Month: March 2012

Citizen Soldiers

Capitol gaze

Politics are distasteful. And nasty.

Make a grand motion like running for office, or a quieter foray like taking a stand on an issue, and you feel it.

When you become involved, you expose yourself to attack. You lay your values on the line and offer yourself as a sacrifice for your convictions.

I suppose if you’re a fighter, nothing’s more exciting than the battle. The mudslinging, name calling, and scandal are all part of the game.

But at times, watching it bothers me. I think it bothers a lot of us. It’s scary. Hurtful. Unsettling and dangerous.

So we shy away from stating a position. Tread water in the middle, hoping no one will ask our opinion. Justify ourselves by thinking our views are personal and no one’s business. The personal is the political, after all.

We shield ourselves with tolerance. And we NEVER ever run for public office.

A friend of mine boldly stepped out and got involved on a local level. She took a stand and instantly made enemies in her own community. In her own party. From across the miles, I watch as she and her family are maligned.

Another friend of mine needs to run for office. He has the background, reasoning, patience, and wisdom to lead well. His life’s work demonstrates a love for his community. He would serve it selflessly.

But he hesitates. Is running for public office worth the beating that comes with it when real change seems next to impossible?

It’s tempting in this heated political climate to spew at the other side. Easy to take shots at politicians. I know because I’m ashamed to admit I’ve done it.

Those who run for office or take a stand on an issue are a brave lot, even if—especially if we disagree with them. They hold the frontline of our republic.

Capitol Rotunda
Capitol Rotunda

As Americans, we are all citizen soldiers in the fight to preserve our country. We can serve with our lives like people in the military. We can serve with our work like civil servants. Or we can serve with our votes, our taxes, and our abiding by the laws of the land.

It’s an election year. Prime time for us citizen soldiers to live out our heritage. Stand brave in the face of conflict.

We disagree because we can. Thank God for that privilege. With civility and respect, with the steady voice of our convictions and the sure voice of our votes, let’s keep it that way.

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you.
Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you.
I will hold you up with My victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 NLT

The United States Marine Corps Band plays Halls of Montezuma like nobody’s business. Check your pulse if this doesn’t make you march a little prouder into the weekend. Semper Fi. God Bless America.

as seen at the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington, D.C.;
Benjamin Oliver Davis Jr. (December 18, 1912 – July 4, 2002) was a United States Air Force general and commander of the World War II Tuskegee Airmen.
5 days left

Have You Entered
the Book Giveaway?

To enter the drawing for The Action Bible, simply comment on the post Action Attraction by midnight, Tuesday, April 3rd. Share the post with others who may like to enter, too!

Posted on by Aimee 5

Many Happy Returns

Returns. The ability to take things back. Don’t know how I would shop otherwise.

Sperry cute

The crazy town that is Macy’s during a shoe sale is no place to make a decision. It’s grab and go. Four pairs snagged at the pre-sale this past Saturday should be on their way to me from Kansas City as you read this.

Will I keep all four? Probably not. I don’t need them all. But I couldn’t decide in the store.

They all fit. All comfortable. All on sale. All gorgeous. If I left them in Macy’s unspoken for, I risked losing them to another suitor.

Remember The Limited’s old return policy? No sale is ever final. Those were the days.

Now you have to watch and make sure you don’t overstay the time limit. Sixty days are standard for generous stores and online orders. Thirty at the trendsetters. And always, always, keep your receipts.

put me in, Coach

My method is three-pronged. Try on once I get home. Make a decision as soon as possible. Return upon deciding. Not a moment to lose. While there is still time for the credit to hit my charge card’s current billing cycle.

From the pages of their books and blogs, wardrobe consultants urge me to go in with a list. Shop the list. Buy only what’s on the list.

I had a list this past Saturday. Silver sandals, black sandals, other comfortable shoes.

Macy’s, however, did not get a copy of my list when they sent their buyers a-purchasing for spring 2012. Maybe it’s too early in the season for sandals. Maybe comfort is out this year.

Nothing was a perfect fit for my list. Nothing except for the four pairs that fell into the catch-all category other comfortable shoes.

Sam Edelman stripes done right

Buying and returning is not an efficient way to shop. Yet I think the wardrobe consultants would side against efficiency in this case.

They consistently tell me dressing stylishly and within your means takes an effort. It takes time. And it’s worth the investment.

As image consultant Brenda Kinsel writes in Brenda’s Bible: Escape Fashion Hell and Experience Heaven Every Time You Get Dressed, “You’re allowed to change your mind. It’s one of the redemptions you have in life… (p. 42)”

Redemption in shopping and returns.

