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2010-01-28
IMPRESSIONS OF A SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP #2
We had the second day of our #web2kerk (web2church) / Facebook course yesterday. The second day went extremely easy, if you take the technical stuff into account. Since @Sean Burger of Ipwebcraft set up the WLAN and got the glitches sorted to get every participant online on day one, day two literally was a matter of switching on your laptop and seeing that you are immediately and automatically connected to the Internet. (Sean, I love you, Man!)
The content of the second day focused on enabling the participants to create a Facebook Page for their organisation. We also spent some time on RSS Feeds and how to keep track of blogs one wants to follow. We also talked about setting up and maintaining a blog.
A large part of the conversation focused on what changes the church must make to reach a generation of people who grow up in this social media context. I stand amazed at the capacity of specifically "older" ministers of religion to accept a fundamental shift in our culture and initiate The part I found the most constructive was the theological discussion that was generated about processes that are necessary to adapt their ministry style. The hearts and willingness are there.
The challenge, however, is with the ability to live in this virtual social media world and still develop meaningful personal relationships with people. It also became clear to me that a radical rethinking of doing church is necessary. Congregations are traditionally organised as centripetal mechanisms - attracting people to the centre of its activities (most often the worship services) while the virtual social media world is centrifugal networks, scattering all over the place with no clear structure or hierarchy, or loyalty.
The general conclusion among the group that attended this workshop is the need to create more theological conversations on this subject. We were in agreement that the purpose of our ministries still centre around Christ and bringing the message of his redemption to the world and advancing his kingdom on earth.
The only sad thing is that we couldn't end our workshop with the beach party on Clifton beach as we so eloquently planned while developing our Facebook page and creating our only event! Perhaps it's because the pastor in the service of the synod (@Gielie Loubser) - who helped to arrange the workshop - didn't reply on the tweet we sent him to arrange the hubbly bubbly we wanted as part of our beach party! (I still want to know how he would react to THAT one!). :-))
The content of the second day focused on enabling the participants to create a Facebook Page for their organisation. We also spent some time on RSS Feeds and how to keep track of blogs one wants to follow. We also talked about setting up and maintaining a blog.
A large part of the conversation focused on what changes the church must make to reach a generation of people who grow up in this social media context. I stand amazed at the capacity of specifically "older" ministers of religion to accept a fundamental shift in our culture and initiate The part I found the most constructive was the theological discussion that was generated about processes that are necessary to adapt their ministry style. The hearts and willingness are there.
The challenge, however, is with the ability to live in this virtual social media world and still develop meaningful personal relationships with people. It also became clear to me that a radical rethinking of doing church is necessary. Congregations are traditionally organised as centripetal mechanisms - attracting people to the centre of its activities (most often the worship services) while the virtual social media world is centrifugal networks, scattering all over the place with no clear structure or hierarchy, or loyalty.
The general conclusion among the group that attended this workshop is the need to create more theological conversations on this subject. We were in agreement that the purpose of our ministries still centre around Christ and bringing the message of his redemption to the world and advancing his kingdom on earth.
The only sad thing is that we couldn't end our workshop with the beach party on Clifton beach as we so eloquently planned while developing our Facebook page and creating our only event! Perhaps it's because the pastor in the service of the synod (@Gielie Loubser) - who helped to arrange the workshop - didn't reply on the tweet we sent him to arrange the hubbly bubbly we wanted as part of our beach party! (I still want to know how he would react to THAT one!). :-))
2010-01-27
IMPRESSIONS OF A SOCIAL MEDIA WORKSHOP #1
I've been sharing some insights about using social media with some pastors and other congregation staff the past two days. The workshop was hosted by a synod committee of our denomination. The concept of such a workshop was initially introduced by Cobus van Wyngaard. This time I was the presenter and it was something of a new experience to me.
Apart from the technical issues (of getting 20 computers on line through a single ADSL connection) I will have to deal with in future - or always use the expertise of my friend Sean Burger - the presentation was a learning curve in itself.
Helping people to get accustomed to Facebook and Twitter is a hands-on experience. The course is interactive from the start and it is a leap away from one-dimensionally presenting lecture content to a group of listeners. I frequently wondered if all participants kept track of the presentation. I definitely know some of the group was bored (they're definitely not FB beginners!). Today should be more productive for them, and hopefully they'll feel free to participate in the discussion somewhat more.
I'm afraid of today, however: What if I don't really know all that much of the content and somebody attending actually outsmart me? How do I include them in the workshop without looking stupid? ;-)
Apart from the technical issues (of getting 20 computers on line through a single ADSL connection) I will have to deal with in future - or always use the expertise of my friend Sean Burger - the presentation was a learning curve in itself.
Helping people to get accustomed to Facebook and Twitter is a hands-on experience. The course is interactive from the start and it is a leap away from one-dimensionally presenting lecture content to a group of listeners. I frequently wondered if all participants kept track of the presentation. I definitely know some of the group was bored (they're definitely not FB beginners!). Today should be more productive for them, and hopefully they'll feel free to participate in the discussion somewhat more.
I'm afraid of today, however: What if I don't really know all that much of the content and somebody attending actually outsmart me? How do I include them in the workshop without looking stupid? ;-)
2010-01-25
Cartoon: Facebook
I will be presenting a workshop on social media tomorrow and the day after that. Thus, the cartoon (published on www.reverendfun.com). Its a first for me, but I am looking forward to the experience.
The question I'm struggling with, is: how can we effectively communicate the love of Jesus through online relationships and social networks? Is this just a passing trend, or are we stuck with the reality of an internet society as something to theologically think about?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
The question I'm struggling with, is: how can we effectively communicate the love of Jesus through online relationships and social networks? Is this just a passing trend, or are we stuck with the reality of an internet society as something to theologically think about?
I'd love to hear your thoughts!
2010-01-23
SINNERS ARE WELCOME
I dream of a church where people are more interested in the future than the past, a church where your ultimate redemption are seen as the price and not the standard and where your sins past and current are discounted in favour of allowing God's grace to engulf the things that separate you from Him.
I dream of a people who intentionally embrace their brokenness and shy away from holiness. It is a people who accept their incompletions as a badge of honour and who don't try to hide it underneath a veneer of christianese. It is understanding that being holy amounts to being honest about who you really are, that you perhaps cannot really change your grumpiness or your short temper or your stingyness or your gayness.
I dream of human beings who refuse to settle for law and justice and search for grace and relationship. They are people who view God's grace as a code of love and not a legal document. They see God's plan for human living not as punishable when broken, but a process of growing into the presence of the Only One who can make perfection possible.
I dream of Christians who stop condemning their brothers and sisters in Christ but choosing to lovingly help them carry their burdens of suffering. I dream of church leaders who quit trying to do God's work for Him, and choose to testify about his mercy and the new possibilities brokered by Christ in stead.
