The inevitable downfall of Facebook

Facebook can be undeniably described as a juggernaut. USA Today reported that as of the end of June 2011, there are more than 750 million users. That's a lot of a people. Comparing apples to apples, MySpace has only 20 million. Everyone has a Facebook account. I mean, my freaking dog has one. You can do just about anything via Facebook. From the simple status updates and pictures uploads to extensive gaming and other application usage. For a new user to first log on to Facebook, it is quite impossible to fathom every tool, every gadget, and every app available to use. Actually, it's just as impossible for a veteran Facebook user.

I happen to be one of those veterans. Facebook was originally just open to college students. Plus, not every college was even part of it, but my alma mater, UB, was. Facebook came out in 2004, which is when I started using it, in my freshman year. It was awesome. It was a great way, as I was a new student not knowing many people, for me to connect with my classmates, as well as to stay in touch with my high school friends.

I'd say that the first milestone that caused FB to become huge, but also to lose some of its uniqueness and charm, was when FB administrators allowed everyone to use it, not just college students. The floodgates were open. The next thing you know, FB adds millions of features, allows people to build apps and publish them, introduces games (curse you, Zynga!), and now here we are today. And I hear rumors that they are far from over in the whole, "let's do more!" business model. Fantastic.

It's just that it's all way too much. Wouldn't you agree? I mean, of all the people you know, how many are actually using FB for more than the standard status updates, commenting, and picture sharing? Oh sure, there's that one really annoying friend that posts on your wall that they "answered a question about you" and if you "allow" their app, you can "read it." Oh joy! I totally want some 30-something lady I met randomly at a social function of some sort five years to tell me if she thinks I'm cute! I'm dying to know!

Or the whole "poke" function. Really???? I mean, come on. It is a lot more creepy than anything else.

The bottom line, Facebook went too far. They didn't know when to stop. They didn't quit while they were ahead. Shall I continue? I have a lot more of those sayings to use.

I feel like those old people that complain about cell phones and computers and how life was better when there were only 10 channels on TV and the operator knew everyone's phone number. Oh, how I long for the simpler life of a Facebook from another era....an era that was merely five or so years ago. 

If you had to be really honest with yourself, how many of you would complain if FB just axed everything but the basics of the site? How many of you would experience a great loss and pain for not being able to plant crops, kill mafia, instant message like it's 2001, and play family feud? I feel like all of our lives would be infinitely better...

But that won't happen. Facebook is just too greedy. They'll crash and burn before they ever dial things back, a la MySpace.

Want my solution? It's one word. Twitter.

The Top 10 Christian Songs Of All Time

I've been a Christian virtually my entire life. My parents became Christians when I was two years old and so, as far back as I remember, I've been going to church, living in a Christian house, and the like. My parents have always been awesome. But they did have some pretty firm rules while growing up (of which I am grateful). For instance, I wasn't allowed to watch PG-13 movies until I was 15 and every other TV channel was blocked. Included in that was what kind of music I was allowed to listen to. To give you an idea, I though the rapper Eminem spelled his name "M & M".

Consequently, the only music I listened to was Christian music. And I've always loved music and so naturally, I listened to a lot of Christian music. Truth be told, compared to all of the music out there in the world, Christian music represents of very small percentage. Furthermore, most Christians were like me and only listened to that kind of music. So it comes to no surprise that we'd all gravitate to a few songs that really appealed to us. Additionally, because of the relatively low output of songs year after year, some of these songs we loved remain our favorites today. Almost to the point of obsession.

I now have the great privilege of listing what I believe to be the top 10 Christian songs of all time. And boy, was it fun writing this up. This is mostly subjective, but I am doubtful that anyone will dispute that any of these songs deserves to be up here, just maybe in a different order.

I had a couple of issues to address in writing this, however. The first dealt with the inclusion of some straight-up worship songs. Do they deserve immunity from getting roasted (however lightly)? Maybe yes, maybe no. I decided to compromise and limit the worship songs to only a few. The other issue I came across was selecting songs that were written in the early 1980s or earlier. I'm sure there were some great ones from those days, but none that I can think of (besides #2 on this list) that have lived on as much as these have and as powerfully.

So sit back and enjoy the show!

THE LIST

10. He Reigns - Newsboys 

In the 1990s and early 2000s, I don't think there was a more popular Christian band than the Newsboys. They were phenomenal musicians and songwriters, and their live shows were epic. It was no surprise that when they released their first worship album, Adoration, in 2003, the world freaked out. People were hoping for the Newsboys to do this for a long time. And the best song on the album was titled "He Reigns." It was a solid song; classic Peter Furler singing about people all over the world declaring that God reigns. It was rocky enough to make the radio airwaves and worshipful enough to find its way into churches, albeit for a short time.