Sold to the lady wearing the gorgeous shoes.

I have swept away your offenses like a cloud,
your sins like the morning mist.
Return to Me,
for I have redeemed you. Isaiah 44:22 NIV

Nu Shooz? I Can’t Wait.

6 days left

Enter Our Book Giveaway!

We’re giving away a copy of The Action Bible. To enter the drawing, simply comment on yesterday’s post Action Attraction by Tuesday, April 3rd.

Posted on by Aimee 7

Action Attraction: The Action Bible Book Giveaway

ready to roar

“Take care of your backpack, please,” I said to my son.

“Okay, Mom,” he said. “But first can I read my Bible?”

Never expected to hear that in a million years. And read he does. Independently. And learn. Without prompting.

Enter The Action Bible. We gave him the book this past Christmas.

“Mom, did you know Jerusalem was conquered by a series of empires?” he said. “Babylon conquered Jerusalem, Persia conquered Babylon, Greece conquered Persia, and Rome conquered Greece.”

Oh, dear. Mom needs a refresher course. This isn’t kid’s stuff.

Brilliantly illustrated by Sergio Cariello, The Action Bible brings to life more than 200 Bible stories in the exciting style of the graphic novel. The result is riveting.

Here’s a sampling from a familiar story on pages 280 and 281:

Copyright 2010 Sergio Cariello. The Action Bible published by David C Cook. Publisher permission required to reproduce. All rights reserved.
Copyright 2010 Sergio Cariello. The Action Bible published by David C Cook. Publisher permission required to reproduce. All rights reserved.

The thrilling narrative and bright colors capture my son’s attention. And they remind me God is not some namby-pamby, sissy deity.

I’m as guilty as any kumbayah Christian of embracing God’s tenderness and mercy—the essence of His character, to the neglect of the ferocity of His determinant power. God is love, yes. God is also holy, strong, and just.

The struggles in the Bible and in our time are life and death battles. Humanity hangs in the balance. There’s violence and vengeance, plagues and murder. Fire ripping from the sky. Blood dripping from a splintered, wooden cross.

Want to brush up on your Bible stories? Never learned them in the first place? Here’s your chance.

Maybe you love the Bible. Want the kids (or adults) in your life to love it too, without your nagging? The Action Bible is a fantastic place to begin.

As milk helps us to develop a hunger for meat, The Action Bible whets the appetite for Scripture in those who would dare to read it.

So will the Words that come out of My mouth
not come back empty-handed.
They’ll do the work I sent them to do,
They’ll complete the assignment I gave them. Isaiah 55:11 The Message

God’s Not Dead. He’s surely alive. Newsboys.

We’re Giving Away a Copy of The Action Bible!

Here’s how to enter:

  • To enter the drawing for The Action Bible, simply comment on this post.
  • You have until midnight, Tuesday, April 3rd, to comment to enter.
  • Only one comment per reader please.
  • A winner will be randomly drawn and contacted Wednesday, April 4th.
  • I will personally pay to ship the book to an address of the winner’s choosing within the contiguous U.S. in time for Easter. International shipping cannot be guaranteed in time for Easter.
The Action Bible New Testament

Disclaimer

I’m not being compensated to promote this book.

I was so impressed with The Action Bible that I contacted the publisher David C. Cook myself. They were kind enough to honor my requests for permission to show the illustrations in this post and for a book to give away.

They also surprised my son with something I did not request, their new book The Action Bible New Testament. I am thankful for their graciousness.

Suggested Links to Like

Comment by midnight, Tuesday, April 3rd,
to enter the drawing for The Action Bible!

Posted on by Aimee 38

Announcing Spring Break

yellow flower

Hello. So nice of you to stop by. Sorry I missed you.

It’s spring break here in Wichita. I’m unplugging for a few days to spend time with the family.

God willing, I’ll be back on the blog next week. See you then.

Now go. Get out there and live the gift that is your life.

And God is able to bless you abundantly, so that in all things at all times, having all that you need, you will abound in every good work. 2 Corinthians 9:8 NIV

Learning to be the Light, a happy song for a happy spring, by Newworldson.

Posted on by Aimee 2

Destination: Perspective

Sometimes what I really need to do is run away. Travel can hold the ticket to a clearer, better perspective.

over Alaska

I may go to a faraway place and detox from the real world. But there are closer, shorter voyages that achieve similar, lifesaving results.

