The Facebook world is watching

Earlier today I saw where a Facebook friend had "watched" a video. I clicked on the link and learned that "watching" a video on FB doesn't mean you actually "watched" much of anything. In my case, and maybe my friend's for that matter, I "watched" for perhaps 2 seconds. Enough time to know the video was not something I needed to see.

The interesting thing? Another friend quickly saw where I had "watched" this video. She almost instantly posted the quote I had just put on my wall, a verse about confession! Greatness.

Here is a snapshot of our FB dialogue (I've kept these friends anonymous, I didn't get their permission to copy & paste their names):

Just yesterday I read an article about the people (many people) who post misleading information about themselves on FB. For all I know you may have seen on FB that I read that article.

And what about people who post things like, "I'm home alone tonight, my husband is gone on business..."? Is that a simple update?

I did a double take & strained my neck when I saw a guy's status announcement that he would be at a resort for a few days. No big deal until he added he'd be there without his wife. Surely he didn't really intend to announce to the world he was away alone and his wife was home alone.

Innocent? Probably. Something more? Possibly. Not smart? Certainly.

I'm new to Facebook so maybe I'm not the one to take issue... I like FB, but I may not really have "watched" everything it says I did. And if I did watch it, well good for FB & a friend for calling me out!

For those of you who accidentally or actually watch the video, or post misleading information, or post odd information that just might be interpreted as an invitation... 

• Be careful. The FB world is watching.

Kind of Like Joseph

Most people know the story of Joseph, the guy with the dreams and the colorful coat. His brothers sold him out (literally) and lied to Israel (their father) about it all, leaving Joseph for dead in their father’s world.

Years later, after Joseph saves the family in Egypt, Israel dies. The brothers fear Joseph will have his revenge. In Genesis 50 we read this:

When Joseph’s brothers saw that their father was dead, they said, “What if Joseph holds a grudge against us and pays us back for all the wrongs we did to him?” So they sent word to Joseph, saying, “Your father left these instructions before he died: ‘This is what you are to say to Joseph: I ask you to forgive your brothers the sins and the wrongs they committed in treating you so badly.’ Now please forgive the sins of the servants of the God of your father.” When their message came to him, Joseph wept.

His brothers then came and threw themselves down before him. “We are your slaves,” they said.

But Joseph said to them, “Don’t be afraid. Am I in the place of God? You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives. So then, don’t be afraid. I will provide for you and your children.” And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

For many reasons this is one of my favorite stories. How many headlines could be written about it?

Brothers getting past their issues to forgive and love

Israel’s dysfunctional family is used by God to shape the destiny of millions of people

Experience the power of forgiveness

God alone has the right to administer final judgment

There is no justification to hold wrongs inside, so confess your sins

There is no justification to hold wrongs against, so forgive the sins of others

There is no justification to do wrong, so don’t

Final word today… I have a friend from school days. Back then I was really hurtful to him. Really mean. He recently reached out to me and offered a hard word of reality. We exchanged messages and he offered forgiveness. It was really good for me. He knows who he is and I hope he reads this. He helped me by being brutally honest and then forgiving.

Kind of like Joseph.


Scripture taken from the HOLY BIBLE, NEW INTERNATIONAL VERSION®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984 Biblica. Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved.

Caine's Arcade

Watch it until the last credit, OK?

I'm going in 3 weeks. I'll get the Fun Pass for sure...

There is no "Whatever" with Easter

Take the jump to a really good article about Easter and the commercialization of religion. First time I’ve ever linked to a Slate article…

From the article:

Easter demands a response. It's hard for a non-Christian believer to say, "Yes, I believe that Jesus of Nazareth was crucified, died, was buried, and rose from the dead." That's not something you can believe without some serious ramifications: If you believe that Jesus rose from the dead, this has profound implications for your spiritual and religious life—really, for your whole life. If you believe the story, then you believe that Jesus is God, or at least God's son. What he says about the world and the way we live in that world then has a real claim on you.

Easter is an event that demands a "yes" or a "no." There is no "whatever."

My favorite tornado relief donation yet!

We have had people dropping off supplies and cash at Global Samaritan since yesterday morning. They are giving to help the people in the Fort Worth - Dallas area who lost homes and roofs in the Tuesday afternoon storms.

We've had all kind of folks come through. And some have given hundreds of dollars. We just got a call and a $5,000 donation is coming later today.

We will truck the supplies over Friday evening and take the cash over as well.

A few minutes ago a precious little man walked into our office. He looked like he needed to receive, not needing to give. God is always teaching me lessons about judging others!!

In his hand he held out for us our biggest donation yet. How big? I suspect this $5 gift represents a large portion of this man's money. I could be wrong (judgment again)... In any case I sure wish I had taken a photo of this angel, a picture that could have captured the joy on his face!

"God bless the gifts like this to encourage those of us with much to open our hearts and give much."

No Words Needed

Just west of Cisco, Texas. I took this today with my iPhone.

Does God Care about Sports?

If you like, follow this jump to an article that asks this question. I think it’s the wrong question. A better question is, “Why do we assume God cares about what we care about?” Or better yet, “Why do we care so little about things we know God cares about?”

We are so myopic. Our cares must necessarily be God’s cares too. Right?

Here are a few things God cares about (none of these will get as much attention as the games tonight): children in Haiti… families in Sudan without clean water… teenager boys in hoodies getting shot, teenager boys in hoodies doing the shooting… hungry kids in Nicaragua… God cares.

God cares about Gaza. He cares about Ashkelon too. Both sides, one as much as the other. God cares about Obama and Romney, John Boehner and Nancy Pelosi. God cares about everything and everyone.

So… I actually do think God cares about the NBA, The Final Four, all things football and MLB. I think God knows Opening Day is just a week away and He prefers natural grass and day games to turf and domes. God even cares about track and field, though I am sure He cares nothing about Hockey.

God cares about sports because God cares about people. All people. Winners and losers. Those who play and those who don’t. And can’t.

Be careful not to care so much for sports (caring too much is a pathway to idolatry) that you wonder if God cares. Of course he cares.