It is my dream that everybody who looks for Jesus, will find Him and not the representation that is currently given people who think they know Him, but in the mean time made the choice to be religious.
I dream of a people who intentionally embrace their brokenness and shy away from holiness. It is a people who accept their incompletions as a badge of honour and who don't try to hide it underneath a veneer of christianese. It is understanding that being holy amounts to being honest about who you really are, that you perhaps cannot really change your grumpiness or your short temper or your stingyness or your gayness.
I dream of human beings who refuse to settle for law and justice and search for grace and relationship. They are people who view God's grace as a code of love and not a legal document. They see God's plan for human living not as punishable when broken, but a process of growing into the presence of the Only One who can make perfection possible.
I dream of Christians who stop condemning their brothers and sisters in Christ but choosing to lovingly help them carry their burdens of suffering. I dream of church leaders who quit trying to do God's work for Him, and choose to testify about his mercy and the new possibilities brokered by Christ in stead.
It is my dream that everybody who looks for Jesus, will find Him and not the representation that is currently given people who think they know Him, but in the mean time made the choice to be religious.
2010-01-20
Carolyn Brown on Worship
Thanks to Francois Mulder for sharing this insightful quote.
"Worship is the heart of the congregation. Everyone has different interests, such as pastoral care or missions, but in worship you build community. Children need to see themselves as part of a community of all ages who share commitments. I can't imagine a person of any age being thought of as part of the congregation but not being part of worship..."
"Worship is the heart of the congregation. Everyone has different interests, such as pastoral care or missions, but in worship you build community. Children need to see themselves as part of a community of all ages who share commitments. I can't imagine a person of any age being thought of as part of the congregation but not being part of worship..."
Carolyn C. Brown
SOME JOKES TO LIGHTEN UP YOUR MID WEEK
GOOD SAMARITAN
A Sunday school teacher was telling her class the story of the Good Samaritan. She asked the class, 'If you saw a person lying on the roadside, all wounded and bleeding, what would you do?'
A thoughtful little girl broke the hushed silence, 'I think I'd throw up.'
DID NOAH FISH?
A Sunday school teacher asked, 'Johnny, do you think Noah did a lot of fishing when he was on the Ark?'
'No,' replied Johnny. 'How could he, with just two worms.'
HIGHER POWER
A Sunday school teacher said to her children, 'We have been learning how powerful kings and queens were in Bible times. But, there is a Higher Power. Can anybody tell me what it is?'
One child blurted out, 'Aces!'
MOSES AND THE RED SEA
Nine-year-old Joey was asked by his mother what he had learned in Sunday School.
'Well, Mom, our teacher told us how God sent Moses behind enemy lines on a rescue mission to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. When he got to the Red Sea, he had his army build a pontoon bridge and all the people walked across safely. Then he radioed headquarters for reinforcements. They sent bombers to blow up the bridge and all the Israelites were saved.'
'Now, Joey, is that really what your teacher taught you?' his mother asked.
'Well, no, Mom.. But, if I told it the way the teacher did, you'd never believe it!'
THE LORD IS MY SHEPHERD
A Sunday School teacher decided to have her young class memorize one of the most quoted passages in the Bible - Psalm 23. She gave the youngsters a month to learn the chapter. Little Rick was excited about the task - but he just couldn't remember the Psalm. After much practice, he could barely get past the first line.
On the day that the kids were scheduled to recite Psalm 23 in front of the congregation, Ricky was so nervous. When it was his turn, he stepped up to the microphone and said proudly, 'The Lord is my Shepherd, and that's all I need to know.'
UNANSWERED PRAYER
The preacher's 5 year-old daughter noticed that her father always paused and bowed his head for a moment before starting his sermon. One day, she asked him why.
'Well, Honey,' he began, proud that his daughter was so observant of his messages. I’m asking the Lord to help me preach a good sermon.'
With the brutal honesty of kids, she asked 'How come He doesn't answer it?'
UNTIMELY ANSWERED PRAYER
During the minister's prayer one Sunday, there was a loud whistle from one of the back pews. Tommy's mother was horrified. She pinched him into silence and, after church, asked, 'Tommy, whatever made you do such a thing?'
Tommy answered, soberly, 'I asked God to teach me to whistle, and He did!'
TIME TO PRAY
A pastor asked a little boy if he said his prayers every night.
'Yes, sir,' the boy replied.
'And, do you always say them in the morning, too?' the pastor asked.
'No sir,' the boy replied. 'I ain't scared in the daytime.'
ALL MEN / ALL GIRLS
When my daughter, Kelli, said her bedtime prayers, she would bless every family member, every friend, and every animal (current and past).
For several weeks, after we had finished the nightly prayer, Kelli would say, 'And all girls.'
This soon became part of her nightly routine, to include this closing. My curiosity got the best of me and I asked her, 'Kelli, why do you always add the part about all girls?'
Her response, 'Because everybody always finish their prayers by saying 'All Men'!'
SAY A PRAYER
Little Johnny and his family were having Sunday dinner at his Grandmother's house. Everyone was seated around the table as the food was being served. When Little Johnny received his plate, he started eating right away.
'Johnny! Please wait until we say our prayer.' said his mother.
'I don't need to,' the boy replied.
'Of course, you do,' his mother insisted. 'We always say a prayer before eating at our house.'
'That's at our house,' Johnny explained. 'But this is Grandma's house and she knows how to cook!'
BEING THANKFUL
A Rabbi said to a precocious six-year-old boy, 'So your mother says your prayers for you each night? That's very commendable. What does she say?'The little boy replied sadly, 'Thank God he's in bed!'
2010-01-19
SATAN'S REACTION TO PAT ROBERTSON'S REMARK
Dear Pat Robertson,
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle.
Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.
You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
I know that you know that all press is good press, so I appreciate the shout-out. And you make God look like a big mean bully who kicks people when they are down, so I'm all over that action. But when you say that Haiti has made a pact with me, it is totally humiliating. I may be evil incarnate, but I'm no welcher. The way you put it, making a deal with me leaves folks desperate and impoverished. Sure, in the afterlife, but when I strike bargains with people, they first get something here on earth -- glamour, beauty, talent, wealth, fame, glory, a golden fiddle.
Those Haitians have nothing, and I mean nothing. And that was before the earthquake. Haven't you seen "Crossroads"? Or "Damn Yankees"? If I had a thing going with Haiti, there'd be lots of banks, skyscrapers, SUVs, exclusive night clubs, Botox -- that kind of thing. An 80 percent poverty rate is so not my style. Nothing against it -- I'm just saying: Not how I roll.
