Movie Review

The Eyes of Tammy Faye

This 1999 documentary traces the life of Tammy Faye (Bakker) (Messner), from growing up in an Assembly of God family in Minnesota, to meeting Jim Bakker, to starting 2 television ministries from which they were later pushed out (the 700 Club and TBN), to founding PTL, to Heritage USA, to Jessica Hahn, to her painkiller addiction, to the trials, to the divorce, etc .... and shows what her life was like at that point in time.

This is a surprisingly sympathetic portrait of a woman who got in way over her head, and then just lost control of her life as the waves swept everything away from her. I confess I never liked or respected the Bakkers, and was never a fan of Tammy Faye, but have mellowed out towards her over the years, and this film made me view her in a different light. I found it a disconcerting film, and I am still digesting it.

A great old hymn

I have been reading through a devotional book that includes a range of old prayers and hymns. Not having been raised in the church, I am unfamiliar with many of these. Here is a hymn that is part of an evening devotion that struck me as especially comforting.

Night is Drawing Nigh
by The Reverend Sabine Baring-Gould (1834-1924)

Now the day is over, night is drawing nigh,
Shadows of the evening steal across the sky.

Jesus, give the weary calm and sweet repose;
With your tenderest blessing may our eyelids close.

Grant to little children visions bright of thee.
Guard the sailors tossing on the sea.

Comfort every sufferer watching late in pain;
Those who plan some evil from their sin restrain.

Through the long night watches may your angels spread
Their wings above me, watching round me bed.

When the morning wakens then I may arise
Pure and fresh and sinless in your holy eyes.

From St. Teresa of Avila

I thought this was an interesting look at our role and God's role in our sanctification.

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"Beginners must realize that in order to give delight to the Lord they are starting to cultivate a garden on very barren soil, full of abominable weeds. His majesty pulls up the weeds and plants good seed. Now let us keep in mind that all of this is already done by the time a soul is determined to practice prayer and has begun to make use of it. And with the help of God we must strive like good gardeners to get these plants to grow and take pains to water them so that they don’t wither but come to provide refreshment for this Lord of ours."

Got my tickets today!

I have probably been to a dozen Christian music festivals over my 20 years in the faith -- Creation East (when it just Creation), Alive, Fishnet, Inner Seeds -- but have never gotten to the big one, the granddaddy of them all. Until this year.

I'm finally going to Cornerstone.

Thanks to the kind indulgence of my wife of (by then) twenty years, I am packing myself off to Illinois during the last week of June, for five days of interesting fellowship, terrific speakers, and eclectic music (including the Friday night 80s metal reunion stage featuring WhiteCross, Bride, X-Sinner, and Bloodgood)

I am stoked.