I'm Not
Sirius Anymore

Dateline: 25 November 2013



I’ve been hooked up to Sirius satellite radio for five years. I got it so I would have a variety of listening options as I worked in my workshop or Planet Whizbang mail-order packing room. I  mostly listened to Fox news, the Patriot channel and NPR. Occasionally I would listen to BBC radio. 

I would much rather listen to people talking than music—to ideas and information being expressed, even if I disagree with the ideas (which I often do on mainstream media). There is very little in the way of music that I like to listen to for very long. I have no interest at all in sports. 

I don’t have cable television, and have not watched television for many years. I know virtually nothing about any Hollywood personality or pop singer who has come along in the past 10 to 15 years. They mean nothing to me.

A few months ago I decided to stop listening to the satellite radio. I had had my fill of Fox (the sensational, tabloid-like reporting in particular) and everything else on the satellite radio. 

I came to the conclusion that I did not want to submit to them anymore; I did not want them deciding every day what my thoughts would dwell on, and the pictures that would play in the “theatre of my mind.”  Too often, the discussion was inane, or foolish, or perverse. 

When I need some talk to listen to I can now choose from a variety no-cost, independently-produced, decentralized-media options on the internet. I simply plug a speaker into my laptop computer and I can hear fine while working at things that I need to get done.

This last week I finally got around to calling Sirius to discontinue my satellite service. It took around 15 minutes. They offered me a year’s service for half price (a considerable savings). I didn’t bite. I’m done.

The money I would have paid Sirius for another year of listening will be donated to Generations With Vision. Two guys in a basement in the eastern plains of Colorado produce a daily Generations internet-radio program that, in my opinion, far surpasses anything the mainstream media puts out. They've been doing it for a lot of years. I’ve mentioned this program on this blog before. I’ll probably mention it again.

Kevin Swanson and Dave Buehner host the Generations With Vision radio broadcast. Both men are pastors. I believe they are Reformed Presbyterians. What I like about these men is that they are biblical worldview warriors. They fearlessly take on cultural issues that many mainstream preachers shy away from. They not only provide cultural analysis on the decline of Western civilization from a biblical worldview, they also monitor the growing Christian apostasy. But more than that, they present biblical solutions to the problems that they see.


The solutions they offer begin with the fear of God, and the recognition that sin is the fundamental problem of mankind. God’s law/word, as found in the Bible is looked to as the blueprint for personal and cultural reformation. This reformation begins with individual Christians and Christian families who get a vision for thinking and living that is contra mundum, which means against the world (see Romans 12:2). 

I often use the term, "contra-industrial" to define my writings on this blog. Contra industrial and contra mundum are pretty much the exact same thing in my Christian-agrarian mind. 

When Kevin and Dave talk, they sound like Christian-agrarians to me. They encourage their listeners to not be dependent on government handout-schemes, government schooling-schemes, government medical-schemes, and political promises. They say that Christians should provide for their own needs and the needs of their families apart from government. They promote the biblical concept of self-government and personal responsibility. They identify cities as ungodly places. They encourage entrepreneurship and the development of family economies. They think multi-generationally. They refuse to bow to the cultural demands of people who would redefine marriage and the family as something totally contrary to what God designed it to be. 

As the economic and social structures of our industrialized, Babylonian world system are crumbling, Kevin and Dave offer a vision to their Christian listeners of "islands of freedom" where God-fearing families live lives of obedience, wisdom, and Biblical responsibility, set apart to God, for His glory.  

When I listen to Generations radio I am presented with ideas and biblical worldview opinions that I never hear from the mainstream media and, frankly, that I rarely hear discussed in church. 

I encourage those of you who read this blog, and are believers in Jesus Christ, to listen to the daily Generations Radio internet broadcasts. There is certainly nothing like it on the mainstream media, and I've yet to find a more insightful and biblically pertinent program anywhere else on the internet.


12 comments:

Matt said...

Proverbs 9:10..... always a great place to start.

Sarah said...

I'm going to check out Generations with Vision. My current fave radio station to listen to online is Redeemer Broadcasting. They're upstate NY in Ulster county, but have translators in different areas. But they also stream online. It is run by one of the elders of our church and his wife and I love the programming. It's well rounded and uplifting.

Cyndi Lewis said...

Love Generations with Vision! I like to do household chores while listening to them.

Lady Orpington said...

Sounds like another great idea. ;)
As always...THANK YOU for sharing!

Anonymous said...

Funny - I disconnected two weeks ago. They gave me a similar discount offer but I decided against it. I had it for 4 years. I'll miss the Bluegrass station a lot and Mike Church a bit. He's all mixed up theologically but generally I agree with his political points.
Kind Regards,
Muns

PS - For whatever reason I can still listen to the basic station package. Maybe they switch you over to the basic package for some time period after you quit just to entice you back. It's nice we have the secular Christmas music on Channel 4 - normally 40's music we also liked.

Unknown said...

I too listen to Generations, I too have stopped listening to cable news, I too have decided that the industrialized society, economy, life style is not for me. Your blog is something that I can identify with and glean knowledge.....you, as well as a few other bloggers and a very few internet news outlets, are the voices to whom I choose to listen.

Herrick Kimball said...

Matt—
Amen. And that's a profoundly contra mundum verse.

Sarah—
I've never heard of Redeemer Broadcasting and I'll check it out. Thanks for letting me know.

Cynthia—
I'm delighted to know you are a Generations listener.

Lady O.—
You're welcome.

Muns—
Very interesting. I suspect satellite radio may be hemorrhaging listeners, and that would explain the great "please stay" offer. I also enjoyed listening to Mike Church.

Shannon—
Sounds like we think alike. I'm glad you are a reader here, and I appreciate the comment.

Lisa said...

We, too, are Generations listeners; in fact, we have been for several years now. A few years back, we had Mr. Swanson out to speak at our church's annual Heritage Conference. He's a great guy and speaks the truth without hesitation. We also were blessed to hear him speak in October of this year at one of the Family Economics conferences Generations puts on each year -- if you are able to, plan to go next year! It was so worth it and a true blessing to our family as we just a few months ago started our own business. Blessings to you and yours this Thanksgiving, Lisa :)

Sunnybrook Farm said...

I listen to a lot less radio and tv, seems like the time to listen is past, things have been pointed down a road and I just don't need to hear about the direction any more.

Herrick Kimball said...

Hi Lisa—
Thanks for your comment. I checked out your Etsy page. Love the hand-knit dishcloths. My wife has made them in the past. She sent one to Mary Jane at Mary Jane's Farm and they published an article about making them.

I think it was Kevin Swanson's talking about developing family economies that first attracted me to his show. I've written here for a long time about the importance of reestablishing family economies. He is doing some very good things.

Sunnybrook Farm—
Seems like you are right.

Unknown said...

Sounds interesting. I know what you mean about mainstream media and enjoying thoughtful talk while working. My particular favorite these days is a podcast called Skeptics Guide to the Universe. A fascinating group of critical thinkers tackling a wide variety of topics.

Adam Grimes said...

I met Kevin Swanson over three years ago and have been listening ever since. I found your blog about six years ago and have been reading ever since. I have always seen similarities between the two and you have a great story that lines right up with the message GwV promotes. You would be a great guest for them to have on one day to talk about the Chicken Plucker and Planet Whizbang, but I'm sure you wouldn't ask to be on. Maybe I'll recommend you to them.

At least for one man, you have given inspiration and encouragement to pursue the good life of simplicity, working in God's creation with my family by my side and living for the glory of Christ. May God continue to bless you in your pursuit as well.

-Adam in TX