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MOMENTS FOR MOMS

Is Television Out of Control at Your House?

By Kimberly Snider
Missionary to the Philippines

CBN.com - "It was your own eyes that saw all these great things the Lord has done" (Deuteronomy 11:7).

Television is a wonderful form of entertainment -- I know, I work in media. I believe in the value of TV! But I also believe TV can be a negative force in families.

If you have teenagers, model good television watching by monitoring what you choose to watch. Tell your teens why you make your choices--why you choose to watch some programs and why you turn off others.

For instance, if you have been in the habit of watching sexually explicit soap operas, maybe now is the time to stop. Explain your actions by saying something like this: "I've been feeling convicted about watching shows with content that is not pleasing to God. The Bible says, 'You were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light (for the fruit of the light consists in all goodness, righteousness and truth) and find out what pleases the Lord' (Ephesians 5:8-10)."

If you have elementary-aged children, you have a wonderful opportunity to teach them how to watch TV responsibly. First, don¹t have the TV running all day.

Only turn it on when there is something specific you want to see. Definitely turn it off during meals and when homework is being done. This is a non-verbal way of teaching them that talking to each other and doing schoolwork is more important than television. Don¹t let a day go by without reading a story with your children. This way, they will learn that reading is exciting, too.

Television is good for entertainment and information some of the time. You need to be the manager of the television. Don¹t let the television manage you!

Kim Snider From "Moments for Moms," a free email subscription. Copyright (c) 2005 Women's Ministries of the Assemblies of God. Reprinted with permission.

"Moments For Moms" is written by Kimberly Snider, a missionary to the Philippines and host of the radio program "Moments for Mothers." The radio program is produced by Asia Pacific Media Ministries. The online edition, "Moments for Moms," is produced and distributed by Media Ministries of the Assemblies of God, Springfield, Missouri.

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