...Listen to them when they give you good advice.

A couple of years ago I had a conversation with someone I trust and highly respect.  He told me that I needed to finish school, not to open doors, but to prepare for the day when my passion for youth ministry waned. 

While I totally respected what he said, and at the time even understood where he was coming from, I thought, "I will always be passionate about youth ministry."

I'm an idiot. 

It's not that I've completely lost my passion, rather, if something doesn't happen soon, I can see the end of it. 

Now, if you read this, don't read it as a woe-is-me-I'm-so-blue post.  Read it as a hooray-I-have-new-wisdom post, and wisdom is a good thing.

So, I'm just saying, listen to people that you respect and trust.  By listen, I mean heed what they say. By heed what they say I mean do what they tell you. By do...well, you know.

Last night, I watched the documentary JESUS CAMP for the first time.  In the words of CNC music factory, this is one of those "things that make you go 'hmmmmm.'"  (Things that make you go hmmm mmm!)(The last parenthetical insert was meant to be sung.)

The documentary follows a couple of kids and a children's pastor from the days leading up to their church camp through the church camp and a few days after.  The movie features 9 and 10 year old kids speaking in tongues, weeping over the state of the nation, and worked into a spiritual frenzy by the children's pastor and her staff.

I am not a filmmaker.  I am not a film editor.  I'm a fan of film.  I enjoy sitting down to a good movie.  A good documentary will hold my attention for as long as the thing runs.   This was a fair documentary.  (Not fair in the sense of fair vs. unfair, fair in I can't call it "good.")  There are some blatant edits made that definitely slant the view of the watcher to make a few assumptions about the people interviewed. 

What I bring to the table, and what most of my friends bring to the table, is an understanding of the people featured in the doc.  Anyone who is not a part of the church, bitter with the church, or who has never been in church could easily take some of the statements made by the evangelicals on the film and make them into something completely scary.

The documentation of this children's minsitry is juxtaposed with a talk show (apparently from the area in Missouri where all of this takes place) that is hosted by a guy who is blatantly opposed to Christians having a voice in American politics.  The talk show host seems to serve as the voice of the film makers in this instance.  There is no narration.  There is no commentary save for a few blurbs containing stats about American Evangelicals and the featured ministry.   Therefore, the film makers use the talk show host to voice what I assume is their opinion.

Having said all that, this film scares me.  My heart breaks for the kid involved, and I'm curious to see what happens to some of these kids down the road.

On the surface, the kids seem to be quite bright and understanding for 9 and 10 year olds. However, when you listen closely to what' being said, you realize that the kids are just regurgitating what's been shoved down their throats for their entire lives.  It's just sad the the kids speak about such deep things with such little understanding.

Sadder still are the adults who weep as the kids simply spout what the adults have been spouting to them.  While it's not intentional, the adults involved are almost exploiting these kids to make themselves feel better about what they are doing. 

The children's minister is obviously a creative, talented woman who loves kids.  She has a way of communicating with the kids that blows my mind.  The doc shows a lot of her more intense, end-of-the-service kind of stuff, but to see her prep her talks, the visual aids she uses to illustrate points, and her ability to interact with the kids she is ministering to is something neat to see.

The problem comes with the methods ultimately used on these kids.  I don't have a problem with a 9 or 10 year old standing up and talking about what Jesus has done for them.  I don't have a problem with a 9 or 10 year old presenting the gospel to his friends.  I don't have a problem with a 9 or 10 year old praying fervently for our nation.  My problem comes with the fact that 9 and 10 year old kids, if they trust you, will follow blindly whatever you say.  It seems that this is what is happening within this ministry.

I was filled with mixed emotions as I watched the doc.  The most surprising thing to see was a couple of kids visiting with Ted Haggard in Colorado Springs.  This film was made and released before Ted Haggard's moral issues came to light, but how strange that he was featured briefly in the documentary.  It's almost as if Satan knew what was going on with the man at the time behind closed doors and weasled things so that he would be a part of the film which would only add to the power behind what the doc is trying to show.  It was really kind of weird to see. 

The documentary is definitely worth checking out.  I have several friends who have been angered by what they see in the film.  I was just saddened. 

