Overload

<overload>losing face-to-face relationships in a virtual world

The Dark Overload

What Overloads You?

• Mobile Phones

• Texting

• Sexting

• Instant Messaging

• Social Networks

• Email

• Web Sites

• News/Blogs

• Status Updates

• Advertising

• Games

• iPods/MP3s

There’s No Letting Up

The Monster We Created

• Our informations was “mass” media

• Advertising in free entertainment

• We consume more

• We want advertising out

• We individualized it

• We want it to be free

Information WantsTo Own You...

The Communication Shift

• We have never had this much information

• We have never had these abilities

• Our communication rate goes up

• Our ability to relate goes down

The Cycle Continues...

I’m An Informationaholic

• Information is a drug

• There’s scientific proof of this

• It limits creativity and focus

• It causes attention span problems

• It creates severe mood swings

• It can be very hard to live without

Here But, Not Here

• We need a “hit” of information

• We text, IM and talk all the time

• We can be physically present, but...

• We are mentally absent

• We are becoming zombies

• We are controlled by the drug

Meaningful and Close Relationships Implode

Into MeaninglessElectronic Connections

3 John 1.13,14

I have much to write you, but I do not want to do so with pen and ink.I hope to see you soon, and we will talk face to face.

Peace to you.The friends

here send their greetings.

Greet the friends there by name.

In Writing

• John was a disciple

• John was a writer of letters

• In John 3, he realizes that somethings cannot be communicated in writing

• The rest of John 3 is a conversationabout trust, love and reputation of friends

• They were “tight” and because of that,they could do the work set out for them

1 Corinthians 10.23-24

“Everything is permissible”

but not everything is beneficial.

“Everything is permissible”

but not everything is constructive.

Nobody should seek his own good, but

the good of others.

Old School

• Real life communication is good

• It is good for your health and soul

• It is good for your job and career

• It communicates more meaning

• It aligns your body, mind and spirit

3 John 1.2

Dear friend, I pray that you may

enjoy good health and that all may go well with you, even as

your soulis getting along well.

Good Habits To Start

• Prioritize face-to-face meetings over anything else

• Stand up when you meet new people

• Greet with a handshake or a hug

• Pay attention to names

• Look people in the eye

• Truly love people

3 John 1.5,6

Dear friend, you are faithful in what you are

doing for the brothers, even

though they are strangers to you. They have told the church about

your love.

Bad Habits To Break

• Taking phone calls during a meal or when “out”

• Texting while others are with you or talking

• Staying up late with “dates”

• Constantly having IMand email open

• Breaking your onlineword in real life

To Make TimeTo Focus On God