Weekly Web Roundup (5/13/17)

Photo Credit: aka Quique

Here is a collection of items from around the web that caught my attention the past couple of weeks:

How to Raise an American Adult by Ben Sasse (The Wall Street Journal)

"We all know the noun adult. But I was perplexed last year to hear the new verb to adult. In social media, especially on Twitter and Instagram, it birthed a new hashtag: #adulting. As in: “Just paid this month’s bills on time #adulting,” or “Decided I couldn’t watch Netflix 8 hours straight and went to the grocery store instead #adulting.” It even got a nomination from the American Dialect Society for the most creative word of 2015. “Adulting” is an ironic way to describe engaging in adult behaviors, like paying taxes or doing chores—the sort of mundane tasks that responsibility demands. To a growing number of Americans, acting like a grown-up seems like a kind of role-playing, a mode of behavior requiring humorous detachment. Let me be clear: This isn’t an old man’s harrumph about “kids these days.” I still remember Doc Anderson standing in the street in 1988, yelling at me to slow down as I drove through his neighborhood in our small Nebraska town. I was 16 and couldn’t stand that guy. Years later, when I had children of my own, I returned to thank him. Maturation."

Teams in Mission: Are They Worth It? by David Sedlacek (The Exchange: Christianity Today)

"Teamwork has been a popular concept in missions theory and practice for decades, but there is a persistent sense among missionaries that teams may be more work than they are worth. Working alongside others, especially those of different cultures, is no easy task. It takes time, effort, and energy to work in a team, and it doesn’t always produce the fruit we look for. We’ve all heard this comment: our younger generation values teamwork, but the older generation doesn’t get it. Twenty-five years ago, as a member of the new generation of missionaries, I nodded my head in agreement. I thought, Yes, we value teamwork and the older generation doesn’t get it. Today, I am a member of the “older” generation. When I hear the familiar refrain, I’m tempted to respond, “Yes, the younger generation values teamwork, and we don’t get it.”"

Don’t Let Facebook Make You Miserable by Seth Stephens-Davidowitz (The New York Times)

"Friends have always showed off to friends. People have always struggled to remind themselves that other people don’t have it as easy as they claim. Think of the aphorism quoted by members of Alcoholics Anonymous: “Don’t compare your insides to other people’s outsides.” Of course, this advice is difficult to follow. We never see other people’s insides. I have actually spent the past five years peeking into people’s insides. I have been studying aggregate Google search data. Alone with a screen and anonymous, people tend to tell Google things they don’t reveal to social media; they even tell Google things they don’t tell to anybody else. Google offers digital truth serum. The words we type there are more honest than the pictures we present on Facebook or Instagram."

Reflections on the Meaning of Home by Scott Sauls

"Recently, our oldest daughter graduated from high school. To commemorate her accomplishment, Patti and I wrote her long Letters from Mom and Dad. In those letters, we walked down memory lane reflecting upon and getting nostalgic about her eighteen years of life. As we reminisced, it dawned on both of us that, while we gave the girl opportunities, we never gave the girl roots…at least not with respect to place. To date, she has lived in seven different homes and attended eight different schools in five different cities. Contemplating the quasi-nomadic upbringing that we imposed on our daughter, Patti wrote in her Letter from Mom, “I am so so so sorry…and you’re welcome.” 

The “I’m sorry” part makes good sense. Moving of any kind is disorienting, especially in childhood. It uproots a child from friends, teachers, neighborhoods and familiar spaces. It digs a hole in the heart, uprooting and re-rooting like that. For better or for worse, our daughter’s story has become the same as mine. It’s a story with no lifelong friends or neighbors or houses from childhood. Instead, it’s the story of a traveler. What good could come from seven homes and eight schools and five cities in eighteen years? Why on earth would my wife feel compelled to say “You’re welcome” right after saying “I’m so so so sorry” to our daughter? I believe it’s because regret and hope don’t have to be mutually exclusive."

A Theology of Race

Here's a helpful video from Jemar Tisby on what the Bible means when it refers to race or, more appropriately, ethnicity.

My Honest Letter To Facebook

Photo Credit: clasesdeperiodismo

I'm sorry, Facebook. It's not you, it's me. We've been together for nearly eleven years but I'm wondering if it's time for our relationship to end. You've changed. I've changed. The world has changed.

Things just aren't the way they used to be.

When you and I first got together back in early 2006, it was basically college students that were part of the network. Because I'm employed with an organization that works with students, you gave me special permission to be a part of this new world.

I felt special.

