Pastor’s Corner

Is God missing in your modern life?

I easily remember not having a telephone, refrigerator (we had an ice-box), washing machine, microwave or TV set much less a computer. Hey, we didn’t even have electricity until I was nearly 12 years old, no indoor water (I was married before we had cold water in the house; then only in the kitchen) much less indoor toilets (we used outhouses and boy were they cold in the winter) and for entertainment played cards or, in season, went fishing, coon, deer, squirrel, rabbit hunting and to the movies whenever we could get together what it cost and just about any boy worth his salt could work on a car and no, I’m not an old-timer, I’m only 61.

Today we have the world at our fingertips, literally.

Gone are the days where it would take hours for news to travel from one destination to another. An event can happen on the opposite side of the globe from where we are at and we can view it real-time on TV, or streamed live on our computers and phones.

If we want to know something, we no longer dig through a stack of dictionaries, encyclopedias or other books to find out what we want to know. We pull up a web browser on our computer or smart phone and “Google” the information we seek. Books and newspapers are quickly being replaced by their on-line counterparts.

Should you think I’m a Luddite. According to Wikipedia, Luddite is a term describing those opposed to industrialization, automation, computerization or new technologies in general. I should tell you, I first became involved with electronics in the late 1960s, building my own sound effects and battery powered amplifiers for my guitar that went just about everywhere. I did later becoming involved with radio and computers in the late 1970s with a diploma or two. Yet, I am amazed at the increase of knowledge in the last 40 years. There have been so many strides in medicine and technology that have, at the same time, both complicated and made our lives easier. It’s almost impossible to keep up with it all.

As a result of this increase in so-called time saving devices, our lives are lived at a frenetic pace; they have become a mélange of hurrying to start another task before completing the one we were working on, being carriedto and fro and captivated by every new thing that comes to the forefront of our attention which is being vied for by every manner of advertisement carried by every means possible in an attempt to get us to desire and become involved with and buy whatever it is we are told we are missing, and shouldn’t we want it enough to give anything we have to obtain whatever it is we are told is best for us no matter what the cost to us in effort, time, money, lives, or STOP!!

Do you know the state of your soul?

Do you know where you will spend eternity?

When was the last time you truly repented of your sin?

When was the last time you REALLY prayed?

When did you last give thanks for your blessings?

Get the point? In the midst of our scurrying to and fro in our pursuit of life, we are often so busy we hardly make time to consider what is really important;

we are satisfied with just a Church service here and there if we can fit it in.

The Bible tells us, speaking of the end times, in which we live, in Daniel 12:4, “Many shall run to and fro, and knowledge shall be increased.”

Jesus warns us to be careful of these things in Mark 4:19, “And the cares of this world, and the deceitfulness of riches, and the lusts of other things entering in, choke the word, and it becometh unfruitful.”

And in Luke 21:34, “Take heed to yourselves, lest at any time your hearts be overcharged with surfeiting, and drunkenness, and cares of this life, and so that day come upon you unawares.”

All the incredible knowledge, technology and things of today, and tomorrow, can be good - as long as we don’t allow them to interfere with what is really important; our relationship with our Heavenly Father.

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Editor’s note: Charlie Newman is pastor of Avoca Christian Church. To contact him, e-mail [email protected], or write in care of The Times at prtnews@ nwaonline.com or P.O. Box 25, Pea Ridge, AR 72751.

Church, Pages 2 on 12/28/2011