"Do it Again" --Songs and Scriptures Series

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--from my journal:
I thought surely by now I wouldn't be dealing with basically the same or related injuries from February, wouldn't be staying up so late, not getting enough or the right things to drink or eat, not moving past planning projects to actually doing them, etc, but I still have the same struggles. But every time God has never failed to bring me through the deepest pits. I keep waiting for my body to heal, but I know the main issues are in His hands. He's already won my salvation and eternity and planned out my life. Though there are many dark times, there is always a new morning and sunshine to look ahead to. God's word will stick to its promises. There will always be things I can sing about. He is always enough. I do not need health, money, school, sport, friends, family, anything. All I need is God's love. His promises to always be with me, always love me and care for me, provide, protect, give a hope and a future, save me a place in heaven, and more are still there and always will be. He is my confidence when the rest of the world fails (well, before the world fails!). He has never failed me. I've seen Him do things in my life that could not even be possible any other way. He's done it once and even again already. I can have full faith that He can work miracles again.

Do It Again by Elevation Worship

Walking around these walls

I thought by now they’d fall

But You have never failed me yet

Waiting for change to come

Knowing the battle’s won

For You have never failed me yet

…I know the night won’t last

Your word will come to pass

My heart will sing your praise again

Jesus You’re still enough

Keep me within Your love

My heart will sing Your praise again

…I’ve seen You move

You move the mountains

And I believe I’ll see You do it again

You made a way

When there was no way

And I believe I’ll see You do it again

Your promise still stands

Great is Your faithfulness, Your faithfulness

I’m still in Your hands

This is my confidence, You never fail

…This is my confidence, You’ve never failed me yet

What God's Word Says:

He is faithful

“Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today, and forever.” Hebrews 13:8

“We want each of you to show this same diligence to the very end, so that what you hope for may be fully realized.” Hebrews 6:11

“If we are faithless, He remains faithful…” 2 Timothy 2:13

“But the Lord is faithful, and He will strengthen you and protect you from the evil one. We have confidence…may the Lord direct your hearts into God’s love and Christ’s perseverance.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3-5

“Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; He is the faithful God, keeping His covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love Him and keep His commandments.” Deuteronomy 7:9

“No temptation has overtaken you except what is common to mankind. And God is faithful; He will not let you be temped beyond what you can bear. When you are tempted, He will provide a way out so that you can endure it.” 1 Corinthians 10:13

“Let us hold unswervingly to the hope we profess, for He who promised is faithful.” Hebrews 10:23

“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future. Then you will call on Me and come and pray to Me, and I will listen to you. You will seek Me and find Me when you seek Me with all your heart.” Jeremiah 29:11-13

“Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is Your faithfulness.” Lamentations 3:22-23

“Without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to Him must believe that He exists and that He rewards those who earnestly seek Him.” Hebrews 11:6

“The One who calls you is faithful, and He will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24

“Lord, You are my God; I will exalt You and praise Your name, for in perfect faithfulness You have done wonderful things, things planned long ago.” Isaiah 25:1

“And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose.” Romans 8:28

“Being confident of this, that He who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus.” Philippians 1:6

“Praise be to the Lord who has given rest to His people…just as He promised. Not one word has failed of all the good promises He gave through His servant Moses.” 1 Kings 8:56

“Proclaiming Your love in the morning and Your faithfulness at night.” Psalm 92:2

“The works of His hands are faithful and just; all His precepts are trustworthy. They are established forever and ever, enacted in faithfulness and uprightness.” Psalm 111:7-8

“Love never fails…” 1 Corinthians 13:8

“For no word from God will ever fail.” Luke 1:37

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Luke 21:33 and Matthew 24:35

“So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.” Isaiah 55:11

He will never leave us

“…God has said, ‘Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you.” Hebrews 13:5

“Heaven and earth will pass away, but My words will never pass away.” Matthew 24:35

“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.” Isaiah 43:2

“The Lord Himself goes before you and will be with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.” Deuteronomy 31:8

“My God will meet all your needs according to His glorious riches in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:19

“Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me.” Psalm 23:4

“The Lord is not slow in keeping His promise, as some understand slowness. Instead, He is patient with you…” 2 Peter 3:9

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

There will be good things to come from our trials if we hope and persevere

“Blessed is the one who perseveres under trial, because having stood the test, that person will receive the crown of life that the Lord has promised to those who love Him.” James 1:12

