I Have no problem admitting that the cartoon to the left is far to much a reality in my house. Am I proud of it? No.. it’s just what this crap can do to us.
Lately I’ve been engaging in a few conversations with some people (mostly through twitter… ironic..) about cellphones.. and whether they are a need or a want. I came to the conclusion that for me, a cellphone is a NEED, because I don’t have a office phone.. however, I also decided that the iPhone 4 was a want (and its predecessors). In fact this coming Sunday I’m going to be addressing marketing in a sermon, and utilizing the Droid commercials, and how they, instead of focusing on the qualities of their phones, focus on the things the iPhone doesn’t do. Cellphones really can no longer be called cellphones.. which is why they now have titles like “smart phones” and yet, we don’t need all the crap that they can do. Yes, it is very convient that my iPhone can do all the things it does, in fact, I think I use the camera on my phone more than I do the phone itself.. I mean it shoots in 720p HD for crying out loud.. and it’s a cellphone..
Social media is literally with me 24/7. When I’m not sitting at a computer, my iPhone is in my pocket, when it’s not in my pocket, its on my iHome, which is on my bedside table, which is literally 1 foot from my head, and always within an arms reach. My phone has become a total time waster and has isolated me from a lot of social interaction. Don’t get me wrong, I love that, for example there is alway a bible in my pocket, or that I have a game I can play when I’m in the bathroom.. don’t make that face, you know you do it too.
This isn’t one of those “I’m throwing out all my social media connections” posts.. as I would never do that.. twitter has been one of the most amazing tools for me over the past year or more.. I’ve had more meaningful conversations with other christians who have encouraged and challenged me than I can count… so why would I give that up.. however, I have been trying to be a little less rampant with it. I don’t (always) carry my phone with me everywhere.. I don’t (or try not to) check in on my tweeps while I’m driving own the road anymore.. I don’t jump as soon as I hear my phone buzz anymore.. I do still keep my phone by my bed.. because thats how kids can reach me, and if there is something wrong in the middle of the night, I want them to be able to get a hold of me.. or it’s great for situations like last night, when at 11pm I received a text from a kid that simply said “DUDE.. Philemon.. AMAZING” that text made my night, because it meant a student who I challenged to read his bible that night, was actually doing it.
I guess the point of this post is, to check why your doing it. Are you on twitter just because you want to get more followers than Ashton Kutcher or Oprah? What is your purpose in using Facebook? Check yourself, like I did, make adjustments where necessary, and in all things social media related, be smart about it!
Make sure you check out my post on “why I twitter”
This is Dana Meise. I met him today when I was in Tweed at the coffee shop. He walked in with a giant back back, gps and a bunch of other gear.. I figured he was either crazy, or was on some kind of adventure.. and an adventure is a major under statement! Dana is WALKING across Canada using the Trans Canadian Trail, which is a walking trail that stretches all across Canada. The trail is 18,078 KM long (thats 11,233 miles) and Dana is walking it. He isn’t doing it straight through though, he walks for 6 months at a time starting up the next year in the same place he left off.
