by Chris Doyle | Jun 21, 2019
Greetings!
It’s the day after the NBA Draft, and many here in the land
of Thunder have mixed feelings, if not outright disappointed.
For this week’s DHD, I’ll discuss the Thunder’s limited involvement
in this year’s draft, as well as share overall thoughts and observations of the
NBA Draft.
1. Draftees and dads
The biggest encouragement I got from watching the NBA Draft
last night was the representation of fathers being involved in the lives of the
players who were drafted. What I saw was a message to men to be involved with
their families.
Maybe these fathers’ motives could be questioned, or one
could wonder if they pushed their sons too hard through the process of becoming
an NBA draft pick. That is a legitimate but separate argument.
I worked full-time in college athletics for 13 years. I’ve done volunteer ministry and mission work throughout my life. My wife has been a mentor with the Police Athletic League for most of our 12 years of marriage. I have seen and been familiar with a lot of children, young people and student-athletes who were raised by single moms or grandmothers. And I’m sure many who read this could surpass me in the count of the number of families known that had to deal with deadbeat dads who run off and don’t support their families.
To see lottery picks like Ja Morant, R.J. Barrett and
Jarrett Culver being interviewed on ESPN with their dads was refreshing, to say
the least. The emotion that was demonstrated by both son and dad should resonate
to viewers on how important fathers are to their children.
There were also those who were drafted who commemorated
their fathers who died. It was a special message on how fatherhood is valued.
2. Zion and mom
Zion Williamson is the biggest news of the NBA Draft, as the
former Duke standout was the No. 1 pick. From reports that I have read,
Williamson was coached by his stepfather as well as his mother.
I was impressed with how special the relationship Williamson
has with his mom, and you can tell in his ESPN interview how emotional he got
talking about his mom who was also interviewed.
Fathers are important, but there are many “warrior” moms who
endure and overcome, doing whatever it takes to support their children.
If you are not as familiar with the name Zion Williamson, you will soon be hearing a lot about him in the years to come.
3. Draft confusion
Tim Reynolds wrote how the “hat
game” during the NBA Draft made the process confusing for onlookers.
Draft picks that were used in recent trade agreements cannot be confirmed until the new salary cap year begins, which starts July 6. Players who were selected last night with the traded picks had to represent the team that originally owned the draft pick by wearing that team’s hat, though it had been unofficially announced they are going to the team receiving the pick via trade.
Confused? You’re not alone.
From a P.R. standpoint, it looked bad. They need to figure out how to make it possible for all drafted players to represent the teams that actually selected them.
4. ESPN’s Draft
coverage
Rece Davis was the host of ESPN’s broadcast of the NBA
Draft. That was a little odd for me because I usually associate him with ESPN’s
GameDay for college football. Yes, I know he also does college basketball “GameDay,”
but that’s overshadowed by football.
But the trio of Davis, Chauncey Billups and Jay Bilas was
pretty ho-hum. The one who stood out from the broadcast was Maria Taylor who
interviewed the players after their selections were announced. It’s been said
one of the greatest achievements for a reporter is to get the interviewee to
cry. Taylor had many great achievements last night.
5. Thunder’s draft
night
Now, here’s what you really want to read—my take on the
Oklahoma City Thunder’s involvement in the NBA Draft.
Well… in one word—anticlimactic.
In some ways, though, this would be par for the course. Two
years ago, I expected very little action to come from the Thunder in the
offseason, but then they pulled off a monster trade to get Paul George. This
year, I expected something nearly earth shattering to happen from the Thunder
camp, which could have included their first round draft selection, but all that
happened last night was they moved down two spots and got a 2024 second round
pick in a trade with Memphis (yawn).
I know hardly anything about the player the Thunder drafted. In fact, I just had to use Google to remember his name—Darius Bazley. Basically, he’s a project with a unique story, and he did not play organized ball last year. In a few years, he could become a major contributor, but I doubt he sees much action next season.
I would be thrilled if I’m wrong and would love to see this
Bazley kid shock the world next season. However, I’m not holding my breath.
But I’m not all grouchy and gloomy either, like I’ve seen
other Thunder fans react. I was not expecting the Thunder to get a world beater
late in the first round. I actually thought the pick would be used as part of a
trade.
And who knows what will happen in the days ahead?
6. Thunder in the
offseason
Which brings me to my final DHD point.
It seems more likely that the Thunder will make more of a
clamor, involving the free agent market, a trade or the waiver wire. I don’t
expect them to get a huge name added to the roster, but it could be possible
the Thunder get a veteran shooter and add frontcourt depth.
