This past weekend, my wife and I attended a surprise party for one of her uncles. My wife is Filipino and what that means in regards to parties is that there is enough food to feed about 5,000 people! Seriously, if you want to go to parties where it’s a given that you will take a bag full of food home, then go find some Filipinos to become friends with. You won’t regret it. White people, learn from the Filipinos and Mexicans. Stop having parties that only provide chips, dip, and one plate of tuna sandwiches and some cookies. You should be ashamed of yourself! ha. Sorry, I had to throw that in there. It’s all good. No hurt feelings, right? Just take your party food up to another level, please.

Well, this post is’nt about food or parties, it’s about a young man. While at this party, there was a young guy (we’ll call him Mike), maybe in his late teens, and from the time that we entered the house till we left, he spent most of his time off to the side with his head and eyes buried in a Nintendo DS. Of course I step out and address these kinds of people who try to hide out and avoid being social, but I was probably the only one who acknowledged “mike” (other than his parents). But even when I did, his response was weak and not full of a lot of life or enthusiasm. His hand shake was weak as well.

This encounter confirmed some thoughts I’ve had for quite a while about young people and the affects that technology has on them, particularly young men. This is a generation of young boys who are growing up under the care and teaching of a computer or gaming system, allowing technology to replace their need to be social through the most basic form we know, which is human to human. Technology is keeping our kids glued to a screen and universe that doesn’t require them to be truly social.  We call the use of tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and Myspace as “social media”, but anyone can type thoughts and pretend to be whatever they want online.  “Social Media” doesn’t require a lot of work or effort.

Read the rest of this entry »

Posted in Blogblog, Minstry Toolsblog, Students | 1 Comment »

Driving through Dallas last weekend, I was confronted with a huge billboard with this guy’s face on it (above: scary isn’t he?).  Seeing the words “IAMSECOND” next to him sparks one’s curiosity as to what he’s second to.  So, as a good human being who responds well to good marketing, I visited the site www.iamsecond.com.

What I found was a beautiful, well designed site with a great purpose.  Upon entry into the site, you’re welcomed by a few celebrity faces and at random, one of those people sits in the foreground and scares the crap out of you (if it’s this guy above.  By the way, that’s Brian Welch, former lead guitarist of Korn.).  Through further inspectiona and site travel, you realize that this is devoted to sharing stories from people who have had their lives changed by God and have put themselves “second”, allowing God to be First.

The stories shared come from celebrities such as Brian Welch (former guitarist of Korn),  Jason Castro (from American Idol), and Tony Evans, one of Dallas’ leading pastors.  All of the stories are different, yet the topic is the same: “I’m nothing without God, and unless He’s first place in my life, I have no purpose”.

The site is a fresh of breath air in reference to how the “church” has always marketed itself and its endeavors to minister to the world.  Usually it’s a straight up blast of religion in your face, driving you away before any message can even be delivered.  I don’t believe IAMSECOND is being subtle in any way with their message, they’re just doing it “right” and “smarter”.

Like every one of us on this earth, we want to feel like we have a purpose.  At one time or another, we all question our existence and wonder why we’re even here.  I ask that question all the time.  In fact, I was asking that same question last night to my wife.  “Why am i here?”, “What was I created for?”, “What purpose does God have for my life and when will I see the fruit of that purpose?”.  Those are just a few of the questions I often ask, but I believe that’s a good place to be.  It shows that a person acknowledges that there’s something larger than ones self and that we need “it”.  The “it” for me is God, and I have no problem admitting that I need Him.  I don’t ever want to try to live this life for myself or even attempt to think that I can.

Tomorrow I’ll talk about what it means to live a “second” life amongst the world around you and how you can walk in a way that serves others.  Thanks for stopping by.

Posted in Blogblog, Minstry Toolsblog, Religionblog, Students | No Comments »