Comments on: The Seduction of the Web in Ministry http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/ Rantings of a Jesus-loving, raving lunatic Thu, 18 Mar 2010 14:06:38 -0600 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.4 hourly 1 By: Andrew http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-130696 Andrew Sun, 07 Jun 2009 05:38:58 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-130696 Wow. That really hit home. I've been convicted about the huge amounts of time I spend Facebooking, but I haven't disciplined myself, sadly. I don't want to go so far as to delete my account, but it might be necessary. I've been rationalizing about it, because I live in a foreign country. I don't have much contact with America aside from Facebook. "God, help me to do Your will, even if it involves reducing my internet time to nothing..." Wow. That really hit home. I’ve been convicted about the huge amounts of time I spend Facebooking, but I haven’t disciplined myself, sadly. I don’t want to go so far as to delete my account, but it might be necessary. I’ve been rationalizing about it, because I live in a foreign country. I don’t have much contact with America aside from Facebook. “God, help me to do Your will, even if it involves reducing my internet time to nothing…”

]]> By: Greg http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-130178 Greg Tue, 02 Jun 2009 22:16:05 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-130178 Awesome. Let me know how the review goes. If you need a reference call me :) Awesome. Let me know how the review goes. If you need a reference call me :)

]]> By: Tim Schmoyer http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-130045 Tim Schmoyer Tue, 02 Jun 2009 04:16:52 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-130045 For what it's worth, most people on staff at my church don't even know about my website stuff. In fact, many of my own youth leaders didn't even know about it until the National Youth Ministry Conference this past February when they heard other people talking about it. Most of them still don't know. As I said in an interview the other week on Youth Hacks, my ministry is definitely, absolutely a LOT more important to me than my online stuff. I feel that the level of satisfaction with me and the youth ministry at my church is high among our staff members, board members, youth leaders and most parents and teens. Actually, out of everyone, I probably have the lowest level of satisfaction! (My annual review is coming up in a couple weeks, so we'll soon find out. My church is pretty good about addressing issues as soon as they come up, though, not waiting for the annual review, so I don't expect to be surprised by anything too major.) This web stuff is just a hobby I do with my personal down time. It's hard NOT to write, think, and read about it when you're this passionate about youth ministry, ya know? Some people spend 10 hours a week watching TV -- I spend about that time investing into other youth leaders instead, which in turn greatly enhances my own ministry on so many different levels. As I interact with other youth workers, they sharpen me in huge ways that make me a better leader for my own youth group. You can't get that kinda stuff from just reading a lot of books. That life-on-life sharing YM together is amazing for developing me to be the leader God desires for me to be. Connections with youth workers through my site (including you, Greg) bless me and my ministry probably more than it blesses anyone else. For what it’s worth, most people on staff at my church don’t even know about my website stuff. In fact, many of my own youth leaders didn’t even know about it until the National Youth Ministry Conference this past February when they heard other people talking about it. Most of them still don’t know. As I said in an interview the other week on Youth Hacks, my ministry is definitely, absolutely a LOT more important to me than my online stuff. I feel that the level of satisfaction with me and the youth ministry at my church is high among our staff members, board members, youth leaders and most parents and teens. Actually, out of everyone, I probably have the lowest level of satisfaction! (My annual review is coming up in a couple weeks, so we’ll soon find out. My church is pretty good about addressing issues as soon as they come up, though, not waiting for the annual review, so I don’t expect to be surprised by anything too major.)

This web stuff is just a hobby I do with my personal down time. It’s hard NOT to write, think, and read about it when you’re this passionate about youth ministry, ya know? Some people spend 10 hours a week watching TV — I spend about that time investing into other youth leaders instead, which in turn greatly enhances my own ministry on so many different levels. As I interact with other youth workers, they sharpen me in huge ways that make me a better leader for my own youth group. You can’t get that kinda stuff from just reading a lot of books. That life-on-life sharing YM together is amazing for developing me to be the leader God desires for me to be. Connections with youth workers through my site (including you, Greg) bless me and my ministry probably more than it blesses anyone else.

]]> By: Will http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-130012 Will Tue, 02 Jun 2009 00:07:39 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-130012 Hey, Greg. Makes sense to me. I use the web to get me fired up, usually by following your blog and the sites you recommend. Just wanted to encourage you (again) to keep up the Great Work to which He Has Called you. I feed off your Passion for and in His Gospel, and that DOES translate to new relationships in Christ in my ministry and encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ to SHRED THE GNAR! Every day, buddy! Hey, Greg.
Makes sense to me. I use the web to get me fired up, usually by following your blog and the sites you recommend. Just wanted to encourage you (again) to keep up the Great Work to which He Has Called you. I feed off your Passion for and in His Gospel, and that DOES translate to new relationships in Christ in my ministry and encouraging brothers and sisters in Christ to SHRED THE GNAR! Every day, buddy!

]]> By: Eddie http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129948 Eddie Mon, 01 Jun 2009 15:46:46 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129948 I think it's dependant completely on effectiveness and accomplishments. What's getting done and is it getting done better online? In some cases, without the internet, a particular ministry is non-existent or left unknown. In stopping, they would lose their effectiveness and in some cases ALL that they've accomplished. In others, the internet wastes too much time. Like with all things, sometimes what we think will make something BETTER ends up a waste of time or not as effective as we were doing it before. When that happens, just go back to the more effective way. A friend of mine thought that through the internet he was going to be able to reach so many more people for Christ because of the potential. In the end, he realized he was actually spending all his time talking to people he already knew and wasn't really meeting "new" people that cared to listen to him. His great speaking and making friends ability was lost online and found himself arguing with unknown people on the other end. So he stopped. Now he's back to just sharing Christ with the "few" people he meets in person. He's had the priviledge of seeing more trust Christ this way. And he actually knows them. Each person should seek God's guidance and make this decision accordingly... I think it’s dependant completely on effectiveness and accomplishments. What’s getting done and is it getting done better online?