You're doing great work, Pat, and I don't want to clip your wings -- just, come on, you're making me look bad. And not the good kind of bad. Keep blaming God. That's working. But leave me out of it, please. Or we may need to renegotiate your own contract.
Best, Satan
You can read the original letter HERE.
2010-01-17
VIDEO CLIP: HAITI & PUBLICITY
This cartoon was drawn by David Hayward, The Naked Pastor, in reaction to Pat Robertson's now infamous remarks about the Haiti earthquake.
2010-01-15
2010-01-13
A Cricket Player Dude leaves his wife for another woman. And he's a Christian!
We are not to judge. The Bible says we should leave judgement to God. Jesus teaches we should look to our own shortcomings before trying to find it in other peoples' lives.
Yet I find myself reading the newspaper reports the past week with growing unease about the state of our Christian witness. In South Africa a second rugby player confesses his wild life style, after being caught out. A prominent cricket player leaves his wife for somebody else. And all over the world the news reports are filled with juicy titbits about the extra-marital affairs Tiger Woods is reported to have had. Thank God, he's reportedly a Buddhist!
Please understand: I am the very last person to pick up any stones to throw. I am also living in a life of utmost brokenness. I am not in a position to judge people. And I do not want to. These examples are sad. It only demonstrates how broken even Christians can become.
Alas, us Christians are the very ones to provide the stones and the sticks with which the skeptic world hit us. We present ourselves as such a happy, perfect bunch and behind closed doors we live lives that belittle our public confession. We make huge issues of sin such as sex and drugs and drinking, yet we are the ones who covertly try to remove our church leaders because we don't like them. Or we gossip. We are rude. We are negative and overly critical. We deem ourselves spiritually better than other people, fellow-believers even. We show no love whatsoever. And still we hide behind our theological statements and spirituality. We quote Bible verses left right and centre in our attacks on people who differ form us, and use it as an excuse to belittle them and reinterpret their words and deeds to make them seem guilty of heresy or some deviant sin.
The old cliche states that the church is like a river who is a mile wide but an inch deep. Perhaps it is time for introspection? Are we really the movement Jesus started?
Yet I find myself reading the newspaper reports the past week with growing unease about the state of our Christian witness. In South Africa a second rugby player confesses his wild life style, after being caught out. A prominent cricket player leaves his wife for somebody else. And all over the world the news reports are filled with juicy titbits about the extra-marital affairs Tiger Woods is reported to have had. Thank God, he's reportedly a Buddhist!
Please understand: I am the very last person to pick up any stones to throw. I am also living in a life of utmost brokenness. I am not in a position to judge people. And I do not want to. These examples are sad. It only demonstrates how broken even Christians can become.
Alas, us Christians are the very ones to provide the stones and the sticks with which the skeptic world hit us. We present ourselves as such a happy, perfect bunch and behind closed doors we live lives that belittle our public confession. We make huge issues of sin such as sex and drugs and drinking, yet we are the ones who covertly try to remove our church leaders because we don't like them. Or we gossip. We are rude. We are negative and overly critical. We deem ourselves spiritually better than other people, fellow-believers even. We show no love whatsoever. And still we hide behind our theological statements and spirituality. We quote Bible verses left right and centre in our attacks on people who differ form us, and use it as an excuse to belittle them and reinterpret their words and deeds to make them seem guilty of heresy or some deviant sin.
The old cliche states that the church is like a river who is a mile wide but an inch deep. Perhaps it is time for introspection? Are we really the movement Jesus started?
2010-01-12
THE 100 TOP SITES ON THE WEB
According to webmonitoring site, Alexa.com, the following sites are currently the top sites around the world. The original can be found here. Please note, only English language sites are listed in this repost. That explains the weird numbering system.
Alexa calculates the site rank according to a combination of average daily visitors and page views over the past month. The site with the highest combination of visitors and page vies is ranked at the top spots.
1. Google (google.com)
Enables users to search the Web, Usenet, and images. Features include PageRank, caching and translation of results, and an option to find similar pages. The company's focus is developing search technology.
2. Facebook (facebook.com)
A social utility that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos.
3. YouTube (youtube.com)
YouTube is a way to get your videos to the people who matter to you. Upload, tag and share your videos worldwide!
4. Yahoo! (yahoo.com)
Personalized content and search options. Chatrooms, free e-mail, clubs, and pager.
5. Windows Live (live.com)
Search engine from Microsoft.
6. Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
An online collaborative encyclopedia.
7. Blogger.com (blogger.com)
Free, automated weblog publishing tool that sends updates to a site via FTP.
8. Baidu.com (baidu.com)
Music search engine and free MP3 & video streaming for all kind of topic.
9. Microsoft Network (MSN) (msn.com)
Dialup access and content provider.
13. Twitter (twitter.com)
Social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface.
14. Myspace (myspace.com)
Social Networking Site.
18. Amazon.com (amazon.com)
Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Site has numerous personalization features and services including one-click buying, extensive customer and editorial product reviews, gift registries, gift certificates, wish lists, restaurant and movie listings, travel, and photo processing.
19. WordPress.com (wordpress.com)
Free blogs managed by the developers of the WordPress software. Includes custom design templates, integrated statistics, automatic spam protection and other features.
20. Microsoft Corporation (microsoft.com)
Main site for product information, support, and news.
21. eBay (ebay.com)
International person to person auction site, with products sorted into categories.
23. Bing (bing.com)
24. Google UK (google.co.uk)
The local version of this pre-eminent search engine, offering UK-specific pages as well as world results.
26. RapidShare (rapidshare.com)
Users can upload up to 100 meg files for sharing. Provides downloads of 100 megs per hour on the free service. Premium service also available.
33. Flickr (flickr.com)
Picture galleries available with chat, groups, and photo ratings.
34. LiveJasmin.com (livejasmin.com)
About Livejasmin.com (livejasmin.com): Live Sex - The worlds most visited Video chat community.
37. The Internet Movie Database (imdb.com)
Features plot summaries, reviews, cast lists, and theatre schedules.
38. Craigslist.org (craigslist.org)
39. LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
A networking tool to find connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts and business partners. Allows registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business.
41. AOL (aol.com)
America On Line's portal, offering search, shopping, channels, chat and mail.
42. BBC Newsline Ticker (bbc.co.uk)
Headline ticker will automatically update throughout the day with the latest news, sport, travel, finance and weather from the BBC. Available for multiple OS platforms.
43. Go (go.com)
A searchable directory, news, stocks, sports and free e-mail.
44. Double Click (doubleclick.com)
Coordinates targeted Internet advertising campaigns for advertisers, and provides ad management services, software, and sales for publishers.
