The song "Pure Imagination" from the Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory has recently become a hit song again. The Wyn Starks version is, fittingly, a re-imagination of the song you've heard Gene Wilder sing throughout your childhood on the screen.
Obviously imagination is key to creating, but do you use your imagination to communicate well?
Some of you reading may preach, others may teach a class at your church and all of us communicate on a daily basis. Do we explore and utilize God's gift of imaginative creativity in our speech and communication? Do we look for ways to better get our ideas across to help the brains and hearts around us latch onto the concepts we're excited to share? Or in our search for theological perfection do we spook ourselves out of doing what Jesus did as He used stories about specks and logs, sparrows and treasure in a field?
Recently in St. Paul, Minnesota I heard pastor Kevin DeYoung speak. He preached well but it was one mental picture he painted that really stuck with me. He was talking about repentance and he did it through the game of Warmer-Colder. DeYoung said when he played the game his kids would walk further and further away from the object they're supposed to find.
"Colder, colder, ice cold, Arctic Circle..."
But then the moment they turn simply in the direction of the hidden object, no matter how far away they are, they hear this: "Warmer."
And so it it is with repentance. Repentance isn't about the distance from righteousness but we are warmer the moment we turn. DeYoung then described the angels cheering as they watch and hear "Warmer!". The picture is forever latched in my mind and I've already borrowed it.
So, how can we use our God-given imaginations and creativity to communicate better?
I don't know. That's for you to dream up and think hard on. But I encourage you to think of analogies, stories, word pictures and object lessons to help as you disciple whomever God has given you to disciple.
If you're looking for ideas to borrow or trigger your imagination I encourage you to watch the videos below today.
Alistair Begg
