IS GOOGLE READER MAKING YOU STUPID

IS GOOGLE AND THE NET MAKING YOU STUPID Part One

What the Internet is doing to our brains

Is Google Making Us Stupid?

I have have used Google just about six months. Its addictive, really. "Just Google it." Who needs a library anymore! Who needs to read the newspaper anymore? Who needs to read books anymore? I have being on the Internet since October 2003. Its seems to be addictive. And an addiction sometimes is not recognized by the person who is addicted.

As I was on my Google Reader subscription list, where I receive the most current post from over 120 bloggers. I read Reading, Writing and The Internet , an article about the reading books verses reading articles on the Internet.

Who read today? If you are on the Internet you read. But many like the pictures or even the video. Newspapers are having a hard time selling papers it seems. Now they are putting the Newspaper online.

I’m not so sure the Internet’s influence is a huge problem, but I think we should all be aware as to just how much our reading habits are influenced by our Internet usage

"The book publisher Random House recently announced that it will be releasing thousands more of its books in digital format over the next few months. The idea is that while the market for regular ol' words-on-paper books is struggling, electronic books have grown by leaps and bounds over the past year, thanks to Amazon's Kindle among other things. "

I have always loving reading, of course as a preacher/teacher I do a lot of reading. Reading is required. But this article is not on reading, I will do that later.

The concern about the Internet and GOOGLE was, the possibility that our brain could be going. "I've had an uncomfortable sense that someone, or something, has been tinkering with my brain, remapping the neural circuitry, reprogramming the memory. My mind isn't going so far as i can tell, but it's changing." Micholas Carr.

"What the NET seems to be doing is chipping away my capacity for concentration and contemplation. My mind now expects to take in information the way the NET distribuetes it: in a swiftly moving stream of particles. Once I was a scuiba diver in the sea of words,. Now I zip along the surfact like a guy on Jet Ski." Micholas Carr.

I have found over the last year, Google has successful got me to try Google Reader. Its easy and fast to read one article at a time. Then there is Feedburner which gives you one article at a time. Fast and quick. Then I can just type in "Reading on the Internet" and I get a dozen articles links. Research is at your finger tips and Google.

The first three years that I was on the Internet I was able to log on to Monergism.com. This is a reformed website and has 1000's of articles taking from 1000's of books. I could not read each article as fast as I could find them. I didn't want to just glance over the articles by Spurgeon, Edwards, Boston, Calvin, Luther, etc. so I would download the articles for future reading.

In Seminary I bought a 20 volume series of Charles Spurgeon's sermons in 1966 or about $200. Today almost all of Spurgeon sermons are on line. You can see the volumes on the top shelf. I still have them 42 years later. You now can have all Spurgeon's sermons on CD in for a low price.

So would you rather have 20 volumes of Spurgeon and I have 26 volumes of Biblical Illustrator at a cost of $400 in 1980, now you can have for less than 1/4 of that today on a CD. What was I thinking.

JOHN PIPER AND JOHN MACARTHUR PREACHING

When we come to hear the sermon or take up the Bible, we must not have the foolish arrogance of thinking that we shall easily understand everything we hear or read. But we must come with reverence, we must wait entirely upon God, knowing that we need to be taught by His Holy Spirit, and that without Him we cannot understand anything that is shown us in His Word.

Yesterday evening, I listened via video on the Internet two messages from two pastors/teachers on their church website. John MacArthur and John Piper.

I observed several things:

1. Both men had suit and ties.
2. Both were standing behind the pulpit or podium. And both remained behind the podium, rather than walking from one end of the platform to the other.
3. Both men preached from the text of the Bible. Luke and John. And both used their Bibles.
4. There were no props that would provide aid to their sermons and preaching.
5. There was a clear presentation of the text. And both use different translations. ESV and NASV.
6. As I listened and viewed them preaching, I downloaded their manscripts. I noticed that they were not preaching line by line their manscript. John MacAruthur uses a full outline while preaching.
7. And when they finished preaching or teaching they quit.
8. John Piper said, "In your bulletin there is a tear off that you can fill out if you want to respond to this message. There was no public invitation given by either.

They both have preached over 20-30 years in their churches. Their messages are online.

I have tried to pattern my understanding of the text and preaching after John MacArthur, (I tease that I have sent him my sermon notes).

1. My style is teaching.
2. I teach from the New Testament generally, and use a lot of Old Testament references.
3. I teach book by book. Presently I am teaching from I Thessalonians and Philippians.
4. I use a manuscript and give out outlines from the manuscript.
5. I have recorded all my messages. Presently I am not. But will as soon as possible.
6. I do wear a tie and suit in both services. (Just like the look)
7. I tend to stay behind the podium. (I need to see my notes)
8. While I do read from the KJV while preaching, I do use and read from the esv and nasv when explaining the text.

