http://tinyurl.com/b85f4y [Foxnews.com]

A bit of background on this: Mid last year articles started popping up on news and social networking sites (such as digg) about atheist groups spending vast sums of money promoting that “There is probably no God. Now stop worrying and enjoy your life”. Supporters of the advertising campaign stating that everyone has a right to freedom of speech, and that God has had his messages plastered all over front-lawn signs of churches for centuries. 

Each campaign can easily cost in excess of $250000, and some people go as far as stipulating that these large amounts of money are being spent, with almost no change in mindset or religious stance. These atheist promoting campaigns can be seen across the world from London to America, I’m even told here in Sydney. In london the christian political party is even jumping on the bandwagon, with signs soon to be rented saying “There is a God. BELIEVE. Don’t worry and enjoy your life.”  Supporters will then be able to send a sms costing 2 euros (approx $3.94AU) stating the word “amen”, with the money going toward the support of the christian political party.

Personally, these campaigns dont worry me too much. I mean, they’re similar to the political advertising and campaigning you see outside the electoral poll booths during election time. I’ve made my mind up well before I get to the voting booth, and no amount of political scare tactics slammed across thousands of plastic signs is going to make me change my mind. 

These campaigns have the atheists supporting the messages, the christians opposing the messages, and the rest of the world saying “I couldn’t really care less, to be honest”.

We, as the Body of Christ, should probably be asking ourselves “Why do they think believing in God means they cant enjoy their lives?” and be campaigning against that, instead…

Check out the following links for more info:

http://tinyurl.com/b862ts [the Washington post]

http://tinyurl.com/dg9v8v [the daily 49er]

(thanks to Eric Briseno for the link - http://tinyurl.com/b2e3kq [facebook] )

One assessment coming up is our 3 minute short film, for our location camera class. The theme is “mercy and compassion”, although this is just a starting point.

One of my ideas so far is to follow a homeless man for a day, documentary style. It would be done in the style of the cpmpassion documentary played at conference. I’m not so sure of the exact story yet, or even if I want to run with this idea.

I do know the following: I don’t want this to be a throw-away project. I want it to mean something. There has been a lot of talk of getting the best projects submitted to the Australian Christian channel for broadcast. Plus, over conference I developed dome great connections with GodTV, which is had a potential audience of a few hundred million. Who knows where it could end up, and who’s life it will impact.

So here is a call for suggestions — what ideas do you associate with mercy and compassion? What message can be comnunicated in a 3 minute story that can change the world? Please email, facebook or comment me any ideas your have.