The END and Beginning a new

The journey was long. The journey was hard But we have overcome. I can't believe it is almost over. what seemed like a mountain is now a mold hill.  I can see clearly now the rain is gone I can see all the obstacles that were in my way.  "No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it." hebrews 12:11  I am so much more aware of my sourrounding due to this class and I am thankfull.

We now have at our finger tips life and death.  We can use this virtual space for good or evil.  What are you willing to do with this power/tool that has been placed in our hands. We have the knowledge of good and evil it is our responsibiltity to use it accordingly.  I know for some this is not nothing new and those of you who are, you are already ahead of the game if your church has not position it self in this virtual phenomenon help to position them but do more than you were doing before challenge yourself to go deeper.

Joshua said to the children of Israel choose you this day which God are you going to serve the gods of your fathers or the God of Israel, he then went on to say as for him and his house they shall serve the Lord.  Craig Detweiler gave a warning the potential that these devices can become a god to us but it is for us to choose what, how, why, where and when, we are going to use these devices.  Let us be purposeful, intentional, authentic, and maintain our Identity in Christ the author and the finisher of our faith.

This for me is the end of the old and the beginning of the new.  I pray if not for all of us most of us we can start positioning ourselves to be apart of the broader conversation so that we can be engaging and thoughtful in our response to a world that has many questions. This is my new beginning, how about you?   

WHO am I

I was contemplating what I should write when my son entered the room with the news that the NBA commissioner Adam Silver banned Donald Sterling for life from the NBA.  Mr Silver also stated that he was going to force Mr Sterling to sell his team, the Clippers. I then thought I will write my blog on this controversy.

I heard the news about the recording of Mr Sterling in which he made some derogatory comments about African Americans.  What year is this am I dreaming?  I am one of the naive.  I did not know these type of conversation is plausibly. I listened to the recording with dismay.  How would I response if I was one of these players?  I know how I felt when I heard about some of the incidents that took place here on campus, shocked, surprised, and confused.  Some of those who were interviewed were not surprise, others was still trying to wrap there mind around the issue.  One former player even stated that most sporting franchise is just a modern day type of slavery.  I asked one student here on campus what they thought about the incident of which I am not going to make reference to his race, he stated and I quote " I think what he said was despicable but he has freedom of speech so no matter how harsh the words he has the right to say it."  I started to wonder how many people feel like their are suppressed black or white. I am realizing it is not over.

I am a firm believer in having dialogue without dialogue there is no voice.  I am seeing that there is a system of hatred and intimidation.  I am one who believe virtual communities are a great place to have these conversations, why? I am glad you asked. The environment is more controlled and our feelings is less readily communicated and we are more readily want to express ourselves online.  We need to have these conversations.  What are the hidden thoughts?

The purpose

The discussions for the this class has been about the church and its involvement with the new digital age and this new phenomenon of the virtual world, social network.  I believe in the beginning of this class we were split between those believed it was good and those who thought it can potentially be damaging or being cautious. I was one who believed it would be damaging and I believed for good reason.  I have since been convinced otherwise.  I am not totally sold on all aspects of the virtual world but I do think that the church should be actively engaged and have a virtual presence. The virtual presence can be represented in many ways and it is not limited to websites and facebook or twitter.  When I look at some ways that some churches and individual ministers utilize the social networks it is just that social and very self serving.  It would seem to me that it is almost a cover up so that they can have a reason to be on their 24/7 (old school), I have no idea what the new word is on the street for 24/7.  The point I am proposing is a point that was brought up in one of our readings a few weeks ago.  The author wrote that when the coal miners were trapped in the mines in Columbia, many comments were made and people responded some prayed and some asked for prayer. The author continued to write when she checked the christian websites nothing was mentioned, instead it was social.

These past few months we have seen and have heard about: mudslides, earthquakes, flight missing, ferry sank, Russia in the Ukraine and much more.  The church: social events and promotion of their services, and some cases the response was limited. I know I am generalizing but why is the social networks or virtual world not buzzing with our input?  Why are we not a part of the conversation? are we not the salt and light of this world?  The virtual world has given the church a more global presence not just local. I ask you check these websites or facebook pages, and twitter see, listen what the spirit is saying to the churches.  Take a look at the comments posted on these articles, I have read some of the comments written on these news articles online and it does not look like our voices are represented. I know this is a indictment against myself because I was silent.   Maybe I am looking in all the wrong places but If what I am observing is true, remind me again Theological grounding for the virtual church what is our purpose?

A thought on the heart

Few weeks ago we discussed authenticity and being who we are online in the virtual world.  This sunday in church a young ministry spoke on what is in our heart.  He said you can be in church but yet your heart is somewhere else.  I started to think about when you are online where is our heart?  In the video with Detweiler he made mention of a psychologist who was once big on technology who is now recanting her statement and believe's instead it is destroying relationships.  As I reflect in the garden of Eden God placed the tree of good and evil and the tree of life in the midst of the garden, God forbid Adam not to partake of the tree of good and evil.  God did not forbid them to partake of the tree of life, yet they instead choose the tree of good and evil. Why?

