THE DANGER OF LONELINESS
Social Media Paradox is a term coined by some psychologists to describe how online activities have made us more connected than ever before and yet moreAmericans report feeling lonelier and more isolated than ever before.
Asurvey conducted by Cigna, the health insurer, found that more than half ofAmericans (54%) feel alone and isolated at least some of the time with those ages 18-37 (Millennials and Generation Z) being the loneliest of all demographics.
Douglas Nemecek, MD, Cigna’s chief medical officer for behavioral health, said that loneliness has become an epidemic. It has the same impact on mortality as smoking 15 cigarettes a day, making loneliness even more dangerous than obesity.
Former Surgeon General Vivek H. Murthy said that during his years of caring for patients, the most common pathology he saw was not heart disease or diabetes; it was loneliness.
He said, “Loneliness is a growing health epidemic. We live in the most technologically connected age in the history of civilization, yet rates of loneliness have doubled since the 1980s.”
This is the problem, and most of us are aware of it. What, then, is the solution?
According to clinical psychologist Joseph Burgo, people have a basic need to feel a sense of “belonging.” Engaging with others through social media can undermine those feelings.
“… God has said, ‘I will never fail you. I will never abandon you.’ So we can say with confidence, ‘The Lord is my helper, so I will have no fear....’”
~ Hebrews 13:5-6 (NLT) ~
God has always had the remedy for us. It has always been a real-life face-to-face connection with others. For the Christian, it must begin with a real, daily connection to Jesus Christ. His promise to us is that he will always be with us. That no matter what no matter our failures no matter our fears he will be with us. He will never abandon us. Not in the middle of life’s struggles. Not in the middle of dead-end jobs. Not in the middle of a struggling marriage. Not in the middle of raising children. Not in the middle of the ICU room in the hospital. Not in the middle of the mortuary making final plans none of us want to make. Jesus is here and promises to be our helper. Never alone. Never lonely. He Is Here!
The second part of God’s remedy to loneliness is a place to belong. We do have that sense of “belonging.” People are created by God with a need to belong.
“… you are members of God’s very own family, citizens of God’s country, and you belong in God’s household with every other Christian.”
~ Ephesians 2:19 (TLB) ~That family is the church. Our objective as the church God’s people is to provide such a place to those in our community. The church is not a building. It is comprised of followers of Jesus. It is people. It is you and me doing life together in a broken world offering hope and companionship to broken people in this broken world.
It is not that we are perfect. It is that we have a relationship with the one who is: Jesus. We find our loneliness resolved in him. We find in solitude our time alone connecting with Jesus the ability to participate in his family the church. There we find true community. We find we are never alone. He Is Here!
Blessings on your week. Make an effort to remind yourself on a regular basis that you are never alone that Jesus is with you. Looking forward to seeing you this coming Sunday for In-Person or Online Worship. I will conclude my sermon series: AForty Day Journey: Knowing Jesus looking at He Is Here!
Pastor Terrell
“Our language... has created the word “loneliness” to express the pain of being alone. And it has created the word “solitude” to express the glory of being alone.”
~ Paul Tillich, The Eternal Now
ScheduleforSundayMay21,2023:
Ruth Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #202
The Saints Class @ 9:00 AM in Room #201
Prayer Room opens @ 9:00 AM Room #206
Preschool Worship opens in KID CITY @ 10:15 AM
Morning Worship In-Person & Online @ 10:30 AM in Worship Center
Kidz4Christ dismissed during Morning Worship
Schedulefortherestoftheweek,May22-May27,2023:
Thursday@ 6:00 PM Bible Study and Prayer Meeting in Fellowship Hall
PLEASENOTE: Women’s Bible Study has concluded until August.
Men’s Bible Study is cancelled for this week … will begin again on May 30th, just after Memorial Day, @ 10:00 AM in Room #202.
Deacon
MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND IS COMING UP!
CHURCH OFFICE IS CLOSED ON MONDAY, MAY 29, 2023.
Men’s Shoot
Saturday, June 3rd
Cost: $15.00
8:00 AM: Carpool from Church parking lot Travel to Orme Rd off Hwy 169, Dewey
8:30 AM—12:30 PM: Time on the Range
Then, Pizza Lunch @ Guido’s in Dewey
~ Cost covers payment for our host and lunch ~ Sign up Sheet in Church Foyer
NEW MEMBERS CONNECTING SEMINAR
Attend this Seminar taught by Pastor Terrell for a basic introduction to our church family. It will be an All-in-One-Day Class on Sunday, June 4th beginning at 2:30 PM - dinner included. Register on your Connection Card.
2820 N. Pleasant View Drive
Prescott Valley, AZ 86314 928-772-7218
fsbcpv@firstsouthernpv.org
www.firstsouthernpv.org
Church Office Hours:
Monday - Thursday, 8:30AM - 2:30PM
Senior Pastor Terrell Eldreth: 619-244-6265
PastorTerrell@firstsouthernpv.org
Worship Pastor Bart Young 928-254-8713
PastorBart@firstsouthernpv.org
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TO RECEIVE OUR WEEKLY NEWSLETTER THROUGH YOUR EMAIL SIMPLY MARK THE FRONT OF YOUR CONNECTION CARD.
THIS IS A GREAT WAY TO RECEIVE CURRENT INFORMATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS.
Offerings and Connection Cards will be collected in the Offering Boxes located just inside the two main entrances into our Worship Center, as well as in the Office Hallway.
