Righteous Insanity

Austin 3:16

I recently picked up a DVD set called 'The Legacy of Stone Cold Steve Austin.' The box set sadly skips over a lot of the legend's greatest or most significant matches (because they are available on other box sets already), but it does a very nice job of documenting Austin's career.

The most striking thing I learned watching the DVD was about the moment that catapulted him to super-stardom. The night Austin defeated Jake the Snake Roberts to win the King of the Ring tournament, Austin ad libbed the infamous "Austin 3:16" line, mocking Jake's on again off again faith in God. That ad lib led to the most popular poster seen in wrestling venues and the best selling T-shirt slogan since Hulkamania. (I won't repeat the verse; you can look it up yourself.)

I already knew that Austin ad libbed Austin 3:16 that night. What I didn't know was that Austin was never supposed to win that tournament. Another superstar had originally been planned as the King of the Ring winner, but because of internal politics, McMahon punished the would-be king. That wrestler's misfortune cleared the way for Austin to take the spotlight. McMahon and the company were smart enough to see they had struck gold, and they rode Stone Cold's popularity for the next several years.

Some times good things come about through careful planning, strategizing, and preparation. Some times, accidents happen. Accidents can lead to even bigger things than any careful planning could have arranged - but only if you're flexible enough to allow them. I'll tell you about one of mine tomorrow.

The paradox of the non-Christian nation

The United States may no longer be a "Christian nation," but taking the phrase "under God" out of the nation's pledge does nothing to remove us from God's creation. We are still under God. We live in His world, created by His hands. His laws still apply, and they are as unchanging as the law of gravity. God has granted us the free will to become a secular nation. But if this secular nation chooses to break the laws of God, we do so at our own peril.

The (Re)making of Adam and Eve

If you visit RighteousInsanity.tv, you may discover what a new acquaintance noticed the other day: there are two "Adam and Eve" films on the site, both featuring the same actors, but slightly different material. One film is simply known as "Adam and Eve's Home movies" while the other carries the more intriguing title "Adam and Eve: Uncut and Uncensored." Provacative as it sounds, that title is a somewhat accurate description of the film. There is no nudity, as we shot Adam from the waist up and Eve from the shoulders up. (Yes, she had a shirt on.) But the "Uncut" version does contain some material cut that was cut from the first version of the film. 

"Adam and Eve" was actually a spin-off from another idea I had for a series of short clips called "Deleted Scenes from the Bible" (which is still in the works). The whole idea was very much inspired by Len Cella's "Moron Movies," 5-10 second shorts showing moments from the lives of Biblical characters that were cut from the final version of the Bible. One of those ideas was called "The First Sneeze," which depicted Adam's reaction to the first sneeze in history. We shot the clip in my backyard, and if you look close enough, you can see the wooden fence behind the tree. It was so funny, I began brainstorming some other Adam videos with the actor who played Adam (Denny Grinar) and a few friends. We added Eve to the mix and went down to the park to shoot a bunch of 5 second clips that were then posted on Youtube. A number of these early clips are still on the Sunday School Dropouts channel, www.youtube.com/ssdkids

About a year later, I was in the process of compiling material for Righteous Insanity's DVD "Holy Shorts." I had pieced together some Adam and Eve clips into a short film, but I wasn't happy with it because Eve had a lip ring and pink hair (a long story in itself). The original Eve had also moved away, so we cast Megan Martin (previously featured in "Desperate Housewives of the Bible) in the role and re-shot the scenes with Eve. We also shot some new footage, and, through careful sound editing, preserved many of the original animal sound effects produced by our good friend Ben Siebert. 

The new material was hilarious, and the new footage fit well with all of the older stuff. But some of the new material was a bit more risque, and I was concerned some of my more conservative Righteous Insanity customers might be offended. So a tame edit was compiled for RI and an "uncut, uncensored" cut was released through Sunday School Dropouts. The Dropouts gang had released the original clips on their website, and they contributed a number of ideas to the final version.

Thus, we arrive at two different edits of the same material with the same actors. Honestly, both versions have their strengths and weaknesses. Much as I like the narrative format of the "Uncut" version, the simplicity and directness of the original with its title cards is equally funny, not to mention true to the spirit of the films that inspired them.