It was a lot of fun to reconnect with students who had been involved with our ministry or to see what colleagues had going on in their lives. Even some friends from my childhood signed on. We shared about the music we listened to, the movies we liked and did lots of silly games and quizzes. Lots of games and quizzes.

Then more and more people started to join. Eventually, it wasn't just people that inhabited the shared space of university life and students. Parents and grandparents started showing up. Even babies that couldn't talk were able to open accounts.

Things changed.

You listened to user feedback and offered more and more services. We were able to share all sorts of pictures and videos and articles and links. All that was on the Internet could suddenly show up on our Facebook feed.

I'm not sure when it actually happened but things took a turn for the worse.

Things got politicized. And things got nasty. And I got sad.

What was once a fun way to interact with friends and get to know acquaintances better suddenly wasn't so fun anymore. I learned that people I thought I knew had a completely different side to them.

I began to see abrasiveness and meanness in people that I experienced in real life as kind and considerate. I began to wonder: Is the person I know in real-life the "real them" or is the way they carry themselves on social media the "real them?"

As a recovering Pharisee, my struggle with pride and judgment is all-too-real. I found that seeing all the negativity from people was not helping me to love them as God wants me to love them.

So I sadly decided to "unfollow" a lot of people. And a small number I've even "unfriended." Not in real life. But, for my own spiritual health, I found it necessary in this pseudo world of social media.

I also realize that it's just not other people. I'm to blame, too. I've posted things that I've regretted. I've said things in a less than charitable manner. I've assumed the worst or been careless or haven't thought of others the in the loving manner that God does.

I hope things can get better but I'm not so sure.

If I'm honest with myself, I don't think you help me love Jesus or my family and friends more. Sure, there are occasional moments that you offer me inspiration or genuine laughter. I really appreciate the wedding and anniversary photos, baby announcements and seeing my friends children grow up, celebrations and even memes that bring levity to my day.

But, mostly, I find myself discouraged, irritated and frustrated when we spend time together. I just can't take the political harangues, the braggadocio cloaked in spiritual language, the arguing among strangers, and the complaining. (Wait, am I complaining here? Maybe so...)

This is not good and, if we're going to stay together, something needs to change. I'm not ready to give up on what we've had just yet. But you need to know that I have been thinking about it.

You've probably noticed that we haven't been spending as much time together over the past few weeks. I'm checking in with you every once in awhile but not nearly as much as I used to.

Sure, I'm still posting some things that I think people will find beneficial or humorous but I'm not going to be able to read through everything in my feed or "like" or comment very often.

I hope you understand.

If things get better, you'll be seeing more of me.

But, if they don't, I may have to leave. It'll be better that way.

Our Obsession With Facebook

Via: Online Schools

The Nativity Story (As Told Through Facebook)

Please click here if the video player does not show up.

How Many of You Are There?

I just finished reading this article from USA Today about a lawyer in Indianapolis with the name of Mark Zuckerberg.  His name might not seem like anything special until you consider that he shares it with Mark Zuckerberg, the founder of social media giant Facebook.  Zuckerberg (the lawyer) claims he receives over 500 Facebook friend requests each day and constantly gets calls to his office asking for tech support from Facebook users.

The USA Today feature also mentions a website, www.howmanyofme.com, that tells a person how many people within the United States share their name.  I encourage you to take a minute to check it out.  My results are below.

HowManyOfMe.com

There are people with the name Scott Crocker in the U.S.A. How many have your name?

On another note, I watched a documentary recently by the name of "Google Me." The movie tells the story of Jim Killeen, a filmmaker who "googled" his name and ends up filming his visits with others in the world who share his name. Behind every name and behind every face is a story and it is interesting to think how something as simple as a shared name could bring a bond to people. You can watch the trailer below or here on the movie's website.

Is Facebook Harmful for Young Women?

According to a new study by the Oxygen Media and Lightspeed Research company, there are some disturbing trends developing as it pertains to young women and their relationship to Facebook. The study found that of women aged 18-34, at least 1/3 of them check their Facebook account before they do anything else in the morning.

Other facts from the study:

• 42% of women age 18-34 think it's okay to post photos of themselves while intoxicated.
• 21% check Facebook in the middle of the night.
• 58% use Facebook to check up on "frenemies."
• 50% think it's okay to date those they've met on Facebook (65% of men have no problem with this).
• 6% use Facebook to "hook up" with others (20% of men do).
• 9% have used Facebook to break up a relationship they were in while 24% of men have done the same.