46. 1e100.net (1e100.net)
47. Photobucket image hosting and photo sharing (photobucket.com)
Provides image hosting for auctions, live journals, blogs, message boards, personal websites and online photo albums. Reliable, fast and very simple to use.
49. hi5 (hi5.com)
One of the world's largest social networks
50. Full Free Porn Videos & DVDs - Sex, Porno, Porn Tube, Free XXX Porn (pornhub.com)
51. Conduit.com (conduit.com)
53. Apple Computer, Inc. (apple.com)
Apple's main homepage.
54. Blogspot (bp.blogspot.com)
55. Orkut (orkut.com)
Social networking and discussion site operated by Google.
57. Ask.com (ask.com)
Offers search for web sites, images, news, blogs, video, maps and directions, local search and shopping.
58. Youporn (youporn.com)
Users can watch streamed clips and upload their own videos. Premium accounts are also available.
61. MediaFire (mediafire.com)
MediaFire is the simplest way for businesses, professionals, and individuals to host files and share them with others.
62. CNN - Cable News Network (cnn.com)
Includes US and international stories and analysis, weather, video clips, and program schedule.
63. Megaupload (megaupload.com)
Megaupload is a "leading website of the world" for transferring files easily, with complete security and free of charge.
64. ESPN Sportszone (espn.go.com)
Information about all college and professional sports.
65. CNET.com (cnet.com)
Reviews, news, and prices on tech products, as well as free downloads and newsletters.
67. Mozilla.com (mozilla.com)
The makers of the Firefox web browser.
68. Xvideos.com (xvideos.com)
69. About (about.com)
Directory features links, articles and reviews.
70. Adobe (adobe.com)
Provides a range of products for digital media creation and editing, multimedia authoring, and web development. Includes documentation and support for all software.
71. ImageShack (imageshack.us)
ImageShack® is a free image hosting solution. It can be used to share pictures with friends, as well as post images on message boards and blogs. It can also be used to direct link images from your personal website or online auction. And best of all, it's completely free.
78. Free sex videos, Sex tube, Free porn movies - Tube8.com (tube8.com)
79. 4shared (4shared.com)
A simple and easy-to-use service offering free online files storage and sharing accessible worldwide.
82. LiveJournal (livejournal.com)
A service for journals and blogs, that also offers privacy controls, photo storage, publishing tools, style templates, and online communities for many interests.
85. Dailymotion (dailymotion.com)
On demand video publishing and sharing website, strongly interfaced with video blogs.
86. Files.wordpress.com (files.wordpress.com)
87. Xhamster.com (xhamster.com)
92. The Pirate Bay (thepiratebay.org)
Worlds largest Bittorrent tracker.
93. Google Australia (google.com.au)
Search the web from Google Australia's homepage.
96. Free one-click file hosting! (hotfile.com)
Earn money while uploading and sharing your files with your friends.
97. Weather.com (weather.com)
Offers forecasts for cities worldwide as well as radar and satellite maps. Also includes news stories and allergy information.
100. Clicksor (clicksor.com)
An advertising network offers content targeted advertising service on CPC/PPC basis.
Alexa calculates the site rank according to a combination of average daily visitors and page views over the past month. The site with the highest combination of visitors and page vies is ranked at the top spots.
1. Google (google.com)
Enables users to search the Web, Usenet, and images. Features include PageRank, caching and translation of results, and an option to find similar pages. The company's focus is developing search technology.
2. Facebook (facebook.com)
A social utility that connects people, to keep up with friends, upload photos, share links and videos.
3. YouTube (youtube.com)
YouTube is a way to get your videos to the people who matter to you. Upload, tag and share your videos worldwide!
4. Yahoo! (yahoo.com)
Personalized content and search options. Chatrooms, free e-mail, clubs, and pager.
5. Windows Live (live.com)
Search engine from Microsoft.
6. Wikipedia (wikipedia.org)
An online collaborative encyclopedia.
7. Blogger.com (blogger.com)
Free, automated weblog publishing tool that sends updates to a site via FTP.
8. Baidu.com (baidu.com)
Music search engine and free MP3 & video streaming for all kind of topic.
9. Microsoft Network (MSN) (msn.com)
Dialup access and content provider.
13. Twitter (twitter.com)
Social networking and microblogging service utilising instant messaging, SMS or a web interface.
14. Myspace (myspace.com)
Social Networking Site.
18. Amazon.com (amazon.com)
Amazon.com seeks to be Earth's most customer-centric company, where customers can find and discover anything they might want to buy online, and endeavors to offer its customers the lowest possible prices. Site has numerous personalization features and services including one-click buying, extensive customer and editorial product reviews, gift registries, gift certificates, wish lists, restaurant and movie listings, travel, and photo processing.
19. WordPress.com (wordpress.com)
Free blogs managed by the developers of the WordPress software. Includes custom design templates, integrated statistics, automatic spam protection and other features.
20. Microsoft Corporation (microsoft.com)
Main site for product information, support, and news.
21. eBay (ebay.com)
International person to person auction site, with products sorted into categories.
23. Bing (bing.com)
24. Google UK (google.co.uk)
The local version of this pre-eminent search engine, offering UK-specific pages as well as world results.
26. RapidShare (rapidshare.com)
Users can upload up to 100 meg files for sharing. Provides downloads of 100 megs per hour on the free service. Premium service also available.
33. Flickr (flickr.com)
Picture galleries available with chat, groups, and photo ratings.
34. LiveJasmin.com (livejasmin.com)
About Livejasmin.com (livejasmin.com): Live Sex - The worlds most visited Video chat community.
37. The Internet Movie Database (imdb.com)
Features plot summaries, reviews, cast lists, and theatre schedules.
38. Craigslist.org (craigslist.org)
39. LinkedIn (linkedin.com)
A networking tool to find connections to recommended job candidates, industry experts and business partners. Allows registered users to maintain a list of contact details of people they know and trust in business.
41. AOL (aol.com)
America On Line's portal, offering search, shopping, channels, chat and mail.
42. BBC Newsline Ticker (bbc.co.uk)
Headline ticker will automatically update throughout the day with the latest news, sport, travel, finance and weather from the BBC. Available for multiple OS platforms.
43. Go (go.com)
A searchable directory, news, stocks, sports and free e-mail.
44. Double Click (doubleclick.com)
Coordinates targeted Internet advertising campaigns for advertisers, and provides ad management services, software, and sales for publishers.
46. 1e100.net (1e100.net)
47. Photobucket image hosting and photo sharing (photobucket.com)
Provides image hosting for auctions, live journals, blogs, message boards, personal websites and online photo albums. Reliable, fast and very simple to use.
