journal : : field notes
The tortoise wins...
I'm no techie, but I'm going to stick my neck out there and make a tech prediction:
Facebook has won the social networking war.
MySpace won the initial battle over media content, allowing for anyone to post videos, picture slideshows, etc.
Facebook took the slow, gradual approach, focusing on the relational/networking aspect of their site. Now that anyone can join, they have just recently introduced a whole host of 'applications' that allow you to include video, file sharing, photos, trip planning, music sharing, concert info, etc. They also let you incorporate your 30 boxes account, twitter, and a bunch of other Web 2.0 goodies.
Here's why Facebook has won: They've done it all sensibly, cleanly, professionally.
MySpace threw a ton of stuff to the wall, allowed smutty ads to litter the already cluttered screen, and let the user try to wade through all the junk.
All that's left is for Facebook to allow for a simple, innovative way to personalize the look of your profile page, and Rupert Murdoch loses the war for social networking supremacy (nice).
I don't think this means that other social networking sites won't have a role.
VIRB is a great option for a more artsy/media type crowd (
my VIRB profile).
Twitter is great for those who like to legally stalk their friends. But I think it provides a nice little lesson: Even in today's rapidly changing world, the carefuly, wise, and strategic still wins.
But then again,
Rupert Murdoch basically controls the sun, the moon, and the stars, so I'm probably wrong. Regardless, stick it to the man and ditch mySpace.
(You can find me on facebook
HERE.)
There's gotta be a lesson for the church somewhere in here...
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
In continuing my reading on Islam, I thought it would be interesting to find out more about
The Nation of Islam. So I picked up
The Autobiography of Malcolm X
. Fascinating, fascinating read...very enlightening for this middle-class white midwesterner.
A few thoughts struck me:
--Malcolm X's break with the Nation of Islam for embracing a more orthodox Islam, and, a more positive view of white people was gripping.
--Malcolm X's description of life in the ghettos of urban American gave me a much better understanding of the plight of African Americans.
--Malcolm X's critique of 'white man's Christianity' hurt, but he was true on many (not all) points. Malcolm rejected Christianity because he saw in it merely a sanitized form of racism against blacks. To him, African-Americans simply bought the religion of White America, with it's message of love, tolerance, and passivity. The result was deeper entrenched prejudice and segregation. Look around on an Sunday morning. Churches are the most segregated segment of society.
It could be said that Malcolm himself advocated his own form of segregation, seeking a nation of black muslims. But even I would agree that his view of segregation was a more equal form than that of Christianity in civil rights America.
--This led me to a thought that has haunted Christian scholars of Islam for centuries: What if Mohammed had been exposed to authentic, orthodox Christianity? The evidence is very strong that Mohammed interacted with many Christians in his lifetime. The problem: they were all blatantly heretical sects of Christianity. Mohammed never encountered orthodox Christianity. Likewise: What if Malcolm X had been exposed to authentic, orthodox Christianity void of the racism and prejudice?
I realized I'm stretching the analogy here, but look at the state of the American Christian Church in Malcolm X's day (and, in some ways, today). He saw Christians as hypocrites. They claimed to follow Jesus, but their lives (and their politics) betrayed those claims. Now, I'm not naive enough to think that Malcolm X was never exposed to orthodox Christianity, but it begs the question: If white 'Christians' hadn't killed his father...if white 'Christian' teachers hadn't told him he would never amount to anything...if white 'Christians' hadn't beaten, subjugated, and oppressed his people...would his take on Christianity be different?
Only mere speculation, but yet one could also observe implications for many assumptions in missiology. A popular and relatively recent trend in the theology/practice of mission is adhering to the
Homogeneous Unit Principle. Essentially, it's the idea that the the missionary task must seek to plant churches within each distinct ethnic/people group in the world.
I essentially agree. To ask a Basque person to attend a Spaniard church is problematic. There are cultural, linguistic, and political hurdles. Yet, the concept of a unique church for every people group has its own pitfalls: an ethnically segregated, non-unified global church that is ethnocentric to its core.
