Is this exploitation of the poor? A saavy marketing campaign? A political statement? Or just plain cruel?
In the August 2008 issue of Vogue India, there is a controversial 16 page advertising campaign that uses the countries poor to sell products meant for the countries rich.
In the image below, you see a picture of a poor husband and wife marketing a $200 Burberry umbrella and an Etro handbag.
Laziness. We all feel it. We’ve all experienced it. It’s something that really isn’t that foreign to most of us. But why do we struggle with it so often? Some of us, due to our laziness, choose to go on the internet, watch tv or a movie, instead of doing what actually needs to get done. Others choose to sleep or go play sports instead of taking care of their responsibilities.
We all have times of laziness. But where does laziness originate from? Why is it so easy to be lazy?
The dictionary defines “lazy” as being “unwilling to work or use energy.”
My wife and I have an arrangement – If one of us cooks, then the other person has to clean up. As a result, there are often many times when I, full of laziness, don’t want to clean up even though it was my wife who cooked. However, just because I don’t want to clean up doesn’t mean that I don’t do it – I eventually get to it.
But one time when I was trying to coax my wife into cleaning the dishes, she came back with a statement that cut through my heart and is, when you think about it, pure genius. She said,
“Laziness is not a condition, it’s a choice.”
Perhaps the thing that separates greatness from mediocrity is a simple choice.
What choice are you making?
Almost a month ago, Michael Guglielmucci, a pastor in Australia who had written and sung “Healer” on the latest Hillsong album, came out and confessed that he had been living a life of deception. For the past two years, he had deceived everyone, his wife and parents included, and told them that he had terminal cancer.
When I first heard what had happened, I went into absolute shock and I began grieving. I couldn’t understand how he could do such a thing – especially as a pastor and a follower of Christ. And how could he lie like that to his wife and to his parents? However, I resisted the urge to blog about it and tell everyone until I heard the full story.
Here is the full story and statement of confession.
Here is also an exclusive interview (video) where Guglielmucci came out and made a public statement,
As you can see in this picture, my wife and I have a puppy – his name is Teddy and he’s almost 6 months old.
Teddy - Our Dog
For the past couple of days, we have been babysitting Christina’s parent’s two dogs and it’s been fascinating to see the interaction between the three of them.
The most significant thing that my wife and I keep on noticing is the interplay between love and jealousy.
How often, as human beings, are we also like that?
What exactly is the relationship between love and jealousy?
I believe it’s a battle between our human/sinful nature and a life that is fully devoted to God.
“The acts of the sinful nature are obvious: …jealousy…But the fruit of the Spirit is love…Those who belong to Christ Jesus have crucified the sinful nature with its passions and desires. Since we live by the Spirit, let us keep in step with the Spirit.” (Galatians 5:19-25)
Which side is winning in your life?
