The Blog: Ministry, Music, Media
Media Teaches All Of Us About Food Consumption posted on March 28, 2010
There is a reality show program on television that helps us understand what is going on in the lunchroom at the kid’s school, Food Revolution with Jamie Oliver. If you have kids in public school, you know that pizza and other processed foods are the lunch of choice too much of the time. Perhaps you know that all that processed food, when consumed regularly, can lead to health issues with kids (and adults) to include obesity. You might also be aware the childhood obesity has been taken on by First Lady, Michelle Obama. The place where Mr. Oliver 
chose to begin his food awareness and revolutionary mission for the health of the children of our country is Huntington, W. VA, and the problems with obesity reach both children and adults.
Like most change that comes to you because somebody else tells you it is good for you, the population of Huntington, West Virginia, was cool to receive Chef Jamie and his message of health reform through food. The process is a good thing to see and perhaps experience if you have concerns about the food your kids are consuming. Take a look at this program and give it some thought for you, your family and your school lunch room.
There are reviews of the program if you would like to read what it is about, go here.
Our relationship to food in this country is a complicated issue to be sure. Some folks are starving for a meal, others so obese that life is shortened. For the moment, I am interested to see how the show is received. Can we be entertained watching a chef come into our homes and schools to tell us we might be killing ourselves with the processed food we consume far too much of? Is it our shame at the habits we have developed which prevents us from recognizing we are in trouble, or do we prize the independence we think we have as we choose greasy burgers over salad? Fried stuff over cabbage and carrots, or candy bars over blueberries?
There are musicians who are as concerned as Jamie Oliver that our food choices mean something to our bodies and the planet. On Common Good Radio, listen for the music of Jay Mankita, Try New Foods, and Raffi with I like to Eat Eat Eat, Apples and Bananas. If if you hear those songs on CGR, sing along and enjoy the intentional effort folks put into helping us all care about the common good, including our health.
What’s going on in your school district?
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Common Good Radio Mobile! posted on March 24, 2010
Where your iphone goes, so shall Common Good Radio with a new application: ootunes! 
In the office, in the car - no more advertising when you want tunes with the kids - ever. Songs from our great programming everywhere you go - with kindness, peace, joy and hope to listen to and sing together.
It is not free but it is not pricey. How terrific to be able to take Common Good Radio with you - wow! Is this a good use of digital media? Choices that you are intentional about? Let us know if you use it and how it works.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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In The White House As Historic Bill Is Signed posted on March 23, 2010
Politics aside, this health care reform bill was just signed into law by President Obama.
Isn’t it an excellent use of digital media to go into the White House and witness events like this: nothing fancy, no ads, no musical underscore - just the folks in the room and man behind the desk with a lot of pens, changing something significant about they way we will live together and care for one another in this country.
Think about showing the children this video and talking to them about how votes were taken in our democracy and then President Obama signed the papers to make a new thing happen.
Digital media can take us there, let’s use it.
with blessings for the common good,
Pastor Roboin
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Wonderful Life posted on March 22, 2010
Life is precious and not to be taken for granted, as you well know. Check out Discovery Channel’s Life, new series. Wow.
Songs on Common Good Radio that speak to loving life: Put a Little Love in Your Heart, SugarBeats, Angels Watching Over Me, Robin Blair, The Earth is My Home, Kids for Saving Earth, Love Makes a Family, Cathy Fink, Man in the Mirror, Michael Jackson and so many more. When you are loving life and listening to Common Good Radio with people you love, let them know the song reminds you of them!
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Oscars and Grace posted on March 14, 2010
I was pleased this year to watch only pieces of the Academy Awards program; maybe I am just grumpy, but the self-absorbing ideas, way too thin women, and the focus only on profit when humanity could be uplifted using media and entertainment, has worn me down over the years. As a result, I don’t watch the awards programs, too much. However, I did check out the thank-you offerings from some of the winners, Mo’nique, Sandra Bullock, 
and Kathryn Bigelow via Youtube.com and was pleased. Some people thank God, others thank family for love and support and certainly most thank the teams that made the effort (film) possible. I am glad to say that some of my pre-disposed grumpiness is waning. I like that we thank one another for what happens that is good in our lives and bring the blessing to all.
