What if Jesus were on Facebook?

(continued from last week)

I want you to use your imagination and pretend that you log on to Facebook one day, and Jesus has sent you a friend request. We know that such is not possible, but for the sake of illustration, pretend. What would you do? Would you have to stop and think before you accepted it? Would you have to look through your pictures to be sure you don’t have any immodest pictures of yourself or anything tasteless? Would you need to make sure you don’t have any pictures taken in inappropriate places? Would you go back over your postings to be sure you haven’t said anything crude or inappropriate? Would you scan through your list of favorite movies and music, and perhaps delete a few of them before you let Jesus on your site?

What about the games you play? Quizzes you take? Is there anything there that would make you stop and say to yourself, “I think I’ll delete that before I let Jesus on my site?” If the answer is Yes to any of those questions, then why not go ahead and take it off now? The fact of the matter is, the Lord does look at our Facebook pages! He sees everything we post on Facebook (and everywhere else for that matter). Proverbs 15:3 says, “The eyes of the Lord are in every place keeping watch on the evil and the good&#148 (NKJV).

There’s another part of this, even beyond the fact that God is watching me on Facebook, and that is that other people are watching me. Why does that matter? It matters because what they see on my Facebook site affects what they think about me, the church and Christianity. What if I have my “religious preference” listed as “church of Christ,” and then I have pictures posted of me at a nightclub or dancing or at the beach or some other place dressed immodestly or with an alcoholic beverage? What if my status update has the lyrics to the latest Lady Gaga song? Or maybe I’m venting and running someone else down with a generally ugly demeanor?

We could give dozens of examples, but the question is, “What effect is it going to have on my non-Christian friend (or Christian for that matter) who looks at my site?” He might say to himself, “I do better than that and I don’t even pretend to be a Christian!” Or he might just think, “What a hypocrite!” Please don’t misunderstand our point. We’re not suggesting that you simply need to take these inappropriate things off Facebook. We’re not suggesting that you need to hide them better. We are not suggesting that you go to nightclubs (or anything else you say or do), but do a better job of keeping it a secret. Posting these things on Facebook for all the world to see makes it worse, because when a Christian advertises immorality, he hurts the church. What we’re suggesting is that you root these things out of your life and heart altogether (cf. Matt. 5:8; Phil. 4:8; 2 Tim. 2:22).

Here’s a question? Are you a daily user of Facebook but you’ve told yourself you’re too busy to study your Bible every day? The answer may make you stop and think about your priorities. Jesus said, “but seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness” (Matt. 6:33).

News & Notes

CHANGE OF ADDRESS:

Mary Steele
2005 Spring Street #301
Grinnell, IA   50112
Phone: 641-236-8918
Cell:  641-990-8918

BABY SHOWER:  There will be a combined baby shower honoring Anne O. and Baby Addison and Danielle Duquette (new baby on the way)!  On Tuesday, June 29th at 7:00 pm at the home of Tammy Sparks.  If you are interested in donating to the group gifts please see Tammy or Sandy Longfellow.

CLOTHING GIVEAWAY:  Don’t forget to bring in clothes you want to get rid of for the clothing giveaway.  There are racks downstairs to hang clothes on.  If you can keep things sorted it would be a great help.

VBS:  Our Vacation Bible School is scheduled for July 25-28.  There is a sign up sheet on the board in the Commons Area.

CRADLE ROLL CLASS:  We are planning to resume the Cradle Roll Class on July 4.

PRAY OVER IOWA 2010 is hosted by the Grandview Church of Christ on September 10, 2010.   Mark your calendars!

BULLETIN BOARD:  There will be a board in the kitchen on which you can post notices about things you have and don’t need or things you need and don’t have.  Please don’t use it for any other purpose.  Thanks!

Prayer Requests

MEMBERS

Mary Steele is going through a difficult time at her work.

Please continue to pray for Marge and Glen Stevens regarding their health issues.

Please keep the Jeremy Folding family in prayer during their travel.

FAMILY

Beth and Richard Potter are requesting prayers for their daughter Kelly.  Kelly’s Canadian work permit was not approved and her current permit expires in July.  She is looking for a job and hopes to find one in a nearby area.

