In the interest of streamlining communications, I am migrating this blog to facebook. This means that I will no longer be posting photos, links, updates, or articles on this site.
Please join me on facebook where you will find updated photo galleries and notes on topics of interest to me. Who knows? You may also find some old friends and make new ones. You can also become a fan of my business (click here). To join me on facebook, click here.
Thank you to all my devoted readers since this blog's inception in September 2006, at which time I commemorated the blog to my Grandma. Incidentally, her 85th birthday is just around the corner. I also start my first graduate course September 2. We have had a good two years' run, but I still want to keep in touch so click on the above links and we'll see you online soon!
26 August 2008
04 August 2008
Heart Health
Read this insightful and recent article on heart health. Finally -- a physician who takes a holistic approach. I want to meet more of them!
| So, remove grief and anger from your heart and put away pain from your body, because childhood and the prime of life are fleeting. |
31 July 2008
What is in a Word: Communications Principles in a Media and Political-Driven Climate
I'm going to break with convention and post about politics. I don't usually break with convention -- that is convention of my own definition -- unless you consider my first attempts at renegade when I was a child sporting a yellow and white Donald Duck ski cap in the summer in my Easter dress, and to top it off I had quite the ride: a hand-me-down yellow and white plastic three wheeler that I rode so much the front tire cracked, and I didn't care because she still drove sweet cracks, wobbles, and all. All of this in spite of the fact that I'm told I don't look good in yellow or white. Anyway, don't worry too much because though I am posting about politics now, I'm more concerned with undercurrents of communications and faith in current political culture.
Coverless Books
It is important to know what issues our civic servants vote on because then we can know what they believe. Researching, publishing, and distributing politicians' voting records adds to the discussion because it gives us information about the candidate. People sometimes complain that we shouldn't judge somebody without knowing them, or as the old adage goes "don't judge a book by its cover." A good principle to follow in theory, but when it comes to politics, this is not always possible. To say that we can't comment on someone we don't know is ridiculous because few of us know any candidates we vote for with the exception of my mayor for whom I used to work when he owned a publication I shot feature photos for. Suffice it to say, media coverage of political candidates has been wanting for some time.
Gateways of Information
Back in the day candidates used to write regular columns in newspapers where cities who had less population than our cities do now had several times more papers than we do now. Back in the day candidates gave town speeches. Back in the day would seem the populace had more access to their public officials. Then the populace had direct access to their candidates often in person via two-way communication where ordinary citizens could debate issues with each other and keep a rotten tomato on hand just in case. Now we have media conglomerates and synergies as our gateway to information about people.
Entertainment or Information?
Let's start out with something positive: I am grateful that we live in a society where our founding fathers valued the exchange of ideas so much that they created the Bill of Rights to sanction freedom of speech as a hallmark of a free society. Remember that our founding fathers and the Pilgrims fled a society that denied them their rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" because they believe differently than the state church (hence Benjamin Franklyn's attribution to separation of church and state, but that is an entirely different topic for another time). Journalists and other media content providers invest in their field; some with passion, some with intelligence, and some with both. We can appreciate such professionals work especially when it honors our forefather's vision for a free society.
As a student of mass media communications I often feel concerned that the ever-blurring distinction between entertainment and information. Never mind news media's penchant for framing stories and editorializing news instead of info reporting as they used to. Never mind the localization of news where in spite of current technological advances the world is actually getting smaller as news producers publish stories of interest to us in our neighborhood and not to rest of the world. We can't be too hard on the media because after all they have stockholders and boards perhaps who influence media content.
Still the same it is important to understand that our gateway of information can be clouded by philosophies of which we may be unaware. For example, some journalists may see themselves more as revolutionaries and activists than they do storytellers and this can be problematic because they will approach a story in a different way and most likely misrepresent the story as a result. In this fashion mass media has become more of a public relations firm when it comes to reporting political candidates who have become more like celebrities in the public's mind rather than civic servants.
And with media's penchant for sensationalist coverage -- "if it bleeds it leads" -- which is not necessarily in and of itself bad (consider how stories about human depravity can cause us to reflect on our own life and make better decisions, etc.) -- you know they are enamored with their subject when they speak positively about someone. While positive coverage is good and all, media positivity about politics can be a red flag to a discerning viewer. This is largely because media, in its self-professed watchdog role for government, has become somewhat of an executive branch itself. Western tradition allows for the privatization of journalism, and this is a good thing because you don't want government paying for your news coverage, or more likely propaganda, either. Still the only trouble is that there is no consistent check and balance for media because the media is often caught in between the public and private sector.
