1 Minute Testimonials on Creativity

JOSEPH OF EGYPT 

Old Testament

Joseph (1910-1800 BC, approx.) was an Israelite sold into slavery in Egypt. He was a very creative person, with God’s help. When the Pharaoh had a dream about skinny cows eating fat cows and thin ears of grain consuming fat ears of grain, Joseph was able to translate this dream as being about seven years of famine, which would follow seven strong years. But Joseph not only interpreted the dream, he had ideas about how to prepare for the lean years. The Pharaoh made him second only to himself in the land. Joseph built storage cities. During the seven abundant years, he had all the excess grain brought into these cities. When the famine came, Joseph was in charge of distributing the grain to those who needed it. Joseph trusted God to help him do this. When his own family, some of whom had sold him, came to Egypt to get grain, Joseph was very creative in the ways he lovingly treated his family while providing for their needs. Joseph maintained God’s perspective throughout the whole situation. Not only was he able to feed Egypt, but because he did not act vengefully, was restored to his family and saw his father through his final years.

[Genesis 41-50]

KING SOLOMON

Old Testament

A 1 Minute Testimonial for Children

King Solomon was a very wise King (965-926 BC). God had told Solomon he could have anything he wanted, and Solomon did not ask for money or power. He asked that God would give him a wise heart so he could be a good king. This was a very creative request.

One day Solomon was faced with a problem. He had to be creative to solve the problem. Two women had brought one little baby to Solomon. Both women said they were the baby’s mother. Solomon did not know these women before this and he did not know the baby. How could Solomon decide who was the mother of the baby? He said he would cut the baby in two pieces and give half to each of the women. This seems very mean, but Solomon knew what would happen. The real mother of the baby said “please give the baby to the other woman, but save his life.” Solomon knew that this was really the mother of the baby. Solomon knew that the real mother would love the baby so much that she would give it away rather than have it killed. When all the people heard how Solomon had used his wisdom to come to such a creative decision, they were glad God had given them such a wise king. Through his creativity Solomon was a blessing to not only a baby and his mother, but to many.

[1 Kings 3:16-28]

DORCUS

New Testament

Dorcus was a disciple who lived in Joppa at the time of the early church. She was known as a person who was always doing good and looking for ways to help the poor. How did she do this? She used her talents. She made robes and other clothing for the people. When she became sick and died, two men were sent to get the Apostle Peter. The women showed him the garments Dorcus had made. Peter prayed for her, told her to rise up, took her hand and helped her to stand up. He called the widows and other believers to present this very talented and creative woman whole and restored to them.

The One who is the author of creativity says through the Apostle Paul: “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” (Ephesians 2:10, NIV) Dorcas used her talents to do the good works the Lord had for her, and in so doing became a blessing to the Lord and to others.

[Acts 9]

WESLEY CHANGES ENGLISH COUNTRYSIDE

Church History

John Wesley rode up and down through the English countryside during the last half of the eighteenth century, his soul touched by the poverty, the drabness, and the ugliness of the village life. One day he hit upon the scheme of distributing flower seeds to the housewives, and offering prizes for the most beautiful gardens, with the result that the English countryside developed the reputation of being the most colorful in the world. One man, almost single-handedly, changed the complexion of the rural districts of an entire nation.

—Glenn Stewart

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #2921]

[Editor’s note: John Wesley (1703-1791), one of the great religious leaders in Christian church history, successfully took Christianity to the masses. Arising at 4 am he worked tirelessly: he traveled by horseback and carriage about 5,000 miles each year; preached on average three sermons a day for fifty-four years, often in the open, attracting great crowds and bringing many to conversion; and formed new believers into small religious societies, which eventually became the Methodist Church. As long as he lived, Wesley remained a member of the Church of England, believing he was encouraging revival from within, but officials thought he was establishing a separate movement and forbid him to speak in the state churches. In addition to preaching and forming congregations, Wesley was a prolific writer. His published words include a four-volume commentary on the whole Bible, a dictionary of the English language, a five-volume work on natural philosophy, a four-volume work on church history; histories of England and Rome; grammars on the Hebrew, Latin, Greek, French and English languages; three works on medicine, six volumes of church music; seven volumes of sermons and controversial papers. He also edited a library of fifty volumes known as “The Christian Library.” Historians credit Wesley with key influence in reversing morality in a seriously decaying England.]

