We just completed our second week without television. While we still have the physical presence of a tv in our living room, it’s only for watching DVDs and antiquated video cassettes. Let me back up a bit. We are not on some weird lifestyle makeover or on a campaign against American Commercialism (although that could be debated) but instead the decision was just one of the many financial changes we’ve made since Emily lost her job. The economy has affected Emily once again, but she’s begun a fabulous graphic design business which already has a number of pleased clientele and more on the way. (way to go Love!) Anyway, living on mainly one income has led us to give up some “luxuries” like television. We never upgraded to an HDTV or bought a converter box, so when I say “no tv” I mean NO TV.

Let me just say it’s been nothing but unadulterated awesomeness. I love it. Truly and 100%. I thought I’d be sneaking into friends’ houses or watching through my neighbor’s window (haven’t done that Claudia!), but it’s been incredibly freeing. Do ever say these things: “Man I have to see that show!” or “What do you want to watch? Well, let’s just scan and see if we can find anything.” Then you end up watching something for 2 hours that didn’t add anything to your life, actually made you dumber and now you have no motivation to do anything. Come on, you’ve done that…I’ve done it thousands of times and it stinks.

I thought I’d be “working” all the time or having to “think” instead of watching tv. Want to know what is MUCH more emotionally/mentally/physically relaxing? Listening to music, cooking something yummy, talking with a friend/significant other, pouring a glass of wine, laughing and letting your mind wander. It’s like an ever-tightening leash has been torn away from my neck. Now I’m playing more music, going for walks, hanging outside, learning, reading, being creative, fixing things and just enjoying more of LIFE! Wow, there’s a lot out there to see and do (which doesn’t take much energy) that you’re taken away from by the television.

Maybe count the number of hours you watch television during the day. For one week just shut it off. Completely. 100% Just try it. Monday-Saturday. Do something else. See the world of your neighborhood. Heck, say hi to a neighbor and see what’s up in their life. Write a letter to an old friend. Watch the sun come up as you sip coffee with some peaceful music on in the background. THAT’S relaxation.

You may ask… Aren’t you missing it? Your favorite shows? The news? The funny commercials? The ball games? It’s actually absurd when you think about… Yeah I’m missing living another life through characters that live immoral lives and do stupid stuff. It’s amazing how fast you move on. News=internet. News on my terms from unlimited sources of my choosing on my time. Ball games are much more fun to watch with friends, so I’ve already done that at friends’ houses or the bar. Watching a game in a bar that everyone is watching is blast. Much more entertaining with the atmosphere as well.

Well, that’s where I’m at. I don’t expect everyone to follow suit, but I’m writing this just as much for my own history as for you to read. I’d love you thoughts. I’ve talked with 2 friends who have been doing this now for the past year or so and they love it. We’ll just have to see what happens from here!

Let me just say that my wife is not known for laughing outloud. She’s generally an “internal laugher.” This fact doesn’t usually bother me because I’m a notoriously HUGE “external laugher” just like my whole family. There is one thing that just makes her bust up though. The crazy thing is that it’s really not that funny… Have you ever had someone type some extra keystrokes into your email or chat just before you hit send? She thinks that’s hilarious! Even better is when someone makes a silly word out of a typo. That’s gut-busting man! For example: instead of “I’ll keep my eyes open.” It reads: “I’ll feep my eyes open.” Or… “I hurt my finger” becomes “I gurt my tinger.” I think, “yep, that’s silly.” Until you see her busting up at a typo so hard she’s crying…then you can’t stop laughing because she’s laughing. Therefore, I think typos are funny…secondhand.

First of all I have no idea what Adoredom means, so don’t ask me…  It just popped into my head as I was beginning to think about this post.  It’s a made up word…soon to be in Wikipedia or Urban Dictionary.  Speaking of made-up words, I make up so many more new words now that I’m married to Emily.  She says, “if a word conveys the meaning of your thought, then it works.”  She was fired from her English Teaching position…just kidding!  Okay…back to my actual post…

Adoredom.  Maybe a combination of Adoration and Kingdom.  Do you ever feel that our prayers are just a bunch of requests and maybe a few thanksgivings thrown in there?  I remember being taught the “ACTS” outline for prayer:  Adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication.  Definitions please… Adoration: basically loving on God and expressing to Him all of the things you are in awe of Him about.  Confession: humbly offering ourselves and our faults before him asking for forgiveness.  Thanksgiving: Thanking Him for forgiving those sins first and foremost and then thanking Him for all of the other awesome stuff He gives us.  Supplication: We end by asking Him to hear our requests and needs on our hearts.

I grew up Lutheran and in the groups, events or churches during my formative years I remember mainly praying for the Thanksgivings and the Supplications…but mainly the supplications.  Except, we read a psalm very monotone-like at the beginning of the service, but it wasn’t necessarily in prayer form.  We’d also read a pre-scripted 2 sentence confession in the bulletin during confession time in the service.  Mainly, even today when we take prayer requests, it’s something like this, “pray for my sick father, pray for safe travel, pray for the concert, pray for the big test tomorrow.” Supplication, supplication, God do this for me.

Did you know God is HUGE AND POWERFUL?? and He created the stinkin world and everything you so preciously hold onto?  AND HE LET’S YOU USE IT!! …how ever you want.  Wow.  Let’s (I’m including myself here!) ADORE God.  My best friend from high school is an amazing guy and one of the first times I prayed with him (after college) he began by just lavishing on God Adoration.  “God you are almighty, you created me, you are holy and perfect and loving.  You my day and night, my everything and more.  I praise you God.”  That’s not an exact quote, but very close.  I was taken aback, because it wasn’t at all what I was used to in a prayer.  As time went on, I realized how awesome the intimate moments are when you just stop thanking and asking Him.  Just BE with Him and ADORE Him for who He is and what He is.

Jesus did break down the barrier between us and God but that doesn’t make His majesty and power any less.  Before we begin listing off what we want, let’s truly humble ourselves before our Awesome, Loving, Wonderful, Powerful God and Praise Him with excitement and might!

King David said it simply in his 2 verse long Psalm 117…”Praise the Lord, all you nations; extol him, all you peoples. For Great is His Love toward us, and the Faithfulness of the Lord endures forever.  PRAISE THE LORD!”