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• Biola Digital Ministry Conference

  Goodmanson

  admin

  21 Feb 2012 | 12:11 pm

  I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to come to the Biola Digital Ministry Conference (formerly the Christian Web Conference) this year.  The conference will be held on the campus of Biola University from Tuesday, June 5 until Thursday, June 7.   The goal in crafting the direction of this conference this year has been to make it unlike any other conference of its kind.  Biola wanted to retain the heritage of the original GodBlogCon by having speakers and sessions that focused on the theological and philosophical aspects of using digital tools. At the same time, we wanted to broaden…

• What Goes Around Comes Around

  LeadingSmart

  Tim Stevens

  25 Jan 2012 | 7:24 am

  I’m not that old, but I’ve voted in 7 elections. And it seems like there are some constants… In every election, we are told it is the most important election in history. In every election, the candidates tell us they won’t go negative. In every election, the candidates always go negative. In every election, the media tells us the candidates are going more negative than ever before. In every election, there is someone running who is painted as a “crazy” (Ross Perot, Howard Dean, Ron Paul) In every election, we are told the young voters will make the…

• Perfect for You

  Pastor Steven Furtick

  Steven Furtick

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  Perfect? Everyone desires to be in God’s will. But God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will might not look the way you think it should. We need to clear up what we mean by perfect. Otherwise, we could miss out on God’s will altogether because we’ll be too busy chasing our own daydreams. Our idea of perfect is perfect to us. A perfect day to you might mean everything is going the way you think it should go. A perfect marriage to you might be one that’s easy and stress-free. A perfect job to you might be one where you’re high on the leadership pyramid and banking loads of…

• How Teenagers Are Using Technology

  [TerraceCrawford.com]

  20 Feb 2012 | 4:42 pm

  A recent study released by Ericsson revealed that teenagers would rather talk than text. Here are some other highlights from the report that you can download [hereVideo chat is growing53% say their phone calls last less than 4 minutesMore than a third say they use video chat for homeworkAverage number of Facebook friends is 265ooVoo is an emerging social tool

• Training Missional Leaders

  Eric Bryant - Blog

  Eric Bryant

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:27 am

  Our Geography Pastors at Gateway Church in Austin met with Craig Whitney of the Emerging Leaders Initiative met to discuss growing in our effectiveness in creating missional communities. ELI works with church planters, and as Geography Pastors we need to develop the same skills. (Some places would consider the geography pastors as campus pastors, but we have a geography pastor in place even if there isn’t a Sunday service happening in their geography) . Here are some of our insights: Our goal – Making disciples who make disciples out of the culture. Just like our bodies have…

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  Church Marketing Sucks

• Office Hours: Personal Branding & Project Management

  Justin Wise

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:51 am

  Every week I hold online office hours and answer questions from folks like you. This week we’ve got a question about personal branding and keeping everyone in the communications team on the same page! Take a look and be sure to join me every Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. CST for online office hours! What advice do you have for people who are developing their own personal brand when it comes to marketing themselves online? My answer: Three things, in this order: Do good work Be consistent Network If you can execute that strategy over and over, you’ll find yourself with more work than you…

• Peter Haas on the Value of Community

  Kevin D. Hendricks

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  When half your church is unchurched and 70% are under 30, you know something interesting is going on. That’s what’s happening at Substance Church in Minneapolis. Pastor Peter Haas shares with us some of the insights that have guided Substance. Peter is also releasing a new book, Pharisectomy: How to Joyfully Remove Your Inner Pharisee and Other Religiously Transmitted Diseases. You’ve said that more than anything churches do, it’s friends that keep people in church. How does that work? Peter Haas: Over the years I’ve read a lot of research as to what makes a…

• Church Communication Hero: C.S. Lewis

  Erin Williams

  15 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  I’m probably not alone when I say I started reading C.S. Lewis in college. I was a freshman at a secular university taking a handful of honors liberal arts classes. The professors were brilliant, and the books they had us read were tough, but fascinating. I was learning about Plato, western civilization in medieval times, and the cognitive development of our human brains. Every day I left class feeling invigorated, on top of the world… Meanwhile, church was a bore. I went to services alone, the songs were cheesy and our 60+ preacher gave a sermon each week that was only slightly tweaked…

• 3 Ways to Help Creative Missions 2012

  Cleve Persinger

  13 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  We need help, but it doesn’t have to involve opening your wallet. I just got back from Northwest Arkansas, and Joplin, Mo., after spending five days assessing needs for the upcoming Creative Missions trip, May 19-25, 2012. From helping a church that just bought a zoo to serving pastors named Switch and Rambo, this is shaping up to be a phenomenal trip. The best part about sitting down and talking to potential churches is we’re not selling anything. It’s probably better that way since I’m a terrible salesman and hate talking money. Instead, we’re blessing churches by giving away…

• Church Marketing Lab: Multimedia

  Chuck Scoggins

  10 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Did you know you can post multimedia items in the Church Marketing Lab? Though most of the entries are usually print pieces or logo designs, you can also get feedback on many other types of church marketing pieces. Here are a couple of examples of digital media items to spark your interest: This video “uses text and imagery to explore what discipleship should look like in a believer’s life.” Marianne Tolosa posted her Easter slide graphics in the Lab (that’s right…she’s already working on Easter slides). What about you? Do you have a digital, print, or web…

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  churchrelevance.com

• Atheists vs Christians Research Study on Personality Differences

  Kent Shaffer

  8 Feb 2012 | 9:47 am

  Matt Baker of UsefulCharts is conducting some very important research regarding the personality differences between atheists and Christians. Please take a moment to complete the quick questionnaire by clicking here. The survey has already received about 25,000 responses from atheists and is in great need of more Christian participants to balance out the dataset. I’ll publish the results on Church Relevance when available. Sponsored by: Sunday| Magazine Make Sundays awesome at your church by subscribing to this free online magazine about the creative side of Sundays.

• The Top Churches in America to Watch in 2012

  Kent Shaffer

  1 Feb 2012 | 2:18 pm

  The metrics that matter most in ministry are true conversions, maturing disciples, and selfless acts that advance the gospel message. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to truly measure this in just one church let alone tens of thousands of churches. Instead those who study churches rely on metrics like weekly attendance, growth rates, subjective opinions, scope of influence, and church planting efforts as hints to gauge if a church is successful. The underlying flaw with this is sometimes exceptional churches have humble results in terms of size, growth, and influence while sometimes…

• Whoops! Open Church Delayed but Coming Soon

  Kent Shaffer

  25 Jan 2012 | 6:20 am

  Open Church’s launch has moved to March 1, 2012 for the ministry ideas section and likely April 2012 for the free resources. WHAT HAPPENED? Developing the site wasn’t as easy as our developer expected. After previous delays, we pruned off features to make a mid-January launch possible, but those pruned benchmarks were not hit either. Unfortunately, what is left is unstable and missing most of what we hoped for. It is clear we need to go a different route. The developer has moved on. I apologize for this. Any payment the developer received was underwritten by my company or came…

• What Ministry Conferences Are You Attending in 2012?

  Kent Shaffer

  24 Jan 2012 | 11:14 am

  Church Relevance’s list of 2012 church conference recommendations has been updated to almost 40 ministry conferences. There’s no way it includes all of the conferences worth considering. So check out the list, and please leave a comment letting us know which conferences we forgot and which ones you’ll be attending. Sponsored by: ChristianJobs.com Find Christian hiring solutions for your ministry, church, business or non-profit and get access to over 50,000 Christian job seekers. Take advantage of our $50 OFF special offer! Start today!

• Leaders Book Summaries

  Kent Shaffer

  17 Jan 2012 | 5:00 am

  I love books. From the Bible to theologians to business experts, books are a quick way to get wisdom which in the long run helps you make better choices and avoid dangerous pitfalls. Over time my library has grown to about 1,500 books I haven’t read yet, but over time, my responsibilities have also grown to the point that I have to be very strategic about what I read and how long I read it. In 2012, I have purposed to read more by using book summaries from Leaders Book Summaries. I’ve avoided book summaries in the past because I liked the sense of accomplishment from reading a…

• 

  djchuang.com

• [video] 23-minute interview with Jeremy Lin on MSG

  djchuang

  18 Feb 2012 | 11:41 pm

  The exclusive 1-on-1 Jeremy Lin interview with Spero Dedes on MSG Networks, aired February 17th, 2012, about his rise to stardom, Linsanity, and more. (video is in 4 parts)

• How Charles Lee is like Jeremy Lin

  djchuang

  14 Feb 2012 | 10:29 am

  Last week was Jeremy Lin’s breakthru on the basketball court. This week is Charles Lee‘s breakthru on the bookstore charts as his new book launches today, Good Idea. Now What? How to Move Ideas to Execution! Keep an eye on this guy, he’s going places. I’m not predicting a New York Times best-seller just yet, but with endorsements from the likes of Seth Godin, Soledad O’Brien, and Scott Harrison, anything could happen.  On this lovelee Valintine’s Day, I ideated 10 ways that Charles Lee is like Jeremy Lin: They have pun-able last names, they realee do…

• What is an Asian American Christian?

  djchuang

  12 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pm

  The face of American Christianity is not only black (African-American) and white (Anglo), even though that’s what we tend to see through both Christian and mainstream media. With the sudden popularity of professional basketball player Jeremy Lin, who is unapologetically Christian and Asian American, we now have a face for Asian American Christianity in mainstream culture. (Yes, I’ve caught Linsanity like the millions of others.) Astutely noted in this New York Times article by Michael Luo, many are wondering (perhaps not out loud), “An Asian-American Christian? What’s…

• How can organizations get along in an organic movement?

  djchuang

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:04 am

  There’s something about a movement that attracts attention, people and/or media and/or whatever. Some more than others. There’s the Tea Party movement.. Occupy movement.. Arab Spring movement.. movements can be social, political, even religious. Some people have a degree of uneasiness with calling something that’s orchestrated by an organization as a movement, insinuating that a movement is more pure or more real if it is entirely organic and no one person or no one organization can be pin-pointed as the starting point of the phenomena occurring. Yes, there’s something…

• Lessons from YouTube Channels Making Money

  djchuang

  23 Jan 2012 | 9:54 am

  YouTube has become quite the pop culture shaper and launched a little cottage industry for thousands. I’d anticipate that will only continue to grow. That’s entertainment! Wired magazine recently featured a dozen or so Partners in The YouTube Laugh Factory: A Studio System for Viral Video (December 2011) and distilled these 5 rules for getting noticed according to YouTube Partners (people making money via YouTube): Make a lot of content. A lot. Target a niche. Connect with your fans. Collaborate. Optimize for the algorithms. These YouTube Partners are mentioned in the Wired…

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  | Rhett Smith:. Transitioning Life's Journey - Reflections on Writing, Therapy, and Faith

• Can Depression Offer Us a Gift?

  Rhett Smith

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  In Thomas Moore’s book, Care of the Soul, he writes eloquently about the gift that depression may offer people. It’s an opportunity to embrace emotions that we often don’t deal with, leading us to a better understanding of ourselves and how we want to direct our life. Though he acknowledges that depression can become debilitating to many people, he still posits the idea that there is a side to it (even in the most extremes cases of debilitation) that can be a gift to us, and that as friends and family of someone who is depressed, we play a crucial role. Moore writes:…

• Pressed to the Ground: A Theological Re-Frame of Depression

  Rhett Smith

  27 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

  In my continuation on the topic of depression, especially male depression (here and here), I wanted to share something with you by Parker Palmer. In his wonderful book Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation (a must read), Parker has one of the most insightful, haunting, painful, and beautiful glimpses of someone who suffers from depression that I have ever read. Parker begins the chapter with an excerpt from a book that we all read in high school, but that perhaps we might re-read differently all these years later — The Inferno of Dante: “Midway on our…

• Communication: What ‘To Say’ And ‘Not To’ Say To A Depressed Man

  Rhett Smith

  24 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

  “What is the most important thing you can do for a depressed husband, father, or son? Without a doubt it is to communicate love and acceptance to them with all the power you can muster, and to avoid blaming them or being judgmental about their depression. Your loved one has not chosen to be depressed. If he could, he would gladly give it up. Disappointing as this truth may be, try to accept his depression in your life with grace.” (Unmasking Male Depression by Archibald Hart, pp. 227) After my last post on male depression I have been receiving a steady stream of questions from…

• The Angry…I Mean, Depressed Male: Do You Know Him?

  Rhett Smith

  19 Jan 2012 | 3:00 am

  Over the last several months when I have gathered for lunch with a few of my friends, we joke about the idea of me writing a follow up book to The Anxious Christian called The Angry Christian. Don’t worry, that is not on my to do list, but our conversation hints at an issue that can be seen in our Christian culture. If you haven’t noticed, there seems to be a lot of angry Christians out there. And more often than not, they are men. But what I’m really wondering is if there isn’t just a bunch of depressed Christian men out there…and really,  men in general. In…

• The Anxious Christian is Coming Soon….Sneak Peek

  Rhett Smith

  21 Dec 2011 | 3:00 am

  This has been an exciting month for me as I have been wrapping up some details on the soon to be publication of The Anxious Christian: Can God Use Your Anxiety for Good?. The book will be released by Moody Publishers on March 1. I’m very thankful for the amazing group of people who have endorsed the book, and a special thanks to the New York Times best selling author of Quitter, Jon Acuff for writing the foreword to the book. If you are someone who has wrestled with anxiety, then I believe this book is for you. Here is a sneak peek: Anxious Christian from ETS Productions on Vimeo.

• 

  Jesus Dust

• Summary of Missionary Methods: St. Paul's or Ours? by Roland Allen

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  In my assessment, no other late 19th century missiologist is more in vogue right now than Roland Allen.  His books are being widely recommended and read in missional church and church planting circles, so if you care about these things, you should get acquainted.  This post offers a brief profile of Allen himself, as well as summary of one of his most celebrated books. Allen (1868-1947) was an

• Viral Churches in 19th Century Missiology

  15 Jan 2012 | 3:12 pm

  In 2010, Ed Stetzer and Warren Bird published Viral Churches, sounding a call for church multiplication movements through "churches planting churches that in turn plant churches."  As trendy as the title sounds, its idea is far from original. Prominent missiologists dating back to at least the 19th century have called for the development of self-propagating churches as a key objective of mission

• Lesslie Newbigin (1909-1998): Biography and Legacy

  1 Jan 2012 | 9:39 am

  Missionary, Missiologist and Ecumenist Biography James Edward Lesslie Newbigin was born on December 8, 1909 in Newcastle-on-Tyne, England to Annie Affleck and Edward R. Newbigin, a shipping merchant.  His earliest memories were happy ones, with a caring mother and a devout and politically radical father.  He attended a Quaker boarding school called Leighton Park in Reding, Berkshire.  By the

• Pauline Precedent in 19th Century Protestant Mission Thought

  12 Dec 2011 | 2:24 pm

  Two thirds of the New Testament was written, it appears, by a missionary named Paul.  Furthermore, a large portion of the book of Acts is devoted to chronicling his missionary endeavors.  Thus it should come as no surprise that Protestant missionaries have over the centuries appealed to his model and practices as they shaped and justified their own.  This essay considers how notable Protestant

• Book Review: Evangelical Hospitality: Catechetical Evangelism in the Early Church and its Recovery for Today

  16 Nov 2011 | 1:17 pm

  <!-- /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Cambria; panose-1:2 4 5 3 5 4 6 3 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; mso-layout-grid-align:none;

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  Eric Bryant - Blog

• Training Missional Leaders

  Eric Bryant

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:27 am

  Our Geography Pastors at Gateway Church in Austin met with Craig Whitney of the Emerging Leaders Initiative met to discuss growing in our effectiveness in creating missional communities. ELI works with church planters, and as Geography Pastors we need to develop the same skills. (Some places would consider the geography pastors as campus pastors, but we have a geography pastor in place even if there isn’t a Sunday service happening in their geography) . Here are some of our insights: Our goal – Making disciples who make disciples out of the culture. Just like our bodies have…

• Communicating with Confidence with Steven Mary

  Eric Bryant

  21 Feb 2012 | 1:17 pm

  Monthly at Gateway Church in Austin we have Lunch and Learn on the 3rd Tuesday of the month. Today we heard from Steven Mary of EDC Communications on Communicating with Confidence. Here are some of his insights: “One of the greatest ways to increase effectiveness as a communicator is to grow in your confidence. The visual skill set necessary to communicate with confidence include the following (PAGE F): Posture – Balanced and intentional movement demonstrates a sense of peaceful calm. Attire – Wear one step up from your audience. Gestures – Natural and neutral are the…

• Artisan: Finding Your Voice by Erwin McManus

  Eric Bryant

  20 Feb 2012 | 1:34 pm

  Yesterday I had the opportunity to be back at Mosaic in Los Angeles for the first time since December of 2010. Listening to the podcasts when I can this past year has been inspiring, but actually being there with great friends and experiencing the music and arts in new venues was a blast! Erwin began a series last week called Artisan: Create a Life. Here are some of the insights he shared this week on finding your voice: “Life is a creative act. The essence of an artist is his soul. It is possible to live a soulless life. Allowing our souls to come to life changes that. We don’t…

• Markers, Covenants, & Journeys – Being Present

  Eric Bryant

  19 Feb 2012 | 2:27 am

  What an amazing day! For my 40th birthday Debbie sent me to Los Angeles to see friends from our days living in this beautiful city! I have made such great memories and such great friends in the city of Angels after living here for almost 13 years! Today I had the opportunity to spend time with my great friends Art Munoz, the Lopez family, my neighbor John, and the McManus family. I had the chance to drive with Art through town to have breakfast at the Porter Junction Cafe (delicious!) and saw our old house (which looks better than ever). Erwin and I then witnessed a fantastic game that went…

• Mike Howerton Video Interview & Glorious Mess Winners!

