How much is virginity worth?

Interesting article here about a 22 year-old girl who is selling her virginity to the highest bidder. Reports say the high bid is at $3.7 million.

Obviously I think this is insane, but it also adds to an illustration of sexuality I've been pondering for about two years: sexuality as economics.

In American economics, a product's value is based on how much of it is available. Basic supply and demand. In a strictly theoretical sense, the more of this product we make, the more it is out there in the public, the easier it is to get, the cheaper it will be. Think Cheerios. Cheerios are everywhere, you can get them any time you want, so they cost like $3.

On the flip side, if you make a product that people want but only make a few of them, they become harder to get. So people are willing to do more to get it. So the price (and value) is usually high. For this: think Lamborghini. Expensive and time consuming to produce, hard to get, ridiculously expensive (but man, are they sexy!).

I think this applies, in a sense, to sexuality. People are always asking the question, why is premarital sex so bad? What harm does pornography do? What does it matter if you're "in love" or even just looking for a fun "hookup." It's just sex, right? Two mammals doing what mammals do? Isn't it natural? Why put restrictions on it?

But the reason why it matters is because your sexuality is like your product, your currency. The more you put it out there for people to "use" or "consume," the easier it is to get, and the cheaper it becomes. When a guy (or a girl) doesn't have to sacrifice or do what it takes to get it, you've lowered the value of your sexuality. You've made it too "easy" (hence the derogatory slang term).

But when you make the choice to withhold it, to save it, to put it out there only for the right person, within the right parameters (and I would argue that this is marriage...but that's another blog entry I guess) the more it holds, and even builds value. You're no longer Cheerios to the opposite sex (someone they can find anywhere easily whenever they want it). You're now a Lamborghini (something they have to prove they're worthy of and something they have to wait for).

I think I'd rather be a Lamborghini.

You, and your sexuality, are intrinsically worth MUCH. I know this because God made you and your sexuality. But you determine that value to everyone else by how much you put it out there for them to consume.

It's not a perfect illustration, but I think it's worth thinking about.

*Side note: Girls, I think you could get guys to be a lot less jerky and get them to do and be a lot more of what you want if you would just stop giving "it" away. A measure of a guy's intentions is how much they are willing to work for and wait for your "product." Get my drift?

*Double side note: Guys, stop cruising for Cheerios and start saving for that Lamborghini.

* Link to that article in case the one above doesn't work: http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,480037,00.html

Revolution

I've been thinking about five years ago when a serious spiritual culmination happened in my life, OneDay 03. 30,000 college students gathered in a field in Texas to fast, pray, and worship. It was incredible. God was doing amazing things in me. He was changing me. Drawing me closer. Helping me let go of my plans and fully surrendering to Him. I remember it vividly. John Piper talking about the throne of God and everyone on their face trembling.

I was hooked. Addicted to the presence of Jesus. I was...passionate.

So many times, I've wondered, what has happened to that passion? Not just in me. I understand that you have spiritual ups and downs. I have been lucky enough to surround myself with people who are passionate about Jesus to spur me on.

But sometimes I look at myself, I look at my generation, I look at some of the people I know who are "ministers," I look at the generations coming behind us, and I wonder: where did the passion go? That day in Texas, I was convinced the youth of the world were about to shake things like crazy. But now I look around and I see responsibilities and routines and mortgages and classes and "ministry" and "relevancy" and strategy and economics numbing us into passionless people. We are not excited about God. We are not satisfied or fulfilled. Why do we expect anybody else to care? We have forfeited the thrills of relationship with Jesus for boring, stale RELIGION. Yuck.

I don't know about you, but I want much more consistent, dangerous, passionate FAITH in Jesus. I don't want routine religion. So my new year is going to exclude some things that might distract me from him. I am going to strive for relationships that spur me toward him. I am going to read things that light the flames of passion. I won't care how foolish I look. It's gotta be done. The stakes are too high. People are dying.

And this is what I was made for.