These statistics demonstrate that women should think twice about the information they post on their Facebook profile, the friends that they meet online and examine whether Facebook has become an addiction for them.

As Ben Parr on Mashable.com shares:

"What conclusions can we draw from this data? It’s not just that young women are using Facebook religiously: it’s that they’re very open with what they post and who they accept as friends. Combined, it can lead to a privacy mess."

When the numbers concerning how men use Facebook in relationships are examined, there are some shocking realities that come into play. Men, too, are susceptible to the same temptations that unguarded online interactions can bring. Modern technology can be a great tool when used properly, but it also can be used for harm and destruction by those with ill motives.

For some helpful tips on how to protect your Facebook privacy, check out these suggestions from MakeUseOf.com.

(h/t to Tony Arnold)

Why I'm Giving Up Social Networking

In my blog post yesterday I shared some history behind the Christian season of Lent and the common practice of fasting during this period. Over the past number of years, I have often observed this season by giving up some sort of food or beverages. Things like chocolate, sugar, and caffeine are just some of the things that I've abstained from during Lent in recent years.

But this year is going to be different. Since I've been eating much healthier over the past year (I've lost 25 pounds since last February), I began seeking the Lord several weeks ago about how I could observe Lent this year. And the thought came to my mind: What about giving up social networking? Although I don't think I'm addicted, I do spend time visiting online sites like Facebook and Twitter several times a day. I also write several blog posts a week and this certainly takes up some of my evening time.

So that it is what I'm going to do. For the next six weeks or so, I will not be participating in any online social networking. No Facebook. No Twitter. No Blog.

Since my work requires it, I will still be available by e-mail and will actually receive e-mail alerts of any messages I receive through the above websites but I won't be responding.

Beginning tomorrow I'm choosing to focus more intently on my relationship with God and my family and am going to be more intentional about spending less time online and more time doing other activities. I'm also hoping to spend more time reading books and less time reading things online. As I've mentioned numerous times before, I think online social networking can be a wonderful thing that helps us stayed connected to those we care about and to learn more about the world.

But it also has the potential to become addictive and distracting. So I'm going to do a bit of a test over the coming weeks to see if I go through any kind of "withdrawal." Just a handful of years ago, none of these things were part of my life. So they're not really necessities. But they can be fun and I'm looking forward to re-connecting with you online in April. God bless.

Don't Believe Everything You Read

With the unusually high number of actual celebrity deaths that have taken place in recent weeks there has also been a slew of false reports about other famous people that have supposedly died. While checking my Twitter page last week I saw a few tweets that said actor Jeff Goldblum (pictured here) had been killed on a movie set in New Zealand.

After a quick Google search and checking a few reputable online sites, I saw no report of his death and guessed correctly that it was a hoax. But Goldblum isn't the only actor that has been reported to kick the bucket recently. I've also read that stars like Harrison Ford and George Clooney had died. (For what it's worth, they're still around).

Actor Rainn Wilson, who plays the immortal Dwight Schrute on NBC's The Office, showed his funny side when he broke the story on his Twitter page that he, too, had apparently died on a movie set in New Zealand. CNN.com writes that Goldblum also took it all in good fun when he appeared on the Colbert Report:

"In the episode, host Stephen Colbert jokes that he thinks Goldblum is dead even as the actor appears on stage beside him.

Goldblum then posts to Twitter to try to prove that he is still living.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I have huge news," Colbert says, upon reading Goldblum's tweet on his phone. "The dead can Twitter."

Goldblum then reads his own false obituary into the camera."

Very simply, don't believe everything you read. With the popular of online social networking, news, whether it is true or not, travels more rapidly than ever before. So anytime you see a friend or an online site posting something outlandish, make sure you double-check your sources before spreading the information on. Check the sites for established newspapers online for breaking news and visit http://www.snopes.com/ to check on newer rumors or potential urban legends. Your friends will thank you for it.

Should People Use Twitter in Church?

With the popularity of social media increasing by the day it's natural that churches would consider what kind of role these tools can play in ministering to their members and those outside the church walls. A lively discussion is going on now about whether pastors should encourage their congregation to use Twitter during their sermons.

Some feel that the sanctuary of a church is no place to be playing with cell phones during a worship service. Others, on the other hand, think that it is completely appropriate and relevant in ministering to the younger generation. One of the largest churches in the city where I live, Discovery Church in Orlando, has embraced this technology and the pastor encourages members to "tweet" during his messages.

