Out of Egypt:

Fellow TechMission Corps member Chris Like gives a good response to the perennial question: What should we, as followers of Christ, do when people on the street ask us for money?

I read the magazines when I go through the grocery line. Though I've been reading their headlines for years, they still have the power to disgust me. This evening, however, their trashiness inspired a worthwhile thought.

In our Girardian society, dominated as it is by the "concern for victims," few figures remain on whom we can safely focus our scorn. But a world without scapegoats is unstable and terrifying. To prevent the breakup of our civilization, we turn our contempt on celebrities.

As the pace of life has sped up, so also has the cycle of deification and stigmatization that characterizes scapegoating. The most sophisticated among us actually manage to view their scapegoats as both hero and villain simultaneously - thus, Britney Spears can be seen as both musical idol and self-destructive addict. In a culture of simulacra, celebrities live our lives vicariously - savoring its highs and drowning in its lows while we remain comfortably numb.

You can read the future of a culture in its newsstand headlines. People is more predictive of the apocalypse than the Weekly World News.

(Thanks, Melinda!)

I didn't go online all weekend. Surprisingly, I didn't miss it. When you've found your place in a physical community, online communities tend to lose their luster.

Checking email becomes a hassle. YouTube isn't as funny as your family's stories. And Facebook gifts can't compare to real ones.

This is not to say that technology has not brought vast blessings to our lives. Without the Web, I don't know how I would've found the phone number for Monk's. Planning my route through Philly would've been much more difficult (though serendipity has its virtues). Email, SMS, and Facebook messages are a convenient way to orchestrate real-world events - using the power of the outboard brain to make things fall into place a little more quickly.

It's all too easy, however, for technology to stop being an aid to life and become a substitute for it. As publications editor for TechMission, I look at a lot of websites every day. All the new Web-based advocacy movements are exciting, but I am not . Without a commitment to "walking with the poor," our emailed petitions, PayPal microdonations, and hard-hitting blog posts are all just demonstrations of solitarity.

I once titled a post on UrbanMinistry.org "activism by mouse clicks," but that was inaccurate. Social justice workers can use new media to raise awareness of issues, help in soliciting donations, and show those in power that there is broad support for change, but they shouldn't view it as a panacea. The revolution will not be digitized.

The ancient Israelites kept Sabbath every Saturday to remind them that YHWH was Lord of their labor. Perhaps we should keep a digital sabbath, to remind us that we are not to be ruled by technology. Though such observance is no substitute for the real Sabbath rest of the people of God, it would be a first step toward the re-orientation of values which will bring about true social change.

In the past few years, I have increasingly felt that the Lord is calling me to give of my time in volunteering. Since I don't have much money, sharing my talents with others is really the best way for me to make an impact.

Looking for a volunteer opportunity is a lot like looking for a date - it's hard to know what's out there, and so it can be tempting to simply keep on doing what you are(n't) doing. But now that I work for TechMission, I have no excuse.

A simple search on our Christian volunteer matching website, ChristianVolunteering.org shows that there are over 150 volunteer opportunities within driving range of where I live, in Dorchester.

We're now entering the holiday season, and volunteering is big. ChristianVolunteering lists the major categories of volunteering - Salvation Army, shelters, soup kitchens, and the like - but it also has some more long-term opportunities. As for myself, I'm thinking I might give Starlight Ministries a try, although I do feel the pull back into after-school programs.

Extreme tiredness, wishing I were in PA with Sarah. Things to take care of first - I've been slacking with my notecard system lately. Need to download some Getting Things Done software.

Conference was good, but tiring, as I expected. Sometime it would be nice to actually be able to take a break on the breaks.

I feel more in tune to the purposes of God with regard to the unfinished task of world evangelization now. "I have set watchmen on your walls, O Jerusalem; They shall never hold their peace day or night. You who make mention of the LORD, do not keep silent, and give Him no rest till He establishes and till He makes Jerusalem a praise in the earth." (Is. 62:6-7)

I bought the textbooks for Perspectives. Will probably take it in January at Park Street, if I can afford it.

Went home afterward, slept for 14 hours.

This has been a long week. Not a bad week (well, Monday was a bit frustrating), just a long one. I would love to just relax this weekend, but instead I'm attending this conference. I'll enjoy talking to people about TechMission, and all our January internship opportunities, but I'll probably still be wishing I was at home in bed.

Ah well - the little stub of a workweek prior to Thanksgiving promises to be more low-key. I hope.

Circumcision is to baptism as conception is to birth.

It was a good day. I spent most of the day at work making some changes to the new site layout, which was a refreshing change from the confusion of SEO and site promotions. I enjoy things which take complete focus and which can be completed according to a checklist.

Project management, here I come. So glad to know that I want to pursue a career in communications. Guess I can no longer say it's not my place in the 9-to-5 world.

Of course, the real highlight of my day - what kept me going for hours of Dreamweaver drudgery - was the string chamber ensemble concert at the NEC. The Conservatory's free concert series is truly one of Boston's little-known cultural treasures. I am forever indebted to my friend Dan for putting me in the know - especially since the NEC is having a Steve Reich mini-festival Nov. 28-29. I know at least one person who I can expect to see there...

First time. It was great, and completely an accident - just like many of the good things in life.

Here's hoping that sets the tone for the day.

I have never put my hope in any other but in you,
    God of Israel
    who will be angry
    and yet become again gracious
    and who forgives all the sins of suffering man.
    Lord God,
    Creator of Heaven and Earth,
    look upon our lowliness.
             -Thomas Tallis, Spem in Alium

Silence is a gift
I could never buy;
Stillness a practice
That I could never learn.
Simplicity of speech, the Spirit's Word within me -
No more to strive, Christ's rest unearned.