49. hi5 (hi5.com)
One of the world's largest social networks
50. Full Free Porn Videos & DVDs - Sex, Porno, Porn Tube, Free XXX Porn (pornhub.com)
51. Conduit.com (conduit.com)
53. Apple Computer, Inc. (apple.com)
Apple's main homepage.
54. Blogspot (bp.blogspot.com)
55. Orkut (orkut.com)
Social networking and discussion site operated by Google.
57. Ask.com (ask.com)
Offers search for web sites, images, news, blogs, video, maps and directions, local search and shopping.
58. Youporn (youporn.com)
Users can watch streamed clips and upload their own videos. Premium accounts are also available.
61. MediaFire (mediafire.com)
MediaFire is the simplest way for businesses, professionals, and individuals to host files and share them with others.
62. CNN - Cable News Network (cnn.com)
Includes US and international stories and analysis, weather, video clips, and program schedule.
63. Megaupload (megaupload.com)
Megaupload is a "leading website of the world" for transferring files easily, with complete security and free of charge.
64. ESPN Sportszone (espn.go.com)
Information about all college and professional sports.
65. CNET.com (cnet.com)
Reviews, news, and prices on tech products, as well as free downloads and newsletters.
67. Mozilla.com (mozilla.com)
The makers of the Firefox web browser.
68. Xvideos.com (xvideos.com)
69. About (about.com)
Directory features links, articles and reviews.
70. Adobe (adobe.com)
Provides a range of products for digital media creation and editing, multimedia authoring, and web development. Includes documentation and support for all software.
71. ImageShack (imageshack.us)
ImageShack® is a free image hosting solution. It can be used to share pictures with friends, as well as post images on message boards and blogs. It can also be used to direct link images from your personal website or online auction. And best of all, it's completely free.
78. Free sex videos, Sex tube, Free porn movies - Tube8.com (tube8.com)
79. 4shared (4shared.com)
A simple and easy-to-use service offering free online files storage and sharing accessible worldwide.
82. LiveJournal (livejournal.com)
A service for journals and blogs, that also offers privacy controls, photo storage, publishing tools, style templates, and online communities for many interests.
85. Dailymotion (dailymotion.com)
On demand video publishing and sharing website, strongly interfaced with video blogs.
86. Files.wordpress.com (files.wordpress.com)
87. Xhamster.com (xhamster.com)
92. The Pirate Bay (thepiratebay.org)
Worlds largest Bittorrent tracker.
93. Google Australia (google.com.au)
Search the web from Google Australia's homepage.
96. Free one-click file hosting! (hotfile.com)
Earn money while uploading and sharing your files with your friends.
97. Weather.com (weather.com)
Offers forecasts for cities worldwide as well as radar and satellite maps. Also includes news stories and allergy information.
100. Clicksor (clicksor.com)
An advertising network offers content targeted advertising service on CPC/PPC basis.
2010-01-11
SOME TOTALLY USELESS, YET INTERESTING, INFO
The calendar system that was in use during a particular millennium determines the actual number of days that elapse during that time span.
- The First Millennium (1 - 1000 AD) consisted of 365,250 days.
- The Second Millennium (1001 - 2000 AD) consisted of 365,237 days.
- Our current Millennium (2001 - 3000 AD) will consist of 365,242 days.
2010-01-10
CARTOON: If the Rapture comes ...
This was posted on Postsecret's website today. Although asked seriously, it inadvertently shows the pit falls of a belief system based on an eclectic reading of the Bible.
2010-01-09
Confession Time: I am prejudiced
This morning I decided to come clean with an issue in my life. It happened very innocently, when this complete stranger turned onto the road in front of me. My internal reaction actually triggered the insight: I am prejudiced.
I am generally not prejudiced. I am specifically prejudiced towards BMW drivers. See, this woman cut into the road in front of me. My immediate reaction was to declare, "Isn't this is JUST TYPICAL of BMW drivers?!" I think I also might have yelled it somewhat.
Then it struck me: whenever I react to a fast car streaking past me in the 60 km/h zone, while I'm doing 80, it's a BMW. If somebody cuts in front of me in a long queue with clear frustration on the driver's face - you guessed it: a Beemer. I refuse to acknowledge that my refusal to create a gap for the BMW might have anything to do with it, though.
Why must people who drive BMW's be such die-hard pricks?
They smile smugly at you, when they get in their car that is parked next to yours in the parking lot. It is not my fault that my old 1986 VW has a few scratches and dents - it's the car's character!
They always seem to wear leather jackets - I shiver to think about the poor animal that was definitely slaughtered in the cruelest possible way for them to be able to indulge in this carnal sin. (Oh! This reminds me to take my Pakistani made buffalo leather jacket to the dry cleaners ...)
And they always seem to have vanity plates saying things like EATDUST - GP or FSTRNU - WP. We get the message, your car can do 200 km/h. Mine can only manage 165 km/h. I know - I tested it only this morning. That's when EATDUST flashed past me.
Perhaps I should start doing some soul searching. This prejudice-thing, how can I rid myself of it? It's not as if I personally know any single BMW owner - they all look the same to me, anyway. And I find that I expect a BMW driver to do something reckless on the highway, just because of his/her car. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking "if you can drive a BMW you can also steal."
I think I should rather start hating Lexus drivers ... That will solve my prejudice!
I am generally not prejudiced. I am specifically prejudiced towards BMW drivers. See, this woman cut into the road in front of me. My immediate reaction was to declare, "Isn't this is JUST TYPICAL of BMW drivers?!" I think I also might have yelled it somewhat.
Then it struck me: whenever I react to a fast car streaking past me in the 60 km/h zone, while I'm doing 80, it's a BMW. If somebody cuts in front of me in a long queue with clear frustration on the driver's face - you guessed it: a Beemer. I refuse to acknowledge that my refusal to create a gap for the BMW might have anything to do with it, though.
Why must people who drive BMW's be such die-hard pricks?
They smile smugly at you, when they get in their car that is parked next to yours in the parking lot. It is not my fault that my old 1986 VW has a few scratches and dents - it's the car's character!
They always seem to wear leather jackets - I shiver to think about the poor animal that was definitely slaughtered in the cruelest possible way for them to be able to indulge in this carnal sin. (Oh! This reminds me to take my Pakistani made buffalo leather jacket to the dry cleaners ...)
And they always seem to have vanity plates saying things like EATDUST - GP or FSTRNU - WP. We get the message, your car can do 200 km/h. Mine can only manage 165 km/h. I know - I tested it only this morning. That's when EATDUST flashed past me.
Perhaps I should start doing some soul searching. This prejudice-thing, how can I rid myself of it? It's not as if I personally know any single BMW owner - they all look the same to me, anyway. And I find that I expect a BMW driver to do something reckless on the highway, just because of his/her car. Sometimes I even catch myself thinking "if you can drive a BMW you can also steal."
