Yesterday I met up with a with a few people here in Manly Beach, Australia and it was interesting what I got to hear and experience.   There was a guy from Denmark, Two girls from Australia, A girl from Costa Rica, another girl from Ecuador and then Mark and I from the States.  So people from all over the world at this little table in Australia eating some grub Mexican food at a place where the workers didn’t know Spanish or how to say tortillas.

The introductions came around where we would say our name and where we were from.  When it came to me, I told them I was from California in the States and immediately the guy from Denmark started to bust out 2 Pac’s California love in a thick Danish accent which totally caught me by surprise.  I asked him how in the world he would know who Tupac was and he replied “who doesn’t know who Tupac?”

Later that day the same situation happened with some local Aussies.  Again they started to sing California Love right when I told them I was from there.  I asked how do you know Tupac, and again they replied “Who doesn’t know Tupac ?”

This really opened up my eyes to the influence America has on this world through our entertainment.  I know living in America I think that our culture is extremely influential to those that live in it, but I had no idea how influential we are to the rest of the world.   As I continued to talk with the Aussie, she told me how Kim Kardashian has had a huge influence on how the girls today dress.  (Right as we were chatting a girl walks by with the tightest dress I have ever seen and the “cutest” uncomfortable looking shoes ever made.)

Every TV station,  radio station, and movie out here seemed to be from the USA so it is scary to think that we have that much influence in the world and yet all we are doing with it is leading people away from God.

So what is the takeaway?  We have to remember that we have the power to influence people for good or for bad.  I know not everybody is affiliated with the entertainment industry but we do have people around us that are watching.  If we can influence them for Christ, think of the impact we can have on this world for the Good?

I want to challenge you to look at how you live your life and see what type of influence you are.  Are you one that is doing the same thing as America’s Media; taking bad and making it look good? or Influencing people for good through what Jesus Christ has to offer, changing lives eternally?

Thanks for reading and joining me on learning how to walk on this adventure.

Travis