  Eric Bryant

  15 Feb 2012 | 5:11 pm

  Mike Howerton is lead pastor of Overlake Christian Church in Redmond, Washington, and served for six years as the college pastor at Saddleback Church. Mike is the author of Miles to Cross and Glorious Mess: Encountering God’s Relentless Grace for Imperfect People. Listen to previous interviews here. Congratulations to the winners of Glorious Mess! Chip A. from CO, Jason M. from MA, Todd W. from CO, Jon O. from CA, Dan M. from IL, Mark P. from CA, Chris T. from MT, Jeff P. from OR, Mike C. from OR, Jeff S. from FL, Rich K. from CA, Joe L. from TX, Jaylynne F. from Canada, Janai B. from…

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  Kindle Prayers

• restoration of marriage and for my wife to desire christ

  23 Feb 2012 | 12:20 am

  my wife and i have twosmall children.i was contemplating divorce because of many reasons.she had told me she never really respected me yet thought she could treat me how ever she wanted and I wouldnt leave because I was a christian.My wife Heather knows about God but doesnt have an intimate relationship with him wich has made the past 3 years extremely hard.During a recent fight I did something I thought I would never do .I grew up around my mom being abused by my father and swore that I would never lay a finger on a woman.i failed to keep that promise..God has been merciful to me more than I…

• healing

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  for me and brendon he has lung cancer and leg cancer for his treatments and worries hes not eating and mine and for us not to be homeless and for all money worries and for him not to philander or move away and for my work worries and for ken wood with liver and bowel cancer and ivy with parkinsons and all families

• healing

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:59 am

  for me and brendon he has lung cancer and leg cancer for his treatments and worries hes not eating and mine and for us not to be homeless and for all money worries and for him not to philander or move away and for my work worries and for ken wood with liver and bowel cancer and ivy with parkinsons and all families

• Acceptance

  21 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  I need this God ... against all odds, I know all things are possible through you, Father. Please pray for my acceptance into college. The Lord knows my heart. And I'm POSITIVE this is where he has led me. Thank you, and bless you.

• Removal of Evil

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:47 pm

  Father surround me with the loving kindness and tender mercies. Please remove the evil directed toward me by Perry M, Arletha & Leo W, Althea, Kevin & Sandra W, Althea W, Shelia J, Elizabeth D and Nakisha B. They have done everything in their power to destroy me and my family without just cause. Their hearts are filled with lies, deception and treachery. Please wash me in the blood of the Lamb of God that their evil influences and actions can't harm or hurt me in any way. Amen

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  ChuckWarnock.com

• The Possibility of Church-led Reconciliation

  Chuck Warnock

  20 Feb 2012 | 1:40 pm

  Almost fifty years ago, a Baptist minister stood before a sea of hopeful people in the shadow of the Lincoln Memorial to share the dream God had given him. On that day the Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, “I have a dream that one day on the red hills of Georgia, sons of former slaves and sons of former slave-owners will be able to sit down together at the table of brotherhood.”[1] Regrettably, Dr. King’s dream remains unrealized in many communities across America. Rather than diminishing with the gains of the civil rights movement, alienation and inequality between races and…

• Podcast: If You’re Going Down To the River, Choose The Right One

  Chuck Warnock

  17 Feb 2012 | 7:34 pm

  When Naaman is told by the prophet Elisha to go and wash himself in the River Jordan seven times to heal his leprosy, Naaman is outraged. He prefers the “rivers of Damascus,” his home town. But if Naaman had not obeyed Elisha, he would have missed out on something wonderful. Just a reminder that not any old river will do, and 2 Kings 5:1-14 tells us why. Here’s the link – http://traffic.libsyn.com/chuckwarnock/02_If_Youre_Going_Down_To_the_River_Choose_The_Right_One.mp3 Filed under: 2 Kings, Lectionary Yr B, podcasts, sermon, Sermon Illustrations, Sermons, Worship

• Reconciliation and the Ministry of the Local Church

  Chuck Warnock

  15 Feb 2012 | 3:47 pm

  I’ve been busy writing my Fuller DMin dissertation on the church as a reconciling community. Two things are becoming more apparent to me each day that I research and write on this topic. First, the church’s primary ministry is reconciliation. The Apostle Paul wrote in 2 Corinthians:  17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come! 18 All this is from God, who reconciled us to himself through Christ and gave us the ministry of reconciliation: 19 that God was reconciling the world to himself in Christ, not counting men’s sins…

• Podcast: What Real Authority Looks Like

  Chuck Warnock

  1 Feb 2012 | 12:34 pm

  The people gathered in the old synagogue at Capernaum were amazed that Jesus taught “as one who had authority” and not like the teachers they were used to hearing. What did Jesus say and do that amazed those who heard him? And how was Jesus’ authority different from the religious leaders of his day?  Understanding the answers to those questions will help us know what real authority looks like today.  Here’s the link to the sermon I preached January 29, 2012, from Mark 1:21-28- http://traffic.libsyn.com/chuckwarnock/What_Real_Authority_Looks_Like.mp3 Filed under:…

• Podcast: A Proclamation and an Invitation

  Chuck Warnock

  24 Jan 2012 | 9:02 am

  In Mark 1:14-20, Jesus proclaims that the Kingdom of God is near.  He then invites those who hear his proclamation to change their way of thinking and living, and believe the good news of the Kingdom’s presence.  Jesus then invites Peter and Andrew, and James and John to follow him, with the promise that he will make them fishers of people.  The invitation to follow Jesus is an invitation to Kingdom living, and means more than just believing facts or doctrine. Here’s the link to this week’s podcast…

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  Prodigal Magazine

• What God Can Do With Your Broken Pieces (Previously Titled: Salvage Art)

  Allison Vesterfelt

  15 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  This is dedicated to my little sister, Mandee, who has always loved this post, so much that she referenced it in the speech she gave at my wedding — and who from the moment I wrote my first blog post, has always been my most faithful reader. Photo by: Darrell Vesterfelt I was standing in line at my favorite coffee shop the other morning when I heard one of the patrons asking the Barista about a piece of art that was hanging on the wall behind the cash register. The genre was called “Salvage Art,” the barista explained. This particular piece was constructed from abandoned…

• What’s The Big Deal About Confession?

  Allison Vesterfelt

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  It all started when my friend Annie told me that she wanted a divorce. We were at a wedding, waiting for the ceremony to start, and she just said it. Just like that. She wanted a divorce. She wasn’t going to get one, she said. But it didn’t matter. That didn’t mean she didn’t want one. As she spoke I watched the look on her face soften, her terse, angry exterior melt into sad and tired tears. Her whole countenance changed. There’s something powerful about confession. James 5:16 says: “Confess your sins to one another and pray for each other so that you may be…

• Good News About Prodigal Magazine

  Allison Vesterfelt

  31 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm

  Dear Prodigal Magazine Reader, Guess, what? We have good news about Prodigal Magazine! Since 2005 Prodigal Magazine has been the place where you have come to get interesting, provocative and helpful information about technology, faith, culture and lifestyle. But maybe you’ve noticed that things have been a little bit quiet around here for awhile. That’s because Jason Wenell, founder of Prodigal Magazine, had and followed his vision for a company called The Table Project — and it turns out that being apart a successful company (not to mention being a husband and father) took…

• Was I wrong about dream girls?

  JHalbert

  31 Aug 2010 | 11:53 pm

  A while ago I wrote an article saying that I thought that “dream girls” didn’t exist.  I think about 5 people read it and left some comments, but overall, it was probably just left alone. It was a pretty brutal article, maybe offensive, someone said “cynical and bitter,” but I was really trying to be more funny than I was angry. My lack of writing experience was probably the article’s biggest deterrent to its effectiveness.  That said, sorry if you were the few that read it and were offended and I hurt your sensitive little hearts; I really didn’t…

• Q&A – What is God’s relationship to time?

  Jason Wenell

  20 May 2010 | 10:46 am

  Answer: We live in a physical world with its four known space-time dimensions of length, width, height (or depth) and time. However, God dwells in a different dimension—the spirit realm—beyond the perception of our physical senses. It’s not that God isn’t real; it’s a matter of His not being limited by the physical laws and dimensions that govern our world (Isaiah 57:15). Knowing that “God is spirit” (John 4:24), what is His relationship to time?In Psalm 90:4, Moses used a simple yet profound analogy in describing the timelessness of God: “For a thousand years in Your sight…

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  FredMcKinnon.Com

• How to Obtain True Creative Collaboration

  Fred McKinnon

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Creative. As long as I can remember I’ve looked at that word as an adjective.  I’ve seen it as a word that describes a person who comes up with ideas, art, music, story, etc.  In recent years (perhaps longer) this word has become a buzzword and it’s being used as a noun. Example:  I am a creative. I personally like the usage of the word.  I always struggled to use the word artist because I can’t shake the thought of art being something you draw or paint. Creative feels more universal and gives all artists this word to identify with that is more generic; yet,…

• Sunday Setlists: Feb 19, 2012

  Fred McKinnon

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:25 am

  It’s been a while since I’ve contributed to the “Sunday Setlists” event over at TheWorshipCommunity.Com so I thought I’d try and jump back in and share about our worship services at SSCC yesterday. We had a tremendous time of worship and I have gotten so much positive feedback about the music.  Here’s a snapshot of what we did: Hosanna (Baloche/Brown) – walk in song, pre-service You,  You Are God (originally done by CFNI, then recorded by Gateway, we used my arrangement as recorded on my “Worship Under the Stars” CD/DVD back in 2005…

• Introducing MultiTracks.Com

  Fred McKinnon

  17 Feb 2012 | 9:06 am

  Hey Gang, My friend Phillip Edwards, founder of InteractiveWorshipLive.Com has just announced a huge change for their site.  They have changed their name and site to MultiTracks.Com and have some great things happening.  There are giveaways, free multitrack loops, discounts, training videos, and more. I frequently purchase and use their MultiTracks for Ableton Live to use with our band when leading worship.  This is an exciting change and the list of improvements to an already-great service is astounding. Check it out at www.MultiTracks.Com.   *Disclaimer:  FYI, this is not a paid or…

• What Are Your Top 5 Reservoir Songs?

  Fred McKinnon

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:59 am

  At SSCC, we call them reservoir songs — songs that are deep, familiar, and meaningful — deep down in our hearts.   Those songs where a majority of our people seem to resonate with the song and participate. So, what are your Top 5 reservoir songs …. keep in mind, this doesn’t mean your top 5 songs from last year — this is those songs that, although they can be recent (one year or less is hard to really define it as a reservoir), they could be decades old. List your Top 5 below, then share this with other churches and friends … And welcome back to the blog!

• Blessings

  Fred McKinnon

  6 Jan 2012 | 7:18 am

  God’s love for us is so amazing.  It’s not dependent on our works or our obedience.  He just loves us.  Period. What about His blessings?  Perhaps that’s a different topic altogether.  A few days ago I mentioned how obedience can help us dismantle the hardness of heart. Does obedience also unlock God’s blessings in our lives? Take a look at this old testament promise that I love so much: 2 And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, if you obey the voice of the Lord your God. (Deut. 28:2) [emphasis mine] What do you think?

• 

  Worship Ministry Catalyst

• Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast – Episode 0105 – Setting Goals

  David Lindner

  8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  In this week’s episode of the Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast, David and Kevin talk about setting goals. We discuss the basic principles and the premise that if we never do the work of setting goals, we’ll keep doing the same things over and over and over. Whether you’re new or have been listening for quite some time, we would love to hear form you! Connect with us on twitter (@wmcatalyst) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worship-Ministry-Catalyst/142395799134634.) Don’t forget you can call and leave a voicemail message to be played on the show. Area Code…

• Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast – Episode 0104 – Portable Churches and Portable Worship

  David Lindner

  31 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  This week we talk about our experience with Portable Churches, worship and sound systems. We also talk about some of the things we’ve learned over the years in this area that might be beneficial for you if you find yourself in that environment! Whether you’re new or have been listening for quite some time, we would love to hear form you! Connect with us on twitter (@wmcatalyst) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worship-Ministry-Catalyst/142395799134634.) Don’t forget you can call and leave a voicemail message to be played on the show. Area Code 360 818 – 4339…

• Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast – Episode 0103 – Basic Music Theory Principles for Worship Bands

  David Lindner

  20 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  In our 103rd episode, we talk about some of the basics that might help worship bands know the mechanics of Music a little better. We’re trying to help people get off the page, playing each chord as we get to them – and into the music. Whether you’re new or have been listening for quite some time, we would love to hear form you! Connect with us on twitter (@wmcatalyst) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worship-Ministry-Catalyst/142395799134634.) If you have some insight to offer on this topic, we’d love to hear from you. One of the ways you can do that is to…

• Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast – Episode 0102 – How to recover from Christmas

  David Lindner

  10 Jan 2012 | 9:00 am

  We are finally back with a new episode of the Worship Ministry Catalyst Podcast. Christmas really pounded the both of us, and that’s exactly what we talk about in this episode. We talk about Christmas, and we talk about how to recover from Christmas. We also talk about pizza! Whether you’re new or have been listening for quite some time, we would love to hear form you! Connect with us on twitter (@wmcatalyst) and facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Worship-Ministry-Catalyst/142395799134634.) If you have some insight to offer on this topic, we’d love to hear from you. One…

• Been a little busy…

  David Lindner

  29 Dec 2011 | 10:26 pm

  It seems that every year I write a post like this. I should just copy and paste from previous years! However, I just wanted to let you all know that we are still here. Kevin & I have both been busy this Christmas season. We both had Christmas productions as well as regular weekend services and Christmas Eve/Day services. I hope our absence of content for the past month or so only reinforces who we are in your minds! As we have said all along, we don’t claim to know everything there is to know about Worship Ministry. We’re just a couple of worship pastors who want to share what…

• 

  Christian Web Trends Blog

• Is Web Content More Important Than Web Design?

