What's up today (bullchiting) thread.

My 20 year old son and my wife like to turn the closed caption on when watching a movie now. Same reason. I don’t like seeing text on the screen when watching a movie. Screws up the visual.

 

Agree completely

 

I hate a movie without text...you miss a lot without it, and not because I'm deaf either

 

I like to listen to the TV with Headphones on. Much more realistic.

 

I quit watching television because of this.

 

Agreed! I bought a sound bar because it had "sound normalizing" that was supposed to fix that. I can tell a difference, but it is still not enough. I have to watch a show with one finger on the vol down button and if I'm not fast enough I get angry looks from the wife.

 

I don't have any issues hearing on most shows I watch. I will say that things like Landman (which I only watched an episode or two, whatever was offered on regular TV since I won't pay extra to see shows), I turn on the sound bar and put it on the "music" setting (don't ask why, it just works for the cheap soundbar I have). That seems to clear up the talking during all the background noise. I also like to do that for Gray's Anatomy. But 99.9% of the time, it is just the TV sound on 4 or 5. If th epellet stove is going, I may have to turn it up to 7.

 

-3​

 

We have an older sound system that has speakers around the room and fortunately can connect to our TV through the optical port. This makes it easier to hear everything and it doesn't need to be blasting you out of the room.

 

WORD From The Woods



Philemon 1:8-11

8 Accordingly, though I am bold enough in Christ to command you to do what is required, 9 yet for love's sake I prefer to appeal to you—I, Paul, an old man and now a prisoner also for Christ Jesus— 10 I appeal to you for my child, Onesimus, whose father I became in my imprisonment. 11 (Formerly he was useless to you, but now he is indeed useful to you and to me.)



This passage marks the opening third of Paul's appeal to Philemon on behalf of Onesimus. As I reflected on verse 11, I found myself pausing. What could Paul mean when he describes Onesimus as "formerly useless" but now "useful"? Perhaps this comes easily to mind for some, but for me, it required deeper thought. After diving into several commentaries, the answer became obvious—and I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Of course!” If you’ve wrestled with this verse as I did, let me share my learnings that reveal not just how Onesimus became useful, but how we all undergo a profound transformation in Christ.

Outside of Christ, we are all spiritually useless, separated from God, and incapable of fulfilling His purpose for our lives. But in Christ, we are made new creations. This truth isn’t groundbreaking new revelation as it is foundational, but it raises an important question: How does being made a new creature make us useful?

Consider Onesimus. The only change we know of in him that would cause him to be useful is his conversion under Paul’s influence while in prison. Through this transformation, he moved from being a child of wrath to being a child of God. Jesus’ words in Matthew 12:30 resonate here: "Whoever is not with me is against me" (paraphrase). This shift in allegiance, from opposing Christ to being with Him, redefines our purpose and usefulness.

As followers of Christ, our priorities change. No longer are we consumed with serving ourselves; instead, we seek to glorify God in everything. Our desires align with His will, and we embrace servanthood by preferring others above ourselves. The Gospel doesn’t make us better, it makes us vessels for God’s glory. The Holy Spirit, now residing in us, is equipping us to serve others and bring honor to His name.

Matthew Henry offers his reflection on this transformation:

"What happy changes conversion makes—of evil good! Of unprofitable useful! Religious servants are a treasure in a family. Such will make conscience of their time and trusts, promoting the interests of those whom they serve, and managing all they can for the best."

Paul’s argument to Philemon follows this reasoning: Onesimus, once unreliable and unprofitable, has been changed by the Gospel. Philemon can now expect Onesimus to be a dutiful and faithful servant, qualities that stem from his newfound identity in Christ.

This transformation isn’t limited to Onesimus. As believers, our lives should reflect this same change. In everything we do, whether eating meals, raising children, changing logging roads, or loading trucks, we aim to glorify God by working with excellence. Matthew Henry reminds us that "religious servants are a treasure." As ambassadors of Christ, we honor Him by striving to be treasures wherever we are: in our families, workplaces, churches, and communities.

Let us embrace this calling and seek to glorify God in all we do. May our actions reflect the life-changing power of the Gospel, making us useful and faithful treasures in every area of our lives, bringing glory to God through our service and excellence.



God bless! -Ethan

 

So, I’m NOT the only one who has experienced this! Glad to know I’m not alone. I use headphone type wireless so I can turn my volume up and wife can keep volume more to her liking

 

Violence. The sex scenes rhyme with grape but no nakedness.

Lots of violent scenes....raw, unadulterated, extremely graphic violence.

Not appropriate for a young viewer and not a good choice for family evening entertainment.

99 even found something else to do.......

 

The puffins and the landscape of this particular spot look like it could be here in NL, but this beautiful picture is from Scotland. Hopefully some day I'll see in person.

 

Chiefs V Texans

Good game so far.

 

Was out on the lake; enjoyed some invigorating winter weather; now watching the game; watching the fire; boiling some wild rice; soon I will be frying up some fish. Nice quiet relaxing winter day.

 

It was a good meal!