Of course I have written no books. I am not on radio, or TV and my sermons do not appear on the website. But I sure do love preaching and teaching and pastoring a group of people that the Lord has given us.

And I am glad that John Piper and John MacArthur have books, and tapes, and are on the Internet and TV and Radio. Praise the Lord. Listen to them.

Primarily why I like these men is their expositional preaching and teaching. They both are godly men who have proven themselves to be men who love Jesus Christ, and love their position as pastor/teacher of their church.

J. FRANK NORRIS SPEAKING FOR DAD

In 1942, with a church membership of 106, Rev. Everette Whisnant was called as the first pastor and the church was given the name of Ward Street Baptist Church. Today the church is called Fayetteville Street Baptist Church.

KIDS TODAY TIME ON THE INTERNET

THIS IS THE BEST OF BECKY, ERIC, KYLE AND CHAD WHISNANT
From 1971 to 1984
They are all grown up.
Charity and I are deeply blessed

Okay its Monday at 11 a.m.
Had to add this one of Eric
The little guy. Amazing young man today
and raised without the Internet

ITS MONDAY AND I HAD TO ADD THESE TO THE LIST
This little guy is an 80's guy, he knows his stuff today.
A Kansas, turn Kentucky kind of guy

This little girl is a Texas baby, Kansas girl, and like her mother

SEE THAT TREE STUMP! Who is this little girl, rode in a 57 Chev

THESE FELLOWS DIDN'T KNOW WHAT A TV WAS?

THIS LITTLE GIRL HAD A DOLL THAT WOULD BE WORTH A LOT TODAY

JUST LIKE HER MOTHER, WOULD'NT YOU SAY......

UNLIKE THE KIDS OF YESTERDAY, OUR KIDS OF TODAY ARE IMMERSED IN THE MEDIA AT AN AGE WE COULD NOT THINK OF DOING.

A new report indicates that the average child in America now spends 45 hours a week immersed in the media -- a multiple of the hours spent with parents or in the classroom.

Commonsense Media, a group that advocates for better programming in the media, commissioned and released the report. Researchers looked at 173 studies done on media and its effects on children and adolescents. The results are sobering. Taken together, these reports strongly suggest that significant exposure to the media is related, among other concerns, to behaviors such as smoking and early sexual activity, as well as low academic achievement and obesity.

Here are some suggestions parents might want to consider.

1. Limit the total media exposure experienced by your children. The statistic that the average child and adolescent is immersed in the media for 45 hours a week should be sufficient motivation for parents to hit the brakes and gain control of media exposure. Access to entertainment media should be a privilege earned, not a right assumed by the child.

2. Do not allow children and teenagers to have televisions and Internet-connected computers in the bedroom. There is simply too much danger in unsupervised media exposure, and too much temptation in terms of both quantity and content. No child needs a television in the bedroom, and a computer connected to the Internet is an invitation to disaster.

3. Make entertainment media a family experience. There is a massive difference in the experience of a child watching programming alone and that same child watching with a parent. Parents should be in unquestioned control of media decisions. Parents should also be eager to discuss what is seen with teenagers and children, helping them to grow in discernment and judgment.

4. Parents have to do the hard work of actually knowing what their children and teenagers are watching, playing, hearing, and experiencing through media exposure. No one said parenting was supposed to be easy.

5. Realize that a revolution has taken place in the lives of children and adolescents. The emergence of social media technologies means that children (and adolescents especially) now expect to be in constant communication with their peers. This is not healthy, sane, or helpful. All of us -- children and teenagers included -- need a break from this immersion. Put a charging dock in the kitchen and confiscate cell phones as the kids come in the door. That will send a message the old fashioned way -- in person.

6. Take a regular look at what your child is posting and what others are posting on his or her social media sites. Look at the instant messaging exchanges and emails. You are the parent, after all, and your child's access to these technologies should come with the open and non-negotiable requirement that parents see it all.

7. Remember that saying "no" is a legitimate option. I do not believe that saying "no" is always the right response. The media bring opportunities for good as well as for evil. Children and teenagers who are never allowed access to media technologies and entertainment will emerge into adulthood with no powers of discernment. But "no" is sometimes the best and only appropriate answer, and parents should always be ready to use it when needed.

Today's generation of children and adolescents is, by all accounts, a generation immersed in media. This new report reminds us that this exposure cannot come without real costs. Let's hope America's parents are paying attention.

RIVERS OF JOY BAPTIST CHURCH

DUE TO THE WEATHER YESTERDAY WE WILL NOT HAVE CHURCH THIS

MORNING

December 07, 2008

WE WILL HAVE FELLOWSHIP TIME AND BIBLE STUDY TONIGHT AT 6 P.M.

