The girls and I were listening to the radio the other day, and a very engaging, very hilarious commercial came on. It was for Corona Beer, and the theme was, “Everywhere you have our beer, you have an instant party.” The scenarios got funnier and funnier. You can apparently have a party while you are being audited, during minor surgery, or while waiting for the tow truck after a car accident. It went on and on.

I may be exaggerating, but only a little bit.

The part of my brain that used to write advertising copy was very impressed. The ad was funny, bright, and definitely caught our attention as well as sold their product. (While I don’t think my girls know exactly what Corona is, they for sure wanted to buy some after hearing this advertisement. After all, who doesn’t love a party?)

The other part of my brain, or perhaps it was my heart, was aggravated by the ad. Primarily it was the keyline that brought vomit to my mouth. It said, “Relax Responsibly.”

Now, some of us are old enough to remember the days before they had Warning Labels on alcohol bottles. A few years back, they started cautioning us that alcohol could cause addiction and fetal alcohol syndrome. You might imagine that the life went out of the party with that label, but no, that’s not the case. Radio commercials added a 1-second tag line “Drink responsibly” which the announcer said quickly and quietly as the theme music swelled in the background. This was semi-sobering, but not exactly what the Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD) had in mind. Now some time has passed, and the warnings are waning. The Marketing Department is softening the stern-ish “Drink Responsibly!” to a softer, more inviting, “Relax Responsibly.”

Relax Responsibly? Through Beer? Which will cause you to enjoy even life’s most torturous moments? What a load of baloney.

Colossians 2:8 says, “See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy, which depends on human tradition and the basic principles of this world rather than on Christ."

See to it. It’s our job. See to it that no one takes you captive through hollow and deceptive philosophy. No one else will “see to it” for you. Be aware!
It’s our job, then, to recognize lies when we see them. Beer drinking does not equal "relaxing responsibly." In fact, those of us who have spent time swimming in a keg of beer can tell you that it’s neither relaxing nor responsible. It only seems that way at the time.

This is not an anti-beer tirade. It’s a Pro-Truth rally. We need to recognize that there are lots of lies out in the world, and we are captivated by them. We are imprisoned by hollow and deceptive philosophy. We are captured by human traditions and basic principles of this world. And it’s killing us.

Here’s my challenge. Continue to evaluate what seduces you. Then eliminate it from your life. For instance, I cancelled my subscription to “Real Simple” when I finally realized that it’s neither “real”, nor “simple.” I wanted a monthly rag to come tell me how to simplify my life. Instead, I found my brain overflowing with (hollow and deceptive) ideas that could "make me happy" if I only executed them. Did I really need to know how to make a flower arrangement out of my old toothbrush holder? Was I ever going to find that specifice make and model of jeans that would make me look like I didn't have five children? ($250 a pair, only available in Los Angeles.) It’s unrealistic. And complicated.

So what are the things in your life that are hollow and deceptive? How are they captivating you? What would it like to be free of those things? (Hint: it would be glorious!) Ask the Lord to show you what your things are, then tap into His power to cut them out, one by one. He will reward your obedience and you'll find out what real relaxation is all about.

Let me know how it’s going.

PS. I cut out Gray’s Anatomy and (sob) Miami Ink. I realized that if I have to quickly change the channel when my kids come in the room, I don’t need to be watching anyway.

Living here in Hokie Land, this week’s tragedy at Virginia Tech really resonates. It’s just a few miles up the road. During football season, our family makes a sport out of counting the cars that display Hokie wear…flags, bumper stickers, inflatable turkeys. It's truly a school full of heart and school spirit. And now, unfortunately, heart-breakingly, VT is known for this week’s tragic shootings.

Why do these things happen? Why does God allow it?

On Monday, the day of the shootings, Dave heard a newscast where other universities were asking, “How can this be avoided on our campus?” Isn’t that a self-centered question to be asking while lives still hung in the balance? To me, the question implies that VT could have done something more to keep their students safe…but didn’t do it. How can we keep buildings safe? Don’t let any people in. You see, it’s not the buildings or campuses that are dangerous. It’s the people. It’s this world.

Evil is in this world. Hurt and despair live here. “All have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.” (Romans 3:23) Our question should not be, “How does this happen?” but “How does this not happen more often?” The king of this world is an evil guy. This is not heaven. This is earth, where evil is behind many doors, and is often disguised as beauty, money, or even normalcy.

