What's Wrong With This Picture?
Feeling a little housebound of late, Aileen and I decided we would head to the mall this morning to do some shopping and have lunch out with the kids. The mall is not my favorite place to be, of course, but sometimes it is a necessary evil. So we did our thing and then headed to the food court. Immediately in front of the entrance to the food court was a table advertising free samples of 2 in 1 personal lubricant and massage oil. A handful of people who looked like they were in their late teens or early twenties were milling around offering samples to people walking by. I brushed aside the invitation to accept a sample simply out of habit. Walking behind me was a middle-aged woman with her two young children. One of the young men approached her and offered her a sample. She said, “What is it?” He replied, “It’s personal lubricant and massage oil. Just try it out tonight and see what happens.”
I was shocked. What right does a young man have to speak to a woman this way? What right does any man have to speak like this to anyone but his wife? If that guy had spoken to my wife like that he and I would have had words! There is something wrong with our society that we all this type of thing to happen.
Alright, I think I have finished my rant. I am going to watch the Canadian women’s hockey team take on the Italians. I believe last time they played Canada won 30-0. They are expecting this to be a romp. The Italian coach says that the team’s goal is to keep it within 20!
Speaking of the Olympics, I was unfortunate enough to watch some of the opening ceremonies last night. What a ridiculous spectacle. I’ve got to say, if you think it’s bad hearing Yoko Ono sing, you’d better hope that you never have to hear her speak. She read some type of a speech that sounded like it was written by a grade schooler. Anyways, I was interested to hear the vow the athletes take. They vow to play fair “for the glory of sport.” Maybe those people have a case who say that professional sports in general, and the Olympics in particular, are little more than idolatry.
Enjoy the rest of your Saturday and I hope and pray you will enjoy a blessed Lord’s Day tomorrow.
Comments (15) »
1. Tim Challies
February 11, 2006
2:39 PM
Less than two minutes into the game and it’s 2-0 Canada. This is going to be a laugher.
2. Ken Fields
February 11, 2006
4:28 PM
How about the rendition of John Lennon’s Imagine performed as a part of the opening ceremonies (with everyone holding hands and swaying as one)??
Imagine there’s no heaven, It’s easy if you try, No hell below us, Above us only sky, Imagine all the people living for today…
Imagine there’s no countries, It isnt hard to do, Nothing to kill or die for, No religion too, Imagine all the people living life in peace…
Imagine no possesions, I wonder if you can, No need for greed or hunger, A brotherhood of man, Imagine all the people Sharing all the world…
You may say Im a dreamer, but I’m not the only one, I hope some day you’ll join us, And the world will live as one.
Unbelievable. Think about it…imagine there’s no countries…there would be no olympics. Too bad Mr. Lennon didn’t think there was anything to die for…which proves he had nothing to live for. And no heaven and hell…I imagine he’s convinced otherwise now!
These are the words of hopeless humanity. “I Can Only Imagine” would’ve been a much better choice. But, as you said Tim, these opening ceremonies were a colossal waste of time and money!
3. Pastor Phillip M. Way
February 11, 2006
4:37 PM
I always miss the opening ceremonies - they are just stupid.
Of course, while the Games can be exciting it seems that each time they roll back around we have several weeks worth of a revivial meeting glorifying the religion of secular humanism. This, after all, is our highest acheivements as human beings!
Men and Women are gods among us! Worship at their feat…..
(yes, I meant to say feat. It is a play on words. Get it?)
~pw
4. Tim
February 11, 2006
4:54 PM
Wow, I thought I could be cynical.
2 and 1 massage oil sounds really good to me right now. I’ld like to rub some on the base of my neck and around my shoulder blade. The old arthritis is biting. I think the sexual innuendoes from the commercial have given you the wrong impression.
As to the Olympics, I was just watching the Nordic cross country and saw that an American isn’t up to form because of a stomach virus. God doesn’t need thunder and lightening to demonstrate his Sovereignty, sometimes a little diarrhea does the trick.
5. Tim Challies
February 11, 2006
5:15 PM
“I think the sexual innuendoes from the commercial have given you the wrong impression.”
Right. It’s only for massages. Uh huh.
And hey, I’m not saying there’s anything wrong with it. I just don’t know that it’s entirely appropriate for teenage guys to be handing it out, along with suggestive comments, to women old enough to be their mothers.
6. david
February 11, 2006
6:26 PM
OK, I’m going to be really blunt about this. Any public reference to “personal lubricants” is lewd. “Free speech” does not include the right to accost shoppers and talk dirty to them. If that had been my wife, I would have had words for that impertinant boy, his employer, and the mall management.
Someone is probably thinking, “O, he thinks sex is dirty!” Don’t even start with that. That is not the subject here. The subject is who has a right to talk about sex to whom. Coming from a kid in the mall, it’ dirty. His parents should have taught him better, and his employer should be held libel for his assault on passing shoppers.
