R U Connected?
“Sometimes I’m so connected, I’m
disconnected.” –
Dale Jenkins
Dale
explains: “Nearly ten years ago I first heard the news
report coming from Silicone Valley that men were
divorcing their spouses so they would have more time
to spend with their computers. I found it hard to
believe but as technology has promised more and more –
we “friend” folks via FaceBook, “follow” or are
“followed” through Twitter, “link” through “linked
in,” and expect instant connections through the
ever-present cell phone with texting. But like all
things of human origin, technology does not deliver
all it promises.
“What
it has often done is diminish our focus and divide our
attention! Obviously I do not believe all
technology is bad, after all you’re reading this via a
webspace!
“Yet what we often have is ourselves not living in
the moment because we are living online. We
don’t connect with the person sitting across from us
because our chains of thoughts are interrupted by
those not present but wanting immediate attention. In
a meeting, over dinner, hanging out with friends – our
cell phone vibrates and we jump to see who it is. A
text beeps in, and we stop everything to give the
quick immediate response. An email dings it’s
presence, and as people continue talking to us, we
read or review it’s contents. A million little things
clog our minds for attention while we should be giving
attention to our spouse, our children, our brothers
and sisters, our friends – or even God!
“How much time is wasted on these tools initially
designed to connect us but that often separate us?”
*
Dale
is right, isn’t he? We often get distracted and as a
result, disconnected, from important activities and
important people because of our addiction to modern
communication technology.
In this age of incredible modern technology, God longs
to “connect” with us! But we are often too
distracted. God continues to communicate His love to
us in many ways but most profoundly through the Gift
of His Son, who died on the cross for our sins. “But
God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while
we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans
5:8). Through Jesus, we can be “connected”
with God and receive forgiveness for our sins
and live eternally with Him, if we will
“connect” with Him.
We can be “connected” with God by:
placing our
faith and
trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in
repentance
(Acts 17:30-31),
confessing
Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being
baptized
(immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins
(Acts 2:38). We REMAIN “connected” with
Him by focusing our attention on Jesus and His Will
for our lives (Hebrews 12:1-2).
R
U truly connecting with others? You may have to turn
your computer and your cell phone off for a while.
Most importantly,
R U
“connected"
with GOD? You CAN be through Jesus!
Don’t allow ANYTHING or ANYONE
to distract you from accepting His offer of
salvation and living for Him.
David A. Sargent,
Minister
Church of Christ at Creekwood
1901 Schillinger Rd. S.
Mobile, Alabama 36695
* Excerpted and slightly adapted
from Dale Jenkins, “The Blog That Binds,” June 2011,
http://thejenkinsinstitute.com/
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