I am beyond excited.
Showing posts with label Steve Taylor. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Steve Taylor. Show all posts
September 8, 2011
August 1, 2005
The Second Chance - February 2006
In relation to my review of Steve Taylor's film The Second Chance, the movie has been bumped back to February of 2006.
The Trailer is now available at The Second Chance Movie Site.
The Trailer is now available at The Second Chance Movie Site.
May 30, 2005
Free Legal MP3 of The Week - Steve Taylor - Jesus Is For Losers
Steve Taylor - Jesus Is For Losers from the album Squint (1993)
Two things:
- This may not actually be legal but like I said a couple weeks ago, nearly all of Steve's music is inexcusably out of print.
- I had a really hard time deciding what Steve song to post... so go to the site I got it from:
http://www.onfritz.com/TaylorDownloads.html
"Harder To Believe" from the album I Predict 1990 (1987)
"Escher's World" from the album Chagall Guevara (1992)
"On The Fritz" from the album Liver (1994)
Seriously, go to that site and download everything.
May 20, 2005
The Second Chance - February 17, 2006 - At A Theatre Near You
Last night after the worship led by Justin Dillon, we participated in a forum on Christians and the arts... and Christians who are artists. I told the audience that I strongly recommend the book Roaring Lambs by the late Bob Briner. In the book, Bob discussed the many artistic ventures that Christians ought to be participating in and that the church should encourage participation in the arts. Read the chapter titles in the link above and you will get a feel for the book. I've actually posted on this topic before here.
The person that brought this book to my attention is Steve Taylor. I didn't know him and I still don't. He brought it to my attention because a new album he produced was coming out. The album was called Roaring Lambs and contained songs by some of my favorite artists including: Sixpence None the Richer and Over the Rhine.
The thing is: for me, Steve Taylor epitomizes what a roaring lamb should be. Steve would make Briner proud. In fact, he did make Briner proud--But if Bob could see this movie I think he'd be jumping for joy!
The Second Chance is a powerful film about a white suburban worship leader named Ethan, played by Michael W. Smith, and an African American inner city pastor named Jake, played by Jeff Obafemi Carr.
Ethan is the worship leader at a fictional Nashville megachurch called The Rock. Jake is pastor of The Rock's sister church, Second Chance Community Church.
At the beginning of the film we hear a rousing choir performance led by the Ethan. Applause and cheers erupt. A minute or so later Ethan introduces their special guest Pastor Jake Sanders. Ethan lifts the pledge card that has been handed to the attendees and says something like, 'Pastor Jake, why don't you tell these people what they're money will do."
I'm not articulating well the annoying way that Ethan says this, but it certainly riles up Jake. Jake goes to the pulpit and says that The Second Chance Church needs more than handouts. It needs people to help work with the in their tutoring program, their ministry to the local prostitutes, the homeless... and then, frustrated at the typical "I'll write you a check and then never have to see you or your problems again" mentality, Pastor Jake says, "you know what? You can keep your damn money."
This statement makes the papers (after all The Rock is broadcast live on TV every week) and forces the board of the church to make some difficult decisions on how they want to manage the damage control.
Ethan's father Jeremiah, played beautifully by J. Don Ferguson, is the senior pastor of The Rock. After meeting with the church board, Rev. Jeremiah Jenkins tells his son that he needs to go to the inner city church to hang out with Jake.
At this point in the story, many screenwriters would create a movie about a white man who came to the ghetto and saved the community. It's been done before. Thankfully, that is not what happens in "The Second Chance". Instead, Ethan is challenged by the constant, and very much different, ministry that goes on at Second Chance Church.
There are some very funny moments in this film. Jake refers to Ethan as Gucci throughout the film due to Ethan's pension for fine clothing. When Ethan insists on following Jake everywhere he goes, Jake takes him to a hair salon and introduces him as follows, "Jake this is (name) and (name), this is a white man.
