They range from running into Johnny Depp,
to sitting at the train tracks for 2 hours,
to lovely days at the beach,
to the Dream Center,
to fashion shows,
to late nights at McClain's (coffeehouse),
and the latest was for work= the Oscars.
I have spent the last week going like crazy--
Working 54 hours.
Sleeping 5 hours.
Skipping classes.
Not writing papers.
Finally finishing a paper and sending it in exactly at midnight, the last minute late papers are excepted.
Much of this week was spent down on Hollywood Blvd. guarding the red carpet.
Yes, I walked the red carpet.
Yes, I saw it all.
And yet, something was wrong.
Watching them put this one event together was quite intriguing and a little disgusting.
They closed down the street.
They had more security then the president.
((300 guards, 200 police, 100 Marines, & the bomb squad)) --guesstimating
They spent a quarter of a billion dollars. --not guesstimating
And now, it's all over.
It all seems so pointless.
I couldn't help but think about Jesus riding into Jerusalem on a donkey as all these people rode into a dirty town in fancy cars, in their expensive clothes, to be greeted by the world.
I started imagining the world covered in a red carpet for Jesus when He comes back a second time. and everyone bowing to HIm. AWESOME!!
As I stood guard tonight, something came over me that was building over the week.
Anger.
It just blew up.
I was ticking all week and I didn't even know it.
I was angry at the celebrities.
I was angry at the production people.
I was angry at the general public.
I was angry at Hollywood.
I was angry at it all.
This anger turned to bitterness.
It seeped.
It got too deep for comfort.
I was unsettled.
I was so mad.
I was mad that so much money, time, and life went into this one event.
Then I became mad that so much money, time, and life went into Hollywood.
I was made at the lies this town has told.
I was mad so many people fall for them--including myself.
I was mad how much influence they have on the world.
I was especially mad about the money.
so many people are hurting in this world.
so many people are in desperate need for a meal to survive until tomorrow.
so many people are broken.
This bitterness started making me vengeful.
I started to scare myself.
That's when I decided I needed to calm down.
I began praying.
By the end of the night.
My heart had changed.
I no longer felt bitter or angry.
I felt sad.
I felt broken hearted.
I was shown something tonight that I never thought about.
Hollywood is in trouble.
They need to see the light.
They need Jesus.
They need to realize their glamor, fame, and money is NOTHING.
They need to see that Christ is ALL.
We were all made in the image of God.
For one town to tell the world what is beautiful and what isn't is wrong.
They have no authority over me, over you, over anyone. Only our Saviour does.
Hollywood is a town of beauty and glitz, yet it is so dark.
It is corrupt.
It is evil.
The sin we have brought upon ourselves is clear in this town.
They (we) have lost sight of truth.
Honestly, Skid Row has more light then Hollywood.
That mission field seems way easier then Hollywood.
But really, I realized Hollywood needs missionaries.
They need Christians who are strong and won't compromise anything. ((I'm sure there are a few))
They need Love.
They NEED Jesus.
They need what they came to Tinsel Town looking for=
They need to fill that gap.
They need to find their hope and joy.
They need to see it was already bought for them with the blood of our saviour.
My heart is breaking for them.
And it's not because I wanted it to.
It's because Christ broke me in order to pray for them.
This town is not one many people think of when they decide to go live incarnationally.
This isn't a town they think of when they chose to do ministry.
This isn't a town people think to send missionaries too.
This isn't a town people think of when we think of the suffering.
But they are suffering.
Just not in the ways we think of.
Hurting, dejected, poor, broken, afflicted.
In reality, this town is poor.
They are lacking Christ.
They are lacking Christ.
They need the CHRISTians as much as Skid Row, Thailand, Haiti, etc.
Why is that our hearts break for the suffering in 3rd world countries and not for those suffering in our own backyard?
Don't misunderstand me, my heart breaks for the socially, financially, physically, afflicted in underdeveloped countries, but why didn't my heart break for Hollywood until tonight?
I may not see their pain physically, but it's there.
They lack the on thing all in this world desire: Hope, joy, peace.
They lack Christ.
It's easy to get caught up in Hollywood. What was the first thing I said when I went on many adventures? Running into Johnny Depp. His life is in that town. He is that town.
This is a huge challenge that lies in front of us, but anything is possible with Christ who strengthens me!
This town will be tougher to reach then Skid Row or the people of Malawi.
It's in this town that the rejection to the Christian is strong and influential to the world.
I think that's why we as Christians are so afraid to get involved, to try and bring them Jesus.
I think we are afraid of rejection. Of people making fun of us. Of our reputation.
But really, we need to be brave because He is our rock! He is all that matter!
And in the end, all that matters are the choices you made here on earth--did you choose to believe in God, in Christ's blood spilling for you?
The land of Hollywood was originally owned by a church.
Now it's time we pray for it to be brought back to the kingdom of Christ for His glory.
I pray to see it belong to the church again.
Please pray with me.
