It’s back to school time and our children have their supply lists: pencils, pens, folders, paper and on and on. But there are things that we need help our children carry to school that aren’t found in Walmart or Target, we find them in God’s Word…

Listen Here: Back to School

It is important to understand that Facebook is neither inherently good nor inherently evil. It simply enables people to express themselves through posts, profiles, pictures, etc. In other words, Facebook is not evil or good. People are evil or good. The reason so many are alarmed by this website is because it exposes who people really are, and that can be both disappointing in others and frightening in ourselves. When we see people we thought had good and pure hearts posting sinful words or pictures (or ‘liking’ sinful things), the tendency is to think that somehow Facebook has corrupted them when, in fact, it is the other way around – they are having a corrupting influence on Facebook! Don’t misunderstand me. Evil companions corrupt good morals (1 Cor 15:33), and that includes internet ‘friends.’ Since Facebook is a venue for companionship, it certainly can be a medium for bad influence – but only if you are ‘friending’ evil companions. Again, it comes back to what is in your heart to start with!

But where the danger of corruption exists, so also exists a powerful opportunity to let your light shine before others (Mt 5:16). This is why I’ve been disturbed by what seems to be an implication by some that we’d all be better off if we just signed off the internet altogether. Are we being asked to “hide it under a bushel”? Any five year old bible class student knows how to respond to such a suggestion. Allow me to share just a few of the ways that Facebook in particular can be a powerful tool for a Christian.

Edification, Encouragement, and Confession

When you post something on Facebook, hundreds of people can see it. On my account, there are people from all over the world, and most are Christians. Should I not be using this as a means to build up my brothers and sisters (1 Thess 5:11)? And what of encouraging one another? Are we only able to do that face to face? When a teenage brother in Birmingham, known to many young people in Alabama and beyond, died in a car accident last week, there were hundreds of posts offering words of encouragement to those who knew him and to his family. What a powerful blessing that must have been to young Christians spread out over the country! And what about our need to acknowledge Jesus before men (Mt 10:32-33)? How many lost souls have heard the truth when a Christian has posted a passage, song lyric, sermon outline, or invitation to a study on their Facebook page? Even the ‘mundane’ day to day posts can show the lost that true joy and meaning come from serving the Christ even in the daily grind. If you are on Facebook, are you using it for all its worth? Will people reading your posts see your good works and praise God?

Groups and Events

Facebook has two features that are of added use to a Christian. One is the ability to create ‘groups’ that people can join. The creator and administrators of the group can then send messages to all those who have joined. Many congregations have found this to be an excellent way to rapidly spread information among members (e.g., prayer requests, changes to assembly times, meeting announcements, etc.). A creative person might also find these groups useful as a means to reach out to the lost (e.g., a bible study group among friends, etc.). Another feature is the ability to create an “Event” and invite people to attend. Since Facebook makes it so easy to invite everyone on your friends list at once (and for them to invite everyone on their friends list), this can be a ‘viral’ way of inviting people to a meeting or special study. In less than 15 minutes, you can “knock on the door” of hundreds if not thousands of friends and friends of friends.

Facebook Ads

Few seem to be aware of the Facebook Ad system. Every person who uses or visits Facebook has advertisements on their screen, and anyone can create an ad and purchase that ad space. Moreover, when you create the ‘ad campaign,’ you are given the option to specify who sees the ad. For instance, I can limit the ad to people living in a specific area who also have indicated an interest in ‘bible’ ‘christianity’ ‘truth’ etc. What makes this tool especially useful is the fact that the ad manager can choose only to pay when the ad is actually clicked rather than for each time it is shown. That’s like a billboard that you only have to pay for if people actually read the board! This alone makes it a far more effective way to advertise a congregation, gospel meeting, correspondence course, etc. than traditional newspaper or mailing campaigns.

Is Facebook dangerous? Absolutely. The world is dangerous, and Facebook is a part of our world. We must guard ourselves against evil companions and other corrupting influences (and on Facebook, that means frequent use of the ‘hide’ and ‘remove’ options). However, Facebook is also an incredibly powerful tool for Christians of all ages. The next time you log in, consider the fact that Facebook is a magnifying glass into your heart. What do people see? What does Jesus (who has internet access!) see? Are you letting your light shine before men? Are you using Facebook for the Kingdom?

