Heart Touchers - Get Unplugged by Mark Earley

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Get Unplugged

by Mark Earley

Try this experiment: Shut down your computer, turn off your cell phone, unplug
your iPod, hide your Blackberry, and click off the television. Then, pick up a book.
Read for an hour. When you're done, pull out a sheet of paper and write a letter.
And then, go for a walk outside.

If you find this scenario difficult, you're not alone. Mark Bittman, writing in the New
York Times, describes taking a break from technology for an entire day: "I woke up
nervous, eager for my laptop . . . I was jumpy, twitchy, uneven."

According to a 2005 survey, most Americans--including children--spend at least
nine hours a day watching TV, surfing the web, or talking on their cell phones. Of
those hours, one-third of the time is spent using two or more of those media at once.

While technology has many worthwhile purposes, it demands a high price from us.
Studies have shown that our increasing media dependency is crippling our attention
spans, wounding our ability to create meaningful relationships, and generating a
false expectation that we should be able to be contacted at every hour of the day.

Katie Dunne, a recent graduate of the University of Illinois, observed that while
the Internet has made it easier for her to find information for class, it also made
it easier for her fellow students to avoid face-to-face interactions with their
professors--and with each other.

She wrote in her school newspaper: "It seems like the more advanced our
technology becomes, the more likely we are to withdraw from the real world.
The intimacy of conversation and the integrity of relationships are compromised
by quick and cold forms of communication."

But getting away from technology is easier said than done. Many of us couldn't
do our jobs if it weren't for computers, cell phones, and PDAs. But here's the
problem--when we leave work, technology is following close behind us in a
constant stream of text messages, Facebook posts, and emails. We've become
addicts to the god of information.

So, here's a challenge--take a technology sabbath.

Joe Carter--editor of the Evangelical Outpost blog--recently began making one
day of his week completely technology free.

He writes on Boundless.org: "After drinking from the fire hose of information a day
without info tech will seem like a year long drought. But by unplugging the god of
Technology you might just find something new in the pause--a still small voice
sharing the information that truly matters."

But like anything worthwhile, taking a break from technology takes practice and
patience. Here are some of Carter's tips on making a technology sabbath worthwhile.

First, make sure to give yourself a full 24 hours, preferably from sundown to
sundown. Let people know that you are unplugging, so they understand why
you are not responding to them right away. Lastly, dedicate some of the time
to practicing spiritual disciplines like prayer, Bible study, and attending a worship service.

In the meantime, meet a friend for coffee. And leave your Blackberry at home.

Mark Earley

Mark Earley, 50, former State Senator (1987-1997) and Attorney General of
Virginia (1998-2001), became president of Prison Fellowship on February 1, 2002.

As President and CEO of Prison Fellowship USA, Earley oversees
the national ministry founded by Charles Colson in 1976, which has
since spread to 108 countries in addition to the United States. Prison
Fellowship's core commitments are Fellowshipping with Jesus, Visiting
Prisoners, and Welcoming Their Children. In line with these commitments,
PF works with thousands of churches and volunteers across the

U.S.

to disciple prisoners and prepare them to re-enter the community; to
minister year-round to prisoners' children through Christmas, camping,
and mentoring programs; and to help redeem the culture by embracing,
defending, and applying a clear biblical worldview.

You can contact Mark via the Prison Fellowship website at: http://www.pfm

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Creation Q & A

Question: Is creation falling apart?

A: Many people ask, "If God is an all-powerful Creator, how could He let His creation fall apart like this?" The implication is that God somehow has lost control of Earth, that He is not sovereign.

But the Bible tells us exactly what God the Creator is doing. He has removed some of His sustaining power--but just temporarily. When God judged Adam's sin in Genesis, He also made the earth to begin to decay. Romans 8:22 tells us that the whole of creation is groaning and travailing in pain. Everything is running down because of sin. God has given us a taste of life without Him--a world full of violence, death, suffering, and disease.