  Paul Steinbrueck

  22 Feb 2012 | 12:38 pm

  One of the 8 Web Design Trends in 2012 mentioned in last week’s post is… 5) Simple As more creativity goes into the content being produced, many organizations are simplifying the design of their websites even further. The philosophy is that your goal isn’t to get people to marvel at the design of your site, it’s to catch people’s attention with your content – the headlines, images and videos that highlight who you are and what you do. This is the path we chose with the new OurChurch.Com site. We simplified the site itself and put color and creativity into the content – the…

• Web Design Spotlight: Lutheran High School South

  Paul Steinbrueck

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:19 pm

  Each week during Web Design Month, we’re going to feature in a “Web Design Spotlight” blog post an organization that is doing a great job with the design of their website.  Today, we’re featuring Lutheran High School South. Located in St. Louis, MO, Lutheran High School South has provided leadership in Christian education for over 50 years.  With OurChurch.Com’s Custom Pro Website package, LHSS continues to keep students and parents informed through their online calendar, downloadable forms, and student handbook.  They have been able to give many staff the ability to maintain…

• 8 Web Design Trends in 2012

  Paul Steinbrueck

  17 Feb 2012 | 2:49 pm

  As we continue in Web Design Month, in this post we’re going to look at some important trends in web design. I don’t do the nitty-gritty detail work of hands-on web design and chances are you don’t either. So, we’re going to look at the trends from the 30,000 foot level leaders and communications directors can understand. 1) Content Management Systems CMS’s are certainly not new, but their march towards dominance continues in 2012. It just doesn’t make sense to publish a website in a series of HTML files so that your web designer is the only one who can update your content. A…

• Web Design Spotlight: Knott Avenue Christian Church

  Paul Steinbrueck

  15 Feb 2012 | 1:43 pm

  Each week during Web Design Month, we’re going to feature in a “Web Design Spotlight” blog post an organization that is doing a great job with the design of their website.  Today, we’re featuring Knott Avenue Christian Church. Located in Anaheim, CA, KACC’s mission is a four-fold life purpose to connect with God, believers, serving, and unbelievers. The Custom Pro Website package that they have with OurChurch.Com has helped them achieve this mission. Information about the church and ministries, as well as interactive areas like online sermons and prayer requests…

• 9 ways to show LOVE to your website visitors

  Paul Steinbrueck

  14 Feb 2012 | 12:50 pm

  Happy Valentine’s Day folks! If you haven’t already done so, be sure to tell the ones you love how much you love them. I’ve written in previous posts that the old website adage “content is not king” is not true. Relationships are king. And because relationships are king, it’s important that we show some love to our website visitors. We can do this both in the way we design our website and the content we include on them.  So, here are… 9 ways to show LOVE to your website visitors 1) Make it about them. Instead of promoting your agenda, write your copy so it tells your…

• 

  Goodmanson

• Biola Digital Ministry Conference

  admin

  21 Feb 2012 | 12:11 pm

  I wanted to take a moment to encourage you to come to the Biola Digital Ministry Conference (formerly the Christian Web Conference) this year.  The conference will be held on the campus of Biola University from Tuesday, June 5 until Thursday, June 7.   The goal in crafting the direction of this conference this year has been to make it unlike any other conference of its kind.  Biola wanted to retain the heritage of the original GodBlogCon by having speakers and sessions that focused on the theological and philosophical aspects of using digital tools. At the same time, we wanted to broaden…

• Refer a person looking to buy or sell a home and build one for a needy family

  D. Goodmanson

  12 Feb 2012 | 6:49 pm

  I’d like to invite you into a way to build a home for a needy family in Tijuana. My wife and I spoke about a way to give back from the success she’s having as a real estate agent. My wife is in the hunt for National rookie of the year for Keller Williams (2012 will be officially her first full year and she has 5 homes closed or going through escrow, after she started in May of 2011 and sold 9 homes). How can you help? If you know anyone in the US looking to buy or sell a home, we will connect them with a top agent (based on the agents past performance) in the area they live. And…

• The Permanent Revolution: Apostolic Imagination and Practice for the 21st Century Church

  D. Goodmanson

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:40 am

  Amazon has released the new book by Alan Hirsch & Tim Catchim. For those struggling with understanding how the change in culture is causing churches to re-orient, this book will answer some of those questions. According to the authors, many churches build their organization on Pastors/Teachers who are more interested in removing ‘messy’ apostolic leaders who agitate the organization. If your church is involved in the missional community movement, this book is a must read. This is a large book (368 pages) and it is also a book filled with a lot of complicated ideas that will…

• Shared Missional Community Leadership based on Soma Identities

  D. Goodmanson

  6 Feb 2012 | 3:06 pm

  As Kaleo continues to invest in the life of our local church one of the desires brought up is to more greatly share leadership. Could there be a shared leadership model based on our identities? In this, Zac Anderson and Jeff Ramsey brought up an idea about what shared leadership looks like based on our identities as family, missionaries, servants, and learners. We discussed what activities, roles, and areas of focus a leader in each identity might have. Family: encouragement, teaching, care (know needs!), hospitality, counseling, DNA brother to brother, children, admin, historian, pay bills…

• MonkDev Job Opening: Sales / Account Executive

  D. Goodmanson

  12 Jan 2012 | 11:46 am

  Monk Development, Inc. – San Diego (Greater San Diego Area) – MonkDev is an industry leading, innovative web development and software as a service company based in San Diego, CA. MonkDev is one of the largest web developers and fastest growing private companies in San Diego. MonkDev provides web solutions across all industries but are thought leaders in the non-profit space, where thousands of churches, ministries and other non-profits use our services. Sales / Account Executive, Want to join a World Class Team? Job Description: We are looking for a Sales Superstar to join our…

• 

  Ron Edmondson

• Leading in Crisis…The Example of General Stanley McChrystal

  Ron Edmondson

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:10 pm

  Related posts: Lessons from General Motors for the Church? Leading with Control Versus Leading with Influence Andy Stanley Interviews Jim Collins

• 4 Reasons Why I Hate Policies and What to Do About It

  Ron Edmondson

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  I’ll be honest. I’m not a huge fan of policies. It may be because I’m not a very good rule follower, but I honestly don’t think they work as well as they are intended. Policies are a course, plan or principle of action. They are designed to offer a sense of control. In theory, policies are to make things better. They are a necessary part of dealing with people in an organizational setting. My problem with polices is that they often interrupt progress rather than enhance it. If not careful, a policy may control the success you want to see as a leader. Here are 4 reasons…

• Disecting Galatians 5: What Does it Mean to Be Free?

  Ron Edmondson

  21 Feb 2012 | 1:28 pm

  Galatians 5 from Gcomchurch Sermons on Vimeo. Related posts: The Affirmation of God: Living Your True Identity Change Your Thoughts, Change Your Life The Trust of a Widow: A Sermon

• Try to Kill Your Ideas, It Will Make Them Better

  Ron Edmondson

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:16 am

  Sometimes I try to kill my own ideas. Especially with an idea that has major consequences for change and potential. I brought it to the table. I believe in it. I want it to happen. I got people excited about it. I energized the team. Now I’m attempting to kill it. I’m trying to find holes in the idea. I am questioning the validity of the idea. I’m even causing some to ask if I still support the idea. My idea. What’s my point? Am I that difficult as a leader? Well, that may be a matter of opinion, but I have a good reason. I want the idea to stand the test of time and…

• 5 Aspects of the Heart of a Leader

  Ron Edmondson

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Let’s consider the heart of a leader. Someone asked me recently what I primarily look for in the hiring of a staff position. I said, without reservation, first and foremost, I look for a heart. I want a heart that honors Christ more than self, that desires to grow and learn, and that is willing to sacrifice personal privilege for benevolent purpose of others. The heart of a leader is more important than any other characteristic. Consider, for example, the life of a Bible character by the name of Joseph. Joseph’s story runs from Genesis 37-50. It’s an amazing story of…

• 

  Ed Stetzer

• The SBC: Changing Names Is Good, Changing Actions Is Better

  22 Feb 2012 | 3:00 pm

  This week an administrative committee for my denomination, the Southern Baptist Convention, approved a recommendation that the SBC adopt the informal name of "Great Commission Baptists." The proposal will be presented at the SBC Annual Meeting in June, and I will support it. Initially, I would have liked to see something more than an "informal name," but I think the change will help in many local church situations (though for the foreseeable future, my church will still list itself as SBC, rather than GCB-- and not because the other unfortunate meaning of that acronym). I understand this is a…

• A Closer Look: The Historical Reliability of the Old Testament

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Since we took a look at the New Testament last week, this week, we take a closer look at the Old Testament. This week's article is by Kenneth Kitchen, one of the foremost scholars on Egyptology and the Old Testament. (His Wikipedia article provides some helpful context.) His book, On the Reliability of the Old Testament, is a well-known and oft-debated text. He is seen as a conservative, but one with great academic credentials in the secular study of the Ancient Near East-- an unusual combination. So, he is certainly worth reading and considering-- as the good folks at Wheaton's College…

• Multiply Everything: Viral Churches, part 2

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Last week, I began a series through my book Viral Churches. Today's post examines the increasing need to multiply not only churches, but disciples, groups, and ministries as well. LifeWay Research conducted a study in 2008, interviewing senior pastors in various denominations. Of the 1,004 individuals in the sample, almost all (85 percent) of the Protestant churches indicated that their churches are involved in a missions in some way, from things like congregational prayer at least once a month to conducting short-term mission trips. When it came to the mission field of church planting,…

• Morning Roundup - February 21, 2012

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  The Power of Clarity in Your Church's Vision -- Matt Steen Vision statements can be incredibly powerful tools to rally your congregation around your calling... or they can be incredibly obtuse statements that make people yawn in powerful new ways. The difference is how you approach crafting your vision statement, and whether you are making a statement, or calling to action. I fully believe that we have been called to action by the great commission and great commandment... and should be calling our people to action as well. With this in mind, here are four qualities of a great vision…

• Candidates Talking Religion: Democrats Don't Like It, Republicans Do

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Rick Santorum's recent comments about President Obama's theology has once again brought forward the question of candidates at their religious talk. Huffington Post's Senior Religion Editor Paul Brandeis Raushenbush opined in his editorial "Rick Santorum's Political and Biblical Mistake": The first reason this is a mistake is that Santorum has decided to make the presidential campaign about religious orthodoxy and introduced theology into politics in an aggressive way. His less than subtle message is that anyone who believes in the Bible, or even takes the Bible seriously, should be suspect of…

• 

  daveferguson.org

• Mega AND Missional - It Can Be Done!

  Dave Ferguson

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:21 am

  "I've never been to your church, but I love your church."  This was what COMMUNITY Campus Pastor Shawn Williams heard while getting his hair cut.  The conversation started when the women cutting his hair asked Shawn what he did for a living.  He said, "I'm a pastor at the Yellow Box."  As soon as he said that she responded, "My neighbors are a part of that church.  In fact, I've recently gone through a divorce and it's been really tough being a single mom.  But my neighbors who go to your church have been a big help getting me through it.  They've assisted me with carpooling; they've…

• What We Are Learning About Mission So Far...

  Dave Ferguson

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:31 pm

  As we begin to have small groups, teams, and individuals engage more in the Jesus Mission in a personal way than ever before, as expected, we are learning a lot. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you begin to get "on mission" that others are learning: Be patient-- I know we get excited to get started, but remember to be patient as well. Sometimes it takes longer than expected to discover our group's mission, or to hear back from an organization we hope to partner with, or to "listen" to what the needs of people/our community are. God doesn't call us to move at a certain speed--just to…

• "Sifted": 2012 Exponential Conference Big Idea

  Dave Ferguson

  6 Feb 2012 | 8:26 pm

  Who wants to be Sifted?  I know it doesn’t sound like much fun, does it?  When we first picked the Sifted theme for the Exponential 2012 Conference, I wasn’t a big fan.  I’m more of a big picture and positive sort of guy so thinking about being sifted made me cringe a little.  As we continued to develop this theme, I began to realize this is exactly what we need to be talking about.  God allows us to be “sifted” (Luke 22:31-32) through trials and temptations to grow us as followers and leaders.  How we respond as church leaders not only shapes who we become, but also those who…

• Interview with Wayne Cordeiro - Story of Sifting

  Dave Ferguson

  24 Jan 2012 | 4:45 pm

  As President of the 2012 Expoential Conference I recently had the opportunity to interview Wayne Cordeiro about the big idea of his new book, SiftedYou should definitely give this podcast a listen as Wayne speaks very candidly about some of the struggles and pain of ministry and how God got him through it and taught him much needed lessons.  Wayne will be leading a main session and his book will be a featured book at this years Exponential Conference.  Check it out by ciicking HERE

• What Stats Should Matter To Churches?

  Dave Ferguson

  22 Jan 2012 | 10:17 pm

  In the movie Moneyball, Brad Pitt plays the part of the Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane.  While most of the baseball old timers and scouts had a set of stats they used to look for young prospects, Billy Beane understood that the only stat that mattered was runs scored.  Through statistical analysis he changed the game of baseball forever and was credited with indirectly bringing a championship to the Boston Red Sox for the first time in 85 years.  In much the same way churches should not confuse a variety of different stats like attendance and offering with the one stat that…

• 

  tonymorganlive.com

• New FREE eBook Available Now: Stayin’ Alive

  Jason Vernon

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:11 am

  Big news!  We recently released the third eBook in the Leisure Suit series.  This book is called Stayin’ Alive: Build a Legacy of Leadership.  Among other things, this resource includes strategies and practical steps for: being intentional about leadership development developing dynamic leadership teams addressing leadership, vision or strategy gaps evaluating the health of your organization making uncomfortable but necessary changes investigating your personal disciplines and priorities Like our other two previous eBooks, this resource is FREE.  We encourage you to share it with…

• Meet My Team

  Jason Vernon

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:19 am

  Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to serve and lead many dynamic teams. In his book, Jesus on Leadership, C. Gene Wilkes shares six benefits of teams: Teams involve more people, thus affording more resources, ideas and energy than would an individual. Teams maximize a leader’s potential and minimize his or her weaknesses. Teams provide multiple perspectives on how to meet a need or reach a goal, thus devising several alternatives for each situation. Teams share the credit for victories and the blame for losses. Teams keep leaders accountable for the goal. Teams can do more…

• Have you checked out Leaders Book Summaries?

  Jason Vernon

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:47 am

  Earlier this month, I wrote about Leaders Book Summaries.  The company summarizes books for busy leaders.  Each month, they review a couple of books and then send subscribers helpful 10-20 page summaries and a detailed 2-page super summary. This week, I checked out their free sample summary and was really impressed.  The free sample was a summary of the book Made to Stick by Chip Heath and Dan Heath.  The actual summary was a PDF document with a very professional layout. The writing was clear, concise and easy to follow.  I really enjoyed reading the “Pastor’s…

• The Story ESPN Won’t Televise

  tony

  19 Feb 2012 | 3:00 pm

  Two weeks before the NFL draft, Anthony “A.T” Barnes called his agent and told him to withdraw his name. He gave up a career in football for a bigger purpose. These are the stories you’ll never see on ESPN. Check out A.T’s story.

• Manifesto

  Jason Vernon

  19 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  I recently connected with Ted Vaughn, Director of Production and Creative Arts at the Rock Church in San Diego, California.  Ted’s team created this manifesto.  The word manifesto is defined as a declaration of principles.  This manifesto is a great challenge for us not to settle for where we currently are in our leadership and ministry.  Where are you settling?  Possibly it’s time for your own manifesto.

• 

  TerryStorch.com

• 2012 Mineral Wells Stage Race

  Terry Storch

  19 Feb 2012 | 9:33 pm

  This weekend was my season opening cycling race…a full stage race (Criterium / Time Trial on Saturday & Road Race on Sunday) in Mineral Wells, Texas. I was so excited to get the 2012 season kicked off, and fired up to race with Team Undiscovered!  It was no doubt a weekend of firsts for me. First race as a Cat4. First Stage Race. First Time Trial. First time racing in the insane, pouring down rain! Saturday – Criterium (Crit) & Time Trial Saturday was just horrible weather. It started raining late Friday afternoon, and literally did not stop raining until Saturday night.