-Article by Robert Ogden, reprinted with permission, Rants & Reflections

Come join us for a special series of sermons presented by Curtis Pope of Kleinwood, TX on November 14-19th! You will be uplifted by hearing a message from God’s word and encouraged to deepen your relationship with God.

Members from the Saraland congregation plan to attend again this year.  Travel arrangements and hotels can be viewed from the 1000 Voices website.  The cost is free and the weekend will be packed with workshops and singing.

http://www.1000voices.org

The road you’re about to travel is at once an exciting and dangerous one. The road to higher education is laced with great possibilities, while at the same time offering pitfalls you will want to avoid at all costs. I just want a few minutes of your time to suggest some things to help you as you travel this new road and are immersed in this new environment. Is that OK?

My admonitions are based on the Psalm 119:9-16.

Wherewith shall a young man cleanse his way?” it asks.

Stay close to God’s word (vs. 9). “Wherewithal shall a young man cleanses his way?” That is the question. And the answer is forthcoming. “By taking heed thereto according to thy word.” No matter what you do this year, don’t stray far from the word of God. Keep it close. It’s your protection against evil inclinations and cultural temptations.

Seek the Lord whole-heartedly (vs. 10). “With my whole heart have I sought thee.” Some changes are inevitable, but that doesn’t mean everything needs to change. Some things need to stay as they are. You don’t want to change what you are. You’re a Christian. You decide what you’re going to do—and that’s well and good—but plan to seek God with your whole heart, no matter your plans. Keep your faith above all keeping. No change is needed there.

Take the word with you (vs. 11). “Thy word have I hid in my heart.” You’ll be going some places that are new to you; and some of those new places are dangerous. Hide His word in your heart so that you are armed against the invasions of evil you no doubt will face. What a good way to begin this new time in your life—with His word in your heart.

Invite divine instruction (vs. 12). “Teach me thy statutes,” he says. You will be getting considerable new information about how to live life in your new educational career, but you should not forget to invite some new instruction concerning your eternal career. Being a good Christian is more important than being a good engineer, or a good nurse, or a good anything else. Learn about Him and you get the best of all educations.

Don’t be ashamed of who you are (vs. 13). It’s easy to get caught up in this new life. And it’s easy to just follow along with others, some of whom don’t share your convictions. Don’t let that happen. It’s important that you make it known early on that you are different. Don’t be ashamed. Be glad about who you are and let others know. Declare it with joy and without timidity.

Don’t be dismayed at the discipline of God’s word (vs. 14). It’s easy, when you’ve just been loosed from the rules of home and you’re in charge of your life, to be a little loose about the discipline of God’s word. Instead of treating the word of God with rejoicing, you may feel somewhat hemmed in by it. Remember, God’s word never requires anything or restricts anything that is not for your good. “I have rejoiced in the way of thy testimonies,” says that you understand its discipline to be for your good.

Keep in mind the really important things in your life (vs. 15). No matter how good the education you get, it’s not as important, nor is it as functional, as is knowing and loving God and His word. “I will meditate on thy precepts,” the psalm says. Don’t get so busy with your new life that you don’t take time to contemplate the eternal, to muse about the spiritual, to remember what has true value and lasting consequences. Meditation takes time. Take the time.

Delight in His word and don’t forget its influence in your life (vs. 16). Of all the books you can study, none should delight your mind more than the word of the Lord. It’s the first thing you need to live a happy life, first before any other book. When it’s coupled with the good education you will no doubt achieve, it can bring you a totally satisfying life. Without it, you can never be truly happy. “I will delight myself in thy statutes: I will not forget thy ways.”

We love you, gang. We’re proud of you—every one of you. You continue to be a joy to all of us. As you leave, please remember who you are, from whence you are come, and where you’re going. And come home again soon. 

- Dee Bowman

June 14th – 18th,  7:00pm each night

Champions for Jesus is based on Psalm 60:12, “With God we will gain the victory!” This thought is carried out in each lesson as the children will meet various characters from the Bible who could be considered champions for Jesus. Each of these champions were people just like us, yet each showed a tremendous love for their Lord.

THE LESSONS:

Monday: Caleb…from detective to disciple (Numbers 13, 14) Real CHAMPIONS walk with God!

Tuesday: The Servant Girl…from maid to missionary (2 Kings 5:1-15) Real CHAMPIONS speak up!

Wednesday: Joseph…from pit to power (Genesis 37:12-36; 42-45) Real CHAMPIONS forgive!

