January 23, 2013
FAITH AND SOCIAL MEDIA
You’ve heard us talk much about it. Social media is the way of the world. The news is full of it. Just ask Mante Te’o how it affected his life. The world is being shaped by these technologies that are all around us and that are being used by most of us. Culture is being formed around them. The Occupy Movement that swept the US last year began on TWITTER! The election rights and overthrow of Iran were fueled 100% by TWITTER and FACEBOOK. The first news outlet to report the plane that crashed into the Hudson River was a man on Twitter! The world is changing!
The part that we rarely think about is this: HOW ARE WE TOO, BEING CHANGED?
The problem is not with the content on social media. We have questionable content everywhere. The problem is the medium itself. We like to claim that social media is neutral, and while one can make a good argument as such, science is proving that the media is physically and biologically changing us!
C.S. Lewis once said, “A thing may be morally neutral and yet the desire for that thing may be dangerous.” Could he be describing us today? Are we so plugged in that our desires are blinding us?
These are important questions to ask. The church must be ready for whatever the world is doing! That is why we are tackling these and other questions at this weekend’s seminar. Please make plans to be here!
– Pannell
WHEN PEOPLE TURN FROM CHRIST
One proof of the validity of Christianity is seen in what people turn to when they turn away from Christ. Our nation, following closely on the heels of the UK and Europe, is an emerging example of what happens to morals when people turn from faith in Christ and act as if there is no God. And while many are alarmed at the impending danger, there is little awareness of the root cause. We cannot see the cliff ahead.
Why is Greece unable to collect taxes? Why are tax collectors open to bribes? Why do men expect good pay for short hours on the job? Why are pension funds failing for lack of input? Why are economies collapsing?
To believe in Christ is to believe in hard work. Christians are taught that they should work hard so they can give. Paul, the great evangelist worked with his hands to support coworkers in order to exemplify how followers of Christ should be industrious. Consider his words to other church leaders: “You yourselves know that these hands of mine have supplied my own needs and the needs of my companions. In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words of the Lord Jesus himself said: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’” Acts 20:34-35
Even thieves were taught to turn from taking to giving by working hard. Hear Ephesians 4:28 – “He who has been stealing must steal no longer, but must work, doing something useful with his own hands, that he may have something to share with those in need.”
Newspaper headlines today are full of stories of criminal fraud prompted by greed. Prisons are now filling with members of the financial elite, who have deliberately crossed limits of behavior they knew to be wrong. Why?
If they had known Christ, they would have been warned. Jesus taught that one soul is more valuable than the gaining of the whole world. This standard of values sobers Christians to remember that “a man’s life does not consist of his possessions.”
The apostles echoed the words of Jesus. Hear Paul again in I Timothy 6:9-10 – “People who want to get rich fall into temptation and a trap and into many foolish and harmful desires that plunge men into ruin and destruction. For the love of money is a root of all kinds of evil. Some people, eager for money, have wandered from the faith and pierced themselves with many griefs.”
In Romans 1:18-32, Paul cites sexual degradation as a first step downward for those who have turned away from God. He is clear as to the root cause of moral decay.
Christians need to be aware of the increase of evil in our time. But because we know the root of it all, we must refuse to be preoccupied with the symptoms. Rather, we know how to cut evil off at its roots, by persuading others to believe in Christ.
– James Gibbs
Faith and Social Media Seminar -- Please plan on attending this important seminar. If you can’t come on one evening, please plan to come on the night you can attend. This will be an interesting seminar for all ages. We hope to see you there! Child care is available.
Friday, January 25: 6:00 - 8:30 p.m.
