Would you vote for this guy?

                          

Oklahoma City, my hometown, was also hit hard the past couple of weeks.  It started out last week with some serious tornadoes.  I heard there were over 30 tornadoes that touched down in Oklahoma on Monday the 10th.  Ironically, one of the farms from the movie Twister suffered serious damage.  Then yesterday the OKC Metro was, in the words of one overly dramatic meteorologist, attacked by hail.  Softball sized hail destroying cars, damaging homes, causing chaos.  It really was unlike anything I’ve ever seen.  Check out this video somebody took from their house (watch the entire thing, it will blow your mind):

Here’s the beautiful thing in all of this.  With Nashville, you didn’t hear story after story of downtrodden, disaster-stricken people.  The media, in all honesty, was more concerned about a bomb that didn’t go off and an oil spill that still hasn’t reached US land.  The stories you heard were of Nashville coming together.  Helping each other however they possibly could.  You see the “We Are Nashville” twibbons on Twitter avatars, expressing their unity.  I loved seeing how Cross Point (a church in Nashville), from day one, got after it.  They served their brains out.  Every day, hundreds of members showed up at the church ready to go into the community to do whatever needed to be done.  It was all organized through Twitter.  Seriously.  They, without hesitation, acted as the hands and feet of Jesus to the Nashville community, and organized it all through Twitter.

Oklahoma City did the same thing.  A donation tweet-up took place, organized on Twitter, where people came and donated anything they could to help victims of the tornadoes get back on their feet.  Clothes, kitchen sets, toys, tools, anything.  The beauty of this is that it was organized by a woman who, in 1995, lost everything in the most famous tornado to ever hit the OKC area.  She remembered her time of need, then got on Twitter and organized what is now several drop-off locations for people to donate items for tornado relief.  Amazing.

People keep talking about whether Twitter, Facebook and Social Media are fads or not.  Whether or not they serve a purpose.  Old people complain about all this crazy stuff in the internets that the “kids” are playing with.  The reality?  Social Media is here.  Communities rally with it.  Communities have been changed through it’s communication.  With the negative publicity that it tends to get, it’s always nice to see how people are using social media for good.

What are some other ways you have seen social media used for good?

                          

Social Media, as I’ve said here before, is taking over the world.  Literally.  If Facebook were a country, it would be the 4th largest country in the world.  Twitter has well over 75 million users and is growing at an astounding rate.  Organizations and individuals are taking advantage of these platforms and the way community is done is being transformed.  With this massive growth, I notice a lot of “experts” on both FB and Twitter.  I’m always skeptical when people refer to themselves as an expert.  Especially when it comes to Social Media.  I sent out a tweet once to the effect of, “What does it mean to be a ‘social media expert’?  Does that mean you are highly gifted in updating your status on various free websites?”  So I’ve created a list, or a scorecard if you will, to determine if you are, in fact, a Social Media Expert.

1. Have you sent a tweet? Yes: +1  No: Get started, there’s still time
2. Have you ever updated a Facebook status?  Yes: +1   No: Ok, you’re a little behind.
3. Have you ever written a blog post?  Yes: +1  No: No worries, not that big of a deal
4. Have you ever communicated with somebody on Twitter or FB?  Yes: +1  No: You’re missing out
5. You still don’t know what the heck I’m talking about?  Yes: Sorry, China sucks.

If you scored 3 or more then you, my friend, are a Social Media Expert.  Seriously.  It’s not about having 15,000 followers on Twitter or 587 friends on Facebook.  It is not a numbers game.  Numbers just clutter up for feed with unnecessary updates.  It’s a relationship game.  And if you have interacted with people on Twitter and/or Facebook, then you’re in.  Here’s the thing about Social Media.  It is like The Church.  Everybody can play.  Everybody is welcome.  Everybody is valuable, whether you sent your first tweet this morning or if you’ve been on Facebook from the beginning.  There are no guidelines, other than be yourself.  That’s it.  Be you, use it in the way that benefits you best (make sure you are giving and receiving), and run with it.

What do you think about Social Media ”experts?”  Are you one?

                          

I’ve mentioned before that I love social media.  Facebook, Twitter, blogging, love it.  I think it is an incredible tool that will not be wearing out it’s welcome anytime soon.  Whether for business, ministry, educational or personal, social media continues to grow and it’s effectiveness continues to spread.  One of the biggest reasons I think social media works is community.  I’ve had several conversations over the last week or two regarding the idea of community and the impact that social media is having.  First, let me say that nothing takes the place of face to face relationships.  Nothing.  While I have made, and continue to make, what I would consider good friends in the social media world – some that would be really cool to meet in person (and no, I’m not referring to The Pioneer Woman)- they still do not compare or come close to replacing relationships with those around me. That being said, there is significant value in communities that are being built using social media.

Through social media, I’ve seen some crazy communities built.  Most of these are built around blogs, but are expanded and spread almost virally through Twitter and Facebook.  Communities like those found at Ragamuffin Soul, Stuff Christians Like and Flowerdust come to mind.  Through these communities schools in Vietnam have been built, orphans have been sponsored, sex trafficking in Russia has been fought, books have been written, CDs have been sold, lives have been changed/saved.  All this by people (readers/commenters) that, 95% of the time, have never met.  How amazing is this?  By using their talents and going after their passions, these bloggers have built up communities of people from across the world, created relationships and have used these collections of people to change the world for good.  These are just 3 examples, but I could literally list hundreds.  People are sharing stories on blogs.  Stories of renewed faith, stories of brokenness, stories of adventure, stories of parenting, stories of every day life.  And people are connecting (many times on multiple blogs based on different passions).  And interacting.  Building community.  Doing good.  Using social media.

