Posted on 02/03/2004 8:55:08 PM PST by netmilsmom
Subject: Special E-Letter AOL/Lisa Whelchel
Special E-Letter
Dear friends,
I am deeply disturbed by what happened during last night’s halftime show of the Super bowl. I was downstairs cleaning up the kitchen when the halftime show began and when I overheard the lyrics of the songs I went upstairs to have the kids switch the channel. Too late! When it was over I called my mother and said, “Did what I think just happened, really happen?”
As a family, we immediately knelt down and repented on behalf of America and pled for mercy on our country. We prayed the scripture in 2 Chronicles 7:14, “If My people who are ÿcalled by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.”
At the end of the game we had a family discussion and talked about how we could make our voice heard, that there were people in America who were not willing to stand back and watch our country go the way of cultures in the past who gave themselves over to the flesh and were destroyed.
MTV produced the halftime show but AOL was the official sponsor. We can’t boycott MTV because we don’t subscribe. But we can cancel our AOL service – and we did! When I called AOL this morning to cancel they asked me why I was punishing AOL instead of CBS or the NFL.
I explained that CBS would not know if our family never watched another show on their network because we aren’t a “Nielson” ratings family. Same goes for the NFL. I don’t hold within my hands any influence to impact CBS, NFL or MTV. But AOL does!
If enough people cancel their AOL subscriptions, you can believe me, AOL will go directly to CBS, NFL, MTV and any other acronym involved, and their voice (and pocketbook) will be heard.
May I share a personal aspect to this story? For over a year Haven has been campaigning for “Instant Messenger.” I have repeatedly said no, explaining that I felt it was a time-waster. Last week the subject came up again, but she had a fresh argument. She said, “Television is also a time-waster and you let me watch that after all my school work is done.” I responded, “Good point. Are you willing to trade television privileges for IM?”
When she said that she would, she gave up watching television unless the whole family was watching something together, (which is very rare.) Tucker made the same choice and three days ago Steve loaded AIM, AOL’s Instant Messenger service. (We’ve had an AOL account for over ten years!) She has had the best time since then chatting with her friends and I was happy because, as many of you know, the kids have not made friends as quickly as I thought they would since we moved.
Last night when I put Haven to bed, I told her that I felt like we should cancel our AOL subscription but I would ultimately leave the decision up to Tucker and her because they were the most who would most be impacted by the choice.
With tears running down her cheeks and onto the pillow she said, “I will make the right choice, but it is so hard. I waited so long to get IM. I don’t want to, but I will do the right thing.”
I was so proud of her. (BTW, Tucker agreed, too, but he was more mad than sad.) Living in America, we don’t often have to suffer for our beliefs. I believe canceling our AOL account is a small way that we can take a stand for Christ and do our part in “turn(ing) from our wicked ways.” AOL may not hear, but God will and, perhaps, He “will forgive (our) sins and heal (our) land.”
Blessings,
Lisa Whelchel
www.lisawhelchel.com
P.S. Feel free to forward this E-letter to as many people as you know. Perhaps, collectively, our voices will be heard.
I was so proud of her. (BTW, Tucker agreed, too, but he was more mad than sad.)
All I can say is Wow! Awesome kids, awesome mom, God's blessings on them all.
I'm the only one who rolls to church on a motorcycle.
<|:P~
And as a 'thank you', I am giving you, free of charge, HennepinPrisoner's Helpful Hint of the Day:
If you see a thread topic that annoys you or seems uninteresting, don't click on it.
And if you do accidentally click on a topic that doesn't interest you, don't post to it
Heloise should be coming to me for advice.
Maybe, I was seeing things through my unfocused and unphilisophical "rose-colored glasses" at the time.
I was more into the Dukes of Hazzard anyway.
I was more into the Dukes of Hazzard anyway.
Really? Interesting. My parents (although not NEARLY as conservative then as they now) never prohibited me from watching ANYTHING. I was just always too busy with school, sports, etc. -- AND just not interested in ANYTHING on TV, that, I guess, it wasn't an issue.
I did notice toward the end that the show did get more "topical" and more "grown-up" but I could have cared less...
