| TheSource4YM.com | |
 | Jonathan’s Resource Ezine |
Weekly Resources, Ideas and Articles from The Source for Youth Ministry
Tuesday, May 3, 2005
| In This Issue |
- Featured Article: How Do We Respond to “Kingdom of Heaven” The Crusades … the Biggest Character Blemish in Christian History!
- Video/DVD Review: Entertaining AND Clean … Could it be True? Jonathan’s Two Cents on “National Treasure”
- What’s New: The Source Slang Dictionary Updated
- Jonathan Training in Phoenix and West Tennessee/West Kentucky: Pre-register for Jonathan’s “Reaching the Unchurched” all-day training workshops at either of these locations for only $10
| If you aren’t a subscriber of this EZINE and would like to subscribe – it’s free – just pop on www.TheSource4YM.com and sign up in the upper right hand corner. |
| Featured Article: How Do We Respond to “Kingdom of Heaven” The Crusades … the Biggest Character Blemish in Christian History! |
May 3, 2005
In Jonathan’s review of the upcoming film Kingdom of Heaven, he brings up the struggle of “how to react” to a politically correct story of one of the biggest character blemishes in Christian history. Check out this excerpt from Jonathan’s review or CLICK HERE FOR HIS ENTIRE REVIEW.…In his book A Case for Faith, Lee Strobel lists the Crusades as one of the biggest objections people have to believing in a loving God. How could a loving God let His people kill and oppress others in His name?
And let’s face it, Jesus is far from politically correct. How can a God who says “I am the only way” be popular in a pluralistic, universalistic, ultra-tolerant society. Kingdom of Heaven meddles with these emotions.
What’s the answer for Christians? (I’m going to dive deeper into the film … but first, I’d like to climb up on my soapbox and answer this question.)
Christians need to remember that there are two different issues here:
- The road to salvation-Jesus is the only way.
- How we are to treat others-love your enemies.
Remember, God loves everyone and doesn’t want anyone to be separated from Him (II Peter 3:9). Jesus exemplified this with his life. He extended love and grace to Romans, Samaritans, tax collectors and prostitutes. He didn’t condemn them. He came to save, not condemn. (John 3:17) Sometimes Christians forget this. They think that “rebuking” and “correcting” are something that we are to do to unbelievers.
I have a challenge for you. In the next few weeks, read Mathew, Mark, Luke or John out of the Bible and notice something. Every time Jesus is mad, rebuking someone or correcting someone, notice WHO it is that He is addressing. Is it the religious people of the day, or the sinners? And every time Jesus is showing love, compassion, grace, kindness and forgiveness to someone, notice WHO it is that He is addressing. Is it the religious people of the day, or the sinners?
When you’re done researching the above, ask yourself this question: How should I respond to people outside the Christian church?
So will Christians like it or what?
That being said … no, many Christians won’t like this film. Thanks to the miracle of modern film-making, the heroes have post-modern values in a medieval world. Balian is a man of integrity and won’t “do evil to achieve a greater good.” Yet he doesn’t mind sleeping with a bad guy’s wife. This is Paris Hilton ethics in the making. Typical of a society where only 6% of people actually believe the Ten Commandments are still valid today.
Others won’t like the film because it preaches that we are to be accepting of all religions and all people.
Should we? How do we actually respond to this? …
- How we should respond to this?
- Was the film actually worth watching? Jonathan says yes.
- Are there any scenes that might be discussion springboards? Jonathan highlights one.
| Video/DVD Review: Entertaining AND Clean … Could it be True? Jonathan’s Two Cents on “National Treasure” |
Looking for an entertaining flick that you can actually show kids? You might have to move National Treasure into your rental cue. (now on video/DVD)When I was a kid, my parents liked to surprise my brother and I with spontaneous fun activities every once in a while on Friday nights. I have some good memories from the decade before Blockbuster when my dad would go down to this new kind of shop next to the grocery store known as the “video store” to rent a “video cassette recorder” and several movies.” It was the greatest. Our family would pile on the couch, pop popcorn and stay up late watching the newest in “video releases” before having to return the video player the next day.
I not only miss the novelty … I miss the innocence. Not many truly ‘PG’ films out there these days. I miss Raiders of the Lost Ark.
Not to segue from Raiders of the Lost Ark … that would be hard to compare to … but if you’re looking for a fun family film with good action and no objectionable material, National Treasure will probably do the trick.
