2008-06-30
The Pursuit of Pointlessness
I woke up an extra hour early this morning in order to attend a meeting for work.
A team from an outside agency is here this week to instruct us on some new procedures that will be in place soon. Blah blah blah work blah…
Unfortunately we waited around for fifteen minutes for the team to arrive (they were waiting on one of their members who would still not arrive).
And what a group I was with. Not only was I the only person in their 20’s, except for one other person in her late 30’s/early 40’s, everyone has reached that half century mark. Which is nothing against my elders, but it’s hard for me to get up and going on a Monday morning, and even more so when the topic of conversation is retirement and calcium deficiency.
And I was there because the new procedures involve the computer, which my boss approaches like Derek and Hansel.
The meeting lasted an entire 5 minutes as the team introduced themselves. No immediate training , no handouts of information, nothing! Just introductions.
Goo-o-o-d morning.
2008-06-29
Awesome!
I could go for a Psalty comeback, I don't know about you.
My favorite album was when they climbed the mountain, or the baseball one.
When my sister's came along they didn't fully appreciate the wonder and awe of a singing songbook, rather they preferred Rappin' Rabbit.
2008-06-25
I'm All Twitter-pated
For a while I was really having trouble being consistent with it. But I think I've found my groove now. Want to know my secret? Well I'll tell you anyways...hiaku!
Here are my twits...er...twitters....er...twitter post...whatever they are called from yesterday.
Ah crap!!! Just noticed that the first line above has an extra "to" in it...oh well.My Twitter identity is the same as here, tsharrison, so find me and follow, and I promise I'll do the same. Oh and I should sit down and add a photo to my Twitter account too...maybe I'll get to that soon enough.
Update:
I noticed that for some reason I couldn't open the photo up. So for you're benefit I've copied and pasted the last several twitter post of mine. Enjoy.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
tsharrison using a keyboard / strange way to update twitter / different than phone about 2 hours ago from web
tsharrison @buff23_7 figuring it out / how to reply to someone / when using twitter about 2 hours ago from web in reply to buff23_7
tsharrison finally home now / sandwich for dinner tonight / have a big headache about 3 hours ago from web
tsharrison guy teaching lesson / reminds me of J D Roth / perfect game show host about 6 hours ago from web
tsharrison doing guys study / talking about being heirs / David and Jesus about 6 hours ago from web
tsharrison middle school students / i would have hated doing this / plus it's hot as heck about 7 hours ago from web
tsharrison at wacky wednesday / a once a week vbs / middle school students about 7 hours ago from web
tsharrison (oops again - tpying and driving never a smart combo, can result in misspelled words - " current place in world" about 7 hours ago from web
tsharrison (oops - last post - first line - "current place in wolrld" about 7 hours ago from web
tsharrison current place in this wolrd / san antonio traffic / starting to pick up about 8 hours ago from web
tsharrison my first ozark crush / a secret not so secret / who missed out? me? her? about 8 hours ago from web
tsharrison a rapid heartbeat / a very blunt rejection / worst phone call ever about 10 hours ago from web
tsharrison she is still single / she should have taken a chance / i tried to take one about 10 hours ago from web
tsharrison i was just confirmed / think "trevor's got girl problems" / yes she was that one about 10 hours ago from web
tsharrison life is not easy / actions are hard to relay / when told in hiaku about 14 hours ago from web
tsharrison i have been slacking / not much twittering lately / getting on the ball about 14 hours ago from web
tsharrison movie of the night / watching jack black and mos def / in "be kind rewind" 08:18 PM June 23, 2008 from web
tsharrison unproductive day / doing a lot of staring / i need better sleep 11:58 AM June 23, 2008 from web
tsharrison today's summary / a broken and beaten world / need light truth and grace 09:01 PM June 22, 2008 from web
I Could Go For...
I think I would purchase one if there was. I loved mine growing up. I think I had a Knight Rider, if memory serves right.
