I couldn't help but wonder what he was thinking as he pulled out his iPhone and took advantage of a new Facebook application — right in the middle of the sermon.
It was then that I realized the narcissistic machine that is Facebook.
Shifting uncomfortably in my chair, I found myself desiring to do the same. I shuddered. Have I really come to this place where I'm more concerned about what's taking place on Facebook than what's going on in this church service? More concerned about a self-serving social networking site than this Bible on my lap?
Later on that evening, I thought more about my internal battle between Facebook and my Bible. I understand that one of my desires as a Christian should be to know God more deeply; the reality is that I spend very little time actually getting to know Him. Too often, my hours are spent pursuing other human beings through convenient electronic means like Facebook. My life can quickly become all about striving to know my buddies better than my Lord.
I struggled with this very battle just yesterday. I woke up early to prepare for an 8:30 a.m. class. The two weeks prior I had spent each morning reading and studying my Bible. But on this day, the first places I went were my blog, Facebook and my e-mail. As the day progressed, I found myself talking to people more through technology than face-to-face. After a few weeks I was losing focus on my goals in life, and focusing on things like my status updates and friends online.
I sit down to finish my paper for class. But instead of opening Word, I open up Firefox, type in the Web address, and check Facebook. Then refresh the page. Then open Word. Then switch back to Gmail. Honestly, my technology can be exhausting.
The signs are everywhere. And I'm growing utterly disgusted with myself. What is wrong with me?
It's not my intention to write a 1,200-word article encouraging others to give up Facebook, social networking, or the Internet. I plan to continue updating my status with random trivialities such as "Tim is attempting to write ... Tim just ate bread with mold ... Tim is heading to the basketball game" and the like. I'm still going to post notes, write on walls, and chat with friends.
But if all of this continues at the expense of getting to know God better, I want to throw it all out. All of it. Drastic, yes, but I've got to be willing to do whatever it takes. (Read more...)
Guest Blogger, Tim Sweetman (Copyright 2009 in Boundless)
Monday, June 29, 2009
Mid-America missions...
God continues to amaze as he works to spread the good news of Jesus to the world through EFC-MAYM. Every time I turn around it seems another person from Mid-America is going to the mission field.
This past year Brad Carpenter returned from Rwanda, Africa, to marry Chelsea Roberts at Northridge Friends in Wichita. Since their wedding last August, the couple has been traveling to churches all across the U.S. telling about God’s goodness to them and his plans for their future together in missions service. The couple planned and executed an excellent future missionaries retreat in Colorado in conjunction with Evangelical Friends Mission Board meetings happening at the same time. Many of the Board members spoke to the retreat attendees about their work in missions. All in attendance were encouraged.
Liz Wine from University Friends and Molly Black from Friendswood Friends have both been approved to teach in the missionaries’ school in Kigali, Rwanda. These young women, called by God to this service, should be on site by the middle of August. The school year there starts in September.
The hearts of Jeremy and Betty Smuck, Andrea Byrne and Candi Foster continue to beat with passion for the lost in Aguascalientes, Mexico. We are grateful for their service and encouraged as those on the field send frequent “new believer” reports. The church is growing! Candi, of course, has not been able to be in the city she loves for several months. She fell ill while in Mexico and had to return to the U.S. After some time, the doctors searching for a diagnosis for her condition settled on chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating set of symptoms that drain a person’s energy reserves. Candi is on a year-long medical leave from EFM. She continues to receive prayer and financial support. A decision about Candi’s future service with EFM will be made at the Board’s November meeting in Oregon.
Prayers continue to go up to God concerning a church-planting missionary for Sinaloa, Mexico. When we merged with EFM, Sinaloa became an EFM mission point. Since that time, Chuck Mylander and others have actively sought to find the right persons to serve there. Ideally, a team would be sent. Could God be calling you to this needy place?
Finally, there are the dozens from EFC-MAYM who ministered around the world short term. Teams or couples or individuals visited, among other places, Bhutan, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Mexico, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Others are in the process of raising funds to go later this year.
The 75th anniversary of the beginning of the mission Burundi was properly marked and enthusiastically celebrated. We are grateful to have several from Burundi here with us for Ministry Conference, including Dr. Elisee from the newly re-opened Kibimba Hospital.
As leader of an excellent team of missions mobilizers, I thank all those how have prayed and worked hard and contributed generously to the work of the Evangelical Friends Church worldwide.
This past year Brad Carpenter returned from Rwanda, Africa, to marry Chelsea Roberts at Northridge Friends in Wichita. Since their wedding last August, the couple has been traveling to churches all across the U.S. telling about God’s goodness to them and his plans for their future together in missions service. The couple planned and executed an excellent future missionaries retreat in Colorado in conjunction with Evangelical Friends Mission Board meetings happening at the same time. Many of the Board members spoke to the retreat attendees about their work in missions. All in attendance were encouraged.
Liz Wine from University Friends and Molly Black from Friendswood Friends have both been approved to teach in the missionaries’ school in Kigali, Rwanda. These young women, called by God to this service, should be on site by the middle of August. The school year there starts in September.
The hearts of Jeremy and Betty Smuck, Andrea Byrne and Candi Foster continue to beat with passion for the lost in Aguascalientes, Mexico. We are grateful for their service and encouraged as those on the field send frequent “new believer” reports. The church is growing! Candi, of course, has not been able to be in the city she loves for several months. She fell ill while in Mexico and had to return to the U.S. After some time, the doctors searching for a diagnosis for her condition settled on chronic fatigue syndrome, a debilitating set of symptoms that drain a person’s energy reserves. Candi is on a year-long medical leave from EFM. She continues to receive prayer and financial support. A decision about Candi’s future service with EFM will be made at the Board’s November meeting in Oregon.
