Here is an interesting article from http://www.debbieschlussel.com/ about Blockbuster. This follows this post about some of the movies from last week and THIS POST about some movies that have been released over the past few years that you might have missed! This all follows this post about guidelines to choosing good movies to watch yourself!

Saying Good-bye to Blockbuster

By Debbie Schlussel
It’s weird that it’s now a sign of being old when you say, “I remember when there was a Blockbuster around every corner.”  But pretty soon, most kids won’t know what Blockbuster is . . . or, rather, was.  This week, all of the Blockbuster stores near me are closing.  For the last several weeks, they’ve been holding liquidation sales.  Now, it will be too far for me to drive to rent a movie at the nearest Blockbuster.  And I don’t believe Blockbuster will exist at all, except online, in a few years.  Today, investors, like Carl Icahn, and liquidators are fighting over the remnants of this former market giant.  And I have mixed feelings about it as a now former Blockbuster customer.

At first, I was sad to see the Blockbuster close.  The people who worked at the particular Blockbuster store I frequented made some really good movie recommendations, and I’m not a Netflix kind of person.  I don’t like to have a fixed cost to pay every month for movie rentals, since I go for months not renting a movie, and then rent several in a few days.  I don’t like to watch movies online, and I don’t want to wait–even a day–to have them mailed to me, if I feel like watching a movie now.  I liked the convenience of deciding I wanted to rent a movie, driving to the store to get it for a fixed one-time fee, and watching it within 20 minutes.  But as I thought about it more, I’m not so sad to see Blockbuster go.  And here’s why .  .  .

As I think back on it, there were many movies–especially classic movies–that you could never find at Blockbuster.  Even big hit movies from the ’70s, ’80s, and ’90s were often something you had to buy online or actually join Netflix to see.  I found myself calling Blockbuster all the time when I wanted to see something, and they just didn’t have it.  Add to that my frustration when my monthly free movie coupon (from the Blockbuster program I paid $20 to join for a  year) repeatedly stopped coming because of this glitch or that glitch and I had to go through mind-numbing, frustrating hours on the phone with Sean a/k/a Srinivasan and Patrick a/k/a Pradeep, who didn’t know how to get me the coupon and couldn’t help despite wanting to from the call center in Mumbai, or was it Chueh Hui a/k/a Charlie in the call center in Shanghai?  After years of renting a lot of videos, when I disputed a large late charge, the manager of my failing and now closing Blockbuster store wasn’t very eager to accommodate a good customer.
Times change, and you have to adjust to changing technologies and trends that become permanent or semi-perm.  While in the late ’80s and early ’90s, Blockbuster was around every corner, it’s more convenient to most Americans to go online to Netflix and never have to worry about a movie being taken out by another customer or being otherwise unavailable because it’s not the current hit or straight-to-video awful Jessica Simpson flick for which wall space has been reserved.  That happened all the time.  I found myself more and more often taking out movies from my local public library, where there is a pretty good selection.  And that’s free, unlike at Blockbuster.
And aside from Netflix and Redbox, some brick and mortar entrepreneurs are filling the void.  Near were I live, at least one small business owner, a Chaldean (Iraqi Christian) woman, opened her own video store.  It’s far cheaper to rent a movie there, and you have a longer grace period.  Or I can buy videos on Ebay and Amazon, if I continue to holdout from Netflix, which as you know, has the best grace period in the world for returning rentals:  there is none.
While I’ll be sad to see the people at my Blockbuster lose their jobs, I can’t imagine working at Blockbuster was a decent paying or career experience.  It was likely a way station to bigger and better things, unless you were a store or district manager, which probably meant semi-liveable wages.  The employee who gave me the best movie recommendations moved on to a better job over a year ago.  Clerks at my local Blockbuster said that back in the ’90s and ’00s, the store was making $5,000 a night on weeknights, $10,000 on weekend nights.  Now, they say, they were lucky to do $5,000 on a weekend night and barely made that in an entire week.  After rent, utilities, and salaries, they say there wasn’t much profit, and the store was just breaking even.  The Netflix model has a much better ratio of profit to fixed and unexpected costs. The same goes for the Redbox kiosks, though they have a much more limited selection of movies. Who knows, though? In ten or twenty years, Netflix might be obsolete with the technology available by that time. The same might be the case for Redbox, too.
When I checked out the going out of business sale at one of my local Blockbuster stores, recently, the manager tried to get me to buy “Be Kind Rewind,” (a movie I hated–read my review).  He said he liked it because he’s in the video rental business.  The movie is about an inner city video store that makes stupid movies to get customers to rent movies to stay in business.  (Okay, so most–not all–of his recommendations were good.)
But now, there is no rewinding.  And there are almost no video rental stores.  And I don’t think it’s such a bad thing.  I’m ready to say good-bye to Blockbuster, even if I don’t have the convenience of local businesses from which to rent.
***
Do you use Netflix?  Were you a Blockbuster customer?  Are you sad to see the company go, or is it, as I say, a necessary sign of the times as technology evolves?  What do you think about the stores closing?

