August 28 devotion - Whatever

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (NIV)

            Facebook is a wonderful way of communicating with family and friends, especially if there are great distances which separate us from our loved ones. For instance, this morning I’m enjoying messages and photos from my Scottish relatives and friends who are on vacation in different parts of the world – Greece, Germany, Spain, Australia, Hawaii, and South Africa. I feel connected to what they are doing wherever they are, so I am thankful for Facebook giving me this instant opportunity to vicariously experience what my family & friends are presently enjoying in faraway places.

            Facebook, however, can also be an atrocious way of communicating bad ideas, false information, and untruthful posts. There is no doubt in my mind, that malicious people are trying to manipulate the hearts and minds of many innocent and naïve folks on Facebook. Vanity quizzes and heart-wrenching photos are devilishly being used to pull people in so that their private information can be captured and used for nefarious purposes. For instance, how many of us have had requests to be friends with strangers or from people we are already friends with on Facebook? These occur when our friends innocently pass on false propaganda or allow other Facebook pages to use their personal information (read the small print, folks).

            As I’ve said from the pulpit on several occasions, I am greatly disappointed when I see our own church folks post something that is obviously untrue or comes from a highly questionable source. It means my friends and parishioners are being used as pawns for clandestine groups who just want to spread division and disrupt the bonds of friendship, faith, and love that we hold dear. Perhaps if we were all to write out today’s highlighted Bible verse and stick it to our computers, we wouldn’t be so naïve about what we post or pass on. It’s very important that we as Christians, of all people, should not pass on false posts. Why? Because Christ tells us we will be judged for our words – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on judgment day for every careless word they communicate” (Matthew 12:36 - which includes our false Facebook posts or even our untrue tweets! However, if we have made a mistake, then it is easily rectified – we can delete the false post immediately, showing that we actually care about who we are and what we say.

            Folks, enjoy Facebook for the wonderful connections it gives us, but if you are going to post something controversial, research it first and ask yourself: Is it true? Can it be authentically verified? Is it kind? And, most important of all – will Christ commend or judge me for these words?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we live in wonderful times and we thank You for all of the amazing ways we can communicate and connect with one another all over the world. Help us to use this technology wisely, faithfully, and truthfully. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Dog Ears - Proverbs 26:17

Proverbs 26:17 Like one who grabs a stray dog by the ears is someone who rushes into a quarrel not their own. (NIV)

Sometimes the Bible makes me laugh out loud, especially with some verses from the Book of Proverbs. It’s full of common-sense wisdom which, at one time, must have been based on real events. Take today’s highlighted verse, for instance. Some foolish person must have been seen grabbing a stray dog by the ears and ended up becoming a victim of their own stupidity. I can imagine the barking and biting that went down as the dog fought back against its assailant. Whoever initially did this hopefully learned a hard lesson that he would not repeat.

This also reminded me of how easily we all get caught up in social media conflicts when we cannot resist throwing in our two cents worth of opinionated replies to posts that we disagree with or don’t like. I wish that I could say that I am able to resist the temptation, but there are some days when someone writes something that I don’t accept and, before long, I get caught up in a war of words, ideas, and beliefs. Perhaps if I changed my profile picture to a fierce looking dog with big ears, I might be able to save myself from my own stupidity!

The Bible is a great book full of knowledge and wisdom that can be applied in so many different, but still relevant ways. Maybe if we meditated more on God’s Word each day instead of checking up on the latest posts and replies on social media, we could avoid the pitfalls and conflicts that we each foolishly create. On my laptop, I have taped a reminder of this which reads: “Don’t react to negative posts on Facebook; respond positively to the good ones!” In other words, don't grab a stray dog by the ears 😊

Q: Have I written something positive on social media today? Have I complimented someone else for doing this?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, remind us that we actually witness to You in all that we write or reply to on social media. Keep us from stirring up or stoking conflicts and instead help us to encourage those who add positive thoughts and worthy posts to our screens. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. Come and join us for worship on Sunday mornings at 11:00 AM. You will be made very welcome 😊

Today’s image is one of John’s latest Pentecost drawings called ‘Spirit 2019.’ If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Spirit.

