Minors on the Internet

I'm MSNing with a young girl right now. She is 11-years-old, and I met her while doing minstry. (Let's call her "Kerrie.") Anyway, Kerrie just told me that she got a Facebook® account recently. Obviously, she lied in the initial form to get the account since the terms of agreement require users to be at least 13-years-old. She even told me that her mom was okay with it.

As it is, I already have some young "friends" on the internet who post things they really should not post. Gals have photos of themselves in seductive poses or clothing (or lack of clothing). They write vulgar things. They have photos of themselves drinking or around others who are drinking. And they join "groups" that they should not join. This is all so unwise.

While chatting with Kerrie on MSN, I knew that I could not convince her to close her Facebook® account, so I'm warning her to be very careful about what she posts. The truth of the matter is that unwise things that she puts on the internet or allows others to put on the internet can come back to haunt her.

The best case scenario is that nothing will happen.

But what happens when Kerrie is applying for university and somehow that photo of herself dressing provocatively has gone beyond her Facebook® account and is now made public on the internet? Someone might see it and decide that Kerrie should not be accepted into the university of her choice.

Or what happens when Kerrie applying for a job and a potential employer sees something that might make him/her question Kerrie's chracter or lifestyle?

Or what if some creepy person sees something about her and decides that Kerrie is now the object of his bizarre fantasies? (And even if this creepy person saw her, but decided otherwise, it would still be creepy.)

Or what if a "Facebook® friend" tells others that Kerrie joined a group centered around hating another person (i.e. a teacher)?

It worries me that people post as much as they do on the internet... Facebook®, blogs, comments on others' pages, My Space®, etc. If you know people who are posting things that are not so good, please warn them. There are two rules I try to follow... (1) don't post anything that is or can appear to be improper, and (2) don't post anything too personal about myself or about others.

And just to let you know... your Facebook® account (or other seemingly "private" accounts) is not only accessible to your friends. They are easily hacked into by people who know how to do it. That's how employers look at what potential employees have online. Therefore, if legitimate people like that do it, imagine who else does it.

David Letterman, on President Bush

I don't normally open forwarded emails... except when they're from my mom. The one she just sent me is very interesting. The email says that they're David Letterman's words, but I can't seem to verify this. Whether this is truly said/written by Letterman or not, it's still very interesting. See what you think:

As most of you know I am not a President Bush fan, nor have I ever been, but this is not about Bush, it is about us, as Americans, and it seems to hit the mark. The other day I was reading Newsweek magazine and came across some Poll data I found rather hard to believe. It must be true given the source, right?

The Newsweek poll alleges that 67% of Americans are unhappy with the direction the country is headed and 69% of the country is unhappy with the performance of the President. In essence 2/3 of the citizenry just ain't happy and want a change. So being the knuckle dragger I am, I started thinking, "What are we so unhappy about?"

A. Is it that we have electricity and running water 24 hours a day, 7 days a week?

B. Is our unhappiness the result of having air conditioning in the summer and heating in the winter?

C. Could it be that 95.4% of these unhappy folks have a job?

D. Maybe it is the ability to walk into a grocery store at any time and see more food in moments than Darfur has seen in the last year?

E. Maybe it is the ability to drive our cars and trucks from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean without having to present identification papers as we move through each state.

F. Or possibly the hundreds of clean and safe motels we would find along the way that can provide temporary shelter?

G. I guess having thousands of restaurants with varying cuisine from around the world is just not good enough either.

H. Or could it be that when we wreck our car, emergency workers show up and provide services to help all and even send a helicopter to take you to the hospital.

I. Perhaps you are one of the 70% of Americans who own a home.

J. You may be upset with knowing that in the unfortunate case of a fire, a group of trained firefighters will appear in moments and use top notch equipment to extinguish the flames thus saving you, your family, and your belongings.

K. Or if, while at home watching one of your many flat screen TVs, a burglar or prowler intrudes, an officer equipped with a gun and a bullet-proof vest will come to defend you and your family against attack or loss.

L. This all in the backdrop of a neighborhood free of bombs or militias raping and pillaging the residents. Neighborhoods where 90% of teenagers own cell phones and computers.

M. How about the complete religious, social and political freedoms we enjoy that are the envy of everyone in the world?

Maybe that is what has 67% of you folks unhappy.

Fact is, we are the largest group of ungrateful, spoiled brats the world has ever seen. No wonder the world loves the U.S., yet has a great disdain for its citizens. They see us for what we are. The most blessed people in the world who do nothing but complain about what we don't have, and what we hate about the country instead of thanking the good Lord we live here.

I know, I know. What about the president who took us i nto war and has no plan to get us out? The president who has a measly 31% approval rating? Is this the same president who guided the nation in the dark days after 9/11? The president that cut taxes to bring an economy out of recession? Could this be the same guy who has been called every name in the book for succeeding in keeping all the spoiled ungrateful brats safe from terrorist attacks? The commander in chief of an all-volunteer army that is out there defending you and me?

Did you hear how bad the President is on the news or talk show? Did this news affect you so much, make you so unhappy you couldn't take a look around for yourself and see all the good things and be glad? Think about it... are you upset at the President because he actually caused you personal pain OR is it because the "Media" told you he was failing to kiss your sorry ungrateful behind every day.

