Death of an enemy

US Propaganda leaflet
US propaganda leaflet against Osama Bin Laden | Via WikiCommons

Last night just before heading to bed, I checked in with Twitter and saw a friend re-tweet from @USABreakingNews that Osama Bin Laden was killed. I checked for other mentions and quickly tuned in to CNN and then ABC as my Twitter stream filled with similar comments.

Laurie and I waited for 45 minutes or so before President Obama made the announcement himself, confirming that America’s Most Wanted man had been killed earlier in the day by US Special Forces.

As I watched my Twitter feed, I was struck by how different the responses were from so many of my friends.
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Hit parade

Amazon always seems to have some super great deals going on with their MP3 Albums.

This month (or what remains of it) is no different.

I checked in this morning and noticed a number of awesome Greatest Hits albums available for only $5!

Check out some of the selection:
Continue reading Hit parade

Libraries of tomorrow

Library, Hermitage of st Bernardine, Stroud, NSW | Photo by Friar's Balsam

A random thought/idea came to me today.

Last year Amazon began allowing loaning books between Kindle users. In addition they just announced (this week I believe) that libraries will now be able to purchase Kindle versions, for patrons to borrow and read on any Kindle enabled device.

(FREE software is available to read Kindle books on iPhone, iPad, Windows PC, Mac, Blackberry, Android and Windows Phone devices.)

You can loan a book to anyone with an e-mail address via the Kindle Manager (as long as the publisher has enabled lending).

So as I was thinking about how this might be an awesome avenue for sharing ideas and material with not just my friends next door, but my friends across the pond, I started thinking…
Continue reading Libraries of tomorrow

Acid trips and Jesus

The Jesus Revolution
The Jesus Revolution | Time Magazine Cover (June 21, 1971)

I found a great video interview with God’s Squad Christian Motorcycle Club and Concern Australia/Global Concern founder John Smith (via The Work of the People) on Vimeo the other day and then found this second video in which he chats about the influence of the Jesus Movement over the church.

“God met that generation of freaks in the middle of their Acid trips because the church was not listening to their heart…”

“So have I got hope? Man I’ve lived through seeing when they all said God was dead and then seeing God reach hippies in the middle of the Adirondacks – sure I’ve got hope!”

What I find interesting about this interview is that John Smith seems to touch on the idea that people come to God in all sorts of ways — with, or without the church — something Rob Bell also spent a chapter discussing in Love Wins.

My family had a discussion on this same topic over lunch Easter Sunday, discussing how they recently heard a missionary sharing dreams are becoming a big deal in the Middle East. According to the missionary, a number of people he’s met are seeing Jesus appear to them in dreams and they’re starting to follow him based not on a clear sermon from the pulpit, not from a missionary coming from overseas — but based on a dream or series of dreams. Fascinating!

What do you think?

When you look at the Church are you more hope-filled or hope-less?

BONUS: Here’s the 1st video:

A song that you can play on an instrument – The 30 Day Song Challenge

30 day song challenge

day 26 – a song that you can play on an instrument

Easy….

With or Without You by U2… I can play it on the guitar, bass guitar and piano/keyboard.

Which means I can also play Glycerin by Bush, Cryin’ by Aerosmith, Basket Case by Green Day and Machine Head by Bush…

And a number of other songs with the exact same chord progression.

What about you? Got another list of songs you can play with the same chord progression? (hint: G, C, D can play most worship songs from the 90’s)