Thursday: John…from fisherman to follower (John 19:1-30) Real CHAMPIONS kneel!

Friday: Timothy…from teen to teacher (Acts 16:1-5) Real CHAMPIONS live as God’s children!

Two teenagers asked their father if they could go to the theater to watch a movie that all their friends had seen.  After reading some reviews about the movie on the Internet, he denied their request.

“Ah dad, why not?” they complained.  “It’s rated PG-13, and we’re both older than thirteen!”

Dad replied: “Because that movie contains nudity and portrays immorality as being normal and acceptable behavior.” “But dad, those are just very small parts of the movie!  That’s what our friends who’ve seen it have told us.  The movie is two hours long and those scenes are just a few minutes of the total film!  It’s based on a true story and good triumphs over evil, and there are other redeeming themes like courage and self-sacrifice.  Even the movie review websites say that!”
“My answer is ‘no,’ and that is my final answer.  You are welcome to stay home tonight, invite some of your friends over, and  watch one of the good videos we have in our home collection.  But you will not go and watch that film.  End of discussion.”

The two teenagers walked dejectedly into the family room and slumped down on the couch.  As they sulked, they were surprised to hear the sounds of their father preparing something in the kitchen.  They soon recognized the wonderful aroma of brownies baking in the oven, and one of the teenagers said to the other, “Dad must be feeling guilty, and now he’s going to try to make it up to us with some fresh brownies.  Maybe we can soften him with lots of praise when he brings them out to us and persuade him to let us go to that movie after all.”

About that time I began eating the second brownie from the sandwich bag and wondered if there was some connection to the brownies I was eating and the brownies in the story.  I kept reading.

The teens were not disappointed.  Soon their father appeared with a plate of warm brownies, which he offered to his kids.  They each took one. Then their father said, “Before you eat, I want to tell you something:  “I love you both so much.”  The teenagers smiled at each other with knowing glances.  Dad was softening.  ”That is why I’ve made these brownies with the very best ingredients.  I’ve made them from scratch.  Most of the ingredients are even organic; the best organic flour, the best free-range eggs,  the best organic sugar, premium vanilla and chocolate.”  The brownies looked mouth-watering, and the teens began to become  a little  impatient with their dad’s long speech.
“But I want to be perfectly honest with you.  There is one ingredient I added that is not usually found in brownies.  I got that ingredient from our own back yard.  But you needn’t worry, because I only added the tiniest bit of that ingredient to your brownies.  The amount of the portion is practically insignificant. So go ahead, take a bite and let me know what you think.

“Dad, would you mind telling us what that mystery ingredient is before we eat?” “Why?  The portion I added was so small.  Just a teaspoonful.  You won’t even taste it.” “Come on, dad; just tell us what that ingredient is.”  “Don’t worry!  It is organic, just like the other ingredients.”  “Dad!!!”  “Well, OK, if you insist.  That secret ingredient is organic…dog poop.”

I immediately stopped chewing that second brownie and I spit it out into the waste basket by my desk.  I continued reading, now fearful of the paragraphs that still remained.

Both teens instantly dropped their brownies back on the plate and began inspecting their fingers with horror.

“DAD!  Why did you do that?  You’ve tortured us by making us smell those brownies cooking for the last half hour, and now you tell us that you added dog poop!  We can’t eat these brownies!”

“Why not?  The amount of dog poop is very small compared to the rest of the ingredients.  It won’t hurt you.  It’s been cooked right along with the other ingredients.  You  won’t even taste it.  It has the same consistency as the brownies.  Go ahead and eat!”

“No, Dad…NEVER!”

“And that is the same reason I won’t allow you to go watch that movie.  You  won’t tolerate a little dog poop in your brownies, so why should you tolerate a little immorality in your movies?  We pray that God will not lead us unto temptation, so how can we in good conscience entertain ourselves with something that will imprint a sinful image in our minds that will lead us into temptation long after we first see it?”

I discarded what remained of the second brownie, as well as the entire untouched third brownie.  What had been irresistible a minute ago had become detestable.  And only because of the very slim chance that what I was eating was slightly polluted.  (Surely it wasn’t… but I couldn’t convince myself.)

What a good lesson about purity!  Why do we tolerate any sin?  On the day of the Passover, the Israelites were commanded to remove every bit of leaven from their homes. Sin is like leaven – a little bit leavens the whole lump.  (I Corinthians 5:6)

–Author Unknown