John & Kate: (Sad) Reality TV

I can't believe what I saw last night on the season premiere of John & Kate plus 8. I was so sure all the tabloids and commercials were just hype to get people geared up to watch the new season. I thought "maybe they'll just edit things to look like they are mad, when really things have already been worked out".

That's not what I saw. I saw two very angry and withdrawn people. The silences between them were excruciating.

I know I don't personally know either of them and to be so effected by strangers is weird. I've always made fun of people who talk about celebrities as if they know them. But this seems different. I mean they are real people and more than that, I believe they are a brother and sister in Christ. Shouldn't I be moved to pray for their marriage?

Last night Ellie made a really good point: where are the people (from the church) who are speaking truth into their lives? That they need to fight for their marriage? That they are both being selfish and need to work through these incredibly difficult issues they are facing?

They kept using the phrase "for the kids" over and over. "What's best for the kids". "I'm there for my kids". You want what's best for your kids? STAY TOGETHER. Get some serious counseling. Don't withdraw - engage.

I'm not saying there is an easy way out or a simple solution - clearly there isn't. But when they got married, they made a promise: "for better or worse". Not "for better or until things get really bad". No, clearly they have hit "worse". I just don't want to see either of them give up on their marriage.

I'm not embarrassed to say my wife and I actually did pray for them last night. And truthfully I feel somewhat responsible: I'm one of the viewers that has (in a small way) helped created this media monster surrounding them. The same media monster which (clearly) has been a contributor to the mess that they are in. I'm torn because part of me really wants to just stop watching. I don't want to be a part of a show that's new tag line is "watch a family fall apart". Ugh. It breaks my heart just thinking about that.

But I also feel like I can't look away or pretend that's not happening. Families break apart all the time in this country and though all of us could agree that that's not the ideal (nor God's desire), it certainly doesn't change the reality. So I would pose two questions to anyone reading this:

1) What kind of a response do you have as a viewer to John & Kate?

2) How can seeing the "reality TV" of family brokenness/divorce change our perception/attitude/action towards broken families in our community or family/friends?

A Second Chance For Vick?

Today is a pretty good day for Michael Vick.  He is scheduled to be released from prison and transferred to his home in VA, where he will be under house arrest for the final two months of his sentence.  If you aren't familiar with (former NFL star quarterback) Vick, all you need do is google his name and you'll find he has spent the last 23 months in prison for charges surrounding his involvement in dogfighting.Part of his sentence also requires him to work a 40 hr per week construction job that pays 10 bucks an hour.  Wow...I bet that's humbling.

The hot topic question on ESPN now is if and when he will return to the NFL.  

I haven't followed this story very closely, but I know a lot of people are still angry with him - for his cruel treatment of dogs, to his dishonesty, and his poor example to "the kids".  So at what point should he be forgiven?  Has he done enough to "right his wrongs" or pay for his mistakes?  Assuming that he was truly sorry, should he be allowed to play pro football again?What if he's not really sorry?  What do you think???

PS Two books that I found really interesting on the topic of forgiveness are: 

-The Sunflower, by Simon Wiesenthal

-What's So Amazing About Grace? by Philip Yancey