"Home Movies" is available on the "Holy Shorts DVD. "Uncut" is on the Sunday School Dropouts DVD "Juice and Cookies of the Apocalypse." "Uncut" will also be one of many short films on display at the World Independent Film Expo in Richmond, KY next month. Both videos are free to watch and use at www.righteousinsanity.tv

Righteous Insanity Films

The newly remodeled Righteous Insanity Films website is now online at www.righteousinsanity.tv. We've made several changes and additions to the site to make it easier to search and easier to use in your ministry. The new film site is now broken into four channels:

 

Channel One features a wide range of videos with different themes, stories, topics, and messages. Every video on Channel One also includes a downloadable devotional. Use them for your own Bible story, or adapt them to use in your ministry. Videos on CHannel one include perennial favorites like "Desperate Housewives of the Bible," "The Truth About Aslan," "Never Cheat on a Super Hero," "Beethoven," "Worship Crashers," and "Fluffy." Be sure to check out the newest video on the site, "Faith and Felt."

 

The Singles Channel features videos for youth, college, and adults on issues of dating, singleness, and relationships. Videos include "God Told Me to Break Up With You," "Flee," "Flirt Medicine," and "The Book of Ruth Dating Service." There's also a special link to getyoked.net and a free a downloadable Bible study book specifically written for getyoked.net. All of the videos on this channel (except God Told Me to Break Up With You) include devotionals.

 

The Just for Fun Channel features a random selection of comedy shorts produced by Righteous Insanity. There may be some spiritual value to some of these that just hasn't been discovered, but these videos do not (yet) include the devotions found on the other channels.

 

You will find devotions on the all new Extreme Channel, sponsored by Sunday School Dropouts. The Extreme Channel features videos that may not be suitable for younger or more sensitive audiences. Some contain mature themes and humor, some contain excess amounts of sarcasm, and some are just plain obnoxious. Yet even the most obnoxious films on this channel have a spiritual lesson, from "Bobby Blade: Rock Star Mentor" (soon to be featured at the World Independent Film Expo with "Fluffy") to "Swear to God" to "Life Swap."

 

There is also a Shopping Channel, where you can purchase any of our DVDs or books through Amazon.com. That said, the website itself is totally free to use. If you have a high speed connection in your church, you can beam our videos right into the sanctuary, then use the attached devotionals to bring the message home (or develop your own).

 

We will be adding more films over the next year as they are produced, and we will continue to add Bible study and devotional materials as they are developed. We invite viewers and frequent visitors to contribute their own devotionals, and we invite any wannabe film makers who might want to get involved to contact us as well. We've got a ton of new material yet to be produced, and we'd love to have you along for the ride.

A vote for Miss California

Perez Hilton knew exactly what he was doing when he asked Miss California about legalizing gay marriage. Not only did he intend to sabotage her chance at becoming Miss USA, he wanted to demonize her, to destroy her. He wanted to make an example out of her for anyone else who would dare speak against gay marriage.

 

Hilton made an example out of her all right, but not necessarily in the way he intended. Carrie Prejean set an example that we as Christians need to follow, boldly proclaiming what she believed in a gentle, humble way.

 

There's no doubt she has reaped the whirlwind and will be a whipping girl for gay marriage supporters for time to come. Supporters of gay marriage have waged a powerful campaign in the media and the court of public opinion, shaming and silencing all who oppose them. Then a beauty pageant comes along who values God's judgment more than the opinions of the Miss USA pageant judges.

 

The question is, will we who support traditional marriage stand with her... or continue to remain silent?

 

Bravo, Miss California, but choosing to be biblically correct over politically correct. I pray that this will be a wake up call, a rallying point for the silent majority to speak up and say, "Enough."

 

Say what you will, Sean Penn, but I'd rather the whole world be ashamed of me than my God.

New movie: Faith and Felt

Another preview of things to come at www.righteousinsanity.tv

“Faith and Felt”

Whom do you follow?

By John Cosper

Everybody has a master. Everybody follows someone. Republicans follow Reagan. Democrats follow Clinton. Trekkies follow Captain Kirk or Picard, though rarely both. Sports fans follow their favorite teams. Entrepreneurs follow their favorite business gurus. Leaders follow in the footsteps of leaders who came before them. Even so-called non-conformists are really just followers, walking in the path of non-conformists past.

It's human nature to follow, to submit to a master. We all have our heroes, and we all aspire to reach a standard set by someone who went before us. Who we choose to follow says a lot about who we are and impacts every facet of our lives. As time goes on, we begin to walk, talk, think, and act like our masters, for better of for worse. Then, we pass those traditions on to our children.

Man and Woman were originally created to follow only after God (Genesis 1-2). Then sin entered the world. Since that time, Man and Woman have followed and chased after just about everything you can imagine. We shake our fists defiantly at the sky and say, "I don't need you!" Then we turn and follow after someone - anyone - who will tell us what our sin nature wants to hear.

Jesus said a man cannot serve two masters (Matthew 6:24). He with either love one and hate the other, or vice versa. As Joshua said, "Choose this day whom you will serve," (Joshua 24:15) and choose wisely. Your choice will not only impact the fruits of your life in this world, but where we will go in the next.

