The Weight of Weight

This last week, I've been working on a research project about how the media's portrayal of beauty affects women's eating habits. So far, I've perused endless articles (seemingly) about the connection between media exposure and eating disorders; the consensus appears to be that although the media cannot be labeled as the sole cause for eating disorders, it certainly does play a role in how some women see themselves and then act on that perception (i.e. eating habits). You can imagine my surprise, then, when I came across this little excerpt in an article on that same topic:

People in societal "pop-culture", whether consciously or subconsciously, perpetuate the ideal of thinness through their conversations, judgments and teasing of their peers and other family members. The associate of shame with weight, as women tend to not want to disclose what they weigh, or do not want to be seen in "this bathing-suit" or "that pair of shorts" contributes to the sense that they should be ashamed of their body size. The chronic passive obsession about weight within families (wife asks husband "do I look fat in this?"), and within circles of friends (first time seeing someone in a while, the comment: "you've gained/lost weight!") continues to emphasize the idea that how we look and what we weigh is of utmost importance. Many of us blame the magazines and diet ads, while we walk around guilty of the same "crimes".

What? It's partly MY fault? Ouch. But upon second thought, I'm forced to admit that it's true. It's easy to judge a person by how they look, and most of the time it happens before we even realize that we've done it. So yes, the studies show that the media may be partly responsible for our beauty obsessed and "must-be-thin" culture. But perhaps we should not put all the blame on them so quickly. In a world where superficiality reigns supreme, let's be a changing force that cares about who people are and not simply what they look like.

--
Quote taken from: http://www.something-fishy.org/cultural/themedia.php

When Character Was King

Fall break is over. I was going to take advantage of the time to get a head start on homework for the rest of the semester. Then my sister told me to do something I can't do during school. That made a lot of sense. So I bid my homework farewell for the week and sat down, and read. It was amazing.
That said, here are some of my favorite aspects of the story of Ronald Reagan, "When Character Was King" by Peggy Noonan.

There are two things I learned to admire about Reagan that actually reflected each other in a lot of ways:

The first was his character, and specifically, his "tough skin". Any president is going to have criticism and degrading comments thrown at them right and left. Reagan didn't let this get to him. He didn't let it rob him of any sleep. And most of the time, he didn't even try to defend himself; in fact, he often made light of it. That is an incredibly difficult thing to do. But Reagan learned the art of not letting it get to him, and I think that is one of the qualities that made him a great leader.

The second thing that impressed me was his sense of humor. You don't often hear of a president who loves cracking all kinds of jokes. But taking things a little less seriously can really help you cope with difficult situations, and I think that's where Reagan was right on. When one of those critical comments came his way, that he was lazy and didn't know the meaning of hard work, Reagan said: "I know hard work never killed anyone, but I figure why take a chance?" That cracks me up. Not only did he not need to defend himself, he made light of it and gave everyone else a good laugh. That takes self-control. And it takes confidence to know that when you're doing what you believe to be the right thing, everyone else opinion's are not top concern.

Reagan got shot 9 weeks into his first term as president. Before the bullet was actually discovered, there's a hospital scene with a president close to dying and doctors panicking because no one knows why. They hustle Reagan into the operating room to perform a surgery in hopes of determining the problem, and he says with what must have been a wink, "I just hope you're all Republicans." They weren't, but a doctor replies, "Today, Mr. President, we're all Republicans."

Although Reagan certainly wasn't perfect, and made his share of mistakes like any president, we have a lot to learn from this strong man.  For one, don't let what people say deter you from doing what's right, and two, don't take yourself too seriously.

The Shack: Helpful or Hogwash?

I recently finished the novel, The Shack. You've probably heard of it. In fact, you may even be a little concerned that a Christian would be reading something that many other Christians have labeled as slightly heretical. When I first picked up The Shack, though, I really wanted to see what all the hype was about; I'd heard so many differing reports about it, most of them negative, it was time to find my own position about it. It is my goal now to give an honest assessment of the book, the pros and cons, how it stands for a Christian and whether it's worth your time as a reader.

The story, without giving too much away, is centered on a Mackenzie Allen Phillips, whose little daughter is tragically kidnapped, and possibly killed during a family vacation. After a frantic search for the little Missy, the police and family are finally lead to a run-down shack where they find Missy's blood stained dress. Life is never the same for Mack, as he carries The Great Sadness of Missy's death constantly with him. Several years later, he receives a mysterious note from "Papa" inviting him to visit the shack and meet. Mackenzie has no idea what the note means, or who is sending it. But he is irresistibly drawn, and the rest of the book tells the story of how Mackenzie becomes reconciled to God amidst the heartache of The Great Sadness.

The most common objection I had heard before I read the book was that the God figure was portrayed as an robust southern black woman. This is true, but I believe the author's goal in this portrayal is to steer readers away from the common western stereotype of God, (the old white man with a long, flowy beard). Although I don't believe that God is female, I agree with the author that God does have the ability to exercise feminine attributes. After all, both male and female are made in his image. If read with a discerning eye, this portrayal of God can actually broaden your perspective and even give you new insights into God's character.  
“Mackenzie, I am neither male nor female, even though both genders are derived from my nature.  If I choose to appear to you as a man or a woman, it’s because I love you.  For me to appear to you as a woman and suggest that you call me papa is simply to mix metaphors, to help you from falling back so easily back into your religious conditioning.”


