Joe Carter has a post summarizing 9 things that should be known about “female body issues.” Some of the points surprised me. I read them aloud to my wife; she was totally unsurprised, even when I told her women begin to be concerned about their “shape” at age 6.

Body image is the mental representation we create of what we think we look like; it may or may not bear a close relation to how others actually see us. Here are nine things you should know about female body image issues:

1. The Dove Campaign for Real Beauty hired a criminal sketch artist to draw women as they see themselves and as others see them. The social experiment revealed that women’s perceptions of themselves were very different than how others view them.

2. According to the CDC, for women ages 20 years old and older, the average height for women in America is 5’3″ and weight is 166.2 pounds. For fashion models the average is 5’10″ and 120 pounds.

3. By age 6, girls start to express concerns about their own weight or shape. 40-60% of elementary school girls (ages 6-12) are concerned about their weight or about becoming too fat. This concern endures through life.

Read the rest here.

Eric Metaxas on the economic implications of declining birth rates.

Taro Aso, Japan’s finance minister, has only been on the job for a month but he’s already stirred up enough controversy to last a lifetime.

In January, he made headlines around the world when he told a panel on social security reforms that the elderly should be permitted to “hurry up and die.” That is the kind of comment that both causes great offense and hits too close to home. . .

Read the rest or listen here.

You may have to click through to my site to watch the video.

HT: Grace to You

Do your homework — come by my office before church – - and I’ll supply you with a Father’s Day present–sure to please the man in your home. But you must complete the homework and leave a comment on the assignment post from earlier this week. Share something you’re thankful for about your father so I know how many presents to supply.

My wife has occasionally lamented that it’s hard for her to pick out presents for me. She has a point. I like to get books and since I already own most of what it is in print, it is hard for her to know what to buy. I tend to have very eclectic tastes.

I once suggested that Jamie buy me a tool (I owned zero tools at the time). So she bought me a hacksaw, which she later used to “hack” the bottom off a closet door, but then that’s a different story. She thought a hacksaw looked like a tool I should own.

I also like camera gear, but good gear is a little pricey and, again, she doesn’t know what is on my wish list. If she gets me a full frame camera, I will be very happy. But ONLY if she robs a bank (in a Christian sort of way) in order to pay for it.

All of which is to say, I assume that my wife and kids are not the only ones who struggle in picking out Father’s Day presents. But, hey, I’m here to help! I understand the male mind. If you visit our church on Sunday, and come by my study from 8:30-8:45 AM (but don’t be late) and if you do your homework – - – including leaving a blog comment, then I will supply you with a Father’s Day gift that guys are sure to like. (I impose a limit of 1-2 per family).

But the important thing – - -and a great way to prepare for Father’s Day together – - is to prayerfully read God’s Word together as a family.