What's the Big Idea?

Have you heard all of the commotion surrounding the Veggie Tales videos being aired Saturday mornings on NBC? It seems that the religious references and mention of "God" have caused quite a stir. Critics said that the animated programs should be restricted to "religious" channels. I applaud the Veggie Tale producers for their flexibility and willingness to make the necessary changes in order to meet the network requirements, but why could the programs not be aired in their original format?

Are the major networks anti-God? You saw my previous post regarding Rosie O'Donnell's comments on "The View" comparing Christians to Muslims. To date, there has still been no apology or disciplinary action taken by ABC. Now NBC won't allow religious references. I personally perceive this as an anti-Christian bias, rather than anti-religion. All one has to do is watch the programming and you'll soon realize that only Christianity is being censored. The religion of humanism is being broadcast daily. The gods of free sex, homosexuality, promiscuity, infidelity, violence, murder, greed, self-gratification and more are being broadcast daily. Humanistic religion is approved by the networks, while Judeo-Christian religious references are banned.

Has everyone checked their brains at the door? Think about it... TV will allow Gene Simmons to talk about his "Family Jewels," MTV to teach a kid how to be a "Jack Ass," and Nip/Tuck will teach them how to look and cheat like "everyone" else. Furthermore, a recent court ruling now makes it illegal for companies to edit the sex and violence out of movies to make them suitable for children and families -- even though the companies pay huge royalties! Hollywood wants to remove parental control over what their kids see. Don't tell me there is no underlying agenda! And in spite of all this, we CAN'T talk about God or make religious references??!!!

I applaud Big Idea for being willing to reach into a new market and offer character training in a world filled with less than desireable "characters." I wish the networks would allow them to clearly tell people that Jesus is the answer for the issues they are facing, but I'm trusting that God can still work through the Veggie Tales programming. Let's pray that God will use this Saturday morning opportunity to encourage children toward good morals. He knows we need it!

Rosie O'Donnell Compares Christians to Muslims

When "The View" announced that Rosie O'Donnell would be the new co-host for the show, I had to chuckle. What type of person would watch Rosie O'Donnell host any type of talk show? Well, she recently helped me understand and disclosed the depth of her intellect to viewers on "The View" as Rosie compared radical Christians to the Muslims who flew the planes into the World Trade Center. Even her co-hosts disagreed with her. See the whole article and a video clip at
http://www.afa.net/Petitions/Issuedetail.asp?id=214

To date, ABC has refrained to call for any apology or to issue any reprimand of O'Donnell. Jimmy the Greek was fired by CBS for his controversial comments about black athletes and CBS was respected for it. Will the leadership of ABC have the courage to show the same resolve or are they actually in support of anti-Christian bigotry?

I find it interesting that the Pope recently had the courage to apologize for his comment which offended Muslims. Would the Pope do more to appease radical Muslims than ABC will do to appease those in the Christian community who were offended by O'Donnell's comments? Interesting... the Pope, a leader of the Christian movement which Rosie criticized as being hatemongers, had the courage to apologize. Will Rosie?

I feel that the comments by Rosie O'Donnell deserve a public apology and public reprimand. Please join me in expressing your concerns to:

Brian Frons, President - ABC Daytime
ABC
77 West 66th St.
New York, NY 10023-6298
Primary Phone: 212-456-7777
Fax: 212-456-1424
E-Mail: Brian Frons, ABC (netaudr@abc.com)

Improving Your Serve

There are several sports in which one player with a strong technique has a tremendous advantage over his opponent. Tennis great, Andy Roddick, exemplifies this advantage with his powerful serve. From 2001 – 2004, Roddick’s record was 234-74 and at 22 years of age, his prize money totaled over $7 million. On September 10, 2006, Roddick was the runner-up in the U.S. Open and earned $1.1 million. Roddick's new coach, the legendary Jimmy Conners, has helped Andy improve his overall game; but his greatest strength is still his serve.

The "service" advantage transcends beyond the tennis courts into the business world. Growing up in a metropolitan area, I was used to a competitive service industry; which resulted in great customer service, timely responses and a high quality of work. Business owners knew that if their company didn’t perform well, the customer had plenty of other choices to call the next time. In a smaller town, fewer competitors often results in less motivation and a lower quality of workmanship. I recently called one company that took over five months to respond to a simple service call and another that responded within a matter of hours. Which company do you think I will call the next time? Certainly – the one that provided the best service!

Realizing the importance of the “serve,” I carried my thinking beyond the tennis courts and local businesses, into the realm of the local church. Can improving the way we “serve” really make a difference in the local church? The answer is emphatically “yes!” The problem is that too many church members think they are the ones who should be served, rather than realizing that they are supposed to be serving others.

Phil 2:7 (NIV) says that Jesus set the example of serving by humbling Himself and taking on “the very nature of a servant.” When the disciples were arguing over who would be the greatest, Jesus said in Mark 9:35 (NIV), “If anyone wants to be first, he must be the very last, and the servant of all." The Apostle Paul relates a similar thought in Phil 2:3-5 (NIV) as he instructs believers to “consider others better than yourselves… looking not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.” In Gal 5:13 he says that by love, we are to “serve one another.” It is obvious that God wants His church to be “others oriented” and to “serve” one another.