I really wish Christians would learn that before the nation is going to change, people's hearts have to change.   Before people's hearts change, they have to be led to Christ not through scare tactics and freaky stuff, but by an incredible message of Grace coupled with the drawing and illumination of the Holy Spirit. 

It saddens me that so many Believers focus so much energy on soapboxes and not enough energy on service.  This is a documentary that shows just that.  The focus on a soapbox not on service, and teaching kids the same.  

So, check it out. Let me know what you think. 

Last Tuesday, Jerry Falwell passed away unexpectedly.  No big news to anyone who keeps up with the news.

At first, it didn't really phase me.  I met Dr. Falwell on occasion.  He knew my name and he really knew my brother as he sang for the Sounds of Liberty while he was at Liberty University.

It really wasn't until a few days later that I took the time to sit down and reflect on what this man really meant to people and who he really was.  When I did, I realized a few things that I always knew, and even told people occasionally if they brought up the subject of something Dr. Falwell had said.  This was a true man of God who understood what it was to catch a vision and see it through.  He may not have been the best orator I've ever heard, but he could lead a group of people to do audacious things for the Kingdom.  That's what he did. That, more than anything else, is his legacy.

The media really didn't understand who this man was.  A lot of Believers didn't really understand who this man was.

What the students at Liberty saw was a Chancellor who didn't just sit in an office and make decisions for the school, but a Chancellor who was actively out and about among the students whenever he could be.  Many people have stories of jumping out of the way as he would steer right toward them as he barrelled down the road or through a parking lot in his big black Suburban.  Many also have stories of walking somewhere on campus and Dr. Falwell stopping to give them a ride.  If Dr. Falwell met you once, he remembered you.  If he spoke to you and found out it was your birthday, he would give you money. 

Once, when we were having our celebratory Thanksgiving meal on campus, he was in the dining hall and stopped at our table.  I was wearing what was for me then a trademark.  A blue hat with white letters that read BLAH BLAH BLAH.  I told him it was my tribute to Dr. Falwell.  He smiled and said, "Maybe someone will wear a tribute to you someday, when that happens call me."

The media never showed Dr. Falwell talking about his backstage conversations with Larry King where he affirmed for Larry that God loved him no matter what and all he need do is accept Jesus.  They never mentioned the fact that he prayed -live on Fox News...on the air...LIVE - PRAYED - LIVE - for the students of Columbine High School and for the community of Littleton, CO when that tragedy happened back in 1999.  The media never let you see the Dr. Falwell who hugged children and laughed with friends.  In short, the world never really got to see Dr. Falwell the human being.

One of my favorite memories of Dr. Falwell is the Tinkie Winkie stuff.  One morning in Convocation, Dr. Falwell got up and said, "I was watching the news last night and saw my face.  The news reporter said, 'Jerry Falwell attacks Tinkie Winkie, we'll have details after the break.'  I called to (my wife) Macel and said, 'What is a Tinkie Winkie and what did I say?'"

He went on to say that the Tinkie Winkie is gay quote came from one of the writers of the Liberty Journal (a publication put out by Thomas Road and the University) who was quoting from the Washington Post.  Falwell never said it, nor did anyone on his staff.  But, a liberal journalist was making a point about the saturation of everything with the homosexual agenda.

Falwell never said anything.  Funny.

What's really funny is what happened next.  Students started giving him Tinky Winky dolls and he just laughed and took it all in good stride.  It all culminated in a video package used in the Living Christmas Tree performance at Thomas Road.  the video showed Dr. Falwell flying out to somewhere. The pilot was Christian funny man Mark Lowry.   As everyone boards the plane, the weather gets rough, and it shows Mark freaking out, the other people with Falwell freaking out and Dr. Falwell sound asleep...cuddled up with a Tinky Winky doll. Classic.

I guess ulitmately I wish more people would have realized that for all of his brashness and step out and say whateverness, Dr. Falwell was a good man who loved God and loved people.  He ultimately wanted people to know Christ.  Not for his sake or his name, but because he loved the Lord and loved people.

His vision was unsurpassed, and that's what the world and believers will miss most whether they realize it or not...his vision. His ability to step out where other people saw nothing to step onto.

So there it is...my blog about Jerry Falwell.