Glory-basking and Peer Pressure
You may think I'm being negative in what I'm about to say, but keep in mind that I consider myself to be equal parts idealist and pragmatist. We tend to like people who we think are either good-looking or famous. Face it we want to know people who are successful because in their glow we can feel successful too. This is called glory-basking and I think it influences peer pressure when it comes to jumping on the bandwagon in voting for the person we think is most popularized by our media -- which we interpret to be in a wider sense accepted by our culture. Certainly there are people who think differently than I do on this topic but I doubt many approach this current election from this point of view. We like to think that we make up our own minds and decisions and the media often says that if people didn't like it then they wouldn't watch it. That is ridiculous because media writers determine what content goes on the air and what doesn't. They also showed they had some class after September 11 when they pulled certain programming from air that they thought may be upsetting to its viewers. This isolated decision suggests media programmers are capable of discernment, but may be motivated more by what they can or can't get away with.
The Moonwalking Bear
Consider McCain who is now being called the moonwalking bear, a reference to a biking safety commercial, and if you click the link and watch the commercial you'll understand what I mean when I make the following statement. Whatever we choose to focus on allows everything else to go by the wayside and we have to be aware of how we are filtering the information we receive on a daily basis by asking the following questions: who is the source of information, is the information true, what motives do the information tellers have or what can they gain from sharing, and what is the larger context. While we may think we are media savvy I seriously doubt it because you have to ask yourself do you really want to take the time and effort to seek out what is true about a person or a situation, or do you just want to be entertained? People have to work longer and harder and are "busier" than ever it seems. I think while people genuinely wants to make good decisions they are not always given the resources to due to our sources of information.
Revealing My Cards
Anyway, I know who I am voting for this year and is not Obama. I dislike the direction media is going because I don't like to be manipulated. I like to be treated as an intelligent person who has a soul who cares about the world around me and our future. I find the coverage of current candidates irritating yes, but an affront to reason. Case in point: notice at least two magazine covers with Obama posing in prayer or reflection with the title inviting the reader to consider him as a man of faith. Certainly we are all people of faith, but it is what or whom we put our trust in that makes the difference. I suspect he's just trying to get the vote of the Christian demographic because pundits complained about the Christian vote last time around, which they said was the swing vote that ushered Bush into the White House (never mind that his election percentages were just as favorable and high as Kennedy's). I credit grassroots efforts to Bush winning his second term, a longed for headbutt from the populace to the media. People I think are becoming fed up with the media telling them who to vote for with their exclusive coverage.
A lesser consideration, but one that annoys me as a business person, is his brand. I have problems with his brand of "change" for his campaign because of course any election will bring about change. Duh. Historically the political pendulum has swung from left to right in cycle with our term limits. It's also prudent to reference the past to understand what changes are needed and why before we hurry into the future to usher in the next allegedly better thing. I don't want the change he brings because I disagree with his guiding principles as shown by his voting record. Besides how much change can a person bring if they're focusing all their efforts on marketing collateral instead of letting their work speak for itself. Branding must be authentic. Without authenticity branding is vanity at its best and fake at its worse.
The trouble with revealing my cards is that I fear I will alienate people, especially people whom I care about like family and friends and neighbors and clients and okay most people I know, who disagree with my position. Isn't that absurd? I seem to remember from my philosophy class years and years ago a man named John Stuart Mill who wrote on the principle of a free society depending on disagreement in the public sector, because if people were disagreeing in the public sector then they were communicating in the public sector, and if they are communicating in the public sector, then they were also assembling together in public -- freely and without risk of being captured and branded and sent away to prison and having their tongues cut out or some such as was the custom in some countries including Britain in its early days of journalism. Anyway I hope those friends who read this post who disagree with me or who feel annoyed by some of my statements still remember that I care about them and after November this election will be over, but our friendships last a lifetime, or a least they can if we invest in them and not let matters of politics dissuade us. More on that later.
Opinions versus Convictions
People who know me know that I tend to make up my mind pretty quickly about my opinions, although it may take me awhile to get to the point, but I like to make my opinions known. That's very much the case for most of the women in my family and I applaud them for it. Still communications is very important because through our symbols of words we connect with each other. I should hope that people think before they reply to future e-mails or discussions about important matters. Knee-jerk reactions only escalate discussion and don't build community. It is possible to disagree by use of reason and with respect -- even if we throw in a little bit of sass. This is the hardest thing of all: to return insult with a blessing.
