Status Pain

Actually a website: visit for an idea of my concern here.

This post has been a long-time coming, but something I think about at least every day. When I scan the Facebook wall to see what "friends" are up to, I see many statuses that are a little confusing to me. They seem to be the equivalent of e-mail spam, personal contact's version of fishing for compliments, and can be at least as damaging or manipulative as either. Very little of the words on this post will be from me, so let's get to the status updates in question and I'll have some closing thoughts/questions at the very end: 

1. I personally believe in Jesus Christ. One Facebooker has challenged all believers to put this on their wall. The bible says, if you deny Me in front of your peers, I will deny you in front of My Father. This is a simple test. If you are not afraid to show it, re-post this. I proudly did! (: 
2. Like this status if I've ever made you smile(: repost and see how many likes you get(:
3. What if I died tomorrow -- would you miss me here?  
4. Single or not put this as your status & see what you get Inbox only!!!..

1. ♥ = I want a relationship
2. :) = I kinda like you
3. :p = I'm shy.... but your cute
4. XD = I want your number
5. :D = you mean everything 
6. </3 = I regret leaving
5. Ugh, I feel so ugly today! (posted alongside new profile pic, looking good) 
6. Truth is...
   
7. Repost if you're ending 2011 single. If someone wants to change that they'll send you a ♥.

Disappointment Waiting To Happen

I'll stop here because it's getting depressing to wonder about the emotional health of so many people I know. What are the unintended consequences of posts like these, of turning to "social media" while losing the ability (skill?) to socially engage others in person and build up meaningful relationships? Have we been sold the illusion of cyber-friendship? What if you don't re-post the first (are you denying Jesus?); what if no one likes, responds, re-posts, or affirms your internet-appeal for affirmation? What does that do to your self-worth?

How Do You See God? (January 2012)

Last year we talked about sin and how we will all, ultimately, see God as God is and be without excuse. This year we'll discover definitively who God is... just kidding. That would be hard! Not only that, but knowing God completely is impossible. Even through Jesus, we're only scratching the surface of the enormity of who God is - and yet God has chosen to reveal Himself to us through Jesus and enables us to get to know Him through the Holy Spirit. *

This year we're going to talk about how, as Christians, the way we treat others says volumes about us and what we believe about God. To start out, I want you to take a moment to think about the ways you might talk about God or describe God to someone who has never heard of God. What would you say?


....

Did anything come to mind? What are some of the descriptions you would use of God?

Long-haired, white-haired, blond-haired, dark-haired?
Non-existent, Figment of our imagination, Lie?
Concept of self, Concept of Greater Good?
Robe, Suit, Sandals, Glowing Orb?
Man, Woman, Both, Neither?
Involved, Disconnected?
Caring, Uncaring?
Strong, Weak?
Old, Young?
You, Me?
Us?

Often times, the things we've heard before shape the way we see God - good, bad, or indifferent. And sadly, many Christians are responsible for the ways their friends, family members, or coworkers see God. For example, if someone claims to know God but is hateful or indifferent to others, they will inevitably see that this must be what God is like if one of God's followers is like that. Don't we look like those we follow? Isn't that the point? How many people do you know who would say, "I can't stand this person. But you know what? I want to be just like them!" No - that would be absurd!

This year we will examine how what we are like as Christians tells others what God is like as God. This month, think about what you are telling others in your daily life. Are you showing them God, or just yourself?

______________________
* Video was removed due to copyright complaint by Focus on the Family.

All Things New (December 2011)

God has promised us that, in Christ Jesus, we will one day be clothed with bodies like these, but imperishable, and have lives like these, but without the pock-marked, bullet-riddled tell-tale signs of sin (1 Cor. 15:53-57). Can you imagine how great it will be to no longer have fear of death or harm, fear of sin’s consequences, or fear of separation from the relationship that even now gives life and breath to us?! There is no greater idea or hope on this earth with which to occupy ourselves. The redemption of the whole world–and that includes us!–is a glorious thing that we in Christ will witness for eternity as God reveals what He has known and seen since eternity past. This is the ultimate victory, the end of death and sin and isolation.