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Tags: Blockbuster, Carl Icahn, going out of business, movie rental, Movie Reviews, Netflix, Redbox, saying good-bye to Blockbuster, video rental

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about having balance in life. This follows this post about Christianity in Nigeria. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book recommended for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632. You can follow me at blogspot here and at twitter here https://twitter.com/brianleesblog. Please consider following both in case one goes down!

The Right Ratios

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Life consists of the things we do and the ability to wait for our actions to bear fruit.

Sometimes the actions take the forefront of our lives and sometimes all we can do is wait. Always, we are faced with determining what to do and when to wait. If we learn the right ratio, we can be successful or fruitful. The farmer does his work with care and perseverance and then waits for the growth that comes from the rain (James:5:7Be patient therefore, brethren, unto the coming of the Lord. Behold, the husbandman waiteth for the precious fruit of the earth, and hath long patience for it, until he receive the early and latter rain.). Sometimes it may seem like there is only work, but when the seed is in place, the seed and the farmer wait for the rain. Life gives us the balance between action and patient endurance.
In all we do, action and work precedes the fruits. In all we do, we also come to the time where we simply wait. The ratio between action and endurance may vary, but in that lies the probability of a good result. Paul noted the capstone of life when he wrote, "Eternal life to those who by patient continuance in doing good, seek for glory, honor and immortality" (Romans:2:7To them who by patient continuance in well doing seek for glory and honour and immortality, eternal life:).

Children Need Both a Father and Mother

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about the parents that children need. This follows this post about the origins of Christmas. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Children Need Both a Father and Mother




article by Good News Editor





Marriage was designed to connect children to a loving relationship with their mother and father, offering stability for them and society at large.







Source: Photos.comStudies show that children from a stable marriage with both father and mother in the home have a better opportunity for a successful life and creating a stable family life of their own when they get married.



God seeks godly offspring (Malachi 2:15-16 [15] And did not he make one? Yet had he the residue of the spirit. And wherefore one? That he might seek a godly seed. Therefore take heed to your spirit, and let none deal treacherously against the wife of his youth.

[16] For the LORD, the God of Israel, saith that he hateth putting away: for one covereth violence with his garment, saith the LORD of hosts: therefore take heed to your spirit, that ye deal not treacherously.





See All...). That is why He hates divorce or any other violation of the sacred covenant of marriage, like same-sex relationships (Malachi 2:14Yet ye say, Wherefore? Because the LORD hath been witness between thee and the wife of thy youth, against whom thou hast dealt treacherously: yet is she thy companion, and the wife of thy covenant.



See All...).



Sexual immorality destabilizes husband-and-wife relationships and can often destabilize the family unit, negatively affecting children.



There is strong evidence that children need both a mother and a father. It seems that the absence of fathers is particularly damaging to children.



In the book Life Without Father: Compelling New Evidence That Fatherhood and Marriage Are Indispensable for the Good of Children and Society (1996), researcher David Popenoe noted that the absence of fathers was strongly linked to many societal ills—from crime to academic failure.



"Marriage must be reestablished as a strong social institution," he argued. He went on to say that "the father's role must be redefined . . . [It] must relate to the unique attributes of modern societies, to the new roles for women, and to the special qualities that men bring to childrearing" (1996, pp. 198-199).



