Touched by "The Surreal Life"??

I don't know how many of you watched last night's episode of the WB reality show 'The Surreal Life," but I'm betting maybe none. For those of you who aren't familiar with the show, they've put 7 has-been/never been C level celebrities in a house together and have them do things like go camping and put on a talent show for strangers in their back yard. It's vaguely embarrassing most of the time--flat out humiliating at others. I've been watching mostly to hear the ridiculously self-centered and delusional things that come out of Corey Feldman's mouth. At least once a week, we get to hear Corey (he of "Stand By Me" and "The Lost Boys") talk about how famous he once was, how his parents stole his money, how hard it is to be a celebrity etc., etc. Joining him in the house are former Motley Crue frontman Vince Neil, former playboy pin-up Brande Roddick (sp?), former child star Emmanuel Lewis ("Webster"), former "Survivor Australia" evil banshee Jerri Manthey, former "Beverly Hills 90210" star Gabrielle Carteris and former rap icon (and legendary bankruptee) MC Hammer. No, it's not a "Saturday Night Live" sketch, that really is the cast of the show!

Any way, the reason I'm sending this email is that last night's show ended on a surprising note of redemption, mercy, and prayer. Odd for a show that only moments before had the gang loose on the Las Vegas strip. Gabrielle Carteris tries to be a good sport when accompanying Brande (yeah, that's how she spells it) and Jerri (same thing) to a male strip club, but quickly flees saying the whole thing felt "skanky." Vince Neil gets drunk, MC Hammer winds up dancing with a bunch of strangers in a fast food restaurant. Then the gang all has to get on a tour bus and sleep because they're going to an LA church in the morning to hear MC Hammer (an ordained minister in addition to being a super dope home boy from the Oak Town) preach. En Route, they discuss their religious backgrounds--we join this conversation late but its clear that all of the group seems to have some sort of Christian background except for Corey Feldman who is Jewish (he doesn't mention if he had any religious instruction). Gabrielle Carteris says she prays every day and the first thing she does is thank God for what God has given her and what He hasn't given her. Vince Neil remains silent and Hammer asks him if he still prays and Vince Neil says no. He prayed very hard years ago when his 4-year-old was sick with cancer, but she died. In Vince's words, prayer didn't work, God didn't listen, so he might pray to his daughter, try to communicate with her, but he won't ever ask God for anything again. Hammer tells Vince, "I know you haven't lost your faith."

They get to the First AME Church, and Vince proclaims, "Oh, it's AME? This is a great church!" Everyone in the cast enjoys the emotional and joyful service, with it's fired-up congregation and incredible Gospel choir. Then it's time for Hammer to preach, and after a bit, he proclaims what an amazing blessing it is that the producers of this crazy reality show would choose to bring the show to church in one of it's final installments--praise God, the congregation echoes. And me? I'm worried. I've seen Christians on reality show and it's not always pretty. They're usually judgmental twits with persecution complexes. But Hammer (who I should remember is, in his own words, "magic on the mic") goes on, talking about his cast mates and how great they are and then he starts talking about the conversation on the bus with Vince Neil. And the congregation shouts out their sympathy for the bereaved father and their support for their brother, Vince, who's fallen away. Then Hammer calls him up on stage so that the leadership can lay hands on him, and they do! One minister prays that God would give Vince the peace that "the daughter is with the Father." Meanwhile, everyone, even evil Jerri is sobbing, and Gabrielle Carteris says "I'm so happy because Vince's life is changing." The next day, Vince says "That was a life-changing experience like I have not experienced in a very long time. And that night, for no reason...I prayed before I went to bed." And that's how the episode ended! It really goes to show you that our God is ready to give us a blessing and show us His mercy and grace in the most unexpected places--I guess that's what grace is! If this episode re-runs, I'll be sure to let you all know.

Peace! :D Christine