This Time Mattel is not Swell

“You can tell it’s Mattel, it’s swell.”  I grew up hearing that refrain.  To this day Mattel continues to be one of the leading manufacturers of toys.  Mattel has brought us Hot Wheels and Polly Pockets.  Their brands include American Girl, Thomas and Friends, Masters of the Universe and WWE.   Next to Lego, they are largest toymaker in terms of revenue in the world.  One of Mattel’s most successful toys continues to be Barbie, and, of course, her companion Ken.  Barbie and Ken have stayed relevant because they always change with the times.

Now Barbie and Ken have competition in a new line of dolls from Mattel.  The toy makers just introduced their first gender-neutral doll.  The Creatable World doll will be in stores for this Christmas.  The toy looks like a typical slender seven year old with short hair, but comes with a blonde wig featuring lustrous locks.  The wardrobe includes hoodies, graphic T-shirts, camo pants and sneakers.  Mattel is using the slogan “A doll line designed to keep labels out and invite everyone in.”

We probably should have seen this coming.  Target eliminated gender-specific sections in 2015, meaning dolls and Legos might be found in the same aisle.  Disney Stores banished “boy” and “girl” labels on children’s costumes allowing boys to be Belle and girls to be Captain America.  Mattel did away with boy and girl division last year.  This is another attempt to market to millennial parents.  2017 a Pew Research survey determined that 64% endorsed steering boys toward toy and activities associated with girls.  For comparison, 76% of parents supported steering girls toward boy’s toys and activities. 

There is a lot that troubles me in Mattel’s decision.  It starts with the name of the new toy, Creatable World.  The Bible makes it clear God created us “male” and “female.”  Our sexual identity is not our choice.  Additionally, unlike traditional toys like puzzles and firetrucks, these dolls allow children to project their own individuality and self-image on their doll, in effect choosing their identity.

 

While all these changes make us uncomfortable, it does not change who we are a disciples of Christ.  Our calling is to be Jesus in a contemporary world and to love people for who they are, not who we want them to be. 

Sad News about the News

I have always been a newspaper guy.  Growing up in Detroit we had two newspapers delivered to the house.  The Detroit Free Press came in the morning and The Detroit News in the afternoon.  The sports section was always my favorite because is contained the latest news on my favorite team, The Detroit Tigers.  I would review the box score every morning and then scan the box scores for all the other games.  Joe Falls was my favorite sports writer because he covered the Tigers, always with a touch of humor which helps if you are a Tiger fan. Strange as it sounds, my second favorite was the business section.  I was really into cars and since we lived in the “Motor City” it seemed like there was something new every day.  Fall was especially exciting as all the new models were previewed. 

I got to be part of the newspaper business while in high school.  I was a carrier for the Detroit Free Press.  That meant I was up at 5:00 AM every morning.  I often delivered over 150 papers and I had to have my route completed by 6:45 AM so I could catch the bus to school.  My guess is that half the homes on my route got the paper.  I took my responsibility seriously, because I knew some of my customers wanted their paper before they left for work. 

We have always subscribed to the paper, no matter where we life.  The Southeast Missourian when we lived in Cape Girardeau, the Chicago Tribune and Elgin Courier when we lived in Chicago and now the Dallas Morning News.  In addition to reading the daily paper I stop by the library once a week to read the USA Today and New York Times.  I know I could read some of those online but I like the feel of the paper in my hand and nothing tops reading the sport section with my morning coffee.

Barb and I are some of the few folks in our neighborhood that still get the daily paper.  A recent report for Pew Research confirmed what I already knew; the daily paper is dying.  Less than 10% of Millennials read a local newspaper daily.  Even among those over the age of 65 less than a third pay to subscribe to a local newspaper.  When I shared my concern with my son-in-law, John Seale, he reminded me that historically people got their news socially.  John is very well informed but I know he does not read a newspaper or watch the evening news.  He gets his news online or hears it from  friends.  It got to thinking about biblical times.  The local news was shared around the town well or at the local temple.  Maybe that was just another form of “social media.” 

Lessons Learned from Surgery

I have been on a journey over the last six weeks.  I have been very fortunate that at age seventy-three I had pretty much avoided major surgery.  Arthritis had taken its toll on my right hip and I was in constant pain.  Lip replacement surgery was my only option.  I managed to put the surgery off until after the national youth gathering and a family vacation but after a summer of activity, I was ready.   The experience has taught me some lessons.

Preparation:  I had to attend a class to prepare me for surgery.  I cannot stress enough how helpful it was.  While nothing could have fully equipped me for the challenge of the first few days, I understood what was happening and why.  It also helped to know what I would need to function once I was home.  We had all the items lined up, including the walker, shower chair and my trusty “grabber.”  I even have special laces so I could put on my shoes without tying them.