• My Word(s) for 2012

  Terry Storch

  1 Jan 2012 | 5:32 pm

  This will be my fourth year of doing three words. Chris Brogan inspired me in 2009, and I have been “all in” since. This exercise, and time to reflect and focus on three words, has proven to be really useful and fruitful. Here is a look back at my previous years’ words: 2009 – Fun, Global, Leadership 2010 – Healthy, Flexable, Inspire 2011 – Faith, Focus, Intensity However, 2012 is going to look a little different. As I have been praying and seeking God I couldn’t settle on three Words…only one word is jumping out. It is much more of a theme that will become…

• Cycling Training – Base 1 Week 1

  Terry Storch

  12 Dec 2011 | 7:47 am

  Last week was my first week of cycling training. This is the first year I have actually “trained”, and have a plan. Thanks to Training Peaks Virtual Coach – I have a plan that leads me right up into the season, and then the Training Peaks Annual Plan kicks in and takes me through the season. My personality type of an ENTJ really appreciates the schedule and planning…it pushes me to “Just Do It” when the weather is bad, or when I don’t want to get out of bed. Many of my friends want to know what my plan is…so every Sunday/Monday I will post the…

• 90 Day Thoughts about Shakeology

  Terry Storch

  9 Oct 2011 | 3:21 pm

  As I close in on my 90 day “trial” with Shakeology I thought I would share my thoughts and results with you. First you might be asking what is Shakeology? For that…you should first read this. So, my first 90 days, or 3 months have been fantastic…more energy, more nutrition, better digestion, and shedding fat. My goal is no longer weight loss, as a cyclist I am striving hard for the power to weight ratio…so I am trying to be as strong and light as possible. This means trim fat, add muscle…and with the help of Shakeology, a simply healthy lifestyle, and my…

• 2011 – My First Year Racing [recap]

  Terry Storch

  2 Oct 2011 | 5:14 pm

  Well, the 2011 cycling season is over…and wow, it was awesome, but a lot different than I had originally imagined. I wanted to take a quick moment and “remember” the season so I can document some great cycling progress. Personally for me, I am so about forward progress I hardly ever look back…and that can sometimes be a bad thing. To get started I should by saying that “racing” was never the goal. Simply put, the goal of the 2011 season was to have my first century ride at the Hotter’N Hell Tour in Wichita Falls, Tx. 2011 was my 3rd season on the bike…

• 

  CatalystSpace | Catablog

• Leadership Lessons from Nehemiah

  info@catalystspace.com

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:30 am

  One of my favorite Old Testament leaders is Nehemiah. He was a government worker in the employment of a foreign king. A high ranking worker no doubt. A leader. A cupbearer to the King. Trusted and respected. Then he became a building contractor, called in to rebuild the walls of Jerusalem. Through the story of the Old Testament book, we can discover a few of the leadership qualities that he possessed. 1. Compassion- when learning of the condition of the wall and of his people, Nehemiah wept. 2. Conviction- he understood that loyalty to his country and to his people in Jerusalem was…

• Pastor Moves Family to Fight Sex Trafficking [VIDEO]

  info@catalystspace.com

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:16 pm

  In October of 2010, the Catalyst audience heard Christine Caine speak about Christ-followers being light in the dark places [watch here]. For Caine, this has resulted in her fight to end sex trafficking through the A21 Campaign. The CNN Freedom Project is joining the fight to end modern-day slavery by shining a spotlight on the horrors of modern-day slavery, amplifying the voices of the victims, highlighting success stories and helping unravel the complicated tangle of criminal enterprises trading in human life. Today, we came across this video & story of Dave Terpstra, a pastor who left…

• Lessons From the Wilderness…

  info@catalystspace.com

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:32 am

  This Wednesday marks the start of Lent, a tradition observed by Christians around the world for centuries. A season of intentional self-denial, repentance and service, Lent identifies with when Jesus was tested in the Wilderness. Many of us have distanced ourselves from Lent wondering if it's an antiquated legalistic ritual. Yet when we look at the story of Jesus in the wilderness - we see temptations, so relevant for today that it's worth season to fast, pray and surrender to God, acknowledging our desperate need for his grace and power. At Jesus baptism', the heavens are opened and the…

• To Tweet or Not To Tweet [during church]?

  info@catalystspace.com

  19 Feb 2012 | 9:56 pm

  Came across this blog post today from Scott Williams about tweeting in church... I think individuals should Twitter while they are in church and here are 5 Reasons Why. 5 Reasons To Twitter During Church 1. You have the opportunity to be a real-time extension of your pastor’s voice while he/she is communicating God’s word. 2. If the pastor shares something that moves you, inspires you or changes your life; there is a good chance it will have the same impact on the lives of your followers as well. 3. When Jesus said: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel… “All…

• From the Archives | If You Weren’t On Staff At Your Church….

  info@catalystspace.com

  18 Feb 2012 | 2:11 pm

  Found this old blog several days ago & knew it had to make an appearance on "from the archives". Several days ago on the Swerve Blog, Craig Groeschel asked three questions that we want to pose to you. 1. If you weren't on staff at your church, would you worship there? 2. If you didn't know ANYTHING about Jesus, what would you know about him after a normal weekend at your church? 3. If you had a loved one who didn't know Christ, and they had one week left to live, would you take them to your church or another? Check out the entire blog here. So, if you weren't on staff at your church,…

• 

  Ragamuffin Soul

• Introverts: The Churches Unspoken Second Class Citizens

  loswhit

  20 Feb 2012 | 11:28 am

  There is a problem. The typical thought is that in order to be successful in ministry you must be an extrovert. When hiring for “leadership” positions extroverts usually get the nod. Introverts have suddenly become second class citizens in the church leadership world. Loud, brash, and sometimes obnoxious get the nod. Quiet, shy, and sensitive are often placed in rooms where they can council people and not lead masses. I think it is important to have extroverts in places where they need to be but sometimes I think we confuse where those places are. Susan Cain in her book QUIET says…

• 11 Ways To Make Your Worship Leading Suck Less

  loswhit

  17 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pm

  1.  Memorize the lyrics. The confidence monitor has become the worship leaders worst enemy. People want to see your eyes during a song. 2.  Change up your schtick. If I say “Do You BELIEVE?!!!” more than once in a set, I’m being lazy. That’s my go to lazy worship leader line. 3.  Stop asking if they are happy to be there this morning. Most of them aren’t. 4.  Trim the prayer fat. I pray Father God, that Father God You show us Father God how amazing you are Father God in our Father God lives. 5.  Stop praying the chorus or the title to the next song in the…

• Quit Complaining

  loswhit

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:25 pm

  And just start playing… Los

• Wendy’s, Small Moments, And Big Attitudes

  loswhit

  15 Feb 2012 | 3:39 pm

  I was at the airport the other day and running late for my flight. I swung by Wendy’s to shorten the duration of my life by one day in order to grab a Asiago Chicken Sandwich Combo. I waited patiently. I could see from my position that my plane was almost done boarding. So I walked up to the counter and asked how much longer. Brother with his Wendy’s hat cocked sideways looked at me and shrugged his shoulders. Ugh. By the time the last person had boarded the plane Wendy had finished killing the chicken and cooking it for me. “Order 87!” That was me. Thank God.

• Chris Brown Beat Rihanna.Chris Brown Dominated The GRAMMY’s In Front Of Rihanna. Chris Brown Is A…

  loswhit

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:42 am

  Rihanna is my crush. Chris Brown beat Rihanna. Rihanna was in the crowd at the GRAMMY Awards. Chris Brown danced at the GRAMMY Awards. Rihanna then sang at the GRAMMY Awards. Chris Brown then won a GRAMMY Award. Rihanna was shown celebrating every award on camera from her seat at the GRAMMY Awards. Chris Brown then did another song on the GRAMMY Awards. And I was left wondering… How many people were disturbed at The GRAMMY’s choice to showcase so much of Chris Brown. How was Rihanna feeling about all the Chris Brown? I’ll let you know how I felt. Then you can let me know how…

• 

  Pomomusings

• Join Tony Jones in Search for a Better Atonement

  Adam Walker Cleaveland

  23 Feb 2012 | 12:17 am

  Lent is a time when we are journeying toward Jerusalem and the cross. The Lenten study that I’m doing with our church has a whole lesson that is focused specifically on different atonement theories. Atonement theories are definitely hot-button issues, but something that I think is pretty important for us to be (re)thinking about in the church today. Tony Jones is going to be reflecting on atonement theories during Lent and this is from his blog: Every Wednesday during Lent, I’m going to explore an alternative to the penal substitutionary understanding of the atonement, the dominant…

• A Detailed Analysis of Current Presbyterian Church (USA) Politics, Controversies and a Vision for the Future

  Adam Walker Cleaveland

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:59 am

  Here’s my confession: I’ve been sitting on this post for a while. I’ve been wanting to reflect a bit more on the recent developments of the Fellowship of Presbyterians, their announcement last month about the Evangelical Covenant Order of Presbyterians (Evangelical COPs…that’s cute), and how all of this will affect our denomination. I’ve read a few good posts that I wanted to make sure I linked to: Lipstick on A Pig: the ECO and Its Plan to Split the PCUSA, by Timothy Simpson Will the PC(USA) Split in 2012, by John Vest Embracing the Pathos of Our…

• Ecumenical Community Youth Groups

  Adam Walker Cleaveland

  17 Feb 2012 | 5:59 pm

  One of the things that excited me about First Presbyterian Church of Ashland when I was in the interview process, was the possibility of starting up something similar to what my friend, the very Right Rev. Greg Bolt, helped to start up in Bend, Oregon. Lutherans, Episcopals and Presbyterians have gotten together up in Bend to form the Bend Youth Collective. Their tagline is: “3 Churches-1 Community, 3 Traditions-1 Faith, 3 Histories-1 Future.” I love the idea of churches coming together to form ecumenical groups, bringing kids together to do this important ecumenical (and…

• “Young People Should Be More Committed to the Church”

  Adam Walker Cleaveland

  15 Feb 2012 | 6:08 pm

  This morning I read Keith Anderson‘s post “Young People Should Be More Committed to the Church” and thought he asked some great questions. It’s true – young people are not coming in droves to our churches today. And my guess is that most churches WANT people, want college students, want youth, want young families to be involved and active in their churches, but, as Keith writes in his article, are not willing to make the changes necessary to help that happen. Sure, there are some exceptions to this, but this is probably pretty common in many of our churches…

• New Blog Series Coming this Spring at Pomomusings

  Adam Walker Cleaveland

  14 Feb 2012 | 1:07 pm

  In the past, I’ve hosted two different blog series here on Pomomusings. I love the idea of sharing with you voices of friends of mine (some of whom you’ve probably heard of before, others who may be new to you) and enlarging the conversation that would be possible with just my thoughts. The first series we did was on the Kingdom of God. About two years, I ran a second series called Plurality 2.0. Each of these has been very successful and thought-provoking. This spring, I’m going to launch a new blog series about the future of the church, called (Re)Imagining Christianity.

• 

  Tall Skinny Kiwi

• Is the number 666 really on our barcodes?

  Andrew

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:33 pm

  A blog reader asked if the number 666 is somehow integrated into the barcodes. This has been a discussion for over 30 years among Christians. I asked my friend David Allis who is not only a Christian man but is also a leading seller of barcodes, to reply to the question, "Do all barcodes have the number 666 in them?'. He replied immediately [Thanks David] "Nope they don't. 666 isn't encoded into all barcodes. However, we can put it in a barcode if you really want it :-)" Of course I ordered 6 of them. But what about the QR barcode ? Looks pretty innocent at first appearance . . . Which is…

• 40 days of Lent

  Andrew

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:02 pm

  Ash Wednesday kicks off 40 days of Lent, leading to Easter. I recommend getting in the mood by: 1. Playing Si Smith's video of Jesus in the wilderness called "40" 2. 1. Reading Tim Kimberley's History of Lent and the number 40. "Interestingly, the earliest of Christians believed Jesus was dead in the grave for 40 hours. The number 40 has held significant importance throughout biblical history. The rains fell on Noah in the ark for 40 days and 40 nights. Moses was on top of Mount Sinai receiving the Ten Commandments for 40 days and 40 nights. Elijah walked 40 days and 40 nights to the…

• Remembering the Christchurch earthquake

  Andrew

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:22 pm

  One year today, since the Christchurch earthquake. Today we are having a one minute silence at 12:51pm to remember the 185 people who were killed that day. Stuff.co.nz is running live updates of the anniversary today. We were in Wellington, NZ last year when it happened and raced down there as soon as we could to help out. About 2 months ago we returned to Christchurch and had a coffee in the new retail area area of Christchurch called Re:START. Its a creative space made with shipping containers and quite earthquake proof. Sam Chapman, who was with us when news of the earthquake reached us,…

• PassionFest this week

  Andrew

  21 Feb 2012 | 1:57 pm

  There is a huge marquee on the field next to our yurt. Thats because PassionFest happens this weekend. Its a small, intimate, social justice festival for about 300+ people. We were here last year and loved it. So if you are in New Zealand then come on over and bring your tent. Read more about why we decided to do PassionFest this year instead of the better known festival called Parachute.

• 2012 Report: Emerging churches in deprived communities

  Andrew

  14 Feb 2012 | 4:40 pm

  Somebody say H.O.S.P.I.T.A.L.I.T.Y . . . "There were two messages about how the groups understood mission. First, mission meant an incarnational presence in the everyday life of the community. Second, mission meant engaging with residents to restore their capacity to act, to articulate needs and to seek to have those needs met. Hospitality was the main means by which this presence and engagement was offered.Two groups ran cafes and three others had a house in which people could gather. Hospitality created the sense of belonging together which made it possible to raise questions of belief."…

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  Dan Kimball: Vintage Faith

• Everyday Missionary - new series at Vintage Faith Church

  DanKimball

  17 Feb 2012 | 12:05 am

  The day we put faith in Jesus we become missionaries, whether we realize it or not. We are starting a new teaching series this Sunday called "Everyday Missionary". We will address myths about what evangelism is or isn't and teach...

• Catalyst West Coast - April 18-20, 2012

  DanKimball

  15 Feb 2012 | 1:33 pm

  I will be on sabbatical and will miss Catalyst West Coast this year, but been to it a couple of times and spoke two times at it, and it was always, always a wonderful event. Not just the speakers but...

• Wednesday Weird Bible Verse - Judges 3:20-22 - blade, belly-fat and bowels

  DanKimball

  25 Jan 2012 | 2:02 am

  "Ehud then approached him...and said, “I have a message from God for you.” As the king rose from his seat, Ehud reached with his left hand, drew the sword from his right thigh and plunged it into the king’s belly....

• Google+ and Facebook

  DanKimball

  19 Jan 2012 | 7:57 pm

  for those going on Google+ and want to connect there http://www.gplus.to/dankimball It seems that more activity is happening on Google+ lately. I am still not sure how to be working with both Google+ and Facebook. It will be interesting to...

• Wednesday Weird Bible Verse - Judges 16:17 - shave your head and become weak

  DanKimball

  18 Jan 2012 | 4:26 am

  "If my head were shaved, my strength would leave me, and I would become as weak as any other man.” - Judges 16:17

• 

  www.markdroberts.com

• Anxiety? Depression? Need Some Help? Therapy? There’s an App for That « Mark D. Roberts

  Mark D. Roberts

  17 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pm

  Anxiety? Depression? Need Some Help? Therapy? There’s an App for That « Mark D. Roberts ShareThis

• Plug Into Silence – New Video from The High Calling « Mark D. Roberts

  Mark D. Roberts

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:19 pm

  Plug Into Silence – New Video from The High Calling « Mark D. Roberts ShareThis

• Websites Encourage Discreet Adultery « Mark D. Roberts

  Mark D. Roberts

  16 Feb 2012 | 3:56 pm

  Websites Encourage Discreet Adultery « Mark D. Roberts ShareThis

• Do You Have to Give Up Something for Lent? « Mark D. Roberts

  Mark D. Roberts

  15 Feb 2012 | 5:28 pm

  Do You Have to Give Up Something for Lent? « Mark D. Roberts ShareThis

• How Lent Can Make a Difference in Your Relationship with God: Introduction to Lent « Mark D. Roberts

  Mark D. Roberts

  13 Feb 2012 | 3:48 pm

  How Lent Can Make a Difference in Your Relationship with God: Introduction to Lent « Mark D. Roberts ShareThis

• 

  WithoutWax.tv by Pete Wilson

• A small, often overlooked, sliver of the world

  Pete Wilson

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:49 am

  There’s no doubt in my mind that last Friday was a highlight in ministry I’ll never forget. I stood there in a muddy pond in the middle of a remote village baptizing one person after another. For many of these individuals their baptism meant they would no longer be accepted by their families or community. One young man was told by his parents that if he went through with the baptism not only would he not be welcomed home, but he would no longer be recognized as their son and not be able to receive his inheritance. He showed up anyway. Threats of violence forced us to move the…

• What Does Being Sarcastic Say About You?

  Pete Wilson

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:47 am

  I’ll admit it. I’m sarcastic. At times, probably obnoxiously too. Not so much here on the blog or even in my preaching, but I am in my interactions with close friends. So when I read THIS ARTICLE last night it was like a punch in the gut. Tyler Huckabee wrote… The dictionary calls it a “sneering or cutting remark,” but there’s more to it than that. Sarcasm is scorn in subversive style. Researchers say that recognition of sarcasm is a sign of intelligence in children. It’s an awfully nuanced means of communication—too nuanced, in fact, to be used as freely as we do.

