Public Square | Explorations Media

Taking Aim at Technology Instead of the Problem @TheHighCalling

What would you do if your teenager posted a note on Facebook essentially calling you a tyrant and saying she’s tired of being your slave? I would be horrified, but since my children were grown before the advent of social media, I really can’t say for sure. One North Carolina dad who faced this situation chose an act of dramatic retaliation that got the attention of more than 28 million people. Tommy Jordan is an internet technology professional who discovered a profanity-laden note posted on his 16-year-old daughter’s facebook page, in which she complained about onerous chores like sweeping and making beds. Because it was her second social media offense, he got so mad that he video-taped himself reading her note aloud and ranting about it. He then shot her laptop with hollow-point bullets and said that if she wants another one, she’ll have to buy it herself. Jordan uploaded this video to YouTube and has since become famous, or infamous, (depending on one’s perspective) for his foray into what some would call “extreme parenting.”

The High Calling talked to Laity Leadership Institute senior fellow and child psychiatrist Allan Josephson, M.D. about the video. Josephson said the reason it has gone viral is because it taps into the frustrations many families in our culture feel. The immediacy of social media is a problem, but the underlying one is more fundamental. …

Read the rest at TheHighCalling.org.

Image by Jenny Huey. Sourced via Wikimedia Commons.

Posted on February 25, 2012 by cascheller

Blogging, Culture, Ethics, Family, Leadership, Psychology, Public Square, Redemption, Technology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

All Josephson, anger, Blogging, Culture, Ethics, facebook, Family, Leadership, M.D., parenting, Privacy, Psychology, Public Square, Redemption, social media, Technology, TheHighCalling, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Photojournalism from Whitney Houston’s Home-going Service

Whitney Houston funeral guest showing program to journalists (photo by Christine A. Scheller)

For more photos from Whitney Houston’s Homegoing Service, click here.

Trying to Get the Money Shot at Whitney Houston's funeral (photo by Christine A. Scheller).

Trying to Get the Money Shot at Whitney Houston’s funeral (photo by Christine A. Scheller).

Posted on February 19, 2012 by cascheller

Art, Beauty, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Faith, Family, Friendship, grief, Journalism, Public Square, Redemption, Theology, Travel, Vocation

Art, Beauty, Celebrity, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Faith, Fame, Family, Friendship, grief, Journalism, Journalists, Paparazzi, Privacy, Public Square, Redemption, Theology, Travel, UrbanFaith, Vocation, Whitney Houston Funeral

What I Wrote This Week @UrbanFaith: February 13 – February 17

On Location at Whitney’s Farewell: What reporting on location at Whitney Houston’s semi-private, gospel-filled funeral taught me about spiritual battles, grace, and celebrity.
Marriage Is for Black People, Too: Ralph Richards Banks’ book ‘Is Marriage for White People?’ made him the target of angry critics. Now, the author has his say about interracial dating, the link between fewer marriages and the crisis in black communities, and his take on conservative scholar Charles Murray’s latest book on class and race.
Obama Birth Control Compromise Take 2: Activist Lisa Sharon Harper and ethicists Cheryl J. Sanders and Charles C. Camosy weigh in on the Obama administration’s contraception mandate accommodation.

Posted on February 19, 2012 by cascheller

Art, Bioethics, Books, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, Friendship, grief, History, Journalism, Leadership, Medicine, Philosophy, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Science, Social Action, Technology, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Art, Bioethics, Books, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Education, Entertainment, Ethics, Faith, Family, Friendship, grief, Health Care Reform, History, Is Marriage for White People? Ralph Richard Banks, Journalism, Leadership, Medicine, Obama Contraception compromise, Philosophy, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Science, Social Action, Technology, Theology, UrbanFaith, UrbanFaith.com, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk, Whitney Houston Funeral

A Quarter Century of Jersey Shore HIV/AIDS Response @NJShorePatch

Tyler Alyxander and Ina Kaplan at "A Night of Illusion" fundraiser.

