“Don’t copy the behavior and customs of this world, but let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” – Romans 12:2

A couple weeks ago, Karen and I flew out to visit our son and daughter-in-law in the beautiful mountain area of Fairview, North Carolina for Spring Break. This little town sits nestled just outside of Asheville. There is such beauty at every turn there with the mountains, trails and streams that Karen and I were jokingly wondering how we could transfer our jobs to there. We had such a great time hanging out with them. We played games, visited a cheese farm, an Amish shop, traveled to nearby shopping towns, cooked together and just overall had a blast.

When our son, Grant and his wife April married, they made a decision to live life without having a television in the house. At the time I thought; What! No TV…how can they live like that! How will they be entertained? How will they know what’s going on in the world? But you know now, I have such great respect for them making that decision to live life “Unplugged”. While we were there, I honestly did not even miss not having the TV on as we enjoyed listening to some old LP’s. Yes, our sweet daughter-in-law still has her original record player she had when she lived in Ohio and how we enjoyed listening to some Jim Croce, Simon & Garfunkel, Creedence Clearwater and so many more. We were also able to catch up on some long overdue reading as they have a great book collection in their home as well. It truly was refreshing living life unplugged for a change.

When Karen and I returned home, we had enjoyed our stay so much of living life unplugged that we agreed to continue on and chose to leave the TV off for the remainder of the month or beyond. It has been so nice living life unplugged as we instead “tuned in” to reading more of God’s Word, books we had been wanting to read but quite honestly had allowed that square box to take precedence over them. It’s also amazing how much you can truly “hear” even when you’re not actively listening when you are unplugged and yet are tuned in to life all around you. You hear birds singing, crickets chirping, wind rustling through the trees, chimes singing….you hear the sounds of life. There is so much beauty all around us each day that God gives us but yet I believe too often we are not tuned in to hear it as we are too plugged in to this old world and it’s busy, “got to get ahead” routines, demands and pressures.

Regarding television, just today I was reminded of a song that was popular in the 80s in the Christian market. It was titled, “People in a Box”. Basically it referred to living in a slumber state of being while viewing television and being mesmerized and fixated on it’s content each day only to wake up and relive it all over again. I’m sure its no mystery to you friend that the airwaves are flooded with content to try and draw your mind away from the things of God. Scriptures tell us in Isaiah 5:20 “Woe to those who call evil good and good evil, who put darkness for light and light for darkness, who put bitter for sweet and sweet for bitter. Please don’t misunderstand me friend, I believe television can be a good thing if viewed and used in the correct manner. When I teach my students about Technology, the first lesson I give them is that is simply a tool. And like a pencil, it can be used for good like writing a great essay or for evil and be used to put someone’s eye out. It depends who is holding the tool and how it is being used which will determine the outcome. I’m simply asking that each of us would begin to ask ourselves, “Is what I’m listening to and viewing going to be instrumental in building me up or tear me down?” Ephesians 5:16 instructs us to “Make the most of every opportunity in these evil days.”  God has given each and every one of us who are Christ followers a mandate and calling for each of our lives and personally, I so desire when I stand before Him one day to hear Him say, “Well done, good and faithful servant! You have been faithful with a few things; I will put you in charge of many things. Come and share your master’s happiness!” – Mathew 25:23.

“Heavenly Father, we thank You for all the beauty all around us that we might take for granted when this world tries so desperately to draw our attention away from You and this beautiful life which You’ve given us. Help us to willfully “unplug” from this world and “tune in” to the life for which You’ve called us to. Give us eyes to see, ears to hear and hands to reach out to those in need of what we have to offer them which is the knowledge of Your Son, Jesus. In His name we pray, Amen.”

For His Kingdom,