• Last Ditch Effort

  Pete Wilson

  16 Feb 2012 | 11:25 am

  The most intimidating part of our trips to India is not the preaching. Hands down it’s the Backyard Bible School stuff we do with the kids. To be successful at this activity you need one or more of the following gifts or supplies. 1) The ability to act out Bible lessons. You must be very animated. 2) The ability to teach and sing a song with great hand motions. 3) A puppet 4) Crayons and a coloring sheet. 5) A card trick or some other cool illusion such as being able to make it appear that you can detach your thumb from your hand. If you don’t have any of those skills you better…

• More Pastor Than I’ll Ever Be

  Pete Wilson

  15 Feb 2012 | 10:49 am

  Two years ago I wrote the post below about my buddy, Bishal. Every time I pull up to his slum here in India there is a bit of a pit in my stomach as I’m wondering if he’ll be there. While hardly a day goes by that I don’t pray for him, I  know that, as the time passes between my visits, there’s a million things that could happen to him in the world he lives. Today, I found him and all my worries were put to rest. Here’s a pic from today, as well as the post from two years ago. February 23, 2010 Let me introduce you to Bishal Barik. This kid grabbed my heart from…

• Saying “I Love You” On Valentine’s Day

  Pete Wilson

  13 Feb 2012 | 11:26 pm

  Today is Valentine’s Day and for the 2nd year in a row I’m in India and away from my sweetheart. Having said that, let me go ahead and give my wife a long distance shout out, “Happy Valentines Day, baby! I love you more than words can express. Can’t imagine life without you and one of the many things I love and appreciate about you is that you encourage me to chase my heart even when it leads to me being on the other side of the earth.” I thought some of you might need a little help today. I saw this fun little article the other day in Relevant Magazine entitled…

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  Perry Noble | Leadership, Vision & CreativityPerry Noble | Leadership, Vision & Creativity

• Why I Use Twitter/Social Media

  perry

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am

  I saw some chatter several weeks ago in internet world that caused me to think and reflect about a few things, specifically in regards to why I use twitter…thus prompting me to write this post.  (And let me be very clear that not everyone will agree with my thoughts, which is ok, I am not trying to win an argument here, just expressing how I feel.) I basically use twitter for two reasons… #1 – To Communicate To NewSpring Church I do not have a Facebook account yet (we’re working on it though) and so I have found that one of the most effective ways I can communicate with people who…

• A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church

  perry

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:19 am

  Howdy NewSpring Church, EIGHT things I want to share with you today… #1 – I’m STILL in awe of what God has done so far in our “Overwhelmed” series so far…and we’re only two weeks in.  This past Sunday, I believe, will be looked back on for years as a benchmark day in our church where people truly came to grips with, “It’s OK to not be OK…but it’s not OK to stay not OK…because in Christ I CAN overcome what has me overwhelmed!” #2 – Depression is a very real issue…it has impacted every single one of us…

• Thank You NewSpring Church

  perry

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:17 am

  I wanted to take just a second to say “thank you” to everyone at NewSpring Church. Last week I wrote this post in regards to the message on depression that I preached yesterday…I asked our church to please keep me in your prayers throughout the week…and I was OVERWHELMED (in an awesome way) with an amazing amount of encouragement and support from you guys. Honestly, I feel like yesterday’s service is going to be looked at as a benchmark day in our church.  It’s only Monday right now…not even lunch time when I’m writing this and I’ve…

• 10 Signs You Are An Insecure Leader!

  perry

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:55 am

  #1 – You see people as working for you and not with you. #2 – Everyone who pushes back on any of your ideas is automatically branded as disloyal.  (Because for you “ loyalty” is defined as, “loving everything I say and do!”) #3 – Every time someone begins to say something good about someone else you always have to be the person who says, “yes, but what you don’t know about them is…” and from that point tear them down under the disguise of being concerned about them. #4 – You get jealous when someone on your team receives any sort of public affirmation but you are not…

• You Should Probably NOT Date Her If…

  perry

  15 Feb 2012 | 6:46 am

  A few weeks ago I did a post challenging ladies to have incredibly high standards (entitled, “You Probably Shouldn’t Date Him If…”)…this week I want to challenge the guys to have incredibly high standards as well and let you know that you probably should not date her if… #1 – She Cries & Pouts Every Time She Does Not Get Her Way. She will call herself “emotional;” however, reality is that she is a manipulator because she knows when she gets “emotional” that you will do whatever she wants. #2 – She Is A Gossip. Be VERY careful if, after you have spent time with…

• 

  MoreThanDodgeball.com

• Facebook Parenting for the Troubled Teen

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:27 am

  (WARNING: there’s some language in this video!) So many possible application for this video in youth ministry! This weekend I played a clip (just the shooting part near the end) of this video during the service to illustrate how fast news travels nowadays. I made a comparison to how the Good News of Jesus traveled, without the aid of technology, through the world in the book of Acts. Made for a great pause/illustration in the middle of the talk! JG

• GIVEAWAY: SYMC Conference Registration!

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:43 am

  Want to win a free registration to the SYMC Conference in a couple weeks? I’m giving away 1 TODAY! Here’s how the giveaway started: I am a youth worker in Minneapolis and I’ve been honored to be one of your “guest posts” on your blog a couple of times – anyway, I am paid in full for the Simply Youth Ministry Conference in Louisville, but I am now unable to go. I talked to my team and the other youth guys in the area but they’re either already going or unable to attend – so I’m wondering if you might be able to give it away for me? So I was…

• Weigh In: Volume 15 – Church Traditions in Youth Group

  Josh

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:46 pm

  From time to time I post a question that comes into the blog for YOU to answer. What advice would you give this youth pastor who is asking about traditions in their youth ministry. Weigh in! I’m working on the curriculum for our Confirmation class and was just wondering how you handle tradition out here (like the Apostle’s Creed, Wesleyan Quadrilateral, liturgy colors….etc.). We have both a traditional and contemporary service but the majority of our students attend the contemporary service. We very rarely say the Lord’s Prayer and have never said the Apostle’s Creed (in fact I…

• David and Goliath Voiceover Video

  Josh

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:07 am

  One of my favorite videos from way back in Saddleback HSM’s history. Used it this week during our recap of last week’s Old Testament survey during the 40 Days in the Word student campaign called The Book. JG

• 5 Questions with Craig Gross

  Josh

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:01 am

  As a young pastor in Southern California, Craig Gross began to notice a recurring theme among those he cared for – a struggle with pornography. Boldly and courageously, he decided to address the root of the problem, so he went to the porn industry to ask some questions. This passion led him to start XXXchurch.com, a website devoted to telling the truth about porn. It now has had over 70 million visitors to the website and almost a half of million people using X3watch Accountability Software. 1) what are you most proud of in your work with the church and sexuality/pornography? I am most…

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  History in the Making

• Wednesday Morning Rundown

  Ben Arment

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:27 am

  My days as a dreamer are filled with the breathless agony of hopes dashed to pieces and the complete exhileration of amazing developments I never saw coming. Wouldn't trade this life for anything in the world The first duo going through Dream Year coaching together - David Messner and John-Erik Moseler are running the Greater Things Conference today - hoorah Big prayers up for @b_rewster's little girl Hope who underwent surgery this past week in Nashville Fiverr - where you can get people to do stuff for $5 I don't understand this project entirely, but we had Josh Garrells at…

• Dream Year Straight to Your Laptop or iPad

  Ben Arment

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:32 am

  I woke up last week to a surprising number of people going through Dream Year Subscriptions - a 52-week, online course to help bring your dream to life. It's Dream Year straight to your laptop or iPad. You can view a sample lesson for free at dreamyear.net, but here's a little sneak peek. It features a weekly video by yours truly, along with a written lesson... An interactive Q&A so you can process what you've learned... Measurable goals for the week to make sure you execute... And a complete library of the 52 lessons - all accessible online. It's sequential in…

• The Office Shed

  Ben Arment

  16 Feb 2012 | 11:16 am

  I need an office shed. My first "real job" was a writer and producer at an advertising agency in Dayton, Ohio, which was located in a sunken-into-the-ground, glass building in the middle of the woods. Squirrels at the window were my constant companions. Trees all around. I could watch meetings taking place several rooms away. Only the bathrooms were hidden from view. I felt like Thoreau, only writing billboard copy.

• Business Cards

  Ben Arment

  16 Feb 2012 | 8:07 am

  Every time someone asks me for a business card, I pretend to fish around in my bag and pat my pockets as if I must have left them at home. But the truth is I don't have them. Never did. I've been blogging for so long that all someone needs to do is Google "Ben" and "guy I met with the fauxhawk" and one other descriptive word and I come up in the top search results. But if I ever do get business cards, they will look like these.

• Behind the Scenes

  Ben Arment

  15 Feb 2012 | 12:20 pm

  It used to be that theater companies and movie studios went to great lengths to hide the mechanics behind the magic. Robbie Coltraine, for example, refused to tell how filmmakers made him appear larger than life as Hagrid in Harry Potter. But there's a new trend toward exposing the guts of a project. You can see and hear how they created the effects for Transformers. And the New York Theater Workshop is offering a behind-the-scenes look at how productions come together. I want to enjoy the beauty and the magic of the final product, but I enjoy it all the more when I know how it all…

• 

  Eugene Cho

• lent isn’t about you

  Eugene Cho

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:01 am

  Today is Ash Wednesday and marks the beginning of Lent. Some of you are considering giving something up like chocolate, coffee, Facebook, obsession with Jeremy Lin, or sweets. That’s nice…but take a moment to read this as a reminder that Lent isn’t about you: “I didn’t ask you to give up coffee. I asked you to give up your life.” ~ God Have a blessed Lent.

• a conversation about prayer with president barack obama

  Eugene Cho

  18 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  Unless it’s Justin Bieber, I don’t get star-struck but I have to admit, it was pretty cool to meet President Barack Obama yesterday. During his visit to Seattle on Friday, February 16 (and this weekend), I had the opportunity and privilege to attend one of the events he was speaking at. Specifically, it was an event at Boeing Everett to celebrate the work of American workers, Boeing, and the culmination of the work of the Dreamliner 787. Light to the World. As you know. I don’t run in these circles.  Sitting in a special section with dignitaries and politicians including…

• model leaves victoria’s secret to honor God, her husband…and be a better role model

  Eugene Cho

  10 Feb 2012 | 10:25 am

  Have you heard this story? Yes, its’ true: I’m talking about Victoria’s Secret models on my blog. [gulp] In light of some recent posts I’ve written, “Media and Commercials: Women are Objects to be Objectified and Exploited for Consumption” and “The Dangers of Being a Woman”, this is a relevant and compelling read and discussion. Truth be told, I don’t quite know what to make of modeling to begin with which is why I personally left modeling years ago. For one Victoria Secret’s model, Kylie Bisutti, she’s decided – in…

• pete hoekstra and cultural intelligence: why it matters to the church

  Eugene Cho

  8 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Ugh. Did you see Michigan Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra’s political campaign ad during the Super Bowl? As you read in my previous post, I had some choice words about Go Daddy, Teleflora and other companies that continue to objectify and exploit women but I hadn’t seen Hoekstra’s ad. Well, I just saw it…and I almost vomited in my mouth. Almost. Those chicken wings I consumed during the Super Bowl wanted to come back up. Check it out: I know the questions you’re asking: Is Hoekstra racist? No. And I’d rather not go there in this post because once you do, you…

• media and commercials: “women are objects to be objectified and marketed and packaged for consumption”

  Eugene Cho

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:00 am

  I don’t want to be about censorship but at some point, some things deserve to be thrown in the garbage.  Commercials that exploit and objectify women aren’t only offensive and disgusting…but they’re dangerous. First, some background: Who watched the Super Bowl? Perhaps, a better question might be: “Who didn’t watch the Super Bowl?” In 2011, the game drew the largest audience ever in history: Last year’s Super Bowl drew the largest audience in American television history, averaging 111 million viewers. All total, 163 million people watched at…

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  9Marks Blog: Building Healthy Churches

• NECEP 2012 Pastors' Conference

  Bobby Jamieson

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:39 am

  If you're a pastor or aspiring pastor within striking distance of New England, let me encourage you to check out the 2012 NECEP Pastors' Conference which will take place on May 7-8. Ligon Duncan, Al Mohler, and others will be expounding 2 Timothy with an explicit focus on encouraging preachers and future preachers. I'd especially encourage aspiring pastors to check out the conference and the preaching internship which NECEP runs each summer. 

• Praying So As To Teach

  Michael McKinley

  17 Feb 2012 | 3:23 pm

  Public praying is a responsibility as well as a privilege... Many facets of Christian discipleship, not least prayer, are rather more effectively passed on by modeling than by formal teaching. Good praying is more easily caught than taught. If it is right to say that we should choose models from whom we can learn, then the obverse truth is that we ourselves become responsible to become models for others. So whether you are leading a service or family prayers, whether you are praying in a small-group Bible study or at a convention, work at your public prayers. -- D.A. Carson, A Call to…

• A Review of 'Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons'

  Marcus Glover

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:36 am

  As you may know, we recently released a new book by Thabiti Anyabwile called Finding Faithful Elders and Deacons. In this book, Anyabwile points us to 1 Timothy 3 and 4, explaining how we identify, equip, and encourage leaders in the local church. For pastors, we hope this book will be a helpful resource for raising up elders and deacons from within the church. For church members, our hope is that this book will serve as a kind of "mirror" to help Christians examine their own lives. In our efforts to build healthy churches, we understand that faithful leadership is vitallly…

• Journal of Biblical Counseling Back Online, for Free

  Bobby Jamieson

  10 Feb 2012 | 10:15 am

  In case you haven't heard, CCEF has brought back their Journal of Biblical Counseling. It's now free online. This is an excellent resource for pastors that provides biblical and practical reflection on church-based, Christ-centered counseling.  Of special note is a new article by David Powlison on "The Pastor as Counselor." I'd commend both the article and the whole journal to pastors who want to grow in counseling their people and equiping their people to counsel. 

• Six Ways to Help People Pray

  Michael McKinley

  8 Feb 2012 | 3:41 pm

  Pretty much everyone would agree that prayer is an important part of the Christian life.  And pretty much everyone would agree that most Christians don’t pray as much or as well as they could.  Here are six ways you as a pastor can help your people become more faithful and enthusiastic in their prayer life: 1. Set aside a lot of time in your gatherings to pray. We pay lip service to the importance of prayer, but in many of our churches the prayer time is quick and unfocused. The message we may be sending unwittingly is that prayer is not quite as important as other more…

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  Human3rror

• Shadow Puppets

  admin

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:38 am

  You just finished reading Shadow Puppets! and you survived!

• Show Offs

  admin

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:12 am

  You just finished reading Show Offs! and you survived!

• Star Wars Cupcakes

  admin

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:57 am

  You just finished reading Star Wars Cupcakes! and you survived!

• What Type Are You?

  admin

  17 Feb 2012 | 7:40 am

  You just finished reading What Type Are You?! and you survived!

• Winners

  admin

  10 Feb 2012 | 8:16 pm

  You just finished reading Winners! and you survived!

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  [TerraceCrawford.com]

• How Teenagers Are Using Technology

  20 Feb 2012 | 4:42 pm

  A recent study released by Ericsson revealed that teenagers would rather talk than text. Here are some other highlights from the report that you can download [hereVideo chat is growing53% say their phone calls last less than 4 minutesMore than a third say they use video chat for homeworkAverage number of Facebook friends is 265ooVoo is an emerging social tool

• Behind the Scenes: My Last 3 Days

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:58 am

  I love "Behind the Scenes" stuff. If you want my attention just do a blog post, a TV-Show, a magazine article, etc... and I will be hooked! I've asked a few other people to do Behind the Scenes posts on their blogs, but I haven't ever done one myself so here's a look at my last 3 days of my life.(Editor's Note: this isn't a 'normal' week... but it's a quick look at my week nonetheless))TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 14Th(7:00 AM) - Shower, Getting ready for the day, Reading, Packing Car (for travel to SC)(9:00 AM) - Quick breakfast(9:30 AM) - Travel to South Carolina (for memorial service - my aunt passed…

• Youth Ministers Meme

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:54 pm

• FREE Valentine's Lesson from @YM360

  3 Feb 2012 | 12:28 pm

  My friends at youthministry360 are giving away a FREE downloadable Valentine's Lesson to church leaders. It's a message the finding and living the real, amazing love that God has for us. You'll receive a handy Leader's guide that will show you how you can use the story of Ruth and Boaz to talk about the God-centered love that we read about in the scriptures. What a great message to share with students, who are bombarded with the broken image of love from the world!If you want to download this freebie, just [click here

• This is What Has Made Me Pretty Famous

  19 Jan 2012 | 10:24 am

  I was giving some thought about an upcoming talk I'm preparing to give to students on the subject of Heaven and then I viewed this video online where a guy sings about how he's "looking for a city." This may inspire you like it did me. Ha!My favorite line: "This is what has made me pretty famous." I've been walking around the office all morning quoting that one line over and over again after I do just about anything. RSS Subscribers: there is video [here]

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  TheWorshipCommunity.Com - Worship Leader Resources, Articles, Forums

• Sunday Setlists #187

  Russ Hutto

  19 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Share your worship confessionals, recaps, and setlists for the week of: Sunday, February 19, 2012 Welcome to the 187th consecutive week of “Sunday Setlists”. The purpose of “Sunday Setlists” is to share a recap of your worship services. What songs did you use, what arrangements? What worked really well and what didn’t work as well as you’d like? What issues did you have preparing? What is the sermon series? How about creative elements used in the service? You don’t have to be the pastor or worship leader to participate. We would really love to get…

