Selling Jesus

The past couple of days I've noticed a few things that are quite disturbing... Obviously the Christian subculture has become a hideously commercial entity -- with everything from WWJD bracelets to the Construction Workers Bible to Test-a-mints breathmints. It's coming to the point where we can walk around in a perfectly Christian bubble almost 24 hours a day...but we'll save that debate for another day.

Here are the two latest disturbing observations...

1. The United Pentecostal Church of Harvey in Harvey, IL, is paying people to attend church. Yes, that's right. The first 75 people to walk through the door at each of two services, and stay for the 90 minute duration, receive $25. There's a lot I could say about this...but I'll let the church leadership speak for itself.

"It doesn't matter how we get them in the door as long as we get them here."
- Rev. Anthony Cox, Co-Pastor

Cox said that they also hope the $25 lure will turn folks into regular attendees.

The idea of giving money to get people to a worship service is not inherently wrong "as long as it doesn't overshadow the church's message."
- David Jackson, Executive Administrator of hte United Pentecostal Church International

Okay...I might buy this, EXCEPT...

"To alert community members to this Sunday's "Money Service," the Harvey church posted 50 signs along busy streets with the tagline "We know our Church is WORTH it!"
- Chicago Tribune

And finally, a word from a member.

"We're told to spread the gospel by any means."
- Tina Richardson, member, Harvey United Pentecostal Church

I would encourage you to read the Chicago Tribune's article here. There are a few comments that almost redeem them...but I'll let you judge that for yourself.


2. Christian Millionaires So, we've all seen these scams where you make $25,000 in one week, right? You only work 3 hours a day from home with no apparent difficulty. You see commercials with beautiful women on sailboats and middle-aged men in Aston-Martins. Well, now there's an opportunity you don't want to miss...YOU can be mentored by Christian Millionaires! Earn $7,000 Over and Over and OVER again! I saw it on a sign today outside of Walmart. Ridiculous. And, to add to their "missional" focus...the name of their website is ImpactOthers.com. I say missional lightly...there's no missional focus on their site. How are you going to impact others? By mentoring them on how to become millionares too?

I've got an idea for you...how about hard work, a strict budget, and maybe a little investing?! In legitimate enterprises!

trouble concentrating?

One of the funniest commercials I've seen in a while...


"I can't concentrate...I wonder if I'm pregnant?" When you need to know...choose EPT, the Error Proof Test.


Let me tell ya...pregnancy is the first thing I think of when I can't concentrate!!

Updates...

So, the time has come...GUPY. While I dread packing up (have to do it by Friday afternoon...), I am very excited about the new folks coming to spend their time in Glenwood. One of the GUPYs I know from my freshman year at LR - and I couldn't be more excited that he's coming. I also met one of the girls, who is originally from Greensboro, and can't wait for her to dip into the "other side" of the city.

Hannah's Haven has it's first resident!! I met her last weekend...she seems very nice, and I look forward to seeing her around.
***Edit*** I stand corrected, Hannah's Haven does not have any residents yet. Take a look at their website for current news. Sorry!!

My Aunt Charlotte passed away Monday, June 12th, so I went to NJ this weekend to go to the memorial. It was very short, but to the point. She suffered for a long time, so at least that is over with. She has always been resistant to "religion," and I honestly don't know where she stood when she died. My hope is that, when faced with death, she took her chances and believed.

And that's it for now...

Where my girls at

On the radio this morning I heard a DJ recommend to a "lonely listener" that he go to a church singles group to meet women.

**Insert (any number of adjectives) comment here**

Let the tin foiling begin!!

In honor of Scott's birthday, I tin foiled his office (with the help of Suzanne, of course)!

Human Trafficking

First, Human Trafficking is an excellent movie I recommend to everyone. I was a little put off by the fact that it's a Lifetime Movie...but the title piqued my interest, and I'm glad it did. This movie is by no means your mushy scorned woman Lifetime movie...It's a call to action.

More importantly, Human Trafficking is a serious issue that plagues society, and is a lot closer to home than most people think. Here are some of the stats, pulled primarily from Relevant Magazine and the Office for Victims of Crime:

• Throughout the world, anywhere from 1 to 4 million people are sold each year for sexual exploitation.
• 70-80% are women or young girls
• 50% are children
• 12.3 million people are enslaved against their will at any given time
• Sex trading generates $9.5 billion in annual revenue
• The number of US citizens trafficked within the United States is higher than foreign citizens trafficked into the US, with an estimated 200,000 American children at risk for trafficking into the sex industry.

"Scripture is filled with God's teaching about His love for justice and the oppressed."
--Penny Hunter, International Justice Mission

Scripture to pray through regarding human trafficking:

• James 1:27 - Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world.
• Matthew 19:14 - Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
• Luke 17:1-2 - Jesus said to his disciples: "Things that cause people to sin are bound to come, but woe to that person through whom they come. It would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a millstone tied around his neck than for him to cause one of these little ones to sin.
• Mark 9:37 - "Whoever welcomes one of these little children in my name welcomes me; and whoever welcomes me does not welcome me but the one who sent me."
• Psalm 9:9 - The LORD is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble.
• Mark 10:14-16 - When Jesus saw this, he was indignant. He said to them, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these. I tell you the truth, anyone who will not receive the kingdom of God like a little child will never enter it." And he took the children in his arms, put his hands on them and blessed them.

And finally, some organizations you can find more info at. I haven't visited all of these, so you'll have to make your own judgement call :)

• http://www.saveaslave.com
• http://www.ijm.org
• http://www.theviolenceoflight.com
• http://www.state.gov/g/tip/rls/tiprpt/2005
• http://www.protectionproject.org
• http://www.freetheslaves.net
• http://www.humantrafficking.com
• http://www.humantrafficking.org
• http://www.worldrevolution.org/guide/humantrafficking
• http://www.ovc.gov/ncvrw/2005/pg5l.html