Dealing with the overconnected

I wonder if we’re reaching a point in human civilization where being connected with either the latest social network, tweet or text message is be coming cliche… as cliche as Tom Cruise?  Possibly.

What’s interesting in the run up to us heading over the pond to the Middle East… I wonder what differences in culture, language and communication will change or how it will be enhanced?  As I’ve talked with people about Lebanon, this past summer made me realize just how connected they are becoming with their mobile devices (aka Cellphones) and mobile internet.  Text messaging is ramping up and everything in downtown Beirut screams “Westernized”.

So is it Blackberries, iPhones, Facebook or Twitter that we should be so consumed with being connected with?  At the end of the day, does electronic communication replace Alexander Bell’s phone call?  No.  Does an email replace a face to face conversation?  Hardly.  Does a blog deliver insight onto how a person thinks or feels about something?  Sure… but to a point.

Technology is an entry point of relationship…. but the minute we let it be the relationship, the more we miss out on.

-A

My monthly run in with the Jehovah’s Witness… not your typical conversation.

Yeah— so this image is what one might think of when you hear the two words “Jehovah’s Witness” and the material they give going door to door.

What’s funny— there is this gal who has been coming to my door maybe… for a year or more now… and she finally asked me to attend her church’s service.  I almost blurted out to her… “What took you so long to ask?”

This going hand in hand in how my life (along with Catherine’s) have been changing.  Talking about faith and doing it seem to be a struggle for a lot of the religions in the world today.

Anyways— long conversation short— I got a chance to talk to her about our new service @ Village this weekend.  Many of the topics she was bringing up (Yes— (to Catherine…) She brought up Daniel this morning….) were things that have been fresh in my mind for the past week or so.  Deja Vu? Or just perfect timing?

Maybe both or neither.

Either way— as people do go door to door talking about religion and as typically, we treat them as the same door to door Windows salesmen (I can’t stand them!!)— give them some time and talk about more than the books they’re holding, talk about what they believe, and what you believe.  Have a conversation with them.  I find as I do, the more I share, the more they listen and the more I listen the more open they are to dialogue between us.

That’s all.

-A

3 flights down, 1 to go. How the Hocketts plan for years ahead.

Yeah— so iDEAS.  Actually, backing up a bit….

Last Friday on September 4th, we we officially confirmed as new associates of iDEAS.  You might be wondering…. “Who is iDEAS?”  Well I’m glad you asked.  iDEAS is a non-profit agency that specifically focuses on sending Christian professionals out into the work field with the focus being on working directly with the people in the area.  The areas in which they focus on are the physical, intellectual, social and spiritual needs.

Let me take a second to relate why this is such a big with Catherine and I.  As some of you know (or if you don’t know…. welcome to the fold!) Catherine and I are going to be heading to Lebanon here in the next 12 months or so.  That said, we will be sent as representatives of iDEAS.  Why iDEAS stood out to us and why we think it so resonates with us is that it looks at the holistic picture a person.

Many people might think we’ve been slapped with the title of “missionary” now but I can tell you that is not the title best serving our roles.  Times in culture and times in the church are changing.  As the increase of “Non-religious affiliation” increases in the United States, where does that leave the church?  One could say it’s rediscovering itself again for the first time in a long time.  A renewal of faith, a renewal of community.  Instead of your faith or even your church being something on the weekend, it’s everyday… it’s holistic.  Not segmented or disjointed, but a complete part of who you are.

Catherine and I have been trying to live that way now for the past year and I must say, it is very challenging, difficult but so worth it.  So as we moved through that time, it became natural to look at an agency that reflected our same values.  iDEAS does; and quite honestly, as I type this sitting in the Denver airport, I know that this is what the rest of my life is going to be like… our lives really.  Throwing the pieces up in the air and knowing and praying that God’s plan for what comes down happens and that we’re in step with that.

Catherine’s passion has been wanting to work with children with special needs because of her younger brother Michael.  Michael is such a blessing to me and to the family because of who he is.  Turns out this last May, iDEAS had a job description (of which is still being added to because it is so specific to who Catherine is…. which… quite honestly is a God thing…) for a position in Beirut, working with special needs children.  Pretty amazing stuff.  Fast forward to our meeting with iDEAS this past week, and we have a more clear understanding that this is the route we are indeed going on and they 100% support us with it.

Myself— being the IT guy that I am—- I will be working along side of Catherine doing various computer projects at the community center as well as with other partners in the region.  When we were over in Lebanon this past summer, the need for skilled computer workers was so apparent, that if I were to stay in the middle east for the rest of my life, I would not run out of work to do.  Really, there is that much!!  So I get to use my passion to help teach people how to use computers as well as bolster computer infrastructures in businesses in Lebanon.

So what does that mean for everyone out there on the web reading this?  Well, it means that you can join us in being a partner both in spirit, prayer and financially as well.  We have a large amount of support to raise over the next 12 months and I’m sure we will be getting together with a large portion of everyone to tell you in person how exciting it is to see the next chapters of our lives coming into focus.

I hope everyone has a wonderful Labor Day and we look forward to catching up with everyone once we get home!

-A