Jessie Minassian Addresses How the Media Views Beauty Vs The Scripture Definition

           Our young women buy into the lies brought on by the Media about beauty.  Trying to strive for perfection, they fall short of unrealistic goals and end up believing they are ugly and will never meet the bar.  Jessie Minassian tackles these issues which have plagued young adults for ages.  With the aide of scripture she defines the true meaning of beauty.  This author uses reverse psychology (i.e. '"How to Look Ugly"') in order to magnify how ridiculous some of notions society implicates.  She gets an all star review from me for hitting the nail on the head when addressing this topic and re-teaching teens.  This book is complete with questionaires with  room to add honest answers.   I am grateful to have reviewed this publication for Tyndale.  Definitely a book that will help young people accept themselves for who they are.

Finding some Light through the Media

                    Growing up in a faith based family, I can totally relate to Kevin Harvey's new book "The Bible in Pop Culture; Finding our creator in superheroes, prince charming and other modern marvels".  It was a real treat to find Faith mentioned in the media through song, books, plays or movies as a teenager to confirm my belief.  While I was growing up in the seventies, my christian friends and I rocked to Norman Greenbaum's "Spirit in the Sky" and learnt all the words to the musical "Jesus Christ Superstar".  The Staple Singer's made billboard hits of "Respect Yourself" and "I'll Take You There".  When Star Wars hit the big screen everyone was on board to taking the side of the good force.  So we were blessed with a number of inspirational sources and we actively sought them out.
Kevin Harvey presents today's inspirational and faith filled films and examines how they affect christians of today.  One of my favorite movies "The Book of Eli" with Denzel Washington is listed along with "Bruce Almighty" which features Jim Carey.  The author even compares the infamous family, the Kardashians to dysfunctional families from the beginning of time in the Bible.  This book is geared towards teenagers and young adults.  There is even a section of puzzles and word games.  I was granted the ability to read this book for BookLook bloggers in exchange for my honest review.  Great gift for teens~

Media Violence IS a SERIOUS Threat to Our Youth

Growing up in the Sixties and Seventies, our age group was sold on the Make Peace, Not War messages that were in the Media during that era. Flower children told us Love was the answer. We were greatly influenced by the media as young people are still today.  Unless you are blind as a bat, it's hard not to be affected by the overwhelming evidence of violence and coldness in our young people today.  Television programs based on fact, Killer Kids, can attest to the attitude of anger which has arisen with this generation. Never before have so many young people been killing their parents, their families and even their friends when they disagree.  There is mounting evidence in Lt. Col. Dave Grossman and Gloria DeGaetano  updated version of "Stop Teaching Our Kids To Kill; A Call to Action Against TV, Movie & Video Game Violence" that children are greatly affected by what they see and hear.  Lt. Grossman compares this media with the army's conditioning techniques used to overcome a soldiers' aversion to killing.  This book will take an in depth view of how parent's must have greater involvement in censoring their child's books, movies and games.  Learn how to take action to prevent future violence.  It's never too late to get on board for a more positive future. I was given the opportunity to review this book for Blogging for Books. For more information on Book 

Oh No Not the Children, Dec. 14 The Day The World Changed

          Although there have always been deranged individuals wreaking havoc in society, something  more hurting and unexplainable  occurred on Dec. 14, 2012...A hunter determined to make his prey innocent young elementary students...an awful mind blowing act which rid our realms of any security we might have once felt in the past leaving everyone, everywhere wondering what is happening in our world.  Life has sadly changed since I was a child when my biggest concern was whether or not my older brother found my favorite toy that I hid on him. We lived in a more safe enviroment in those days when neighbors spoke kindly to one another and faithful friends knew that there were certain boundaries that you just didn't cross in for the sake of  true kinship.  It's just not like the good ole' days anymore and my heart bleeds for the parents who must worry when their offspring are doing the right thing by going to school.  What has this world come to and who is to blame?  I imagine it is a number of factors  that have contributed to this lack of concern with human life as I recall some of the things I suggested as a college student majoring in Psychology.  Young and full of passion I suggested in my essay that lawmakers should make Mental Health a mandatory class in all schools just as physical educucation is.  Agreeing that Physical Health was an asset in establishing the importance of  keeping our bodies up to par but I felt that mental health should also be addressed with that same ferver.  For one this would erase the stigma that has been attached to mental illness since forever but also teach individuals on how to identify those who may be afflicted and guarantee that they get some kind of help.  My professor was pleased with my report and gave me a bright A+ while leaving a question for me to ponder...'"How would this class be funded?"'  Since than I felt that there was a negative possibility of ever seeing this proposal come to past.
   So instead today, twenty little innocent victims will be buried.  Hearts are broken, many will lose faith and there will be a void which will not be filled.  The news has left us all with apprehension and uncertainty.  The holiday holds less meaning with the true lights of our lives smothered out.  As a mother and grandmother of thirteen I beg that strickter background checks be made with anyone purchasing a gun and that it include background checks of everyone in the family and/or who may have access to that person's home.  I wonder how many people know that our beloved Abraham Lincoln who suffered through many nervous breakdowns  had his assistants at his home hide the silverware on the days that he was most depressed.  This has been written in his history books as he struggled with his own dark thoughts on certain days.  We can't put all the fault on the media although there is way too much violence being portrayed to the children these days, nor can we put it all in any one egg basket but we can each do our part.  Needless to say our Nation would be a better place if we each were a little more loving and respectful to one another.  Is it possible to make that change?