10.23.09
Posted in MattTalk at 2:59 pm by mattlaun
I’ve had a desire to write about the internet and parenting for quite a while. I’m not a parent. I am an uncle who has seen the technology battle from many sides. The battle is ultimately inside our homes, schools, libraries, and has spread to anywhere an iPhone can get a cellular signal. Parenting today requires a few more tools than even just a few years ago. I hate to admit it, but even as a ‘computer savvy’ person, my nieces and nephews are learning all of the newest tech stuff, including all the little tips and tricks their friends pass around at school and through the thousands of text messages they read and write every minute. They learn it faster than I can keep up. Sound familiar? Feel familiar?
So, I wanted to try and help you in the battle. By blogging here I hope that you also will be able to help each other. If you have a tip or have used software that has been helpful for you, please share it so that others might benefit.
Here are some of the tools I’ve found so far:
1) Parental Controls and web filtering: Which one is the best? Depends on who you ask. I’ve tried a few and there are some pretty good programs out there. SentryPC (http://www.sentrypc.com/) is on the higher end with as much control as you want to take. One of the top rated programs on the net is NetNanny (http://www.netnanny.com/). There are two issues I find with these. They both cost between $40-$50 initially and then there are annual subscription fees. Whether it’s worth it to have the safety and security is up to you. The second issue is how savvy are you with computers. Neither of these programs comes with a simple step-by step guide. So, if you have some computer skills, these may be worth it. If you have no computer skills, I might suggest a different place to start.
The Safe Families Program (http://www.safefamilies.org/aboutsf.php) is a great place to start. They have free software. Better than that though, they have free online training for parents, pastors…well, anyone who wants to learn about internet safety and security. This isn’t just for parents, but church leaders, non-profit organizations, schools and so on. Very cool stuff.
2) Protecting your computer from a toddler: What if your child is not yet old enough to understand what they see on the computer? All they know is that when they touch the keys, stuff happens. So it is really fun and amusing for them to touch the keys…ALL THE TIME!!! Even when mommy or daddy steps away from the computer to pick-up the…doah!? Already too late. Your paper for school, or maybe your report for work, just went, byebye….as your toddler laughs and waves at the screen saying, ‘ hehehe…byebye.’ Well, there is guy out there who was having that exact problem. So he wrote his own software and is giving it out for free. It is called “Toddler Keys” and can be found here: http://tk.ms11.net/
Another program you may wish to look at is Child Proof and can be found here: http://people.cs.uu.nl/markov/kids/cproof.html
3) What about my teen and all the texting, watching videos, playing video games, and everything else? How do keep up with it all? You’re right to have questions, but not to worry. There are parents out there who want to help you in the battle. A really good site for staying informed and building your tech battling arsenal is The Online Mom (http://www.theonlinemom.com/main_cmt.asp). Guess what dad’s, you can use it too! There is a ton of great information on this site and reviews for games along with tech tips and more. One of the nice things about this site is that it can help you to make sure you are safe in the internet as well. Have a FaceBook account? You may want to look at the article “5 Privacy Settings Every Facebook User Should Know” (http://www.theonlinemom.com/secondary.asp?id=680).
Ok, enough info for now. Please feel free to comment or leave additional information for everyone else in the tech battle. Let us seek to help each other in a biblical fashion. Proverbs 22:6 says “Train a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not turn from it.” Someday, your children will be trading sides and will have to parent their children. Being in the tech battle is not just about controlling the world’s impact on your child, it is preparing them for the day when they will have to do the same for their children.
Have a blessed day.
Matt
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10.18.09
Posted in 18-35(ish) Group Discussion Board at 1:55 pm by mattlaun
ok, so if you’re having trouble with the blog thing….you’re not alone……this is my 5th attempt at getting this right. hopefully you will all be able to see this and post here.
thank you all for your comments this morning….great stuff…very helpful.
we left off with three items to be addressed:
1) for all persons committing to the saturday service…will you still be attending “sunday school”?
2) what is our next topic for sunday mornings? please take time to look over tyler’s e-mail and again, feel free to add ideas also.
3) 2 parts – what are we going to do for a group event outside sunday morning and when? any ideas?
so there we go….BLOG AWAY!!!
As far as #1…i can’t speak for kris, but i really have enjoyed this group and after struggling a bit about whether or not to come in saturday and sunday…i will commit to coming in sunday mornings for this group. just don’t expect me to be dressed up and i will be leaving to go back home after. this group has been a good support and place to talk. thank you all again for sharing freely. it helps more than you know. i also don’t want to miss out on the day that a statement or topic really hits andy the right way and so he’ll go on this 30 minute verbal crusade…statement after statement with flawless speach and logic, piercing utterances of life laced with wisdom well beyond the age of the earth…oh yeah, and this will happen all in one single deep breath….i’m not going to miss that day so, count me in!
Matt
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10.02.09
Posted in THE VINE - discussion board at 9:21 pm by mattlaun
And so It begins….Here is the spot where we can throw around ideas….be careful not to break anything!
