21 hours of dekingdoming

a Jesus thought...
I am the vine, you are the branches. He who abides in Me, and I in him, bears much fruit; for without Me you can do nothing. (John 15:5)

a Godly thought...
Jesus teaching style was definitely nonacademic: he discipled his followers into a lifestyle rather than send them to an academy to learn about God divorced from the context of life and mission. (p107 Frost & Hirsch)

a leading thought...
Seeing is believing, and what people observe in a leader may be more influential than anything he or she may say. (p56 Harris)

a Dave thought...
This was reported yesterday... http://www.theage.com.au/news/diet/teenage-tv-obesity-link/2007/08/30/1188067332628.html

A survey of more than 18,000 students aged between 12 and 17, published in the journal Health Promotion International, found that 55 per cent of teenagers who watched more than three hours of television each day reported drinking high-energy drinks more than four times a week and 61 per cent were eating snack foods more than four times a week, compared with 38 per cent and 46 per cent for those watching less than two hours a day.

I have always had the belief that the people you spend the most time with you become like, and the hobbies you pursue the most have the biggest impact on your life. So when I read that most Australian teenagers are watching over 3 hours of TV a day I realise we are heading in a dangerous direction as most TV shows are about pursuing your own agendas, looking unbelievably good, and getting as many things as possible in the years we are around. It is no coincidence that teenagers living out kingdom values are declining. In my local setting most of the Box Hill teenagers at our corps are around the church 2-3 hours per week, so I have no doubt TV is having a bigger impact on their lifestyle and decision making than God. So do we attempt to change this culture where 21 hours of consumerism is taken in weekly, or do we just expect the church and others to deal with the after effects and try and teach them an alternative way to live?

Just a thought.