Book Review: The New Media Frontier
I became aware of this book well before it's release thanks to the work of Rhett Smith, one of the book's contributing authors. So, I was very excited about getting the chance to take a look at and review this book.
The proper title is The New Media Frontier: Blogging, Vlogging, and Podcasting for Christ. It is partly a primer on new media and partly a look at the many diffrent uses of these tools in the context of church and faith.
The first section focuses on media in general. The first two chapters nearly rolled right over me with deep philosophical arguments for the use of new media. It even went so far as to compare the new media revolution with the Russian Revolution, which felt like something of a stretch, but still made sense. The remainder of section one was devoted to explaining the different types of media out there such as blogs, video blogging, and podcasting - as the title implies. For someone who is new to these tools, this section provides a great primer of not only describing what these tools are, but how to get started using them as well.
The second section provides practical application of these tools in specific areas of faith and ministry. These areas include theology, youth ministry, and creating community. Each chapter is written by a different author who is something of an authority on the topic at hand. This has it's ups and downs because the reader is likely to connect with one author's style more than another or with one chapter's topic more than another. The benefit, howeve, is that you are able to hear from someone who is passionate about the topic they are addressing.
In reading a book like this, I have to remember that I'm an early adopter and have been using computers since I was 3 or 4. Keeping that in mind, I think that this book would be extremely valuable to the computer illiterate or the internet fearful. Because of the way the book is laid out, even if you are familiar with these technologies, you should be able to find new ideas or ways of thinking in the areas that most interest you. Finally, it should serve as a good jolt for anyone who is considering the use of new media to get going and give it a try. After all, there's no time like the present.
Music Spotlight
Lifehouse: Stanley Climbfall
Back in 2002 my boss came to me so excited that he had found this album on sale at Best Buy for $8 the day it came out. Like everyone else at the time, I was pretty well burnt out on "Hangin' by a Moment" from their first album, so I wasn't at all interested in this one. However, after travelling countless hours up and down the road from concert to concert, it really grew on me.
I've followed their work since this album was released, and even though their more recent albums have gained much more recognition ("You and Me", "First Time", etc.) I still think that this is their best album.
Update
I decided to use today to update the Books page.
Sure I could tell you what I added, but then that would steal the fun of you actually going there and checking out everything else.
So, you can click the link above to get there.
Have a good Thursday.
On Politics
I've successfully avoided political postings thus far and this will most likely be my only one.
I'm strongly considering not voting and I feel that I have good reason for abstaining.
If this bothers you and you want to convice me otherwise, I welcome your challenge.
Perhaps there are things that I'm not seeing.
For the sake of argument/information, my home state is already polling 14%+ toward one candidate - that is, we're not so much a "battle ground" state.
Shout Outs
I want to do something different today.
When I started blogging again back in March, several people came along and became readers that I wouldn't really have expected. Their comments here and friendship face-to-face have kept me motivated when I've felt like no one is reading. So, I felt like taking a moment to say a specific thanks to them.
Andy - Thanks for reading. Thanks for loaning me your camera when we went to Guatemala. Good luck with the rest of the semester.
Dan - Congrats, again! Thanks for reading. Thanks for loaning me Heroes and being a fellow Aaron Sorkin fan. Good luck with all that lies ahead in the next 9 months.
Troy - Thanks for reading. Thanks for shooting me any interesting web stuff that comes across your desk. Thanks for encouraging my comic book fandom. I'll send some more your way soon.
Thomas - Thanks for everything. This site would not be what and where it is without your help. Sorry to hear that the kids were sick. Hope to see more of you in the near future.
And to all the other readers and some-time commenters thanks for reading as well. Feel free to shoot me any ideas for future posts or media elements that you would like to see here. I appreciate your support.
-ryan
Monday Afternoon List
Yeah, so I was indisposed this morning (partly by sleeping in) so here's a Monday Morning List in the afternoon.
Friday
- I was sick on Friday, so I mostly stayed home reading and watching TV.
- Finally finished reading Bono in Conversation. Great book. Well worth the $7 I paid for it.
- Am I the only person who watches the show Life? They've already had it on two different nights this season (Mon & Fri), now it's moving to Wednesdays. This is always a bad sign.
Saturday
- Finally got to watch a Texas Tech game. We won. I still disagree with this week's BCS rankings. Still campaigning for an RCS (Ryan's Championship Series) where I basically decide the rankings.
- Forgot about my friend's debut concert.
- Went shopping for baby stuff with my wife.
Sunday
- Busy church day
- Cowboys win
- Great nap
- I discovered this frighteningly addictive new reality show on CMT (yeah, "Country Music Television") - Hulk Hogan's Celebrity Championship Wrestling. The name really does say it all.
- Watched a different, more "Incredible" Hulk.
Truth about Church from an Unexpected Source
On Monday, I read this post by Rhett Smith that drew heavily from the new Seth Godin book, Tribes.
I immediately bought the book on Amazon. It was delivered to my door less than 24 hours later (and I didn't even pay for fast shipping. And I had finished it by yesterday evening.
There was a great passage that I think says a lot about the church, faith, and religion that I wanted to share.
Religion gives our faith a little support when it needs it, and it makes it easy for your peers to encourage you to embrace your faith.
Religion at its best is a sort of mantra, a subtle but consistent reminder that faith itself is okay, and that faith is the way to get where you're going.
The reason we need to talk about this, though, is that often religion does just the opposite. Religion at its worst reinforces the status quo, often at the expense of our faith. (81)
I encourage you to go get the book and read it because there are countless other gems just like that (and 81 pages of context for the quote above, in case you have argument with it).
Thoughts
Last night I sent a note to a friend and I thought that a part of it was worth sharing here.
Lately I've been learning that I just have to be obedient to God's prompting then I throw whatever it is against the wall and He decides what sticks.
I've found that the outcome is often far from what I would have ever imagined. I'm often disappointed that my desired outcome goes unrealized, but I'm always awed by what God makes happen in its place.
Have you experienced any unexpected outcomes recently that were surprisingly awe-inspiring (or disappointing)?
Monday Morning List
Friday
- Drove to Dallas to help my boss with a very unusual art project
- Had the joy of going back to South Arlington (I was there Thursday morning as well) because they failed to reconnect my lights when installing my keyless entry
- Took my wife to dinner at Carino's (which I think has really lost some of it's greatness over the last few years) [In all fairness, it may not be that Carino's has lost its greatness, but the fact that I discovered that I'm lactose intolerant and cannot partake of any cream or cheese based sauces, thus limiting my ability to partake of some of their best items.]
- Watched Life
Saturday
- Watched Heroes
- Read
- Watched a little football. [I'm kinda hacked that I don't get Fox Sports and therefore I don't get to see Texas Tech games. We won, though, so that's ok.]
- Watched Harrison Ford play a crotchety old man in the new Indiana Jones. Realized that maybeI should listen to advice when everyone says something is a waste of time.
Sunday
- Church
- Double Dave's
- Nap (because I didn't want to watch the Cowboys' self-destruction)
- Read 1602
- Went to Barnes and Noble to look at baby name books with my wife.
- Watched 24
So, all in all, good weekend. Made up for a crazy week last week. Hoping that this one looks better than the last.
Also, I'm determined to give the band Wilco a fair chance this week (our past encounters have not been to my liking).
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