On a rare, non busy night, I had a few moments to look at videos on YouTube. I find YouTube extremely fascinating. Whoever invented it is a genius. There are videos posted about everything. Talking parrots, car crashes and old TV shows. Being involved in children's ministry for well over 34 years, I started looking at old characters that were popular when I was a children's pastor. Three in particular were Psalty the Singing Songbook, Bibleman and VeggieTales.
I always appreciated how the Body of Christ would work so hard and find creative ways to reach children with not only the gospel, but with solid bible lessons. The creators of these video series truthfully helped all children's pastors and directors in those times when we needed to show a video and have a "break" from our normal lessons. I am not saying that we should show videos every week, what I am saying is it was a nice treat every once in a while to show a Bibleman, Psalty or VeggieTales video.
After watching these videos a few weeks ago and reminiscing, I decided to read the comments below. Wow, I wish I didn't. What I read truthfully broke my heart. Don't get me wrong, there were some nice comments, but there were a lot of nasty ones. Two groups in particular ripped apart these videos. The atheists and the young adults who grew up in church but left. Let's start with the atheists. In case you don't know, an atheist believes that God does not exist. Many of the atheist comments were saying things like "Watching this video proves God is dead...to...Anyone who watches this %$@# is brainwashed to believe God is real." My response is simple. If an atheist is taking the time to watch the video and taking the time to write a comment, they must be searching for God because they try so hard to prove he's dead. Right? So maybe just maybe these kid videos are truthfully speaking to them!
My heart also broke when I read comments by some young adults who either grew up in church or had a relative who was a Christian. Many of their comments would say things like..."When I visited my Grandma she told me the Power Rangers were evil and made me sit and watch Bibleman. I had to sit and watch that &@#!$% every time I was at her house. I hated it." Another comment said... "My parents forced me to watch VeggieTales and Psalty. I was not allowed to watch any TV shows, only this Christian #$!#$. It was the most boring kid shows ever created. I wish it never existed."
Wow! After reading those comments, it motivated me so much to do a few things. One...pray for all atheists that God would reveal himself to them. Two....to pray for those kids who grew up in church that they would have a desire to want to know God as a young adult and never lose any desire to know him more. And lastly...three...there are truthfully no Bibleman characters and no Psalty's. VeggieTales is still around but is now owned by a different company, not the original creator Phil Vischer. I had the privilege of meeting the creator of Psalty the Singing Songbook, Ernie Rettino as he was at my church 3 times. He is an extremely creative man with loads of talent. I also got to meet both Bibleman characters, actor Willie Aames in 1998 as he was at my church as well one time and the second Bibleman, Pastor Robert T. Schlipp. I am motivated to want to create a new character for the kids of today. I don't know the who, what, why, where or how. All I know is there is a huge need. Keep me in prayer for this!
I will not be blogging until March 4th as I am taking time this week to spend in prayer and fasting as well. See you until then my friends!!
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