tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856764.post2028314879258488593..comments2023-04-30T09:45:52.232+01:00Comments on Lost in the Heart of Somewhere: Modern Life is RubbishIan Matthewshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16777033213615262701noreply@blogger.comBlogger2125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856764.post-87192181540127414172008-12-15T19:19:00.000+00:002008-12-15T19:19:00.000+00:00Hi IagoIt is a great question, and one I ponder al...Hi Iago<BR/><BR/>It is a great question, and one I ponder all the time. I don't think that 'sales & marketing' are inherently bad - they are things that have been done as long as a farmer had something to sell. It is about how it is done, and what is being contributed to the good of the world around us. <BR/><BR/>I remember being told that any marketing had to be 'honest, decent, lawful and truthful', and I think this still holds true today concerning how I want to conduct myself. <BR/><BR/>There are two things that I think about a lot when I think through these things. I think about Shadrach, Meshach and Abednego in the court of the Persian king. They were employed by the occupying empire, working for the prosperity of that empire. Yet, they were placed there by God. However, they never pretended that the Empire was anything but what it was, they refused to eat what was forbidden and, when push came to shove, they refused to bow down to the idol.<BR/><BR/>Secondly, I remember hearing Michael Card speak about this very issue. He talked about the tension he felt at the 'product table' and sales of CDs, tapes (in those days!) and books. He thought about Jesus turning over the tables in the temple, and wondered if one day he would hear the voice of God telling him to do the same thing with his own products.<BR/><BR/>I hope I can have the courage of the 'Hebrew Children' and not bow down on the day that my integrity and faith is tested. I hope I can have the courage to say 'enough' when that time comes.Ian Matthewshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16777033213615262701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8856764.post-59701757335535471862008-12-08T23:53:00.000+00:002008-12-08T23:53:00.000+00:00Ian, the number of people who think like this is g...Ian, the number of people who think like this is growing daily, even those in the Christian book trade like you ( and me!), so tell me how do you balance (and Mr Whitall) balance the "sales & marketing" work that you do with this post.<BR/><BR/>I ask not as an accusation but as a fellow traveller asking the same questions.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com