After the State of the Union address I went back up to my office to grab a few things that I had left on my desk. On the way home I decided to stop off at Blockbuster and rent a couple of movies. I immediately grabbed the (as of today) Oscar nominated documentary, Jesus Camp. I have been waiting to see it since its release and I wanted to write about it here on the blog. Rather than writing a review I thought a live blog of my thoughts as I watch the film for the first time would be a neat experiment.

Here it goes:

• Missouri is pretty but looks as exciting as cardboard.
• I feel like any objectivity that the filmmakers were going for is out the window already as the radio host dismisses the “Christianity” that I feel is about to be presented for the next 90 min.
• I don’t think I’ll be able to sleep after watching the musical at the Children’s Prayer Conference. Freaky music. Marching. Stick dancing. War face paint. “Arise! Prophesy!” Creepy.
• I don’t think I’m comfortable with teaching elementary kids about changing the world through fasting for God.
• I don’t think I’m comfortable with watching children speak in tongues either.
• “(Children) are so usable in Christianity.” Did she really just say that children are usable?
• “I want to see young people who are as commited to the cause of Jesus Christ as the young people are to the cause of Islam.” (Ok I’m tracking with that) “I want to see them as radically laying down their lives for the gospel as they are over in Pakistan, in Israel, Palestine and all those different places because, excuse me, we have the truth.” (errr. I don’t think that “laying down their lives for the gospel as they are over Palestine” comes across like she thinks it does or at least I hope so)
• The kid who said that he was shy is homeschooled. Imagine that.
• “Objective Radio Host” is back. He is telling his audience that these “Christians” are taught that destroying the earth is ok. I was never taught to “rape the earth” or to live as though I could create as much trash and to take as much as I can from the earth. The earth is the Lord’s and everything that is in it. Besides a Boy Scout always leaves a place better than he found it! I don’t deny that people believe that we have freedom in Christ to destroy the earth’s ecosystems but that has never come up in a sermon I’ve listened to.
• Bowling Ministry. Touching and off-putting at the same time. That was quite possibly the coldest call ever.
• I had no idea that there was a “Pledge to the Christian Flag” or a pledge to the Bible
• The name of the camp is “Kids on Fire” and it is held in Devil’s Lake, ND. No kidding.
• The opening message of the camp is being delivered. The ages in attendance seemed to be between 7-12. It was very intense and not age appropriate. Alter calls with 8 year olds is insufferable.
• The camp director, Beckie Fischer, did have some great illustrations and object lessons that she showed in her office.
• “How many of you want to be those who would give up their lives for Jesus?” (Again, I don’t think that comes out like they mean it to.)
• “Take these prophecies and make war with them. This means war!” (Errr. Ak-ward!)
• There is a cut out of Pres. Bush on the podium.
• Ok, they didn’t pray to him (the cut out) but they did lay their hands on him (the cut out).
• There is something unsettling about teaching elementary kids about abortion.
• There is something unsettling about children chanting for “Righteous Judges”
• “Objective Radio Guy” again. This time there is an Air America sticker visable. I don’t connect with this guy either.
• Look who it is: Ted Haggard
• My heart goes out to New Life
• I think it’s about time to drop the christian mission as war metaphor
• “Objective Radio Guy” is back and interviewing the camp lady. Two faces of the same coin.
• Norman Greenbaum’s Spirit in the Sky– Cue Credits
• A few more cold calls and fade to black

Wow. I just couldn’t connect with anyone in this film and it made my tummy hurt. I’m going to bed.