Later he gave some of the statistics demonstrating the importance of fathers in the lives and proper social development of their children:



• 60 percent of America's rapists came from fatherless homes.



• 72 percent of adolescent murderers grew up without a father.



• 70 percent of long-term prison inmates are fatherless.

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Groupthink Affects the Battle Over Marriage

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about marriage problems. This follows this post about the season called Advent. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Groupthink Affects the Battle Over Marriage




 In a self-absorbed world, we are unwittingly influenced by the words and actions of others. From weekend parties, to watching negative TV programs, to texting while driving, many people simply follow the lead of others. After all, how can so many people be wrong? Yet people can be hurt by social norms they don't question. We often go along to get along. This happens in groupthink, and groupthink on a grand scale can be dangerous to our marriages and families!



Groupthink can directly affect the way we view marriage. Groupthink author Irving Janisdefined the phenomenon: "[G]roupthink…refer[s] to the mode of thinking that persons engage in when concurrence-seeking becomes so dominant in a cohesive in-group that it tends to override realistic appraisal of alternative courses of action. [T]he term refers to a deterioration in mental efficiency, reality testing and moral judgments as a result of group pressures " (Janis, I.L., Psychology Today, 1971, p. 43-46; emphasis mine).



When millions of TV viewers watch shows like The Modern Family or The New Normal , they can eventually water down or dismiss their Christian roots and morals and incrementally absorb the amorality of such shows. Remarkably, groupthink also works on a grand scale.



Over the last 60 years, following World War II and the pervasive impact of television, the institution of marriage has deteriorated dramatically. As Americans became more affluent, they invested in the novel technology of television, which became, to media moguls, more of a business tool than an educational one. Media companies maximize their income by playing on the basest of human passions. Bad news sells better than good news. The result is that more people watch, or are excited by, the basest of human experiences, like illicit sex, violence and corruption.



On a global scale, whole societies can exhibit groupthink just like smaller in-groups. It's based on concurrence-seeking that overrides any realistic appraisal of other good courses of action . God reveals that the entire world is blinded from the glorious gospel of God by the god of this world (2 Corinthians 4:4In whom the god of this world hath blinded the minds of them which believe not, lest the light of the glorious gospel of Christ, who is the image of God, should shine unto them.



See All...). His name is Satan, and his avowed purpose is to destroy humankind from the face of the earth (Matthew 24:21-22 [21] For then shall be great tribulation, such as was not since the beginning of the world to this time, no, nor ever shall be.

[22] And except those days should be shortened, there should no flesh be saved: but for the elect's sake those days shall be shortened.





See All...; 1 Peter 5:8Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, walketh about, seeking whom he may devour:



See All...).



In structuring this Good News article—"Who Will Win the Battle Over Marriage? "—I considered the debilitating effects of groupthink as it applies to the battle over marriage. I began with modern TV programs that influence harmful social thinking (through groupthink) while chipping away at the building blocks of society: marriage and family. I then discussed an unseen power who flaunts (through global groupthink) his hate-filled designs against humankind. Finally, I showed that God will win the battle over marriage and the family unit through Jesus Christ our Lord, after His return to this earth (Malachi 3:1Behold, I will send my messenger, and he shall prepare the way before me: and the LORD, whom ye seek, shall suddenly come to his temple, even the messenger of the covenant, whom ye delight in: behold, he shall come, saith the LORD of hosts.



See All...; John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.



See All...). This is positive groupthink (Hebrews 8:10-12 [10] For this is the covenant that I will make with the house of Israel after those days, saith the Lord; I will put my laws into their mind, and write them in their hearts: and I will be to them a God, and they shall be to me a people:

[11] And they shall not teach every man his neighbour, and every man his brother, saying, Know the Lord: for all shall know me, from the least to the greatest.

[12] For I will be merciful to their unrighteousness, and their sins and their iniquities will I remember no more.





See All...).



The Good News is dedicated to imparting spiritual understanding to any who hunger and thirst for God. "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness, for they shall be filled" (Matthew 5:6Blessed are they which do hunger and thirst after righteousness: for they shall be filled.