2008-06-24
Prepping For A Fight
Mental Floss posted today an article on What to Do (and Not Do) in a Fistfight.It's been numerous years since I've been in one, so this is a good fresher, because you just never know.
Here are the tips, but read the article for further insights into each tip.
- Don't get in one
- Don't use your fist
- Find an escape route
- Don't kick them while their down
- Go for the soft spots
- Bite
- The ol' steak-on-the-black-eye trick
- Learn the moves
- Decide if you're willing to throw a sucker punch
Bill Mallonee
I'm really excited to finally go see Bill Mallonee (more HERE) this Friday evening at the Cigar Club. Show starts at 8:00 if anyone wants to join me.I first heard of Bill when he toured with his band V.O.L. (Vigilantes of Love). A brilliant musician.
A true musician in that he'd be playing on street corners if that was his only audience. In fact YouTube has numerous videos posted of him playing in somebody's backyard.
In fact let me post one of those videos here for you. It's one of my favorites called Skin, about Vincent Van Gogh. Enjoy:
Documenting LARPing
I told her she has to at least go once and engage this fascinating world. She's promised...so I'll keep you informed as she keeps me informed.
2008-06-23
Place In This World
I saw this video and it seemed to really capture how I feel most days. That I'm the right person in the wrong place, completely out of context for what I am intended for.
Anyways...it made me chuckle...enjoy.
2008-06-22
Mental Note....
The Spirit is void in criticism; the critique lost when paired with criticism.
Offer your critique with prayer and humility.
A critical perspective demands grace, by the critic and the criticized. Otherwise beware of dogmatism.
L.A.R.P.ing
I have no interest in spending an afternoon participating, but the people who do complete amaze this particular people watcher.
Here is a video introducing you to the world of LARPing.
Now there are some LARPers who occasionally gather at a local park on Sunday afternoons and after a couple of attempts to go watch them I was beginning to give up hope that this might be an actual reality.
But alas, just before all hope was gone...good news!
One of our graduating youth group students will be attending Greenville College in Greenville, IL (where Jars of Clay formed - fyi). And after a random pairing of roommates guess what her future roommate does with her spare time!
Yep LARPing.
Shayla...please please please!
Pictures, pictures, pictures!
2008-06-21
Ode to the Cookie
"Elmo can wait in car. It's very fuel efficient. It's run on i-mag-ination!"
2008-06-20
Have I or I Haven't (176-200)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
176. Eaten raw whale
177. Know how to do needlepoint
178. Laughed till your side hurt
179. Straddled the equator
180. Taken a photograph of something other than people that is worth framing
181. Gone to a Shakespeare Festival
182. Sent a message in a bottle
183. Spent the night in a hostel
184. Been a cashier
185. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
186. Joined a union
187. Donated blood
188. Built a campfire
189. Have a blog
190. Had hives
191. Worn custom made shoes or boots
192. Made a PowerPoint presentation
193. Taken a Hunter's Safety Course
194. Served at a soup kitchen
195. Conquered the Rubik's cube
(once)
196. Know CPR
(ladies....?)
197. Owned a convertible
198. Found a long lost friend
199. Helped solve a crime
200. Fallen in love
(well...I'll say yes only because I don't know what else to call it)
possibly the best graduation speech i've ever heard
http://view.break.com/522466 - Watch more free videos
2008-06-19
800 Illegally
800!
This doesn't include the music that they might have actually paid for.
Almost half of all music the average teenager carries with them is illegal.
If they were to have purchased those from itunes they would have spent $792.
Conservatively speaking $792 would purchase 44 cds from a store (at a generous fee of $18 per). I'm curious what would happen if I were to walk out of a store with 44 unpurchased cds.
And my brothers and sisters (my actually brothers and sisters, not church talk here...although church talk may also apply) wonder why I think it's wrong.
It's never about one or two songs, because it doesn't ever end with just one or two...it ends around 800.
2008-06-18
Have I or I Haven't (151-175)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
151. Ran away
152. Learned to juggle
153. Been a boss
154. Sat on a jury
155. Lied about your weight
156. Gone on a diet
(no, but I haven't had a Dr. Pepper since New Years)
157. Found an arrowhead
158. Written a poem
(my twitter post are in haiku...does that count?)