I want to submit their heart was somewhere else.  They or more accurately eve's heart was somewhere else, it was for the fruit on the tree of good and evil and not the fruit of God (The tree of life).  What is in a person  that is what is going to come out authenticity is not something you should plan to do it should be a reflection of you.  If you are in church and your mind is somewhere else technically you are not there, also in the virtual space, if you have to practice to be authentic then you are being someone else. Let us give thought to who we want to be and what does that person look like and act like.  Let it be in our hearts we should embody what we love and who we want to be and be faithful to that person.  If it is Christ let be Christ let us be has Christ like but let it be from the heart.

Change

This is a new week and the week before spring break for some it is a time for baseball or some outdoor activity; for others there is no change just labouring at the grindstone; and yet spring bring about a change. I see people doing spring cleaning, change of clothes from winter to spring. There is a sense of new life in the air do you smell it. There is also a sense of change from the past. I would dear to say a resurrection, new life. It feels like all things are pass away all things become new. I am not trying to discredit those who fall in the other categories before mentioned but I want more to focus on those who are looking for a new day or a new way. A new way at looking at life or more pertaining to our community, a new way at approaching  or looking at the virtual world.
As we begin our journey forward to the end of this semester which is quickly approaching, We are currently getting ready to engage our final project. The question begins to resonate what shall we do as we move to engage this virtual space with the knowledge we have acquired?  This project should have us thinking.  I hope we can see this has a opportunity to create something that can be lasting and may make a difference in someone life or in multiple lives.  Change can be difficult at times but sometimes change is necessary even when it is difficult. The level of difficult should not determine if we should change or not, but the outcome of the change, the book of Hebrew 12:1c-2 writes "and let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of the throne of God."  So the purpose outweighs the discomfort.
Let us finish well the remaining of this semester and let us encourage each other.  Let us be that great cloud of witnesses cheering each other on towards the finish line. As we become the impetuous of change in the virtual world engaging and having conversation. Let us make a change. 

The user and the tool

I was just reminded why I do not like computers and technology.  It took me almost an 1 hour to figure out how to get into my blog account.  Now I am thinking about it, it was not the computer or the technology that cost me the hour but it was my own lack of familiarity with these tools.  I have heard it said before never blame your tools because the tools are only as good as the person using it.  As we reflect on our conversations for the past several weeks, I remember my stance to much of the conversation about these new technology and the virtual world.  I have learnt that it was not the technology it self that was the issue good or bad but the person.
There is a need to much of these new medium of communication in our Churches. I believe it is the user complaining about the tool.  This syndrome can be corrected by removing the fear or intimidation that we have of these technology and what we have observe at a distance.  The issue is not the tool the issue is the ones using the tool or not wanting to use the tool.  If we are not able to change how are we able to be used by God to see lives change by the power of the Holy Ghost. 
I want for us to challenge ourselves. I was challenge today trying to get my blog posted and faced with time breath on my back. I was about to give up and call the doctor but I remember I am a overcomer, I am more than a conqueror, and I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. I figured it out.  I pray that the church will figure it out and find "the way."

My experience

It was March 5 I saw an assignment post for our Virtual Church class.  I promotely started to watch what our new assignment was going to be then those dreaded words came out of Dr Watkins mouth. We are going to post a video on google hangout and then on Youtube. I replayed the video several times to make sure. Yes, he did say it we must post a video on Youtube.  I thought I was in over my head, but now I know I am in over my head. Its no longer a thought it is a reality. What am I going to do?  I know! Just calm down go pray, sleep, and it will all go away, good idea.  I went to sleep but it did not go away, the assignment was still there and so was the anxiety. Okay one step at a time, first what do I need to do?  let me read the instructions.  The instructions stated I need to watch the how to video which I then did.  The instructions was straight forward. Then, Read the chapter on community see what I like and what I do not like about the chapter, I can do that did that.  Next step get a camera and a microphone, I remember having a conversation with Professor Watkins if you need any help with cameras contact Jeff Vaughn. First thing monday morning I went to Jeff's office asked him he said "sure Eton I will lend you one you can use," he gave me the camera then I politely ask him for the microphone he said the one device does both, wow!  I went to the computer lab and setup.  I did what they said for me to do on the youtube tutorial, and also got some headphones like what the professor said.  Then, I proceeded to wait for hannah's call while I waited I started to do some reading. Then, there was this annoying sound it was the call I stumbled and fumbled to get the screen back up and bingo I was on a video hangout and on youtube, WOW! If you would have told me this 2 months ago that I would be doing this I probably would not have thought it possible but I am.
We are in the seventh week of the course and I am blogging, tweeting, texting, hanging out in google, and now Youtube video. I am now official I am a Social netwrking Guru. In other words I am sns, not f2f Omg so lol.  This is My experience.

