FACEBOOK

Scott McKnight shares a book review that has me wanting to go out and read the book. As a Facebooker who uses it for social networking and a little pastoring, I am intrigued. More to follow. McKnight writes ...

Anyone, and I mean anyone, who can help us think about how the gospel and the church and life itself is being reshaped (or influenced or revolutionized) by social media like Facebook is worth listening to. Jesse Rice's new book, The Church of Facebook: How the Hyperconnected Are Redefining Community , is not only worth listening to but it's worth church staffs reading together to discuss.

The Church of Facebook does not approach the subject with a holier-than-thou critical attitude, it doesn't bring in Bible and theology to make it sound Christian... the sort of approach that may sound right but be short on critical analysis. My summary statement:

Facebook is a spontaneous ordering of humans that both benefits us and is reshaping our sense of community and provides us with challenges ...

The Church of Facebook explains through (what I'd call) social psychology how the Facebook phenomenon arose (spontaneous order is his term -- great story to begin the book) and what it provides for 300 million people (connection, not to be confused with community) and how it is illuminating so many things about life (like relationships) and how we are adapting to it in so many ways ... and then he offers some warnings about how to live in a Facebook world as followers of Christ.

There's more to be said about Facebook, and more will be said over the next few years, but this is a fine book and one that penetrates deeply into the Facebook world and then comes out to explain to us what is going on in that world.

Read McKnight's original blog at ....

http://blog.beliefnet.com/jesuscreed/2009/10/young-christian-authors-jesse.html

JAKE GOES TO THE LAKE

My grandson Jake went to the lake this summer-Smith Mountain Lake near Roanoke VA. For the past several summers, my wife Dianne's family has spent a week together strengthening their family ties and building memories by sharing a house on this beautiful lake. Jake got introduced to fresh water, swimming with his Mom Christi's younger cousins, and being the center of many photos. He's a little young for the memories to be as complete as those of his grandmother, Dianne--but he will have one powerful memory--a family that loves him.

What kind of memories are you building into your families or your other relationships? Memories in childhood often plant silent seeds that bear fruit for decades. Abuse or neglect create painful memories. Laughter and love build precious ones. What kind of memories will those who have been part of your life and under your influence possess?

NEARLY PERFECT

With apologies to my Associate Pastor Barry, but Cliff Lee simply dominated the Yankees in the opening game of the World Series. Only Derek Jeter's scrambling and Jimmy Rollin's "getting cute" allowed the Yankees to score at all. Game One goes to the Phillies.

NOTE: A.J. Burnette was more dominating than Pedro. Barry's a happy man this AM.

PHILLIES, YANKEES, AND FLU SHOTS

The front page of the Lancaster newspaper Tuesday night featured a shot of a line of people winding for several blocks around the Carter-Macrae Elementary School waiting for flu shots. The flu season has begun, this year being heightened by a virulent strain of swine flu that has many people on edge as it has proven deadly in some instances. As the lack of anywhere near sufficient doses of the vaccine have yet to emerge from the governments pharmaceutical pipeline, people (especially parents of younger children) are restive and worried. President Obama's approval rating has sunk into the 30% range. People in a panic are not very forgiving.

Yet there are good people who care about others, and seek to make a difference for people whose lives are difficult. In the Hempfield School District, senior citizens are permitted to volunteer in the schools and get a credit on their school taxes for their time. (GREAT PLAN, HSD!) At our church, we have a Gym/Multipurpose Ministry Center--that we make accessible to support the community. For the last two several years (this year again), we have given practice space to the Hempfield Junior Varsity Cheerleading Squad as they prepare for November competitions (there is not enough gym space nd practice time in the schools.) A grandmother of one of the cheerleaders is now volunteering in the schools and anonymously donating HER tax credit to an older widow in our congregation who finds it difficult to pay mounting school taxes.

Not all is right with our world, yet there are more people trying to put it right than many of us believe. Usually because acts of kindness and sacrifical servanthood.

What does the World Series between the Yankees and Phillies have to do with all of this? Except for its record-breaking potential--not much. But a whole lot of people take joy from their baseball (I being one of them) so for about the next 10 days Fox Sports will bring some nightly joy into people's living rooms. PLus, the head line got you to read the blog today about some really significant good news that will not appear on a Jumbotron in Yankee Stadium or Citizens Bank Field. Forgive me.

SOME GREAT KIDS

The youth ministry at the Church of God of Landisville has taken a new direction. Under the leadership of Jeremy Moyer, we are focusing on teaching kids to be leaders and influencers in their generation. We emphasize the power to overcome instead of merely coping. Learning to take responsibility and engage in sacrificial servanthood. This past weekend 52 kids (many of them from our Agape Youth Center) had a weekend retreat at the church. Two service projects were built into the usual worship, fellowship, fun, food, and lack of sleep. One of those projects, which the kids carried out in the pouring Saturday rain, was to collect food for the nearly depleted Hempfield Food Bank. 458 pounds were collected. These are some GREAT KIDS.

CATCH THE FLAME

This past weekend our youth ministry (called "Burn") sponsored a retreat called "Catch the Flame." Under the direction of our youth director Jeremy Moyer and 14 volunteers, a 25 hour event was conducted for 52 teens. Worship, Bible study, games, and service projects were a part. One of the projects was to gather food for the Hempfield Food Bank, which they did in the pouring rain. One of the photos shows the collcted food at the altar of the church. I was deeply impressed by the maturity, involvement, and spirit of all the kids.

WISDOM

I admit it. I am a Star Wars fan. I know all the theological arguments about an "impersonal force" as a substitute for God and the dualism of the "dark side". I take Star Wars for just what it is--a series of great stories about a future where humanity and non-human races continue to struggle with the ideas of good and evil, freedom and tyranny, sacrificial servanthood and manipulative greed. A space western with a little philosophy thrown in.

My favorite character in the Star Wars saga is Yoda, the diminutive Jedi Knight. His appearance hides a powerful and penetrating intellect. The heart of Yoda's being and his purpose for living is WISDOM.

Wisdom and common sense are often confused in modern society. Wisdom asks the question, "Is it right?" Common sense says, "Does it work?" Wisdom presumes that their is a definitive answer,an authoritative response that we must embrace to be people of wholeness and integrity. Common sense says, "What are my options" and often results in a solution that serves first (and sometimes only) ourselves.

Wisdom is often rejected because it places boundaries on us. Common sense is often rejected because it is suspicious of our impulses.

The Bible has many, many things to say about wisdom. Perhaps the most important is this:'The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom? Psalm 119.10

Andy Stanley once wrote about THE BEST QUESTION EVER. The question, "Is it wise?" By that he meant, does your action or decision reflect the will of God. If you think that you can be wise apart from seeing things through the eyes of God, life's Master Designer, you are ultimately destined to be unwise.