Patience: It takes time to heal and regain your mobility.  I also learned to be patient with other people.  The hospital staff and physical therapist were helpful but they are also busy people.  I learned to wait and appreciate them when I had them.  I am starting to function again but still am only at about 80%. I just need to be patient and follow my routine.

Discipline: Some of the therapy seemed senseless, while others was challenging and caused discomfort.  There was a reason for each exercise.  I had to follow the discipline of doing each exercise at least twice a day.  I also had to track my steps and force myself to walk each day. 

Family and Friends: I could not have done this without the support of those around me.  Our kids and grand kids all pitched in to get the house set up for when I got home.  Barb was a constant companion, meeting even my most basic needs.  She was a continual encourager.  My friend Dave pitched in by not only coming by to visit but getting me to my follow-up with the doctor.  Another friend, Gary, stopped by on a weekly basis to not only chat but do a Bible study with me. 

God’s presence: I was constantly aware of God’s love and presence.  Probably my most difficult time was at night.  The surgery required that I sleep on my back.  That is not normal for me.  In addition, my back hurt and the medication I was on cause me to hallucinate.  My sleep was constantly interrupted.  In the midst of that I could hear God’s voice.  Night after night he would place the right songs or scripture verses in my head to comfort and reassure me.

A Pronounced Change

I am a Thomas. I am the son of a Thomas, who was the son of a Thomas. It caused a dilemma when our first son was born.  Growing up I was known as Tommy.  I was determined my son would not go through his grade school years bearing that name.  The solution: both of our sons have Thomas as their middle name.  We also gave our children names that intentionally could not be shortened.  Katie is Katie, not Kathryn.  I guess there are some folks who call our oldest son Pete, but no one in the family would think of that.  I try to be respectful of other people’s names.  I want to make sure it is pronounced correctly.  I my case, there is another reason.  Thomas is my “Jesus” name.  It was the name given me at Baptism.  It is what Jesus will call me when we finally meet face to face.

I know there are times people use a pronoun in referencing me.  He (Tom) did this or I heard him (Tom) say that.  I did spend a couple of years teaching grammar, so I know that in certain instances it is okay to use a pronoun.  There are gender appropriate pronouns, “he” and “She” as an example.  There also gender-neutral pronouns like “they” and “them.”  Traditionally gender-neutral pronouns were plural, referencing more than one individual.

 

Now I understand there is a change in the wind.  According to a new Pew Research survey, about one-in-five (18%) U.S. adults know someone who uses gender-neutral pronoun.  Granted, over four in ten (42%) do not know someone and another 39% are clueless, having heard nothing at all about gender neutral pronouns.  Not surprisingly, the use of gender-neutral pronouns is most common among young adults age 18-29.  Seventy-three percent (73%) of young adults have heard “a lot” (36%) or “a little” (37%) about people using gender-neutral pronouns.  The awareness of gender-neutral pronouns greatly diminishes by age with only a little more than one in ten (11%) hearing “a lot” and 35% a little about gender-neutral pronouns. 

I guess I could have anticipated this change.  Our moral compass has gradually changed directions over the last two decades.  In the minds of some the lines between male and female have become blurred.  Still, it does not change my perspective as a Christian.  God is still the creator and the one who sustains of all things.  He created us male and female.  He is the one who wants to call us by our name.  The Trinity might be three distinct persons but He is still King of Kings and Lord of Lords. 

Pro Life and Pro Jesus

I have always been Pro-Life.  I was in my early years in youth ministry in 1973 when Roe vs. Wade made abortions legal, forever changing our cultural landscape.  Even back then I tried to stay current in terms of helping teens grapple with the issues to the day.  The abortion issue was no different.  We had a Sunday morning youth Bible class that was taught by a young couple.  We also had a Monday night youth forum.  On that evening I would lead a discussion on a current topic.  Our discussion on the abortion issue surprised me.  We were a very conservative church that reflected the middle class suburb where we were located. I knew which side of the issue most the members, including the parents, were on.  But there was a very vocal minority within the group.  Those teens could think of a variety of scenarios where abortion might be a good choice, if not the only option. 

I reflected on those nights of heated discussion as I read the latest data on the issue of abortion published by Pew Research.  To put it bluntly; we are a divided nation.  Unfortunately, those of us who are Pro-Life are in a dwindling minority.  Support to keep abortion legal in all/most cases is at an all-time high 61%.  When Pew Research first started tracking public opinion on the issue in 1995 a similar 60% favored legal abortion.  Sometime around 2007-2008 public opinion was split almost 50%/50%.  Since then the support to keep abortion legal has grown.  When it comes to “completely overturning Roe vs. Wade” opposition has never been higher.  Seventy percent (70%) of Americans say “No do not overturn,” up from 60% in 1992.  If you think that support to keep abortions legal is driven by Millennials who tend to take a more moderate stance on oral issues, you might be surprised.   Fifty-five percent (55%) of older adults (65+) favor keeping abortion legal. 

