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Dear Crazy Drivers…

Please stop driving while talking on your cell phone and smoking at the same time. That is all.

Pride is a dangerous thing. It causes some to boast, some to refuse to admit their failure and faults, and all of us to falter in sin.

In Mere Christianity, C.S. Lewis wrote, “The essential vice, the utmost evil, is Pride. Unchastity, greed, drunkenness, and all that, are mere flea-bites in comparison: it was through Pride that the devil became the devil: Pride leads to every other vice: it is the complete anti-God state of mind.” 

Do you agree with Lewis that pride is the root of all evil and sin?

USAToday.com revealed an interesting article today that says half of U.S. adults have switched religions. Here are some of the findings:

•The reasons people give for changing their religion — or leaving religion altogether — differ widely depending on the origin and destination of the convert: 71% of Catholics and nearly 60% of Protestants who switched to another religion didn’t think their spiritual needs were being met or they just liked another faith more, or they chainged their views on religious or moral beliefs.

•Life circumstances, not religious doctrinal differences, prompt most Protestants who switch denominational families (Baptist to Methodist, for example). Relocating to a new community (nearly four in 10) or marrying someone of a different tradition are the most oft-cited reasons. However, 36% cited “likes and dislikes about religious institutions, practices and people.

•Many people who left a religion to become unaffiliated say they did so, in part, because they think of religious people as hypocritical or judgmental, because religious organizations focus too much on rules or because religious leaders are too focused on power and money.

•Among the 16% of Americans who say they are now unaffiliated with any religion, most are former Protestants and Catholics who say they didn’t quit in a huff or get lured away by science or by atheist philosophy. About 70% say “they just gradually drifted away” from their childhood religion.

•Some people (16%) return to the fold, saying they tried another religion or two but are now back in the faith of their childhood.

“Combined with the 44% of the public that currently espouses a religion different than their childhood faith, this means that roughly half of the U.S. adult population has changed religion at some point in their life,” the report says.

Religious education or youth group participation seemed to make no dent, although people who say they participated frequently in worship services or Mass were less likely to switch.

The findings are pretty interesting, especially the last section I included. 

Your thoughts for all of the switching?

Read the full article here. 

It wasn’t hard to see this coming. Even though Disney helped make Zac Efron become the star he is today, it appears he’s ready to shed the “golden boy” image and prove to people he can be a rebellious, wordly celebrity.

Last month, People Magazine included this about Efron:

Cool mom alert! 

When it comes to discussing sex, Zac Efron says and he and his mother are comfortable having that conversation. After photos surfaced of the High School Musical star, 21, and girlfriend Vanessa Hudgens, 20, looking [in an adult store], it was time for a chat. 

“My mom is like, ‘Zac, what did you buy in [an adult] shop?’” Efron tells Elle for its April issue. “‘I was like, ‘Mom, calm down, it’s not [an adult] shop.’ “ 

And she followed through, too. “My stocking was full of condoms this Christmas,” he says. “She buys me the economy box.” 

Recently, Efron has sparked controversy by appearing in a modeling ad with a nude model. Although Efron is completely clothed and laying in dirty, the female model on top of him is completely nude.

Maybe Efron isn’t intentionally trying to shed his Disney image, but in no way is he trying to preserve it. The same can be said for his girlfriend and High School Musical co-star Vanessa Hudgens who has been guilty of taking part in the world of “sexting.” Some even think she’s the one who made the cultural phenomenon so mainstream.

I could gripe, complain, and throw a fit about this, but I won’t. No need to talk about the disgust at seeing someone purposely try to remove their “golden boy image” ala Tom Brady. I won’t even go into how children and young teens see this and the effect it has on them.  I’m just going to sigh and sadly say I think we all saw this coming.

After hitting the topic of modesty for the last 3 days, I thought I would put something light and fun (but something that causes just as many headaches). With the NFL Draft on Saturday, I thought I would make my own mock draft of the Top 10 picks. This mock-up is assuming there will be no trading done with the first 10 picks, even though I’m willing to be there will be. I’m no expert…just looking to see how close I get to being accurate.