Karen Belk’s nephew, Troy has liver and colon cancer. His surgery will be sometimes in June.

Tom Collier’s dad had medically induced sleep to help him get over pneumonia. Prayer is asked that his dad has time to obey the Gospel, and be baptized.

Harriett Colton’s grandson, Andrew Graves, request prayer for his daughter Kayleigha Graves.

Gwen Duckstein asked prayers for her cousin’s, Lanae and Luke Bruxvoort six-month old baby, Macy. If you are interested in knowing anything more specific, they have set up a Caring Bridge site – macybruxvoort.

Jerry Duquette’s grandson, Brady broke his leg and it’s in a cast.

Elaine Folding’s sister, Judy Kraft, has pancreatic cancer, and at this time it is all located in the pancreas. Oncologist will be deciding the best way to treat.

Prayers asked for the Gordon’s daughter, Linda as she travels to Iowa.

Bob Housby has a slipped disc in his back, and is in need of prayer.

Please continue to pray for Samantha McClaran’s well-being, as well as the family.

The Mort family request prayers for Jenna regarding her discharge and another place to live.

Mitch Mort’s work contract is being negotiated at school. Please keep in prayer regarding this process.

Please continue to pray for the Penick’s niece, Abigail during her healing.

Please keep the family of Tyler Smith, brother of Jake’s brother-in-law in your prayers.

Please continue to pray for Barb South’s sister, Brenda.

Glenn Steven’s sister Delores passed. Please pray for the family.

John Stevens, son of Glenn and Marge need prayer regarding injuries suffered during a truck accident. He has gone back to work but suffers a lot of pain.

Art and Nancy Wallis’ new granddaughter, Gabrielle White will be having surgery within eight weeks.

Prayer asked for Stephanie Watson’s mom who is having severe pain after surgery.

FRIENDS

Karen Belk’s friend, Nordell Cockrell has issues with her knees.

Karen Belk’s friend, Jim Swift had a kidney removed due to cancer. He is also having issues with his diabetes.

Archie and Lynn Cook’s neighbor, John McCullough, has stomach cancer. He is undergoing treatment in Chicago at the cancer Center. Please pray for this family.

A friend of Jason Housby, Deb Bergsma’s grandmother Joan has cancer, but no treatment at this time is needed.

A friend of the Melvin’s, John was in an accident, and is having a hard time.

The son of a friend of Mitch and Jo Mort took his own life one week after graduation. Please pray for this family.

A friend of Mitch and Jo Mort, Chris Goodale had a recurrence of cancer, and will be undergoing a stem cell transplant in July. He will be out of work for a three month to one year time period for recovery.

Phyllis Mort’s friend, Jane Ellis, will be having surgery to remove the cancer. She will then be undergoing chemotherapy and radiation.

Dale Burleson, Clear Lake preacher, asked us to pray for his granddaughter, Evie, who had Cyto-Megleo-Virus before birth. Evie’s mom’s name is Calley.

Iowa churches that are currently without preachers need prayer.

Looking for a job: David Colton,  Andrew Graves, Rich Potter, Meredith South, Deborah Wallis

Expectant mothers: Danielle Duquette, Melissa Ludwig

Missions: Bob and Marla Housby; Mike and Diane Richardson

Calendar of Events

• Jun 20 – Teen Gathering  at Ann Longfellow’s
• Jun 27 – Service at The Shores, 2pm
• Jul 4 – Potluck hosted by Lange’s in St. Charles, 1pm
• Jul 11 – Service at The Shores, 2pm
• Jul 18 – Teen Gathering at Van Egdoms
• Jul 20 – Ladies Fellowship 7pm
• Jul 24 – Marshalltown Ladies Day
• Jul 25 – Service at The Shores 2pm
• Jul 25-28 – VBS   **Save the dates**
• Jul 26-30 – VBS-Jasper Co church 9:30am-12:00
• Jul 31 – Blood Drive 8am
• Aug 21 – Clothing Give Away
• Sep 10 – Pray Over Iowa– Grandview