I can report that our youth group survived the abortion debate in the 70’s.  There were times when the discussion got heated, as many kids mirrored the opinion of their parents.  I usually tried to listen and make sure both sides heard each other.  That continued to be my approach as I counseled teens both as a youth leader and school counselor.  I still maintain that is the best course when we encounter those who disagree with us on all social or moral issues.  I listen, and when I do “speak the truth” I make sure it is done with love.  I want people to see Jesus in me. 

“God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but in order that the world might be saved through Him.”  (John 3:17 ESV)

Smartphones and Our Culture

Smartphones have become a part of our culture.  No generation has been impacted more than Gen Z’s, those born since 1995.  That year is considered a generational marker since that is when the internet became available to everyone.  Gen Z’s are also the first generation to have grown up with the smartphone.  The first i-phone was introduced in 2007, right about the time when Gen Z the first Gen Z’s were in middle school. While it is doubtful every middle school student had a smartphone back then, like they do today, you get the picture.  Today’s teens and young adults have pretty much grown up with a cell phone in their hand.

Pew Research recently released the latest data on smartphone and today’s teens. It is estimated that 95% of high school teens have a personal cellphone.  The survey identified the way those 13-17 year olds use their phones.  A vast majority of cellphone-using teens say their phone is just a way to pass time, with 90% saying they use the phone that way.  A similar large percentage (84%) report they use their phones to connect with other people or to learn new things (83%).  It is not all positive, however.

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Cell phone use is often a “bone of contention” when it comes to teens and the adults in their lives.  There is an ongoing tension when it comes to cell phone use.  Some parents have made their homes cell phone-free zones, while others restrict their usage to certain times; no phones allowed at meal time or during the evening study time.  It is not uncommon for a teen to sleep with their phone next to them, and for them to check their phones during the night. 

As I thought about this I came to the realization that this tension is really nothing new.  During my high school years our home had one telephone line.  When we moved to a new house prior to my junior year my parents decided I needed my own bedroom equipped with an extension phone.  I suspect they probably sometimes regretted that, considering the tension it created: “How can you spend all day at school with them and then come home and talk for hours at night?” I recall my mother saying. 

There was another disturbing trend that came out of the Pew Research study.  Many teens (43%) admit to using their cellphone to avoid social contact.  While a smartphone is a great way to connect with people, it is also a way to avoid “face to face” interaction.  Avoiding social interaction was much more common among girls (54%), than boys (31%).  A sad reality is that while many teenage girls want to accumulate a long list of friends on social media they often avoid the intimate relationships that can truly be long-term and life-changing.

Reflections on El Paso

It was almost ten years ago that I came back from a mission trip with a challenge that God had put on my heart.  I had spent five days in the town of Booneville, Arkansas.  One of the local pastors asked us to spend time walking the streets of that economically challenged community praying for the town and its people.  I came back determined to prayer-walk our entire city of 25,000.  It took me about eight months but I accomplished my goal.  I met some interesting people and came away captivated by the diversity of Farmers Branch, Texas.  There is one impression that remains with me to this day.

Some nights I would walk blocks past manicured lawns and fine homes.  On those evenings the only sounds were an occasional mower or the whirring of a sprinkler head.  Other evenings I passed homes where neighbors were on the porches or standing in their driveways.  On those evenings I often struggled to walk a few blocks before the sun started to set.  People were curious.  They wanted to engage in conversation.  My only regret was my Spanish was limited to a few words.  Most of the time, I had to rely on someone to be my translator.  My conclusion: Anglos are content spending their evening inside the comfort of their homes, while Hispanics enjoy a sense of community.  In the Hispanic neighborhoods, families were often eating outside, sharing food and fellowship with their neighbors.  Neighbors were helping each other with projects, like putting new brakes on a truck or making repairs on their homes. 

I thought of my experience last week as I watched the residents of El Paso, Texas mourn together after the tragic events in their town.  My only time in El Paso was spent in the airport making a connection on Southwest Airlines.  I have spent extended time in other border towns.  I have been on mission trips to McAllen, Brownsville and Del Rio.  On my trips into interior Mexico our passage point was always Laredo, Texas.  The impression stays with me.  There is a real sense of community in each of those cities.  People want to engage in conversation.  They want to extend hospitality and are ready to help in any way possible.  They also know how to cook and their entire celebrations center around food and friends.  They also watch out for and protect each other.  If there is crime, it usually comes from outside the neighborhood. 

In the most recent case, the people of El Paso also know how to grieve together.  The population of El Paso might surpass 650,000 but in actuality it is a community of neighborhoods.  People work and worship together.  They support and watch out for each other.  While I sensed a lot of grief, I did not hear a lot of anger.  I heard little discussion about gun control, rather the focus was on healing and sending a message that “we will get through this together.” 

“In this world, you will have trouble. 

But take heart, I have overcome the world.” (John 16:33)

While politicians and lobbyist argue about gun control and security from domestic violence, I believe God has called us to be people of hope in a broken and hurting world.