| Subcribe via RSS
Careful now … This one could give you whiplash. This completely blew my mind.
The following information has implications on how we do everything. Make no mistake about it.
Teachers: This is the world you’ll teach in.
Pastors: This is the world you’ll minister in.
Parents: This is the world you’ll parent in.
You: This is the world you will exist in.
Buckle up.
HT: Rhett Smith
Ellie Behling makes a great point over at the BrazenCareerist.com on "6 Hurdles to An All-Digital Workforce": "The clash is that Boomers and Gen Xers have spent their entire careers in extremely hierarchal structures where each step is defined and worked toward. Contrastingly, Gen Y has an attitude focused on group think, which is more suited for the online medium." Boomers or Gen Yers, do you agree? Disagree? What's keeping the U.S. from becoming an all-digital workplace?
December 2, 2008 | 1
This is the second post in our two-part interview with Anne Jackson of FlowerDust.net. You can read the first part here. Anne’s got a new book out, “Mad Church Disease“, which takes a look at church burn-out and the toll which ministry can take on individuals. Take a second and read from someone who gets the marriage of ministry and social media. Thanks for your words, Anne!
Be Deviant: What are the drawbacks of using social media and technology in ministry?
Anne Jackson: It’s addicting. For me, it’s easy to replace quiet and alone time with God with blogging about spiritual things or even counseling people online. It can be mentally and emotionally exhausting and I have nothing left to give God or my husband at the end of the day. So I’m trying build in more margin by leaving my laptop at the office some nights or leaving my phone home when we go out. It’s can be another distraction to our relationships and ministry rather than something that assists us.
BD: How can younger generations in church leadership who are “tech savvy” bridge the gap to older generations who may not be as digitally fluent? And conversely, how can older generations be open to the newer methods of ministry of a younger generation without sounding “cranky”?
AJ: I think it’s about keeping an open mind. I’ve seen a few people who are in older generations start using things like Facebook and Twitter and it’s been awesome, but it shouldn’t be an expectation those of us who are younger project on them. And in the same vein, older generations should be open to how younger generations are using and innovating in technology. We may have difficulty understanding why each generation is wired differently (no pun intended), but encouraging people to try new things without being forceful or rude would be a good way to begin discussions about technology and how it may help (or hurt) the church.
BD: It’s you and Larry King. You’re live. He asks, “Anne, what excites you most about the future of ministry and the integration of technology?” How do you answer?
I see technology as being the conduit between people who have resources and people who don’t. It is there to educate, to challenge, to call to action, and to support. In ten minutes, you can loan someone in India money to start a business or sponsor a child through Compassion International. You can purchase a pair of shoes for someone in Mexico. It makes generosity easy. Hopefully, it will also help challenge and educate people to be generous.
I think I just witnessed two people carrying on an affair.
Let me be clear, I don’t know this for a fact. It’s not like people who are in extramarital affairs run around wearing t-shirts that say, “The choice for me? Adultery!” It’s not that simple. I have no concrete proof for what I’m about to share, just a lot of circumstantial evidence. Bear with me.
The past few weeks after Monday morning coffee with a friend, a young couple has come in to the coffee shop we visit (Amici espresso). They both wear wedding rings. They seem to both work at the same place (same ID badge). They both enjoy their coffee. They like to share intimate details about their lives with one another (I’m not eavesdropping, I promise. It’s a small coffee shop and they literally sit down next to me. They don’t seem to be covert in what they’re discussing either.)
I can’t but overhear their discussion. They young woman will say, “So-and-so did this at the bar this weekend,” the young guy will reply, “Such-and-such is a slob and won’t pick up their stuff.” Normal, everyday stuff that you tell a co-worker on a Monday after a long weekend. Not stuff you would tell a spouse as if you hadn’t seen them in days. If they’re married to each other, they must go days and days without talking, all to catch up on a Monday morning in a coffee shop.
It’s not like what they’re telling each other is illicit, but it’s the way they say it to each other that makes me think they’re having an affair. The context of the conversation is off if they are indeed married to each other. But I don’t think they are. I think they’re married to other people and they’re having an affair with one another. A secret (or not so secret) coffee shop meeting; a rendezvous after work; a weekend trip disguised as a business outing.
There’s an intimacy at work in the way they address each other. An intimacy that needs to be reserved for their spouse and their spouse alone. They are playing with fire and they will get burned … Eventually. I can only imagine the rush of emotion of carrying on an affair: The secrecy, the lust-filled emotions, the emotional high of “pulling a fast one” on people. But I can’t help but wonder, what’s it going to feel like when they get caught?
I asked the question this morning on Twitter as this couple was next to me, “Do you say something to people who are having an affair, even if you don’t know them personally?” As you can imagine, I got quite a few colorful responses. What do you think?
The bottom line is this: If you’re having an affair, stop it. You may think you’re being discreet. You may think you’re being secret. But you’re not. You never know who listening (like a pastor with a blog, for instance). You may think it brings you life. You may think the other person “gets you,” but they don’t. They’re selfish. And so are you. You’ll destroy your life.
What am I thankful for?
Lastly, I’m thankful that I’m about to head out the door and stuff my face with Thanksgiving Day goodness with our blessed family.
Peace to you all. Happy Thanksgiving.
