God's Original Masterpiece

It would appear that blogger only uploads videos from YouTube or from one's own computer.

So, follow this link. It's an amazing skit.



This is what the site says about the video:

God’s Chisel Remastered

From The Skit Guys
Description

When God chisels the dead weight out of our lives it can be quite painful. In this new high quality, remastered version of their most requested skit, Tommy and Eddie give a very creative look at a typical believer having to go through the process of discipline.

The writer of Ephesians says “For we are God’s workmanship” (Eph. 2:10). Elsewhere we’re described as a “poem.” God views us as being his original masterpiece.

The purchase of this video includes media slides and study guide.
       

Broken Vessels - Ian McCormack

A transcription, as best as I could do: (Done by my friend Antau L'jn)

Broken Vessels
Transcript of an interview of Ian McCormack
[Laughter and stuttering omitted.]

Ian: Well, the Holy Spirit, one of the fruits of the Spirit is love and peace and comfort. So it's the kind of glory that... The Holy Spirit glorifies Jesus. The Holy Spirit is the third person of the Trinity. And so I've met many different spiritual entities in my pursuit for truth and gone down many different paths There's unclean spirits, lying, deceitful, adulterous. Um. You know, I mean all kinds of different spirits that would lead you into different forms of bondage, really. But Jesus said, “I'll set you free.”

And then the Spirit of God comes at a very personal and very tangible way, and he is the third person of the Trinity. And he can come as light. He can come like a dove. The Holy Spirit can come like oil. But such a tenderness, like a blanket that just closed you, covers you, but goes deep inside the heart of hearts.

Many of us are unwilling to open up that area and allow him to go into what I call the heart of hearts. But when you allow that to happen, that brings a tenderness and a security which protects you from the evil of this world, and the darkness that tries to undermine us and rob us.

Other person: So it's a real inward, it's letting God touch you at the most core of your being? Is that it?

Ian: Letting God control. One of the biggest issues I've seen is self control. But it's self control that can actually take on different manifestations. People can be so insecure and fearful that they want to control their environment, control individuals, control situations so that they feel secure. 'Cause when they're in control, they feel secure that no one can harm them.

One of the most incredible things that to be vulnerable enough to actually be open and transparent, to be potentially hurt. But you can also be healed. That's a... people go, "Self control is the fruit of the Holy Spirit," but I meet a lot of Christians who are actually self-righteous self-control.

Other person: What's the diff... Tell me about self-righteous self-control.

Ian: Okay. Well, it appears to be control, but it's not. The Holy Spirit gives Liberty to free you from being in control, but he becomes in control. You actually find your identity in him. Unless he falls to the ground and dies. In other words, you've got to, you find yourself and died to yourself at the cross.

Many people, they've got a lot of insecurity and, so, because of their insecurity and fears they try and hold their emotions. They try and hold their friendships. All in a certain order. They don't let people just be free to be themselves, so it's a form of self-control which affects their friendships and relationships. Everything must be in order. They control their children, their relationships. Every area is in control.
Now, what I find is that that emotional suppression can really blow them up. It can eat them from the inside out. It can cause mental problems. It can cause emotional anxiety and sleeplessness. And I think even forms of depression can come from that. I've watched people who are very, maybe live very good lives but never allow to be opened up.

Other person: And was it a process for you to go through that?

Ian: Well, I think what happens when you've been broken, and when you've lost confidence in yourself and you hit the self-destruct button, and I think you can't get much lower, I think you can only then be rebuilt.

The trouble is when someone thinks they're actually intact and quite whole. That's a much more difficult person, it's much easier for God to take the Humpty Dumpty that broke in pieces and make something good out of it. It's like he goes to the potter's field and finds all the broken shards of that vessel and puts them together again.
The hardest thing is when you think you are intact, you are the giver, to allow the Lord to crush you, to bring you down to nothing.

Other person: Sometimes, that can be like a process of years, or it can be uh...

Ian: Or it can be instantaneous. Something which happens that breaks you.

And I do think that many. The hardest things that Jesus found to reach were the people who thought they were okay. Much better to take a broken vessel, 'cause then you can make something good out of it.