|
______________________________________
{Heart4Teens.com} *What Advertisers Know About Your Body!* 1/6/03 ______________________________________ If you enjoy this free email service, I encourage you to spread the word to family and friends that we may bring inspiration into the lives of teenagers everywhere! If you are not on the list and this has been passed along to you, you can join Heart4Teen.com readers around the world by sending a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Visit our inspirational web site and read all the past articles in our archives, and view the tons of resources we have there for teens! http://www.Heart4Teens.com/Teen_Stories ____________________________________________ Be sure to check out our other inspirational email list and web site! http://www.HeartTouchers.com To subscribe send a blank email to: HeartTouchers-subscribe@myinjesus.com _________________________________________ Author Michael T. Powers Contributing Author to Chicken Soup for the Teen's Soul on Love and Friendship and 14 other inspirational books. Check out his book: Straight From the Heart by visiting: http://www.HeartTouchers.com _________________________________________ What Advertisers Know About Your Body! by Dannah Gresh Do you have a "most embarrassing moment"? I sure do. I once stood outside the drivers side of my minivan, the door wide open, while I bent over the seat to reach my stuff inside. It was a loooong reach. As I turned to slam the door shut with my arms loaded, I noticed a guy sitting in his car right beside me with his jaw dropped so low that his mouth looked like the Grand Canyon. His face was red when I caught him staring. Thats when the draft hit me -- a cool spring breeze announcing to me that the hem of my skirt was wrapped around my waist, and my underwear was the featured view. You can guess who was blushing now! I was on the way to my high-paying, high-profile, fast-paced advertising agency when that happened several years ago. Okay, so it wasnt high-paying or high-profile. It was fast-paced. And it was also intriguing. I learned some of the amazing tricks that advertisers use to control your pocketbook . . . and your mind. Most interesting to me was the power of your body. (Yes, I did say your body.) Got a few minutes? Lets talk, Girlfriend! Lesson No. 1: Your Body = Power Advertising researchers have actually attached little wires to readers eyeballs to follow the visual path and figure out what makes someone spend time reading an ad, increasing an advertisers chance of sales! Crazy, huh? Theyve discovered lots of little tricks that will increase the viewing time by one percent... two percent ... maybe three percent. But if you really want to stop the reader, use a woman! Ive heard different numbers, but it seems a photo of a woman will increase the length of time someone spends with an ad by anywhere from 14 percent to 30 percent. Waaaaay more than anything else! Thats what first made me think about the incredible alluring power of the female body. And guess what Gods Word affirms that power! Id like you to hear it from a guys perspective. Heres my husband, Bob. Bob Says: God knew what He was doing when He created you. He originally created woman to complete and finish man. Check it out! In Genesis 2:18, God Himself says, "It is not good for man to be alone." Alone? The God of the universe was walking and talking with Adam. How could he have been alone? God could have easily filled the void in Adam. He didnt. Instead, He crafted a masterpiece woman! You are one of those masterpieces! And youve been given all of the power of a masterpiece that is worthy of every glance you receive. Given the purpose, its not a stretch to believe that our carefully crafted and curved bodies create quite a stir in guys. A girls body really drives a guy crazy. According to God, there should be one catch to all that craziness. Check out Proverbs 5:18-19 where it tells a man to "rejoice in the wife of your youth... may you be ever captivated by her love." The word captivated would be better translated "intoxicated" since thats what the Hebrew writer was trying to say. Imagine this: Your husband filled with a holy drunken stupor at your presence. Thats what God wants for you one day if His plan for you includes marriage. But theres a catch. Notice the earlier part of the verse where it says, "the wife." In other words, one woman. Again and again the Bible reconfirms that this intoxication is only to be shared with one guy and after youre married. Until then, its under wraps ... a secret to be shared with your husband. As you might have noticed, girls today arent the best secret keepers. They flaunt their bodies in hip-huggers complemented by belly rings, miniskirts matched to high heels, tight shirts to go with tighter pants and ... well, I could go on. But, wait! youre thinking. Thats just todays fashion! Lesson No. 2: Showing Less Controls More Let me tell you about the Gestalt Theory! (Warning: College-level brain food ahead!) The Gestalt Theory teaches a graphic designer to control a viewers time by forcing him or her to mentally complete a visual image. Because the brain is intrigued by completing the incomplete, it will always pause to finish an unfinished picture. How do you think this theory