Why Facebook is destroying America (and the world)

So why is Facebook destroying everything we know and love?

One word: Accountability.

The biggest issue with Facebook is that no one is accountable for their actions on this blessed/cursed social networking site. People can just post, comment, link, like, tag, etc., etc., etc. whatever they want at any time they want, wherever they want to. And seldom are there repercussions for those actions.

I suppose if a dude posts that he got totally wasted last night, he might not nail that job interview the next day, or if the girl posts provocative photos, her father might ground her. That stuff is obvious. But what about the more seemingly trivial posts and comments. The ones that seem harmless. Who's watching out for those? No one. Absolutely no one.

What posts I'm talking about, you ask? Here's a list for you:

1) Any posts from someone who has seven more posts for the day. No one is that interesting. Please stop.
2) The dude who posts full chapters of the Bible. How about you just tell us the reference and we'll look it up ourselves.
3) The girl whose only posts are song lyrics. If you can't think of anything to say, log off.
4) The girl who comments on every post of every single friend she has, every day. You're trying way too hard and no one likes you.
5) The person who posts 50 pictures from the downtown drinking fest they were at last night. If there's anything more unattractive than you, it's you when you're drunk.
6) The person who comments on photos or posts from years ago. No one else wants to reminisce. You just brought up a time we probably all want to forget.
7) Girls whose only photos of themselves are with the "duckface." It is rarely, if ever, attractive. Just smile. You'll be surprised at how gorgeous girls can be if they would just smile.
7b) Guys who do the duckface. You need to be taken out back and shot
8) People who use Facebook to constantly gripe about every issue they have. If your grandmother is in the hospital, then yes, you can let us know. If you're fighting with your 7th boyfriend in the last 3 months, we could care less.
9) Disastrously bad spelling. You most likely have a full keyboard in front of you and some form of spellcheck. Type like someone who spent at least one day in school.

And my favorite...

10) People who put hashtags in their posts. I'll make this very simple for you people. HASHTAGS ARE FOR TWITTER. They don't work in Facebook (if you even know what they're for). So you can stop.

My last issue is for those that can say that they don't do any of the above, yet do something just as wrong. A wise man once said, "All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing." I'm calling out all you enablers out there. The ones that comment and applaud these wrongdoers, telling them that it's ok to use Facebook in such a delinquent way. It is the friends of these misusers of Facebook that have an obligation of holding them to a higher standard.

So to answer the question, who's holding these people accountable?

We all should.

FEEDBACK: Do you have another issue with how people use Facebook? Please share below!

My life up until this point...

I've been on a much needed sabbatical from worship leading for about four months now. It's been probably the most enlightening, educational, and incredible experience I've ever had. It's crazy what God will show you when you shut up, stop doing whatever it is you're doing, and listen.

While most of my time this past summer has been spent focused on growing spiritually, receiving healing in certain areas of my life, and just getting some desperately needed rest, I've also used the last four months to hone my musical talents (or lack thereof). I've listened to more artists, discovered more new bands, written more music, and practiced more than ever before. It's been amazing.

I plan on using this blog to share with you all some artists that have really impressed me and the songs they've written. Hillsong United, Elevation Worship, and Jesus Culture all have some incredible stuff that has blown me away both spiritually and musically. And they are just three bands. There is so much more out there.

So while I'm becoming increasingly anxious to jump on the worship team bandwagon again, I'm making the most of my break to sharpen myself both spiritually and musically (my two greatest passions), and I hope to show you all some amazing music as well!

Side hugs & Jesus Jukes,

Greg

Halloween is the best holiday EVER

OK, I don't really think that Halloween is the best holiday ever. I was just trying to get your attention. You see, as Christians, we have no idea how to handle this holiday. As in other topics such as this, we end up going on one extreme side or the other.


Being totally honest, I feel like Halloween has gotten the shaft by Christians. I know that Halloween has less than stellar origins. All of this talk of druids, paganism, and sacrifices make it a little unnerving to people. Plus, the whole idea of scary stories, costumes, and darker decorations is contradictory to the light, innocent pastel colors of other holidays that make people feel warm and fuzzy. Sometimes I wonder if Christians don't like to celebrate it simply because it's the one major holiday that doesn't have religious origins. 

I have to admit though, I like Halloween. And it comes down to two reasons: 1) I love candy and 2) I love Fall (maybe also because I love toilet papering houses).

Let me be frank, who really cares of the origins of Halloween? When two adorable little kids dressed up as a princess and a teenage mutant ninja turtle show up at your doorstep, yelling out "trick or treat" in singsong voices, are you going to scream at them for being heathens, leave them with a copy of the Gospel of John, and anoint them with oil? Of course not! You're going to give them each a couple of fun-sized Kit Kat bars (my personal favorite) and send them along. And you'll smile, thinking about how desperate they are to eat that deliciousness but mom won't let them because she has to check for razor blades first.

Well guess what, Halloween-hater, you just unwittingly endorsed Halloween. Your argument is invalid.

The only other point I have is how Halloween can be a time to appreciate the season. Fall is by far my favorite season (I'll probably save most of the gushing for a separate post). The colors, apple cider, cool evenings, pumpkins, etc, it's the best. When I think of Halloween, I think of Fall. It's a beautiful time of year and a way to celebrate it without thinking about psycho family members, Black Friday, and icy roads.


Bottom line, if you have a serious beef with Halloween, lighten up. In this day and age, no one is sacrificing virgins, or worshiping goats. Instead, we're dressing up as ghosts and Spiderman, and getting loads of candy. We're chaperoning kids down streets for hours. We're chasing punk teenagers off our property with a water hose. We're carving pumpkins and drinking hot apple cider (ew). We're watching Nightmare on Elm Street for the eightieth time and still freaking out. We've secretly DVRed Casper (not me, I swear). Let's enjoy it!


Here's a video for some smiles. (I apologize for the random song playing over it)