…but it’s not quite plastic either.

if you’re like me, you get emails like this on a pretty regular basis:

just a friendly update that JesusBoatMuseum/Sunset_Plaza/AsthmaWatch (not to mention the morally inappropriate accounts) are now ‘following’ you on twitter.

on the one hand, we’ve come a long way from even just the beginning of 2009 where i would still regularly hear people knocking twitter. but, with its popularity it has brought a host of spam/commercial/not-real-people with it.

now, i love twitter. i think it’s a great idea. it’s fun. it’s engaging. it’s even helpful.

i love reading about what my friends are doing, listening to, driving toward and, yes, even eating.

i also enjoy keeping up with various church accounts from different calvary chapels or friends’ churches. it’s fun to see what people are studying on sunday mornings, what events they’re having on thursday nights, how life groups are going and get messages from the pastors.

i even follow a few commercial accounts (IMDb, DreamHost and Colorburned to name a few).

but the spam i could do without.

because they’re not helpful. they’re not personal. they’re not actually participating in the whole point of twitter.

while one could argue that the commercial/celebrity/church/company/correspondence accounts i follow are not overtly personal either, i think there’s a basic difference between information I’M seeking and spamformation that seeks me.

it’s not the real thing.

just like the stuff you buy in the can.

it’s not quite meat, but it’s not quite plastic either.

let’s end with a suggestion and a question:

here’s the suggestion: though it may feel like it doesn’t make a difference, let’s take 5 minutes every now and then to block every spam account that is following us. at very least those with inappropriate content.

yes, they’re automated.

yes, they keep coming.

but we can do our part to clean house.

here’s the question: does twitter spam bother you or does it not make a difference?

lay it on me.

it’s tuesday.

do you know about positive post tuesday?

today i had to drive to visalia at about 10:30am.

the current weather in the valley has cleared the usually smoggy air so that we could see the mountains with particular clarity.

it was lovely.

unfortunately, i did not have a camera, though i noticed at least a dozen places on the road where a picture would’ve been magnificent.

i’m truly sorry that i wasn’t able to share the view with you. instead, another nature shot will have to do:

the heavens declare the glory of God
and the firmament shows His handiwork.
{ Psalm 19.1 }

thanks Lord.

it’s tuesday. be positive!

blessings.

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january 15, 2010 came fast.

several months ago it seemed much farther off than it does today: one week prior.

got my shots…got my passport…got my snacks…got my hair cut, because next friday i’m heading south to Chile & Peru on a trip with a couple other fellows from @calvaryhanford.

we’re going to spend some time with a church in Lima that we’ve had a relationship with for a number of years and we’re also going to be meeting some new friends in Iquique, Chile to see how we can support their ministry.

they’ve got a lot planned for us on our short scouting mission, so we would very much covet your prayers.

as of now, we know that we’ll be involved in these and other things:

> ocean baptism
> a church leadership meeting
> teaching at a singles meeting
> teaching at the midweek service
> visiting a peruvian rehabilitation center
> visiting a maximum security prison

…plus whatever else the Lord provides for us.

no idea what the internet situation will be, but i will do my very best to capture some video and photographs of our time.

we’re very excited, though i will admit i am probably going to be a bit anxious about mrs p and our little baby, who is slated to be born in just about 7 weeks.

which reminds me…anyone have a skype phone i could borrow for a week or so?

blessings & maranatha.

going to introduce this one to @calvaryhanford this sunday.

what’s your favorite worship song right now?

i need some help.

here @calvaryhanford i have a wonderfully varied job. sometimes i’m on a computer, sometimes i’m on a phone, sometimes i’m on an errand, sometimes i’m on a ladder (though i try to be on a ladder as little as possible…).

i’m very glad for this variety, however many times my ‘expertise’ does not match up to specific tasks.

lighting is a good example of this.

i don’t know anything about lighting. however, i would like to do some minor improvements in our stage-lighting setup.

so here’s the deal:

some of you know some things about stage lighting…what works, what doesn’t, where to get some decent parnels & fresnels* and how to color a stage so that everyone doesn’t look like a ghost on the video feed.

i would guess that some of you even fill this role at your churches to some degree or another.

that’s where you come in. i need you to give me some tips. whether it’s a website, a retailer that you trust, or especially little bits of information on what has worked for you, i need it.

give me an education in the comments or you can directly email me here.

*yep. after nearly 5 years of working here i have learned the names of 2 types of stage lights. that is the extent of my stage-lighting knowledge.

the year is coming to an end.

the last quarter of 2009 has proven to be the least-blogged period in recent history.

seriously…people aren’t posting anymore, including me.

i very much want that to change.

so let me ask you this:

why do YOU think people are blogging less?

too busy?

too distracted by microblogging?

or do you think the trend is coming to an end?

lay it on me.

very soon.

i think they probably have a pretty good practice routine…

ht: mr. brown

as we face the modern world with all its trouble and turmoil and with all it difficulties and sadness, nothing is more important than that we who call ourselves Christian, and who claim the Name of Christ, should be representing our faith in such a way before others, as to give them the impression that
here is the solution, and here is the answer.”

{ D. Martyn Lloyd-Jones }

it’s tuesday.

do you know about positive post tuesday?

pastor greg laurie has been posting these short, devotional videos recently which help focus our thoughts on God and to remember all that He has done for us.

this video is entitled Why Should I Give Thanks To God?

it’s a fair question and deserves a thoughtful, Biblical answer.

today i hope you discover a little more of how much God loves you and all that He desires to do in and through your life here on the earth.

it’s tuesday. be positive!

blessings.

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