It's about time

[Psalm97]

I've been thinking about time lately, and how people spend it. Studies show we have more free time than ever, but everyone seems to be in much more of a hurry than ever before. Funny thing is, the things we hurry around to get done these days are less important than the things that used to take up all our time before technology modernized and streamlined our lives. We have more time, but we have found things to fill that time and made them the important things in our lives.

When I was young I read a lot of books, all fiction. Science fiction and mystery stories were how I spent my free time. Oh well, at least I have a good vocabulary now. When I moved out on my own, I got cable TV and spent a lot of time watching it (the single most boring thing I have ever done for any length of time - there's NEVER anything good on.) It wasn't worth much and it sure wasn't very entertaining, but it filled my time. Then I got a video game console, and suddenly I had far too little free time to play all the games I wanted. Here at last was something I could interact with, use my brain and my reflexes, and feel some measure of achievement when I beat each game.

The problem was, video games became basically my life. As I had nothing else more interesting to take up my free time, what took up my time was all I thought about no matter where I was. When I was at work I was trying to figure out how to beat the next boss monster in my current video game. Even when I started going to church again, I wouldn't really hear the pastor preach......... I was impatient to get back home so I could play more games. When a person would go up for prayer I might mumble a few prayer-like words, but I might as well have saved the effort - I wasn't really praying. A thing that was supposed to take up free time had become more important to me than the things I should have spent my time on.

I realized there was a bit of a conflict for some years, and I would try to limit time for video games. I would go for more than a week without playing and never miss it, so I would consider maybe it wasn't such a problem. But then I'd go back to playing and be in the same state as before - video games were all I thought about again, because that's all I put in my mind.

One day on the way to work I argued with God the whole length of the highway about this. My primary argument was, "If I stop playing video games, what will I do with all my free time?" God said, "Plenty!" I doubted it, but I know God's voice by now so I decided to get rid of them. When I got to work I even called my grandmother and told her my decision, so I wouldn't be able to easily renege on it when I got home (I realize I'm good at rationalizing and thought it best to sabotage myself in that direction from the start.)

[Psalm97]

(part 2....... I found the 5000 character limit)

You know what?........ I'm spending my time much better now. My days are still packed, but now I spend time on things that matter. I'm learning the piano, learning to play a whole slew of instruments through the keyboard + computer, learning to make soundtracks, filling almost a dozen roles in the church - oh, and I got my UPCI local minister's license last September.

The things I once spent my time on are no longer even of any interest. I tried some video games recently while looking for some good freeware for a friend's computer, but they seemed so boring compared to what I do with my time now. The books I used to read......... sometimes I still go and look at the book rack at Wal-Mart, but they seem so predictable when I think about what my life is like. We baptized Bro. David in Jesus' name a while ago, how can a video game compare to that? Bro. Jonny, the mechanic at the town's (one and only) red light, got the Holy Ghost, how can a Tom Clancy novel match that? Why would I spend time wasting time when there are new chord progressions and instruments to learn, songs to learn to play, sound systems to set up, take down and tinker with at church, Children's Church stuff to plan for, easter music to sing, puppet team stuff to work on............ Why would I waste time when there is so much to do?

But I used to.

How many times have how many people skipped prayer meeting because it would conflict with their favorite show? How many positions lie empty at church or are filled by people who aren't as good at the job because the ones God called just don't have the time? Movies, football, books, chatrooms, TV, parties, video games........ all are made to take up free time, but all can become more important than their worth deserves. A good friend of mine had to give up golf recently. Not that there is anything wrong with golf, and if you play golf you're not necessarily going to go to hell for it - but he said he just spent too much time and money on it, so he had to get rid of it. My youth pastor has a Nintendo Wii, and there's nothing wrong with that. But for me personally video games were a problem, because I let it get more important to me than the things that really matter. I had to let it go and focus on more important things.

There is so much to be done, and I can't afford to waste any more time.

[EJFH]

Quote: Studies show we have more free time than ever,

We who?

Show me a person with something resembling "free time," and I'll show you a person who is not self-employed. Me, I work half a day, every day -- twelve hours. My to-do list is longer at 8:00p.m. than it was when I started at 8:00 a.m. Even the few minutes that I spend inputting a post like this represents time borrowed from work; time that will have to be tacked on to the end of my day. I'd like a word with whomever did those "studies."

That said, good post Psalm. And I'm glad to see someone else finding those 5,000 character limits.

[johncrawford]

Oh no, I used to worry about who "they" were, now I also have to look out for"who."

[lancemahan]

Good story! God Bless you. I have found the same thing. The TV was a distraction. I love westerns, action, etc....

This week I have given up sitting down and watching tv. God has blessed me with people to talk to. He has given me thoughts for messages for the youth or congregation at church. I would rather have those then watching tv.

I gave up SODA over a week ago for a fast for God. All of a sudden things begin to happen out of the blue.

A lady tried to run me over twice at Wal mart with her cart. She said she was sorry both times. God asked me to ask her to come to church. She was about 5-7 yards away and I was waiting to get closer. Before I could get it our she said " are you a preacher" I smiled and said no ma'am. I am part of the youth ministry and also applying to a prison ministry in Il.
We started to chat. She is Baptist but she was interested in things that Jesus was allowing me to say. I began talking about the Holy Ghost and the sign of the Holy Ghost. She began to want the Holy Ghost.

We talked for about an hour. I invited her to church and exchanged phone #'s. She is hungry for God and the truth.

Sometimes Jesus has to throw something at you to get your attention. That God for that lady and her cart!

God Bless
Love Brother Lance

[EJFH]

Amen! Sometimes opportunity wears the strangest disguises.