Several months ago, I wrote a blog post about why I didn't have social media. If you'd like to read that highly self-righteous piece, click here .
So I still hold to the belief that social media can be used for good and it can be used for bad.Sadly, it is often used for bad more than good, or kids get it to young and do stupid stuff with it. I could go on and on, really. However, I brought up the point in my post was, essentially, that if you use social media to reach out and minister to people, that's cool. Which I still agree with.
Social media, used in the best way, can be really awesome. I still am in awe that people from everywhere can congregate on my computer screen, and here we are. (When I was born, the cell phone was still a novel idea.) As Christians, we can do some real good with it!
Sadly, though, I have seen both good and bad come out of social media. I have seen people be uplifted, and others stomped down by someone with differing views. How sad is that? I am still surprised that grown (hopefully) people will call other people names just because they disagree on what color is that dress. (Recap: remember that dress that simultaneously looked black and blue or cream and gold? Stupid, yes it is.)
Anyway, I have social media for a couple of reasons:
1. I have social media to reach out to Christians and connect, and also to reach out to people who aren't Christians and share the good news of Jesus.
2. I have social media so I can practice my debate skills and to learn how people of different opinions think. Because I love being called names and told I'm stupid. And who doesn't? :)
3. I have social media to support my blog. It's not all a cakewalk after all!
4. I have social media because I am always up for a good laugh. Who doesn't love those cat gif's anyway? They are just so funny!
Here is a parting thought. Social media is not for everyone (despite popular opinion). If you don't have social media, I commend you! But if you do, there's nothing wrong with it. All I ask is that we, meaning everyone, should try to be more responsible with it. If you don't want your mother to read it, maybe it should phrase it a little differently.
Have a great day, everyone!
On the edge of consciousness this morning, the old but wise Bible verse "bad company corrupts good morals" popped into my mind. For some unknown reason, this just started stewing in my barely awake head. Bad company... corrupts..... good morals.
The more I thought about it, the more it made sense. You know, this verse has been preached so many times over, but its "moral of the story" typically pertains to keeping good friends. Although I'd never thought of it this way, but "company" could also mean the books you read, the TV you watch, and the music you listen to. Maybe God isn't just talking about physical company, but also mental company too.
Alright, raise your hand if you ever watched a movie where the femme fatale had an awesome hair do you just had to try out. Or the hero had a really neat computer set up that you needed to have. You were affected by these things, even though you wouldn't normally do them. You were encouraged to do it because you watched that movie or you read that book.
Let's take this another step. I remember a few years ago when I was reading the Christy Miller Series. Despite the considerable age differences, I was convinced that my life was supposed to be like Christy's-- great boyfriend, rich aunt and uncle who would take me anywhere I wanted, being chased around by the cutest guy at school, lots of good Christian gal pals who loved me no matter what I did. It all seemed rather perfect. Unfortunately, books were breading discontent in my life, even though they were Christian and good morals-wise.
Those are some examples were media can affect you. But what about when media gets harmful? What about when the song has racy innuendos? What about when that movie has a little too much cursing (sorry Die Hard fans...)? What about when the main character of that book has sex with her boyfriend? We may not want to admit it, but these things do affect us. I am speaking from first hand experience here. I really want to warn you about the dangers of bad company corrupting your good morals.
Here are some questions for you:
- Have you ever had to deal with friends who could probably be considered "bad company"? Did you stay friends with them?
- Are there examples in your life of media corrupting your good morals, or friends who you have noticed being affected?
- How can we pray for you today?
My mother and I have an incredibly close relationship, in which we drive each other crazy, embarrass each other, but also love one another unconditionally. My mom is the single coolest, strongest, funniest person I have ever met, and that is why I chose to read Mother, Can You Not.
In Mother, Can You Not, Siegel shares various stories from her childhood and adulthood about the strange things her mother has done to her, to herself, and in general. A witty collection of memories will make the reader smile, blush, and just plain cover your face in embarrassment for Kate. There were many times while I read this book that I thanked the good Lord that mother never has tried to pull anything that Siegel's mother has.
Siegel paints a picture of a woman who is un-apologetically herself, who likes to give hugs, and doesn't gloss over things just because they hard to talk about, and the woman is her mother.
I really enjoyed this book. I thought it was funny and well written. Though I had never heard of Siegel's Instagram page "Crazy Jewish Mom", it was easy for me to jump into the whole story. A couple of warnings however is that there is language, and the dialogue between the mother and daughter has quite a bit of sexual content. I didn't care for that part, but the rest of the book was good.
I was given a copy of this book in exchange for my honest opinion by Blogging for Books.
Hey y'all! A few days ago, I signed up to win Salvaged, which is a really awesome book by Stefne Miller. I didn't know if I was going to win, but I had a pretty darn good feeling about it. Last night, I found an email in my inbox saying that I won! I was literally screaming and hooting. Can you tell that I wasn't excited?
Salvaged is about Attie Reed, who at the young age of sixteen lost her mother and best friend, Melody in a tragic car accident, and nearly lost her own life. The summer she turns seventeen, she moves to Guthrie, Oklahoma to spend the summer with the Bennet family-- Melody's family. Although she has physically recovered, she has a long way to go to recover from her emotional scars. With a little help from the Bennet's, Riley (Melody's brother), and Jesus, she can finally forgive.
Now here's the ultra-super-duper-fantastically-neat thing. I read all three of Stefne's books through my library. When I emailed her telling her I read them through the library, she offered to not only send me Salvaged, but Rise and Collision, too. I was blown by her generosity.
I love Stefne's writing style. It's relaxed, yet poetic at the same time. She shares authentic characters, with real, believable problems. Filled with humor, heartbreak, and romance, they are the ultimate chick read.
All right, I will discontinue by gush-fest. I hope you all have a great day!
