Sunday, August 31, 2008

Ryan "is blogging infrequently."


Although I haven't been blogging lately on blogger, I have been writing several [extremely] short blogs a day.

There's a web application called twitter that lets users update their "status" in about 10 words. At first I thought that it was silly, and didn't really have a point, but with the inclusion of "status" in the social networking site, facebook, I have found myself using a "twitter like app" more than anything else online.

I imagine that everyone has two main types of friends:
1) Those who they talk to several types a week.
2) Those who they talk to once a year if they are lucky.

I have found that the older I get the more friends I have in the second category. There are people in my life that I am grateful to know and to have a part of my life, but whose schedule makes it next to impossible to stay in constant contact with.
One of the difficulties with those relationships is that when contact is finally made, my conversations usually involve of getting caught up with one another, and then awkward conversation follows, with an even more awkward goodbye.
Contrasted with those whom are constantly part of my weekly conversations who I feel like I could talk to for hours about the most mundane of things.

One of the reasons that I have been so diligent in changing my status on facebook and checking the status of others, is that I feel like it strengthens my relationship with those who I ordinarily don't get to stay in constant contact with. I know when friends go to concerts, weddings, or on vacation, I know when their planes land, or when their horses get out of their yard and keep them up all night.

I'm sure that there are better uses for the internet than constantly updating one's status, but I am enjoying the popularity of this app that let's me know my friends better.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

Made it to NY safely

Outside our window (We are staying with Maria's sister between Harlem & Washington Heights)


Times Square



Strawberry fields forever, or at least long enough to take a picture


Belvedere Castle


Central Park Fountain


Playing on the "Big" Piano


LOVE (notice Aspen sleeping)


On the subway

Sunday, August 03, 2008

New Masthead

Thanks to Jake David for his lettering for my new masthead.

Friday, August 01, 2008

The Shack


This book with an endorsement from Michael W. Smith, a $300 initial marketing budget, and a seat on New York Time's best seller list has been making quite a stir.

I saw it on a pastor friend's book shelf and hoped that he had read it so that I could get perspective on it without having to actually read it, (I've decided that I like knowledge much more than I like reading).

I have already heard one review of the book by the Angry Pastor, Mark Driscoll, and well, his review was that of an angry pastor.


I came across this review in Christianity Today that I would recommend to anyone who was curious about reading the Shack.
The author of the article possesses the grace and humility that I wish came more naturally to me.