Modern Disciple Magazine for Men (MDM4M), published in Canada JUNE / JULY 2004

Cover

One-On-One with Jeff Frankenstein by Ryan Richardson

Socially Acceptable Sin by Jeff Consiglio

The Music of Duvall by Justin Taylor

More Than Accountability by Andrew Chamberlin

God in the Wild by Stephen Barkley

The Pond or the Power by Warwick Cooper

Surrender by Alan Penner

LifeLine by Quinn McFarlane

Viva III by Ryan Richardson

c : activity or movement designed to effect fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situation

"Lose this life, it's the death of me
Lose this life, it's gonna set me free"

Tait, "Lose This Life" www.taitband.com

Reality shows just do not do it for me. I grew up in front of a TV, sometimes 2 or 3, but the trend just has not dragged me in front of the tube, whether it be for Survivor, American Idol, or The Swan. It seems to me that a lot of these shows tend to highlight the worst traits of humankind: cheating, jealousy, backstabbing, and/or general animosity.

But then there's Extreme Makeover: Home Edition. I was recently in a huge discussion about how this show just generally makes everyone involved, including the viewing audience, feel good about what is being done - for others.

This is the show that looks for people who need a boost of some kind, and gives it to them by sending them away and renovating their living space in their absence. The discussion we had was about how this was so much like "ministry", and that we were watching people get blessed on national TV. Not to discount ministries like Habitat For Humanity that bless people on an ongoing basis, but I have to lament the fact that the ABC network is doing something that the church should be doing worldwide. A team of people is "losing their life" on a weekly basis for complete strangers.

As much as organized religion seems to be hating on the networks these days, perhaps we as Modern Disciples could learn something from Extreme Makeover. Effecting fundamental changes in the socioeconomic situations of people requires three things:

Our Personal Commitment
Our Time
Our Genuine Concern For Them

The key words in the definition are "activity and movement". Nothing is going to happen without our "activity and movement".

Of course, I can be proud because I have the area of servant hood all wrapped up in my life. Whatever! I am still a work in progress, just like you.

But I am glad that God uses simple things like the media to encourage me to be more like Jesus. I am learning that losing one's life is not often a physical act. Many times, it involves laying down what I WANT to do to do what I NEED to do for someone besides myself.

In the age of Me First, that is Revolutionary.

All articles in MDM4M are copyright the author. Opinions and views are solely those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the opinions of MDM4M.