They do have salary cap concerns, and it’s possible a player
like Dennis Schroder won’t be on the Thunder roster next month, in order to
relieve the team’s payroll. I don’t know exactly what will happen, but it’s
likely the roster will have some changes.
But here’s the good news. There’s a lot of unknowns across the NBA next season. Though it’s unfortunate the Golden State Warriors suffered two critical injuries with Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson, causing a major shakeup in the projections for title contenders, it means the Thunder has about as good of a chance as any team to make a legitimate run.
by Michael Foust | Jun 21, 2019
The Disney/Pixar film Toy Story 4 (G) opens this weekend, telling the story of an odd-looking toy named Forky who brings a little girl joy.
Bonnie is a timid little girl who doesn’t want to start
kindergarten.
She hides behind her bed on the first day of school. She
begs her parents not to make her go. And when she arrives at class, she sits
alone and cries.
That’s OK, though, because her toy doll, Sheriff Woody, has
tagged along to help, without her knowledge.
He stealthily climbs out of her backpack, finds a few
crayons and craft supplies (from the trash), and tosses them her way. Bonnie
picks them up, fastens a plastic spork and beady eyes to pipe cleaner, and—voila!—creates a strange-looking “doll”
she calls Forky.
Forky quickly becomes her favorite toy, even he feels out of
place.
“I am not a toy. I am a spork. I was made for trash,” Forky
says.
Forky has a propensity to throw himself in the garbage.
Woody, realizing the importance of Forky to Bonnie’s happiness, always rescues
him. It’s a full-time job, similar to a parent keeping a crawling toddler out
of trouble.
Yet Forky eventually escapes—tossing himself out of an RV
window during a family road trip. Woody jumps out of the window, too, hoping to
find Forky and convince him to accept his new identity. There’s also the
not-so-small problem of catching up with a speeding RV at the next campground.
Will Woody and Forky ever see Bonnie again?
The Disney/Pixar film Toy
Story 4 (G) opens this weekend, nine years after its predecessor, Toy Story 3, ended with Bonnie receiving
a box of toys from the previous owner, Andy. It stars Tom Hanks as Woody, Tony
Hale as Forky, Madeleine McGraw as Bonnie, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear and
Annie Potts as Bo Peep. The late Don Rickles even makes an appearance as Mr.
Potato Head.
The series tells the story of toys that come to life when
their owner isn’t in the room. They exist for only one thing: to bring children
joy.
“You are going to help make happy memories that are going to
last for the rest of her life,” Woody tells Forky.
The movie has a series of new characters and voices,
including Forky, Bunny and Ducky (Jordan Peele and Keegan-Michael Key,
respectively), and the Canadian stuntman Duke Caboom (Keanu Reeves).
The film follows Woody and Forky as they search for Bonnie
but get sidetracked and then sidelined in an antique store.
Toy Story 4 is a worthy addition to the Toy Story series, even if it’s not as
good as its predecessors (Although some would say that’s debatable).
It’s also a perfect family film. It has no language and no
sexuality. It includes a couple of semi-disturbing moments, but the violence is
minimal.
Like all Pixar films, it includes serious lessons about
life.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Minimal. The film’s most disturbing moments involve
spooky-looking ventriloquist dummies in an antique store. It stays in G-rated
territory, although the dummies—who chase Woody and the others—may trouble
sensitive children. Buzz Lightyear gets punched in the head a few times by two
new characters. Bo Peep gets her arm pulled off (It’s bloodless and played for
laughs). Later, she uses her staff to hit a few people.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
None. The romance between Woody and Bo Peep escalates. They
don’t kiss, but they do hug.
Coarse
Language
None. Not even a “gosh.” The most we hear is a “gosh,”
“lucky” and “good luck.”
Positive
Elements
Bonnie comes from a loving family, and we see her mom and
dad several times. Woody’s loyalty to Bonnie and the other toys is commendable.
He serves as a father figure to them.
Other Stuff
You Might Want to Know
Woody and Buzz Lightyear discuss the importance of listening
“to your inner voice” (See Worldview, below).
Life Lessons
Loyalty is
honorable. For
Woody, loyalty is a doll’s purpose, and he risks his life multiple times to
find Forky for Bonnie.
Change is
inevitable. Yes,
that’s one of the themes of the entire series, but Toy Story 4 takes it to another level with Woody, who eventually
finds purpose in life after being placed in a closet. Bonnie, too, is
experiencing change.