I provide no solutions here; just thinking out loud. Malcolm X's description of his pilgrimage to Mecca seemed helpful. He saw people of every color and language walking together. Naturally, of course, they organized themselves in groups of their own kind. But they were walking this spiritual journey together.
It's sad to think that he didn't see that in Christianity. I believe the Homogeneous Unit Principle done well can achieve this. But I'm afraid in America's 'melting pot', we're failing.
(Rabbit trail finished)
Thoughts?
Labels: church, islam, malcolm x, missiology
It's about empowerment, not just handouts. . .
I firmly believe that the key to eliminating extreme poverty is empowering the poor. I'm not opposed to handouts; I probably have a more favorable view of handouts than most people. I believe most people justify not dropping a dollar in the homeless man's coffee cup not because of how he might spend it, but because we love our dollar too much to part with it. The 'they'll just spend it on booze' rationale, while possibly true, is all too convenient.
I digress...When given the choice between empowering the poor or just handing out something, I'll choose empowerment. Empowerment acknowledges that the poor really do have the skills, the drive, and the ability to lift themselves out of poverty.
With that said, check out
KIVA. You provide the money in the form of a microloan direct (well, through Kiva) to a businessperson in the 1/3 world of your choice. You get regular updates on the growth of the business, and the lender repays the loan (again, through Kiva) to you in small bits. You can either withdraw your funds, and know that they were used to empower someone in the 1/3 world, or you can continue to reinvest the money into other loan opportunities.
Consider the impact a mere $100 might have. You could continually reloan that money and empower scores of small business entrepreneurs. Your $100 could help 10 or more families rise up and make poverty history in their own lives.
Or, of course, you can spend the $100 at the mall. Your choice...
Labels: justice, kiva, mircolending, poverty
Recent Reads...
I'm way behind on my book reviews, but the beauty of a blog is that there are no deadlines.
Mudhouse Sabbath, by Lauren Winner
Great lil' read on how Jewish elements of faith can inform and correct Christian spirituality. Great writing, yet very readable.
Flirting with Monasticism, by Karen Sloan
An interesting look into Catholic Monasticism by a evangelical/emerging/presbyterian. Nothing too deep or profound here, but a nice primer on the movement. As a guy, I found the 'love story' that weaves the book together to be a bit too much, but it does provide the metaphor for the author's entire experience with monasticism.
Daughters of Islam: Building Bridges with Muslim Women, by Miriam Adeney
I read this book for an Islam class I'm currently taking. If you are looking for a helpful perspective on ministry to Muslim women, this is THE book to start with. Full of stories that cover the depth, breadth, and diversity of a woman's life the Muslim world, anyone working with Muslims would benefit from reading this book. Since I don't have any interaction with Muslims at present, I found the book very interesting, but hard to apply at present.
Christianity at the Religious Roundtable, by Timothy Tennent
Written by the prof for my Islam class, this is a great in depth look into the differences in worldviews of the world's major religions. Set up at a hypothetical 'roundtable,' I was initially skeptical. Too often in such hypotheticals, the author usually panders down to caricatures and straw men fallacies of the opposing viewpoints. Tennent is extremely careful to represent every angle fairly and with respect. For those of us isolated here in America from Buddhists, Hindus, and Muslims, this is a great look into what sort of respectful, engaging conversations Christians would (and should) have with other religions.
