Perfection and insecurity are words that when paired together reek of a trite monologue about the necessity of self-esteem and a blaming tirade on some nebulous media cloud that is out to ruin our perception of beauty in the human body. Still, the debate continues with the sides screaming louder and louder. The dead (from self-neglect) scream in one corner and the pious thin (yet still alive) scream from the other. Health flounders somewhere in the middle using fatness to scare you into losing weight and illness to scare you into not using too much. We all are supposed to find some perfect, healthy shape that works for our body yet, does not come naturally at all. And everyone is going to watch us. An insecure person already feels watched whether in their thinness, thickness, loveliness or homeliness. So, I guess it’s not really paranoia because it’s real.

First they tell us that we’re entitled to feel good. Then, when we feel good, they tell us to stay grounded. The beautiful celebrities are labeled “fake” and the dowdy everyman is labeled as “lazy”. We need to try harder, they tell us, but not so hard that it kills us.

Since we’re already throwing in all the clichés that don’t help, let’s also decide that what doesn’t kill you, only makes you stronger. First, stigmatize weight to the point where food becomes a fetish-ized antidote, an untouchable sin. Then, criticize the thin pretty girl for reaching the seemingly unattainable goal. Both the thin and fat extremes relate back to the obsession of food. One consumes and one denies but both sides are fixated. Food for sustenance, food for enjoyment, food has become the god to which we sacrifice our unhealthy thinness or unhealthy heaviness. We’re not talking about anything new, but that doesn’t make it irrelevant.

We’re not counseling over the internet here. What we are doing is thinking about the discussion on the public agenda at present. Some of the blame is being placed on artists altering images, for fashion and beauty advertisements in particular.

Do you think if we no longer saw skinny people in our magazines, ads and fashion runways, it would help alleviate the problem?

Leaving a question hanging in the air  for some topics, this is an irresponsible choice. Instead of sitting here and talking about the God-shaped hole in your heart….

The book of Hosea is a  sad and accurate example of a person who is unhappy with themselves. Hosea’s wife, Gomer can’t find happiness even when it is up in her face. She has the opportunity to have the life that most women in her time would envy with the caring husband, healthy children and a home. Instead she chooses to throw her life away. There are serious undertones of insecurity and low self-esteem especially when you consider the allegory of the Israelite nation and Jehovah relationship.  In doubting our self worth we are doubting those who love us as we are, namely the creator God.

I attended a wedding, recently, that was moderately stuffy and essentially traditional except for the inclusion of a Chris Brown song.

It struck me as odd not only because the couple prides themselves on being conservative and Christian-esque, but also because playing the song of a known, womanizer/girlfriend-beater seems disjunct in a wedding.

I would assume that these people think that hitting women is wrong and I would also assume that, if they don’t think hitting women is wrong, that their self-labeling of Christian would make them at least pretend to believe it is.

This made me consider the morality of various artist-celebrities (mainly movie stars and musicians) and whether or not their personal life bothered me to the extent that it influenced my enjoyment of their music.

This is because the moment I heard the melody, I thought, “Really? They’re going to play song at their wedding written by a man who thinks it’s ok to hurt his lover.”

Then, I also wondered if the general public just doesn’t think beating your significant other to a bloody pulp is all that big a deal. I know it still taints the music for me regardless of how many pseudo-apologies have been issued.

Do you think Chris Brown’s (or anyone else for that matter) music is out of place in a romantic situation?

All who call on God in true faith, earnestly from the heart, will certainly be heard, and will receive what they have asked and desired. Martin Luther

Evangelism is getting a makeover for this generation. .

I agree that keeping the gospel fresh is an important aspect of reaching out to the world. The concept of tailoring the approach to the individual or specific group can work if, and only if you have correctly analyzed the situation.

Mistakes that are currently being made:

1.       Using the shock factor more than once

2.       Assumptions that are inaccurate

3.       Methods that only work on paper

4.       Church-depricating comments

5.       Basing your learning off of the previous generation

6.       Using solely personal experience as a benchmark

Intriguing blog entry about Christian evangelism: http://www.getreligion.org/?p=22288

Using the shock factor more than once

If using the shock factor over and over again worked, MTV and VH1 would be the highest demand channels. However, they tend to be the ones we flipped to when we’re bored with all the quality productions. Doing something bizarre and startling every single time can cheapen the experience.

Assumptions that are inaccurate

A common assumption is that unbelievers are hostile to the gospel. For anyone younger than the Boomers, this is the random exception. People like God. They think Jesus is nice. They’re all waiting to see puppies and kitties in heaven. So, the problem isn’t fighting the hostility of the masses. Barrelling out of the gate, like you have something to prove, will only make you look like a snot.

Methods that only work on paper

Many evangelism tactics have never actually been field-tested. Someone sat in their office and thought up neat little acronyms or stories and published their thoughts. No one ever actually tested all of these tactics on case-study groups to see if they work. Then, you are setting potential evangelists up for failure when you send then out with these “methods” for conversion.