Do you try and find the best in behavior as we relate to one another and all creation in the television or film you consume with your family? What would be important to you, to look for? People caring for creation? Acts of intentional kindness? What about the amazing grace that can be revealed at any moment if you try to see it? This is one aspect of media literacy that helps us find the message of the media we consume - not just the obvious story line though that is part of message - but the message behind the message.
Could this be one way of noticing the spirituality of media messages that are present in your household, that is, by looking for words and actions that lift us up? What if this was a faithful act of you offering grace to the children you love because you are helping them see that good is available to notice? Could there be validity in the idea that if we notice more and more of it, will we learn to expect to find what we seek?
Songs to listen for that praise others on Common Good Radio include: Dodie Stevens, My Ark (is the act of random kindness), Make New Friends, Sweet Honey in the Rock, My Grandma, Robin Blair, Everybody is Somebody, Taj Mahal. Listen for the core of any song on Common Good Radio, and you will find something good to speak about with the children you love. We hope you help them expect something good that we have in common - we all serve the common good!
A couple of pieces of scripture from the Hebrew and Christian Bibles that remind me:
“Let another praise you, and not your own mouth; someone else, and not your own lips” (Proverbs 27:2).
“Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen” (Ephesians 4:29).
With blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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Mo’Nique, Oscars, Movies and Kids? posted on March 10, 2010
Mo’Nique won the Oscar for her role as a supporting actress in the film, Precious.
Who has seen this film? If not, prepare yourself for a raw look at an urban nightmare, broken-hearted family, failed social service system and sheer strength of the human spirit to survive. I will rejoice the day this scenario is never, ever a story told. 
But today’s question is, can movies take us to places of action through the attachment to characters, compelling performances, story lines and other techniques of good, solid film making that offers the viewer a glimpse of life holding up a mirror?
As movie goers, we celebrate the love story and happy ending in this regard - we even buy the shoes the smiling celebrities wear. What about the story that is less lovely to hear? Are we also motivated into a feeling and does that feeling connect us to one another to create an action?
And finally, when the story is emotionally rough to read, see or hear as in the life of Claireece Precious Jones, or the war experience or the planet’s destruction - do we remain motionless and find nothing to show our kids? I am not suggesting parents need to take the children to the movies that are not age appropriate for them, just the opposite. I am suggesting that when we adults see the stories that move us off comfort-zone center, do we change something in our behavior? By doing that, do we contribute to the common good as what we have learned becomes a model for the children in our lives? We learn to love more deeply, stand for peace and justice, or, stop judging others.
How many of us saw the film, Precious? Did you go home and kiss the children, get active with after school programs in your school district, offer homework help or volunteer somewhere where help is needed?
Just wondering how this media touched your life, and if it did, let us know media is important as a tool of communication in your life.
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
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International Women’s Day posted on March 8, 2010
March 8 is celebrated as International Women’s Day.
At Common Good Radio, we celebrate the voices of women in story and song and hope that when women of any age lift their voices they feel affirmed in their participation of contributing to the common good.
Listen for Sweet Honey in the Rock, Amy Grant, Ellen Allard, Mimi Bessette, Sandi Patty, Be Good Tonyas, Barlow Girl, Elizabeth Mitchell, Hillsong Kids, CeCe Winans, Claudia Martinez, Ella Jenkins, Jaci Velasquez, Bread for the Journey, Cathy Fink, Darlene Zschech, Margaret Becker, Linda Arnold, Susan Asheton, Chrystina Fincher, Sherry Hoffman, Candi Pearson, Joni Mitchell, Mahalia Jackson, Laura Nyro, Linda Arnold, Janice Hoffman, Pam Tillis, Suzie Shelton, Twila Paris, and yours, truly, Robin Blair.
This is a partial list and I just wanted to make a point: the women who write, produce and record music that brings you something of hope and love in the world is rich, full and worthy. Indeed, something to celebrate!
If you can think of artists that would be great contributors to the music of hope and love on Common Good Radio, please let us know - make comments below or send me an (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address)
blessings for the common good,
Pastor Robin
