Where My Filters Come From & A Challenge – Post 950

Herb’s Blog, Herbdate 22686 – 950

Here’s the haps:

Someone mentioned in a comment not too long ago that I must have very different filters from them. I would be surprised if I didn’t. Here’s where some of them come from.

Thirty-four years ago we got rid of four televisions, one brand new VCR, dumped every drop of alcohol down the toilet, and threw away our Camel cigarettes.

Last century, we began raising our four children in the fear and admonition of the Lord without the influence of TV or its second cousin, video. We never went (still don’t) go to the movies, so the influence of Hollyweird was not present. We didn’t just prevent our kids from it but we lived, happily, without it ourselves. That was the last century. This century as they grew up we continued that and we also deleted all social media accounts. We don’t follow, listen to, or watch so-called social media influencers. Friends and family who want to stay in touch have our email addresses and phone numbers. When our two oldest were very little and our two youngest had not been born yet, we decided that the influences we wanted for our children and any grandchildren to come were our Bishop and Pastor and the men they put into our pulpit, not some sports or music or television/Hollyweird idol(s) living godless, reckless, hedonistic lives. We wanted them to know the Word of God and how to please Him.

Almost invariably the first thing that happens when I have this conversation with someone and tell them this, is a loud gasp. In fact, I think I heard several just now.

The most frequent interrogation line of questioning I receive goes something like, “How can you do that? You don’t have a TV at all‽‽” (N.B. This is an excellent example of where the use of an interrobang could come into play.) “What do you do‽” “What do/did your kids do‽ Isn’t that child abuse‽” (Real question)

My kids all learned to read pretty quickly and how to use a library card, for one thing. It was nothing for us to get on and off the bus with a hundred or more books. “Do they really read all of those books?” “They don’t have a TV.” “Ohhh…” And we would read them together. A drop in the bucket of the things we discovered was that Frog and Toad are friends and we knew where the wild things are. We knew Mr. McGregor would never return Peter’s brand new coat. Oh, bother! I forgot to mention all the adventures of Christopher Robin and Winnie the Pooh. I don’t remember how hard we laughed when we discovered that if a boy hides butter under his hat on a hot day it will melt and your aunt will think your brains are melting out of your head. Charlie Bucket and Grandpa Joe…If I get old I hope to grow up to be like Grandpa Joe. Unless I can be like Grandpa Nick in the One Big Happy comic strip. Oh yes, there were many comics and books full of comics to be had as well. We also learned about Hank the Cowdog, Head of Ranch Security, and his sidekick, Drover, who has a bad leg whenever there’s trouble.

We went to plays like Fiddler on the Roof, Scrooge, Oliver, and Oklahoma. We listened to a wide variety of Old Time Radio shows, although there were several of those we dropped.

We read the Bible as a family and talked about what we had read. We went to church and not only heard preaching but got to know and know about the men who stood in our pulpit and how to willingly submit to authority. Like the Bob Dylan song said, “You’re Gonna Have To Serve Somebody.” It’s best when you can make the choice. Preachers get a bad rap sometimes because a few, a very small percentage, are the ones who hit the news and not the good, honest, sincere, hard-working ones who don’t want their praises sung.

So, my filters don’t come through Hollyweird, Mad Ave, the Entertainment Industry, or the Leftist media. I have read the Bible through, cover to cover, a number of times and try to draw my judgment and inspiration from there. When it comes to news I use newspapers, radio, and multiple other sources but my filter is the Bible. It’s always interesting to me to see the twists and spins that various sites will put on their stories but I have also discovered that if you read the same story from multiple sources you can find little angles and nuances that you won’t find in a nine-second soundbite. Such soundbites are useful only if you go and look up the rest of the context of what is said. You also can’t trust only the Google and Yahoo for unbiased search results. They may or may not give you a good jumping-off point but it will be from the Left’s point-of-view most frequently.

An Experiment For Those Who Believe In The Ten Commandments:

This is really just an exercise for people who watch TV and try to obey the Commandments.
First, a short list of the commandments:

You shall have no other gods before Me.
You shall not make idols.
You shall not take the name of the LORD your God in vain.
Remember the Sabbath day, to keep it holy.
Honor your father and your mother.
You shall not murder.
You shall not commit adultery.
You shall not steal.
You shall not bear false witness against your neighbor.
You shall not covet.

Then consider this scripture:

And even as they did not like to retain God in their knowledge, God gave them over to a reprobate mind, to do those things which are not convenient; Being filled with all unrighteousness, fornication, wickedness, covetousness, maliciousness; full of envy, murder, debate, deceit, malignity; whisperers, Backbiters, haters of God, despiteful, proud, boasters, inventors of evil things, disobedient to parents, Without understanding, covenantbreakers, without natural affection, implacable, unmerciful: Who knowing the judgment of God, that they which commit such things are worthy of death, not only do the same, but have pleasure in them that do them.

(Rom 1:28-32 KJV)

Taking pleasure in them that do them says to me you enjoy seeing these things happening and going on, even if they come from someone’s wicked imagination or if you can imagine yourself doing these things.

One more scripture and then my challenge.

