Bobby Griffith

I was deeply affected by a newstory of a mom and boyfriend who beat a toddler to death. It wasn’t the sheer fact of the act which hit me as this is nothing new in our culture, but the toddler’s response. According to the news story, the prosecutors allege the last words of this precious girl were “I love you.” When I saw that, I wept. I was in my cubicle at WVU and could not hold back my tears.

We often speak of the power of love over hate, but in this case, hate won. I am unable to fathom how a mother could continue to beat such a vulnerable person, flesh and blood, to the words “I love you.” I am also unable to fathom who this precious little girl could still profess her love for someone who was in the process of savaging her body to death.

This story raised so many questions in my mind from who have I hated with my actions as they professed their love for me, to how God could love people who absolutely hate him and put him to death. Still, the child’s picture haunts me. I can almost picture the deathblows ravaging this little girl as she tearily professes her love for a mother who didn’t deserve it, and certainly didn’t deserve her.

I hope justice wins in this case. I think this story really changed something in me that I cannot pin down. It hit at my own longings for justice and the hope that a better future will come, the future where love kills hate for good.

I read the blog of lifechurch.tv simply because there are great practical leadership tips and points. It’s also nice to read ideas outside my “circle” to avoid groupthink, etc.

Anyway, there is a funny post with a voicemail complaint someone left at the church office. You have to listen to this. http://swerve.lifechurch.tv/2009/01/21/unsolicited-feedback/

I admit. When it comes to hype, I am a cynic. I don’t know what it is about my personality, but I generally do not get too hyped about most things; Batman excluded. So when I watch TV or read news stories, it is very hard for me to take many things seriously. I think the reason for this is because I look at both the short and long term.

A few examples: climate change. While I firmly believe Christians should be committed to caring for creation and teaching/practicing a holistic view of redemption, I am skeptical of environmental hype. I am young, but old enough to remember the dangers of ozone holes, acid rain, El Nino, and now global warming. This, despite the fact that climatology is a young science and just a few decades ago (1970s) the experts predicted a second ice age around 2000. Color me cynical, but I think environmental hype machines are generally about profit and social control.

Sports is a great example of sensationalism. Today, I saw a “journalist” compare the Arizona Cardinals Super Bowl run to Barack Obama’s White House win. Really? Then, a talking head proclaimed that if the Steelers win the Superbowl (and I want them to), their defense is the best of all time. He said this without flinching or producing any evidence to support his assertion.  No doubt sports stations like ESPiN need to generate revenue so they keep it saucy. But one must wonder how many “greatests” we can have as the sports media continually creates new heroes for us at will, while not considering the ramifications of their failure.

This could get me in trouble, but I think the new President is a great example of hype. Granted, Obama’s election is an historic, social changing event. But does ABC really need to advertise its sitcoms with “Yes We Can” while using Shepherd Fairey’s Soviet style blue-red color scheme? How I Met Your Mother is on par with our new President? Please.  I also find it interesting with the America is united narrative which has been created. Believe me, I hope our country can come together and work as one people, but I do not believe the election of one man into a very powerful office has done that so far. The 2008 vs. 2004 election differences are slim (53/46ish vs 51/47ish) and the US was “deeply divided” in 2004 and now we’re united. Again, I hope we can overcome the problems of the past, but it will take more than a good feeling. I pray our new President does well and governs according to the Constitution, but again, he’s just a human like every other President.

I guess what upsets me about hype, or makes me cynical, is that when the hype is not met, the disappointment ensues. Teams lose championships. Presidents don’t always fulfill their constituent’s agendas (*cough* Bush and the Religious Right *cough*). Pastors aren’t always perfect and academics sometimes get it wrong.

I guess I write all this to say: please no one ever hype me in any way. I’ll fail you just like everyone else.

Before reading this article, (http://www.rollingstone.com/news/story/25020634/the_legend_of_master_legend) I never knew people could take comic book heroes this seriously. There’s even a registry. http://www.worldsuperheroregistry.com/

Related links: http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1348774/costumes_and_capes_real_life_superheroes.html

http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/news/world/us_and_americas/article5404186.ece

I wonder what drives people to do something like this? I understand the desire to help, but even more, I wonder if wearing a mask helps with one’s identity? After reading too many of these stories, I’ve noticed that most of the guys who do this are pretty basic, white-bread types. I wonder if the mask helps hide that and brings them to a more exotic place where they think they are really important.