1. Detroit Lions- Matthew Stafford, QB, Georgia

2. St. Louis Rams- Jason Smith, OT, Baylor (I’ll take Curry, but if you dare draft Monroe or Sanchez I will be steamed!~)

3. Kansas City Chiefs- Aaron Curry, LB, Wake Forest (Defense Rookie of the Year)

4. Seattle Seahawks- Mark Sanchez, QB, USC (BUST! Someone might trade into this too)

5. Cleveland Browns- Michael Crabtree, WR, Texas Tech (Especially if they trade Edwards)

6. Cincinnati Bengals- Eugene Monroe, OT, Virginia (Not confident his knee will hold up)

7. Oakland Raiders- Jeremy Maclin, WR, Missouri (Al Davis loves speed! Probably a better returner than WR)

8. Jacksonville Jaguars- B.J. Raji, DT, Boston College (Thankful the drug test rumor was false)

9. Green Bay Packers- Andre Smith, OL, Alabama (Watching him run the 40 shirtless was one of the grossest things I’ve ever seen!)

10. San Francisco 49ers- Michael Oher, OT, Mississippi (No one seems to know how effective he can be in the NFL)

Notable players still on the board:

Brian Orakpo, DE/OLB, Texas

Tyson Jackson, DE, LSU

Post your Top 10. Let’s see how we compare.

Today marks the 3rd and final day for my discussion on modesty. Instead of writing more of my own opinions, I thought I would share with you some actual statistics. Alex and Brett Harris of TheRebelution.com put together a Modesty Survey Team to collect results on the issue of modesty. Over 200 Christian girls submitted their questions. In less than 20 days, 1,600 guys responded.

I’m not going to go too in-depth with this. If you want to check out the entire survey, you can read the results by clicking here or by clicking the banner at the top of the page. I just want to provide you with a few statistics that were eye-opening to me:

For this format, a statement was made, and guys answered if they Strongly Agreed, Agreed, were Neutral, Disagreed, or Strongly Disagreed. I’ve broken down the answers a little bit more. Remember, girls asked the questions. Guys answered. The percentages reflect the answers of the guys.

Don’t forget…when guys said that something is a stumbling block, they were literally saying it is something that causes them to lust/sin.

Guys notice whether a girl dresses modestly or not: 96.3% agreed

Seeing even an inch of skin between the bottom of a girl’s shirt and her pants is a stumbling block: 71.3% agreed

You have less respect for an immodest girl than for a modest one: 75.6% agreed

Wearing pants with words across the backside is a stumbling block: 84.3% agreed

Zipping a form-fitting jacket to just below the chest draws too much attention to the bust: 56.8% agreed

It is okay for girls to wear tighter and/or more revealing clothes if they are working out: 52.4% disagreed

Showing any cleavage is immodest: 70.4% agreed.

Bending over so that cleavage is visible down the front of the shirt or dress is a stumbling block: 89.8% agreed

Skin-tight jeans are a stumbling block: 76.2% agreed

A girl’s physical posture and/or position can be a stumbling block: 84.7% agreed

The lines of undergarments, visible under clothing, cause guys to stumble: 71.6% agreed

A girl’s underwear should never show: 89.5% agreed

A girl bending over and exposing her lower back is a stumbling block: 63.6% agreed

A shirt buttoned to just under the bust is a stumbling block, even if a modest shirt is worn underneath: 41.6% agreed

Knee-length skirts are modest: 71.8% agreed

Miniskirts are immodest: 93.1% agreed

Seeing a girl stretching (e.g. arching the back, reaching the arms back, and sticking out the chest) is a stumbling block: 56.8% agreed

Today is Part II of my discussion on modesty. Yesterday I discussed modesty for girls. Today, I’m discussing modesty for guys. I’m really excited about tomorrow’s blog. Alex and Brett Harris, authors of Do Hard Things, founds of www.therebelution.com, and all around great guys have done some extensive research on modesty. Some of the results might shock you. I’m going to share some of their results tomorrow. Don’t miss it. But now…onto the guys…

We often don’t think about modesty when it comes to guys, but it’s a very real issue. For instance, just look in a catalogs for Abercrombie & Fitch. No wait! Don’t!!! It’s pretty close to soft core porn. Everyone in the magazines has shirts off and they’re all wearing visible underwear of some sort. And I don’t think I have to tell you that none of the people in the catalogs look like Ruben Studdard or Rosie O’Donnell. Some stores even have shirtless guys standing outside or inside to attract female attention. 

Although females tend to be less visual than males, they are not completely exempt from being tempted by lust. Guys, whether through ignorance or even purpose, we can be stumbling blocks to girls. If you’ve ever been to the gym, think about the guys you see there. Are they only there to workout? Are they only there because they want to get in great shape? A lot of guys go to the gym simply to impress women. And very few of these guys workout in long-sleeve t-shirts or sweatshirts. Usually it’s minimal clothing or something that shows off muscles and form. Need more evidence? Just look around at a public pool. Just like girls try to entice men with dress, men do the same thing. Granted, guys are a lot less successful at pulling it off, but it still happens. Guys can be stumbling blocks to women.

