Mrs. Robinson’s Blog

So Sunday night saw part 2 of MAke me a Christian and armed with a glass of white and some lovely Oakie girls for company – I bravely ventured on.

This week – we saw the lap dancer girl and her boyfriend challanged to sleep in separate rooms for one night. The cool thing was the girl who came to talk with them was a 27 year old stunningly gorgeous single Christian girl who was a virgin. Finally – a Christian who looks normal and cool and yet lives for Jesus. She giggled and suggested the diversionary tactic of a game of ‘pick up sticks’ when temptation got too much!!

The womanising bloke also met her and she challenged him to some boxing lessons to try and divert all his energy in a more productive way. When she told him she had been cheated on he sensitively asked if it was because she didn’t ‘put out’….nice.

Then they all went on a retreat…and all they really showed of this was a ramble in the fields to collect wild plants to make into soup….hmmm that’s exactly what my Christian walk entails!! There was a sticky moment when loud mouthed athiest respectfully joined the Muslim guy and learned how to pray with him. The first time we’ve seen him quiet and respectful yet! How he can mouth off about how Christians should be burned because they are all about rules and telling you how to live your life…then be all soft about Islam…is beyond me.

One of the best bits was the lesbian girl meeting a Christian who had given up a homosexual lifestyle after meeting Jesus – and it was a stong personal testimony that obviously made her think a bit.

They also did public foot washing on the streets and went to help out in a soup kitchen.

Overall this week was slightly better than last.I still don’t see much of what I know and love about Jesus reflected in this programme and it makes my heart ache to spend time with them and show them who it is I follow. Will be interesting to see how they get on in the last one next week.

I started re-readiong Bill Hybels’ book ‘Courageous Leadership’ yesterday and his vision of the local church and the power of Jesus through Christians to bring transformation reminded me again what it is I signed up for….

What can transform the human heart? This is what Bill writes:

‘I believe that only one power exists on this sorry planet that can do that. It’s the power of the love of Jesus Christ, the love that conquers sin and wipes out shame and heals wounds and reconciles enemies and patches broken dreams and ultimately changes the world, one life at a time.’

That’s what the leaders hoped to convey through their programme…I’m not sure they’ve managed it yet. The challenge is – how can we do it better? In our lives, in our churches?

Channel 4 on Sunday night aired the first of a three part seiries entitled ‘Make me a Christian’. I believe they did ‘Make me a Muslim’ last year.

Basically there are a bunch of vlunteers in various lifestyles and four Christian mentors (2 evangelical preachers, a female liberal C of E vicar and a Catholic priest)  are for three weeks – trying to persuade them to live according to the bible.

It is so hard to represent Christianity on documentaries like this. The editing for a start means you’re never sure what’s been left out and is hapopening behind the scenes. But my first impression of the show is that I am left wanting to sit with some of those guys down the pub and talk to them about the Jesus I know.

The show expects these volunteers to radically change their lifestyles solely on what the bible says – not on an actual encounter with Jesus. They are being taught in a sparse school hall with no atmosphere or hospitality. The lead guy has a flip chart to scribble on – WHY in this day of video presentations and powerpoints?!

The atheist biker had some great questions and thoughts and because he was mouthy – he wasn’t listened to – or at least that is how the programme was editted.

The lap dancer girl with huge dests and self-esteem issues – had all her pagan/occult books taken away – and was told off for seeking solace by sleeping with her boyfriend…it looked in the programme like she had had lots of stuff brought to the surface – but no pastoral care to help…and why was the female vicar not assigned to work with her instead of the going to the womanising guy who had slept with over 150 women.

And the busy family being told to spend time together by reading the bible for 15 minutes…I’ve never seen a family look SO bored.

There’s no need for following Jesus to be like this!!! Why weren’t they given some easier – more seeker friendly kind of bible study to do as a family – or encouraged to eat together at the table at least?

I have no idea what the next two episodes will bring….but looking at the forums on the internet – people are NOT impressed by Christianity at all and think we’re a load of brain washing, narrow minded weirdos….

Sigh…….

I’ll let you know what happens with the next two episodes. If you want to catch it – channel 4 Sunday nights at 7pm…

The last couple of days the boy has been away with work and I have had one evening to myself in the flat and a few hours yesterday in lieu of an evening Oak Tree thing last night.

I spent most of that time in front of the tv channel hopping…..bluergh! Nothing makes me feel so yucky.

Firstly, in my boredom I get hungry and keep nibbling on whatever is in the cupboards….and as we are juct back from holiday that makes some interesting combinations….blueberry stilton on pretzels anyone?!

Secondly, it makes me stop for a few moments on chat shows…I managed to take in a few minutes of Montel, Sally Jesse Raphael, Ricky Lake AND Jeremy Kyle yesterday…. and watched some kids who had been in the Asain Boxing Day Tsunami, couples who snore, loved ones with secrets and rebellious teenage daughters…Then I got sucked into bits of two episodes of my Big Fat Fabulous Wedding…stupidly ones I’d watched before…and felt smug that my wedding hadn’t been so extravagant and expensive and that I wasn’t a spoiled, label obsessed bride….and then felt bad for being so judgemental…

Then I hopped between Neighbours, Cold Case, Dawsons Creek….and by this time my brain was hurting.

I haven’t had a tv vegging time like that for a long time and I can see why! It’s horrible and not relaxing at all! I miss having flat mates to chat to when the boy’s not around.

I need to choose some more energing giving ways to relax whilst waiting for him to come home from work….

reading perhaps or having a bath or chilling out to some worship….anything to keep me away from Hollyoaks!!!!

My boss has said we are to treat August as a month for retreat, refreshing and relaxing so that when we start again in September, we aren’t burned out. So I am to be in the office as little as possible and use the rest of my time praying, reading, pastoral catch ups and the like. I’ll be blogging some of what I learn and read – so that I can show something for my time out of the office!!

I need some real self-control to not let it turn into a faff-fest with more tv vegetation. Otherwise I’ll feel guilty and not come back refreshed at all!!!!

In my pile of books to read so far are:

Is God a Delusion? – Nicky Gumbel answering some fo the Dawkins stuff

Secret Believers – about Muslims coming to Christ by Brother Andrew

Strengthen Yourself in the Lord – Bill Johnson – his teaching has been impacting my life in a big way this year – so am getting as much of it as I can!

The Seven Deadly Sins – Graham Tomlin – I did some research for this book so am enjoying finding my quotes as I read through!

We’ll see how we go!