Adjusting Our Expectations and Perspective
Perhaps we need thicker skin. Perhaps we get offended too easily. Adjusting our perspective by changing our expectations can help. For example, do not expect government or a cause to save a society. Biblical explanation for government is that its duty is to be the corrective authority for right and wrong in a society, thereby sanctioning the value of each person to live a whole and healthy life unmolested by social dominance and injustice. However, government or a cause cannot save a person from his or her own heart. History illustrates the heinous deeds of humankind toward, and if we assume that belief determines behavior, then we can conclude that those who exhibit harmful behaviors had a starting point in their minds. Certainly there are those who live well in part because they regard others instead of seeking to dominate them. Still we cannot even save ourselves from our own worst enemy: the enemy within. If you could capture every thought you ever had in your lifetime, would they all be good?
I am no humanist. Like I said, I am equal parts idealist and pragmatist. Changing our expectations of ourselves and our society (each other) will allow us greater freedom in part because we will accept our failings instead of putting misplaced hope in others. The greatest solution for social change was offered through Jesus Christ because he offered a solution that changes people's hearts and minds, thus effecting change in the smallest element of a society, the individual.
Jesus: Servant-minded Leadership
This is why Jesus is so unique. After he had endured an unjust trial, which included torture, he said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," and this before he died on a cross (a Roman torture and execution tool of the time). Jesus was committed to death not because he had committed a crime but because religious leaders felt threatened by his power, and political leaders were too busy playing their own internal power play in an effort to preserve their own position. Jealously plain and simple, and fear of loss of power motivated people's decision for voting for Jesus' death. As Jesus claimed to be God I think he had more in mind than being victimized by the people with whom he came to serve -- the people he created:
Jesus proved his divinity by his miracles and resurrection from the dead. He proved his obedience to the father by giving up his life. And God proved his love for us in doing the same. What is wonderful about Jesus' leadership is that there is no one above him and so when I give my life to his service I am less likely to concern myself with social dominance, which should be of concern to us as a free society.
The best part of Jesus though is not how he fits into my theories on social dominance, mass media communications, or influence, but that his life gives me life, and for that I am grateful. So I've already cast my spiritual vote and I've voted for Jesus, and I know my vote will pay me a good return because he is coming back as he said and on that day he will rule with fairness and peace and he won't need any image spinners to persuade the world of his merit.
What is in a Word?
Until that time, may I suggest that we follow one important rule as far as media and politics are concerned: speak the truth and "speak the truth in love." If it's not the truth then it is either a lie, a persuasion, or an opinion -- and none of which are worth flame throwing over. If you see me get out a line then please politely remind me of my own conviction because apt words give life, and though such words may be hard to come by in today's self-professed information age, we can make a difference in our media and political saturated culture as we can in other areas of our everyday lives. We can make a difference because we alone are responsible for what we choose to believe and why, and our beliefs often express themselves and our behavior -- including our speech. As the Psalmist wrote:
Friendship: A Lasting Influence
I'm grateful that God hears my prayers and this is not because I have a good image but because he does, and I am created in his image as are you. Sometimes I feel I have to apologize for making prescriptive statements about people and God, but I'm going to break with that convention, too. Fear of people is the only reason to not speak of God, Jesus, and the tenets of my faith. I'm called to love people and not fearthem, and this is a challenge to me sometimes when I'm more concerned with impressing people than I am influencing them. There is a difference, and the difference originates from whether I relate to people based on my motives for self-preservation or motives of concern and regard. Jesus came and called himself friend to those who believe in him. He certainly showed himself friendly to most everyone (except for the Pharisees with whom he showed himself to have a backbone and prowess in debate, but that is another story).
I have found the richest relationships are often those that have been redeemed. Consider crisis communications for example, where I faced a potential business crisis and needed to acknowledge my mistake to my client and resolve the surrounding conflict effectively and successfully. Now these clients are my biggest fans and friends and I return the love in kind.
