An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about the bible's stance on homosexuality. This follows this post about U.S. energy problems caused by its foreign policies. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Vertical News: Too Many Friendships Can Make Us Introverted

article by Amanda Stiver

New research analyzes the ebb and flow of friendships and happiness.

Source: sxc.hu/bluegum

A study by Colby College in Maine has found that many friendships may make us happy, but over time they also can make us more introverted and withdrawn. Over 16,000 participants were tracked during a four year period and their personality traits recorded.
Those that started out highly social and happy, over time, became more withdrawn despite still being in the happiness category. Experts feel this suggests that when those that are extroverted reach a certain number of friendships, they stop trying to create new ones. These findings surprised the researchers; they expected increased happiness to automatically align with continued extroversion (Victoria Woollaston and Robin Yapp, “Got Loads of Friends? Then You’re Probably Unhappy: People Who Appear  Popular May Actually Be Withdrawn and Sad, Claims Study,” The Daily Mail at DailyMail.co.uk, February 18, 2014).

Friendship, by Proverbs

The book of Proverbs in the Bible is a vital resource for condensed wisdom and there are many proverbs that speak on the concept of friendship.
“A man who has friends must himself be friendly, but there is a friend who sticks closer than a brother,” (Proverbs 18:24A man that hath friends must shew himself friendly: and there is a friend that sticketh closer than a brother.
See All..., NKJV, this and following references). Clearly, being sociable is the cure for a lack of friends, but truly close, mutually uplifting friendships are few and far between. It’s these friendships that we turn to during difficult times when we feel less extroverted.
“The righteous should choose his friends carefully, for the way of the wicked leads them astray,” (Proverbs 12:26The righteous is more excellent than his neighbour: but the way of the wicked seduceth them.
See All...). Having many social “connections” on Facebook or other social media has its purpose, but it’s important that our closest, most influential friendships are with people who fear and obey God.
Relying on quality rather than quantity is the healthiest dynamic for developing true friendships.

An interesting article from http://www.ucg.org/ about Google Glass. This follows this post about the rape crisis in post-apartheid South Africa.  This follows this post about the commercialization of Thanksgiving and Christmas. For a free magazine subscription or to get the book shown for free click HERE! or call 1-888-886- 8632.

Google Glass and Studying the Bible

by Aaron Booth

Google Glass invite

Source: Google

Is there any use for a pair of wearable electronic glasses in church or in your personal Bible study?
As the Internet manager for the United Church of God, I am always looking for ways technology could be used to study the Bible and enhance that learning experience. Earlier this year, Google introduced their optical head-mounted display device called “Glass.” It allows the wearer to take photos and videos, connect to their personal Google+ account and interact with the Internet via voice commands. This week I received an email invitation to become part of Google’s Glass Explorer program.
This got me thinking on how a wearable device like this could be used to study the Bible and what possibilities it could have in a church service or worship setting. Wearable computer devices are not new and have been available but they have not been widely accepted and functionable in daily life. That may change with devices like Google Glass and other wearable Internet connected devices.
Here are three ideas on how something like Google Glass could be used to enhance Bible learning:

1. Scripture recognition

Since Glass has a built in camera it could recognize various word patterns in the real-world and translate that information to its display screen. Imagine being able to scan words in your physical Bible and have it display various other Bible related resources to view. This could be definitions, translations, images, videos, audio and more. Maybe a popular Bible app such as YouVersion could open in the display and connect you to other Bible translations or read the verse to you. This type of application already exists in Glass to help in realtime translation of words from one language to another.

2. Visit Biblical and historical locations

Maybe you can access an interactive video that allows you to walk through Jerusalem and immerse yourself in that location and visit historical landmarks. With the use of augmented reality you can blend a real-world visit to a museum featuring Biblical artifacts with interactive information from the web. Just point your device’s camera toward the displayed QR code and the display screen shows relevant information or plays audio about what you are looking at.

3. Online Bible classroom setting

While taking an online class, a Biblical instructor in Jerusalem can give a personal tour of ancient sites via a live video feed and show the online class what they see and take questions from the class. This can already be done via a Google Hangout.
I believe there are many more day-to-day ease of technology use applications that could be developed which would assist those with mobility limitations or even sight limitations (read the online article from USA TODAY - "Beyond a gadget: Google Glass is a boon to disabled "). I would guess that in the next 5 to 10 years or even less, that wearable Internet devices will be more common and integrated into daily life somehow. Technology like this will become the everyday device for my kids when they are adults - as much as smartphones and tablets are for us today.
This makes me think of scripture in Revelation 11 that talks about how the whole world will see the bodies of the two witnesses:

And for three and a half days, all peoples, tribes, languages, and nations will stare at their bodies. No one will be allowed to bury them. (Revelation 11:9And they of the people and kindreds and tongues and nations shall see their dead bodies three days and an half, and shall not suffer their dead bodies to be put in graves.
See All... NLT)

With every advance of technology we can see how this future Biblical event will become a reality.
But till that time, I will keep searching (as well as our UCG.org staff) in how to best use technology to fulfill the mission of the United Church of God of preaching the gospel to the whole world.
If you are curious about Google Glass and would like to learn more - here are some online resources.
What Can You Do with Glass?
Glass - What It Does
Glass Support
Glass Quick Start Guide