Our Days are Numbered

I fully expected there to be plenty of protestors outside the Supreme Court after their recent decision to return the abortion debate to states to set policy. And there were plenty on hand when the decision was announced. The frustration continues for the pro-aborts. Now they know the feeling of what pro-lifers have felt since 1973.

But nowhere in the 70s did I see protestors go to the homes of Supreme Court justices to try and make life miserable for them. Or at a restaurant where their family was eating. It seemed we lived in more civil times.

Not anymore. Within the last several days, at least one Supreme Court justice got the royal protest treatment at a steakhouse where he was dining. It was Brett Kavanaugh – a favorite public whipping boy since his confirmation hearings. It was reported that he had to sneak out a back door at the downtown D.C. Morton’s Steakhouse after protesters had learned he was there.

It went further. The same group called the restaurant’s manager demanding that the justice be kicked out. That according to Politico’s Daniel Lippman. Are you kidding me??

The management of Morton’s was rightfully angry and wrote to Politico: “Honorable Supreme Court Justice Kavanaugh and all of our other patrons at the restaurant were unduly harassed by unruly protestors while eating dinner at our Morton’s restaurant. Politics, regardless of your side or views, should not trample the freedom at play of the right to congregate and eat dinner.”

Morton’s management concluded by saying, “There is a time and place for everything. Disturbing the dinner of all of our customers was an act of selfishness and void of decency.” Spot on.

How long will this nonsense go on? The Court’s decision was made. And while the president seeks for ways to dismiss what the Court did in an effort to allow more babies to die, must justices now submit to the pathetic whims of opponents who don’t agree with them?

In response to the dining protest, Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg said this: “Any public figure should always, always be free from violence, intimidation, and harassment but should never be free from criticism or people exercising their First Amendment rights.” While that is true, I doubt Mr. Buttigieg would be so generous to those who might hold protests and signs outside of places that he dines that quoted biblical passages on homosexuality.

A few days ago, another protest group marched in Washington D.C. They chanted and yelled as they went. The Daily Signal reports that, “As the pro-abortion group turned to head towards the White House, one of the protesters blocked a pro-life sign and screamed 'We love killing babies!'”

Pro-life advocates have moved to help women with unanticipated pregnancies with the development of crisis pregnancy centers (CPCs). Services they provide include counseling on pregnancy issues, where to find help, and even doctor referrals. They will coach moms-to-be and provide diapers, blankets, and a number of other items once the baby arrives. They are a woman’s best friend when moving through this unexpected pregnancy.

And yet. And yet…two U.S. Senators want to shut these centers down. Senator Elizabeth Warren, along with Sen. Bob Menendez have introduced the “Stop Anti-Abortion Disinformation Act” to combat what they call “false advertising” from crisis pregnancy centers.

In Warren’s words, “…those crisis pregnancy centers that are there to fool people who are looking for pregnancy termination help outnumber true abortion clinics by three to one…We need to shut them down all around the country. You should not be able to torture a pregnant person like that.”

Torture? What’s tortuous is watching a senior legislative leader be so out-of-touch on the true work of caring for mothers-to-be.

The Bible has forewarned us of these days. The prophet Isaiah wrote, “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter! Woe to those who are wise in their own eyes, and shrewd in their own sight!” Isaiah 5:20-21 (ESV)

These are difficult times in which to live. It seems easier than ever to believe our days are truly numbered.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.washingtonpost.com/nation/2022/07/11/buttigieg-kavanaugh-protest-mortons-abortion/

https://thehill.com/regulation/court-battles/3549907-mortons-condemns-abortion-rights-protestors-for-disrupting-kavanaughs-freedom-to-eat-dinner/

https://www.dailysignal.com/2022/07/09/what-i-saw-at-the-womens-march-summer-of-rage-protest/

https://decisionmagazine.com/sen-elizabeth-warren-accuses-crisis-pregnancy-centers-of-torture/

Sorta Fancy Like ...

Chick-fil-A has done it again—having been awarded America’s favorite restaurant for the 8th straight year! This according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index Restaurant Study. Their tally is divided up into “quick-service” and “full-service” restaurants. Or what ordinary people would call fast food or sit-down places.