Although not all churches are ready to make the jump to Twittering on Sundays, many are utilizing online social networking:

"In April, interactive marketing firm Sojo, Inc. surveyed 145 churches with memberships between 500 and 25,000 and found that 32 percent of them said they use Facebook, 16 percent are on MySpace and 10 percent are on Twitter, with many more chomping at the bit to sign up for the popular micro-blogging site."

I think most churches that have younger members with younger leadership are more likely to use these forms of communications since it's a more important part of their world. With faith communities comprised mostly of senior citizens it wouldn't make much sense for a pastor to emphasize using these tools much if it is going to alienate their flock.

But for many of the younger generation, the ability to share opinions and receive instant feedback is expected. For example, at our ministry's recent national Impact conference, we invited the conferees on the last night of the conference to share with others what kind of commitments they had made that week (e.g. share their faith more, read their Bible regularly, tutor a child, go a missions trip, etc.) The students were able to text message their commitments so that it would show on the big screen. It was a powerful display to see the various ways that God had spoken to those in attendance.

In a recent article by Diane Mapes on MSNBC.com this topic is examined in detail. Several church leaders comment on how they use social media to be effective in their outreach and care for their regular attenders. It is good to see that other Christian leaders are wrestling with how to communicate the unchanging message of the Gospel in the midst of rapidly changing times. Mapes quotes Kim Gregson, assistant professor of the television/radio department at Ithaca College:

"Everybody needs to reach the next generation, to give them a sense of belonging,” she says. "And online is where younger people live. It’s where they get their information, make their social connections, plan their weekends. You have to be there, you have to be in front of them. There’s a realization that if you don’t do these things, you’ll become forgotten."

Whether it is Twitter, Facebook, blogs or other forms of social media, churches that utilize these technologies wisely will continue to be attractive to young people. But they can't leave it there. For all the good that modern technology can do, it will never replace the importance of genuine, face-to-face, authentic community. Churches that learn how to work that balance will be those that effectively reach their communities in the years to come.

Is Facebook Losing its Older Users?

From Switched.com:

"Facebook may be losing ground among its older users, according to Inside Facebook.

Over the past few months, baby boomers joined the popular social networking site in droves, creating some inter-generational tensions in the process. From February and March, though, to April and May, that trend seems to have reversed. According to data that Facebook supplies to its advertisers, the 55-to-65-year-old age group's activity has drastically declined over the past couple months (by 651,080, to be exact), making it the only demographic to experience an overall drop in numbers.

While their parents seem to be fleeing Facebook, 18-to-25-year olds are spending more time on the site than ever. Since the end of March, nearly 2 million new members have joined up in that age bracket. The root of these developing Facebook trends? We'd bet that those Gen Y-ers, finding themselves unemployed and out of school, are aiming to waste some time and distract themselves. Meanwhile, we'd guess that their parents, in light of their companies' tightening belts, are laying off the during-office-hours browsing."

Is Facebook Harming Us?

With the increasing popularity of online social networking sites like MySpace, Facebook and Twitter, there has been an obvious cry about the virtual connections that people are making online. Terms like "false community" and "fake friendships" get bandied about regularly, usually from older generations that are unfamiliar with these new forms of media.

As a minister that works with college students, I am familiar with the dominant role that online networking plays in the lives of young people. Although I am genuinely concerned that these online connections will take the place of face-to-face interactions, but I don't feel that they are "all bad." Just like anything else, things like Facebook have positive aspects, as well as negative ones. It's up to us to choose how we will use them.

Agreed, there are those that have an unhealthy addictions online. I know people that spend hours each day on Facebook posting pictures, writing on people's walls, taking quizzes, playing games and searching for new friends. If they are never spending time socially live and in person with friends, that should be a concern.

Because of my role in our ministry, I have the opportunity to travel and meet lots of new people. Many of these individuals are on Facebook and I become "friends" with them online after meeting them. On average, I probably spend less than 15 minutes a day on Facebook for personal reasons. I spend additional time on there when it's related to our ministry, but it's not a huge time commitment.

Since I have close to 1,000 Facebook friends, one might assume that most of those friends are people I've never met. That assumption would be false. There are probably 20-30 people that I haven't met personally and most of those we have a legitimate connection through a mutual friend. Granted, a lot of my friends on Facebook are merely acquaintances that I've only met once or twice. But establishing an online friendship with them has allowed me to stay in touch and get to know them better.