Another failure of guys is that we do very little to help promote modesty in women. It’s hard to endorse modesty when we speak of girls being “hot” or “sexy.” When we treat women like objects and not like individuals made in God’s image, we devalue modesty. Why would a girl want to dress modest if guys only notice skins who show lots of skin? Sadly, we don’t send a message of value. With the way we act and talk, we tell girls that we only like girls that show cleavage, their stomachs, have dark tans, bleached blonde hair, and specific tattoos and piercings. We don’t endorse modesty; we endorse promiscuity and provocative dressing.  

Almost any girl will tell you that she’d rather be called “beautiful” than “hot.” Almost any girl will also tell you she’d rather be loved for her beautiful personality rather than her sexy looks. The sad thing is guys are sending out a message that says, “We don’t care about your personality or your modesty. We only care about what drives our hormones.” 

Guys, if we want girls to uphold modesty, we must endorse it and live it ourselves. We can’t expect girls to dress and act in a way that glorifies God if our minds are focused on the girls in the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Edition.

The root of the matter goes back to sin. Lust is a rampant problem with guys. Yes, girls should do their part by dressing in a modest fashion, but guys, even if they don’t, we have a responsibility to keep our minds pure and keep our eyes away from the things that cause us to sin. In Job 31, Job said he made a covenant with his eyes not to look lustfully at another woman. That’s not some superhero ability. That’s not something only reserved for saints. That’s not something that only applied in the Old Testament. That should be and needs to be the covenant of every man!

Guys, not only do we need to dress modestly, but we need to give girls a reason to dress modestly. Even if that’s not taking place, we have a responsibility to be holy and keep our minds pure. In many ways it’s an equal partnership between males and females. While it is more difficult if one gender doesn’t keep to their end of the deal, we’re all required to live lives that glorify and honor God with our entire being.

If you read the title, right away you’re probably thinking “What makes him such an expert?” The honest truth: nothing. But I would like to include some thoughts on this post about modesty. Today and tomorrow I want to discuss the issues of modesty. Today, I want to talk about girls and modesty. Tomorrow, I’m going to discuss the issue concerning guys. Like I said, I’m no expert, but I do want to make a few observations and suggestions. 

I was greatly encouraged several days ago when I read an article that said modesty was making a comeback with tween and teen girls. The article said that girls were trading in the mini-skirts and belly shirts for clothes that were much more comfortable (and warmer). The article credited “teen idols” such as Miley Cyrus for starting new trends that promoted modesty over promiscuity. 

Unfortunately, that has not permeated to our entire culture. Sadly, not even everyone in the church practices modesty. 

I had a discussion with a female friend of mine. I asked her about the motivation girls have when wearing provocative clothing. She said that 1 of 2 things is usually true: 1) Girls are completely ignorant and have no idea that something they’re wearing is provocative or could be a stumbling block to guys; 2) Girls dress immodest (or slightly revealing) on purpose to attract attention from guys. Either way, the issue is a problem!

Now as a guy, I know the responsibility and blame doesn’t fall squarely on the shoulders of girls. After all, a girl could could be dressed in an oversized sweater, overalls covered by ski pants, and a mask, and some guys could still find a way to fall. However, females DO have a responsibility when it comes to modesty. And saying “Guys should be more responsible” or even saying “Guys are perverts. It’s not my fault” is not always a viable excuse. 

Before I start talking in a practical sense, I request that girls ask themselves, “What does my style of dress represent and say about me?” Is there a reason you wear shirts that are loose or even tight fitting? Is there a reason why you wear a shirt that is low-cut or comes up to the neck? Is there a reason why you wear a shirt that shows your stomach or lower back shows when you bend over or stretch? Is there a reason why your jeans are as tight or loose as they are?

If that’s something you’ve never thought about, maybe you should think about it. You may learn more about yourself than you think. And if you shrug it off and say “That’s stupid. He doesn’t know what he’s talking about” then maybe you’re absolutely right, or maybe you just said something about yourself.

Modesty is important because we are made in the image of God and our bodies should be used to serve and glorify Him. Dressing immodest says we don’t have enough respect for ourselves or people of the opposite sex. However, our bodies are a temple. What we wear and how we wear it should reflect the our love for God; not worldly desires.