159. Carried your lunch in a lunchbox
(ET, Dukes of Hazard....Thank mom!)
160. Gotten food poisoning
(oh my... that was a bad trip home from Mexico! the border all the way to South Dakota)
161. Gone on a service, humanitarian or religious mission
162. Been to the southern hemisphere.
163. Sat on a park bench and fed the ducks
164. Gone to the opera
(no but I have been in an opera house...)
165. Gotten a letter from someone famous
(Ronald Reagan, Nolan Ryan)
166. Worn knickers
(are those socks?)
167. Ridden in a limousine
168. Attended the Olympics
169. Can hula or waltz
170. Read a half dozen Nancy Drew or Hardy Boys books (
(No I read Alfred Hitchcock's The Three Investigators...those were brilliant!)
171. Been stuck in an elevator
172. Had a revelatory dream
173. Thought you might crash in an airplane
174. Had a song dedicated to you on the radio or at a concert
175. Saved someone's life
friends are vloging
So as they travel they are going to be posting at this blog about the trip and events of the day so that those back home can be specific in their prayer request and praise. Brilliant idea.
Here is a video they posted today of Josh Taylor giving helpful tips on packing for the long trip.
Ham on you ham eaters!
mental note...
The difference between sarcasm and mockery is very subtle.
Be extremely careful when using sarcasm.
By definition sarcasm intends harm…it’s hard to be a man of peace when your words cut. Better to pick up a gun than kill a man with words.
Be mindful of the audience, as sarcasm depends more on the interpretation than the presentation (both require precision though).
The laugh gained through sarcasm, at the expense of the damaged done, is typically not worth it.
And it’s probably best to just avoid mockery all together.
“Sarcasm: the last refuge of modest and chaste-souled people when the privacy of their soul is coarsely and intrusively invaded.”
- Fyodor Dostoyevsky
Sarcasm:
1: a sharp and often satirical or ironic utterance designed to cut or give pain
2a: a mode of satirical wit depending for its effect on bitter, caustic, and often ironic language that is usually directed against and individual
2b: the use of language of sarcasm (this is no time to indulge in sarcasm)
2008-06-17
Have I or I Haven't (126-150)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
126. Ridden a elephant
(at the zoo)
127. Published a book
128. Pieced a quilt
129. Lived in an historic place
(Germany, San Antonio)
130. Acted in a play or performed on a stage
(Diary of Anne Frank...back in h.s.)
131. Asked for a raise
(I prefer to just earn them, over asking for them...so no)
132. Made a hole-in-one
(only in putt putt)
133. Gone deep sea fishing
(I guess that's what I did...is it deep sea if you still see the coast)
134. Gone roller skating
135. Run a marathon
136. Learned to surf
137. Invented something
138. Flown first class
139. Spent the night in a 5-star luxury suite
140. Flown in a helicopter
141. Visited Africa
142. Sang a solo
143. Gone spelunking
144. Learned how to take a compliment
145. Written a love-story
146. Seen Michelangelo's David
147. Had your portrait painted
148. Written a fan letter
(yes...a few...including Richard Dean Anderson, aka MacGyver)
149. Spent the night in something haunted
150. Owned a St. Bernard or Great Dane
2008-06-16
Have I or I Haven't (101-125)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
101. Had a booth at a street fair
102. Dyed your hair
103. Been a DJ
104. Rocked a baby to sleep
105. Ever dropped a cat from a high place to see if it really lands on all fours
106. Raked your carpet
107. Brought out the best in people
(maybe)
108. Brought out the worst in people
(probably)
109. Worn a mood ring
110. Ridden a horse
111. Carved an animal from a piece of wood or bar of soap
112. Cooked a dish where people asked for the recipe
(is salsa a dish?)
