An Electronic Armageddon, What If

Well as you can see I am up late and I have to be at work early tomorrow.  However, when I get these thoughts that run through my head I am forced out of bed to write or lay there and toss and turn with them filtering through my head!  So, here I sit and put my thoughts out into the great Internet abyss for all to read and hopefully enjoy!  Hang on as this one will cause you to have to stop and think!  Are you ready?  Okay here we go.  As you can see by the title of this post it is a bit quirky to say the very least!  It may even have some scratching their heads and wondering where I am going with this.  So without further hesitation here we go.

Obviously we live in an electronic era where nearly every walking breathing human being has a cell phone, PDA or other device that allows them to connect with the Internet, social networking platforms or other forms of media that cause us to withdraw from having to deal with people directly and sort of an escape from reality if you will.

While I understand the importance of these devices in the world we live within what concerns me is that we have taken them from being tools to communicate with to allowing them to control our lives and have taken away the ability for many to be able to deal with people on an interpersonal level.  I want you for just a minute to imagine what it all cell phones, PCs, televisions and game consoles did not function for a week or so.  Can you imagine the mass chaos that would appear in individuals around the globe.  A majority of this would be from withdraw and not a matter of necessity.  Since I work for a company that deals with assisting people in replacing their electronic products or setting them up for service I, often times, get amused at how people nearly are on the brink of nervous breakdown when one of their personal devices or media outlets are not working correctly and they then realize that they will be forced to deal with people directly face to face and will not be able to put the kids in front of a television or game system to entertain them and more or less perform the parenting that should be provided by the individual themselves.

Do not misunderstand me by any means!  Some of these are some of the most awesome tools that God has given man to create and use to keep ourselves in contact with people, however, it is the abuse of them and almost an addictive sort of process that is associated to and with them.

Just imagine if FaceBook or Twitter was to go down for a year or more.  Can you see the rage that would be enveloped by people who would be forced into withdraws from let's say Farmville, Tweeting or watching their favorite music artist on YouTube.  Do you see what I am driving at here?  I enjoy many of these item's myself and use them as a way to broadcast my writings to the multitudes and stay in contact with various people in my life.  In the event that any of these were to be taken away tomorrow I have alternate ways to communicate with people and still possess the ability to communicate face to face and interact with humans on a personal level!

I have to admit that I get a little more than irritated when I watch or hear people who choose to use the modern inventions we enjoy as a way to replace social interaction that should exist between parents and children as a way to entertain them.

What ever happened to telling little Johnny or little Sally Sue to go outside and play and be a child?  We have allowed ourselves to become a victim of our self and it is apparent in the way our children our turning out!  Now don't get your panties in a snitch just yet.....

If you will take just a little time to watch and see for yourself you will see that what I am saying is correct!  When is the last time that many of you have taken time to sit down and just listen to what is going on in  your children's lives.  How many times I have heard kids say "if my parents would only listen" or "if they just would take the time" can you imagine some of the things we could fix if we would choose to have a greater level of involvement in our children's daily lives as opposed to pushing them into the computer, game system or allow the cell phone to become their personal advisers, babysitters and caretakers?  Sounds a bit harsh but you know I am right!  What if each of us had to return in time lets say 35 plus years or more and live in a life when a lot of the things we have now did not exist or if they did they were only for the elite and wealthy.

America it is time to wake up!  It is time for us to get back to some of the basics in life and start to realize what we are doing to our future generation.

Stand in agreement with me in prayer that each of us realize the importance of modern inventions but that we know how to limit them to what is important in our life.  Let us strive to spend more time mentoring our children instead of the electronic era and having to have them figure it out on their own!  It is time in our country that each of us either man or woman up and start to realize who is our future and to provide them with the strength and encouragement they need and that comes from us as parents not the electronic era that we live within.  You might just be surprised by the outcome you see from your children when you interact with them more and take a greater role within their lives.

When It's Time, Living By God's Standards

We live in a world and times that suggest that it is okay for our youth to begin to explore dating at a tender age and place a great deal of unnecessary burdens upon them.  Actually, what should be taking place is more parents standing up and talking with their children about what is appropriate and when it is appropriate and even more important is what is God's standards for both us and our children.  Having already walked this path myself many years ago and paying the consequences for my decisions and depriving myself of what could have been many wonderful opportunities back then is what brings me to writing this today.  I am a firm believer that if more and more of us as parents would take a stand with our children and discuss what it means to remain pure we would be able to, in fact, reduce the number of teen pregnancies and force shows such as "Teen Mom" from the network as there would not be a need for it.  However, me personally I do not see the need for it now as all it does is go to glamorize what is a growing issue and one that needs to be brought under control.

