For the first time, I've been watching "The Celebrity Apprentice", and for one single reason. No, it's not because I feel like torturing myself on Sunday nights (I really do hate the show!). It's for Academy Award winning Deaf actress, Marlee Matlin, who is on the show this season, and in my opinion is its only redeeming value.
Amongst the drama filled, gossip loving, hissing women's team is Hope Dworaczyk, one of Playboy's Playmate of the Year winners (did I mention Marlee is the only redeeming value of The Apprentice??). I'd love to list for you Hope's other known qualities, like notable volunteer work, scientific breakthroughs, or any other great talent of hers that involved her clothes on, but alas... she's famous for solely one thing.
During last night's Apprentice the teams were given the task of setting up and decorating a huge glass box advertising tanning lotion for Australian Gold. Of course, great opportunity to exploit some skin. The guys' team did just that, with plenty of scantily clad pirate models. The girls' team however shocked me. The team project manager decided that instead of having Hope be a tanned sex icon for the display, she would instead take care of some other needs for the ad and then, fully clothed, toss around a volleyball in the sand around the display. I have no idea what the project managers reasons were for this, but boy was I thrilled! Not only could I stand to miss seeing a bikini clad Hope, but I was impressed that she was shown being able to work in other areas and be more than for a one-track use.
My feelings of thrill were sadly diminished when the teams sat before Mr. Trump in the board room. He, Australian Gold executives, and others in the room shared there dismay that Hope wasn't used in other more "obvious" ways for the ad. I wish I could communicate my disgust. The wordage was quite carefully picked by saying things like:
"We wish Hope had been more front and center." ~Australian Gold executives (she was LITERALLY standing at the front and in the center of the display).
"You're the playmate of the year... you would think that for sun tanning and all of the things Australian gold stands for, she (the project manager) would have used you, and yet you were not used in that fashion." ~Trump to Hope (I'm glad to be clear on what things Australian Gold stands for).
"Why did you not use Hope? She just became playmate of the year??" Trump questioning the project manager.
"Those girls (the models the guys had) couldn't hold a candle to Hope. We would have got a crowd" " ~Star Jones
"It was cold, and I was still willing to do it. I only needed to be a model one day." ~Hope
"You could have just said, 'Hope, guess what enjoy the bathing suit." ~Trump to the project manager.
Sigh. And so the project manager was made to be the bad guy, Hope the victim, and everyone else the wonderful geniuses who would have stripped down Hope for the sales.
Hope, I'm sure is truly a sad, torn, desperate person. Goodness knows what happened to the little girl in her that decided she wanted to become a professional slut when she grew up. Seriously, I truly do feel heartbroken thinking of her. She has and still is being sold the lie that she is only worth her body and can not be good enough without showing it. That is precisely the message The Apprentice and most modern media tells us.
Hope, though actively involved in the whole project was viewed as "not used" because clearly, they only view her as useful for one single thing. Hope was viewed as not being the model that day, even though she is a model and was there, in the main part of the display. But for the SINGLE reason that she was not showing her body, she was not viewed as a model or a use.
A sick, distorted definition of beauty was given.... to Hope... to men.... to women.... to all of us. Hope has clearly accepted this definition. And I'm sure that inside, she knows that according to that definition, she will expire. Once her beauty fades and the younger version isn't her, she will no longer be viewed as a use to us. I truly believe that thought haunts Hope and other models constantly.
We chew them up and spit them out. We serve ourselves slavery on a silver platter. We continue to push sex in nearly every ad and commercial, joke, movie, book, etc. It's all about sex and sexy women, with no limits. As Dr. Phil says, how's that working for us?
Sin sure is fun for a bit, but boy is the path dark and the end destructive. No wonder we have so many porn and sex addicted men, divorced marriages, cheating spouses, used-to-be-models in rehab, and drug addicted Hollywood women.
I'm so glad God gives a better definition of beauty and brighter path to follow. For more thoughts on this, please read my series "The Distortion of Beauty" Parts 1-3. And please remember to be careful and discerning of what messages the media is sending you.
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Media. Show all posts
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Saturday, July 11, 2009
Oh, Oprah.
I know this video has been out for a while now, but I wanted to post it on here.
I find this clip very disturbing. Here's why:
1. Debate for Jesus? Risky: You can try, but I can't think of the last time someone was debated into faith. It just isn't in the nature of debating. Debating is in itself argumentative and closed-minded. The goals of debating are to manipulate words, make your points, and in essence, win. Debating is generally all about winning, not about seeking the truth together. And it tends to be hostile. So even if you're debating for truth, the nature of debating in itself tends to take away from the focus of truth and seeks instead a competition. While I appreciate that the women in this stuck up for Jesus, I find the one at the microphone to have a much better spirit about it than the one sitting down. I am not picking on that woman, and I TOTALLY understand her frustration; but I'm just saying that the debating nature made me cringe.