Yesterday as I was praying I was reminded of a song that sums it up perfectly. So I leave you with the lyrics. I pray these words true in my life and in the church. Amen.

when passion takes on a purpose
and searching ones embrace the light
when skeptics find themselves down on their knees
you'll know it's here

when you hear a sound as loud as thunder
and you hear a cry that shakes the ground beneath you
when you hear a shout that shatters the darkness
you'll know it's here

when the lost find a name worth believing in
and the fallen get back onto their feet
and the broken start to dream again
and the sound of hope fills these streets
you'll know it's here

revolution
can you feel it
revolution cry
revolution
can you hear it
revolution cry
and I believe it

how long do we have to wait
and how long will we stay silent
will this weeping generation dance again
oh God when will the truth be restored

when the lost find a name worth believing in
and the fallen get back onto their feet
and the broken start to dream again
and the sound of hope fills these streets
you'll know it's here

revolution
can you feel it
revolution cry
revolution
can you hear it
revolution cry, cry

*Revolution Cry written by Lifehouse, made famous by Steve Fee

The Year of No Clothes (But Never Naked)

Over the past year I have been on a pretty interesting fast. I say fast with some caution, because it's not like I haven't eaten for a year or anything. And it's not the kind of fast people would normally think of. But as Christmas draws near, the fast is coming to an end, I think I've learned some things that are worth sharing.

What is this fast, you ask? Well, for a whole year I have purchased no clothes.

That's right, I fasted buying clothes. No shirts, pants, shoes, socks...any clothing item.

Why the heck did I do this? Well, a lot of reasons really. I had spent most of 2007 studying what the Bible says about the poor and giving and what God thinks about wealth. Combine that with reading a powerful little book called "Revolution in World Missions" where I learned that Indian missionaries who give up everything for the Gospel also shut their windows at night so that the villagers won't hear their children screaming from hunger. Combine that with the Christmas season, in which I once again received shirts, pants, shoes, socks, etc. that I didn't need or sometimes even want.

And I then looked into my heart and saw that the American culture of "gotta have it, gotta get it" had much more of a hold than I would've liked to admit. Right under my nose, in the midst of working in Christian service for three years, I had become materialistic.

And suddenly it didn't make sense to me to buy new shoes when I had five pairs that had nothing wrong with them. It didn't make sense to get a new, cool pair of jeans when I already had four pair that were (at least at one time) new and cool. It seemed extremely self-absorbed to be worried about wearing the newest stuff when I knew that most of the world's population would love ONE change of clothes. I saw the system for what it was, and I saw my heart, and it was UGLY to me.

And after a lot of prayer I decided that I did not want this monster to have a hold on me any more. I wanted freedom. And I was willing to do whatever it took. So I fasted.

You might think, "Wow, I bet that was hard." But it wasn't. It was really easy. This was partly because I avoided malls and department stores unless I really had to go there. This was also partly because our culture lets guys get by with a lot more when it comes to fashion than women. But more than anything, I found that when I told myself, "no clothes for a year" the desire to go there was practically nonexistent. It was incredibly different...incredibly...freeing.

But I also noticed some other things:

1. Advertising. More importantly, the lack of advertising. I suddenly became aware that there aren't a lot of ads on t.v. and elsewhere that are specifically geared toward clothing. There are a lot for beer, and cell phones, and car insurance. But not much for clothes. Sure there are clothing ads out there. But comparatively, at least in my 'sphere,' not as much as expected. So this made me wonder, where is the real pressure coming from to buy clothes we don't really need?

2. People. The medium that really drives the "you need better, hipper clothes" message is us. People. We do it to each other. We compliment each other on the surface level (I really like that shirt) about 20 times before we choose to go deep (your passion for God encourages me). The first thing we do when we get together for a party or whatever is tell each other how awesome our outfits are. We praise what we like and say nothing about what we don't. I could write a whole book about why we do this, but I won't go there now. But I will say it is discouraging to see how often we take the easier route of surface-level relations. The bottom line: I was surprised at how much subtle, back-of-the-mind pressure we put on EACH OTHER.