All over town there are signs, banners and prayers posted. Most say things like, “Pray for VT students and their families.” Today, however, I saw one that said, “It’s no one’s fault.”

Isn’t it?

Maybe the sign-writer didn’t mean what he wrote. Perhaps he meant, “Don’t cast blame. It’s not worth it. Focus on the good.”

But saying, “It’s no one’s fault” is totally inaccurate. Of course it’s someone’s fault. Someone took a gun and shot people. He decided, through his actions, who would live and who would die. It’s someone’s fault.

Let’s take responsibility where we can, and teach our children to do the same. We do things that cause pain. Admit it. Ask for forgiveness. Change your ways. In this way, with God's power, we will live as Overcomers.

Remember what it says in 1 John 4:4:

He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world.

Pray for this world. Pray earnestly to the Lord, "Thy kindom come, thy will be done, on earth as it is in heaven. " And pray for VT.

You know the term “rubbernecking”? It describes the phenomena by which we can’t drive past an accident without slowing down and looking at it. Even after our car has passed the scene, we crane our necks back for a final glance; hence the term, rubbernecking. It is our deviant interest that compels us to do it. (However, to counteract this compulsion, I suggest praying when you see an accident scene. Pray for the victims, the emergency workers, the physicians. This is infinitely more valuable than staring as you roll past to the mall.)

Why do we look? We just can’t seem to turn away. Something in us is drawn to the damage, the wreckage, the upset, the turmoil.

And that’s how I feel about cable. Just last night, I found myself rubberneckin’ through cable. I was ready to be asleep but was insanely flipping the channels to catch the last five minutes of this-or-that show. I caught the last few minutes of a show that I don’t watch (anymore) because it has a theme that disturbs me. On the surface, it’s about the gym. Underneath, it’s about a swinging lifestyle that I would be better off not knowing about. I’m not saying I’m better than the people on the show, I’m confessing I can easily imagine myself AS a person on that show. That’s the problem.

I could not pull my eyes off the screen. I was rubbernecking.

The Bible says, “Keep your eyes from evil” but what constitutes evil? Workout shows?

In my life, I’ve come to recognize that the Holy Spirit sometimes causes me to feel uncomfortable. The discomfort I feel when watching some programs is the Holy Spirit, warning and restraining me. Do you ever feel like you need a shower after watching certain things? Do you find yourself wishing you didn’t see that show…or worse…thinking ahead to the time that you can watch it again?

Now as I always say to my kids, “Take it up with the Big Guy.” No, not their dad, I mean The Big Guy, the Lord. I don’t know what you are supposed to keep your eyes from. In fact, I’m certain it’s different for all of us.

My dear friend Amy said the Lord took “Law and Order” shows from her. This is a drag because it’s the one reliable show you can watch almost every hour of the day and night. Last summer I was on a roll when I watched Law and Order every night of the week. Not Amy. She reported this feeling upset and grimy from watching Law and Order. She relinquished that programming to the Lord.

When she told me that, I petitioned the Lord, (almost in a panic), “Do you want me to stop watching Law and Order?” So far, He’s allowed me keep watching. It doesn’t haunt my thoughts or cause me to shower afterwards. What is it that you are not supposed to be watching?

The Bachelor was ripped from my programming guide in the beginning of last season. After I rubbernecked through a certain lurid scene, the Lord said, “That’s enough!” In the past, I would talk on the phone with a friend after each episode and we’d discuss it in minute detail. Now I had to confess to her that I wasn’t permitted to watch The Bachelor anymore. It just made me feel yucky. She pointed out that I still watch Gray’s Anatomy, which she considers yuckier. So, back on my knees I go, asking the Lord if I’m allowed to watch Gray’s Anatomy. So far, it’s still allowed.

Out are horror movies, sex scenes, Stephen King anything, The Medium or anything occult, Oprah and basically any talk show that preys on the sad and twisted side of humanity. (This only leaves Ellen Degeneres, who is eminently positive.)

Still in are Miami Ink (the tattoo show), House, and American Idol. (Although Hollywood Week is out, for obvious reasons.)

Whatever is good, pure, and lovely, think on these things. (Philippians 4:8)
What’s on your Tivo? What is it time to delete from your personal TV Guide?