Steve Jobs + Apple

Steve Jobs, co-founder of technology giant Apple, died today aged 56. Jobs had an extraordinary impact upon our world. The internet (well, at least twitter) was almost in meltdown following the death of this godlike figure. I’m sure tributes will continue to flow.

Here are a few responses from some Christians:

No Bible No Blogs

My bible reading has taken a bit of a hit lately. Is it because of our expanding family? Not really. I’ve had plenty of time, I’ve simply been lazy and ill-disciplined. It’s time for me to enforce “No Bible No Blog”. I find I’m often distracted by blogs, twitter, facebook, SBS World News app (it’s amazing!) and the like. I need to make sure that before hearing what other people think, I kick off the day hearing what God thinks.

I’ve heard of others that have operated with “No Bible No Breakfast”. You might be easily distracted like me. Maybe you need some self-control in a wired-world, or something else. Whatever it is, prioritise time with God before anything else. Not because God accepts you based on your bible reading performance, but because the Word of God is gooood, what better way to start the day!!

Jesus is still speaking, are you listening?

Here are some resources that might help you work out what to read.

The death of the iPod

Great article on the life and death of the Apple iPod in the SMH. Some really interesting comments on the iPod as the “first cultural icon of the 21st century”. Here’s a snippet:

Apple has changed the way we think about technology and design, the way we shop, the way we consume media and the way we interact with each other. Via the iPod Touch, iPhone and iPad it has opened up doors for other methods of technology to come into our lives. None of that would have happened without the iPod. “It was the first cultural icon of the 21st century,” says Dr Michael Bull, a lecturer in media and film at the University Of Sussex, south-east England, where his studies on the sociology around the MP3 player have earned him the sobriquet “Professor iPod”. “It was the first MP3 player that really worked. With the earlier ones you had to get down on your knees and pray to get a bit of music out of them. And it became symbolic of the way people like to move around in cities. It fitted the desire for a technological freedom, whereby you moved to your own soundscape. Roland Barthes argued that, in medieval society, cathedrals were the iconic form. Then by the 1950s it had become the car – the Citroen DS. I argue that 50 years later it was the iPod, this technology that let you fit your whole world in your pocket. It was representative of a key moment in the social world of the 21st century.”

Read the rest here. Some of the content reminded me of some of Stu Crawshaw’s thoughts from his Youth Ministry as Shock Absorber article.

Do you have an iPod? Do you still use it? Can you name a competitor for other 21st Century icons?

Can Social Media Create Authentic Community?

Check out this recent interview with Carlos Whittaker (from ragamuffinsoul). He discusses the power of social media and how authentic community can be created through it.

One of the things I love about Los is the way he takes opportunities to point people to Jesus. In the above video, he is able to speak about Jesus being the way, the truth and the life. That’s cool.

So. What do you think? Can Social Media Create Authentic Community?

(Watch the vid before you comment).

(h/t los)

Moore College Exam Fest

Mid-year exams rock my Winter. We’re currently on StuVac at the moment. Next week it’s game time. So Moore College crew get your exam prep tweets on with this hashtag: #MooreExamFest. I figured the World Cup (pray for it) is on, lots of festivities, let’s make a festival of exam study!! (Probably the single most nerd thing I’ve ever typed!)

There were quite a few peeps who got in the action for #MTCexamcram09. It was good. Here are the 3 reasons from last year:

  1. I’m motivated to study because I see others studying
  2. There are gems among the quotes, reflections and bible verses being shared
  3. It’s a fun and maybe (?) useful way to use social media

Follow the action in the widget above or by clicking here.