Girls, you can take this or leave it, but I’m going to offer you a few pieces of advice from a guy’s perspective. Like I said, I’m not an expert, but I am a guy and I know how most guys think. 

Think about the skin you’re showing.
In some ways, this is obvious. We all know that showing lots of cleavage or wearing really short mini-skirts is immodest. However, it goes deeper than that. A lot of girls don’t consider showing their stomachs or lower back as a big issue. Even if a shirt covers the stomach, some girls don’t think twice about stretching and showing off small amounts of skin in front of guys. Likewise, a lot of girls don’t think about low-cut shirts. For some, showing only a little bit isn’t “that bad.”

What girls don’t understand is showing only “a little bit” can actually be showing a lot to guys. Girls, showing your stomach or lower back can be a major stumbling block to a guy. Also, just because you don’t think a shirt is low cut doesn’t necessarily mean it isn’t. Consider this: most guys are taller than girls. A guy that is 7 inches taller can see a lot more of a girl than a girl realizes. Even showing just a “shadow” or a small amount of cleavage is too much! 

Here’s some things girls may want to try out. To check about the modesty of your shirt, raise your arms high in the air like you’re on a roller coaster. How much skin do you show? Also, sit down in a chair and let another girl stand up next to you. How low cut does your shirt appear from her angle? Also, consider how much skin you show when you bend over to pick something up? Does your entire lower back show? Does your shirt reveal too much?

This may sound crazy, but these are real issues! Some guys have the mentality that “if I can see it, I can get it.” Girls, is that how you want a guy to think about you?

Some clothes are way too tight!
Something that’s easy to overlook is how tight clothes fit. Girls, take some time to realize how tight your clothes are. Do your shirts show off the form of your body? Do your jeans show off your figure? If your clothes are doing more than just fitting, you may need to move up another size. Yes, it may be tough to deal with, but it’s better for everyone if you do. Your clothes shouldn’t look like someone spray-painted them on. They also shouldn’t look like they were impossible to get on.

Be observant of why you act the way you do and why you wear the things you wear
Modesty doesn’t just apply to specific clothing. You can also be immodest in your actions. How you carry yourself says a lot about who you are. If you carry yourself in a way that does more to attract guys than glorify God, you have a problem. Be the lady God created you to be. “Flaunting it” is not a biblical command and will do more harm than good. 

Girls, I don’t write this to attack or point the finger. I write this as a plea to win the war on modesty and help win the war on purity. By dressing and acting modestly, you are not only helping yourselves, but you are helping guys everywhere with their battle. We are all created in the image of God. It’s wrong for all of us to lust and it’s wrong for all us of us act in a way that is displeasing to God. Girls, take some time to consider your actions and your dress. This may not apply to you, but it might! With issues like modesty, it’s usually the girls who are most concerned that are dressing modest, and the girls who think it doesn’t apply to them that need the most help.

Guys…we’re tomorrow!

Earlier today I posted a question as my Facebook status: What is the most ANNOYING one-hit wonder of all time? So far I’ve received about 40 responses.

I did a little searching and found VH-1′s list  of the Top 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders. These aren’t necessarily annoying songs, but the artists that recorded them were here and gone faster than an MTV movie in theaters. 

Although not numbered, the list runs 100-1. According to VH-1, here are the Top 100 Greatest One Hit Wonders (actually 98…I deleted 2 because of profanity). Feel free to add your own to the list!

