Practical Wisdom???  A Word from THE WORD!!! #86

“Behold,

I send you forth

as sheep

in the midst of wolves:

be ye therefore wise as serpents,

and harmless as doves.”  Matthew 10:26

I have a very brief and simple word to share today, and it may surprise you, but it’s about Facebook and social media in general.  It’s all around us and seems to affect everything in our lives, but we need to heed the words of Jesus and apply them to our use of technology.  I would like to share just a few pointers that you might want to consider in your interaction with the media platforms that you use.  Some of you have been “hacked” regularly and wonder why; I offer some suggestions and I pray that they will help.

1.Use 2-step verification on all your online accounts (where it       offered, and yes, I know it’s time consuming and a bit annoying, but it will give you a measure of safety that is worth the effort, especially on your shopping platforms).

2.Don’t give out your password and make them private and personal–not your birthday or SSN or phone number.  Use pet names that others won’t know; initials of people that aren’t know by strangers.

3. DON’T click on links –even the cutesy spiritual ones, if you take the time to watch the sender/post-er, you’ll find they are often bating you to get your information. If you don’t click, they can’t get your “stuff”!

4. DON’T play games with others that list your personal information, i.e. all your children’s names, ages, your ‘legal’ name, and date of birth–scammers are looking for that kind of information to steal your identity and get into your accounts!!!

5. Don’t advertise that you’re “GOING” on a trip. Post the information and pics when you return–it’s like putting a “rob me” sign on your front door (especially if you post enough private information that they know where you live–HELLO!)

6. Don’t feel obligated to answer questions or say “AMEN” to someone’s post that you don’t know–again a favorite of scammers who want access to YOU! Check out who it is from or by–and watch the “initials” of the person posting stuff that you are tempted to share, if you don’t know what they mean then don’t share!!  I had to call a preacher friend once and tell him what he was sharing (the source, not the content–that’s where they trick us!)

7. Be wary of posting pics of your kids and grands, and listing their names, where they go to school, or where they’re playing competitive sports, stalkers and perverts love to have access to your precious little ones.

I could go on, and if you have questions just send me a private message or email, or comment and I’ll try to answer any questions.  We need to be wise and harmless as Jesus told us, and we need to understand that while we may personally find the media silly and frivolous (and some fun is ok, but not without caution!), we need to be aware of the dangers that lurk there. And just as a personal observation and opinion, you may notice that it is getting more and more pornographic in ads, content, and suggestions–be careful!!!

“If any of you lack wisdom,

let him ask of God,

that giveth to all men liberally,

and upbraideth not;

and it shall be given him.

6 But let him ask in faith,

nothing wavering.

For he that wavereth

is like a wave of the sea

driven with the wind

and tossed.

7 For let not that man think

that he shall receive any thing of the Lord.

8 A double minded man

is unstable

in all his ways.”  James 1:5-8

Amen and Amen!!!

May we be wise and stable in our walk before the world–on or off of social media.  I hope these thoughts will help you make good choices.