SCY Youth Minister’s Weblog

“to save a life” is a movie scheduled for distribution nationwide Jan. 22nd 2010.  When it comes out- if you are a Christian teen, a person ministering to Christian youth, a Christian parent of a teen, or interested in reaching out to a hurting teen- you’ve got to go see it.  I’m talking with a few people now about renting out the theatre and giving away tickets. 

The main character is a highschool senior with baggage.  His lifestyle was beginning to cost him, those he loved, and countless others some real pain.  After tragedy and seeing the price of sin the young man turned his life around and began freeing others from pain.  I am really looking forward to witnessing how this movie helps a lot of people.  Can’t hardly wait.  I went to see a preview of the movie and was speechless.   

Napoleon Dynamite.

What a great movie.  He’s a hero.  He’s what no kid wants to be.  The life of Napoleon is complicated, yet simple.  He must navigate through some tough years without a strong support base; his aunty, brother, and uncle have unique priorities (none of which is Napoleon).  He doesn’t have friends at the beginning of the movie.  Yet the only thing he must do is be himself as the rest of the world is theirself.  Some in the world do good, some do bad, and most could care less what Napoleon does or doesn’t do.  In this void is lanky, slow to speak, young man that must make the little choices to either do good or bad.  And in the end Napoleon thinks about life and chooses to do good for others.  I love it.  It is inspiring.  He reacts normally (an eye for an eye) but ultimately gives graciously (with thoughtfulness and self sacrifice).  Napoleon is a model for living the difficult adolescent years out right.

Ok, so model may be too strong of a word, but you tell me if you would risk everything for a new friend or work endless hours on the perfect gift.  Yes, he is no saint.  True, he fights with those who hurt him most.  But, most of the time Napoleon turns the other cheek when people cause him pain.  Not many stories out of Hollywood can say they set that type of example. 

Napoleon would tell you to dream big and go out and conquer that dream, fulfill it and help others along the way.  Helping others fulfill their dreams is part of living a life that deserves to have its dreams fulfilled.  He’d say take care not to let people knock you down to long.  Spend time with those who are helpful, who care, and that actually like you for who you really are- not for who you try so hard to be. 

I hope you enjoyed covering this movie these past four weeks.  I actually used over twenty verses (we could have used the material for a year).  Write back with your thoughts.  

“Facing the Giants” is better than any one sermon or praise setting- so check it out.  It is a powerful reminder of God’s desire to be trusted.  He wants to be praised.  And he wants to answer our deepest desires, if we will only give Him our all. 

In out Wed. night class, out of necessity we divided the movie into four parts of about 30 minutes.  Part one was a glimps into the life of a man that was really falling apart.  His faith in God could be questioned, his strive to succeed was wavering and personal trajedies began to build one on top of the other.  In part two he decides to give it all to God.  Further hardship had developed and he and his wife begin to pray for God to show them some light.  After prayer, meditation, and scripture reading, he concluded to give his whole life to God- to praise God every step of the way and let the outcome be whatever it will be.

Part three is when the commitment to Christ becomes contagious to those around coach Taylor and the whole school is changed.  Blessing begins to flow and the team begins to play with a belief that they can accomplish anything if they “praise God when they win and praise God when they lose.”

In part four we watch God do amazing things through and despite the lives of nearly every character.  And it ends as a wonderful story of God blowing away His followers with gifts, love, purpose, passion, and hope. 

If you’ve not seen the movie check it out today.  If you’d like to come to the midweek movie, feel free.  The teenagers of S.C. and their friends are pretty good hosts and would enjoy a new face.   In the auditorium at 7:0opm wednesday nights.