Dear Friends:

This week, a couple fun things:
-A Preview for "Gnobody's Gnome", based on the parable of The Unforgiving Servant

-The second installment of a 4 Part Newsletter:

"Confessions of a Youth Group Drop Out Part II"

Teens have an expectation of rapid information transfer and strong opinions (no B.S. allowed). If you can't say it quickly and clearly you lose them. If you can't keep up, you're left behind. Some advice from an earlier generation at this time would be appropriate. The rapper Ice Cube once said, "Life ain't a track meet, it's a marathon." We have a generation of sprinters who are not prepared for the long-distance nature of life.
Unfortunately group leaders can't flip on an endurance switch. The common strategy is to attempt connecting with teens using short, plastic, fluffy nonsense. But trying to flip "plastic" lame-brained content and video games into something meaningful doesn't work very well. There are moments, sure. But have you ever seen art, like the Sistine Chapel, in person? A Wikipedia Article or a virtual visit in "SimLife" doesn't do Michelangelo's craftsmanship justice.
Nothing is as powerful as humans communicating with great care, craft, and skill through cinema, music, art and dance. Video games like "Halo 3" are impressive in the sense of their hours of human effort and programming put into them. But if you can go ride a roller coaster and achieve something more real. Many things provide excitement but little in the way of illumination and illumination is the key.
Using video games and other pop culture elements are only bubble gum, a shortcut connection to teens. It's only a quick fix. I spent 6 years in well-meaning youth groups being wooed with bumble gum in an attempt to make me lovesick for Jesus. All I got was video clips, video games, and a fuzzy understanding of Jesus' words. It wasn't until I saw and heard the symphony of cinema that concepts like "Grace" set in.

III.

What film would you use to explain the power of Grace to a teenager? Perhaps "The Passion of the Christ," "Lord of the Rings," or perhaps the more recent pop-option "Superbad" where one guy forgives another guy for blowing his chances with a girl? My favorite depiction of "Grace" is found in the Dutch film, "The Son" by Luc and Jean-Pierre Dardenne. It has everything, mystery, murder, and redemption even though the reviews at Amazon.com make it sound as entertaining as the source code for E*TRADE Financial. The film is brilliant but my brain would have exploded had I been forced to watch it while in high school. Even now I have trouble making it through the first fifteen minutes. Many teens are not prepared for long-form movies as a teaching tool. Like marathon training, youth leaders should start slowly, working bite-sized pieces of art and media into their messages.

Recently we released "SermonParables," 60 to 90 second versions of the 9 films from "Yellow," "Purple" and "Cyan." The special "SermonParables" 2 DVD set includes a video DVD with all 9 short versions and a Data DVD (for computer use) with all 9 short versions in mpeg-1, .mov, .m4v, and .wmv format. The Data DVD also includes Bible studies for use with the films and "behind the scenes" photographs.

The "SermonParables" 2 DVD set is not available on the "36 Parables" website. To order; reply to this email, call me directly at 310-770-0448 or mail the completed form below to:

You can view "SermonParables" at: http://www.sermonspice.com/listings/producer/633/sermon-parables/

The Cinematographer
Stewart H. Redwine
C:310-770-0448
E:sredwine@36parables.com