What the heck is Twittering?

Hey all. Several of you have been asking lately what the heck twittering is, so I thought I would put out a mass explanation.

Basically, it's the same thing as the status on your facebook page--it's just a way of letting other people know what you're doing and seeing what other people are doing. You can tweeter from your cell phone, online, through im...You can even link your twitter to your facebook so your twitter updates automatically post in your status (that's why my status usually says i'm twittering something).

If you want a longer explanation, check out this youtube video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ddO9idmax0o

Yes, I know it's probably lame, but hey I have fun with it. I'm sure it will fade out of popularity soon, but if you like jumping on silly, short-lived fads check it out! my twitter name is pearlparks.

birds & biking

so, this nice, friendly little robin of a bird had a run-in with me on wednesday. more specifically, a robin hit me when i was biking to work.

it all happened in a split second.

i was just biking along when i saw something quickly scuffle across the road into my bike. i'm wondering: did some leaves just blow across the road? did a small animal run across? did i hit it? what's going on?

i look down to see a robin trapped, flapping around between my foot & my bike as i'm pedaling away.

needless to say i started squealing and wondering what the heck i was going to do if it started viciously pecking my feet (i ride clipped, so not the easiest thing to get off your bike quickly).

about the time this panicked thought was flashing across my mind, the bird managed to flop its way out of my pedals.

i hope it was okay.

i do have to say i'm proud of myself that i didn't panic & crash in the midst of it all :)

Check out the pics of the fence we built!

Check out the new fence we built! Around Easter, we did a bunch of work outside @ our house, tearing down an old fence, digging up a ratty hedge, busting out an unused outside fireplace, putting some new furniture on the porches, building a new fence, edging the gardens with railroad ties, and doing some transplanting and getting ready for summer gardens. It was a lot of work, but so satisfying to sit back and see now that it's done. Now we just need some warmer weather to enjoy it all. :)

Matt posted some of the picture from along the way on his blog, so check out the link!

http://ponderingloudly.blogspot.com/2008/03/fence.html

Provocative, Organic Church

I’m reading this phenomenal book called The Provocative Church by Graham Tomlin.

It’s redefining evangelism, lending shape and form and words to things I have been feeling but didn’t know how to express. The idea that being a Christ follower is about living life under the rule of God. It’s about experiencing the restoration and fullness of life that he designed us for—experiencing love where there once was bitterness, forgiveness where there once was revenge, beauty where there once was ugliness, community where there once was lonliness, creativity where there once was conformity. It’s about engaging in our contexts and bringing these things to our worlds. It’s about offering explanation when this provocative way of life stimulates questions, and inviting others to experience life under the rule of God for themselves.

I was just reading some more of it, and this one particular sentence grabbed me: “Paul viewed the Christian community in Corinth not in mechanical but organic terms” (The Provocative Church, 147)

What would it look like for church leaders to create structure & conditions for church community that is more organic than mechanical?

But what is organic? What does this look, feel, taste like?
It makes me think alive.
Natural.
Growing.
Following predictable rhythms.
But with variation and moments of unpredictability.
Hopeful.
Beautiful.
Strong.
Delicate.

Mechanical seems to evoke the exact opposite sort of words:
Cold.
Hard.
Dead.
Rigid.
Unchanging.
Unfeeling.

So what would it look like for our churches to be places of organic life?

What kinds of conditions are vital for organic life in the faith community? What kinds of structures?

I would love to hear your thoughts.

a must listen podcast

matt & i have been listening to the fermi podcasts lately. crazy name, i know, but fermi project is doing some sweet stuff with bringing key cultural influencers together to talk about how the church can be engaging & bringing good to our world. they do a periodic podcast you can subscribe to--interviews with some movers & shakers of our day. people who are engaging the world around them and being kingdom bringers in creative ways.

i highly recommend it.

you can check out more of what their doing and also get to the podcast through their web site:

www.fermiproject.com

Creating Culture

Matt & I hopped on the train to NYC Friday to spend two days celebrating Matt's birthday. We both love taking trains, so this was a super fun experience all by itself. There's just something about having hours to watch scenery go by, think, read, watch movies. They just feel so adventurous. So romantic (and not in the guy/girl sort of way).

So Friday night we went to see the Blue Man Group live at their Astor Place Theater (first theater they ever performed in!). Seeing them was a dream of Matt's, so he was stoked, and I was pretty excited myself. They are this peculiar blend of band/comedians/artists/culture commentators. It is BEAUTIFUL. The creativity literally makes me cry as they bring beauty, reflection, and creation to the work around them. It's something that resonates deep inside of me.

Maybe because this is what we are all called to: to bring our unique art to the world around us. To not just react to things, but to create what we desire and hope for. To be fully engaged in the culture we find ourselves in, but reflecting on it, responding to it.

What is your art? Are you creating the culture you want to see rather than just reacting to what you don't want to see? How are you doing this?

It would take a while to put words to it, but it's amazing.

If you want to read about all our other super fun adventures trekking around the city, I'll let you read Matt's extensive blogs on it, complete with pics. His blog is the "matt" one in my links.

Hilarious story involving taxes & a puppy

Matt blogged about it, so I won't duplicate the entry--picture of the evidence and all. Check it out! http://ponderingloudly.blogspot.com/