Resources
Browse Good Resources
Sermons
Here are some sermons for listening purposes. Inclusion of a sermon on this page doesn’t mean that we necessarily endorse everything the speaker has to say. Likewise, inclusion of a sermon doesn’t mean that the speaker necessarily agrees with everything we publish.
Counseling
Maybe you have an addiction or would like some help in a specific area such as your thought life. Maybe you only need encouragement. For help in any of these areas, contact Ebenezer Discipleship Ministries at (888) 684-0420 or email [email protected]. EDM is committed to helping you become free from Satan’s bondage by helping you turn to God and His Word for help. God Bless.
Literature
Here are some literature suggestions for reading purposes. Inclusion of literature on this page doesn’t mean that we necessarily endorse everything the author has to say. Likewise, inclusion of literature doesn’t mean that the author necessarily agrees with everything we publish.
Music
Below are some suggested websites for music. You may still need to use personal discretion in purchasing music from these sites:
Technology Dangers
While most of these technology advancements may be helpful in some ways, they also have disadvantages and can become extremely addictive. The following paragraphs share some of the warnings we as a committee advise you to be aware of:
While MP3 Players and Kindles may be very useful devices for cameras & media, parents need to be aware that internet is available on almost all of these devices as well. Most people are aware that almost all phones have access to internet, but many are not aware that internet is available on other devices. Even if you don’t have an internet plan, your child may be accessing internet via WIFI. Make sure you are aware of what devices your children have, and discuss with them, where their devices including phones, are stored each night.
While many apps can be helpful, be sure to download an app that is only helpful. A flashlight app is only one common example of a possible spyware app that may be used to collect data from you & your phone. If needing a flashlight on your phone, technically you should be downloading a widget. If you were searching for an App from the App/Play Store, find one that is small in megabyte size. Including the words “open source” when searching for an app can be very helpful in finding one that is small and works well. Before clicking “Accept” when downloading the app, think about whether or not the app should really need access to everything it is trying to get permission for. For example, a flashlight app should never need access to your “Contacts”, but should only need access to your camera to turn on the “flash”. We recommend you look through your application manager, and check out apps from “Untrusted” sources that are large in size. If “Trusted”, there is no need to worry about the megabyte size of the app.
While Social Networking may be very useful, everyone should be aware that there are also dangers on the flip side. Being aware of how much time you spend on Social Networking is important, so we recommend an accountability software to help you track this. An accountability group in your church can also be helpful. Most social networking sites encourage you to include everything about yourself. Remember, everything you put online will always be able to be accessed, even if deleted. Because of this, we encourage you to stay away from some things that tend to lead you astray. The Snapchat app is one we encourage you to block or discard. Snapchat is used to send a picture to friend, and is only available for viewing for a few seconds, which originally began with the pornography industry. It has too little value for the temptations that it brings. Please use caution in using Social Media. Accountability applications are highly encouraged if using Social Media.
Because it is tough to control “online advertisements,” we recommend you do several things to avoid inappropriate ads as much as possible. First of all for your computers, download an “Ad Blocker” under our recommended add-ons. Some, such as AdGuard, are also available for your phone, but will only block ads while browsing. To avoid inappropriate ads within an app, you may need to either purchase the app or download a new app. Don’t be cheap when it could affect one soul. Also, a filter on all devices is important to help with inappropriate content.
Because the temptation of pornography and internet addiction is especially strong when access to the internet is readily available, we recommend you do several things to help limit those temptations. For parents, talk with your children about these dangers, and how you can get easily be led astray if you are not careful. Make sure you know what all devices they have and whether or not internet is available on them. Put a filter and accountability applications on all devices. Form an accountability group with friends from your church. Do things like keeping your computers, phones, and devices in a central location at night to avoid temptations. Regularly meet to discuss temptations and struggles, and discuss how these could better be avoided. Being sensitive to the Holy Spirit is extremely important in keeping a sensitive conscience. Limited use of sites such as You Tube, Facebook, and News sites are helpful. It does come down to a desire in keeping your heart right with God.
Google Images or images within any browser, are difficult to filter. Safe search within a filter is the only option to clean things up, but that will not be full proof. When searching with “one word” searches, we recommend using an online dictionary or encyclopedia for the definition. Too many times, one word searches can give you images of something inappropriate, like a celebrity for example, that may have the same name. If searching for images, we recommend being as descriptive as possible with your search, using multiple words or sentences within a search.
While “Virtual Reality” may have some benefit in training or in the medical field, the dangers of “desensitization” and “virtual criminality” in gaming and training are all too prevalent. A developer currently experimenting with virtual reality and hand-tracking technologies has created a game he says might leave players feeling somewhat guilty about killing someone, at least virtually. Click here for a link to a site focused on virtual reality.
Be aware that TV access & Movie rental has now been available online for quite some time. We as a committee, are concerned that people don’t get involved in some of these areas online. Live streaming of movies and sports can be extremely addictive, so we recommend to refrain from subscriptions to companies such as Netflix, YouTube TV, ESPN, and other similar sites.
Will the RFID Chip Technology ever become part of the “Mark of the Beast?” At what point, will we need to avoid technology for religious sake? We don’t have answers to all of these questions, however, we should be concerned. How quickly do we jump to the newest technology out there? Are we willing to get rid of all of our technology if it comes down to the requirement of worshiping someone or something other than our Lord Jesus Christ. May God give us wisdom as we face the future.