But, as time goes by, the two slowly start to understand each other and Jake starts to recognize how ridiculous the riches in his life have become. We learn that Jake was once a successful artist with gold records who toured with artists like Tina Turner. We learn that, earlier in life, Jake did time for drugs and that Ethan was sentenced to rehab for his drug habit. We learn how different ministry at a small church in the inner city can be from a large suburban church.
One of the most powerful scenes in the film follows one of the most powerful scenes in the Gospels - a footwashing. I won't take away from the scene by describing it, but the forgiveness and Christ-like attitude in this scene is something that I would love our non-Christian friends to see.
This is a movie that, much more than The Passion of the Christ, may actually change lives. This is a movie that the church needs to endorse, invest in, and promote. I am disappointed that the Emergent Convention did not promote this film preview to it's attendees the way the National Pastor's Convention (happening simultaneously at the Nashville Convention Center). This is a movie the emergent crowd can really get behind.
When The Passion came out, churches bought out entire theatres for showings of the film and followed the film with a time for questions and answers. The emerging church should do the same for The Second Chance.
The Second Chance has been picked up by Sony Pictures who will release the film September 9 in 250 theatres. While that may be dwarfed by The Passion opening in 3,043 theatres, consider that Napoleon Dynamite opened in only 6 theatres. Napoleon would eventually grow to 1,027 theatres. So there is potential for any quality independent film. A movie more suited for comparison is TD Jakes' Woman Thou Art Loosed, which released on 408 screens and yet debuted at #7 it's opening weekend. It grew to 521 theatres and is doing well on DVD.
We have an opportunity to be lambs that roar on the weekend of September 9. Ask your local theatre manager if they are bringing this film to your town. If they are... take your church. If they aren't... see what you can do to change that.
The Second Chance is the first "Christian film" for which I have not needed to say, "well it was pretty good... for a Christian movie." This is simply a very good movie with a lesson we can all use.
If you saw the screening with me, I'd love to hear your comments. You should also rate it on sites like Yahoo and imdb.com.
The person that brought this book to my attention is Steve Taylor. I didn't know him and I still don't. He brought it to my attention because a new album he produced was coming out. The album was called Roaring Lambs and contained songs by some of my favorite artists including: Sixpence None the Richer and Over the Rhine.
The thing is: for me, Steve Taylor epitomizes what a roaring lamb should be. Steve would make Briner proud. In fact, he did make Briner proud--But if Bob could see this movie I think he'd be jumping for joy!
The Second Chance is a powerful film about a white suburban worship leader named Ethan, played by Michael W. Smith, and an African American inner city pastor named Jake, played by Jeff Obafemi Carr.Ethan is the worship leader at a fictional Nashville megachurch called The Rock. Jake is pastor of The Rock's sister church, Second Chance Community Church.
At the beginning of the film we hear a rousing choir performance led by the Ethan. Applause and cheers erupt. A minute or so later Ethan introduces their special guest Pastor Jake Sanders. Ethan lifts the pledge card that has been handed to the attendees and says something like, 'Pastor Jake, why don't you tell these people what they're money will do."
I'm not articulating well the annoying way that Ethan says this, but it certainly riles up Jake. Jake goes to the pulpit and says that The Second Chance Church needs more than handouts. It needs people to help work with the in their tutoring program, their ministry to the local prostitutes, the homeless... and then, frustrated at the typical "I'll write you a check and then never have to see you or your problems again" mentality, Pastor Jake says, "you know what? You can keep your damn money."
This statement makes the papers (after all The Rock is broadcast live on TV every week) and forces the board of the church to make some difficult decisions on how they want to manage the damage control.
Ethan's father Jeremiah, played beautifully by J. Don Ferguson, is the senior pastor of The Rock. After meeting with the church board, Rev. Jeremiah Jenkins tells his son that he needs to go to the inner city church to hang out with Jake.
At this point in the story, many screenwriters would create a movie about a white man who came to the ghetto and saved the community. It's been done before. Thankfully, that is not what happens in "The Second Chance". Instead, Ethan is challenged by the constant, and very much different, ministry that goes on at Second Chance Church.
