Friday Reflection from Today's Devotion

When reading Friday's devotion from ODB (Our Daily Bread) it made me think of this topic, why many churches still view the internet as a bad thing and how they can not understand how people can form friendships with people they have never met. It's amazing how many churches still think of many people that use the web as "very lonely souls." They wonder how can someone befriend someone who they have never met or how can someone "hook up" with someone via internet?

I have to be honest I have been in the blogging community for over a year on Vox and this year I have been on Twitter and late this year I have joined Facebook I have met some very cool people last year and this year. It may be said in the eyes of some pastors that people can form friendships with people they have never met, never seen but what is really sad to me is that people can form stronger bonds with people in a internet community than church members.

It's amazing how we as Christians are sometimes the last to know the true meaning of some mediums...we trash it then after a long, hard look at it we accept it but by that time many in the secular world dismiss what Christians have to say because we many times, "shoot first(with our words) and then ask questions later and it's sad to say but it seems it takes many church community sometimes to adopt and adapt to current times. Not to do as the world does but to use the electronic tools that God has blessed the secular world to use. Yes pornography is one the web and yes we MUST monitor what our youth on the web on a daily basis but many youths use the web for good day in and day out and many adults use the web for good on a daily basis as well. What churches need to ask is "why" people are turning to the web instead of the church instead of bad mouthing the internet community.

One thing that the church community gets wrong time and time again is that people are upfront and "fake" when it comes to communication on the web. One of the best things about being a geek is that we are not afraid to say when we do not know something. If we need help on trying to figure out something whether it's coding, tagging our music, moving files, we throw the question out there and we try and give an answer to the best of our knowledge. We don't go behind someone's back tearing them down, trying to make them feel stupid because we think back to when we were starting off using computers, searching the web. Why can't that same principle be applied in our churches? Have the time when pastors tell their own congregation to meet and greet one another we do not move out of our own aisle to meet someone. Now I know there is no perfect church, never has been never will be but why in the blogging community most times we are quicker to forgive than in the churches?

I think one of the main reasons is that even Christians think we have to paint ourselves as "perfect" in the eyes of others and our Heavenly Father throughout the Bible used many "imperfect" individuals for his work. I think that sometimes this is the reason that many of our youths turn to someone on the web instead of the church because they see sometimes the hypocrisy in our churches and children are not looking for people to be perfect, they are looking for us as adults to be honest. God knows we are flawed, the youth know we are flawed why can't we as adults and Christians allow them to see us flawed at times?

I'm not painting the entire church community still living in the stone age because many church organization now have podcast of their programs, wonderful websites, mp3 downloads of their services (biblegateway, Harvest Online, Crown Financial Ministries, Enduring Truth) and as a said in the beginning no church is perfect but maybe if not only the outside world but members could feel that oneness inside the church than via web more churches would be packed.

I know what keeps me balanced is what an older Christian taught me years ago, "You got to know that man(God) for yourself." and "Never stop learning because once you stop learning you become old." I have not and will not tell Christians to compromise God's word because being a Follower of Christ is the best thing that has ever happened to me and there is nothing in the world I could go back to for me to turn away from God but we as Christians have to realize that just because people chat online does not make them "lonely souls".

I just think many on the web realize our flaws more so than the "church folks".

Be Blessed, Be Safe
and have a Wonderful Day.

Don’t waste your breath on fools,
for they will despise the wisest advice.

~Proverbs 23:9

Weekend Devotion...Good Morning

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart;
do not depend on your own understanding.
Seek his will in all you do,
and he will show you which path to take."
~proverbs 3:5-6~

A Surprise Answer>>>more
from rbc ministries

It's amazing how God answers my prayers sometimes. From big decisions(do I find a part time job) to the smallest(Lord, help me find my blue jeans). One thing I do know, the more I talk and listen to Him, live by His commandments, the more He shows me.

It's about 4:33am right and I was writing the list of things I wish to get myself in 2007 and I was getting a little discourage because of the prices of items I wish to buy. But then just like that, my Father told me to concentrate on one item at a time, from the lowest price to the highest price (to buy in that order). To be honest, I can be a little overwhelming sometimes thinking of the things I wish to accomplish but I know if I put Him first ALWAYS, live righteous in His eyesight there is nothing I cannot accomplish. Will I get everything I'm putting on my list in 2007...maybe, maybe not but I will not get anything accomplished if I keep worrying and wandering and not take any action toward my goal.

I think in many ways this is why non-Christians get more accomplished than Christians. They are taught to be doers and many of us in some twisted way are taught to be "sitters". That is not how our Lord operates. All through the Bible the men and women were doers. They knew when to move and when to wait...and they had patience. Noah...it took him and his sons about a hundred years to build the ark. They took action and he worked on faith(remember Noah and his family never seen rain before because the water would spring from the ground to water the crops). If Noah could have that much faith and take action I think I can have faith and work toward the items that I want. We as Christians must get out of this "waiting for the Lord" to bring our needs and wants to fruition.

I have found in my own life that when I am moving around that is when my Father gives me my answers and I try to keep a small recorder or a pen and small pad with me at all times. Isn't it amazing the best ideas comes when we're in the middle of doing something else? But that is how He operates and we must be prepared at all times. God helps us in His own way and it is up to us to bend to His will, not for Him to bend to ours...His way is always the best way.

