It gives me so much pleasure to mute commercials on TV. As soon as a commercial airs on the radio in my truck, I switch the channel right away. I can’t stand commercials. Those speed talkers at the end of radio car dealership commercials drive me nuts. And, who wants a 3 minute break every 10 minutes during a football game? I remember the retired Cleveland Brown player, Joe Thomas, once being asked what he didn’t like about football and his answer was, “TV timeouts.” Our consumer-driven culture is on full display in the advertising industry.
The ones that drive me the most crazy? Drug commercials. Those things are 10 seconds of what the drug is supposed to do for you, and then 50 seconds of all the possible side effects. I mean, who really goes to their doctor and actually asks for the drug that might cause you to bleed from your eyes, lose all your hair, solidify your liver, cause your toenails to fall off and make you incontinent? “Hey Doc, could you hook me up with THAT? Sounds like fun…
Commercials. That is why Netflix, Amazon Prime and Hulu are becoming so popular because 25% of every TV show and movie duration on cable is for commercials, and those program carriers don’t air commercials. I LOVE Netflix. Of course, we all understand the reason behind the commercial is to get us to buy whatever is being pushed. A better cell phone plan… cheaper car insurance… and a better truck — those were just the commercials on in the last TV timeout on Thursday Night Football that I am watching as I write this pondering.
Wouldn’t it be something if the Church was as diligent with its message to the world as Progressive is with theirs? I mean the intention behind every commercial is to get us to believe that whatever is being advertised is the best truck, insurance, home improvement store, soft drink or lawn mower that is available on the market.
And what does the Church have to offer? The best news ever heard — New Life in Jesus Christ! Sins forgiven! Freedom discovered! Heaven promised! “Lord, may Your Church become more vocal in sharing the Gospel message… more obvious in the action of doing the Gospel… and more passionate in making Jesus known everywhere!” Because the reality is… a relationship with Jesus doesn’t have any negative side-effects… just “A rich and satisfying life, A better life than you have ever dreamed of.” John 10:10 The Message
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