Gavin has some great thoughts on tech in worship here. His point about having a personal relationship is something, I’ve been thinking a lot about. On Twitter, I initially tried to limit myself to following friends – people I have real-life connections with. But, about the same time I started following Wil Wheaton’s blog, and soon after began following him on twitter. I enjoyed his blog, and figured I’d also like to see what he has to say on the other platform. From there I began to follow other “celebrities” – Greg Grunberg, John Cleese, LeVar Burton, and Rainn Wilson.
I began to follow them because something about their careers interested me (which is why I didn’t follow people like Britney Spears or Shaq), and I noticed by reading their updates I became more interested in what they were doing, because I felt like I had some sort of “inside scoop” to their lives. But soon the novelty began to wear off and I paired down my celebrity twitter following to Wil and Greg – Wil because he’s pretty funny and someone I relate to, and Greg because he consistently puts up interesting stuff (ie behind the scenes photos on the set of “Heroes”).
All of which is to say that Gavin’s right on in his analysis of social media and ministry. There has to be an initial “pull” beyond the medium itself – people aren’t looking for a podcast from a church in Grand Rapids, they are looking to hear Rob Bell, as he points out. But the media, if used properly can help deepen and develop those relationships (ie I first found out about Rob Bell through the Nooma videos, and from there started listening to the podcasts, but because of the podcasts, I’m more invested in the videos).
As he puts it:

truth is, if you are wanting to reach out, what you are generally only doing is ‘speaking out’ and with todays cultural and generation values, that just doesn’t cut it anymore. no one cares to get involved in a one sided conversation.

so when you are talking up or talking about how to use technology to reach out of your church. remember these thoughts. just taking what ever is created within your church walls and then broadcasted out for people to hear is just lame. figure out a way, commit to doing, some things that truly engage people in a conversation.

Blessed are you, O Lord, for you have not chosen to put my judgment in others’ hands, nor even in mine, but have reserved that for your own, and you’ve freed me from me, and from needing to sit in judgment on myself (which judgment, forced from my own intellect, could be nothing less than condemnation)—but you have reserved me to your mercy, because you love me more than I can love myself.
—Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz (1648-1695), A prayer within her defense of her right, even as a woman, to debate theology.
via

here’s a little play list i put together for today, some of the songs have meaning, others i just felt like listening to…

1. Flight Test – The Flaming Lips
2. I’m Amazed – My Morning Jacket
3. It’s A Shame About Ray – The Lemonheads
4. Constructive Summer – The Hold Steady
5. Light & Day / Reach For The Sun – The Polyphonic Spree
6. Five Get Over Excited – The Housemartins [Reminds me of the year I spent in Hull, where this band was from]
7. Waiting For The Great Leap Forward – Billy Bragg
8. Steve’s Hammer (For Pete) – Steve Earle
9. One Thing Real – Dan Bern [Story on Dan here]
10. You! Me! Dancing! – Los Campesinos!
11. Love Shack – The B-52’s [Cosmic Thing came out shortly before I turned 16 and started driving, it’s one of those tapes that I’d drive around listening to again and again]
12. Common People – Pulp
13. So What’cha Want – The Beastie Boys
14. U-Mass – The Pixies [When I was doing college radio one of my favorite combination of songs was the cold end on “So What’cha Want” and that great guitar into to “U-Mass”, I usually ran a tight board so it worked well (at least in my opinion)]
15. Waiting Room – Fugazi [Another song I associate with college radio]
16. Indian Summer – Luna [I really do enjoy music released in this decade, I guess I’m just choosing not to listen to much of it today]
17. Section 26: We Crawl – The Polyphonic Spree
18. Don’t Stop Believin’ – Petra Haden [Just because when Petra does these a capella covers they are so entertaining]
19. Tables And Chairs – Andrew Bird [“There will be snacks…”]
20. It’s The End Of The World As We Know It – R.E.M.
21. We’re Going to Be Friends – The White Stripes
22. Without A Trace – Soul Asylum [Soul Asylum was the first rock concert I attended, Vic Chesnutt opened]
23. Stratford-On-Guy – Liz Phair
24. U2 – Negativland [“I know it’s around here somewhere, but I still have found it…”]
25. Rainbow Connection – Willie Nelson
26. Von – Sigur Ros
27. King James Version – Billy Bragg [A very good song, but I especially love the first line, “He was trapped in a haircut he no longer believed in”]
28. Hoover Dam – Blue Sugar
29. Stay Positive – The Hold Steady
30. Thou Shalt Always Kill – Dan Le Sac vs Scroobius Pip [This is a song I know I shouldn’t enjoy, but I do]
31. Thursday – Morphine
32. Another Sunny Day – Belle & Sebastian
33. All In Good Time – Pierce Pettis
34. One More Circle – Peter Mayer
35. Thank You Friends – Big Star

Rock over London. Rock on Chicago. Weaties, breakfast of champions.
-m

neither one of us is sure on the exact date, but i believe today marks the tenth anniversary of a certain toga party, that took place in evanston. it was at this party that i told my friend, abby about my interest in a friend of hers – beautiful, young woman from michigan. as the evening progressed, i found out she had a similar interest in me.

on that particular night we kissed for the first time, and have been kissing ever since. thank you, amy, for ten amazing years of laughter and love.

Mike Slaughter has some thoughts on the church as discipleship vs. cruise ship here.
And I love this idea from Small Ritural (via Jordon Cooper) here.

Seth Godin has some great thoughts on dealing with difficult (but not stupid) people here.

jim wallis has some great thoughts on palin’s comments about community organizers here.

this past week some fellow ministry-types organized our first family camp for ministry professionals. jeff and bridget have a great summary, and maybe i’ll get to posting some thoughts of my own (in addition to acting on a few other ideas that i’ve brought away from the week), but in the meantime, here is a little reflection i put together from the week:

emmaus echoes
resound in my soul

companions –
conversing
contemplating
considering
all that had happened
sharing stories
and memories
of miracles and of the messiah
of blessings and of the betrayal
of companions and the cross

a couple of Christ-followers
talking, walking,
retreating, returning
receiving,
welcoming
a stranger in their midst
(but one they know so well)
revealed
in the sharing of story
in the breaking of bread

emmaus echoes
resound in my soul
knowing Christ still comes
in campfire conversations
and beach-side beauty
in mealtime memories
both shared
and being made

christ still comes
sometimes without realization
as strangers become friends
as companions
laugh, talk
complain, cry

christ still comes
and community is formed
in this humble
grace-filled gathering
where love reigns supreme

emmaus echoes
resound in my soul
as the children played
were not our hearts burning within us?
as the preachers preached
were not our hearts burning within us?
as good food fed our bodies,
and conversation fed our souls
were not our hearts burning within us?

emmaus echoes
resound in my soul
and I am thankful
for Christ-like community
extended,
encountered,
experienced
each and every day.