There are some very funny moments in this film. Jake refers to Ethan as Gucci throughout the film due to Ethan's pension for fine clothing. When Ethan insists on following Jake everywhere he goes, Jake takes him to a hair salon and introduces him as follows, "Jake this is (name) and (name), this is a white man.
But, as time goes by, the two slowly start to understand each other and Jake starts to recognize how ridiculous the riches in his life have become. We learn that Jake was once a successful artist with gold records who toured with artists like Tina Turner. We learn that, earlier in life, Jake did time for drugs and that Ethan was sentenced to rehab for his drug habit. We learn how different ministry at a small church in the inner city can be from a large suburban church.
One of the most powerful scenes in the film follows one of the most powerful scenes in the Gospels - a footwashing. I won't take away from the scene by describing it, but the forgiveness and Christ-like attitude in this scene is something that I would love our non-Christian friends to see.
This is a movie that, much more than The Passion of the Christ, may actually change lives. This is a movie that the church needs to endorse, invest in, and promote. I am disappointed that the Emergent Convention did not promote this film preview to it's attendees the way the National Pastor's Convention (happening simultaneously at the Nashville Convention Center). This is a movie the emergent crowd can really get behind.
When The Passion came out, churches bought out entire theatres for showings of the film and followed the film with a time for questions and answers. The emerging church should do the same for The Second Chance.
The Second Chance has been picked up by Sony Pictures who will release the film September 9 in 250 theatres. While that may be dwarfed by The Passion opening in 3,043 theatres, consider that Napoleon Dynamite opened in only 6 theatres. Napoleon would eventually grow to 1,027 theatres. So there is potential for any quality independent film. A movie more suited for comparison is TD Jakes' Woman Thou Art Loosed, which released on 408 screens and yet debuted at #7 it's opening weekend. It grew to 521 theatres and is doing well on DVD.
We have an opportunity to be lambs that roar on the weekend of September 9. Ask your local theatre manager if they are bringing this film to your town. If they are... take your church. If they aren't... see what you can do to change that.
The Second Chance is the first "Christian film" for which I have not needed to say, "well it was pretty good... for a Christian movie." This is simply a very good movie with a lesson we can all use.
If you saw the screening with me, I'd love to hear your comments. You should also rate it on sites like Yahoo and imdb.com.
Emergent Thursday
Today was another whirlwind day at the Emergent Convention. You can read the last two posts to see some of it. Here's more:
The blogger lunch was a blast. It was so fun to hang out with around forty other bloggers, many of whom I've read. You should have heard the collective Wheel of Forune-esque oohs and aahs when Jonathon said his blog was The Phaith of St.Phransus. He is the beloved blogger, you know. I received no oohs and aahs... but if you're reading my blog for the first time because of EC, welcome!
My haircut went well (read the blog before this) and I talked to Angie (my hair stylist) about the conference. She is one of the only non-Christians I know. How pathetic is that? How many of you that read this can identify? We need to know more people who are not inside the church. We need to be in conversation with them about this whole "emerging" thing if we ever want to emerge. I felt very challenged by Dan's seminar yesterday about people loving Christ and loathing the church. In fact, Dan mentioned his stylist (a non-Christian and lesbian, I believe) and how he had great conversations with her. So, I thought I'd talk to Angie about this thing we're doing at the Nashville Convention Center.
I need to ask Angie why she left the church and why she decided to be wicken and what that means. I will next time. Hold me to that, will you? I love Angie and I love talking to her. This was one of the few religion themed conversations we've ever had (and the first time we've ever not talked about movies, which is weird because Episode 3 just came out).
We talked about Dan's seminar and how so many non-Christians love Jesus--view him as God even--but hate Christians and the church. We talked about how she really hates most of the Christians she knows. I told her I probably would too. I wish she could meet some of the folks at the convention. At least my peeps--my crew--my dawg pound (okay, enough of that). Of course, there are a lot of people at the convention I would never want her to meet because they have the same narrow minded mindset of the ones she already hates.
