The World A Flame (Poem)

I watched the world die today

from my three seasons porch

my comfortable perch, a safe haven

of hope drawn in by

its soft, inviting light of the day.

It spilled onto my lap, warming my feet

as I sat cross legged on the couch.

The earth was in flames today

and I watched it all burn and smolder

and finally it came crashing

down

to the ground.

I watched with horrified

interest

on the edge of my seat

fascinated and transifixed

as hatred ruled the heart

I drank another

cup of steaming coffee

rich and black

smooth as silk

down to the last bitter

earthen drop.

Bitterness tainted

more than this empty cup

as I watched

it ignited the hapless soul

as it careened out of control

diving headfirst into the souls

of others who were also hell bent

on the pathways of selfishness.

As eyes took in the flames

the heat, the spite, the maliced tongue

I wept…for this was

a vision of me

hell bent on my own

accomplishments…

hell bent on my own agendas

on my own devices and self-ladden heart

the man aflame was me…and I could do nothing

but watch it all go crumbling down

how powerless these hands and feet.

How empty all these yearnings and strivings.

How bitter the self-indulgent worries

and the blankets of careless apathy.

I saw the world burn today

as I sat and watched it all crumble to the ground.

September 23, 2013 0

‘The Way’ going to Dead End Streets!

It has happened numerous times. More times that I would care to admit…but here goes; my wife and I enjoy going on drives. It doesn’t really matter where we’re going, just to drive and get away from things. It’s therapeutic. We will get in the car, I will groan about it, until there is the assurance of a coffee stop along the way first. Placing the keys in the ignition we will drive sometimes for a couple of hours around country roads, winding lakeside vistas and suburban neighborhoods. It’s relaxing, but here’s what happens more times than I care to admit…I am a magnet for finding dead end roads. As we drive and explore new locations and new sights I inevitably turn down side roads a time or two and “bam” we see the big yellow sign that reads “Dead End”. So whenever that happens, of course, I must find a driveway or wide patch in the road and turn around because this road isn’t going to take me to where I want to go.

To the point:

The world is full of ‘Dead End’ roads. I have learned that a time or two in the span that I have been alive. Not just the dead end physical black tar kind either, but dead end choices and half constructed pitfalls within the lives and choices of people everywhere. The world can sometimes look like a cold dark place when we face these dead end alleyways and no one is there to offer us assistance. There are so many in our world in need to help along the way. Some are stuck. Some are confused. Others are mad at the world and the circumstances they find themselves in. It isn’t our place to judge, but rather our place to love.

A Christ-follower’s role:

Jesus told His disciples that He was going to His Father’s house to prepare a place for us. He even told them this one vital truth: “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.” (John 14:6) If we claim His salvation as our own and if we are called by Him to serve, then our task as Christ-followers is to go to these dead end roads of life and proclaim ‘The Way’ to all who will hear. Going to these places requires action on our parts. We cannot wait for people to come to us, but we must go to them! It takes real effort. It takes courage and faith, but who will else will go?

There is a misnomer out there. It’s really a rationalization of immobility. This misnomer is this: if I don’t go, someone else will, so I should worry…God will bless me anyway. Let me ask: what is it that God will bless you with? Will He bless you because you kept His truths to yourself? Will He bless you because you warmed that pew on Sunday, week after week, year after year? Will God bless this kind of lack of effort on your part? No!

Don’t get me wrong it’s not works then faith, but faith accompanied by works that God will utilize and bless. In other words, we have to step out of the comforts of our churches, we have to step out of the comforts of our homes and go to those dead end places where others need to hear of ‘The Way’. Don’t kid yourself that He will send someone else. He very well may choose someone else if we are inactive, but it will be to our great loss. Do you remember the parable of the talents? (Matthew 25:14-30) The Master was going away on a journey and he gave his servants talents of money to keep and invest while he was gone. Do you remember what happened to the servant who buried his one talent of money? When it came time to report to the Master upon his return, this servant was called wicked and lazy and was cast out. That’s pretty harsh isn’t it? Yet God requires something from us when we accept His gift of salvation. We are called to invest his salvation in others.

We were once in those dead end places. We were once lost as well. It isn’t that we’re placing ourselves above others still stuck in those places but we now have a hope that we must share! We now have something amazing to proclaim. We have one in whom salvation and eternity is shared to all who believe! We have a duty to perform. We have a responsibility to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. The great commission wasn’t just reserved for Jesus’ disciples it is also commissioned to us to act upon.