The Chick-fil-A index score was 83—same as last year. Behind Chick-fil-A, and ruffling a few feathers, were Jimmy John’s (79), Domino’s (78), KFC (78), Chipotle (77), Panera Bread (77), Pizza Hut (77), and Starbucks (77).

McDonald’s finished lowest, with a score of 68. Their arches have fallen lately.

Who were the kings of the sit-down places? LongHorn Steakhouse (80) tied with Texas Roadhouse (80). Cracker Barrel (78) and Fridays (78) tied for third. Also worth noting: Olive Garden, Outback Steakhouse, and Red Robin scored a 77. 

Chili’s and The Cheesecake Factory earned a 76. Denny’s and Red Lobster a 75. Buffalo Wild Wings got a 74. Applebee’s and IHOP were bottom feeders at 73.

Now for my reviews.

Chick-fil-A: I love their chicken sandwich, fries, and diet lemonade. And the fact they close on Sundays. They’re highly profitable and support families. However…it IS one expensive chicken sandwich meal.

Jimmy John’s: Freaky fast. Decent food. But my choice for a great sub is Jersey Mike’s.

Domino’s: Not even sure we have one close by. So can’t vouch for them. I’ve been more of a Pizza Hut guy over the years.

KFC: Love their chicken. Frustrated that many locations do not serve their green beans. The closest location doesn’t always serve the freshest chick. Personnel should take customer service lessons from Chick-fil-A. In fact ALL of these places should!!

Chipotle: Decent food and service…but overpriced!

Panera Bread: Great for bagels and baked goods. Sandwiches, salads, and combos are overpriced. Service has been mostly okay.

Starbucks: This is heavily dependent on location and the manager. We LOVE our Starbucks at Rt 59 and 111th in Naperville. We’re there twice a week. Service and friendliness are high on our scale. Plus, we love their coffee drinks.

On to the sit down places…

LongHorn Steakhouse and Texas Roadhouse both scored the high number of 80. But my vote goes to Texas Roadhouse. HIGHLY patriotic and generous to veterans. They have a fine country fried steak with dee-lish-us gravy. And those rolls!!

Cracker Barrel: Good food and good value for your money, assuming you don’t spend another $100 in the store on your way out.

Fridays: Hardly make the trip there anymore. Nothing really distinctive.

Olive Garden: Any place that offers unlimited refills and wonderful breadsticks is worth your money if the food is good. And it is.

Outback Steakhouse: One of our favorite places. They took away their wedge salad but the replacement salad with the dressing and add-ons make up for it. Plus, delicious steaks and warm bread.

Red Robin: Just one word…YUMMM. (Ok, and unlimited fries.)

Chili’s: are there more often than anyplace. Members keep getting free appetizers, or chips and salsa, or soft drink every time. Plus, a few times a year, buy a $50 gift card—get TWO $10 gift cards free. Such a deal.

The Cheesecake Factory: Wonderful food after you spend an hour looking over the menu.

Denny’s: What can you say? It’s……..Denny’s.

Red Lobster: Love their cold salads and warm biscuits and unlimited shrimp whey they offer it.

Buffalo Wild Wings: Party crowd. Noisy. A gazillion TV sets. Not a real fan but the wings are good.

IHOP: (See Denny’s)

Applebee’s: True confession. I LIKE Applebee’s a lot. But we hardly go there. They closed many of them including one just blocks away. Wish they were closer ‘cuz I’d be going there. Especially for our Saturday date night. ‘Cause we’re fancy like ...

Every one of these restaurants should learn the message of Truett Cathy, the founder of Chick-fil-A. It’s all about service!! And why do this? As it is written, “Obey the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart. Remember the great things he has done for you.” 1 Samuel 12:24 (CEV)

So serve well in whatever you do. And spread those wings.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.nrn.com/consumer-trends/chick-fil-tops-consumer-satisfaction-study-eighth-consecutive-year 

(Photo shown above was taken with founder of Chick-Fil-A, Truett Cathy, in his corporate office.)

Press on, Weary One

Do you ever feel weary? I’m weary. Wordsmiths Merriam-Webster spell out the feeling: exhausted in strength, endurance, vigor. or freshness. They add a variance: having one’s patience, tolerance, or pleasure exhausted.

I’m sure some of my lackluster approach to life today has to do with my age. I’m now three score plus ten. So on that front, I’ve earned the right to some weariness. But it’s become much more than that.

