T.V. Withdraw: Monkey see, Monkey do . . .

T.V. Withdraw: Monkey see, Monkey do . . .: "I read a tweet by Dr. Jim Burns, President of HomeWord at Azusa Pacific University, the other day. He asked, 'What are your own media choic..."

Monkey see, Monkey do . . .

I read a tweet by Dr. Jim Burns, President of HomeWord at Azusa Pacific University, the other day.  He asked, "What are your own media choices teaching your children?"  That got me to thinking about what I have taught my children over the years through my TV habits.  Here is a quick list from 10 to 1 (pre tv fast): 

10:     There are very few things in life as important as your favorite show.

 9:      If it's on TV, it's okay to watch.  No matter what you believe.

 8:      If it's funny on TV, it's funny in real life.

 7:      If it's okay to say on TV, it's okay to say in real life.

 6:      No matter what is on, or what is happening around you, it's always a good time to watch TV.

 5:      The best thing to talk about with others is what you saw on TV the night before.

 4:      All other forms of information and/or entertainment are inferior to TV

 3:      Problems are all solved in 30-60 minutes, each with a happy ending.

 2:      You have to be skinny and beautiful and wealthy to matter.

 1:      Beer commercials are the funniest things in life.

Umm.  This list is depressing.  Worst than that, I believe if you were all really honest, you would have to admit to at least a few of these things being true in your own life.  It doesn't stop with TV.  Think about the music you listen to, the movies you watch, the books you read, etc.  We teach our children so much more by what we do rather than what we say.

Proverbs 17:6 says, "Children’s children are a crown to the aged, 

   and parents are the pride of their children."

I don't know about you, but I want to be the pride of my children for all the right reasons, and not any of the wrong ones.  

Until next time what are you watching?

I Was Just Thinking . . .

I'm sorry it's been so long since I've written a new post.  Bottom line:  that productivity thing I talked about last time has a mind of it's own.  We have been non-stop.  I have realized, however, that I don't have to write a feature length article every time I post.  Whew!  I'm going to try to be more consistent, but the length will be a little less (I can hear the applause from all four of you who actually read this).

At the end of my last post I mentioned how not watching TV affected my thoughts.  I suppose I always knew that whatever we filled our mind with would somehow work its way into our everyday lives.  For example that song that gets stuck in your head and the book you're reading that you have to recommend.

Sitcoms and movies are like this, too.  Have you ever noticed how the kind of comedy we see on a screen tends to determine what we think is funny in real life?  If you're like me, you have quoted movies or shows that you think are funny in your everyday.  In fact, I see teenagers (especially guys) do this all the time.  How many of these "jokes" are edifying.  Most are raunchy or degrading or negative or all of the above.  Even if we don't repeat them, we think about them and giggle to ourselves.  At least, this describes what I have experienced personally.

This brings two verses to mind.  The first is Ephesians 5:4, "Let there be no filthiness nor foolish talk nor crude joking, which are out of place, but instead let there be thanksgiving."  It is much easier to obey this when I am not feeding my heart and mind with filth and crude joking.

The second is Matthew 12:34,  "For out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks."  Our heart is filled with whatever we choose to fill it with.  Since I have stopped watching TV, I noticed that my heart is filled more with the things of God.  I don't read the Bible all night long, but I do read it more.  I read a lot of articles about theology and Christian perspective.  My christian walk has grown so much more since February.  I think it's because I am able to wrestle with the Bible and meditate on it. Most importantly, there is very little with which the Holy Spirit has to contend, so I hear God more clearly.


Hopefully it won't be a month until I write again, but until I do, What are you watchin'?