PIC No. 34:
• Title: Jesus Revolution
• Movie Rating: PG-13 (2023)
• Featuring: Kelsey Grammer as Pastor Chuck Smith (2-min trailer)
• Management Bucket #12 of 20: The Volunteer Bucket
The Jesus Revolution movie (2023) features a reporter for Time magazine investigating the Jesus People movement in California in the early 1970s.
Welcome to Issue No. 34 of PAILS IN COMPARISON, the value-added sidekick of John Pearson’s Buckets Blog. This blog features my “PICs”—shorter reviews of helpful books—with comparisons to other books in my 20 management buckets (core competencies) filing system.
“He is God, and I am not!”
My son, Jason, and I experienced the Jesus Revolution movie together last weekend. Two thoughts:
• If you are a Christ-follower, definitely go see it.
• If you are a seeker, definitely go see it. Experience it.
I’m not a movie critic. But here are several thoughts and impressions:
#1. Gutsy. Chuck Smith (1927-2013) was one gutsy pastor of Calvary Chapel in Costa Mesa, Calif., when he invited the Jesus People (aka hippies) to invade his small Orange County church (300 capacity) in the early 1970s. Many church leaders and members objected. Yet Chuck Smith (played perfectly by Kelsey Grammer) caught the vision for what God was doing and there was no turning back.
#2. Generational. I was in seminary in the Chicago area when the Jesus People movement hit California. When Joanne and I were blessed with Jason’s arrival in 1970, we prayed that we would be God-honoring parents. (And back then, being grandparents of five teenagers was not on our radar! We’re blessed!) Little did we know how the culture would change so dramatically in the years ahead. So viewing this powerful movie, with Jason, was very, very special. I’m encouraging my grandkids to experience the movie also. Jason and I both gave it a thumbs up.
#3. Gifting. With 20/20 hindsight, the movie documents how God uniquely gifted Chuck Smith, Lonnie Frisbee, and Greg Laurie to leverage their spiritual giftedness to spark a new spiritual awakening. The ripple effect continues today. It reminded me of the ministries and churches today that are surviving on human effort—instead of thriving on the power of Almighty God. The movie is so, so encouraging. It doesn’t promote the main players, it points us to the Author of the Jesus Revolution—God Himself!
#4. Gritty. The movie includes both highlights and lowlights, especially the conflicts and parting of the ways between Chuck Smith and Lonnie Frisbee. (Wow—two leaders who don’t agree on methodology and theology? Has that ever happened before?) I especially appreciated the lengthy commentary by Pastor Greg Laurie in his blog post, “The Long Strange Trip of Lonnie Frisbee” (Oct. 21, 2022). Laurie does not attempt to explain the unexplainable, so I welcomed Laurie’s honest affirmation, “God often works through ways that surprise me, ways that I’d never choose. All I know is that He is God, and I am not.” Amen!
Note: If you’re a seeker—wondering how to have a relationship with God—click here for a one-minute video by Pastor Greg Laurie. When Laurie was a high school student, he heard Lonnie Frisbee say something that stuck: “Jesus said that ‘You are either for Me, or you are against Me.’ There’s no middle ground with Jesus. You’re either for Him or against Him . . . which side are you on?”
As of today, Jesus Revolution is still in theaters. To view a two-minute trailer, click here.
PAILS IN COMPARISON: Reading this book reminded me of several other must-read books (and must-see movies!) in the Volunteer Bucket, plus other buckets/core competencies.
[ ] 8 LEADERSHIP FLICKS: In 2020, at the start of COVID, I recommended “8 Leadership Flicks” for home-bound leaders, including “We Have a Pope.” (Read my reviews here.)
[ ] BOOK: What You Do Best in the Body of Christ: Discover Your Spiritual Gifts, Personal Style and God-Given Passion (revised and expanded—with assessment tools and discussion questions), by Bruce Bugbee. (Read my review and commentary on “The 3 Powerful S’s.)
[ ] BOOK: Overcoming Conflict: How to Deal with Difficult People and Situations, by Bob Phillips. (Read my review.)
[ ] BOOK: Mere Christianity, by C.S. Lewis (Order from Amazon.)
For more on the Jesus Revolution movie, click here. For more book reviews, visit John Pearson’s Buckets Blog and subscribe to Your Weekly Staff Meeting.
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