Not only is this show typical of those that over dramatize stories that would take about 20 minutes to tell, into an hour long, repetitive drama, but this show did not do its homework. The show insinuated that Marla Tabb was a bitch, mean to her parishioners and others, and that she "didn't fit in" with the town. I find it hard to believe that she arrived to help pastor a church and began criticizing and being mean to her fellow churchgoers, as this show tried to present. I know for a fact that this was not the case. It was also mentioned that she didn't like it when people dropped in unannounced. Well, newsflash - most people from anywhere other than an incestuous little town, DON'T. And did it ever occur to J.B. Smith or the Cottles that maybe she didn't like people dropping in because she was trying to keep up the façade of a happy marriage, despite her husband's activities and how upset she must have been? And how declasse is it to talk ill of the dead? The smirk on Phylis Cottle's face is so typical of that town and every woman in it. The fact is, they never gave Marla a chance.
I lived in Troup Texas for close to 20 years and I can tell you it is NOT the precious little town the show made it out to be, where everyone's innocent and there's no crime. Half if not more of this little cesspool have criminal records. There is also an inordinately high amount of people who have some mental problem and who wander along the streets or stand in their yards staring at passersby. No one new ever fits into this town. These people, despite being for the most part, white trash, act as if they are better than everyone else. Big fish in a small pond. I would love to take some of them and drop them into the big city and see how they fare - they wouldn't last a day.
There were also a few mentions of how the pastor's sermons just didn't strike that "upbeat" tone the town wanted. I can tell you this is true - they don't want real Bible teaching in that town, because it might enable the Holy Spirit to convict them of their behavior. They spend 90% of their time gossiping - about strangers, about each other - and they know very little of the world outside their little bubble (and they don't care to). Ask any of them about current world events and watch their faces just look blank.
Back to the pastor's sermons. The best illustration of this need for "upbeat" sermons is the fact that there is now a church called the "Gospel Barn" which advertises a "live band" with a sign outside, and which is known for a "concert" every Sunday morning. The pastor might repeat a few Bible verses, but for the most part he talks about himself and the church and how they are better than the other churches because they "come as they are". Having attended this church once, I can tell you, once is all you need. "Upbeat"? Try complete crap. And yet this is the fastest growing church in the town.
In closing, the show was researched and presented in a very shoddy manner, and the town which was the location of this crime isn't worth more than a brief look and then GET THE HELL OUT. That's what I did, and I've never regretted it.
I lived in Troup Texas for close to 20 years and I can tell you it is NOT the precious little town the show made it out to be, where everyone's innocent and there's no crime. Half if not more of this little cesspool have criminal records. There is also an inordinately high amount of people who have some mental problem and who wander along the streets or stand in their yards staring at passersby. No one new ever fits into this town. These people, despite being for the most part, white trash, act as if they are better than everyone else. Big fish in a small pond. I would love to take some of them and drop them into the big city and see how they fare - they wouldn't last a day.
There were also a few mentions of how the pastor's sermons just didn't strike that "upbeat" tone the town wanted. I can tell you this is true - they don't want real Bible teaching in that town, because it might enable the Holy Spirit to convict them of their behavior. They spend 90% of their time gossiping - about strangers, about each other - and they know very little of the world outside their little bubble (and they don't care to). Ask any of them about current world events and watch their faces just look blank.
Back to the pastor's sermons. The best illustration of this need for "upbeat" sermons is the fact that there is now a church called the "Gospel Barn" which advertises a "live band" with a sign outside, and which is known for a "concert" every Sunday morning. The pastor might repeat a few Bible verses, but for the most part he talks about himself and the church and how they are better than the other churches because they "come as they are". Having attended this church once, I can tell you, once is all you need. "Upbeat"? Try complete crap. And yet this is the fastest growing church in the town.
In closing, the show was researched and presented in a very shoddy manner, and the town which was the location of this crime isn't worth more than a brief look and then GET THE HELL OUT. That's what I did, and I've never regretted it.