We all know about myspace and facebook. Adults (a term I am now strangely forced to consider myself classified under) used to think these were social websites for teenagers. Parents would participate only to keep an eye on what their children were doing... that was just a few years ago. Now these sites have evolved into social tools. Through Facebook I stay connected with friends from all over the country, friends that I would have easily lost touch with years ago. Our church has even started a facebook group to bring the congregation closer to each other - a beautiful way of showcasing our image as "the body of Christ", rather than the ministers and staff as "Christ's head" (what an incredibly silly and pretentious idea!). Now we have sites like "Twitter" that continue the social evolution in ways that I am just now starting to grasp. To glance at Twitter from the surface I can put it very simply this way: as email was to letters, Twitter is to email. But there is so much more! For example, you can get twitter text-updates on your phone (i.e. I now have twitters from CNN Breaking News sent to my phone). Some churches are even starting to use Twitter as a way of communicating to their congregation! Amazing.
I am still a social network novice, so I've placed a couple blog-links that I highly suggest you read to better understand this phenomenon... it is not going away.
Tony Morgan - "Is Twitter Replacing Blogging?"
Jack Fisher - "Social Networking"
The 5 Most Useful Twitter Apps and Clients
p.s. - I am still a fan of writing and receiving letters. I believe they carry a personal touch that technology will never replace. For a long time now I have wanted to start a routine of sending brief (maybe a paragraph at most) prayer letters or cards to various people each week. I have yet to begin. But as my new goal of blogging once a week has begun to take fruit, maybe I'll just finish this and begin a quick "hand-written" note card to someone...
in Christ, Mitch
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