, and no
kidding, I could sit there half the day and just watch the birds and
squirrels play and have the time of my life. I had a girlfriend years
ago who used to say about me, "Bruce, you're a low maintenance guy."
That pretty much says it all.
Hobbies besides softball?
Softball and more softball. Ha! I'm kidding, but I'm really not kidding.
I just love it. In fact, it's probably one of the big reasons I haven't
moved to Africa yet - they don't play softball!
But no, there's lots of
things that I think, "I'd love to do that someday," but there's just too
much going on to get around to it. I spend an hour or so in the gym most
afternoons, and that's kind of my daily getaway. I guess that's become a
kind of hobby and I just crave being in shape, so that works out good.
I'm totally outdoors. In
fact, I had a desk job many years ago, and I tell you, I went crazy. I
have a joke saying here at March Min, "If the sun's out the office is
closed." Yes, it's a joke, but I can promise you, if it's something I
can do sitting on my porch instead of indoors, that's where I'll be
doing it. Then every summer I do my best to go backpacking for a few
days - just get out in the wilderness and enjoy the quiet and beauty of
the Lord's creation. And of course whenever I'm in Africa I go out of my
way for a couple days of wildlife fun.
Other than that, and this is
the huge hobby, I'm busy being Uncle Bruce and just hanging out with my
nephews and niece. That's the most fun of all! When I'm not on the road,
that's where I am and what I'm doing, and I tell you, what an absolute
blast those kids are. I love it! Glory to Jesus!
Let's see... How am I doing?
Oh yeah - I have one brother - my big brother. We used to pound on each
other when we were kids, but we're as close today as two brothers can
get. I don't speak any of the languages of my heritage - unfortunately.
But living in southern California I've picked up a modest bit of Spanish
and do pretty well with it sometimes. And from spending so much time in
South Africa, "Ek praat bitjie Afrikaans." That means, "I speak a little
Afrikaans" (though I don't know if I spelled it right!). Great fun.
Now about Chub. Chub was
named after Hoss Cartwright's horse on the old TV series, Bonanza. I
just loved the series and I just loved Hoss. Of the Cartwright boys,
Hoss was the gentle giant and every time he fell in love, his girl would
die of some rare disease or get taken away by handsome Little Joe or
something. So I just loved Hoss - so much so that I named my dog after
his horse. Funny...
But sad news - earlier this
year Chub "moved on." He was my buddy for more than 14 years - been with
me through every inch of the rising and falling and rising and falling,
and as you can imagine, I miss him loads. "How's old Chub?" my brother
would always ask every time he phoned. Well, Old Chub's in heavenly
arms, my buddy Chub. And I can tell you, I miss him so... Old Chub - I
miss him. Go To Top
QUESTION:
Hey! Boy are you asking for trouble! Willing to take on questions, huh?
Well here goes! Do you keep in touch with any one other than Regardt
from the 'Matthew' filming? Thanks!
ANSWER: 'Matthew' was
a tremendous adventure, not only in a spiritual sense but in pretty much
every other sense. One of the blessings that flowed out of it was
lifelong and dear, dear, friendships. For me that would mean Regardt who
directed 'Matthew,' and Bruce Rudnick who was the art director. I keep
in close contact with both of them, though it kills me that we all live
on three different continents since Bruce moved to Israel a few years
ago.
But as you can imagine, we
praise God for email, and my phone bill is a little over the top. I see
Regardt every time I'm in South Africa and hope to make a trip to Israel
just to visit Bruce in this coming year - I love him so and really miss
his brotherhood.
Other than Reg and Bruce,
the still photographer, Robbie Botha and I have kept in good contact. In
fact, I just spent a wonderful afternoon with Robbie and his wife this
past week while I was in Johannesburg where they live, and it was just
great.
Of course we all miss the
days of filming 'Matthew' and long to work together again, but that has
to be the Lord's doing, so we pray and wait. Glory to His blessed Name!
Go To Top
QUESTION: Will Bruce ever play Jesus
again? We cry, "MORE, MORE!"
ANSWER: Again, thanks
so much. That 'more, more' just blesses my socks off and gives me
strength to keep believing what I believe the Lord has promised. So all
I can say is, "I hope so. Only He knows, but I sure do hope so." Do me a
favor and keep it in prayer, will you? Thanks!
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QUESTION: Bruce, I'm interested in
what church you are affiliated with. Is it the Church on the Way that
you mentioned in your story? If not what, but more importantly, why did
you choose the church you chose? What attracted you to it?