But the Creator's hand is still obvious. The book of Romans tells us the invisible things from the creation are clearly seen, even His eternal power and Godhead. Our very presence on earth is evidence of God's sustaining power.

In fact, if God withdrew all of His sustaining power, the creation would cease to exist (Colossians 1:16-17). Instead, the Creator is allowing things to fall apart as a consequence of sin. But Jesus stepped into history to die on the cross to save us from what we did, promising to restore His Creation and return us to a perfect relationship with Him for eternity.

So, let us remember to:

Make a joyful shout to the LORD, all you lands!
Serve the LORD with gladness;
     Come before His presence with singing.
Know that the LORD, He is God;
     It is He who has made us, and not we ourselves;
     We are His people and the sheep of His pasture.

Enter into His gates with thanksgiving,
     And into His courts with praise.
     Be thankful to Him, and bless His name.
For the LORD is good;
     His mercy is everlasting,
     And His truth endures to all generations. (Psalm 100)

For more information, see: http://www.answersingenesis.org/articles/2007/06/26/why-does-the-universe-continue

Source: AnswersInGenesis.org

Creation News

Click on the Bible above or visit the web site listed below!
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Creation_News

This new addition to our web site will give you an article on the leading news in the
Creation/Evolution controversy each day. This section also includes a rotating
Question and Answer feature and a weekly Creation Comic strip from the people
at AnswersInGenesis.org. Be sure to come back and visit each day for an informative
article that will help you keep up to date on the latest news in this controversial area!

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Thought For The Day

"Swallowing angry words before you say them is better than having to eat them afterwards."

Verse for the Day

"From the fruit of his mouth a man's stomach is filled; with the harvest of his lips
he is satisfied. The tongue has the power of life and death, and those who love
it will eat its fruit." Proverbs 18:20,21

Kid's Thought For The Day

"Before you trade sandwiches, check between the bread."

Parent's Thought For The Day

When your first baby drops her pacifier, you sterilize it. When your second baby
drops her pacifier you tell the dog, "Fetch."--Bruce Lansky

Grandparent's Thought For The Day

After putting her grandchildren to bed, a grandmother changed into old slacks and
a droopy blouse and proceeded to wash her hair. As she heard the children
getting more and more rambunctious, her patience grew thin. Finally, she
threw a towel around her head and stormed into their room, putting them
back to bed with stern warnings. As she left the room, she heard the
three-year-old say with a trembling voice, 'Who was THAT?'

Coach's Thought For The Day

"To fight a bull when you are not scared is nothing. And to not fight a bull when you are
scared is nothing. But to fight a bull when you are scared -- That is something."

Creation/Evolution Thought For The Day

"Scientists who go about teaching that evolution is a fact of life are great con-men,
and the story they are telling may be the greatest hoax ever. In explaining evolution,
we do not have one iota of fact." -- Dr. T. N. Tahmisian Evolution and the Emperor's
New Clothes by N.J. Mitchell (United Kingdom: Roydon Publications, 1983), title page.

Writer's Thought For The Day

"What I had to face, the very bitter lesson that everyone who wants to write has got to
learn, was that a thing may in itself be the finest piece of writing one has ever done, and
yet have absolutely no place in the manuscript one hopes to publish." --Thomas Wolfe

Deep Thought For The Day

"Why is there so much month left at the end of the money?"

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Inspired Audio -- Inspirational Audio Message of the Week!

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we will offer a different audio message that you can listen to right on
your computer as you are surfing the net or just getting things done around
the house. Be sure to come back and visit each week!

This Week: "Virtuous Reality: The Promise" by Jerry Dean
http://www.HeartTouchers.com/Inspired_Audio

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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business

http://www.hearttouchers.com/video_imagery

Dear Michael,

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me!
It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children
grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set
aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful.
My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a
beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so
quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create
such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that
I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours
was filled with moments to be treasured forever!"

Love,
Trisha
Silverhill, AL

Let me make you a video from your photos!
Check out my video production business by visiting:

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