113. Buried a child
114. Gone to a Broadway play
115. Been inside the pyramids
116. Shot a basketball into a basket
117. Danced at a disco
118. Played in a band
119. Shot a bird
(nope...missed...that's how I got the scar on my lip though)
120. Gone to an arboretum
(what's an arboretum? Just wiki'ed...yes, yes I have)
121. Tutored someone
122. Ridden a train
123. Brought an old fad back into style
124. Eaten caviar
(gross!)
125. Let a salesman talk you into something you didn't need
Giving the Mets Something to Cheer About
Recently they gave Mets fans at Shea. Several players used the tarp during a rain storm as a slip-n-slide. Mets fans began cheering "Let's go Rangers!"...awesome!
2008-06-15
Have I or I Haven't (76-100)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
76. Won money
77. Broken a bone
(two fingers and left arm)
78. Ridden a motorcycle
79. Driven any land vehicle at a speed of greater than 100 mph
80. Hiked to the bottom of the Grand Canyon
81. Slept through an entire flight: takeoff, flight, and landing
(I love taking off and landing...why would you want to sleep through those?)
82. Taken a canoe trip that lasted more than 2 days
83. Eaten sushi
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Read The Bible cover to cover
86. Changed someone's mind about something you care deeply about
87. Gotten someone fired for their actions
(I've done some firing...)
88. Gone back to school
89. Changed your name
(I starting trying to get people to call me TS my sophmore year in college...hoping it sounded more dignified)
90. Caught a fly in the air with your bare hands
(both the insect and in baseball)
91. Eaten fried green tomatoes
92. Read The Iliad
93. Taught yourself an art from scratch
94. Killed and prepared an animal for eating
(fish?)
95. Apologized to someone years after inflicting the hurt
96. Communicated with someone without sharing a common spoken language
97. Been elected to public office
98. Thought to yourself that you're living your dream
99. Had to put someone you love into hospice care
100. Sold your own artwork to someone who didn't know you
Have I or I Haven't (51-75)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
51. Gone scuba diving
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
(on Route 66 non the less)
55. Done something you should regret, but don't
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Been in a movie
(well...at least fired when on set...this movie...with Elizabeth Shue!)
60. Gone without food for 3 days
61. Made cookies from scratch
(home economics in middle school)
62. Won first prize in a costume contest
63. Got flowers for no reason
64. Been in a combat zone
65. Spoken more than one language fluently
66. Gotten into a fight while attempting to defend someone
67. Bounced a check
68. Read - and understood - your credit report
69. Recently bought and played with a favorite childhood toy
70. Found out something significant that your ancestors did
(I honestly know little of that history)
71. Called or written your Congress person
72. Picked up and moved to another city to just start over
73. Walked the Golden Gate Bridge
74. Helped an animal give birth
75. Been fired or laid off from a job
2008-06-14
2008-06-13
Have I or I Haven't (26-50)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
26. Gone skinny dipping
27. Taken an ice cold bath
28. Had a meaningful conversation with a beggar
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Ridden a roller coaster
31. Hit a home run
32. Danced like a fool and not cared who was looking
33. Adopted an accent for fun
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors
35. Felt very happy about your life, even for just a moment
36. Loved your job 90% of the time
(maybe not my current job, but previous ones)
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Watched wild whales
39. Gone rock climbing
40. Gone on a midnight walk on the beach
41. Gone sky diving
(oh no... no chance here)
42. Visited Ireland
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant
44. Visited India
45. Bench-pressed your own weight
(back in high school...sure did...probably pass out right afterward though)
46. Milked a cow
47. Alphabetized your personal files
48. Ever worn a superhero costume
49. Sung karaoke
50. Lounged around in bed all day
Has Anyone Read This?
If so is it worth the read?The Bridge
2008-06-12
Cloth Car
Book Review (Guest Blogger)
Reviewed by Cheryl Harrison
The book touches on everything a devoted fiction reader wants and looks for in a good read; a love interest, a common bond, suspense, humor and a promise that things will improve.
I found the story line capturing from the first page, with Libby’s struggles to be a good mom, a devout believer in following the will of God and still trying to honor her family, as dysfunctional as it is.
