technology

I bought myself a new phone this week and as I'm spending time learning how to use all the different features, I'm realizing just how much technology changes impact youth ministry. A few junior high kids have added me as friends on facebook the last few weeks and I'm amused as the next wave of youth explore facebook. The application requests they send are a bit much (I block most of the applications) but seeing their status updates and the pictures they choose to post is interesting. It's almost as if having a facebook page is a new milestone. They're also getting cell phones and sending text messages along with pictures and videos.

Some of this tears down boundaries between people. Communication is not limited to phone calls or in person interaction. It's not even confined to waking hours anymore. Then in other ways, I think it puts up boundaries between people. The difference between who has facebook and who doesn't, who can text and who can't text... that kind of thing.

And I'm suprised high schoolers aren't on twitter. Actually I'm surprised by how few real life friends of mine are on twitter. Twitter is a site where you periodically update your "status" with 140 characters or less. If you're curious, learn more about it here: www.twitter.com but do realize the best way to figure it out is to try to use it. I'm loving hearing the scoop on things before traditional media gets it out there. It's handy for local events and shows... that kind of thing.

Anyway, consider this a general encouragement... if the newish technology stuff is confusing to you, it's confusing to nearly everyone at first.