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Journal — April, 2007 |
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AN ONGOING
SPIRITUAL WEBLOG
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April 26, 2007
If you have children - especially teenagers - you've probably noticed
how fast they embrace new technology. They can text at lightning speed,
they have mp3 players, cell phones and they surf cyberspace.
One of the most popular online destinations is MySpace.com.
Your kids know about it and probably go there frequently. They may even
have a site and a profile.
The challenge of how to keep tabs on the online activity of your kids
without being overbearing and intrusive is real. So is the threat of
online predators, those people who pose as youngsters only to try and
make contact with our children for unsavory reasons.
There is a new book that parents might want to investigate to inform
you about MySpace.com and how to protect your kids. It is written by
a young author, Jason Illian. He's been named as one of the top 20 students
in America by USA Today. The book is written
to inform you about the various benefits and danger of MySpace, how to
access and use MySpace.com to view your children's profiles, how to use
the security settings, and how to avoid leaving "virtual footprints" that
online predators could follow.
MySpace, MyKids: A Parent's Guide to Protecting
Your Kids and Navigating Myspace.com (Harvest
House Publishers) is available from our secure Christian
Online Resources store here.
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April 25, 2007
Video has become a very popular thing on the Internet. The growth of YouTube.com certainly
demonstrates this and there is a reason why Google spent a huge sum of
money to purchase the site.
While a lot of what is posted on YouTube is frivolous or even offensive,
there are also people using it for good. The Internet allows everyone
the possibility of a global voice. One of the more interesting people
I've come across on YouTube is Peter Oakley. He's an
elderly gentleman (79 years old) who knows his way around the technology
and has been posting "Telling It All" autobiographical videos
about his life. They are not sophisticated. It is just a camera pointed
at him and he comments in a humble, calm and "grandfatherly" way
about his experiences. His postings have resonated with millions of people
and he is among the top ten most watched on YouTube. Now he is getting
media attention and interviews (that he never sought) and he's a bit
surprised by it all. But I think he's pleased that people are watching
and listening to what he shares about his life.
This gets me thinking about how an evangelical approach can be more effective.
If we are simply being ourselves, being honest and humble, and telling
others about the great love of Christ perhaps people will be more receptive.
It doesn't have to be flashy. I know that "reach, don't preach" is
practiced by some, but not as much as I think it could or should be.
Peter Oakley goes by the handle "geriatric1927" and
you can view one of his latest postings here.
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April 19, 2007
As we continue to see constant media coverage of the Virginia Tech shootings
it is hard to take in all the accounts of sorrow and violence. In times
like these we look to God for strength and comfor. As well we should.
The Upper Room has a scripture verse that may be helpful
to you. Words of Comfort comes from Hebrews 13:6. Basically it reminds
us that with God we in our lives we can handle anything that comes that
way. Do you realize that? Do you believe it? Maybe it will help to read
it now - here. I've also found the Upper
Room has many good resources and articles.
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April 17, 2007
Despite an email that circulated the Virginia Tech campus yesterday morning
about a dorm shooting most students went on to classes. The school had
not been shut down and no one was prepared for the horrific bloodshed
that occurred when a male gunman opened fire and killed over thirty people
before taking his own life.
The responses we experience - shock, anger, sadness, dissapointment and
fear - prompt many to wonder, once again, how and why such things happen
in our world. But they do. When it happens in America it gets immediate
and widespread media coverage. In Darfur and elsewhere around the
globe there is ongoing violence and killing that we don't always hear
much about.
I am greatly saddened by this. However, God calls us who believe
in His goodness and saving grace to strive to do good each day and to
attempt to help others, especially those who are hurting so much right
now. Comforting the families and friends of the victims, consoling
those who are feeling lost, and sharing honestly and courageously about
Jesus to those who are angry and fearful are actions we can take. Above
all, we can pray.
Prayer is very powerful as we lift our hearts to God, seeking answers,
seeking comfort and seeking strength to help others.
Please, if you do reach out to others, do it with a compassionate and
caring manner. Nobody responds well to a heavy dose of preaching
in the wake of such tragedy. Sometimes it helps just to be quietly
with someone. In the silence there can be sowed the seeds of healing. But
eventually there is a time to talk. And if your faith has helped
you through hard times it can be a powerful testimony to those who are
searching and feeling unsure that there is any good in our world. There
are bad things - and we hear about them everyday. There is also
great goodness. Show it. Be it.
