The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Youth Produce Movies posted on August 25, 2009
In an effort to reveal media for the fabulous communication tool it is, there is an organization that encourages youth to make movies to tell stories. By creating media, youth learn to read media (media literacy).
Reading media means one can find the messages behind the messages in an advertisement, movie, music video, song, print ad etc.
In this youth made movie, the Battle of Life and Death, students tell the story of how they feel about cigarette smoking. After years of the tobacco industry selling the public on the ‘coolness’, ‘pleasure’ or ‘fun’ factor of a smoker’s lifestyle, this movie is refreshing. What it with your children and ask them what they think. The movie is about 90 seconds long.
Music: Listen for messages of integrity and truth on Common Good Radio if you want to talk to your kids about important things like avoiding cigarette addiction through songs like the faith centered Lord of the Dance by Mark Lowry, William’s Doll by Alan Alda and Marlo Thomas, and Angels Watching Over Me by Robin Blair.
At Common Good Radio we believe it is important for children to use media to their benefit to communicate messages, also. We hope to lessen the violence in media directed toward children because we empower children to hear and see media that is other than violence presented to them (to gain their attention to sell them stuff). This is why you hear children and youth telling stories of how they experience honesty, goodness, patience, hope, joy etc., on our Internet radio station, and music that subscribes to the common good. If you have a child with something to say, send your MP3 to: (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) and we will do our best to get their voice on the programming.
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Common Good Radio Mobile! posted on August 24, 2009
Some of you may not be aware that you can take Common Good Radio with you in your car, on the go and pretty much where ever you may roam! Media is an amazing tool of communication and technology is bringing us more ways to communicate, everyday.
Please follow this link to find out how to take the 24/7 music, scripture and talk of Common Good Radio with you so you and the kids may enjoy what you are counting on at home!
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Media Literacy and Advertising posted on August 23, 2009
I wonder if you are aware of the influence of advertising on the children in your family? You know the children are exposed to thousands of ads per year through programming they watch on TV or online, hear on the radio and see in print. They also are exposed to the ads that adult programming embraces and see your responses to it. Important disclaimer: at CGR we are not-opposed-to- advertising; we just think parents should be the ones helping children make decisions about consumer choices, saving or spending money, what values to emulate and self-identity. 
Values and identity simulated through ads are a couple of the techniques used by skilled advertisers to pull children into remembering a product from an advertisement leading to a sale; this includes children that are pre-literate and cannot possible know the ingredients of the food product they are trying to reach for at the grocery store.
What if we challenged the advertisering and product manufacturing community to continue to advertise and make product that is useful, safe and good for children, but to go through the parents for the sale of the product. You are capable of making the decisions regarding consumer choices, values education and identity shaping influences in the family life in which you love your children. Fighting with your kids at the mall thanks to the experts on Madison Avenue just makes parenting, harder.
Common Good Radio is a faith-centered music stream that offers online entertainment, arts and faith enrichment without advertisements to the kids so music can be enjoyed and the messages are age appropriate and positive. We have intentionally left the advertising model (of revenue) behind. We offer music and scripture that enriches the sense of hope in the world and the hearts of those who listen. We are faith centered, so if that does not appeal to you, chances are you will not find our programming appealing to the children in your life. But if it is appealing, join us by listening and sharing the link with friends. Donate if you can to keep the music royalties and website fees paid, because that is a vote for an alternative to the advertising-based model.
I invite you to increase your awareness and comment on how you feel about media, advertising and your kids through a wonderful organization that produces documentaries to educate us all in the field of media literacy, Media Education Foundation (MEF). There is an opportunity to sample a video about ads, kids and purpose that will knock your socks off. If you are reading this blog, you will want to watch a bit of the film sample: Consuming Kids.
Reality check: 52 million kids in the US under the age of 12 who influence 700 billion dollars in adult purchasing power. Plus, the 40 billion they spend themselves with birthday money, allowance money and that which was collected with odd jobs here and there. That is a whole lot of Little Debbie brownies at the corner store, toys or tunes online for the Ipod.
Music about making good choices: Peter and Ellen Allard, Count Your Blessings and Sweet Honey in the Rock, Everybody Ought To Know (what freedom is), for possible conversation starters with your kids to talk about what is important in your family.
How do you feel about children being advertised directly to for the purpose of manipulating how they spend their dollars?
