Sometimes you just know what's inside...

Lately I've been reading a LOT about a book called 50 Shades of Gray and a movie called Magic Mike. Seems a lot of people are watching or reading...and no, I have not. 

I heard about Magic Mike first - actually thought about going to see it with some girlfriends...then I thought, "How would I feel about it if my husband told me he and a bunch of his friends wanted to go see a movie about beautiful young girls who stripped?" Well, the answer is obvious on that one! So, if I wouldn't want my husband to do it, why would I think it was okay for me? 

Then, I started hearing about a book (which I think is being made into a movie) titled, 50 Shades of Grey. From what I have read about the content, I can readily say, this is also a book I will not read. Why? It simply does not fit into the criteria of "whatsoever things are good, honest, pure, of a good report" that the Bible tells me to think on.

Now before you go and call me a prude or close-minded or whatever, please hear me out. I recently had conversation with a colleague about the Twilight series - I said I did not read them simply because of the vampire content. My reasoning had to do with a book I read in high school about vampires that opened the door of my imagination to some very dark areas (which would be considered very MILD by today's standards.) I was "reprimanded" and told it is simply a love story and I shouldn't not decide until I had read it for myself. I had to wonder, if it's simply a love story, then why make them vampires?


The point is - I came away feeling ashamed that I had made a decision to NOT read the books. 

Then, my teen brought a movie home from Red box that he REALLY wanted to see. "Everyone had seen it and" ...well, you know the arguments. I let my guard down and didn't check reviews or watch it before hand. It was awful! Now those "jokes" and images are in my child's head because I made a compromise. (I only caught the last couple of minutes of the show - he'd already watched it....twice!) 

This incident reminded me of something that happened early in my marriage. My husband and I were returning some movies to the rental store (wow...hard to believe those will soon be a thing of the past!) and they were pretty mild by most standards. I think they were light comedy/horror. As we parked, my mind went to what other movie I would rent and immediately another thought entered in. "Why do you ask Me to station angels around your house and then walk right past them carrying the enemy and letting them in?" 

I knew what that meant. I was asking for God's protection over me and my household, but those angels would not stop ME from bringing it in. That wasn't their job. They were there to stop outside attacks and couldn't do a thing about my own stupidity!

It seems to me that a lot of the new books and movies are cloaked in "romance" or "comedy" or any number of other good "story lines", but in reality they are nothing more than the enemy coming into our lives via a Trojan horse!

All this has also reminded me of something that happened when I was a little girl. Once, when I was very young, I discovered some wonderful little sand "castles" in an area of my yard. I thought someone had come to play in my yard while I slept! With my bare foot, I played in the sand castles only to discover that cats make "sand castles" too. I will never forget that inside that pile was a load of yuck! 

So no, I haven't read 50 shades or watched any "Magic" movies. I'm not telling you what to do...I'm telling you WHY I choose not to. Sometimes you don't have to play in a pile to know what's inside.

Just my thoughts on things.

Ephesians 6:10-18

The Message (MSG)

A Fight to the Finish

 ^10-12And that about wraps it up. God is strong, and he wants you strong. So take everything the Master has set out for you, well-made weapons of the best materials. And put them to use so you will be able to stand up to everything the Devil throws your way. This is no afternoon athletic contest that we'll walk away from and forget about in a couple of hours. This is for keeps, a life-or-death fight to the finish against the Devil and all his angels. ^13-18Be prepared. You're up against far more than you can handle on your own. Take all the help you can get, every weapon God has issued, so that when it's all over but the shouting you'll still be on your feet. Truth, righteousness, peace, faith, and salvation are more than words. Learn how to apply them. You'll need them throughout your life. God's Word is an indispensable weapon. In the same way, prayer is essential in this ongoing warfare. Pray hard and long. Pray for your brothers and sisters. Keep your eyes open. Keep each other's spirits up so that no one falls behind or drops out.

Philippians 4:8

The Message (MSG)

 ^8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

The new has worn off already...

Well, it looks like the new has already worn off of the new year. I guess I knew it would happen, but not this quickly! I blame it on the fact that New Year's Day was on a Sunday this year...followed by a Monday. Poor old Monday. It can put a damper on just about anything!

There are a few hardy souls out there trying their best to keep that optimistic view of their goals for the new year...I know it's getting tough to find an empty spot at the gym to work out, but in another month or two it will be back to the regulars. For, you see, this optimism thing takes work - a LOT of work.

Sometimes people look at those who hang onto optimism and figure they haven't got a brain in their head...after all, nobody can be this happy and have the slightest clue what is going on. What very few realize is, staying positive in this world is VERY hard work. It means in the process, some will call you a "Pollyanna" and usually mean it in a derogatory way.

What? You don't know who Pollyanna is? Let me share the following from wikipedia then.

