Pop, Praise and Protests

This isn't going to be an essay on modern culture, as interesting as that would be (to write at least!) it's more a one sided discussion based on two discussions this morning which have led me to sit down and blog my Praise and Protests.

Praise first:
Has anyone heard Stan Walker's new single "Choose You"? In my opinion it is an exceptional song - lyrics, music, tempo - everything - and if you don't like it while there's no accounting for taste, listen to the lyrics at the very least.

In a culture where love is a feeling and being with someone is to make life better for yourself, Stan's song cuts right across this in an upbeat and encouraging way. I Choose You speaks of the daily act that it sometimes is to love someone - whether it be your partner or even someone within your family. It speaks of the true nature of love in a culturally applicable and relevant manner. People may not sit down and read "the five love languages" but they will listen to this song... Brilliant.

Protest:
I read my first "christian romance" novel in many, many months last week and was appalled by it. Not the writing per say, and it wasn't a bad book, but nothing about it except for a few scriptures spattered through it was Christian. What is Christian about creating longing within someone for the unattainable and writing in some cases what could be considered "soft porn for the christian woman"? That last description is a quote from someone who I discussed this with this morning and completely agree - guys won't get this statement but I think girls will - some of the descriptions entice you to daydream in an unhealthy manner, to be the woman that "Mr Perfect" is gazing at with a burning intensity held back from passionately ripping your clothes off (as he might once have done, which was explained earlier in the book) only by his recent conversion and respect for your modesty in a public setting... I hope that last sentence raises the chuckle as it was meant to - and for some to appreciate that it's not too far off what's being written in modern "christian" romance books.

I have a friend who, while married, spends most of her life with her nose in one of these books - I'm all for reading, but the unrealistic and harmful expectations this genre is creating is woeful. Yes, there are a few great authors writing some great stuff out there - but others skirt so closely to what is not edifying and justify it by the love interest converting to Christianity at the end of the book is shocking. I should say, a few of my favorite books have been Christian romances, but after my recent entrance back into the genre after a break I'll be a lot more discerning in my choices.

I'm reminded of a speaker who held a session with single girls in 2003 at a conference on Christian World View I attended - she was asked "what is the best advice you can give a single Christian female" - it was this "don't read christian romances". At the time I phoo phoo'd the comment and said "sure, that's true for some, but not for me" I'm starting to rethink that thought.

I also think that an apology should be made by some authors for always "converting" the man - too many women (some of my friends included) go out with non-Christians thinking that they will convert them (after all... it always happens in the books) - it's un-Biblical and rarely ends up as initially hoped.

Enough of my rant - I'd be interested in what you think though.

On a more personal note:
The break in blogging hasn't been because of anything bad - life is good and aside for a few decisions to make on the horizon, all is very well.

I had holidays recently and took the week off for a stay-cation, reading, listening to teaching on JP2's Theology of the Body, cooking and generally doing things I don't get to do whilst working - twas excellent and most enjoyed.

Compose my life and may it be

I've been thinking a lot lately about how choices can impact our lives in ways that we can't even imagine - not so much the Sliding Doors thing where if you get on a train or don't what changes in your life, more so the relationships that we have and how these influence us enormously.

This train of thought was enhanced tonight by a random conversation with a long time acquaintance when I went to read a book in Gloria Jeans. We had a great discussion. We talked philosophy, theology, books and a few things besides. When we talked it was like a different segment of my brain came out to play for a while - the part of my brain which loves these things, but doesn't often get the chance to discuss them in quite this manner... I want to talk more, have more conversations like this, read more, delve more, discover more, contemplate more and let those things change me. When I talk to this person it's like all of this is possible and that part of my brain is very happy for being let out to play.

It made me think about how who we talk to, let influence our lives and what we dwell upon can change the course of our life... in the simple way that that some people can make us feel adventurous - we want to be more physical and do more outdoors stuff after being with them or hop on the next plane to Cambodia just because it's a place you haven't been before - with others you might tap into your domestic side and just want to cook or talk family or knit a scarf - others, like this person tonight, made me want to THINK. All of those things, adventurous, domestic, contemplative are part of who I am, but different people bring different things to the fore.