The universal desire to succeed is not wrong, but it can become corrupt and ultimately lead to failure. The difficulty arises when improper motives lead to misplaced worship.
Scanned is a list of things I found online that might be fun, strange, serious or thought-provoking.
"Who can wait two whole years for their next iPhone?" The discipline of delayed gratification seems to be fading and consumer debt continues to climb. It is wildly entertaining to watch the news feeds and Twitter explode with each new feature, but how should a follower of Jesus process this kind of information and opportunity?
Scanned is a list of things I found online that might be fun, strange, serious or thought-provoking.
Monday may also bring with it a serious case of amnesia as we quickly lose sight of what we learned during the Sunday gathering. When you add school, practice, a busy day at work, or stress to the equation, we can quickly forget God's goodness as the benefits that we enjoyed on Sunday seem to disappear as if nothing ever happened.
God is love – what a remarkable thing to read. This is the attribute of God known by most and quickly embraced although not fully understood and often misused.
Managing Social Media In The Home
““All social media involve a mixture of narcissism and voyeurism. Most of us display a combination of the two, which is why social media are flourishing faster and penetrating deeper than any other social development in memory. Social media play into the parts of human character that don’t change, even while changing the nature of what once seemed immutable.””
I taught a course at Central Church on Social Media In The Home. This is a subject facing most families and so I found parents that were eager to discuss this subject and a lot of questions. Social media is not the problem... The problem is that we struggle with sin whether it be our need for approval or our pride. Some things we discussed were:
- Who is easier to leave out – Jesus or social media?
- What does my social engagement tell my children about social media?
- How do I lead my children when it comes to social media – present something not accurate, pretend, lie, bend the rules, etc.
- What do I communicate about my children's value by my use of social media?
- How does social media effect my relationships with my husband, kids, or friends.
Principles For Parents In The Home
- Concern yourself with your child's holiness more than their happiness.
- Social media is a privilege, not a right.
- Privacy is not a biblical value.
- Be a parent, not a peer.
We learned about social media platforms including Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat, Tumblr, KIK, Yik Yak, Tinder and others. The bottom line – technology is not what we aim to control or understand. We aim for the hearts of our children and understand that our sovereign God is in control. We apply the wisdom found in scripture as it informs the way we disciple our families concerning social media.
Vertical Purpose had a great time with our friends at Liberty Baptist Church in Chelsea, AL. The theme for the weekend was Distraction. We asked, "What distracts us spiritually?" Do we listen to God? Do we hate sin? Do our relationships distract us? Are we distracted from our mission? I loved the service projects and it was a joy to serve alongside my friend Matt again. A special shout out to the 9th grade girls – thank you for the note. Your words of kindness are an encouragement to me. Avoid Distraction, follow Jesus and I will see you later.
Each day we release a prayer starter which is just a word or a phrase intended to help set a trajectory for your prayers. Here I give you an example of how I use these in my own prayer life in the hopes that it would bring clarity and serve as a template for your ongoing use.
Reverb is a list of articles I've read online that I found thought-provoking, fun, strange or serious. Some of these articles might expose you to different ways of seeing the world and thinking.
The word study brings with it implications that most students find distasteful because that word is most often associated with being commanded to study by teachers and parents. Our rebel hearts don't like anyone telling us what to do or giving us a deadline and the accountability that forces our hand. Combine this with a potential lack of desire or laziness in the application of our minds upon any academic subject and the word study is viewed negatively. However, upon closer examination, we must confess that if the definition of study is as Webster's says, "A setting of the mind or thoughts upon a subject; hence,application of mind to books, arts, or science, or to any subject, for the purpose of acquiring knowledge." then I think we must agree that we love to study.
For many, this is not just a new year, but a new semester at school. It is the time where we struggle to get back into the regular routine of our schedule and school.
Reverb is a list of articles I've read online that I found engaging. Some of them are fun. Some are serious. Some will expose you to different ways of thinking. Take a look and see what you think. Send me some things that you have been reading online that you think might be helpful to others as well.