See All...). We are dedicated to helping you to satisfy that hunger and thirst!



Thank you for allowing us to share godly principles about how to have a happy marriage and also to explain the conventional wisdom of groupthink that directly affects the battle over marriage. We invite you to share with others The Good News , which is free and without obligation or follow-up.







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Heading Off the Four Major Steps to Divorce

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/  about divorce in western countries. This follows this post comparing the bible and the koran (quran). .  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Heading Off the Four Major Steps to Divorce






article by Rex Sexton





Marriage is in a sad state in the Western world.



Marriage is in a sad state in the Western world. Divorce rates skyrocketed from barely 2 percent of marriages in 1900 to nearly 50 percent by the year 1990. In more recent years these rates have leveled off, not because larger numbers of people are successful in marriage, but because so many couples today simply "cohabit"—bypassing the commitment of marriage.



What are the primary reasons the initial joy, passion and commitment of marriage evaporate? What leads couples who have vowed dedication to each other to abandon their marriage relationship?



The four most common steps in a marriage's progression to divorce are:



1. Breakdown of communication.



2. Buildup of resentments.



3. Open conflict, laced with harmful behaviors.



4. Final separation.



For years marriage counselors concentrated almost entirely on step number 3. My early training in this field was in how to "create peace" by teaching self-control and awareness. In my naiveté I thought what I was doing would solve the problem. I learned later that most couples reverted back to their old habits. What they really needed was assistance in dealing with the root cause of their problems, not just the symptoms.



Couples normally seek help from ministers and professional counselors only when they are well into the final stage of alienation—with their marriage at the breaking point. In most cases, by the time a couple seeks assistance to save their marriage, they are already doing too many harmful things to each other—either with words or deeds. Salvaging the relationship at this point is always difficult. But, in my experience, it can be achieved if both husband and wife are willing to learn how to communicate with each other appropriately.



In recent years counseling professionals have recognized the importance of teaching communication skills to couples in trouble. Ceasing harmful behaviors toward each other is always important, but unless a couple learns how to communicate in a healthy, beneficial and regular manner, the pause in marital warfare will only be temporary.



These four destructive steps also apply to other relationships: children, employers, employees and, believe it or not, even in our relationship with our Creator. To have a meaningful relationship with God we need to stay in contact with Him through prayer and personal Bible study. The Scriptures tell us, "Draw near to God and He will draw near to you" (James 4:8Draw nigh to God, and he will draw nigh to you. Cleanse your hands, ye sinners; and purify your hearts, ye double minded.



See All...).



A good marriage is nourished by lots of regular and positive communication. However, the very nature of our present society seems to keep us from learning how to really communicate or to even make time to communicate. We live very busy lives. We work and hurry constantly but never seem to have enough time for each other.



Relaxation time is often spent watching televised entertainment. Television may do more harm than good to relationships because it is an easy escape from reality.



Also, we are often tethered to gadgets such as computers and cell phones, even when we are at home. Rush, hurry, focus, get it done! If these words describe your daily routine, then perhaps, in your marriage, you are well into step number 1 and are not even aware of it.



The best insurance we have for marriage is learning how to communicate with each other in a respectful and loving manner. We then need to make sure we always do it. The Bible admonishes us to love and respect one another: "Each of you, however, should love his wife as himself, and a wife should respect her husband" (Ephesians 5:33Nevertheless let every one of you in particular so love his wife even as himself; and the wife see that she reverence her husband.



See All..., NRSV). Love and respect cannot be built or maintained in a marriage unless there is regular and consistent give and take of feelings, ideas, shared goals, needs and observations.



Marriage can and should be a mutual admiration relationship. Make it a habit to spend time alone together. Ideally, at the end of each day it is good to make time to relax together and communicate. Yes, you may miss a day or two occasionally but work at keeping those interruptions of your private communication time to a bare minimum.