In some cases, without the internet, a particular ministry is non-existent or left unknown. In stopping, they would lose their effectiveness and in some cases ALL that they’ve accomplished.

In others, the internet wastes too much time. Like with all things, sometimes what we think will make something BETTER ends up a waste of time or not as effective as we were doing it before. When that happens, just go back to the more effective way.

A friend of mine thought that through the internet he was going to be able to reach so many more people for Christ because of the potential. In the end, he realized he was actually spending all his time talking to people he already knew and wasn’t really meeting “new” people that cared to listen to him. His great speaking and making friends ability was lost online and found himself arguing with unknown people on the other end. So he stopped. Now he’s back to just sharing Christ with the “few” people he meets in person. He’s had the priviledge of seeing more trust Christ this way. And he actually knows them.

Each person should seek God’s guidance and make this decision accordingly…

]]> By: adam mclane http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129942 adam mclane Mon, 01 Jun 2009 14:41:15 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129942 I think it was the longest comment I've ever left on a blog. :) I think it was the longest comment I’ve ever left on a blog. :)

]]> By: Justin http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129803 Justin Mon, 01 Jun 2009 00:35:59 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129803 I agree with Deek. Balance, as will all things in life, is key. Good things can become bad things when they take the place of better things. Thanks for the post and comments. I agree with Deek. Balance, as will all things in life, is key. Good things can become bad things when they take the place of better things. Thanks for the post and comments.

]]> By: Deek Dubberly http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129769 Deek Dubberly Sun, 31 May 2009 21:18:46 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129769 Great post. Hit home with me. Conviction...prioritization...must do better. Great comments. Balance is key and I agree that online community can indeed be a very real thing. Aside from the noted issues of laziness and lust, another issue I have with the web---primarily social networking---is its tendency towards a more narcissistic culture. Blogs, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter: each of these allow for us to control what others see of us in ways that personal, face-to-face time does not. I think that can be very detrimental. It's more difficult to be open and honest about who you really are when the person that you want people to think you are posted in a variety of different ways all over the social-networking halls of the Internet. Anyone see where I'm coming from? Great post. Hit home with me. Conviction…prioritization…must do better.

Great comments. Balance is key and I agree that online community can indeed be a very real thing.

Aside from the noted issues of laziness and lust, another issue I have with the web—primarily social networking—is its tendency towards a more narcissistic culture. Blogs, MySpace, Facebook, Twitter: each of these allow for us to control what others see of us in ways that personal, face-to-face time does not. I think that can be very detrimental. It’s more difficult to be open and honest about who you really are when the person that you want people to think you are posted in a variety of different ways all over the social-networking halls of the Internet. Anyone see where I’m coming from?

]]> By: Greg Stier http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129753 Greg Stier Sun, 31 May 2009 18:54:13 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129753 Good counterpoint Adam. I think that all of this is good discussion. Probably the operative word is balance and sensitivity to where the Lord guides us personally. And now you may have the record for the longest comment on my blog ever. congrats! Good counterpoint Adam. I think that all of this is good discussion. Probably the operative word is balance and sensitivity to where the Lord guides us personally. And now you may have the record for the longest comment on my blog ever. congrats!

]]> By: Brian Ford http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry/comment-page-1/#comment-129745 Brian Ford Sun, 31 May 2009 17:46:05 +0000 http://www.gregstier.org/rants/the-seduction-of-the-web-under-the-guise-of-ministry#comment-129745 Thanks for writing this post. I have been wrestling with this very topic for the past several weeks. I even touched on this a little bit in a blog post I wrote a couple weeks ago. I have cut back on the amount of time I spend on the internet because I don't want it taking away from my family time or from doing real life face to face ministry. I'm concerned about how the internet is effecting us and our relationships with our students, family and God. One thing I love about working in camp ministry is the nature of it forces me outside the office into lives. It's helped to remind me that life is real and virtual. Yes, I still use the internet and social networking tools as it does help me stay connected with students, but I'm learning it's not the first place I need to be going. I appreciate what you have shared as well as what Mark Oestreicher has shared and has committed to do. I pray we all take more time with what really matters...relationships that require a personal touch, not a virtual touch. Thanks for writing this post. I have been wrestling with this very topic for the past several weeks. I even touched on this a little bit in a blog post I wrote a couple weeks ago. I have cut back on the amount of time I spend on the internet because I don’t want it taking away from my family time or from doing real life face to face ministry. I’m concerned about how the internet is effecting us and our relationships with our students, family and God. One thing I love about working in camp ministry is the nature of it forces me outside the office into lives. It’s helped to remind me that life is real and virtual. Yes, I still use the internet and social networking tools as it does help me stay connected with students, but I’m learning it’s not the first place I need to be going. I appreciate what you have shared as well as what Mark Oestreicher has shared and has committed to do. I pray we all take more time with what really matters…relationships that require a personal touch, not a virtual touch.

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