What mom, raising toddlers in the late ’90’s, didn’t fall in love with the bouncing vegetables? In our house the names Bob and Larry were as common as the names Josiah and Jeneva!
A decade after our love affair with the Veggies, we were sitting at a friends house and Joe picked up a book called “Me, Myself, and Bob” and began to read. He liked it so much he asked for it for his birthday so he could finish it. His interest in the book and our love for the Veggies piqued my curiousity and when he finished I read it too.
It is probably the best book I have read in a while. Many of us think that Big Idea, the Veggie Tales production company, and Phil Vischer are Christian media geniuses. But did you know God gave Phil a dream, helped him build his dream, and then shut it all down? Yep, Big Idea Production went all the way to Bankruptcy court, in a very painful and messy way. There were afternoons when I put the book down thinking, “this has got to be one of the saddest things I have ever read.” There is nothing more heart breaking then broken dreams.
But God did not leave Phil in the rubble of his broken dreams. God taught him some very valuable lessons that resonated with me, and that I think would do every Christian, who has ever had to grapple with God’s goodness and broken dreams, to hear.
“Ignore the voice that says, ‘You deserve it’ It comes from the worst part of our sinful natures, the part that always wants another cookie, bigger house, nicer TV. I’m pretty sure it is the voice that told Hitler he “deserved” Poland. What do I really deserve? Death…death apart from God. I am a selfish dweeb, standing before a righteous, holy God. Imagine me trying to explain to God why I need a nicer…”
How many of us grew up in the Christian sub-culture believing certain quotes as if they were Scripture? Things like, “God cannot steer a parked car.” or “Attempt great things for God, expect great things from God.” or “God helps those who help themselves.” But this is not the gospel! It is American Entrepenuerism dressed in Christianese (a wolf in sheep’s clothing).
“The Truth – JUST GOD! The Christian life is not about running like a maniac, it is about walking with God. What is walking with God? Doing what he asks you to do each and every day. Living in active relationship with him. Filling your mind with his Word, and letting that Word penetrate every waking moment
“C.S. Lewis said, ‘He who has God plus many things, has nothing more than he who has God alone.’”
“Anything that I am unwilling to give up is an idol, and I am in sin.”
“BEWARE OF YOUR DREAMS, for dreams make dangerous friends. We all have them…But dreams are…misplaced longings, false lovers. Why? Because God is enough. Just God. And He isn’t enough because he can make our dreams come true – no, you’ve got him confused with Santa or Merlin or Oprah. The God who created the universe is enough for us – even without our dreams. Without the better life…the rewarding work…
God was enough for the martyrs facing lions and fire – even when the lions and fire won. God is enough for you. But you can’t discover the truth of that statement while you’re clutching at your dreams. You need to let them go. Let yourself fall. Give up. As terrifying as it sounds, you’ll discover that falling feels a lot like floating. And falling into God’s arms – relying solely on His power and will for your life – that’s where the fun starts, that’s where you’ll find the abundant life Jesus promised – the abundant life that doesn’t look anything like evangelical overload.
The impact God has planned for us doesn’t occur when we’re pursuing impact. It occurs when we’re pursuing God.”
Those are the quotes that hit me between the eyes, but I reccommend you try reading it for yourself, it is one very excellent, easy to read, story/life application book!
In honor of Jeneva’s 10th birthday today…here is the article I promised I would publish 
