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Palate Cleanser: Cardboard Testimonies

Tuesday, January 13, 2009 • 9:55 am

Yesterday I posted Bishop Atwood's fine essay on the importance of witness to evangelism and living churches.

It didn't excite much comment, which is understandable due to all the drama of Fort Worth, Central New York, and the Simple Country Bishop finally being thrown a public relations bone.

Providentially, Kendall posted this wonderful video of a bunch of people giving their "cardboard testimonies." And I'm posting it here. It's a visual example of what Bishop Atwood was writing about. Please read his essay, watch this video, and think a little about how you share the great things God has done for you.


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Comments:

Sarah,

Thanks for making this available on Stand Firm too.  It’s a wonderful vision of what Gospel transformation looks like.

Fr. Darin Lovelace+
St. Paul’s, Durant, Iowa

[1] Posted by frdarin on 01-13-2009 at 10:30 AM • top

Sarah,
There should be a disclaimer on this title that kleenex will be necessary! I now have watered down coffee from ,y tears! Beautiful and I saw two of my own cardboard testimonies up there! Thanks for posting this!

[2] Posted by TLDillon on 01-13-2009 at 10:38 AM • top

YouTube.com currently returns about 240 videos in response to the search term “cardboard testimonies.”

Simple, but very powerful.

God never stops building his kingdom. What a powerful way to communicate and be reminded of what He is doing… and has never stopped doing.

And never will stop doing.

[3] Posted by RedHatRob on 01-13-2009 at 11:26 AM • top

Our church has done this twice that I know of—and both times it was very moving.

[4] Posted by Summersnow on 01-13-2009 at 11:37 AM • top

This is a powerful video indeed. I went in expecting another gimmick. Within 90 seconds, my tears were making it difficult to read the signs.

[5] Posted by Douglas LeBlanc on 01-13-2009 at 11:46 AM • top

I dunno… should we really be putting God on a awfully flattened box?

[6] Posted by Nasty, Brutish & Short on 01-13-2009 at 11:53 AM • top

The video linked by Sarah was uploaded seven months ago.
It was recorded at Hillside Christian Church in Amarillo, TX.
It has been viewed 1,754,775 times.
Something is going on here.
There are 240 videos on YouTube now in the category “cardboard testimonies” - all added in the last seven months.
This does NOT strike me as a “gimmick.”

[7] Posted by RedHatRob on 01-13-2009 at 11:57 AM • top

RedHatRob,
I’m the only person who has used the word gimmick, and I did so only to make clear how quickly I realized the error of that prejudice.

[8] Posted by Douglas LeBlanc on 01-13-2009 at 12:51 PM • top

The video made me think of what I would put down on the cardboard. How have I been transformed by Christ in the past? What needs transforming now? I will have to add this to my list of spiritual exercises.

[9] Posted by Undergroundpewster on 01-13-2009 at 01:10 PM • top

how is a blended family a testimony?

[10] Posted by AnnieV on 01-13-2009 at 02:09 PM • top

AnnieV, #10

A blended family is a most difficult and trying situation.  My wife and I are on a second chance and approved by a most orthodox Bishop of the Anglican Communion (Iker).  My (step)son resented me and the position that I occupied as his mothers husband.  He didn’t even dislike me.  My (step)daughter expressed it more subtley.  Handling the children’s emotions drove small wedges between my wife and i but could have done worse.  God has kept us on course.  Now my (step)children, who are my only children, and I have a very good relationship.  Does that add anything to your store of knowledge?

[11] Posted by BillB on 01-13-2009 at 03:19 PM • top

<b>Best thing SF has EVER posted!

[12] Posted by Festivus on 01-13-2009 at 03:39 PM • top

Truly awesome.  Thank you, Sarah, for such a beautiful gift.

[13] Posted by Florida Anglican [Support Israel] on 01-13-2009 at 04:11 PM • top

[8] Doug Leblanc,

You described my experience quite directly.

Blessings, thanks and regards,
Martial Artist (Keith Toepfer)

[14] Posted by H. Potter (aka Martial Artist) on 01-13-2009 at 11:05 PM • top

#10/11 - if you’ve ever merged families you would understand - quite an undertaking…you see clearly why God hates divorce - very tough.

We showed this video at our church Small Group Saturday night - stirred up quite a conversation.  This video just makes me weep thinking of all the lives Christ has changed - including mine.

[15] Posted by B. Hunter on 01-19-2009 at 10:44 AM • top

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