Copyright 2009 Righteous Insanity

www.righteousinsanity.tv

Define Christian

How do you define a Christian film? How do you define Christian fiction, or Christian drama? If your definition of a Christian story means it has Christian characters who learn or present a Biblically based Christian message, then by definition, Jesus never told a single Christian story.

 

Jesus told stories that expressed truth. You can find real truth and beauty in stories written by believers (Dostoyevsky) and non-believers (Joss Whedon). These are stories that do not beat you over the head with a Bible, but carry within them messages that can sharpen us as believers. One still has to be discerning about what stories are full of truth and what stories are full of junk, especially when the author is not a believer. But discernment is one of those skills the Holy Spirit wants to develop in us anyway, right?

 

Perhaps it's time we scrap the whole idea of Christian film, literature, and drama, and just become film makers, writers, and playwrights. I'm not saying we should become watered down, wishy-washy writers like the crossover Christian pop artists of the 90's. Just that we need to stop looking at film, drama, and books as modified sermons and get down to the business of creating REAL film, drama, and literature.

Fluffy and F2 at WIFE Film Festival!

The news keeps getting better. FLUFFY and F2: FLUFFY STRIKES BACK will both be screened at the World Independent Film Expo in Richmond, KY May 15-17. This is in addition to the festival premieres for the Sunday School Dropouts films BOBBY BLADE: ROCK STAR MENTOR and ADAM AND EVE: UNCUT AND UNCENSORED.

For more information on the film festival go to www.wifeexpo.com

All four films will be available on www.righteousinsanity.tv by Sunday, April 26, complete with devotions so you know exactly how to apply these weird little films to your ministry.

South Park vs. Family Guy

South Park and Family Guy are both very vulgar shows, so if you choose to skip this blog rather than read what I have to say - and the lesson within - I understand.

There's been something of a feud between these two shows. Both are extremely funny, and both are run by very funny, very creative guys. But there's now a clear cut winner when it comes to who the better writers are: South Park.

For some reason, Seth MacFarlane has become increasingly preachy with Family Guy this year. Although past seasons featured episodes with morals, the show has become very heavy handed and in your face - particularly last night's episode about legalizing pot. Much as I enjoy Seth's humor and creativity, when he has something to say, he has all the subtlety of a jackhammer - putting him in the same category as about 90% of us who write drama and film for the church. And as someone who disagrees with Seth on everything from religion to politics, it comes off hostile and abrasive.

Trey and Matt, on the other hand, write stories that teach week after week - and most of the time, you don't even realize it. Sure, Stan or Kyle will frequently give a little moral lesson at the end, much like Mike Brady did back in the day. But the real genius in the show is ther symbolism created within the stories that drives home a message on the subconscious level - frequently through gross-out humor. More often than not, the message is something we can all agree on.

Another key difference between the two is the humor - particularly, who do the show creators skewer the most? Both shows are known for attacking Christianity and conservatives, but Family Guy stops short most of the time when attacking people who agree with the writers' worldview. South Park attacks everybody. Every faith, every political party, every side of every issue. Come to think of it, South Park is far more far more fair and balanced in their parodies than any news story you'll see on Fox News (or CNN or MSNBC).

News flash: when you make fun of yourself as well as those who disagree with you, those who disagree will be more apt to listen to you. Someone needs to remind the writers at SNL about that.

Again, I am not endorsing these shows, nor advocating the type of gross-out humor they employ. I am merely pointing out a comparison between two rival shows that demonstrate how we, as Christians, should approach the stories we tell. In our effort to tell stories the way Jesus did, it's nice to look at a concrete example now and then and remind ourselves of the right way and the wrong way to deliver our message.

A lesson from the Pythons

Home video technology has come a long way in 30 years. You can now shoot on digital with a camera that costs less than $500 and edit with a computer in the same price range. Yet some people still think they need something bigger, better, and pricier before they can put their stories on film - especially if they plan to air it in public.

 

I have four words for you: Monty Python's Flying Circus.

 

Although shot with BBC equipment and BBC money, I don't think anyone will dispute Monty Python's Flying Circus had a very low budget, homemade look. Compared with the polished look of today's SNL, it looks positively primitive. But the Pythons are still popular today for two very good reasons:

 

They were original.

 

They were VERY funny.

 

Ultimately, it's not the quality of production or equipment that matters. It's the quality of the talent behind and in front of the camera. The Pythons had a tremendous amount of talent, and that transcended the low production values. People don't remember the low quality film work. They remember unforgettable characters, stories, and dialogue that made them scream with laughter.

 

There's no reason anyone who has a VCR and a video screen can't incorporate film into their worship services. If you have the passion for film and the talent to pull it off, step up and ask how God can use you in your own church!