7. Leslie
February 11, 2006
7:39 PM
David,
I agree with you about such conduct being lewd…in our opinion. Obviously, the young man wouldn’t agree. He was doing a job as instructed by, likely, an older man or woman probably the same age as his mother and the woman he spoke to today. I agree that the issue is not about conjugal sex, but societal etiquette. How I long for the days of the 50s when such things made us all embarrassed and when someone’s else “discomforture” (a Victorian word) was more important that one’s own agenda. Now, nothing is off limits and as a result, nothing is sacred. Nothing causes us shame any longer, it seems. I would be offended if a young man said that to me and I too would complain to the manufacturer and the mall administration. Vendors of such products need to know that overt solicitations to the general public in that way, is unacceptable. On the other hand, perhaps that could be a great opportunity to witness and speak about God’s holy ordinance of marriage and the sacredness of eros within it.
8. david
February 11, 2006
8:04 PM
Leslie, You’re right about this being a good opportunity to represent God’s view of the matter. It would be a shame to only confront the personal offense involved without going to the root of why it is an offense. I don’t think this is lewd only in my opinion. It is objectively lewd, regardless of societal standards. I would want them to know why.
9. Tim
February 11, 2006
8:52 PM
I guess I just don’t get it. I don’t think of the term “personal lubricant” as being something lewd or offensive. I guess it’s because I never associated it with sex. I wouldn’t even consider placing a chemically induced heating agent on a sensitive area of skin. I wouldn’t use Ben-Gay or Icy-Hot either.
When you’re 49 years old and you spend several hours a day out in 30 degree weather throwing chains and straps and tarps….bending and lifting…. it’s nice to lubricate those knees and elbows and shoulders with something warm and soothing that penetrates into the joints.
What are you young people into? I’m embarrased by your suggestions! ;)
10. Joe
February 11, 2006
9:07 PM
I gave up on the opening ceremonies long ago. They have been, are, and I guess will be, pretentious and sophomoric.
11. david
February 11, 2006
9:25 PM
Tim (Jabbok), Your innocence is refreshing, even if I don’t believe it. By the way, the scenario you suggested actually happened to me (it was neither sexual or self-inflicted, in case you’re wondering). Twenty-five years later, I can laugh at it, but it wasn’t so funny then!
12. Leslie
February 11, 2006
9:43 PM
Tim (Jabbok)
I second David’s point that your innocence is refreshing. May you always be thus.
At all costs my friend, avoid doing a google search for “personal lubricant” :)
Cheers!
13. Steve Camp
February 11, 2006
10:47 PM
What did I miss? What’s all this talk about oil?
“Imagine” is the quintessential postmodern theme from the poet-laureate of the ‘60’s and ‘70’s, isn’t it? It is the hollow cry of the vacuous soul that has run out of options for peace/rest/meaning and is “apisteo” - without faith.
Yoko can’t sing… John could.
As a Christian songwriter and communicator I have often tried to compose the counter to Lennon’s classic song. The Christian response has been voiced in piecemeal here and there throughout the years, but never in one song.
Maybe the Lord will give me the grace to “answer” the Troubadour’s quest for meaning in this life.
Anyway… Olympics—yeah baby bring it on.
1Cor. 9:24 ¶ Do you not know that the runners in a stadium all race, but only one receives the prize? Run in such a way that you may win. 1Cor. 9:25 Now everyone who competes exercises self-control in everything. However, they do it to receive a perishable crown, but we an imperishable one.
Grace and peace, Campi 1 Cor. 9:24ff
14. Paul Oyler
February 12, 2006
1:25 AM
I missed the U.S. hockey game, but I did catch the end of the Canada game (exhibition). I admit I don’t follow hockey like I used to, and women’s hockey not at all, except for the Olympics. But I couldn’t help but notice how many of the ladies on the Canada team had last names that I remember from when I used to follow the NHL closely (late 60’s to late 70’s); names like Goyette and Apps especially stuck out to me. I can’t help but wonder if some (many?) of these women are the daughters of guys I used to watch skate in the NHL ‘back when’?
15. Allan
February 12, 2006
4:44 AM
Tim said: ‘What right does any man have to speak like this to anyone but his wife?’
Ravi Zacharias’ books and video lectures etc., are very good at showing how we got from where we were 50 years ago to here. One of the last stages in a society is ‘The Loss of Shame.’
I remember back when the vile ‘Victorian’ sin of doing something wrong, and covering it up, was being pilloried by the ‘liberated’. Well at LEAST they were ASHAMED!
There’s a scripture in the prophets that talks about Israel or Judah sinning, and not even BLUSHING about it.
The FINAL stage according to the prophets is when a society calls GOOD evil, and EVIL good.
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