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Catching Up |
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Location: Blogs Brad's BlogMid-Week Missive |
 | | Posted by: Brad Miller | 6/3/2009 2:30 PM | Greetings on this beautiful day!
A friend says that I’ve finally joined the 21st century. My niece says it doesn’t surprise her, since I have always been “hip”. (She’s in the will). Another friend wonders why I even bothered. It’s amazing the responses I get when people discover that a few weeks ago I signed up for “Facebook”. I had my concerns, too. I heard people talk about it as a way to keep people informed about what you are doing. I had to think twice about privacy issues. I thought that I could keep up with friends just fine without this new technology. But here’s the thing: I didn’t do a good job of keeping up with distant friends, so maybe I should give this a try.
I have discovered that everything I thought about was true.
It is a good way to keep people informed about what you are doing…although I am amazed at the number of people who seem to post things 4 and 5 times a day along the lines of “I’m just sitting here contemplating the expansion of the universe….” Or “I’m about to fire up the grill for dinner tonight.” Really? Do I need to know this? And how can you have enough spare time to inform us all of these things? You do have to be concerned with what you write if you are concerned about privacy….because there is none! If you have a “friend” on your list, they can read everything you put on your “wall”….but here’s the big catch…if they have a friend, even though you don’t know them, they have access to it, too, somehow. And on and on it goes, so in the end – if you are not careful to write to only a specific person - lots of people you don’t know have potential access to what you post. But the biggest thing that has amazed me is how many old friends I have caught up with.
A friend that I used to play with before we went to kindergarten contacted me this week. A friend who I played high school basketball with travels to Atlanta frequently and we hope to get together soon. Someone I worked with in college has caught me up on what they are doing. I have learned of marriages and divorces, births and deaths, career changes and retirements and the like. It has been wonderful. One old friend who I hadn’t spoken with since college let me know that he has been on disability for a year and half and is about to undergo a third operation for a health issue and asked for prayers. He was amazed to find out that I am now a minister (actually, a lot of people are amazed at that!) and we have carried on a two and half week “conversation” telling old stories, catching up, asking questions and through the miracle of cyberspace, enjoying each other’s company. At the end of his last message he wrote simply: “I wasn’t sure about this Facebook thing, but I am so glad that I signed up. I am so happy to have you in my life again.” I couldn’t agree more.
I am one of those people who have had a love/hate relationship with technology. I don’t always deal well with change, but I have to admit that my life has been greatly enhanced by some new technology. Cell phones and e-mail have made it easier to stay in touch. This Midweek Missive is an example of something done fairly easily compared to what I would have done 20 years ago! Sometimes, though, being in constant contact is as much a burden as it is a blessing. When we fall slave to the technology by always having it “on” we may not have done ourselves a favor. And even as thrilled as I am about connecting on Facebook with these long lost friends, the most important point will be when we actually talk to one another, see one another, give one another a hug.
So here is my point: find a way to reach out to people you love. If you haven’t talked for awhile, give them a call, look for them on Facebook, Google their name, look up the last address you have for them and drop a note. There is something special about reaching out to people with whom we have lost touch, and if you are thinking of them, you need to contact them. There is a good chance they need to hear from you, like my friend who is about to undergo surgery. He desired prayers, and now you know about it, too. His name is Doug and he would appreciate your thoughts and prayers. And believe it or not, Facebook got us together again.
I am well aware that making contact through the computer is not the be all and end all. But it is a start. One of the first days I was fooling around with Facebook, I sent a message to my best friend from high school. We lost touch when we moved to Atlanta. I was expecting to get a reply back in two or three days, but was rather surprised when the phone rang about 5 minutes after I sent my message and my friend was on the other end. “Bradley!!!” he nearly shouted, “you cannot believe the grin that is on my face at this moment!” Oh yes I could.
For a list of upcoming events and a updated prayer list, please go to www.brookhavenchristian.org
For your Prayers
Darlene Hall, niece of Darrell Freeman who has undergone surgery for a brain tumor and is awaiting test results in order to decide the course of action.
Adam Ivey, friend of Jessica Hixon, going through a tough time dealing with the death of a friend.
Herman Harpe, father of Janis Cannon, hospitalized with an infection.
Announcements
Progress continues to be made on the building renovation front. Contractors are being interviewed, and some of the things we can do already are underway. And remember, if you made a pledge of a one time gift for renovation, please turn that check in by June 15. If you pledged to the annual campaign, your new pledge is in effect now. We are so blessed by so many generous people! Thank you!
Remember, there will be a Family Fun VBS and Lock-In on Saturday June 13 and Sunday June 14th here at the church. If you are interested in helping, there is a meeting this Sunday, June 7th, immediately following worship (from 12:15 to 1:15 – lunch will be provided,) If you are planning on attending, please contact Debbie Kinney at debbie.kinney@comcast.net so she can have the proper amount of materials and food.
I hope to see you this Sunday as we celebrate the Lord’s Day together again. The sermon is the first of three concerning “Questions” entitled “How Can These Things Be?” The scripture is John 3: 1-17. Have a great rest of the week!
Be peaceful,
Brad
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