Five Thing Friday!

YouTube edition...

Another Friday, another Five Things!

Ready?

(Then keep scrolling!)

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1. I Will Wait

A couple weeks ago I preached at The Riverside Church for the first Sunday in Advent. You should definitely go watch the whole sermon — it’s all about waiting and Daniel and the Lions and Advent and more — but I asked for this song to be the final words of the sermon, knowing they would likely be the most meaningful part.

My hope was that this song would allow us to reflect more deeply on the story, seeing the ways that Daniel, the King, the governors, and even the lions were all waiting. And really to help us reframe a song like this as something that blurs the too-often imaginary lines between the sacred and the secular. (Also, I’m pretty sure this was the first time a song like this has ever been a part of worship at Riverside!)

All this to say, push play and enjoy!

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2. OK Go is Revisiting their Music Videos

And it is amazing.

This is the latest one they’ve (re)released, and once you watch this you should head over to their channel and watch them all. All these BTS videos seem to be part of the build up for a new album (woohoo!) but I’m enjoying the excuse to rewatch some of the most creative videos and get a glimpse of what went into creating them. There’s a good chance I’ll have a whole series on “what the Church can learn from OK Go” coming out sometime in the future, maybe whenever they release a new video, but for now this whole series is worth watching, especially with the ways it can inspire you and your creativity.

Ok. Go watch that video now! (See what I just did there?)

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3. Deconstructing the Flesh

The Holy Smokes podcast from The Faith Community virtual has always been one of my favorites, along with all the ways that Kristian Smith helps people unpack and understand faith, theology, and the Bible. Their latest episode is one that you should all put at the top of your list. I especially appreciate the ways they explore the need to understand why some people insist on saying “the word of God” rather than just say “the Bible” and how this becomes a means of manipulation and control.

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4. A.I May Destroy Us All

Last week I mentioned a book I’m reading. And this week I‘m sharing an interview with the author that dives in on the book and it’s themes.

I’m convinced that if we aren’t paying attention to what’s happening in the world of AI, both big picture ideas and specific applications like ChatGPT and Claude and more, then we run the risk of being left unaware of the ways the world is being reshaped and the ethical realities we will be thrust into. I find myself watching and reading more and more about the current and future state of AI, both for the sake of the church and for the sake of the world!

All this to say, this video is a good place to start. And if you want to talk with me more about all this, I’ll be leading a book group at The Riverside Church on Saturday, January 11. We’ll be talking all about Nexus and this video and more. Send me an email and I can get you all the info!

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5. This Video is AI Generated!

See, I told you I’m watching all sorts of things about AI these days.

This video is an (always) incredible review of SORA by MKBHD. He offers a great overview of this new project from Open AI and lands with some incredible implications and questions about the ethics behind this sort of thing. Pay attention to the plant that you see on screen!

Seriously, watch this one. And then you’ll probably be eager to go play with some of these AI toys. Leave a comment and let me know which ones you try out and what you think!