Fear Factor and Other Stuff

My nephew, Curt, went to Chicago to audition for Fear Factor back in June. He works for a credit union, so he look pretty normal during the day. But for the audition, he spiked his hair and otherwise donned the full punk "uniform." And the Fear Factor people loved it. He got a call in September (I think it was) saying they wanted to use him on the show. Earlier this afternoon, my Mom called to say he had sent in a 45-page contract (in which he basically admitted that he could get killed, maimed, or otherwise severely abused).

So, it looks like a Dennie will be doing the reality-show thing. And if he makes $50,000 in the process, I guess we won't be so quick to denounce the bain of reality TV.

Curt is very active at Fellowship Missionary Church here in Fort Wayne. He's been involved in some very cutting edge evangelistic outreaches to the city's rave and punk community, and finds himself meeting to discuss his faith with people who are into witchcaft, homosexuality, and much more. I don't know of anything like it in the UB church.

The Missionary Church, like the UB church, has a strong traditional element. But at the same time, they have an exciting cutting edge element. That's one of the things the UB church lacks.

I was quoted in an article about the non-joining of the UB church and the Missionary Church that appeared in yesterday's Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette. Today, I talked to reporters from both the Fort Wayne News-Sentinel (the afternoon paper, which Pam and I take) and the Huntington Herald-Press. UBHope people were severely critical of the article which the News-Sentinel did last spring, and in particular of quotes provided by the bishop. The link on the UBHope website calls it, "When Interviews Go Bad," with a description mockingly saying, "Who said any publicity is good publicity?" That irks me. I was heavily involved in helping the reporter with that article, and felt the writer did a conscientous job. I don't know if they'll get on my case about these articles or not.

After the Huntington Herald-Press did an article about the merger talks last fall, the Bishop received an official letter from the New Hope UB church's board criticizing us for "allowing" the newspaper to do an article, even though it was public knowledge and we had been debating it actively on a discussion board. News flash: We don't control the media. When they decide to do a story, all you can do is try to be helpful and make the most of it. If you try to control or censor them, you're just asking for trouble. But I've been extremely pleased with the reporters I've worked with.

I was pleased to learn today that a mistake was made in counting votes for national conference delegates in Central Conference. Denny Miller, pastor of Emmanuel Community Church, had been listed as the first alternate (7th highest vote-getter). I was disgusted that, for the third time, he was apparently not elected by the conference as a delegate, even though he pastors the second-largest church in the denomination, has held various denominational leadership positions, and is probably our denomination's premier, proven church-builder. But, to my joy, it turns out some votes were overlooked, and Denny actually ended up third. Ah, something right for a change!

Pam and I continue our fascination with the TV show "Lost," which we watched again last night. I guess it won't be on for several weeks now. They keep dropping little tidbits that you know will be elaborated on at some future date. It's a great show.

Posted on December 9, 2004 06:37 PM|

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