I think the same kinds of things can be said (and probably are said) about
the Internet.  I think rather than throwing the whole thing out, we need to
explore, and teach our children to explore, what kinds of messages a given
program is sending.  Maybe something like, "Why was that rabbit in the
cartoon so mean to the other rabbits?"  Or "Even though it's sad the little
girl got all those burns in the fire in her house that her daddy set to
kill her mommy, does that mean she'll never be happy again?"  (Just making
up plots here.)  Then we can talk about what we've seen on TV and how it
relates to our lives and what we can do differently, instead of being angry
and sad and hating people, etc.  Just some thoughts.

Peggy

At 07:56 AM 2/7/2005, you wrote:
>There are days that I want to call and cancel our basic cable service and
>throw the tv out on the curb.
>However, I like the thing for my own reasons.
>I like to get the news and to have something to watch video tapes on and the
>baby learns a lot from the shows we let her watch.
>My wife has shows she likes as well.
>However, a lot of real bad messages can come into your house through that
>little box as well.
>It was through tv that we first learned of Jimmy and Carron Evans, the
>pastors/marital councilors who have helped us so much and set us on the
>proper path.
>There are things that come through it which suck you in and right in the
>middle of watching it, you realize, that it is something you shouldn't
>watch.
>There are shows with really witty or enjoyable/attractive characters on them
>who you like to see/hear but the lives they lead or messages they put across
>are bad.
>Just last night I tapped a program which was supposed to be a documentary on
>the bible and you can't help but feel the opinions of the people who put it
>out bleeding strongly through the facts.
>It is clear that they don't believe the bible but are trying to reconcile
>the text with what they know of history.
>I even find myself doing this sometimes and it is part of my growth to come
>to trust the bible instead of question it.
>I am not finished with this growth yet.
>Back to this subject of the tv though.
>What I have studied of Christian teachings on marriage and family says that
>as parents we are the door keepers of the home and that nothing that is in
>our home right now has been allowed there without our consent.
>Also, that everything in our home has a spiritual nature to it.
>If you think of that, then the tv should have horns and be engulfed in
>flames.
>hahahahahahhah
>These "women empowerment" type shows they have now a days are just the same
>old stories as you have with Eve and the Apple and Lott and his daughters.
>In short, we can't count on man or god, we have to try and force our own
>outcome if we are ever to grow.
>That bugs me that.
>Then I am male and I like the murder mysteries and supposedly historical
>documentaries and those have a bad spirit to them.
>If you live right you never have close contact with rape and murder and
>infidelity but that and more is in these shows I enjoy viewing.
>It builds paranoia and worry in me and that is something I don't need.
>Anyway, I could babble forever.
>I just had this on my mind and wanted to throw it out here.
>Even in the cartoons we allow our daughter to watch I see the "rich
>characters who are always painted as over indulgent and ungrateful while the
>"poor characters are always the main characters everyone knows and loves who
>just go through life learning lessons and living the good life.  I think
>that creates the "poor me no one understands me and I am always behind or
>stomped on attitude which I think is unhealthy.
>This is how the minorities of the world function at least publicly.  The
>blind minority is not excused from it either.
>Oh woe as us!  No one understands our struggles.
>Ya know.
>See?
>I told ya I could continue to babble.
>
>Enough,
>
>
>Matt
>
>Marriage is a covenant, not a contractual relationship.
>In a contractual relationship we demand our rights and limit our
>responsibilities.
>Where as, in a covenant relationship, we limit our rights and assume
>responsibilities.

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