These six things doth the LORD hate: yea, seven are an abomination unto him: A proud look, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, An heart that deviseth wicked imaginations, feet that be swift in running to mischief, A false witness that speaketh lies, and he that soweth discord among brethren.

(Pro 6:16-19 KJV)

My Simple Challenge To You:

Take a notepad and write the commandments and any other scriptures you want on it. Put it where you have it handy anytime you are watching TV over the next few days or a week or however long you choose to do it. Make a checkmark (for my friends elsewhere, a tick mark) next to each commandment that is broken during your show. Blog about it if you want to, I’d like to see a link to it, but that’s not part of the challenge. The whole point is to make you think about what you are putting into your mind. Garbage in, garbage out.

Remember, The Good Book says:
Finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.(Php 4:8 KJV)

36 Comments

  1. Couldn’t sleep but I think this edifying blog will help me have a good rest for the night. I could read this for hours. Pleasant dreams my blogging friend. I have never looked back.

  2. WoW! Quite a challenge. Anita grew up in Hong Kong without television as her Ma wanted her daughters to avoid useless distractions from their education. The Posts had a tv pretty early on, but it was highly restricted. My mother shut it off when Robinson Carusoe on Mars used the first swear word we ever heard on tv.
    When Anita and I married we avoided a buying a tv for several years and only broke down to get one when my Mother came to live with us after my Dad died, and wanted to watch ball games and cooking shows. After she went Home, I guess we ‘slid’ into less concern over what we watch, and this blog is a good ‘wake-up’ call to us ‘backsliders!’ 😉

    Let me suggest an additional place for that list: beside the computer. How about that for an idea‽
    One of the most helpful things I have read in recent years is at my page: https://capost2k.wordpress.com/changing-your-thought-patterns/ by George Sanchez of the Navigators. Your list idea plays well into his wheelhouse.

    Now, I have to clean my computer screen again because of the coffee stains! 😂
    ❤️&🙏, c.a.

    • Good link, thanks! Your poor screen has never been cleaner! Hahaha. Thank you for stopping and reading – and commenting. I appreciate it.

  3. I was reading a book of G.K. Chesterton essays the other day. It struck me how he writes about just sitting around and looking at stuff, and thinking about it. The constant bombardment of information in which we live has a tendency to stifle productive boredom.

  4. The question, “Isn’t that child abuse?” stunned me. I like the fact that your children were exposed to so many books, as that is the easiest way to develop a critical thinker, in my opinion. Reading with Jeff was probably my favourite part of raising him. I also want you to know that “The Tale of Peter Rabbit” didn’t improve the lives of any McGregors.

    • Hahaha! I laughed out loud about the poor McGregors, sorry.
      Yes a person in the training department at a large insurance company told that in those words. Most reactions were positive, though.

    • Thanks Michael. I can see the idea that this blog is social media but you’re right, I was making a distinction between those types of platforms and this.

  5. Your convictions here are stronger than my own, but it’s hard to disagree with what you say. We avoided getting cable tv for years, sticking to PBS for the kids. Our kids developed into readers too.

    I enjoy a good story in a movie or a TV show, but you are absolutely right about the worsening things that show up in scripts. I have also had to admit that the seeds of many of these negative things even show up in the classic movies I love, like the dismissive attitudes towards marriage.

  6. Great practices and points. I am thankful I lived a sheltered life growing up. Sadly, social media sites and our nation’s leadership get more wicked by the day and children are soaking it all up. I believe nothing any of them say and definitely believe none of the news media outlets. They all have their personal agendas and care more about their so-called legacies. They put profit over people. Lies over truth and coverup wrong doings. God said in numerous Scriptures trust no man because as humans we all have sinned, sin, and will sin, hopefully as Christians not willfully. I am sad to see the name calling, the fighting among party members, discrimination (racism), injustices, hatred, lies and seeing Christians turn from light to darkness. God is not please and I have no doubt that he regrets making mankind. All we can do is pray and save ourselves from this wicked world. (Genesis 6:6 and Acts 2:40). We must stick to the Bible only to protect the salvation of our souls.

    • Thank you. You are so right. “As it was in the days of Noah… ” and again , “As it was in the days of Sodom and Gommorah…”

  7. Gasp. 😎I know others who have had success with no television. Perhaps the “child abuse” comment was an attempt at a witty comment. You deserve so much credit for being a really good father and grandfather. It bleeds through so many of your posts.

  8. I heard of “no television”. I can’t remember where I read it, probably in David Sedaris’ books. So that is true. No television is a good thing since television is very addictive. I mean even flipping the channel is addicitive.

  9. I loved reading this Herb. Depending on my schedule, I might just do the challenge. It would actually be a great challenge to do with my teenager.

  10. We haven’t thrown it all out the window but do seem in the minority for limiting screen time, only allowing screens in public areas, watching movies together, and (the horror! ) not letting them get a cell phone till they’re 16 (and even that with requirements). The world tempts with rot and I hope my boys smell it instead of give in.

    • “The world tempts with rot” I agree. Our kids don’t get a cell phone until they’re 18 and then there is still accountability attached.
      Our computers are out in the open where anyone can walk up at any time and see what we’re doing, even us, the old grandpa and grandma, do this.

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