“The Lord is a refuge for the oppressed, a stronghold in times of trouble. Those who know Your name trust in You, for You, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek You.” Psalm 9:9-10

“Then they cried to the Lord in their trouble, and He saved them from their distress. He brought them out of darkness and broke away their chains. Let them give thanks to the Lord for His unfailing love and His wonderful deeds for mankind.” Psalm 107:13-15

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” Galatians 6:9

“You need to persevere so that when you have done the will of God, you will receive what He has promised.” Hebrews 10:36

“Consider it pure joy, my brothers and sisters, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance. Let perseverance finish its work so that you can be mature and complete, not lacking anything.” James 1:2-4

“We also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope.” Romans 5:3-4

“Why, my soul, are you downcast? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my savior and my God.” Psalm 42:5

“Heal me, Lord, and I will be healed; save me and I will be saved, for you are the one I praise.” Jeremiah 17:14

“Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.” Romans 12:12

He will make a way

“See, I am doing a new thing! Now it springs up; do you not perceive it? I am making a way in the wilderness and streams in the wasteland.” Isaiah 43:19

“I am the way, the truth, and the life. No one comes to the Father except through Me.” John 14:6

“’Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet My love for you will not be shaken, nor will my covenant of peace be removed’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” Isaiah 54:10

We will win in the end

“I called to the Lord, who is worthy of praise, and I have been saved from my enemies.” Psalm 18:3

“Do not be afraid of what you are about to suffer…be faithful, even to the point of death, and I will give you life as your victor’s crown.” Revelation 2:10

“The thief comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life and have it to the full.” John 10:10

“For His anger lasts only a moment, but His favor lasts a lifetime; weeping may stay for the night, but rejoicing comes in the morning.” Psalm 30:5

“For the Lord your God is the one who goes with you to fight for you against your enemies to give you victory.” Deuteronomy 20:4

“The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord.” Proverbs 21:31

“But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” 1 Corinthians 15:57

“I thank Christ Jesus our Lord, who has given me strength, that He considered me trustworthy, appointing me to His service.” 1 Timothy 1:12

Faith and confidence

“Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:16

“So do not throw away your confidence, for it will be richly rewarded.” Hebrews 10:35

“This is the confidence we have in approaching God: that if we ask anything according to His will, He hears us. And if we know that He hears us—whatever we ask—we know that we have what we have asked of Him.” 1 John 5:14-15

“So we say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?” Hebrews 13:6

“…if I have a faith that can move mountains but do not love, I am nothing.” 1 Corinthians 13:2

“’Have faith in God,’ Jesus answered. ‘Truly I tell you, if anyone says to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and does not doubt in their heart but believes that what they say will happen, it will be done for them. Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.” Mark 11:22-24

“He replied, ‘…Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there,’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.’” Matthew 17:20

“Truly I tell you, if you have faith and do not doubt…you can say to this mountain, ‘Go, throw yourself into the sea,’ and it will be done. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer.” Matthew 21:21

The Body Issue (ESPN Magazine Feature)

I am in a communications major class right now called Cross Cultural Communication, and each week we have a paper to write on a given subject. This week was a "cultural moment" which could be a huge variety of things! I chose ESPN's Body Issue magazine. I wanted to share my paper with you all because this was an assignment I found very interesting!

The Body Issue

            This title of an annual edition of ESPN magazine could be taken in two ways: one as in an issue of a magazine, the other as an enticing topic. People are self-conscious about their bodies and observant of those around them, much more now than in the past due to the increasing use of social media, societal standards, and comparison issues that so many people develop, especially women. Since 2009, ESPN has produced an issue of their magazine focusing on athletes from all varieties of sports’ bodies by using basically nude photos staged to look “attractive” and reflect their sport as well as each athlete’s confidence as a person.

            The first Body Issue was released on October 9, 2009, featuring three male and three female athletes posing on and off the field in their respective sports. They were either naked with their private body parts strategically covered or in minimal clothing. The magazine still contained the usual sports coverage, but also added another section of more athletes in their birthday suits. Many of the athletes who were asked to participate did so willingly, while some even reached out to ESPN hoping to be included. Different covers were sold, but the magazine featuring Serena Williams was the top seller. The reasoning behind this new feature for the ESPN magazine was an attempt to regain revenue after the financial crises of the previous years which had decreased their ad revenue by 24 percent. It was also intended to rival the highly popular Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue and showcase all body types. The outcome was a huge success, bringing in double sales. Ever since this year, they have continued to produce an annual Body Issue. Throughout the years, some of the most prominent athletes in their respective sports have participated including Dwight Howard (NBA), Lolo Jones (track), Shawn Johnson (Olympic gymnastics), Ryan Hall (Olympic marathon), Ron Gronkowski (NFL), Candace Parker (WNBA), and Emma Coburn (team USA running) among many others.

