Randomness....

Where did the last two weeks go?? This year is already moving faster than any other year. There's only three weeks until spring break. While I'm excited about that, I can't believe it. We're already talking about end-of-the-year procedures at school. What?! I feel like I just started the year!

So, yes, three weeks until spring break!! Which means three weeks until I go to Iowa!!! YAY! Can't wait. There's been so much progress on the house and I'm so eager to see it. Plus, I'll see my nephews, family, friends, and go shopping for dresses for Nate's wedding! woo hoo!

I started something new last week - fitness boot camp! I successfully lost 25 pounds two years ago and so want to get back on that track. One of the local gyms was offering a "mini camp" specifically designed for women and I quickly signed up. I go on Tuesday/Thursday mornings at 6 a.m. (yes, that's crazy!). It flat out kicked my rear, but in a good way. I've finally shaken the muscle soreness, just in time to go again! I'm excited about it, and am going to the gym on my own on the other days. yay!

I went to a Chris Tomlin concert last night. AMAZING. It was basically just a big worship night. Incredible. I miss that type of worship. I need it. But that's another post. :)

I'm sitting here waiting for Slumdog Millionaire to win Best Picture. It's won six already!! Spectacular movie. If you haven't seen it, you should!

"He's Just Not That Into You" Movie Review

**SPOILER WARNING - I will be talking about quite a bit of the plot, so if you don't want to know, read this after you see it!**

I, like many of my single girlfriends, have been eagerly anticipating the opening of the new movie, "He's Just Not That Into You." Great cast, great book, great previews, story of our lives - what is there not to be excited about, especially with a not-so-fun-holiday just around the corner? This was one movie I wanted to go to opening weekend.

Now, let me preface this by saying I rarely get riled up by movies. This is very unusual. Plus, I can usually let negative things in movies slide. What's alarming to me in this movie is that the message is so blatant and romanticized. Keep reading for more on that.

HJNTIY follows several characters around in their quest for "true love." One girl never receives call backs from dates, one wants her live-in boyfriend to marry her, another is searching. There are many positive elements to the film - open, honest, and caring friendships, the encouragement for singles to be who they are. It has several funny lines, and it's easy to get swept up by the feel-goodness of it.

However, the negative elements:

1. Neil, who is living with his girlfriend Beth, comments that they don't need to be married because married people can't be trusted, and that the only reason people get married is because they have something to "prove to others."

2. Later, Neil tells Beth that they are more committed than married people and he's more of a husband than the others. They don't need marriage. She agrees. Now, there is a somewhat redeemable ending, but it doesn't reverse the message given just moments before.

3. Sex - this is, of course, common in movies today. It's everywhere, and every couple is doing it, and usually immediately into the relationship. Granted, everyone is looking for a meaningful, intimate relationship (which is positive), but it appears that type of relationship is to be attained by the physical.

4. Ben and Janine are a married couple. At first, it looks like they have a solid marriage. The Ben meets Anna, and she immediately catches his eye. Anna's friend tells her to pursue Ben even though he's married, saying, "many married people realize they belong with someone else." Ben does hold out on Anna briefly, claiming marriage (positive), but the next thing we see is them in bed together. They continue their affair, even after Ben has admitted it to his wife.

5. Not a single husband in the movie is portrayed in a positive light. Ben has an affair and is made out to be a liar. Beth's brothers-in-law are shown being lazy slobs that don't help out around the house.

I know, these things aren't necessarily new in entertainment. Although, off the top of my head, I can't think of a movie where an affair was essentially positively portrayed, and marriage not really uplifted. It was like the movie version of Cosmopolitan magazine.

What struck me the most was the audience reaction. Our large theatre was filled with women, and many, many teenage girls. In one scene, Ben and Anna are about to have sex when Ben's wife interrupts them (unknowingly). Anna hides, and Janine tries to seduce Ben. She asks Ben if he wants to save their marriage, and he tentatively says yes. At that moment, I heard many girls gasp and say "no!" showing they would rather see Ben continue his affair with Anna. When Neil states he's more of a husband than a real husband and that they don't need marriage, I heard the girls cheer and clap. Sure, they're clapping because Neil and Beth were getting back together, but there's more to it.

Is this the message we want to portray to our young women? Where is the sanctity of marriage? In an age where young women are already very sexually active, the message is "marriage is not a necessity, marriage does not have to be forever because it's ok if you find someone better, and sex while dating is fine and encouraged." With movies like this, how in the world do we expect solid marriages to happen? Our young women are going to pursue relationships like the ones in the movie and others, thinking it's normal, only to find emptyness.

More than ever we, as a society, need to showing what a committed marriage looks like. Kudos to you in youth ministry because I believe there is no greater need right now than for godly men and women of integrity to step up and guide our youth. You have an enormous, but not an impossible task!

Blow it off as another fun movie if you want. It's easy to do if you're mature in your convictions and beliefs. But realize there is another whole generation and culture that does not have stability at home, and is turning to their Hollywood role models for direction in life. This is why "He's Just Not That Into You" is really a movie I'm just not into - at all.

Culture Thought #3 - Three Things

As I mentioned in my last post, I mentioned that there are three ways believers can/should live in our culture. Again, these were presented to us by Mark Young.

