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Oct. 13, 2009
Facebook, anyone?
My husband and I, after avoiding it for YEARS, finally took the facebook plunge to connect with a few long lost friends--which we did, and it was nice to find them. I have mixed feelings about facebook still, but I do like how it has connected me with my family and friends--I don't miss them all so much anymore. It actually helps us stay in touch.
Two things so far, have amazed me about facebook--or about the whole email/chat/text/facebook/twitter/youtube type. And no, I'm not going to gripe (today) about the amount of time people spend online (you know if you spend too much time on the computer without me having to say anything).
One thing I noticed is a generational shift. The kids and teens today are growing up with this type of communication. Many are not even learning how to have normal conversations because they don't have to. My son called a friend he hadn't talked to in years--on the good, old-fashioned telephone. The friend mumbled a bit and then said, "Do you text? Are you on facebook?" And that was the end of it. Text language is hard for me to swallow--all the abbreviations and shortened spellings (you'll notice I NEVER use them on this blog!). But kids are professionals at it. Kids who have struggled with spelling, grammar, and writing for years suddenly have no problems--and are actually quite amazing-- with this new language of electronic messaging. Amazing!
No--I'm not letting my kids into this world, yet. I would like them to have cell phones, but it is not feasible at this point. We don't get service where we live, for one. The older ones both have email addresses, and they use them sparingly. The rule is Dad or I must download the messages first to check for inappropriate messages or spam, then they can read and respond with our approval. We read all outgoing messages, too. And we have caught some pretty nasty stuff showing up in the inbox from some thoughtless spammer.
This leads to the other thing I noted. One evening during a family "church" service, we began discussing these things because we were discussing the end times. Earlier, I had commented to my husband about how amazed I was with the "reality mentality" our culture is beginning to adapt. Because of reality TV, blogging, facebook, twitter, youtube... everyone can see themselves as a reality star. They have no problem picturing their lives with cameras pointed on them 24/7 and sharing it all with the world. I was shocked at the nature of some of the things I saw people posting on facebook! So personal! Did they not realize how many people were reading their words? And then I realized that people are beginning to think this is normal--willingly sharing every part of your life with everyone--and being comfortable with having your every move watched and tracked.
You may have noticed I don't chronicle our day to day lives on this blog! Just snapshots and testimonies here and there. This has always been one of the reasons why (along with time issues, too, of course)
But maybe, just maybe... this is staging for the end times. Maybe this is part of how people will be so easily deceived. Maybe they won't recognize the Antichrist and his controlling one-world government until it is too late, because they already willingly gave up their control and said, "Hey! Watch me! Every move I make! Listen to me, every word I say!"
That was the discussion we had in our family church service. We want our children to be discerning of these things. We talked about how they are never to adhere to the teachings of man about how the end times will play out. They can listen, they can think about it. But they are to read it for themselves, pray, and meditate. If they continue to keep God first in their lives, and pray fervently that God guides them--then God will, and they will not be deceived. They will not miss something that maybe the rest of the world--even the Christian world--has become immune to.
With God's help, as always, facebook or not, my family will follow Christ and Christ alone. We will be cautious, aware, and discerning, through continued prayer and walking in the spirit. We will overcome!
Now, that said, this blog is now on facebook, as well as me personally (some of you are already my friends). I am testing and praying, seeing how God leads. We'll see what happens. But you are welcome as my friends. Maybe by joining together we can be a community of exhortation--exhorting each other in godly living. Maybe facebook is a good place to give testimony of all the things Christ does. Maybe not. We'll see.
In any case, this blog is on facebook under the name "Living Sacrifice" (as a person). The facebook avatar is the same as this blog avatar.
And thank you to all who have become my friends here. I've told you before many times, if I could bake you all cookies and send them to you, I would. I am so grateful for all the encouragement and support you have given me over the past three years. You have been a blessing and a gift from God, and you remain in my prayers continually.
--Mrs. E |
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Oct. 21, 2009 - so...