Author: Wick

So this morning I posted a few thoughts on Anne Rice’s new book, “The Road to Cana”. Didn’t think much of it. Random youth pastor in nowhere, IL writes a random blog post. Said some things I liked, and some things I didn’t like. So?

Then I received a comment on my blog. From who? Anne Rice. Holy cow. Really? Surely it’s just a fan, posting on her behalf…(warning, you’re about to see how nerdy I can get)

Checked Google analytics to see where my few visitors were from this morning…one IP Address was from near Palm Desert, CA.

So I checked the book cover to see where she’s from: Rancho Mirage, CA How far is that from where the signal came from?

Looks like it’s legit, folks. Which was a big shocker to me.

Authors are actual humans who interact with the rest of us, and listen to feedback from regular people? Wow. For some reason I don’t think all authors are like this.

Anne, if you for some reason read my blog twice….thanks for the comment, and for reading my thoughts. I really enjoyed the first 2 books, and am looking forward to the 3rd installment as well.

Someday, when I publish my amazing best-seller….I’ll have to let you blog about the part you didn’t like too. haha….seriously though…thanks for being real. It’s encouraging.

Just finished Anne Rice’s new book about the year of Jesus’ life just prior to his ministry as a Rabbi. Overall, it was a great book. Albeit a work of fiction, there are great glimpses into what may have been the personality, and even the inner monologue of Jesus…as He attempts to reconcile what people have been saying about Him, with who He is becoming, etc.

I really enjoy the focus she gives His character on wanting to spend time in quiet. Away from the bustle of the village, away from the voices of expectation, just in reflection. Also, the characteristic of justice. Even with His love for “getting away”, when confronted with an unjust situation, he reacts without much hesitation, and without regard for what people may think. A reminder that “righteousness” has a lot more to do with righting an unjust thing, than simply “being good”.

Compliments being said, I really think that she should’ve stopped before chapter 22. There are some things better left unsaid. Some situations better left in the imagination.

Jesus has been wandering in the wilderness for 40 days after His baptism. Some of the internal monologue of chapter 21 is quite good. But all of a sudden, she jumps into a completely different literary work it seems. We see a weak, hungry, frail, and alone Jesus all of a sudden involved in a quick-witted bantering session with satan. Now I’m all about creative license, but to have Jesus saying things like:

“Careful….if you become too angry you may dissolve in a puff of smoke. “

Anne Rice….having flashbacks of your vampire-fiction days maybe?

She then flies through the first few miracles of Jesus with the same amount of thought, it seems. My recommendation – read the book….stop after 21, and just read the Bible if you really need to know how it all turns out.

Recently gave a survey to our (about 30) teens, to see what questions they had….or what questions they were facing from friends at school. Here are a few of their responses:

Do people who never got a chance to know Jesus go to hell?

How do we know we’re “right”?

What happens to people in other religions?

If God is so glorious, why does he send people to hell?

Why is it so wrong to be gay, if God wants us to be happy?
(and why does he make “them”?)

Can you talk to Jesus like your best friend, or more reverently, or both?

When is God coming back? (and many questions about what that looks like)

What’s so special about me?

Heaven? Hell?

What proof is there that God is real?
…ETC.

Along with “why is ____ a sin?”, several teens who don’t seem to have any questions, and a few who were very open with the fact that they couldn’t care less right now.

To anyone who thought youth ministry was all about pizza and basketball….now you know.

Please be in prayer for these teens….and for the conversations that will come from their willingness to ask these difficult questions…and praying that they’ll be just as willing to talk about the answers…