Blood Brothers, by Elias Chacour
Having spent 4 months in the Holy Land in college, I'm fairly sensitive to the Israeli/Palestinian conflict. I've come to a few conclusions about how Christians should view the issue:
1. Don't make a judgment until you go and see the land and get to know the people personally.
2. Understand that the issue is vastly more complex than you or I can imagine.
3. Read Blood Brothers.
4. Pray for PEACE, for crying out loud!
5. Don't let bad eschatology inform your view.
Blood Brothers is absolutely essential reading for Christians who think they have their view on the Israeli/Palestinian situation figured out. Written from the perspective of a Palestinian Christian, it's a voice that is often silenced in the debate. So often we frame this issue as a Jewish vs. Muslim issue. We forget that there is a Christian Arab minority that deserves more support from global Christianity than either 'major player'. I'll stop my rant here before I get all worked up... Read this book. It's a sane, Spirit-filled voice for PEACE and reconciliation in the land.
If I had 10 thumbs (that would be freaky) I'd put them all up in favor of this book.
Labels: books, islam, judaism, monasticism, peace, world religions
Why watch The Office?
Though season 3 is done...I encourage you to catch up on
The Office via DVD, iTunes, or reruns throughout the summer. The Office is one of the few small glimmers of hope left when it comes to television. Why? Read
THIS. It sums it up best (warning: there are some veiled references that might be spoilers for newbies)
Good television. Watch good television.
Labels: burnside writers collective, television, the office
There's this girl...
...who grew up the youngest of four in the rural midwest. She attended Anderson University to study marketing/business. She quickly rose to the top of her class in the business school, and was offered prestigious internships that would allow her the opportunity to climb the corporate ladder faster than most women. Doors were opening all over to 'success'.
She turned them all down, giving it up to follow Jesus and love people, not money.
Her freshman year at Anderson, she met this guy. He couldn't believe her purity of heart, her striking beauty, and her love for God. He certainly didn't deserve her affection, but for some strange reason, she was interested. They dated all through college, spent a semester
studying in Israel, and were married on May 18, 2002. They packed up, moved to Denver, where she sacrificially worked long hours to put her husband through
grad school. Near the end of their season in Denver, she gave birth to a beautiful boy
Benjamin. About a year and a half ago, the happy family moved back to
her home town, to serve in
church ministry and be closer to family. She just completed massage therapy school so that she can be the healing hands of Jesus to people in need of comfort and stress-relief. She's journeying through the emotionally brutal process of
adopting a baby girl from Guatemala, because her heart breaks for the orphans in the world.
Today marks their five year wedding anniversary. Their five years of marriage haven't always been easy. They've had more than their fair share of
tragedy and
trials, but this woman clung to her Lord through thick and thin, cares for her family, and is a powerful example of a woman after God's own heart. She's compassionate, merciful, loving, kind, gracious, and wise beyond her 27 years.
I'm the guy lucky enough to be married to her.
Bekah, happy 5 year anniversary; the best 5 years of my life. I love you...
(p.s. She's going to hate that I gushed over her like this on my blog, but as they say in marriage: "It's easier to ask for forgiveness than permission.") Labels: marriage, personal
The Least of These...
I'm preaching in a month on
The Sheep and the Goats (Matt. 25:31-46).
Gulp.
Any thoughts? How does a pastor handle a text like this with authenticity and faithfulness? In middle class America? Any resources you would recommend?
Aside: I feel sorry for goats today, who are forever tagged by Christendom with the stigma of being unkind.
Help!
Labels: jesus, justice, preaching
Hitting the nail on the head....
Tall Skinny Kiwi on
Anabaptism and the Emerging Church. Bingo! There's a revolution brewing. The question remains: Do anabaptists realize the resurgence? Is a stream of Christianity (anabaptist) which is historically
not exactly cutting edge when it comes to culture and technology able to truly function as a primary point of reference for a movement (the emerging church) which orients itself so explicitly in the global information culture? I think so, but it's going to take some work.
Huh.
Labels: emerging church, mennonite
Souls with Soul
TOMSShoes. This is one of those ideas that makes me want to drop everything and be a social entrepreneur. Buy a pair of TOMS Shoes, and you also pay for a child in Latin America to also receive a pair of shoes (who would otherwise be barefoot). Neat, eh? Cool website, cool shoes, cool cause.
I'm getting the maroon patch.
Labels: justice