2. Oprah's philosophy is not uncommon: The powers of "evil and good" or"light and darkness" are then renamed "fear and love". Oprah says, "One of the mistakes human beings make is that there is only one way." "There are many paths to what you call God..." "There couldn't possibly be one way!" This philosophy is not uncommon. Actually, it is very much common. And scary. So, the people that plowed into the World Trade Towers... did they serve the same God I do? Maybe Oprah thinks so. But they definitely did not.
3. We won't get to the same point, Oprah: "Her loving and her kindness and her generosity, if it brings her to the same point that it brings you, it doesn't matter if she calls it God." Hate to tell ya Oprah, but we won't end up at the same point.
4. She can't get into a religious argument? She sure thought she could until she didn't have an answer back. Oprah's claim that she can't get into a religious argument at the end is poor timing, since she was on board for that argument until she couldn't think of an answer. This is what people around us do every day.... as soon as the questions get tough enough, they turn off the thinking process and give up on seeking answers.
Some truth:
John 3:18- "He that believes on Him is not condemned: but He that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 14:6- "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. "
John 3:16- "16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Hillsong says it well in their song No Reason to Hide:
"We've got nothing to lose,
We've got no reason to hide.
We've got the answer inside of us,
Its time we took the disguises off.
We'll see Your glory revealed,
And see Your Name lifted high.
There's nobody else for us,
Jesus, You are the only One!
There's not a minute to waste,
Not a second to lose!"
To Oprah: If you're gonna deny my God, do it; but do not claim that He is one of "millions" of ways to "the light". If Jesus wasn't Who HE SAID He was, then He was a lying lunatic. So pick one or the other.
To those who personally know the Jesus of the Bible and have a relationship with Him: People are dying and going to hell every day. Oprah asks the question of what about those who never hear of Him? Do we ask that question? Are we taking EVERY OPPORTUNITY to preach the truth of Christ? Do you realize there are many misconceptions about Jesus today? So many claim to believe in Him.... but they do not believe in the "Jesus" we do. Let's not give ourselves a big pat on the back for just claiming Jesus as our friend. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR. We need to share the message of His Salvation! There's not a second to lose!
I find this clip very disturbing. Here's why:
1. Debate for Jesus? Risky: You can try, but I can't think of the last time someone was debated into faith. It just isn't in the nature of debating. Debating is in itself argumentative and closed-minded. The goals of debating are to manipulate words, make your points, and in essence, win. Debating is generally all about winning, not about seeking the truth together. And it tends to be hostile. So even if you're debating for truth, the nature of debating in itself tends to take away from the focus of truth and seeks instead a competition. While I appreciate that the women in this stuck up for Jesus, I find the one at the microphone to have a much better spirit about it than the one sitting down. I am not picking on that woman, and I TOTALLY understand her frustration; but I'm just saying that the debating nature made me cringe.
2. Oprah's philosophy is not uncommon: The powers of "evil and good" or"light and darkness" are then renamed "fear and love". Oprah says, "One of the mistakes human beings make is that there is only one way." "There are many paths to what you call God..." "There couldn't possibly be one way!" This philosophy is not uncommon. Actually, it is very much common. And scary. So, the people that plowed into the World Trade Towers... did they serve the same God I do? Maybe Oprah thinks so. But they definitely did not.
3. We won't get to the same point, Oprah: "Her loving and her kindness and her generosity, if it brings her to the same point that it brings you, it doesn't matter if she calls it God." Hate to tell ya Oprah, but we won't end up at the same point.
4. She can't get into a religious argument? She sure thought she could until she didn't have an answer back. Oprah's claim that she can't get into a religious argument at the end is poor timing, since she was on board for that argument until she couldn't think of an answer. This is what people around us do every day.... as soon as the questions get tough enough, they turn off the thinking process and give up on seeking answers.
Some truth:
John 3:18- "He that believes on Him is not condemned: but He that believes not is condemned already, because he has not believed in the name of the only begotten Son of God."
John 14:6- "Jesus said to him, "I am the way, and the truth, and the life; no one comes to the Father but through Me. "
John 3:16- "16"For God so loved the world, that He gave His only begotten Son, that whoever believes in Him shall not perish, but have eternal life."
Hillsong says it well in their song No Reason to Hide:
"We've got nothing to lose,
We've got no reason to hide.