If you know ‘The Way’ then get going, get on with it, get out of the pews, get out of the church and go to those dead end streets to proclaim His hope to all! We will face opposition, resistance, hate and cruelty, but we must meet it with grace, hope, love and peace…the very essence of Jesus living and active through us. What will you do?

Just a thought for today.

September 23, 2013 0

Honest Questions…

What if I actually did as Jesus instructed? What would that look like? Would the world be better off because of it? If I actually loved my enemy. If I actually extended grace that extra mile. If I actually opened my heart to the whosoever? What would that look like?

What if I actually got serious about disciplining my thought processes? The way that I think. After all didn’t Jesus say that even if we think about adultery we’ve already committed it in our hearts? What would it look like if I applied the Paul principles in my life? If I pondered on all things true, noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent, praiseworthy…(Philippians 4:8)? What would come of thinking this way? If I got rid of all the junk, filth, malice, hate and envy? If I, like David, asked God instead to create in me a clean heart and to renew that right spirit within me (Ps 51)…how would I be different than I am now?

What if I got serious about holiness? If I actually started listening to those promptings of the Holy Spirit to truly surrender all? If I stopped holding onto to those darker portions of my heart. If I stopped messing around thinking that there’s always time later to mature in this thing called ‘faith’. How would this surrender take over my life? Would I be truly transformed? Would I be more confident? Would I have more assurance of His grace in me? What if His holiness became a priority instead of a temporary, on again off again passing phase? What if I got serious and got disciplined in this faith?

What if I stopped talking all the time in my prayers and actually began to listen? What would I hear Him say? What is He saying right now? Am I afraid of His words? Am I dreading wrath or condemnation? Have I been putting off these listening ears because I would rather ask Him for things instead of do what He wants of me? And why don’t I spend more time studying His Word? Why is it laborious for me to read a single chapter but I can spend hours in front of the TV, with my fiction books and surfing the web? Am I afraid of what He might say to me regarding my other idle activities? Would I be convicted too much? I can justify it all away, I can say ‘I’ll do it tomorrow’ but never really mean the words that I say.

What if I was honest with myself…with Him? What if…what if…what if. Perhaps it’s time to stop asking ‘what ifs’ and starting asking why not now? What am I waiting for? Why am I stalling? What are the reasons? WHY NOT NOW?

-Just a few honest questions.

September 20, 2013 0

The Waters of Faith and Fear – Find Jesus there!

I’ve been looking at the painting. I’m mesmerized by it. Have you ever studied a painting? Have you looked closely at the details? The brush strokes? The unspoken drama captured in a mere moment? Look at the waves, how they list back and forth, how they swell to a crescendo and fall back down again. It’s almost as if you can watch them in their lunar symphonic dance. As I look into this painting I see so much of me. I see evidence of my doubt, evidence of my fears and evidence of my lack of strength. I see me drowning there, not just Peter. I see what could happen if I fall down into the depths of this flowing tide. The water filling up my lungs. The panicked shock becoming reality. My feeble life flashing before my eyes. I can imagine it…can you?

As I look at this painting, a story we’ve all heard before while sitting in those stiff backed, wood-oil scented pews that creak when you shift positions…the story of Peter walking on the water with Jesus. We’ve heard the details of this story. How Peter saw Jesus walking towards them and cried out to Him, “Lord if it is really you call me to come out there with you…and Jesus said ‘Come'” (Matthew 14:22-33). So Peter gets out of the boat and starts walking towards Jesus on the water. You see we often stop here in this story and think to ourselves “wait for the ‘but'” and we call this Peter’s doubting moment because he looked down, because he became frightened, because he took his eyes off of Jesus. But what we often fail to look at within this story and it’s evident in this painting is that Peter got out of the boat…but where were the rest of the disciples? Where did they remain? In the boat. If we look real closely they are way off in the foreground standing in the boat safe and sound but did they believe as Peter had? Did they climb out of the boat with him? No.