There is nothing more rewarding in life than to find loyalty and friendship in the midst of misunderstanding. Perhaps this is why God allowed history to unfold as it did regarding the fall where Adam and Eve chose incorrectly to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Their mistake was that they wanted to be God without God and so believed the lie that this was possible. This misguided aspiration to delusions of grandeur is where most if not all conflict originates. That is why it frees me to journey towards worshiping God. I don't have to be God because I am not God, nor do I have to prove myself or my position to anyone else. I can be free to live by purpose and love. And it is a journey. As for me I want to live the life God has given me, and part of that means engaging with my culture by speaking true words, seeking peace, doing what is right, and sharing my life with others. The latter I define as friendship and to me friendship is among the greatest gifts that our words and actions can foster.
Courage for Our Calling
It takes courage to speak what is unpopular, to defy convention, and to go against the grain of pop culture. I find that the greatest proponents of tolerance theory as a virtue often misapply their own philosophy by marginalizing those who disagree with them. Disagreement defines our greatest difference because disagreement of ideas is far more powerful than difference of race, gender, age, religion, or creed. People in power know that ideas are powerful. Consider that at this moment in time religious persecution around the world is on the rise in nation-states where rulers tout group ideology as a way to maintain their own position. There are religions and political philosophies in the world that despise free thought. Christianity has often been the revolutionary and proponent of free thought. Popular culture currently disavows this fact, but history shows Christianity's merits in supporting a free society because Christianity teaches not to oppress those who disagree with its followers, but to show love towards them and pray for them whilst we live out our faith in other real ways.
Remember Guttenberg and Cassius Clay and Martin Luther -- all of whom used the power of the printed word to advocate freedom from the status quo. In Guttenberg's case he wanted to make the Bible available to the populace. In Clay's case he wanted to stop slavery in spite of many threats to his life and would eventually form the Republican Party. In Luther's case he wanted to free people from dependency on the corporate church to realize that they are individually saved by God's grace. Even Julian of Norwich, an anchoress (considered the "anchor" of the Catholic Church and lived there dispensing advice, living an ascetic lifestyle, etc.) in medieval times, wrote with authority as a woman where her faith's teachings gave her automony to teach her audience with a prescriptive writing style. So we Christians can engage with our culture using our reason and the cornerstones of our faith -- and actually affect positive change. This is our challenge. It is not enough to immerse ourselves in entertainment and neglect nurturing our minds and souls and thereby our societies. It is necessary to take time to reflect, to study, to pray, and to share our person and our faith with others as we grow in kind within ourselves.
Jesus never intended us to be consumers only as far as our faith is concerned. He prayed that as Christians we would show unity to the world, and that the world would then know us by our love. He also assured us he is with us, and warned us to expect trouble because he knew that as a world rejected him so with the world reject his followers. Still he directs us to "go in peace" and to "go into all the world." So involve yourself with God and with your neighbors and don't shy away from the calling he has given you. Be encouraged to define what you're calling is through reflection and prayer, ask other people who know you well for their impressions as you consider your talents and skill-set, and ask your self and God how you can live your life to the fullest -- not compartmentalized but brazenly and daringly embarking on the calling that God has for you. And don't fret when people get their noses out of joint because you live out your faith in your public and your private life. History reminds us that if it is unpopular today, it may be considered revolutionary tomorrow.
Sources
Rosko, Dena. "R" Abode: Online Blog. What is in a Word: Communications Principles in a Media and Political-Driven Climate. 2008 August 1. [Date You Accessed].
Coverless Books
It is important to know what issues our civic servants vote on because then we can know what they believe. Researching, publishing, and distributing politicians' voting records adds to the discussion because it gives us information about the candidate. People sometimes complain that we shouldn't judge somebody without knowing them, or as the old adage goes "don't judge a book by its cover." A good principle to follow in theory, but when it comes to politics, this is not always possible. To say that we can't comment on someone we don't know is ridiculous because few of us know any candidates we vote for with the exception of my mayor for whom I used to work when he owned a publication I shot feature photos for. Suffice it to say, media coverage of political candidates has been wanting for some time.
Gateways of Information
Back in the day candidates used to write regular columns in newspapers where cities who had less population than our cities do now had several times more papers than we do now. Back in the day candidates gave town speeches. Back in the day would seem the populace had more access to their public officials. Then the populace had direct access to their candidates often in person via two-way communication where ordinary citizens could debate issues with each other and keep a rotten tomato on hand just in case. Now we have media conglomerates and synergies as our gateway to information about people.
Entertainment or Information?
