{"id":539,"date":"2009-10-19T11:14:47","date_gmt":"2009-10-19T16:14:47","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/?p=539"},"modified":"2009-10-20T15:05:09","modified_gmt":"2009-10-20T20:05:09","slug":"october-21-28-2009-%e2%80%93-%e2%80%9cboy-in-balloon%e2%80%9d-appears-to-be-a-hoax-parents%e2%80%99-publicity-stunt","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.elca.org\/faithlens\/october-21-28-2009-%e2%80%93-%e2%80%9cboy-in-balloon%e2%80%9d-appears-to-be-a-hoax-parents%e2%80%99-publicity-stunt\/","title":{"rendered":"October 21-28, 2009 \u2013 \u201cBoy in Balloon\u201d appears to be a hoax… parents\u2019 publicity stunt"},"content":{"rendered":"

Contributed by Steven Alloway
\n<\/em>Granada Hills, CA<\/p>\n

Warm-up Question:<\/span><\/strong>\u00a0 Have you ever been tricked into believing something that you found out later wasn\u2019t true? How did you respond? What did you do when you found out?<\/p>\n

\"balloon-boy250\"The nation watched in shock and anxiety this past Thursday afternoon as a large, silver Mylar balloon swept across the Colorado skies<\/a>. The balloon was believed to be carrying six-year-old Falcon Heene, whom his parents reported had climbed into the balloon that was tethered in their backyard, just before the knots were untied, releasing Falcon and the balloon into the air.<\/p>\n

Four hours later, the balloon landed — empty. It was discovered that Falcon had been hiding in the attic of the garage the entire time. But now, authorities believe that the entire ordeal was actually a hoax, a publicity stunt orchestrated by his parents in the hope of securing a reality television show for their family.<\/p>\n

Sheriff Jim Alderen says that suspicions of the hoax first arose when the Heene family was interviewed on CNN’s “Larry King Live”.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Felony and misdemeanor charges are expected to be filed against Richard and Mayumi Heene, as well as an investigation by Child Protective Services.<\/p>\n

Discussion Questions<\/span><\/h2>\n
    \n
  1. Did you follow the news coverage of Falcon Heene and the balloon? Were you concerned for his safety? What\u2019s your reaction now that it was all a hoax?<\/li>\n
  2. What do you think should happen to Richard and Mayumi Heene? Should they be found guilty? What should be done with their children?<\/li>\n
  3. With all the publicity surrounding these events, do you think the Heene family will ultimately be successful in their bid for a reality show? If so, would you watch the show? Why or why not?<\/li>\n
  4. How real is reality TV<\/a>? How much do you trust the truth or reality of what goes on in “reality shows”?<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Scripture Texts (NRSV) for Sunday, October 25, 2009.<\/span><\/h2>\n

    (Text links are to oremus Bible Browser<\/a>. Oremus Bible Browser is not affiliated with or supported by the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America. You can find the calendar of readings for Year B at Lectionary Readings<\/a>.)<\/p>\n

    For lectionary humor and insight, check the weekly comic <\/span><\/strong>Agnus Day<\/strong><\/a>.<\/p>\n