works when a girl walks down the street in front of a guy wearing a tight shirt with her belly bared? Yikes! You really need a guys perspective on this. So heres Bob again. Bob Says: Its much more tempting for a guy to see a girl dressed in todays skimpy fashion than it would be to see her naked. Does that astound you? Its true. A Christian couple I know recently flew to France for vacation. At one point, this pair unwittingly stayed in a hotel next to a nude beach. It wasnt tempting at all. In fact, my friend was rather grossed out. There was nothing left to the imagination ... which is the most tempting part of immodesty. The control comes from the unfinished picture and the imagination that it takes to complete it. If a guy sees a girl walking around in tight clothes, a miniskirt or short shorts, you might as well hang a noose around the neck of his spiritual life. To us, this is not "just fashion." Its a constant source of spiritual failure. Have some mercy! I have a confession to make. That day my skirt tried to strangle me, Id created my most embarrassing moment. My skirt was too short and too tight, but I really thought it was "just fashion" that made me look good. Though I didnt struggle with immodesty before I was married, I did find myself falling prey to fashions whims after I was out from under my parents watchful eyes. I know how hard this is. Sometimes I walk through a mall or along a crowded sidewalk and see heads turning toward a girl whos dressed like Britney Spears. And ... are you ready for this true confession ... I wish it was me turning those heads! Dont you feel that way sometimes? We ache to be noticed and adored. Thats where knowing these advertising tricks could get dangerous. I know that you could abuse the power of showing less to control more. Please dont do that. I think youll miss the truth behind the power of your body if you do what we find in lesson number three. Lesson No. 3: Perceived Value Increases Worth In the early days of our marketing business, we designed company logos for approximately $1,250. One day, because we were concerned with how time-consuming the logos were, we hiked our prices up... to $8,000. We expected to have far less logo work to do, but instead, we had more! It was the perceived higher value that drove the demand and the worth of the project. When clients perceived that this project required not only a great deal of financial investment but also a patient investment of time, they wanted it badly. The same principle is at work when you dress either immodestly or modestly. Immodesty removes the obstacles and invites any guy to desire you in his mind. Its a cheap thrill requiring no investment on his part. It offers him the power of your body at his control. Modesty protects the true secret of your body for one man, requiring him to invest time, romance and passion into your life in order to one day enjoy your allure. It invites a guy to earn your virtuosity. No matter how much temporary attention immodesty may gain you, it will never equal the thrill of passion that follows a life protected by the power of modesty. Does it mean youll be less attractive? On the contrary. (Ill never figure out a guys mind.) Again, I give you Bob. Bob Says: When we were dating, Dannah presented herself with impeccable modesty. It didnt dampen my desire for her. In fact, it fueled it. She couldve worn a burlap sack, and Id have been attracted to her. I cant explain it, but a guy yearns most for what he cant have. Because Dannah did not freely give herself, I desired to earn her. Admit it. You want to be desired! Me, too. The question is: Will you be desired by guys looking for a cheap thrill in their minds? Or will you be romantically and passionately pursued because your modesty demands it? Modesty is the first line of defense for your purity. When a guy perceives that this has been protected, hell rise to romance you and earn your heart. It may not happen for a few years, but the best things in life are worth the wait. And thats it, my lessons in modesty from the world of advertising. Hey, speaking of advertising, Philippians 4:5 says, "Let your modesty be known to all!" Advertise that! What Are You Advertising? So whats a girl to do with all the "just fashion" mentality that advertisers carefully toss her way? I recommend you start in your closet. Why not take inventory of your wardrobe today? Do this with a friend. Its as easy as 1-2-3. 1. Make three piles. One is the "Cheap Thrills Pile." In this pile, youll toss all the clothes youve been wearing that invite a guy to complete the picture of your body in his mind. This includes anything that shows too much skin, such as short shorts or shirts and low shirts or pants -- as well as anything that shows too much shape -- tight sweaters, jeans or T-shirts. Ceremonially trash these with your friend! 2. The second pile is your "Power Pile." In this one, put anything that actually hides the secrets of your alluring body in a fashionable and comfortable manner. These go back into your closet and drawers. These items make up a part of your high price tag that will require one man to pay a high price to earn your heart. 