So what I'm saying is this: Do whatever it takes to guarantee that you have a regular time and place to communicate with your spouse! Don't just hope that it will happen—make sure it does. The key to avoiding the four steps that end in divorce is to never let step number 1 rear its ugly head. Learn how to communicate with your mate regularly and effectively. UN

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11 Known Facts About Premarital Sex

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about premairital sex. This follows this post about atheism.  For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

11 Known Facts About Premarital Sex

A commentary by Daniel Roy Macaraeg




Premarital sex just isn't smart. There are more disadvantages to premarital sex than what society leads us to believe.





Source: Photos.comShould you save sex for marriage?



Many teens and young adults are torn between strong arguments for it and against it.



Some years ago, as I formed and solidified my own beliefs and convictions about this subject, I stumbled upon a book titled Sex, Love, or Infatuation: How Can I Really Know? by Dr. Ray E. Short, professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville. Dr. Short was a speaker who was popular to college students and school assemblies. Although it was originally published in the 1960s, I think you would still find this book encouraging and enlightening.



He titled chapter 10: "To Be or Not to Be—A Virgin." According to Dr. Short, science had established 11 facts—backed up by solid research—regarding the probable effect of premarital sex on your future marriage:



FACT 1: Premarital sex tends to break up couples.



FACT 2: Many men and women do not want to marry a person who has had intercourse with someone else.



FACT 3: Those who have premarital sex tend to have less happy marriages.



FACT 4: Those who have premarital sex are more likely to have their marriage end in divorce.



FACT 5: Persons and couples who have had premarital sex are more likely to have extramarital affairs as well.



FACT 6: Having premarital sex may fool you into marrying a person who is not right for you.



FACT 7: Persons and couples with premarital sex experience tend to achieve sexual satisfaction sooner after they are married. However…



FACT 8: They are likely to be less satisfied overall with their sex life during marriage.



FACT 9: Poor premarital sexual habits can be carried over to spoil sex in marriage.



FACT 10: Guilt may push a couple into a bad marriage.



FACT 11: Premarital sex robs a couple of "sexual cement."



Facts are still facts. My point is simply this: Premarital sex just isn't smart. There are more disadvantages to premarital sex than what society leads us to believe . Dr. Short doesn't preach or moralize, but his conclusions clearly confirm the teachings of the One who invented sex in the first place—it was God's idea. In the Bible, He inspired the writing of these three powerful verses [among many]:



"Let marriage be held in honor among all, and let the marriage bed be undefiled , for God will judge the sexually immoral and adulterous" (Hebrews 13:4Marriage is honourable in all, and the bed undefiled: but whoremongers and adulterers God will judge.



See All..., English Standard Version, emphasis added throughout).



"He who commits adultery lacks sense; he who does it destroys himself . He will get wounds and dishonor, and his disgrace will not be wiped away" (Proverbs 6:32-33 [32] But whoso committeth adultery with a woman lacketh understanding: he that doeth it destroyeth his own soul.

[33] A wound and dishonour shall he get; and his reproach shall not be wiped away.





See All..., ESV).



"Flee from sexual immorality. Every other sin a person commits is outside the body, but the sexually immoral person sins against his [or her] own body " (1 Corinthians 6:18Flee fornication. Every sin that a man doeth is without the body; but he that committeth fornication sinneth against his own body.



See All..., ESV).



Aside from the obvious risks of STDs (including AIDS) and unwanted pregnancies, there are those not-so-obvious elements of suffering, betrayal, heartache, remorse, shame and guilt. How often do they show those things in most portrayals of premarital (and extramarital) sex on TV and in movies today? Those few moments of pleasure are just not worth a lifetime of grief and regret.



After getting all the facts, I made the decision some years ago to save sex for my future marriage—a tough and unpopular decision, especially for a guy. But I am convinced I will not regret it.



If you think vertically and go God's way, it will be true happiness and pure joy. And you will never regret it!



You'll find helpful information on saving sex and preparing for a wonderful marriage in the free booklet Marriage and Family: The Missing Dimension .

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Who's Telling You What to Think?

A very interesting book review from www.UCG.org  about media corruption from TV, movies, radio, and internet. This follows this post about being politically incorrect in the news. This follows this post about slanted news reporting.  This follows this post about the Black Caucus hurting Black Americans with their immigration stand. This follows this post about how to Report Illegal Immigrants! For more that you can do to get involved click HERE and you can read another very interesting book HERE!



