WEDNESDAY WEEKLY WORD...keeping it real in a phony world

Last night I watched  the TLC channel on TV. I had no idea just how many reality tv shows there were...one after another, shows about real people were being advertised.

I have to wonder about people who would let cameramen and TV producers come into their living room and film each and every step they take. For instance, last night I was watching "18 and counting", the show about the Duggar family who have 18 children and one more on the way. Last night's show was following the Duggar's married son and his wife, who were about to have a baby. We then were able to watch not only the labor, but the delivery and the cutting of the cord.

Awww... everyone sighs.

But reality is ... who lets a cameraman and the entire world watch such an intimate moment? Think about it...what would YOUR reality show be like if a camerman followed you and your family around? Would your house always be clean? Would your children always be well behaved? Would you always be speaking kind words with the right attitude?

Sometimes what we depict to be true is not really reality. I often wonder on some of those shows how much of it is real and how much of it is planned or acted? The recent break up of reality show guru's Jon and Kate reveals that possibly what we are watching on those reality shows may not be actual reality! In fact, I would guess that the producers jump on depicting the ugly side of things just to boost ratings, so what is "real" now becomes "fake".

Jesus sought to encourage people to be real in a much more genuine way than anything on "real" TV. He looked at the religious leaders of His day, the Pharisees and the experts in religious law, and He saw many of them were play acting. Without mincing words, He laid it on the line to them saying..."learn to be genuine or you will never enter the kingdom of God".

In last week's YOUR OPINION MATTERS POLL, I polled the readers the following question: "If you could have the best seats ...where would that be?" The top 3 answers were:

1. 42% of those voting said they would like to have best seats on a Caribbean Cruise Ship (ocean-view).

2. 28% voted and said that they would like seats in front of the stage for a favorite singer in concert.

3. Another 28% said that they would like seats near the orchestra pit at a Broadway Musical.

I don't know if any of us will ever get front row seats like mentioned above. But I do wonder what it would be like to have the best seats to sit near Jesus? Wait...we already have that offered to us, but for so many we don't reach out and take it. Some people attend church and even do all of the right things but when it comes down to it ... reality is that their faith and chrisitanity is not genuine.

If a bright light was shining on our heart and our faith, one much like the camera light in the reality shows, I wonder what would be revealed? How can we make sure we live a more genuine and "real" christian life?

~ Keep Jesus as the central focus of all our actions.

~ Face our weaknessess with honesty and openness by confessing to God on a regular basis.

~ Be gentle with others in their weaknesses, pray for them.

I am striving to keep it real!

How about you?