Community

I decided to read through some of my colleagues blogs to get the juices going.  I read sylvia's blog on 'becoming'. Dr Watkin's then post a comment and one of the question that was asked of her, What is community?  I thought that was interesting.  I have never gave any thought to what is community, so what is community? The definition I found on google: A group of people living in the same place or having a particular characteristic in common. Another definition is a feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. 
These past two weeks I was so burdened as news was being posted as to the condition of one of our brothers whose wife who was at death's door. CTS had one common attitude, pain, as we felt our brother's hurt. We had one common interest to see God intervene and heal our brother's wife from her sickness, and we had one common goal to pray and cryout to the Lord in sack cloth and ashes, "If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray , and seek my face, and turn from their wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land.15 Now mine eyes shall be open , and mine ears attent unto the prayer that is made in this place." I saw the definition of community being acted out. I saw the definition of community embodied.  I saw a feeling of fellowship and sharing. We were of one voice and there was a true sense of love and caring.  Therefore, you cannot call yourself a community just by labeling yourself a community.  It is something that has to be embodied, acted out, and intentional.  A community has to have all things in common, like the tower of babel, "And the LORD said , Behold, the people is one, and they have all one language; and this they begin to do : and now nothing will be restrained from them, which they have imagined to do."  I wonder are we all speaking the same language are we all believing the same thing we came together as one and we saw a miracle take place right in our midst as she is recovering and the words being used to describe her recovery is a miracle. 
My definition of community is having all things in common, speaking the same language and being intentional, in other words united.

What is the spiritual of the virtual.

The environment that is being set in our google community is becoming more thought provoking. I for one is more open to change because of this community. I am now think of what more can we do to facilitate even more engaging and thought provoking dialoge or what can I do to help, equip myself in this dialoge of change? We have to get to a place where we do not see those lines of demarcation, remove those stumbling blocs so that we can see the horizon of can be rather than what is.  Dr Watkins said "we be must engaged in these conversations," and engaging in these type of conversations we must not be ignorant of this virtual world.  The good and the bad still exist, to use a less politically correct term sin, and I believe part of this conversation should engage the spiritual aspect of the virtual world theologically. Now what does this mean or even look like? or is there even such a thing as the spiritual side of the virtual world is it just the blurring of the lines of the real and the virtual because the virtual is real and the real encapsulate the virtual.
I think as seminary trained and Mdiv wheeling future leaders of the new virtually reformed church, We must walk with an assurance of the spiritual dimension that can be discussed and should be dicussed in our conversations in this virtaul world. Leaders let us lead in this endeavour we are not there to preach or teach but to inform and engage in the conversation. I know that one of the many things I need to do is to become intentional and purposeful in listening and discerning people and there needs because there are many voices that are being heard let our voice be one of them. The virtual is not only to help better communicate among ourselves which would limit the use of the virtual world and put us back in the four walls of the church. Instead, we have gain access to people, time, and places we were once unable to reach, and we are now open to an array of needs and hurt that can only be met by the spiritual.  

How do we communicate

Mankind have a natural affinity to communicate with each other. It is interesting to note that communication is not only about the transferring of information but also to communicate deep emotion and thought.  In communicating verbally we also have non verbal communication taking place. I have heard it said before that our eyes are like the windows to our soul. There is so much that is imparted from ones non verbal communication, as much and sometimes even more through our non verbal form of communication than our verbal communication. I am of the belief that as revolutionary as our society as become, we are becoming less communal and more Isolated.  Professor Watkins in his reading from Dresher was highlighting how isolated the physical church building can be and how much more liberating is the virtual, I am paraphrasing. I wonder?

My thought is how can that be when we are sharing our thoughts in a virtual space. This space although shared is predominantly verbal and is used as a mask, pseudo world. Our identity is masked behind a space that is undefinable. I have listened to some of the videos and I have heard comments like "I can say on social media what I am not normally able to say."  Comments like these are disturbing to me. Are we raising up a generation that is less personable? how is this not a form of isolation rather than liberation? Elizabeth Drescher wrote in her section; Seeing, Hearing and sharing the book in the community wrote, "Actually, long after the invention of the printing press, until quite late in the nineteenth century, reading was a quintessentially social medium- a communal affair with a group of hearers gathering around a reader to engage, a book, letter, newspaper, or other written work." A community is better able to thrive and are more communal in a space  of not only hearing, seeing but one that engages all of our senses, especially the sense of touch. I am not sure if I making any sense? what do you think help me? 

Time in social media

We are now living in the age of the internet.  We have at our very finger tips every kind of information that was not available some 15 years ago.  Our challenge is going to be using this information in responsible way. I love this idea being to sit in my cozy spot with my favorite beverage of choice and relax and read about anything around the world, news, sports, and entertainment. We now have a new frontier that is in full bloom and the future is the virtual world which the church and the people of God should enter this world with boldness and conviction. But me being the old fashioned person I am I am concerned on several fronts. I would love for us to talk about the amount of time that users of this form of medium spend in this world that is not real the mere fact it is called virtual. I am not trying deny the benefits such as making friends; being in constant communication with loved ones; and enlarge our scope and influence. But I cannot ignore the reality of what I see when I am even here on campus such as students being buried in there tablets or smart phone or laptop. I have been to lectures where students are paying more attention to their devices than the professor. Do we see any thing wrong with this or is it just me?http://451heat.com/2011/12/22/how-much-time-do-we-actually-spend-on-social-media/