Hola Tribe!
Last night we began our discussion about your life online. Let's face it. A lot of us think that there are different rules online than there are in real life. After all you can create an Avatar, which is an imaginary person anyway and live in an imaginary world filled with imaginary people. You can create a Myspace page where you can have an alias and fake name, you can play Xbox online with an alter ego, create an email address with a different name and if you wanted to you could live in a virtual world non stop everyday of the week if you wanted to. So certainly there are different rules right?
One of the stats that I threw at you last night, thankfully some of you ducked, was that people ages 13-24 can spend an average of 16.7 hours a week online. This doesn't count the amount of time that you spend checking email by the way. Nor does it account for the time that you spend plugged into your ipod. It also doesn't count for TV watching, radio or talking on the phone. When you add all of those things, you guys spend an average of 50 hours a week plugged into something. 50 hours!!! That's not even a full time job, that's a full time job that is working overtime!
So the question that was asked again was, "Does God care about your life online?" The answer is "yes", He does because on or offline, it is still YOUR life. Last night we talked about your iidentity (yes I know I misspelled identity). I gave you guys some action points to work on during the week. Here are those points.
1. PONDER YOUR PICS - There are quite a number of you that are posting pics that are completely inappropriate and way too revealing. You need to know 2 things. #1 is that once it is out there, it is out there. Anyone can take that pic and use it however they want to. #2 is that pic, communicates something about you whether you want it to or not. So be careful what you show everyone online even if it is "just your friends". (Phil 4:8)
2. PAUSE BEFORE YOU POST - Don't use Facebook or Myspace or any online media, as a place to rant about someone. One comment could completely devastate someone. Be mature and talk to that person one on one if you have a problem with them. Also, be careful what thoughts you put down on a blog or any other post. You would be surprised what some people will change their status to, not realizing that everyone and their Basset Hound is reading it. (Psalm 15:1-3)
3. PLAY/ GAME WITH INTEGRITY - Guys, just like you can play basketball, soccer, football, table tennis and even thumb wars with integrity you can do the same with the online community. Don't tear someone apart with your words even if the scenario is imaginary. Your words aren't imaginary, they are real and have real consequences. (1 Cor. 10:31)
Guys...girls...God has a plan for your life. It is a plan that is specific to you and only you. But if you continue to pretend to be someone that you are not, even if it is online, you derail that plan. Actions, words and pictures have consequences. Get on board with God's plan for your life and be an influence online toward bringing people into the light and God's kingdom. Peace.
Matt
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