Hello Again Facebook

I guess if the Bible said, "Though shalt not use Facebook," I would not make such a fool out of myself on this issue. But as it is, well, I feel kinda foolish. A few months ago I retired from Facebook and even wrote a blog stating my reasons. Now I'm back on — just as you knew I would be. The question is why.

The fact is that for all its faults, Facebook is also an amazing tool for those who, like me, wish to influence and lead. Recently I experienced one of the most amazing events of my life. I spent a week doing mission work in Nicaragua. I've been on many mission trips but this one was amazingly different. When I got back, I had the privilege of telling my church all that God did. But I couldn't stop thinking about how many more people could have heard about these things were I still on Facebook. 

If God has called me to reach out to people in ever broadening circles (from Judea to Samaria and to the ends of the earth, to quote Acts 1:8) then how can I not use such an incredible tool as Facebook to that end? If the videos, pictures or stories I share influence one person to examine more closely true Christianity or to go on a mission trip themselves, then the cons of Facebook become negligable.

Additionally, there are the connections that simply are not maintained if not for Facebook. I connected with others on the mission team who I had not known previously and even some of the Nicaraguans who staff the organization I went with, use Facebook. I'd like to keep those relationships going right up until and through my next trip. Whether I like it or not, Facebook is probably the only chance of that really happening.

So, without forgetting about the problems with Facebook that I identified in my last blog, I have returned (and hopefully not like a dog returns to his vomit) with some new rules and guidelines for myself which I will enumerate here for my own accountability.

1.)  I will not put the FB app on my iPhone so that I am not constantly checking.

2.)  I will avoid FB conflict at almost all costs (not because I am afraid of conflict, but because FB is a horrendous venue for settling conflict).

3.)  I will generally use FB more for what I want to say than reading what others have to say (call it self-centered, but frankly I can use FB how I want, and that's the way I want to use it). If nobody reads what I have to say, so be it.

4.)  I basically won't comment a whole heck of a lot. 

Maybe these rules will make Facebook work for me this time. And if not, well, then I reserve the right to fast from Facebook once again. Last time I checked, it's optional. Why am I already feeling more stressed?