Friday and Saturday we partnered with a church youth group to have an Indiana Jones marathon overnighter. Three Indiana Jones movies from Friday night to Saturday morning, then we went to see the newest one at noon. We had a great time haning out with kids, laughing, playing and watching movies. I forgot how good the movies were and it’s always fun to share them with kids experience them for the first time. Raiders and Crusade are by far the best ones in my opinion.

But the Crystal Skull… oh boy. I’ll tell ya, I wanted so bad to like that movie. I really did. But watching it, I got the same feeling I had when I watched Star Wars Episode 1: The Phantom Menace. I came in with great love for these movies and high expectations. And none of my expectations were met. It was crap.  My friend summed up the movie the best way possible when he said, “You know if it had been The Mummy 4, it would have been awesome. But I expect more from Indiana Jones.” I won’t list any spoilers, but I will give you a few grievances: aliens, swinging from trees like Tarzan (I’m not kidding), Indy surviving an atomic bomb blast and fighting monkeys to say a few. Shame on you George Lucas and Steven Spielberg for wasting our nostalgia to simply make a buck. Indy will survive in our memories, but the fedora is a bit tarnished.

Any one else feel that way?

Gather around kiddies and we’ll review what we’ve learned this week:

1) Too much Fundamentalism is a no-no for Stuart. After an overdose of Way-of-the-Master and John MacArthur send Stuart into ranting craze. It wasn’t a pretty sight and not something He’s proud of. It was much like middle schoolers drinking too much Mountain Dew or David Hasslehoff eating raw hamburger meat. But thanks to the intervention of family and friends, he won’t go on a fundamentalism binge like that any time soon. Don’t worry, he’s joined a 12 step group led by Doug Pagitt.

2) Miley and Billy get creepy. We’ve learned that overpaid tween sensations shouldn’t have family pictures made. MudPuppy has more on it here.

3) Youth Ministry can be violent. Ever consider the fact that paint ball, nerf guns and Bibleman may promote violence? Well I guess, that may include hazing and ritual canings as well. Dang it! Go to Rethinking  Youth Ministry for more.

4) An old dead man can rock Stuart’s world. Hard to believe, but true. Micah 6:8:

He has showed you, O man, what is good. And what does the Lord require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.

Those are good walking worlds.

5) Music is always better when it’s free. Yes, and it’s legal too. Layguy show you how here.