Has technology shaped you for better or for worse?

That's the thought-provoking question brought to us courtesy of this article in Christianity Today.

In the article, Mark Galli interviews Shane Hipps, a former advertising strategic planner in advertising and now a Mennonite pastor. Not only do they discuss modern technology but the history of technology and how it has affected us in the past. Like with anything, we need to be aware of how these things are shaping our lives and use discernment. A great read, worth checking out.

While I'm off in the wilds of California (and boy it has gotten wild since I've been gone, not to mention Mickey kicked my butt yesterday at Disneyland--I think I'm getting old--and how many parenthetical thoughts can I jam in here anyway?) where was I? Oh, so while I'm gone, which I'll blog about when I get back, here's a terrific article by Christianity Today that puts our current economic crisis into a bit of perspective.

And on that subject, check out Dave Ramsey's Town Hall for Hope this Thursday. Click now to find a location near you or to submit questions.

New Blog on the Block

I enjoy Christianity Today's online version because they don't shy away from difficult topics and they actually require me to think (which is really a rarity most days).

They've started a new blog focused at women, and the first post I read, "When Serving Makes You Sick," resonated strongly with me. Having grown up in the church and served actively and been on staff at several churches, I've seen and experienced the pain Christians inflict on each other in the name of Jesus. It's refreshing to see someone tackling tough topics head on. I'll be a frequent reader of this blog. Go check it out.

Disability and the Church

The scars in Jesus' hands and side are not erased, but transformed into testimony to the Resurrection.

This quote comes from a Christianity Today online article by Al Hsu. He begins by relating his personal story of having a son born with Down syndrome but goes on to relate to the church as a whole. How do we in the body of Christ interact with the disabled, and, how can we learn from them? Broken bodies can help us related to the brokenness of our souls.

It's a beautifully written article that melds the heart and the brain--a rare thing indeed.