Let's Talk Entertainment-Specifically Books

Along with my other posts on Entertainment, we can't leave out Books!  Some of you crazy readers are probably saying "What can be wrong with books?"  Well I can tell you first hand a few things that I have struggled with or am currently struggling with.  

They can be Disruptive

1. Those of us book worms know what happens when we pick up a good book. We can't put it down. We read until the wee hours of the morning, until our eyes are so heavy that they won't stay open and then what comes in the morning is not a pretty sight.  It makes us exhausted to go to work and be productive, or do our duties around the house, or pay attention to our kids. It's disruptive.

Content, Content, Content

2. Content, content, content.  Pretty much a theme in my entertainment posts as you can see.  Content is a big deal, even in books and for some of us especially in books.  It can be just as effective or even more with some people.  For me books have always taken me places.  It was a book that showed me my need for Jesus when I was 10 years old.  It has been books that have shaped my views on things. It has been books that have helped me empathize and learn about people and cultures.  

But content can be damaging too.  There are less reviews these days on books (that are helpful) than movies and TV, but there are some. Plugged In through Focus on the Family is a great resource for all kinds of media, including books. Common Sense Media has some book reviews as well.  What I like about these sites is that they have a section where it explains how to talk with your kids about the things in the book.  Plugged in has a section called Discussion Topics and Common Sense Media's section is called Talk to your Kids about...

Let's face it, if you're a parent you might not know what your kids are reading in school these days.  Most likely your kid isn't going to talk about it unless you are actively asking, and then sometimes you only get bits of information out of them.  My husband and I made a pact awhile back that if the kids were reading something in school one of us should be reading it as well so we can thoroughly discuss it with them.  For some people this might be very difficult and so this is where informative book reviews come in handy.

2A.  Romance Novels.  I just want to share a little bit with you from one of my favorite Christian bloggers/authors about Romance novels.

You can read Sheila Wray Gregoire's post here on romance novels and how they can affect your marriage and your view of it.  Her post also has links to other posts regarding porn and erotica that are an interesting read.

Idolatry

3. Has reading a book or a series of them affected your spiritual walk?  Would you prefer to read your book instead of the bible?  I know I feel that way more than I should.  When we put forms of entertainment before our time with God it is making it a form of idolatry.

So what is my point?

As with all my other entertainment posts we must be aware of what we see with our eyes, hear with our ears and take into our hearts.  We must put God first.  We must pick up our cross daily and re-evaluate what we are doing with our lives and where we are going.  

Something to think about... There is only 1 book that you might not be in enough, His Word.  The Bible.  If you find getting into The Word hard there are several resources you can use to get you started.  

• Most bibles have reading plans in them, either in the front or back.

  

• You can do a bible devotional that uses scripture to get you into the word.  

• Those of you who aren't big into paper books, check out the The You Version App or web based here.  

• You can also check out Bible Gateway online.

I also encourage you to find a local church and be part of the body. The bible teaches us that we are to seek community with other believers.  Can't find one that fits?  Ask yourself why?  Really see that what's important to God is the same as what's important to you.  This is a tough one for a lot of people.

A lot of churches have bible studies and/or Men's and Women's groups.  Join one.

You will find my other posts on Entertainment here on my blog under the entertainment tab.  

Romans 8:5 

Those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires.

Philippians 4:8

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.

Fix Our Eyes on Him!

Let's Talk Entertainment-Specifically Video Games

Uh Oh! Yup, I'm tackling this too.  

I have to admit I never really had an issue with spending too much time on a single video game in my lifetime.  I tend to get bored really fast.  Of course, I will spend time on various games every night, so that's kind of the same.  When our son was using his DS to complete Mario Bros, of course I had to try it out. I loved Mario related video games when I was younger in my early 20s. 

Of course, our first console was Intellivision, at least that's the first one I remember. I really enjoyed playing Dungeons and Dragons(if you are looking for some nostalgia from this game, check this out) and Pitfall. When I was a little bit older we had a Colecovision in which I would play Mouse Trap.  In high school I like playing Where in the US or World is Carmen San Diego and Oregon Trail.

My idea of a fun video game is Wheel of Fortune, Jeopardy or Trivia Crack.  I even like the occasional free slot games. I'll try new games, and my hubby has even installed emulators on my computer to play older games like Myst and Oregon Trail, but I lose interest fast.

Like all entertainment, video gaming can be a time sucker.  It can become an idol.  Unless you are playing some kind of game that is teaching you about the bible I can't imagine that any of these games are glorifying to God.  However, a lot of games aren't disrespectful of Him. 

Here's the problem I have specifically with video games.  A lot of the games we play engage the creative centers in our brains, they push us to learn and to be strategic-these are good things. However, they also teach our brains the desire to want more, to level up, to keep going until completion. When we get to the end, what happens?  Have you ever finished a video game and been really satisfied?  Some of you are probably thinking, of course.  Those of you who are, what are you thinking right after you finish your game, or a couple of days afterward?  I am guessing it's something like "What now?" or "Which game should I play now?"   We are always looking for that completion, that fulfillment.  I feel like this is a human kind of thing.  We aren't finished until we are fulfilled and when we don't feel that fulfillment we move onto the next big thing to fill that hole.

Only God, through his son Jesus can fill that emptiness in our hearts. Not our spouse, not our kids, not other people and definitely not entertainment.  It might feel like it at the time though.

There is a lot of debate about whether or not video games are addictive or not.  Like a lot of other entertainment or things in life, they can be.  There can be a physical addiction and/or an emotional addiction to them.  We are looking in the wrong place.  I am as much a part of this as anyone else. 

Here are a couple of interesting reads on the subject of video game addiction.  There obviously is a problem if there is help out there for it.

1. Video game addiction from the American Addiction centers.
2. Focus on the Family also did a series here on The Parent's Guide to Video games.
3. As to marriage, here and part 2, are from one of my favorite bloggers/author's that talks about what to do is your husband is addicted to video games or plays too much.  This can also apply to wives.  As we all know the world is changing and there are plenty of woman who can be addicted to things like pornography and/or video games that seemed like a man only thing.

So, What's my point?

Like all other entertainment, video games can be a time sucker.  The content of some of them are dishonoring to God, and others may have some things that can cause eyes to stray and hearts to break.  Harmless games can become stumbling blocks.  My point is to beware of the activities you engage in, like other forms of entertainment, they can lead you down the wrong path.  If you have kids, censor the games to age appropriateness and talk about the things your kids see in the games and how they might be affected by them. Set time limits for your kids and yourself and make them reasonable.  My suggestion would to not let the limit be "I'll get off as soon as I get to the next level, or beat the next...etc" because that can lead to hours for some games.  

In All Things, Keep Jesus your center.

If you are walking in his word daily it can be easier to avoid temptation when it's thrown in front of you.  We are not perfect, we are all full of sin, but we have a savior.  Listen to the song below, try to keep the path and when you stray;

Ephesians 2:1-10

As for you, you were dead in your transgressions and sins, 2 in which you used to live when you followed the ways of this world and of the ruler of the kingdom of the air, the spirit who is now at work in those who are disobedient. 3 All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh[a] and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. 4 But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, 5 made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. 6 And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, 7 in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. 8 For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God— 9 not by works, so that no one can boast. 10 For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

1 Peter 2:24
24 “He himself bore our sins” in his body on the cross, so that we might die to sins and live for righteousness; “by his wounds you have been healed.”