I well remember when the thought that I could have AIDS first occurred to me. It was 1986 and I was newly married. I had gotten pregnant by an East African man two years earlier and my husband had fallen in love with both me and my baby.

All seemed well, until I began paying attention to the news that AIDS had first appeared in sub-saharan Africa among heterosexuals. I dutifully got tested, then waited anxiously for the phone call that told me I was not infected.

Other people I knew heard different news. There were whispers that a high school classmate who had been an intravenous drug user and died of a drug overdose had taken his own life after getting the diagnosis.

It was a scary time, especially for anyone who had been anything but virginal. …

Read the rest at Manasquan Patch.

Posted on January 31, 2012 by cascheller

church life, Community, Culture, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, Food, grief, Leadership, Medicine, Public Square, Redemption, Science, Social Action, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

anti-retroviral drugs, Beacon Light Fund, church life, Community, Culture, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, Food, grief, HIV/AIDS, homelessness, housing, Leadership, Medicine, Miss Gay New Jersey, NJ Shore Patch, Public Square, recession, Redemption, Science, Social Action, The Center Asbury Park, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

What I Wrote This Week @UrbanFaith: January 9-13

Religion Wins Big; Pastors Protest Loss: The U.S. Supreme Court ruled that religious schools can fire ministers and more New York City pastors were arrested while protesting fallout from the court’s decision not to hear a Bronx church’s appeal.
Politics Are Personal: In her new book ‘Left, Right, and Christ,’ Lisa Sharon Harper models a civil and redemptive discussion of divisive political issues. She spoke to UrbanFaith about Christians in the public square, and the dangers of winning political and religious debates but missing the truth.
Pastors Protest School Worship Ban: Some New York City pastors are protesting the Board of Education’s ban on worship in public school space as the ban threatens to spread beyond schools.

Posted on January 15, 2012 by cascheller

Capitalism, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, Friendship, History, Leadership, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Social Action, Technology, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Bronx Household of Faith vs. New York Board of Education, Capitalism, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, Friendship, Hannah Tabor case, History, Leadership, Left Right & Chris, Lisa Sharon Harper, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Social Action, Technology, Theology, U.S. Supreme Court, UrbanFaith, UrbanFaith.com, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

What I Wrote This Week @UrbanFaith: January 2-6

Immigration News: The Good, the Bad, the Ugly: News on the immigration front has been ugly this week, with deportation mistakes making headlines, but it’s not entirely bad.
Bigotry Charges Haunt Iowa Caucuses: As Republican voters in Iowa prepare to caucus, bigotry charges fly.

Posted on January 8, 2012 by cascheller

Community, Culture, Democracy, Ethics, Faith, Leadership, Politics, Public Square, Race, Social Action, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Community, Culture, Democracy, Ethics, Faith, Immigration, Iowa Caucuses, Leadership, Politics, Public Square, Race, Social Action, UrbanFaith.com, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Lifelong Ocean Grove Resident Takes Helm of Camp Meeting Association @NJShorePatch

Dr. Dale C. Whilden succeeds Scott Rasmussen (who ended his six-year term in mid-October) as president of the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association. Whilden is a life-long Ocean Grove resident. He has served as an OGCMA Trustee since 1983 and has chaired both the Development and Program committees. Patch Faith & Family columnist Christine A. Scheller interviewed Whilden about his new role.

Christine A. Scheller: How did you come to be involved with the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association (OGCMA)?

Dr. Dale C. Whilden: I came to Ocean Grove when I was three days old right from the hospital. My parents had purchased a home here back in the mid-1940s. In the early 50s when I was born, we lived here year round for a number of years. Dad was principal of the school here in town, then we had to move to Toms River based on a new job he had as county superintendent of schools. We kept our little summer house here, and so for my entire life I’ve been coming to Ocean Grove every summer. Growing up through the Ocean Grove Camp Meeting programs, the childrens’ programs, the youth programs, Bible studies, beach activities, and choral and dramatic events, all those things over the years has led me to a sense of how important OGCMA has been in my life and in our family’s life as well. That history has certainly been a factor in my wanting to be involved.

