The Challenge: 5 days without Anime

[ChristianKitsune]

hey everyone! CK here!! Today I have a challenge for you.. For me too!

Today at Church we read out of Haggai chapter 1. In this chapter it was discussed how some people who were called to build a house for God, didn't do it right away, Instead they built their OWN homes. and became completely consumed with THEIR own lives instead of what God wanted for them..

1 In the second year of King Darius, on the first day of the sixth month, the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai to Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and to Joshua [a] son of Jehozadak, the high priest:
2 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "These people say, 'The time has not yet come for the LORD's house to be built.' "

3 Then the word of the LORD came through the prophet Haggai: 4 "Is it a time for you yourselves to be living in your paneled houses, while this house remains a ruin?"

5 Now this is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 6 You have planted much, but have harvested little. You eat, but never have enough. You drink, but never have your fill. You put on clothes, but are not warm. You earn wages, only to put them in a purse with holes in it."

7 This is what the LORD Almighty says: "Give careful thought to your ways. 8 Go up into the mountains and bring down timber and build the house, so that I may take pleasure in it and be honored," says the LORD. 9 "You expected much, but see, it turned out to be little. What you brought home, I blew away. Why?" declares the LORD Almighty. "Because of my house, which remains a ruin, while each of you is busy with his own house. 10 Therefore, because of you the heavens have withheld their dew and the earth its crops. 11 I called for a drought on the fields and the mountains, on the grain, the new wine, the oil and whatever the ground produces, on men and cattle, and on the labor of your hands."

12 Then Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the whole remnant of the people obeyed the voice of the LORD their God and the message of the prophet Haggai, because the LORD their God had sent him. And the people feared the LORD.

13 Then Haggai, the LORD's messenger, gave this message of the LORD to the people: "I am with you," declares the LORD. 14 So the LORD stirred up the spirit of Zerubbabel son of Shealtiel, governor of Judah, and the spirit of Joshua son of Jehozadak, the high priest, and the spirit of the whole remnant of the people. They came and began to work on the house of the LORD Almighty, their God, 15 on the twenty-fourth day of the sixth month in the second year of King Darius.

So this week, which incudes May 3rd (the national day of prayer) I challenge each and everyone of us to go until Friday without watching anime. It will be a challege esepcially for me. But I know that I definately need to put God at the first spot in my life. (Maybe you don't because he already is and that's awesome.) But What I am talking about here is a bit of a fast. But only do it if you feel God is calling you to do so.

During this "anime fast" I challenge myself, and you guys to get in God's word. Truly concentrate and mediate on it.

Then I want to hear what you all have learned.

If we stop and Listen, and truly focus...who knows what God will tell us?!

So...are you guys with me? Are you willing to turn off the telly/youtube,books to just focus? For 5 Days? If you don't feel led to do this, that is fine! No pressure, mmkay?

Good luck, and God bless! ^o^

[RedMage]

Well, I watch anime once a week (Bleach on Saturday nights) anyway...don't have the time or much inclination for anything else these days.

[Fish and Chips]

I pretty much only watch Anime on Friday nights (with one 24-minute exception) anyway, although focusing on God specifically might be more daunting for me, for a couple of reasons I'd prefer not to go into.

[Tenshi no Ai]

I and my youth once did a complete media fast for an entire MONTH. To be honest, it wasn't easy, but we did have a fun time getting together and doing Bible stuffs. It's too bad that only one friend and I made it through while everyone once kept making little "exceptions" (like that it was ok to go on the net once a week) or that it was "too easy" and gave up early :/ Guess it bugged me cause alot were like "yeah we made it through" but like, didn't really... I dunno.

So if we did a month, 5 days shouldn't be too bad for others. Who knows? Maybe some will get alot out of it/learn alot during that time^^

[chibiphonebooth]

I already win.


I have officially gone 3 months without it. I broke that run two days ago. XD

[chibiphonebooth]

I pretty much only watch Anime on Friday nights (with one 24-minute exception) anyway, although focusing on God specifically might be more daunting for me, for a couple of reasons I'd prefer not to go into.

I'm just wondering... why would it be daunting? you don't need to tell me if you don't want.