Angie told me that, on occasion, she gets together with other people for coffee or beer or whatever to talk religion. The people she gets together with are Druids, Wickens, Baptists, Catholics, whatevers... I told her to count me in next time. I so want in on that. Sounds like they need a Methodist anyway.
After I left the salon I drove back downtown and decided to stop by the tent sale at Cokesbury. Today was 35% off day so I was just scoping the place out. Tomorrow the fun begins. Then the thunderstorm came with a vengeance. The circus tent was shaking so much that we thought it might collapse... so we evacuated and I headed back to the convention center.
On my way back downstairs I could have sworn I heard Christy Nockel's beautiful voice. I was right and I went in to the National Pastor's Convention to worship with Watermark. I love Watermark. I was happy.
Daphne got there and we went downstairs to put the freebies on the chairs for EC. We then went to Jack's BBQ with a bunch of our new friends (most of whom blog) including: Andrew Seely, Aaron Klinefelter, Larry Bourgeois (send me your blog address)Lilly Lewin and her family.
Then Phyllis Tickled us again... I mean Phyllis Tickle blessed us again. She is so cool that a new word needs to be invented. She was compared to Yoda. I think that is incredibly accurate.
Daphne and I went to the IKON service at Downtown Pres for a little while and enjoyed it, but wanted so desperately to be in the Steve Taylor preview of his new movie "The Second Chance". I did not know that preview, in this particular case, would mean pre-view. Yes, I have seen the movie and I will blog on that in a separate post.
Anyway, I thought it was just a small thing and it ended up being the entire film. I got so caught up in it that the time escaped me and I never ended up helping out at McKendree after the worship. I was supposed to help take all of the sound equipment and screens from McKendree to Downtown Pres and I feel really bad about not being there to help.
Steve Taylor is one of my only living absolute die-hard, bonafide heroes. So to see his movie and get to talk with him afterwards was a wonderful opportunity I didn't want to miss. If you don't know who Steve is you need to find out. I say that not to say you're a big ole dummy for not knowing him but to say that you'd be doing yourself a favor. Unfortunately a bunch of his albums are out of print (idiots... the CCM music industry... idiots). So download what you can. He said this once, so I can say it too.
Steve was in an excellent band called Chagall Guevera (out of print... flippin' idiots!). They made it big for a half a minute and then they broke up. They landed a track on the Pump Up The Volume soundtrack.
Steve left his music career behind to pursue a film career. He has directed some excellent videos by Christian artists (there was a time when pretty much the only good videos in CCM were directed by Steve). He has been the other Newsboy for a long time now. Since the album Not Ashamed, Steve has written lyrics for much of the Newsboys catalog. And he has produced some great records including Sixpence None the Richer's self-titled breakthrough.
A good place to learn more about Steve is here. There is also an absolutely hysterical documentary/mockumentary of Steve on the See Spot Rock DVD.
Oh and there was a Steve Taylor tribute album a few years ago with artists like Sixpence and Fleming & John.
Anyway, all of the video experiences (and film school) have led him to pursue film full time. Read the next post.
The blogger lunch was a blast. It was so fun to hang out with around forty other bloggers, many of whom I've read. You should have heard the collective Wheel of Forune-esque oohs and aahs when Jonathon said his blog was The Phaith of St.Phransus. He is the beloved blogger, you know. I received no oohs and aahs... but if you're reading my blog for the first time because of EC, welcome!My haircut went well (read the blog before this) and I talked to Angie (my hair stylist) about the conference. She is one of the only non-Christians I know. How pathetic is that? How many of you that read this can identify? We need to know more people who are not inside the church. We need to be in conversation with them about this whole "emerging" thing if we ever want to emerge. I felt very challenged by Dan's seminar yesterday about people loving Christ and loathing the church. In fact, Dan mentioned his stylist (a non-Christian and lesbian, I believe) and how he had great conversations with her. So, I thought I'd talk to Angie about this thing we're doing at the Nashville Convention Center.