Drive 200 miles to see an old friend. Spend the hours alone in the car. Singing with the radio. Turning it off to discuss things with God. Questioning. Talking it over. Being heard. Listening.

Or take a long lunch to catch up with someone I haven’t seen in a while. Break down the state of the world as we know it. Pick up where we left off as if the time never passed at all.

Or simply bow out of the room for five minutes. Walk around the block. Step back. Breathe. Remember what’s important. Re-engage with peace.

on the beach in Bali

My favorite psychology professor in grad school once told my class a secret. He said he recommended depressed people go to the mountains or the ocean. I imagine the plains, desert, or forest would work as well.

It is in such places they could come face to face with how small they are and how big God is. Surrender to it and find refuge. Then come home able to move—even if ever so slightly—forward.

Perspective is easy to lose, but not so hard to regain either.

Here you thought it was gone forever, but look. There it is a few miles up ahead.

God’s love is meteoric,
His loyalty astronomic,
His purpose titanic,
His verdicts oceanic.
Yet in His largeness
nothing gets lost;
Not a man, not a mouse,
slips through the cracks. Psalm 36:5-6 The Message

You Lead, I’ll follow, by Jamie Grace.

Meet Traveling with the Jones

The incredible photos in this post are compliments of Janis and Jeff Jones, my traveling friends who see the value in venturing.

Traveling with the Jones

Between the two of them, they’ve traveled to 80 different countries, all 50 states, and 175 cruise ports around the world.

“Travel, for us, is about personal growth,” says Janis. “It gets us out of our routines and our comfort zones; it broadens our horizons and breaks down our misconceptions. Through our travels, we’ve found  people are basically the same despite living under vastly different circumstances and cultures.”

Janis and Jeff share a wealth of travel tips and info. Follow them on their blog Traveling with the Jones, on Facebook, and on Twitter @travelinjones. If you can keep up, that is.

Posted on by Aimee 6

Field Trip to Visit a Cowboy

Ryan Goodman riding horseback on the west slopes of the Big Horn Mountains in Wyoming

There’s a new everyday epistle post out. But it’s not here where it usually is. Today we’re taking a field trip. A blog-cation.

Saddle up and click on over to Ryan Goodman’s excellent site Agriculture Proud.

Ryan is a real cowboy. Comes from the hearty stock of an Arkansas cattle ranching family. Smart, too. He’s currently in graduate school at the University of Tennessee.

And Ryan is social. His Facebook page I am Agriculture Proud has more than 1,400 followers. Find him on Twitter at @AR_ranchhand.

Ryan Goodman is Agriculture Proud

Ryan is also tall. He’s six feet four inches of tall, dark, and bachelor. Said he’s not ready to settle down yet. Single ladies, see if you can help him with that, will ya?

Humor and matchmaking aside, I’m honored to be guest posting on Ryan’s site today because he has a passion for telling the true story of American agriculture. And he’s invited some friends to join him this month.

So come along with me to Ryan’s cyber ranch. Meet a real cowboy and find out why I’ve been known to follow ag blogs, write about farm stuff, and collect photos of barns and livestock on Pinterest.

All this, a mere click away. Now go be Agriculture Proud!

And hardworking farmers should be the first to enjoy the fruit of their labor. 2 Timothy 2:6 NLT

Where Have All the Cowboys Gone? asks Paula Cole. Get with the program, Paula. They’re over at Agriculture Proud…

 

Posted on by Aimee 16

Intuition Visits the Nail Salon

The first time I visited Chicago I was in my early 20s. A lovely, drunk Chicagoan took it upon herself to counsel me in a bar.

choose your color

“You’re cute,” she said. “But your nails just ruin it! You must get a manicure.”

Nothing like one woman’s criticism to motivate another woman to action.

I don’t get manicures every week. I get them when I can. When I must.

And I throw in a pedicure. Need it to exercise. How can I be expected to do yoga with unpolished toenails?

As you know, we recently relocated. Had some free time one Friday. So I’m thinking, I’m in Wichita, the largest city in Kansas. I’ll just pop in somewhere and have my nails done. No problem.

No appointment, no service was more like it.

“We’re booked until 4:30 p.m.,” said the first shop.

tools of the trade

“How about next week?” said the second.

“We don’t have time to do both,” said the third. “Manicure or pedicure?”

I have to choose? But I’ll be unbalanced. (Please hold all comments until the end.)

My free time was evaporating. Desperate, I tried one last shop.

“How long for a manicure-pedicure?”

The row of women paused their filling and filing to stare like I was from Mars.

“No, wait!” said one woman as I turned to leave. Must have been the owner.

“She can take you now.” The owner pointed across the room to a beautiful, young woman reading a magazine.

The young woman looked up and rolled her eyes. Red flag number one.

“No. No. No,” said the little voice inside me.

pedicure station

I sat down in the pedicure chair anyway. I needed to have my nails done.

As the young one began removing my old polish, I smiled and said, “I’m so glad you could take me today.”

She looked up and snarled. “You’re lucky you got in,” she said. “We usually only take appointments.”

The little voice inside me whipped around and wagged a finger. “No, you’re lucky I’m sitting in your chair, sister!”

In real life I was stunned silent. My feet literally in hot water. Better not to speak lest I lose a toe.

Forty-five minutes later, I had ravishing, plum toenails. They were shaped kind of weird, but they were all still there.

We moved to the manicurist station where the young one placed my hands in little dishes of water. Then she disappeared into the break room. For 10 minutes.

The skin on my fingers pruned and the little voice shrieked, “GET OUT!”

candy dish

Back in St. Louis at Ladue Nails I would have been done with all this in less than an hour. No coffee breaks allowed if you have a customer in the house.

Should I call her out of the break room? Pay the owner for the pedi and leave? Run screaming from the building?

Finally she reappeared, all smug and caffeinated.

“You know what?” I said. “I have to pick up my son from school. Let me pay for the pedicure and go.”

“Are you sure you can’t stay?” she said.

“You’ll listen to me next time?” said the little voice as we drove away.

Count on it.

Discretion will protect you,
and understanding will guard you. Proverbs 2:11 NIV

Intuition by Jewel.

me and Nini

Epilogue

Despite this experience, there are many fabulous salons in Wichita. For example, I found a terrific manicurist at a friendly salon that boasts of the best candy dish in town.

Nini, at Nails and Spa on Central near 127th, advises me to be on the safe side and always make an appointment.

Posted on by Aimee 5

Vikings and Temple Dancers

A good week finds me at the Y two mornings for yoga and two for pilates.

I have four different instructors affectionately nicknamed to protect their identities: the Boomer, the Ballerina, the Brit, and Grace whom you may remember from Namaste.

buffalo as seen on Manchester

The Boomer is my intelligent, sandwich generation yoga instructor. In true Boomer fashion, she delivers a hefty dose of unsolicited, often humorous, expert advice every week.

Tells us how we should put our handbags in our grocery carts when shopping to preserve our shoulders. How we must strengthen our quads so we don’t end up in nursing homes, unable to take care of our own bathroom duties.

It’s a fun class. Really.

One morning, she said, “There are two kinds of people in the world: Vikings and temple dancers.”

We giggled. “Vikings are the people we hear above us in the weight room grunting and dropping dumbbells on the floor,” she said. “They like the taste of adrenaline. They want to lift, sweat, and pump iron.”

“Then there are those of us who are temple dancers,” she said. “We like to bend, stretch, and feel the gentle flood of endorphins.”

“It would be good for the Vikings to dance and the temple dancers to lift weights,” she said. “But we have our preferences. We start with our strengths.”

what a feeling as seen at Sears

My Y-appointed trainer wants me to go to the Body Blitz class. Add the Muscle Pump hour. Do something called CORE in all caps.

Says it will help me “burn” faster. Speed up my metabolism. Thinks yoga is all cardio and no resistance. I’m avoiding her for the time being.

I pine for chiseled arms like Linda Hamilton’s in Terminator, so I may add weights. Vanity, oh vanity. But my metabolism is fast enough already.

And there’s a lot of resistance in yoga and pilates. It’s nuanced. You push against your own body rather than a free weight or machine.

It’s like a dance with yourself. A temple dance of bending, stretching, and wonderful, glorious endorphins.

You did it: You changed wild lament
into whirling dance;
You ripped off my black mourning band
and decked me with wildflowers.
I’m about to burst with song;
I can’t keep quiet about You.
God, my God,
I can’t thank you enough. Psalm 30:11-12 The Message

Dancing with Myself by Nouvelle Vague. If you’re used to the Billy Idol version of this song, you’re in for a treat with Nouvelle Vague’s cover. Fantastique!

Disclaimer: In case it isn’t blatantly obvious to you, I’m not an authority in health or fitness. I write of my own experiences and impressions. Nothing here should be construed as health, fitness, or medical advice.

Posted on by Aimee 7

The Truth About 150

Yesterday my first grader explained to me a squabble he was having in school.

school bus

“George (not his real name) says one hundred AND fifty,” he said. “I told him it’s one hundred fifty.”

