PARCO UPDATE: Winter Weather

The month of January has been one of a lot of snow. Keeping these nice new large sidewalks shoveled is a real job. Some of is can be done by Mr. Mike and his snowplow, but much of it is a hands-on job. The extreme cold caught up to us recently as several pipes froze in the Parco. With some of the maintenance staff out of town at the time, some of the staff was out of water for a few days.

Missionary Moment: Duane and Char Anderson

Thanks to Byron and Kay Nelson (Char's brother and sister-in-law), I was able to travel with them back to Wisconsin to visit with my dad who relocated into the nursing home. Mom is able to walk over everyday and see him.

- Duane Anderson, Facility Manager

Internet Dangers - Part 3 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

Biblical Steps to Good Surfing: God does not view the Internet any differently than anything else man does. All of his rules apply both online and offline. We can take steps to protect ourselves and those for whom we are responsible.

Step one: Have a clear, Biblical definition of right and wrong. Most of the “questionable” activity would stop if people believed that God punishes those who break his rules (a.k.a. The Ten Commandments-Exodus 20). However, even many of those that claim to believe in God have convinced themselves and many others that certain thoughts, words, and actions are somehow excusable. They are living the lie that Isaiah talks about in Isaiah 5:18-20 “Woe unto them that draw iniquity with cords of vanity, and sin as it were with a cart rope: That say, Let him make speed, and hasten his work, that we may see it: and let the counsel of the Holy One of Israel draw nigh and come, that we may know it! Woe unto them that call evil good, and good evil; that put darkness for light, and light for darkness; that put bitter for sweet, and sweet for bitter!”

Step Two: Make a plan to avoid sin. Limit online activity by limiting the time you spend and the places you visit. Always have a purpose for being online: it is easy to be distracted down the path of sin when you don't know where you are going.

Step Three: Open Accountability. “Wherefore let him that thinketh he standeth take heed lest he fall.” (1 Corinthians 10:12) Be aware that no one is immune from sin. When you enter into something such as the Internet, your exposure to sin greatly increase. The best method of accountability is to regularly humble yourself to people in authority over you and show them your online activities. “Confess your faults one to another, and pray one for another, that ye may be healed. The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much.” (James 5:16)

Internet Dangers - Part 2 of 3

Internet Dangers Awareness

by Tim Demoret

The Social Networking Trend: What happens when people get together in an unsupervised environment, believe they have a certain level of anonymity, and are encouraged to share all that is in their hearts? Naturally, they will once again prove that “the heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked...” (Jeremiah 17:9) This can be easily illustrated on the currently most popular website for teens and twenty-somethings: myspace.com. With literally millions of people a day browsing and “commenting” on the pages of myspace.com, people are overwhelmingly displaying their infatuation with sin.

There are three “big” issues that surface as a result of this social networking trend. Two are identified by parents, school, and even the major news media. The third is ignored by everyone except the Bible. First, it is a concern of many parents and school officials that sites such as myspace.com allow kids to be “too explicit” (Adults question MySpace's safety, USATODAY.com). This is seen in the vast amounts of pornography and foul language as well as the predominance of Satan-driven music culture. Second, there is a great deal of concern about the amount of personal information many of the young people put online. This information, including personal pictures, addresses, phone numbers, schedules, etc., is becoming an ever increasing target for sexual predators. Third, and the point that you won't hear from secular sources, is the division that the a separate “Youth Culture” causes in our families, churches, and country. 2 Timothy 2:22 warns about “youthful lusts.” The time of youth is a time of learning the principles of right and wrong. The longer we allow young people the “right” to decide for for themselves what is right or wrong without the guidance of authoritative “Truth”, the more sinful the “Youth Culture” will become. The more the youth becomes trapped in sin, the more they will resist authority and live in rebellion. Social Networking has been upheld as a way for kids to interact and develop who they are by comparing themselves to their peers (Experts discuss MySpace issues, Sarah H. Wright, Massachusetts Institute of Technology-web.mit.edu). Biblically, we are to compare ourselves to God, not each other (2 Corinthians 10:12-13).