Gadgets

Technology is ruining fellowship! This is for me and you. I'm as guilty as the rest of the world. I just happened to have bought another gadget and see how much time it can take!

Christians have things in common. It's to love each other to show God how much we love him. Friendship is an affect of being a Christian.When I look people in the face, see deeply within their eyes and empathize with them; there becomes a bond. It's a good thing! People caring for and loving each other is a beautiful thing!

Now we are slaves to technology. Rather than speaking to people using our God-given voice, we text things. Texts are more like facts and figures delivered with the ritual smiley face; a feeble attempt to show electronic love.

Why do people text rather than telephone or talk about things person to person?

• People enjoy their gadgets and favor electronic interaction over personal contact.
• Some are addicted to technology.
• Others are enamored by the gadgetry.
• It's more convenient because the conversation can be controlled both in duration and content.
• Conversations can be terminated abruptly.
• It's efficient.
• Some people just don't like to talk on a personal level.
• Friends are spoken to on a personal level. Acquaintances by texting.
• Conversations can be filtered so people only speak with those to whom they wish to speak.
• Messaging controls who is in the conversation, excluding those who endeavor to include themselves.
• It's just a bother for some to have personal conversations.

I'm sure there are more reasons, both good and bad. However, whatever the reason, people lose out on communing with other human beings. We're all in this together and what better way than to be together!

Society seeks to destroy Christian relationships. Texting is not a conspiracy by any global force. It's a mere tactic of the devil to divide. How does the devil destroy? He destroys love. Satan's M.O. is hate and the closest he can come to hate is for him to isolate and categorize Christians. The devil uses cliques to propagate dissension. Texting is a method to isolate those who some desire to be excluded. It may not be the person's desire to exclude, but that is the result! Sometimes we do things tarnished by evil when it is disguised by good.

Some may think: "I befriended that person today. I wished them a happy Facebook birthday and texted him!" That's "good", but there is a better way! See or call them and say "Happy Birthday... I care for you and love you!" That's a much better gift than typing "HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!" in caps with many exclamation points!

When messaging is used, most people who initiate the conversation are seeking engagement. They see it as a method of speaking with minimal interference. However, those people deserve and desire a response. Typing "Busy right now... respond later." takes little time! A better conversation would be "Thank your for thinking of me. I will get with you shortly." and then do so! Even if it's a text, it's better than nothing! However, personal contact is the way to demonstrate what we profess... "You are my friend!"

Now a disclaimer: I understand! This is a fast-paced world and people are busy with their own lives. This is another way we have all been deceived! My best memories are of the days when people took time to love others. Think how much time people would have if gadgets were removed from our daily life! Sure, they are tools of productivity, but people do things on their gadgets that just don't need to be done! Just look at the time people spend in the virtual world of Facebook! Just look at the time people spend perusing the web to find those "remarkable" things they post on Facebook!

Hebrews 10:24 "And let us consider one another to provoke unto love and to good works: 25 Not forsaking the assembling of ourselves together, as the manner of some is; but exhorting one another: and so much the more, as ye see the day approaching."