I love reading Christian novels, they leave me with warm fuzzies, but sometimes I am left feeling so totally inadequate at times. I am not able to spout off scripture or recall verses at a moments notice, in ways it is depicted in some books. That is the most appreciative thing I noticed in the book “Fatal Deduction.” Libby simply repeated over and over “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” and she knew her fears were not warranted and God would protect her, and yet she still had niggles of doubt, like the rest of us do on occasion. She wasn’t pretentious about her faith, she just knew in her heart that God’s way was the right way, and that she needed to rely on Him to propel her forward. She didn’t nor could she throw scripture into the faces of her family and enemies, she simply tried to accept them, even though she judged them and recognized that in herself, trying to be better about that flaw in her character. How many of us, including me do the same thing? Almost all of us I’m sure.
I loved the role of Madge in Libby’s life, good neighbor, mentor and Godly Christian woman, wife and mother. She was placed in Libby’s young life at a crucial point, when she needed encouraging without meddling, acceptance with guilt, and good Christian loving without judgment. How we all wish we had a Madge in our lives, yet it is encouraging to know we could be a Madge to others simply by “walking the walk” knowing someone could be watching and wanting to know more of how they too could walk the same path. It is simply a way of offering hope to someone in need.
It was refreshing to read of Libby’s role as a mother to her daughter Chloe. She loved Chloe from the beginning, not looking at her as a mistake, nor comparing her to the man who fathered her. And she worked hard to bring her daughter up in a loving environment and succeeded without giving in, nor giving up. She led by example, without trying to be Chloe’s best friend, but by being her mother only to be her daughter’s friend, anyway, by Chloe’s choice. They were sweet, normal, and argumentative at times, yet devoted to one another.
And finally Drew, just as it was quoted in the first pages of the book…”For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord,” Jeremiah 29:11. Drew, was placed in Libby’s path, not looking for a friend, or future mate, but by simply being one when Libby needed him the most. Such a sweet ending to a tumultuous time.
I recommend this book to anyone who enjoys a good, clean suspense, love story, both non-believers and those who know the way. Perhaps non believers will learn to call upon the Lord and believe He has the best plan, and knows the right path to follow. And those who do know the truth will not feel inadequate, because they use flare prayers, like Libby, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart,” that will guide their steps even though they cannot always quote a scripture for every situation.
Way to go Gayle Roper, keep ‘em coming.
Have I or I Haven't (1-25)
It's a list of 200 Have or Have Nots.
The things in RED are the things I have done.
The others I have not...yet.
1. Touched an iceberg
2. Slept under the stars
3. Been a part of a hockey fight
(does NHL on the Playstation count?)
4. Changed a baby's diaper
5. Watched a meteor shower
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
(almost every time I’ve given to charity)
7. Swam with wild dolphins
8. Climbed a mountain
(a small mountain)
9. Held a tarantula
(ugh…hate spiders)
10. Said "I love you" and meant it
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris
(Twice – two great stories!)
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea
(does Guam count?...it’s almost smaller than a boat)
14. Stayed up all night long and watched the sun rise
15. Seen the Northern Lights
16. Gone to a huge sporting event
17. Climbed the stairs to the crown of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown and eaten your own vegetables
(the old man and I grew are ingredients for salsa)
19. Looked up at the night sky through a telescope
20. Had an uncontrollable giggling fit at the worst possible moment
(I’m going to say “no” because “giggling makes it sound girly)
21. Had a pillow fight
(okay…apparently I do lots of girly stuff)
22. Bet on a winning horse
(I don’t gamble…the moment I put up stakes…I lose)
23. Taken a sick day when you're not ill
(but I was sick of the place)
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb
2008-06-10
Dishing Out Thank Yous
And in honor of such a glorious event I'd like to dish out some thank yous (before I pass out in my bed - it's late I tired)
T'anks to Rachel, Kristi and Taylor.
I was trying to think how I could repay for their help tonight and is there a better way than giving them my 600th post!
