Godvertising

Deeper giving means deeper living

This one was up around Thanksgiving. It reminds us that we should give more than thanks. It uses a little bit of the carrot to encourage us to give, but the only real reward it offers is for us to experience fuller living. It’s a wonderful sentiment that easily captures the nature of charity in a way that would make Johnny Cochran proud.

Couldn’t we all give a little more? Our government gives in our stead these days, so many of us have given up on personal contributions to charity. I think this is one of the greatest hidden tragedies of the welfare state. There are plenty of other problems with a nanny state, but I think the dissuasion of personal charitable donations is what really makes the system harder to replace. All of the needy in this country could be cared for by charities and churches if only we would let them, both by funding them and by getting out of their way. But the government chooses to do that for us, and so we let them, and so the churches are shackled by limited funds and lack of focus.

President Bush’s faith-based initiatives are, I think, a step back towards true personal charity. I worry about any union of church and state (and so should you), but I think that in the long run this is a step in the right direction: returning charities to the private sector.

Now — what does that mean about this sign? Well, I think this sign harkens back to a time when all charity was personal and private. Perhaps it meant more then. Perhaps it means more now. Or maybe it just means something slightly different now.

As for Godvertising, well, I especially like the backwards ‘3′. It injects a sort of campiness into this otherwise very serious message.

Marquee bonus: Backwards ‘3′ used in lieu of ‘E’

Prayer: Key of the day and lock of the night

Sometimes we just need a reminder of why we follow these rituals like prayer. Freedom comes from knowing that we are able to change the world with our actions, and security comes from knowing we’re safe from evil in our sleep. Prayer takes us there. It invites the Lord into our daily struggles and it asks him to watch over us at night.

Some say that prayer’s effects are only psychosomatic. But what if that’s how God works?

On your own, life is a hopeless end. With God, it is an endless hope.

Godvertising poetry. This one appeals to our sense of hope, our longing for help, and our desire to shed our feelings of hopelessness. It inspires us to look to God for hope when we feel like giving in. In a gentle way it tells us that losing hope is like losing faith. In fact, losing hope comes from losing faith. If we are feeling hopeless, it must be because we have lost our faith in God.

From another perspective if we are not religious, that is, if we choose not to be faithful, then this simple poem goads us to find God. It is marketing to us. It is Godvertising. “With God, life is an endless hope.” He won’t let you down. Come on in and get the message.

Still from another perspective this message reminds the faithful of what they’re missing: hopelessness. It’s useful to look at what life would be without God, if only because it’s easy to forget what parts of life we enjoy in faith. I thought this one was fairly simple when I took the photo, but I see now that that it has meaning for everyone: the lambs who have lost their way, those who chose to wander, and even the loyal followers.

And I like the warm feeling of this one. It’s like a security blanket of faith for the faithful.

A smile adds to your face value

Man, isn’t that the truth? A smile on a person speaks volumes. It’s attractive (especially on women, for some reason), and it shows a sense of peace and well-being. One of the most pure and righteous people I know is always smiling. She’s rather plain-looking, I suppose, except she radiates beauty and health with that wonderful smile of hers. Whenever I see her I think “joy”. So that’s what I call her. I can’t help it. It’s a reflex. Her name is Teresa, but I have to call her Joy. I got tired of apologizing for it, and just asked permission to change her name. She said it was ok, once I explained my reasons.

Let’s meet at my house this Sunday — God

I think this was taken from one of those billboard signs that Outdoor Advertising was running a few years ago. Or maybe that campaign took it from one of these simple local church marquees. Anyway, the message is plain. It’s simple; it’s convivial. It’s not a commandment. It’s an invitation. A reminder of an obligation, perhaps, but a gentle one. It’s informal and friendly. It’s pleasant and non-threatening. It’s funny, too, because it’s unexpected.

It’s wonderfully complex, isn’t it?