Whatever - Philippians 4:8

Philippians 4:8 Finally, brothers and sisters, 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. (NIV)

            Facebook is a wonderful way of communicating with family & friends, especially if there are great distances which separate us from our loved ones. For instance, this morning I’m enjoying messages and photos from my Scottish relatives and friends who are on vacation in different parts of the world – Greece, Germany, Spain, Australia, Hawaii, and South Africa. I feel connected to what they are doing wherever they are, so I am thankful for Facebook giving me this instant opportunity to vicariously experience what my family & friends are presently enjoying in faraway places.

            Facebook, however, can also be an atrocious way of communicating bad ideas, false information, and untruthful posts. There is no doubt in my mind, that malicious people are trying to manipulate the hearts and minds of many innocent and naïve folks on Facebook. Vanity quizzes and heart-wrenching photos are devilishly being used to pull people in so that their private information can be captured and used for nefarious purposes. For instance, how many of us have had requests to be friends with strangers or from people we are already friends with on Facebook? These occur when our friends innocently pass on false propaganda or allow other Facebook pages to use their personal information (read the small print, folks).

            As I’ve said from the pulpit on several occasions, I am greatly disappointed when I see our own church folks post something that is obviously untrue or comes from a highly questionable source. It means my friends and parishioners are being used as pawns for clandestine groups who just want to spread division and disrupt the bonds of friendship, faith, and love that we hold dear. Perhaps if we were all to write out today’s highlighted Bible verse and stick it to our computers, we wouldn’t be so naïve about what we post or pass on. It’s very important that we as Christians, of all people, should not pass on false posts. Why? Because Christ tells us we will be judged for our words – “But I tell you that everyone will have to give an account on judgment day for every careless word they communicate” (Matthew 12:36 - which includes our false Facebook posts or even our untrue tweets! However, if we have made a mistake, then it is easily rectified – we can delete the false post immediately, showing that we actually care about who we are and what we say.

            Folks, enjoy Facebook for the wonderful connections it gives us, but if you are going to post something controversial, research it first and ask yourself: Is it true? Can it be authentically verified? Is it kind? And, most important of all – will Christ commend or judge me for these words?

Prayer: Lord Jesus, we live in wonderful times and we thank You for all of the amazing ways we can communicate and connect with one another all over the world. Help us to use this technology wisely, faithfully, and truthfully. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee.

Church devotion - A New Way - 1 Timothy 6:20-21

1 Timothy 6:20-21      Timothy, guard what has been entrusted to your care. Turn away from godless chatter and the opposing ideas of what is falsely called knowledge, which some have professed and in so doing have departed from the faith.

            Like most people, I use the Internet every day to keep in contact with my church family, relatives, work colleagues, and friends. One of the best ways of doing this is via Facebook because I get to connect with a lot of church folks who share photographs, requests, messages, events, and prayers. At a recent conference on ministry, which I attended in Atlanta, all of the speakers emphasized how important Facebook has become in linking people together. Every presenter stated that any church or pastor who doesn’t use Facebook is going to be culturally unaware of what things are actually important and relevant in the lives of most of their congregants.

            Thankfully, I’ve been using Facebook as a vehicle for faith connections for several years. I’ve learned a lot about the people under my care, as well as the struggles they face in their work, with their families, and during local, national, and international crises. This knowledge actually helps me to prepare devotionals and studies, lessons and sermons which may connect with the current situations that most of the church members are experiencing.

            However, as much as Facebook can provide valuable insights and information, it can also spread false knowledge and godless chatter. In these troubled times, good folks can be duped into passing on posts, stories, or articles that seem genuine, but are actually entirely untrue. These false fabrications are used to divide people, upset others, and cause major disconnects between families, friends, and acquaintances. Just because it is on the Internet or posted on Facebook does not make it true. As Christians, we are meant to spread the Gospel and God’s truth; however, if we are emailing or posting false stories, then we are not only sharing lies, we’re also dishonoring Christ.

