Pico –boo; Doesn’t Play hide-n-Seek with Projection

Cool Technology! Don’t you just love new gadgets!? Okay, maybe not for some of you. Hot off the presses in new digital gizmos is Pico Projector. I read an article using Texas Instrument integration but little Pico Projectors are around —TODAY! Pico Projectors hit the market last year but they are now providing a much better image quality. And—they’re going to cell phones!

What is Pico Projectors? Have you watched a projection screen image in a sanctuary or large meeting? Generally one of two things is happening: words to music, scripture, etc. is being shown or you’re viewing a report from a committee that is trying to convey large amounts of information or enhancing a presentation. Viewing on this format has generally involved very expensive projectors, costing in the neighborhood of $3,000 to $5,000. Pico Projectors will use your cell phone to cast the same image. I get the sense the viewing format is going to be smaller, by the nonetheless, it's an incredible tool you can now carry around in your pocket.

View the video about Samsung:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PGrBsJV4oiE&feature=player_embedded#

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=06HHfaWJLSI&NR=1&feature=fvwp

We’ll be seeing much more of this cool stuff in January at the CES [Consumer Electronic Show]

Addendum to Can YouTube Find God?

I get reviews of my weekly blog from my husband, mostly solicited by me. The dinner table conversation went something like this after posting my "Can YouTube Find God?" blog (if you missed it or need to refresh your memory, catchup with the entry immediately below this one):

“So what did you think of my blog today?”

“It was okay.”

“Didn’t you find it interesting?”

“I suppose. I don’t do the social networks like you do.”

“I stated in the blog I don’t do YouTube very much either but what did you think about the information?”

“It doesn’t really mean anything to me. I don’t use.”

"IT’S NOT ABOUT YOU!” I exploded, maybe a bit of an emotional over-reaction, but if you know me, you 'll understand.

It’s not about you or me. As my husband who’s a minister often says, “It’s about the people who aren’t here yet”.


To my husband’s benefit, he does do a great deal of work toward revitalizing churches; enough so, he’s often not the most liked person in the room because he tells folks what they need to do, not what they want to hear. That banter was my “gotcha” and now because of this blog, a public one. I did get his permission to voice this interaction because of the overwhelming message:

It’s not about you.

Golly, those are harsh words. We don’t like to listen or read things that aren’t about us; things that don’t help our personal world no matter what level that might be. There’s too much stuff out there to learn, read, hear—we only want to process information WE need. Last week’s blog on YouTube videos points a spotlight to an arena that has over 120 million viewers. As Christians called to the Great Commission to spread the Good News of the Gospel, why are we not there? The Catholic Church is starting to make inroads, but what about the rest of us?


I just had a conversation with a Presbyterian pastor who was interested in developing a website but said he couldn’t until some members of the church Session (board) moved off. I expressed my regret and understanding. But---- PEOPLE! When can we, through love and integrity, meet this challenge head on and say in compassion, “it’s not about you”.


You may not use the Internet much. You may not get on the social networks online, or tweet (Twitter), or YouTube. There is, however, hard statistical evidence millions of other people do use this. Out of those million, there are most likely quite a few that never attend church or remotely think about God and faith. If you are 35 or under and you go looking for a church, if you do not have an internet presence (a webpage), YOU DO NOT EXIST. Forget about the visitor pamphlets in your pews or the greeters you have to meet new folks. They are NOT coming in your door because you do not exist to them. It doesn’t matter if they drive down the street everyday and pass your church. If you do not have some information out there on the web stating the mere basics about your church, they will not come. Church shopping is online. It’s safe. It’s in the security of your own space and you don’t have to walk through a strange door and feel completely uncomfortable because you’ve been online and seen a taste of what you’re getting yourself in for.


Let’s get back to YouTube. I’m not touting every church run out and create a video to upload to YouTube. As mainstream denominations, our collective bodies need to use technology as an evangelism tool. The Catholic Church seems to be engaged in this venture. It would be interesting to learn the statistics on their viewership and results to action. I have to give them thumbs up for reaching out.


We all may want more people in our pews. The process of making that happen is most times, uncomfortable to those of us already part of the congregation. We have to adjust and shift our thinking toward "those who are not here yet". It’s easy to write about and hard to do.

An example:

A Facebook friend, Rev. Candasu Vernon, coincidently shared this YouTube video right after I posted last week's blog. She wrote this saying: “Fruit of the Spirit? That’ll preach.” Imagine at the end instead of the ad, a statement: Brought to you my the church of [_____] .
Yes, this YouTube installment is a little esoteric but this is what draws young people these days:
Grocery Store Musical
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WnY59mDJ1gg&feature=player_embedded

Can YouTube Find God?

When was the last time you viewed a YouTube clip? I’m not a YouTube junkie. I don’t pour over the volumes of amateur and professional videos at my fingertips 24-7. I do, on occasion, open up choice selections sent by friends via email or Facebook. My newest favorite is a John Williams Star Wars tribute.