Prayers continue to go up to God concerning a church-planting missionary for Sinaloa, Mexico. When we merged with EFM, Sinaloa became an EFM mission point. Since that time, Chuck Mylander and others have actively sought to find the right persons to serve there. Ideally, a team would be sent. Could God be calling you to this needy place?
Finally, there are the dozens from EFC-MAYM who ministered around the world short term. Teams or couples or individuals visited, among other places, Bhutan, Congo, Rwanda, Burundi, Mexico, Nepal, India and Bangladesh. Others are in the process of raising funds to go later this year.
The 75th anniversary of the beginning of the mission Burundi was properly marked and enthusiastically celebrated. We are grateful to have several from Burundi here with us for Ministry Conference, including Dr. Elisee from the newly re-opened Kibimba Hospital.
As leader of an excellent team of missions mobilizers, I thank all those how have prayed and worked hard and contributed generously to the work of the Evangelical Friends Church worldwide.
On the bike for them...
Demand Media Video -- powered by demandmedia.com
No class divisions...
On the ‘Info’ tab of my Facebook profile I have a short list of favorite quotations. Some of these quotes are from books. Others are from movies. A few are from personal friends, youth group members or family members. Most are just plain silly, but a few are profoundly serious.
One of my favorites is from a highly intelligent Kindergartener. This wise young girl once said, “My teacher is Mrs. Neifert. Her husband owns the church.”
While we all know that’s not true, it reflects a prominent mindset in the church today. Many church goers believe erroneously that God has put the pastor in charge of the church. Some believe that he has some special authority in the kingdom of Heaven beyond that of mere mortals. He is the professional whose prayers are more powerful and more effective, availing much more than the average Joe’s entreaties. Folks divide the church into two classes of people – clergy and laity.
Borrowing Hindu terminology, the clergy, in many people’s minds, are the high caste Brahmins of churchdom. They serve full-time. They are the ministers, the teachers, the “chosen ones.” Lay people, by comparison, are the untouchable Dalits, the lowest caste. They are “just volunteers.” They do the bidding of their high and exalted pastors.
I’m so grateful for my Quaker heritage. The peculiar branch of Jesus’ church that I belong to believes in the priesthood of all believers. It recognizes the giftedness of everyone and allows all to participate fully in the life of the church.
Oh that we Quakers – no, every church – would completely embrace these truths and put them into practice. God help us all, each and every believer, to be obedient to our Lord’s personal callings and corporate commissions.
To receive my once or twice weekly message via email, send a blank email to webmessage-subscribe@associate.com. Past messages are available at freegroups.net/groups/webmessage.
One of my favorites is from a highly intelligent Kindergartener. This wise young girl once said, “My teacher is Mrs. Neifert. Her husband owns the church.”
While we all know that’s not true, it reflects a prominent mindset in the church today. Many church goers believe erroneously that God has put the pastor in charge of the church. Some believe that he has some special authority in the kingdom of Heaven beyond that of mere mortals. He is the professional whose prayers are more powerful and more effective, availing much more than the average Joe’s entreaties. Folks divide the church into two classes of people – clergy and laity.
Borrowing Hindu terminology, the clergy, in many people’s minds, are the high caste Brahmins of churchdom. They serve full-time. They are the ministers, the teachers, the “chosen ones.” Lay people, by comparison, are the untouchable Dalits, the lowest caste. They are “just volunteers.” They do the bidding of their high and exalted pastors.
I’m so grateful for my Quaker heritage. The peculiar branch of Jesus’ church that I belong to believes in the priesthood of all believers. It recognizes the giftedness of everyone and allows all to participate fully in the life of the church.
Oh that we Quakers – no, every church – would completely embrace these truths and put them into practice. God help us all, each and every believer, to be obedient to our Lord’s personal callings and corporate commissions.
To receive my once or twice weekly message via email, send a blank email to webmessage-subscribe@associate.com. Past messages are available at freegroups.net/groups/webmessage.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
It's the shoes...
Coming to a shoe store near you...Livestrong Mr. Cartoon tatooed Nike Air Force 1 sneakers. Interesting story behind the shoes at hypebeast.com. (Nike is re-releasing 8 classic styles with Livestrong colors to try to cash in on Lance Armstrong's return to cycling. Smart people, those Nike advertisers.)
Friday, June 26, 2009
Who Jesus is...
I ran across this amazing description of Jesus spoken by Mark Driscoll on a blog berating him for wearing a t-shirt with our Savior depicted as a hip hop DJ at the turntables. This blog ran the man down because his shirt was irreverant and disrespectful. Can they not look past the garment and see Mark's heart. He is passionate about Jesus. The same blog complained because Mark talks about sexual sin on occasion. They chastised him for suggesting that Jesus was tempted by women. Do they not know the Scriptures?
Hebrews 4:15-16 says, "...we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet was without sin. Let us then approach the throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need." (NIV)
Jesus was tempted in every way. He was tempted but he did not sin. That is why he can sympathize with us in our struggles with sin. It is why he is the most wonderful savior.
Thanks Mark for this word of sound theology. I may not agree with you on everything, but on these matters we're more than okay.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)