Listen/Watch here. P.S. I love Phil Joel's hair.

9. Christmas Shoes - Newsong

I'm sorry, but I just HAD to put this song on the list. I couldn't resist. Most of you know this song as the super sappy, depressing, Christmas song about a poor boy, his dying mother, and a pair of shoes. Newsong even had the audacity to have little kids sing the ending refrains of the song. It pulled at everyone's heartstrings, including the mainstream media, and became a sensation. On local radio, it was played every fifth song on Star 102.5 during the Christmas season. It became movies (starring Rob Lowe!), plays, and more. It came out in 2000 and is still going strong today. I don't believe we'll ever escape its omnipresence. Or its cheesiness.

Listen/Watch here.

8. Voice of Truth - Casting Crowns

Casting Crowns came out of nowhere. One minute they're a no-name youth band from a small church, the next thing you know, they're playing to sold-out crowds across the country. And it all started with their first, self-titled album. Voice of Truth was a solid track. Appealing to people of all ages. It was cool sounding enough, but had deep enough lyrics that made it popular with just about everyone. I thought it was awesome when I was 16. And my parents thought it was awesome in their 40s. That song and that album cemented Casting Crowns' place in the Christian music community as a powerhouse not long after its release.

Listen/Watch here.

7. Shout to the Lord - Hillsong/Darlene Zschech
Quite honestly, I'm a little nervous to be talking about this song. I'm afraid if I make fun of it, I will become a pariah in the Christian circles. I'm not entirely sure why people are absolutely crazy about this song, but they are. A little background first: the song came out in Hillsong's prime. Unfortunately, Hillsong has been overshadowed by their little brother, Hillsong United, for a few years now, and they have yet to come out with a solid album like they did in the mid- to late 90s. But those mid-90s songs were super popular. Not only "Shout to the Lord," but also "All Things Are Possible" and "This is How We Overcome," to name a few. Ah, fond memories. But "Shout to the Lord", I'm convinced, will never die. The song came out in 1994 and is still in CCLI's top 25 list, at number 14, no less. That's impressive. Plus, the American Idol contestants did it only a few years ago and it made iTunes' top 10 list for a few weeks. Personally, I think it's a bit dated, but one can't discount its influence and popularity.
Listen/Watch Hillsong's version here.
Listen/Watch American Idol's version here. I apologize that the first person you see in the video is Ryan Seacrest.

6. Jesus Freak - dcTalk
Now this is my kind of music. I was a HUGE fan of dcTalk in their heyday. If they ever came back, I would jump back on that bandwagon. And this song, I believe, is their best ever. Or at least in the top 3. The song represented the rebellious side of Christians (if there is one). It was challenging, loud, and fun. It was one of my first cassette tapes when it came out in 1995 and I still have it to this day (plus on CD). Plus, the whole album was amazing. I guarantee I still have the whole album memorized.
Listen/Watch here.

5. Breakfast - Newsboys
Speaking of epic, classic, Christian songs, how can you forget the Breakfast song by the Newsboys? I don't think people realize how influential this song is. For hundreds of years, people have viewed Christians as stuffy, prudish, holier-than-thou snobs. And then the Newsboys come out with a hilarious, catchy tune that shows the world that Christians can be fun too. All while teaching that they don't serve breakfast in hell. What a great lesson for kids and adults alike. It also did a good job loosening up those Christians that truly were a bit stuffy.
Listen here.

4. You Raise Me Up - Josh Groban
I have to be straight with you all. I hate this song. I never liked it. But for some reason, everyone else did. Let the record show that Josh Groban didn't write this. A guy named Rolf Lovland did. But it was Groban's version that made it such a hit. The girls liked it for Josh Groban (he's so dreamy), my choir teacher in high school liked it because it made for a good concert tune, and Christians, I believe, liked it because the whole world liked it. There's nothing like a Christian song getting validation from the secular world for it to suddenly become popular (see #1). I read reports that said it was one of the most covered songs of all time. Good for Josh, the only one-hit wonder on the list.
Listen/Watch here.

3. Here I Am to Worship - Tim Hughes
This worship song can be roped in there right alongside number 7 on the list, "Shout to the Lord." - a worship song that will never die. For whatever reason, this song really hit home for millions of Christians. It even sounds good in Spanish. A little more recent than "Shout to the Lord", coming out in 2001, but yet another song that has power behind it that will move people for years to come. And I have to admit, I haven't heard it in a while and then at the DC*B show I went to last year, they played it and it sounded incredible. I guess all a song like that needs is a little touching up and it will just keep on playing. It also introduced Tim Hughes to the world as another excellent British worship leader like Matt Redman or Martin Smith.
Listen here.

