The Man behind VeggieTales

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Theresa Haigler

I have always loved VeggieTales. My husband even used Madame Blueberry as our Sunday School lesson once…yes for adults. It was a hit and brought home the point of materialism better than anything he could have taught. It’s hard to pick a favorite VeggieTales video. They’re all so good…genius really. I’ve always wondered what kind of person puts these things together. Who thinks this stuff up?

Phil Vischer…the man behind the veggies. In his book, Me, Myself, & Bob, Phil talks about the rise and fall of his dream to impact the world for Christ through creative media. The average VeggieTales viewer probably doesn’t even know that anything “wrong” happened. I didn’t even know. It seems VeggieTales goes on as usual. Same voices, same look. But something big did happen and Phil tells the story of the exciting growth of his company and the devastating loss of it just several years later.

The lesson learned (because in VeggieTales there is always a lesson “learned that applies to our lives today”) was that knowing God and walking with Him is bigger and better than what we can DO for Him.You might want to read that again.

Another lesson learned, there is a difference between vision and revelation.

Vision is something we dream up on our own and try to make happen with God’s blessing. Revelation is what God gives us with the tools and power to make it happen. Phil learned that abundant life happens in revelation.

I have so many thoughts after reading this book (I couldn’t put it down). I want everyone I know in ministry to read it. There is a great deal I still need to process. It’s got me thinking…and praying. All I can say is that if you have a dream…something “big and good” you want to do for God…read this book first. May it bless you as it has me.

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Cure for the Common Life

Posted on March 27, 2013 by Theresa Haigler

I finally got my hands on Max Lucado’s book Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot. I believe it’s the book that inspired his children’s book The Oak Inside the Acorn. I think I see now where he got the idea for the children’s book. In chapter five, he quotes Judges 9:8-15. This is a part of scripture that I have never read before. I’m always excited to read “new” scripture. In this passage, Jotham warns the Israelites against Abimelech through a parable:

Judges 9:8-15 (New International Version)8 One day the trees went out to anoint a king for themselves. They said to the olive tree, ‘Be our king.’
9 “But the olive tree answered, ‘Should I give up my oil, by which both gods and men are honored, to hold sway over the trees?’
10 “Next, the trees said to the fig tree, ‘Come and be our king.’
11 “But the fig tree replied, ‘Should I give up my fruit, so good and sweet, to hold sway over the trees?’
12 “Then the trees said to the vine, ‘Come and be our king.’
13 “But the vine answered, ‘Should I give up my wine, which cheers both gods and men, to hold sway over the trees?’
14 “Finally all the trees said to the thornbush, ‘Come and be our king.’
15 “The thornbush said to the trees, ‘If you really want to anoint me king over you, come and take refuge in my shade; but if not, then let fire come out of the thornbush and consume the cedars of Lebanon!’
Just to clarify:

Trees = people of Israel

Olive tree, fig tree, and vine = Gideon and his sons (Judges of Israel at the time)

Thornbush = Abimelech (son of Gideon by a concubine)

Jotham – youngest son of Gideon who escaped being killed by Abimelech

Israel was thirsty for a king and Abimelech was hungry for the position. All the other nations had kings, so why shouldn’t they? But God didn’t want His nation to be like the others. They were to be consecrated, set apart for His glory. Gideon and his sons understood this. As seen in the parable, they each knew what job or purpose God had given them and they saw it as fruitful.

In ministry, we all want to do great things for God. We want God to be pleased with us and so we work our bottoms off to achieve that goal. The problem comes when we begin to run ahead of God. Max Lucado says in this book, “In a desire to be great, one might cease being any good.” Yeah, let that one sink in for awhile. Looking at the “oak in the acorn” illustration, it would be crazy for the acorn to try to act like the great oak tree, even though it has all the oak DNA inside of it. It takes time and maturity to reach our full potential.

Check this out:
Romans 12:3 (New International Version)

3For by the grace given me I say to every one of you: Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the measure of faith God has given you.

God has gifted me with a passion for teaching his Word to women of all ages. When I am teaching, whether it’s with kids or adults, I am living in my sweet spot. God will grow this ministry on His timetable and in His way. My job is to stay connected to Him and not rush things, thinking I have to be more influential to please Him. I am not Beth Moore or Kay Arthur. I am so thankful for them and l Iook up to their godly influence, but I can release the pressure to minister like them. My future belongs to the One who created me. Right now I cling to 1 Peter 5:6.

1 Peter 5:6 (The Message)

6-7So be content with who you are, and don’t put on airs. God’s strong hand is on you; he’ll promote you at the right time. Live carefree before God; he is most careful with you.

Lord, help me to be the Tree you created me to be.

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Acorns to Oaks

Posted on March 26, 2013 by Theresa Haigler

One of my favorite Bible scriptures is Isaiah 61:3. The end of it says “They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the LORD for the display of His splendor.” It amazes me that such a great tree comes from such a tiny acorn. Max Lucado wrote a book a few years ago called The Oak Inside the Acorn. It’s a children’s book, but it’s one of my favorites of all time. This book came at a perfect time in my life. I was questioning God about the direction my life was going. I was unsure of my talents, my purpose, or what the future held for me. I knew I was His child and that my future was for Him…I just didn’t know specifically what he wanted me to do. “Just be the tree God made you to be” is the wisdom Mother Oak gives to Little Acorn. It’s funny, my sister calls me “Tree” since my name is Theresa. I guess that’s why the scripture above sticks out so much for me. I want so much to be a “Tree” of righteousness for Him. Thankfully God doesn’t expect an acorn to become a great oak overnight. It’s been 25 years since I accepted Christ as my savior and I can see the growth from acorn to tree. Now anytime my sister calls me “Tree”, I am reminded of the awesome responsibility to stay connected to Christ and His Word so that I can have the power to be the “display of His splendor.”

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