3. The final pile? Thats your "Fuzzy Friend" pile. Youre a bit "fuzzy" on these items. They could go either way, so youre going to ask your friend to make the decision for you. Whatever she says goes. Dont compromise. (And by the way ... moms and dads make great friends for this project!) ******* This article appeared in Brio magazine. Copyright © 2002 Dannah Gresh. _________________________________________ LET'S GO SURFING DUDE! One Life Revolution (www.OneLifeRevolution.org). The country of Zambia, in Africa, is being destroyed by AIDS. More than a million Zambian children have been orphaned as a result of the virus. In many cases, these orphans live together in shacks, with no adult supervision. They do their best to care for each other. But in many cases, they are just not able to get enough food, and end up dying. YOU can help stop this. YOU can make a difference in the life of an AIDS orphan. Check out www.OneLifeRevolution.org. Watch the videos and read the information. Then consider how you can use your life to make a difference in the life of someone in desperate need. Mobilize your youth group, or pull together a few friends, and come up with plan to change the world. When you make a difference in the life of one person, you change the world. What's more, you stand next to Jesus in the revolution! - Mark Oestreicher http://www.OneLifeRevolution.org ~ Bible Gateway This is a free service for reading and researching scripture online-- all in the language or translation of your choice! They provide advanced searching capabilities based on keywords or scripture references, and various tools to enhance your study of the Bible. http://www.biblegateway.com ~ RPS Did you know there are actually advanced strategies for the hand game "Rock-Paper-Scissors"? If you want to impress your friends with your "RPS" skills, check out this site. http://worldrps.com/advanced.html _________________________________________ FORGETTABLE FACT At their closest point, the Russian and U.S. borders are less than two miles apart. _________________________________________ PARTING HUMOR Jesus took his disciples up on the mountain and gathered them around Him. And then He taught them, saying: Blessed are the poor in spirit, Blessed are the meek, Blessed are the merciful, Blessed are you who thirst for justice, Blessed are you who are persecuted, Blessed are the peacemakers. And Simon Peter said, "Do we have to write this stuff down?" And Philip said, "Will this be on the test?" And Andrew said, "John the Baptist's disciples don't have to learn this stuff." And Matthew said, "Huh?" And Judas said, "When am I ever going to use this in real life?" Then one of the Pharisees, an expert in law, said, "I don't see any of this in the syllabus. Do you have a lesson plan? Is there an activity for each of the seven intelligences? Where is the study guide? Will there be any authentic assessment? Will remediation and extra credit be provided for those who did not meet class requirements so they can still pass?" And Thomas, who had missed the sermon, came to Jesus privately and said, "Did we do anything important today?" AND JESUS WEPT. _________________________________________ UPCOMING TOPICS FOR ALL-STARS --The Youth Church of Faith Community Church in Janesville, WI If you are in 6-12th grade and live in the southern Wisconsin/northern Illinois area and would like to check us out, we meet every Sunday night from 6:30-8:00 PM at Faith Community Church which is located at 2931 Lucerene Dr. in Janesville, WI. (About 4-5 blocks south-east of The Skating Place.) Currently we have students from Fort Atkinson, Milton, Janesville Craig, Janesville Parker, Orfordville, Clinton, Beloit Memorial, Beloit Turner, South Beloit, and Hononegah. E-mail me back if you have any questions about our weekly meetings or would like to come to any of our events that are listed below... We have way too much fun and then, most importantly, talk about issues that are relevant to you as a teenager. Here are our upcoming topics: All-Star Topics 1/12 -- Going off to College ("I'm finally free to do what I want, right?") 1/19 - Movie Night 1/26 - SuperBowl Party 2/2 - Teen Pregnancy 2/9 -- Abortion _____________________ Core Group Topics 1/8 -- Time Management 1/15 -- Spiritual Report Card 1/22 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge 1/29 -- Friendship Evangelism Challenge Part 2 _________________________________________ Author MICHAEL T. POWERS www.Heart4Teens.com "I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20 ___________________________________________ Would you like to see your story in Heart4Teens.com? Writer's guidelines can be found on our Web site here: http://www.Heart4Teens.com/guidelines/ ___________________________________________ "I need a daily source of inspiration and encouragement in my life!" SUBSCRIBE: To become a Heart4Teens.com Member send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-subscribe@myinjesus.com Then get ready to laugh, cry, and be deeply touched by some of the best stories on the Internet! __________________________________________ UNSUBSCRIBE: Send a blank e-mail to: Heart4Teens-unsubscribe@myinjesus.com __________________________________________ Do you feel as if life has no meaning for you? http://www.greatcom.org/english/four.htm |
 |
|
Touching Lives - One E-mail at a Time! Author Michael T. Powers - HeartTouchers @ aol.com
|