R U Connected?

“Sometimes I’m so connected, I’m disconnected.” – Dale Jenkins

Dale explains: “Nearly ten years ago I first heard the news report coming from Silicone Valley that men were divorcing their spouses so they would have more time to spend with their computers. I found it hard to believe but as technology has promised more and more – we “friend” folks via FaceBook, “follow” or are “followed” through Twitter, “link” through “linked in,” and expect instant connections through the ever-present cell phone with texting. But like all things of human origin, technology does not deliver all it promises.
What it has often done is diminish our focus and divide our attention! Obviously I do not believe all technology is bad, after all you’re reading this via a webspace!
“Yet what we often have is ourselves not living in the moment because we are living online. We don’t connect with the person sitting across from us because our chains of thoughts are interrupted by those not present but wanting immediate attention. In a meeting, over dinner, hanging out with friends – our cell phone vibrates and we jump to see who it is.  A text beeps in, and we stop everything to give the quick immediate response.  An email dings it’s presence, and as people continue talking to us, we read or review it’s contents. A million little things clog our minds for attention while we should be giving attention to our spouse, our children, our brothers and sisters, our friends – or even God!

“How much time is wasted on these tools initially designed to connect us but that often separate us?” *
Dale is right, isn’t he?  We often get distracted and as a result, disconnected, from important activities and important people because of our addiction to modern communication technology.

In this age of incredible modern technology, God longs to “connect” with us! But we are often too distracted.  God continues to communicate His love to us in many ways but most profoundly through the Gift of His Son, who died on the cross for our sins.  “But God demonstrates His own love toward us, in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us” (Romans 5:8).  Through Jesus, we can beconnected” with God and receive forgiveness for our sins and live eternally with Him, if we will “connect” with Him.

We can be connected” with God by: placing our faith and trust in Jesus (Acts 16:30-31), turning from sin in repentance (Acts 17:30-31), confessing Jesus before men (Romans 10:9-10), and being baptized (immersed) into Christ for the forgiveness of sins (Acts 2:38).  We REMAIN connected” with Him by focusing our attention on Jesus and His Will for our lives (Hebrews 12:1-2).

R U truly connecting with others?  You may have to turn your computer and your cell phone off for a while.
Most importantly, R U connected” with GOD?  You CAN be through Jesus!
Don’t allow ANYTHING or ANYONE to distract you from accepting His offer of salvation and living for Him.
* Excerpted and slightly adapted from Dale Jenkins, “The Blog That Binds,” June 2011, http://thejenkinsinstitute.com/

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