I was just wondering is all. I'm doing a Bible school right now for 5 months, and believe me- I'm sure I have gone through some daunting moments. XD

[Fish and Chips]

...Like I said, I'd rather not go into it.

[chibiphonebooth]

oh sorry. ^.^;;

[Mr. SmartyPants]

I'm rooting for you all the way CK! Go do it!

As for me, I haven't been watching much recently. I did watch one episode of Black Lagoon, so I think I'm getting back into anime.

Let's say I already had my anime-fast xD It's been a few months, actually.

[Mave]

Anime or manga isn't really a challenge for me but if it is for you and you're taking up this challenge, props to you!

Basically, each one of us needs to identify what we indulge in enough to distract us from God's prompting. I've identified my challenge to be music in general. I'm so used to having music blasting everywhere I go, it'll be really uncomfortable with the silence.

God be with you in this one

[islandjunky]

I shall do it!! Although it is already Thursday, but a series I just bought is coming in the mail, and I guess it'll be a challenge to not watch it. Anyway, I need to get back in touch with my "inner Christian" so I may do something harder. . . I dunno.

[ChristianKitsune]

Well everyone, it's Friday! ^_^ I made it!! (for the most part) Last night I had my TV on CN and anime was on, but I was NOT watching it.

It was a bit of a challence for me, but I am glad I took this break. I was able to not only concentrate on God more, but also on my studies for school as well.

I learned this week that I really need to put God first in my life. Maybe even taking a media fast once a week will be a cool thing to do. Just a day to reflect on the awesomeness that God is!

IslandJunky, my challenge was a 5 day break ^_^ you can do it!

[Jingo Jaden]

I useualy watch youtube video's quite a few days, the same repetative thing mostly. *useualy some of the fav amv's*

I don't feel absorbed by anime. Or video games. I do useualy do stuff like that each day though. I think I will try to have the anime section turned off for a 5 day period though. Maybe it will help me feel refreshed

Edit: It will be a bit hard for me to stay off youtube due to either real life footage and school buisness, and there may be reason for me to improve my fighting mania record, which may count as a anime/videogame, other than that I think it will go well

[rocklobster]

Good for you, CK! I'm pleased to see that you were able to not only keep to your commitment but that you had the courage to examine yourself in the first place. May this challenge continue to strengthen your endeavors.

[Alexander]

Ah, I'm a little late, but I think I'm going try for a week. And for me, that's really hard for an aspie.

But I've been so absorbed in Anime with watching it non-stop for the past three months has been a real big distraction for other things I want to focus on. Especially my spirituality. So from May 12th to the 19th, I'm taking a break.

GAHHH! How is an aspie going to do this? But I'm determined to stay with it. But I will still be in the anime forums to talk.

[Bobtheduck]

Up until I watched Haibane Renmei, I'd gone about 3 months without anime... The challenge for me is to go 5 days without myspace, Kotaku, PS3forums, and CAA

[ChristianKitsune]

Good luck everyone! It's well worth it! ^_^

I will keep you both in my prayers.

[Jingo Jaden]

I bumped into anime alot of times because I tended to listen to anime music movies and such. However I tended to act quickly to change the window, if I would have graded myself, somewhere close to a C+ B- area.

I feel I got through it alright, I watched anime alot of times *like less than a second sorta way* and acted quickly to turn over to something else, so did I veiw anime - yes, but did I watch anime? No, not that much.

I feel this has helped me, and its fun to watch anime again, its often fun to challenge oneself at subjects like these, thanks for the thread

[Wave]

Yah know I think I'll take on that chanlenge. I kindove alledy did. I kept feeling like God was telling me to put him first in my life again. So I desided to "cut back on anime an manga I have not bought a manga bock for about two weeks now. But I kept waching anime. So this time I think I'm going to give that up to. Um yah this will be realy hard for me. But when God tells you to do something you do it!

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[Master-Chief]

I have strong will-power! I'll just watch Cartoons @_@

[Wave]

I don't have a tv so that will be kindof dificult ^^

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[Okami]

...But I haven't watched anime for about 3 months now D: