This email is shared with permission from the courageous dad who threw out the beast from his home as pictured previously. He is already starting to see the good fruit such a decision produces.

What we’ve done:

Removed the TV from the Living Room and placed it in the garage. It’s rather large (as you could see from the picture) so it’s not something the trash people will take without prior arrangements. It sat in our living room until Thursday night, when I had a friend over who could help me move it. It felt like a weight was lifted. Since the TV weighs 220 lbs, a weight was lifted down 2 flights of stairs, much easier than UP I can tell you. It was a constant source of temptation in the house (I can fix a cut cord easily, and I can remove/replace a simple plexiglass clear screen that was written on as well). Now that it’s in the garage, we get no more questions from the kids about wanting to watch TV.

Started daily devotions. We’re starting in John and finished Chapter 3 tonight (8th day of devotions). I’ve also started reading a Psalm at the end of the devotions. Some have been very difficult as we’ve been on the go a lot lately due to pre-existing commitments and we were doing them without naps on occasion, but they have been done each day without exception.

Removed all video games (ouch €¦ from someone who has been playing them for 30 years) from the house except the Game Boy because it was given to me by a friend and he may want it back. It hasn’t been touched however except to move it out of the way. Cancelled Cable, ESPN Insider, Blockbuster online, File Planet (Video Game demo and patch download service), GameTap and XM radio. Rough cost savings per month = $150.00.

Started removing non-edifying media. Edifying is defined as Christian media and secular non-fiction (biographies, textbooks, etc). More to do here, but it’s happening in time.

Dismantled the entertainment center and reconfigured for stereo/cd use only.

Started Bible memorization with the boys. My three year old son has memorized 3 scripture verses and my two year old son has memorized one. Joshua 24:15 (both), Deut. 6:4 and Matt. 22:39
 
Challenges

It’s tough not even paying attention to things you did before. I am finding it difficult to not check football scores on Sunday (and failing today) and not to get caught up in things that had my attention before.

It is a lot tougher to supervise a 2 and 3.5 year old when you have no other help and no TV to pawn them off on. We have started integrating them into getting some chores done, but that has its own set of challenges. Right now, trying to clean up the mess we’ve made has prevented getting a new schedule really worked on (nights and such are spent cleaning up all the stuff that was around before) and the chore pack definitely comes after the schedule.

Effects

For the first time since our oldest was 3 months old (or thereabouts) we were able to sit through a singing worship service at our church AND ENJOY IT! Praise the Lord. We took our boys out for pizza as a reward.

Devotions are rough, but getting better.

I’m actually trying to put God first in what I do. We have a morning schedule where we both get a half hour with the Lord before breakfast each day. We have not faltered from this since the conference.
 
To Do’s

Work on the vision statement and goals. The vision statement is pretty much done but I’m scrapping my work with goals so far as I don’t like it. Praying for some insight as I feel stalled. I might resort to using your goals list in Keeping Our Children’s Hearts as a template and customizing it for our family.

Hammer out a schedule. My wife is handling this and we have a temporary one in place but it needs more refining. Finish clearing out the trash and reconfiguring the house. The garage is packed as well and needs to be cleared out.
 
Thanks for listening and holding parents everywhere accountable for their actions!

To Him be the Glory!
 
What a guy! I hope that encourages you as well.

Steve