Ads Reflect our Culture's Values

This morning I did something I usually don't do - purchase and then read the local morning paper. The reason I did so was to read the paper's coverage of yesterday's primary election. As I read through the paper, something struck me about the ads featured on page 2 of the paper's front section. Of the six ads found there, two dealt with ways to keep your skin looking young, one encouraged breast augmentation, another offered a chair side whitening of one's teeth, a fifth announced a big sale on furs and leathers and the last was an ad offering to buy houses and investment properties for fast cash.

Think with me of these ads. What do they tell us about the values of our culture? The first five I mentioned all have to do with outward appearance - one's skin, body shape, clothing. Our culture values appearance. Look young. Be shapely. Dress sharply. That's what these ads are telling us! But this over emphasis on external appearance is contrary to what God tells us, isn't it? In 1 Samuel we read about God sending Samuel the prophet to the home of a man named Jesse. Once there, Samuel was to anoint one of Jesse's sons to be the next king of Israel (for God had rejected King Saul for his spirit of pride and arrogance). When Samuel saw Eliab, Jesse's oldest son he thought that he was the one God wanted him to anoint to be the next king. After all, he was the first born (important in that culture) and he apparently had all the physical attributes of a king. But God said to Samuel, "Do not consider his appearance or his height, for I have rejected him. The LORD does not look at the things man looks at. Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart" (1 Samuel 16:7). I fear that many of us have been influenced by our culture's emphasis on a person's external appearance. If we would spend as much time tending to our hearts as we do buying our wardrobes, working out at the gym or putting on makeup - I think we would have a lot more to offer God and others! Give it some thought.

Thanks for listening,

pj

I Survived!

Good news! I survived this past weekend intact - a bit frazzled and tired perhaps - but intact! All in all it was a great weekend. In spite of baking in the sun at Saturday morning's commencement, the failure of the little "flower dude" to cooperate in the wedding ceremony and a HUGE T-storm that threatened to blow over the reception tent - the weekend passed very smoothly. Worst case scenarios failed to raise their ugly heads - which is always a welcome thing.

So for those of you who prayed - thanks so much. Through your prayers, I received help. The Apostle Paul and his ministry companions also received help from the Corinthian church which we see in the following words he wrote to them, "as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many" (2 Corinthians 1:11). Yes I survived the weekend. I was blessed because YOU prayed! Let's strive to remember to pray for one another!

Thanks for praying,

pj

A Busy Weekend? Hmm...

This is one of those really crazy weekends that come around only once every twenty years or so. Today my youngest daughter Kate celebrates her birthday (Happy Birthday, Kate!). Tomorrow she graduates from Millersville University (Congrats, Kate!). Sunday is both Mother's Day and Sharon and my 29th wedding anniversary (Happy anniversary, honey!). Well really, that is not all that busy. So let's throw in to the mix the opening weekend of a production Kate is in (Theatre of the Seventh Sister's Inherit the Wind - showing at Millersville University's Rafters Theatre. The production opened last night and runs Thursday through Sunday of the next three weekends- You did a great job last night, Kate!). Now we are getting somewhat busy. OK - one more event to add to the mix. How about a wedding I am officiating tomorrow (congrats Brad and Liz!)? That means rehearsal tonight and ceremony tomorrow. Yep - now we are talking busy. Oh, and I had better mention that the wedding is taking place in Winchester, VA. Hmm. Busy? No! This weekend is beyond busy! So between all the birthday cake, wedding cake, commencement speeches and honoring mom and cherishing my wife -- I have 6 hours to drive today and 6 hours to drive tomorrow. Like I said "crazy busy!"

I am already tired thinking about all of this. But I know that in the midst of all this busyness God will be sustaining me. And that is a real joy of being a follower of Jesus Christ. He gives us the grace we need to face the demands of each day (or in this case, weekend). So no matter what you are facing today, look to Jesus Christ. He will enable you to get through (and survive in the process!).

Thanks for listening,

pj

BYOB (Bring Your Own Bag!)

One question you can count on being asked at the check out line of almost any grocery store in America is, "Paper or plastic?" Did you ever wonder if there is a right answer to that question? I mean, environmentally speaking that is. I saw a news report last night that listed the pros and cons of bagging your groceries in plastic bags vs. bagging them in paper bags (and vice versa). Both paper and plastic bags are costly to the environment (paper bags cost millions of trees and plastic bags millions of barrels of oil). So bottom line, if you really want to be environmentally friendly, BRING YOUR OWN BAG!