Humility can
bring purpose. Woody
is searching for meaning in life after being set aside for other toys. He seems
to find it through a series of selfless actions.
Different is
OK: Forky
is different from the other toys. Very
different. But Woody—like a friend to the new kid in the neighborhood—introduces
Forky to the other toys and defends him. No one ever bullies Forky.
Worldview/Application
How do we receive guidance each day when important decisions
arise? Woody thinks he knows. He listens to the “voice” inside of him—the voice
that “tells you … what you’re really thinking,” he says. At first, Buzz
Lightyear doesn’t understand what Woody is referencing, but by the end of the
film, Buzz is on board when they’re confronted by a critical matter.
“Listen to your inner voice,” Buzz tells Woody.
But such advice can lead to disaster in the real world. What
if that inner voice conflicts with God’s will? What if it’s wrong?
God speaks to us primarily through the Bible, but also
through prayer and the Holy Spirit. We should train our “inner voice” to align
with God’s “voice”—not our own.
Partners
Toy Story 4 has more than a dozen partners.
Among them: McDonald’s, Kellogg’s, Danimals and Juicy Juice.
What Works
The new characters (I could have taken more Forky). The emphasis on loyalty. The humor. (Bonnie exclaims
after the first day in school: “I finished kindergarten!”)
What Doesn’t
Some moviegoers will love the ending. I didn’t.
Bo Peep’s outlook on life also deserves inspection. Had she
found purpose in the midst of tragedy? Or had she become anti-kid? (“Who needs
a kid’s room when you can have all this?”)
Discussion
Questions
1. Should we listen to our “inner voice”?
2. Did Woody make the right decision in the end?
3. Is loyalty always a virtue?
4. What is the “secret” to finding purpose?
5. What does Toy Story
4 teach us about accepting those who are different?
Entertainment rating: 3.5 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 5 out
of 5 stars.
Toy Story 4
is rated G.
PHOTO CREDIT: Disney
by Brian Hobbs | Jun 18, 2019
I
recently bumped into someone whom I encounter more often online than in person.
On
social media platforms like Facebook, this person tends toward outrage.
Whatever the political controversy of the day is, you can be sure this person
is commenting or stirring the pot.
In
person, though, he is kind and gentle. In fact, if I knew nothing of his online
personality, I would consider him one of the nicest guys I know.
Sometimes,
each of us can fall into this pattern of behavior. Why? Part of the reason is
it’s easy to be bold, audacious and obnoxious behind a keyboard. When you tee
off on a person, place or thing online, you don’t have to see the look in their
eye. You don’t have to look them in the eye and experience their real reaction.
This
reminds me of a popular story from America’s War of Independence. According to
sources, during the key Battle of Bunker Hill, American officer William
Prescott said, “Don’t fire on the enemy until you see the whites of their
eyes.” Prescott’s point was that firing upon the enemy in close range would be
much more effective, and he was right.
I
have tried in my own life to develop a rule. I won’t comment or say something
to a person online that I would not say in person, that I would not say if I
could see the whites of their eyes.
This
commitment came forth after multiple failings of mine. Times I had too much
brashness and bravado over the Internet, and too little courage in person.
Christian
brother and sister, as Independence Day draws near, I would encourage you to
declare your independence from unnecessary and harsh comments and attitudes
online. Or as the Bible puts it, “Everyone should be quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to becomeangry” (James 1:19).
This one simple change
might transform your own life and others. In fact, if more of us living in
America would change in this way, we could continue to be the home of the
brave, not the bravado.
by Chris Doyle | Jun 14, 2019
Greetings!
The Southern Baptist Convention had its annual meeting this week, and there was a lot of content and issues that were covered in the two days of sessions, as well as what was addressed beyond the actual sessions.
I did not go to Birmingham, so I can’t give an in-person
description, but I did watch most of the sessions on livestream and discussed
with those who did attend.
This week’s DHD offers my six takeaways from the SBC
meeting.
1. Action against
Sexual Abuse and Racism
Probably the biggest news of the whole meeting is the action that the SBC agreed to take, regarding issues of sexual abuse and racism that involve some churches in the SBC. Baptist Press reported the stances the SBC took against sexual abuse and racism among churches, which involve amending the SBC Constitution to consider churches reportedly involved in sexual abuse or discrimination based on ethnicity be “not in friendly cooperation” with the convention.
