Tuesday, November 18, 2014

Somebody's Sister

Stop with the naked pictures. She is somebody’s sister. She is someone’s daughter. The young girl or woman in the picture is possibly a person in unwilling bondage, a victim of human trafficking, a sex slave. —- A little murmur is boiling in America. It is a cry out against violence against women. It is a fake cry by most, while a serious cry for those who have begun movements. If we are serious, then the mainstream media needs to stop promoting nudity, sexual provocation and scantily dressed women. Talk is cheap. Print is cheap. The same media outlets, which is pretty much all of them, might have an article or two about violence against women, yet will have some pictures somewhere on their site that are sure to draw the eyes of men. Every marketer knows that sex sells. The color red, the color yellow and near-naked women turn heads on a dime. Hardees, Sports Illustrated, and ESPN (a restaurant chain and two sport “magazines”) are entities dealing with food and athletics, yet the mere mention of their names connect to commercials and certain non-real-sport editions of women being used to appeal to the carnal nature of man. —- The problem is that folks do not like violence against women, and they should not. Yet, the world is missing the connection of marketing (I’m not even talking about the billion dollar porn industry or steamy television). The flashy pictures in mainstream media are there to get men’s attention by using women as a “product” or a “tool” to get them to look at the page, stay longer, and maybe click on another page and so on. The brain is a terrible thing. As we send the brain down the natural lustful trail, it wants more. Where there is a will, there is a way. There comes a time when pictures will not meet the sexual desire. What the brain started, the flesh wants to finish. These luring ads and special editions treat women as objects. Women then become objects that are sold and used. The attitudes of men are warped toward women. I am not under false impression that we will ever change the tactics of Madison Avenue to get your dollars. However, we can appeal to the brain by reminding us all that the woman in the picture is somebody’s sister or someone’s daughter. They are possibly getting paid, but they are most assuredly being used. May we renew our minds by reminding ourselves that these are sisters, daughters, friends of our kids, or women that have been drugged or brain-washed into these schemes. I know, I know some of these women see this as a way to make big money, but “sex sells” is the driving force behind the violence against women. We must get better in our relationships. —- Think about this: who gets mad when a woman is mistreated? Someone who loves them as a person, not someone treating them as a product. So to America’s marketing departments and to the people who pay them: if you are serious about violence against women, then stop the naked and provocative pictures to sell your goods and services. Otherwise, shut up, because we can’t hear you over the noise of treating women as products. For our part, we can quit clicking on the pages or buying their magazines. Years ago, a well-meaning relative bought one of my teenage boys a year’s subscription to Sports Illustrated. One day the annual Swimsuit edition arrived at the house. It had a very attractive cover on it that was very appealing. As soon as it came in, I’m glad I trashed it (without opening it). He never knew. The best thing we can do is trash these immediately, turn the page or turn off the set. Are you serious about violence against women? Then stop it before it starts. Treat women as human beings and not products.

Monday, November 17, 2014

The Other Six Days

We often talk about the "other six days of the week" and what that should look like in our Christian journey. We come together on Sundays and love the time of celebration, fellowship, and challenging teaching. We are consoled, comforted and motivated into the next week to love and good deeds. We know the truth about how our worship unfolds in the other six days of the week, not how we worship genuinely or not so genuinely on any given Sunday. We challenge our church to be in constant prayer mode and to simply join God at work. This past week was a perfect example of just people being who they are in Christ and then sitting back to watch God to do the heavy lifting. On Monday one of our guys was at a place teaching men about how to be set free from addictions and such and was part of leading three men to Christ. The very same Monday some of our folks were being the hands and feet of Jesus by providing a meal (for 25 people) who are educating people on how to get out of poverty. All during this week our small groups are meeting in various homes getting to know God through His Word, praying and caring for one another as well. In these environments we see many prayers answered like this Tuesday when one of the women in a small group shared how her sister had come to faith in Christ that day. This group was in the middle of a 21- Day prayer for such things. Then word came in through the grapevine that before the week was out, one of our guys met a lady, while at his work, and led her to Christ while his mother was there to witness it! These are just a few that I heard about. I know for a fact that several of our folks were reaching out to the community in several ways being generous in the name of Christ. I also know of others who shared their faith throughout the week. And then there was the finale: on Saturday the church joined together with the community to sponsor a Car-show fundraiser for a dear little boy who has been battling a disease for a couple years now. A lot of planning and preparation went into this event. It was a joint effort with the church connecting with friends outside the church but in the community for a good cause. --- As Christians we are to be salt and light. But to be salt and light, we have to be out there. The other six days of the week is where we are able to paint the portrait of true worship of our God and King as we are the hands and feet of Jesus in a variety of ways. Our faithful prayers are answered by God miles away and sometimes years away. So pray hard. And when the opportunity comes, "give answer for the hope that is in you"---Christ in you is indeed, the hope of glory! Live for Jesus throughout the week wherever you are and do not be ashamed to give Him the credit and glory. Give the message of the cross to the people you meet, and invite them to receive Christ as Savior. Who knows, they may be ready!--- Sundays are great. However, if it was real on Sunday, it ought to overflow into the other six days of the week!