Have a Great Sunday

Be Blessed and Be Safe.

Devotions for Sunday:

• Perfect Promises
• THINK IT OVER
• Call Upon the Lord

Tech News for Sunday:

• Galaxy ring suggests cosmic shock wave
• ***Another Nail in the IT Certification Coffin
• Sites Invite Online Mourning, but Don’t Speak Ill of the Dead

netcast for your spirit:

• Understanding Abortion: A Thoughtful Analysis, 1
• The Unburnable Men, part 1
• Walk Worthy of Your Calling in Midst of Diversity

netcast for your noggin':

• The VFX Show 12: Battlestar Galactica
• KFI Tech Guy #165
• Writing 'The Office'

Wednesday Devotions & Tech News

Your Body—God’s Temple>>>more
from In Touch Ministries

I'm glad Dr. Stanley brings this subject up about our bodies, what I may write may offend some people but I say this out of love. This is aimed for men and women (especially women) in the body of Christ because even today I believe many churches are not addressing this subject..taking care of our body.

Women and men of Christ, again I say this out of love but we have a crisis on our hands. The divorce rate are just as high as non-Christians. We are not taking are time when it comes to choosing our mates (we spend more time choosing a home, a car, a computer than choosing a mate for life). So many things we have to take into consideration, the mental state of the person we will bring in our lives, their love for the Lord, their discipline, their finances (yes their finances..that is one of the leading causes of divorce) and our appearance. Many churches don't wish to address this because the subject is sensitive, especially toward the sisters in the body of Christ but this must be said...ladies, our queens, we men are PHYSICAL creatures, there I said it but it's true.

This is not the only thing that attracts men to you but it's very important. God wired us to be visual and women to be internal. This does not give us men the right to be dogs and try to sex anything with a hole(hey, we are all grown here and trying to keep this subject as real as possible..this is why many non-Christians look at us and laugh, how can we tell them to keep their relationship intact if we can't). We, men and women have to keep our bodies in tact for our mates once we are married, plain and simple. We are all going to gain weight over the years but this does not mean we just let ourselves go. I have heard so many women over the years say, "he should love me just the way I am". Very true he should and I truly believe he does but I have heard it best put this way (from the Simpsons more or less) Marge told Homer when he was deliberately putting on weight, "I'm still in love with you Homer, but not attracted to you sexually the way I once was."

Many and I do mean many men Christians or non-Christians do want to step out on their spouse "just because", physical attraction plays a very big part of a relationship. Read the book *Song of Solomon. Every time the woman describes him she says, "my lover"...intimately, inwardly; when the man describes his lover he describes her physical beauty. To a man this is not the whole package but I'm not going to lie, it's a pretty big part of the package. Now let me say this to the man, this gives you no right, NO RIGHT to step out on your spouse when she begins to pick up weight or you think she is not keeping up herself the way she used to(she is the mother of your children, a housewife, so don't use the "Eric Benet" syndrome,"I have to have sex or I will die"). I'm tired of men using that as a cop out to have affairs with someone else, she is your best friend, your mate for life. And to my sisters in Christ, don't get upset when the subjects comes up because we have to be open with one another, this is what keeps a marriage strong, (but fellows be tactful when you bring it up please..she's a woman, your queen okay?)

Fellows, this does not mean we let ourselves go as well. How can I tell my spouse I want her a certain size and I'm not pushing away from the kitchen table myself...really do you think your spouse want someone as big as Biggie Small on top of her doing love making, I don't think so (like I said, I'm trying to keep this as real as possible).

To single men and women, keep yourselves together as well, physically, spiritual, and mentally as well. I have come across many of beautiful women in my days and as soon as they open their mouths my interest in them went right out the window.

And to the fellows, pick up good hygiene habits please. Women do not want a man that looks sloppy, don't wash his hands after using the restroom (yes women pay attention to this). God place place men and women on this earth not only to be man and wife but He also wanted you and I to take care of ourselves the best to our ability, to have fun in and out the bedroom. How can we win people to the body of Christ when we look like something the cat dragged in, it's just not possible.

Women, be true to yourselves and believe me, when your husband see that you are taking care of yourselves spiritually, mentally, and physically there is nothing he will not do for you and men, learn to appreciate the tremendous job your wife is trying to do not only by being a mother, a helper but by being a lover as well. The world is watching us, we (men and women) can't look young forever but if we keep our 'Temple' the best way we can we will have a happy, joyful, and strong marriage.

*Please read the books of Song of Solomon

Be Blessed,
Be Safe, &
Have a Great, productive Day.

Praying For Our Children
from Christian Embassy Church

Hope

"God of Hope, grant that my children may overflow with hope and hopefulness bu the power of the Holy Spirit".

Romans 15:13

other devotions for today: Spiritual Cedar, Hurry Sickness, The Antidote to Worry

tech news for today: Florida man charged in botnet, Web watchdog outlines porn battle, Truck You Planet: A New Hummer , Dream Applications

Christian netcast: The Things God Uses - Part 3, Pure Sex Radio, Who Cares? - Part 1

Tech netcast: FLOSS Weekly 14, Engadget Podcast 092, dl.tv 105

Headline news>>>click here

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