Also, Southern Baptist messengers approved to repurpose the
Credentials Committee to make inquiries and recommendations of actions
regarding instances of sexual abuse, racism and other issues that would call a church’s
relationship with the SBC into question.
Since the SBC functions with the respect to the autonomy of
the local church, these two actions demonstrate the limit the SBC is willing to
go in handling these severely critical social issues of sexual abuse and
racism.
Also, there is follow-up to confronting the sexual abuse
crisis in the way of offering resources titled “Caring Well,” which were
prepared by the SBC’s Ethics and Religious Liberty Commission and are offered
to Southern Baptist churches to utilize in the coming days. The Caring Well
resources will help churches be prepared in preventing abuse and protecting the
vulnerable. ERLC also will host a conference in October, which will meet in
Dallas, that will address sexual abuse.
2. President Greear’s
leadership
SBC President J.D. Greear did an excellent job overseeing the sessions. And he was consistently visible on the stage during much of the action. His presidential address was on point, emphasizing the importance of the Gospel above all other issues.
Greear’s demeanor throughout the meeting was perfect, as he
handled all situations well and even provided appropriate light-hearted
comments when needed.
Many were previously critical of Greear’s ability to lead, prior to the SBC meeting. For me, he squelched all the criticisms this week.
3. IMB Sending
Celebration
One of the great moments of the Annual Meeting is the
commissioning of International Mission Board missionaries. This would be a
regret for personally not being in Birmingham because I am certain I could not
fully experience what was happening in the convention center. This is one of
those aspects where you could say it’s better to be in the stands instead of
watching the game on TV.
However, having experienced previous Annual Meetings, I know
the Sending Celebrations offer an aura of appreciation of the missionaries and
their commitment to share the Gospel throughout the world.
You can read a great
report on this year’s Sending Celebration that was written by my friend
Julie McGowan.
4. Constructive panel
talks
Something that is always present at any kind of a conference
meeting is the array of panel talks. Some panel sessions are good; some can be
overkill.
However, the panel talks I watched during the sessions were
quite good with Greear moderating the panels. They discussed racial issues,
secondary issues compared to the Gospel and women in ministry. All of them
offered great instruction and perspective of these important topics of the SBC.
I recommend going to sbcannualmeeting.net, clicking on the “WATCH
VIDEO” link and finding the videos that feature the panel talks. You will be
impressed and educated.
5. Rummage’s sermon
My pastor Stephen Rummage delivered the annual sermon at the SBC meeting this year. In fact, I added the video of his sermon below. If you want to read about it, you can do so here.
I tried to embed the video of Pastor Rummage, but I did not know how to do that, so below is the direct link:
https://digitalpass.lifeway.com/2019/06/12/sbc19-convention-sermon/
6. Resolutions run amok
Another element that happens every year is the report from
the Resolutions Committee, which offers formal statements in response to many
different issues and actions.
I do find these reports interesting, and I’m usually
captivated by the dialogue involving questions, support, amendments between
messengers and committee members. This year’s resolutions report went well over
an hour and was one of the longest segments in the entire two-day meeting.
You can read BP’s report on this year’s SBC resolutions and notice one resolution in particular was controversial—resolution 9 which involved critical race theory and intersectionality. It was unfortunate that time was not allowed to entertain a motion to amend this resolution that would offer clear description of both critical race theory and intersectionality.
Albert Mohler even commented on the resolution in today’s edition
of The Briefing:
“I did not want the resolution to say less than it said,” Mohler declared. “I wanted it to say more than it said. I wanted it to acknowledge more clearly the origins of critical race theory and intersectionality. I wanted it to state more clearly that embedded in both of those analytical tools is a praxis, that is a political extension. That’s abundantly clear in the origin of both intersectionality and critical race theory. It is also abundantly clear in how they function in higher education and public debate. It is true that both can be deployed as analytical tools. The problem is, as Christians understand, that analytical tools very rarely remain merely analytical tools.”
From my observation, it was interesting that this resolution was listed later in the report. One could conclude that maybe the Resolutions Committee ranked it near the end with the possibility that time would not permit further discussion on the floor, as many of the previous resolutions appear benign and more agreeable.
Another observation I have is I wonder if resolutions are even necessary. They have no binding aspect. They have no mandatory action behind their words. Most of the time, the resolutions report features people haggling over certain words in the resolutions.
Don’t get me wrong. As I already said, I find them
fascinating to watch. But as it has proven in the past, sometimes these
resolutions have a way to get the SBC in hot water, such as the one in the late
‘90s opposing Disney, which they eventually dismissed.