• Kung Fu Fighting- Carl Douglas
• No Rain- Blind Melon
• Two of Hearts- Stacy Q
• Whoomp! (There it is)- Tag Team
• I Want Candy- Bow Wow Wow
• Harper Valley PTA- Jeannie C. Riley
• What’s Up- 4 Non Blondes
• Don’t Give Up on Us- David Soul
• Heart and Soul- T’Pau 
• Electric Avenue- Eddie Grant
• Don’t Wanna Fall in Love- Jane Child
• Achy Breaky Heart- Billy Ray Cyrus
• Barbie Girl- Aqua
• Don’t leave me this way- Thelma Houston
• Bust a move- Young M.C.
• Spirit in the sky- Norman Greenbaum
• You gotta be- Des’ree
• The Safety Dance- Men without Hats
• I know what boys like- The Waitresses
• Just a friend- Biz Markie
• Come on feel the noize- Quiet Riot
• Puttin’ on the ritz- Taco
• Mmm,Mmm,Mmm,Mmm- Crash Test Dummies
• What I am- Edie Brickell
• We don’t have to take our clothes off- Jermaine Stewart
• I’ve never been to me- Charlene
• Rebirth of Slick (Cool like dat)- Digable Planets
• Convoy- C.W. McCall
• Maniac- Michael Sembello
• How Bizarre- OMC
• The Night the Lights Went Out In Georgia- Vicki Lawrence
• Funkytown- Lipps Inc.
• A girl like you- Edwyn Collins
• Epic- Faith No More
• Mambo # 5- Lou Bega
• In My House- Mary Jane Girls
• You get what you give- New Radicals 
• Jump Around- House of Pain
• The future’s so bright, I gotta wear shades- Timbuk 3
• Round and Round- Ratt
• More, More, More- Andrea True Connection
• 867-5309 Jenny- Tommy Tutone
• What is love- Haddaway
• Somkin’ in the boy’s room- Brownsville Station
• Lovin’ You- Minnie Riperton
• It’s Raining Men- The Weather Girls
• Makin’ It- David Naughton
• Somebody’s watching me- Rockwell
• Genius of Love- Tom Tom Club
• I’m gonna be (500 Miles)- The Proclaimers
• Turn the beat around- Vicki Sue Robinson
• True- Spandau Ballet
• Rock and Roll (Part 2)- Gary Glitter
• Don’t worry, be happy- Bobby McFerrin
• Lovefool- The Cardigans
• Rock me Amadeus- Falco
• How do you talk to an angel- The Heights
• Hot child in the city- Nick Gilder
• Relax- Frankie goes to Hollywood
• In a big country- Big Country
• Bitter Sweet Symphony- The Verve
• Me and Mrs. Jones- Billy Paul
• I melt with you- Modern English
• Turning Japanese- The Vapors
• Afternoon Delight- Starland Vocal Band
• Got to be real- Cheryl Lynn
• Hot, Hot, Hot- Buster Poindexter
• Unbelievable- EMF
• Seasons in the sun- Terry Jacks
• Pass the Dutchie- Musical Youth
• It takes two- Rob Base & DJ E-Z Rock
• Pop Musik- M
• Stumblin’ In- Suzi Quatro
• Too Shy- Kajagoogoo
• Whip It- Devo
• All my life- K-Ci & Jojo
• Play that funky music- Wild Cherry
• Cars- Gary Numan
• She blinded me with science- Thomas Dolby
• In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida- Iron Butterfly
• Nothing compares 2 U- Sinead O’Conner
• We’re not gonna take it- Twisted Sister
• Rapper’s Delight- Sugarhill Gang
• 96 Tears- ? & the Mysterians
• Groove is in the heart- Deee-Lite
• The Hustle- Van McCoy
• Baby Got Back- Sir Mix-a-Lot
• You light up my life- Debby Boone
• 99 Luftballoons- Nena
• Rico Suave- Gerardo
• Take on me- A-Ha
• Ice Ice Baby- Vanilla Ice
• Who let the dogs out- Baha Men
• Mickey- Toni Basil
• I’m too sexy- Right Said Fred
• Come on Eileen- Dexy’s Midnight Runners
• Tainted Love- Soft Cell

It’s a bittersweet day in the sports world. Today, broadcaster John Madden announced his retirement after spending 30 years in the booth calling NFL games. 

Madden, 73, decided it was time to leave it behind and spend more time with his kids and grandkids. 

Whether you like him or hate him, you can’t deny the legacy he’s left behind. He’s one of the most recognizable and quotable broadcasters of all time. He may not have the grace of Bob Costas or the voice of Joe Buck, but Madden brought an element of entertainment to the games that has been unparalleled. Whether working with Pat Summerall for Fox, or Al Michaels for NBC, Madden has been the face of the NFL for many years. 

Those who aren’t football fans are probably aware of Madden’s name highlighting video games. His games are part of the most successful franchise in sports history. Madden, as you can see in the video above, does not just put his name on the game; he puts himself into it. 

For those that don’t know, Madden is afraid to fly, so he never takes a plane to a city to broadcast a game. Even if it involved driving cross-country, Madden had a big bus ready to go and take him to his location. He often told stories about stopping at towns in the middle of nowhere and finding some of the best restaurants and best people around.

It only seems fitting for Madden to retire the same year as Brett Favre (if they both stay retired).

Thanks for the memories Madden! And if the rumors are true and Cris Collinsworth takes your job, help us all!!!