            So the challenge for all of us today is this: let’s be circumspect about what we share, send, or post on the Internet and Facebook. If we’re using it to upset others, it’s wrong; if we’re posting something alarming, scandalous, or belligerent, then we should double-check the facts behind it, and also ask ourselves: is this just godless chatter? We all want a better world, which starts with each of us – if we can be better people, then the world will become a better place.

Questions for personal reflection

What kind of things do I pass on via Facebook? Would I send such things to Christ?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we live in amazing times and have surrounded ourselves with wonderful new inventions which have changed all of our lives. Remind us that we are Your servants with special responsibilities of sharing the Gospel and promoting God’s Truth. Bless us with Your wisdom, guidance, and discernment. In Your Holy Name, we post and pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to ask questions or comment on today’s message, please send him an email to Traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s recent Pentecost drawings called “Breakthrough.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click this link: Breakthrough.

Church devotions: Facebook Blues - Colossians 3:8

Today’s readings are : 1 Samuel 7:10-17 and Colossians 3:1-11

Colossians 3:8                        But now you must rid yourselves of all such things as these: anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language from your lips.

I love Facebook and I hate Facebook – how does this occur?

I love Facebook because it keeps me updated with most of my family and friends. I love to read of their experiences, their feelings, and see photographs of events or vacations. I love it when they post great quotes or funny cartoons. I love having trivial, humorous, and even some deep conversations with people from all over the world. These things make Facebook a pleasurable experience.

I hate Facebook because I sometimes get embroiled in arguments about politics, religion, and current events, even with people that I don’t know. I hate Facebook when people post horrible pictures or sleazy photographs that don’t need to be seen. I hate Facebook when folks that I love use bad language or curse and think it is okay to do that. I hate Facebook when people use images, quotes, or links that promote ill feelings, divisiveness, or outright rudeness.

So I have this love/hate relationship with Facebook, but I have the same feelings about most communicative digital experiences these days – whether I’m using browsers and search engines, web articles or blog posts, or even e-mails and texts.

Christians should be very discerning people. I think if Paul was writing today’s chosen verse he would have emphasized to all of us to think twice about what we write or post from our laptops, computers, or mobile devices. We, of all people, should apply different standards and make sure that our contributions to Facebook conversations and posts, etc., do not include anger, rage, malice, slander, and filthy language.

If we do so, then we should also be aware that we are choosing to act sinfully and are, in fact, letting Christ down completely.

Questions for personal reflection

Are my Facebook posts worthy of Christ? If I was sending a digital message to Jesus, how would I word it differently?

Prayer:            Lord Jesus, we are all too human at times, and yet You command us to lead better lives. Forgive us when we fail to loyally witness to You in all of our communications, especially those that are seen by many people. Help us to infuse Christian standards in all that we seek to express or communicate. In Your Holy Name, we humbly pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor at Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment or ask a question about today’s message, please send an email to John at traqair@aol.com.

Today’s image is one of John’s latest winter drawings called “Snowfall at Glades Creek.” If you would like to view a larger version, please click on the following link: http://farm4.staticflickr.com/3788/12057224316_5fae2dedbd_b.jpg

Gospel devotions: Sharing the Gospel - Acts 26

Acts 26:28       Then Agrippa said to Paul, "Do you think that in such a short time you can persuade me to be a Christian?" 

I really admire Paul. He never wasted an opportunity to tell the people that he encountered about Jesus and how to be a Christian. Even when he faced leaders and governors, kings and an emperor, he used the meeting to talk about Christ and not his own precarious situation. That’s what makes Paul such a hero in my book. His Christianity is undaunted by circumstances; his faith in Jesus never falters.

This is why I also admire the Christian Church in China. Each day, Christians over there face harassment and opposition, injustice and imprisonment, and yet they keep meeting secretly for Bible studies, worship, and prayer. They are remarkable Christians and put us Western church goers to shame. If we were faced with one percent of the opposition that Chinese Christians encounter on a daily basis, we would back down and make our faith private. We consider it as being impolite and even bigoted to share our Christian beliefs with others of different faiths; Chinese Christians cannot afford that philosophical luxury – nor would they ever want to.

