Do Not Be Deceived- Part 3- Women

 Much like my previous post on Men, I am seeking to answer the question- “What does the world say a woman is?”

What are the attributes that define a woman? What are some things that all women should strive to be? What is their role in society? Etc etc.

I do not claim to be an expert on women, but this post is more about analyzing what the world says, not what I say.

So here we go- What does the world say a woman is?

The primary sources for this particular post will be http://www.cosmopolitan.com/ and http://www.womenshealthmag.com/.

I feel that these are both adequate sources for what I am trying to do.  The following list is by no means exhaustive, but it does capture the observations that I made by viewing the aforementioned sources-

  1. Beauty– Beauty is an important topic for women. Beauty is a feminine trait. Beautiful women are admirable and most desirable. Beauty is predominantly based on outward appearance.
  2. Fashion– Fashion is also important. It is tied to Beauty. They are topics that are dependent on each other. Fashion is a key component in popularity and value. It is an expression of status.
  3. Independence– An independent woman is attractive. Women should be self sufficient but also exude an attitude of independence. Anything that would inhibit independence is looked down on.
  4. Sexual Prowess– Sexual prowess is something every woman should strive for. Sex is a common activity in relationships.
  5. Fitness/Health– Women should be fit. Losing weight is a common theme and staying thin is important. Fitness and health are tied to Beauty of course.

That is all for now. Moving on to Part 4-Truth.

Do Not Be Deceived- Part 2- Men

 The question I am seeking to answer in this entry is “What does the world say a man is?”

What makes a man: great, strong, powerful,  and attractive?

If you are reading this, then I challenge you with this question- What lies have you believed about men? What do you think a man is?

Because here is the reality- We are constantly bombarded with messages to the point that we become numb to what we are seeing, hearing, believing etc. And in this assault of lies, we inevitably accept some of the lies as truth. This is convicting for me (as many of my blogs are) because at some point or another, I have probably accepted these lies as truth.

Disclaimer- While reading this, I imagine you will tell yourself- “I dont believe this, no way.” But the question I submit to you is this- Do your actions match your stated beliefs? Consider that as we evaluate what the world says about a man.

Here we go- What does the world say a man is?

My research on this was very simple. I simply typed “Men” into the search bar. I came to a very popular website. http://www.askmen.com/

 Ive made some observations based off of AskMen.

  1. Power- Power is a masculine attribute. Powerful men are important. Power is something a man should strive for. Power comes from position, influence and money.
  2. Sex- Sex is nothing more than a recreational activity that is a common act between people, whether they are in a relationship or not. Men are encouraged to hone their sexual skills and conquer as many women as they so choose. Sexual urges are normal and they should not be inhibited in any way.
  3. Health and Sports- The world praises athletes. Our culture glorifies exceptional athletes. Men that have athletic prowess are generally highly regarded. Fitness is also very important. Men are expected to be in great shape.
  4. Money-  Money means everything, especially for men. A man that makes a lot of money is very successful.
  5. Cars- Nice cars symbolize success and status.
  6. Celebrities- Celebrities are the ultimate measuring stick for a man. They have money, power, and status.
  7. Fashion- Fashion is just another way to show that we are wealthy or powerful. How we dress determines the type of man that we are.

 This list is by no means exhaustive, but it is more than adequate. Now,  moving on to Part 3- Women.

Do Not Be Deceived…

Do not be deceived: “Bad company corrupts good morals.”
1 Corinthians 15:33

This particular blog series has been on my mind for over a month now. I have struggled with it, but I finally committed to tackling the subject head on. The topic for this particular series is deception. Mainly, the lies that are promoted by the world. My focus will be on lies that are told to males and females throughout their entire life. The title is derived from 1 Corinthians 15:33. A simple verse, yes, but I think their is power in the simplicity of this verse.

