Billboard Irony

"How else to explain the billboard fiasco above our church offices in Mo'town?"

....."Makes me wonder what's in store with this one..."

These are two pictures recently seen on Liquid staff blogs. To refer to my previous blog, is the church changing that quickly? The quotes below each picture are taken directly from the staff blogs, and I think they are certainly ironic. Don't you think? a little too ironic? First, the showing of female flesh next to a church billboard is a "fiasco" joke, next it is actually promoting a series at Liquid. I ask again, is the church changing that quickly? Where will it end?

Liquid Church on Thin Ice!

Greetings to friends of Liquid Church, now featuring the iCampus where people from all around the world and even NJ can watch messages on a screen. Isn't technology advancing so much that these things are even possible? It's amazing what things we can create given a little God-given creativity and it really works at bringing people along to church and getting them interested. Well, who wouldn't with advertisement like this? Yeah, I know, I would think it is as eye catching as a poster for a new club downtown, or is it? It's supposed to be a flyer advertising the new series at Liquid Church. They are going to be discussing Love, Sex, and everything in between- God's way! Sounds like a really exciting topic, and if I know Pastor Tim, he will do it with zest, creativity and sound Biblical teaching. It will surely be interesting to listen to no matter what stage of life you are in I think. The problem that is sticking in my mind is not where their heart is with the purpose and content of the series; on the contrary, I think it is important to discuss these topics which have long been taboo in many church settings. The problem is the way they are enticing people in. While this kind of image may be eye catching (obviously including Barbie legs has been known to work for years at selling anything) it reminds me of images of things in the world which are aimed at getting things to sell using sexual imagery that exploits women's bodies. Now, I know they are only legs, but guys, help me out here, can your imagination do anything with this image? I know my mind immediately brings up associations of alcohol ads, night clubs, sexy video store stuff etc. This is not because I am into dirty stuff that is on the forefront of my mind either. It's because this looks "just like" the stuff the world puts out there for a variety of reasons.

There is also a video that goes along with this picture advertising the series which can be viewed on facebook. Check out the following link to view the page entitled "Heat: The Series" http://www.facebook.com/pages/HEAT-the-Series/45687008546
This page contains the promo video, desktop media, iPhone wallpaper and an online invitation to send to your friends through facebook. The invites are guy and girl, meaning an image of a girl's legs or a guy's chest to be aimed at each gender group. I don't know about you girls, but something spicy like this image with Barbie legs on it or a Ken doll's chest does not look like something that would entice me. I don't see the point in the desktop wallpaper because it seems like a really "Christian" way of getting degrading fleshy (albeit cartoons) representational images into your electronic toys. The video contains "pron" style music played over a cartoon-like scene of 3 guys on the beach checking out the hot legs of Barbie walking past even including a zoom in on her upper thighs. Is all this necessary? In fact, it makes me sad and concerned that this is apparently the chosen option for encouraging people to come and hear great truth from the word of God. Please check out the facebook page so you will see what I mean. Is there a positive effect that this can have on your soul? If you just read this post, you may get the impression that I am just being righteously indignant for no reason, but check it out, think about it and then respond with what God puts on your heart. Here are some verses for inspiration:

Philippians 4:8 (NIV)

4Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Romans 12:2 (NIV)

2Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

1 Corinthians 2:11-13 (NIV)

11For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the man's spirit within him? In the same way no one knows the thoughts of God except the Spirit of God. 12We have not received the spirit of the world but the Spirit who is from God, that we may understand what God has freely given us. 13This is what we speak, not in words taught us by human wisdom but in words taught by the Spirit, expressing spiritual truths in spiritual words.

James 4:4-5 (NIV)

4You adulterous people, don't you know that friendship with the world is hatred toward God? Anyone who chooses to be a friend of the world becomes an enemy of God. 5Or do you think Scripture says without reason that the spirit he caused to live in us envies intensely?

John 17:13-15 (New International Version)

13"I am coming to you now, but I say these things while I am still in the world, so that they may have the full measure of my joy within them. 14I have given them your word and the world has hated them, for they are not of the world any more than I am of the world. 15My prayer is not that you take them out of the world but that you protect them from the evil one.

Conclusion: I think we need to watch out that our message is true, honest and clear about what God says and more importantly who He is! I would be ashamed to invite friends to this series just because of the promo stuff; it seems like false advertising to me. We aren't selling sex are we? We are encouraging learning and growing in the truth of God and Christian living in 2009. So if you are a friend of Liquid Church, please pray for its leaders and God's hand in what is going on there. It is a great thing to be a growing church, and pray that God will continue to bless people involved and coming in for their first encounter with God and that it would be a place where people can meet with God and worship Him and learn about Him without anything getting in the way!

Britons and the Snow

Well, local articles have been talking about the snow non-stop in every newspaper. Basically the whole Island came to a standstill. Here is our road before it got plowed. Yes, the plow did come, but they didn't plow many back lanes where lots of people live which causes a problem. And you know how in the states, there is a law that says that you have to clear your area of sidewalk in front of your house so no one slips on it?........well they don't have that rule here, and no one clears it. So the sidewalks are still very treacherous as we speak 3 days after the snow. In fact, the snow is still not cleared properly in lots of places, so much so that some things were still canceled because of the snow today! Not because of more snow today mind you, the snow on Monday! Can you believe it? I couldn't especially because we got the most, and the most was around 4 inches of snow. The problem is that since they only get snow every 18 years (yes that is the is the last time it snowed this much!) they have no idea what to do. No one thinks it is important to shovel their driveway, and the town doesn't feel responsible for making the roads safe, so they tell everyone to stay home. Then the complaint is that England lost millions of pounds due to no one at work for 2 days. Well, here is my solution oh Great Britain: Either plow the snow or deal with money loss! Well, anyway I enjoyed the snow, and I hope you enjoyed the pictures. This snowfall was certainly a momentous occasion around here. And they think it may snow again today, but as we speak it is raining, so who knows, maybe we are back to normal!

Snow Day Scenes

Snow Day in Stansted

It is officially a snow day here in Stansted. In fact, many of the schools around the area are closed today. Both of my in-laws and Tim were off school today due to the snow. I have to say that we are lucky, because normally in this little snow we would have probably just had a delayed opening back at home if anything depending on the area. So we were able to go out for a snowy walk and take tons of pictures and video footage in the beautiful snow. I better soak it up now, because this amount of snow is very rare I am told. So I hope we have the chance to take a few more shots later one today. The great thing is that everything here is already so quaint that when it gets covered in snow it is even more quaint that things usually get back at home. I will post some more pictures to follow this post so you can see what I mean. But, some of the funny things are one: people are not shoveling anything, two: no one has dusted off their cars mainly because they don't think the snow will last at all and there has never been a need to clear the snow before it freezes. It is very funny, and I am slightly worried we will have a sheet of ice all on our driveway and all the sidewalks on our roads by tomorrow. The world does seem to stop at the first sign of snow here, and it seems no one is intending to leave their house until the thaw. Ha. I can't imagine leaving it until the thaw back at home due to the fact that it may not fully happen until March! But they are certain it will thaw, and if it doesn't they just won't get out until it does! No one in NJ would be able to get away with that. We would have to get back to work the next day for sure! Well anyway, we are going to enjoy our snow day today and have some hot cocoa and watch movies! I have one thing to say to Elise, but first I need to squeeze her cheeks: squeezing: Now Elise, you know what you have to say........"Let it shnooOow!"