What? No? That's not good enough? Okay how about just a public thank you?
They know what for.
Now I'm going to sleep.
Turning the Upside Down Right Side Up
And I think he took too much time trying to blow our minds with a radical approach to reading the text than just serving up the actual meat of the Jesus' words (although I can't really say it was that radical and some of the Greek word insights may have been just too much of a stretch - and maybe the cause for my lack of focus...again who knows).
His big idea of the message, I think, was that Jesus establised a kingdom that compared to the world was upside down. But rather than an upside down kingdom Jesus established a kingdom that turned upside down things of this world right side up.
And I believe that and I can deal with my other issues, that stuff doesn't bother me. Where I do think this message failed, and where I think my church struggles to embrass Christ's Kingdom mindset, is in application.
If Jesus called us to His kingdom of turning the upside down right side up how do we live that out?
I dare say it's not by doing nothing.
We won't build into lives of students, turning their upside down lives and relationships right side up by doing nothing for them.
We won't turn the upside down world of the elderly woman, who cannot go to the grocery store on her own, right side up by doing nothing.
We won't care for the young family, turning their upside world of childhood diseases and absences of local family, right side up by doing nothing.
We won't turn the upside down world of the single father, who doesn't have the life skills to adequately care for his children, right side up by doing nothing.
I might be on a personal soap box here but this is something I've had real difficulty with lately.
My church axes a lot of ministry ideas and opportunities under the banner that we are simplifying ministry. But I have heard and experienced on several occasions now stories of people being overlooked (some after direct pleas for help).
There is a fine line between simplicity and laziness, and I'm wondering if we taken a flying leap over it.
That's enough...I'll get off my soap box now and try to get up off my duff and do something.
Maranatha,
Come Lord Jesus.
Talk About a Series Promo
Enjoy.
Worthy of the Time
Despite having endured numerous graduations other than my own, I still felt the need to press play [as demonstrated by the almost 2 full minutes of applause afterwards].
It's worth the listen. Sorry I first found it in three parts.
Part 1
Part 2
Part 3
Fat Guy Falls on Hot Ball Girl
Notice at the end, two (count them - 1, 2) Rangers are contending for the Triple Crown.
2008-06-09
Stuck in My Head
“and I fell in love with those who proved me wrong / and now I want a broken heart”
- Derek Webb
song: i want a broken heart
album: i see things upside down
2008-06-08
I Wish I had the Nerve to Spiritualize This...
I love the voice over. I could never had read that script without laughing, not in a million years.
Things I love...
Almost makes me want to wash them daily, but apparently that's not going green. And I would hate to upset the masses.
I'm A Jerk For Laughing...
I've seen this a few times, but it still makes me laugh...I know...I'm a jerk.
My favorite part is the two back in the studio...
Seriously Where Was the Voice of Reason
Car Salesman Will Satisfy Your Butts
Able to Identify
2008-06-06
Reality Education
There is actually a school for reality television.
[It actually sounds like a casting agency, but they are calling it a school]
Previous “students” have appeared on these shows:
Groomer Has It - Animal Planet
Survivor - CBS
The Moment of Truth - FOX TV
Rock Star INXS - CBS
The Bachelor - ABC
Top Chef - Bravo
Big Brother - CBS
The Apprentice - NBC
Phenomenon - NBC
Joe Millionaire - FOX TV
The Search for the Next Pussycat Doll - CW Network
2008-06-05
Signing Off
I don't think this has happened in over 3 years.
Nighty night.
Hoping for One Last Go Around
I'm really hoping he gets one more season to go out on his terms and that the fans will be able to appreciate his incredible career.
People lose sight of the amazing transformation he made switching from a starting pitcher to a full time closer several years back because of the record breaking stint of Gagne, but Smolz understood the concept of the team and was willing to embrace the role. As dominating as Gagne was Smoltz was always my preference to have closing the big game. I'd even take him over Rivera of the Yankees.
Anyways I'm thinking he needs a farewell season and I'm hoping the rehab process will allow it.
