Author: Wick

It was the morning of a lifetime. We were to be dressed and ready, and at the studio by 7:30am. They gave us each name tags, confirmed our identities, and led us through the lot past other buildings each housing their own shows; and finally we arrived. Wheel of Fortune was no longer a show my grandparents watched, and I saw once in a while if I happened to flip past it. I was going to be on it.

We entered the building, with no sense of splendor or romance. Plain doors, plain rooms, and old chairs lined up against a table filled with granola bars and fresh fruit. There was about 20 of us, filling what looked like a classroom from a “portable” back in high school. Then there was the extremely energetic guy giving us instructions for our day. They would be filming 6 shows today, and any of us could be in any of those shows against anyone else, depending on how the name drawing went.

We began looking around, sizing each other up, but with smiles on our faces. We would strike up conversations with the person next to us, even feign that we hoped they did well. We would pretend to either be more nervous, or less nervous than the person next to us; whichever fit the position we were going for.

Truth was, everyone there knew this was a big deal. Everyone knew they could walk out into the unknown world of Los Angeles a giant winner, a giant loser, or just having done okay. We had all watched the show. We each knew for weeks we were going to be on, and no matter how much we attempted to be casual, everyone knew that everyone there had studied the show more than life itself lately.

When names were drawn, you see friendships quickly fade and some smiles got larger/more intensely fake. There were some sighs, as people who had been “hanging out” realized thankfully they wouldn’t have to compete against that one woman who seemed ridiculously smart and funny. There were other sighs, as people realized they were able to compete against the guy who was a youth pastor, and therefore knew more about Bible verses than competing in a fancy hangman tournament. hehe

The taping happened. No time to exchange pleasantries after the game, and no one wanted to stay friends. The socializing was out of necessity. Like a junior high relationship – we were together because there was no one else really. And it had ended…

Recently with our youth Sunday School class, I asked the teens to respond to two questions:

1. What is different about you and your life so far, because of Jesus?

2. What would change about the rest of your life, if beginning this morning, you said no to Jesus?

Realizing the theological implications of both questions, and setting those aside, I simply wanted to hear what a 12-18 year old would respond to both of these. Most of the students present were church-raised.

The responses?

1. “I’m happy, even when bad stuff happens.” “I have more friends.” “I don’t get into trouble.” And a few similar responses, minus a very mature “I’m not sure if anything is.”

2. “It would be horrible.” “I would have as many friends.” “I’d get into more trouble/more often.” “I would stop coming to church.” And a few similar responses, minus “I’m not sure much would change, I’m a good person.”

These answers led to some great discussion. They began to realize they could be “good people”, and might even be able to have “happy lives” without Jesus. So why believe/live it?

This issue is at the root of a LOT of issues teens and young adults have with church, I think. We have lost our “otherness” in many ways. Not an emotionally manipulated adrenaline rush of contemporary blurship. (a skewed version of worship – copyright Chadwick Anderson 2009) But an actual supernatural experience of God. Recognizing and experience a God who is completely “other”. Slowing down, spending time in His presence, allowing God to reveal Himself in ways completely new and different than the world offers.

Loving the unloved. Giving without reserve. Offering forgiveness/relationship to the offender. Proclaiming the healing and redemption found in the Kingdom, and being agents of these in our world.

May we experience the “other” in our lives. May our ministries, our classes, our church services, and our daily living be influenced and resourced by something “other”.

I was hoping that the 3rd round of the Stanley Cup Playoffs would be a match up between Detroit and Chicago. It’s still a very real possibility.

Last night, both Detroit and Chicago fell behind in their Round 2 quest for the Cup. Both best-of-7 series are 2 games to 1 now, with Vancouver and Anaheim up. Vancouver played an intense away game in Chicago. They deserved the win.

Anaheim, however, was dominated by the Redwings: puck possession, momentum, scoring chances, twice as many shots on goal, etc. They have only two reasons for last night’s win:

1. Jonas Hiller – seriously, this guy is a ridiculously good goalie. Kudos to him.

2. The 2nd Goal. The GAME TYING GOAL from the Redwings near the end of the game. It was in, before any whistle. But because an official lost sight of the puck, he thought the play was dead, and blew his whistle, announcing that he began to blow the whistle before any goal was made. Even the announcers declared it a horrible call. But it was made. The goal was not counted, and the Ducks won – 2-1.

So let’s try this again tomorrow night. I’ll be watching the game at Lock Stock & Barrel here in Decatur….who’s coming with me? I don’t care who ya’ cheer for….it’ll be a good time either way. Starts at 9:30pm. SEE YOU THERE!!!