Worldview Affects One's Recommendations

After being on the receiving end of some bad recommendations and referrals, here is how I will challenge any product, service, etc:

First, make sure you have researched the issue.
Example, "You need to go eat the burgers at So-and-So; they're the best in town."
Me, "Really; have you tried every burger in town before forming that opinion?"

Second, you must disclose any vested interest.
"Always buy your tires at Joe's."
"Isn't Joe your brother-in-law?"

Third, admit it is possible that just because it was a positive experience for you doesn't mean it will be for me.
"Public schools are ruining our kids!"
"Your kids are snobs and they've been in parochial schools, right?"

Fourth, is it your opinion or are you just parroting someone else's?
"So-and-So extremist group is trying to take over America!"
"Have you been watching [only] Fox News?"

And fifth, take the time to get to know me and mine before making bold claims.
"Your family will love a vacation at So-and-So."
"How much time have you spent getting to know my family?"

At a recent visit to the WWII Museum in New Orleans, I was struck by this quote:

“American ‘occupation’ was carried out with remarkable success. It helped beyond measure that everyone had the same ultimate objective.”

I wonder if the American church could take a lesson here. Keep the "ultimate objective" in view and not the petty things.

On a lighter note, the exhibit also said that Brits thought of the American GIs as “Over paid, oversexed and over here!”

Reel Spiritual

Cameron's AVATAR is getting all the buzz for the new computer generated whizz bang gadgetry. And it is impressive, especially the 3-D and theatre sound. It is also a good story that would transcend the technology. Many worldviews are presented; see if you can spot them all. Or just sit back and be entertained. "I was hoping for a tactical plan that did NOT involve martyrdom!" Dying to self and being re-born is the only way, tho. "After you die, you can take your rightful place." You got that right, Mr. Cameron.



Disney's PRINCESS & THE FROG is old school animation with no visual pop like Avatar. But it is a better story, more entertaining, cheaper and a good clash of worldviews with the good guys winning in the end. Oops; did that spoil it for you :-) The lightening bug, Ray, tries to illuminate the shadow world with Light, but is killed for it. After death on earth, Ray ascends to the heavens to be with his beloveds. Hum...we've heard that story before.



Fans of old movies should look for TO EACH HIS ON, either Turner Classic Movies or NetFlix. John Lund was a good actor; Olivia is good in this role also. "Love is patient..."

Worldviews Can Kill

While driving along I-10 I noticed that it was unusually inefficient in getting traffic to flow. There were those who were driving exactly the speed limit. Due to darkness, there were others who did not care about the limit; they felt their driving abilities required going 10 mph slower than the limit. Then there were the speeders, weaving in and out of all lanes. Walmart trucks were driving 5 mph less than the speed limit, but making it difficult to be passed by other trucks ~ causing traffic in the passing lane to back up. (Yet another reason I don’t shop at Walmart.)

I remembered the traffic engineer who lectured the defensive driving course I was teaching, “Speed doesn’t kill. Speed differentials can kill, though.” He went on to explain that different personalities interpret traffic laws as in the examples above. If everybody drove the same speed limit, there would be fewer accidents ~ even at higher speeds. NASCAR and the German Autobahn are good examples of that.

The clash of worldviews in our society is just like that stretch of I-10. Different worldviews, e.g., suicide bombers, are like speed differentials to drivers: they can be hazardous to your health. If we all had the same, and right, Biblical worldview, peace would break out instead of war.