How is your serve? Do you sit in the pew or serve in a ministry? Do you go to church to get something for yourself or to give something to others? Do you complain if things aren’t done exactly the way you prefer or are you flexible for the sake of reaching others? Do you build people up or do you tear them down? Is your religion built on serving the Savior or serving yourself?

Andy Roddick improved his serve through years of practice. Serving others may not come naturally to you; but the more you practice, the better you will become at it. The more Christ-like you become; the easier it will be to develop a spirit of servanthood.

Imitation is the Highest Form of Flattery

Have you ever noticed the role that imitation plays in our lives? Children have sports heroes that they imitate by dressing like them, walking like them, shooting free-throws like them and even knocking the clay from their cleats like them. Some people have music idols that they imitate through dress, dance steps and by singing their songs. Impressionists have become rich by imitating popular singers and celebrities. Corporations have boosted earnings by imitating one another through advertising campaigns and logo spoofs. Imitation is part of everyday life!

Imitation is not limited to individuals, impressionists and corporate America. Imitation is also found in the Christian realm. Perfectly healthy preacher boys used to clear their throats, hack and cough like the famous preacher, Jack Hyles. Today, you’ll find preachers imitating Joel Osteen, Rick Warren, Bill Hybels, Andy Stanley, and Ed Young, Jr. The truth is, we imitate those we want to be like!

Churches also imitate one another. Find a successful church and you'll find other churches imitating their service times, programming, musical styles, outreach events, advertising campaigns, and even hiring pastors of similar age. Some people are offended by imitation; but “Imitation is the greatest form of flattery.” When someone wants to be like you, they are paying you a great compliment. People want to be part of what is successful and for those who are not gifted with creativity; it is easy to follow and simply copy ideas from others. When someone replicates your idea or imitates your ministry, it extends your sphere of influence!

Imitation is also seen in families. Watch the little boy who walks behind his daddy and tries to put his feet in his father’s footprints. Watch the little girl who gets into her mother’s makeup drawer, then puts on her mommy’s shoes. Children imitate their parents because they want to be like them. Imitation is the highest form of flattery!

One of my favorite songs is “I Want To Be Just Like You” by the group Phillips, Craig and Dean. It’s a song about a father who realizes that his son is imitating his every step and the father wants to give him a godly example to follow. The dad realizes that as his son imitates him, he must imitate Christ. The chorus reads as follows, “Lord, I want to be just like You, because he wants to be just like me. I want to be a holy example for his innocent eyes to see. Help me be a living Bible Lord, that my little boy can read. I want to be just like You, because he wants to be like me.” The song presents a great challenge to every parent. Our children desire to imitate us, so we must live in a manner that imitates God.

Imitating God was exactly what the early disciples desired to do. Their actions resulted in them being called Christians for the very first time in Antioch. The term was meant in a derogatory sense, accusing them of imitating Christ and wanting to be like Him. The disciples desired so much to be like Christ, that people began to refer to them as “little Christ’s.” Has anyone ever accused you of trying to be like Christ and imitating Him by your actions? Does your life reflect Christ-likeness?

As you watch people imitate sports heroes, celebrities and personal idols; be reminded that God wants believers to imitate His Son. This is clearly seen in Rom 8:29 (NAS), “For whom He foreknew, He also predestined to become conformed to the image of His Son…” If imitation is the greatest form of flattery, just imagine how God feels when we imitate His Son!

Are You Too Busy?

Surveys reveal that Americans are working more, sleeping less, and burning out more frequently. I am amazed at the number of people who live in a state of exhaustion. They are frazzled, they can't remember things, they display dark circles and bags under the eyes, they are short fused, and usually looking for one more thing to get involved in. Often, the exhaustion is due to trying to keep up with the Jones'. Often it is parents who are trying to put their child in dance, cheerleading, softball, and Girl Scouts. It could be baseball, hunting club, school functions, Boy Scouts, and more! Where does the cycle end?

I remember telling my wife that I hoped life would slow down a little bit in South Carolina vs. South Florida. I was wrong! If anything... the pace has increased! This summer was no exception as I hired a completely new administrative team in our school, we added new members to our church staff, and we renovated several areas of our campus. Sure, God is blessing and our church and school have more than doubled since 2003, but the caution flags went up for me as I preached a message about the Sabbath several weeks back. One thing that caught my attention was the following song by Larnelle Harris. Allow me to share it with you:

(verse 1)
"There he was just waiting, in our old familiar place
an empty spot beside him, where once I used to wait
to be filled with strength and wisdom for the battles of the day
I would have passed him by again if I didn't hear him say
(chorus)
I miss my time with you, those moments together
I need to be with you each day, and it hurts me when you say
You're too busy, busy trying to serve me
but how can you serve me when your spirit's empty
there's a longing in my heart, wanting more than just a part of you
it's true I miss my time with you, what do I have to offer
(verse 2)
How can I truly care, my efforts have no meaning when your presence isn't there
but you will provide the power if I take time to pray
I'll stay right here beside him and you will never have to say..
(chorus)

Perhaps you, too, have been experiencing more of life lately than of "The Life. " If so, why not stop right NOW, sit at Jesus feet, and have a moment of personal communion with Him. In our hectic pace to get through life, don't forget the Giver of Life.