Pax et Bonum » Electronic Resources

iPhone More Important Than The Flushing Toilet

David Chambers — Thu, 20 May 2010 08:24:31 +0000

A survey carried out by Tesco mobile amongst 4,000 people puts the iPhone in the top ten of the most important inventions ever launched. Yes, that’s all inventions ever! The iPhone came in at No.8 and the Internet, Computers and Telephones at 4, 5 and 6. Things we in the West find essential like painkillers and flushing toilets were way down.

Now I take such surveys with the proverbial ‘pinch of salt’, but what is interesting is that the iPhone was the only brand name to be mentioned. The silly thing is one could hardly call the iPhone an invention, it is simply another incarnation of something that was already around.

I am not singling out the iPhone for criticism but it seems to me that it represents a perfect example of advertising combined with the mass hysteria of consumerism making people feel that this is the one thing that I have to possess – something that will change my life for good. So, every year the faithful wait expectantly for their saviour, Steve Jobs, to announce the latest incarnation of his device and millions flock to the stores to buy this ‘must have’ product.

For someone like me a smartphone is a Godsend. Being dyslexic means I have something in my pocket that can keep me organised and on track, but would I place it in a list as one of the most important inventions ever? I think not. Surely important inventions are the ones that have the potential to benefit all of humankind and not the few who can make it down to the nearest Apple Store or wherever.

But there is some good news on our list – at least the wheel made it to No.1

Thoughts on Reader Ministry

David Chambers — Mon, 04 Jan 2010 11:10:30 +0000

So we have another Reader in ordination training joining us at St. David’s. It seems these days that Readership is just a jumping off point for Ordination. I can’t say that I am surprised as most of the ‘vocational’ material and meetings organised by the Diocese has concentrated on Ordained Ministry as if it were the only sort of ministry worthwhile; add to that the fact that Readers seem to be confused as to their role and reason for being. The demise of services such as Matins and Evensong, a greater emphasis on Communion, and the multitude of other Licensed Lay Ministries leaves many Readers looking for something distinctive to do.

Of, course the Church answers all of this by churning out the ancient mantra that the role of the Reader is one of preaching and teaching; that does little for the Reader who has spent years in training only to appear in the pulpit once every couple of months. Some Readers are happy with that state of affairs whilst others are taking themselves off into areas such as Chaplaincy.

The Church of England does acknowledge that it has a problem. General Synod has produced a report which in its shortened form runs to over eighty pages, but in the discussions I have had with fellow Readers (both formal and informal) and by reading the comments on the official Reader forum, it seems we can’t even agree amongst ourselves as to the way forward. None of this is new. I was first licensed in 1981 and these discussions were taking place then; what is new is the urgency. The same could be said for other ministries within the Church.

What do other Readers think?

Throughout my ministry I have been fortunate always having plenty of scope for the traditional role of preaching and teaching, but having a number of other roles at Diocesan level and outside of the church; that continues to this day. My licence will come to an end in just under eight years and I am wondering if anything will change in that time. Will there be a distinctive Reader ministry in the future or will it be absorbed into the plethora of other lay ministries? With Dioceses now training Ordained and Readers together will more and more take the Ordained route?

At the start of the last decade the number of Reader in my Diocese outweighed those Ordained, now it is about equal. There are as many people as before but the balance is shifting in favour of Ordination; will that trend continue? If so, what is the future for the laity and what opportunities will they have for trained and licensed ministry?

What do others think?

Apologies

David Chambers — Thu, 15 Oct 2009 09:43:55 +0000

For some reason my account was suspended for excess CPU usage and so has been down for a couple of days.

At present I’m trying to find out the reason. It has been suggest that it could be down to Wordpress plug ins, however these are exactly the same as those on our Church Website which is not displaying problems.

I’ve disabled those plug ins that have the potential for higher CPU usage – so we will wait to see what happens

Discerning Spiritual Songs

David Chambers — Tue, 31 Mar 2009 17:16:31 +0000

I’m always on the lookout for good Christian music but that was not really on my mind when I stumbled on the website of The Franciscan Sisters of Christian Charity.

They have a really good selection of music, some of which is available for free download.

Is there a catch? Not really. All they want in return is for you to give them some favourite titles and artists of your own. Seems more than a fair exchange to me!

You can visit their website HERE

Music downloads HERE

No need for an upgrade

David Chambers — Tue, 10 Mar 2009 18:29:51 +0000

My interest in communication technology goes back to the 1960’s influencing my choice of career in the Radio and Television Industry. I later became involved in Amateur Radio and would clear off in an old Hillman Imp weighed down with radio gear just to see how far the signal would reach.

However, one year in particular is etched on my memory, 1981. It was in that year that my first computer came on the scene, the good old Sinclair ZX81. That was quickly followed by my first ( legal) CB Radio. In that one year my love of computers and mobile communication technology was born.

In a short time the ZX81 gave way to the BBC computer which in turn was replaced by a succession of PC’s. The CB was replaced in 1983 by my first mobile phone, a simple device which just made phone calls and needed the battery recharging twice a day!

Next came phones that offered SMS, then WAP followed by a very cut down mobile version of the internet. Now I have a device that seems to do everything but make a cup of tea. Where will it end, what is waiting round the corner? The internet is full ideas and rumours as to what the next great thing will be.