Another thing that really hits home to me that is portrayed in this painting is the juxtaposition of his friends and peers in the boat as opposed to where Peter is located. No, not just because of their doubt but because of their distance. When Peter needed his friends and his peers the most they were too far away to help him. He was well out of their reach to throw any kind of life saving device towards his sinking soul. As I stare into this painting I begin to understand something that I didn’t before. Perhaps I knew it to be true, but only in the back of my mind. Here’s the truth: Our friends, comrades in arms, loved ones and peers cannot save us all of the time. There are times when faith takes us out further than perhaps others are willing or called to go. Faith takes us into deeper waters where we have to find out for ourselves that not only is our strength not enough but our faith must be increased so that Jesus can save us. It’s not about being better than our friends or our loved ones, it’s not about being more holy but God calls each of us to different waters. So when we step out of our boats as Peter did we will find ourselves at times to be all alone on those waters without the support of other believers near us.

Staring again at this painting I am struck by how the painter illustrates the expression that Jesus has on his face. If someone lets you down what might your expression be? One of disappointment? One of anger? One of dismay? To me, Jesus doesn’t seem to have any of these expressions on His face. Instead He appears concerned, lovely so as He stoops down to pluck Peter from the depths. Notice too that Jesus doesn’t grasp onto Peter’s slipper, wet fingers. Instead He grasps Peter by the wrist. What this says to me is that Jesus knows. He knows that Peter can’t pull himself up out of these circumstances. He knows that Peter’s strength have given way to doubt, shock and fear. Jesus knows and so He pulls Peter up by his wrist and in so saying ‘My strength is enough, let me be your salvation’.

I am Peter in the waters from time to time. I am being choked by the lapping waters as I gasp for another breath. I am given over to fears and doubts and I cannot save myself. I look for my friends and for my peers but they are too far from me. Yet Jesus is there willing and able to rescue me…again. He grasps onto my wrist and says to me ‘My love, my strength, my courage, my grace, my hope…is enough!’

Today I don’t know what kind of waters you’re walking on in faith, but I do know one thing Jesus is there! Though our faith may take us out deeper than we’ve ever gone before, though we find it difficult or impossible to walk alone…Jesus is there! Trust Him today! Trust His strength. Trust that He will never abandon you or be too far away to rescue you. When you find yourself far from the saving mercies of other Christians, look up and find the One who has paid it all grasping onto your wrist and saving you through His strength and grace.

September 19, 2013 5

An Army of the walking dead? Mentoring…How do we get out of the ‘Dry Bones’ valley?

I admit it, the photo is for shock value only…but I want to convey a point with it, so bare with me and please don’t be offended.

Have you ever been burned out, running low, on empty fumes and feel all support has ebbed away from you? If you haven’t yet experienced that in ministry then perhaps you’re a better person than I or you haven’t truly been in ministry yet.

Let me pick a scab for a moment when I say this: what is the Army doing for mentoring and encouraging its Officers? All too often I feel (perhaps it’s my fault, but perhaps not) as if I’m crawling to Officers’ Councils on an empty tank. This is most certainly not an accusation by any means on my divisional leaders, truth be told I love my divisional leaders…but I’m not a hybrid car that can run for hundreds of miles without a refuel…and going to officer’s councils to recharge just doesn’t cut it for me. One of the biggest problems I see is that as a top down organization we simply do not take the time to encourage our officers on the field as we should. It goes beyond a card, phone call, or e-mail…it’s personal contact we want. It’s trust we want, it’s knowing that what we’re doing makes a difference, that we aren’t just another statistical number on the field of officers. My biggest issue is that we are devoid of mentors, challengers, encouragers and supporters in the Army. It’s not that people aren’t trying to do this but we’ve become so busy with stuff, so busy with deadlines, so busy with meetings that we forget to find the time for our Officers.

I know I’m not the only one who feels this way…I’m just probably stupid enough to voice this concern. I don’t mean to pick scabs but we can’t just salute and go when where we’re going we find we don’t have divisional or territorial support or encouragement. Not to say that it isn’t unspoken, and I don’t want some sort of pat on the back accompanied by a handshake and an ‘atta boy’. We have lost the discipleship component in our Army…this isn’t divisionally this is nationally from what I see. I understand there’s a pastoral care department at territorial headquarters but it’s insufficient for the total forces we have on the field.

I was told a long time ago, if you have any kind of criticism you better have some sort of solution or suggestions don’t just be a negative but reinforce the positive.

Here’s a list of the positives:

1) We care about people

2) We love God and wish to serve and save those people

3) We are nationally and internationally recognized as one of the most trusted organizations.

4) We have sound doctrine and sound ministries

5) We provide and care for financially for our officers and families

These are vital to our ministries and to our families and I will never begrudge the good we do in Jesus’ name.