I’m just contemplating on whether or not it is worth it for
the SBC to publicly declare resolutions.
I welcome feedback.
by Michael Foust | Jun 14, 2019
Men in Black: International (PG-13) is a movie children will want to watch, but it has a few problems that may concern some parents.
Molly is a young, determined woman who has one goal in life—to
fight bad aliens within the secretive Men in Black organization.
Her passion began as a young girl when she saw an alien. She
even saw the MIB agents, who erased her parents’ memories but failed to erase
her memory.
But so far, no one will acknowledge the Men in Black even
exist.
That’s OK, though, because she has a plan. She’ll hack the
Hubble Space Telescope, track alien objects heading toward Earth, and then find
them when they land on our planet. Then, perhaps, she’ll watch the Men in Black
workers capture the alien at that specific location before the evidence is
erased.
Incredibly, her plans works. She spots an alien and then
finds it on Earth. She then follows the MIB vehicles back to an obscure
building, where she boards an elevator before being captured for trespassing.
“It took me 20 years to find you,” she tells the employees.
She quickly wins over the head of MIB, Agent O. Molly says
she’s smart and motivated. She also tells her she wants to discover the “truth
of the universe.”
“I want to know everything. I want to know how it all
works,” she says.
Agent O lets Molly into the MIB on a probationary period.
Molly is given the famous black suit and the ultra-cool black sunglasses. Most
of all, she’s given a title: Agent M.
Men in
Black: International (PG-13) opens in theaters this weekend, telling the story
of Agent M as she is paired with Agent H to help keep peace on Earth. It stars
Tessa Thompson (Creed series, Avengers: Endgame) as Agent M, Chris
Hemsworth (Avengers and Thor series) as Agent H, Emma Thompson (Saving Mr. Banks) as Agent O and Liam
Neeson as Agent High T.
The plot follows Agents M and H as they travel to Marrakesh,
Morocco, to meet up with a friendly alien. But when he gets killed, they learn
that two evil aliens (they’re twins) are hunting for the most powerful weapon
on the planet—a gun that can kill everyone and destroy Earth. They also
discover the Men in Black organization has been infiltrated by a mole who is
working with the evil twins. But who is
it?
Men In
Black: International is the fourth film in the Men In Black series, following Men In Black 1 (1997), 2 (2002) and
3 (2012).
Its three predecessors featured Will Smith and Tommy Lee
Jones, two actors who had near-perfect chemistry and timing. Thompson and
Hemsworth don’t rise to the Smith-Jones level, but they’re still quite
entertaining and funny.
All four Men in Blacks
feature two basic elements: the hunt for bad aliens and the use of “neuralyzers”
to erase the memories of people who see aliens.
Warning:
minor/moderate spoilers!
(Scale key:
none, minimal, moderate, extreme)
Violence/Disturbing
Moderate. Much of the film includes tame-looking aliens like
the ones in the Star Wars bar scene
from 1977. But the film has a few alien scenes that might disturb kids—including
the twin “bad guy” aliens that look like evil spirits before they steal a man’s
identity (This results in the man’s body falling to the ground in a puddle of
mush). Although they look human, their eyes occasionally light up. The film has
multiple laser gun fights between our two heroic agents and the alien twins.
Cars blow up. Roads are destroyed. Buildings crumble. We see a street race with
a futuristic bike. We also see a fisticuff fight between two men and two women.
Still, the movie has less violence than found in most Marvel films.
Sexuality/Sensuality/Nudity
Minimal/moderate. We see Agent H wake up in a bed with a female
alien who is still asleep (She’s covered; he’s shirtless. It’s implied he slept
with her as part of a deal to obtain an anecdote for a snake bite). We hear
several jokes about appearance and sex (An alien says about Agent H’s looks:
“He’s so yummy.” Agent M is told an alien thinks she’s “hot.” We hear a lame
joke about how “it” is done between humans and aliens. We hear the words “sexual,”
“fetish” and “fornicating”). A club scene includes a few belly-revealing shirts.
Coarse
Language
Moderate. Misuse of “God” (7), h-ll (4), OMG (2), d–n (2),
a– (2), d–ck (2), p—ed (2), s–t (3), “a–clown” (2), jack— (1).
Other
Positive Elements
Molly comes from an intact, loving family (We see her
parents early in the film).
Other Stuff
You Might Want To Know
Agent H drinks and gambles as part of an undercover
operation. Agents H and M discuss the importance of lying in order to
accomplish their mission (They agree it’s essential).
