Dude, Stay Away From Twitter!

In a fascinating article in the Zocalo Public Square, writer Jacob Brogan admitted “I’m ashamed of the way I am on Twitter.” He's ashamed over what he tweets, his need for approval, and even that his mom's tweets are about him and has four times the number for followers compared to his.

Brogan's self-reflection is honest and commendable but if something is causing you to despair, then why not get off Twitter for a while? 

According to The Point, what Brogan describes is what theologians call an “occasion of sin” a circumstance or situation that makes us more likely to stumble. 

It clearly makes sense! Don't play with fire if you don't want to get burned. Recovering alcoholics shouldn't hang out in bars. A person who struggles with porn, shouldn't surf the Web alone or look at a Victoria's Secret catalog. I stay away from cable TV and R rated movies because I struggle with lust.

I'm not advising that we should all abstain from any forms of social media. Just know your triggers and weaknesses. Scripture says, to be vigilant because our enemy is prowling like a lion, looking for someone to devour. We should avoid situations that will cause us to sin and stay away from people and places where temptation calls our name. 

For some people that’ll be social media. For others, it’ll be something else. But for all of us, the advice is the same: Be alert and flee!

God Loves Poetry: A Daughter's First Poem

I didn't know my 10-year old daughter was into poetry until last weekend when she read to me the first poem she wrote. I was impressed with the theme she picked for her first poem. I'm pasting and sharing it below so I have an online record of it.

I believe God loves poetry and He uses it to nurture spiritual formation. However, for many of us, we don't think of poetry as something that can contribute to our spiritual well-being. Poetry can be so unrelatable and can be viewed as old-fashion and boring at many times. But don't dismiss poetry as a powerful literary form to stimulate one's soul yet. Perhaps we should remember the most "spiritual" book in the Bible, the Psalms, is entirely written in poetry.

Without further ado, here's my daughter's first poem:

The Beast Below

A poem by Isabelle Bruce (written: 3/14/15)

A horse and a man fall below,

One has a plan but both must go.

The beast below should know that both must stay,

For this is the game we all must play.

Before it’s too late come follow me,

Don’t disobey or go astray.

My home has a room for each of you,

My house is a dream and so are you.

I created you so don’t go away,

The beast below will make you his prey.

So come follow me and don’t astray,

I will protect you day by day.

The beast below will pay the price,

Don’t play with me or roll the dice,

For all whom do evil will be crushed like rice.

So please don’t go your own way,

Or you must be the one to pay.

Social Media Campaign: 2:30PM Daily for 2.30 Million Prisoners

Just want to share the latest social media campaign I developed for Prison Fellowship.

There are approximately 2.3 million prisoners in America that need our intercession and petition to God. They need to know that we are praying for them and we need to spread the word to other believers to pray for them.

That’s why starting this March, at 2:30PM EST every weekday, Prison Fellowship will post a prayer reminder on its Facebook and Twitter pages using the hashtag #PRAY4PRISONERS, to encourage everyone to pause for a while and lift up these men and women behind bars and anyone affected by crime and incarceration.

We will be posting prayer requests on the general needs of prisoners as well as specific prayer requests submitted to us by inmates (their names and identities will be changed to protect their privacy).

Every prison ministry team needs prayer warriors lifting up the needs of prisoners. Even if you’ve never been inside a prison or jail, you can be a prayer warrior interceding before God for those who are incarcerated. Our goal is to get as many people involved in prison outreach and build an active movement of praying for for prisoners. So join us and become a faithful prayer warrior and speak blessings into the lives of prisoners. As the apostle Paul said, “Continue to remember those in prison as if you were together with them in prison … (Hebrews 13:3).”

Please remember to follow us on Facebook and Twitter, mark your calendars at 2:30pm every weekday and #PRAY4PRISONERS.

Join the Prison Fellowship Prayer Team here.