House to House Church Ministry - Home Church Movement in America
  Christian Home Church
  • Home
  • Free Bible Studies
  • Free Sermons Online
  • Resources
    • Short Stories
    • Giving
  • About
  • Contact

Unplug

10/8/2010

3 Comments

 
Picture
Does anyone else out there suffer from GCMEOMT also known as Gotta Check My Emails One More Time? 

Or I must know the latest on Fox News or the Drudge Report?

Who's on Facebook???
What are my stocks doing?  YouTube?
Or all the above?
Repeat?

Remember when sending or receiving mail took days? Yet somehow we survived. Calling a friend happened after school or work and we managed to wait. But not now! We can do it all!  At the same time!

How efficient we can be!  Or my, how little I've gotten done today!

Okay, time for prayer and the Word – oh wait! - Joe sent me that funny video...
http \\: Ican'tBelieveHowStupidThisIsButI'mStillLaughing/Replay/Replay/Don'tClickThisAgain.

Finally, Marty's online to play Dork Attack III...

Lord, I'll spend more time with you tomorrow or the next day...

But the next day the videos will be even more crazy. Someone else will be available to chat. The headlines will be even more sensational.

                                                            Computer Distractions. 
                     The easiest way to mouse-click your life away and not mean to.

Seeking the Lord first (or at all) and waiting on him with my undivided attention is more difficult now than any other time I can remember – hold that thought while I check my email.

During the late 80s, I was stationed in Germany in the Army's 1st Armored Division “Old Ironsides” in Germany. Unlike most other occupations, you are a soldier 24 hours a day. Just because you were dismissed, didn't mean you couldn't be called back. Obviously, that can put a strain on life, especially if you're trying to keep a marriage and family together overseas.

The Army created “Iron Family Time” to improve morale. Every Thursday we were let go from our duties at 1600 hrs (4:00 PM) which was at least an hour earlier than usual. We had to be out of our work area by that time or we were in trouble. Married soldiers were encouraged to spend time with their families. Unmarried soldiers relaxed. Put simply, we were forced to unplug.

Some of us are electronically connected somehow (TV, computer, iPod, iPad, etc.,) almost all day and into the night. We're online and available to almost anyone in our chat list. But are we that way with Jesus? Can he “blip” on the screen of our heart and mind and get a quick response from us? Or will he see me as “Away” or “Do Not Distrub?”

I have to admit that he's gotten that from me lately. Every other little thing was more important at that moment. And the next. And the next. And how did it get to be 11:15 PM already?

But won't it be a day just like today when Christ will call his church home?
---Let me text my buddy - BRB.

Aren't these the world conditions spoken of by prophets of old that would precede the days of our Lord's return?
---LOL

And take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares. (Luke 21:34)

I had to literally tell myself to “UNPLUG!” and get away from the computer the other evening. Finally, instead of staying glued to an HD screen, I invested some time in prayer and praise to God.   And a couple of funny things happened:

First, I was at peace and smiled on the inside.

Second, my emails were still there, no one died because I didn't chat, and the news was still the news – most of which had nothing to do with me or my family.

But I'm closer to God now and have a clearer mind. What a concept!

I wrote about this before in Linger For The Blessing but we can all benefit from a reminder now and then. Making some God time happen everyday is going to be more and more important as the days unfold, because there's absolutely nothing more important in life than being right with Him.

For what shall it profit a man, if he shall gain the whole world, and lose his own soul? (Mark 8:36)

Just as spyware, viruses and other harmful things can collect on our computers, so too they can collect on our soul. In time we're running sluggish, having more carnal thoughts and “spamming” our friends and family in conversations with things we didn't mean to say.

Unplug soon, okay?

Picture

--- writer is offline with Jesus ---

Was this interesting or helpful? Please leave a comment and pass it along!

3 Comments
Linda link
10/8/2010 03:16:43 am

Of course it was all good but I loved the ending...it wrapped it up so nicely - the correlation between harmful stuff contaminating our computers and how "stuff" can ease its way in and make us sluggish and such. How easily we let "stuff" come between us and our fellowship with our Lord. Great post, as always.

Reply
Dolly
10/8/2010 12:44:49 pm

Smart, funny and incredibly truthful! If "unplugging" is hard for you, you could schedule a "break". Just make sure you keep this "break" appointment like you would any other appointment. After awhile you will begin truly looking forward to this break....kinda like a date with Jesus. It's the best time you'll have all day. =)

PS I loved what you said about smiling on the "inside"....there is no better way to phrase this. You put words to a feeling that is hard to explain. Kudos, Patrick!

Reply
pastor kenyanya
10/10/2010 12:45:53 am

Dear Pastor Patrick, i have touched very much by the UNPLUG, I can say that i must seek God at all. Another thing is that no need to have the big buildings and staple financially without God is soul is like nothing.GOD bless you as you continue to serve him.

Reply



Leave a Reply.


    Share|
    Patrick Sipperly

    Patrick Sipperly

    Video producer, author, 
    and minister of the 
    Gospel of Jesus Christ.

    Visit his other sites:
    AZVideoCompany.com
    DurangoVideo.com
    PatrickSipperly.com

    Picture

    The easiest way to create a website for your church. Create your website at Weebly.com!


    Archives

    November 2017
    October 2014
    May 2014
    April 2014
    March 2014
    November 2013
    October 2013
    September 2013
    August 2013
    June 2013
    March 2013
    February 2013
    January 2013
    September 2012
    July 2012
    May 2012
    April 2012
    March 2012
    February 2012
    January 2012
    November 2011
    October 2011
    August 2011
    July 2011
    June 2011
    May 2011
    April 2011
    March 2011
    February 2011
    January 2011
    December 2010
    November 2010
    October 2010
    September 2010
    August 2010
    July 2010
    June 2010
    May 2010


    Categories

    All
    Audio
    Bible
    Business
    Christian Fiction
    Church
    Church Fellowship
    Daily Devotion
    Encouragement
    Evangelism
    Faith
    Forgiveness
    Grace
    Holy Ghost
    Home Church
    House Church
    How To Pray For America
    Kjv
    Last Days
    Marriage
    Ministry
    Mormon Commercials
    Parting Ways
    Pornography
    Preaching The Word
    Purpose Of The Church
    Questions About Church
    Revelation
    Salvation
    The Church
    Videos
    What To Do About Guilt
    Women

    RSS Feed





© 2011 | Powered By The ArizonaVideoCompany.com