Aames' personal fight for faith. Indeed.
First, we met a young Tommy bradford when "Eight was Enough". Then Buddy Lembeck entered our lives with "Charles in Charge."
Such was life for the curly-qued, acne-ridden Willie Aames - teen fame, good looks, cavalier personality and all that cash.
Then, God showed up in Willie's life and introduced us all to "Bibleman" where Aames preached the word with a fury and thought children the difference right and wrong, God and Satan, heaven and hell.
Regretfully, that was the last we saw of young Willie.
Today, sans fame, hot tights and that schoolboy charm, young Willie is now 49 years old, filed bankruptcy twice (how do you do that anyway) and having yard sales on the front lawn of his foreclosed home.
Check the video, the chicanerie and the misery:
Eight dollars is enough to buy that treasure
However, according to this story in the Kansas City Star, at least Aames has direction again.
Aames, who has filed for bankruptcy twice since 1997 and was selling his possessions in March just to make ends meet, has stabilized his finances and is well on his way toward learning this new profession [as a financial adviser]. He hopes his story will inspire others who find themselves in similar straits.
Now, before you fall too sorry for the young child star who has had his bank account "Zapped" (Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?), that clip was filmed in March at Aames' Olathe, Kan. home for his new show on VH1, "Broke & Famous" (airs Thursdays, 10 p.m.)
Now, that we have a little reality (pun not inended... well, maybe a little), let's get back to the story. It seems Willie is trying to redeem himself from his financial woes:
“As of Dec. 12, I had no wife, no family, no car, no computer, no home, no electricity, no gas and no way to obtain any of it,” Aames said this week. “How do you start over from scratch? I didn’t know. But I thought that if I made it, maybe, just maybe, it would be helpful to some people.”
Aames is serious about this too, as he has a mentor outside of the author of that Bible for which he fought; it's Thomas Butch, president of Waddell & Reed financial advisers, et al.
“He will still have to do what all of our advisers do — become adept at financial planning, at knowing our products and understanding how to ascertain products that are best for clients, marketing himself and acquiring a client base,” Butch said in an interview. “I think he will have the capacity to do that very, very well.”
Surely this was out of the kindness of Butch's heart. Can't you see it? [Harp music, anyone]
He's there, Butch - in all his glory - on his lush recliner crushing some quiche and puffing a stogie. Suddenly, he turns on VH1 and sees the former Bibleman in this financial ruin (probably on Scott Baio's VH1 show... woof!) and then he has the epiphany that Aames would so rock as a financial guru.
Probably not. It's called a media push and quick oub for the firm, but meh? Can you blame the guy? At least he's there to give Aames the hand he needs, because apparently he needed more than one.
On the show, Aames is seen taking a woodworking job with Brown Midwest, an Olathe-based home builder. Mike Brown of Brown Midwest said Aames worked “three or four days” before leaving to concentrate on a financial advisory career.
Let's hope he sticks to advising more than those paltry three-to-four days because back when he was draped in a cape and rocking the "Sword of the Spirit," he was great at it.
Seriously. Watch the DVDs. The boy had passion, vigor, sincerity, a love for the Word of God and kids loved it. I know mine still do.
We can only pray that when Willie was sharing the stories of falling in faith, needing God for a miracle and learning about our mistakes in Jesus' name, it wasn't just acting. Even though he isn't talking about it like he used to, Willie knows he needs a touch from God and a visit from his old acting partner.
Because when you are haggling over prices for a lion's head (not a good omen for a Christian in case you need it), you need a little faith. Well, a lot.
As always, keep in touch with Religion in the News examinations by subscribing and have it delivered to your inbox or follow me on Twitter. Peace.
Comments
A may be older than you, but I completely remember Willie Aames as a child actor. During his adult life, he always seemed off-kilter but when he got saved, I was happy for him. Now, to see all of this, it makes you wonder where his faith went, and his relationship with Jesus. Sad story, but well written. Keep that up, Shawn Paul.
Shawn, sorry you missed the more interesting and redemptive aspects of this story. It would not have taken much effort to pick up the phone and call the local Grand Rapids Waddell & Reed office, to get an insight into how Tom Butch began and has continued working with Willie over the last 9 months, and the quality and character of Tom Butch rather than your caricature. As for the bankruptcies, I believe that Dave Ramsey is very candid about his personal financial missteps, including bankruptcy - and he has been very successful in helping people take control of their financial "house" in a Christ-centered way. I hope for nothing but success and personal and financial redemption for Willie as payback for Bibleman and Eight is Enough. Interesting musings, but awfully light on facts or insightful reporting.
Mr. Wood,
It would have been much more biblical had you actually attempted to speak with me and get some facts. While my faith in Jesus Christ remains, my faith in the Christian community is challenged every time I see something like this. During this two year ordeal not one (literally) pastor that I have ever attended church with has ever reached out, and not one pastor that I ever visited in any church across America (or any ministry) has ever reached out to see if I was okay or how I was holding up. In fact (and quite sadly) only 4 or 5 Christian brothers or sisters of any kind have made themselves known to see if I needed some ministering and encouragement. What I do see (far too often) are blogs like yours that constantly call my faith and character into question and focus on alleged events while passing over any substance. Substance you may have gained if you had actually done the scriptural thing and come to me brother to brother.
And you wonder why I remain silent?
The great thing about God is that he is always there, he says in his word "I will never leave you nor forsake you"; unfortunatley as human beings we are prone to forsake Him. I am praying for Willie, and am sure there are many other people praying for him as well. Willie if you read the comments here I encourage you to reconnect with your home church or to seek out a new church where your brothers and sisters in Christ can lift you up in prayer as well as encourage and help to meet your physical needs too.
Big difference between "well-written" and well researched. It seems as if you are cynically dismissing the possibility that God was actively involved in this whole thing...and with every one of the participants you so easily question. I put Sarano into this show as the "coach." I was on the set and have worked closely with Sarano and Willie, and with Tom Butch peripherally. Tom is a longtime friend of Sarano's. Sarano asked Tom to serve as a mentor to Willie. I was there when it happened. There was no machiavellian scheme on Tom's part. He was a man willing to serve another who was hurting and in need of help. Sounds like a move Christ would approve of. I have also spent some time with Willie, too. I find him to be very clear on his love for God. It's Christians he has a problem with, and understandably so. When you are rocked in life, and it will happen, I hope we xians are there to support you. Your piece is yet another tragic example of Christians "eating their own." Be careful.
Willie:
LORD bless you, brother. We were just enjoying your vintage Bibleman episodes, and I thought to Google how you & what you have been doing.
We pray that the LORD will lift you up in these difficult days.
We also share your feelings that there is way too much division in the church, and so very few believers know how to support those who are wounded as we make the (save for his Grace alone...) near impossible journey towards becoming whole in Christ !
Please know that our children & we are encouraged by the work you did waaaay back in 1998 or so on these episodes, and that those Truths you dramatized are vital & real for all Time.
May the LORD & His Christ bless & keep you always,
David & family
Texas
Got something to say?
Examiner.com is looking for writers, photographers, and videographers to join the fastest growing group of local insiders. If you are interested in growing your online rep apply to be an Examiner today!