The Wired Wanderings of a Postmodern Pilgrim
Sep 19th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
The moving truck arrived, the boxes are all in the same house, I had a good first day in the office with the staff, so life is good.
I’m not sure I will get a podcast off this weekend – I preach and Carla wants me to do something about all the boxes around the house and in the garage. But next weekend looks good to get a podcast up on internet streaming churches.
More to come but things are finally falling into place, which not only bodes well for me and the family, but also for Wired Jesus.
Sep 17th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Okay, I have seen the signs. Civilization is ending as we know it.
Not because of AIG and the subprime crisis. Not because of the Russian invasion of Georgia. Not because of the mideast conflicts.
The divine sign of judgment is the episode of Design Star that my wife just turned on where these aspiring interior artists must decorate a fallout shelter.
As one designer said, “The US built these because the Chinese were pissed when we dropped the atomic bomb on them at Hiroshima.” Ah, we are historians as well.
Top it off to a trip to Pier One for all your accessorizing needs to enjoy a radioactive wonderland because the Mad Max look is so 1980s.
As one designer said, “The US built these because the Chinese were pissed when we dropped the atomic bomb on them at Hiroshima.” Ah, we are historians as well.
Other great descriptions of their bomb shelter designs: “we wanting something soothing with colors”; “the bunker is cozy but rather airy”; “let’s fill the space with tea light candles”; “this tiny little room is difficult to work with to create a communal space”; “I don’t think our bunker has a cohesive look”; “in this bunker all my dreams are coming true;” and the classic “we wanted a space that even if a bomb is coming, you can chill out and relax.”
There is just something disconcerting about people comparing fabric swatches on what goes best with concrete and how to create a happy space with style… so you can enjoy a nuclear holocaust in comfort and with sophistication.
It almost makes me want to believe in a rapture. Right now. Take me home, Dr. Strangelove.
Sep 4th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Okay, this is just funny. Leave it to ebaum’s world. Thanks to Taylor Z. for having it on her Facebook page.
Aug 28th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Chicago is buzzing over the abrupt announcement by controversial sportswriter Jay Marriotti that he is leaving the Chicago Sun-Times because the newspaper business is dead and doesn’t want to go down with the ship. While there is a little more to the whole thing, I think his observation of the Olympics coverage was telling. The majority of reporters he saw there were either working for TV or Internet outlets, not newspapers.
“It’s been a tremendous experience, but I’m going to be honest with you, the profession is dying,” Mariotti said, “I don’t think either paper [Sun-Times or Chicago Tribune] is going to survive.
“To showcase your work … you need a stellar Web site and if a newspaper doesn’t have that, you can’t be stuck in the 20th century with your old newspaper.”
What to take from this? I think it speaks to a transition that many churches are struggling with when it comes to technology. Print hymnals are grudgingly giving way to projection screens but its not a technology/entertainment issue, its a communication. Newspaper and yellow page ads are poor investments when 70%+ of people looking for a new church home looks for a web page first. Education curriculum is now video dependent rather than books, overheads, etc… And the list goes on.
The early church learned to speak the Jesus story in languages other than Aramaic (the Hebrew that Jesus spoke) – Greek, Latin, and then beyond. So it is now. Print isn’t dead but paper as the primary delivery medium is rapidly dying. Web pages, projection, and Amazon’s Kindle all are pointing to a new language for the people of the Book to learn to keep it relevant.
Corporations have learned this. The news media is struggling to learn it and now the church. The message hasn’t changed but the medium must if the message is to be heard in future.
Aug 27th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Aug 27th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
After much waiting, here’s a new podcast and its a review of the bestseller The Shack. If you haven’t come across it yet, it more than just a sentimental devotional book – The Shack has some real content that makes the very confusing doctrine of the Trinity come alive in a real relationship. Sounds a little weird, I know, but its a good book that deals with God, evil, tragedy, and authentic spiritual relationship with God. Enjoy.
I do need to warn you that there is a bit of a hum in the background that appeared in the final editing. I’m not sure where it came from but I’ll check so it won’t happen again. I just didn’t have time to re-record today and I thought you would rather have a podcast than none at all. 🙂
Two new things with this podcast – one, a new theme song. I had a listener email me concerned that the RIAA might come after me for my 58 second use of Green Day, which goes back to three years ago when less than 60 seconds was considered fair use for a sound clip. Now its seems that is not the case but its hard to get any definitive opinion. So I played around on Garageband and put together a new intro that I must admit I rather like.
The other new thing is that I have accepted a new call as the Senior Pastor of Trinity Lutheran Church in Findlay, Ohio, which is a small city south of Toledo. We will be moving from Chicago by mid-September, so things are very busy right now as we make preparations. Thanks to everyone for all the prayers and support during this past year during what was a very difficult time for me and the family. However, the people of Trinity have been very welcoming and are eager to have someone with my postmodern sensibilities to add to their ministries. I won’t be doing anything about Trinity here on Wired Jesus – its been my policy to try and keep my parish work separate from Wired Jesus but I know there are new listeners from Trinity now, so welcome. But do feel free to check out Trinity’s web page as that develops as well as my Facebook page.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Aug 26th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
David Yonke, the Religion Editor for the Toledo Blade, has an interesting eye for stories as I found when I used to live in NW Ohio. His latest story is about Joe Eszterhas’ new book, a different direction than his best seller Basic Instinct.
Joe Eszterhas’ latest book is a shocker, but not the kind that made him rich and famous.
The upcoming release from the man who penned dark thrillers such as Basic Instinct and Jagged Edge tells the story of his spiritual conversion and his newfound devotion to God and family.
In Crossbearer: A Memoir of Faith, to be published Sept. 2 by St. Martin’s Press, Mr. Eszterhas describes how his life got turned around during the summer of 2001.
Aug 26th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
If you haven’t found Outchurched blog and my fellow podcaster/Facebook friend, Rev. Dan Tripp, check it out. Rev. Dan is a Universalist with a very edgy sense of humor that I appreciate but might easily offend more gentle listeners (Be warned – not safe for kids). That being said, he recently posted this clip from the movie Coach Carter that is one of the best parts of the whole movie.
There is a sermon in this. Actually, its a sermon already. Enjoy.
Aug 19th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Okay, the podcast is written but things have been absolutely nuts with getting my oldest ready to start his freshman year in college. So, I may get it done today but probably won’t have the editing done until Monday.
More to come. Hang in there.
Aug 17th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Okay, this has nothing to do with the journey of faith, other than you need to keep a sense of humor and enjoy a good laugh now and then. So, during this time of political campaigning and unbridled charting, here is some data you can really use.