I need to ask Angie why she left the church and why she decided to be wicken and what that means. I will next time. Hold me to that, will you? I love Angie and I love talking to her. This was one of the few religion themed conversations we've ever had (and the first time we've ever not talked about movies, which is weird because Episode 3 just came out).
We talked about Dan's seminar and how so many non-Christians love Jesus--view him as God even--but hate Christians and the church. We talked about how she really hates most of the Christians she knows. I told her I probably would too. I wish she could meet some of the folks at the convention. At least my peeps--my crew--my dawg pound (okay, enough of that). Of course, there are a lot of people at the convention I would never want her to meet because they have the same narrow minded mindset of the ones she already hates.
Angie told me that, on occasion, she gets together with other people for coffee or beer or whatever to talk religion. The people she gets together with are Druids, Wickens, Baptists, Catholics, whatevers... I told her to count me in next time. I so want in on that. Sounds like they need a Methodist anyway.
After I left the salon I drove back downtown and decided to stop by the tent sale at Cokesbury. Today was 35% off day so I was just scoping the place out. Tomorrow the fun begins. Then the thunderstorm came with a vengeance. The circus tent was shaking so much that we thought it might collapse... so we evacuated and I headed back to the convention center.
On my way back downstairs I could have sworn I heard Christy Nockel's beautiful voice. I was right and I went in to the National Pastor's Convention to worship with Watermark. I love Watermark. I was happy.Daphne got there and we went downstairs to put the freebies on the chairs for EC. We then went to Jack's BBQ with a bunch of our new friends (most of whom blog) including: Andrew Seely, Aaron Klinefelter, Larry Bourgeois (send me your blog address)Lilly Lewin and her family.
Then Phyllis Tickled us again... I mean Phyllis Tickle blessed us again. She is so cool that a new word needs to be invented. She was compared to Yoda. I think that is incredibly accurate.
Daphne and I went to the IKON service at Downtown Pres for a little while and enjoyed it, but wanted so desperately to be in the Steve Taylor preview of his new movie "The Second Chance". I did not know that preview, in this particular case, would mean pre-view. Yes, I have seen the movie and I will blog on that in a separate post.Anyway, I thought it was just a small thing and it ended up being the entire film. I got so caught up in it that the time escaped me and I never ended up helping out at McKendree after the worship. I was supposed to help take all of the sound equipment and screens from McKendree to Downtown Pres and I feel really bad about not being there to help.
Steve Taylor is one of my only living absolute die-hard, bonafide heroes. So to see his movie and get to talk with him afterwards was a wonderful opportunity I didn't want to miss. If you don't know who Steve is you need to find out. I say that not to say you're a big ole dummy for not knowing him but to say that you'd be doing yourself a favor. Unfortunately a bunch of his albums are out of print (idiots... the CCM music industry... idiots). So download what you can. He said this once, so I can say it too.Steve was in an excellent band called Chagall Guevera (out of print... flippin' idiots!). They made it big for a half a minute and then they broke up. They landed a track on the Pump Up The Volume soundtrack.
Steve left his music career behind to pursue a film career. He has directed some excellent videos by Christian artists (there was a time when pretty much the only good videos in CCM were directed by Steve). He has been the other Newsboy for a long time now. Since the album Not Ashamed, Steve has written lyrics for much of the Newsboys catalog. And he has produced some great records including Sixpence None the Richer's self-titled breakthrough.
A good place to learn more about Steve is here. There is also an absolutely hysterical documentary/mockumentary of Steve on the See Spot Rock DVD.
Oh and there was a Steve Taylor tribute album a few years ago with artists like Sixpence and Fleming & John.
Anyway, all of the video experiences (and film school) have led him to pursue film full time. Read the next post.