My desire for the Army is this:

That we stop being an Army of the living dead. By that I mean we have expectations, regulations, procedures in place for everything under the Sun which is a great thing! But what we don’t have in place is Leader to Officer mentoring/discipleship in place. We have phone numbers to call when we’re discouraged, we have a team of “outside” counselors we can talk to but unlike other churches or denominations we do not have a spiritual support system in place by which we can be challenged, encouraged and mentored on a weekly even daily basis.

Some might argue that one needs to find outside mentors to talk with and outside disciplers to challenge us…but who on the outside knows the life of an Officer on the field? Who knows the challenges we face daily and the criticisms we face from corps members or from the public? Sometimes, if we’re honest with ourselves, we feel more like the dry bones in the valley with Ezekiel than we’d care to admit. There has to be something that can be done when we get to this point. Some of us have privately mentioned feelings of unfulfillment or lack of challenge. Some would never say this on the record but some don’t feel connected to leadership because we aren’t challenged positively by them.

A wise officer once suggested a type of supporting ministry idea in which Officers were assigned/appointed together for accountability and for growth of each other. Why not?

Another suggestion was to work within the system to create mentor groups that actually would meet, pray together, share with one another and challenge each other. But the danger at times can be that it would be viewed as just another program or mundane task that is “assigned” to certain Officers.

So what is the solution to this ‘walking dead’ syndrome? I know that I am not the only one who has felt this way…there are many who do. And solutions have to go beyond just assigning prayer groups at Officer’s Councils…these are wonderful but we’re all so busy to keep it up. Solutions also have to go beyond the minimalist’s suggestions of “just pray about it” or “maybe you need to read/study more of God’s word”. Let me just say that this last answer is an insult to all who serve as Officers. Because honestly even the Apostle Paul had supporters and encouragers who remained faithful to him in his ministry.

I don’t believe this is something that we have to ‘grin and bare’. This isn’t certainly isolated nor is it healthy. But I do believe there to be worthy solutions out there that the Army could implement in order to “water the bones” so to speak. As I mentioned before we need too, as individuals must be committed to sharing and being challenged as Officers as well. None of us, hopefully, signed our Officer’s Covenant form wishing for a mundane “cushy” lifestyle without challenge both physically/Mentally and Spiritually. If we are to grow as an army and to water the ‘dry bones’ then we have to make our Officers a priority and not assume that they learned it all at training college and they don’t need help, encouragement and support.

Again there has to be more than just ‘yearly reviews’ and other such program offers. I know our leadership cares for us, but we as Officers need mentors, disciplers and those who will challenge us to continue to grow instead of drying out and become an ‘army of the walking dead’. If feel that if we were to explore some of the reasons for attrition in the Army, we would find this concern to be rather high on the list.

-Just a thought…but let’s keep this conversation going.

Some mentoring sources:

http://www.mennoniteusa.org/wp-content/uploads/2011/10/MentoringProgramForBeginningPastors.pdf

http://www.ctsfw.edu/document.doc?id=62

http://dunamisinstitute.org/academics/faculty/detail/5-ec4-advanced-and-specialized-ministry/13-mentoring-program-for-pastors-

September 18, 2013 1

Frustrations (A Poem)

Sometimes it’s hard to be

As meek as lambs

When the wolves are circling

Sometimes it’s hard to be light

And Show this love

When the daggers are out.

Would someone please

Protect my back

I’m under attack

No support for me this time

Can’t you read between the lines.

Sometimes all hope

Seems to break away

When these tongues are wagging

Sometimes I forgot In whom I serve

Lord I’m blinded by this mess

all these saints are dragging

Would someone please

Boldly step up

I feel as If alone

Where are my brothers in arms

When the saints become the curse?

Help me Christ my solid rock

For I feel I’m sinking quick

These sinners saved by grace

Seem to only save themselves

this hurt has made me sick.

But Your hand, your hand is reaching

And Your love, Your love is soothing

You give me strength when no one else can

You give me hope, Your solid rock I stand!