1 Peter 2:11-12 (New International Version)

11Dear friends, I urge you, as aliens and strangers in the world, to abstain from sinful desires, which war against your soul. 12Live such good lives among the pagans that, though they accuse you of doing wrong, they may see your good deeds and glorify God on the day he visits us.

How Now Do I Live in This Culutre?

1. First, we must live with a commitment to do what's right. Obviously, we as believers, must follow God's law. But it also includes doing what's right in our society, workplace, relationships, etc.

2. Next, whatever we are, say, and do, we must be relevant, or understandable. We need to use "their" (as in, another culture or the unsaved) language and behaviors. This is where it can be tricky and controversial. Some would say, "so does that mean I can go and do ________?" Well, remember, first we must be right. If you're not right, you're blowing your whole testimony. What is right/wrong is a whole other post, if not a whole other BLOG! :)

3. Finally, we have to be redemptive. We need to live in a way that calls people to want to be with God. It's the whole "something's different about you; what is it?" deal. A person that carries around a placard saying "God hates fags" is not going to be redemptive to those around him. On the flipside, a person that is loving, humble, caring, etc, etc, etc, is naturally going to invite those to learn more.

Mark ended with this statement - "Live in such a way that you're rooted in the way that is right, but live in a way that is beneficial to those around you." Good stuff. Easy to say, many times hard to do.

One final quote, which could lead to another discussion...... :)

“Christians often just don’t believe, in our heart of hearts,
that what happens in the workplace, in school, on
playgrounds, really has the same kind of eternal
significance as the work we do in the church. We tend to see
“the world” largely as a place from which we call people
into the life of the church, rather than as a place to which
God calls people from the church.”

Andy Crouch

Culture Thought #2 - Defining It

Before I start blogging even more about culture and the oh-so-fun things I'm learning and discovering, allow me to define culture. This definition comes from Dr. Mark Young, missions pastor at my church, Stonebriar Community Church. He is also professor of missions at Dallas Theological Seminary. He taught our culture class this past Sunday.

On a personal note, I had the privilege to travel to India on mission trip with Mark's wife, Priscilla. I have a huge respect for them and their love and commitment to missions. Every time I talk to Priscilla she challenges me, and my chat with her on Sunday was no different. More on that later.

Culture is a way of life marked by shared beliefs, shared values, shared behaviors, and shared structures.

Society is a higher structure which encompasses more than one culture.

For example, take the United States. We are all a society in that we share the same President, same federal laws, currency, interstates, basic educational structure, flag, etc.

However, under the American society, there are many cultures. El Paso, Texas has a different way of life than New York City. People up north call the fizzy drink "pop." In the south it's "soda" or "coke" (even if it's Dr. Pepper!). A rural farmer from Iowa and a businessman from Los Angeles both live in the same society, but live in completely different cultures.

Why is this important? It affects how believers think about culture and how to appropriately live in it. In my next post, I'll talk about how Paul talks about culture and three ways how believers can live in their own culture and others.

For now, I love this quote. Food for thought.

“God hasn’t called us to be culture haters. We hate the
world system, not the culture. God actually celebrates
culture – speaking of men and women from every tongue,
tribe, and nation. Preaching against culture – as we often
do – is like preaching against someone’s house. It is just
where they live. There is good in it, and there is bad in it –
preach discernment, not culture condemnation.”
Ed Stetzer

Culture Thought #1

I've been taking a class at church called "Christ and Culture" and WOW have I enjoyed it! It's only six weeks long, and today was the second week. It's really got me thinking. Here's something that was presented to us the first week. I'm curious to see what you think. Post your answer in the comment section. You can just put the letter or explain it!

Scenario: Your church is starting a new outreach ministry called the "Magdalene Project." As a female participant, you will put together gift baskets full of lotions and other girly products. One Friday or Saturday night, you and the other women go to different strip clubs in your area. You may need to walk through the main stage area, but you go straight to the dressing rooms, where you present the gift baskets to the strippers. You spend some time talking to them and sharing the Gospel. (By the way, the strip club knows you are coming and approve of it). Meanwhile, your husband/boyfriend is standing outside the strip club to make sure you are safe. They never enter, unless there's a problem of course.

This project is announced at church and seeks volunteers. As a woman, do you:

A. Sign up that day and become very involved.
B. Think and pray about it, discuss it with your spouse and come to a joint decision to both be involved.
C. Decide to partially participate by donating items or putting together the baskets, but not go to the club.
D. Decide it's not the right ministry for you, but support those getting involved.
E. Disagree with the ministry, saying the church should not go to a strip club.
F. Other - which you must explain! :)

As a man, do you:

A. Immediately encourage your wife/girlfriend to become involved if she desires, and support her by also going.
B. Think and pray about it, discuss it with your spouse and come to a joint decision to both be involved.
C. Allow your wife to become involved, but discourage her from going to the strip club.
D. Support the ministry, but decide not to get involved.
E. Flat-out tell your wife you would prefer she doesn't participate in the project.
F. Other - which you must explain!

This is an actual ministry at a church in Austin, Texas (and in other places I would imagine).

C'mon! Post your answer! Like I said, you only have to post a letter, but I'm interested in your thoughts. I will post my initial answer soon, along with the discussion we had in class.