“Yes,” I said. “It’s one hundred fifty.”

“Yeah, but then everyone said, ‘Nu-uh! It’s one hundred AND fifty,'” he said.

I grabbed a piece of paper to illustrate.

“You write it like this: 150,” I said. “Not like this: 100 AND 50. See?”

“Yeah,” he said.

“So you say it that way, too,” I said. “One hundred fifty.”

“Well, George says it’s one hundred AND fifty,” he said. “I’m going to tell him again he’s wrong.”

“Honey,” I said. Deep breath. “You can tell him, but he may not believe you.”

“Yeah,” he said. “He probably needs to hear it from his parents.”

“Unless his parents also think it’s one hundred AND fifty,” I said. “It doesn’t matter. You know what’s right and you told him. Even if the whole class disagrees, it’s still one hundred fifty.”

My son was quiet.

“I’m going to tell them it’s one hundred fifty,” he said. “And then when they say, ‘Nu-uh! No, it’s not!…'”

Pause.

“I’ll just say, ‘Oh, forget it.'”

He has a point.

Do not give dogs what is sacred; do not throw your pearls to pigs. If you do, they may trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you to pieces. Matthew 7:6 NIV

Forget About It by Alison Krauss and Union Station. What unforgettable talent. Enjoy the weekend!

Pin It

Posted on by Aimee 12

Church Search

I’ve gone to church all my life, except for The Wander Years between 18 and 24.

visitor parking

During that time, I was guilty of all sorts of unspeakable atrocities, including voting for Bill Clinton in 1992.

I jest. Sort of. My super smart PoliSci roommate was right about him all along.

Those years are replete with fascinating stories. Alas, that’s another post. Or maybe a book.

This post is about church.

Since relocating, we’ve been visiting churches. We’re weighing several factors: the doctrinal soundness of the teaching, the content of worship, the children’s ministries, how naturally we could fit it and participate.

Finding a church is a little like finding a doctor or hair stylist. There are a lot of good ones out there, but only a few you’d be comfortable seeing regularly.

Having been in church so long, I’ve experienced some vibrant, healthy, edifying communities. And I’ve seen my share of scandals, splits, legalism, and hypocrisy.

Hypocrisy. With trepidation I list it. The trespass all of us commit because none of us is perfect. That’s an important lesson I began to come to terms with to emerge from The Wander Years and give church another try.

first time guest parking
first time guest parking

People will fail you. It will happen.

One pastor I know said people often ask him if they will be hurt by becoming part of a church.

“Yes,” he said. “If you stick around long enough, yes.”

So why go? Well, that’s part of the lesson too. People will fail you; God will not. I go to church because it’s an integral part of following after Him.

My individual walk, my personal prayers, my Bible study are imperative, but incomplete if I’m not relating with other imperfect people who are also following after God.

As surely as some of those people will fail me, I will fail some of them.

More often on this trajectory though, glimmers of Christ-likeness shine through. We support one another. Pray with and for one another. Learn together. Stand together as a smaller community and as part of The Church, the greater congregation of believers across the ages.

Looking for a church is not easy. Some weeks I get discouraged. But I’ve been around this block before. I know the search is worth it.

If you’re looking for a church community, take heart. Don’t give up. Keep visiting. Pray for wisdom. Trust God to provide. Follow after Him.

If you’re in a good church, by all means go. With thanksgiving and gratitude, go. Be a participant, not an observer.

And if you’re in a church where you’ve prayerfully done all you can and it’s still not working for whatever reason, it may be time to move on. Quietly, without making a fuss, leave in order to find a healthier situation.

white cross on blue ground

Being part of a good church is too important not to pursue.

Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works. And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of His return is drawing near. Hebrews 10:24-25 NLT

Don’t give up. Let the Waters Rise by Mikeschair.

Posted on by Aimee 26

Where Am I Again?

ATTENTION: Unexpected bonus post.

statue of freedom in U.S. Capitol Visitor Center

Tonight I’m wondering what country I’m in.

Earlier today I commented on super blogger Rachel Held Evans’ post. She addressed the latest upset about Rush Limbaugh and how Christians are responding. Her post got a whopping 325 comments before they were closed because of trolls.

Rather than have you rummage through all that, here’s an excerpt of my lengthy comment:

As for Rush, his delivery is faulted, even distasteful. Like it or not, he’s protected just like you and I are under the First Amendment to speak and have a place at the table of public discourse. I would argue that some of his political points are spot-on in line with an evangelical perspective, especially regarding right to life issues. And he has a platform and an audience.