Lets start with some fundamental truths- 

Satan is the Father of Lies
You belong to your father, the devil, and you want to carry out your father’s desires. He was a murderer from the beginning, not holding to the truth, for there is no truth in him. When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies. 
John 8:44
Satan is Ruler of the World
Now is the judgment of this world; now will the ruler of this world be cast out.
John 12:31
The god of this age has blinded the minds of unbelievers, so that they cannot see the light of the gospel that displays the glory of Christ, who is the image of God.
2 Corinthians 4:4
World Stands in Opposition to Biblical Truth
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. 
Ephesians 6:12

Without going into too much detail, some topics discussed in this series will be:

  • Beauty
  • Masculinity/Femininity
  • Identity

And much, much more.

Remember

Background-

My mom passed away recently after a long fight with cancer. Needless to say, it has been a challenging time. I deal with the pain daily and God has blessed me immensely through this experience. 

I am writing this to explain some of the best advice I can give in general. And I have only learned this recently, but it is a piece of advice that I have given to a few of my friends in the last few weeks. 

Remember. 

We live such fast paced lives, things become routine and we take them for granted. I encourage you to pause, take a moment, and remember the little things.

For me it was remembering how it felt to hug my mom. How it felt to touch her hair. How her voice sounded. What it was like when she said I love you. Her laugh…

The little things.

For you it may be something different. It may be the sound of your dads voice, or the feeling of your son or daughter. It may be hearing your spouse say I love you. Or hearing their laugh or seeing their smile.

I promise you this, we do not appreciate these things enough. Appreciate them before they are gone. God forbid that they be taken tragically, but it happens everyday.

I want to take this one step further. Remember God. Remember the times when He carried you and when He redeemed you. Remember how it felt when He was near, and Remember the times when He felt distant.

Let it not be said of us, as it was said of the church at Ephesus-

“You have persevered and have endured hardships for my name, and have not grown weary. Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love.” Revelation 2:3-4

So, the next time you see a loved one. Pause for an extra moment, and Remember. Imprint the feeling in your mind and save it for a rainy day.

Thank you and God Bless.

– B

Coming Down From the Mountain

Background- I wrote this over a year ago during a mission trip to the Dominican Republic. I wrote this to address the spiritual highs that are inevitably created during events like a mission trip. I call them “Mountaintop Experiences”.
Now, Mountaintop Experiences are wonderful. But so often they are temporary. It is difficult to maintain the high that we felt during our experience. We are often left disappointed and discouraged when we come off the mountain and  back to the real world, or the “valley”.
This particular journal became significant recently when the youth group at my local church came back from youth camp. Lives were changed and God truly moved. It has been dubbed the Revolution. I was given the opportunity to share with a Sunday School class, and God reminded me of this journal. The timing could not have been better. Students were energized and motivated, truly seeking the Lord. But they returned to a world that had not changed. A world full of challenges and doubt. Doubt from friends, doubt from family etc.
I want this to serve as encouragement to you. God does meet and change people on mountains. We just have to remember that our experiences cannot be driven by emotional highs and lows. They must be driven by a passion for the Lord. Remember, God will sustain the Revolution.
1 Corinthians 3:7- So neither he who plants nor he who waters is anything, but only God, who makes things grow.
Reference-
Genesis 22– Abraham
Matthew 17, Mark 9, Luke 9- Jesus Transfiguration
Matthew 4:8 – Temptation of Jesus
John 17, Luke 22:39– Praying on Mount of Olives
Key Points
Mission trip was a mountaintop experience
  • Constant praise and fellowship
  • serving God actively
  • Away from normal lives
  • God met and changed men on mountains
    • Abraham
    • Moses
    • Jesus
  • Men were tested on mountains
    • Abraham- Isaac
    • Jesus- Satan
  • Were you tested this week?- yes
Questions-
  • How will we be when we come down from the mountain?
  • Will we be truly changed or will we return to business as usual?
  • When the challenges, comforts and stresses of life return, how will we respond?
  • We must return to the valley- no choice. Because,  Where are the lost?
Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,
         I will fear no evil;
         For You are with me;
         Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me. Psalm 23:4
Encouragement- Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize.1 Cor 9:24