Near the top of my list is my weariness with the attitudes of people toward faith and the church. I keep seeing stories about the “nones" and the “dones." The “nones” tell pollsters they have no religious affiliation for any particular set of religious beliefs. The “dones” are those who for various reasons have given up on institutional religion. Apparently, it didn’t serve their “felt needs.”

I myself am done with the strayers. Those who lead the way out of the faith. These folk were once supposedly strong voices. Pastors. “Christian” singers. Actors and actresses. I just read an article about Chris Pratt that appeared in Men’s Health magazine. After having made some faith affirming statements publicly, he appeared not only to distance himself from a stand for Jesus, but used the “f” word numerous times in the interview. It made me…weary.

I’m tired of greedy athletes complaining about their treatment and their pay. This new LIV golf league has stolen some of the game’s best golfers by throwing enormous sums of money at them. Some claim Phil Mickelson was drawn away by almost $200 million! Sergio Garcia also joined the Saudi-funded tour. He’s made more than 54 million dollars in winnings and sponsorships through his PGA affiliation. Recently he told fellow golfer Rory McElroy that by leaving the tour that took them to the dance, the departing few will “get paid what they deserve.” McElroy laughed out loud and replied, “Sergio. We’re golfers. We don’t deserve to be paid anything.” Good for him!!

I’m weary of media programs trying to “re-educate” us on ethical and moral positions. Several of what have been our favorite network television programs have succumbed to the pressure of the alphabet soup crowd and now must include “gay relationships” in their programs. Amazingly, we find virtually no straight-sex happily married couples on these shows. Anywhere.

They even reach for our kids. The latest Lightyear movie from Disney gave moviegoers the lesbian “kiss.” The film has flopped. But Disney has plenty of crude humor infiltrating the language of our children in their other movies. Yes, I’m tired of it.

I’m exhausted having to filter out the “progressive” way of treating political opponents. In the recent Illinois primary election, the Washington Post described the Republican gubernatorial winner as a “far right candidate.” The Chicago Tribune immediately said this man would likely lose to the current Democratic governor. But in describing a contest of two Democrats, the much more liberal candidate who lost was given graceful language – not that she was FAR LEFT! Because in most media, there IS no such thing! Why fight it?

Today is the Fourth of July…Independence Day. It’s a day to recognize that my weariness pales in comparison to those who valiantly worked to give us a nation where freedom was of high value. Stories that emerge from the Revolutionary War – in fact every war – always tell the tale of incredible weariness. And yet these patriots pressed on. For our sake.

As did the Savior of the world…Jesus. He grew tired. Frustrated. Worn down by the lack of belief. And the spiritual blindness around Him. Yet He pressed on. It is our call.

It was the same for many early Christians. It was why the apostle Paul found it necessary to write to them (as well as us today) these words: “Let’s not become discouraged in doing good, for in due time we will reap, if we do not become weary.” Galatians 6:9 (NASB)

If you understand my sentiment on this world, please also accept my encouragement: Press on, weary one. A brighter day is coming.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

A Matter of Life and Death

So it happened. The now infamous leak from a likely disgruntled clerk for the U.S. Supreme Court has proven true. The Court did indeed set a new course for life in America by designating the nearly 50-year-old Roe v Wade decision unconstitutional.

You would hope that anyone with a heart for babies would celebrate such a decision. Not so. Even one of the more conservative justices couldn’t belly up to a complete sense of righteousness on this abortion issue. I feel for your soul, John Roberts.

But there were the five. Courageous voices, all of them. They have now earned the disgust and likely hatred of so-called progressives across our land. The names? Alito. Thomas. Gorsuch. Kavanaugh. Barrett.

The pre-decision threats demanded extra security for these justices. Illegal protests were held at their private homes with the federal justice department refusing to step in. Liberalism at its weakest.

The three justices who wanted the mass murder of baby humans to continue unabated in any form were Kagan, Sotomayor, and Breyer. At supremecourt.gov, you can find bios on each of the nine justices. They are short and, as you might expect, give you the professional type of curriculum vitae for each member. What they don’t tell you, is anything about their worldview.

And that is where the decision on this issue was determined.

Worldview. As a writer for the devotional Tabletalk explained, “A worldview is an overall view of the world. It’s not a physical view of the world, but rather a philosophical view, an all-encompassing perspective on everything that exists and matters to us.