ANSWER: Yes, I still
attend Church On The Way here in the Los Angeles area. I've been there
since day one and the Lord has shown me very clearly to stay planted
there and commit myself there.
Why did I choose Church On
The Way? Well, it kind of chose me, to be honest with you. It was the
Sunday after I was saved that I was in the shower and listening to
Christian radio, and it was a live service from Church On The Way. Well,
Pastor Jack Hayford started talking and it was downright scary - it was
like God was standing in that shower talking eye-to-eye with me. I
remember just shaking half scared and half excited.
Well, they had a later
service, so I just got dressed and ran down there. The worship was very
demonstrative and that was very uncomfortable. I thought, "These people
are nuts." But then the message started and again, it was like God
Himself was talking straight to me.
That experience happened
again and again, and seemed to happen every time I went. And it wasn't
like some kind of mystical thing. It was just that my heart was a blank
canvas and I'd been living outside of God's kingdom so long, and
everything that was spoken was brand new and exactly where I was at in
my life - needing hope and freedom in Jesus Christ. It was glorious!
And as for the worship, I
will never forget the time the Lord challenged me. I was standing there
with my hands in my pockets, thinking, "I don't have to lift my hands. I
can worship my own way." Well, just as surely as I had that thought, I
felt the Lord's gentle response - "No, Bruce. You're just self-conscious
is all. You're afraid someone will think you're silly." Funny thing is,
I was the only one in a room of 3000 people who didn't have his hands
lifted, and here I was thinking I would look silly if I joined them. How
hilarious.
Anyway, one hand first kind
of went up around waist level, then the other one, and inch by inch over
time they both got higher and higher, and now here I am today almost
jumping on the chair (not really, just joking). But may I step aside and
say, this thing of lifting hands to the Lord, not only is it a
Scriptural mandate (there are countless passages that say things like,
'lift up holy hands to the Lord'), but I tell you, there is a spiritual
dynamic - a thing that happens in a man's heart - and it is wonderful. I
mean, there's a 'release' that happens within a guy when he sidelines
his ego, composure, or sense of poise to just honor God. I tell you, the
Lord just floods into that guy's heart - it's absolutely wonderful.
God's promises are absolutely true. Glory to His Name!
So if anyone is struggling
with that, be liberated. Go for it! Just close your eyes and trust God
and watch the release of worship explode from within you and all around
you. Watch your spiritual life take a quantum leap. I can promise you,
it will be wonderful for you, and the Lord will be so delighted. Praise
the Name of Jesus!
But anyway, the reason I am
still at Church On The Way, other than the Lord showing me to stay
there, is simply because I am consistently challenged there, I
consistently learn there, I never walk away without a million things to
think and pray about.
I tell you, it kills me to
go to so many churches and see so much 'social club,' keep the people
happy, keep the membership up, keep the coffee and smiles coming. I will
never forget a pastor actually saying to me once, "Here we preach the
people happy." In other words, "Don't dare challenge my congregation -
just send them home smiling so they'll come back next Sunday." I tell
you, it just breaks my heart.
But my church leadership
just doesn't play around. 100% of the time they constantly draw us into
being and partaking of everything the Lord has for us to be and live in.
There is no resting on your laurels, no kicking back and just doing
church. In teaching, they squeeze every precious gem from every letter
of The Word, pressing in and pressing in.
Yes, that's it - there is
just pressing in to get all of God that a guy can, and be all of the guy
that God wants a guy to be. It is the full pursuit of the fullness of
His Word and the fullness of His Spirit, which are always totally in
agreement, one in the same. I tell you, it's exciting, and so often I
thank God for where he's planted me.
But let me just say, please,
please, please - don't just sit in church somewhere. If you're not
learning, not being challenged, not being drawn deeper and deeper into
all God is and all He has for you and all He wants you to be, you're
just cheating yourself so tragically.
Don't go to a church
because, say, there's lots of single people there, or they sing nice
music, or the preacher is an excellent speaker, or, or. Go to a specific
church - I don't care how big or small it may be - because there's
passion for God there, and that's where you in your particular make-up
are able to find the most God that you can. Glory to His Name!
Go after the Lord with
everything you've got. Let nothing get in your way. He has huge plans,
and it is up to you and I to do everything we can to make sure we don't
miss them, and that includes finding the most vital and challenging
church family you can climb into. It may be uncomfortable sometimes and
may involve a hard decision here or there, but press in! Go for it!
Glory to Jesus! Go To Top
QUESTION: My question is how do you
handle all the praise people give you?