Take a moment to read Revelation 21:1-7. After all the evil, all the sin, all the selfishness of fallen humanity has run its course, and after the judgment of God falls against these things and restores His creation–all of it–we’ll see what we can scarcely imagine now. We’ll still have heaven and earth, but new. We’ll have bodies, but new. We’ll have God, but in a new way. Face to face, and with no fear of death, because death is gone, out of God’s presence. For eternity.

We all must respond to sin personally. It ultimately doesn’t matter what we think, but what God says about it–and the bottom line is we all have the disease. But this month we close the year out bringing our minds back to where they belong: on God. The work of God the Father, God the Son, and God the Holy Spirit assures us that sin is not the final chapter of our story. In fact, because of Jesus, the final chapter of our story is the continuation of God’s story in a light we’ve never seen. We will be where we were designed to be, in the presence of God as God truly is, and no more allegory or metaphor or limiting descriptions will be needed. Free of sin forever, we will simply see that God is–and, for the first time in our lives, that will be enough.

Fictional, But True (November 2011)

The Spirit of God in us makes rejecting sin possible. But Satan lies to us about who we are and where our value lies. I was granted a rare phone interview that I’d like to share with you below. I think it covers the issue of rejecting sin daily better than I could, so I transcribed the recording:

David: I’m so glad to have you both on the line–And… it’s recording. So, this is so cool! I-

Lucifer: You have a really nasally voice. Anyone ever tell ya that? Was it hard as a kid?

David: Uh, yeah, they did. But I’m okay with it because God made –

Lucifer: I’d be embarrassed, seriously. It’s weird. Not trying to be rude–I’m just saying.

Jesus: C’mon, Lucy, stop cutting him off. I’ve made him perfectly.

Lucifer: Jesus! Stop calling me that–You’re not as nice as people think you are.

Jesus: (laughing)

David: Okaaay, so I actually did want to talk about something today. Jesus, you beat sin and death on the cross… and so now we’re free from sin… but why do we still sin?

Lucifer: Nosetalker, Noseta–!… um, no He didn’t… uh, nu-uh, still guilty… because Jesus died for better people, not you. You missed the boat, Sally.

Jesus: Well, David, I’ve already won the victory, as you said, so death’s sting is gone for you because your sin won’t end in real death…

David: Which is not just the eternal consequence of punishing sin but separation from You forever…

Jesus: Right, right. But you’re still on earth and it’s hard to live with a Kingdom of God mindset when the kingdoms of this earth, as foolish as they are, are more visible.

Lucifer: Please! Foolish? I give’em what they want. You take. So much for good gifts, huh?

David: Right, so, so you told us we’d have trouble, but you also called us to be perfect like God. How can we do that if sin is such a part of us? I mean I get the Holy Spirit, but –

Jesus: That’s right, you get the Holy Spirit. So by putting my covering on yourself, and with His guidance, you have all you need to resist the devil. Resist him and he’ll flee from you.
Lucifer: (snorts)

David: But you quoted scripture to get him to back off. So don’t we need the word too?
Lucifer: I know the Bible, too, you know.

Jesus: I am the word, David, so yes. You have to get to know me to be successful against sin–all of me, not just the parts of me you already agree with.

David: Dang, I walked right into that one, and I even tell my youth that all the time!

Jesus: It’s simple, really. The plan. But it’s not easy. And no one’s perfect, except me…

Lucifer: Whoa, I’ll take arrogance for $1000, please, Alex.

Jesus: … so you need the Spirit to remind you who you are in me. Lies are powerful, but the Spirit reminds you of my words. He’ll daily empower you to reject sin, if you let Him.

Lucifer: Are you guys ignoring me? That’s rude.

David: Oh, that reminds me of a verse. You provide ways out of temptation and won’t tempt us more than we can bear. And you want us to be conformed to the image of… well, You.

Jesus: Yes, I remember saying that… It’s because I love you. And I want the best for you.
David: I know, Jesus. I just need to remind myself sometimes–

Lucifer: No, he doesn’t! You’re a fat, selfish, egotistical idiot who doesn’t deserve the –

David: Uh, I think we lost Lucifer. Hello?

Jesus: We did. He, and sin, can’t stand up to the truth, much less love. Because I am.