WHAT’S ON YOUR MIND? // MY LIFE SUCKS COMPARED TO EVERYONE ELSE ONLINE

‘Facebook can be depressing because everyone else’s lives are better than yours… But are they really?’

This short film by Shaun Higton is excellent in revealing one of the problems with social media and living life online. We are comparing our mundane, ordinary and dissatisfying lives with what we perceive to be amazing, extraordinary and fulfilling lives of those we are connected to online. As I quoted in my post on selfies:

“One reason we struggle w/ insecurity: we’re comparing our behind the scenes to everyone else’s highlight reel.”

Higton’s film goes further to suggest that the highlight reel portrayed online, may not even be that accurate.

What’s on your mind?

What’s on your mind? How should we answer this question? Better yet, where should we answer this question?

Online community is not enough. It’s probably unwise to share all your deepest secrets and struggles via your social network accounts. Hashtagging your life is not the answer. I think the answer is offline.

It’s more than just looking up. All people need to be part of an offline community where you have permission to be broken, to share your struggles, to be real, and where you don’t feel the need to photoshop your life. These offline communities also need to be a place where you can be loved, accepted, and find healing.

Does your offline Christian community allow the authenticity that online communities fail to provide?

LIFE UNDER GOD // CONCISE THEOLOGY

#LIFEUNDERGOD

The following is a blurb I wrote for our news sheet for Arvo Church last weekend.

Today is the last part of our LIFE UNDER GOD teaching series. I’ve personally found it to be a stimulating time considering some of our core beliefs from God’s word.

If you have enjoyed thinking through these topics and are keen to think through more theological issues, J.I. Packer has a fantastic book called Concise Theology. The book is divided into different doctrines and each section is short with lots of scripture references you can look up for more information.

You can purchase easily enough from Christian bookstores or online retailers, but all the articles are also available online for free. I have linked to the articles here: www.miers.co/packer-theology

My prayer for us is that each time we consider what it is we believe about God, that in response the Holy Spirit would transform us to live all of LIFE UNDER GOD.

SOULIES.NET RECEIVES FACELIFT SURGERY

#SOULIESYOUTH

Not long after I told a bunch of youth leaders how to get their ministry online, the website of our youth ministry crashed! There was some bug in the theme, and while the content was safe, the look/feel/vibe of the site was dead and buried. We then put a temporary (and ugly) template online in its place.

After 6 months of that ugly template, we have finally given the site a more permanent facelift. Check out the new site and the launch video here.

I really like it. The new www.soulies.net theme is simple and with responsive width design it’s much better for viewing on mobile devices.

It’s from Studio Press using the Genesis Framework (those are affiliate links, so I get a couple of dollars if you purchase anything with Studio Press). The current theme and framework on my blog, launched October 2013, is also adapted from Studio Press.

DEAR @SOCCEROOS, WATCH THIS VIDEO OF @NEDZELIC FROM 1991 AND THEN BEAT THE DUTCH AGAIN. LOVE FROM AUSTRALIA

#GOSOCCEROOS

Dear Socceroos,

In 1991, Ned Zelic scored two goals to beat the Dutch and qualify for the 1992 Barcelona Olympics. The second goal was one of those “wonder goals”. Some of you may not remember it because you weren’t yet born. I remember it, I was 11 years old. We watched replays on BTN at school; and we tried to mimic Zelic at soccer training. In case you missed it, here’s a video:

Continue reading “DEAR @SOCCEROOS, WATCH THIS VIDEO OF @NEDZELIC FROM 1991 AND THEN BEAT THE DUTCH AGAIN. LOVE FROM AUSTRALIA”