Redeeming Halloween

We just finished our annual "big bash" Halloween party.  Every year for the last who can remember how many, we've had family and friends over for a big Halloween celebration.  We've always lived in a close neighborhood, so the Trick-or-Treating is good.  Even before we had parties, it seemed that we ended up with friends over who crashed the neighborhood because they lives so spread out.

This year, we were worried because normally we meet with the Youth at church on Sunday nights.  It didn't seem right to cancel a Youth meeting for Halloween, but we felt like we would be letting our friends and family down if we didn't have our annual trick-or-treat party.  So we did the reasonable thing and just invited the Youth.

So we had an interesting mix of pre-schoolers, third graders, fifth graders, teenagers, and parents.  We cleared out our garage, set tables on the driveway, and rigged a projector and speakers in the front yard.  We ate, sent kids out for candy, and watched "It's the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown" all while giving candy to the passers-by.

There are lots of hang-ups surrounding Halloween, but this evening allowed us to open our home to not only our friends, but the entire neighborhood.  We went door-to-door, talking to people we normally see through a car window travelling at 25 mph.  People who we only know from passing came into our yard and conversed.  It seems to me that we need more, not less of this in our world.  So if it takes Halloween to facilitate this, I would say it is time to claim the holiday and redeem it for something good.

The "A Pot of Stew Wordle"

I've used this neat application called Wordle on several occasions, and decided to give it a try with my blog.  You can find the application at www.wordle.net.  It allows you to add your own text or url to create a unique piece of word art.  Here is mine:

The Power Sabbath

On Sunday, I had the privilege of sharing a message with the congregation of Chestnut Grove. The topic of the message was taking the time to rest and hear from God. Just prior to the season of advent is a wonderful time to contemplate this message as we learn to still ourselves in the presence of God. As mentioned in the bulletin, this message was inspired by an article that I read a year or two ago in a magazine call the Youthworker Journal written by Steve Gerali. If you're interested in reading it, here is a link to the article "Taking A Power Sabbath." Feel free to comment if you'd like.

Real Beauty

Many of you may be familiar with the Dove: Real Beauty Campaign. Here is a description from its website:

For too long, beauty has been defined by narrow, stifling stereotypes. Women have told us it's time to change all that. Dove agrees. We believe real beauty comes in many shapes, sizes and ages. That is why Dove is launching the Campaign for Real Beauty.

On Sunday night in our youth gathering we looked at a film produced by this campaign called “Evolution.” After watching the film we looked at scripture relating to how we should be more concerned with the heart and what is on the inside than on outward appearances. The video and scripture led to interesting discussion.

But, I did feel a bit guilty about using this clip after doing some research on the film, company, and campaign. While Dove is making the effort to build self-esteem in women of all ages, another company “Axe” seems to be doing the opposite. A quick look at the back of a bottle of “Axe” body wash, body spray, or deodorant shows just what the “Axe Effect” is- usually a cartoon silhouette of a man either running from a flock of chasing women, or in the middle of two women hanging on him. The print and video ads depicting the “Axe Effect” are much less benign. While Dove is promoting an image of beauty regardless of age and body type, Axe is promoting an image of women as objects for which the use of Axe will make more attainable.

So why would I feel guilty about using the Dove ad? If you look at the back of any Dove or Axe product, you will find the same name- Unilever. This company owns both Dove and Axe. I’m not really sure how corporate America operates, but I do find it troubling that an organization could on the one hand promote such a positive campaign, while on the other, producing ads that directly contradict that campaign. Is it all just a marketing ploy to diversify in advertising to reach target audiences? And if so, should it be praised for the good that it does or criticized for the hypocrisy that it represents?

I'm Still Here...Really

I am feeling like a bad "website" poster after the sporadic summer and now the lack of posting with the start of a new school year. Now that things are beginning to settle down, I'll try my best to post more regular and to keep folks updated about what is going on in the life of the CGBC Youth. For now, your grace is appreciated. Here is a great video to get you through the week.