Technology Developments
Below are listed some developments that are significant to our world and future:
Augmented reality (AR) is a live direct or indirect view of a physical, real-world environment whose elements are augmented (or supplemented) by computer-generated sensory input such as sound, video, graphics or GPS data. It is related to a more general concept called mediated reality, in which a view of reality is modified (possibly even diminished rather than augmented) by a computer. As a result, the technology functions by enhancing one’s current perception of reality. By contrast, virtual reality replaces the real world with a simulated one. Augmentation is conventionally in real-time and in semantic context with environmental elements, such as sports scores on TV during a match. With the help of advanced AR technology (e.g. adding computer vision and object recognition) the information about the surrounding real world of the user becomes interactive and digitally manipulable. Information about the environment and its objects is overlaid on the real world. This information can be virtual or real, e.g. seeing other real sensed or measured information such as electromagnetic radio waves overlaid in exact alignment with where they actually are in space.
Source: Wikipedia
Virtual reality or virtual realities (VR), also known as immersive multimedia or computer-simulated reality, is a computer technology that replicates an environment, real or imagined, and simulates a user’s physical presence that environment in a way that allows the user to interact with it. Virtual realities artificially create sensory experience, which can include sight, touch, hearing, and smell.
Most up-to-date virtual realities are displayed either on a computer screen or with a special virtual reality headset, and some simulations include additional sensory information and focus on real sound through speakers or headphones targeted towards VR users. Some advanced haptic systems now include tactile information, generally known as force feedback in medical, gaming and military applications. Furthermore, virtual reality covers remote communication environments which provide virtual presence of users with the concepts of telepresence and telexistence or a virtual artifact (VA) either through the use of standard input devices such as a keyboard and mouse, or through multimodal devices such as a wired glove or omnidirectional treadmills. The immersive environment can be similar to the real world in order to create a lifelike experience—for example, in simulations for pilot or combat training—or it can differ significantly from reality, such as in VR games.
Source: Wikipedia
Although it is becoming very popular in the technology world today, there is danger in virtual reality. Click here to view an article on the dangers of virtual reality.
A smartwatch is a computerized wristwatch with functionality that is enhanced beyond timekeeping. While early models can perform basic tasks, such as calculations, translations, and game-playing, modern smartwatches are effectively wearable computers. Many run mobile apps, using a mobile operating system. Some smartwatches function as portable media players, offering playback of FM radio, audio, and video files to the user via a Bluetooth headset. Some models, also called ‘watch phones’, feature full mobile phone capability, and can make or answer phone calls. Smartwatches are advancing rapidly, especially their user interfaces and health related applications.
A tablet computer, commonly shortened to tablet, is a mobile computer with a touchscreen display, circuitry, and battery in a single device. Tablets come equipped with sensors, including cameras, a microphone, and an accelerometer, and the touchscreen display uses the recognition of finger or stylus gestures replacing the usage of the mouse and keyboard. They usually feature on-screen, pop-up virtual keyboards for typing. Tablets may have physical buttons for basic features such as speaker volume and power, and ports for network communications and battery charging. Tablets are typically larger than smartphones or personal digital assistants with screens 7 inches (18 cm) or larger, measured diagonally.
A smartphone is a mobile phone with an advanced mobile operating system which combines features of a personal computer operating system with other features useful for mobile or handheld use. They typically combine the features of a cell phone with those of other popular mobile devices, such as personal digital assistant (PDA), media player and GPS navigation unit. Most smartphones can access the Internet, have a touchscreen user interface, with either an LCD, OLED, AMOLED, LED or similar screen, can run third-party apps, music players and are camera phones. Most smartphones produced from 2012 onward also have high-speed mobile broadband 4G LTE internet, motion sensors, and mobile payment.
A personal computer (PC) is a small, relatively inexpensive computer designed for an individual user. In price, personal computers range anywhere from a few hundred dollars to thousands of dollars. All are based on the microprocessor technology that enables manufacturers to put an entire CPU on one chip. There are many form factors in which a PC comes in ranging from pocket size to large desktop versions. Following is a list of the different types of PCs.
PC on a Stick
A PC on a Stick is a device that resembles and is similar in size to a flash drive, and is able to turn any HDMI capable TV or display into a complete computer.
Desktop
A desktop computer is a personal computer that fits on or under a desk. They usually consist of a monitor, keyboard, mouse and either a horizontal or vertical (tower) form factor. Unlike a laptop, which is portable, a desktop computer is meant to stay at one location.
All-in-one PC’s
All-in-one PCs, also known as all-in-one desktops, integrate the computer case and system components into the monitor so that the entire PC is contained all in one unit. All-in-one (AIO) desktop PCs offer the advantage of a smaller form factor than desktop PCs, but they often come with several drawbacks as well, including higher cost, weaker performance and limited upgrade options.
Laptop
A laptop, often called a notebook, is a portable personal computer with a “clam shell” form factor, with a keyboard on the lower part of the “clam shell” and a thin computer screen on the upper portion, which is opened up to use the computer. The keyboard and screen are folded shut for transportation of the laptop. Laptops are suitable for mobile use. A laptop combines the components, inputs, outputs and capabilities of a desktop computer, including the display screen, speakers, a keyboard, pointing devices (such as a touchpad or trackpad), a processor and memory into a single unit. Most 2016-era laptops also have integrated webcams and built-in microphones.
News
There is great danger in continual viewing of news sites such as CNN, Comcast, Fox, MSN, or Verizon news sites. Also, local news sites such as WGAL or ldnews.com can also be dangerous. Why? Many of these companies are paid to include News feeds from outside sources and include information such as celebrity articles and explicit or violent content that Satan uses to draw us astray. Also, the time consuming addiction is something we are concerned with in viewing these sites. It is recommended not to have a news site as your Home Page to help with this addiction. We recommend that you do not use the sites listed above, but rather, switch to using one of the recommended sites listed below.
*Inclusion of a news site on this page doesn’t mean that we necessarily endorse everything they publish. Readers’ discretion may still be required.
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Purity starts in the mind
Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things.