Ive watched my favorite DVD, A Snoodles Tale, exactly 10 times since returning from Colorado to research this issues cover story. I make a fool of myself in front of my wife, Megan, and year-old son, Benjamin, as I sing along with Jimmy Gourd about his desire to dance, with Larrys silly song about sport utility vehicles and finally become teary eyed at the poignancy of the story about Snoodle Doo. I never thought armless vegetables with floating hands could make a semi-grown man cry, but with A Snoodles Tale my manly pride crumples under the weight of a simple message about self-esteem and the voice of God.

photo illustration by kristen sayres

Heres the basic plot. Snoodle Doo is created one day out of a strange machine no one knows the origin of and discovers in his backpack a kazoo, a palette and paintbrush and a pair of wings. He tries to fly and paint, andwith his attempt at using the special gifts given him at birthhe attracts the ridicule of the other Snoodles who weigh down his backpack with drawings of how silly he looks. It isnt until he wanders outside of town and climbs the sheer face of Mount Ginches that he hears the voice of his Creator and receives a painting of how he really looks. At this, hes again inspired to fly, play music and paint, this time to the pleasure of the One who gave him these abilities. He comes soaring into town to the sheer amazement of his fellow Snoodles.

I dont know about you, but I wanna be a Snoodle Doo. I want to tune into the voice of my Creator and soar into my town with a story to tell. When I get there, I know I will find other Snoodle Doos and a Church ready to support us awkward vegetables called to bear fruit even in places where the soil might ridicule us.

Thats what we hope youre inspired to do after reading the pages of this issue. I certainly returned from my travels on Interstate 25 in Colorado with a renewed sense of what it means to be called by God. It was in hearing the stories of the people I met that I realized just how big a palette God has given the Church.

Mark Anspach, a psychologist in Fort Collins, has an innate ability to make peoples jobs easier as they use computers. Gregg Bennet, a respiratory therapist in Denver, uses his medical knowledge and love of people to breathe life into bleak circumstances. And, Don Pence, a sociology student in Colorado Springs, wants to help bring people together by showing them Christs ability to change lives and social systems. Well explore the lives of government officials, entrepreneurs, educators and others who are being salt and light where they work. And well look at how God is using the local church as a catalyst for change right there in the halls, cubicles and conference rooms of the North American marketplace.

Also, the On Mission staff has rounded up some top on mission tools for 2004. Take a look at page 27 of the cover story, the interfaith resources on page 38 of The Pulse, On Missions Top Picks on page 42 and the reading interests of Christy Award-winning writer Hannah Alexander in the Nightstand feature on page 39. Youll find books and other resources on understanding and working out the task of sharing Christ in the real world plus books about reaching other faiths and cultures, our call to marketplace evangelism, the lives of people living out their faith, fun fictional works for a good read or evangelistic gift, several Spanish language resources, and, of course, DVDs featuring a few of our favorite vegetables.

By the way, Im now watching A Snoodles Talemy eleventh viewing, and out of one eye I see Benjamin stand for the first time. He grunts, then grips a green ball only a little smaller than himself. He heaves it forward and smiles. I clap and cheer. He laughs, soaring to the carpet. My other eye catches Snoodle Doo soaring back from Mount Ginches. And I can almost hear some voice asking this Snoodle Doo on the couch (me, of course): The wings I gave you. Have you given them a try?

To which I respond, silently, of course, Me? Do You really think I can fly?

Adam Miller, associate editor, amiller@namb.net