There are many aspects of this book that I greatly appreciated. I love how the author portrays the relationships in the Trinity. I love some of the interactions Mackenzie experiences with all the different members of the Trinity, especially Jesus. And there is a depiction of heaven near the end of the book that sparked my excitement and anticipation in a totally fresh way. The ceaseless love of the Father for his children, despite their failures, wrong choices, and regardless of the sufferings they experience, is such an incredible comfort.

A warning would be that there are several lines that are simply not supported biblically. At one point, Papa tells Mackenzie that the Trinity submits to each other in their relationship (true) and to us in our relationship (false). But these passages are pretty easy to spot, and don't spoil the book in my opinion. Although it's clear that not everything in the book is truth, there are many insightful passages that can help you see things from a different perspective.

So I would say read it. It provides an interesting view point on God, the Trinity, relationship, life and suffering and could even bring to light some important truths. And if nothing else, it would be a good exercise in determining what is biblical and what is not. :)

Press In.

A few short words I was encouraged and challenged by today from Matt Chandler:

Press in. Know the Lord. You could be giving an account of your life tomorrow.

Make it count.

Two Thoughts About Salt

The first thought comes from Luke 14, verses 34-35. It says, “Salt is good for seasoning. But if it loses its flavor, how do you make it salty again? Flavorless salt is good neither for the soil nor for the manure pile. It is thrown away. Anyone with ears to hear should listen and understand!” 


Jesus said that we are the salt of the earth. Unfortunately, something tells me becoming flavorless salt isn't too difficult. When other things take precedence and become more important to us than our relationship with Christ, our salt begins to lose it's taste... till it's just plain bland. When I read this verse, I realized that in my new environment at school, I was beginning to be no different that those who aren't salt to begin with. Then the Lord brought this to my attention. First thought was, "Ouch." But now I'm thankful for that timely wake up call.


The second theme comes from Col 4:5-6. Check it out: "Conduct yourselves wisely toward outsiders, making the best use of the time. Let your speech always be gracious, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how you ought to answer each person."
To get a better idea of what that means, I checked out the NLT version. (Some people will cringe at that, but hey, if it sheds light on a passage, why not?). It actually doesn't even use the word salt: "Live wisely among those who are not believers, and make the most of every opportunity. Let your conversation be gracious and attractive so that you will have the right response for everyone."
School started a month ago. The last four weeks, I have been surrounded by 'those who are not believers' for the first time and it's been a bit of a reality check for someone who's been home schooled all their life. This verse is incredibly impacting though because it reminds me of our goal as Christians among non-Christians. Not to run in the opposite direction when we encounter non-believers, not to morph into "flavorlessness", not to blast them with "REPENT SINNER!" but to be friendly and gracious and build relationships with them, making the most of the opportunities we are given. That's the way Jesus did it. Lord, make it the way I do it, too. 

Survival of the Fittest Meets Self-Sacrifice

I stumbled across something interesting in my Psychology textbook. (Yes, I'm taking Psychology, but only because it's a required class at my school. Believe it or not, it's actually incredibly eye opening to see how the world views things in terms of behavior and the mind... I could go on, but I'll get back to the subject.) The text was trying to explain why humans don't always act in a way that is most adaptive to their environment; why certain people sometimes sacrifice themselves so that the rest of the group can survive. Before the 50's, psychologists were stumped by this phenomenon. Why does a parent forego food and water so that their child can live? Why would a man jump in a river to save a drowning boy, risking his own life to rescue another? These ideas seemed almost incompatible with the idea of survival of the fittest because frankly, the actors wouldn't be benefiting themselves in that situation; they'd be putting themselves in harm's way. But then came the revelation that soothed all psychological qualms: "Sometimes actions that appear harmful to the individual can increase the chances that an adaptive gene will pass from one generation to the next. Moreover, it is now widely recognized that at least some of our actions are designed specifically to secure a mating partner and not necessarily to promote long term survival." (Psychology, by James Nairne) So that's that.
The problem is now solved in psychologists' minds. Or is it?

I don't know about you, but personally, their response was not exactly convincing. A mother starves herself for her child's chance at life to... pass an adaptive gene or secure a mating partner? I honestly can't believe that's what is going through her mind when she makes that decision.
The way I see it is this: no matter how you look at it, we were all created with an ability to discern right from wrong because we were designed by a Creator. We know what ought to be done. Although we're no longer perfect as we were originally created, we still have the ability to exercise traits that God instilled in us from the beginning, such as love, honor, and self-sacrifice. You can't explain it through evolution and survival of the fittest. The only explanation is that we have a self-sacrificing Creator who made us like Himself. Evolution has no basis for altruistic behavior because there is no God. But when God is in the picture, it makes all the sense in the world.

