L O S T not a Loss for this Father

L O S T is over.

And I have a few comments. As a fan, as a student of philosophy.And as a father. Mostly as a father.

• I watched this show with my teenagers. When we started they were 14, 12 and 9 and now they are 20, 18 and 15. And it was worth it. I got a glimpse into the world in which I am sending them to navigate. I also got to see their hearts, share in some drama and philosophy. And it was fun.
• Reincarnation makes for a sweet 'heaven' ending for a TV show, but it's depressing. Everything in that story we cared about is an illusion? Seriously? Compared to the incomparable, real, actual inheritance of the heaven of the Bible, that was 'making mud pies in the sewer when a day at the beach is offered.' I'm pretty sure my children get that difference and distinction.
• People who claim that all religions are equal or the same (as apparently do the writers of L O S T) are ignorant or stupid. Putting symbols of world religions in a church building does not mean they agree. The major religions of the world make mutually exclusive truth claims. Don't be naive.

Do I think watching this show L O S T was a loss? No. Am I going to rant about it and preach against it. No. Will I make a point to watch all 6 seasons with my future grandchildren. Probably not.

Those who watch it will enjoy a delightfully complex story. At the end, a thinking person will have a very compelling and memorable view of the meta-narrative of 21st century secular religion. And hopefully we'll be able to kindly, firmly and truthfully critique it and compare it to the meta-narrative of the Grand Story of Redemption.

That is part of what makes L O S T not a loss. I'm raising thinking people. They get it. Jesus' sacrificial redemption is real and effective and not an illusion. Thank God.

Gospel Friendship Video

I love telling people about Jesus. His good news or 'gospel' is the best. Nothing is more fun than meeting people, asking questions and striking up a conversation about Christ. Click here to watch the video.

A few years ago I met Jeff at a local speaker shop. Both being former rock musicians and with a common 'audio guy' view of things, we hit it off and ended up forming a pretty cool friendship.

Over the course of the next year, Jeff really understood the gospel for the first time. I guess some would say he 'got saved' or became a Christian. I'm not big on walking the aisle and don't put a lot of stock in decisionism, but Jeff has been transformed.

And now he's telling his friends. It's pretty cool.

So About the Video
We don't have a big money video department, but by God's grace, some friends of Jeff's put his story into a 25-minute video. It's totally pro. It's called A Song of Thanksgiving.

I think it serves too as a good illustration of the process all Christians should follow to make 'gospel friendships' or what some might call the process of evangelism and discipleship.

So thanks to Kevin and the guys for making it happen. My prayer is that 1000s more people make a gospel friendship this year and 1000s more hear and receive the good news of Jesus. Click here to watch it on our church website. It's in three smaller parts.