Christianese

So I was looking through my book of music for worship songs today, and it really struck me how many songs have either lyrics or titles that would be completely foreign to anyone who hasn't been around the Christian scene that long. Think about it: "Open the Eyes of my Heart." Morbid literal picture if you ask me. Not saying the lyrics aren't meaningful for those who know the heart behind what the lyrics represent, but if you knew nothing about faith or God, what would you think if you visited a church who sang that? The songs shouldn't go, I just need to make a more concerted effort to critically think about what I'm singing and why.

Simply Back to the Basics

A funny thing has been happening in the food manufacturing business. There has been (at least in my opinion) a trend in recent years toward products made with good ole' fashioned ingredients. None of the "bad" stuff. (I picture Mr. Nabisco slaving over some sort of pastry made from my grandma's family recipe).

I must admit that these products have me hook, line, and sinker. I fall for them every time. Because I prefer food without high fructose corn syrup or partially hydrogenated plastic. But the whole "simply" movement makes me think on another level.

I wonder if companies expect a round of applause from consumers for their nutty crunchy return to nature. I love the product, but I always think, "Awesome, but why haven't they done this all along??" It's not like using basic and naturally occuring ingredients is anything new- companies are just able to put it in attractive packaging and charge twice as much...and it seems to be working.

I say- bring on more products! Charge less, but keep em' coming! Welcome to a world where food was meant to be simple.

Thoughts on Technology

Landscaping every day affords me the unique opportunity to listen to hours and hours of podcasts while working. I cover everything from sermons (Paul Washer and John Piper), to economics (EconTalk), to funny shows (NPR's Wait Wait Don't Tell Me), to history and politics (Dan Carlin's Common Sense and Hardcore History), to music (Forerunner (IHOP...International House of Prayer, not Pancakes)), to random stuff (Stuff you Should Know and TechStuff from howstuffworks.com). Lately, I've been catching up on an entire year of the TechStuff podcast, and it has got me thinking about technology.

I have to admit that I like technology. I don't always get the latest gadget, but I enjoy learning about it and waiting until I can get it used from a friend who is throwing theirs away. I suppose you could say that I'm a late adopter.

Like most things (i.e. money), technology is neutral, a-moral, as in it doesn't possess within itself anything intrinsically good or bad. You can use it for good...or not for good.

The worst thing about our love affair with technology turns out to be morbidly ironic. We spend so much energy texting, and Twittering, and IMing, and yes, blogging or vlogging or whatever- all mediums designed to increase human communication- that I fear we are fast losing the art of person-to-person contact. We communicate so much that we never communicate at all. We have spread ourselves so thin with technology that we lose deep and lasting contact with just a few people.

The scariest part of technology is not scary to some people at all. We have a constructed a network of devices and services that cater to you, the individual. What do you want? What sites do you like to surf? Post a video about your opinion! The most important person is you. Wrong! We do not need any help making things more and more us-centered. We already have that figured out as humans. Thanks but no thanks, technology.

But like I said before, technology is neutral. The problem lies with us. Human nature doesn't seem to change much, and where there are people like you and I who are obsessed with ourselves, technology will be there ready to broadcast that to the world.

Have I angered some people? Or do you agree?