28 Mar, 2008

Hey, did you hear about...

Hollywood isn't the only place full of gossip!

Engagement Ring for Jamie Lynn?

Is it going to be a shotgun wedding for Jamie Lynn Spears? People reports Britney's pregnant little sis, 16, has received a diamond ring from hometown beau Casey Aldridge, 18.

A Spears family insider tells the mag that the swelling "Zoey 101" starlet, who is reportedly about six months along, has been excitedly blinding friends and family in Louisiana and Mississippi with the glittery bauble.

"She's got an engagement ring," the source deadpans. "She's been showing it off, talking about it."

Since revealing her pregnancy to OK! in a December cover story, Jamie Lynn has been lying low in Kentwood, La., hanging out with friends and earning her GED.

When asked about the marriage issue during the interview, she explained, "Right now, we're just focusing on the baby and having a healthy baby. We're trying just to think about that right now so we haven't really talked about that."

The engagement rumblings come on the heels of a PageSix.com item that claimed the teenage sweethearts were temporarily "on the outs," much to the chagrin of mom Lynne.

Alleged a mole, "Lynne feels the public, especially younger crowds, needs to see that Jamie is working things out with Casey."

According to People, there's "no official word" on their purported nuptial plans.

photo & story courtesy tv.msn.com, 3/26/08

Proverbs 25:18 (NLT)

18 Telling lies about others
is as harmful as hitting them with an ax,
wounding them with a sword,
or shooting them with a sharp arrow.

What does today's God's Story scripture teach us about gossip?

Solomon didn't have access to the Internet or the tabloids in the check-out lines. He wasn't familiar with Hollywood celebrities having every move they make fleshed out in the media, not to mention the moves they didn't really make! (Yeah, I think they love their own rumors because it keeps them in the news.)

But Solomon was full of wisdom from God and in this verse he makes it very clear that "gossip" is wrong.

Telling a lie is wrong. Lying about someone is downright mean. If you've ever had a serious wound, you know how painful the process of healing can be. The effects of passing on a bit of gossip about someone else can be as painful and long-lasting as a wound.

When you and I gossip, it's sort of like using weapons (ax, sword, arrow) to attack someone else. Slicing and dicing someone with gossip not only hurts them and us, but it also does damage to the name of Christ and the family of God.

Bearing false witness keeps us from being a true witness for Christ.

How can we connect today's God's Story scripture to our lives?

  • Talk to God in prayer right now. Confess any sin of gossip in your life. Thank God for His forgiveness. Ask Him for the courage you need to restore any relationships or reputations you may have hurt. Ask Jesus to help you use words to build others up, rather than tear others down.
  • If you are guilty of gossip, do whatever you can to go to the right people to apologize and try to let the truth be known.

How can you connect today's story, God's Story scripture and your story to others?

  • The next time that Hollywood gossip comes up in conversation, ask those around you why they think people like to hear about rumors and talk about them with others? This will help you learn the perspectives and stories of your friends and family.
  • Whenever gossip comes your way, be the one to stop the rumors and/or lies. This is part of living out God's Story to others. (By the way, the story about God? It's all TRUE!)
  • Every time you hear gossip, go out of your way to verbally build someone up. The response of others will help you learn their stories and give you opportunity to share more of your story.
  • Pray that Jamie Lynn Spears will experience Christ's love and leading in her life at this time, regardless of the stories about her.
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God's Story is brought to you by Youth for Christ. YFC works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been with YFC for over 30 years and has served as Campus Life Staff, in leadership for DCLA, and as an author and speaker. Byron is available for speaking at youth or adult events and conferences. For booking, write to byron@3Story.org.

Byron and his wife Linda live in Minnesota and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, a grandaughter, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.