ANSWER: Well, praise
is a blessing and I am very thankful that what I do out there means
something to folks and that there are folks who appreciate that. But one
thing about me - and I can only give credit to the Lord and His
phenomenal grace for this - I'm a guy who has absolutely NO illusions
about myself. I know EXACTLY who I am, and it isn't always so pretty.
I mean, I know the thoughts
that run through my head sometimes and the instincts that wrestle
against the Spirit of God within me and all... None of us is exempt from
these things as long as we 'wear' this tent of flesh. I mean, even the
Apostle Paul wrote, "The chief of sinners is me."
And that's the bottom line.
What I am is simple - a sinner saved by grace - and boy, do I know that
all too well. Yes, the Lord has given me certain opportunities that are
somewhat unique, and for that I can't tell you how thankful I am. I can
only hope I have handled them to the fullest of His hope for them
through me.
But in terms of me thinking
any of it is me, well, that's just plain silly. Again, I know who I am,
and unfortunately I confess that nothing anyone would give me credit for
was anything of personal achievement. 'Matthew' fell out of the sky, and
everything that flowed out of it has just been me walking through doors
the Lord has opened.
In complete honesty, without
going into all the details, I'm a guy who had no life and He gave me a
life, who had no purpose and He gave me purpose. I mean that with all
that I am, and am thankful with all that I am. Everything that anyone
would see of good, He gave me, and again, I can only get on my face and
say, "Thank you, Lord. You blow me away."
So there you have it - no
illusions - and that's how I handle it. When folks are nice to me that's
wonderful and I am thankful, but believe me - all the glory is HIS!!
Hallelujah! Go To Top
QUESTION: You have
such a wonderful ministry... yet seem a little overwhelmed. Aside from
office staff, why is it that you do not have a loving partner to share
in your work and glory?
ANSWER: Well, I knew
this one was coming. Gulp! No, really, that's one of the great mysteries
of the 21st century. And you know the funny thing? I was voted most
likely to be the first to be married out of high school. Isn't that a
laugh!
But to tell you the truth,
on the practical side, without going into details, my personal life has
simply been a case of the couple times when I was ready the girl on the
other end wasn't, and vice versa. It's really been as simple as that.
But you know, back in those
days I didn't know Jesus, and in that I had no concept of what love
truly is, no concept of what to look for in a wife - nothing. In fact, I
thank God almost every day that those couple girls weren't ready because
our lives together would have been a complete disaster. Believe me on
that one.
Then I get born-again and
the Lord begins to 'renew my mind.' I begin to grow in understanding of
love and what it is and how it's done in the kingdom of God - giving
instead of taking, commitment rather than mystique, partnership more
than feelings... It's been quite an education and I have to guess it
will go on for the rest of my days. But thank God that when I finally do
tie up with someone - and I'd be thrilled if it was tomorrow - I'll at
least have some understanding and be able to treat her and lead my
marriage in the way He would have me. I tell you, I can't wait!
And wait is the appropriate
word. I tell you, I'd be out of my mind to attempt such a thing on my
own terms. It's got to be the Lord putting me together, because if it's
me or her I can promise you it'll be a mess. "Unless the Lord builds a
house its laborers build in vain," and this is one 'house' I'd be crazy
to build on my own terms.
And I can promise you, I
won't miss her. God is not hiding behind bushes trying to keep us from
the goodness He has for us. He's longing to spill it in our laps if we'd
only give Him true lordship and control over our lives and allow Him to
be who He is in our lives.
Then of course, there's the
glaring reality that my singleness has been key in terms of
accomplishing what the Lord has done through my life. I'm completely
free to fly off to wherever for as long as I want to, and totally commit
my focus to whatever task is before me. I can do what I do and not earn
a dollar and it's no sweat off anyone's back. As much as there's
loneliness in my life, there's freedom, too, and I tell you, the Lord
has really used my freedom. Glory to His Name!
So to all my single brothers
and sisters out there - dig in and go for God, guys. Use what you have
today with everything you have, and trust God for the rest. He's not
about the business of robbing any of us. Just 'seek first His kingdom'
and He promises "all these other things will be given to you."
You don't have to run after
them - just run after Jesus! Run after souls! Go on that missions trip!
Serve in your local church! The day is coming when you won't have that
liberty, so the time is now.
That's all I really do, guys
- I go as hard as I can with what is in front of me now. Yes, I'd love
to be married, but I'm not, so I'm going to trust God with that and run
with my singleness as hard as I can. Glory to His precious Name! Go,
guys - GO! Go To Top
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