Good meeting today. Seeing movement….exploring ideas….good input from everyone…especially that Kris lady…wow, what a dynamo (so what if I’m biased, God said it’s ok cuz she’s my lady).
As I walked away from the church I felt a bit overwhelmed with everything that has to be done. Everything I have to get done. Then God asked me “How many times have you totally blown it, and I was still able to use it for My good?” More times than I can count really, but the reality is…all He wants is our best. If I give what I can, then God will take it from there. I can’t be discouraged because everything doesn’t go anywhere close to the plan, or because I totally screw up everything. God can still use that!
So, do I get a pass to go half-way? Not at all, God wants our best. He just knows the reality that I won’t be perfect. That’s ok though because He is. I think of all the times I have totally butchered lyrics and music while singing worship or at a coffee house or event, and then afterwards someone told me how touched they were. That’s only God.
I’m excited that God is moving around in the hearts of our church. it’s really cool to see. So let’s give it our best, then give it to God and let Him do the rest. No worrying, No stressing…enjoy the process and don’t miss seeing God at work…don’t miss out on the encouragement that brings.
Next meeting is Friday October 16th 5PM.
Do you know what your tasks are? (Don’t forget: task #1 on everyone’s list should be: PRAYER)
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09.09.09
Posted in MattTalk at 11:35 am by mattlaun
sterwardship…an interesting concept…so often we think about this in financial terms. whenever someone would mention the term, i automatically thought about tithing and money. yet it just isn’t the truth. as i’ve come to learn, money is just a tool. is it helpful? sure is. can it also be hurtful? sure can be. yet, it is just a thing, a tool to help us understand. understand what? value, the state of our hearts (and many other things you’ll have to work on with God on your own). the funny thing is, once we get past the glaring issue of money we come to find that stewardship applies to EVERYTHING. the time we have been granted, the homes we rent/own, EVERYTHING…all the way down to the stuff packed way back in the closet or basement somewhere. God has placed these all into our care, how are we glorifying Him with it?
I read an article in the Buffalo News this week that is very well written. the writer gives a very perceptive look at today’s reality and some of the wrong thinking we often have in regards to money. I would encourage you to take a quick look at it if you have the time. here is the link:
http://www.buffalonews.com/476/story/787421.html
one final thought: the Bible does speak a great deal on the topic of money. Do you think that this is because God cares so much about money or perhaps because we do?
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07.23.09
Posted in Pastor Tom's Blog at 7:11 pm by Pastor Tom
In the middle of summer I pause, reflect and am silent. What do I hear in the silence? I hear rain falling through the leaves on the trees, I hear wind rustling, birds chirping, children playing outside….I find peace and tranquility here…. a door slams, someone is crying…… my solitude of peace is broken and someone needs me again. I rise up to serve saying a silent prayer that God would lead and guide me once again in wisdom to shine His truth, His love, His mercy, His goodness…whatever is needed, however it is needed into a desperate hour of despair. Christians all over the world rise up to this level of service every day. It’s what separates us honestly, this level of sacrifice, that makes us different from the world around us. It’s what separated Jesus in His day when He walked this earth too. His time was not His own, His will was found in doing the Father’s will and His greatest joy was in serving others and bringing glory to His Father. One day Jesus led off to go and help a father in anguish as his daughter lay at home sick and dying and in the midst of this He was stopped by one who had a need….who reached out to touch the hem of His garment…..everything came to a stop as Jesus met the crying need of one who lived a desperate life for over twelve years. Afterwards, He didn’t turn to the father and say, “I have done enough today, come back tomorrow.” No Jesus continued on this journey to meet another need and serve His Father’s will. I was studying today and I came across John 14:21. Jesus is talking to His disciples here but to us as well as He was defining for them what it meant to love Him. This is what He said: “Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me….” I paused in my studies, reflected in my heart and prayed these words, “Lord please help me to be faithful to this truth because I do love YOU, but I need YOUR help!”
Until next time, pastor tom
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02.09.09
Posted in Getting Started at 3:14 pm by Blogger Admin
“Blog” is an abbreviated version of “weblog,” which is a term used to describe web sites that maintain an ongoing chronicle of information. A blog is a frequently updated, personal website featuring diary-type commentary and links to articles on other Web sites. Blogs range from the personal to the political, and can focus on one narrow subject or a whole range of subjects.
Many blogs focus on a particular topic, such as web design, home staging, sports, or mobile technology. Some are more eclectic, presenting links to all types of other sites. And others are more like personal journals, presenting the author’s daily life and thoughts.
Generally speaking (although there are exceptions), blogs tend to have a few things in common:
- A main content area with articles listed chronologically, newest on top. Often, the articles are organized into categories.
- An archive of older articles.
- A way for people to leave comments about the articles.
- A list of links to other related sites, sometimes called a “blogroll”.
- One or more “feeds” like RSS, Atom or RDF files.
Some blogs may have additional features beyond these.
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