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    Mar 01, 2015

    The God Story 2: Suspension of Disbelief

    The God Story 2: Suspension of Disbelief

    Speaker: Rev. Vivian McCarthy, Pastor

    Series: The God Story

    Category: God's Relationship with You

    Keywords: disbelief, god story, rudy, rising action

    Join us this week as we continue The God Story with the next chapter on learning to suspend our disbelief.

    Rudy Ruettiger was the son of a man who just didn’t think Rudy had much of a future – and he told him so again and again.  Rudy could have been a kid who believed that “truth.”  Let’s go back to the early part of his story and see how things happened for Rudy.  The movie is entitled Rudy, and this scene takes place in the plant where Rudy has a job.

    Play the clip Having Dreams

    Rudy’s friend Pete held Rudy’s dreams and wouldn’t let him give up.  Both of their families had always worked at the factory, and Rudy’s family continually told him that the factory was his future.  It was no use to look beyond what they knew.  Rudy’s family did not believe in potential – his or their own.

    I want to get you all engaged in the story today.  So, take out your phones or grab a Tweet card from the pew rack, and send us a Tweet about your dreams.

    What dream have you had that you thought was out of the realm of possibility for you?

    But then, Pete was killed in an accident at the factory and Rudy decided that he would pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a student at Notre Dame – yes, THAT Notre Dame – and play football under the legendary coach Ara Parseghian. 

    He worked very hard, going to a community college while working at the factory, and doing the best he could.  But his grades weren’t all that great.  He just about gave up, but after Pete died, Rudy asked for help from his parish priest.  Would he put in a good word?

    Against all odds, Rudy was accepted and was admitted to the Fighting Irish practice squad as a junior.  He suited up for every practice, but league rules are tough, and he had not once gone on the field with the team on a game day.  Rudy asked to meet with Coach Parseghian.  Let’s see what happened…

    Play the clip One Game

    Here’s another Tweet question:

    Describe a time when someone helped you realize a dream.

    It would be great if the story jumped from that clip to the clip we showed the children!  But that was the year that Ara Parseghian left Notre Dame, and the new coach was not inclined to honor the promise for Rudy to suit up for just one game.  The season was just about over – one crucial game was left, the game between The Fighting Irish and Georgia Tech.  The new coach thought …  well, let’s just see…

    Play the clip Dress in My Place

    Our next Tweet question for today:

    When have you been bitterly disappointed or thought your dream was slipping away and God sent you some help?

    So, what happened to Rudy?

    Play the clip Rudy, Rudy, Rudy!

    Our devotional/study guide for Lent takes the shape of a great story or play.  Many of us studied or at least read about that in school.

    • Introduction (Who are the characters?  Where and when does the story take place?  What is the basis of the story?)
    • Suspension of Disbelief – in every good story, the reader (or watcher, if it’s a play) will have to move into the world of the story, often to believe the unbelievable. 

    This is where we are today, and in the language of The God Story, we call this faith.  Rudy’s story is a great faith story – believing what is seemingly absolutely impossible.  Look what it took for Rudy to get to the place of our first clip today:

    • He had one person in his life who believed the dream with him and wouldn’t let him give up.  And even though Pete died, he was the catalyst for Rudy to step out anyway.
    • He shared his dream with the coach.  By articulating that dream and God’s call in his life, Rudy was able to persuade no less a coach than Ara Parseghian!
    • And when his new coach just didn’t get it, the angels of God – in the form of quarterback and linemen – who recognized the dream and the call, stood up.  I would call that spiritual leadership at its finest.

    Sarah laughed.  Abraham, too, thought that the promise and the dream were absolutely impossible – ridiculous, even.  But they stayed faithful to the covenant, doing what God called them to do.

    Rudy was surrounded by others who thought the promise and the dream were absolutely impossible – ridiculous, even. 

    Friends, our BIG God can do BIG, amazing things. 

    So, our final Tweet question is:  Is there something in your life that you think is too difficult for God?  If so, let us pray for you.  You can Tweet it for all of us to pray with you, or just put it on your Connection Card so I can pray for you this week.  But whatever you do, entrust that something to God and listen for that sweet, still voice to guide you through!