Who's Telling You What to Think?






article by Jerold Aust





Some people accept the news they read in newspapers and watch on television as the gospel truth. Is such trust in our mass media justified? Do you really know who's telling you what to think-and why?



Consider for a moment what might happen if someone you knew who died in the 1950s or '60s, perhaps your mother or grandmother, suddenly came to life and sat down with you to watch some of today's evening television shows. What would she see? What would she think?



Imagine letting her take your favorite chair and handle the remote control. Since you probably receive TV programming from a cable or satellite company, listen to her shocked disbelief as she hears the profanity and crudity spew forth. Notice her face as she hears the actors and actresses blurt out vulgarities with an ease and indifference the likes of which she would have never heard only a few decades earlier.



You might well find yourself on the defensive, trying to explain why modern television programming so openly promotes casual sexual encounters, gratuitous violence and foul language. She might question why you would voluntarily allow such crudeness to enter the sanctity of your home. She might ask why you feel no sense of alarm at the filth and vulgarity you allow into your children's minds. She might urge you to "turn that trash off"-and she'd be right on the mark.



Spiral to depravity

Steve Allen, the longtime actor, comedian and songwriter who died in 2000, wrote thoughtfully and perceptively about the depraved vortex of television programming in his book Vulgarians at the Gate: Trash TV and Raunch Radio .



"There has always been a market for vulgarity and licentiousness," he observed, "but at present it is undeniable that motion pictures, theater, television, radio, the recording industry, and, to a lesser degree, journalism are enthusiastic participants in the general collapse of standards and behavior.



"Some people may find it hard to believe that television was a morally admirable medium as recently as the 1950s. With a few exceptions it was largely administered by gentlemen and ladies, and although it was, from the first, apparent that inferior cultural merchandise was likely to become quite popular, given the notorious imperfections of human nature itself, television programming in general at least consisted of fare that could be watched by the entire family . . . It is clear that the medium has changed . . . Corporate America, granting exceptions, has not only largely given up its former admirable participation in the maintenance of society's general sanity but has joined those who would undermine it . . ." (2001, pp. 32-34, emphasis added).



For those who believe in character and high moral standards, some obvious questions come to mind: Where have we gone wrong? Why have we gone wrong? What, if anything, can be done about our self-initiated spiral into media-induced depravity?



What messages are those who spoon-feed us through the media presuming to tell us? What do they want us to think?



Today's mass media-radio, television, movies, audio and video recordings, books, magazines, newspapers, the Internet-shape our perception of reality. But how accurate is that perception? Is it true? Sometimes media moguls would like us to believe that our perception-a perception they carefully craft and provide- is reality.



But it's important for us to differentiate between viewpoints that arise from standards that are healthy for us and based on a moral foundation and those that are rooted in amoral thinking. As the Bible cautions us in Proverbs 4:23Keep thy heart with all diligence; for out of it are the issues of life.



See All...: "Be careful how you think; your life is shaped by your thoughts" (Today's English Version).

America's Culture Cascades Downward - Learn to Swim Upstream

An interesting article from www.ucg.org about current culture. This follows this post about life being unfair. . For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

America's Culture Cascades Downward - Learn to Swim Upstream


A commentary by Don Hooser




The cultural trends in America and much of the world range from trivial to tragic. Reflecting on culture can take us on a roller coaster of emotions - laughter, annoyance, disgust, anger and weeping. But we need not be cloned by the culture. We can cultivate our own personal culture.





Source: Photos.comCulture is a fascinating topic. I recently enjoyed reading, Of Thee I Zing—America's Cultural Decline . Author Laura Ingraham departed from politics to write a comedic commentary on culture.



The word "culture" has several definitions. This article is about two of them:

1. The totality of the beliefs, behaviors, traditions and products of any society.

2. High personal standards of morals, manners, enlightenment and aesthetics.

Hence we can correctly say: America's culture is becoming… uh, er… uncultured!



Another penetrating commentary on the decline of Western culture is the 1996 book by Judge Robert Bork, Slouching Toward Gomorrah . He asserts that the foundation of any culture is its morality and America's morality is spiraling downward. The emphasis on unrestrained individualism is leading to unabashed hedonism.



