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American Idol winner David Cook 
Dancing with the Stars winner Kristi Yamaguchi Lately I haven't blogged. I guess I keep waiting until I have something that seems to be gnawing at me rather than trying to blog just for the sake of blogging. (Plus school is now out so I have more time to think about things other than papers, quizzes, tests, and presentations.) Well, this has been gnawing at me for a few days now. I have to admit I don't get the whole "reality TV" phenomenon. People are arranging their lives around these shows. The two shown above seem to be the hottest ones right now, but let's not forget about Survivor, The Amazing Race, etc., etc., etc. The viewers become enthralled every week waiting with heightened anticipation to see if their favorite person/team will make it to the next round and they will be able to enjoy their talents a little while longer. They practically go into mourning if their pick is ousted and there is great jubilation "throughout the land" when the winner is announced, including appearances on all the network TV shows (This is news????? I guess it beats all the horrible, depressing things happening around the world.), all the talk shows, and all the entertainment news. The winners' images appear everywhere for at least a month. Some of the very talented go on and build careers, others sink into oblivion. I admit all of this is mildly amusing, but hardly life changing to anyone except the winners and possibly some of the runners-up. About the only change in the lives of the general public is they have the opportunity to waste more time doing something mindless. Here's my conflict with all of this. (And believe me, I'm directing this musing at myself more than anyone else!) Why can we put so much enthusiasm and energy into something this insignificant but when it comes to being enthusiastic and energized regarding things of faith we clam up or are too tired or just plain lackidaisical or even apathetic? How many of us greet each day with an "on the edge of our seats" attitude, waiting to see God's miracles worked out around us? How many of us approach the throne of grace with heightened expectancy and awe that the God of the universe will communicate with us? Do we dive into Scripture with an "I can't wait" attitude to see what the Holy Spirit will reveal to us? Do we rearrange our lives on a regular basis, regardless of all the tasks awaiting us or the tiredness in our bones, to go be with fellow believers to celebrate God's love for us or to pray or study together and learn from one another, to serve one another? Or does all of that potentially life-changing activity take too much energy, too much thought, too much sacrifice? Yes, I said the "s" word - sacrifice. And do we leave the comfort zones we've created to step out and share with others? Here are some statistics that have blown me away over the last several months. The U.S. is the fifth largest mission field in the world. The Chicagoland area had a net loss of 500 - yes, you read it correctly - 500 churches in the last year while the number of unbelievers is on the rise. I think it's time all of us, myself included, take a look at what is important. I have to ask myself, if I truly believe that Christ gave me the greatest gift of all by reconnecting me with my heavenly Father, and that a relationship with Christ truly changes lives, and that my place in heaven is now secure for eternity, then why am I not taking every opportunity to let a lost world know about this? Why is so much time spent talking about the latest winner of a reality TV show, but so little time is spent talking about the Victor over sin and death and evil? Why isn't my enthusiasm about my Lord and Savior bubbling out of me? Why can't I rearrange my life for Him and His people? Why do I prefer to sit in the comfort of my home doing something totally inane? What are my priorities in this life? Will the reality TV go away anytime soon? No. But neither is the need to serve a lost world. Let's turn off the TV and get out there and talk about God's love, serve the disenfranchised, encourage our brothers and sisters in the faith, and celebrate our incredible Lord. |
