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The Church and most religious institutions are behind in marketing and branding campaigns. Spreading their message is critical to the fabric of their cause but the medium through which you share it, is critical for people to hear your message.
But this one takes the cake.
Story by Huffington Post
Kirk Cameron decided to market towards 50,000 (or 100,000 if they get the needed donations) universities. He has no relationship with them. He isn’t formally telling these universities about his “book dump” on Darwin’s 150 b-day. He’s just spamming them. Spam is an interrupted message you receive without prior approval. I doubt these universities will be happy about receiving these altered books and it’s probably going to cause a lot of controversy via the media.
Even if he nicely shared what he’s doing…does he have an ‘opt-out’ option? I doubt it. He thinks he’s being revolutionary with spamming universities with a new book. Content doesn’t matter when it’s medium is forceful. If no permission was given by the receiver, then the person doesn’t want to hear your good/bad message.
His book might have valid points. Science isn’t beyond reproach/question. It embraces questions and then disproves them with physical data. But, even if his book has valid points, I doubt anyone (maybe 1-2 brave souls) will even read it. Because of the flawed medium which he is about to do.
Kirk will have wasted all that money, time, trees, because his strategy is inherently flawed.
What if some evolution-believing people sent 50k-100k to churches? What would happen? There would be outrage. And I’m very confident that the church would bitch louder. Yea. I said bitch…
Good luck. But I already know the outcome Kirk. You’re going to do yourself (and your cause) a dis-service by doing this. Find a way to get people’s permission and people might hear you but this won’t change anything.
FYI, if you watch the spoof. I almost agree with everything she said. It explains a lot about the issues the church is facing with bringing people to their idea of faith.
Throughout my life, I grew up without my father. He was never present nor did I have a father-figure in my life either. Briefly for 2 years, my uncle took me under my wing and spent time with me but even that was rare and nothing solid.
God changed my life when I was 16 and for the past 5 years I’ve been learning how things should be done (I’m 21). I’ve seen many men (trying to learn from them, even in the minor situations) and too many times I’ve seen men do nothing.
For me, I watched how men would act to learn how they acted and glean the good stuff. For example, I would see someone yell at his wife and he’d do nothing. Then I watched how the wife would call the husband a ‘jerk’ or give him a mean glare. Obviously he did wrong, but he didn’t accept/realize it.
Other times, family issues would happen, yet the ‘father’ of the family would say nothing and let the issues remain. Over time, they have become destructive and spawned evil. I mean EVIL, I don’t mean wickedness, I’m talking about someone with the intention to harm is spawned from passivity.
I haven’t seen even one situation where being passive has been beneficial to someone. Not one. Most of the time, it involves a man doing nothing. Not speaking up. Not getting pissed off. Not punching someone in the face. Not being diplomatic. Not exercising his authority.
Now, there have been other times, it’s a women in leadership not acting but their issue has been fear. Fear of what others would think of her. (from my experience). But this isn’t time for doubt. It’s time to act and stand up for love.
I’m not talking about someone stares at you and you pound their face in. I’m talking about how someone demeans, demoralizes, degrades, or speaks down to anyone you love in any way. I’m sure there are other issues men have been passive about but this one recurs, quiet often.
So, although I don’t encourage killing someone or beating someone’s face in. I do encourage defending others. Defending your friends, family, and loved ones. If you have to beat the shit out of someone, to protect them, by all means, do so. But, try the gentle way at first. Give the person grace. Warn them. But, when it’s passed a certain point (after you gave them grace…and warned them…) feel free to deliver what you’ve promised.
It’s called justice and love. It’s justice because they are afflicting another and deserve to be punished, in the same manner. It’s love because your not doing it out of hate, your doing it out of love. You love your friends and family. Your not doing it to protect your ego, your protecting others. For someone to be so passive where they won’t act upon injustice, I think is showing that your not a protector and that you DONT love those who are being persecuted. Yes, vengeance is God’s but maybe your the vessel of protecting. Are you?
Many times people ask tough questions “Why did God allow this to happen to me?” This answer isn’t looking for a logic response (at least 90% of the time). Logic doesn’t satisfy our souls. If we are asking a deep question we need a deep response. Something more simply “I don’t know, It’s God’s will”. In many situations, the answer, from you, should be silence.
Silence is powerful, it gives time to be introspective and meditate (think about something deeply…) about the situation. If someone else is involved, your presence can be more powerful than any words uttered. Shutting up and letting them talk can be more powerful than 1,000 lectures about their situation, no matter what you say, truth or error, presence is simply more powerful in difficult situations.
So, if your friend is going through a rough time, shut up and listen. If you have that ‘erie silence’ ENJOY IT! because it’s healing to the person! It might be uncomfortable but it’s the right thing to do in many situations. A few times I’ve had friends beg me to answer “why….this” (and I’ve asked on many occasions) and the best response, many of the times, was to let them vent, let them express themselves and just watch listen and acknowledge their frustration. Don’t just be 100% silent, acknowledge their pain. Grunt, say yes, just do something to acknowledge their pain when they make heart-felt points.
Outside of friend situations (or even strangers), what about you? What about your personal life? Have you ever tried to be quiet?
I’ve learned over the years that I’m an introvert. So when I’m in a crowd I’m quiet but with friends I disclose myself to them and share a lot. Sometimes I steam-roll the conversation and just take it all by storm. Sharing everything, with numerous details. I’m trying to shut up and allow time for others but sometimes I get caught up in the moment of my life and take too much control over a conversation. I talk more than ask questions.
There needs to be balance. Talk but be silent. In every area of life. I have no words to say……..weird…like I wrote a lot…then lots words to say. Eh. Tis life. 