The Best of Both Worlds?

Much media controversy has erupted this week over photos of the star of Disney’s Hannah Montana, aka, Miley Cyrus in the upcoming June issue of Vanity Fair. In the photo, she is sitting down. Her back is naked and she is clutching a sheet to her chest. Her lipstick is a little smeared, her hair is messed up and damp, she is clutching a sheet to her naked chest and looking at us with a sly look on her face. Unless they think we are stupid, it is fairly clear what Vanity Fair has in mind here

Naturally, Disney blames the magazine. Cyrus has apologized, saying it seemed artsy at the time but now she’s embarrassed. Disney has moved into damage control, concerned its billion dollar franchise may be in jeopardy.

Needless to say, with two young girls (6), (4), in my home who watch and love Hannah Montana, I am really very disappointed and hope my own little girls are not exposed to this. (We have be watching less and less of her now I think) I don't need them thinking like some teen that they need to have some racy pic or be this or that in order to be popular. I want my children to know they are valued and loved by God without the pressure of having to be this or that.

I did like what one fellow Christian blogger wrote about this:
“The shame lies with their parents. What on earth are THEY thinking? They are supposed to be the grownups here. You know, the ones who are supposed to be protecting and guarding their children? And Cyrus' father let her pose like that? Do they become so star struck or money struck that they become blinded to simple things like... oh... the fact that someone is taking semi-nude pictures of them to be printed in a magazine? I've got daughters. I know what I would do if anyone suggested that they wanted to take "artistic" photos of them draped in nothing but a sheet. Suffice it to say I'd need to repent for violence.”

Sadly, I doubt that any of this will lead to much serious debate and discussion about the very real problem of the oversexualization of children and the cult of celebrity in our society. The sexualization of teens is becoming a sicker and sicker slippery slope. Our society is rapidly becoming obsessed with underage girls in sexually-suggestive poses and revealing attire.

Of course Hannah Montana is a G-rated creation of the Disney Entertainment Factory, and an apparent role model for children her age. This "role model" told Vanity Fair in this interview that the steamy HBO series “Sex in the City” is her favorite TV show. Shocked? Don't be. It is now standard operating procedure for young girls to be used as sexual objects.

This trend is examined in the powerful new book, Girls Gone Skank: Sexualization of Girls in American Popular Culture by Patrice A. Oppliger who is an assistant professor of mass communications at Boston University.
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Here’s a DESCRIPTION OF THE BOOK:
“Instead of advancing women's social and professional empowerment, popular culture trends appear to be backsliding into the blatant sexual exploitation of women and girls at younger and younger ages. Following in the footsteps of Hollywood celebrities gone wild, young girls are doing more and more outrageous behaviors for male attention. YouTube videos and MySpace pages posted by teens and even preteens are often outrageous attempts to get attention from total strangers. This study investigates the effects of mass marketed sexual images and cultural trends on the behaviors and attitudes of young girls and describes many ways in which young girls are increasingly taught to go to outrageous lengths in seeking male attention. Topics include the powerful effects of cultural phenomena such as revealing fashions, plastic surgery, and beauty pageants in influencing teen and preteen girls to willingly participate in and promote their own sexualization. These chapters also explore other cultural factors contributing to this early sexualization of young girls, including absentee parenting and material overindulgence. Later chapters focus on the sexual representations of females in the mass entertainment media, focusing specifically on how popular magazines, television programs, films, and the Internet prey upon, promote, and reinforce young girls' physical and sexual insecurities."

Maybe the real problem here is truly in the title song of Miley’s biggest hit, she trying to live in "The Best of Both Worlds." For Christians, the battle between Satan and God is the same way. God offers us a wonderful life on earth, salvation and all the spiritual blessings we could ever need, plus life eternal. Satan offers nothing but hell. People try to play the same game. They try to straddle the fence and appease both. Satan, though, will almost always be the victor in this game. And we will be left with nothing but pain and loss.

The apostle John inspired of the Holy Spirit warned: “Do not love the world or anything in the world. If anyone loves the world, the love of the Father is not in him. For everything in the world—the cravings of sinful man, the lust of his eyes and the boasting of what he has and does—comes not from the Father but from the world. The world and its desires pass away, but the man who does the will of God lives forever.“ (1 John 2:15-17)

Those are some of my thoughts. What do you think?

p.s. I was going to post the pictures here. But I decided I didn’t want the nasty men looking for kiddy porn on my site!!