Nick Cage stars as the brilliant Benjamin Franklin Gates, third generation treasure hunter. All his life Gates has been searching for a treasure that our Founding Fathers left clues to-from our nation’s birthplace, to the nation’s capital, to clues buried within the symbols on the dollar bill. Gates’ life-long journey leads him to the last place anyone thought to look; a map hidden on the back of the Declaration of Independence.
But what he thought was the final clue is only the beginning. Gates realizes in order to protect the world’s greatest treasure, he must now do the unthinkable: steal the most revered, best guarded document in American history before it falls into the wrong hands …
| What’s New: Slang Dictionary Updated |
“You look a hot mess!”
“She’s got that badunkadunk goin’ on for rizeal!”
“Why’d you boost those biscuits?”
Do ya want to know what these mean?
Or do ya want to know why you should know?
If you haven’t been there in a while, check it out-our Slang Dictionary page-keeping you updated with the lingo of today’s teenagers. Thanks to guys like David Williams from our Affordable Speakers network (CLICK HERE), as well as Darrell Williams and Jonathan McKee … our slang dictionary is updated again. Check out the newest slang from the mainstream U.S.
Or, CLICK HERE to read more about the origins of slang and why parents and/or youth workers might want to be aware of it.
| Jonathan Training in Phoenix and West Tennessee/West Kentucky: Pre-register for Jonathan’s “Reaching the Unchurched” all-day training workshops at either of these locations for only $10 |
Youth Specialties/Zondervan recently released Jonathan’s hit new book, DO THEY RUN WHEN THEY SEE YOU COMING? REACHING OUT TO UNCHURCHED TEENAGERS. (CLICK HERE FOR THE BOOK) Bring the training to your city now!CHECK OUT THESE UPCOMING TRAINING-WORKSHOP LOCATIONS:
-Chandler, AZ-
July 23rd, Jonathan is doing a Saturday workshop (9AM to 3PM) for youth workers within driving distance of the Phoenix area. If you’re a youth worker, paid or a volunteer, this is for you!
Here’s the details:
WHEN:
- Saturday July 23rd, 9AM to 3PM
- CrossRoads Nazarene Church 2950 W. Ray Rd. Chandler, AZ 85224
- Two choices:
- $20 after July 20th or at the door on the 23rd (includes lunch)
- ONLY $10 if you pre-register before July 20th (includes lunch)
- CONTACT the CrossRoads Church office at (480) 722-0700
-Paris, TN-
September 24th, Jonathan is doing a Saturday workshop (9AM to 3PM) for youth workers in the West Tennessee/West Kentucky area. If you’re a youth worker, paid or a volunteer, this is for you!
Here’s the details:
WHEN:
- Saturday September 24th, 9AM to 3PM
- Tennessee Valley Community Church
1025 Mineral Wells Ave.
Paris, TN 38242
- Two choices:
- $20 after September 21st or at the door on the 24th (includes lunch)
- ONLY $10 if you pre-register before September 21st (includes lunch)
($10 pre-registration will be available at the See Ya at the Pole Rally Jonathan is speaking at in Paris, TN on September 21st.)
- CONTACT the Tennessee Valley church office at (731) 641-8822
WORKSHOP OR HOW TO BRING THIS TO YOUR CITY
| Another opportunity in Phoenix, AZ: Jonathan is in the Phoenix Area this July. Are You Looking for a Speaker? No Travel Costs! |
Jonathan is going to be in the Phoenix area from July 20-23. If you would like Jonathan to come in and train your leaders, do a training workshop, or speak to your group, this is the time. Don’t worry about travel costs (he’s already there) and pay only half the normal honorarium. Email us for details at speaking@TheSource4YM.com
Delivered free via e-mail to subscribers each week. We encourage you to distribute this newsletter freely and ask only that you not change its contents.
HAVE YOU MISSED PAST “EZINE” ARTICLES?
CLICK HERE FOR JONATHAN’S “EZINE” ARCHIVES
And for more FREE resources and ideas … go to THE SOURCE
www.TheSource4YM.com
Copyright ?2005 The Source for Youth Ministry
All rights reserved.
Jonathan McKee
Jonathan McKee is the author of over twenty books including the brand new The Guy's Guide to FOUR BATTLES Every Young Man Must Face; The Teen’s Guide to Social Media & Mobile Devices; If I Had a Parenting Do Over; and the Amazon Best Seller - The Guy's Guide to God, Girls and the Phone in Your Pocket. He speaks to parents and leaders worldwide, all while providing free resources for youth workers on TheSource4YM.com. Jonathan, his wife Lori, and their three kids live in California.