Let's start out with something positive: I am grateful that we live in a society where our founding fathers valued the exchange of ideas so much that they created the Bill of Rights to sanction freedom of speech as a hallmark of a free society. Remember that our founding fathers and the Pilgrims fled a society that denied them their rights to "life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness" because they believe differently than the state church (hence Benjamin Franklyn's attribution to separation of church and state, but that is an entirely different topic for another time). Journalists and other media content providers invest in their field; some with passion, some with intelligence, and some with both. We can appreciate such professionals work especially when it honors our forefather's vision for a free society.
As a student of mass media communications I often feel concerned that the ever-blurring distinction between entertainment and information. Never mind news media's penchant for framing stories and editorializing news instead of info reporting as they used to. Never mind the localization of news where in spite of current technological advances the world is actually getting smaller as news producers publish stories of interest to us in our neighborhood and not to rest of the world. We can't be too hard on the media because after all they have stockholders and boards perhaps who influence media content.
Still the same it is important to understand that our gateway of information can be clouded by philosophies of which we may be unaware. For example, some journalists may see themselves more as revolutionaries and activists than they do storytellers and this can be problematic because they will approach a story in a different way and most likely misrepresent the story as a result. In this fashion mass media has become more of a public relations firm when it comes to reporting political candidates who have become more like celebrities in the public's mind rather than civic servants.
And with media's penchant for sensationalist coverage -- "if it bleeds it leads" -- which is not necessarily in and of itself bad (consider how stories about human depravity can cause us to reflect on our own life and make better decisions, etc.) -- you know they are enamored with their subject when they speak positively about someone. While positive coverage is good and all, media positivity about politics can be a red flag to a discerning viewer. This is largely because media, in its self-professed watchdog role for government, has become somewhat of an executive branch itself. Western tradition allows for the privatization of journalism, and this is a good thing because you don't want government paying for your news coverage, or more likely propaganda, either. Still the only trouble is that there is no consistent check and balance for media because the media is often caught in between the public and private sector.
Glory-basking and Peer Pressure
You may think I'm being negative in what I'm about to say, but keep in mind that I consider myself to be equal parts idealist and pragmatist. We tend to like people who we think are either good-looking or famous. Face it we want to know people who are successful because in their glow we can feel successful too. This is called glory-basking and I think it influences peer pressure when it comes to jumping on the bandwagon in voting for the person we think is most popularized by our media -- which we interpret to be in a wider sense accepted by our culture. Certainly there are people who think differently than I do on this topic but I doubt many approach this current election from this point of view. We like to think that we make up our own minds and decisions and the media often says that if people didn't like it then they wouldn't watch it. That is ridiculous because media writers determine what content goes on the air and what doesn't. They also showed they had some class after September 11 when they pulled certain programming from air that they thought may be upsetting to its viewers. This isolated decision suggests media programmers are capable of discernment, but may be motivated more by what they can or can't get away with.
The Moonwalking Bear
Consider McCain who is now being called the moonwalking bear, a reference to a biking safety commercial, and if you click the link and watch the commercial you'll understand what I mean when I make the following statement. Whatever we choose to focus on allows everything else to go by the wayside and we have to be aware of how we are filtering the information we receive on a daily basis by asking the following questions: who is the source of information, is the information true, what motives do the information tellers have or what can they gain from sharing, and what is the larger context. While we may think we are media savvy I seriously doubt it because you have to ask yourself do you really want to take the time and effort to seek out what is true about a person or a situation, or do you just want to be entertained? People have to work longer and harder and are "busier" than ever it seems. I think while people genuinely wants to make good decisions they are not always given the resources to due to our sources of information.
Revealing My Cards
Anyway, I know who I am voting for this year and is not Obama. I dislike the direction media is going because I don't like to be manipulated. I like to be treated as an intelligent person who has a soul who cares about the world around me and our future. I find the coverage of current candidates irritating yes, but an affront to reason. Case in point: notice at least two magazine covers with Obama posing in prayer or reflection with the title inviting the reader to consider him as a man of faith. Certainly we are all people of faith, but it is what or whom we put our trust in that makes the difference. I suspect he's just trying to get the vote of the Christian demographic because pundits complained about the Christian vote last time around, which they said was the swing vote that ushered Bush into the White House (never mind that his election percentages were just as favorable and high as Kennedy's). I credit grassroots efforts to Bush winning his second term, a longed for headbutt from the populace to the media. People I think are becoming fed up with the media telling them who to vote for with their exclusive coverage.