I think I should rather start hating Lexus drivers ... That will solve my prejudice!
2010-01-08
Found on the Internet: Ten Principles for a New, Post-Print-Based Approach to Web Publication
I found this insightful article on the website, HowWhyWeb.com. The original post can be read here.
For years my own view of the Web was based on my experience as a reader and a writer of print materials; I thought that displaying content on a screen was basically the same as displaying content on a page, just with a few more wires involved. By now I’m convinced that effective Web publication (if we can even use that word for the Web) is fundamentally different from print publication. Here are 10 principles I drafted and presented to my ink-oriented colleagues in an attempt to change our approach and mentality about our organization’s website. Let me know if they’re useful to you and your organization, and if you have changes or additions to suggest.
| Print Principles | Web Principles |
|---|---|
| A website is a static storage system. | A website is a dynamic tool for storing, delivering, communicating, learning, sharing, and buying. |
| A page’s screen presentation is the same as its print presentation. | A page’s screen presentation should be different than its print presentation. |
| Posting something on a website is an endpoint in the process of developing the content (and the ideas behind it). | Posting something on a website is a starting/continuation point in the process of developing the content (and the ideas behind it). |
| More is more. | Less is (or can be) more. |
| Post it and assume a search engine can find it. | Search Engine Optimization. |
| Long URLs aren’t a big deal (hello, GeoCities). | Your domain is your brand, and short URLs are a must for social media sharing. |
| Web 1.0 mentality: top-down content transmission. | Web 2.0 mentality: ecology of social networking, learning, and sharing |
| The Web is a textual medium. | The Web is a textual, visual, aural, and tactile medium. |
| Usability isn’t a big deal; what you see is what you get, and how you get it. | If the content isn’t usable, it’s not effective. |
| Web publication is an afterthought, tacked on to the end of the production process. | Web communication is integrated throughout the content development and production process (see #3 above). |
2010-01-07
VIDEO CLIP: Are you also a party animal & can I preach about it?
This story made headline news in 2007. This (then 16 year old) teenager organised a party at his parents' house in Melbourne Australia, while they were away on holiday. Some 500 young people attended (or rather gatecrashed his party), after he advertised it on Myspace. The lot who arrived got very drunk. They harassed the neighbours. They damaged the police cars - the police was on scene to stop the chaos and the air wing and dog squad had to be deployed to end the raucous party. It also attracted lots of news reporters and Cory became an instant celebrity.
The following video clip is the most famous interview of the young lad, as it seemed to have backfired in the interviewer's face. The boy's reaction in this interview made him a cult hero, instant celebrity and landed him a part in Australia's Big Brother reality series.
Apparently, reality ultimately caught up with Mr Party Boy. According to Australian News Channel, 9 News, Corey now is looking for an ordinary job as he came to realise his fifteen minutes of fame is over.
I have a feeling this clip is going to find its way into one of my youth sermons sometime. Perhaps you could help me decide what topic to address? Submission to authority? Honouring your parents? Don't drink too much? Respect? How to have a good party? ;-)
Speak to me! (Please?)
The following video clip is the most famous interview of the young lad, as it seemed to have backfired in the interviewer's face. The boy's reaction in this interview made him a cult hero, instant celebrity and landed him a part in Australia's Big Brother reality series.
Apparently, reality ultimately caught up with Mr Party Boy. According to Australian News Channel, 9 News, Corey now is looking for an ordinary job as he came to realise his fifteen minutes of fame is over.
I have a feeling this clip is going to find its way into one of my youth sermons sometime. Perhaps you could help me decide what topic to address? Submission to authority? Honouring your parents? Don't drink too much? Respect? How to have a good party? ;-)
Speak to me! (Please?)
2010-01-06
Inspiring convictions for the future
I've been following the blog of Tyler Stanton for quite some time now. He did a post on emails that inspired me. In light of his thoughts I want to share with you some future convictions about online interaction I'm harbouring for the forseeable future. I think I'll stick to five or so.
Email Forwarding - For the next year I'm definitely going to forward EVERY SINGLE email that challenges me to be part of the 3% of people who don't care to declare their love of Christ. I'm also going to send every email that threatens me with some unmentionable curse if I DO NOT send it to at least 7 other people, or play on my conscience as I clearly don't love Jesus that much. I'm going to leave all the forwarded addresses in so you have to scroll down for an hour before reaching the actual post. I'm also going to distribute every mail with cute kittens or moralising messages.
I'm definitely going to make sure you all help in the search for little Andrea Wagner who has been lost from her granny's home since last night. And she's only four years old! It must be serious, as I received the mail two hunderd times since ten years ago. Oh, and the email about the black security guard hijacker at the Somerset Mall, or the story about the conspiracy to murder white people when Madiba dies, or the latest way in which thieves leave a coke can at your gate so they know when your not home ... I'm going to schedule a repeated distribution of those mails, every day at least three times. We must be wake-up, People!
Facebook Posting - This year I'm going to reply to every comment that ends up on my FB page. I'm also going to set my privacy settings so I can share my thoughts, photos and other stuff with my friends' friends. What the heck, I'm going to set it so everyone can see it. Whether I'm playing Farmville or mark my friends' names on drunken New Year's Eve pictures where we all pose like gay porn stars, I WANT YOU ALL TO SHARE IT WITH ME!
Oneline Status Updates - I want you to know what's happening in my life, this year. So I'm going to tweet stuff like, "Just had a salami sami" or "my stomach is queasy, heading to the loo" or "Johnny Boy is such an idiot" so you can know exactly what I 'm doing.
Blogging - I'm going to make it my mission in 2010 to comment on every blogpost I'm reading. I'm going to harass my enemies with unwanted criticism, personal insults and scathing attacks on their Christianity, and my friends with fatherly advice. I'm going to share my views as if it is better than the original writer's and I am going to make sure I reply to every reply you leave on my replies.
Salt - I'm also investing in a salt mine this year. I'm going to add a pinch of salt to everything I write just to make you laugh while you're thinking, and not believe everything you just read. Incidentally, we celebrated New Year's Eve with our parents and went to bed early.
Email Forwarding - For the next year I'm definitely going to forward EVERY SINGLE email that challenges me to be part of the 3% of people who don't care to declare their love of Christ. I'm also going to send every email that threatens me with some unmentionable curse if I DO NOT send it to at least 7 other people, or play on my conscience as I clearly don't love Jesus that much. I'm going to leave all the forwarded addresses in so you have to scroll down for an hour before reaching the actual post. I'm also going to distribute every mail with cute kittens or moralising messages.