The Beginning of a Trend?
Motley Crue's latest single "Saints of Los Angeles" sold 47,000 downloads via Rock Band, compared to just 10,000 through more traditional platforms such as iTunes and Amazon.
Men's Health and Hoochie Mamas
I don’t usually read Men’s Health Magazine, but this article caught my eye this week.
Don’t be Swayed by Her Swimsuit
Sexy women can be bad for your wallet and your waistline
I know what many people are thinking, especially the guys reading this post, “Trevor we already knew this, and it doesn’t have to be sexy women, all women are bad for your wallet.”
I suppose that’s true, but reading this article lead me to this link, the source for Men’s Health.
Sexual appetite leads men to seek immediate rewards
This is something worth filing away, good research for “that lesson” when you separate the boy from the girls.
The brief article says:
"It seems that sexual appetite causes a greater urgency to consume anything rewarding," the authors suggest. Thus, the activation of sexual desire appears to spill over into other brain systems involved in reward-seeking behaviours, even the cognitive desire for money.
"After they touched a bra, men are more likely to be content with a smaller immediate monetary reward," writes Bram Van den Bergh, one of the study's authors. "Prior exposure to sexy stimuli may influence the choice between chocolate cake or fruit for dessert."
The authors believe the stimuli bring men's minds to the present as opposed to the future. "The study demonstrates that bikinis cause a shift in time preference: Men live in the here and now when they glance at pictures featuring women in lingerie. That is, men will choose the immediately available rewards and seek immediate gratification after sex cue exposure."
Now this isn’t revolutionary information, as advertisers have been using sexual imagery in their marketing campaigns for some time. But what is insightful is that while I may be able to resist the lure of Victoria Secret’s marketing, having visual consumed their images I may be influenced to buy or spend more that I planned when shopping at Target.
This reminds me of a licensed hypnotist we had at camp recently. After hypnotizing several students and having them dance around like chickens, he began to unpack some research on the mind and it’s susceptibility to outside influences. When our minds are at rest, or rather not on guard, or better yet not on heavenly things (being like Christ), we allow ourselves to be exposed to the cravings of the sinful nature. It was great to see the students respond to his challenge (especially those who had been hypnotized, which he referred to as “mind influence”) to submit their will and influence to leadings of The Spirit.
Those who live according to the sinful nature have their minds set on what that nature desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace; the sinful mind is hostile to God. It does not submit to God's law, nor can it do so.
Romans 8:5-7
Do 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.
Romans 12:2
For such people are not serving our Lord Christ, but their own appetites. By smooth talk and flattery they deceive the minds of naive people.
Romans 16:18
Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Finally, 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.
Philippians 4:6-8
Their destiny is destruction, their god is their stomach, and their glory is in their shame. Their mind is on earthly things.
Philippians 3:19
Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things.
Colossians 3:1-2
Therefore, prepare your minds for action; be self-controlled; set your hope fully on the grace to be given you when Jesus Christ is revealed. As obedient children, do not conform to the evil desires you had when you lived in ignorance.
1 Peter 1:13-14
Now there are some obvious implications for men here. The article did say that the survey results weren’t applicable to every male, but we do need to be honest about our limitations and weaknesses. However I don’t think the goal here is to avoid the beaches and Victoria Secret windows, rather it is having a mind like Christ – focused on things above where all images are filtered with love. Instead of seeing curves and flesh and allowing ourselves to surrender our control which we once placed before God, we need to see as Jesus saw.
For ladies there is at least one implication I can think of (as a man I don’t dare to speak too much about what I don’t know). With this knowledge there comes a responsibility among Godly women to serve and honor and encourage Godly men. And while there is every now and then a hoochie-mama in our churches who doesn’t know (or care) how to dress, for the most part I don’t hear the complaining from our students.
Um…I guess that’s all I got to say right now.
(And no it wasn’t because of the bikini’d girl in the photo that I read the article, although I did spend a $100 on the site’s online store…I’m just joking…I’m too cheap to be influenced like that…)