"Pollyanna is a best-selling 1913 novel by Eleanor H. Porter that is now considered a classic of children's literature, with the title character's name becoming a popular term for someone with the same optimistic outlook.

The title character is named Pollyanna Whittier, a young orphan who goes to live in Beldingsville, Vermont, with her wealthy but stern Aunt Polly. Pollyanna's philosophy of life centers on what she calls "The Glad Game", an optimistic attitude she learned from her father. The game consists of finding something to be glad about in every situation. It originated in an incident one Christmas when Pollyanna, who was hoping for a doll in the missionary barrel, found only a pair of crutches inside. Making the game up on the spot, Pollyanna's father taught her to look at the good side of things—in this case, to be glad about the crutches because "we didn't need to use them!"

With this philosophy, and her own sunny personality and sincere, sympathetic soul, Pollyanna brings so much gladness to her aunt's dispirited New England town that she transforms it into a pleasant place to live. 'The Glad Game' shields her from her aunt's stern attitude: when Aunt Polly puts her in a stuffy attic room without carpets or pictures, she exults at the beautiful view from the high window; when she tries to "punish" her niece for being late to dinner by sentencing her to a meal of bread and milk in the kitchen with the servant, Nancy, Pollyanna thanks her rapturously because she likes bread and milk, and she likes Nancy.

Soon, Pollyanna teaches some of Beldingsville's most troubled inhabitants to 'play the game' as well, from a querulous invalid named Mrs. Snow to a miserly bachelor, Mr. Pendleton, who lives all alone in a cluttered mansion. Aunt Polly, too— finding herself helpless before Pollyanna's buoyant refusal to be downcast—gradually begins to thaw, although she resists the glad game longer than anyone else.

Eventually, however, even Pollyanna's robust optimism is put to the test when she is struck down by a motorcar while crossing a street and loses the use of her legs. At first she doesn't realize the seriousness of her situation, but her spirits plummet when she accidentally overhears an eminent specialist say that she'll never walk again. After that, she lies in bed, unable to find anything to be glad about. Then the townspeople begin calling at Aunt Polly's house, eager to let Pollyanna know how much her encouragement has improved their lives; and Pollyanna decides she can still be glad that she had legs. The novel ends with Aunt Polly marrying her former lover Dr. Chilton and Pollyanna being sent to a hospital where she learns to walk again and is able to appreciate the use of her legs far more as a result of being temporarily disabled."

This whole Pollyanna thing reminds me of another story...the two little boys who were given gifts. One little boy was the optimist; the other was a pessimist. The little boy who was the optimist was placed into a large room filled with horse manure; the pessimist was placed in a room filled with wonderful toys. An hour later, the researchers checked in on the boys' progress.

The little boy who was a pessimist sat forlornly in the middle of the room, grumbling that none of the toys were as wonderful as they'd first appeared. The researchers marked their notes and went to check on the little optimist. They found that little boy digging in the manure, happily tossing it to the side. When they asked him what he was doing, his reply was, "With all this manure, there's bound to be a pony in here somewhere!"


You know, the more I think about it, the more I think being a "Pollyanna" is a good thing...and now's as good a time as any to practice the part. The new year has already lost some of its luster, but there is bound to be a pony in there somewhere. Care to join me in the "glad game" as we discover what this year may bring?


"What men and women need is encouragement. Their natural resisting powers should be strengthened, not weakened.... Instead of always harping on a man's faults, tell him of his virtues. Try to pull him out of his rut of bad habits. Hold up to him his better self, his REAL self that can dare and do and win out!... The influence of a beautiful, helpful, hopeful character is contagious, and may revolutionize a whole town.... People radiate what is in their minds and in their hearts. If a man feels kindly and obliging, his neighbors will feel that way, too, before long. But if he scolds and scowls and criticizes—his neighbors will return scowl for scowl, and add interest!... When you look for the bad, expecting it, you will get it. When you know you will find the good—you will get that..."
(Quote from "Pollyanna" by Eleanor H. Porter)

Philippians 4:8

The Message (MSG)

 ^8-9Summing it all up, friends, I'd say you'll do best by filling your minds and meditating on things true, noble, reputable, authentic, compelling, gracious—the best, not the worst; the beautiful, not the ugly; things to praise, not things to curse. Put into practice what you learned from me, what you heard and saw and realized. Do that, and God, who makes everything work together, will work you into his most excellent harmonies.

James 1:2-4
The Message (MSG)
Consider it a sheer gift, friends, when tests and challenges come at you from all sides. You know that under pressure, your faith-life is forced into the open and shows its true colors. So don't try to get out of anything prematurely. Let it do its work so you become mature and well-developed, not deficient in any way.

Lamentations 3:22-23
New International Version (NIV)
22 Because of the LORD’s great love we are not consumed,
for his compassions never fail.
23 They are new every morning;
great is your faithfulness.