So many people I hear today always resort to saying how pleased they are that some public schools are addressing abstinence and encouraging it and that is all good and well.  However, what needs to be happening more is teaching Godly fundamentals and principles from the home and explaining the benefits to abstinence and choosing to lead a Christian life and a life that is led by the standards as outlined in the Bible.  Let's make sure that we understand that there is way more to being abstinent than just refraining from premarital sex!  Abstinence is a way of life and keeping a pure heart!  This, also, means that not only must you refrain from the sexual end of it you must, also, keep your thoughts pure and acceptable to what is holy unto God.  There is a song that brings a lot to the forefront and it is sung by Faith Hill "A Baby Changes Everything".  If you listen to it from a teen perspective you will understand that having a child at such an early age can and will forever change the direction of your life and strip you all hopes, dreams and aspirations you ever thought of having in life.

So, let's take a closer look at what the Bible has to say about dating and some questions that you should not only ask yourself but ask about the one you are wanting to date or are interested in.

God wants the best for us in every area of our lives. This includes relationships with boyfriends or girlfriends. We should date for fun, friendship, personality development and selection of a mate, not to be popular or for security. Don't allow peer pressure to force you into dating situations that are not appropriate. Realize that over 50% of girls and over 40% of guys never date in high school. The Bible gives us some very clear principles to guide us in making decisions about dating.  Before going any further in this topic I would, also, like to point out that the appropriate age to even think about dating is at the very least 16 years of age.  Any earlier than that and you are opening up yourself for heartaches that you are not remotely close to prepared for no matter what you may think or feel.  



Guard your heart

The Bible tells us to be very careful about giving our affections, because our heart influences everything else in our life.

Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life (Proverbs 4:23).

What could they possibly be speaking of here?  It is simple.  When you begin to date and your heart becomes full of a variety of mixed emotions you will find yourself being drawn away from what you should be spending time focusing on and making a priority in your life and that is to ensure that you are living your life in or as close to what the Bible illustrates for you!  Once you begin to take on the dating aspect in your life you will often loose focus of what should be first and foremost important in your life and that is keeping in tune with the Bible and to be committed to living your life in accordance with the Word of God.


You are known by the company you keep

We also tend to become like the company we keep. This principle is closely related to the first one and is just as important in friendships as in dating.

Do not be misled: Bad company corrupts good character (1 Corinthians 15:33).

If the people you are hanging out are not practicing Christians what do you think is going to happen to your faith?  Do you think that you will continue to be an example that is worthy unto God?  I am not suggesting not to have friends merely because they may not be Christians, however, I do caution you to watch the company you keep as this can and often times does lead others to place you into the same category no matter how you live.  There is a lot of truth in the bold portion "You are known by the company you keep".


Christians should only date other Christians.

Although it is fine for Christians to have non-Christian friends, those who are especially close to our heart should be mature believers who are seeking to follow Christ with their lives.

Do not be yoked together with unbelievers. For what do righteousness and wickedness have in common? Or what fellowship can light have with darkness? (2 Corinthians 6:14).




Is it really love?

1 Corinthians 13:4-7 defines real love. Ask yourself these questions:
Are you patient with each other?
Are you kind to each other?
Are you never envious of each other?
Do you never boast to or about each other?
Is your relationship characterized by humility?
Are you never rude to each other?
Are you not self-seeking?
Are you not easily angered with each other?
Do you keep no record of wrongs?
Are you truthful with each other?
Do you protect each other?
Do you trust each other?


This certainly is not a comprehensive list by any means but certainly is a good area to begin in.  Talk about some high standards these certainly are some.  Some may say that they are too tough or that you have to bend some rules in today's world.  That is exactly where so many people begin to take the wrong path and often one that leads to a life of destruction.  I have seen a lot of destruction among teens today and it breaks my heart wide open.  You have a lifetime to enjoy and explore love and what it truly means.  In my own opinion until you are fully engaged and can accept what it means to love Jesus and for him to love you back then you can and will never truly know the meaning of "true love".  Yes we all have had our bouts with "puppy love" and our first school crush and it certainly goes along with life.

God commands us to a higher standard and it is one that you must measure every part of your life by and young people this is up to and including dating.  While you are out ask yourself if your actions would be acceptable if Jesus were standing before you?  Do I need to say more?  Part of being successful in a dating relationship is knowing where the other person stands and supporting them in their stand.  It's already a tough world out there so let's not make it any tougher by jumping into an arena that many are not prepared for that are young teens!  Look to God for the answers and let him fill your heart with love!