A lesser consideration, but one that annoys me as a business person, is his brand. I have problems with his brand of "change" for his campaign because of course any election will bring about change. Duh. Historically the political pendulum has swung from left to right in cycle with our term limits. It's also prudent to reference the past to understand what changes are needed and why before we hurry into the future to usher in the next allegedly better thing. I don't want the change he brings because I disagree with his guiding principles as shown by his voting record. Besides how much change can a person bring if they're focusing all their efforts on marketing collateral instead of letting their work speak for itself. Branding must be authentic. Without authenticity branding is vanity at its best and fake at its worse.
The trouble with revealing my cards is that I fear I will alienate people, especially people whom I care about like family and friends and neighbors and clients and okay most people I know, who disagree with my position. Isn't that absurd? I seem to remember from my philosophy class years and years ago a man named John Stuart Mill who wrote on the principle of a free society depending on disagreement in the public sector, because if people were disagreeing in the public sector then they were communicating in the public sector, and if they are communicating in the public sector, then they were also assembling together in public -- freely and without risk of being captured and branded and sent away to prison and having their tongues cut out or some such as was the custom in some countries including Britain in its early days of journalism. Anyway I hope those friends who read this post who disagree with me or who feel annoyed by some of my statements still remember that I care about them and after November this election will be over, but our friendships last a lifetime, or a least they can if we invest in them and not let matters of politics dissuade us. More on that later.
Opinions versus Convictions
People who know me know that I tend to make up my mind pretty quickly about my opinions, although it may take me awhile to get to the point, but I like to make my opinions known. That's very much the case for most of the women in my family and I applaud them for it. Still communications is very important because through our symbols of words we connect with each other. I should hope that people think before they reply to future e-mails or discussions about important matters. Knee-jerk reactions only escalate discussion and don't build community. It is possible to disagree by use of reason and with respect -- even if we throw in a little bit of sass. This is the hardest thing of all: to return insult with a blessing.
Adjusting Our Expectations and Perspective
Perhaps we need thicker skin. Perhaps we get offended too easily. Adjusting our perspective by changing our expectations can help. For example, do not expect government or a cause to save a society. Biblical explanation for government is that its duty is to be the corrective authority for right and wrong in a society, thereby sanctioning the value of each person to live a whole and healthy life unmolested by social dominance and injustice. However, government or a cause cannot save a person from his or her own heart. History illustrates the heinous deeds of humankind toward, and if we assume that belief determines behavior, then we can conclude that those who exhibit harmful behaviors had a starting point in their minds. Certainly there are those who live well in part because they regard others instead of seeking to dominate them. Still we cannot even save ourselves from our own worst enemy: the enemy within. If you could capture every thought you ever had in your lifetime, would they all be good?
I am no humanist. Like I said, I am equal parts idealist and pragmatist. Changing our expectations of ourselves and our society (each other) will allow us greater freedom in part because we will accept our failings instead of putting misplaced hope in others. The greatest solution for social change was offered through Jesus Christ because he offered a solution that changes people's hearts and minds, thus effecting change in the smallest element of a society, the individual.
Jesus: Servant-minded Leadership
This is why Jesus is so unique. After he had endured an unjust trial, which included torture, he said, "Father forgive them for they know not what they do," and this before he died on a cross (a Roman torture and execution tool of the time). Jesus was committed to death not because he had committed a crime but because religious leaders felt threatened by his power, and political leaders were too busy playing their own internal power play in an effort to preserve their own position. Jealously plain and simple, and fear of loss of power motivated people's decision for voting for Jesus' death. As Jesus claimed to be God I think he had more in mind than being victimized by the people with whom he came to serve -- the people he created:
"For God so loved the world that he gave his only son that whosoever believes in him will not perish but have eternal life," and "He came so that we will have life more abundantly."
Jesus proved his divinity by his miracles and resurrection from the dead. He proved his obedience to the father by giving up his life. And God proved his love for us in doing the same. What is wonderful about Jesus' leadership is that there is no one above him and so when I give my life to his service I am less likely to concern myself with social dominance, which should be of concern to us as a free society.
The best part of Jesus though is not how he fits into my theories on social dominance, mass media communications, or influence, but that his life gives me life, and for that I am grateful. So I've already cast my spiritual vote and I've voted for Jesus, and I know my vote will pay me a good return because he is coming back as he said and on that day he will rule with fairness and peace and he won't need any image spinners to persuade the world of his merit.
