The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Internet Safety for the kids posted on July 31, 2009
Parents, you know in famliy life there are standard safety practices that all parents teach their children: look before you cross the street, don’t eat yellow snow, never give mommy’s credit card number to anyone while you are online!
Internet safety is something fairly new to the landscape of keeping our children safe 
and there are certain skills and best practices to consider for the generation of digital natives.
The primary rule is that media is social - the computer is best located in a room of the home where the parents can walk by, monitor casually and check in when needed as the children are online. And a few other tips that pretty much go for all kids: chat rooms - no. Anything that pretends you are a lonely, 20-something person - no. Sharing information that tells where you live and what your phone number is - no. Teaching the children how to make good choices - yes.
A parent of faith might consider placing the Bible or charter documents of your faith tradition in a place at least as prominent as the computer in the home. All different tools for life can help to make things better. It is also a reminder of the life you are grounded in and digital communication can help express that life - not define it.
With healthy media habits developing from childhood, prayers and respect for your faith tradition, your child will learn how to faithfully use the computer and the Internet. They will develop an expectation of compassion by remembering where their hearts are rooted. When challenges occur, even challenges that come online, they will have the tools and strength to cope. For example, will the faithful child be better able to talk to you about the cyber-bullies s/he encounters online? What about the faithful child making good choices - if s/he is grounded in the faithful disciplines that prayer, worship and faith formation have nurtured in the love of your family life together?
We know that digital communication is here to stay, so here is an article from researchers at UC Berkley who found that teens can benefit from Internet usage. Thinking and processing and a host of other benefits surfaced in this study, which is a good thing. Your child is a blessed person, let them bring those blessings to the Internet!
Music
If you would like to talk about communication with the children - listen for, Rainbow in My Heart, from my CD of the same name, that supports emotional literacy - say your feelings with the children so they can learn to identify what the feeling are! It’s all good in the land of communications 101.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Violence, Media and Faith posted on July 29, 2009
Violence is everywhere it seems, depending on how you define violence. I think of violence as that which is intended to harm.
I know the children are exposed to violence everyday in media consumption, between hearing the news on TV, song lyrics that speak and sing it as an expression of response to life, movies that glorify it so we will buy a ticket and popcorn, bullies on the Internet. Things are modeled in response to life, and violence is one of those responses. However, parents regularly tell me they are interested in developing a non-violent response to life in their families. So, how can we do that when violence bursts into our lives and leaves us with the need for a response?
As a parent who submits to a life of faith and the desire to pass that faith to the children you love, how do you personally respond to violence? 
Have you considered that the journey begins with forming an intentional action plan when violence intrudes, or threatens to intrude? Is it possible that your attitude toward violence and your behavior may be shaping how your children perceive violence in their lives?
Rev. Otis Moss III, Trinity United Church of Chris, shares a short video on the Faithstreams Communities Network that I think helps embrace a faithful, non-violent perspective; he suggests it begins with a disciplined and prayerful approach to the universal value called, self control. See what you think of how Rev. Moss invites peaceful, non-violent living. Give this video a look.
Music:
On CGR we support non-violent music that offers ways to approach life and faith, with hope and love. As you are listening to the CGR music stream right now, you are making an intentional choice to stand in resistance to violence in music. For a couple of specific suggestions listen for: Hillsong Kids sing, One Way - in trouble times I put it all to You, that’s all I need. This song could spark a conversation with the children that they can ask for God’s help when they need it, like in prayer as you talk about resistance to the urges for violence. Bread for the Journey sings, Guide My Feet - asking for the guidance that walks in the way of the holy.
There are many ways to respond to violence in the world and having conversation and prayer with our children is a very good beginning.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Parents, is Media a Tool for Communication? posted on July 28, 2009
I like media and the messages it has the potential to relate. There are millions of good-hearted folks sharing their good hearted messages all over the Internet. There are also those who have built profitable businesses creating media that consumers will pay for; television, movies, and music are part of this big business that we use everyday.
It it my prayer that we recognize how this tool called media transmits messages we are not always aware are being transmitted and make choices that help shape how we find meaning in life. If we act out of the sense of values that we have learned through our faith formation we are acting out of our faith while living in popular culture. We can bring our faith to our daily choices in western culture regarding media. With or without faith as the compass, the ability to make choices regarding the media we consume because of the messages shared through media is called, media literacy.
