Just finished listening to Rob Bell’s message, “One Mind” focused on Phil 2:1-4.
Excellent.
I could probably write a lot about it but I may use some of it for our community group tonight so I’ll save it for now.
I edited down the ending though. It’s about a 10 minute clip and well worth the listen (or you can listen to the full message here):
[audio:http://www.casadeblundell.com/jonathan/wp-content/uploads/mars-hill-one-mind-rob-bell-edit.mp3]If Robert Scoble is right and Facebook is blocking Google search bots for a reason far more reaching than just “user privacy” and Microsoft is planning a new buyout of both Yahoo and Facebook (can someone else buy Flickr and del.icio.us first?) which will lead to a more closed Internet, would it not make more sense for churches and other organizations to begin building their own online social networks based on an open social platform?
I know I’m not ever a big fan of “Christian ghettos” but does it not make more sense now for churches and organizations to offer open networks where their members, friends and family can share in an online social network without the threat of Corporation M or Corporation S mining all their personal information in an effort to sell loads of targeted advertising to each user?
And if churches do begin to offer their own social networks without the threat of advertising and they become super successful, how will the infrastructure to support these sites be paid for? Will churches have to resort to more pleads for money from the church itself or will the online networks begin fund raising drives like Wikipedia does – or maybe even “pledge-a-thons” like your favorite local Christian radio station or NPR?
And if churches do begin to offer their own social networks, will we allow members to transfer their profile, information and such to other church networks if they decide to leave the physical church body as well?
Could these same questions, ideas work for other organizations, non-profits, schools and such like UMHB or DCCCD?
Just thinking out loud. Would love to continue the conversation via this blog, twitter or wherever (preferably in a public forum). What are your thoughts, questions?
Well the Dallas Stars lost — another Dallas team fell short of the championship after making it to the playoffs. I should say I’m mortified, saddened, in a state of disbelief – but I think I’ve lost some of my competitive nature and/or just lost interest in most professional sports. In fact I’ve probably lost any real interest in just about every professional sport other than the Dallas Cowboys and maybe the Green Bay Packers (although that’s now diminished a lot since Brett Favre retired).
Thought I’d go back and check up on my “things in the fire list from last week.”
Let’s see…
* …finally finished uploading over 1700 photos to Flickr for the CWF. – CHECK
* …added several new videos to GodTube as well. – CHECK
* …plan to add several more videos to GodTube and probably YouTube. – FAILED
* …hope to build a new light box for our lights at encounter. – “DELEGATED” TO ANOTHER VOLUNTEER – CHECK
* …hope to finish a keepsake box I started for Laurie as a wedding gift (long story there…) – CHECK
* …plan to launch the new encounterthis.com around midnight tonight if not before. – CHECK
* …tomorrow is a men’s event for SniperInstinct – a cool blending of outdoor paintball and laser tag. – CHECK
* …finish updating the HTML files for various degree plans for work. – CHECK
New things on my plate…
I think we finally decided on a name for the pending podcast that Thomas and I are working on. I think we’re going with “Something Beautiful – conversations with ordinary radicals.” Now we just have to figure out some of the logistics in setting up interviews and such with a six hour time difference between us. The name comes from Brian McLaren’s Everything Must Change:
If we believe, we can be transformed into agents of something beautiful that is trying to be born in our world. We can be caught up in the unfolding, emergent, spiraling process of God giving birth to a beautiful whole, the Kingdom of God.
Thoughts? Our idea for the podcast is a unique blend of This American Life & All Things Considered on NPR with a focus on “ordinary radicals” and those finding ways to live their life based on the Third Way of Jesus. We’ll primarily focus on those ordinary folks who as Acts says, “have been with Jesus.” Maybe we’ll get lucky and get a few “celebrities” along the way but we’re really interested in hearing and seeing how the Jones’ are putting the teachings of Jesus into real life application. So if you have ideas for a topic or show, let us know.
Also, I finally ordered a couple new books from Amazon today – Pagan Christianity? and A Christianity Worth Believing. I wish I had been one of the lucky ones to get a PDF copy of Doug Pagitt’s A Christianity Worth Believing, so I could blog about the book and review it right away – but then again folks may have gotten upset when I printed the entire book out on my home or work printer.
I’m looking forward to starting both reads – now I just have to figure out which to start with.
Well that’s about it. I thought I’d wait up a bit to see if Thomas wakes up in time for us to do a little pre-podcast Skyping/recording. If not – no biggie we’ll catch each other on the flipside.
Well I have to say – I was very apprehensive about getting a BlackBerry when Laurie originally suggested it to me a couple months back. For one – they didn’t seem to have many of the of the features and options I wanted in a phone. And two – every time I had looked at data plans in the past – the cost was just too outrageous. But after close to a month of use with my BlackBerry Curve – 8310 I’m sold. Granted our data plans aren’t near as cheap in the U.S. as they are in the U.K. – but they’re a lot cheaper now than they used to be.
After searching for a better browser to use on my BlackBerry (aka CrackBerry) I thought I’d put together a list of some of the software I’ve added to my device to make my day so much easier.
Well that’s about it for now – minus a couple random games I’ve found for free. But as the list grows I’ll try and remember to come back and update this list as well. I found a great app the other day that also uses the phone’s built in GPS to guide you to your parked car in the parking lot. May have to get that a bit latter as well.
The only feature I’d really want to add/change would be built-in Wi-Fi. The feature comes with some of the higher-end models so I’m hoping that when the time comes to upgrade (2 years from now) it will be common place for sure.
What software/hacks are you using most?
Tim Conder (Emmaus Way) and Doug Pagitt (Solomon’s Porch) talk about Pagitt’s new book, “A Christianity Worth Believing” on the new Homebrewed Christianity.
From Amazon:
A Christianity Worth Believing
A Christianity Worth Believing offers an engaging, ‘come-with-me-on-a-journey-of-exploring-the-possibilities’ approach to what it means to be a follower of Jesus in our day. Written by Doug Pagitt—a leading voice in the Emergent conversation—this beautifully written book weaves together theological reflections, Christian history, and his own story of faith transformation.
Pagitt invites readers to follow him as he tells the story of his un-churched childhood, his life-altering conversion at age 16, his intense involvement in the church, and his growing sense of unease with the version of Christianity he was living. On page after page, Pagitt lays out his journey toward an authentic, passionate expression of a faith that feels alive, sustainable, and meaningful.
A Christianity Worth Believing is for the growing numbers of people who have serious and thoughtful questions about Christianity, who have lived for years with deep-seated wondering and doubts about their faith. Pagitt points the way to a new kind of faith by asking the “off-limits” questions about God, Jesus, sin, the Bible, humanity, church, and the Kingdom of God. Rather than rehashing old debates, he offers new insights, provocative possibilities, and hopeful alternatives.
In A Christianity Worth Believing you may well discover questions you didn’t think you could ask, ideas you didn’t think you could pursue, beliefs you didn’t think you could hold onto. Ultimately you will discover a Christianity worth believing.
“We want to create a sense of community, particularly that which will included those who are marginalized…We try to help them discover what does ‘good news mean for them’. Whatever that is we try to work for that. For some it might mean providing friendship… it may mean providing support groups… it may involve literacy training… or a co-op for generating income… or an advocacy group.”
– Dave Andrews of the Australian Waiters Union
via Nick & Josh Podcast