Watch it, Read it, Listen it; Articles

There are a bunch of interesting articles that have been floating around so I thought I'd give you a quick summary in case you've been looking for something good to read or are in the middle of assessments :)

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// your church is too small // 

Sam Freney, Mathias Media 

This is an account of an evangelical pastor who has an inside look at to what's the go with Hillsong at the moment. An even-handed discussion comparing the values expressed in this church against the teaching of the bible. Freney gives credit where credit is due and has a loving, biblical approach to all aspects - music, teaching, welcoming, seminars etc. Be prepared to have either your cynicism or enthusiasm dampened.

"In fact, my brief summary to those who asked me what the conference was like was this: “The preaching was simply terrible; everything else I went to was excellent.”"

http://matthiasmedia.com/briefing/2013/05/your-church-is-too-small/

// I'm still here: back online after a year without the internet. //

 Paul Miller, The Verge.

This is the story about someone offline from April 2012- April 2013. It's an interesting read if you're eager to see what happens when we, as human beings are detached from the internet. Paul says that he "used the internet constantly since I was twelve, and as my livelihood since I was fourteen. I'd gone from paperboy, to web designer, to technology writer in under a decade." And he found that getting off the internet proved to show him who's really at fault when it comes to the waste-of-time, unproductive, disconnected-from-reality internet that we all, at times, have a love/hate relationship with.

"My goal, as a technology writer, would be to discover what the internet had done to me over the years. To understand the internet by studying it "at a distance." I wouldn't just become a better human, I would help us all to become better humans. Once we understood the ways in which the internet was corrupting us, we could finally fight back."

http://www.theverge.com/2013/5/1/4279674/im-still-here-back-online-after-a-year-without-the-internet

// Same-sex marriage - what is really at issue? //

Andrew Errington, ABC Religion

This is another Christian talking about the current cultural issue of same-sex marriage but with a refreshingly new approach. An intelligent, informed discussion about what the real issue with same-sex marriage is.

"While we should respect the desire for a publicly visible relationship, we need to ask whether the demand for recognition is really well-served by giving the name "marriage" to same-sex relationships."

http://www.abc.net.au/religion/articles/2013/04/30/3747877.htm#comments

// Out of Office //

Carl Kozlowski. Relevant Magazine 

With the end season of the Office on it's way, Relevant Magazine interviewed some of the cast members about their "Office" experience. If you're a big fan like me then I suggest you take a read as it gives great insight to personalities behind the characters and the experiences they've had. It vaguely suggests some of the plot in the ninth season - just a warning for those who'd rather not know a thing.

"John Krazinski: I remember [season 2, episode 11] “Booze Cruise.” I remember being on the top of that boat and shooting that scene and having that impulse to look behind me to see if anybody was going to call “Cut!” or anything. It just seemed like this isn’t how it’s done in television or anything having to do with a camera. This is only in real life that someone would take forever to say “I love you” or be so nervous that no words come out or some of these things that are so real. They were able to delve into that headfirst. It was such an honor to play stuff like that." 

/www.relevantmagazine.com/culture/out-office