WHY TYNDALE TRANSLATED BIBLE

Church History

“One of the heroes of the story of the publication and spread of the Bible is William Tyndale. He lived in England in the 16th century, a time when there was such evil even amongst the church leaders of his day. History informs us that of 308 clergy in one diocese, 40 did not know the Lord’s Prayer and 168 did not know the Ten Commandments.

Tyndale asked permission of the Bishop of London to make a translation of the Bible but was refused. To another churchman, Tyndale said: “If God spares my life, before many years I will cause a boy that drives a plow to know more of the Scriptures than you do.”

Blocked in his efforts in England, he went to Germany. There he began his work of translation and in the year 1525 published two editions of the New Testament which were then smuggled into England. To Tyndale we owe the first printed edition of the New Testament in English.

This Bible became instantly popular and perhaps 15,000 copies were circulated, although the authorities tried to destroy them by public burnings. Sometime later, Tyndale himself was caught and burned at the stake. His dying words were: ‘Lord, open the King of England’s eyes.’”

—Eugene A. Hessel

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #833]

JOHANN SEBASTIAN BACH

Church History

Johann Sebastian Bach (1685-1750) was a creative musical genius, devoted to Christ, and known as “the Fifth Evangelist.” He is considered the baroque era’s greatest organist and composer. Bach was a prolific composer, writing a cantata a week rather than taking a year as is the case today. Bach honored God through his music. In a word, he was a “theologian who just happened to work with a keyboard.” (p.109) Bach attended the same school Martin Luther had, and was born the same year as Handel although they never met. At 10, Bach was orphaned and went to live and study with his brother. Eventually he settled in Leipzig in 1723. He fathered 7 children by his first wife and 13 by his second wife who helped copy his music. Bach worked as musical director and choirmaster of Saint Thomas’s church and school where he received a miserable salary since the town council did not appreciate his musical genius. Indeed, following Bach’s death, his music was largely ignored for 80 years. In Leipzig Bach composed for worship services the Mass in B Minor, the Passion of St. John, and the Passion of St. Matthew. Almost 75% of his 1,000 compositions were written for worship services. Bach used his creativity to glorify God. Even the skeptic Nietzsche was forced to admit one hears the gospel in Bach’s music. Believers through the centuries have been inspired through Bach’s gifted expression of faith through music.

[Adapted from 131 Christians Everyone Should Know, Mark Galli, Broadman & Holman, Nashville 2000.]

A BULLDOG’S (GOSPEL) MESSAGE

Community

In evangelistic work in Kentucky, we were using cards reading, “Get right with God,” and a group of newsboys attached them to their caps. One day I saw a strange bulldog come along and make friends with these boys.
Finally one lad ran to me asking for a card for the dog. He fastened it to the nameplate on the collar, which was in keeping with the large size of the dog.

Now we were interested in a certain man, and had him on our prayer lists, but had not been able to reach him. That night he came out to the meeting, and as soon as the invitation was given, rushed to the front, fell on his knees, and called upon God to save him. After a new light came on his face and a new song of joy from his lips, I sat by him and asked how it happened. Said he:

“I was not feeling well today, so remained at home from work. I was trying to get some sleep this afternoon, when I was startled by a fierce and prolonged barking at the rear of our house. I finally decided to go and see what it was all about.

“As I opened the rear door, in bounded a fierce, ugly-looking bulldog, entirely strange to our neighborhood. At first I was somewhat frightened by the beast, but soon discovered signs of friendliness coming in dog fashion from both ends of this disturber of my peace.

“So I sat down in a chair, and he immediately and very lovingly came and put his big head in my lap. There, staring me in the face, attached to his collar, was one of those ‘Get right with God’ cards. I there and then decided that if God was sufficiently interested in me to send that bulldog after me, I’d better give up; and here I am.”