• Review: iSingWorship – The Backing Track for the 21st Century

  Russ Hutto

  17 Feb 2012 | 1:28 pm

  Thanks to Mark Snyder for sharing this tech review with The Worship Community. I recently had the opportunity to take a look at some cool new technology on the IPod/IPad. I am not a ‘worship techie’ as much as some people, but I do like to look at technologies to arm the small church and small group gatherings, because this is where I do most of my worship leading time and where I like to target our worship resources. Backing tracks and technologies to play them are great. Loop programs such as Ableton, GarageBand, or even just a keyboard are great to allow the band to ‘virtually’…

• Review + Giveaway: Brandon Gilliam’s A Love Better Than Life

  Russ Hutto

  16 Feb 2012 | 11:49 am

  Thanks to KC Clark for sharing this review with the worship community. Originally published at: http://musbkc.com/2012/01/a-love-better-than-life-brandon-gilliam-album-review GIVEAWAY AT BOTTOM OF INTERVIEW With so much music coming out of both the mainstream and indie scenes lately it’s hard to keep up. One of the things I love about being a part of such a large music community is that it sometimes reaches beyond our city and introduces us to new faces. This is the case with Brandon Gilliam. Gilliam has been leading and equipping others in corporate worship for over seven years. Serving as…

• Sunday Setlists #186

  Russ Hutto

  12 Feb 2012 | 10:23 am

  Share your worship confessionals, recaps, and setlists for the week of: Sunday, February 12, 2012 Welcome to the 186th consecutive week of “Sunday Setlists”. The purpose of “Sunday Setlists” is to share a recap of your worship services. What songs did you use, what arrangements? What worked really well and what didn’t work as well as you’d like? What issues did you have preparing? What is the sermon series? How about creative elements used in the service? You don’t have to be the pastor or worship leader to participate. We would really love to get…

• 5 Ways To Use Technology At Your Church

  Russ Hutto

  10 Feb 2012 | 2:42 pm

  Thanks to Matt Starner for allowing us to republish this article today at TWC. Originally published at MatthewStarner.com. If your church isn’t on the technology train yet or you’re wondering if there’s something new that you might be missing, here’s some places to start: 5. Get On Facebook Unless you’ve been under a technological rock for the last 5 years, Facebook is pretty much the biggest thing since, well, the internet. Right now, Facebook boasts some 800 million active members. In the United States, more than half of adults are active on Facebook. In short, if your church…

• 

  Part of the Glue

• Accomplish something BIG

  Brandon Riley

  4 Feb 2012 | 3:23 pm

  I lead a drama/media team of teenagers at my church.  Every once in a while I feel a need to accomplish something BIG together.  We find projects that our bigger than ourselves and take up an entire weekend or numerous saturdays…but everyone rallies together and we accomplish it.  I like the story in the gospels when Jesus is speaking to the five thousand and his disciples come to him saying the people are hungry.  Jesus says "You feed them"  Jesus is calling the disciples with their limited resources "five loaves and two fish" to perform a…

• Drag and drop websites for your ministry

  Brandon Riley

  8 Dec 2011 | 9:32 pm

   Pagelines is by far my favorite wordpress theme.  I have used this drag and drop framework to build more than 7 websites in the last year.  Recently pagelines has updated their system to 2.0, which means better customization and a new store with specialized plugins coming soon.

• Creating simple promo videos for your events

  Brandon Riley

  13 Nov 2011 | 1:36 pm

  Recently we started creating a series of videos that would help promote a program in our youth ministry called FUZE.  We shot the below video on a green screen and did one simple take. Students loved the video and it didn’t take a long time to produce because it depended mostly on the characters improv abilities.  A lot of times videos we create are scripted and have lots of angles in various locations …occasionally its good to mix it up and do something very very simple.  

• Using fairy tails to communicate truth

  Brandon Riley

  3 Oct 2011 | 6:13 pm

  We recently created a video called "the tale of Johnny Rattleweed".  The premise behind the film was to create a fairy tale that would explain the concept of skeletons in your closet in a fun and creative way.  We bought a bunch of skeletons from a local haloween store and shot with the new sony fs100.

• Promoting small groups with media:

  Brandon Riley

  26 Sep 2011 | 5:03 pm

  We recently launched our small group ministry in our student ministry.  We call them D_Group or Discipleship Groups and run from August to May.  We decided to create a series of promotional videos to encourage students to give them a try.  

• 

  Branded With Love

• Baptisms, Paintball, and White Flags

  Jason

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:32 am

    I’m so excited we’re doing this series, White Flag. The story of Jonah is amazing. We get to address some questions like, “Why do you run when things get hard?” “Who is really in charge of your life?” “When God asks big things from you, are you willing to listen?” “When things don’t go your way, how do you handle it?” “What will it take for you to wave the White Flag and let God be in control?” Here’s what has got me so pumped- it’s talking about topics like these which lays the groundwork for God…

• Sunday Extras

  Jason

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:45 am

  Yesterday at Forefront had some great energy. Even more than normal which was cool. If you missed service, here are something things to help you out this week: The band keeps cranking out amazing worship song sets. I love getting to work with Justin and the musicians here. If you want to listen to some of the tracks they played (by the artists who wrote them), click here. If you don’t have Spotify, you should! It’s free and a great way to listen to music.  Each week we post the messages online for you to listen to. You can listen on our website, via iTunes, or we post it on the…

• I Have A Crush On Alice In Wonderland

  Jason

  30 Jan 2012 | 10:37 pm

    We pray together every night baby. I always end with, “God, thank you for letting me be Chloe’s daddy. Amen.” With every beat of my heart, I mean it. You’re a gift. But tonight, you broke down your big ol’ daddy to a puddle of emotion. As we opened our eyes you looked at me. I drown in those baby blues every single time you bat your lashes. You’ve got me whooped. You’re mommy and sissy have the same eyes. I don’t stand a chance. As you gazed into my face, you looked intently as you whispered- “I’m glad I get to be your Chloe.

• Make It Meaningful.

  Jason

  30 Jan 2012 | 10:04 pm

    Just the other day I was talking on the phone with a fellow Forefronter. As we were chatting it up for a bit, I began to imagine he was one of the cool kids in high school. Walking the halls with a swagger that Kanye or Jay-Z would be envious of. Giving high fives & fist bumps with the other athletic kids, and enjoying “hellos and hey bros” from people as he strutted through his little kingdom, that we mere mortals call high school. To be honest, he had confirmed many of my thoughts I was thinking in previous conversations. He was admittedly a cool guy in high school.

• Broken Down Cars, Dogs Almost Ran Over, And Stop Thinking Someone Else Will- You’re The Someone Else. And People Are Watching

  Jason

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

  I had just dropped off my girls at school. It’s my day off. All I was thinking was, “My bed is waiting! Ahhhhhhhh!” I turned the corner, and… Traffic. At. A. Stand. Still. Ugh. Don’t these people know my day off is freakin’ important?! Then I saw it. A broken down car with the lights blinking. People flying by her. Not stopping to help. Honestly, I debated it in my head. “Help this person out, or maybe someone else will.” “Wait, I am not that guy. Quit being a selfish bastard jerk.” (my inner dialogue censors itself sometimes) So, I…

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  LeadingSmart

• The Story of the Art Wall

  Tim Stevens

  3 Feb 2012 | 6:36 am

  I’ve led every building project at GCC since the early days, and I often get asked, “Do you regret any part of the design?” I always say, “Yes, I regret the ‘Art Wall’. In fact, I will be able to die a happy man when the Art Wall gets torn down.” Let me tell you the story of the Art Wall… Sixteen years ago I was sitting with GCC’s building committee in our rented offices, and we were discussing details about our first building, already under construction. We originally were going to build a small auditorium to the east of the Atrium (the…

• Don’t Worry About the Needs of the World

  Tim Stevens

  30 Jan 2012 | 9:50 am

  I’ve been thinking a lot about the principle of proximity. Here is Tim’s definition: I have a greater responsibility to care for those I’m close to than others do who are not as close. I have a greater responsibility to care for those I’m close to than I do for those I am not close to. God so loved the world, but I am to love my neighbor. Jesus healed people in front of Him. There were probably hundreds of thousands of sick and crippled and diseased people who were alive when Jesus walked the earth–and yet the ones He healed were the ones who He actually met.

• What Goes Around Comes Around

  Tim Stevens

  25 Jan 2012 | 7:24 am

  I’m not that old, but I’ve voted in 7 elections. And it seems like there are some constants… In every election, we are told it is the most important election in history. In every election, the candidates tell us they won’t go negative. In every election, the candidates always go negative. In every election, the media tells us the candidates are going more negative than ever before. In every election, there is someone running who is painted as a “crazy” (Ross Perot, Howard Dean, Ron Paul) In every election, we are told the young voters will make the…

• Work Here? Attend Here.

  Tim Stevens

  24 Jan 2012 | 6:50 am

  I remember way back when I was first hired at Granger that Mark Beeson talked about the importance of attending the church where you work. At first I thought he was joking–I had never heard of anyone working at a church where they did not attend. He told me of several situations where that was unfortunately true. I wrongly assumed it was a dying pattern. In fact, the number of churches I’m hearing about who hire staff members to do “jobs” rather than “ministry” is increasing. Recently I learned of a large church that had a senior-level staff member who…

• How About a “Masters-Level” Course on Being an Executive Pastor?

  Tim Stevens

  5 Jan 2012 | 6:55 am

  I’ve said it before and it’s still true today: One of the most enjoyable things I get to do is lead a Coaching Network for Executive Pastors. In a couple of months, I’m going to offer this again. I will be meeting with 12 church leaders for a coaching experience which begins in March and concludes in May. I’m designing it specifically for Executive Pastors (or leaders in a similar role) who want to take their leadership to the next level. I’m not quite sure how to describe it, but here is my best attempt… It will be personal. Highly practical. Intensive.

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  Rich Kirkpatrick's Weblog

• Worship Leader Chronicles: Six Outrageous things I did in church!

  Rich Kirkpatrick

  20 Feb 2012 | 1:20 am

  I suspect that many of my worship leader and creative arts leaders have programmed some memorable and even outrageous moments. Now, these are not super-edgy, but at the time some felt these to be out-of-the-box.  I love beach balls, and for a service I decided that dropping several hundred from the catwalks with strobes would do. Each ball represented a decision made to follow Jesus from various mission trips, inner city outreaches and back yard Bible clubs of four sister churches working together. Dueling drummers are cool! Ever play a set with two full kits? How about doing this all in a…

• Cut-and-Paste Creativity [Part 2]: Why we choose efficiency over creativity in the local church.

  Rich Kirkpatrick

  1 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pm

  It seems that many local church gatekeepers readily applaud ministry that looks like the successes of other churches rather than champion the indigenous creation from their own people. My friends in the business world do this all the time. One company sells computers successfully, so reverse engineering takes place by competitors.  The idea is to emulate the success and hopefully exceed the level of your competition. In church work, our thinking may actually be similar.  The thought is this: “If a song is popular on the Christian radio station, then surely it will resonate with people in…

• Leadership Journal Conversation: My most intense experience with spiritual warfare

  Rich Kirkpatrick

  30 Jan 2012 | 2:01 am

  This post is part of a blog initiative for Leadership Journal’s Conversations. This is a new site and I was invited with some others to contribute to the conversation. There have been plenty of intense times of spiritual battle. I remember one encounter that was especially powerful. It is not often that specific prayers of spiritual battle are verified after the fact. Most of the time I have prayed against the devil, for protection of people, and when I was scared of the dark. My most intense time of spiritual warfare stands out because it was more than my own experience.  Others were…

• Cut-and-Paste Creativity: The Death of Art, Music and Connection in Church Worship

  Rich Kirkpatrick

  23 Jan 2012 | 8:28 pm

  Having traveled a bit and visited many churches this past year, I see a pattern in the modern worship world. In fact, for the past decade I have been in that category as a worship leader. There are twitter feeds sharing set lists of the songs worship leaders choose. People in the pews or theater seats across America experience more of the same on their Sunday morning worship music menu than ever before. This one-size-fits-all thinking might be the death of true creativity. And, as a result it may flatten our ability to connect deeply to our community.  There are guitar sites, Youtube…

• “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus”: Can’t we be FOR something, and not AGAINST something?

  Rich Kirkpatrick

  12 Jan 2012 | 5:20 pm

  Is religion really a bad word? I wrote about that in an article last year. (Why saying “I’m Not Religious” is a Cop Out!)  This video poem, “Why I Hate Religion, But Love Jesus” is powerful, creative and resonates deeply. I applaud the artistry. But, I think there is just something about semantics asking for more thought and discussion, which any good art should allow. I wrote this in June last year: Religion is not cutting or whipping one’s self, living silently in a monastery, singing emotionally in a worship service. It is not the Inquisition, the wars of the Crusades, the…

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  Ministry Best Practices

• 12 Trends For Healthy Churches

  Bill Reichart

  13 Feb 2012 | 5:45 pm

  The churches have a high view of Scripture. A number of research projects over the past four decades point to this trend. Healthy churches have leaders and members who believe the totality of the Bible, often expressed as a view called inerrancy.  A large number of church members read the Bible daily. The simplicity of this trend often surprises church leaders. But we can no longer assume that all of the congregants read their Bibles every day. That is a practice that must be encouraged and monitored. In our research on spiritual health of Christian, we found that the highest correlative…

• Unchurched Do Not Ponder Life's Purpose

  Bill Reichart

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:51 pm

  "Half of the Americans who do not attend church also do not wonder if there is an ultimate purpose for their lives or the possibility that God has a plan for them, according to a recent survey. The study by LifeWay Research, which surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults, also found that people with even a slight curiosity about a higher purpose to life are more likely to participate in worship services. About 75 percent of the adults surveyed indicated that they either agree or strongly agree with the statement, “There is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life.”" (ht: Survey:…

• The Power Of Vulnerability

  Bill Reichart

  2 Feb 2012 | 11:23 pm

  Brene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity.

• How To Spot Visitors In Your Church

  Bill Reichart

  2 Feb 2012 | 9:45 am

  (ht: NakedPastor)

• Does The Internet Rot Your Brain?

  Bill Reichart

  31 Jan 2012 | 7:00 am

  In ministry, many of us use and leverage the internet for all kinds of purposes. We use it to: Communicate with our church Advertise and market the church Prepare for sermons Connect with our flock And dozens of other tasks.... But even though the internet provides a wealth of tools and resources for ministry, it also comes at a cost. See the infographic about how Social Media (and even how the internet) may be ruining our minds by reading on:  

• 

  Klampert

• Are you an ark builder or a wood gatherer?