What is in a Word?
Until that time, may I suggest that we follow one important rule as far as media and politics are concerned: speak the truth and "speak the truth in love." If it's not the truth then it is either a lie, a persuasion, or an opinion -- and none of which are worth flame throwing over. If you see me get out a line then please politely remind me of my own conviction because apt words give life, and though such words may be hard to come by in today's self-professed information age, we can make a difference in our media and political saturated culture as we can in other areas of our everyday lives. We can make a difference because we alone are responsible for what we choose to believe and why, and our beliefs often express themselves and our behavior -- including our speech. As the Psalmist wrote:
"Who is the person who desires life
And loves length of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry." (Psalm 34: 12 to 15)
And loves length of days that he may see good?
Keep your tongue from evil
And your lips from speaking deceit.
Depart from evil and do good; Seek peace and pursue it.
The eyes of the Lord are toward the righteous
And His ears are open to their cry." (Psalm 34: 12 to 15)
Friendship: A Lasting Influence
I'm grateful that God hears my prayers and this is not because I have a good image but because he does, and I am created in his image as are you. Sometimes I feel I have to apologize for making prescriptive statements about people and God, but I'm going to break with that convention, too. Fear of people is the only reason to not speak of God, Jesus, and the tenets of my faith. I'm called to love people and not fearthem, and this is a challenge to me sometimes when I'm more concerned with impressing people than I am influencing them. There is a difference, and the difference originates from whether I relate to people based on my motives for self-preservation or motives of concern and regard. Jesus came and called himself friend to those who believe in him. He certainly showed himself friendly to most everyone (except for the Pharisees with whom he showed himself to have a backbone and prowess in debate, but that is another story).
I have found the richest relationships are often those that have been redeemed. Consider crisis communications for example, where I faced a potential business crisis and needed to acknowledge my mistake to my client and resolve the surrounding conflict effectively and successfully. Now these clients are my biggest fans and friends and I return the love in kind.
There is nothing more rewarding in life than to find loyalty and friendship in the midst of misunderstanding. Perhaps this is why God allowed history to unfold as it did regarding the fall where Adam and Eve chose incorrectly to eat the fruit of the knowledge of good and evil. Their mistake was that they wanted to be God without God and so believed the lie that this was possible. This misguided aspiration to delusions of grandeur is where most if not all conflict originates. That is why it frees me to journey towards worshiping God. I don't have to be God because I am not God, nor do I have to prove myself or my position to anyone else. I can be free to live by purpose and love. And it is a journey. As for me I want to live the life God has given me, and part of that means engaging with my culture by speaking true words, seeking peace, doing what is right, and sharing my life with others. The latter I define as friendship and to me friendship is among the greatest gifts that our words and actions can foster.
Courage for Our Calling
It takes courage to speak what is unpopular, to defy convention, and to go against the grain of pop culture. I find that the greatest proponents of tolerance theory as a virtue often misapply their own philosophy by marginalizing those who disagree with them. Disagreement defines our greatest difference because disagreement of ideas is far more powerful than difference of race, gender, age, religion, or creed. People in power know that ideas are powerful. Consider that at this moment in time religious persecution around the world is on the rise in nation-states where rulers tout group ideology as a way to maintain their own position. There are religions and political philosophies in the world that despise free thought. Christianity has often been the revolutionary and proponent of free thought. Popular culture currently disavows this fact, but history shows Christianity's merits in supporting a free society because Christianity teaches not to oppress those who disagree with its followers, but to show love towards them and pray for them whilst we live out our faith in other real ways.
Remember Guttenberg and Cassius Clay and Martin Luther -- all of whom used the power of the printed word to advocate freedom from the status quo. In Guttenberg's case he wanted to make the Bible available to the populace. In Clay's case he wanted to stop slavery in spite of many threats to his life and would eventually form the Republican Party. In Luther's case he wanted to free people from dependency on the corporate church to realize that they are individually saved by God's grace. Even Julian of Norwich, an anchoress (considered the "anchor" of the Catholic Church and lived there dispensing advice, living an ascetic lifestyle, etc.) in medieval times, wrote with authority as a woman where her faith's teachings gave her automony to teach her audience with a prescriptive writing style. So we Christians can engage with our culture using our reason and the cornerstones of our faith -- and actually affect positive change. This is our challenge. It is not enough to immerse ourselves in entertainment and neglect nurturing our minds and souls and thereby our societies. It is necessary to take time to reflect, to study, to pray, and to share our person and our faith with others as we grow in kind within ourselves.
