I ran across an interesting article the other day in Collide magazine entitled The Shared Experience that would be a worthwhile read for anybody trying to make figure out pop culture and how to refer to it in sermons or in a classroom. The article makes a great point that references to pop culture in a sermon or within a classroom may or may not be a good idea. The premise is that today our entertainment venues and selections are very individualized. We have the internet now, and that allows us to “customize” our experience. Not so 30 years ago when 70% of all Americans tuned in to watch I Love Lucy on an given episode. You can no longer assume that everybody “gets it” or for that matter would agree with your use of the illustration.

Richard Clark, the author of the article, goes on to make other interesting observations about the value of watching television and movies together as a way to discuss and surface ethical and spiritual issues. The point is that if we lose “shared experiences” we have lost a lot. God made us social beings. The internet can be a way to allow socialization through Facebook and the like, but it can also separate us. Just be aware of what is good for you and what is not. Clark is also the editor of www.christandpopculture.com. An interesting read as well some times.

If you were wondering about upgrading to Windows 7, I think I’ve found a pretty good reason to do so…especially if you are still using XP. Bitlocker. Bitlocker is an encryption technology that secures the data on your hard drive should your computer fall into criminal hands. You can read more about the technical specs of it at this Windows 7 Features page. The basics are pretty straightforward however. You turn it on. It encrypts your hard drive with a special key that only you know. And that’s it. Nobody but you can read the data. There is also a Bitlocker-To-Go feature that does the same thing to external hard drives and USB flash drives. If your computer has built in Trusted Platform Module (TPM) the whole operation of the computer is exactly the same except all the bits and bytes are scrambled should the wrong key be entered. There are simple tools available to test for TPM from within the Bitlocker tool. Not to worry however, you can still install it by using a USB drive to “unlock” the drive for use.

This all may be sounding a little bit geeky and you may be wondering why you need that level of protection. Some do not. But if you work with church or school data or member data, it’s probably a good idea. It would not be wise to leave personal or offering information unprotected. If your computer is used to track your own finances or stores your tax returns, that is another reason to step up the protection. More and more of us are using laptops and they are “walking away” in greater numbers everyday. In airports alone over 10,000 laptops are stolen each week. Don’t let yours walk away with data that could lead to identify theft or other malicious activities.

To get Bitlocker you will have to purchase Windows 7 Ultimate or Enterprise (the two most expensive versions), but if your hard drive contains data you wouldn’t want to fall into the wrong hands, it’s well worth the investment. Windows 7 will be available on October 22nd.

One Great Reason to Upgrade to Windows 7 http://ff.im/-9i7vm

There is good news for congregations who want to post audio and video of their worship services online. Up until now, copyright issues prohibited the easy distribution of this content to an online audience. This limited files posted online to mostly sermons and other content in the public domain. Now OneLicense.net, a popular licensing company that allows reproduction of copyrighted material in worship settings, has added a “podcasting” option. So any songs and other content they license can also be put online.

The service costs about 50% of the regular license, and you do need that regular license to get the podcasting option. There are a couple of other restrictions. You have to report usage, and are limited in the number of downloads. Here are the specifics from their website:

1. OneLicense.net Podcast License holders are also required to have a OneLicense.net Annual Reprint License. The number of downloads allowed under a Podcast License is limited to three times the average weekly attendance as established by a congregation’s Annual Reprint License.
2. All copyrighted content contained the the Podcast is reported through the convenient OneLicense.net reporting system.
3. The Podcast is available for download on the internet for no more than one year

I should say that just because you can publish an entire worship service online doesn’t mean you should. Be sure that your viewing or listening audience is likely to sit through an hour or so of video/audio. Watch a long lineup of communion goers or a five minute offering collection doesn’t make for the most thrilling viewing experience. The sermon and a selected hymn might do the trick. Also be sure to check that liturgical content is covered. If not, check with NPH to make sure Christian Worship content can be reproduced legally.

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