I was just reading about how Facebook is considering adding a feature that not only allows you to give your friends status updates, but will then tell your friends where you are at any given time.

Sounds all "hi-tech," right?

Yet I read the article and heard my mother's voice in my head saying, "DANGER!" I get that location updates can be a great way for businesses to advertise or friends to meet up, but it also opens up the door for predators to find you.

Not everyone is safe on the Internet, and sometimes you can be really careful, but your friends aren't. I know that teens today aren't as "private" as those who came before them, and social networking has diminished that need for privacy. Yet giving location updates to just about anyone can put us at risk.

So, what do you think? Is this a good idea? Does it sound really cool to you, or do you share my concerns about the feature? It's not confirmed yet that Facebook is going to add the location feature, but would you support it if they did or is the first thing you're going to do when they add it is fix your privacy settings so no one sees where you are?

Philippians 2:4 - "Do everything without complaining or arguing"" (NIV)

There are always things we have to do that we just can't stand. Really, how many of us enjoy taking our finals, bringing out the garbage, or cleaning our rooms? We'd all love the opportunity to party and have fun all day long. Yet we all have responsibilities.

It's easy to get bogged down by the negative side of our responsibilities, and often it comes out in the form of complaints that lead to arguments with family, teachers, youth leaders, etc. We all do it. We gripe or voice our displeasure. Yet God tells us that we need to move beyond complaining and learn to take our responsibilities seriously. Instead take the time to do those chores, study for those tests, and write those papers without a complaint. Soon you'll find that not complaining leaves you more time and energy to get those things done so you can really focus on more important things, like your relationship with God.

Sometimes we need a little fluff, right? If we take life too seriously and deny ourselves a little fun and laughter, well, then life becomes too serious. The Bible clearly shows us moments of joy and celebration. There were weddings, parades, dancing, and more. For some of us there are the Oscars to enjoy the frivolous fun that Hollywood can sometimes provide.

Does that mean we should take the Oscars too seriously? No. The key in this situation is to not lose our balance when it comes to enjoying a bit of fluff in a life of honoring God. There are lessons involving gluttony and excesses that Hollywood puts on parade that evening. Diamonds that most of us could never afford grace the red carpet, women starve themselves to fit into dresses, and money that could be used to feed the poor or house the homeless is instead poured into one night of glamour. Yet there are heartwarming moments when we see people who came up from nothing achieving their dreams, thanking God, and trying to use their celebrity for good.

So, as in most of our life situations, there is always a need to look at situations with a sense of balance.

According to the Detroit Free Press, Christian teens from 215 metropolitan Detroit youth groups are fasting for 30 hours in order to help those in need by raising funds. The students range from 7th to 12th grade, and the idea is to raise money for World Vision, a Chrisitan relief group.

The youth groups in Detroit are not the only ones participating. Over 500,000 youth worldwide will participate, and the group expects to raise over $12 million during the 30-Hour Famine. So, while fasting is a useful tool in reinforcing your own faith, it can also be a helpful spiritual discipline to keep our eyes on those around us who may not have our privileges.