A Goal For the New Year

USGN Article - January 2002

Terry & Barbi Franklin

Written by Terry Franklin

            28 years ago I sang at a county fair with Ken Curtis, who was "Festus" on the television show, "Gunsmoke." After Mr. Curtis did his show (a comedy routine as his TV character) he walked off the stage and then returned, minus makeup and cowboy hat. He thanked the audience for their warm response to his show and, hat in hand, proceeded to tell them what made his life worth living -- his relationship to Jesus Christ. He didn't yell, he wasn't preachy…but it flat got the point across.

Lots of folks refer to Hollywood as "Hollyweird" because of all the colorful folks involved in the television, film, and music industries -- people who sometimes seem to possess the antithesis of Christian values. But could it be that Hollywood has become this way because Christians abandoned these intercrosses years ago. We turned inward, creating a gigantic sub-culture that makes little impact on the surrounding larger sphere of life. About the closest most of us get to the world is going to Wal-Mart.

It would be a good New Year's resolution for all of us to try to get to know more non-believers and affirm those with talents and gifts who can reach a non-religious audience. Let's pray for them and help them to storm the artistic community and make an impact for God's Kingdom -- by excelling in their craft.

So there is a tension, isn't there? On the one hand we're commanded to be separated from the things of the world, but on the other we're, likewise, commanded to go into all the world, sharing the Gospel wherever we go. In the words of our President, "Let's roll!"

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