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Justin Lookado: Motivational speaker is one of the hottest acts at Ichthus

Lexington Herald-Leader, USA
June 17, 2006
Crystal Little
www.kentucky.com

ReligionNewsBlog.com • Sunday June 18, 2006

WILMORE – With his spiky platinum hair, ripped, faded jeans, and a penchant for making exaggerated and hilarious facial expressions, Justin Lookadoo isn’t a typical evangelist.

And that’s what makes this former juvenile probation officer and self-proclaimed “author and speaker for the ADD generation” from Dallas so appealing to most teenagers attending Ichthus Festival.

While he incorporates plenty of humor into his delivery, Lookadoo doesn’t pull any punches with his audience. He addresses dating, relationships and sex with an unflinching openness that’s raised more than a few eyebrows in the Christian community.

“Four years ago, I was the guy everyone wanted to bring in, but was too afraid,” he said.

He said part of that trepidation existed because relationships are moral issues with plenty of gray areas, and his no-holds-barred approach isn’t designed to placate.

Lookadoo’s message hasn’t changed, but his acceptance has grown. He tours 250 days a year.

“God has called me to be on the road,” he said.

During a morning session yesterday, Lookadoo spoke to a crowd of about 500 teens and adults who grouped around the already overflowing tent.

The topic: teen relationships and their inevitable angst. Lookadoo wove self-deprecating anecdotes, Scripture and advice throughout the 45-minute session.

“Whatever relationship you’re in right now will not last. The end,” he warned early on. “Whatever you put into that relationship — emotionally, physically, socially — determines how much it tears you apart at the end.”

Lookadoo doesn’t shy away from any of those three aspects during his presentations, and certainly not the sexual aspect.

“Guys use love to get sex,” he said at one point. “Girls use sex to find love.”

Such frankness has earned him respect.

“He’s brilliant,” said Ryan Paradis, 17, of Lebanon, Ohio. “His book Dateable changed my life. It’s like he knows everything about dating and relationships. …

“Now, I know to stop worrying so much and let God stay in control.”

Three hours later, Lookadoo addressed another, even larger crowd. On the small plywood platform that served as his stage, he quoted 1 Timothy 2:9 — “I also want women to dress modestly, with decency and propriety, not with braided hair or gold or pearls or expensive clothes” — and reminded listeners what his most popular book means.

“Being dateable has nothing to do with getting a date — it has everything to do with how to be the person God wants you to be,” Lookadoo said.

He expounded on everything from the different ways men and women analyze their relationships to how the combination of a modern church and the feminist movement has “turned all nice Christian guys into pansies.”

This kind of insight endears him to fans.

“He throws humor into everything and makes it relatable,” said Jacob Lord, 16, of Elizabethtown.

Lookadoo is modest about the feedback he’s gotten.

“It’s been overwhelmingly positive,” he said. “The best feeling is when I see someone who came to see me three years ago and they tell me how it impacted their life.

At 9:30 this morning, Lookadoo will host a PG-13 session to answer many of the sex questions he’s gotten from Ichthus listeners.

“If you’ve heard me speak and I haven’t offended you yet, I’ll offend you then,” he said with a laugh.