When the actors used in a TV commercial to sell some household cleaning product are generally female, perhaps with children around, ask yourself: Who is this ad appealing to so as to make a sale? The casting tells a lot, for example: how old is the woman, how old are the children, is the house (the TV set) in the city or suburbs, what is the race of the actors, how are the actors dressed etc. You rarely see some big man in the bathroom smiling to clean the toilet with some product, unless he is Mr. Clean and owns the company that saves the women from the dreary business of housework. Does this transmit a message to the children watching that only women clean the bathroom and men own the company? How many times would that message be taken in before it becomes an assumption? Lots of messages are transmitted that go beyond the initial layer of product, price, place to purchase.
On Common Good Radio, media literacy is part of what we do. We only play music that will contribute to the well-being of children through messages that are helpful, hopeful and prayerfully, uplifting. 
We desire to create the expectation that our music can answer a need families have about wanting commercial-free music, online. We do not accept advertising dollars because the ads do not always put the well-being of children first, it is not their job; their job is to sell something. This makes some sense for the adults who can make reasoned and informed choices, but young kids are not able to distinguish the various methods and techniques used to gain their attention to sell a product. We want CGR to be about the music and its positive messages so we are committed to remain commercial-free.
Jim Potteris an expert at discussing, writing about, teaching and sharing ideas about media literacy. He has published a number of books on the subject and through them makes media literacy understandable as a lifestyle when living in a media culture. Check out this quote from one of his recent books: Medial Literacy, 4th edition:
“If you are media literate and carefully monitor your exposures to make sure they are truly guided by your needs, and if you carefully search for those messages that best satisfy your needs, then you will be using media as a tool The media messages will be making your life substantially better.” p. 55.
Thanks, Dr. Potter! We agree.
How is the commercial free aspect of CGR working for you?
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Rev. Dr. Roland Martinson talks about spiritual leadership - from parents! posted on July 28, 2009
Check out Rev. Roland Martinson’s podcast this week all about parents as spiritual leaders and how empowering it can be! He gives a couple of simple tips that will help all parents who are living a life of faith in their families.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Love, It’s All In The Family posted on July 21, 2009
Love doesn’t make the world go round. Love is what makes the ride worthwhile.
Franklin P. Jones
Love is the best. Isn’t love felt, sought out, dreamed of, sung over and lived into?
I imagine you are in love with your family, and you want to keep helping it be better and better? CGR supports this love!
Family love is one of the best things in life, praise God. 
This week on our Faith Parenting Podcast, child and family ministry professor, Rev. Dr. Roland Martinson, from Luther Seminary helps us claim and celebrate some of that love in our family. He has wonderful insight and will be a breath of fresh air for your heart in your parenting.
Music
For love family style on CGR, listen for: What a Wonderful World, sung by Louis Armstrong, I Love You, Robin Blair, Shower The People, by James Taylor and Love Rescue Me from Playing For Change. There are so many more that I hope you will speak your love to your kids when you hear the songs here on CGR.
Love can be clear and ringing with joy in our presence; love can also hide itself in little corners of our homes, under the mess of toys on the floor, between rumpled bed sheets with teddy bears and sleepy songs, and alongside the hot cereal on the table in the morning. Sometimes it sticks in our throats when we are angry and frustrated, but it is still there. Where ever it shows up, love it back with your heart. God smiles when you do.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Movie Ratings and Harry Potter posted on July 17, 2009
I just want to say that after seeing the new Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, last evening, I am stunned at the movie rating of PG. The notion of a rating is to alert parents to violence, sexualized story lines, drug use and other adult-oriented visuals via cinematic transmission. Parents need to know that they really need to see this movie before taking the young children. Please see the ratings systems at the website for the Motion Picture Association of America, to read how they do what they do.
I went to a drive in for the feature; this is very much a family event as a summer evening’s entertainment. I did not speak with parents of the two, three, four, five, six, seven (you get the idea) year old children I saw with their adults waiting for the film to begin. I would imagine that most of the parents might say the kids will be sleeping by the time the movie was to begin - the film did not start until 9 PM, after the previews and commercials.
Nor can I imagine the kids would have any interest in the film - it is dark, the characters rarely release from the tension of the Lord Voldemort’s return (assuming you know some of the story) and just smile.
This is not a movie review, but as a ministry regarding kids and media, I offer a quick alert about the film and if you were thinking of taking your kids under the age of 12, please consider seeing it your self to think about whether you want to put the younger children in front of the complex imagery, story line, and violence.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Social Justice Sings posted on July 9, 2009
Music for social justice on Internet radio!
