Wow, what an amazing day to enjoy outside as we cheated Old Man Winter out of yet another cold day.  I woke up at 11 this morning, and was shocked by the warm weather and sun as i walked to the gym.  After lifting I went on a walk with Katie, and we just enjoyed being together in the warm sun. 

Heading back to my dorm, I was in no way inclined to spend the rest of the afternoon indoors, and so me and about 20 other guys went over to the football field and played full on tackle football for hours.  We ended up loosing 21-28, mainly because we abandoned our running game and went almost exclusively with the pass.  I know it sounds lame, but i really think we were the better team out there.   Regardless, it was alot of fun and everyone was nice and tired by the time we were done. 

I'm now sitting here at the computer, energy completely spent, enjoying a nice bowl of Peanut Butter Cap'n Crunch cereal.  Sigh....life is good!

I finally hit a wall trying to finish my review of some random poem I was working on for Lit. Analysis tonight.  I had planned to stop and watch a movie or somthing in my room, but couldn't find one i wanted to watch.  As I sat at my desk completely unmotivated, i began to think about how much I enjoy being entertained by good movies, music, and the like.  I wondered about this strange appeal that i have for bright lights, electric impulses, and sound; all working together in unison to stimulate my senses while deadening my brain.  Why do I spend time sitting there focused on somthing that socially isolates me from interacting with others, shortens my attention span, and in many cases brings my heart to sin?

From my limited observation, this is a question that many in our over-indulged society would do well to answer.  Entertainment, it would seem, has replaced God as the chief end of man in the 21st century.  It is also important to note that this phenomena is in no way relegated to secular society.  Perhaps nothing save for alchohol has so drastically altered human consciousness as tv has.  We spend huge amounts of time in front of the tube, deriving from it not only our entertainment, but also our nourishment as we drink in our meaning and values from the cup of amusement. 

A church leader once made the comment that, "The real reason evangelicalism has still not deeply penetrated the reigning culture is that culture - whether on its right or on its left - has too much penetrated the evangelical movement."  Why is it that much of the questionable content we see in movies today seems to be no big deal?  Why do we, myself included, rationalize things in order to allow ourselves the pleasure of the diversion we want to partake in. The answer is because we have become desensitized.  We as Christians are defending the very things we should be speaking out against.  Have we allowed the confines of our character to be comprimised my the undermining work of popular culture?  Are we selling ourselves short morally, intellectually, and spiritually for a few cheap thrills?

While some may feel i am being overly critical or "prudish", this is still an issue that needs to be addressed.  I am in no way advocating a complete abstinence from entertainment.  It is not somthing that is wrong in and of itself, but when it is somthing that causes me to thing wrong thoughts and i still willingly submit to it, that is sin...non-negotiable.  I think there is a perfectly viable place for entertainment as long as it does not comprimise our testimony, or standards of purity as believers.  Obviously this is a matter of personal conviction, as what causes me to sin may not be the same for someone else.  As long as we are careful in what we allow ourselves to be exposed to, and enjoy our entertainment in a spirit of moderation, then i think it would enable us to go far in seeking to honor God in all we do.

Well thats my random soap box for tonight, maybe now i can go back to my analysis, lol.

While i'm at it here are a few verses that relate to this issue: - James 1:27; -Romans 12:2; -James 4:4; -II Peter 1:3-10

Well homecoming weekend is over and I had a blast, though i find it amusing that i didn't actually do anything school related at all.  Went to Cracker Barrel with a bunch of people Friday night, then got back in time to sing with the Glee Club in the prism of praise concert.  Saturday i actually got up early to get some hw done!!!(go figure) and then went and lifted before brunch.  Sang with the glee club yet again for the Soccer game at 2, then went to dinner at O'Charlies with Katie, Christina, Brett, and a bunch of other people.  Afterwards the four of us were gonna go do this sweet haunted corn maze...buuuuut somebody was scared ...so we didn't...sigh (jk) Anyways we ended up hanging out at Beans and cream, (which katie informed me is pronounced with a heavier accent on Beans) and had an awesome time there playing a sweet new card game, eating ice cream, and getting to know a couple of really awesome people!!  Also got to see some of Brett's films which were very good!  Went to Grace on Sunday instead of Fair Creek, since we didn't have a ride but it's sall good.  Had a good sunday dinner, then went back to my room to chilax and not do hw.  and this was pretty much the expression on my face when i realized i had 4 tests coming up in the next week  ....dang it im an idiot!!!!!!!  O well, i guess i should stop wasting my time on here writing about the fun weekend i had at the expense of putting off the hw that i should be doing right now, lol. Peace