Loving Enemies With Your Thumbs
I have been previewing Wyatt’s devotional book we just started for the year. Prereading so that I:
- Can ask questions for bedtime discussion/prayer
- Know what he is reading/accountability
The devotional entry for today was titled “It’s all about the Thumbs”. It talks about how we act and ultimately behave on social media. I thought the entry was bit funny as Wyatt isn’t on social media (Facebook has a rule where you have to be at least 13 years old to open an account). I am thankful we have not had to go down that road yet.
Verse of the Day:
But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be children of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. – Luke 6:35 (NIV)
After surveying the entry for today, I wrote down some questions for him to think on/answer before we talk tonight (he writes his answers down in a small notebook):
- How can you show kindness to others while playing video games (which IS something he does with his thumbs)?
- What makes you mad when playing video games?
Having a devotional time with your kids doesn’t have to be long. The key is moving forward and doing something while being intentional. Already, in the few days we’ve been going through this new bedtime routine, I’ve noticed that the discussion questions have given us specific needs to pray over. This is a good thing as I’m often not sure what to pray over with him.
362 days to go. Habits take 2-3 weeks to take hold. Why not start a devotional time, with your own kids, and join me?
Beginning the Odyssey
Picked up Assassin’s Creed Odyssey via the PSN Holiday Sale last week. I am enjoying what I’ve played so far (Alexios is hilarious). Finished up the Kefalonia quests tonight.
Devo Time – Psalm 115:1
In my devotional time today, I came across this question:
“Who will get the credit if God answers my prayer?”
No matter what I’m doing, I don’t want it to be about me. I want to be able to give God the glory.
Thank You for a Great 2018
Standing on the edge of 2018, I would like to thank my friends and family for supporting me and my writing. THANK YOU! I’ve been at this on JBG for over sixteen years now. Kind of crazy to think about! Time does fly.
Reading over posts I’ve written this past year, we’ve put some miles behind us:
- The Legend of Zelda: Breath of the Wild has been replaced with Fortnite, in the Hall household.
- JohnnyBGamer crossed the 3,000 view mark this month (December). I TRY and not focus on numbers, but I was excited over this. I’ve written more this past year than I did in 2017 (118 posts versus 48). While I’m not quite back up to my 2016 numbers (4,700 views/101 posts that year), I’m getting close to it again.
- I didn’t realize it, but I stepped down and away from Theology Gaming FB Group this year (seems like a long time ago now). While that transition hasn’t always been easy for me… I’m proud of what I accomplished there as a Community Manager, with a great group of guys, and I wish them the best in the years to come.
I wrote the following post back in April of this year. While I’m still sorting through these thoughts, I’m also more confident in just writing and sharing life… just being me without being a front/organization (I’ve ALWAYS struggled with this). Thanks for reading in 2018, I can’t wait to see where we’ll go in 2019.
Thinking Aloud
My church’s youth room is decorated with black and grey tones. Even the ceiling tiles have been painted black. The overall effect reminds me of a dark cave; a dark worship cave.
As I was waiting for my wife to get out of a summer camp meeting, I talked to a few of the guys hanging out in the youth room. I was immediately asked, “Do you play Fortnite?”
Wyatt, sitting next to me, suddenly perked up, “What’s Fortnite?”
I talked with this kid, we’ll call him Alex, about the game. He gave me a history lesson on the rise of battle royale games, how most of them stemmed from a game called ARMA.
I was reminded just how nerdy gaming culture can be when Alex dove into a PC versus console debate.
“I’m a part of the PC master race.”
I’m sure you are, Alex, I’m sure you are.
My youth room encounter got me thinking about this site, my thoughts towards ministry within the gaming culture, etc. I am reminded that gaming culture spans a large swath of demographics. That when I think of gaming culture, I think of those who are closer to my age, not someone like Alex.
Reminded me that I started this blog to encourage others in the gaming space. That JohnnyBGamer has always been about promoting a balance between life and gaming. My original tagline, for the site, was: “Because there is more to life than just gaming.” I created that tagline in the midst of a season of watching friends being consumed by what they were consuming, video games. I hated that, I hated the control gaming had upon them, had upon me.
At this point in life, I am at a place where gaming doesn’t have as strong as a pull as it once did. But in talking to Alex and his friend last night, I’m reminded that there are others still in the midst of that struggle. A struggle where kids I know, kids around me, are out of control in their gaming. Makes me wonder…
How can I help parents:
- Curate the types of video games their family consumes
- Promote healthy media consumption habits for their children
How can I help gamers:
- Ask questions about the games they are playing
- Learn healthy online habits for interacting within gaming culture
- Be aware, overall, that there is more to life than just gaming
I am not sure where God is leading me right now. But these are thoughts I’m processing through in this season after stepping down from Theology Gaming. Whether I step out and do something “big”, become more purposeful with this blog, or just take the gaming lessons I’ve learned, along the way, and use them to help my son navigate the gaming space.
JohnnyBGamer 