Gap and Bono

I'm a huge fan of Bono but not so much for what he does musically but more so for what he does socially. His (Product)Red is really groundbreaking in terms of both its scope and implications. Being how I work for Gap, I gotta mention its partnership with Bono; yesterday, Gap launched its (Product) Red limited edition collection of clothing with half of the profits going to the Global Fund to help eliminate AIDS in Africa. Theres some pretty cool stuff, plus its gonna be interesting to see if this consumer-centric approach will work. If you think I'm biased, read this article from Relevant Magazine or even better, check out some of the links yourself:
As James put it, “… faith without deeds is useless.” If you want to be a part of the action that young people are taking, visit gap.com/red or invisiblechildren.com to find out how you can make an impact in the world. Your life is busy, but your life is also the best place in which you can minister. Take action, and through your deeds, let the world see that your generation will be the first to rise up and reclaim this world for God. Wear your heart on your sleeve, literally, and let your deeds speak loud and clear. Above all, remember that what we do now is a start and not a finish. The world will not be won easily. As the ads imply, be “inspi(red),” be “inc(red)ible,” until this world can be “cu(red)”. None of that can come merely from the purchase of a T-shirt, but everything can come to fruition through raised awareness, through social consciousness and through our own recognizing that we ourselves can make a great difference in the world around us—even through what we wear."

9/11:5th Anniversary

Once and for all, people

"It is not the fault of Dan Brown that we as Christians are so horribly uneducated about our own faith that we would blindly believe the fabrications of a fictitious character in one of his novels. It is utterly shameful that a fiction novel could have such a profound effect on us for our lack of knowledge and, to a great extent, even our seeming unwillingness to seek the truth. All Christians claim to believe that what we know about God and Jesus is indeed the truth; few Christians go so far as to prove it for themselves. Many write it off quickly as a matter of faith, leaving themselves quite open to attack in their ignorance. What every Christian should know is that what we believe actually is the truth, and not simply what we believe because we are too foolish or arrogant to understand otherwise."

Da Vinci "controversy"

I finally bought the paperback version of "The Da Vinci Code" last night; I figured I should read it for two reasons: 1) so that the novel wouldn't be ruined by the movie and 2) to see what all this "controversy" is about. Its been 3 years since Dan Brown came out with the book, and I've heard all kinds of things about it especially from the Christian community. And now with the film coming out, mainstream Christianity is up in arms about it again, trying to counter it with clever campaigns like "Da Vinci Didn't Convince Me" created by Evangelical Christian publisher Tyndale House or books like "The Da Vinci Deception" written by Erwin Lutzer (an Evangelical minister in Chicago). This is what Lutzer says about the whole thing: " 'The Da Vinci Code' is the most serious assault against Christianity that I have ever witnessed."
Oh, really? Thats a bit dramatic for a piece of literary work categorized as FICTION, isn't it? I'm no expert but I think that means it isn't true by definition. And this whole thing about the book being "the most serious assault against Christianity" is ridiculous! I can think of a few things (Pat Robertson, politicizing God, mega-church mentality, Christian "culture", apathy towards social justice) that might warrant that top spot, Mr. Lutzer. And besides, won't all this protesting and counter-attacking actually give it more credence and viability? I honestly would not be reading it if there wasn't so much angst and hostility towards it. Just take it for what it is, a highly entertaining novel that contains some religious and historical elements. I can't fathom why Christians are so threatened by fictionalized novels? Like my buddy Ric said, it takes alot to place that many inaccuracies in one book; so let's not neglect the fact that the book is flippin' FICTION!
Oh yeah, aren't the "Left Behind" series fiction as well? I'm sure they are not that much more accurate than "The Da Vinci Code". Here's yet another example of Christians propagating trivialities while missing out on the larger picture of God's kingdom.