"I yam what I yam......"

 As proof that you are never too old to learn something new, I feel compelled to put a bit of newly discovered knowledge to print. It's a new word for me, or rather an abbreviated version of the old word, "merchandise".

MERCH has apparently found it's way into our vernacular. The "influencers" are all wearing MERCH, this season. The same folks that wear outrageous fashion, to the yearly Met Gala, proudly sport MERCH. MERCH is IN. I'll bet you've got some MERCH, hanging in your closet. I own some MERCH, in the form of a couple of newish WWI Museum and Memorial tee shirts and an ratty old KU sweatshirt. Logos and brands, folks. Logos and brands.

Let me explain the word, MERCH. You go to a concert. You pay for the ticket, parking, whatever, and then you buy a tee shirt. The shirt is MERCH. When you wear the shirt, you advertise the artist. He or she gets free advertising, every time you proudly don that shirt. MERCH is the cheapest form of advertisement, but at around 50 dollars per shirt (not counting the concert tickets, etc.) it's not much of a bargain for you.

Remember those pricey IZOD (alligator logo) shirts everyone had to have? That's ancient MERCH. Every shirt purchased, with the words NIKE, ADDIDAS, or PINK, emblazoned on the front, means money that the brand does not have to spend in advertising. That NFL Jersey....money to the manufacturer, money to the league, money to the team..ya,da,ya,da. You buy the cheaply made shirt and everybody gets paid....but you.

Just a bit of information to file away. No judgement here, but you'll probably not find me buying or wearing any new MERCH.  

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 Gracious and all giving God. We should be caring more about who we are, that what we wear. Do we belong to a sports team or are we truly Children of God? Who is our strength and our salvation? We have so many questions. You are the answer to all of them.