25 years of radical change

The news is all atwitter because .com names came into existence 25 years ago today. But it wasn't until 5 years later in 1990 that Tim Berners-Lee invented the World Wide Web – the only 'internet' that most people know – and made those .com names useful.

I remember seeing my first graphical web page at that time – a friend of mine at college had put up a little page about his department and had scandalously included his photograph. I was horrified, and the first words out of my mouth were, “this will never catch on.” Boy was I wrong.

At that time 'my' internet was a world of safe, opaque text. I'd have never dreamed of putting my photograph up on a web page for potentially anyone in the world to see. That thought frightened me because sharing something so personal with people I did not know seemed fundamentally wrong. But these days not it's not unusual for people to share much more than that on social networking sites.

I lecture my daughter weekly about the dangers of sharing too much on the 'net. She thinks I'm an old fogey.

But the W3 has changed us forever in many ways, particularly in the way we view privacy. We have gone from a people who jealously guarded our privacy and defended confidentiality to a people that no longer really even seem to understand those concepts. I consider that from time to time, and I don't really like it. I guess I am the old fogey that my daughter thinks I am.

Can't we all just be friends???!!!????!1?!!1

CAUTION: Pollyanna views ahead!

I just watched the video of Christianity Today's panel on the “emerging church” at the Christian Book Expo in Dallas — along with experts Kevin DeYoung, Tony Jones, and Scot McKnight.

I don't mean to be flippant, but that video just seemed like a very long version of one of those Macintosh vs PC commercials. The emergents of course being represented by the cool mac guy, and the more ''Orthodox” gentleman being the PC.

I was always annoyed by those commercials, because both a Mac and a PC have their place and both get the job done!!! Arguing about it means nothing to our culture other than both companies vying for a larger market share.

Why are Christians spending so much time and MONEY arguing with one another – knit picking. (As far as I can see.) I understand that to some people arguing as to whether Thomas Aquinis is fundamentally Platonic, or Aristotelian is a very important pass time. I have my own opinions, but that's all it is – an opinion. And who the heck cares if your church has pews or sofas??


Everyone should be encouraged to read the Bible and perhaps other historical and newer texts in order to develop their own view of the truth. But the only Truth that really matters is the Truth that Jesus Christ died for our sins and on the third day rose to defeat even death. And he's alive and working in each of our lives every single day.

I will never be a cool Mac. I wear glasses, need a hair cut and I'm an overweight 49 year old computer geek. But I love Jesus, with all my heart. And I strive every moment so that my words and deeds are a pleasing aroma unto my Lord and King. I often fall short, but I keep on trying.

Christians are under attack from all sides by other religions and those who profess to have no religion. Why do we have to pick each other apart too?

You can see the video here if you really want too:

http://www.therebelution.com/blog/2009/04/video-the-emerging-church/

And check out the picture of that panel above - every one of them looks like they are in great pain.

Oh and by the way: HE IS RISEN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Sonic Wall Fiasco

My Sonic Wall TZ190 went south. When it went down the first time it lost some settings. Our connection went down 2 hours later, and I reset the Sonic Wall by power cycling, and again it worked. But the third time was a charm. They are sending a new one overnight, but in the mean time we're using a little linksys router...

Ya, very hinkey, but I specialize in hinkey. At least we can get to Google Docs

0.0

Seeking Security Advice.

People around here have very good intentions. But we all know where the road to good intentions leads...

Let me just preface this by saying that I love my Pastors, the staff here, and every single person that walks through the door of our Church.

But I want to address a growing problem here that's causing me a great deal distress and extra work.

I'm wrestling with the issue of security for our tech hardware - and I'm now imagining the sighs of understanding that I'm hearing from techies reading this.

The problem that occurred this morning was with our Wireless Access Point. It is kept in the Concourse of our Church to facilitate access to the internet for our Cafe our Sanctuary, and at times the prayer chapel upstairs. This morning I discovered that the config file has been reset so it's no longer accepting connections.

Let me just state that getting to the Wireless Access Point is not easy. It requires a ladder, or perhaps a sturdy person on whose shoulders you can ride. Or maybe they just climb up above our coat room like a monkey. I don't know how they are doing it but someone has pressed that reset button twice in several months.

I don't know how to keep them from doing it. I can't put the WAP in a cage or box, as I fear the metal will interfere with the signal.

Any suggestions? Is there any kind of security 'box' for a wireless access point? I honestly am at a loss as to how to proceed.

... And again I love everyone here. Especially Jesus. BOY I feel guilty for complaining... ugh.