We've got the answer inside of us,
Its time we took the disguises off.
We'll see Your glory revealed,
And see Your Name lifted high.
There's nobody else for us,
Jesus, You are the only One!
There's not a minute to waste,
Not a second to lose!"
To Oprah: If you're gonna deny my God, do it; but do not claim that He is one of "millions" of ways to "the light". If Jesus wasn't Who HE SAID He was, then He was a lying lunatic. So pick one or the other.
To those who personally know the Jesus of the Bible and have a relationship with Him: People are dying and going to hell every day. Oprah asks the question of what about those who never hear of Him? Do we ask that question? Are we taking EVERY OPPORTUNITY to preach the truth of Christ? Do you realize there are many misconceptions about Jesus today? So many claim to believe in Him.... but they do not believe in the "Jesus" we do. Let's not give ourselves a big pat on the back for just claiming Jesus as our friend. JESUS IS OUR SAVIOUR. We need to share the message of His Salvation! There's not a second to lose!
Friday, April 17, 2009
Finally some fresh air...
In case you're not yet one of the nearly 20 million (so far) viewers of the amazing clip of Susan Boyle on "Britain's Got Talent", check out her song here.
Finally, some true talent and beauty! Not only does this woman have an incredible and beautiful voice, I find her personality delightful. How interesting to watch this situation play out- Susan does not outwardly fit the media's definition of success, beauty, or attraction, and the crowds make it clear that they are not impressed and don't plan to be. But alas! Boy do people's jaws drops when that woman opens her mouth and her amazingly gorgeous voice comes out.
The cheers, applause, and standing ovation that follow show me one thing: this is what we truly crave. This proves to me that people in general are fed-up with the fake beauty and physical requirements that we're given. The superficial never satisfies and this proves to me that we are not satisfied.
Finally a breath of fresh air. Thank you Susan Boyle!
Finally, some true talent and beauty! Not only does this woman have an incredible and beautiful voice, I find her personality delightful. How interesting to watch this situation play out- Susan does not outwardly fit the media's definition of success, beauty, or attraction, and the crowds make it clear that they are not impressed and don't plan to be. But alas! Boy do people's jaws drops when that woman opens her mouth and her amazingly gorgeous voice comes out.
The cheers, applause, and standing ovation that follow show me one thing: this is what we truly crave. This proves to me that people in general are fed-up with the fake beauty and physical requirements that we're given. The superficial never satisfies and this proves to me that we are not satisfied.
Finally a breath of fresh air. Thank you Susan Boyle!
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
The Distortion of Beauty Part 3
We have recognized the distortion of beauty from the how's to the who's. But what now? How should we respond to this assault?
First, we must push aside the distorted view and see beauty for what it truly is. By rejecting the sinful and contaminated perspective from the world, we are compelled to find a new perspective. This can only be found through a Biblical one.
Do you want to have a Biblical perspective of beauty? Then you must know its Maker.
You see, God Himself is the Creator of beauty. If we want to understand it, we have to understand Him. God designed beauty to be an attraction on the outside and inside- and in its original perfect creation, beauty is a pure and lovely pleasure and a holy attractiveness. Some forget that God loves beauty- He designed it and enjoys it (Genesis 1:31)! So I'm not suggesting that we must be plain, drab, and not spend a second of care on our appearance. Of course not! Who created the sunset, the sparkling ocean, the starry nights, and the female form? God did, and He not only finds beauty in it Himself but He made us to enjoy the beauty as well. Women should enjoy their loveliness! From little girls spinning in their dresses to grown women with a new set of jewelry, we should revel in our prettiness. Too a point.
You see, the problem comes when this drive for beauty consumes us. The time we spend on ourselves spins out of control. Our mental focus is driven to what others think of us. Our good stewardship is lost as our finances are cast away on our search for beauty. Our satisfaction goes only as deep as our appearance pleases us and others. Instead of enjoying our gift of beauty, it becomes an idol.
Do you see how beauty is so often an idol? Is it an idol to you?
We need to use and enjoy our beauty only so much as we can still glorify God in it. This means having an attitude of beauty. We must be beautiful on the inside before we can be truly beautiful on the outside.
Do you know any "beautiful" people who are actually hideous because of their inside self? Are you inwardly beautiful?
We must have a spirit of humility, kindness, thankfulness, and servitude if we want to be truly beautiful (Proverbs 31:30). We also need to limit the time we spend on ourselves! I wonder what would happen to the Church if the women in it spent as much time in the Word and prayer as they do on their appearance. Amazing things could happen!
