Because its summer, I have my grandma’s large crystal platter (the one that goes under the punch bowl) piled high with fresh fruit. There are apricots, figs, strawberries, raspberries and blueberries. I’ve sliced pineapple, melons and apples. My favorites are the cherries. I have the yummy Rainier cherries and regular sweet bing cherries. So help yourself for some of nature’s perfect sweets.
How many of you are heading for San Antonio today?
Or maybe you are already there?
I am so thrilled that so many Seekers will be there. This is the first RWA National conference I’ve missed in a long time and I’m kind of sad about it. I always love hanging with my writer friends. This business can be lonely when you work at your desk at home. (Trust me, I’m not complaining. I love sitting here with my characters). But it is fun to network with other authors. I especially enjoy meeting editors and agents also.
So if you are there, please comment and share what’s happening.
Tomorrow, Margaret Daley will be sharing tidbits of information also.
I was reading an article the other day about the handful of people that control the content and delivery systems of media. The Internet has linked the world’s people to an extent never before seen. Television brings visual images into your home—images from places you may never travel to or see first hand. Radio broadcasts information worldwide in every language. Smart phones and tablets connect every square meter of the global geography with satellite communication.
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| Smartphone advertised on Amazon.com |
And in regards to our world of writing; music and print media bring entertainment, information and education worldwide.
Who are the gatekeepers of all of this information? There are surprisingly few power brokers and they vary in ideology and values. They have the power to manipulate and control the way we think. Scary thought, isn’t it?
I have seen the power of their influence first hand. My master’s degree is in Bilingual Multicultural education so as a public school teacher, I taught children whose primary language was other than English. Most of these children came to our schools from other countries. Parent conferences were very interesting because parents would complain about the behavioral changes of their children. They were acting like the children in our sit-coms on television. The children wanted so much to be American and they thought being American was acting like what they saw on television. Consequently, I worked hard to teach the children that what they saw on television was fiction. I taught them that American television reporting and shows were exaggerations. I taught them that comedy was based on tragedy. Did it help? Maybe, maybe not. But there are several studies that show how much television influences our own children let alone how the world sees us.
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| Television advertised on Amazon.com |
More first hand experience: As RVers, we meet a lot of people visiting from other countries and often they comment on how friendly Americans are. They act so surprised and we ask them, "Did you think we wouldn't be?" And their response is often: "We were afraid to come here because of all the violence, crime and murders." What are the most popular prime time television shows? Police crime, CSI shows, lawyers, etc. No wonder they are afraid if they think that is what it is like here.
Of course as Judeo-Christians, we can arm and protect ourselves with God’s word. And as Judeo-Christians, we have been commissioned to pray for world leaders. We need to also pray for media’s power brokers because they have such influence and power. I contend that we should be praying for them foremost and every day.
I do this by subscribing to Mastermedia International. This organization maintains that Hollywood is a mission field in dire need of prayer and evangelism. They list in alphabetical order the 50 most influential leaders in the motion picture media as well as actors, television shows, directors, writers, etc. So every day of the year you pray for two people and/or groups.
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| From matermediaintl.org webpage |
As authors we are influencers also. What we write influences as many people as read our work. I have written a list that I added to my Mastermedia list. These are editors, agents and publishers in our industry of international media. Also on my list are authors. So every day of the year, one of each gets a prayer.
I have attended many screenwriting classes over the years and one impacted me. He was a Christian screenwriter and he worked on the writing staff of several well known sitcoms. Someone commented that those shows were not particularly representative of Judeo-Christian values. He said he could not control all of the values portrayed, but he did have impact on limiting violence, overt sex and bad language. He pointed out that the shows would have been much worse without his influence.
So we can’t dictate what we see on television, movies or other social media. Boycotting those events is not the answer. The answer is get out there in the mission field and bring God into the mix.
This week especially, I’m praying for all of the media influencers attending the RWA National Convention. The fact that so many of you will be there means there will be ambassadors and witnesses of our faith. We need to be there so that our point of view and values are represented. Thank you. Thank you.
Have a great time. The rest of us at home will be working on our own contributions to the Social Media. Writing, writing and more writing.
Those who comment will be eligible for a drawing for one of my books (novel or children) plus a lovely carving made by Dennis, a pickleball friend who carves wood to sell at the craft fairs. He volunteers to teach children how to carve also. The lucky winner will be blessed by this gift.
Please check the weekend edition for winners and email us your contact info.
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| Carved by Dennis |
Have a great day.
Have fun at the conference.