Sometimes it's Not the Argument

A huge number of Christian's lose their faith in college. Statistics say that 50% are no longer Christians after college, and the number increases when the student is not plugged into a campus ministry or local church. Of course, a good part of that is due to the education and argument the student encounters at school. Another aspect that is largely not mentioned though, is the atmosphere.

It's almost easier to present an argument against evolution than to endure ridicule from your classmates about your faith. College students want to fit in with their peers, especially new students, insecure and away from home; Christian students aren't necessarily exempt from that. And people are afraid of mockery; at least I know I am. So it's easy to see how so many lose their faith.

How can we avoid becoming part of that statistic? I'm leaving the answering of this question to those more experienced than myself, (try checking out Stand Strong in College by Alex McFarland or University of Destruction by David Wheaton). My two cents are to check yourself and remember that you're after God's approval, not man's. Ultimately, who really cares if people think being a Christian is not cool? (I say "ultimately" because you have to remind yourself its not just the here and now). Here's also what you can say when people sneer at you for your faith:

When someone says, "You really believe THAT?" a proper, measured response would be, "Well, that's an assertion trying to create atmosphere; it's not really an argument. So can you please tell me why you think what I believe is untenable?"

I stole that from Tim Keller and I absolutely love it. :) I will let you know if I get to use it at school.

In the long run, I sincerely believe it's important to have Christians in Christian and non-Christian environments alike (really, the stats are very similar for both). We need people who will be the beacons of change. So here's the challenge: by God's grace, be someone who reverses the statistics.

When Proving Yourself Doesn't Work

My family loves athletics. Two of my younger brothers are tall guys and have a pretty good advantage in the field. My youngest brother, though, has a problem because he's 3-4 inches shorter than all the other boys his age. Naturally, it's a sensitive issue for the 11-year-old. Every time we play sports, he tries so hard to prove that he has "it" in him, that he can be just as good as the other boys his age. And nearly every time (if he doesn't do well) he ends up incredibly discouraged because he just can't match up.

He's not the alone, though. "Proving ourselves" is an occupation most of mankind enters into. We want to show what we're made of, that we can be as athletic, as together, as smart, as musical, as good-looking, as talented, as eloquent as our peers. The problem is that we can't always match up, and the chances are, there's always going to be somebody who ranks better on the scoreboard. What are you going to do? Are you going to spend you life beating yourself up about it and working as hard as you can to measure up?

If "who you are" is built on any of those things, you'll be doing exactly that. You'll be working so hard to prove that you can do it, and you'll kill yourself when you can't because you failed at your unspoken goal in life.
There's only one thing you can build your identity on that will never let you down and will enable you to rejoice when others score higher than yourself. That is Jesus Christ. When we realize that he achieved for us everything we really need, we can learn to appreciate the gifts of others for the sheer joy of the gift, and stop sizing ourselves up against them. Yes, we can work hard to cultivate our God-given gifts and invest our talents. But we no longer have to prove ourselves because we can be satisfied in the Gospel and marvel in the fact that Jesus took care of our greatest need at the cross. And when you place your confidence in that, and you can throw proving yourself to the wind.

Happy Giver

Here's a few interesting thoughts on the verse, "God loves a cheerful giver." (2 Cor 9:7b)

"God's graciousness toward us reproduces graciousness in us."

"God loves a cheerful giver because he is himself a cheerful giver."

"Various faulty motives may inspire us to give generously, but only a real appreciation of God's grace can inspire us to give 'cheerfully'."

(Paul Barnett, The Message of 2 Corinthians.)

I'm really challenged to evaluate my motives. Do I give because it's my duty, or do I give because I've been given so generously to? Do I genuinely give cheerfully, be it money or even time and energy, in light of how freely I have received? It's something to think about...

Side Note: I'm a huge commentary fan. If you have the opportunity, grab one and go through a book with it. They have really helped to broaden my perspective and give insight to passages that I never would have realized on my own. I really like the "Let's Study" and "The Bible Speaks Today" commentaries.
Just my two cents. :)

The Key to Your Thinking

It was my mom's birthday yesterday, so my sister Christa and I took her out to lunch. It was a nice time to hang out, eat and enjoy each other's company without the regular distractions. Eventually, (don't worry, we talked about normal stuff, too) we started discussing the sin of thinking falsely about yourself, whether too highly or too low. Putting yourself above others, or always putting yourself down. Either way you look at it, it's thinking about yourself. And either way you look at it, it's pride.

Oddly enough, this morning the first (ok, second) verse I read was about how the wicked & proud man is always flattering and thinking highly of himself. It brought to mind one of my favorite "Kellerisms", as my dad calls them:
Humility is not thinking more of yourself and it's not thinking less of yourself. It's thinking of yourself less.

Jesus lived this. And He encouraged us to do the same when He called us to lead and serve by becoming as the youngest in Luke 22:26. (I don't know about you, but at my house, the youngest is pretty much the slave of all). And to do that, you have to start thinking a lot less about yourself, your rights, your comforts, and your desires.

That's hard stuff right there. I'm not really envisioning a nice cakewalk. But praise God we do have the example and the empowerment through Him who utterly forgot Himself that we might find ourselves in Him.