Written by I’m not left handed.
Posts in category Christian life
Review: The Finalists Live!
Even Simon Cowell would have been impressed with The Finalists Live! at the Andy Williams Theatre.
If you’re not familiar with the name of the show, former American Idol finalists are in Branson performing what amounts to “mini-concerts” of songs. Each Idol is in the opening and closing of the show and they each have a small set of individual songs.
Instead of a typical overview review, I’m going to take each segment piece by piece.
The show begins with the only “headline” performer to not have been on American Idol: Pete Peterkin.
Pete came from one of the other 1,487 reality TV talent shows, America’s Got Talent. His big schtick was an impersonation of President Obama. As you can imagine, that impression wasn’t a big hit in Branson but Pete did a good job with it. (Some folks really need to lighten up a bit…it’s a comedy routine!)
Pete whipped out a range of other impressions that went over better with the audience like Chuck Berry including playing guitar like Chuck. Pete had better chops that I expected from an impressionist. Someone clearly went the extra mile prepping for that one.
And as for the impression many of us expected?
He nailed it.
Well, he moonwalked it.
Considering he had a bit of a disadvantage coming in because he wasn’t an “American Idol” Peterkin represented himself very well. There were times he seemed a little nervous on stage when he was bantering with the audience but overall a solid job.
Then the Idols roared out. READ MORE »
Jim Bakker Show: One Day Behind The Cameras Conclusion
The whole time I sat watching the taping and work ran about two hours.
They had three places where they had to stop the taping and re-set because of a camera glitch.
So out of that two hours, how long do you think Jim spent pitching the food products and talking about giving to the ministry?
READ MORE »
Jim Bakker Show: One Day Behind The Cameras Part 3
It was obvious from the outset of the show that Jim was passionate about the subject matter. It radiated from him.
The show began, Jim welcomed people and then the discussion quickly turned to the Master’s Media students beside him.
The students not only worked on the Jim Bakker Show but also were part of a new internet based ministry called GenerationNOW. It’s a YouTube based outreach where the students will produce their own mini-shows addressing various topics of interest to those in their teens and early 20s.
The students introduced themselves and shared their hometowns. One of the students had her mom in the audience and so everyone applauded and they put the camera on mom. (She actually has two daughters as part of the Master’s Media program.)
Jim started to talk about the concept of GenerationNOW and how it will rub many of Jim’s generation the wrong way. He shared about how today’s youth are looking for real answers and so many times pastors avoid the heavy issues because they don’t want people to leave their churches. He said that’s why many churches just feature happy, uplifting messages week after week.
Then the students brought up some of their struggles with drugs and sex. One talked about how he’s gone to jail. One of the girls mentioned struggles with a sex related activity. They said these were things that they had gone through and overcome through Christ’s grace and they wanted to bring that grace and joy to those they see around them. The students obviously had a passion for reaching out to bring hope to other people. Call it youthful naivete if you wish but the kids seemed very sincere and not quite as polished on camera and you would expect if everything was deeply rehearsed and scripted!
Jim and Lori then talked about a recent trip where Lori witnessed to a woman who had five abortions just like Lori had in her past. They said it’s that kind of connection that can make a huge difference and the youth of GenerationNOW will reach out in ways that Jim could never do.
The taping went on and on…and it became clear that Jim wasn’t going to get to use the sermon he had written for the day. He alluded to it toward the end and the fact that Revelation is in the Bible despite many people not wanting to read it or preach it. He didn’t dip far into the end times theology that you normally see on the program but rather seemed to be very enthusiastic about the students. He repeatedly said he wanted them to get the same chances he did to transform Christian broadcasting.
But what struck me was the amount of time he spent pitching the food products and asking for support during the taping.
Tomorrow…we wrap up the series.
Jim Bakker Show: One Day Behind The Cameras Part 2
When I watched Leo Buscaglia on PBS with my mom as a kid, I had no idea that in 2012 I’d be yelling that name to Jim Bakker.
As he settled into his spot on the platform for the taping of his show, Jim Bakker was bantering with the audience and staff members. He was genuinely funny and outgoing. He started talking about “this guy who used to talk places and hug everyone” and he couldn’t remember Buscaglia’s name. So I shouted it out to him. READ MORE »
Jim Bakker Show: One Day Behind The Cameras Part 1
A smiling lady named Cosie kept inviting me to watch the taping of the show. Her smile and multiple invites convinced me to sit down and watch a few minutes of the taping. READ MORE »
The Battle of Resentment
Resentment.
If you bring up that word immediately you think of jealousy, ill-will, anger…things that do not define a Christian very well.
Honestly, it’s not something that’s good for anyone. Yet many of us have it on one level or another.
I know that for many years I thought of resentment READ MORE »
To Die Well
I had a debate last week with a friend about how the death of someone you don’t know beyond the pixels on a computer screen could have a serious impact upon you. I said that it didn’t matter if you knew someone like a brother or if you only knew them from tweets…death is such a serious thing that it can’t help but impact you.
The last 24 hours has had someone I barely know from the online world impacting me in ways I never imagined could happen.
But let me tell a quick story before I get to her.
When I was a teenager, READ MORE »
Review: Jason Gray – A Way To See In The Dark
I’ve loved Jason Gray’s music long before a major record label came calling for him. When I was working in Christian radio in Minnesota in the late 90s, I first discovered him as a local talent and was blown away by the honesty and transparency of his music.
As the years have progressed, Jason’s just gotten better and better. His latest release, A Way To See In The Dark, just elevates him to a whole new level. The interplay between his acoustic guitar driven tunes coupled with subtle electronic touches and unusual percussion mixes brings Jason to a place where he really elevates the music you could hear on Christian radio. READ MORE »
KKKan you forgive?
Racism used to be such a hot button issue. Now, I get sick of discussions of racism many times because so many people have taken something vile and reduced it to little more than a political tool (i.e. if you disagree with the current President then you have to be a racist.) One Democratic U.S. Representative actually said those who oppose the political agenda he believes in want to see blacks “hanging from a tree.”
Really? You really want to compare someone disagreeing with the President’s health care plan to someone who HUNG PEOPLE TO DEATH SIMPLY FOR THEIR SKIN COLOR?
This is how much racism has been cheapened in America. READ MORE »
