Why do I even turn the thing on?

I turned on the television the other night (well actually very early morning-I tend to be a night owl) to find a show titled "My Super Sweet Sixteen" or some such thing. I was horrified to discover that the premise of the program was to glorify rampant consumerism and the celebrity lifestyle at the expense of the character of some rather spoiled American children.

I have seen this program a few times now and I'm truly appalled. These children manipulate their parents into spending unseemly amounts of money to satisfy their wish to throw the "biggest party ever". On the face of it, there seems to be a fascination with the celebrity lifestyle into which these children are attempting to buy their way. In reality one can see children desperately seeking for limits and sincere friends. I say that because there is no end to the demands these children put on their parents-expensive new cars, jewelry, dress codes for the guests, exotic animals, bands etc. But, when the time comes to distribute the invitations, on more than one occasion, their "friends" are not where they were supposed to be. Perhaps this is simply poor planning on the part of the show's producers or a naive expectation that of course "everyone" would be waiting on the whims of these wealthy young people. In either case, these children often choose to simply give invites to whoever happens to be hanging around. To me this appears to be a desperate bid for friendship. One that is doomed to fail, because money can't buy you friends.
These children (one of whom, appalling in and of itself, was the child of the minister of the city's largest Christian church), clearly understand that true friendship is a valuable thing and equally clearly, they understand or believe that their "friendships" may not be trustworthy due to their wealth. They do not seem to trust those whose friendship they claim and seek to deepen those relationships through vacuous displays of wealth and celebrity like behavior. Their parents may not have provided a foundation of logical thinking whereby they should be able to objectively evaluate their relationships and be content with them.

These shows are a parental "FAIL" in more ways than one. I hope that, upon viewing the programs, these parents will be able see themselves and their roles in the upbringing of their children more appropriately. I hope it gives them the fortitude to exercise appropriate limits and give their children the guidance they are so clearly craving. Otherwise these children will remain as pathetic and needy as they were at the time of their parties and that would be a very sad thing.

"But godliness with contentment is great gain.
For we brought nothing into this world, and it is certain we can carry nothing out.
And having food and raiment let us be therewith content.
But they that will be rich fall into temptation and a snare, and into many foolish and hurtful lusts, which drown men in destruction and perdition.
For the love of money is the root of all evil: which while some coveted after, they have erred from the faith, and pierced themselves through with many sorrows.
But thou, O man of God, flee these things; and follow after righteousness, godliness, faith, love, patience, meekness.
Fight the good fight of faith, lay hold on eternal life, whereunto thou art also called, and hast professed a good profession before many witnesses. "~ 1Tim 6-12

A week that requires a do-over.

Update# 2: I went to the City park a few times during the scheduled time for this event and I saw nothing but what one should expect to see at a city park. It may be that the event was simply held somewhere else, less public and not publicized for which I praise the Lord. I would hope that those who had planned to participate and especially the young man who organized it in the first place would really start thinking critically about their attitudes and actions. When we are hearing stories like that of this young lady, and, particularly relevant to the proposed Bible fight,these people, it should inspire one to really examine one's own views with an eye towards which religions/philosophies really respect life.

Update: I can no longer find the event "Bible Fight in the Park on Facebook". This may mean that it has simply gone underground. I am hoping that it means that one of the local clergy I notified contacted the organizer's parents and they did what a good parent who cares about their child's future would do in such a case. I hope it's the latter. (By that, I don't mean that people should be denied freedom of speech, but I do mean that parents should be looking out for the future of their children and exercise appropriate discipline to do so. It's bad enough when adults behave in an offensive manner under the banner of free speech, but at least they are doing so with a reasonable understanding of the likely results of such behavior.)If I hear differently, I'll post again. Thank you to all who offered suggestions and thank you to WBCA's adult posters for backing off to allow the community of Plymouth to act.

I have spent the better part of this last week de-bugging my computer. Thank the Lord my husband is a programmer/analyst. With his help and the help of one of his co-workers, Sophos anti-virus software and MalwareBytes, we have managed to track down and remove the over 50 virus/malware programs that insinuated themselves into our computer a few days back. I have no idea yet how they got here, the antivirus software just popped up and we were off!

Then my son shared an event posting on Facebook with me. Apparently some of the young people of Plymouth, WI have decided to have a Bible fight in Plymouth's City Park. Perhaps you believe that this event is going to be a doctrinal debate or a debate between young atheists and believers. Young people who have studied their own beliefs and are willing to stand up in a public forum and discuss them rationally with others. While I know a few young people in Plymouth who really do know what they believe, doctrinally, and would be willing to do such a thing, I am sad to say it is not so.

This is a group of teenagers who, I am assured, are mostly atheists or agnostics who will be throwing Bibles at one another in a game of pseudo dodge ball. I have no doubt that their parents will look lovingly on as their children purchase Bibles, thinking how wonderful it is that their children love God enough to want to purchase their own Bible.

In order to bring reality to these parents, I have alerted the local newspaper to this event posting. Won't their parents be proud to see their young ones in the paper? I can't say, given my previous experiences with this community, that I am surprised by this and that's a shame.

I am appalled beyond words at this event. I hope that a local newspaper article will cause the event to be cancelled entirely and cause some teenagers to suffer revoked driving privileges and remedial Bible Studies. I rather suspect, however, that it will be instead be celebrated as a victory for free speech.

"The fear of the LORD is the beginning of knowledge: but fools despise wisdom and instruction. " ~Proverbs 1:7