Church-depricating comments

Human nature is clear, no one wants to be friends with the dork except for other dorks. People want to be friends with the popular kid, right? Often, Christians speak negatively of their church and fellow believers in an attempt to seem relatable. Yes, it is like a dysfunctional family. Yes, we do betray and backstab each other but jesus loves us anyways. No, that does not make me want to spend my free time with you. Seriously, some evangelists (with the intent of being “honest” and “relevant”) have inadvertently bashed their church and Christians in general to the point that no one would ever walk within ten feet.

Basing your learning off of the previous generation

It’s time to evolve. We don’t need to explore this too much because it’s common sense. Just make sure when you’re setting up SWAT grids that you are basing your plan off of people who aren’t 5 years from dying.

Using solely personal experience as a benchmark

This is an attractive option because it is very similar to being relatable. Being relatable is different in one particular way; it deemphasizes the speaker. Being relatable puts all your own personal quirks and preferences to the side for the sake of being semi-generic enough to keep the gospel as the main focus. Using personal experiences puts the focus on you and your individual spiritual experiences. The problem is that if your story is too specific, it could become too different or irrelavent. You’re placing all your bets on the fact that everyone in the room feels exactly the same about everything you explain. But, this risks the chance of total alienation if the quirky, personal exerience details don’t line up.

The  Awaken! Retreat ended with photos spooling onto Facebook.  Worship music, prayer, lessons, and group discussions were the backbone for a weekend that revolved around finding ways to restart your life. This was put into practice when we visited God’s Little Acres, a farm that works with terminally ill children and their families. Most of our work was maintenance oriented and included fixing pony fences, stripping paint, clearing brush and trees, and painting. (learn more at: http://godslittleacres.org/children.htm )

Ten Minas Ministries believes that is unfair to challenge someone with rearranging their priorities without showing them ways to do it. Sure, we did the typical, fun Youth retreat things like going to an amusement park and staying up late but we broke the mold a little by spending the bulk of our time working on the principles that we were learning.

We all decided that working hard outside feels good because it’s a break from routine. The fresh wind and friendly animals, were a change from our silicone, prepacked lives. Maybe this will help with our screen addiction.  Oh, and we realized that time goes much more slowly when you’re shoveling.

Things we learned

 Bandaids are a no-no.

 Just because emus have angry red eyes doesn’t mean they want to kill everyone,  just you.

 Ponies frolic for real, not just in cartoons.

 As Jagger said, “You can’t always get what you want…” but, if you try sometimes you’ll find a random carousal.

 You can take a person to a salad bar but you can’t make him eat… or something like that.

 Every centre for terminally ill children needs a ferocious oversized mouse.

 Verdi’s hair just gets bigger as it absorbs sweat, paint and dirt

 You can smuggle people in the fold-down compartment for passenger seats

 photos sourced from FACEBOOK

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So, when you get married traditionally, one is basically saying no to an intimate relationship with anyone else.

 This is an interesting concept in our culture of non-commitment. We don’t think that all things require a commitment, in fact, we like the idea that options breed competition. We will switch detergent brands because of a coupon. We will pick the most interesting thing available on a Friday night. We will cancel our subscriptions, break our leases and drop our insurance plan if there is an option available that makes the switch worth it.

It’s ok and it’s not a reflection of selfishness. It’s simply wise decision-making. This concept works in certain arenas quite nicely. Texas accidentally de-marriage-ed marriages: http://www.star-telegram.com/804/story/1770189.html and it caused us to contemplate marriage in America.

It seems we’re not the only ones, (http://surpassingworth.wordpress.com/2009/07/10/is-there-hope-for-the-american-marriage/ ).   

I read an article that made me think about teachers overstepping their bounds. This is obviously an extreme example of humiliation but it caused me to think about teachers, mentors and the influence they can have. Sure, they aren’t responsible for the failures of a student. This is one of those not-not situations.

Take for instance a person who makes a mistake of neglect that causes a problem for another person. As an example, you were home when my boss called and left me an important time-sensitive message. You forget to tell me about it (by accident) and I am furious. You could insist, “It’s not like I tried to forget that message on purpose.”  My response would be, “You didn’t try not to.”

The phrase, you didn’t try not to, means that you didn’t take advantage of an opportunity to prevent something negative from happening. Some examples would be, a lunch that ignores the fact that one girl immediately leaves after eating to go to the bathroom and comes back smelling of vomit with bloodshot eyes and a pale face, or a computer teacher that simply deletes a browser history containing sites about suicide or self-mutilation. Obviously, these are the worst situations obviously, where passive neglect would direct negative consequences.

Untapped potential is in some ways more frightening. Abraham Lincoln said, “ Always bear in mind that your own resolution to succeed is more important than any other.” By the world’s standards, President Lincoln was successful since he achieved the goals that he set for himself. Unfortunately some of us set no goals for ourselves because it is so much easier to just wish that our future were lain out like simple lines on our palms designating what great or not-so-great things we will attain in our lives.

Oh to be old again!

When I was 13 I thought I was so big and grown up. I knew practically everything and no one could tell me I was wrong. Never doubting my beliefs or decisions, I pursued life in a blissfully ignorant state. Now I feel like I know nothing.