Some would argue that those friendships are meaningless because it is taking place virtually and not face-to-face. But would they wish that we lost touch altogether? Because of Facebook, I've been able to re-establish connections with friends from childhood and relatives that I hardly ever get to see. Because I've lived in several different parts of the country and frequently travel, I have friends all over the place. Facebook allows me to keep in touch with those friends in way that a yearly Christmas card doesnn't allow.

Facebook is not inherently bad. We have a choice on how we want to utilize it. As my friend Ryan McReynolds wisely notes, we could easily compare Facebook to the printing press or the telephone. Some of the most ardent critics of Facebook are those that spend significant time curled up with books written by dead people that they'll never meet. The irony is striking. Face-to-face communication should be our preferred method of relating to one another, but when that isn't possible, I'd rather connect online than not connect at all.

25 of My Core Beliefs

This is a take on the “25 Random Things About Me” and is inspired by The Internet Monk. It is entitled “25 of My Core Beliefs.” Not so much habits, preferences or likes/dislikes, this list contains those things that define who you are at your core.

For Facebook Users
Rules: Once you've been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 of your core beliefs. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it's because I want to know more about you.

(To do this, go to “Notes” under tabs on your profile page; paste these instructions in the body of the note, type your 25 core beliefs, tag 25 people - in the right hand corner of the app. - then click publish.)

I believe that:

1. Christians are the greatest apologetic for and the strongest argument against Christianity.

2. If I fail as a husband and father then I have essentially failed at life.

3. The religious right and the liberal left strike me with an equal amount of fear.

4. Abortion and the killing of innocent civilians in war are ultimately two sides of the same coin.

5. The Bible is the Word of God and contains the answers to anything we face in life.

6. All problems in the world lead back to the fact that the human heart is sinful.

7. America’s foundation was built on a combination of religious liberty, a desire for freedom and greed.

8. If individual Christians took on a greater personal responsibility to care for children that are not their own that the number of those in the criminal justice system would decrease.

9. Killing animals for sport -- and not food -- is cruel.

10. Sex is holy and should be reserved for a man and woman within the union of marriage.

11. Giving of our financial resources to others blesses both us and them.

12. The justice system in the United States is racially and socio-economically biased.

13. Following the American dream can often lead to a nightmare.

14. Competitive athletics can help teach children valuable life lessons.

15. Developing a love of reading can open new doors of opportunity.

16. God made women distinct from men, and vice versa, for a reason.

17. Prioritizing a strong relationship with God and family is more important than seeking riches or fame.

18. Some Christians spend way too much time answering questions that no one outside their inner circle is asking.

19. The Civil War was God’s judgment for slavery and Native Americans have gotten a raw deal ever since Europeans first graced their land.

20. Most military personnel, police officers, fire fighters, teachers, pastors and missionaries don’t get near the appreciation they deserve.

21. God can use sickness, suffering and the death of loved ones to draw us closer to Himself.

22. Nepotism is fundamentally no different than affirmative action.

23. A child’s relationship with their father has the power to affect them more than their friends, school, media or church.

24. God gave us music, the arts and nature so we could enjoy the reflection of His beauty.

25. Heaven and hell are both literal places and what we decide to do with Jesus will determine where we will spend eternity.

The Ten Commandments...of Facebook

The most popular social networking site out there seems to be Facebook. Originally created for college students at Harvard by Mark Zuckerberg less than five years ago, tens of millions people utilize this site to connect with friends. In my work with college students I have found Facebook to be a great resource since college students spend a lot of time on the site. I've also enjoyed re-establishing friendships with those from my past and staying updated on news with friends that don't live nearby.

But like any good thing, some can go a bit overboard with their use of this networking tool. Thanks to my friend Anne, I came across Cracked.com's version of the Ten Commandments for Facebook (Warning: The language on the site is crass so you might want to just look at the titles here.)

The Ten Commandments of Facebook

1. Thou Shalt Not List Every Movie, TV Show, Band and Book You Have Ever Heard Of In Your Profile.

2. Thou Shalt Not “Poke” Indiscriminately.

3. Thou Shalt Not “Friend” People You Don’t Actually Know.

4. Thou Shalt Not Use A Wall As A Private Messaging Function.

5. Thou Shalt Not Join A Billion Groups.

6. Thou Shalt Not Use Stupid Apps.

7. Thou Shalt Not Give “Gifts."

8. Thou Shalt Not Contact People From Your Distant Past While Intoxicated.

9. Thou Shalt Not Update Thy Status Message If Thine Status Hath Not Changed (Or If You Have Nothing Clever To Say.)

10. Thou Shalt Not Act Like You’re On MySpace.