Crosspoint

My mind tended to wander during Pastor Brandon's sermon yesterday and this and the next two are a product of his outline and my ADD...


Compared to many other cities in the US, Binghamton is not a bad place to live. Per capita were actually below the national averages in every category of violent crime and most types of property crime. After all, in the year I got my data from (03) there was only one murder here every four months. Less than one person a month was raped. There was less than two cases of aggravated assault each week. It was only a little more than every other day a house was burglarized. Those who were out stealing cars took a week off somewhere along the way. There wasnt even five cases of larceny or theft reported each day. It was every other day that a violent crime was committed so if you stayed away on those odd days youd be fine.

Seriously, when you arent comparing those numbers to cities that might be worse, they dont look so good, do they? Often times I find myself doing the same thing in my own personal life. Im not as bad as this person over here. Even though this person is more faithful with this, look at what they are doing over there. The fact is, were all quite a bit messed up and comparing ourselves to ourselves is like asking which is worse, murder or rape? Just dont do either. But when everyone, everywhere is messing up all the time, how am I supposed to rise above it? How am I to live in a world full of evil?

Theres a computer term that is so true for real life. Its GIGO. Garbage In, Garbage Out. Going back a decade or two I remember being in a class where we were supposed to be learning how to write computer code. Now youve got to remember that computers back in the early nineties arent quite the same as they are today. All I had to do was create this little stick figure who was supposed to walk across the screen. Sounds pretty easy, right? Well, the little stick arms moved and the little stick legs moved, but my little stick man went nowhere. Somewhere along the line I put in bad information and until it was fixed my programming was messed up.

I hear it all the time. That lifestyle might work for you, but Im not made that way. Or perhaps If God really wanted me to act that way He wouldnt have given me these urges. Weve all heard the stereotypes of a German temper or Irish sobriety or you name it. Im wondering how much of our excuses is really a result of bad programming.

Bad programming? I remember watching a movie the other day I probably shouldnt have. It starts out with this young man who grew up without his parents and was raised by his aunt and uncle. He meets up with this good guy whos really a social outcast that encourages behavior his guardians dont approve of. Thats OK, though because the law kills his family and he runs off with this older mentor and a couple other pirates. The four of them spring this hot chick whos really part of a counterinsurgency movement. She uses her whiles to recruit the rest of them into her cause to bring down the social order. At first both our hero and one of these pirates fall in love with her but it turns our shes the heros sister so thats not going anywhere. Oh yah, the villain in the story thats dad.

Now you might be wondering where I get off watching all that trash and youd be right. But before getting too judgmental ask yourself if youve ever seen Star Wars. Thats right. Its one of the most popular grossing and most frequently seen movies of all time and this is what it is subliminally teaching us. Compared to most other movies its not that bad. But compared to the truth GiGo. Id challenge you with kids to sit down and watch an hours worth of their cartoons and count the number of acts of violence you see. Then wonder why it is so difficult to teach them not to hit GiGo. Just look at the emotional conundrums so common on daytime soap operas or their nighttime versions like Dawsons Creek, or OC, or whatever the current flavor is and then wonder why your marriage or your relationships arent satisfying GiGo. How can we watch shows like Office and not be cynical at work GiGo.

Whatever things are true. Whatever things are noble. Whatever things are right. Whatever things are pure. Whatever things are lovely, excellent, admirable, or praiseworthy. These are the things God has called us to dwell on. After all, the way we can make it in a world full of evil is to saturate our minds with truth.