In the technical world there is an assumption that each new device will be better than the one before. Adverts no doubt will try to persuade us that we cannot cope without this or that latest gadget.

But what about the most technically advanced device on the planet – human beings – have they improved with each successive generation? People would like to think so and our Victorian forebears certainly believed it to be the case. After all, hadn’t Darwin shown this to be true? Well, not really, it was simply people reading into Darwin what they wanted to believe. It is interesting to note that the Victorian idea of the evolutionary pinnacle seemed to be white, protestant and male!

Some people know that my other passion in life is history, not just reading about it but as far as possible re-creating it. The more I read and the more I put things into practice, the more I become to realise that the lives of the people I try to recreate were no different to mine. I may have the ‘advantages’ of technology, but I have discovered that peoples’ reaction to the hopes and fears of life remain fairly constant whatever the age.

That is why I find the Bible and its message important. However far I go back in its page I see in the life of its people many of my own characteristics. They may have dressed differently to me, spoke a different language, but they knew all the emotions, all the hopes and fears that I feel in this 21st century. Because of this the message of the Bible stays constant and up-to-date. It is as relevant to now as it was millenia ago. My copy may now be found on my iPhone rather than bound between covers of black leather but the message is the same: one constant in a changing world

To text or not to text, that is the question.

David Chambers — Sat, 07 Mar 2009 10:07:09 +0000

In Rome a group of Bishops has suggested that people should give up texting, mobile phones and devices such as iPods for lent. Meanwhile, the Church of England is urging us to use Social Networking, particularly Twitter and Facebook during the Lenten season. Is this simply the case of the Roman Catholic Church taking a traditionalist view of Lent, or is it an attempt by the Church of England to be ‘with it’ and ‘trendy’? This got me to thinking as to who is right.

My Evangelical friends would suggest it is a case of WWJD (which stands, for What Would Jesus Do.) Well, Jesus, to my knowledge, never used a mobile phone or joined a social networking group but he did leave some valuable teaching which can help me decide.

Despite what the Church may seem say, the teaching of Jesus is quite simple when it comes to actions. Jesus’ message was all about relationships; my relationship with God and my relationship with my neighbour. Therefore, whatever I do has to have one of two aims: It either has to increase my love of God, so bringing me into a deeper relationship with Him, or it has to increase my love of my neighbour, again deepening my relationship of those made in the image of God.

So, let’s assume I decide to give up my phone for lent, what matters is my motivation. Am I going without because of duty or obedience to my Church, or am I doing it so that I can spend more time with God and my neighbour?

With regards to the message of the Church of England, both the Facebook group and Twitter present me each day with useful suggestions. “Buy a coffee and give it away on the way to work”. “Walk around your neighbourhood and pray about what you see.” Again these are worthy ideas, but if I do them to simply feel good about myself and not for love of neighbour, it is a futile exercise.

Well, I’ve chosen to stay with Facebook and Twitter, I’m not too sure of my motivation but I know many of the suggestions challenge me. If I give up my phone in all reality I am not likely to use that time with God.

What the debate has brought to light in my mind is my need to examine my actions more carefully, and not only in Lent. The big questions must be, what is my reason for blogging?

I’ll go away and think about that!

Church gives out ‘tweets’ for Lent

David Chambers — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 18:03:13 +0000

I’m not usually given to posting two blogs in one day but have been requested to pass on the following:

What are you doing?’ asks the Church of England this Lent as it connects with people through the social networking site Twitter and a new Facebook application designed to get people to share their top tips for helping each other. The initiatives are designed to mobilise a viral movement marking Lent with simple acts of generosity and thoughtfulness in the real world.

I’m not sure how it will work but as someone who is both on Facebook and is a fan of Twitter, I will be very interested to see the outcome.

More details can be found HERE

Go direct to Twitter HERE

Facebook App HERE

Technologies? The Word on the Net

David Chambers — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 17:44:54 +0000

Why bother with the internet? Isn’t Christian faith about real people experiencing a real God in real life? So writes Gareth Squire, Director of the Christian Enquiry Agency in this months Church of England Reader Magazine.

Gareth goes on to answer those critics that see the Internet as either irrelevant or a force for evil. The internet is neutral and can be used for god or bad and there are many reasons why Christians should bother with it.

Two of the reasons Gareth gives are:

The internet is an increasingly significant aspect of everyday life and that access to it has been described as a human right.

Television and the internet are rapidly merging. When the BBC renames television as ‘Vision’ you realise something is afoot’ , he says

Gareth’s argument is that for the Church to communicate the good news it needs to be on top of these seismic changes which are taking place in communication. This includes the latest technology in mobile phones.

Much of the article is then taken up with examining some of the best of Christian websites over the last couple of years; (too many to mention here)

But one part that really grabbed my attention was the section entitled Cyber Chaplaincy. There are those who visit our sites who will be undergoing some personal or spiritual crisis; some may have questions of faith which they would like to talk through with someone else. What does our website offer such people?

Gareth gives some good advice. Make sure your website focuses on what an outsider may need. To do this we need to ask those outside of the Church walls. How we do that may vary from parish to parish, but without doing so we miss an opportunity to be really effective. Websites become a one way conversation and not the interactive dialogue they have the potential to be.

The internet has some huge advantages for Christians over other ways of operating… as a means of prayer and spirituality, as a means of building community, as a means of educating people and as a tool for mission