And also, don't allow the worlds sickness to become yours. Refuse to settle for its cheap definition of beauty. I encourage both men AND women to look away from the ads and magazines. And don't absorb yourself in movies and novels that teach you to live skin deep. View others in a deeper way and view yourself the same. Don't judge others for their appearance- look within.
Look within. This is the key to true beauty. This takes us full circle to my original point in Part 1. As we saw then, man's tendency is to look merely on the outward, but God looks within (1 Samuel 16:7). As Christians, we are called to also look within.
The Bible (in James 1:23,24) talks about how if we look in a mirror physically it matters so us. We primp and remember our appearance. Yet how often we look within ourselves at our spiritual mirrors, see something we know needs changed, and just walk away, completely forgetting what we even look like! We need to be maintaining our inward beauty with much more care and drive than our outward beauty.
So to men and woman alike: next time the world whispers its offer of beauty to you, don't listen. See it for what it really is- fake, distorted, and dying. Choose true beauty, Biblical beauty, instead. Seek the inward first, and enjoy the outward in its Biblical limitations (whether this means a time limit, pride limit, or marriage limit).
The outward is passing, but the inward is eternal. Revel in true beauty, and settle for no less.
First, we must push aside the distorted view and see beauty for what it truly is. By rejecting the sinful and contaminated perspective from the world, we are compelled to find a new perspective. This can only be found through a Biblical one.
Do you want to have a Biblical perspective of beauty? Then you must know its Maker.
You see, God Himself is the Creator of beauty. If we want to understand it, we have to understand Him. God designed beauty to be an attraction on the outside and inside- and in its original perfect creation, beauty is a pure and lovely pleasure and a holy attractiveness. Some forget that God loves beauty- He designed it and enjoys it (Genesis 1:31)! So I'm not suggesting that we must be plain, drab, and not spend a second of care on our appearance. Of course not! Who created the sunset, the sparkling ocean, the starry nights, and the female form? God did, and He not only finds beauty in it Himself but He made us to enjoy the beauty as well. Women should enjoy their loveliness! From little girls spinning in their dresses to grown women with a new set of jewelry, we should revel in our prettiness. Too a point.
You see, the problem comes when this drive for beauty consumes us. The time we spend on ourselves spins out of control. Our mental focus is driven to what others think of us. Our good stewardship is lost as our finances are cast away on our search for beauty. Our satisfaction goes only as deep as our appearance pleases us and others. Instead of enjoying our gift of beauty, it becomes an idol.
Do you see how beauty is so often an idol? Is it an idol to you?
We need to use and enjoy our beauty only so much as we can still glorify God in it. This means having an attitude of beauty. We must be beautiful on the inside before we can be truly beautiful on the outside.
Do you know any "beautiful" people who are actually hideous because of their inside self? Are you inwardly beautiful?
We must have a spirit of humility, kindness, thankfulness, and servitude if we want to be truly beautiful (Proverbs 31:30). We also need to limit the time we spend on ourselves! I wonder what would happen to the Church if the women in it spent as much time in the Word and prayer as they do on their appearance. Amazing things could happen!
And also, don't allow the worlds sickness to become yours. Refuse to settle for its cheap definition of beauty. I encourage both men AND women to look away from the ads and magazines. And don't absorb yourself in movies and novels that teach you to live skin deep. View others in a deeper way and view yourself the same. Don't judge others for their appearance- look within.
Look within. This is the key to true beauty. This takes us full circle to my original point in Part 1. As we saw then, man's tendency is to look merely on the outward, but God looks within (1 Samuel 16:7). As Christians, we are called to also look within.
The Bible (in James 1:23,24) talks about how if we look in a mirror physically it matters so us. We primp and remember our appearance. Yet how often we look within ourselves at our spiritual mirrors, see something we know needs changed, and just walk away, completely forgetting what we even look like! We need to be maintaining our inward beauty with much more care and drive than our outward beauty.
So to men and woman alike: next time the world whispers its offer of beauty to you, don't listen. See it for what it really is- fake, distorted, and dying. Choose true beauty, Biblical beauty, instead. Seek the inward first, and enjoy the outward in its Biblical limitations (whether this means a time limit, pride limit, or marriage limit).
The outward is passing, but the inward is eternal. Revel in true beauty, and settle for no less.
Monday, March 30, 2009
The Distortion of Beauty Part 2
The fact that beauty is being distorted more and more is not something I'm going to try to argue or defend. This fact is the foundation for my current blogs, and I'm going to assume it is a common ground for us.
The question I now want to pursue is this: what is it that is distorting beauty? The devil and sin would be safe Sunday School answers, and at its root this is indeed the cause. But I want to think more deeply. What are the tools that Satan is using in this attack against beauty?