That is really not such a bad idea. Think of all the trees that would be spared and all the oil that would be conserved. Not to mention the money saved by grocery stores, which in turn might lower grocery bills (OK, John - don't press your luck!). I am sure there are some people among us that might be willing to BYOB when grocery shopping. But my guess is that most Americans would not want to be bothered. After all, it is far more convenient to just take the bags offered by the grocer! And that is what we want. The more convenient something is - the better!

We as Christ-followers must be very careful that we do not allow this cultural value of convenience impact our faith journey. Following Christ is often NOT the easy, most convenient path to travel. This is why Paul (the battle hardened veteran) urged Timothy (the tender footed rookie) to "endure hardship with us as a good soldier of Jesus Christ" (2 Timothy 2:3). Following Jesus is often hard. So if we are going to run the race, finish the fight and keep the faith (as Paul did - see 2 Timothy 4:7) then we must kiss this desire for convenience goodbye! And that might just mean BYOB!

Thanks for listening,

pj

A Thought For Your Friday . . .

"Man looks at the outward appearance, but the LORD looks at the heart. " (1 Samuel 16:7)

So my friend, when God looks at my heart - when he looks at YOUR heart, what does He see?

Thanks for listening,

pj

It's All about Communication!

The other morning I woke up to the singing of what sounded like the All-American Choir of Birdland! As it was still dark outside, I looked at my alarm clock to check the time. The clock read 4:40! That got me to thinking, "Why do these birds start singing so early in the morning?" I mean, some of us would rather be sleeping than be serenaded by the local neighborhood bird choral society! This morning, I did some quick research on that question ... and here is what I discovered (and I quote):

"Birds don't sing for fun or entertainment, they sing to communicate. What you may not know is that, with few exceptions, it is the males that are doing all the singing. They sing to attract a mate and to announce their territory. Each day, as soon as possible, the males want to make sure that everyone knows that they are alive and well and ready to defend their territory. What is interesting, although it may all sound the same to us, is that there is some evidence suggesting that each bird has its own unique song and other birds know it. We hear the lovely call of a robin, while other robins hear 'This is Vinny, stay away and nobody gets hurt'.

Another reason why birds sing at the crack of dawn is that the pre-dawn hours are usually the quietest part of the day. The sun hasn't had a chance to stir up the air. The birds’ voices are a lot clearer without having to compete with the sound of the wind blowing through trees or without having to be heard above those annoying backup beeps on dump trucks."

Now that makes a lot of sense to me. Communication is important for us people - so I guess it is important for them birds! But we can learn something here from our feathered friends. Think with me for a moment about marriages. Having been married myself for almost 29 years (our anniversary is next Sunday - which is also Mother's Day AND the day after my daugher Kate's college graduation which is the day after her birthday - not to mention a wedding that I am officiating down in Virgina next Saturday evening!) and having observed other marriages, all of us could use a little help in this area of communication. And just as communication is vital in Birdland, it is even more important in marriage. Recently I picked up a book that Sharon and I have begun reading together. It is already helping us in this vital area. The title is Men Are Like Waffles--Women Are Like Spaghetti: Understanding and Delighting in Your Differences. I recommend that you pick up a copy for yourself. If you apply its principles, I think you will be hearing your spouse (and being heard by your spouse) much more clearly!

Thanks for listening,

pj

Honoring the Aged Among Us!

All Rose Morat wanted to do that morning was to walk to church. So the 101 year old grabbed her walker and shuffled out of her apartment. As she approached the church building, 44 year old Jack Rhodes approached her and offered to help her into the church. Just as they got to the door to the church's vestibule, Rhodes put Rose in a head lock and punched her three times in the face. He then grabbed her purse. When Rose also grabbed for her purse, he punched her again and pushed her to the ground. Rhodes made off with $33 in cash and Rose's apartment keys. Fortunately all this was captured by a surveillance camera which led authorites to Rhodes (who had been accused in the past for attacking an 85 year old woman). Rose suffered a broken cheekbone.

When I first read this news account, I read in disbelief. How can anyone attack a woman over 100 years of age? Apparently Rhodes could! But what I see here is simply a symptom of a deeper problem in our society - and that is a decreasing respect for the older among us. Our culture is so youth oriented that we have lost sight of the value of the aged in our society. God, however, has a far different view of senior adults. Proverbs 16:31 reads, "Gray hair is a crown of splendor; it is attained by a righteous life" and Proverbs 20:29 tells us that "the glory of young men is their strength, gray hair the splendor of the old."

Let us as a community of Christ-followers buck this trend in our society. Let's learn to honor the aged among us!

Thanks for listening,

pj