Resolutions

I know, I know it's not January 1st. But after Jason's message on addictions on Sunday ... I needed to make one (a resolution not an addiction). And if you put it on the internet then it must be true so here it goes ...

For the next 4 months (maybe longer), we will not be watching T.V.

Here's the thing, we aren't big in to T.V. I wouldn't have ever said "We are addicted to T.V." We have a couple shows we love (God is Love and he really doesn't care about our T.V. shows) really like (see below), but what happens is the T.V. gets turned on to watch whatever and then it doesn't get turned off until we go to bed (sometimes late because we got sucked into a 9:00 show). We were sort of watching but also doing other things like reading/writing blogs, cooking dinner, playing/work on computers/phones, etc. But we were 1) filling our minds with garbage and 2) less engaged with each other than I Jesus would like us to be.

Our 2 favorite shows are Parks and Rec (literally the most hilarious show ever) and Good Wife (seriously good drama, with minimal sleaze). So we were going to allow ourselves to watch only these 2 shows but Good Wife has already had its finale and so we will bid adieu to T.V. with the finale of Parks and Rec this Thursday.

It is amazing how much more efficient I am with other tasks (like blogging, cooking, cleaning) when there is no T.V. I am a pretty good multi-tasker and actually used T.V. as a purposeful distraction in college. Math can be pretty cold to an extravert, and when I didn't have roommates around to make people noise during my many hours of homework T.V. was a good stand in. Math can also be pretty dense and momentary metal breaks where you are less focused on the task can help your  brain find the next step (at least in my opinion); but the rest of life isn't like math. Friends on the phone deserve your full attention and my husband deserves the respect of undivided quality time.

Romans 12:2

 Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is —his good, pleasing and perfect will. 

Romans 12:2 also seemed to surface in my mind during Jason's message. I don't remember him specifically using this text but if he did then don't tell him I didn't remember. I think the verse came up in a study earlier in the week and as I was pondering the hours I was allowing my mind to be subject to the worldly messages of television I was convicted. How am I to expect to understand God's will and have a meaningful relationship with him if I let watching essentially garbage take so much of the time he has blessed me with. I have direct instructions to 'be transformed by the renewing of (my) mind.' So a sub commitment of eliminating T.V. is also to 'renew my mind' via non-fiction reading. Since we just finished The Story with our high school small group, I needed a little push to stay on the reading band wagon. So since everything on the internet is true:

I will be reading (at least but probably more) one non-fiction book a month. 

I honestly almost put one book a week since I am 1/3 of the way through my first book after one day, but in case I feel called to read a fatty book or my time gets away from me I wouldn't want to abandon my commitment. And since accountability bolsters any resolution I will be posting my reading list here for you to see. My "Books Read" list will contain completed books. I will also have an upcoming or in process list and  I would love recommendations!

I started with The Millionaire Next Door. Dave Ramsey mentions it a lot and it was what I was in the mood for when I sat down to read. I've read over a third of it so far and am really enjoying it. Most of the data isn't surprising if you have done FPU, but it is always good to reinforce your core priorities with sound information. (Perhaps you don't know but Jeremy and I are pretty intense in our dislike of debt and want to make sure we are using the resources God has blessed us with in ways that are pleasing to Him. We have taken and led Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University and would recommend it to anyone, regardless of age or income.) I'll let you know more about The Millionaire Next Door next time.

Comment with your book recommendations or any thing else you might want me to know!