Podcasting, yeah that's right. 

 

For the past several months, I've been an avid podcast listener, and it seems like every time I tell someone I "heard about that" on a podcast, I usually get a blank stare in response, even though it's been a good year since the technology has been around.  I believe most readers of this blog and blogosphites (is that a word?) in general are probably familiar with what a podcast is, but wikipedia has a good description for any newbs out there.

 

I've been pondering the potential that this new medium has, and I truly believe podcasts will continue to infiltrate the mainstream.  The idea of "time shifting" a radio show really opens audio programming to a broader audience, and it is ideal to listen to podcasts while commuting or working out.  It is likely that there exists a direct relationship between the growth of the mp3 player market and that of podcasting.  I encourage you to check out a few 'casts, and I think you might be pleasantly surprised. 

 

Admittedly, there is a small barrier of adoption that must be crossed, but if you have an actual iPod and use iTunes, you should be able to subscribe to some podcasts with no problem.  For us Microsofties, I'd recommend picking up a "Plays for Sure" digital media player (I have this one) and use of Windows Media Player 10.  Combined with a "pod catcher" like iPodder, you'll be up and running in no time.  Engadget provides a how to if you need more help. 

 

One great application of this technology is described in this article I came across today.  The idea of sermons being accessible for free to anyone interested to listen to whenever they like is really quite amazing!  My church has finally started posting sermons in mp3 format, and I'm gonna look into the possibility of wrapping them in an RSS 2.0 feed.  Thanks to Kevin, I often spend my commute "walking in the Word!"

 

That's not to say preaching is the only message that should be spread via podcasting.  You can find a podcast on just about any topic from podcasters all over the world.  Its really cool to listen to the viewpoints of an American family in Israel, a crazy couple from Bloomington/Normal, or the "pod father", Adam Curry.  I also track the latest .NET technologies, technology trends in general, and listen to a beer review from time to time. 

 

Happy podcasting!

No, I'm not going to blog about my fabulous Alma Mater, or for that matter, the disappointment I anticipate as a Fighting Illini football fan (C'mon Zook, surprise me!) 

 

Instead, today's post will revolve around the idea of Israel's disengagment from the Gaza Strip.  I know, I'm a few weeks late on this, but this is one of the topics I have been wanting to blog about but never got the motivation to do so until now. 

 

I'm definitely no expert on Israel, the Arab-Israeli conflict, or other such matters, but I think what is going on in the Middle East is of fundamental importance in the world.  If you think about it, many of the most serious issues that face the world today are somehow related to what is going on in and around Israel.

 

So, my question is, are you orange or blue?  Quickly, for those that haven't been following this story or don't want to follow my link, Israelis in support of the Israeli pullout have been wearing blue ribbons while those opposed wear orange. 

 

There are multiple lenses I view the situation through, and to start, I'll discuss my thoughts on a strictly humanitarian level.  I've been trying to put myself in the shoes of an Israeli settler living in Gaza.  I think there were roughly 9,000 or so that fall into this category.  Imagine that you had been living in Gaza your whole life, had a home and a job there, and your family lived close by.  Now imagine the government telling you that you had to abandon your home and life as you knew it and move to Israel or elsewhere.  I'm sure the average Israeli living in Gaza was not too happy to hear this news regardless of their political views.  Were they compensated fairly for their homes?  Will they have trouble finding a new job?  I'm not sure how these logistical matters are being handled, but they are but a few of the questions I have. 

 

On the other hand, the same thing happened to Palestinians living in Gaza 38 years ago upon the conclusion of the Six Day war.  Unfortunately, these Palestinians weren't even given governmental aid but were forced into refugee status.  Ever since there has been much bloodshed both on the hands of the Palestinians and the Jews.  At the very least, this situation is giving the Palestinian Authority the opportunity to prove they intend to end violence against their Jewish neighbors. 

 

However, when you view the situation through the lens of whatever worldview you subscribe to, your opinion has the potential to change.  For example, one must consider the fact that many of the 9,000 Jewish settlers in Gaza viewed themselves as the protectors of a critical piece of land they believe was promised to them by God many years ago.  To them, the Israeli government giving this land back to the PNA is nothing short of renouncing their faith as a Jew.  Indeed, these were the folks that were barricading themselves in synagogues and being forcibly dragged out of Gaza.

 

As one that would consider myself a Dispensational Christian, you would probably assume that I am in squarely in the orange camp.  Indeed, I do believe that God has made a covenant with Abraham and His chosen people, promising them an inheritance of land.  This covenant is further reinforced through the Palestinian Covenant and its boundaries are clearly laid out in the book of Numbers.  The Bible describes these covenants as everlasting, yet clearly they have not been fulfilled.  As one that believes in God's word and His promises, I believe that He will keep His word.  Therefore I believe that some day all of the land described in Numbers will belong to the Nation of Israel. 

 

However, none of this is to say I'll be wearing orange.  Indeed, I see disengagement as merely another chapter in the 3000 plus years of conflict that have been raging over this tiny piece of land roughly the size of New Jersey.  Ownership and control of this land has changed hands countless times!  I do not know the exact nature of the events that God will use to fulfill His promises, but I am confident that time will tell. 

 

In the meantime, I guess I'll have to be wearing orange AND blue.  And hey, why not, after all...I-L-L...I-N-I!

...and then, when I finally find the motivation to post something, I get this:

 

MSN Spaces is temporarily unavailable...

 

YAY!  Maybe I should just host this thing myself using dasBlog!  But, seriously, blogging is hard work!  It's hard enough to think of a topic that will make a worthy post, and then when I finally do come up with something, the last thing I usually want to do is sit down at my computer and type up my thoughts.  However, I have to admit, there is something to be said about getting your thoughts down on "paper", even if I am the only one that will ever read it!  Could be interesting to look back on these posts in a few years. 

 

Regardless, I have set a personal goal to post something worthwhile at least once a week.  Hope I don't eat these words!