J. Davy Crockett III

As a people, we love "lists." We are eager to see lists of the "Best Dressed," the "Best Books," "The Best Movies," the "Best Restaurants," the "Best Places to Live," the "Best Team," and so on. We love to categorize, group and label. Books of lists are compiled and entertainers make humorous lists, and we get a chuckle out of them.

A recent national survey of young people concerning their hopes, dreams and aspirations revealed a rather shocking fact. Most youngsters today want to become celebrities.

It really doesn’t seem to matter to them if they become famous or infamous, as long as they achieve notoriety or celebrity status. The mainstream media feeds this desire by giving an inordinate amount of coverage to the strange, bizarre and weird happenings of spoiled, overpaid entertainers and professional sports figures, and by intensely focusing on the antics of the rich and famous.

It’s everywhere—lots of flesh, provocative poses, suggestive moves, lyrics and dialogue; all calculated to stir the passions of the listener or viewer, young or old, male or female. The appeal to the desire for physical pleasures is used to purvey every kind of product and service in every form of media. It’s slick. It’s colorful. It’s well done. And, it’s effective. Sadly, great talent and creative ability go into producing this literal flood of images and music, which leads people to focus on misusing something that is wonderful, when used as the Creator God intended.