  Joel Klampert

  26 Jan 2012 | 1:00 pm

  The year was 1995. I was off to VA to train and then work with YWAM. We had so many sessions on prayer and worship and the passing on of the “mantle” to other leaders. It was an amazing time. Eventually I was off with a small team to Kiev, Ukraine, but before I went I had a good 3 months in VA. One day we had invited a guest speaker and prophet to come to the missions school to pray over us. Prophets are scary people because you never know what they will say and they don’t seem to have a filter. This man didn’t trudge up a deep rooted sin or an unrepentant bitterness,…

• Your daughter and the VAMPIRES that love them

  Joel Klampert

  18 Nov 2011 | 6:20 am

  It is not a secret that I have been reading about the occult and all things spiritual since I could read pretty much. I have read most of the books on “spirits”, christian and pagan and tried over the years to learn as much as I could about the topic. I have seen people possessed by demons and I have spoken to demons through a person. I have been in places that were “haunted” and know the reality of what is going on behind the spiritual curtain… In the 90′s I got into the vampire books from Anne Rice. I read them and loved them. Somewhere within the series…

• Ascent from Darkness by Michael Leehan Book Review

  Joel Klampert

  17 Nov 2011 | 6:05 am

  Ascent from Darkness How Satan’s Soldier Became God’s Warrior By:Michael Leehan I recently got this book from the Blogging for Books program with Thomas Nelson. I did not know what to expect, but judging from it’s description I had I feeling I would be in for a wild ride. Crazy enough the day I received the book I went to the ER for a false alarm and had to sit in a bed with an IV for almost 6 hours. That is where I started the book. The next morning I woke up and neglected the things I needed to do and had it finished in 2 more hours. I could not put this book down. I have…

• John Mark McMillan – Economy CD Review

  Joel Klampert

  4 Nov 2011 | 11:51 am

  John Mark Mcmillan Economy Some might say that this is John’s second CD and followup to the Medicine. Well technically YOU ARE WRONG because he had already released music before he go signed to Integrity. John has been in the music scene for quite a while now and has carved his way into the hearts of millions through people covering his songs. Now that those covers have paved the way for him to get in front of people as well I was worried his sound might get watered down. Worried it might get stuck in the box I like to call “that sound’ with over processed and over produced…

• Plan B by Pete Wilson Book Review

  Joel Klampert

  3 Nov 2011 | 12:35 pm

  Plan B By: Pete Wilson What Do You Do When God Doesn’t Show Up the Way You Thought He Would?… Where do I even begin with this book. It showed up in my mailbox at just the perfect time when I was questioning what in the world God was doing. As a matter of fact I have been in that state a lot the last few years. This book addresses frustration with God, uncertainty, fear, loss, joy and followed up with the Hope of god’s promises. I love this book and can’t say enough about it. It got me to think out of the box and whenever I am thinking inwardly I always rethink about what I…

• 

  BrianAyers.net

• When seminaries stress academic training

  Brian Ayers

  13 Feb 2012 | 6:56 pm

  “When seminaries stress academic training in lieu of spiritual formation, the position of the pastor becomes a profession… and not a calling.” - Roger Finke (professor, Pennsylvania State University)

• Our Own War Stories

  Brian Ayers

  24 Jan 2012 | 5:25 am

  Now these are the nations that the Lord left, to test Israel by them, that is, all in Israel who had not experienced all the wars in Canaan. It was only in order that the generations of the people of Israel might know war, to teach war to those who had not known it before. (Judges 3:1, 2 ESV) When Israel entered Canaan, God immediately gave them victory over armies and nations that were much larger and much more powerful than them. It was undeniable that God was with them, and the people all knew it. But He did not allow them to go to war against every nation; He allowed some battles to…

• When you’ve made mistakes

  Brian Ayers

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:55 am

  "When you realize you’ve made a mistake, “own it” with those involved as soon as possible. Delaying only tempts you to put it off and rationalize why it’s not that big of a deal to share. If your teammates don’t see you owning your mistakes when they come to light, they will question your credibility—and rightly so.” - Nathan Rouse

• Judah Smith’s 8 Steps to Delivering a Message

  Brian Ayers

  18 Jan 2012 | 9:06 am

  I was looking back over some notes I took last year at the C3 Conference in Grapevine, Texas, and found some pretty cool stuff I’d forgotten about.  The notes below came from a Q&A session where Pastor Judah Smith was asked about how he goes about preparing to speak to a group of people. Here are Pastor Judah’s 8 steps to delivering a message: 1. Greeting: Honor the audience, make a good first impression. 2. Read the Bible: Pastor Judah reads the bible story word for word to the crowd. He says no matter who is there or how the message is received, at least the Word was…

• Why PowerPoint Stinks

  Brian Ayers

  17 Jan 2012 | 3:09 pm

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  Shaun In The City

• Not Failure, But LOW AIM is Sin

  ShaunKing

  17 Feb 2012 | 7:08 pm

  Most of my favorite Morehouse brothers have this quote memorized.  It has guided my life and it guided me through these final few days of our KickStarter campaign.  It’s from Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, President of Morehouse during some its best years.  I learned it the first day I arrived on campus back in August of 1997. “It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to…

• NEW BABY! My Family Needs Some Practical Help (THANK U in advance)!

  ShaunKing

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:43 pm

  (This post has not been edited for errors :-) Hey Everybody! My family needs some practical help.  I wouldn’t ask if it wasn’t important. On Monday my wife and I learned that a family member of ours had just lost custody of her kids with the real chance they would be put into foster care.  Within hours Rai (my wife) flew to Kentucky to make sure that didn’t happen and to help guide our family through this tough time. As you may know, our oldest daughter is adopted and we’ve done all that we can to care for children in need. So… We’ve decided that we will…

• Leadership = Dealing w/ Regular Rejection

  ShaunKing

  6 Feb 2012 | 5:31 pm

  (This post has not been edited for errors.  These are just my raw thoughts!) If you are going to be a leader, prepare yourself to deal with rejection on an abnormal scale.  It comes with the territory and I’ve never quite gotten used to it. Every day nearly 75 people stop following me on Twitter Every day 10-15 people unsubscribe from my email list Every few days someone writes a negative tweet about me I get hateful and sometimes slanderous emails Every week or so someone writes a blog about how stupid they think something I said was With that said, as a leader I get an abnormal…

• We are now more than halfway there & 3 cool bits of news!

  ShaunKing

  23 Jan 2012 | 10:50 am

  Hey everybody! With 25 days, we are now more than halfway to our final goal in our KickStarter campaign to BUILD HOPE!!!  On this past Friday we crossed $58,000!  We just received our 2nd $10,000 matching gift in the mail and when that is added to our total today or tomorrow it will put us @ $68,000! Crossing the 50% mark has been a real tipping point in my mind.  I’m not saying it will be easy from here, but I think we have proven that people love the idea of HopeMob and are willing to stand behind it in a major way. If you have not yet made a pledge @ HopeMob.com, we need you to…

• We ARE Joe Paterno: Why I Think His Greatness Should Outshine His Flaws

  ShaunKing

  22 Jan 2012 | 1:58 pm

  Joe Paterno died this morning. For 50 years, he was a god of college football.  He may be the best college football coach of all time.   While coach, he not only won more games than anybody, but his Penn State team produced 250 NFL players, went undefeated 5 times, finished in the top 25 over 35 times, won 2 national championships… all while producing a score of academic all Americans and having one of the highest graduation rates of any football programs in the country – certainly better than any program that was actually good at football. In this way, NONE of us are like Joe…

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  Christian Personal Finance

• How To Use Freecycle: Save Money, Reduce Clutter

  Cherie

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:52 am

  Freecycle is frequently mentioned as a great way to save. This is a quick tutorial on how Freecycle works and how you can help save money and reduce clutter in your home by joining Freecyle. What is Freecycle? Freecycle is a way to exchange items for free within a community.  You can pick up items for free, give away things you are cleaning out, request something that you need, or help out a fellow Freecycle by giving away something they need that you are no longer using. Started in 2005 with the basic idea of keeping good items out of the landfill, this Arizona non-profit started off with…

• 8 Reasons For Capping Our Standards of Living

  Joe Plemon

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  18th century British evangelist John Wesley is the inspiration for this post. I first learned about how Wesley capped his own standard of living from David Platt’s book “Radical”:  “He identified a modest level of expenses that he was going to live on every year. The first year his income surpassed that level by a small amount, and he gave that excess away. The next year his income increased, but he kept his standard of living the same, so he had more to give away. This continued year after year. At one point Wesley was making the equivalent of about $160,000 a year in today’s…

• 5 Things To Do Before Making A Big Purchase

  Adam Faughn

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Your palms get sweaty. Your heart races. Your mind goes in countless directions. These are just some of the physiological feelings you get just before you make a major purchase. It could be something as substantial as a house, or it could be a more common purchase that still costs a lot of money, like a car, health insurance, or college tuition. When it comes down to decision time, we have all felt that little knot in our stomach that makes us second guess everything we have done leading up to that moment. Each of us will have to make large purchases during our lifetime, but that does not…

• Whitney Houston and the Blessing of Being Ordinary

  Kevin

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  Most of us knew of Whitney Houston as a world-class entertainer, but we should remember that she was also a daughter, a mother, a friend and a family member to so many others. She was also a role model to millions for much of her life, and very likely a believer in Jesus Christ. Whitney Houston’s Early Death: What Can We Learn? There’s much speculation in the media and on the street as to the cause of her death, but what ever it was, it was still a tragedy. Her death should be a reminder to us all of the frailties of the human condition. Even the mighty are not exempt. In John 8:7,…

• What is a Donor Advised Fund (DAF)?

  Chris

  16 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  The master commended the dishonest manager because he had acted shrewdly. For the people of this world are more shrewd in dealing with their own kind than are the people of the light. I tell you, use worldly wealth to gain friends for yourselves, so that when it is gone, you will be welcomed into eternal dwellings. - Luke 16:8-9 (NIV) The Lord encourages us to be shrewd in how we handle our worldly wealth to advance His purposes on earth.  In doing this we are strategically exchanging that which is temporary for what is eternal.  Jim Elliott, a well-known missionary martyred in Ecuador,…

• 

  JakeBouma.com

• I called it in November

  Jake

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:41 pm

  In the chronology of events from my original post, I wrote this about late November, 2011: During the week of Thanksgiving, I woke up in the middle of the night soaked in sweat for several consecutive nights. After the first few sweats, they didn't happen for a day or two, and then they returned. A quick Google search revealed that these "night sweats" can be either totally benign or an indicator of something potentially serious, so at the urging of my wife I scheduled an appointment with my primary physician. Well, that's not really the whole story; it turns out that my memory was a little…

• Testing, Testing [+Video]

  Jake

  19 Feb 2012 | 5:29 pm

  [Above: A picture message I sent to Libby while I was drinking barium sulfate in preparation for my PET scan.] Here's another video update for you all. The clips in this video were recorded on Thursday and Friday of last week, when I had my follow-up tests after being diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma. The tests included an electrocardiogram (which I mistakenly call an echocardiogram in the video), an echocardiogram, a PET scan, and a bone marrow biopsy. If for some reason you can't see the video below, click here to watch it on YouTube. Yesterday was my lovely wife's birthday, and we had a…

• Follow-up and diagnosis [+Video]

  Jake

  17 Feb 2012 | 2:51 pm

  To be honest, I don't know what I expected when yesterday's blog post, "I have been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma," went live. I certainly didn't expect the insane amount of encouraging comments, Tweets, and Facebook messages that I received. It was totally overwhelming in the best way possible. In the midst of the being embraced in a massive cyber-hug, I did manage to put together another video. The video below is of Tuesday & Wednesday of this past week: In other news, my bone marrow biopsy went well this morning. The purpose of the test is to determine if there are any malignant…

• I have been diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma

  Jake

  16 Feb 2012 | 2:36 pm

  On Wednesday, February 15, I was diagnosed with Hodgkin lymphoma, a cancer characterized by uncontrolled growth of cancerous lymphocytes, a type of white blood cell in the immune system. This diagnosis comes at the conclusion of several months of testing and bouncing between different doctors (all in glorious detail below). I had a biopsy last Thursday, and the results of the pathology on tissue from a large mass in my chest confirm the diagnosis. But before I continue, please be aware that Hodgkin lymphoma (also called Hodgkin's lymphoma and previously known as Hodgkin's disease) is one of…

• What’s the deal with Hantis?

  Jake

  14 Feb 2012 | 2:37 pm

  I saw this tweet show up in my stream yesterday: Hantis is coming to SYMC! This crazy game is sweeping the nation...check it out! bit.ly/xLe38J #SYMC — SYM Conference (@SYMConference) February 14, 2012 Seeing the phrases "crazy game" and "sweeping the nation" pretty much forced me to watch the video (You don't have to watch the whole thing; you'll get the gist fairly quickly): Basically, Hantis looks awesome. Although it looks like there are "official" tables, it appears from the video that any similar-sized tables can be used. And when it comes to youth ministry and games, I'm all for…

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  Echo Hub » Posts

• Everyone Has a Story

  Sloan Inns

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:41 pm

  “And they have defeated him by the blood of the Lamb and by their testimony.” — Revelation 11:12 After reading that verse you are probably thinking, “Wait, I thought this article was about story.” Don’t worry, it still is. We all have some innate understanding of how powerful stories can be. We watch movies, read books, write poems, sing songs, and all of them are stories of our common existence. For us, certain stories hit home with great impact because we finally feel someone else has gone through what we ourselves are experiencing. Stories encourage us, they uplift…

• Changing My Mind: The Value of Online Discourse

  Dave Dunham

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:36 am

  Debates are a lot like spoilers on a car. They’re all for show and nobody looks better by utilizing them. I am not much for arguments and debates; I try to avoid them as much as possible. Comment wars, however, are as ubiquitous as the blogs that spawn them; they can’t be avoided forever. But by engaging in these debates we can actually help expose the blind spots in our own opinions. I suspect most of us are prone to only listen to the voices that agree with us. A pastor’s library will reflect largely his theological convictions, and a person’s news station will reflect their…

• Fountain: Scriptwriting Made Easier

  Trent Armstrong

  21 Feb 2012 | 3:57 pm

  Serious scriptwriters probably already know about tools like Final Draft, Celtx, and Adobe Story. These are very professional solutions that offer a couple of important things– specifically Formatting and Collaboration. The collaborative aspect of screenwriting has been built into programs like Final Draft, Adobe Story and Celtx; and, while that and other features are useful, the myriad features in these programs might be a little overwhelming for someone who is just interested in banging out a five or ten minute play or video script. Most scriptwriting programs also focus heavily on…

• What Does a Church Media Director Really Do?

  Scott McClellan

  21 Feb 2012 | 8:45 am

  The Internet is chock full of memes, as we all know, and there’s a new one floating around called “What People Think I Do / What I Really Do.” Essentially, participants in the meme create a series of images that depict how others perceive the participant’s profession and contrast those images with one that depicts the participant’s view of his or her role. (If you’d like to find out more, Google it. Just know that I can’t vouch for what you might find.) I tell you all this because an Echo Hub reader named Aaron Baxter created a ”What People…

• Creativity is Our Closest Friend: A Q&A with Chad Jarnagin

  Scott McClellan

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:47 am

  I’ve never met Chad Jarnagin, but we have enough mutual friends that I became convinced I needed to get to know him a little bit. As it turns out, Chad is an insightful guy who faithfully serves a local church. He’s also behind the upcoming Luminous Project, so now seemed like as good a time as any to ask him a few questions. ECHO HUB: Tell us a little bit about yourself and your background. CHAD JARNAGIN: I’m a songwriter, artist. creative ideologist who leads worships, dreams, and shepherds other artists and dreamers. I grew up around Cincinnati, OH, and have lived in the…

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  Pastor For Life

• What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There, Part 4

  Paul

  16 Feb 2012 | 2:05 pm

  In an occasional series, we’ve been addressing the issue of insecurity in leadership. Perry Noble came out today with a great list of ways you can determine whether or not you are a leader who struggles with insecurity. Quick disclaimers: We ALL struggle with insecurity when it comes right down to it. There is only ONE perfect person. His name was Jesus. “I know Jesus. And you are not Jesus.” Don’t mean to put you off with that, just speaking to myself and anyone else who wants to be honest. Check your Superman cape at the door please! Perry’s GREAT list is here.

• What Pastors Should Know Before Their Sabbatical

  Paul

  13 Sep 2011 | 12:42 pm

  Note from Paul: I’m pleased to introduce you to guest bloggers Martin Sanders and Warren Bird, who published this article elsewhere. They have graciously agreed to allow us to run it here as it so well pertains to “resourcing pastors for a lifetime of life-giving “. by Warren Bird and Martin Sanders Most don’t take it soon enough, so here’s how to know when you need one. Editor’s note: This article is by Martin Sanders, Director of the Doctor of Ministry program at Alliance Theological Seminary, Nyack, NY. and founder of Global Leadership, Inc.  Warren Bird oversees…

• 7 Ways to Deal with “Worcations”

  Paul

  23 Aug 2011 | 6:33 pm

  Can you say “worcation”? Apparently, President Obama can! In this article from Fox News, President Obama’s current vacation to Martha’s Vineyard is referred to as a “worcation”. The word is not new to our culture. UrbanDictionary.com has it in their list. I didn’t need to look it up. My hunch is that you didn’t either. As Pastors, we are all too familiar with what a “worcation” is. Some of us disdain it, while others of us thrive on them. Maybe it’s our need to feel like we’re not “wasting” time. Maybe…

• What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There, Part 3

  Paul

  11 Jul 2011 | 11:02 am

  It’s been a while since I’ve posted on this issue of insecurity in pastor and leaders. Recently, I read something that Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church in Washington DC) wrote about the topic: He wrote: I think influence and insecurity are opposites.  Insecure leaders don’t hire high competence people thereby limiting their influence.  Their insecurity manifests itself by surrounding themselves with people that will prop up their ego instead of taking things to the next level. It’s the Saul complex. David was his greatest asset, but Saul perceived him as…

• What Got Us Here Won’t Get Us There, Part 2

  Paul

  31 May 2011 | 9:05 am

  In my last post (too long ago), I mentioned I would be writing more on the issue of insecurity, especially within pastors and leaders. Today, I introduce you to Scott Couchenour. You can get to know him here. I encourage you to get to know him better by following him at his blog, Twitter, and wherever else you can. He’s got some really good ministry leadership stuff going! I’ve asked Scott to give us some of his thoughts on insecurity….enjoy! Then again, maybe that’s the wrong word? Or is that my insecurity talking? Whatever. Here you go! Insecure. That’s me. I…

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  Solar Crash... Where heaven and earth collide.

• that thing you do

  Lon

  6 Feb 2012 | 11:20 am

  via Chase Jarvis Your thoughts?

• Education that matters

  Lon

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:25 pm

  I just saw this short documentary “Children Full of Life”, about a teacher, Toshiro Kanamori, and his fourth-grade class northwest of Tokyo. My wife is a teacher and I have massive respect for educators who are doing their job, but I have always found something stifling within our education system in the west. Volumes can be learned from this video about character building, authority, compassion and community development that’s palpable. Your thoughts?