Session 1: “Defining Social Media and How it is Changing Us, Culture and the Church”
Session 2: “Technology and the Church: Theology, Idolatry and Everything In Between”
Saturday, January 26: 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. Dinner and Discussion Groups (dinner included)
Session 3: “My Moral Responsibilities in the Digital World”
Session 4: Guided Discussion Groups (establishing moral guidelines for social media)
Session 5: “Real Ideas to Engage the Social World for God: Tangible Boundaries”
Sunday, January 27: Sermon: “Unplug and Experience God’s Presence: BE STILL AND KNOW”
New Ladies Class and Room Assignments -- Our Sunday Morning Ladies Class will be starting a new study - “The History of Giving From Ancient Times Through God’s Expectations in the New Testament.” Lessons will be based from V.P. Black in his book, My God and My Money. We will begin meeting in the East Room this Sunday, January 27. Bring your Bible and something to write with and join us for a time of searching the scriptures and good discussion. Contact Denise Beeks if you need more information.
Terry Christopher’s Sunday Morning Class will now be meeting in the Fireside Room.
Don Walker’s Young Men’s Class will now be meeting upstairs in Room 22.
Vacation Bible School is just a few short months away! We will be having our first planning meeting on Sunday, February 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room. We would like anyone interested in working in VBS in any way to come and help us get organized and let us know where you would like to help. There are lots of ways to help: help with snacks; help with set-up preparations; teaching; crafts; clean-up; last day lunch and activities; prizes and much more. Tentative dates will be June 18-21 (to be finalized at the meeting.) So, if you have any ideas to help us have a great VBS, we hope to see you on Sunday, February 10, at 3:30 p.m. in the Fireside Room! If you have any questions, please contact Denise Beeks.
Hilltopper Meeting – We want to invite all Hilltoppers (our members who are sixty years or older) to a meeting, this Sunday, January 27th, following morning services in the Fireside Room. Please bring a sack lunch. We encourage all Hilltoppers to come join us for this important meeting.
Our Mexico Dinner and Auction is scheduled for Saturday, March 2, at 6:00 p.m. in the Fireside Room. Please mark this date on your calendar! Also, if you would like to go on the Mission Trip scheduled for March 23-31, please contact the office or Valda Newton for your registration form.
Directory – Our proof copy of the directory is posted in the hallway by the East Room. Please review your listing. Please initial if everything is correct or make the necessary corrections or additions. If your name is not listed and you would like to be included in our directory, please add your information on the sheet posted for new names. Also, if you would like to be added or removed from the Prayer Chain, please check that listing also.
***If your photo was not in our 2012 directory and you would like to be included in our upcoming 2013 directory, please contact Sandra Cummings ASAP. Photos are taken after services on Sunday morning.***
Camp News -- This year is the last year that we will be able to hold camp at Box R Ranch. If you know of another campground available for 2014, please contact Brian Pannell. Also, if you know of some summer service projects for this year, please let Brian know.
Prayer Requests . . . For Flo, friend of Patsy Brophy, as she recovers from back surgery - please pray that her pain will be relieved...For the family and friends of Shelbi Stevens as they deal with her death last week from a car accident...For Jenny Way - that she might have a clear mind and have the courage to speak for herself...For Mike Spodnik as he goes back to work in Los Angeles - safety for his travels...Alix Spodnik requests prayers for her friend, Baylee and her family, on the recent loss of her grandmother...Sara Cade will have skin cancer surgery this week at RVMC...For David Mayes - that he will be a Christlike example for his friends and for his friend, Barbara Sawyer, who is in the hospital...For our President and all of our military men, women and families.
THANK YOU – The Elders would like to thank everyone who contributed towards Doyle Fenley’s final expenses. Your generosity was a blessing to his mother and sister. If you were unable to contribute towards this last week and would still like to, just place your contribution in a separate envelope. Thanks again.
CALENDAR OF EVENTS
January 25-27: Faith & Social Media Seminar
January 27: Hilltopper Meeting in the Fireside Room Following Morning Worship
February 10: VBS Planning Meeting; Fireside Room; 3:30 p.m.
March 2: Mexico Dinner and Auction; Fireside Room; 6:00 p.m.