I'm definitely going to make sure you all help in the search for little Andrea Wagner who has been lost from her granny's home since last night. And she's only four years old! It must be serious, as I received the mail two hunderd times since ten years ago. Oh, and the email about the black security guard hijacker at the Somerset Mall, or the story about the conspiracy to murder white people when Madiba dies, or the latest way in which thieves leave a coke can at your gate so they know when your not home ... I'm going to schedule a repeated distribution of those mails, every day at least three times. We must be wake-up, People!
Facebook Posting - This year I'm going to reply to every comment that ends up on my FB page. I'm also going to set my privacy settings so I can share my thoughts, photos and other stuff with my friends' friends. What the heck, I'm going to set it so everyone can see it. Whether I'm playing Farmville or mark my friends' names on drunken New Year's Eve pictures where we all pose like gay porn stars, I WANT YOU ALL TO SHARE IT WITH ME!
Oneline Status Updates - I want you to know what's happening in my life, this year. So I'm going to tweet stuff like, "Just had a salami sami" or "my stomach is queasy, heading to the loo" or "Johnny Boy is such an idiot" so you can know exactly what I 'm doing.
Blogging - I'm going to make it my mission in 2010 to comment on every blogpost I'm reading. I'm going to harass my enemies with unwanted criticism, personal insults and scathing attacks on their Christianity, and my friends with fatherly advice. I'm going to share my views as if it is better than the original writer's and I am going to make sure I reply to every reply you leave on my replies.
Salt - I'm also investing in a salt mine this year. I'm going to add a pinch of salt to everything I write just to make you laugh while you're thinking, and not believe everything you just read. Incidentally, we celebrated New Year's Eve with our parents and went to bed early.
2010-01-05
A POSSIBLE VISION OF THE FUTURE
Some day soon I could be awakened by a cataclysmic experience, and it could just as easily be today already …
I opened my eyes, wondering what the noise and the sudden bright lights are. As I jumped out of bed, my wife doing the same, I made some stupid, half-asleep remark about the neighbours who can’t respect the time of night. We made our way to the window, only to find the light is from above and the noise isn’t from the neighbours. So I put on a shirt and headed to the front door. By this time, the children were also awake. We all went out together.
Much to our surprise, the whole neighbourhood was up. You could hear voices all around. I looked into the night sky, expecting to see a police helicopter or aeroplane about to crash spectacularly on our lawn. What I saw was way better.
The bright light seemed to come from all over the sky. It was as if the heaven above was ripped open by some celestial force. Or it could be from beneath, it wasn’t really clear. For some strange reason the brightness didn’t hurt our eyes. It was some sort of a soft light permeating the surroundings, bathing everyone in a almost miraculous glow. The noise wasn’t disturbing at all, as we eventually figured out it sounded like a mass choir singing Christmas carols or something. Through the white haze we started to identify figures in the air. Was it people? Could it be angels? They certainly didn’t represent anything I used to associate with angels.
“But why wasn’t there a rapture first?!” I heard my neighbour’s wife exclaim.
“The aliens are coming!” Somebody else screamed and then rolled with laughter.
“Is this the judgement day?” the pastor who lived across the street from us, inquired.
Nobody bothered to answer them. We all felt some strange sensation of being lifted up in the air. Some people yelled from shock. One or two was trying to phone someone else on cell phones. I don’t know if they got a connection. My children thought it way cool, until we were higher than our house’s roof. My wife and I grabbed their hands and we all rose up in the air together. I looked around, and saw that apparently not everyone took to the air like we did.
At some point we couldn’t see the ground anymore. The bright light seemed to obscure anything but the figures awaiting us. Suddenly we were there. There looked like something of a great, big hall, with rows and rows of people standing and waiting for a huge door to open. Yet, nobody panicked and there was no rush of people trying to get away. Everybody was calm, and quiet. The music was too beautiful.
The door suddenly opened. Someone came out. We all gasped in surprise. He was accompanied by other people. They were smiling.
“Welcome!” The Man said. “You persevered. You were faithful. I love you.” He turned and walked to what seemed to be the outside of the hall. He looked to a very large group of people standing there, waiting, and it was clear that He was sad. “I wish I’d gotten to know you,” He almost whispered. And suddenly they were all gone.
2010-01-03
The Singular Answer by Peter Rollins
This is a thought-provoking clip. Before you go to church today (incidentally, it is Sunday today), watch the clip and discover the unfathomable mystery of God.
2010-01-02
Lost in Translation: How translations get mixed up
I think I made a new friend today. John Shore, writer of the book, I'm OK - You're Not, received a translation of my review of his book. The translation was done by Google, however. The results are hilarious. Thanks, John, for your good sense of humour! At least the machine tried ...
If you're Afrikaans, go read the original article and then compare it with the translation John received (originally posted here):
If you're Afrikaans, go read the original article and then compare it with the translation John received (originally posted here):
I Believe Christians Have a Poor Kleresmaak. And We’re Selfvoldaan!
My book I’m OK—You’re Not has received its share of reviews. I like the ones that praise the book; I often agree with points in the ones I don’t. But I love the one below. It’s translated via Google from a South African blog called Emergenbracken. (Thanks, Ken R. for sending this to me.) Here it is:
In a sense, this is not a typical book on evangelism is not. Inherent to our current era of deconstruction, John Shore hoist the presumptions that lives in the minds of (mostly) evangelical, American Christians. Not only does he not questioned, he also provides thoughtful alternatives to the strooipoppe his essay.
But what trade I’m OK – You’re Not? John Shore’s kernbetoog is that Christians’ behavior towards non-Christians cycle with hovaardigheid and liefdeloosheid. We are so plagued with the great commission (Matt 28) that we completely forget the great commandment (Matt. 22). And if one merely semantic terms to see, have a commandment greater urgency than a job. Although he is not opposed to evangelism is not, John Shore felt that American Christians should realize that everyone in their large country gospel at least once heard said, and therefore has a choice exercised. The time has arrived to unbelievers, especially with respect and love to treat, not as projects that can be depreciated if they reject verlossingsboodskap not.
Shore offers ten reasons why unbelievers skeptical about Christians and their witness. He said:
- They think Christians are emotionally blasé;
- They think Christians are intellectually immature;
- They believe Christians have problems with their sexuality;
- They think Christians are biased and selfvoldaan;
- They think Christians are hypocritical;
- They think Christians are emotionally unavailable;
- They think Christians are desperate to convert anyone;
- They think all Christians are FANATIES;
- They believe Christians have a poor kleresmaak;
- They know they do not respect Christians.