WHAT ARE SOME VIEWS OF COMING TOGETHER FOR CORPORATE WORSHIP.

Mutual edification is the hallmark of corporate worship

• Certainly it is true that mutual edification is the hallmark of corporate worship . And edification must not be understood to be merely the cognitive reception of biblical truth through preaching. Of course, it is true that mutual edification takes place through preaching. But congregational singing, sitting together under the Word as it is read, contemplating God’s Word sung, uniting in Word-centered congregational prayer, corporately confessing our faith, and rebuke and exhortation — all these edify.

Kent Hughes in Worship by the Book, 141

• He states:“ …true worship is demonstrative: it pours from your heart, it infuses your inclinations to please God, and it directs your will to serve him. True worship is not the outcome of a moderate feeling or emotion. It galvanizes your whole being. In a word: it is encompassing!”~ Kent Hughes in Worship by the Book, p. 161-2

HERE IS WHAT WE DESIRE TO ACCOMPLISH IN OUR SERVICES

ON SUNDAY:

WHY WE HAVE SUNDAY MORNING BIBLE FELLOWSHIP AT 10:00 A.M.

1. Small groups Bible Study.

WHY WE HAVE SUNDAY MORNING CORPORATE WORSHIP INGATHERING AT 11 A.M. What can be the purpose corporate rather than priviate?

Therefore if the whole church assembles together .. what should happen?

1. Hebrews 10:24-25 Union is strength; continual assemblings together beget and foster love, and give good opportunities for "provoking to good works," by "exhorting one another" Hebrews 3:13
2. Worship goes on all the time, including when the people of God gather together. But mutual edification does not go on all the time; it is what takes place when Christians gather together. Edification is the best summary of what occurs in corporate singing, public prayer, the reading of Scripture, the preaching /teaching of the Word. And this is still worship
3. The church gathered for fellowship and mutual edification
4. 1 Timothy 4:13

The word “strengthening” is from oikodome and means “edifying, edification, building up.” 1 Corinthians 14:26

• Certainly as we worship God corporately we are indeed strengthened. However, the ultimate focus of the meeting is to strengthen the church. It is not the Lord who stands in need of strengthening, but the Lord’s people. In this sense, the weekly assembly is for the benefit of the people present. A church gathering is to be designed to edify believers and to this end it is to be man-centered as well as God-centered.

Check out GROWBYLEARNING here

Check out MYCHURCH here

ELEMENTS OF TRUE FAITH IN CHRIST

The kind of perspective on “faith” that says "I believe in God, I believe in Jesus, I go to church, and faith is important." and this is certainly the prevailing opinion of our day not just among politicians, but really among Americans in general. Statistics reveal that the a hugh majority of Americans acknowledge having some kind of “faith”a belief in a Supreme Being. Many will even go as far as saying that they believe in the God of the Bible, or in the Jesus of New Testament. I’m sure you know individuals either family members or co-workers or neighbors across the street who have that kind of simplified, watered-down, simplistic approach to faith. Our world at large says that as long as you believe in God, in Jesus, and “have faith” that is enough for God, and that is enough to get you to heaven when you die.

With out question the Bible does make “faith” an important pre-requisite for salvation, and coming into a relationship with Jesus Christ. But sadly, far too many people today are subtracting from faith, reducing it, watering it down and making it less than what the Bible says it is and must be in order for a person to be genuinely right with God. I have spent a number of weeks in I Thessalonians chapter one on this subject. What does a Christ Christian look like?

HOW MANY OF THESE PEOPLE CAN YOU NAME.........

WHEN someone has sat under the powerful, Holy Spirit anointed, convicting preaching/teaching of the true Gospel, and they really understood it and come to them in the energy of the Spirit of God, that is a good indication that they were dealing with the reality of salvation. I Thessalonian l give us how election of the elect come to be.

When the testimony of people about their "faith" is heard, you must understand from what point of view they are coming from.

The purpose of the above people are not to bring judgment upon their faith, I like the photos.

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In 1 Cor. 15:3-4, the Apostle Paul reminded the Corinthians of the truth about this "faith" we need to have in Christ.

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We need to remind ourselves, and exhort others around us that genuine saving faith must include a knowledge of truth, a legitimate understanding of the real, biblical gospel, the content of the Scriptures which explain the sinless life, substitutionary death, and bodily burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ for us.

TAKING TIME TO BE WITH FAMILY

Chad taking some time to play with the grand-dogs
Thanksgiving couples
Now Kyle, look at the target

Leslie our daughter in law is expecting a girl early next year.

The family out eating together

Our friends early this year at Jeremy's weding

What a nice family photo

Kyle and Chad, and Laura and Becky

Eric's #7 ladder truck


NOW WAS THAT A NICE BREAK FROM THEOLOGY

WELL ONLY A SMALL BREAK