Using Social Media For Good

My dad always told me, "Son, you have to have thick skin if you are going into the ministry. If you don't you won't survive." How little did I know how true that would be the older I get.

Social media has become the new attack zone for people that don't like something you do, something you say, or something about you. This is the land of the free and the home of the brave. We do have the freedom of the press and I'm thankful for that. However, people who disagree with you over something often get on one of the social media sites and try and use that as a weapon against you.

I'm not writing about those who express their opinions or their beliefs, but I'm writing about those who say something that impugned the character and/or integrity of another person. They blatantly express their disagreements trying to justify their position and also to make the one they're in disagreement with look bad. It's happened to ordinary people, it's happened to celebrities, and guess what it can happen to you.

I remember about two and a half years ago when I left my former church some of dearest "friends" put things on one social media sight that I never saw, but others who knew me did. They were so incensed about it that they were willing to do whatever was necessary to protect me from those kinds of attacks. In fact the slurs and comments referring to me, made by a couple of individuals, were erased by them because the individuals they thought they were going to be sued for defamation of character. It's no wonder that some have called these outlets last day tools of the devil because of the ability to hurt someone without ever physically touching them by posting lies on a social website.

I, on the other hand, have thought about how good social media sights can be if you do the right thing with them. Again, this is my opinion, but we ought to take everything at our disposal and use it for good if we can. These are just some simple suggestions I believe will help all of us put social media to good use:

-Don't use any social media site to attack, defame, or denigrate someones character. We are all fallible people that can and do make mistakes. Let us not glory in some one's failure or capitalize on someones misfortune. If you have an issue with someone individually do what the Bible says and go to them and make things right. Make it a private conversation and not one that everybody can read and form a different opinion about. You can state your opinion or disagreement if you desire, but don't try to suggest or refer to someone personally. All you could be doing is starting a fire that doesn't need to be started.

-If you make a decision for a change in your life don't use social media to continually try and justify it. Facebook and Twitter allow you to express your words, thoughts, and opinions on any subject that you desire to within their allowable info streams. Yet many have again tried to use these outlets to justify changes in their lives that are questionable by posting thoughts, pictures, and other things that others really don't need to know. If something changes in your life it's nobodys business but yours. I get very frustrated by those who want to continually justify the reason why they are doing something so that they will look good to others. Often times it leaves the question out there-Why? Once that question is asked things begin to escalate and that's where the problems begin. If change happens in your life  just go on with it and leave it as that. Your decision is your decision and yours alone. The only one you have to justify it to is God.

-Don't let any kind of social media take away from what is Biblical and right.

Hebrews 13:5 "Let your conversation be without covetousness; and be content with such things as ye have: for he hath said, I will never leave thee, nor forsake thee."

Hebrews 13:7 "Remember them which have the rule over you, who have spoken unto you the word of God: whose faith follow, considering the end of their conversation."

1 Peter 2:12 "Having your conversation honest among the Gentiles: that, whereas they speak against you as evildoers, they may by your good works, which they shall behold, glorify God in the day of visitation."

Over the years I have received letters from one particular family with an unusual last name-"Anonymous". They must all be related because I've had one of their family members in every church that I have served. They are an unusual family because they don't have the nerve to talk with you face to face, but they sure can let you hold it in written form. These folks also must have a hotline to God that I haven't found yet because every one of them have told me if I would just do what their letter said things would change for good. They've also told me that if I didn't heed their warning that trouble was going to come my way. Sadly, not a one of them ever came to sit down and talk with me face to face, which is what the Word of God instructs us to do. They expected me to live in fear or intimidation from their words written on a piece of paper.

Receiving anonymous mail is one thing. You can ball it up and throw it in the trash, but when some one makes a derogatory statement that refers to you on one of these sites or attaches pictures or posters that contain words you are not associated with it's embarrassing and hard to explain.

So in conclusion they best thing to do is use social media for good. If you can't, don't use it at all. It's not worth your time to write it or the time of others to read it.

Happy Birthday Hannah!

13 years ago on July 8th something wonderful happened in my life-my first grandchild, Hannah, was born. She was then and still is today the light of my life. She has brought more joy to my life than anyone can ever imagine. From the first time I held her in my arms I knew she would be someone special and she really, really is.

She is a young lady now so I can't let her sleep on my chest in the recliner like I did when she was little. More than once when we would keep her in Union on Sunday afternoon she would take a nap right on her Popee's chest while I slept as well. I remember the first steps she took around our old parsonage, the first time she played on our piano and organ, and her first Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Valentines, and more. I remember the first time I fed her ice cream, her first trike, and her first bike. She has made getting older a pleasure and my memories sweeter as I remember the happiness she has brought into my life..