There are certainly quite a few tools he uses, but for this blog I just want to focus on one. The media. I would readily say the media is one of the largest weapons of his against true beauty. I'm sure it is no surprise to you that I think this, considering my video in Part 1. Amongst all the airbrushing, fashion, make-up wonders, plastic surgeries, and perfectionist mentalities, we are definitely taught that beauty is indeed skin deep. From television to magazines it is the made-up, fake, and flawless surface beauty that we are given as our definition and goal of beauty. It is one that is for the most part unreachable without a crew of beauty artists and Photo-shop. Yet how many of us find ourselves striving for this? We try our hardest on our own to meet the world's demands for beauty. We think if we could just find the right concealer, mascara or hair dye we would be that much closer to matching the images we are given. We keep striving and keep coming short. We find ourselves insecure and frustrated. This is because the standards we are given are fraudulent. Cheap, unreal, counterfeit images. Instead of becoming discouraged or unsatisfied with our appearance we should be outraged at the requirements before us.
Look at the media and look at how much the world is pouring into this so-called beauty. Think how many magazine articles, television shows, critics, and movies are nothing but a revelry of this cheap counterfeit. Magazine after magazine tells us the secrets and hints of beauty. Movies and TV shows depict the longed-for, if only we were that beautiful. Critics define one's status and success by what they wear. So much money, energy, time, and emotions are poured into this thing we call "beauty". We should be sickened.
I challenge you to sit for even one hour and watch TV with all the discernment you can muster up. Listen to what the media is telling you. Hear that? Listen to what it tells you would make you beautiful. Listen to what it tells you you need. Listen to who it tells you is beautiful, and who is not. Listen to what it tells you to do with that beauty. Listen.
Listen, and start fighting Satan's biggest weapon against beauty.
The question I now want to pursue is this: what is it that is distorting beauty? The devil and sin would be safe Sunday School answers, and at its root this is indeed the cause. But I want to think more deeply. What are the tools that Satan is using in this attack against beauty?
There are certainly quite a few tools he uses, but for this blog I just want to focus on one. The media. I would readily say the media is one of the largest weapons of his against true beauty. I'm sure it is no surprise to you that I think this, considering my video in Part 1. Amongst all the airbrushing, fashion, make-up wonders, plastic surgeries, and perfectionist mentalities, we are definitely taught that beauty is indeed skin deep. From television to magazines it is the made-up, fake, and flawless surface beauty that we are given as our definition and goal of beauty. It is one that is for the most part unreachable without a crew of beauty artists and Photo-shop. Yet how many of us find ourselves striving for this? We try our hardest on our own to meet the world's demands for beauty. We think if we could just find the right concealer, mascara or hair dye we would be that much closer to matching the images we are given. We keep striving and keep coming short. We find ourselves insecure and frustrated. This is because the standards we are given are fraudulent. Cheap, unreal, counterfeit images. Instead of becoming discouraged or unsatisfied with our appearance we should be outraged at the requirements before us.
Look at the media and look at how much the world is pouring into this so-called beauty. Think how many magazine articles, television shows, critics, and movies are nothing but a revelry of this cheap counterfeit. Magazine after magazine tells us the secrets and hints of beauty. Movies and TV shows depict the longed-for, if only we were that beautiful. Critics define one's status and success by what they wear. So much money, energy, time, and emotions are poured into this thing we call "beauty". We should be sickened.
I challenge you to sit for even one hour and watch TV with all the discernment you can muster up. Listen to what the media is telling you. Hear that? Listen to what it tells you would make you beautiful. Listen to what it tells you you need. Listen to who it tells you is beautiful, and who is not. Listen to what it tells you to do with that beauty. Listen.
Listen, and start fighting Satan's biggest weapon against beauty.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
The Distortion of Beauty Part 1
According to the Bible, man loooks on the outward appearance while God looks on the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). We often take this as a good reminder that God is looking within us and cares more about our status within than without. But the drive of humanity towards the outward focus is also present in this verse, and it is a drive that is stronger than ever today. Beauty has become something it was never created to be, and it really no longer is beauty that we see but instead a cheap fraudulent imposter. In the next few posts I hope to explore this issue of our loss of true beauty. One prevailing problem is that the fake beauty we are constantly being presented with is a standard that woman can never achieve and an allure that men will never find.
To kick off this topic, I am posting this video by "Dove" to get our hearts and mental wheels turning.
To kick off this topic, I am posting this video by "Dove" to get our hearts and mental wheels turning.
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