Offensively Offensive

I love video games. I don't play nearly as often as I would like, but such is the life of a father, husband and one who works (in my case, in ministry). When I was growing up I read Nintendo Power magazine cover to cover every time it was released. I was a video game junkie! I lived on pins and needles when a new Mario game was on the horizon.

Much like me with Mario, many have been awaiting the arrival of PS3's newest arrival Little Big Planet (slated to be released Oct. 21), but were disappointed over the weekend to learn that its highly anticipated debut is being pushed back... for RELIGIOUS reasons. Apparently, one of the songs in Little Big Planet features a few lines from the Qu'ran, causing outrage among a Muslim group. They sent a letter of complaint and so the game developers stopped shipment, issued a letter of apology and took the song out (leading them to have to repackage the games and delayed the game's release by one week). Now I am offended.

Why? Because if it were a Christian group protesting something in that game or any of the other games available (such as rap artist 50 Cent blowing rivals away, sexuality and nudity in games marketed to teens, gratuitous violence of the Grand Theft Auto series, etc.) they would be brushed aside as "religious zealots" or "intolerant" or "judgmental hypocrites". I do not believe Christians ought to protest all ungodly things, but there are times when their protests are legitimate concerns. Does anyone listen? Rarely. The concerns are usually brushed off as unfounded nitpickings. However, if a Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu, Jewish or other non-Christian religion protest - the wheels stop churning, apologies are issued and matters are changed.

So "tolerance" is available to all but Christians? I see. How conveniently (in)tolerant.


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"New" Britney - Same Message

Britney Spears - “America’s Sweetheart” - is back, apparently, and her new song/video “Womanizer” is all the buzz. Reviews are positive from critics and music bloggers to ecstatic Britney fans alike. And what lessons has she learned from her struggles (anyone remember “bald Britney”?, losing her children, being caught in several public incidents, etc.)? Apparently none. Her music has not matured and neither has she, unfortunately.

“Womanizer” represents everything parents ought to teach their daughters and sons to NOT to be, or look for in potential spouses: flirty, morally lost, selfish and focused only on sexual attraction (not real love, intimacy, etc.). The song's lyrics have a hint of hope to them as she tells the womanizer she has no time for him; however, she ultimtely blows it by telling him "no" in a flirty manner while playful acknowledging that she does like him and want him. Since I have no desire in promoting anyone watching the video (lyrics can be found here), here are a few highlights from it:

• Britney appears entirely nude throughout the majority of the video, laying down and moving provocatively (she wasn’t able to cover everything, so the strategically placed “blur” helps her
  
• “Morning after Britney” shows her in a shirt and bra cooking breakfast for the “womanizer” man who she apparently slept with
  
• “Office Britney” dances provocatively around the office, flirting with the “womanizer” and posing for his iPhone pics while sitting on the copy machine and making a copy of what’s under her skirt (yes, she shows the camera the copy)
  
• Britney and dancers (male and female) dance sexually around the “womanizer” while kissing him and each other
  
• "Morning After Britney” exacts her revenge by making her bed while he’s in the shower (yes it shows that too) and showing him who’s boss by not sleeping with him again

• There are several other over-the-top and suggestive sequences, but I think you get the idea

So, let me get this straight… Britney proves to the womanizer (the man) that she is “all woman” by stripping, sleeping with him, dancing sexually around him, teasing him, then walking away? So the essence of her value as a woman is in her sexuality?

What about her motherhood?

Being a wife (former wife)?

Loving others less fortunate?

Loving God (the One she said she used to love with all her heart as a child/teen)?

My heart hurts for her… I thought after all she had been through, Britney was going to come out of it all with better understanding and clarity of mind. Instead, we get the same, sexually-driven Britney who speaks sweetly in interviews, but has no idea who she truly is or what she’s truly worth.

