One of the special events last week when I made it over to Catalyst One Day was the Off the Blogs meeting that took place in Buckhead GA.  This event was hosted by Pete Wilson [...]]]>

One of the special events last week when I made it over to Catalyst One Day was the Off the Blogs meeting that took place in Buckhead GA.  This event was hosted by Pete Wilson of Cross Point Church in Nashville and he was joined by Carlos Whittaker, Anne Jackson (both of which are on a blog break right now) Jon Acuff, and worship was led by Aaron Keyes.  I went into the meeting / worship time not really fully understanding what was going to happen, and went away with a new understanding of the real names and faces we each have behind our own Internet facade.

There were no laptops, no macbooks, no (or very little) twittering, and it was real, it was hard core, it was intense, and an offline time to unplug and take a look at what shapes our lives.  I went in with a few questions of my own.

1. As Believers, how are we allowing technology to control our lives?
2. How do we use it to further self and selfish ambitions.
3. What are we doing to use the knowledge of technology and understanding of how things work on the Internet to further God’s kingdom?
4. How do we balance our online lives with those we physically interact with on a daily basis (are those people become the same)?
5. It is really necessary for us to unplug when it is not a distraction in our lives, but it is how we live now?
6. How can we leverage technology for God’s purposes?
7. How much of our own lives do we share online?
8. How can I get more connected with leaders in the church through technology?
9. How do we connected with people outside the church?
10. What is the next thing in technology that is going to rock this world?

I left with more questions than I went in with but it was still a great night and well worth the extra time to get over to Buckhead.  Carlos, Anne, and Jon all shared some incredible stories of how they got where they are in their walk and the struggles they went through with and without God in their lives.  None of this had to do with their blogs, facebook, or anything technology related, but how God changed their lives.  We are all a work in progress and I am so glad I had the chance to get to listen to people I respect in the Church and online.

Here are a few pics from that night.

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