Mark Bishop
Singing News Article
March 2007
It was recently discussed on one of
my favorite radio talk shows about how Americans are the most
giving people in the world. According to an international study,
our country gives a higher percentage of it's available resources
than any of the others. I think this probably comes as no surprise
to many of us in the United States. Unfortunately, we are also not
surprised when we hear that some other country has run us down or
criticized us for not doing enough.
Being a super-power in the world is a thankless job.
On this same radio show it was pointed out that not only do we
give the most to the world, but we also do the most to help each
other. We are also the most charitable to our own. According to
the study, you give more to help your neighbors than the folks in,
say, Japan or Russia. This is some of the "good news" that you
hardly ever hear reported. This is something positive to be happy
and proud of. To me, this is the result of being a Christian
nation and our adherence to those precepts. It is no coincidence
that among the demographics broken down, those who professed to be
of the Christian faith gave an even larger percentage on average
than the rest of Americans.
I don't often find myself at home on Sunday nights. Usually I am
sharing music with a church congregation during Sunday night
services. But when I am at home, I like sitting down with Carolyn
and the girls and watching a TV show called "Extreme Makeover:
Home Edition". To me, this is probably the best idea for a
television show that has ever been.
This show breaks all the rules of what should be popular to a mass
audience in today's culture. It is completely devoid of all the
tried and true staples of popular television. There are no
murders, no violence, no sexual innuendo, no foul language... no
kidding! How did a show like this end up on the air?
The short answer is this. It will warm your heart.
I have never used this space for recommending a TV show but this
one deserves an audience. If ever there were a positive, uplifting
use for an hour's worth of network television time, these folks
have discovered how to make something wonderful between the
commercials. Not since the Andy Griffith Show have I turned off
the TV feeling so good about people. I'll stop gushing now... I
think you get the picture.
It only reveals that we love to care. We love to give and we love
to sacrifice. God has placed this inside of us and he knows that
we are truly fulfilled when we are giving to others. While it
seems to the naked eye that the world is about buying the latest
this and that, and acquiring more and more.. the Lord has known
all along that these things will not bring us satisfaction. The
temporary thrill of acquisition is too soon replaced with the
emptiness of unmet expectations. We are never satisfied with what
we get. None of it ever fills us up.
But when we give... when we care... when we share... this seems to
fill us up and bubble over. I guess that's why we like that TV
show so much. I guess that's why we, as a Christian nation, are
the most giving on Earth. So congratulations Christians! It's
called leading by example and it's called putting your money where
your mouth is. .
- Back
-
