Everything Is Spiritual by Rob Bell

Flannel, 1:17:52 mins., 2007, $20.00

www.everythingisspiritual.com

The conflict between evolution and a Creator-made world takes center stage in Rob Bell’s Everything Is Spiritual. The non-Nooma video premiered to more than 100 youth workers at the National Youth Workers Convention in St. Louis. In it, Bell unpacks a semester of physical science and theology and repacks it into a 78-minute presentation, taking viewers on a journey through time and space using the creation account in Genesis. Bell’s captivating, humorous look at the physical world and at human existence as body and spirit will help you start engaging the churched and un-churched, high school students, and beyond, who have serious questions or interest in how science coexists with spirituality. —Aaron Jones

Veracity Video Vignettes, Volumes 1 and 2

Abingdon Youth, DVD, 2007, $30.00 each

www.abingdonpress.com

Featuring five video clips that vary between three and six minutes each, The Veracity Video Vignettes series is accompanied by a 16-page guide that gives Scripture references and a general place to take a discussion. Volume 1 had two clips that were well done and thought-provoking; the other three appeared thrown in for good measure. Volume 2 made me wonder if they had been created by the same company or hired out to whomever so another volume could be released. Some clips appeared very “’80s” in their presentation. I’d feel a little embarrassed at showing some of the clips because of how “out of touch” with the current teen culture they would make me appear. The guidebook is handy if you have no time at all and want an “instant lesson.” However, my students would see right through it. Also, the price tag is high for 20 minutes (at most) of clips. —Jeremy Phifer

Case for X: Spirituality of 20 Somethings

Current Pictures, 30 mins., 2007

www.currentpictures.org

“Are we speaking the language of the people?” That is one of the driving questions behind this 30-minute documentary created to inspire hope while asking, “What will be your story?” and "What will you do?” in response to the next generation’s questions. Case for X establishes the spiritual values, norms and perceptions of young people through clips from on-street interviews in Europe and America. The critiques of Christianity expressed in the interviews are countered by the optimistic and insightful voices of cultural experts such as Erwin McManus, Lauren Winner, Brian McLaren and Craig Detweiler. These leaders challenge Christians to move beyond a self-serving church toward becoming a church for the world that reduces the division of the secular and spiritual and affirms the connection between creativity, imagination, and faith. The result is a useful resource for anyone seeking to better understand, encourage, and impact the lives and stories of Generation X and Millenials. —Joe Cilek