Today though, are you aware of YouTube containing religion or religious themes? Today’s Time online magazine explores firing up your home video camcorder to present God and Christianity, or “religion” to the masses. While the article was very bland, the video featured along side the article drew my attention: Steve Silvia’s “The Catholic Church- Behold, I am with you all days!” is the featured video. [ view clip ]

I semi-watched and listened. The haunting monk-like chanting of the music can put you in a spiritual reflective mood, but I can’t say the text helps me to understand Catholicism. So I searched YouTube for 'religion'. First up in the queue?
“George Carlin – Religion is B***sh*t”. Obviously, not what I was seeking.

Next, I searched, ‘Presbyterian Church’. The top three results: “Coral Ridge” , “PCUSA Moderator Bruce Reyes- Chow’s Opening Speech” , and “Darrick Lawson’s Ordination service at Westminster Presbyterian Church”.

Then, ‘Episcopal Church’: “Processional Hymn 137”, “Lambeth: Rowan Williams Draws a Line”, “The Episcopal Church Honors Your Spiritual Journey”; and finally, rounding out the top five- “Who Are We?” (The Episcopal’s get one point for a doctrine video).

The Baptist’s on the otherhand had some big names in their top five: Documentary producer, Michael Moore and a guy named Barack O’Bama, to name a few.

And the Methodist’s: They’re number one at least had a cool song from the Eme Nkwa Ekwere Choir—part one.

It appears general searches on YouTube for videos about religion has a long way to climb before seriously bringing viewers to God. Right now, searches predominately focus on the lighter side of faith; poking fun at doctrine. A site is actually focued on Christian faith is known as GodTube. A GodTube serach doesn't bring up a site of that name but, tangle.com, serving as http://www.tangle.com/ an online Christian community.

All in all, I felt the Time article missed its mark and was a filler piece until I revisited the featured clip of the Catholic video on the YouTube site. Viewing it on YouTube, I see a different picture. In the right-handed column of the monitor screen, related videos appeared: “Why I became Catholic”, “Queen of Heaven”, “The Truth about Catholics”, “Why You Should Be Catholic”, “My Catholic Faith- Man Should Tremble”, and “Here I am Lord”…. Gee that’s a lot different than the protestant church results.

Okay, “Here Am Lord”- is one of my favorite hymns. How did this wind up on the Catholic page? Not on the Presbyterian page or the Methodist page or any other Protestant search word? Because… the video producer, Steve Silvia is ta-da--- CATHOLIC! Or he’s being paid by the Catholic church to produce very cool videos that are uploaded to YouTube and Steve Siliva has most likely tagged those videos to appear under a Catholic search group. Steve Silvia’s video, “The Catholic Church- Behold I am with you all days!” is the video featured in the Time article, an aha moment. Eight of the featured video clips on the Catholic page are produced by Steve Silvia. Guess those Catholics are pretty slick getting a guy to produce videos and uploading them for people to view in hopes it might spark some interest in learning more about the Catholic faith.

So fellow Protestants, are we behind in technology? Are we using all the multi-media sources out there to proclaim God’s word? The Catholics don’t own the streaming video market. They just saw the opportunity and jumped on board. Let me tell you friends, here’s a big example of why mainstream religion is struggling. When are we going to get over our fears and embrace this new stuff? If you can even call it new any more. And when we do venture out to be technologically creative, why do we think we have to create our own sites for “us”? GodTube was ecstatic this past August stating they had 4.5 million unique viewers. YouTube exceeded 100 million viewers in March 2009, with internet users watching 14.8 billion online videos. YouTube became the 4th most visited site on the web after it beat out Microsoft’s Live.com and MSN with 120 million viewers in August. Why do we feel we need to separate ourselves when talking about our faith? Why can’t God come with us on Facebook, on Twitter, on YouTube?

Faith-based subjects, spirituality and God are appearing in all these mediums. I know. I read it. It comforts me when I do see God and faith talk interspursed in my daily life. He slips in through the updates and groups and videos. God IS on YouTube, if you look. He may not be listed in the top 10 YouTube hits like “Drunkest Guy Ever Goes Back for One More" or “Hot Chicks with Guns”, but He’s there. Kind of like in real life, huh? Can YouTube find God? Not if we don't help put him there.

Got a minute? YouTube moments I think merit your time:

Choir (Perpetuum Jazzile) creates a rainstorm with hands and
sings Toto song: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JpbyM8k7e2Q&feature=related

Composer John Williams tribute: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lk5_OSsawz4

God Is My Everything: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lcPhwhgCywk

A Saint's Passing

"Give me the money. Give me the money," a witness overheard. Then there was a gunshot.

We hear testimonies like this all too often in the news. It’s become commonplace. Sorry to say, we tend to ignore the news. But once in a while we hear these words and they clang in our ears. Conjuring the sound of that gunshot pierces our senses and stops our breath. What is different? When that shot touches our heart.

Such was the case for me.

