Harvey with Paul McDonald and Britt Mooney

Coming up on the Men at the Movies podcast, what better way to celebrate Easter than by talking about a movie with an invisible 6 foot rabbit? Britt and I discuss Harvey because the way Elwood acts is instructive for those of us who believe we walk around with an invisible God beside us. How can we tangibly experience the presence of an unseen God? And what impact would that have on the way we see life and treat other people? For years I was smart. I prefer pleasant. You may quote me. Join me as we discover God’s truth in this movie.

Quotes

  • The way that Elwood acts is instructive for those of us who believe we walk around with an invisible God beside us.

  • Experiencing the presence of God sometimes feels like trying to grab a cloud.

  • We were not made to do things for God, but created to do things with God.

  • The most important thing I can teach is to hear the voice of God.

  • Elwood is not unaware of the world around him, he just sees it differently.

  • When you see the invisible, you don’t live like other people.

  • We spend too much time in righteous indignation, and not enough time simply loving one another.

  • If you’re aware of the invisible, you realize your real enemy isn’t other people.

  • Coming into contact with heaven is not a peaceful moment.

  • Our culture is becoming more comfortable believing a lie as long as it makes me feel good.

  • The world is going to act like the world. Jesus was never surprised or outraged that sinners sinned.

 Themes

  • Walking around with an invisible friend

    • Different than him

    • Bigger than him

    • Don’t try to control each other

    • Something changed after he met Harvey

  • Faith is seeing the unseen.

  • How can we tangibly experience the unseen presence of God?

    • Has to be disciplined and intentional

    • Talking to him as if he was real

  • Impact of seeing the unseen

    • Aware of the world around him, but see it differently

    • Goal is to make friends with forgotten, marginalized, broken

    • Models kindness, compassion, agreeableness

    • Enjoys the presence in the moment

    • Disruptive: “Can I help you? What did you have in mind?” “I’d love to come over for dinner. When?”

    • If you’re aware of the invisible, you realize your real enemy isn’t other people.

    • Believing the miraculous can happen gives you peace.

    • Has peace because he knows that Harvey has his back

Resources

  • The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence

  • “Always be ready to answer everyone who asks you to explain about the hope you have,…” - 1 Peter 3:15 (NCV)

  • “Later, Matthew invited Jesus and his disciples to his home as dinner guests, along with many tax collectors and other disreputable sinners. But when the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, “Why does your teacher eat with such scum?” When Jesus heard this, he said, “Healthy people don’t need a doctor—sick people do.” Then he added, “Now go and learn the meaning of this Scripture: ‘I want you to show mercy, not offer sacrifices.’ For I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.” -Matthew 9:10-13 (NLT)

  • “By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another.” - John 13:35 (ESV)

  • But the voice from heaven spoke again: ‘Do not call something unclean if God has made it clean.” - Acts 10: 16 (NLT)

Questions

  • What are some ways you can manifest/tangibly demonstrate the physical presence of God?

  • When are some times that you felt like God was near? What were some times you felt like He was far away?

  • How would believing the invisible God walks around with you change how you approach life?

  • When do you feel righteous indignation? What would it look like to let that go, and walk pleasantly and agreeable with others?

More info

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Edited and mixed by Grayson Foster

Logo and episode templates by Ian Johnston

Audio quotes performed by Britt Mooney, Paul McDonald, and Tim Willard, taken from Epic (written by John Eldredge) and Song of Albion (written by Stephen Lawhead).

Southerly Change performed by Zane Dickinson, used under license from Shutterstock.

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The Bourne Identity with Paul McDonald, Troy and Stacy Hooker

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Only the Brave with Paul McDonald and Dustin Oprea