Hacking a computer

There is an old saying that goes like this, "Into every life a little rain
must fall." Well, it rained on me this week! Someone hacked into my web
pages and set up a Phishing scam in the program. The first I knew of it was
when my Web Hosting Company shut down my sites for a violation of their
rules. After an hour or so on the phone I did manage to get my email address
restored, however my website is no longer there. So, I begin again
rebuilding the websites. I probably needed to do this again anyway. I
actually hired a company to design my website the last time, but they are
not responding to my inquires, so it looks like I am on my own.

One thing you learn, if you have been on the Internet very long, is that at
some point something bad is going to happen. If you don't get hacked by some
pirates, you get spammed or your identity stolen or your hard drive crashes
or something similar. Much of my effort in the past has gone into trying to
be secure from those types of problems. I have Anti-Viral programs, spam
filters, and spyware detector programs. I back up all of my work regularly
on CD's and contract with an online company to keep a backup of my entire
computer and every email I receive is checked before it is opened on my
computer.

The question is I guess is: Do I feel safe concerning my computer and
information? As I write this, a spyware detector is running on my computer,
so the reality of it is no I don't.

Isn't it great however that there are some things about which we never have
to worry, that we can actually feel safe? Yes it is! My wife and I won a Hot
Air Balloon trip recently and we took it this week. A friend asked, "Did you
pray before you went up?" To which I responded, "No, we are ready to go
(die) at anytime!"

Granted there are lots of things we still want to do and see in this life
and we wouldn't choose to leave this earth right now, but if it happens,
it's OK, because we are ready. We feel safe! We don't have to worry about
any hackers or spyware concerning our faith! By not worrying, I don't mean
that we aren't concerned or that we don't take precautions! The apostle Paul
tells us about preparing and taking precautions in Ephesians 6:10-18. Notice
what he says:

"Finally, be strong in the Lord and in his mighty power. Put on the full
armor of God so that you can take your stand against the devil's schemes.
For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers,
against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against
the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms. Therefore put on the
full armor of God, so that when the day of evil comes, you may be able to
stand your ground, and after you have done everything, to stand. Stand firm
then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist, with the breastplate
of righteousness in place, and with your feet fitted with the readiness that
comes from the gospel of peace. In addition to all this, take up the shield
of faith, with which you can extinguish all the flaming arrows of the evil
one. Take the helmet of salvation and the sword of the Spirit, which is the
word of God. And pray in the Spirit on all occasions with all kinds of
prayers and requests. With this in mind, be alert and always keep on praying
for all the saints."

So, if you want to stand strong, if you want to avoid getting "Spiritually
Hacked," put on the full armor of God! Then, when someone asks if you are
afraid to die, you can truthfully say, NO!

Russ Lawson, Messages From The Heart

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