The TV Challenge and Discussion

[Keith]

Here's my TV viewing:

Of the morning if I'm home, I'll watch The Beverly Hillbillies on WGN. Usually I will watch The Rockford Files thereafter and maybe Matlock. If one of the older shows is on Sci-Fi when I'm home, I'll watch it. Past that, if I catch The Wilburn Brothers Show or The Porter Wagoner Show on RFD-TV, I'll watch them. Other than that I will on occasion watch VHS copies of classic wrestling from the 70's/80's that re-aired a few years back on local TV. I spend most of time either working or on here, lol!

You sure do like the oldies! I used to enjoy watching some Nick-at-Nite myself. I liked Patty Duke and the Donna Reed Show, Leave it to Beaver, the Beverly Hillbillies and the Andy Griffith Show. When I gave up TV for two months and then went back to it I found my taste for certain TV shows had changed because my mind had been transformed. For example, I used to really like Roseanne and the Dukes of Hazzard. When I went back to watching them, I found myself thinking about them differently and a bit shocked that I would enjoy them so much with the messages they send out.

[Keith]

I think TV can be either very positive or very negative. It depends how you use it.

I love my TV and would never turn it off for a whole month! No way, I couldn't do it.

I should also tell you we subscribe to Sky Angel. It is a satellite dish with all christian programing. Every movie, every program is safe for my kids to watch, I don't have to worry when the TV is on. The best thing about it is it only costs about $15.00/month.

I can listen to a bible study while I clean or prepare supper. Many times I watch a program with my Bible and pen in hand.

In Christ,

CarolineS

Caroline, thanks so much for responding because you brought up something I wasn't aware of. What is this Sky Angel??? I'd really like to hear about it. Family friendly viewing for only $15 a month? Sounds like you're on to something! The only thing then, for me, is that I would have to monitor how much time I spent with the TV on and making sure I had my personal time with the Lord regularly.

[Keith]

I CANNNNNNNNNNNN"T!

I HAVE to watch soaps!!!!!!! nooooooooooo seriously, I watch TV for enjoyment.

Nothing more.

I love TV.

It's a treat in itself.

And I LOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVE good movies............I would survive without good movies..............

Thanks for taking the time during your trip to the Holy Land to respond, Yomo! I don't think I would even remember the internet existed if I were there!

TV watching can definitely be enjoyable! It's what we're watching that makes a difference. Personally I would question watching soap operas with all the lust, temptation and sleeping around people do on them. If you can't turn off the TV, Yomo, I would ask that you pray and ask God what He thinks about the shows you like to watch. In essence, you're watching them with Him so why not ask Him if He likes the show(s)?

[mrs]

Well if I'm addicted to anything its the internet and Worthy. My grampa has cable but I never use it because I find tv a waste of time plus there never seems to be anything worthwhile on.I use it only to enjoy an occasional movie with my friend, and to watch Christian dvds I buy.

Great idea on this thread by the way Keith!You are an inspiration and encouragment to walk close to Him.

[Keith]

Well if I'm addicted to anything its the internet and Worthy. My grampa has cable but I never use it because I find tv a waste of time plus there never seems to be anything worthwhile on.I use it only to enjoy an occasional movie with my friend, and to watch Christian dvds I buy.

Great idea on this thread by the way Keith!You are an inspiration and encouragment to walk close to Him.

Thank you for the kind words, smiles. It's all to His glory alone!! Sounds like you have your viewing habits under control and I'm happy to hear it! TV is just something that's been around for so long now that I think most people take to turning it on unconsciously and watching randomly. It's something I don't think we should become complacent with and I only hope this thread will be a gentle reminder.

[Keith]

I just got my three NetFlix movies in the mail today! In case others wonder what good movies there are available, I'll list the three I just got.

Chonda Pierce: Be Afraid, Be Very Afraid!

Join Chonda as she takes you on a hilarious journey through one of her favorite subjects: Fear. Not often the most obvious choice for comedic subject matter, but Chonda serves up the best solution - a huge dose of laughter. Taking in music, sketches, stories, and songs, the only fear this variety show will instill in you is the fear of it ending!

(Any Chonda Pierce fans? This southern Christian comedienne is absolutely, laugh until you cry funny!)

Beyond the Next Mountain

This program examines Rochunga Pudaite's life and his mission to bring the gospel to his people, the Hmar of northeast India. Branded as ruthless heathens by the British at the end of the 19th century, the Hmar were forever changed when a copy of John's Gospel made its way into their village. Rochunga's father, Chawnga, adopted Christianity and believed that his son was chosen by God to bring Christianity to the entire village.

Lay It Down

Brothers Ben and Pete are an unbeatable pair in the world of illegal street racing. But after Ben gets into a serious car accident, he discovers that there's more to life than fast cars. Deciding to turn his life over to Christ, he soon finds that not everyone shares his new passion. Ben tries to explain his faith to friends and family, but they miss the old Ben. The conflict eventually draws him in for one last race.