Jesus never intended us to be consumers only as far as our faith is concerned. He prayed that as Christians we would show unity to the world, and that the world would then know us by our love. He also assured us he is with us, and warned us to expect trouble because he knew that as a world rejected him so with the world reject his followers. Still he directs us to "go in peace" and to "go into all the world." So involve yourself with God and with your neighbors and don't shy away from the calling he has given you. Be encouraged to define what you're calling is through reflection and prayer, ask other people who know you well for their impressions as you consider your talents and skill-set, and ask your self and God how you can live your life to the fullest -- not compartmentalized but brazenly and daringly embarking on the calling that God has for you. And don't fret when people get their noses out of joint because you live out your faith in your public and your private life. History reminds us that if it is unpopular today, it may be considered revolutionary tomorrow.
Sources
- The Prodigal Press: the Anti-Christian Bias in the American News Media by Marvin Olasky
- Communicating for Life by Quentin Schultz
- Loving God with All Your Mind by JP Moreland
- Showings by Julian of Norwich
- the Bible (NASB version)
- YouTube
Rosko, Dena. "R" Abode: Online Blog. What is in a Word: Communications Principles in a Media and Political-Driven Climate. 2008 August 1. [Date You Accessed].
22 July 2008
Father's Day
A belated post to celebrate Father's Day. We enjoyed ribs and sunny weather and walks with the dog. We think dad had a great time too, as he was able to watch golf on TV. I'm grateful for my dad because he always prays for me and he's pretty wise, too. Growing up he showed me what it looked like for a man to love his wife, his kids, his friends, and he modeled what it looked like to trust God. Thanks Dad!
Dad Takes Participants' Choice Award
Congratulations to Dad who took the Return to Renton Car Show Participants' Choice award! He also took Best Paint -- kudos to Rillos Restoration. Dad has worked on his 1937 Ford Hot Rod for several years now and he is off to a great start in his inaugural show season winning several awards and trophies. He says it's not about the trophies, but about getting together with other like-minded guys who all share a love for cars and shoptalk. Anyway he considers his car accomplishments a shared team effort with my mom, whom he sent to receive the Participants' Choice award from the city's mayor.
16 July 2008
Article on Worldwide Religious Persecution Reports to Canadian Parliament
Please read this important and timely article in the Ottawa Chronicle about worldwide religious persecution. Special thanks to One Free World International for its dedicated work to be a voice for those suffering in silence for their faith. Please consider supporting this important organization's work by choosing to treat others justly, to speak up for others who are treated unjustly, and to offer practical support, such as financial investments or your time and skills-- definitely pray for God to bring peace in our world, which starts within our own hearts and minds.
08 July 2008
Thank You John: Assign Value!
Quoted from John Mireles' PhotographersToolkit.com newsletter:
Believe in the Value of your Vision. More than anything else, you have to believe that your work is worth more than what others charge for the exact same thing. If you don't believe it, you can't communicate the value nor can you sell it. The value of your work isn't based upon the price you pay for a print or the equipment you own. It's based upon your unique ability to photographically capture the world on the client's behalf. Nobody else can do what you do so charge accordingly.
Believe in the Value of your Vision. More than anything else, you have to believe that your work is worth more than what others charge for the exact same thing. If you don't believe it, you can't communicate the value nor can you sell it. The value of your work isn't based upon the price you pay for a print or the equipment you own. It's based upon your unique ability to photographically capture the world on the client's behalf. Nobody else can do what you do so charge accordingly.
###
05 July 2008
On Location as a Team
Juliana and I on location; Hanh not pictured (photo by Maria -- thanks Mom; above)I photographed a wedding last Saturday in Olympia Washington at the Indian Summer Golf and Country club (on the hottest day of the year so far) for my good friends Dan and Dena. I was grateful and privileged to work with two team photographers and friends, Juliana and Hanh. These two ladies encouraged me with their support, their professionalism, and their enthusiasm. I think I enjoy covering weddings as a team rather than solo. I want to also mentor photographers by sharing my knowledge and experience thus far. Thank you Juliana and Hanh!
Wedding photos coming soon!
20 June 2008
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
