Discerning Media - Part 2

Today, yes today, we are blessed to have some thoughts from our Camp Creative Guru – Robert Parrish (“Chief”) who has a new holiday strut basking with his first born child “Hallie” who just turned one year old- simply put- she’s “preciously perfect.” Jp
 
Here are Chief's thoughts: (thanks bro)
A salty breeze streams across your face as you stand in the warm sand overlooking an endless expanse of blue water. The beach is empty today as you drop your towel and kick off your sandals. As you stroll to the water’s edge your son asks if you can swim out past the break of the waves. As you contemplate the proposition two notes pass through your head that stir a rising fear of the prospect of deep waters. Da Na. You look down to your anxious boy and convince him that looking for shells in the shallow water will be a much more exciting endeavor. Da Na.
 
Why does the fear of sharks grip us so tightly when we head to the ocean? We are more likely to die from digging a hole in the sand and it collapsing on top of us. We fear this because of a little movie from 30 years ago called Jaws. Even the spelling looks scary. When we consider the effects that this movie still carries on real life decisions decades later we see that there is a very real influence from media on our lives.
A recent trend is media copycat crimes. From the Columbine shooters using NBK (Natural Born Killers-1994 film) as a code for the shootings to a 12 year old red head boy being attacked because of “South Parks' –Kick a Ginger Day” episode.  It is not just movies and TV. Video Games, Music, and the chance to be famous online have created an entirely different hyper reality in which we live.
 
The data is in. Media that we consume influences us. That may not be the only factor involved when it comes to decision making, but it is unquestionable that it plays into our overall life choices. The real question is:  do we become Amish or can our families successfully navigate the shark infested waters of today’s media onslaught?
 
Scripture instructs us in Phil 4:8 to think on whatever is pure and lovely and excellent. Jesus says from the overflow of the heart the mouth speaks. Paul tells us in Rom. 12:2 to be transformed by the renewing of our mind. As we try to make wise decisions in the multi-media world we live in let us heed the words of truth. Avoid the cheap thrills that have lasting negative impact on our subconscious and fill up our minds with God’s Word that overcomes irrational fear and the desire for destruction. Not to mention the occasional two notes of terror.
 
Robert Parrish aka “Chief”