Make no mistake about it. The troops in Iraq and Afghanistan have volunteered to serve, and in many cases may have died for your freedom. There is currently no draft in this country. They didn't have to go. They are able to refuse to go and end up with either a ''general'' discharge, an "other than honorable'' discharge or, worst case scenario, a ''dishonorable" discharge after a few days in the brig.

So why then the flat-out discontentment in the minds of 69% of Americans?

Say what you want, but I blame it on the media. If it bleeds it leads and they specialize in bad news. Everybody will watch a car crash with blood and guts. How many will watch kids selling lemonade at the corner? The media knows this and media outlets are for-profit corporations. They offer what sells, and when criticized, try to defend their actions by "justifying" them in one way or another Just ask why they tried to allow a murderer like O.J. Simpson to write a book about how he didn't kill his wife, but if he did he would have done it this way... Insane!

Turn off the TV, burn Newsweek, and use the New York Times for the bottom of your bird cage. Then start being grateful for all we have as a country. There is exponentially more good than bad. We are among the most blessed people on Earth and should thank God several times a day, or at least be thankful and appreciative.

With hurricanes, tornados, fires out of control, mud slides, flooding, severe thunderstorms tearing up the country from one end to another, and with the threat of bird flu and terrorist attacks, are we sure this is a good time to take God out of the Pledge of Allegiance?'

-David Letterman

Updated on November 23, 2008: It turns out that these words are not from David Letterman at all. It's a false attribution. However, the lessons are not any less true. We ARE a bunch of ungrateful people. We should really be more thankful for the many things we have in our lives. Follow the link for the supposed real story.

What is a Christian Marriage?

I just read this:

...a Christian conservative writes that the break-up of his marriage was a sad but "healthy new beginning for each of us in our own way." And he continues that he was called by faith like Abraham to leave the security of marriage to embark on a spiritual pilgrimage toward emotional authenticity.

Another writes, "I hope my wife will never divorce me, because I love her with all my heart. But if one day she feels I am minimizing her or making her feel inferior or in any way standing in the light that she needs to become a person God meant her to be, I hope she'll be free to throw me out even if she's one hundred. There is something more important than our staying married, and it has to do with integrity, personhood, and purpose."

Is this sort of thinking acceptable? It bothers me. What do you think?

Claiming Poverty

Tuition at Regent College is not cheap. Living in Vancouver is not cheap. Therefore, it is no wonder that I am more budget-conscious while here. But I realize that I am privileged to be able to afford to be here. I am blessed.

All around me, I frequently hear someone claiming poverty. It is not uncommon to hear someone saying, "I am so poor." Somehow, this gets others to pay (or at least partially cover) for him/her when eating out. By this claim, debts are sometimes wiped out. And this "poor person" receives sympathy.

Yet, this very same person who claims poverty seems to eat out often, almost never paying for anyone else. He/She has the latest in technology (computer, video game, GPS, cell phone, etc.). He/She shops often. He/She goes on trips. Of course, not all these are attributed to a single person, though.

So... are these people actually poor? Or are they merely claiming poverty? Is claiming poverty considered a virtue? And when they claim poverty, are they taking something away from those who truly are financially strapped?

This epidemic of claiming poverty is not isolated to Regent College or to Vancouver. It is apparent even in LA. When did it become acceptable? Does Christian society encourage this sort of behavior? What does this say about one's stewardship of money?

Any thoughts?

Dual Membership

For about a year, I have been a regular attendee at a Mennonite Brethren church here in Vancouver. Yesterday, I officially became a member of the church. It was a very difficult decision. I truly love the people at this church, I had some real reservations about the MB tradition. However, I've been serving in leadership for a while and decided that being a member of the church was the right thing to do for accountability and an official voice.

This does not mean I have transferred my membership, though. I have dual membership... allowing me to officially be part of two churches. What a privilege to have two church families!

Vancouver Poem

I found this poem today while reading children's poems for my class ("Children, Books and God"). It made me laugh. This gives a glimpse into my life here in Vancouver.

"Vancouver"

by Robert Heidbreder

In Spring it sprinkles,

In Summer too.

In Fall it pours

Buckets on you.

In Winter it rains

Cats and dogs

From heavy clouds

Through soupy fogs.
All year long
Rain drops and drops
In Vancouver
It never stops.

The Truth About Fred

I have a stuffed orange dog named Fred. I take him everywhere with me. Fred has traveled the world with me... to Asia, to Europe, to Australia, across the country, to every family vacation, to youth camp, to church retreats… to Vancouver. There was a time when I was unable to sleep unless Fred was with me.

When asked about Fred’s history, I told people about having Fred since I was 2-years-old—a gift from a family friend. I never knew who that friend was… until recently.

While back in California this past time, I had the privilege of meeting this person. As it turns out, the story I have been telling everyone is false. Apparently, this wonderful orange dog was given to my older brother when he was born. At some point in time during our childhoods, I must have taken it (or even stolen it) from him.

I’m not sure where I got the story I’ve been telling people. Did I make it up as a child and believed it to be true? It’s funny how truth is lost in a child’s imagination and mere stories appear “true” even in adulthood.

I’m sorry for inadvertently lying to people.