If I could grant her three wishes on her birthday tomorrow this is what they would be:

-That she would excell in everything that she aspires to do. She has more talent and ability in her than I think she even realizes and I believe if she puts her mind to it she can accomplish anything she wants in life.

-That she would allow the Lord to lead and direct her in every phase of her life. He has blessed her with a heritage and a history from her past, but He also has a plan for her future.

-That she would always be beautiful in her spirit, mind, and soul and never forget where she has come from or how to find the way she wants to go toward in her future.

Well, I'm not a genie and I have no magical powers to grant wishes, but I can and will always pray for her. I can always be a shoulder she can cry on, a good listener when she needs to talk, a friend in a time of need, and a grandparent that says and means, "I love you", when she needs to hear it the most.

To my darling Hannah-Happy 13th Birthday! I pray that you will celebrate many, many more.

Disasters

Life’s disasters strike all of us from time to time. No one is spared and we all get hurt and challenged. Our days sometimes seem filled with troubles and we all get squeezed by difficulties in this life. However, the way we respond to them is up to us. We can let them bring out the worst in us or we can let them bring out the best in us. We can react to them like demons of selfishness or like angels of love. It is really up to us to make that decision.

So let us always pray that we will always bring the best from our heart and soul to whatever life may throw at us.

-Pray for personal and spiritual strength.

-Pray for guidance and enlightenment.

-Pray for wisdom and God's Will.

-Pray for others as we would want them to pray for us.

-Pray for forgiveness and bear no grudges.

-Pray for hope and help when we need it the most.

Worldchanger

I don't think it was never put better by anyone than by eighteenth century church reformer John Wesley when he said:

"Do all the good you can,  by all the means you can,  in all the ways you can, in all the places you can, at all the times you can, to all the people you can, as long as ever you can."

If we as Christians would do just that, we could change the world without ever having to preach another sermon. Why? Because people would see Jesus in us through our actions and know His power and glory firsthand.

So make this your motto daily. You might turn out to be the worldchanger God wanted you to be after all.
 

Here's The Last You Know You're In The Wrong Church When....

1. The church picnic will be held at KFC this year.
   
2. You are a member of AARP but they ask you to attend "Children's Church."
   
3. There's no "Reserved For Minister" parking place, only a sign saying 'Visiting preachers can shelter their horses in the stable stall marked 'preacher'.
   
4. The sign out front says "Church-Lite: Home of the original ten minute Sermonette, and the 7.5 Percent Tithe."
   
5. Every illustration the preacher uses somehow refers to "those hilarious Budweiser frogs".
   
6. The missions budget just got cut in half, but the church treasurer just bought a "kickin'" new Harley.
   
7. Elders Council "prayer meetings" usually break up in a fight for the remote control.
   
8. New "Purpose-Driven" mission statement includes vague reference to jello-wrestling.
   
9. Most frequent complaint to worship committee: "Too much Charo, not enough Elvis."
   
10. New head greeters: Mike Tyson and WWF President Vince McMahon.
    
11. On your second Sunday as a visitor they ask you to be their pastor.

Happy Independence Day!

You Know You're In The Wrong Church When...

1. Worship services are B.Y.O.S. -- "Bring Your Own Snake.

2. Ushers ask, "Smoking or Non-smoking?"

3. Karaoke Worship Time.

4. The church staff consists of Senior Pastor, Associate Pastor and Socio-pastor.

5. The Bible they use is the "Dr. Seuss Version."

6. There's an ATM in the lobby.

7. The Choir wears leather robes.

8. The only song the organist knows is "In-A-Gadda-Da-Vida."

9. No cover charge, but communion is a two-drink minimum.

10-The church bus has gun racks.

You Might Be In the Wrong Church If...

1. You have to pass through a metal detector to get inside.
   
2. The scripture lesson is on "Jonah the Shepherd Boy and His Ark of Many Colors."
   
3. The choir performs "A Mighty Fortress is Our God" as a polka.
   
4. It's over 100 degrees outside, and the trustees haven't approved turning on the air conditioning yet.
   
5. Everyone drives a nicer car than the pastor.
   
6. They believe that an elected official attending religious services is a violation of the separation of Church and state.
   
7. The preacher is wearing a "Megadeath" t-shirt
   
8. The sign out front says "First Church of the Gooey Death and Discount House of Worship."
   
9. Everyone agrees the temperature in the Sanctuary is absolutely perfect!
   
10. You're on your way to a wedding and walk in on a funeral (or vice versa).
    
11. The music director has you sing "Amazing Grace" in the round (a la "row row row your boat").
    
12. Three words: Pastor Larry King.