—Sunday School Times

[Reproduced with permission from Encyclopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan, Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #1848]

JONI EARECKSON TADA

Community

Joni would not have chosen to be a quadriplegic in a wheelchair, but maybe then she would not be the gift she is to so many people. A diving accident in l967 left Joni unable to use her arms and legs. Her spirit of creativity enabled her to learn to paint by holding a paintbrush between her teeth, paintings today appreciated by many.

Through her creativity in finding alternative ways to achieve goals, Joni has become world famous through a film about her life entitled “Joni”. It has been translated into numerous languages and is a tremendous encouragement to not only the handicapped, but to all whom her life touches.

She is heard daily in a 5 min. radio program called “Joni and Friends”, is a columnist for Moody Monthly Magazine, author of 27 books, and a sought-after conference speaker.

Joni’s contributions to both the disabled and non-disabled are numerous, including a presidential appointment to the National Council on Disabilities. We are blessed today by these gifts because her creativity saw beyond her handicap, and she has the desire to be all that she can be for the Lord.

SHERRY WINTERS, CREATIVE IN ALL SEASONS

Community

Mrs. Lorrie Sess Bressette was my faithful secretary for 30 years. By her first husband, Jim Sess, who died of cancer at a young 61, she had 2 children, Sherri and David. David became a television newscaster. Sherri is, –well, Sherri is lots of things.

Once, in order to make a special announcement in church, she was the Energizer Bunny, ears, tail, battery and all. Sherri just hosted a super bowl party that was also a 70th birthday celebration for her mother-in-law. Pretty nifty creative concept, there, don’t you think? Two birds with one cake! But more; Sherri took a pad and recorded everyone’s predictions for the bowl winner and what scores were predicted. Everyone stuck with the favored Rams except, –that’s right–Sherri who chose the lowly Patriots. She promised a prize to the winner. Who won? Creative Sherri.

Then there was the time she needed to raise money for the Church’s Missionettes (our church’s version of the Girl Scouts without the politically correct exclusion of God from their membership). She got permission to ask the church to save their pennies for the Missionettes. They penny-antied their way to several hundred dollars!

It’s a joy to anticipate what Sherri will come up with next. Her creativity is to life what Listerine is to the mouth, –a breath of fresh air. Why? She’s not afraid to try.

THE SCARS REMAIN

Family

During my early childhood I had a fiery temper which often caused me to say or do unkind things.

One day, after an argument had sent one of my playmates home in tears, my father told me that for each thoughtless, mean thing I did he would drive a nail into our gatepost. Each time I did a kindness or a good deed, one nail would be withdrawn.

Months passed. Each time I entered our gate, I was reminded of the reasons for those ever-increasing nails, until finally, getting them out became a challenge.

At last the wished-for day arrived—only one more nail! As my father withdrew it I danced around proudly exclaiming, “See, Daddy, the nails are all gone.”

Father gazed intently at the post as he thoughtfully replied, “Yes, the nails are gone—but the scars remain.”

—Hazel Farris

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #10428]

HENRY FORD

History

Automobiles were rare commodities in the early years of the 20th century. There were many companies all over the mid-west that were building expensive cars of dubious quality. The acceptable method of manufacturing was to build each car by a group of roving mechanics who moved from station to station where each individual automobile was assembled. In 1913 Henry Ford (1863-1947) found himself in need of a different approach to manufacturing. He wanted to produce a high quality automobile that was affordable to the general public. Ford came up with the idea of having the automobiles move, instead of the mechanics. This creative approach revolutionized the car industry, and it brought the cost down to a degree that the common citizen could own one at $450.00! Henry Ford found a new answer to a common problem. He had to think “outside the box”, as a common phrase goes. May God grant us the creativity to effectively solve the problems that we face in our own lives.

FRANK LLOYD WRIGHT, ARCHITECT PLUS

History

Frank Lloyd Wright (1885-1959) spent nearly 70 years creating designs that revolutionized the architecture and art of the 20th century. Many innovations in today’s buildings are products of his imagination. In all, he designed about 1,000 structures – including houses, offices, churches, schools, libraries, bridges, and museums.

