He concludes:

Facebook: A Tool for Ministry
If Facebook is tapping into this spiritual need then the church at large must ask the question of how this social networking site can be used to further bless people. For many people in the church, Facebook may initially seem like a threat to “real” community. But the reality is, if the church were to ignore Facebook and other social networking sites being used today, it would lose touch with a significant way that people are trying to experience community. Read the rest of this entry »

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Mammen continues:

A Survey of Facebook Users

In an attempt to identify the effect of Facebook on relationships and community, a survey was administered to a wide range of recipients. Participants received the survey via email messages and Facebook announcements. Two hundred and seventeen people participated in the survey answering a total of eleven questions. The questions included:

1. How often do you check your Facebook?
2. How often do you update your status?
3. Where are you typically when you check your Facebook?
4. What do you use to check your Facebook?
5. How has Facebook been useful to you?
6. What are some of the downsides of Facebook?
7. What role has Facebook played in your friendships?
8. Have you made new friends on Facebook?
9. Are there people you know on Facebook that you have never met in person?
10. If you answered yes to the above question, what are the differences and similarities between the friends you know only virtually and the ones you meet up with physically?
11. Is it possible to deepen friendships on Facebook?

Read the rest of this entry »

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A ministry friend of mine, Jerome Mammen, recently wrote an assessment of the “social-networking site” Facebook based on some research he conducted for a class he was in.  I was interested in what he discovered, and offered to post his research here.  I’ve broken it into 3 posts for your blogging pleasure:

Introduction

Since the onset of the information age, the landscape of much of the western world has changed dramatically. Computers and technological media devices which were once expected to “make life easier” have brought an entirely new set of problems to our society. According to John Drane, we are experiencing a sense of “fragmentation of neighborhoods, the corrosion of family life, and the constant disintegration of personal relationships.” Instead of creating a utopian society that runs like a well oiled machine, we find ourselves longing for relationships, meaning, and purpose. One of the main questions that we are faced with is whether or not the advancements in technology can offer any help to the predicament in which we find ourselves. Read the rest of this entry »

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This was an interesting article that was emailed to me:

January 11, 2009
OP-ED COLUMNIST
Tax Cuts for Teachers

By THOMAS L. FRIEDMAN
Over the next couple of years, two very big countries, America and China, will give birth to something very important. They’re each going to give birth to close to $1 trillion worth of economic stimulus - in the form of tax cuts, infrastructure, highways, mass transit and new energy systems. But a lot is riding on these two babies. If China and America each give birth to a pig - a big, energy-devouring, climate-spoiling stimulus hog - our kids are done for. It will be the burden of their lifetimes. If they each give birth to a gazelle - a lean, energy-efficient and innovation-friendly stimulus - it will be Read the rest of this entry »

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Needless to say, it’s been a while since I’ve visited this blog, let alone written anything.

Our change of address over the past 6 months is the main culprit (you can ask me for more info if you’re interested in the gory details.)  For those of you still following from home, I’ve seen 1/09 as the target date - for either re-entering the proverbial blog-o-sphere, or for bringing an official close to things.  And while I don’t extend voting rights to anyone, I welcome any opinions in the next few days on the topic.

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Read it here first: The latest ministry update.

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This satirical commentary on athletes and their poor use of money grabbed my attention. The most bone-chilling stat - “Filing for bankruptcy is a long-standing tradition for NBA players, 60% of whom… are broke five years after they retire” - really caught my eye.

Click through or read the whole article below Read the rest of this entry »

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A few things from the blog-0-sphere that I read through more than once:

- I work on a commuter campus, so can relate to Eddy Ekmekji’s post “Ministering in the convenience” about a recent Atlantic Monthly article about the state of community colleges or as the article labels them, colleges of convenience.

- “Give us your Black Sheep” - Jeremy Del Rio posts on the creative explosion when space is given to explore the ideas of otherwise malcontents.

- Marriage: The Public Debate - I really appreciate reading Richard Mouw’s (President of Fuller Seminary) as he articulates about the intersection of religious conviction and public policy-making in a pluralistic society, in this case, addressing the recent developments in California on same-sex unions.

- The Institute - Anthony Bradley links to story of 11-year old girl in Romania that was raped by her teenage uncle and who sought permission from the state for an abortion at 21 weeks.

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This is great to watch.

