6A
Book helps families
FAITH & FILM
handle cancer crisis
Fireproof not so hot
B Y T HOMAS W. G OODHUE
Special Contributor
Hope for Families of
Children with Cancer
as big-screen drama
This book sat on the shelf quite a Lynda T. Young and
while before I got to it. Who wants to
Johnnathan Ward
read about kids with cancer?
Kindred Press, April 2008
Fireproof
But as October approached, I re-
224 pages, hardcover Rated PG for thematic material and
membered Pastoral Care Month—and
some peril
how much I appreciate the work done
by chaplains. Grateful for those who
B Y B ILL F ENTUM
minister on behalf of all of us in jails deep piety, nearly all of them people
Staff Writer
and prisons, hospitals and military whose faith is tested mightily by the
units, I finally picked up this book. Far illness of their children.
Sherwood Pictures, a media
from being depressing, I found it a The authors understand that reli-
ministry of Sherwood Baptist
wonderful resource, one filled with gion can be a tremendous support to
Church in Albany, Ga., operates with
grace and hope. those in crisis, but also recognize that
the best of intentions.
In Hope for Families of Children it can divide families. The religious
Brothers Alex and Stephen
with Cancer (Kindred Press), Lynda T. content of this book is delivered gen-
Kendrick, both associate pastors at
Young, who has founded children’s tly, such as how to get through the
Sherwood, set out to reach wide
ministries in hospitals, and John- holidays by remembering the mean-
audiences with faith-based movies.
nathan Ward, the senior staff chaplain ing of Good Friday, Easter
And when they land a hit, like their
at Children’s and Thanksgiving, while
2006 football drama Facing the Gi-
Healthcare of caring for a sick kid. It is
ants, the profits go to worthy
Atlanta, handle worth noting, for exam-
causes like an 82-acre community
many weighty ple, that the Pilgrims
park.
topics with a were nearly all weak and
So why should I dread writing
light touch. sick at the first Thanks-
about Fireproof, Sherwood’s latest ef-
The book giving feast.
fort? Because despite the film’s sin-
provides practi- Ms. Young and Mr.
cerity, it simply isn’t very good.
cal and down- Ward tell some great
Kirk Cameron (Left Behind) stars
to-earth help stories about how chap-
as Caleb Holt, a young firefighter
with the hard lains work: striving to
with more to worry about than his
SHERWOOD PICTURES PHOTO
questions that be compassionate, un-
dangerous job. His marriage to
arise for families derstanding, calm and
Catherine (Erin Bethea), a PR direc-
Conflicted young firefighter Caleb Holt (Kirk Cameron) tries to
when a child faces slow to judge. This
tor for a local hospital, is in real
save his marriage in Fireproof.
cancer. What can book can give all
trouble.
you expect next? clergy a few pointers
The couple hardly communicates vorce. Caleb is ready to give up, but a befuddled neighbor who can’t un-
What will your son on how to care for the
anymore, except to fight. Catherine Dad urges him on with a personal derstand why Caleb smashes his
or daughter ask sick.
resents that for all his professional story: The Love Dare, it turns out, personal computer with a baseball
you? How can you It brought back mem-
valor, Caleb centers only on himself saved his own marriage a few years bat. Answer: He’s trying to rid him-
answer their questions? How can you ories for me of my first parish, where I
when he’s at home. He saves money earlier. self of the porn addiction. Makes
cope emotionally, physically and spiri- regularly visited a teenage girl who
to buy an expensive boat and ig- “If you’re losing your love for perfect sense, huh?
tually with this “long and difficult was slowly dying of bone cancer. It
nores her ailing mother’s need for a Catherine,” he says, “think about the But never mind me. Fireproof
journey”? was difficult to be a pastor to a suffer-
wheelchair ramp. one person who loves may be critic-proof, and like
“Forewarned is forearmed,” Ms. ing teenager—and to the grandpar-
Worse, she’s hu- us no matter how Giants, may win over millions of
Young and Mr. Ward remind us. If ents who cared for her with courage
miliated by his much we reject him.” viewers. Or it may succeed in
your child is given a steroid pulse to and extraordinary patience—but
addiction to In- ‘Despite Dad even stands be- church screenings as a marriage
kill aggressive cancer cells, you may knowing them was a great blessing.
ternet pornogra- side a cross in that counseling tool, once the theatrical
see “mood swings that make extreme Chaplains often minister to those
phy. the film’s scene, just to be sure run is over.
PMS seem normal.” They share excel- whose pastor, priest or rabbi is far
Caleb shares we get the point. Either way Sherwood Pictures is
lent advice for parenting both the away; sometimes they pastor those
his side of the sincerity, it That’s not the prepared. They launched a “Fire-
child battling a deadly disease and the who will not let their own pastor visit
story with his fa- only lapse in subtlety, proof My Marriage” Web site this
siblings who are easily neglected, them in the hospital. Mr. Ward tells a
ther (Harris Mal- simply isn't by any means. Fire- summer, and a Love Dare devotional
often badly frightened, and usually particularly moving story of one such
com), who proof, shot on a will be released Sept. 28 in Christian
healthy but sometimes feeling embar- 16-year-old who was initially too
persuades him to very good.’ larger budget than bookstores.
rassed. angry about dying to let anyone get
try a 40-day pro- Facing the Giants, But how much more effective the
The authors also remind care- close to him. Eventually, he became
gram called the tries to wow us with film would have been if the
givers to care for themselves and to confident that “Jesus is in the room
“Love Dare.” a few action scenes. Kendricks had spared us the clichés
tend to their souls: “Let God join you and everything’s going to be OK,” and
It’s simple: Caleb must perform Early on Caleb and his fire crew and let Caleb and Catherine tackle
in the calm and in the chaos.” that angels had started a party to wel-
an act of loving kindness for Cather- push a wrecked car off the tracks at their problems in honest, three-di-
This book benefits from Mr. Ward’s come him.
ine each day, whether she welcomes a railroad crossing, just ahead of an mensional dialogue. In one or two
broad experience and perspective as a “Can’t you hear the music?” he
it or not. Dad even provides a home- oncoming train. He later rescues a scenes, they do—and what a differ-
chaplain serving on the front lines of asked.
made Love Dare book with daily tips child from a burning house . . . in ence it makes.
ecumenical and interfaith work. The
and relevant Bible verses. melodramatic slow motion, of Should audiences, Christian or
authors write about people of many
Mr. Goodhue is executive director
At first, it does no good. Cather- course. not, expect anything less?
denominations and faith communi-
of the Long Island Council of ine, attracted to a smarmy doctor There’s also some intended com-
ties, people of little faith and those of Churches.
(Perry Revell) at work, files for di- edy thanks to rowdy coworkers and bfentum@umr.org
S EPTEMBER 26, 2008 | UNITED M ETHODIST R EPORTER
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