The good book because the author is humorous. Indeed, he is continuously filled full of good wit. Sometimes people lose their sense of humor, but then you do not clean snap the point he tried to make it. I have also found a strong argument that he makes against evangelical Americans, who all know what they are trying to bring repentance, slightly odd to me more about Reformed fall. It’s not because I mean no difference, it’s rather my experience that South Afrikaans Christians are more reserved about how our faith with others as our American geloofsgenote. Above all his specific arguments are often more applicable to South Afrikaans Christians from the Holy Spirit comes movements: It sometimes comes before or anyone who they do not share their particular beliefs, to be considered justifiable sendingobjekte.
What have I learned I’m OK – You’re Not? Enormously: Love dealing with people, I mean that they will unconditionally accept all of them dancing in their early morning or Adams Evaspakke around burning candles in a garden. To people of Jesus to tell, it means that I will respect any decision, even though I think it is way to hell about it. Evangelism is not a single project—for people with Jesus’ love to serve, I suppose that would be their friend, even though they did not share my faith. And that I will remain their friend.
Eventually I also learned we should not be too serious about life. It’s good to have your own religious beliefs sometimes with a knypie salt vat!
(A knypie of salt vat! Ah, good times. You can view the original here, though maybe not since I think it might come up all hinky on your screen.)
2010-01-01
ARCHAEOLOGY: HOUSE UNEARTHED IN EPHESOS
This article from Ben Witherington helps us to better understand the ancient context of the New Testament, specifically the city of Ephesos, in modern-day Turkey. I must admit, I am a little bit envious of the fact that Ben was at the archaeological site. One day, perhaps, I'll also undertake such a journey ... Read the original post here.
Here is an overview of the site which shows some of the amazing wall painting and mosaics. This was clearly the the high rent district in Ephesos, and various of these people could be called the literati-- the well education ones. They had mosaics of philosophers and deities inlaid in their walls.
The colors and range of depictions are as spectacular as you will find at Pompeii or Herculaneum. Its just less well know and less well advertised than those in Italy. Here for comparison is an image from Pompeii.
One of my favorite frescoes in Ephesos is the one of the Greek philosophers seen below.
There are many other shots I could share with you but before I draw some conclusions here is one of the now famous mosaic of the god Dionysius and Ariadne.
Why is any of this of importance for our study of Paul and his letters? Firstly there is the matter of social context. A text without a context is just a pretext for whatever you want it to mean. In this case, this archaeological work tells us how people like the Asiarchs would have lived as members of the uber-wealthy in Ephesos, less than 2% of the population. As we know from inscriptional evidence at Miletus and elsewhere, there were indeed Asiarchs in Paul's day in this very region, some of the leading men of the province of Asia, and it was they whom Paul was warned by to flee Ephesos. (Acts 19.31). But how had he become friendly with them? The answer is clear--- Paul was a person of high social status both in terms of his education and in terms of the fact that he was a Roman citizen. As such he was able to circulate among the elite of the society, even though he chose to step down the social ladder and live at a more humble level, presumably so he could share the Gospel with any and all up and down the social ladder. It may well be the Asiarch who helped Paul procure a public place to teach and share his message, for we learn that in Ephesos, Paul did this at the Hall of Tyrannus. Ephesos was certainly one of Paul's most important bases of operation in the Greco-Roman world, and according to Acts he spent over two years there, longer than he spent in any other city that we know of. Here too in Ephesos Johannine Christianity would be established as well by the Beloved Disciple and John of Patmos. The more we know about the context of the NT writings the better we understand those writings, and the Ephesian terrace houses illuminate the life of Paul in various ways. No one should imagine that early Christianity was chiefly led by a bunch of illiterate peasants. The documents of the NT give the lie to that assumption, and none do a better job of refuting this assumption than the letters of Paul. Paul was equally at home with the Asiarchs as with the humble slave or day laborer. As such he was the ideal messenger in the Greco-Roman world of salvation for not only the least, last, and lost, but also for the first, most, and found.
The Ephesian Terrace Houses
Probably the most exciting of all the archaeological developments in Turkey is what has been uncovered on a hill overlooking the Celsus Library in Ephesos by the Austrians. And the Austrians are both meticulous and thorough, and their work on the terraced houses is spectacular. They have even built a state of the art roof over the hill and a walkway and stairway so one can climb around and see the site without interfering with the work. I was fortunate enough to be given a private tour of the site before it became a public tourist attraction and as the year comes to the end, I thought I would share some of my favorite shots.
Here is an overview of the site which shows some of the amazing wall painting and mosaics. This was clearly the the high rent district in Ephesos, and various of these people could be called the literati-- the well education ones. They had mosaics of philosophers and deities inlaid in their walls.
The colors and range of depictions are as spectacular as you will find at Pompeii or Herculaneum. Its just less well know and less well advertised than those in Italy. Here for comparison is an image from Pompeii.
One of my favorite frescoes in Ephesos is the one of the Greek philosophers seen below.
You can just see the Greek names of the philosophers above the picture. Here below is a clear shot from above of one particular house that has white and red walls with pictures of deities and nymphs in every square.
You begin to get a feel for how spacious some of these houses were. The shot below shows you some of the brick arches connecting to marble columns.
There are many other shots I could share with you but before I draw some conclusions here is one of the now famous mosaic of the god Dionysius and Ariadne.
Why is any of this of importance for our study of Paul and his letters? Firstly there is the matter of social context. A text without a context is just a pretext for whatever you want it to mean. In this case, this archaeological work tells us how people like the Asiarchs would have lived as members of the uber-wealthy in Ephesos, less than 2% of the population. As we know from inscriptional evidence at Miletus and elsewhere, there were indeed Asiarchs in Paul's day in this very region, some of the leading men of the province of Asia, and it was they whom Paul was warned by to flee Ephesos. (Acts 19.31). But how had he become friendly with them? The answer is clear--- Paul was a person of high social status both in terms of his education and in terms of the fact that he was a Roman citizen. As such he was able to circulate among the elite of the society, even though he chose to step down the social ladder and live at a more humble level, presumably so he could share the Gospel with any and all up and down the social ladder. It may well be the Asiarch who helped Paul procure a public place to teach and share his message, for we learn that in Ephesos, Paul did this at the Hall of Tyrannus. Ephesos was certainly one of Paul's most important bases of operation in the Greco-Roman world, and according to Acts he spent over two years there, longer than he spent in any other city that we know of. Here too in Ephesos Johannine Christianity would be established as well by the Beloved Disciple and John of Patmos. The more we know about the context of the NT writings the better we understand those writings, and the Ephesian terrace houses illuminate the life of Paul in various ways. No one should imagine that early Christianity was chiefly led by a bunch of illiterate peasants. The documents of the NT give the lie to that assumption, and none do a better job of refuting this assumption than the letters of Paul. Paul was equally at home with the Asiarchs as with the humble slave or day laborer. As such he was the ideal messenger in the Greco-Roman world of salvation for not only the least, last, and lost, but also for the first, most, and found.
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