CAN YOU PLAY TOO MUCH XBOX?

April 20, 2006

Organizers are pushing to make video gaming a recognized sport.

THINK ABOUT IT

USA Network To Carry Pro Video Game Tournament

by Shankar Gupta, Monday, Apr 17, 2006 8:06 AM EST

MAJOR LEAGUE GAMING, WHERE PROFESSIONAL video game players compete in tournament settings for cash prizes, this year will for the first time televise its pro circuit event on the USA Network. Though the MLG has been featured on television before, in documentaries and news stories, CEO Mike Sepso said that the league hopes the USA Network exposure will help the league gain cachet as a legitimate sport. "This is in the sports department for NBC-U," he said, referring to the production team handling the telecast. "The guys who produced the Olympics are producing this with us."

The tourney, entitled the "Boost Mobile Major League Gaming Pro Circuit presented by Scion," is being held April 21 and April 22 at the Meadowlands stadium in Secaucus, NJ, and will be televised late Saturday mornings from November 11 through November 23, following WWE's "Raw" professional wrestling, USA's highest-rated show.
The event consists of hundreds of players, both individuals and teams, competing in two popular game titles: "Halo 2" for the Xbox and "Super Smash Brothers Melee" for the GameCube. Players compete for bragging rights, along with $800,000 in cash and prizes. Televised matches include feeds from each player's screen - providing a point-of-view of what the player is actually seeing - as well as shots of the players, and feeds from their headsets, to capture team strategizing and trash-talk.

picture courtesy images.google.com & story courtesy thunderstruck.org, 04/18/06

TAKE A LOOK

Philippians 4:8 - (NLT)

⁸And now, dear brothers and sisters, let me say one more thing as I close this letter. Fix your thoughts on what is true and honorable and right. Think about things that are pure and lovely and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.

Today's news story may have some of you dreaming of turning pro as a video gamer. Some of you may try to convince your parents that they should view your time spent playing video games as a possible investment, or at least a worthwhile break from homework. If you're a parent, maybe you can convince your kids to let you play more often!

WHAT'S THE CONNECTION BETWEEN PAUL'S WORDS AND VIDEO GAMES?

Even though Paul never imagined computer programs, he understood the principle that whatever you program into something determines the outcome. What we put into our minds determines what we think about, say, and do.

Paul is simply telling us (according to the Holy Spirit directing him) to program our minds with thoughts that are true, honorable, right, pure, lovely, admirable, excellent and worthy of praise.

HOW DOES GOD'S INSTRUCTION (through Paul) MAKE YOU EVALUATE YOUR CURRENT CHOICES OF VIDEO GAMES AND THE AMOUNT OF TIME YOU SPEND PLAYING?

If you're struggling with impure thoughts and attitudes or finding it difficult to manage your time, you will find it helpful to reprogram your mind with the kind of resources that Paul talks about in today's verse. Most important of all - make sure your priority is to spend time in God's Word and prayer.

Nobody can give you an exact list of the video games that are ok, or the amount of time you can spend playing them, but God's Spirit will help you determine what to put into your mind. Imagine Jesus sitting down to play Xbox with you....

You can still be a gamer if you're addicted to Jesus and His Truth!

TALK ABOUT IT

Take a minute to let God's Spirit lovingly convict you of anything that is dominating your thoughts other than that which pleases Christ. Confess it and thank Jesus for His forgiveness. Ask Him to reprogram your mind on a daily basis. Take another minute to praise Him for His work in your life.

TRY IT

Memorize today's verse as a reminder to fill your mind with the right stuff.
Write out today's verse and stick it on your computer or in your organizer or one of your school books. This is part of "reprogramming" your thoughts.
For one month, keep a written log or journal of the amount of time you're spending with video games, tv, movies and God's word or other Christian resources. Take appropriate action and thank God for His help in making you more like Jesus.
In your youth group or small group, brainstorm ways to use the video game craze to get others involved who need to know Jesus.

ABOUT IT

DAILY DEVOS is brought to you by Youth for Christ. Youth for Christ works with young people on campus and in the community in over one hundred countries around the world so that they might have an opportunity to become a follower of Christ and be a part of a local church.

Byron Emmert Daily Devos is published Monday through Friday. Archives can be found at YFC.ORG. Its purpose is to help you apply truths from God's Word every day.

Our writer, Byron Emmert, has been involved with Youth For Christ for 30 years. He's served as Campus Life Staff, as a writer, and in leadership for the DCLA Conferences. Byron is married to Linda and their family includes two married sons and daughters-in-law, and a daughter in college. He loves sports, deep dish pizza, and spending time with his family.