Taking it deeper, “Worldviews also largely determine people’s opinions on matters of ethics and politics. What a person thinks about abortion, euthanasia, same-sex relationships, environmental ethics, economic policy, public education, and so on will depend on his underlying worldview more than anything else.”

As noted, the bios on each justice on our Supreme Court do not expand on their worldview or how they reached them. We see them expressed in their decisions. Like abortion. Homosexuality. Things that can get misconstrued as “freedom.”

One thing I know. All five of the courageous justices who stood firm on the issue of life—have a God-centered worldview. It is from that they derive an understanding that each human life from conception on bears the imprint of the image of God. It is almost too weighty to consider. The imprint of the Divine—in every human being. Amazing.

While it’s quite possible that justices Kagan, Sotomayor, and Breyer treat the Bible with some form of respect, they’ve missed a critical message. You don’t destroy the image of God. We learn about it in the very first chapter of the first book of the Bible—Genesis 1:27. It reads, “So God created human beings in his own image. In the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” (NLT)

A wise person will also take from that simple verse the idea that our human sexuality, by God’s design, makes us male and female. There are no other variations.

Abortions are a procedure of convenience. Let’s face it. Babies don’t just happen. Decisions impact the process. A woman DOES have the right to choose. She can choose to avoid sexual activity that will produce a child. Or—she can take preventative measures toward pregnancy. That is when a choice is to be made. This does not include rape, although the baby is no less human.

The spin on the “blessings of abortion” is unreal. Wired magazine—an excellent choice for stories on emerging technologies but pathetic in terms of a moral worldview—wrote this in their story on Roe v Wade, “The national right to abortion pushed back the age of childbearing, increased college and workforce participation, and created economically stable families.” They missed one line: “while killing babies made in God’s image.”

Meanwhile their fellow liberals at the Washington Post featured an editorial with this headline, “For the fall of Roe v Wade, thank Donald Trump.” Meant cynically, but they got it right. Gorsuch. Kavanaugh. Barrett. All Trump appointees.

Sadly, our current president follows a different worldview. It’s one that breeds a culture of death. Like several others before him, he bears that legacy.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.supremecourt.gov/about/biographies.aspx

https://www.ligonier.org/learn/articles/what-worldview

Biblical Ground

Today (or more exactly, yesterday) is a national holiday, which may come as a surprise to some. It is designated as Juneteenth and is regarded as the oldest nationally celebrated commemoration of the ending of slavery in the United States.

Its history dates back to 1865. On June 19th of that year, Union soldiers, led by Major General Gordon Granger, landed at Galveston, Texas, announcing that the Civil War had ended. Those who had been enslaved were now free. Mind you, this was two and a half years after President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation.

Why were Texans slow to get the message? It seems it was due to the minimal number of Union troops to enforce the new Executive Order. When General Lee surrendered in April of 1865, and General Granger’s regiment arrived, forces were finally strong enough to influence and overcome the resistance.

In our modern way of thinking, it seems most people of faith cannot fathom the holding of slaves. We deceive ourselves. In fact, for years people who professed to follow Jesus would take certain Bible passages to justify slavery. Just like today—when people attempt to legitimize other sinful behavior by reinterpreting Scripture. (More on that coming up.)

The Christian Reformed Church (CRC) has had their own challenges dealing with racism. I have attended a local CRC congregation since 2005. In 1957, discussions within the CRC circled around segregation. And according to the denomination’s website, “During the 1960s and 1970s the church dealt with the issue at home as it struggled through a race-related case regarding Timothy Christian School in Cicero, Illinois, and abroad as it held discussions with the Reformed Churches in South Africa regarding its policy of apartheid.”

Just last week, the General Assembly of the Orthodox Presbyterian Church (OPC) issued an apology for four incidents of racism that allegedly took place during the meeting—by more than one person. That Assembly “also passed a statement of “sorrow and regret” without dissent on Friday.” Some of the accusations appear to be questionable.

Juneteenth offers an opportunity for positive discussions on where we have moved forward on issues of race—and where we have not. Those discussions can certainly be awkward. But necessary.

In similar fashion, discussions on human sexuality can become very awkward. Even heated. They can separate family, friends, coworkers, and churches.

In the annual meeting of the CRC denomination, a remarkable vote was taken last week affirming a biblical view on human sexuality. In meetings held at Calvin University in Michigan, the delegates voted 123-53 to approve language on the “biblical theology” of sexuality.

After two long days of debate, a list was approved of what the denomination calls sexual immorality. The behaviors it found unacceptable included “adultery, premarital sex, extra-marital sex, polyamory, pornography, and homosexual sex.”

In this day and age, this was an extraordinary vote. Several “mainline denominations” have broken apart on the issues of human sexuality. The CRC extended their vote to make their decision a “confessional” position—meaning it ranks with the creeds of the church in terms of conviction.

Mind you, this stand was taken during June, the so-called “Pride Month.” And the consequences of standing firm could be significant in impacting congregations as well as all levels of academic instruction. In other words, it could be costly in a number of ways.

That is the price of truth. Following Jesus can be costly. It could mean losing friends. Family. Everything. In Jesus' words, “So therefore, any one of you who does not renounce all that he has cannot be my disciple.” Luke 14:33 (ESV)

I was thrilled that the delegates of the CRC held biblical ground. Elsewhere, that ground has crumbled. Bowing to the god of the culture.

Never a good idea.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2022/june/christian-reformed-church-crc-lgbt-stance-calvin.html 

https://www.crcna.org/welcome/beliefs/position-statements/race-relations

PERFECT Lists

I hate to fall behind the times. Certain lists come out annually that are worth checking out. Among them are two from schools of higher education that serve as my favorites. One is the Banished Words List from Lake Superior State University. It releases around the last day of each calendar year.

The second is the Mindset List previously published by Beloit College (which they ceased sourcing in August of 2018). This list reminded educators and parents heading off to college that the incoming freshmen have a different frame of reference. Totally. That list has now become the Marist Mindset List, published by Marist College (albeit a much shorter list) and releases in August.

The 2025 Mindset List included these gems—for those incoming freshmen of 2021:

• Incoming students and their professors are among the first to adjust to a new reality of digital learning, which has changed the face of higher education for years to come. 
• At some schools, such as Villanova, all students, faculty, and staff who will be on campus are required to be fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
• First-year students are demanding fashion brands that offer dignity and justice to employees throughout the “global value chain.” (This year’s list may adopt some language about supply chain shortages!)

As to that last point, I recently had lunch with a young man attending USC – the University of South Carolina. He planned to graduate with a degree dealing with managing the supply chain! My how times have changed.

On to that other list I mentioned. First, it should be noted that the annual Banished Words List compiled by Lake Superior State University (LSSU) is notably tongue-in-cheek. I’m not sure it should be.

The top vote getter for this year was, “Wait, what?” As LSSU reported, “These two four-letter words should not go together under any circumstances because the two-part halting interrogative is disingenuous, divergent, deflective, and other damning words that begin with the letter d.” So there!

The Banished Words List has been released every year since 1976 “to uphold, protect, and support excellence in language by encouraging avoidance of words and terms that are overworked, redundant, oxymoronic, clichéd, illogical, nonsensical—and otherwise ineffective, baffling, or irritating.” Let’s all PIVOT!

Banished word champions from previous years included, “surely,” “classic,” “bromance,” “COVID-19,” “wrap my head around,” “user friendly,” “at this point in time,” “not so much,” and “viable alternative.” Even comedian George Carlin submitted an entry that appeared in 1994: “baddaboom, baddabing.”

Besides “Wait, what??” – here are several of the other words/phrases on the 2022 “banished” list:

• No worries
• At the end of the day
• That being said
• Asking for a friend
• Circle back
• Deep dive
• New normal
• You’re on mute

So now let me add my personal irritant: perfect. This word has been catching on in the service industry. Like when we step into our favorite restaurant and the hostess asks, “How many in your party?” I say, “Two.” She says, “Perfect.” Really?? What if I said three…or four, or even, just me! Is any answer perfect??

Follow up. “Will you need a menu?” (vs using the QR code to get one) I say, “Yes.” She says, “Perfect!!” Aaaauuuggghhh! (Apologies to Charlie Brown.)

And it’s happened in other locations as well. Everything becomes just, well, perfect. And we all know NOTHING in this world is perfect. Ban that word now!!

