| Integrity and the Internet |
| �... The mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace." Romans 8:6 |
| The internet is both a tremendous blessing and threat rolled into one. If you are reading this, you have internet access. You are probably well aware of the pornographic images, the dangers involved in chat rooms, and the sites through which you might illegally download songs, videos, or games. Integrity has often been defined as �who you are in secret.� This being the case, the internet is probably the greatest test of our integrity. It is difficult to determine whether the freedom that cyberspace brings threatens the level of our integrity or just reveals it. Think about that one. My guess is that it accomplishes both. The truth is, you could most likely bring up any picture or article your mind could imagine. My wife and I tested this- we tried out a very random and bizarre search just to see if it was out there � �hot dog ice cream.� As sick and random as that sounds, its there. Martha�s Vinyard is servin� it up! I think you know that your mind has a �cache� of it�s own. Yeah� for better or worse, every word, image, and sound is stored somewhere. You might recall these in your dreams- even years down the road. You have seen and will see images that you will want so desperately to delete from your mind, but this can be tough. It is not so hard to archive or bury these mental files but it is all but impossible to destroy them. I would not worry so much about what images are stored on your computer as much as these images that are in your mind. So� some good news. Maybe you have read the Bible through. Perhaps you have done so just once or twice in your life, but to some degree, every word you have given attention to is there. Let me scan your system for a couple of these cookies� �Do not be overcome with e________ but overcome e________ with good.� (Romans 12:21) Did your mind fill in the blanks? Missing word was �evil.� Here�s an interesting fact - The Greek word for �evil� is �porno.� This verse will probably be key in guarding your integrity while surfing the net. The greatest protection is to flood our system (I mean your mind, of course) with healthy images, and Godly content. I know that is why you are here, so I don�t really need to stress this point, but I have configured this page to upload a few more special �cookies� to your hard drive � Phil 4:7-9 7 ... the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 8 Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable-if anything is excellent or praiseworthy-think about such things. 9 Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me-put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Rom 12:2 2 Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God's will is-his good, pleasing and perfect will. Rom 8:6 6 The mind of sinful man is death, but the mind controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. Practical advances to make to guard integrity while surfing: 1) Commit Romans 8:6, 12:2, 12:21, and Phil 4:7-9 to memory. This can be one good way to flush your system and set up some pretty good fire walls and filters. 2) Set your filters at higher levels, and/or use a program such as �Net Nanny� 3) Flood your mind with thoughts and images that glorify God. Click here to have a new Christian image on your desktop every day. 4) Listen to Christian Music while surfing the web. If you are needing special prayers or further advice in this area, I'd love to help you in any way I can. Just drop me a note. |
| TWILIGHT Like the sky before the dawn While the night is holding on Sun and moon together in the gray So my soul is shared by two The worst of me, the best of You Saint and sinner mingle in my veins And I pray You�ll end this twilight chorus: Twilight, twilight I�m torn inside my soul tonight The dawning day, the dying night Oh, rid my soul of twilight Oh, rid my soul of twilight Good I love but evil�s done Good intentions come undone Good to know I know the One Who save me from myself and chorus Oh, Lord, paint my heart a solid hue The shades of You Oh, Lord, break this dreadful in between Inside of me Oh let it be, morning chorus I know the sun is coming up Oh, the sun is coming up Yes, the sun is coming up In me, in me Shaun Groves � TWILIGHT From the album � TWILIGHT Label � Rocketown (2003) |
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