May 19, 2005
Emergent Wednesday
I'm in the digital lounge at EC and feel I should blog... you see I'm next to Bill, Gavin, and Jonathon and we are all blogging indeed. Yesterday was wonderful. The dork that I am, I did not blog last night due to the fact I wanted to post some pictures. Yet today I am blogging about last night and am using a foreign computer without my pictures. Anyway, I will post them.
I hung out yesterday at Downtown Presbyterian and McKendree UMC. Maybe I shouldn't say "hung out". I loaded in more sound equipment and screens. Anyway, the churches are both beautiful (as you will see when I post pictures).
The only seminar I was able to attend was Dan Kimball's "They Like Jesus But Not The Church" (hey, me too sometimes!). It was a great seminar. Wonderfully depressing and yet optomistic. Dan talked about the many things the church has done to turn away emerging generations. We left with more questions than answers... a good thing. My hope, as I think is Dan's, is that those who came to the workshop will find their own answers, solutions, and remedies.
Last night Phyllis Tickle warmed us with the night blessing. I followed that with the Justin Dillon concert/forum at McKendree. Justin used to be in a band called Dimestore Prophets (I think next week's free MP3 will be their song "Hitler's Girlfriend" if I can find a legal MP3... here are the lyrics) that I loved. Matt Slocum of Sixpence and Astronaut Pushers played cello. I am a very big Slocum admirer.
I wrote down the songs Justin on the offering envelope but I can't find it. Here are some of the songs:
It Is Well With My Soul
The Wonderful Cross
Redemption Song (Bob Marley)
If It Be Your Will (Leonard Cohen)
Yahweh (U2)
There were more typical praise and worship songs, but of course they're the ones I don't remember.
Scandrette followed the songs with an interesting forum about Christians and the arts. He ruffled the feathers of some non-artistic folks who couldn't understand why an artist from San Fransisco would loathe being lumped in with Thomas Kinkade just because he is a Christian. Scandrette was called an eliteist by someone who later apologized.
So here we are in the digital lounge. The NPC is in the next room and Taylor Mason just finished up a very funny puppet routine. Now Michael W. Smith is on stage. In fact I have to go... they're showing a trailer for Steve Taylor's new movie "The Second Chance".
I hung out yesterday at Downtown Presbyterian and McKendree UMC. Maybe I shouldn't say "hung out". I loaded in more sound equipment and screens. Anyway, the churches are both beautiful (as you will see when I post pictures).
The only seminar I was able to attend was Dan Kimball's "They Like Jesus But Not The Church" (hey, me too sometimes!). It was a great seminar. Wonderfully depressing and yet optomistic. Dan talked about the many things the church has done to turn away emerging generations. We left with more questions than answers... a good thing. My hope, as I think is Dan's, is that those who came to the workshop will find their own answers, solutions, and remedies.
Last night Phyllis Tickle warmed us with the night blessing. I followed that with the Justin Dillon concert/forum at McKendree. Justin used to be in a band called Dimestore Prophets (I think next week's free MP3 will be their song "Hitler's Girlfriend" if I can find a legal MP3... here are the lyrics) that I loved. Matt Slocum of Sixpence and Astronaut Pushers played cello. I am a very big Slocum admirer.
I wrote down the songs Justin on the offering envelope but I can't find it. Here are some of the songs:
It Is Well With My Soul
The Wonderful Cross
Redemption Song (Bob Marley)
If It Be Your Will (Leonard Cohen)
Yahweh (U2)
There were more typical praise and worship songs, but of course they're the ones I don't remember.
Scandrette followed the songs with an interesting forum about Christians and the arts. He ruffled the feathers of some non-artistic folks who couldn't understand why an artist from San Fransisco would loathe being lumped in with Thomas Kinkade just because he is a Christian. Scandrette was called an eliteist by someone who later apologized.
So here we are in the digital lounge. The NPC is in the next room and Taylor Mason just finished up a very funny puppet routine. Now Michael W. Smith is on stage. In fact I have to go... they're showing a trailer for Steve Taylor's new movie "The Second Chance".
