Bob was a pastor in the upper Midwest. Growing up in Wisconsin, he’d been raised fishing and hunting all year long. Every season was a season to be outdoors pursuing game. Yet, like many Cheeseheads, deer season was a special time. When deer season opens, it’s fairly common for Wisconsin schools to close. It’s pragmatic, really, because most of those kids will be out in the woods with Dad. Now that he was a Pastor, that pattern continued in Bob’s life. It became a running joke in the church that, once deer season opened, Bob was nowhere to be found. He’d be out in the woods, every day, until he filled his tag for the year. Bob was addicted to hunting. Bob had an acceptable addiction. Continue reading
Addiction
Not just for men . . .
Media Exposure, Addiction from Barna
One of the latter conclusions is this: media exposure has become America’s most widespread and serious addiction.
Read the whole article. It’s an interesting take on our media saturated age. One one hand, I wonder if its simply a new age. Before books became widespread, folks were largely illiterate. Ever since we’ve had some folks who prefer not to read, some folks in the middle and the bookworms–people with a voracious appetite for reading. Yet, I’ve never heard a bookworm referred to as an addict. Of course, like media, not all forms of books are edifying–and some folks love forms of books that a Christian might label problematic (think: romance novels, erotica, etc). So, perhaps future generations will see our modern media age as another societal transformation which enabled more folks to become more informed.
On the other hand, silence and solitude are indispensible in the spiritual life of the Christian. Christ set this example for us, as He regularly took time to be alone. During these times we find Christ praying. Likewise, the Christian ought to spend time alone with Him in prayer and quiet reflection. Not only does this help us to hear Him, prayerful reflection upon His word helps us to internalize Christ’s teaching so it becomes a part of us. Also, that quiet time digs a deeper well of peace in the Christian soul, enabling us to face the frustrations of life with a Christlike mindset.
Why not unplug the TV, Wii and Computer for awhile, sit down with the Bible and pray, read–even discuss it with your family?
Brandon Markette 