Tonight I revisited to see if Evans responded. She didn’t and I didn’t expect her to. But a couple other bloggers did.

Here’s the reply that zapped me back to the U.S.S.R.:

“Like it or not, he’s protected just like you and I are under the First Amendment to speak and have a place at the table of public discourse.”

Actually, he’s not.

The First Amendment states, “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.”

No one is petitioning Congress to make a law about Rush Limbaugh. No one is trying to get the government to intervene. People have asked political figures their opinion, but they have not asked them to legislate on the issue.

No one is guaranteed a podium from which to spew hate speech. They are simply guaranteed freedom from government intervention.

first amendment got your back

Actually he’s not? Again I wonder, what country is this anyway?

The spirit of the First Amendment means everyone may speak even if we disagree. It’s the backbone or at least the ribcage of our other freedoms.

Am I to understand it’s en vogue to toss that spirit on a technicality? It’s now okay to censor as long as it’s not the government that does the dirty work?

Lawyers, scholars, law-abiding Americans, I need you here. Someone, anyone, weigh in, please. I’m listening.

What do ya’ll think?

You must all be quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to get angry. James 1:19 NLT

The Beatles, Back in the U.S.S.R.

We will return to regularly scheduled programming in the morning. Good night!

Pin It

Posted on by Aimee 12

Quicksilver

Was it just me or was it strange to anyone else to learn of the recent deaths of Whitney Houston, Davy Jones, and Andrew Breitbart via Facebook?

Ingrid Michaelson on tv, as seen at Best Buy

Maybe you didn’t find out that way. Maybe you found out via Twitter which broke the story of Houston’s death 27 minutes before the press.

How do I know Twitter scooped the story? Read it in a link from someone I follow on Twitter.

The fateful Saturday of Houston’s death, I’d been unplugged all day. Decided to log on before turning in for the night.

Checking Facebook when it popped up. A link to an AP article with the status: “Whitney Houston, dead at 48. So sad.”

Before social media, this news would have been brought to me by a more traditional means. Television. Radio. Newspaper. Grapevine.

Take the Saturday night of Princess Diana’s fatal car accident in 1997. My husband and I were watching Early Edition. Network news broke in announcing the Princess had been in a car crash. We stayed up for a while, hanging on the plodding, painful drip from BBC, then went to bed.

It wasn’t until Erwin Lutzer announced Diana’s death from the pulpit the next morning in church that we knew she hadn’t survived.

Presently, we are without a television. I mean we have one. We just haven’t hooked it up to cable or satellite since we moved.

It’s not that we don’t like television. We just don’t miss it all that much. We certainly don’t miss the mammoth bill.

We instantly access news online. Connected friends send us play-by-play on Facebook and Twitter. When we need to know, we do.

That said, we’d like to watch real time college basketball in our own living room rather than a sports bar. This year’s Olympic games, presidential election, and severe weather alerts in our new Tornado Alley home will likely force our hand.

We’ll have to accept the dreaded bundle from cable.

a whole new way, as seen at Best Buy

My dream is to pick and pay for only what I want without the excess channels and shenanigans in a prepackaged lineup. Digital cable holds the technology to make my dream a reality if only providers were willing to work out the kinks and offer cable a la carte.

I’m not the only one dreaming this dream. Devin Coldewy of Tech Crunch writes, “These days people can barely bring themselves to pay for anything online, and that philosophy is leaking into the cable world.”

Coldewey forecasts a “death spiral” for cable companies if they refuse to meet consumer demand.

Joe Flint of the Los Angeles Times writes the holdup is with large cable operators like Time Warner and Comcast who also create programming. They want “their channels in the homes of all their subscribers, not just the ones who want them.”

Cable companies, if you’re listening, let go and let the market decide.

If you choose to drag your feet, suit yourselves. Some ambitious startup will eventually earn my business by offering me what I want to buy.

You see, with or without television, life goes on. We may surrender to the bundle for now. Or we may continue to find ways around you.

We can borrow movies from the library. Watch the games at Applebee’s. Catch sitcoms on Hulu. Stream coverage on the iPad. And get our headlines in the quicksilver morse code of social media.

They do not fear bad news;
they confidently trust the LORD to care for them. Psalm 112:7 NLT

The times, they are a-changin’. I just wanna Be OK, Ingrid Michaelson.

smiling tv guy, as seen at Best Buy

Pin It

Posted on by Aimee 16