September 18, 2013 0

“Doing the will of God”

Jesus got up from the table. Isn’t that unusual for Master of ceremonies to do? He got up. He had been reclined, as they did in those days. There wasn’t a wooden table and chairs as we’re so traditionally used to. He had been enjoying a meal with His disciples. There had been some banter back and forth, some laughter over a good cooked meal. Isn’t that how bonds, throughout time, have been further deepened? Over a meal, together, they bonded, they shared, they loved. Then Jesus got up. What was He about to do? The room was slightly stuffy, and getting warmer. There was a humidity in the air which matched the body heat of those gathered there. As each disciple had eaten their share of the food and had drunken a share of the wine, Jesus did not rest. He didn’t find the nearest lazy boy chair to recline in. He didn’t make his disciples go and do the dishes. He didn’t rest. Instead, He got up and after wrapping a towel around His waist, He filled a basin full of water. The disciples were caught off guard. Some were still chewing the last bits of food and draining their cups of the last drops of wine. Glances were exchanged, expressions of bewilderment and surprise replaced the revelry of celebration.

Having wrapped the towel around His waist and poured the water into the basin, Jesus begins to display for His disciples what a true discipleship looks like: a servant of all. Kneeling down before them, Jesus places himself beneath their dirty, filthy, smelly feet and washes them. He becomes a servant before them. He takes on the very job of a household servant. The son of God stooping down to wiping the dirt from the feet of His people. Is there any better description or account of doing the will of God? The actual Messiah, Jesus kneeling down and cleansing those who needed cleansing the most? Such moments like this had to have left deep impressions upon His followers. Having the One who had been present at the beginning of creation wiping away dirt from their feeble human forms, what a lesson to learn! Master becoming servant. Jesus coming down to their level and preparing them for leadership and for eternity.

This is Discipleship:

In Jewish custom, a disciple was to do as the Rabbi did. A disciple went beyond just ‘doing’ what the Rabbi did though, the purpose of a disciple was to become the Rabbi. Literally taking on his mannerisms, his theological interpretations, his actions…everything to become just like the Rabbi. Jesus knelt at their feet and washed them. Jesus displayed for his disciples what they were to become to the world around them…servants of God, serving others. Jesus even told them this when He said; “…whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave – just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” (Matthew 20:26-28)

Discipleship is doing the will of God, not just as a part-time worker, but a full time servant. Many will commit to part-time work as a servant, but few, when faced with choices of comfort and personal gain will accept that full-time role. Yet isn’t that what Christ-followers are called to do? To be full-time disciples in our lives? Full-time disciples of Christ doesn’t mean we give up our professional vocations and don on ropes of white and live off of the land. God can and will use you as His disciples right where you are at. Sometimes He asks us to move and to switch vocations, but many times He can and will use you if you are available for His purposes. True discipleship though looks very much that Jesus with towel wrapped around His waist washing feet. True discipleship may take on roles we feel are beneath us, not befitting one from our status…yet Jesus knelt down and washed the disciples feet, are you prepared to do so as well to those around you? Are you prepared to be a full-time disciple?

William Law once wrote; “The devout, therefore, are people who do not live to their own will, or in the way and spirit of the world, but only to the will of God. Such people consider God in everything, serve God in everything, and make every aspect of their lives holy by doing everything in the name of God and in a way that conforms to God’s glory.” (William Law, A serious call to a devout and holy life)

Do you view your life in this way? Is everything God’s? Are you doing the will of God because you are His humble servant? This is the cost of discipleship, but it’s not drudgery or done with groaning but instead because of love we cannot help but to serve the One who has set us free. Are you prepared to wrap that towel around your waist? Are you prepared to kneel down before those around you and to wash their feet? God doesn’t need any more part-time workers, He wants full-time servants who are committed to do His will.

September 17, 2013 3

“From ‘Worst’ to Faithfully Appointed.”

“I am grateful to Christ Jesus our Lord, who has strengthened me, because he judged me faithful and appointed me to his service.” -1 Timothy 1:12

The man once named Saul, persecutor and murderer of Christ-followers has been redeemed. Now, Christ’s ambassador, a humble servant renamed Paul writes to Timothy his protege and for all intense and purposes adopted son. Paul is nearing the end of his life. He knows that time is now running out for him. He isn’t bitter. He isn’t scorning and cursing his captors – Rome, instead he is making the most of his remaining time. He writes this encouraging letter to Timothy as a father would lovingly pen words on a page to a son. Paul considers himself the worst of sinners and even says son in his letter to Timothy.

Is there regret from his previous life, before Christ cast his light of salvation on him on a dusty Damascus road? Yes. But has this regret stopped Paul from living for Christ alone? No! Though Paul considered himself the worst of sinners, he indicates to Timothy that Christ had also deemed him worthy of calling.