December 18, 2004
I can't sleep. And when I can't sleep, most often I watch television.
I wish to God there was a decent Christian network on television. I wish there was good Christian programming on television. We can lament all day and night about the lack of good television on the major networks, but when it comes right down to it the worst television off all is on Christian channels like TBN.
What's worse is that TBN has decent programs but throws them out there at 3 in the morning on occasion. So, instead of airing a reality show like Travel the Road or TruthQuest during prime time they elect to show a fifteen year old re-run of some idiot in a bad wig preaching Hell-fire and damnation.
Shame on us Christians for not standing up and asking for more from the major networks. But shame on us twice for not asking for more from the so-called Christian networks!
Start a Christian network aimed at the MTV/VH1/Comedy Central crowd. Somebody find some money and start a Christian network for people like you and me.
Start out small. Read Bob Briner's Roaring Lambs and Final Roar. Show re-runs of Joan of Arcadia and the quality Christian shows the existing Christians networks shove into the wee hours on the morning. Show movies like Levity, Bruce Almighty, Shadowlands, Stigmata, and The Big Kahuna.
Of course PAX TV was supposed to eventually offer all of this and do a decent job with shows like 7th Heaven and Touched By An Angel. But for the most part they show gameshows like Family Feud every night and offer little original programming,
Here's the thing. Bob Briner mentioned his friend Mack Perryman who was to head a Christian branch of HBO that never got off the ground. Well, after many years as senior VP of HBO Asia, Perryman retired a few years ago and moved back to the states. Someone out there find him, hand him a big wad of cash and tell him to call Cameron Strang, Steve Taylor, Billy Graham, Mel Gibson, Phil Vischer, David Bruce and whomever else makes sense.
Maybe I just need a satellite dish (I have been made aware of JCTV), but please pray with me for something radical like this to happen and for it to be made widely available. In a year where Christians proved that they are a marketable commodity with The Passion of the Christ, I think it's time we stand up and do something about it.
I wish to God there was a decent Christian network on television. I wish there was good Christian programming on television. We can lament all day and night about the lack of good television on the major networks, but when it comes right down to it the worst television off all is on Christian channels like TBN.
What's worse is that TBN has decent programs but throws them out there at 3 in the morning on occasion. So, instead of airing a reality show like Travel the Road or TruthQuest during prime time they elect to show a fifteen year old re-run of some idiot in a bad wig preaching Hell-fire and damnation.
Shame on us Christians for not standing up and asking for more from the major networks. But shame on us twice for not asking for more from the so-called Christian networks!
Start a Christian network aimed at the MTV/VH1/Comedy Central crowd. Somebody find some money and start a Christian network for people like you and me.
Start out small. Read Bob Briner's Roaring Lambs and Final Roar. Show re-runs of Joan of Arcadia and the quality Christian shows the existing Christians networks shove into the wee hours on the morning. Show movies like Levity, Bruce Almighty, Shadowlands, Stigmata, and The Big Kahuna.
Of course PAX TV was supposed to eventually offer all of this and do a decent job with shows like 7th Heaven and Touched By An Angel. But for the most part they show gameshows like Family Feud every night and offer little original programming,
Here's the thing. Bob Briner mentioned his friend Mack Perryman who was to head a Christian branch of HBO that never got off the ground. Well, after many years as senior VP of HBO Asia, Perryman retired a few years ago and moved back to the states. Someone out there find him, hand him a big wad of cash and tell him to call Cameron Strang, Steve Taylor, Billy Graham, Mel Gibson, Phil Vischer, David Bruce and whomever else makes sense.
Maybe I just need a satellite dish (I have been made aware of JCTV), but please pray with me for something radical like this to happen and for it to be made widely available. In a year where Christians proved that they are a marketable commodity with The Passion of the Christ, I think it's time we stand up and do something about it.
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