I didn’t know Robert Wafer. I’m not sure I ever met him or his family the one time I attended Paradise Missionary Baptist Church. But I grieve for his departure from this world nonetheless. Mr. Wafer was one of our saints.

He was devoted church volunteer, who was violently and senselessly gunned down in his front yard last Friday. It’s unclear whether the gunman even took the money he was demanding. The gunman did take a father and a grandfather. He took a man who drove the church van and sang of God’s praises. He took a man who had just prepared several pounds of brisket and ribs for the church’s picnic on Sunday.


No, I didn’t know Mr. Wafer. I don’t really know the folks at Paradise MBC. The church is a web client. It’s a congregation I visited. By with that one visit and with my continued work with them updating their site month after month, those folks are part of my fiber; just like all the other clients I update on a regular basis are an extended church family. I live my life with them as I type in their updates and optimize their images.

Once again, our cyber world draws us closer together than we sometimes realize. So I hope as you read this, you say a prayer for Mr. Wafer’s family and for the church family as they have lost one of their saints.

The paper reported Mr. Wafer’s favorite song was, “He’s An On Time God.” I’m sure God was on time with Mr. Wafer as he passed to welcome him to the arms of all the saints waiting who have gone before.

If interested in learning more about the church : www.paradisembc-dallas.org

Critical Friend

Can I be your “critical friend”?

In the book, Mediating Religion: Conversations in Media, Culture and Religion, Heidi Campbell (“Approaches to Religious Research in Computer-mediated Communication”) describes a “critical friend” thus:

religious leaders who affirm the opportunities provided by the Internet while also being cautious and careful about the possible negative repercussions.

Wow! That was a mouthful. What does she really mean? Does your website reflect what you believe? Who is writing theological material? Has your site become too consumeristic in selling seminars, books, tapes, t-shirts, etc.? Do you look more like Barnes and Nobel than a house of worship?

The Internet is a significant means of communication. Don’t let statements such as this frighten you from this technology. It’s by far the most effective communicator for those 25 years-old and under. A two-year old study calculates at least 70% of the people in North America use the Internet. Hedi Campbell's comment is avowing why I ask church clients to write their own text for their website. This is your voice, not mine. Just make sure that Johnny-June, your local volunteer, who’s running your site or sending copy to a web designer either KNOWS the church theology and mission OR has trusted authority OR runs what he/she wrote by someone who does (maybe the pastor?)

I tend to believe this “critical friend” should also advise you about tech trends. Do you really need animation or video? Do you need someone blogging on a regular basis? (If so, refer back to the paragraph before this). Would creating a group on Facebook be an advantage? Do we hop on Twitter? The answer may be yes in all cases because each one is a source your viewership WILL USE or it could be -- maybe, or no.

Know the audience/congregation you reach. Know the audience/congregation you want to reach. Know or learn the vehicle to get their attention. Then, know what you’re saying reflects what you mean. If you need a friend?....I'm here.

A Thousand Words???...

What would you pick? A three-to-five page paper describing God’s connection to us or Michelangelo’s Creation of Adam from the Sistine Chapel (on right).

In an article for The Alban Institute, Lynne M. Baab expresses how your church website can communicate your church vision. Photos of people seem more invitational than buildings to a limit. People looking directly into the camera could overwhelm site visitors versus those with people engaged in activities. The trend is to select imagery, not people, to symbolize the congregation; their values and mission, pictures that convey grace or redemption.

This task is not for the faint of heart and should you wish to undertake this assignment, a small committee working with a selection process would be best not only for your church to arrive at the appropriate imagery, but to cut down on cost in your website design as designers and developers may charge you for that perfect shot that conveys your warm, inviting congregation who is full of grace and devotion.

Take the time to read the article as it brings out many great points to consider as you live with and adapt your church’s website. http://www.alban.org/conversation.aspx?id=5906

I hope you picked Michelangelo over the paper.
Peace--

I thought I loved my iPhone

I recently viewed a YouTube video of the latest concept in cell phones. Nokia is developing a phone with the concept name of Morph. http://tiny.cc/bmD0j


It may look like a regular cell phone but trust me, take the time to watch the first 40 seconds of this video and watch the phone morph!

Morph is a concept demonstrating some of the possibilities in nanotechnologies that might enable future communication devices. If you don’t know about nanotechnology or any of its concepts, watching this 6 minute video will allow you to see what the future holds in store. It’s pretty incredible just to watch a few seconds as the illustrated character morphs her phone(makes it change shape), places a call and then raps it around her arm!

You can also view the Nokia 888 http://tiny.cc/jbQnu (3:41) to watch the young female interacting with her nano- phone.

About half-way through the previously mentioned Morph concept piece, the introduction to another new idea was presented: nano-materials that can be produced to enable solar energy on a larger scale to where future buildings could be covered by solar cells. This material would allow specific chemical compounds to be pulled from the air to create energy for the building. This is because nanotechnology allows control of physical properties at a nanostructure level with single-molecular precision. WoW!!.....

                   …and I thought I loved my iPhone.