Most people that blog would tell you they don’t care if people read it or not.  I’m not most people.  I hope a lot of people read this blog.  I’m just being honest.  I hope a community is built here.  It doesn’t have to be big (though that would be awesome, right?).  I hope relationships are formed, lives are changed (not through my words, but through relationships), Jesus is made greater (if that makes sense) and somehow the world is changed.  I like to dream so I might as well dream big – though I probably just jinxed myself like the Madden cover curse.  So, for those that read this, thanks.  I don’t know how many of you there are (I really don’t look at the stats that often — I have a small issue with pride), but I do appreciate you and the relationships I’m forming with you.  So let’s go for it, shall we?  With the awesomeness that is social media, it might just be easier now than it has ever been.

What role has social media played in forming your online communities?

                          

I joined Twitter just over a year ago.  I had no clue what I was getting into.  14 months in, I am averaging about 10 tweets per day.  14 months in I still hate the words “tweet” and “retweet.”   So awkward.  I also remember joining Facebook.  I came home one day to my two roommates arguing over who had the most friends.  ”Seriously guys?  I need to get new roommates.  You’re ridiculous.”  They explained Facebook to me.  My opinion didn’t change.  Then I signed up (I give into peer pressure quite easily).  I was hooked.  Social Media has been a seriously hot topic over the past year or two and it doesn’t seem to be going away.  Here are the top 5 reasons that I love social media:

1. Free stuff: Thanks to social media, I’ve received free books, music, memberships, all sorts of things.  I love it.  Maybe I’m cheap, but there’s something awesome about getting free stuff.  Especially when it’s quality.
2. Relationships: I’ve formed what I think are some really cool relationships that, had it not been for social media, probably would not have happened.  I regularly communicate with people in Atlanta, Nashville, St. Louis, Atlanta, Portland.  People that I’ve learned from and get value from.  It’s amazing.
3. Church: I don’t know what other word to put there, but I love seeing what God is going at churches across the country.  I am connected with Pastors, Worship Leaders, Small Group Leaders, Youth Pastors and random church members in all sorts of places.  God is doing some incredible stuff in our country.
4. Business: I’m just learning the value of this, being in a new job.  In my previous job, my industry really didn’t have anything to do with anybody else.  Now?  I am in a position to add value to literally any company.  Regardless of what they do or how big they are, we can add value and efficiency and save them money.  Literally, every company.  In my first few days, I’ve been able to utilize connections I’ve made with people on Twitter to get some clients.  I love meeting with people face to face, and this gives me the opportunity to do that and make their job easier.  Beautiful.
5. Information: I hear about stuff through Social Media before I ever see it on the news.  A sportswriter will send out a tweet about a player being traded before he writes the article.  I know it’s raining 5 miles from my house before the news mentions it.  I heard about Michael Jackson’s death long before it was posted on CNN.com or any other website.  Thanks to social media, news happens and is reported in real time.

Though there are many more, these are my top 5 reasons that I enjoy social media.

What about you?  What are your favorite things about social media?

                          

If there’s one thing I really enjoy, it is sports.  Technology is neat too.  In fact, I love technology (cue Kip’s wedding scene).  If there is one piece of technology I couldn’t live without, it would definitely be the iPhone.  I could argue that it is the greatest invention of all time.  It is the ultimate device.  The apps that you can download are incredible.  I’m not sure how many there are, but when they say “there’s an app for that” they aren’t lying.  That being said, here are my favorite iPhone apps (in no particular order).

1. Pandora - Free, streaming music? Yes please.  I have this going all day long at my desk.  You pick a “station” of a band you like – say Coldplay – and they will play Coldplay as well as other “similar” bands.  Great way to find new music.

2.  ESPN ScoreCenter – Pretty self-explanatory.

3.  YouVersion - The Bible. On my phone.  With every translation (and language) you can think of.  Awesome.  Plus, it allows you to prove that Twitter is in fact in the Bible.

4.  Hipstamatic - This is by far the best camera app out there.  Nothing even comes close.  I have an entire page of photography apps on my iPhone, but this is the real deal.  I’ve taken some great pics of Gabe, Oklahoma City, and other fun things with it.  It doesn’t compare to my wife’s pics, but for a phone, it’s pretty awesome.

5.  Tweetie & Hootsuite – For Twitter, I love both of these apps, though I’m moving closer to using Hootsuite full time.  I think these are the two best twitter apps out there.

6.  Chipotle - I can order Chipotle.  From my iPhone.  And not wait in line.  I am pretty sure they made this app just for me.

7.  Facebook - The app for, you guessed it, Facebook.

8.  iFart - What?  I’m a guy.  This app makes me laugh.  It is especially useful during meetings.  Seriously.

9.  Byline - This is one of my newer apps, but I am a big fan.  It brings in all of the blogs that I subscribe to through an RSS feed, and allows me to read them on my iPhone.

10.  OSUTube - All Oklahoma State University sports, all the time.

What iPhone apps can you just not live without?