2. Amazing Grace - Traditional Hymn
It was tough not making this song number 1, but it certainly deserves the number 2 slot. Can you think of a more popular worship song? The song is truly immortal. It's the one worship song that will be accepted by super conservative Methodists and crazy Pentacostals alike. Old people adore it, and young people graciously accept it (especially since Chris Tomlin did a remake of it). Nevertheless, everything about the song is incredibly awesome. The story behind it, the words of it, etc. There's something about it that, even though it is almost 250 years old, it still resonates in the hearts of Christians across the globe. On top of that, the song's history was made into a major motion picture.
Listen/Watch Chris Tomlin's version here.
Watch the Amazing Grace movie trailer here. It stars Mr. Fantastic and Albus Dumbledore

1. I Can Only Imagine - MercyMe

No question that this song is number one. The main reason? It's the only Christian song to be downloaded more than 1 million times. Plus, everyone was obsessed with this song. I remember being at a MercyMe concert and as soon as the opening notes on the piano started playing, the reaction was deafening. It was the loudest I've ever heard a crowd at a Christian concert. I'll never forget when this song went viral in mainstream circles. It's sad that it happened under extremely tragic circumstances. Major radio stations across the nation played this after the Space Shuttle Columbia disaster occured on February 1, 2003. It became a bigger hit than ever before. But for good reason. It is truly an amazing song. I get chills to this day listening to it. Don't deny it, you do too.

Listen/Watch here.

Honorable Mentions

Shine - Newsboys

Who Am I - Casting Crowns

Dare You to Move - Switchfoot

Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman

Colored People - dcTalk

How Great is Our God - Chris Tomlin

So there you have it. The list. I'd appreciate any comments. Let me know if I missed something. I'm sure I did. But it sure was fun. It brought back a lot of fond, sometimes cheesy, always wonderful memories.

References:

CCLI

YouTube

Wikipedia

As an aside, in my research for this post, I came across this website. It was incredibly entertaining. The author believes that "Imagine" by John Lennon and "Fix You" by Coldplay are both worship songs. I encourage you to visit the site and laugh along with me at its ridiculousness.

Stuff My Dad Says

I saw an ad for a show a while back starring William Shatner titled "$#*! My Dad Says." It looked god-awful. And go figure, it was promptly canceled. Apparently, it was based on book that was written about the author's father (surprise) and what it was like living with him. That's about all I know about it. But it gave me an idea.

I once wrote a blog post about my dad and how freakin' awesome he is. He's taught me a lot and has shaped me into the man I am. He truly is my hero (cliche alert). Thinking about that terrible show with Shatner made me think about everything my dad has said over the years. There's been one topic that he's always talked about that, at this point in my life, has more of an impact than anything else. Diligence.

My dad is the hardest worker I know. He never stops. He's always working on something, always taking care of something, etc. Not only does he work 60+ hours a week at his regular job week in and week out, but when he gets home, he just keeps on going. He thrives off his "honey do" list. He looks forward to his many "projects."

Older men have a knack for ranting and raving about how things were when they were my age. My dad is as guilty as anyone with this. He'll bring up how he had multiple jobs when he was my age. About how in his first apartment, he only had a mattress for a bed, a cooler for a fridge, and a Coleman stove for a heating source. Simply put, he's always done what he had to. He sacrificed what needed to be sacrificed. And now he's reaping the benefits. He has more time, more funds, and more freedom to do the things he loves.

What a reality check. Here I am griping about my one little job when I don't have a mortgage, a wife, or kids to worry about. How often I struggle with finances when my expenses pale in comparison to my parents. I want to reap the benefits from the hard work I've never done. What's wrong? What am I missing?

I am lacking diligence. To dumb it way down, diligence equals hard work. But it's so much more than that. It's taking a second job to pay the bills. It's saving every penny to reach a goal. It's sacrificing your own dreams for the sake of your loved ones. It's being selfless. It's being focused. It's being driven.

My dad has always had focus and drive. He sees what he wants and he goes for it. He wants a car, so he saves every penny to pay for it. He wants a family, so he works as hard as possible to support them. He wants the best for his kids, so he forgoes his own desires to make real the desires of his children.

What an amazing example! It makes me want to do an about-face with my own selfish habits and get my life straight. My father has always understood what's important and understood what it took to obtain what's important. Regardless what the term "important" means to you, if it truly is important, you'll have the determination to get it.

And that's my life lesson for the day. I tell myself that I want this or I want that. But how badly do I want them? How hard am I truly working for them? Your character is revealed by your actions. What do your actions say about you?




P.S. Happy birthday, Pops!