I told a story last week at Immersion that made people gasp. It spoke to the notorious stinginess of those who follow Jesus. I couldn’t tell if the gasps were “agreement gasps” (“Oh no you dih’int!”) or “horrified gasps” (In Sunday School, I once saw a little boy pick his nose and munch on his nasal treasure like it was a crisp, autumnal apple or a fistful of Cheetos. That was a horrified gasp moment). But they were gasps nonetheless.
I told the story of how when I used to work in the service industry, waiting tables, no one ever wanted to work Sunday morning brunch. I could never figure it out. Even the hardiest partier could drag themselves out of bed by 10am and paste on a “server smile”. Right?
“What gives?” I thought.
“It’s the Christians,” was the reply from my co-workers. “The Christians always come in on Sunday mornings for brunch after their church service and they don’t tip. At all. Christians are the worst tippers ever.”
When I heard that, it was like a kick in the gut.
Why?
Las Thursday I laid down the “Fat Tip Challenge.” The FTC asks you to lay down more than your normal tip next time you go out to eat. Usually put 10% down? Try 30%. Are you a 20% tipper? Bump it up to 50%. If you’re feeling really crazy, try a 80, 90, or 100% tip next time you dine out! Make up for all those lousy tips from other Christians throughout the years.
God says, “I own the cattle on a thousand hills.” As children of this great and generous God - the God who owns everything - can’t we afford to part with a few more of those tightly-pinched pennies? God can afford your generosity. So go on, be generous!
Are you a server with a tip (or non-tip) horror story? Let us hear you. C’mon … Let it out .
I went to sign up for another Twitter account today and this is what I saw:
It made me spell “farts”. Hee hee.
Update: My wife pointed out to me that not only does it say, “farts”, but “wholly farts.” If I have to tell you why this is funny … Well … Let’s just say not even this can bring a smile to your face.
T-shirts! Check out the link on the side. Now you too can own a piece of BeDeviant.com. Check out the shirts. They're ill. Just in time for Christmas! Huzzah!
November 23, 2008 | 0
I’m always looking for people in ministry who share my love for social media. People like Rhett Smith, Tony Steward, Cynthia Ware, and John “Human3rror” Saddington inspire me to dig deeper into what God is whispering through Web 2.0. New mediums like Twitter, Facebook, and UStream.tv, I believe, have yet to fully realize their potential. These people help me to see new ways in which they can be used.
A few weeks ago, I contacted Anne Jackson of FlowerDust.net. Anne’s another one of those “social media ministry” people who get it. She’s got a new book out, “Mad Church Disease“, which takes a look at church burn-out and the toll which ministry can take on individuals. She’s also a whiz at getting people to congregate on her blog. (Just take a look at the comment count on some of her posts!)
So, I asked Anne a bunch of questions. She answered them. I’ve split the interview into two parts. The first one is below and the second will come out later next week. Enjoy!
Anne Jackson Interview, Part 1
BeDeviant.com: First (and easiest) question, tell me about what you do right now: How did you get here? What do you do, specifically? Biographical stuff, etc.
Anne Jackson: Right now I am involved in a few things. I’m on staff at Cross Point Church in Nashville where I help protect our pastor’s schedule and time, do some communications stuff, and get to love on people. It’s been a fun journey in ministry over the last five years. I also write as much as I can, when I can and have a book coming out called Mad Church Disease, which discusses healing from the burnout epidemic in the church today. My husband and I live in Nashville.
BD: Tell me about the concept behind your blog. Why Flowerdust.net? If you were to boil down the purpose of your blog into a few sentences, what would it be?
AJ: It’s a community. In a way, I see it as a gathering place. I pay $6 a month to host it, share some ideas, and let the people who visit discuss them or put them into action. It’s kind of a hub for things in ministry, in the world, and life.
BD: How do you see the Church using social media (Twitter, Facebook, UStream.tv, MySpace, etc.) effectively? Ineffectively?
AJ: I think it can be used effectively by not putting any preconceived notions on it. Letting it go where it goes and influence who it influences, and not being concerned with being the biggest or best.
When churches, or the people who make up the church, care more about stats, link love, and stirring up controversy is when it’s being used poorly.
BD: Tell me a powerful or memorable story from your blog. In other words, how have you seen what you do through your blog change people’s lives? What is God up to?
AJ: Over the last year, somewhere in the realm of $125,000 has been donated or committed to charitable causes all by the actions of just a few hundred people. That is amazing. It has nothing to do with me, but again, just allowing people the space and opportunity to live out their faith is such an honor.
Part Two, coming soon!
Texas A &M Communications Professor Heidi Campbell says, "Ten years ago not everyone had e-mail accounts. Now most of us find it almost impossible to function without the Internet, whether it comes to banking or doing business or keeping up with friends.” She then goes on to suggest that we should expect no different when it comes to our religious lives. How have you found the macrocosm of the internet making its way into the microcosm of your church? Twitter? YouTube? Webcasting? Online campuses? Or, like Jonathan, are you finding it hard to even get your church to use Microsoft Word? How has the internet affected your religious life?
November 19, 2008 | 5
If you like our content and want the freshest stuff without always having to come back, just click the icon to your left and subscribe using your favorite feed reader.
