Guilty Bystander

The current explosion in popularity of social networking is not new. It started long ago in the 1996 with the launch of Hotmail webmail service in the US. Hotmail made people independent from their ISP as they were able to send and receive email from any computer in the world, connected to the Internet. The service tapped into the people’s minds and we become more addicted to email, the internet.

If you ask anybody who is using social networking stuff like Facebook or Twitter, they will confirm that it is very addictive. Like drugs. Like addictive behaviour. Will it get to the point when it becomes a social problem and become illegal because of its effect on society? Something to think about.

The current generation who spends hours and hours in front of a computer or keying SMS into their mobiles - will they have skill to relate to people when they get old? Will they have “friends” “following them” when they turn 70 or 80? The current generation does not know how to wait - they want everything instantly. What is going to happen when they get old? We’ll have a lot of very grumpy people. We need to prepare to deal with this now. We’re worrying about Global Warming. I think we need to start worrying about Global addiction to the Internet.

Often, in the city, there are homeless people who ask for change. “Would you have some spare change?” “Would you have a dollar?” Often, if I can, and if I have some coins in the back pocket, I would reach out and give it to them. I don’t have to, but I think, “God is looking after me, I need to help others..”

Why is it that when you give money to people in need, and they say, “God bless you“, or “Have a good day, sir“, it means so much more to me than when I hear it from other, well off people? It is the humbling feeling to hear this from someone who is struggling much more than I, and they still find courage to say “God bless you“. This is very special. I often walk away, thinking, “Wow… I’m sure that God IS going to bless me“…

I need help to find a church where God lives. My family has been going to the same church for the last 10+ years. Good “family” church, as they call it. But I don’t feel God’s presence there anymore. I need a hand to find a church where God is. Somewhere I could feel God, learn about God and talk with God.

I greatly dislike the way our pastor preaches. It’s a verbal diarrhoea. The only difference from the real one that it’s not smelly. A cheap lecture that is lightly supported with some verses from the Eugene Peterson’s version of the Bible. Why can’t he just open the Bible and let the Word speak. Why can’t he just feed the flock with the pure word of God.

The other day I came to the realisation that I always hear God’s voice within me. Those conversations with self about life, family and stuff it happens within me all the time. It’s the deeply entrenched sense of what is the right thing to do, it’s always there.

For all people out there trying to do things “God’s Way” - get a bloody life!

I just came across another “God’s Way” web site - this time it’s about loosing weight. Here it is:  http://www.weightlossgodsway.com Here is what the site says: “Please - Stop Dieting!  Renew Your Mind Instead, And See Your Body Transformed Forever!“. As Borat would say, “Very Nice - Hi Five!”

So, when you go to bed - go to bed “God’s Way” - and you won’t snore (as we all know God doesn’t like people snoring the same way He doesn’t like people to be fat). When you catch a train - catch the train “God’s Way” and you’ll never be late”. When you raise you kids, do it “God’s Way” and you’ll never have any problems.

It’s definitely not the God that I know. My God (the one who created the Universe and stuff) loves me the way I am. And he probably smiles when I snore at night, eat smoked ham, drink a beer or show some kind of challenged behaviour. The thing is - He never condemned me. He created me, game me freedom and loves me as I am. So, doing things “God’s Way” is a lot of crap. There is no such thing. Be yourself, follow Jesus and don’t let other people tell you what is the “God’s Way” of doing things. They should all shut up God’s Way.

My 5-yrs old child noticed the other night, that “most of stuff and news on TV are from America”. If it’s so obvious for a 5 yr old, maybe there should be an all-Australian TV channel? Oh, wait. It’s too alternative. Wake up Australia.

A few days ago we were talking with kids about God and how He is everywhere, He is in their hart, He’s there when they need Him. Then, my 5-yr old son, who goes to church every Sunday asked me this:

“Does God live in a baptist church?”

Hmm.. sometimes I wonder. That’s actually stopped me to think for a while. Time to find a different church?

It’s a frightening place to be, when there is just God and you left. The place we should feel most secure and comfortable, is in fact the most scary place to be.

Maybe this is a new meaning to the “Fear of God”.

A friend of mine has cancer. A lot of people are obviously concerned for him - his health and his life. But as long as there are still options, like, radio therapy, chemo, cancer research, we feel hopeful. When everything is exhausted, and God is the only option left, then it becomes scary. The place with God, we should feel the safest at, is actually the scariest situation to be in.

Life is about relationships, not success.

I despise well-organised, rigid righteous people living by rules. I get a physical allergic reaction towards such people that make sick for days.