However, Wright’s creative mind was not confined to architecture. He also designed furniture, fabrics, art glass, lamps, dinnerware, silver, linens and graphic arts. It is an interesting fact that throughout his life, his creative work was greatly influenced by nature. During the summers spent on his uncle’s farm, he learned to look at the patterns and rhythms found in nature – the branch of a tree, limestone jetting out from a ridge, and the ever-changing sandbars. Wright later advised his apprentices to “study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.”

In addition, he was a prolific writer, an educator and a philosopher. He developed a remarkable plan for decentralizing urban America (Broadacre City) that continues to be studied by scholars and writers to this day, over sixty years later. As a pioneer whose ideas were well ahead of his time, Wright had to fight for acceptance of every new design – perhaps the ultimate sign of his creativity. His creativity has contributed significantly to progress in many fields of thought and endeavor.

BOMB WRAPPED IN CANVAS

History

The Japanese conquerors of Corregidor during World War II permitted each American prisoner to carry only one blanket into prison camp. Instead of a blanket, one soldier carried a Bible wrapped in canvas. He had found the Bible in a bombed-out Philippine chapel.

The soldier carried the Bible on the terrifying death marches which took the lives of so many prisoners. It accompanied him on the prison ships and finally into the prison camp at Cabanatuan. There he gave the Bible to the prisoners’ church.

What was the result? According to the American Bible Society, the Book was read Sunday after Sunday to sick and half-starved men by the chaplains. Many received hope in Christ before succumbing to disease and starvation. By the end of the war, 1500 prisoners had declared their faith in Christ and received Christian baptism.

—James C. Hefley

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #1851]

CECIL B. DE MILLE, “FOUNDER OF HOLLYWOOD”

History

A rather grandfatherly man led his entourage of writers and producers to a large table that was permanently reserved for him at the commissary. “That’s Cecil B. de Mille!” my friend explained.

I had seen and been deeply moved by de Mille’s monumental motion picture, King of Kings. And so, when Mr. de Mille walked into the Paramount dining room, I watched him with a kind of schoolboy awe.

“Isn’t that a Bible he’s reading?” I asked Paul, as we watched America’s leading film director and producer at the table surrounded by his close friends in the industry.

“He reads the Bible every day,” Paul explained. “He’s a devout Christian believer. In fact, de Mille was so determined that his depiction of Jesus’ life, death, and resurrection in King of Kings be true to God’s Word that he asked your friend, Louis Evans, the pastor of Hollywood Presbyterian Church, to be his theological advisor on the picture.”

Suddenly, Cecil B. de Mille stood and walked directly to my table. We talked for almost an hour. He told me that, as a young boy, he had felt a call to Christian ministry, and that he had tried to be true to that call through special motion pictures like King of Kings.

“An estimated eight hundred million people have seen and heard the story of Jesus through that film alone,” de Mille told me humbly. “Now, I’m working on The Ten Commandments, hoping to give another eight hundred million people a lesson in Old Testament history.”

—W.A. Criswell

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #1882]

[Editor’s note: Cecil B. De Mille, 1881–1959, American movie director, producer, writer and actor, has been called by many “the founder of Hollywood,” “the world’s greatest director” and “the showman of showmen.” He was a born showman and had an innate sense of what the public would clamor for. He has been described as a mixture of self-confidence, ambition, passion, artistry and gutsiness. He also had a knack for identifying and developing young potential. In 1913, together with Samuel Goldwyn, he made the first feature-length film in Hollywood, The Squaw Man. In 1915 he came into prominence with his first “spectacle” film, Carmen. His films were marked by their epic style and their theatricality, by their mass crowd scenes, and often by their biblical themes. He insisted on realism. In 1953 he won an Academy Award for The Greatest Show on Earth. His biggest and most popular production was The Ten Commandments (1956).]

EINSTEIN: “I HAVE TO WORK NOW”

History

Albert Einstein was interested in almost everything, and gave every topic and visitor his undivided attention. But sometimes he would rise abruptly—even in the middle of a sentence—and say apologetically, “I have to work now.” Whereupon he would retire to his study, leaving it to his wife and secretary to entertain the guest a while longer. There was nothing offensive about this; it was obvious that Einstein’s brain had started to spin, and that he had to work. It seemed as though he had received orders from elsewhere, and he followed them good-naturedly, expecting the same from those around him.