Let’s start a conversation.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Kids Make Music posted on August 19, 2009
Children love to sing and move to music - it is one central reason we created Common Good Radio. We wanted them to have music of love, hope, mercy and justice without commercial distractions, consumer driven ads and the intrusions that take away from what the music brings. I pray you and your children sing and play along with the songs on Common Good Radio, daily.
I saw a video of a child playing the guitar this morning and had to share it with you. The boy is clearly a child prodigy, and his talent is abundantly clear. I imagine his musical gift to be God given and nurtured; it made me so happy to watch and listen to that I am once again keenly aware there is such hope for God’s beauty in the world through children! I hope you find it inspiring, also.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Media and Faith: More questions than anything posted on August 14, 2009
What is your commitment to engage with popular culture, arts and entertainment through the lens of your faith? How do you see putting your faith in front of what the children you love consume in media? Is there a place in your faith journey where there can be a conversation to why we allow ourselves to be entertained by popular culture and its drivers?
Arts have been used to tell the stories of faith and be the context of experience of faith for many, since expression of faith was valued (i.e., the beginning of human history). To tell the stories of our lives and to engage the populous it the delight of entertainment, we create books and myriad digital media expressions. The children, as digital natives, do not know a world without movies, television, digital music and plenty of video cameras in their faces. Can we help children use the tool of media selectively, in order to inform the best of what you desire them to understand, like embracing good character as natural? Is it important to try?
I wonder if it is possible to really decide that you will communicate your values to the children by diligent care of what they observe you consume regarding popular culture? For example, if you have said to your son/daughter that they cannot see play video games with violence, do support the value with your behavior? Do you play violent video games when they are awake and aware of your playing? 
Do they aspire to be like you and be able to wander into the room to catch a glimpse of the forbidden? How does your example effect the children you love?
So, how much courage of conviction and reassessment of everyday life do you think we must embrace to pass on the best of our intentions in faith, to the children?
I can always relate stories to metaphors of food. Suppose you have told the kids that a little dessert is okay, but too much is too much because you have concern for their health and well being.
Secretly, you head for your private candy bar stash as they go to sleep. Granted that grown-ups get to have privacy from the kids. But if something directly relates to a value you are trying to impart, like physical health and well being, is compromised by your example, does it effect the integrity of your efforts? Is there a faith issue coming to light?
How is the above very different from media consumption and well being?
More questions than anything today, love to hear your thoughts.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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What technology at what age for kids? posted on August 9, 2009
I was in airports traveling the country last week, and had occasion to spend some wait time at the busy Newark airport in New Jersey. Watching some elementary school age children play near me, I asked them where they were traveling to/from. After the exchanges, my cell phone rang, I took a short call then put the phone back in my pocket.
A particularly precocious and precious boy who told me he was entering third grade in the fall, also told me he used to have a cell phone, a lot like mine.
Then we had a conversation about cell phones. It got me thinking.
I did some digging around online for what the current research says about technology, kids, ages, family needs etc., and found a resource that could prove helpful to you. If you have never visited the Search Institute’s website on parenting, you might like it. Here’s a quote that helps put some of the technology requests you receive from your kids, in perspective:
“Recognize that the younger generation always redefines technological wants and needs. For example, many parents say that cell phones are “a want,” while many teenagers contend that they’re a necessity. Be aware of these tensions, and work with them instead of against them. This period in history is only different from previous generations because of the higher number of new technological choices available.” Simple, and I hope, helpful.
Music:
We hope the music on Common Good Radio can inspire good, meaninngful conversation with your kids. Regarding this idea of who gets a cell phone when, be listening for music on Common Good Radio that signals choices and how things change as we grow and learn (and make decisions for the family) while we stay centered in our faith: Amy Grant and We Believe in God, to stay centered, Gary Fry and, Growin’, to remind us we grow and change, and Kids for Saving Earth with, The Promise Song to remind us that we must be mindful of the resources of our planet (more technology=more metals=more for the land fills etc.).
How young are your kids using the cell phone? How old when you thought they should have their own?
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Portable Faith! posted on August 4, 2009
Check out this week’s new Faith Parenting podcast with Rev. Dr. Thom White Wolf Fassett who challenges the church to respond to the needs of families today, it gets you thinking. How is the church reaching out in faith and hospitality where you are?
blessings, Pastor Robin