Then when I graduated from dental school and did a residency at Jersey Shore University Medical Center, I couldn’t imagine not opening my dental practice in Ocean Grove. All those years growing up, it was sort of my Shangri La. I’d go to school in Toms River and we’d be there all winter, and then come summer time, this was the place. This was the epitome of my dream escape and it’s worked out very, very well. I think it gives me a good sense of the community and the history of the community. …

Read the whole interview at Manasquan Patch.

Posted on December 20, 2011 by cascheller

Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Faith, Family, Friendship, History, Leadership, Medicine, Public Square, Redemption, Social Action, Technology, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Dale C. Whilden, Democracy, Faith, Family, Friendship, History, Leadership, Medicine, NJ Shore Patch, Ocean Grove Camp Meeting Association, Public Square, Redemption, Social Action, Technology, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Thoughts on Getting Through Thanksgiving After Suicide @NJShorePatch @HuffPost

How gratitude, a change of scenery and sharing stories have helped me face the Thanksgiving holiday after my son’s suicide.

Memorial Tree from 2010 New York City Survivor Day event.

My son Gabriel was a Thanksgiving baby. His birthday didn’t fall on the actual holiday until his second birthday, but it does every four years, including the year he died by suicide, 2008. The association between his birthday and our most heartwarming holiday presents both challenges and opportunities for getting through what has become, for me, an emotionally-fraught month.

When the leaves begin to change color and the air begins to bite, I start wrestling with memories of baking Turkey-shaped shortbread cookies for his school celebrations and his favorite apple pie for our family one. The pain of creating new memories that don’t include my son is one I don’t think will ever subside entirely.

But, in my family, Thanksgiving isn’t about football, movies or family fights, though the day may include all of those. It’s about gathering around an over-stuffed table to give thanks to God for his sustenance and his faithfulness, no matter what the circumstances of our lives have been. …

For tips and information about International Survivors of Suicide Day November 19, read the whole thing at Manasquan Patch or at The Huffington Post.

Posted on November 18, 2011 by cascheller

Community, Faith, Family, Gabriel Gifford Scheller, grief, Leadership, Psychiatry, Psychology, Public Square, Redemption, Social Action, The Huffington Post, Travel, Walkin' the Talk

American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, Community, Eric Marcus, Faith, Family, Gabriel Gifford Scheller, grief, International Survivors of Suicide Day, Leadership, NJ Shore Patch, Psychiatry, Psychology, Public Square, Redemption, Social Action, Thanksgiving, The Huffington Post, Travel, Walkin' the Talk

Photojournalism by Explorations Media, L.L.C.

I’ve recently created what I think are some compelling photo sets on Flickr. As a journalist, I prefer realism to photo-shopped images, though artistic renderings can sometimes reveal truth better than fact. I recommend viewing these sets as slideshows, as I’ve arranged each one to tell a story.

Seaside Heights Italian Festival & Columbus Day Parade

Laity Lodge 2011 Writers Retreat

Movement Day

New York City Premiere of Machine Gun Preacher

9/11 Tenth Anniversary Memorials

Jesus, Bombs, & Ice Cream by M.W. Scheller

Hurricane Irene

Posted on October 8, 2011 by cascheller

Art, Beauty, Books, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Democracy, Education, Ethics, Faith, Family, grief, History, Leadership, Medicine, Politics, Public Square, Redemption, Social Action, Theology, Travel, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

& Ice Cream, 9/11 Tenth Anniversary, A.R. Bernard, Art, Beauty, Bedrooms, Bombs, Books, Christianity, church life, Collections, Community, Culture, DeForest Soaries, Democracy, Education, Entertainment, Erwin McManus, Ethics, Faith, Family, Gerard Butler, grief, History, Hurricane Irene, Jersey Shore, Jesus, Judaism, Leadership, Machine Gun Preacher, Manasquan, Medicine, Michelle Monaghan, Movement Day, Musical Instruments, Ocean Grove, Politics, Pt. Pleasant Beach, Public Square, Redemption, Religious Artifacts, Sam Childers, Shane Claiborne, Social Action, Spring Lake, Theology, Tim Keller, Travel, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

