A Reasonable Expectation to Privacy

A reasonable expectation to privacy. With the online world intersecting more of our lives on a nearly daily basis, do we have really have a reasonable expectation to privacy?

The Fourth Amendment to the United States Constitution is the part of the Bill of Rights, which guards against unreasonable searches and seizures. That’s one type of privacy that, at least here in America, we can expect. But beyond denying someone access to things in our homes, cars on wallets, are our lives really private?

I submit that we’ve willingly sacrificed privacy for immediacy.

We share our lives out loud. From GoWalla or FourSquare telling me exactly where you are, to Twitter and Facebook telling me what you’re up to, and blogs telling me what you think, to out of office email messages, we’re providing an unprecedented level of access into our daily lives.

It used to be we had work lives and personal lives. No longer. The lines between our work life and personal life have been blurred due to our propensity to share. Though not anonymous, there is a certain sense that because we’re not looking directly at someone when we share something, our status update is somehow still limited to a semi-private audience.

Though it is possible to use multiple accounts and limit networks to only a few followers – I do this myself with a ‘family-only’ Twitter account – the reality is that anyone can choose to re-post anything I say in a very public fashion. You see, privacy today is limited only to the extent that I control what I share and when I share it.

We seem to have forgotten that what we share, say, post and do online is stored, forever accessible, cross-indexed, referenced and cached. I wonder how many young people looking to advance in a career 10 or 20 years from now will have what they’ve shared today come back to haunt them? And here’s another thought: our kids and our kids’ kids will have more than a photo album and grandma’s memories to find out about good ‘ol granddad.

Do we have a reasonable expectation to privacy? I think we have a very limited expectation to privacy when we share so freely. What say you?

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Instruments of Provision

I am not the provider for my family. I am not the provider for my family. I am not the provider for my family. I have to keep repeating that to myself from time to time as a reminder that all – ALL – provision comes from the Lord. It’s a lesson that has taught me to rely on God for my daily bread, regardless of where my income comes from. I can be an instrument of provision, but the provision is the Lord’s alone.

Having said that, I’m asking you to be an instrument of provision for someone – TODAY – who needs our help.

An Urgent Need
This morning, I received an email with a humble but urgent plea from a very Godly husband and father; a man who 28 months ago lost a baby boy to SIDS (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome). They are financially devastated and are asking for help.

Having gone through a financial devastation myself, I know exactly what this man feels like. The difference is that he had the guts to post his need online so that the body of Christ could be a blessing to him and his family.

$10 – We All Have $10
Since our financial whirlwind, we’ve come out on the other side rebuilding and are now faithful to a new budget that represents our diligence to fully recover and honor God with our stewardship of finances. Yet, even with our tight budget and commitment to being debt-free, we can give a little to help this family.

He’s asking for each of us to send whatever we can to SIDSAMERICA.org as a support for them and their ministry. $10 bucks is something everyone I know personally can donate to this family. If you can do more, that’s great, too.

I’m reminded of the story of the widow in 1 Kings, chapter 17, who gave the last of her oil and flour to Elijah. From her obedience and generous spirit, the Lord kept the oil and flour from running out for THREE YEARS! I’m also reminded of the woman in Mark, chapter 12, who gave 2 mites – a very small offering – but who Jesus said gave more than the many who were rich had given.

Will you be an instrument of provision and bless this family today? I’ve never asked for any of you to support anything before, so I believe you will see the opportunity to serve another member of the body in a tangible way.

To donate to this family who has been generous and responsible stewards, please go to SIDSAMERICA.ORG.

I’ve made his entire email plea available so you can read for yourself the integrity and heart of this Godly man who is calling upon the body – the “Big C” Church – to help them in a time of need, if you so desire. Just click the “more” link below.

- Anthony

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