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April 16, 2007
The Hollywood
Prayer Network, a Los Angelis-based ministry to entertainment
professionals, is now reaching out to those in the industry based outside
of LA. A new chapter has formed in the twin cities of Minneapolis-St.
Paul, Minnesota. Story from Assist
News here.
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April 11, 2007
The sad state of our society and media fascination with "celebrities" continues
to dominate our daily news. Don Imus, a radio talk host with a long history
of offensive remarks, is currently in the spotlight for making disparaging
remarks about the Rutgers women's basketball team. His remarks were certainly
innapropriate and his apology only goes so far with his history of acid-tongue
statements. The Reverend Al Sharpton, never one to miss jumping into
a racially charged controversy, had Imus on to discuss the controversy
and the I-man made more apologies. You can find numerous stories online
about all this.
Recentlly Mel Gibson and Michael Richards (of Kramer fame on the sitcom "Seinfeld")
have been criticized for their racial slurs. And there are others, like
tele-evangelist Pat Roberts and his numerous remarks over the years about
God punishing certain people or countries for what Pat interprets as
sinful actions.
I'm certainly not making light of any of this. Anyone in the public eye
with regular media access should take responsibility for their actions.
Yes, there is free speech in the United States. No, that shouldn't condone
hateful and bigoted remarks.
What I guess I find more distressing is the amount of attention the media
gives to these instances while genocide (Dafur), poverty, slave labor
and lack of the earth's resource stewardship don't get as much attention.
There are many issues we, as Christians or at least with a moral compass,
need to be aware of and do something about. It all begins with how we
live our daily lives with our regular interaction with the people around
us. If we take seriously the teachings of Jesus we must look at their
application in all our affairs.
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April 8, 2007
This is it - Easter. This is the purpose, the culmination, of Jesus
Christ's work. The resurrection gives hope to all of us of eternal
life by believing in the One who came to us (God as human) to save us
from our sins.
We cannot do it alone. The Universe wants us to know the Way. Jesus
is risen and is alive! He's as much alive today as yesterday and
He will always be alive. Listen! Can you hear Him calling
your name? We are all invited to the Great Feast.
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April 3, 3007
One of the toughest commandments Jesus Christ gave us is to love God,
yourself and others. No ifs, ands or buts. He even said to love others as
he as loved us.
The Dalai Lama said something similar. “Our prime purpose in this
life is to help others. And if you can't help them, at least don't hurt
them.”
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April 2, 2007
We have entered Holy Week. This is the time to be completey honest about
your faith. Are you walking with the Lord all the way? I know when I
look at myself I see where I still need to make a greater commitment.
There are mistakes and sin.
It is interesting to read the scripture accounts of the time leading
up to Jesus' passion and crucifixion. Passover each year in Israel was
a big deal. The majority of Jerusalem's economy revolved around it. Thousands
of lambs slaughtered, thousands of pilgrims visiting, temple offerings,
preparations and rituals - this was the event each year.
And then this particular year at Passover Jesus is dominating the news.
People loved him, hated him, were indifferent to him or were curious
bystanders. Where am I in this crowd? Am I curious? Am I saying I'm a
follower, but really just hypocritical, in short, a Pharisee? Do I reject
him because he doesn't fit my idea of a messiah? Or do I let go of all
my selfish wants and desires and accept him for who he is? The Son of
Man - the Son of God, walking through this week with the great determination
to finish the work the Father asks of him. Giving us the directions on
how to live that include being a friend, a servant and a willing instrument
of God's love, even if it means giving up our life. In fact, whether
we are martyred or not, we are called to give up our life. Life is not
about you; you are about life!
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Scripture taken from the
Holy Bible, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®.Copyright © 1973,
1978, 1984 International Bible Society. All rights reserved
throughout the world. Used by permission of International
Bible Society.
NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION® and NIV® are registered trademarks
of International Bible Society. Use of either trademark for the offering
of goods or services requires the prior written consent of International
Bible Society.
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New
Living Translation, copyright ©1996. Used by permission of Tyndale
House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, IL 60189, USA. All rights reserved.
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PSALM 118:24
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"This
is the day the LORD has made; let us rejoice and be glad
in it."
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(NIV)
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