Cyberbrethren: A Lutheran Blog

Early African Chrisianity -- A New Web Site

I was made aware today of an interesting new web site, from the publishers of the Ancient Christian Commentary series: Early African Christianity. I think you will find it interesting.

Lutheran Wiki

I found this on the Internet and it looks interesting, a Lutheran Wiki. Already there are some very handy charts, timelines and collections of on-line resources. Check it out when you have a chance. While there are certain dangers to be aware of with a Wiki, I think this does look promising.

But, I leave you with Michael Scott's comments on Wikipedia, as fair warning:

The Journeys of St. Paul in Google Maps

This is pretty cool. Somebody has traced out the journeys of Paul and overlayed it on the Google map functions, so you can see them by regular map, by terrain, and even, the coolest one, the satellite view where you can see the actual land forms, and features. Check it out here.

Journeys of St. Paul via Google Maps

Here is a really great resource: a person has created, with Google maps, the journeys of St. Paul. You can view the journeys in various ways, including the "terrain view" which will let you see the topography of where St. Paul went.

Ridiculing Christianity is Acceptable in the USA

Imagine the outcry if a blatantly racist photo of whites with blacks was used as cover art on a pop star's new CD. Or, consider if the photos would show the pop star in various stages of undress with a person portraying the Prophet Muhammad. Or, what if the pop star was featured in jack books and a swastika on the arm herding Jews toward a a death camp train? The howls of protest would deafen us. But, when Briney Spears, the drug/booze addicted tramp poses semi-nude on the lap of a man dressed as a Roman Catholic priest, in a confessional, and sprawls suggestively against a confessional, this is considered appropriate and acceptable in American culture today. What this person lacks in talent, morals, virtue or character, she must now make up for by choosing the most sensational sort of cover album art. And even more pathetic is that the American media gives this attention. Dumb and dumber. Sick and sicker. And the thing most sad of all is that there are some Christians out there who actually believe it is "ok" for them to "enjoy" this kind of visual and auditory raunch and filth. Blind leading the blind. Advice to Christian parents: be sure to monitor what is on your children's iPods. Check the titles, then look up the lyrics. Better safe than sorry.

Great Reference Meta-Site

The Internet is a great resource, but there is so much information out there and so many places to look, at times one hardly knows where to begin. Here is a great web site that provides a lengthy catalog of reference sites on the Internet. And here is a site that has a number of college level courses on video, along with other reference sites.

"Facebook" and "MySpace" ... so, what are they?

So, not wanting to be left in the cyber-dust, I've created a Facebook and Myspace page. Now what? What are these things? My son loves them. How do people keep up on all this electronic communication? If we want to reach out with the Gospel, can we afford not to reach the masses with every form of mass communication possible? Your thoughts?

Snopes.com is your friend

I receive a lot of Internet rumors, myths, legends and what-not. One reason I moderate comments on Cyberbrethren is to prevent the site from being overwhelmed by an unbelievable amount of junk. The more hits a site get, the more it become a target for spam.

Sadly, many Christians who use the Internet fall for just about any heart-tugging story that comes down the pike. Most recently, there has been one about a soldier in Iraq. These are called "urban legends." Urban legends are rumors, either entirely untrue, or based on a few facts, but otherwise hokum. How many years have we had to endure the urban legend that a band of atheists is on the brink of winning a Supreme Court decision banning all religious program from the airwaves? etc.

Please do yourself, and all those to whom you send e-mail a favor, never, ever...ever...send forwarded "sob stories" along to others unless you first check them out at snopes.com

I've been using "Snopes" for years. It is the best defense against Internet myths.

When in doubt check Snopes. Hint: always be in doubt!

Turning the Pages™, the British Library

Now this is about the coolest web site I've ever seen...you need the Shockwave plug-in installed to get the full effect. Enjoy!

Link: Turning the Pages™, the British Library.