After six years of marriage we got cable for the first time last month. It all happened when we had to move our TV out of the backroom and into our living room so Jonah could have a new room. The old room was drywall and got good reception but the new room is plaster and you can’t get any signal in there at all. We limped along for a while on terrible reception. But what did it was Sesame Street. Jonah loves Elmo. He calls him “Melmo” and I refer to him as Elmo’s evil twin. Anyway, when Melmo started disappearing from the screen and being replaced by black Jonah didn’t like that one bit. We had cable the next day.
Some things are so important that we take action immediately. It all depends on what your priorities are. There are some things I have known I should take action on for years and never did. My priorities are not always what they should be. Other less important things get immediate attention. The question is what moves us to action quickest and why? The second question is which important things are getting left out and why? These are not questions to be asked of us as individuals but also congregationally.
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I totally agree!!
I got one for you…. our Jeep has had a busted drivers side seat for months now and I haven’t even really cared about it much at all. That was, until yesterday on the way to work when my wife informed me of some card party she has on Saturday and that she will need to use our good car to get there. Problem is — I need that vehicle myself if I want to go fishing.
Long story short, fixing the seat became an instant priority to me and the new seat that I ordered will be here tomorrow.
Why does she need the good car? 🙂
Kidding!
“Some things are so important that we take action immediately. It all depends on what your priorities are. There are some things I have known I should take action on for years and never did. My priorities are not always what they should be. Other less important things get immediate attention.”
Yes, that’s fascinating … But I’d ask, why do you have TV anyway? I ask this, because TV – and cable TV is even a lot more TV, has a bad influence on children (and adults). And if a small child can “force” you to take action immediately, it shows that he is already addicted … TV is the main tool for the world to shape our world-views and value system, and even Sesamy Street is not just “neutral” or “positive”. I remember (I think it was the Muppet Show, but that’s the same Kermit) how Kermit introduced the Pop Stars of my childhood and interviewed them, and they sang a song. And so even pre-school kids are being introduced to the demonic world of MTV … I have three kids. Two of them got to school already (12 and 10), but my younges one still goes to Kindergarden. Last year in Kindergarden, a little boy dressed up as Michael Jackson and performed in fron t of the group. He danced to his music and did it impressivly well. But, boy, he is only 4 or 5 years old, doing immoral morions to an immoral music! And where do they learn this? Why do they like it? Because they are taught so by their TVs. … And do you swith of the TV when the commercials come? Or do you think these sublime messages won’t do any harm to your child? … If I got it right, Jonah is not even a pre-school Kid, but a toddler …
You made a good point though, when you took this experience as an illustration for priorities. I wish for you and your house to understand the danger of cable TV and act accordingly.
Abasnar,
Your concern is very much appreciated. I do feel the need to put this in perspective. I agree with all that you had to say about the dangers of television. I am well aware of that and we don’t watch shows that promote immorality. Our child will be taught far more things by us than he is ever taught by television. I am certain you would have great difficulty diagnosing the addiction of my two year old son based on a humorous illustration on a blog. But that is not why I am responding. In all things we must use discernment and discretion. For instance, you typed your comment on a computer while being online. Obviously all the profane things of the internet hasn’t kept you from using it. Right? That is because you and I both have to use wisdom and know which things are good and beneficial and which things are immoral and are to be avoided. I would hope we could agree on that.