The person who has had the greatest positive impact on the Western world's culture is Jesus Christ. The book that has had the greatest positive impact is the Bible. Tragically, the world is drifting away from those influences.



Historically, the U.S. has had a "Judeo-Christian culture" but that is seldom mentioned any more. Most of America's founding fathers had a great respect for the Bible and the Ten Commandments, but that respect is becoming rare.



Most people are neither alert to notice degenerating trends nor determined to resist those trends.



What they are accustomed to seems acceptable and "normal," but what is " normal" keeps changing—in a downward direction. We tend to be like the proverbial frog in the pot of water being heated to a boil. We need to notice the gradual changes in our environment and take action before we are corrupted by it.



Evidence everywhere of cultural decline

Culture encompasses everything. Cultural decay is seen in countless alarming issues: crime, violence, disrespect for law and authority, dishonesty, breakdown of the family, divorces, children with no fathers, abortions, ever-growing government encroaching on our freedoms, dirty politics, dumbed down education, anti-Christian bias, environmental extremism, abuse (physical, mental, verbal and sexual), alcohol and drug abuse, addictions, tyranny of political correctness over biblical correctness, racial tensions, lack of a work ethic, lack of respect and courtesy and good manners, a crass and trashy pop culture, obscenities and vulgarities, materialism, decline of mature face-to-face communication, and general absence of noble values.



We live in a hyper-sexualized society, riddled with immorality, shameless immodesty, adultery, pornography, prostitution, promotion of the gay lifestyle agenda, radical feminism, sex and violence and profanity in media, confusion over gender identity, and all kinds of indecencies.



You can probably think of many other trends.



Cultural decay was prophesied

In 2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.



See All..., the apostle Paul gave us this prophecy: "But know this, that in the last days perilous times will come. For men will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, unloving, unforgiving, slanderers, without self-control, brutal, despisers of good, traitors, headstrong, haughty, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God, having a form of godliness but denying its power." This already largely describes our society!



In verse 5, Paul adds, "And from such people turn away!" Other scriptures help us to understand what Paul meant here. We must not "run with them" or be "yoked together with" them because "evil company corrupts good habits" (1 Peter 4:4Wherein they think it strange that ye run not with them to the same excess of riot, speaking evil of you:



See All...; 2 Corinthians 6:14Be ye not unequally yoked together with unbelievers: for what fellowship hath righteousness with unrighteousness? and what communion hath light with darkness?



See All...; 1 Corinthians 15:33Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.



See All...). At the same time, we are to love them, be kind to them, and look for opportunities to steer them in the right direction. Philippians 2:15 sums it up well: "Become blameless and harmless, children of God without fault in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation, among whom you shine as lights in the world."



In Romans 1, Paul describes what happens to a culture when the people glorify the pagan theory of evolution rather than the Creator God—when they "worshiped and served the creature rather than the Creator" (verse 25). The remainder of the chapter describes the consequences—the vices, evils and perversions that are increasingly prevalent today.



Paul's prescription is this: "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God" (Romans 12:2And be not conformed to this world: but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God.



See All...).



The word "counterculture" usually refers to a rebellious subculture. But it can have a positive meaning. Each of us can choose to be part of God's counterculture—the people who are trying to "live… by every word of God (Luke 4:4And Jesus answered him, saying, It is written, That man shall not live by bread alone, but by every word of God.



See All...).



As society increasingly becomes like a polluted filthy river, it's no time to float. We must swim hard to swim upstream.



Coming: A wonderful cultural revolution!

Jesus Christ promised that He would "come again" to earth and set up His everlasting Kingdom. (John 14:3And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come again, and receive you unto myself; that where I am, there ye may be also.



See All...; Matthew 6:10Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done in earth, as it is in heaven.



See All...). When Christ is ruling the whole world, all people will live in peace and joy. The best single word to describe the world's culture will be " righteousness" (Isaiah 11:4-5 [4] But with righteousness shall he judge the poor, and reprove with equity for the meek of the earth: and he shall smite the earth with the rod of his mouth, and with the breath of his lips shall he slay the wicked. [5] And righteousness shall be the girdle of his loins, and faithfulness the girdle of his reins.