3. Women. Take what I just said, amplify it about 10 times, and that's the pressure the women in our culture face. I have become so much more aware that yes, there is pressure to look good out there, but it's WAY more on women. I had several talks with Jodie about this and I'm more convinced than ever. First off, women's fashions change so quickly. The industry practically makes it impossible to keep up unless you're always shopping. Secondly, if there is advertising out there geared toward image and clothing, it's almost always towards women. Thirdly, women are wired to get stuck in the patterns I just mentioned above about putting pressure on each other. They get nervous before being around people, worried about what other women will say or think. They are flying high when people notice their new outfit, and equally hurt when everyone else gets a compliment and they don't. It's seriously cut-throat. I realize that women have to break free from that and find their identity in Christ, but it also in their God-given nature to seek beauty. Man, it showed me new ways to pray for my wife. I don't know how you ladies do it. Maybe some of you can comment further.

4. The fears I had about the fast were dumb. I always had enough clothes. Most of it didn't wear out. The ones that did wear out did becaue they were low quality (and I have a whole new appreciation for what quality clothing is now). I was never truly put in a position where I was wearing stuff that was drastically out of style. No one laughed at me. Sure, I got a lot less compliments. But I never felt ostracised.

And most of all, I genuinely feel free from materialism. I only want to buy what is reasonable. I feel no pressure to impress. I'm still a sucker for a sweet pair of shoes. But I admire them more than buy them. I was buying no clothes, but I was never naked. I always had enough. Actually, Even after not buying clothes for a year, I ALWAYS had MORE than enough.

And this Christmas, I'm sure I'll get some clothes. But at least I know they can last a year.

But more than anything I look forward to being able to give more in he future with the money I'll save by not buying more crap that I don't need. Good stuff.

That's all I've got for now. Merry Christmas.

Things in my head...

The Columbus Crew are in the MLS finals and no one cares except for me, Peter, and a few others...

I need a haircut. It shall happen today...

I wish Panera would bring back french toast bagels...

I agree with Matt that those used car commercials are horrible...

Search Dr. McNinja...you will LOL...

I feel like I'm getting stuff done today...

Yet I still have time to do this...

Weird...

The End.

Tell me the old, old story...

Lately, I just can't get over the Gospel. It sounds ridiculous, right? A pastor who loves the Gospel...how original! But I'm being serious. When you really get down into the nitty-gritty (insert Nacho Libre voice here) of it all, it's just so...powerful.

At the church where I work we have staff devotions. We were reading Hebrews 10 and discussing how as pastors we constantly encounter people who profess what Jesus has done with their lips, but still live as what I call "practical Jews." In other words, they say they believe that Jesus' sacrifice is all that is needed to approach God in intimacy but they act is if they are trying to earn it. They deal with guilt constantly because they don't feel like they are measuring up. They are living more like Jews, who depended upon strict adherence to the Law and a system of endless sacrifices, than like Spirit-filled believers.

The truth is, I do this to. I constantly need to be reminded that I can do nothing to make God love me more, or think I'm cool, or give me more stuff. And when I do try this, I am really saying that I don't think the once-for-all sacrifice of Christ is enough. I am saying that it is incomplete and I need to add more to it...more of my own "sacrifices." Often these 'sacrifices' take the form of "quiet times" when I'd really rather be wasting time on Facebook, going to church when I'd rather stay home and watch football, giving my money away when I'd rather keep it and feel secure, and even...gasp!...speaking or leading worship when I'd really rather not put myself out there and be comfortable and safe.

The power in the Gospel is when I realize that I don't have to do these things. It's when I realize that God made the way through Jesus. It's when I realize that what God wants most is just...me. And he wants to meet with me way more than I want to meet with him. And he wants to thrill me, to blow me away, to shape me, to mold me, to love me like I could never imagine, and make me into who I never thought I could be. When I remember this, I feel free. I feel secure. I feel whole. And I'm a much better husband, father, friend, and pastor.

If this Gospel stuff is true, then it changes everything. It has the power to release us from slavery to the opinions of others, to a consumerist society, and to our incorrect views of God that make him out to be angry or distant or disappointed.

I remember reading once that Martin Luther's congregants often approached him and asked, "Why do you just keep preaching the Gospel every week? When are you going to do something new?"

And he answered (something along the lines of), "I'll stop preaching the Gospel when you all start living like you really believe it."

I know I need to hear the old, old story again and again. It has power. And I'm not just saying that. :)

The Start of Something New

Greetings! I hope this will soon be a place where I can begin to put some of the crazy things in my head to use. Keep an eye out for posts soon. In the meantime, check out the blogs and links to the left. They will get you thinking.

Peace!