[darkest_red]

I agree with you. I think sports have become almost a religion in itself and can take up waaaay too much of people's time. You only have to look at a TV guide to see how big sports are and how much time people spend watching it. This is slightly off topic but also the fact that sports stars get paid sooo much while people who work long, hard hours to help people, like nurses etc, paid so little compared to, say, David Beckham etc. I guess that shows how much people idolise them.

I'm not really into sports though...the only sports I really have any interest in are rugby, ice hockey and basketball. The latter two are rarely on terrestrial TV in the UK so I very rarely get to see them. The friends I have that are into sports have a very healthy Lord centred life and would happily miss a sports game to go to church, so I'm glad they're not one of the people you're talking about, though I know exactly the type!

darkest red,

Another thing that gets me about the priority of sports in this country is how a sporting event will interrupt regular viewing so it can be aired. There's nothing wrong with watching and enjoying sports. Not at all. I just think that far too many people take it to extremes and it becomes extremely important to them. There have been riots when teams haven't won big games... at least with some high school and college level sports.

Yeah, I agree. I do think though that most of the violence connected to sports isn't by the sports fans themselves but rather by thugs (for want of a better word!) who are using sports as an excuse!

I support England whenever possible, but it is by no means my life. Yesterday, for instance, England played Australia at rugby. The match wasn't being shown on terrestrial (we don't have Sky or anything as my parents say there's enough rubbish on TV already and we don't need to pay for more!) and though I would've liked to see the match (I suppose if I'd been really desperate I could've asked my boyfriend to record it for me!) I wasn't too fussed as long as I got to know the final score. I do like watching rugby though, it's a great game to watch!

As for TV in general...I'm reminded of Good People by Jack Johnson (great song from a great album!) and the lyrics...

"You win, it's your show now

So what's it going to be

Because people will tune in

How many train wrecks do we need to see?

Before we lose touch

And we thought this was low

Well it's bad, getting worse so...

Where'd all the good people go

I've been changing channels, I don't see them on my TV shows

Where'd all the good people go

We've got heaps and heaps of what we sow..."

[jmh137]

My husband pointed out an interesting fact of the past to me. He said, back in the day, people would get up when the sun came up and go to sleep when dark set in. I suppose the only reading that was done was by candle light or oil lamp.

I think we have pretty much gotten ourselves into a way of life that makes me feel, spoiled rotten.

I went to someone else's house yesterday for a visit. I couldn't tell their kids to turn off their "tubes," because of course it was not my place. I did explain to the little boy that I was trying to abstain from television. I really think that he understood, in all his nine years of wisdom. He says to me that he only had a play-station game on his "tube," and that really wasn't like watching T.V.

In most every household that I go into, there is a T.V. in mostly every room. Is it just the way of life that most Americans have or what?

Anyway, I could hear some noise in the background, coming from the "cursed boxes," but tried not to let my ears focus in on what was being said. So, I suppose I made it through another night "television free." When I finally got home I must admit that I was tempted to turn it on, for the weekend's end. I work 7 days a week and usually want to just watch something with no meaning

on Sunday nights before I have to get up and start all over with no break in the routine. I say to my husband that I just want to not think about anything serious, so I can enjoy my few free hours before I'm at it again. I suppose the Lord won't except that because he is convicting me over it.

And so shall it be. .......jmh137

[irishcowboy]

T.V. Addict?

or

Worthy Addict?

what constitutes an addict?

what constitutes too much T.V. or internet or anything else?

remember, now is the season for all that fine foot ball.... none of which i watch....

then comes the season for all that fine basketball, which i dont watch....

then baseball and then back to foot ball.....

which months are there that are free from ball games to do away with the TV....

have fun....

I watch about three hours a week.... average.....

mike

[Keith]

Someone once told me that there were two weeks of the year when there were no sports games on regular television. I think that two week time frame has pretty much disappeared by now.

Great job, jmh! It's not easy giving up TV because you'll start noticing that it's all around you. Others will tempt you or question why you're giving it up for a WHOLE month!? Keep going, sis!

I'm about to watch the middle movie I listed above from NetFlix, Beyond the Next Mountain. I've been excited to see this one. I have chinese take-away and will curl up to the movie for the night! (For those interested, I got Curried Chicken with Broccoli and egg rolls Anything to do with curry is a favorite of mine!) For those who think they might rent the wrong kind of movies from NetFlix if they were to join, it might interest you to know that you can have Friends link to your list. For some reason people like having friends able to see what they're watching and have in their queue. Sounded really dumb to me until I realized that it's a great accountability tool! You're more likely not to rent those "iffy" movies if your friends can view what you're renting, right?