So, here’s the challenge for us today: if God grants us an opportunity to share our faith with the people we encounter, whether it be in the street, at our work, in our homes, or even online via Facebook and Twitter, will we boldly witness for Christ or fearfully choose to ignore it?

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, we will encounter and meet up with many people today, some of whom You have placed on our path so that we might share Your Love, Your Gospel, and our faith with them. Keep us from being afraid and help us to apply our faith in loving and effective ways. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

Today’s image is of Graystone Presbyterian church in Knoxville, Tennessee. When John and his family first came to Knoxville, he preached there for six weeks. In October, Graystone celebrates its 120^th anniversary. If you would like to view a larger version of the drawing, please click on the following link:  http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4106/5002097480_6095c74e91_b.jpg

Daily Devotions: Face to Face

3 John 1:14     I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

I enjoy using Facebook each day on the computer because it let’s me see what other people are thinking and doing. I can keep in contact with my family in Scotland and share their celebrations. I can see how my daughters are doing at college and empathize with them. I can also keep up with church families and friends and share prayer requests, thoughts, and jokes with them. It’s a wonderful invention and I think that the Apostle Paul would have put it to good use in reaching out to churches across the Mediterranean had Facebook been available to him.

Now it’s not all that good at times. There are too many silly quizzes and games – some with computer viruses attached – that fragment our leisure time. When I first start using Facebook this year, I did a lot of quizzes, but these days I’m beyond that. I’m more interested in the lives of the many people who use it to upload photos, comment on current issues, and share some good ideas about faith, family, and fun.

When I first started these devotions, it was to build up spiritual connections with our church staff and elders. Over the years, this has become a multi-national ministry with hundreds of thousands of readers in any given year. It’s amazing what God can do with so little to turn it into so much. I hope that one day, when we all get to heaven, I’ll get the opportunity to meet those people from other places in the world who read one of these devotions, which helped them to draw closer to God. Now that’s a face to face meeting that I will really look forward to!

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, help us to develop news ways of using the new media to share our faith. Give us opportunities to send words of comfort, sympathy, and prayer via email, Facebook, blogs, and texts. Thank You for this wonderful way of reaching out to the world from our churches and homes. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.

4 Minute Daily Devotions: Faithbook

2 John 1:12    I have much to write to you, but I do not want to use paper and ink. Instead, I hope to visit you and talk with you face to face, so that our joy may be complete.

Recently, I joined Facebook. I really enjoy reading what other people are up to each day and sending them words of encouragement and laughter in the comments section. It’s a wonderful way of keeping in contact with friends, both near and far.

For instance, many years ago in Maybole, Scotland my best friend Dave was killed in a car accident. I was absolutely devastated and my heart was broken for his wife and three young children. A couple of years later, the family emigrated to South Africa. I wondered what would ever become of them, and with me moving to America, I thought I would never know.

Then along comes Facebook and within a matter of weeks, I’m “friends” with all of Dave’s children. I now get to see and read what they’re doing and how they’re feeling. It’s remarkable. I now feel as though the world is a much smaller place and I love the sharing that takes place on Facebook.  It’s like being part of a cosmopolitan village.

When John was writing his letters, he valued his contacts immensely. He was a busy man, but he wanted to see, greet, and meet people face to face. I think if he was alive today, John would be reaching out to folk across the world using Facebook. I think he would love the personal daily contacts.

That’s what I like about our faith, too. Christ can be so personal to each one of us when we let Him into our hearts. His deep and intimate friendship allows us to be guided by God and embraced by the Holy Spirit. Christ’s personal and abiding interest in our individual lives can be a great source of encouragement, assurance, and comfort. With Him deeply connected to our lives, our joy on earth, as John writes, can be complete.

Prayer:                        Lord Jesus, thank You for allowing us to freely come to You, so that we may be completely reconnected and restored to God. May our lives become faith-books that can be read by other people, so that they may also seek to reconnect their lives to You. In Your Holy Name, we pray. Amen.

John Stuart is the pastor of Erin Presbyterian Church in Knoxville, Tennessee. If you would like to comment on today’s message, please send him an email to pastor@erinpresbyterian.org.