See All...; Isaiah 61:11For as the earth bringeth forth her bud, and as the garden causeth the things that are sown in it to spring forth; so the Lord GOD will cause righteousness and praise to spring forth before all the nations.



See All...; Isaiah 62:1-2 [1] For Zion's sake will I not hold my peace, and for Jerusalem's sake I will not rest, until the righteousness thereof go forth as brightness, and the salvation thereof as a lamp that burneth. [2] And the Gentiles shall see thy righteousness, and all kings thy glory: and thou shalt be called by a new name, which the mouth of the LORD shall name.



See All...).



Imagine what the world will be like! The many regional cultures of the world will be united under the overall culture of God's Word and God's laws.



The world desperately needs that cultural revolution. It's coming soon! To learn more about this coming world-changing Kingdom, read our free booklet The Gospel of the Kingdom.

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Rooting for the Bad Guy?

An interesting article from www.ucg.org analyzing some entertainment such as movies, music and TV. This follows this post about faithfulness. For a free magazine subscription or to get this book for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886-8632.

Rooting for the Bad Guy


 by Rudy Rangel
I don’t have cable, but I have Netflix. Endless upon endless choices of mediocre programing. Sometimes, I get suggestions from friends what to watch. Most of the time I take the liberty to check something out on my own.



I was browsing recently came across a show that is pretty popular called Breaking Bad. I watched the pilot. Here’s the synopsis: Guy finds out he has a terminal disease, everything about his life is average. His job, his marriage, his ambition, his things, all very average. To leave some money for his kids, he starts cooking meth to sell to drug dealers. He is a chemistry teacher so he can make the “best” meth on the market.



The story is told in a way that you feel sorry for the guy. He’s down and out and you begin to justify his actions. He is the bad guy! He makes poor choices out of his desperation. Unfortunately, it’s not just this show. There are many television programs in which protagonist is a terrible person, making terrible choices. The big question is, “Have I let these characters choices become acceptable?” When you consider the history of prime-time, television has come a long way. Lucy was a “trouble-maker.” She was always up to something in the sitcom, I Love Lucy. Today our heroes are meth dealers and murderers and adulterers. I was shocked at how many Americans watch the debauchery that is Two and a Half Men. A show that not only celebrates promiscuity but belittles anyone who doesn’t live this way.



Don’t cheer on the bad guy. Don’t find yourself feeling for the person who seems down and out and chooses a life of sin. There is no justification. The means never justify the ends. Heed Paul’s warning to Ephesus:



With the Lord’s authority I say this: Live no longer as the Gentiles do, for they are hopelessly confused. Their minds are full of darkness; they wander far from the life God gives because they have closed their minds and hardened their hearts against him. They have no sense of shame. They live for lustful pleasure and eagerly practice every kind of impurity (Ephesians 4:17-19 [17] This I say therefore, and testify in the Lord, that ye henceforth walk not as other Gentiles walk, in the vanity of their mind, [18] Having the understanding darkened, being alienated from the life of God through the ignorance that is in them, because of the blindness of their heart: [19] Who being past feeling have given themselves over unto lasciviousness, to work all uncleanness with greediness.



See All... NLT).



No shame, lustful pleasure, every kind of impurity. These are lifestyles that are piped in through our televisions sets. Paul wote to Timothy warning of the human condition at the end time (2 Timothy 3:1-5 [1] This know also, that in the last days perilous times shall come. [2] For men shall be lovers of their own selves, covetous, boasters, proud, blasphemers, disobedient to parents, unthankful, unholy, [3] Without natural affection, trucebreakers, false accusers, incontinent, fierce, despisers of those that are good, [4] Traitors, heady, highminded, lovers of pleasures more than lovers of God; [5] Having a form of godliness, but denying the power thereof: from such turn away.



See All...). We are not only seeing these characteristics in our world, we are seeing the heralded by others. We live in a dangerous era. Stay close to God. Read the wisdom in His Word. Pray, “Your Kingdom come.”







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