The idea is not new; music for change, social justice, equality, mercy and hope has been expressed musically since people had feelings they turned into rhythm and melody with voices and what ever else was around to tap out a beat on. Perhaps you are a Pete Seeger fan, or sang along with Peter Paul and Mary, Joan Baez or Buffy Sainte-Marie in the 1960’s. Bernice Johnson Reagon in the 1970’s wtih civil rights for all people, Michael Jackson in the 1980’s with We Are The World and many others before and after.
I hope music has helped you find your voice for faith and justice through the years; now it might help your children.
Music
Some of the newest tunes include voices and instruments from all over the planet 
from: Playing For Change, Keb Mo singing about being a Better Man, lots of folks singing on Stand By Me, and Love Rescue Me with a choir of youth in Northern Ireland to help the generations of Protestants and Catholics make music, not destruction. We hope you like it because it sure seems like a really good idea.
Send us your suggestions of tunes you would like your kids to hear on CGR, we will do our best to always play them. Thanks to Sue, mother and grandmother, who sent in the Playing For Change, suggestion.
Blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Funerals on TV posted on July 8, 2009
Loss is difficult for adults, teens, and children. Paris Jackson showed us a display of bravery when, surrounded by her brothers, aunts and uncles, she said goodbye to her father, Michael Jackson, in front of the people gathered at the Staples Center in Los Angeles yesterday, July 7, 2009, and for the television cameras.
If you have had the television on for the last 24 hours you may have seen clips and bits of the televised memorial of Michael Jackson, the singers, speakers, family members and mostly, Paris Jackson. She said, ‘Daddy was the best father’, that she loved him so much, and she cried. Her grief was shared at that moment through the media to millions of people and has been replayed over and over. I hope the family will be able to grieve the loss of their loved one without the world dissecting every possible feeling or thought they might be having and hounding them over it, because unless the family actually speaks, we will not know what they are thinking and feeling. It is not ours to know, it is a family matter. Maybe you could lift them up in prayer and turn to your children. Hug them a lot.
If your children have seen this video clip, they might be prompted to ask you questions about death, life after death, funerals and what you believe happens to people when they die. Young Paris Jackson expressing ever so bravely her emotions at the loss of her beloved father, make this televised experience more real for children, because she is a kid, like them. Kids have big feelings and can be brave. They might relate to her through her loss, grief and love for her parent.
Are you ready to explain what you believe happens when death over takes this physical body and life as we know it is over? You might want to be ready to have that conversation with the children you love and care for, as you pray for the Jackson family in their loss. Each faith tradition has a different way of speaking to the issue of life after death, I pray you will be able to find words for your belief in faith.
Music
On CGR we play some songs that might help the conversation: Grandma God, is a song I wrote for a 10-year-old boy who lost his beloved Grandmother. As he was talking about how he missed her, it sounded like a song to me. Maybe it will help you with your kids if there has been loss. Songs of your faith tradition that give you comfort that we play depending on your tradition include, Amazing Grace, Blessed Be the Name of the Lord, God is in Control, Sing When the Spirit Says Sing. I offer these because they promise that God knows, everything. I tell kids that when they are sad, God weeps, too. God knows what they are going through and can bring comfort through prayer. What other songs should we play that will help this dialogue?
Regarding the high profile memorial for Michael Jackson, we have added his song, Black or White, to the music programming hoping that the good messages of eliminating racism might help to share what good things people can do in this lifetime to make things better.
Hope it helps, send in your suggestions for tunes, it helps!
Blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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The Fourth of July posted on July 4, 2009
I have been reading my American history over the past several months and paying attention to what went on in the complicated world of people who lived on this American continent before the Europeans got here, the Europeans, the settlers and the Africans that were brought here as slaves. It is a gritty picture and deserves our prayer and contemplation. Where are the songs that tell stories from all voices?
About one year ago jazz singer, Renee Marie, 
used her beautiful voice to sing at the gathering of officials at the Denver State of the City address. Ms. Marie was invited to sing the national anthem 
as traditional for the event. The Star-Spangled Banner was written by Frances Scott Key, who was born into a family of slave owners. Ms. Marie did not feel that these song lyrics spoke to her life experience and what she considered to be representative of freedom and patriotism. So, she did not sing the song that folks were expecting to hear.
She sang the words of the song, Lift Every Voice and Sing, written in 1899 by James Weldon Johnson, also known as the Black National Anthem, with the familiar melody of Star Spangled Banner. Listen to Renee Marie, here.
There was controversy in the event on a national media scale. I was wondering what you think of the idea that music brings us closer to our feelings, expresses our patriotism, faith and social justice concern? Would you have used an opportunity like this, as Ms. Marie did, to express social justice through music?
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
