#4 Choose (uplifting entertainment)

Many of us (I'm assuming) grew up being told not to watch something that we wouldn't watch if Jesus was sitting right next to us. I got grounded once for watching... Saved by the Bell. Yep! Tis true. It was a "teenager show" and I got caught as an adolescent sneaking in an episode. It's funny now though, especially considering all the junk that even younger kids are able to watch. What happened to all the great shows? Boy Meets World? Magnum PI? Scarecrow & Mrs.King!!? Full House? Gilligan's Island? Duck Tales!!! Chip and Dale Rescue Rangers!? There were SO MANY great, quality shows, that were age appropriate. In all honesty, I prefer many of them over the shows we have now.

The saying that what goes in, eventually comes out is true, however you want to spin it or try to deny it. If I watch too much Dr. Quinn I keep one eye open at all times to find my Sully. If I watch too many older movies I wish I could sing conversation with everyone and start to Google local tap dancing lessons. I drive too fast when I listen to rap music, Country makes me want to wear cowboy boots and off-road in a pick up truck, and The Weepies make me want to pack up a suitcase and road-trip across country, leaving Nashville and all it's current stresses "behind".

We live in an entertainment driven society, there is no escaping it. But do we need to escape it? Or do we need to just be intentional about the things we will not allow ourselves to be engaged with. These things are different for everyone. I myself am a very visual person. I'm an artist, being visual is a given. If I watch something violently graphic, overly sexual, etc., I can't shake the images for a week or more and have to pray that my mind is clear from the clutter. And some movies don't even give you enough warning to reach for the remote. Some music is great but the message in it is so crude, or despairing it really can affect emotions. Am I saying to avoid media? By all means no. I'm not suggesting the impossible. There are also so many things we wouldn't get to enjoy, and I love a great movie, show, or song. I'm not willing to give that up.

But we need to know our limits. Know what areas are triggers for you and avoid them. Learn what struggles your friends have and out of encouragement and protection for them avoid those things. Media or not. We're in this together. Lets take responsibility for ourselves and each-other and push towards the things that are uplifting. The media we intake can be such clutter in our lives and be more exhausting than relaxing.

If you're really crazy, stop paying for cable, Netflix your favorite shows or bug your neighbor and make time for community during show times. Invest in a good book (that still is within the uplifting/ appropriate guidelines), grab a blanket, find a great tree, and grab your favorite beverage (support your locals) on the way there. Here are a handful of my personal favorites, in case you aren't sure where to start. And I'm always looking for new suggestions, so if you have a book that you just love, pass it along. I want to love it too!

Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.  --Philippians 4:8