            These highly revealing photos of some of the most talented, respected, and/or looked up to athletes can be highly controversial. Though the private areas are covered, the photos reveal much more skin and body than is usually displayed, even in swimsuits. The pictures are intended to draw attention to their bodies, which can make both the athlete posing and those looking at it uncomfortable. Over the years, body image has become an increasingly touchy subject as eating disorders, self-harm, self-esteem, and the like have become a dark cloud behind the scenes of social media. Although the athletes who posed agreed to do so, this could still lead them to feel like they have to look a certain way, especially if millions of people are going to see almost every square inch of their body. From the perspective of the readers, they will see these athletes who are the most elite, ornamented, and successful at what they do, and think that that is the ideal way to look. The problem with that is that they are the most elite, ornamented, and successful in their field, and their lives revolve around their fitness and sport. This is a tiny percentage of the population, and they have these body types by very specific training by professionals. They are in this shape for seasons, but know they cannot maintain that forever. Bodies need a break, and these elites are elite; that’s what most people overlook. Seeing the Body Issue has potential to give people body issues.

            On the other hand, not all the athletes pictured are like those elite runners, swimmers, gymnasts, etc. who have super lean and thin frames. Other athletes such as some football and baseball players and wrestlers, etc. have larger body frames, which can be beneficial in what they do. These people who posed for the magazine embraced their bodies and showed off what they had along with those athletes of smaller size. It did not matter to them if they carried around a little extra weight; sometimes it even helped them with their success! They were proud of who they were and did not feel pressure to change to show themselves to the world. These people could be admired for their confidence in who they are rather than what they look like. This could be a great influence to others in the world who feel insecure in their bodies and like they need to change to be a success. Seeing the most successful athletes happy with their bodies the way they are can encourage people in the audience to feel confident in themselves, too.

            The most recent edition of The Body Issue (2016) brought NBC to do an interview with the athletes on how they felt about participating. These athletes shared things about their lives to be an encouragement to others. Dwayne Wade from the Chicago Bulls admitted that he has struggled with insecurity his whole life, especially about his outie belly button, until just recently. Antonio Brown from the Pittsburgh Steelers has always been small and judged for his size at his position of wide receiver, but uses this as greater motivation to work hard and stay healthy. Nzingha Prescod, an Olympic fencer, is self-conscious yet proud about her curves and muscles and wants to inspire other women to feel the same way (http://www.nbcnews.com/news/nbcblk/athletes-share-insecurities-inspiration-espn-body-issue-n605251).  In another interview, Wade also acknowledged that situations like this cause athletes and others in the world to experience more fear and insecurity from being judged by people (https://mic.com/articles/147977/espn-body-issue-2016-celebrates-all-athletic-body-types-here-are-the-photos#.N3TO0w7FQ). ESPN also posted a blog addressing some of the photos and videos that were released on their website from the Body Issue that were taken offensively and considered to have gone too far. People are supportive of the fact that ESPN is seeking to celebrate all forms of athletes’ bodies, but they are not okay with the amount of nudity that has come out to the public recently (http://www.espn.com/blog/ombudsman/post/_/id/723/espn-loosens-standards-with-treatment-of-body-issue-photos).

            Over the past year, especially coming to college and places where people are more open and honest, I have seen that there are many more people affected by body image, comparison, social media, communication, self-esteem, and so many more emotional and mental problems that can greatly hamper the enjoyment of life. Seeing so many things released on the internet, television, and print that would not be considered acceptable in previous years (and not easily accessible if they were there) has shown me just how fast society is changing and accepting more and more things that would have previously been rejected. All these things now brought to light can make people very uncomfortable and set unrealistic expectations for themselves and the world. Sometimes this greater exposure provides great encouragement to the people in the world who are not living the lives of fame, but I can also see the negative and disturbances that can come from any event that begins with a positive idea. As the body issue began as a way to promote ESPN and athletes of all varieties, it can also bring insecurity to those in and reading the magazine.