What made Paul worthy? Was it his own hard work and effort to be ‘good’? No. How can a killer of Christians now be considered worthy & faithful? It becomes a matter of the heart. What lives inside our hearts only we and God know. What we feed on within out thought processes only we and God know. Paul was convinced, and the evidence of his ministry results are apparent, that Christ had judged him faithful and appointed him to serve.

What about us today?

Do you feel worthy of being called by God? Are you willing to serve Him wholeheartedly like Paul did? We don’t need to have a theological degree to serve Him. We don’t need to be highly educated to gather a towel around our waist and wash the feet of those around us for His glory. We don’t need to be preachers like Billy Graham to share this message of hope to the world around us. We just need to be faithful. Christ Jesus can and will strengthen you as well, just as He did with Paul. If we say ‘yes’ to His calling (whatever that calling looks like that enables us to serve Him) he will judge us faithful and then also appoint you as well to whatever task He needs you to serve Him in.

You may consider yourself in your own minds to be the worst of sinners also. You may think that God cannot forgive you for what you have done in your life…and you would be wrong! Christ is willing to forgive you if only you will let Him. When we open ourselves up to Him and His holy cleansing we will find love, grace and hope…we will find new life! And in this new life, we too will be judged as faithful servants of the Most High.

Are you willing today to trust Him? Are you willing to allow Him into your life? If you say yes to His calling on your life, watch out! You will never be the same again! Because the Apostle Paul said ‘yes’ to Christ many, many lives for changed including Timothy who did carry on in Paul’s footsteps. Because Paul said ‘yes’ to Christ the very world was changed because of His testimony. Today, this world needs more Pauls to boldly step up and say ‘yes’ to Christ…may you be a Paul today in your answer today!

-Just a thought.

September 13, 2013 0

Robin…about these Blurred Lines…where have all the Gentlemen gone?

I was criticized yesterday for writing specifically about Miley Cyrus and not even mentioning Robin Thicke, who also displayed deplorable acts on stage recently during the VMA’s that left many heads shaking…it was most definitely not a PG rated performance on national television. I haven’t intentionally given him a pass by any means. Let me just say this directly: Robin you are no better than your female counter parts…in fact you may be worse. Your womanizing ways are impressing upon young men around the world and in effect saying that it’s okay to objectify women and act like a dog on and off stage. Your persona exploits women and sexualizes them as mere objects instead of people. This whole ‘sexual shock pop’ is undoubtedly about making money. But again the message you’re sending to guys out there is that this is how women wish to be treated. You’re selling sex to make money, it’s not a new ploy, but it truly is a bottom-feeding business.

In 2012 over 25% (http://www.childstats.gov/americaschildren/famsoc1.asp) of all American kids were being brought up in a single family household…why do I mention this? Because only 1% of that statistics represents single fathers, the rest are single mothers trying to bring up their children as best they can. Some were unwed while others because of Divorce, but there is a growing demographic of young men out there that thinks it’s okay to sleep around, get women pregnant and then bail. Why would that be? Some of it can be directly attributed to guys like you who prance on performing stages and sing about the next women you’re going to sleep with. Bill Cosby, actor and Doctor of Education even rails against this issue within the African American community…but it’s not just an African American issue, it’s a cultural issue.

This country has lost its Gentlemen, men who respect women. Men who know how to treat a woman. This country needs less Robin Thickes’ and more guy willing to man-up, step up and take responsibility. The crude remarks, the condescending humor, the sexist attitudes…it isn’t improving matters, it’s making them worse. Robin, have some common decency…although I doubt anyone will read this, It’s solely my opinion…and since it’s still a free country I will share that with you.

Some have suggested that we pray for you and others in the entertainment industry. I do. I really do. I don’t say it like someone does in a casual conversation as they walk down the hallway, ‘well I’ll pray for you’, I really will pray for you. I will pray for Miley too. I cannot imagine the stress artists like you are under to perform…that doesn’t take you off the hook for acting like a dog, but I can’t imagine. I don’t pretend to have all of the answers for any of you. And as someone rightly said, it’s the parents job to teach their children how to live. I for one am focused first and foremost on my kids. I’m concerned how this whole media circus effects kids, but my kids won’t be subjected to this garbage. I plan on raising my kids better than that. But I know that there are kids out there who don’t have parents who either know better or who care what they watch, read and listen to. I’m concerned about those kids too. They’re vulnerable. They’re susceptible to these lies that you’re selling. It’s like a drug to the mind, ear candy that holds no nutrition to grow and mature with.