—Virginia Quarterly Review

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #2490]

[Editor’s note: Albert Einstein (1878-1955) was the principal founder of modern theoretical physics; his theory of relativity (speed of light is a constant and not relative to the observer or source of light), and the relationship of mass and energy (e=mc2), fundamentally changed human understanding of the physical world. During a single year in 1905, Einstein produced three landmark papers. These papers dealt with the nature of particle movement known as Brownian motion, the quantum nature of electromagnetic radiation as demonstrated by the photoelectric effect, and the special theory of relativity. Although Einstein is probably best known for the last of these works, it was for his quantum explanation of the photoelectric effect that he was awarded the 1921 Nobel Prize in physics. His stature as a scientist, together with his strong humanitarian stance on major political and social issues, made him one of the outstanding men of the twentieth century. —The Handy Science Answer Book]

WERNER VON BRAUN

History

Werner von Braun was a very creative scientist (1912 – 1977). Dr. von Braun was a leading German rocket engineer during World War II. He came to the United States and became a naturalized citizen in 1955. Eventually, he directed the missile development program of the United States, and later became the Director of NASA. Through his creativity Dr. von Braun help contribute to mankind’s scientific knowledge of space and space flight, practical development of rocketry, creation of employment for many, and man’s vista of God’s vast creation.

An active Christian, he wrote his testimony in a book on creation: “Manned space flight is an amazing achievement, but it has opened for mankind thus far only a tiny door for viewing the awesome reaches of space. An outlook through this peephole at the vast mysteries of the universe should only confirm our belief in the certainty of its Creator. I find it as difficult to understand a scientist who does not acknowledge the presence of a superior rationality behind the existence of the universe, as it is to comprehend a theologian who would deny the advances of science.”

Surely, Dr. von Braun has joined that great cloud of witnesses surrounding us. (Hebrews 11) His creativity and his words testify to his faith in God who created all things.

FREE TAXI RIDES FOR BIBLE KNOWLEDGE

Workplace

Chicago taxi driver Milton Bronstein may be the most unusual cabby in the world. The Chrysler Corporation and the American taxicab industry have entitled him, “Outstanding cab driver of the entire nation.”

Cabby Bronstein carries an assortment of printed placards in his cab. He may show, “How well do you know your Bible?” A passenger may receive a free ride by answering a Bible question. Another placard reads, “Believe in God and pray for peace. Free ride to your place of worship.”

For several years Bronstein has practiced giving free rides to handicapped people. What prompts Milton Bronstein to give this unexpected service? The answer is found in his philosophy of life: “Half of what I have belongs to those in need.”

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #839]

MILTON BRADLEY’S INNOVATIONS

Workplace

As a young man anxious to establish his career in the 1860’s, Milton Bradley hit on a winning plan: manufacturing board games. The decision was a sound one—before long his products were being enjoyed in countless American parlors. But Bradley, meanwhile, had begun to develop new interests as well.

An early devotee of the kindergarten movement, he realized that such schooling did not stand a chance of catching on unless the proper playthings and teaching equipment were available. By the 1870’s—though kindergartens were still rarities—Bradley decided to invest in the production of educational toys for this mere handful of customers.

Within a generation, there were over 3,000 kindergartens in America, and Bradley was supplying these early 20th-century classes with everything from crayons to child-size tables and chairs.

—Discovering America’s Past

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #2060]

THE MASTER’S ASS

Workplace

A Haifa (Israel) policeman, who knew his Bible, got on the trail of a gang of smugglers. They used an ass-drawn caravan to escape. The policemen managed to capture some of the asses, though the smugglers got away. The clever officer let the beasts of burden go without food for several days and then he turned them loose. And just as he predicted from Isaiah 1:3, “the ox knoweth his owner, and the ass his master’s crib,” the starving animals led the police directly to the smuggler’s hide-out!

—World Christian Digest

[Reproduced with permission from Encylopedia of 15,000 Illustrations, by Paul Lee Tan,
Communications, Inc., Dallas, TX, 1998, #847]