ENCOURAGED IN HEART

I think Tyler Perry is one of the great evangelists of our time.

(Pic from here.)

I really do.

Merriam-Webster defines “evangelize” as 1: to preach the gospel to and 2: to convert to Christianity

How can white, middle class American me relate to his black urban story telling style?

Tyler Perry courageously tells a story of pain, with humor and tragedy, that ends in a turning point…that clearly points to Christ.

I can relate to that.

I may have turned my gun and badge in, but I’ll be an investigator until the day I die. After watching I Can Do Bad All By Myself, I investigated Tyler Perry’s life via the internet.

Woah. Tyler endured unimaginable pain as a child – horrid physical abuse by his father, raped by both male and female relatives to sexual abuse at the hands of a church member.

Suddenly, the foul language and tough topics seemed to make sense. My former thinking of, “His movies have some serious foul language in em’. His characters drop the f-bombs and other profanities as much as I spray my hair…a lot.”

But I believe that they’re purpose-driven profanities that are used to drop the viewer’s guard down, to meet them where they’re at and allow God to get into the heart of the hurting.

The same father that beat Tyler into unconsciousness for three days is the same father he forgave and financially supports. Check it out here on Oprah’s site.

Gulp.

I admire Tyle and pray to be courageous, like the Jesus in him. Not strong in self, but rather strong in God.

Evangelists go “there”. Evangelists meet people where they’re at and speak the truth. I remember the wise words of my friend, Pastor Brad Russell, to “compromise the method, but not the message.”

I believe that’s exactly what Tyler (like we’re on a first name basis or something) does.

So that’s what I think.

What do you think? Is Tyler Perry just a rich urban story telling movie maker? Is he an evangelist?

Who’s a faith-mover that you admire and why?

I feel like Oprah.

Well, minus the extensive staff, billionaire status, a shoe collection that is more valuable than my sexy minivan and people hanging on my every word and all…

I still, feel like Oprah.

Though I don’t watch Oprah, the picture of her in her skinny jeans years ago (do you remember that one with the black shirt and black belt with silver buckle?), rings just as fresh in my memory as both my sons new-born pictures. Why this is, I don’t really know. Well, maybe I actually do. People celebrate others that have looked adversity square in the face, counted the costs, went for it…and succeeded.

Like Oprah, I’ve gotten to my goal weight and then rose up to the occasion. Believe me, I’ve changed Lucy’s batteries…twice. And, it’s not her fault. Does 3 pounds from my goal weight make me unsuccessful or, gasp…a failure?

How about, am I more successful than Oprah because I currently weigh less than her?

Cha, no.

Okay, using a well know media mogul as the example may seem a tad extreme, but these are the thoughts I’ve seen myself and others wrestle with.

Let’s play the gong show.

I’ll be successful when I wear the skinniest of skinny jeans? Gong.

When I earn what Oprah makes? Gong.

When I have as beautiful of a shoe collection? Gong.

When I have my own TV show or even my own magazine? Gong.

When I do a marathon, Oprah did a marathon ya know? Gong.

What truly is success? Is it dropping down to a slice of your old self? Getting a new house built? Finding a man? Running a 5 K? Having kids? Driving a sexy minivan? Having big beautiful hair? Creating world peace?

Nope.

Well, maybe.

This past weekend I saw a picture of Oprah in the grocery check out lane. While I think she’s beautiful, I also think she’s gained weight back from that skinny jean picture branded on my brain.

So does that make her less successful?

I used to very excitedly gauge my success on spiffy titles. When I pinned on my Second Lieutenant bars, when I earned my badge and credentials, when I married, when I finally, became a mother, when I arrived at my goal weight, and I could go on…

The way I gauge success now, is not by a title or a number. It is simply: Success is an honest and earnest pursuit of God. That may entail a missions trip, remaining single, getting married, leaving a job, staying in the same job, reaching out for help, staying put, may mean losing weight, or for some (AMBER!) – gaining weight, moving to an entirely different culture, or just smiling at a person that drives you absolutely nutso, just cause God wants ya to!

The only way you’ll know how to measure true success is by a daily ongoing conversation with God. It is not by public opinions…or sometimes even by your own opinion…it’s by God’s opinon.

Okay, after typing like this, I no longer feel like Oprah, but I feel like me…and for right now, that’s okay with me. And so I’ll step down from my soap box and ask, what do you think of Oprah? Oh yeah, what defines success to you?

“On Oprah today…”

Yup, those are the three words that I can barely believe that I just typed – such a cliche for a stay at home mom to write, huh?!?

I could write that I don’t watch Oprah, because I don’t, not because I have anything against Oprah – but it’s just a crazy time of day.  All this to type only to say that I’m watching Oprah today.

Why?

Because one of my top five living mentors will be on…

Lysa TerKeurst, her family and North Carolinian friends will be on Oprah today and that’s why I’m tuning in. The show title is Oprah’s Fascinating Families.  Their family story is powerful, tender and amazing…truly, a “God thing”!

What is a “facinating family” to you?

To me, it’s a family that courageously lives out loud for Christ…and that’s what the TerKeursts do!