As I was browsing myspace I came across a Bulletin that was interesting and timely in terms of the Bible Study that I went to yesterday. We discussed how our life on earth is only a temporary assignment from God and that our real home is in Heaven. With that in mind, as a group we discussed how we should live our lives on earth in terms of materialism. Luke 14:1 Jesus explains the cost of being a disciple. Here are a few verses,

"[S]uppose a king is about to go to war against another king. Will he not first sit down and consider whether he is able with ten thousand men to oppose the one coming against him with twenty thousand? If he is not able, he will send a delegation while the other is still a long way off and will ask for terms of peace. In the same way, any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple." Luke 14: 31-33

I believe that Jesus understood what it would mean for humans to give up everything they had. A king who realizes that he must surrender even before he goes to war has made a difficult but wise decision. To surrender for a national leader is like admitting to inadequacy. Realizing that all of our worldly possessions are unnecessary and choosing to live a life where we depend on God to supply our needs is difficult in today's world. Here is the bulletin that inspired this blog - the answers are mine

[x] You have a boyfriend/girlfriend.
[x] You have your own room.
[ ]You own a cell phone.
[ ] You have an mp3 player or ipod.
[x] Your parents are still married.
[x] You love your family.
[x] There is a pool/spa in your backyard.
T 0 T A L: 5

[x] You dress the way you want to.
[x] You hang out with friends more than once a week.
[x] There is a computer/ laptop in your room.
[x] You havent been beaten up
[x] You are allowed to listen to the music you want to.
[x] Your room is big enough for you
[x]People don't use you for something you have.
[x] You have been to the movies.
T 0 T A L: 8

[ ] You have over 500 friends on myspace
[x] You have A picture on myspace.
[x] Your parents let you have a myspace
[ ] You get allowance/loan.
[ ] You collect something normal
[x] You look forward to going to college
[ ] You don't wish you were someone else.
[ ] You play a sport.
[ ] You do something after school
T 0 T A L: 3

[ ] You own a car/truck.
[x] You usually don't fight with your parent(s).
[ ] You are happy with your appearance
[x] You have never got a failing grade on a report card in your life
[x] You have friends.
T 0 T A L: 3

[x] you know what is going on in the world.
[x] you are happy with your life
[x] You usually aren't sick.
[ ]You know more than one language
[x] You have a screen name.
[x] You own a pet.
[x] You know the words to more than 5 songs.
[x] You don't have any enemies
[x] You are happy where you're living.
T O T A L: 8

Total over all: 27 then times it by 3 = 81

101%+: A+
100-90%: A
89-76%: B
75-69%: C
67-60%: D
59-00%: F

This bulletin encourages materialism. If you do not have many of the material things listen in a few of the sections (cell phone, mp3 player, pool or spa, own bedroom, clothing, pets and vehicles - to name just a few) you will "fail" this test, meaning that your life is not complete.

By actively studying the media, messages like these, which are not clearly visible to most people, stick out like a live flower in a field of dead grass. I believe that God has placed me in GH to study media not only because I love to write and I want to understand better what goes on in the world, but also to be that ambassador to people who don't necessarily recognize the way that evil sneaks into our lives on a daily basis.

Too many Christians today don't realize the message that bulletin's like these are giving. Yes, they are all fun and games, but they are also detrimental to our spiritual health. I would encourage every Christian to pay closer attention to these subtle media messages so that they may be aware of how easily evil thoughts and desires can appear in their lives.

"When HE is at work in the north, I do not see him; when HE turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of HIM. But HE knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold...I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread." (Job 23: 9-10, 12)