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Just starting using toodledo.com to help me stay on top of the “todos.” Especially with my house being a little turned-over these days as we prepare to sell/buy/move, I need a little help.

P.S. Problem is, having a to do list doesn’t tell you what do to, just tells you what needs to be done, if you catch my drift.

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Great Comission vs. Field of Dreams. Sort of.

A great read on Disabled Christianity, both in terms of reaching & serving those with disabilities, as well as, for that matter, anyone.

“The passage states, “Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit…” …It doesn’t say, “Sit here and wait in Galilee and people will come.” It says go to the nations.

I am confident that relates to persons with disabilities as they are just members of the nations. We should go to them as we would go to any other member of the nations and invite them in. Jesus’ command is “Go” not “Build it and they will come” or “We will serve them if they come to us.”

There is a big difference between going and sitting and waiting.”

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As proverbial wisdom teaches:

The one who states their case first seems right,
until another comes and states theirs.

This is a controversy clash that won’t go away.

“…allowing same-sex couples to force religious individuals or organizations to act out of accord with their faith is not cost-free either. Their dignity is no less affected. Unless claims rooted in equal protection under the law are to sweep away claims rooted in freedom of religion, a more sensitive balancing approach is essential…

If past rulings are any guide, it is religious rights that are likely to be “obliterated” by an emerging popular majority supporting same-sex relationships — and it seems unlikely that the California courts will intervene. That’s a shame.”

From opinions article in LA Times, contributed by Marc D. Stern - general counsel of the American Jewish Congress and a contributor to a forthcoming book, “Same-Sex Marriage and Religious Liberty.”

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Since my blog got hijacked for the weekend, I couldn’t post this ’til today. But it’s still mine & it’s still true.

I’ve got a lot of opinions about fatherhood. Professionally, I’ve met a lot of fathers – some good ones, some great ones, some mediocre ones, some bad ones, and often, sadly, a lot of just absent ones.
And personally, as a son with a father and with many friends with many fathers, I’ve formed many opinions about fatherhood. It’s hard not to. And you’ve done it to, so don’t judge me.
I’m sure there have been many days that I’ve thought I had fatherhood figured out.
But on this Father’s day, I’m realizing that the few real lessons I’ve learning about being a father are from one who as of yet has no words to speak, yet who has taught me volumes about being a dad.
She has taught me that fatherhood is Read the rest of this entry »

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I know, for some of you this is the “way - too - late - where - have - all - my - photos - of - Isa - been” edition.

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If this doesn’t prove a point, I don’t know what does.

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“Jesus was not just one more character in history, however important—rather, he was and is the founder of a new history, a new humanity, a new way of being human.”
-Douglas Wilson

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While the following opinion may end up betraying my general apathy about America’s supposed pastime, I’ve been confused lately in reflecting on the drastic inconsistency of rationales regarding granting amnesty - one of leniency for steroid users in baseball, and one of strictness towards undocumented immigrants.

One the one side, there are multi-millionaires being Read the rest of this entry »

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I have mixed reaction to this proposal to change this LAPD practice (Special Order 40) regarding inquiring about the immigration status of known gang members. I’m all for suppressing criminal activity - even though I question the effectiveness of blanketly deporting undocumented criminals - but I am concerned for how undocumented victims and potential witnesses might be impacted by a change in practice.

NOTE: National Geographic did a program that addresses the impact of gangs and immigration practices - World’s Most Dangerous Gang

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I’ve already noted that my blogging frequency has hit an all-time low.  Thankfully (for everyone), my daughter’s innate beauty is strong enough to carry this blog in its low point.

I’m realizing that one of my main blocks in blogging has been the unfinished thought. For a while, I thought it was time, but I don’t lack time to blog, I’ve lacked the completion of my thoughts with which to make time to blog.   Anyway, having come upon this realization, I’m going to attempt to reengage my blog with my (huge archive) unfinished thoughts.  God willing, some of them will go somewhere.  But at least you’ll see where I’m starting off.

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Urban. Young Men. Students. Bonding. Incarnational. Relevant.

Based on a conglomeration of these things, I’ve been ushered into a on-the-fly introduction to hip-hop over the last month or two. In my own opinion, I’m about a decade slow (if not more) in this whole arena, but hey, the turtle beat the hare, so I’ve got a chance.

And since I’m serious about learning, I’ve attached Read the rest of this entry »

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