think about it thursday: 09.25.08

My friend alerted me of some signage at a local church, so I just had to drive by and see it.

Two huge signs on the church lawn read:

"We're sorry we don't always love like Jesus does." -- Christians
"We're sorry that Christians can act UNchristian."

These quotes are advertising a sermon series this church is doing based on the book, UNchristian: What a New Generation Thinks about Christianity and Why it Matters by David Kinnaman and Gabe Lyons.

It definitely got my attention. I'm putting it on my must read list.

Think about it.

the time toilet

Not too long ago, I heard the computer referred to as the time toilet. That couldn't be more true. As helpful as it is in life, it can also be an addictive, waste of time.

I remember the first desktop computer I ever saw...it was in the first grade reading lab. Yes, it was one of those ancient kinds that had only one color on the screen...neon green. And it didn't have any images either...all there was was text, and it was practically dotted it was so pixelated.

In middle school I took a typing class, but it was literally for the typewriter. I will never forget the annoying rhythm of that video: "A-A-A space. S-S-S space." Who knew how much I'd really need to know how to type as life went on...

In high school there was a computer lab, but it was sort of for "special projects." I could still turn in a term paper in my own handwriting. Is that even acceptable these days?

In college, I still didn't own a computer. My roommate and I both had a word processor, and we thought we were really hip. It was a typewriter of sorts with this little skinny screen on it that showed you what you typed, one or two lines at a time. You could make edits to those lines before you hit whatever key it was that made the processor type on the paper whatever was on the screen.

We did have quite a nice computer lab in college. I will never forget that is where I got my very first email address and sent my very first email...to my mom, who promptly sent one right back!

So, I'm totally dating myself, aren't I?

Well finally, after I got married, my DH and I finally bought our very own computer. A Mac, what else? But even as I sit here typing on my G4, I still feel behind the times. My big 'ol monitor and my big 'ol tower, is quite far from the hippest set up out there.

So I'm intrigued with - and a little saddened by - how the computer is changing the world and the people in it. Unfortunately, I can't say that I'm not contributing to this culture change.

The last office job I had was a good example of how things are changing. I worked with a small team of people that sat in a relatively open area with no walls to speak of...I could literally reach out and touch the gal that sat next to me. But there was way more emails flying back and forth than actual face-to-face conversations. My boss (from an older generation) regularly reminded us that it was okay to actually talk to each other. Sad.

As useful and quick as email is, I think even it may be rapidly becoming a thing of the past. It's my understanding that the generation behind me uses text messaging and online "social utilities" like Facebook or MySpace in the place of email. Wow.

For the generation I'm in, I generally consider myself averagely hip to modern technology, but I'm definitely struggling to maintain that status. I don't have a PDA, a bluetooth, a GPS, a Wii or even a laptop. But I am definitely attached to my computer, however large it may be.

I generally think of my computer as an asset...it instantaneously connects me with all sorts of resources and people, and is a great outlet for finding answers and voicing my opinions (like right here on this blog!). But as great as it is, on the contrary, it's just as bad. I can easily sit down at my computer with a sole purpose, and before I know it, I have clicked on some advertising link and am off pursuing some rabbit trail, completely off task. And the next time I look at the clock, it's two hours later, and that precious period of life has gone down the drain, and I have relatively nothing to show for it.

Speaking of which, it's time to flush. This is an excessively long post, and I've spent more than my share of time on the time toilet today.

think about it thursday: 09.18.08

Well, here it is Thursday already, and for the third week in a row, I've only posted on Thursday. Hmmm...maybe I should modify this strategy and say I'll just post on Thursdays.  I'll think about it :-)

So, for this week, I am posting a quote/video from one of my favorite movie series:  Rocky.  I have always been drawn to these movies for some reason. All six of them. Maybe it's because it's a story about a man with a such a deep passion for something that he's willing to go the distance.  And he has a supportive woman at his side. I'm married to a guy just like that.  He's passionate, persistent, determined and motivated, just like Rocky. And I like to think of myself as the supportive wife, but Adrian's quietly bold character is really quite something to live up to. 

I have to admit, I was pretty skeptical when "Rocky Balboa" came out so many years after Rocky V.  I wondered who in the world he could be fighting this late in his game. Come to find out, it's more than just another fight in the ring, it's also about a fight deep within his very soul, or "the basement" as he puts it so appropriately. 

So below is a clip of one of my favorite scenes from the final movie.  Rocky is having a heated discussion with his son who is struggling with family and life after his mom dies. This same scene is flashbacked later in the movie when Rocky is in the ring for the final time.  He remembers the coaching he gave his son, and uses it as motivation to go the distance. In my opinion, it really reveals how Rocky has survived and succeeded in both fighting and in life. It's his view of toughness. And it's one of the best descriptions I've ever heard. 

Think about it.

think about it thursday: 09.11.08

"Jesus doesn't scold people into conversion, He doesn't accuse people into conversion, He befriends people into a new way of being."  

Martha Stortz, Pacific Lutheran Theological Seminary

think about it thursday: 09.03.08

I heard this song for the first time this week.  I LOVE IT!  God's timing is never an accident.  I heard it again today and thought it would be the perfect thing to post for today's think about it.

Slow Fade

by Casting Crowns

Be careful little eyes what you see 

It's the second glance that ties your hands as darkness pulls the strings

Be careful little feet where you go 

For it's the little feet behind you that are sure to follow 

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away 

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray  

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid 

When you give yourself away 

People never crumble in a day 

It's a slow fade, it's a slow fade 

Be careful little ears what you hear 

When flattery leads to compromise, the end is always near 

Be careful little lips what you say 

For empty words and promises lead broken hearts astray 

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away 

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray  

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid 

When you give yourself away 

People never crumble in a day

 

The journey from your mind to your hands 

Is shorter than you're thinking 

Be careful if you think you stand 

You just might be sinking 

It's a slow fade when you give yourself away 

It's a slow fade when black and white have turned to gray 

Thoughts invade, choices are made, a price will be paid 

When you give yourself away 

People never crumble in a day 

Daddies never crumble in a day 

Families never crumble in a day

 

Oh be careful little eyes what see 

Oh be careful little eyes what you see 

For the Father up above is looking down in love 

Oh be careful little eyes what you see