Comments on: It’s Not About Email or Twitter: It’s about Slavery

By: Jacqui

Jacqui — Fri, 16 Oct 2009 04:03:38 +0000

Amen and alleluia! I once ran an ad for a retreat that said, "Don't just do something, sit there!" This gives me hope.

By: gabehoffman

gabehoffman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:47:29 +0000

Pen and paper still rock, right John? The few times I've gotten to hang out with John, he gave me his full attention, took notes on pen and paper, and just disconnected for the length of the conversation. It told me a lot about you, you do champion being "present". Good stuff.

By: Jake Johnson

Jake Johnson — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 15:47:11 +0000

A loud AMEN from me, John. We could all use a little disconnection.

By: Rhett Smith

Rhett Smith — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 04:54:04 +0000

I too love that comment John…great stuff.

By: Daniel_Berman

Daniel_Berman — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 00:32:44 +0000

I just spent a fairly delightful weekend on the Oregon coast with my inlaws who are ministry leaders for the Canadian branch of an international missions organization. In general they are wonderful people, but very used to going full bore into anything and everything. With precious little time, they wanted to pack as much into the two days with family, as possible. It was funny though, the most notable moments were the chances to just sit and enjoy being around each other.

You don't have to be doing something to create quality time, just simply be there….and as John has mentioned on numerous occasions be fully there….

By: Graham Brenna

Graham Brenna — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:28:25 +0000

1 – Email is not going away anytime soon. It may morph into something a little more awesome though *cough* [google wave] *cough*.

2 – You're absolutely right. Technology should serve us… not the other way around. Otherwise we'll end up with some company called Skynet and they'll rule us all! :0

By: klreed189

klreed189 — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 16:12:52 +0000

Love it, thanks for the reminder John.
I often can get caught up in making sure I am plugged in to all technology. I often get upset because someone has not responded to me fast enough. But I never take in the idea that they should be allowed to disconnect for a time and do not have to respond immediately.
What I see as a danger is that in actual conversation we are able to walk away, have time to ourselves, etc…in social media conversation we are always present and expect it to be on our time table. This in turn becomes more about me than anything else. it is a tool not a necessity.

By: Chris Kinsley

Chris Kinsley — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:40:25 +0000

Great post. Really great. Echoes what many of us are thinking/feeling and challenges us at the same time. Thanks.

By: @phillipgibb

@phillipgibb — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 13:25:37 +0000

not easy when you can just check yer email/twitter/stats b4 your time with God (in the morning, evening, whenever),
"let me just tweet what I am reading" bam you have disconnected with God and lost precious time with the Lord

By: human3rror

human3rror — Tue, 13 Oct 2009 12:31:04 +0000

just been on my heart I guess. Thanks man.