Good One, Christians!

Leave it to some ignorant, but well-meaning (I would assume), Christian to author an e-mail that is filled with rather benign church signs like these but then holds a delightful - in the sarcastic sense - parting shot. Toward the end of the e-mail one can read, "Once you reach the bottom, do what it says.............. It actually works!?" This is the first clue you're dealing with an ignorant person, as their writing would seem to indicate confusion. They are excited that whatever follows actually works (!) and yet... does it (?)? A few other computer generated church sign graphics that give the 'now these are really funny' attitude (without delivering) follow.

After these graphics the anticipation is rewarded and the wait is finally over. What are we to do? What will we surely find to 'work' as the e-mail's authors supposes? The curious would read, "They say if you forward this, something good will happen to you in the next hour... Just watch and wait for it. If you are a non-believer in God, just delete." That's right - a worldly version of the fortune cookie, a horoscope-esque prediction for your inbox. No matter the number of these types of e-mails that are sent about each month, has anyone you know ever been tempted to think, "Well, gee, what if it's true?" 

Now, I say that knowing full well that some of you may be answering 'yes,' and in such cases I don't mean to be offensive. What I do hope to convey is that I would implore you to not look to these ridiculous forwards for your 'pot of gold.' And if you're a Christian, all the more reason for you to find these sorts of things demeaning and ridiculous. Your faith is not to be ignorant, and neither is your mind. Furthermore, do not run the risk of causing a weaker brother or sister to stumble by sending out this foolishness to them. No, I don't mean you should start going through you're friend list and find out who's weaker than you and take them off the forward list. What I do mean is you should not be the reason these things continue, so please think before you click 'send.'

I have a real problem with people who do such things because I believe they are done without much thought and, yet, the damage can strike deep. Can you see a positive spin to someone young in the faith getting this e-mail and reading all the way to the bottom... waiting for those nuggets of wisdom that will help them? You can send it on and wait expectantly for whatever 'good' the e-mail promised you or you can delete it and wear the label given. Really? Those are your only two options? There's no third option? What if you have to leave the house (or wherever you're at when you first forwarded it) and miss your goodness or you accidentally delete it? Are you just screwed?

Okay, I've said my piece and feel like I spent far too long on it. Suffice to say, I am now branded a non-believer. Why? The e-mail said I was.

The Downhill Climb...

Polamalu fined $10,000 for being a good, courteous husband, even in the midst of a favorite American past-time.

I can't be said to be a "die-hard" football fan but I've really been enjoying this year's fantasy football league and I definitely cared enough about this bit of news to put in my two-cents worth. NFL star Troy Polamalu (of my second-hometown Pittsburgh Steelers fame) was fined $10,000 for calling wife on sideline during game to let her know that his in-game injury was not life-threatening.

Maybe I'm taking this too far, but isn't that almost a direct attack on marriage? And if not marriage, then at least the faithfulness and closeness of relationship? How is it wrong for a man to want to reassure his spouse of his condition after a dangerous play in a dangerous sport? And if the decision isn't made on the spot, then why would a short investigation into the time, number, and purpose of the call put to rest any thoughts of foul play? $10,000 is a little steep for offering peace of mind. We should be ashamed of ourselves, as a culture and a nation, for imposing such a stiff penalty to the kind and the thoughtful. 

On another, but connected note, there is buzz that AJ Hawk, another NFL player, should be fined and/or suspended a game for his obscene gesture (you can find the video here or watch below).


My question is this: if we, as a culture, laugh at and encourage this kind of behavior and laud it as 'normal' and 'acceptable,' what possible right do we have at all to hamper another's behavior - whether they are in the public eye or not - at any point in time? I am so tired of the rampant hypocrisy of this culture at the same time as this culture fires off invectives against the Church of Jesus Christ for upholding the importance of a relationship with Jesus motivating a moral shift toward good. We do not all claim to be perfect, only to be changed by the One who is. Changed and changing, and this is the message we share for all who would hear, come, and follow as we also try to do. This is not the action of people who try to legislate morality by charging exorbitant fines or suspending work.

"Really? $10,000... really?"

That kind of behavior sounds very much like a controlling regime that bides its time until it can take over by force. I know, a slight exaggeration, but it works. Shame on you, NFL! This is the kind of downhill climb we can expect to see more of as we rail against supposed attempts to legislate morality while arguing for the freedom to do whatever we want (as long as it doesn't hurt someone else). Strange that the latter can be fought for and restricted at the same time. And this is what I call an attempt to save game face...

What's Your Soundtrack?

Music is a huge part of our culture. And for most of us, music is a big part of our everyday life. Think about the volume of music you listen to everyday. If it's not streaming into your ears directly through an iPod, car/home stereo, or other MP3 device, you're getting it through some other means. Maybe from a TV show you watch or from walking past a home or apartment where the owner's favorite songs are blaring for all to hear.

Or maybe you're walking in the mall, in the park , or along the road where cars drive by pumping their favorite jams and you, the unintentional passer-by, get to hear the soundtrack to another's life. The question is, "what is your life's soundtrack?" What is the music that gets into you and doesn't let go?

Music is all around us - I'd even say it's unavoidable - and that holds true even more for youth today. I am not that guy who says, "Well I work for a church so I only endorse Christian music because that's the only music that uplifts and gives a positive message." That's simply not true (of me or in general). My being a Christian doesn't automatically mean that I like all Christian music; in fact, some artists have surprised me by even garnering enough attention to get a record contract. I also see no conflict in being a follower of Jesus and liking 'non-Christian' music - which I would label as traditionally 'secular' music or songs by Christian artists that don't have any overt Christian words or tone (like SCC's song "Cinderella"). 

But I guess you could say I've become something of a fuddy-duddy in the sense that I no longer have the high tolerance for music with lots of cusses and questionably amoral lyrics. That got me to thinking about how record companies label the music on their brand. It seems like music that has profanity is labeled "Explicit," while music that simply has a bad message, degrades others, or destroys good character traits (like respect, honor, honesty, etc.) gets a clean bill of health and is peddled for all to consume. This issue became 'current' for me again this week when I heard about a song by a new popular group (whose name is in itself a blatant curse) that talks about parading a man's 'junk' out in the open, as though this makes him sexy. Whether it was written with comical intent or not, the thoughts it generates are not easily removed from the music.  Nevertheless, it's not labeled as explicit, even though it is sexually explicit in its lyrics.

So I'm curious, what kind of music do you listen to and what is it about that music that attracts you? Do you feel that music affects your speech and behavior? If this is something you haven't thought of before, take a week to consciously think about your life and the influence (or lack thereof) that music plays in it. Then get back to me. I'd love to hear your thoughts!