Every Day, One Step Closer

Every day as I walk through life I am forced to examine my heart and soul and to make sure that I am striving to fall into line with what the Bible says in how we are to live from day to day!  While I think I have made some awesome advances in my life I, also, am convinced that there is an even greater journey and road that God is preparing to lead me down.  This has been revealed to me and with instructions to follow exactly.  While there is still so much that I do not know nor has it been completely revealed to me I am going to do whatever it takes to prepare my life for what God has in store for me.  One thing I have come to learn and that is when God tells you he has something big planned for your life, it would benefit you to begin to prepare and listen closely for further instructions and details.  While I know there is a vast amount more that has been shared with me directly I have been instructed not to allow this to be shared just as of yet as there will be an enormous amount of people involved and some which may not be prepared for what is coming as well as what will be the overall outcome.

I have known for years that I have been called into the ministry, however, as most who have the call upon their life usually end up turning and running in the exact opposite direction and at a rate of speed that is nearly double in which the call is approaching them.  I know there is a multitude of people amongst me who will be able to identify with me in that scenario.

However, as with most it is like God has gotten a hold of the leash and snapped it back and brought me to a sudden halt and making me realize that it is he who is in control of my life and that if I do not want to hang myself I must let him take control of the direction I am traveling.  While this at times has been more challenging to me than any other thing in my life it is proving to be one of the most rewarding.  Take time to evaluate your life and the direction you are headed in!  Is it one that you can honestly say that God would approve us and is it one that you are satisfied with yourself.  Some can easily say they are content in life when that is nothing more than a mere front and cover up for what is truly lying beneath the surface.

I have stopped on more than one occasion to determine exactly what it was that God was thinking when he pulled on my spiritual strings and called me to serve him in a way that certainly had me questioning him and I know that was wrong.  As most do who have a heavy call upon their life they tend to think "I am not worthy", "Isn't there someone else more qualified", "What was God thinking?" and a multitude of other attempts at finding an excuse as to why they should not move in the direction that God has called them to move in.  How many of you can relate to this?  Do you have the call of God upon your life and are you running in the opposite direction?  Believe me when I say it certainly is not uncommon and I above all people have a full understanding of why people struggle at this point in their life than quite possibly any other thing that make take place.  I do not think there is any one greater thing that takes place in a person's life than to be called into one aspect of a ministry or another.  Keep in mind that to be called into the ministry is not merely standing behind the pulpit or being an evangelist....there is a multitude of other areas that are need of people that have been baptized in the Spirit of God and who are willing to heed the call that is upon their life.

Trying to keep you life in accordance to what the Bible says can be extremely difficult at times and present a fair amount of challenges and circumstances that can be overwhelming at times, even for the most seasoned and well versed person in ministry.  The one thing to remember is that all of us have fallen short of the glory and the kingdom of God and must be quick to repent and ask for his divine mercy upon our lives and to make sure we protect our thoughts and keep our words and actions in strict accord to what God would find acceptable unto him.  I know that there are people and occasions that cause people to loose sight of this very thought and reeling yourself back in after slipping of the wayside can present some interesting challenges alone.  Once you come to terms with the level of ministry that God has called you to and begin to replace some loose areas in your life with positive exchanges and more of God and less of you then and only then will you begin to see and manifest the positive results that God desires for both your life and those you are to come into contact with.  While I had no intention of going into this direction when I set out writing this post, it was one that I prayed about and asked Jesus to be the conductor of my fingers and to let me, hopefully, be a blessing and an instrument for his edification and glory.

Why is this?  It is quite simple....once Satan realizes that you are a warrior in the creation for the Kingdom of God it is like all of the evil world is sent to kidnap you and to try to drag you into the very depths of Hell.  It is up to you to stand and protect you and your family by placing the whole armor of faith on yourself and those you love and around you.  Believe me people when I say that some of the things you may endure are not pleasant to say the least and the greater the call on your life the greater the level of attacks that you will be subjected to.  You can overcome these and emerge victorious in Christ's perfect name.  When you are called to the ministry the spiritual war will be on.  You can choose to be a warrior and emerge victorious or to allow yourself to be consumed with the world.

What you see in this photo is a mustard seed between someones fingers.  What I am making reference to is that in the Bible it proclaims that if anyone has faith even the size of a mustard seed that have the power and ability to move mountains and men.  Why is the so important you may be asking?  It is quite simplistic and that is that you have the authority of principalities and darkness and evil that tries to come against you.  It is up to you to put Satan back into his place and his band of demons and to proclaim your own victory in Jesus.  I ask for all who may read this to know that in what God is calling me into in the next phase of my life is by far one of the most challenging arenas and his commands that he has shared with me is overwhelming to say the very least.  I just know that in all of this I am going to trust for his divine guidance and assistance along the way.