And if I really had my way, I’d ban both the phrase and the abbreviation for “Oh my god!!” I used the little “g” here because who knows who the god is being called upon! My God tells me this, “Do not misuse the name of the LORD your God, because the LORD will not leave anyone unpunished who misuses his name.” Exodus 20:7 (CSB) That’s a pretty serious response!

Well I know I can’t stop people from saying it. But I wish I could. Few profanities reach the level of offending God Almighty! It’s part of His PERFECT list.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.lssu.edu/traditions/banishedwords/

https://www.marist.edu/-/mindset-list-2021

Oh Be Careful, Little Eyes ...

June, unfortunately, has the distinction of being proclaimed as LGBTQ Pride Month. I guess this really implies that if you are living a healthy biblical approach to your sexuality you should be celebrated at least 11 months out of the year. Aw, shucks…just go ahead and celebrate June as well. Be GLAD (with one A) you’ve not caved to a distorted cultural mindset.

Keeping one on the Godly path regarding human sexuality gets no media support. This year we are likely to see the television stations and newspapers eagerly jumping on the bandwagon to endorse (and even participate) in the so-called “Pride Parades.” I guess they believe this draws admiration from most of the public. I doubt it does.

Then you have the increasing number of “gay” relationships or characters appearing even in network programs. They don’t warn you that "content may not be suitable for young children” because the network execs believe it is perfectly suitable. And their TV characters would never suggest there’s a hint of sin involved.

It’s also surprising to see how many people are willing to throw caution to the wind on programs like The Bachelor or The Bachelorette. Here people are put in the most tempting situations with attractive mates and millions of viewers cheering them on. God help the pure among them who hold out.

The other notable change in our viewing habits is the lack of resistance we show toward repulsive language. Even in seemingly “family friendly” movies or those not rated R. For example, the new Top Gun: Maverick movie with Tom Cruise. It’s rated P-G 13 for "sequences of intense action and some strong language."

Notice how we soft-pedal words that many find offensive. We call it “strong language.” So is communication without these words “weak language?” Here’s the summary of those words from the Top Gun: Maverick movie and their frequency (no doubt you can fill in the letters where you see the dashes): s--t (17), GD (1), b-lls (1), a-- (2), h-ll (9), d--n (4), SOB (2), misuse of “Jesus” (2), d--k (1), OMG (2), f-word (1). The more the kids hear these things, the more they repeat them.

Little Orphan Annie must still believe OMG means “Oh my goodness!”, but she is out of touch. The casual tossing out of God’s name found in “Oh My God!” is a profanity commonly found on school playgrounds and in most every workplace conversation, sporting event and, well, you name it.

I find some good news on the small screen. While I often do not care for the judges, there are some remarkably gifted people who show up on programs like America’s Got Talent (the new summer season is just underway).

[There is an international version of The Voice, another talent seeking program called The Voice Global. This season they had a young music talent who possibly, maybe, okay-we’re-not-really-sure, MIGHT be the grandson of Elvis Presley. It’s worth watching the YouTube performance of this young man. (link below) True talent usually finds its way to surface.]

I’m old enough and saturated enough in life to know that we who consider ourselves “Christ followers” often follow the wrong stuff in media. We get hooked like the culture. We tolerate in our houses and on the big screen what would totally make us blush if our Living Savior were sitting next to us. I don’t know, He might even say something like, “Why do you watch this junk?” Although I think Jesus might well appreciate the way some people use their God-given talents on certain programs.

People of faith in God likely skip over verses like,  “Don’t use foul or abusive language. Let everything you say be good and helpful, so that your words will be an encouragement to those who hear them.” Ephesians 4:29 (NLT)

Or…” I will not look with approval on anything that is vile. I hate what faithless people do; I will have no part in it..” Psalm 101:3 (NIV)

Gay Pride Month? Pride parades? Nothing to be GLAAD about in this. Take care what enters your eyes and ears.

That’s Forward Thinking. 

You can find a number of YouTube episodes and podcasts of Mark’s program, Moving People Forward at https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCosyuBzdSh1mXIas_kGY2Aw?

For more information on the Elfstrand Group, please visit www.elfstrandgroup.com

Articles of interest:

https://www.crosswalk.com/culture/features/things-you-should-know-about-top-gun-maverick.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u5YCV_I3wpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CDPtzsMjJXE