Wow, she has a set of ears!
I was in the kitchen of my church with the TV on, chatting with one of the elders. We were engaged in conversation and only paying half attention to the show. When the game was about to start we returned to the main room where others were gathered (including youth and children).
No one had noticed the traumatic baring of breasts, enhanced, by a surgeon.
This is sooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo blown wayyyyyyyyyyyyyyyyy out of proportion, much as the subject at hand was.
Show me where I said or implied the lady was a liar.
If you are not able to do that then an apology is in order.
This is really a very interesting on comment on several levels.
At first, I was a bit offended by your derisive comment, with several things coming to my mind that I could say to you, which would have lowered me to your level, that being one of implied insult and self proclaimed superiority.
But then I quickly realized how wrong that would have been. I also knew that it was also wrong to throw insults at people based simply on a lack of knowledge or prejudice based on that persons location. I knew that to be an approach that was both wrong and one which would be indicative of a total ignorance on my part.
So, let's look at this at a different level, if we may: Your implication is that there are activities which are permissible at home, that should not be allowed or permitted at a Church. On that we would agree, to some extent. But how far we carry that is another question.
Yes, we had the church open to all members. The event was especially aimed at the youth, to come into the multipurpose room to share the game, food, beverages and fellowship with other church members. You find this inappropriate. I would respectively ask why?
We have a racially mixed Church, one where we have many wives attending w/o their husbands, or where the wives have no husbands. We find having Saturday morning basketball followed by a men's breakfast appropriate to try and draw in youth to our Church and to show them that there are other activities available to them. The Super Bowl party was an extension of this fellowship.
I suppose you would also find basketball to be inappropriate, if held at a Church. If so, then I believe that you are a misinformed person, one who needs to reevaluate what a Church really is about.
Were we to assume beforehand that the baring of a breast was to occur? If it did, would it not be best for young kids to be around people who found it inappropriate? As it was, no one noticed. We were all talking to each other, as I pointed out.
I am confident that your comment was made in haste, without realizing what you were really saying or implying. We all make mistakes in haste. We will leave it at that.
What is a CA church?
What activities should not be allowed or permitted at a church?
Her comment was meant to poke fun at those of us who reside here.
What activities should not be allowed or permitted at a church?
Are you serious? I can think of many things which may be appropriate at home, which would not be appropriate at church.
I am sure you can as well.
Yes, I was serious. Sure I can think of some that would. Hopefully, universally agreed upon activiites that are appropriate at home that would not be at church. Sex with one's spouse would be a good example of that.
I suppose you would also find basketball to be inappropriate, if held at a Church. If so, then I believe that you are a misinformed person, one who needs to reevaluate what a Church really is about.
I would find this inappropriate. Not that there is anything wrong with basketball but I would say that it is not a function or duty of the church.
The Lord's money being spent on entertainment?
Wow. To be honest I am quite surprised by your comment.
We open up the church's indoor basketball court on Saturday's at 7:00 AM. We shoot some hoops with the kids, many of whom are not members of the church, but are friends of some of the kids. Later we cook breakfast for them and and then send them on their way. Yes, we hope some return on Sunday, if they don't, well so be it.
No funds from the Church are used (although we are not charged a court or kitchen use fee). One member usually buys the food (I spent $52.00 and fed 22 people). A collection was taken that day for the food (12 men - $45.00). We take turns buying the food, cooking it and then cleaning up. This we call outreach.
I sincerely doubt it if the Lord finds reaching out to youth to be a poor use of "his money"
What does your church do to reach out to non attendees?
And, please, tell me a better use of "the Lord's money" then to reach out to people who do not attend Church?
Was the basketball court and kitchen built with private funds and not the general fund? (i.e. the Sunday collection)
What does your church do to reach out to non attendees?
We have quarterly Gospel meetings. These consist of a visiting preacher(s) who have lessons spanning a week. There are morning, afternoon and evening meetings. The topics vary.
We invite people from the community by means of direct invitation.
Aw c'mon, you're taking all the fun out of freeping. The next thing you'll say is that we should read the article before posting. What are you, The Man? ;)
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