Parents: Since most of your teens and tweens have (or will have, soon) heard this song. Read the lyrics and use it as a conversational tool. Discuss what God describes as valuable. Who they are in Christ. What marriage is and why they ought to look forward to sexuality in that type of relationship versus what's seen in this video (and other TV shows). Here are some Bible passages for you to check out to help: 2 Timothy 2:21-22, Ephesians 1:3-14, James 1:22-25, 1 Peter 3:3-5

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Confession of a Teenage Girl

First, my apologies for the delay in posts. My children and I have been trading sickness back and forth for the last two weeks, so much of my time has been consumed with caring for sick children or resting. We all seem to be getting better so hopefully posting will resume as normal.

I love teenagers! They’re the most unique species (yes, species… I know what I mean) alive, in my humble opinion. They’re bold, lack tact, speak their minds, risk big (of course, at times, sin big, too), love big and genuinely care, though not always being able to show it. I love being a part of teens’ lives as they wrestle with BIG stuff: faith, love, family, etc. Recently, in exploring the blog-world I stumbled across a real treat from a teen I’ve never met and know nothing about. While I enjoyed reading many of her entries, one in particular stood out to me. She entitled it “Father of Glory” and its honesty and depth were very profound. I haven’t been able to get it out of my thoughts, so I decided to share it with you all… I pray it blesses you like it did me.

FROM “BIBLEGEEK” (posted September 18, 2008):

father of glory

“so, i was talking to God today...

oh, it's such a relief to be able to start out a story with that! i feel like i could just leave that there and be done 'cause that amazes me. not because i haven't been doing that recently (which i haven't) and not because i think it'll make me sound cool or anything ridiculous like that. but simply 'cause i can talk to God! honestly, there's absolutely no logical reason for Him to bother listening to me. i don't deserve to be able to talk to Him.

i've been ignoring Him. though, that's not exactly abnormal for me. but i was pouting because God wasn't talking to me anymore and i was kicking myself because i hated that it seemed like i was stuck in the past and moping that things aren't like they used to be.

it came down to me saying, "God... i want to talk to You. i want to come back. but i don't want to see it that way. it seems every time i decide that's what i want it lasts for a few hours and then i slip back into complacency. i don't want to try it if it's not going to work." i didn't expect an answer. after all, i hadn't heard from Him in a while.

"stop trying so hard."

i sighed. "what else is there to do?"

"abbie..." He reminded me that trying things on my own was useless.

i knew He was right. is He ever not?

we kept on talking and i felt the reserve in His voice. i realised how much all of this had hurt Him. my ignoring... my pretending... that struck. hard. i hurt God.

"God. i... i'm sorry. i shouldn't have done this to You. it's so easy to get into Bible scholar mode and talk about You but then walk out of the room and forget to talk to You. but it's wrong."

He forgave me, of course. but i still felt sad.

the conversation continued, but it was subdued, quiet. but a good quiet. i had a lot to think over. but at one moment i mumbled something and then regretted it. not because it was something wrong but because my mind immediately flipped the words around in my head and came up with a better way to say it.

"err... sorry. God, why do i always do that? why do i flip words around in my head? it's not like someone's going to write a book about everything i think and then criticise my sentence structure."

"because you're a writer. that's what I created you to do."

i bit my tongue and decided not to argue this time. "are you saying You want me to write this down?"

"I want you to give Me glory."

"hrm..."

i thought about that for a while and said, "God... honestly, i don't know if i want to give You glory."

"abbie, do you love Me?"

what an absurd question... "yes!" i cried, "You know that i love You."

"then do you want to give Me glory?"

i did love God. and because of that, i wanted to do what He wanted. "yes. yes, i do."

after a while. "God?"

"yes?"

"You know that verse i've memorized for bible class today... in it, paul calls you 'the Father of glory.'"

"yes..."

"so i've been thinking about that. if You're the Father of glory... then... it's not like glory's Your kid... but in the very least it belongs to You... exclusively, right?"

"yes."

"so... when we give glory to something else... like i've been giving it to myself recently... does that mean we're stealing from You?"

He didn't give me a verbal answer, but He knew i didn't need one.”

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