Life Lessons
Yes, love is
important: For
much of the film. Molly (Agent M) argues that love and romance will only
“distract you from what’s important.” She even says “physical attraction is
nothing more than chemical reactions in your brain.” She never finds romance in
the film, but Agent H seems to get the upper hand when they have an
intellectual conversation about love.
Lying is
wrong:
In the real world, ethics classes often debate whether lying is ever
permissible (“If you were hiding soldiers in Nazi Germany and soldiers came to
the door, what would you say?”). Agents M and H tell us lying is essential, but
their lies rarely rise to that Nazi Germany-question level.
Honor the
dead by living your life: That’s what the tiny alien Pawny does when a friend dies.
“The best way to honor the dead is to go on living.” It sounds like a throwaway
line, but it carries a lot of truth.
Rivals can
become friends:
That’s what happens between two key characters by the end of the film.
Worldview/Application
Men In
Black: International is a comedy with an evolutionary/pantheistic
framework.
“The universe has a way of leading you to where you’re
supposed to be at the moment you’re supposed to be there,” Agent High T says.
When Agent M argues that romance is just a “chemical reaction,”
Agent H retorts: “Isn’t the whole universe a chemical reaction? … It feels
pretty real.”
We see a young Molly reading Stephen Hawking’s A Brief History of Time. As an adult,
she’s searching for the “truth of the universe.” Yet she doesn’t find it.
No doubt, the universe and even our bodies are comprised of
chemicals, but those chemicals came from somewhere.
The Bible tells us they’re from an all-powerful, loving God who is controlling
them. Besides, we’re not just
chemicals. We have a soul, too.
What Works
The aliens. They’re tame enough for younger audiences (If
only the dialogue were, too).
What Doesn’t
Men in
Black: International isn’t awful. But it’s not great, either. Maybe the sequel
will be better. Or maybe three Men in
Black movies was enough.
Discussion
Questions
1. Is it ever OK to lie?
2. Is love just a “chemical reaction”?
3. Can the universe “guide” us?
4. What does it require for enemies to become friends?
Entertainment rating: 3 out of 5
stars. Family-friendly rating: 3 out
of 5 stars.
Rated PG-13 for sci-fi action, some language and suggestive material.
PHOTO CREDIT: Columbia
by Caleb Moore | Jun 11, 2019
Do you remember the Andy Griffith television show? If you
are younger than 30 there is a chance that you have no idea what I am talking
about. If you are under the age of 20 then it is highly unlikely you have ever seen
that television show.
It was an old show when I was growing up, but it still
played every evening. It was one of the safe shows my parents didn’t mind me
watching. It was a show that had no swear words, no sexual references and good
family values.
Even 30 years ago, many of the television shows reflected
conservative family values. On occasion, my parents would let me watch The
Simpsons, which seemed harmless to me, but my parents would cringe at some of
the more colorful humor.
Nobody could foresee just how much pop culture would change
in the coming years. Conservative values are not only hard to find on
television, they are now openly mocked. The more popular a show is the more
graphic its violence and sex scenes are going to be.
Popular culture moved away from religions and conservative
values faster than just about any other major movement. We didn’t know what the
results of the constant vulgarity and sexual subjugation of women would be.
But now we see just how great of an impact this loss of values
has had on our culture. Every day, a young child has his brain blasted with
sexual images, violence and anger. Large portions of kids feel confused,
depressed, anxious and altogether lost.
As I have been thinking about what steps we can take to undue
some of this damage, one thought keeps coming to mind, and that is that we have
to start preaching again. I’m not talking about Sunday Morning sermons; I’m
talking about every Christian confidently and lovingly reminding the world
around them that God is real, Christ has risen and freedom is available.
The culture used to do some of the preaching for us. It used
to remind people to go to church, love God and pursue holiness. God was
everywhere, even if He was just behind the values being promoted.
But now, culture has decided to preach a different story.
It’s not that pop culture has gone silent; it has grown louder and louder,
shouting a message of greed, lust, and sadness.
I want to encourage you to start preaching again.
Don’t miss opportunities to show how the Gospel can bring peace to the problems
you hear at work and home. All around me, I hear people looking for freedom and
a second chance. Culture might be loud, but I have enough hope to believe it’s
getting annoying to hear even for those who buy into it. The amount of anger
and bitterness in the world will eventually grow exhausting, and the Gospel
must always be present to offer hope to those in need.