God's Smile

A fellow blogger friend and brother in Christ forwarded me this picture with the attached note "one in a million shot!" Notice that the picture is of three birds in flight. But it almost looks as though God is smiling through his creation! How cool! I can't help but think about the song, 'God has smiled on me,He has set me free. God has smiled on me, He's been good to me."

May God's favor (eyes) always be upon you. (Gen. 6:8)

Robert

MY WIFE MAGGIE

Yesterday was my wife Maggie’s 32 birthday! I wanted to post something about on her actual birthday but just ran out of time. So, today, I’m posting to talk about the most amazing woman in my life! I only worked half a day yesterday and we went to OKC for the day and she got to eat at one of her favorite restaurants, Ted’s and then I “corralled” the kids for a few hours while she shopped at the mall and a few other stores. We then came home and had a Cookie Cake from Mrs. Field’s and opened a few presents. She deserved so much more than I gave her.

Nearly 14 years ago (when we first met in June of 1994) I could never imagine what meaning the date April 21 would mean for me. I can’t imagine how happy her parents where on the day she was born. And I still can’t believe we have been so happily married for almost 11 years.

Maggie is truly my best friend. I told her the other day that in all sincerity, if I had only one day to do anything with one person, I know without a doubt I would want to spend that day with her! We enjoy doing everything in life together. I can’t imagine a better life long partner and wife. She makes me and everyone else around her a better person. How she does the things she does and keeps both herself, the kids and me sane is a “miracle.”

She has given me three of the most beautiful children in the world. She is such a wonderful woman of faith, wife, mother, friend, and preacher’s wife. She helps me and works right beside my hand in hand in all my work and ministry at church. I can't imagine being a minister without her by my side.

I am so looking forward to the next 32 years with her!

Happy Birthday sweetheart, thank you for being you! I praise God for Him bringing you in my life. I hope this day was special for you and that you know how much I love and adore you!!

Your admiring husband,
Rob

That You May Know

"These Things I have written to you who believe in the name of the Son of God, that you may know that you have eternal life, and that you may continue to believe in the name of the Son of God." (1 John 5:13)

Oprah's False Teaching

Click above to watch this disturbing video. God by inspiring the Apostle Paul warned Christians that the day would come when people would no longer be satisfied to listen to the simple message of the gospel. There would come a time when people no longer would desire to hear "sound doctrine" but wishing to have their ears tickled would gather teachers that would tell them what they desired to hear (2 Timothy 4:2-3). Among the new generation of people pushing dangerous false teaching is the pop-culture icon Ophra Winfrey.

At this critical time in the history of the world, the new gospel/new spirituality is coming right at the world and the church with its new age teachings and its new age peace plan. As Christians, we must take heed to what is happening in the world and the church. We are not contending for the faith as the Bible admonishes us to do (Jude 3). The one true living God and His Son Jesus the Lord and Savior Christ is being re-invented, re-defined, and blasphemed right in front of our eyes and far too many Christians seem to hardly notice or care. If we want the world to know who Jesus Christ is, we need to not only teach and affirm who He is but also warn them about who He is not. Truly there is a false new age 'christ' making huge inroads into the world and into the church to a lesser degree. We must warn people about this new age 'christ' that many are beginning to believe in. That this is not the same Jesus Christ who is so clearly presented in the pages of the Bible.

It is time that Christians everywhere awake out of our slumber and stand for truth in the age in which we live.

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” (John 14:6)

Keep the faith

Robert

Acappella - "All Men Will Know" video

This brand new music video is from Acappella’s latest new album, Radiance, released in 2006 and the video coming in last year. In my opinion, this was one of their best albums in recent years because of the strong Scripture themes and a more recognizable Acappella style. The CASA (Contemporary A cappella Society) gave two special awards for this – Album of the Year and Song of the Year (All Men Will Know)

This song is written by Keith Lancaster who is simply a musical genius. This song is obviously inspired by John 13:34, 35 and other words of Jesus. This video is EXTREMELY moving, and yes, brought tears to my eyes as well!! It was incredibly effectively in how they used the black/white and color images (as ones of the “all men who know”) Awesome job! I think you could make a strong case that “All Men Will Know" is one of the best Acappella songs ever. If it's not one of the best Acappella songs ever, then it's the best in many years.

Hope your soul is uplifted,

Robert