Expectant Prayers ®

Do you remember the TV show "Fame"?  I used to watch it as a young girl, mainly because of my love for the performing arts and Debbie Allen.  She was IT!  I loved to watch her dance... she made it seem so effortless.  Yeah, the show was a bit strange, but entertaining.  The theme song said , "Fame!  I'm gonna live forever. I'm gonna learn how to fly.  High!  I feel it coming together, People will see me and cry, Fame! I'm gonna make it to heaven. Light up the sky like a flame, Fame.  I'm going to live forever, baby remember my name.  Remember...remember..."    Although it was a catchy tune, it always bothered me.  First of all, fame isn't our ticket to heaven!    Look at what so many people today are seeking after... fame and fortune.   If only people craved a relationship with Christ as much as being "known".

In recent news, we have seen what "fame" is getting people now a days.  The results don't look very appealing.
Everyone seems to want their 15 minutes in the spotlight.  Headliners such as Anna Nicole Smith, Brittney Spears, even the show American Idol scream out... "I"ll do anything to be known no matter what the cost."  It's sad.    I want to know what drives these people to crave the limelight...

I guess this topic has really been bothering me over the past couple of days not only because of the non-stop coverage of Anna Nicole, but also because I received a catalog from a major Christian bookstore in the mail this week and saw where there is a contest (mimicking "American Idol") for wanna -be- Christian -stars.   This really disturbs me that  yet AGAIN the church has sunk to the ranks of society for success.   Yeah, the church does have their "idols", too; not just singers, but preachers, mega ministry groups, and authors as well.

Don't get me wrong, I believe it is totally Biblical to give praise where praise is due, but there is a difference between praising someone for an accomplishment and the people who are wanting/craving praise and attention.   Why can't we see this? 

Like I said, I love the performing arts, but where are we drawing the line today between arts, entertainment, and ministry?  Why do we crave to look like the world, act like the world, and be like the world?  I think it's an age old debate and a heated one.   

One of the key elements of our conduct and moral ethics is MOTIVATION.  What is motivating us and our actions?  Is it God or is it something else?   If you claim to be a Christian and do not seek God as your motivation, I am telling you... YOU ARE MISSING THE MARK.

Just like so many who scratch out their existence to be famous, they forget that notoriety is fleeting.  Here today and gone tomorrow.... Even if you gather millions of dollars in the process, what does it matter if you're not furthering the Kingdom of God?   Only what you do for Christ will last.

Finally I am reminded of what Proverbs says about one example of who is to be praised.  It comes from the description of the Proverbs 31 woman.  Verse 30 says, "Charm is deceptive and beauty is fleeting, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised."       Men, women, does this describe you today?   If you are in Him, you are known by THE most important person in the world, and better yet, you are a child of that royalty.    That's not bad for a claim to fame.

What do you think?