THE PULPIT: Celeb stories show futility of Hedonism

Jesus shunned the worldly things the devil offered in the second temptation in the wilderness, according to the Gospel of Luke.

But for most of us, it is not so easy. Money, adulation and power retain their seductiveness.

Perhaps this internal battle between the sacred and profane explains the fascination with celebrity conversion stories. Celebrities have what we want, or think we want. And yet, with the world at their feet, happiness remains elusive for many of them.

A slew of recent biographies and memoirs by rock stars, movie stars and writers underscores how the material things of this world can fail to satisfy the human spirit. Or as the Rev. Dave Markwalder of Gateway Presbyterian Church in Colorado Springs says, paraphrasing the French philosopher Blaise Pascal: "There is a vacuum within all of us that can only be filled by God."

In their books, Eric Clapton and Alice Cooper tell how they could not control their alcoholism until they accepted Christ into their lives. In his newly published memoir, Joe Eszterhas - screenwriter of the box office smashes "Flashdance" and "Basic Instinct" - tells of his years of salacious living before converting to Christianity.

While there are plenty of born-again actors, such as Jane Fonda, Stephen Baldwin and Tom Hanks, rock-star conversions tend to be the most interesting because their lives often represent the epitome of excess.

Besides Clapton and Cooper, other musicians who found God were the late Stevie Ray Vaughn, Rick Derringer, Bob Dylan and former Korn guitarist Brian "Head" Welch, whose best-selling book "Save Me from Myself" is available in paperback.

"When you try to experience everything, there is a letdown," said Todd Hudnall, senior pastor of Radiant Church in Colorado Springs.

"Our young people want to be stars but don't realize the temptation and burden that comes with it," Hudnall said.

Every day since 1987, Clapton, who has also battled heroin addiction, prays to express gratitude for his sobriety. "If you are asking why I do all this, I will tell you ... because it works, simple as that," he writes in "Clapton: The Autobiography."

See my blog, "The Pulpit," for more conversion quotes from stars.

Colorado-themed child care

Radiant Church, 4020 Maizeland Road, recently unveiled a 20,000-square-foot child-care center with a Disneyland feel. Open during Sunday morning services, Xtreme Mountain Adventure Children's Center is based on Colorado themes such as mountaineering and mining, but all themes have spiritual messages.

For more info, call Radiant Church at 597-4402.

-

CONTACT THE WRITER: 636-0367 or mark.barna@gazette.com