What I Wrote This Week @UrbanFaith: September 19-23

Mari White Presents the Newsboys: Entertainer Mari White hopes her new reality show about the popular Christian rock band The Newsboys is fresh, family-friendly television.
Christians Speak Out on Davis Execution: Death row inmate Troy Davis may be innocent, but he is scheduled to be executed tonight and Christian reactions are mixed.
Black Churches Buck Trends: While American churches overall have declined in attendance, Black churches thrive and encourage entrepreneurship, outreach, and profit-making.
“Machine Gun Preacher” Poses Tough Questions: A major new film presents an unsanitized portrayal of Christian conversion, but it also poses challenging questions about “redemptive violence.”

Posted on September 24, 2011 by cascheller

Art, Beauty, Capitalism, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Ethics, Faith, Friendship, grief, Leadership, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Social Action, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Angels of East Africa, Art, Baylor Religion Survey, Beauty, Black Church, Capital Punishment, Capitalism, Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Entertainment, Ethics, Faith, Friendship, Gerard Butler, grief, Hartford Institute for Religion Research Decade of Change Study, Josephy Kony, Leadership, Lord's Resistance Army, Machine Gun Preacher, Mari White, Michelle Monaghan, Newsboys, Pacifism, Politics, Public Square, Race, Reality Television, Redemption, Redemptive Violence, Sam Childers, Social Action, Sudan, Theology, Troy Davis Execution, UrbanFaith.com, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

What I Wrote This Week @UrbanFaith: September 12-16

Truth at a Beauty Pageant: Miss Universe winner Leila Lopes of Angola highlights her nation’s troubles, says she’s happy with the way God made her, and declares racism so last century. Is her win redemptive?
Psalms for Poverty Statistics: The U.S. Census Bureau released its annual report today and the news isn’t good, but the Psalms offer hope to the people of God.

Posted on September 24, 2011 by cascheller

Beauty, Christianity, Community, Culture, Ethics, Faith, History, Leadership, Politics, Public Square, Race, Redemption, Social Action, Theology, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

Angola, Beauty, Census Bureau Poverty Statistics, Christianity, Community, Culture, Ethics, Faith, History, Leadership, Leila Lopes, Miss Universe, Politics, Psalms, Public Square, Race, Racism, Redemption, Social Action, Theology, UrbanFaith.com, Vocation, Walkin' the Talk

9/11 Lessons in Civil Religion @NJShorePatch

Inter-faith messages remind Monmouth County residents who they are.

In Jean-Jacque Rousseau’s model of civil religion, the state is unified and strengthened by public displays of faith that refer to deity, point to the afterlife, draw attention to the reward of virtue and the punishment of vice, and that exclude religious intolerance. Two of the three memorial services I attended on 9/11/11 fulfilled Rouseau’s requirements. The opener fell short. …

To find out what he and others had to say, go to Manasquan Patch. To see photos from the day, go to my set on Flickr.

Posted on September 13, 2011 by cascheller

Christianity, church life, Community, Culture, Faith, Family, Friendship, grief, History, Islam, Leadership, Philosophy, Politics, Public Square, Redemption, Walkin' the Talk

9/11 anniversary, Christianity, church life, Civil Religion, Community, Culture, DeForest Soaries, Faith, Family, Friendship, grief, History, Islam, Jean-Jacque Rouseau, Judaism, Leadership, Monmouth County, NJ Shore Patch, Philosophy, Politics, Public Square, Redemption, Walkin' the Talk

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Photojournalism from Whitney Houston’s Home-going Service

9/11 Lessons in Civil Religion @NJShorePatch

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