For the Guys:

Guys, don’t look up to Dogs like this. I don’t wish to be mean to either Miley or Robin here…but their actions make them dogs on stage. Don’t be a dog. Treat women with respect that they deserve. They aren’t objects. They aren’t pieces of meat on display. Don’t buy the lie that musciains like Mr. Thicke are selling. We need more gentleman in this world. We need guys who will step up and be role models, who will set a good example for others to follow. Who won’t be led by their lusts. Who will think with their brains instead of their pants. It doesn’t take much to be dude or a dog…but it takes guts to be a gentleman. Be modest. It takes brains to act like a man…a real man. Show some respect, and step up.

For the Girls:

Don’t just fall for the first guy you see. Don’t be pressured to be someone you’re not or pressured into sexual activity prematurely. Be modest. Don’t buy the lie about what you should wear or how skinny you need to be. Or have any kind of body image issue because of what the entertainment industry is telling you. Don’t be swayed by the dogs of this world. Have some self-respect for yourself, some self-confidence…you are an important creation of God! You were created individually unique so don’t let some guy tell you who you are or how you should act or live.

Parents:

Step up to the plate. Filter what your kids are watching. Filter what your kids are listening to. Have conversations about this stuff. Be a parent, not a friend. They are your kids, raise them right! Proverbs 22:6 says: “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

About my last article: https://scottstrissel.wordpress.com/2013/09/10/miley-you-make-me-sick/

It was initially called ‘Miley…you make me sick’ and I changed it to ‘Miley…please stop’. Let me clarify, I’m not sick about people in general I’m sick of the actions of people. Male or female, either and both. I see celebrities and musicians who have so much potential and yet they settle for this ‘shock’ garbage…and it makes me sick. I’m a parent of four kids, they’re my kids and my responsibility to raise and I won’t subject them to this junk. I spoke rather harshly yesterday, I recognize that…it’s not place to judge but I am passionate about this for two reasons, 1) my kids and what media is trying to sell them, & 2) other kids, guys and girls who either don’t know better or have parents who don’t care enough or know enough to teach them right. My issue isn’t solely with these two individuals that I named but, they are just at the forefront right now…the poster children, so to speak.

Sincerely, just another concerned Dad.

September 11, 2013 0

Miley…please stop!

I don’t mean to be rude or hurtful today, that’s not my intention. What I mean by that is this: Miley Cyrus…please stop! I think it’s safe to say that there are so many fathers out there shaking their heads in disgust. Is this what we want our daughters to become? You started out as a Disney star…kids looked up to you. I taught Sunday school and there were little girls who wore your Hannah Montana t-shirts. They wanted to not only meet you, they wanted to be you.

Now don’t get me wrong, it’s not healthy to want to be someone else, but when you’re on a public stage in this world, people will listen to you. People, specifically kids, will want to look up to you as a role model…and right now the life you’re modeling on stage makes me sick. It not only comes across as a desperate ploy to maintain a certain status and lifestyle, but it also comes across as extremely derogatory to the entire female gender. I don’t mean to sound hurtful, but your actions will have consequences and those consequences, like a ripple effect on a pond will impact the lives of many young impressionable girls in our world.

I know some could argue; “it’s her life let her live it the way she wants to“…rightly so, but at the same time how you conduct yourself and act on a stage like you did recently at the VMA’s is deplorable, and simply lacks musical substance and craves for any kind of public attention.

In this over-sexualized world in which we live, we need less Miley sex-shock rock and more female role models who have more respective for themselves and for their bodies. We need women who will show young impressionable girls how to conduct themselves in public and have respect for themselves. How to make decisions based on not what guys view them as physically but what will nurture and help them grow. As a father who has a daughter in my house, I want more female role models who will display at least some measure of modesty. As a father who has a daughter in my house, you certainly don’t meet those requirements of the type of female role model I ever want my daughter to look up to.

Here’s some advice, stop trying to be someone you’re not. Stop shocking the world with your antics…it’s the same tired old routine tried by many, many starlets and artists and it never ends well. Look around you, it may be your life but there are people watching and looking up to you. Find some self-respect.

-Just a thought.

Now I like this woman…she totally makes a valid point:

September 10, 2013 1