• Parting Words

  Lon

  20 Jan 2012 | 6:45 am

  This past weekend I was commissioned out of Mosaic (the community of faith I’ve been leading the past four years) and had the opportunity to share a parting message. Last words are often said too late, or in haste, so I thought I’d do something I’ve never done in my years of speaking, I actually scripted it out. I wrote it out in letter-form to hopefully be concise without forgetting anything, although I doubt parting words can ever be complete. Here it is below, or you can also download it as a pdf To my brothers and sisters, friends, fellow seekers and sojourners What a…

• Birds

  Lon

  17 Jan 2012 | 2:41 pm

  image via shatterboxx It’s a profound thing to come to the realization that you don’t have to be where you are. Getting to where you want to be may be a completely separate journey, but if you don’t allow yourself to dream of distant places, that’s all they’ll ever be. You’re freer than you think. Note – distant places may cost you everything – which is why so few of us will even dare to entertain the thought.

• The year that past

  Lon

  4 Jan 2012 | 12:27 pm

  My memory is dismal so it’s always important for me to reflect and write. Life is short, but it can be incredibly broad. Some snippets of 2011: Family rocked. We celebrated our eighth astonishing year of marriage and are raising two wonder-filled daughters. My wife kicked it into high gear doing double duty as a teacher and photographer Took over the house I was raised in, and all the work that comes along with it. Worked at leading our faith community through transitions – new location, sudden death of a friend and leader, conflicts and daring new directions Incorporated a…

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  My World

• Prayer for the Future of Revolution Church

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 4:48 pm

  This past weekend at Revolution Church I announced that we will be moving at the end of the summer from 22nd St. Baptist Church, where we currently meet. They have been great hosts and great partners in ministry. Some of you have asked about details and if there are any problems with 22nd St. The answer is no. We get a long great with them, have great relationships with their leaders and have enjoyed a good 2 years meeting in their building. As the time came to renew our contract with them (we had a 2 year contract with them that expires at the end of August), they felt it was best for their…

• My Wallpaper for Lent

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:26 pm

  In case you are curious, here’s what I’m using for my wallpaper on my computer for Lent. I’m a visual person and this is a great reminder every time I turn my computer on and off. Thanks to Tim Challies for the picture. Filed under: gospel Tagged: cross, desktop, freedom, galatians, gospel, jesus, lent, screensaver, sin

• Stats on Sex

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 11:23 am

  (Via) Filed under: sexuality Tagged: america, marriage, pastor mark, real marriage, sex, stats

• Lent Starts Today

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:04 am

  The season of Lent starts today. As a church, I’ve challenged Revolution to participate in it this year. Growing up, I always heard about lent through the “I’m giving up coffee or chocolate for 40 days.” Somewhat of a chore. Always giving up something you liked for what seemed like no real reason. Katie and I have always been drawn to the church calendar and deep meanings behind it. In our fast paced world, going to our roots in our Christian faith can often be one of the most helpful things. It creates a connection to our history, it often brings the symbolism to…

• Q: Preaching to Believers & Seekers

  Josh

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:52 am

  I got asked last week and I’ve been asked this by leaders from time to time, but the question goes like this, “How do you preach to believers and seekers?” This question begins with what I believe is false thinking, that believers and seekers have different needs. I want to be clear, believers and seekers are in different places on their spiritual journey. A person who walks into a church who has been walking with Jesus for 30 years compared to someone who has walked in for the first time, are in different places. They ask different questions. They’ll even tell you…

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  The Resurgence

• 4 Reasons Leaders Should Pray

  Mark Driscoll

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  This content is for those that have signed up for Leadership Coaching with Pastor Mark. Please sign in at http://theresurgence.com/.

• Getting Through Challenges to Missional Community

  Jonathan Dodson

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  The popularity of missional community is rising among evangelicals, and yet, the American church is nowhere near a missional tipping point. I’ve faced missional highs and missional lows. Along the way, I’ve considered a number of things that are absolutely necessary for us to endure the transition to missional church. How should we respond to the challenges of missional community? Here are three things to keep in mind as you lead in God's mission (and thanks for doing so). 1. Building Missional Community Requires Stretched Grace We need more than a drop of grace to get us going on…

• How Shame and Guilt Can Enter into Parenting

  Julie Lowe

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Julie Lowe talks about how shame and guilt often enter into how we parent. She’ll be speaking at CCEF’s 2012 National Conference this October in Tennessee.

• Love Your (Theological) Enemies

  Phil Ryken

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:00 am

  I find it hard enough to love the people I agree with. So how can I love someone on the other side, especially when the things that divide us are theological principles that really matter? Disagreements Are Inevitable Since the time of the apostles, the church has always had its theological disputes. I often wish that I could live at a time or in a place that was controversy-free. Yet a sober look at human nature and the limitations of our understanding makes it clear that there will always be theological disagreements. If we care about biblical truth, inevitably we will find ourselves…

• Theology of Scripture

  Gregg Allison

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  This lecture was recently given by Dr. Gregg Allsion to train the Mars Hill staff in a theology of Scripture and its importance in life and ministry. Below, you can download the supplementary notes that coincide with the lecture. Supplementary PDF

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  Less Clutter. Less Noise.

• 20 minutes about communication trends in the local church…

  Kem

  2 Feb 2012 | 1:23 pm

  Sean Cannell over at Think International sat me down on Skype last week for an interview about communication trends in the local church. Best practices, bad habits, missed jokes and all–we covered it in 20 minutes.

• How we addressed our growing connection and communication gaps as a church…

  Kem

  30 Jan 2012 | 9:42 am

  We launched the Table at Granger last fall. Since then, I’ll regularly get emails and voicemails from other churches wondering why we made the choice, how we rolled it out and what’s happened since the launch. Last week, I took some time and answered all the FAQs over on the Table blog. Hope it’s helpful. Part 1: Why did you feel Granger needed its own private social network? What made you pick the Table? How did you get leadership buy-in? Part 2: What kind of response has the Table received at Granger? What’s your favorite feature of the Table so far? Part 3: What do…

• If I asked you to describe your job with one visual, what would it be?

  Kem

  27 Jan 2012 | 12:09 pm

  I had a special guest in the office on Monday. Emily, an eighth grader, shadowed my goings on for a full work day as part of a Career Day assignment for school. She was all in–going to meetings, listening to phone calls, observing emails, catching hallway conversations, going out to lunch with the gang, etc. She showed up more prepared than most adults and kept me on my toes–asking questions about the why behind the what, sharing unique perspectives and jumping in wherever she could add value. Several of my teammates thought she was in college. At the end of the day, she ran me…

• Economics for humans…what we don’t measure and why it’s a problem.

  Kem

  24 Jan 2012 | 8:59 am

  I listened to an HBR Ideacast this AM that had an encouraging perspective from an unlikely source. An economist was advocating that there is more to life than a growing GDP. Here’s a few notes I jotted down. If I asked you what a good life consists of, your answer would be about more than money & stuff. It would be about a life rich in relationships (social capital), accomplishment (organizational capital), meaning, fulfillment and passion (emotional capital)—all of those things add up to a meaningful life. Economics as we know it and live it doesn’t really capture this…

• I got to be on the world’s only user-antagonistic podcast…

  Kem

  20 Jan 2012 | 1:53 pm

  Thanks Anthony, Heath & Matthew… I could do this every week.  

• 

  ChurchCrunch

• Star Wars Time-Shift to Feudal Japan Samurai

  Eric Dye

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:00 pm

  If Star Wars were set in Feudal Japan, they would be Samurai and look something like this … Artist Clinton Felker has done an awesome job time-shifting these Star Wars characters. I hope to see more! Check out Clinton’s website and how to order prints. You just finished reading "Star Wars Time-Shift to Feudal Japan Samurai" on ChurchMag! Feel free to comment on it! We use the Standard Theme for our blog platform!

• Artful Mega Man Collection

  Eric Dye

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  I love Mega Man. It’s true. I’ve spent many hours as a kid (and an adult) playing this 8-bit classic. They’ve made so many of them, so there’s certainly no shortage of gameplay. Check out these awesome artful Etsy offerings of Mega Man II: I’ll take them all, thank you. Check out the details on Etsy. You just finished reading "Artful Mega Man Collection" on ChurchMag! Feel free to comment on it! We use the Standard Theme for our blog platform!

• Photographers Pose with Their Iconic Images

  Jay Caruso

  22 Feb 2012 | 3:00 pm

  What defines an iconic image? It is an image that is almost instantly recognizable even by those with only a passive interest in photography. In fact, I can list some iconic images without even showing you the photograph and you’ll probably know exactly what photo I’m referring, too. The picture of Muhammed Ali standing over Sonny Liston. The image of the sailor kissing a nurse in NYC after WWII. The sad photo of a starving Sudanese child with a vulture lurking in the background. Photographer Tim Mantoani has launched a project where he is shooting photographers posing with…

• Arrest My Daughter Because of Her Tablet?

  Tre Lawrence

  22 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  My daughter’s favorite possession is now her Nook Color tablet. She had initially wanted a Nintendo 3DS, and had shown enviable discipline in saving enough money to purchase one outright. But, after checking out her mom’s Nook Color and weighing the additional costs of purchasing games in addition to the device itself, she started to waver. First, it was the games. We are fairly well invested in Android games. I had lived vicariously through Amazon’s Free Android App of the Day promotion and had amassed quite the flotilla of time-wasting apps: Cut the Rope, Angry Birds,…

• This Lord of the Rings Interactive Family Tree is EPIC

  Eric Dye

  22 Feb 2012 | 11:00 am

  The Lord of the Rings Project is EPIC! Emil Johansson is a part-time professional photographer and student in Chemical Engineering. Since having her imagination captured by the Lord of the Rings when she was eleven, Emil decided to complete a family tree of all the Tolkien creatures and characters. Emil says, Now, six years later I have finally gathered the knowledge to do what I have always wanted to do: put the family tree on the web. In November last year I started on the quest and I have to admit, it has taken me longer than I expected. As of this moment, 646 characters have been…

• 

  Brian Barela's Blog: Catalyze Change

• Stop Growing Your Facebook Page

  Brian Barela

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:41 am

  Many non-profits invest more time cultivating conversation than mobilizing action on their facebook pages. I recently ran an analytics report on one of my ministry’s larger Facebook pages. In spite of having a facebook page for over three years, the number of pageviews on the website to which we were seeking to drive has stayed the same. The primary reason this Facebook page existed was to mobilize action, yet all we focused only on cultivating conversations. “Businesses are interacting with consumers to socialize rather than learn about customer expectations to in turn, deliver…

• 2 Quotes on How to Use Pinterest

  Brian Barela

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  “Rather than pin products that Kate Spade sells, the brand’s marketing department has been trying to operate the same way other Pinterest users do — by pinning inspiring or pretty pictures that happen to fit well with the brand.”–How Kate Spade Uses Pinterest   “Pinterest, through their heavily visual interface, is a great way to show your audience who you are, but that doesn’t necessarily mean it’s all about showing what your cause is.”–Can Non-Profits Use Pinterest to Change the World? Tweet

• Blogging Advice from Salesforce.com’s Social Media Director

  Brian Barela

  18 Feb 2012 | 7:14 am

  Tweet

• Your Free Time is More Valuable Than Ever

  Brian Barela

  17 Feb 2012 | 6:42 pm

  “The developed world has over a trillion hours of free time a year.”–Clay Shirky This short video from Clay Shirky is well worth the four minutes, but I have pulled out my favorite quotes from it for an even shorter version. “We can now use this free time in aggregate as we can collaborate with one another on large scale projects.” Shirky addresses generosity and abundant free time in the video. Although this kind of global generosity often comes in a fragmented and asynchronous manner, over time it yields exponential results. “An explosion of collaborative…

• Transform Your Non-Profit with Just One Thing

  Brian Barela

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:16 am

  Data. Not opinions or anecdotes. Opinions depend on past experiences and personal preferences. Anecdotes often seek to confirm those past experiences and personal preferences whether or not they are true. Relationships and personal opinions can significantly affect decision making in non-profits. This is not a statement of value (good or bad), but a reality that must be addressed. Networked organizations must leverage these relationships but also beware of allowing them to over-influence decision making. “In short, what people think they want is news, but what they really crave is…

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  Zak White

• The Revolution Church Band

  Zak White

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:24 am

  This past Sunday the band did a little Bon Jovi. NICE. If you don’t see the video below, click here.

• Man vs. Wife Mind Dump

  Zak White

  12 Feb 2012 | 5:23 pm

  The kickoff to our new series, Man vs. Wife, was a blast! We switched all of our service times today. Saw great results! The new times are 9:30, 11:00 and 1:00. The afternoon time was interesting for us…first time we have ever had that. LOVED IT, but I kept checking the clock and freaking out that everything was late. Best of all, 6 people gave their lives to Christ today. Way to go Revolution Church! Today was our highest attendance ever (not including holidays.) Our Next Steps tent blew away today…nice. Have to get a new one this week. We tried a new thing for our V.I.P.

• Things You Might Not Know About Your Pastor -By Amber

  Zak White

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:19 am

  Its Amber, Pastor Zak’s wife and I am taking over the blog today! I know our pastor better than anyone (I had better…especially after ten years of marriage!) Revolution Church, here are some things you might not know about your pastor: Pastor Zak is a HUGE Romantic (he writes me a love note each week and places it in a different place…O’So special to me!) He still dates me like he did in high school. He plans every date and takes me out at least every other week. He wants to model what it means to be a great husband to our son Couper. Pastor Zak has a dance party…

• Fandemonium Halftime Video

  Zak White

  8 Feb 2012 | 8:35 am

  This past Sunday we did a one week sermon that went well with the Super Bowl called Fandemonium, we had a “half time” report video in the sermon. It was a lot of fun and a great creative idea. They just interrupted me with the video to create a true half time feel. Check it out here or watch below.

• Man VS. Wife – Train Now

  Zak White

  7 Feb 2012 | 8:05 am

  We are kicking off a new series called Man VS. Wife this Sunday at Revolution Church, but you don’t have to wait for church to start applying God’s Word to your marriage. Here is what I want to encourage you to do each day as we get closer to our new series. Open up the Bible and read through Philippians 2:1-11. Read it every day and then pray these two specific things: Jesus, let me see the areas I fall short in serving my spouse. Jesus, let me see my spouse through your eyes. See you Sunday for Man VS. Wife at 9:30am, 11:00am or 1:00pm!!!

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  Business as Mission Network

• New Barna and LeTourneau Study Explores Gap between God and Jobs

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:28 pm

  From LeTourneau University Center for Faith & Work - (DALLAS, Texas) – Do faith and work mix? And if so, as America’s workforce increasingly wants meaning beyond a paycheck, do pastors help? From a recent national study commissioned by Dallas-based LeTourneau University’s Center for Faith & Work, answers are, “Yes,” and “Not enough.” “Ninety-three percent of pastors say they want to help

• Ken Crowell, Business as Mission Pioneer and Founder of Galtronics in Israel Leaves a Legacy

  31 Jan 2012 | 8:58 pm

  I wish I could build a "Cooperstown" for Work as Worship Heroes.  Instead of collecting old baseball gloves and jerseys marking hall of fame careers I'd fill it with authentic stories. The kind that are filled with adventure but are soaked in humility and obedience. They would highlight men and women who moved the mission forward, mostly when nobody was looking. But despite the cloak of

• 3 Call2business opportunities for 2012

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am

  From our friends at Call2all, they'd like to let everyone know they have 3 events planned for 2012.  1. Amsterdam 2012 April 16-19 Mon-Thurs Call2all Western Europe Congress April 16-19, 2012 You are warmly invited to the Call2all Western Europe Congress – April 16-19, 2012 being held in De Betteld, a beautiful Dutch Christian Conference Centre (www.debetteld.nl). Located close to the

• Social-profit enterprises: Stop Debating and get them going

  24 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am

  The wall between non-profit and for-profit organizations is crumbling in the US legal structure with the recent creations of B-Corps, L3Cs, and now FlexC’s. In actual practice, the social sector moved beyond the value of such distinctions long ago. I think it’s time to move forward into the ‘era of social-profit enterprises’ whose mission outweighs the funding model. It’s time to put more

• Wall Street Journal asks if a Philanthropy should act like a Business?

  19 Jan 2012 | 5:55 am

  It's your money, and you're willing to give some of it away to a worthy cause. But you want to see results. Measurable progress toward agreed-upon goals. Regular proof that your investment is achieving maximum impact. That's the way businesses operate, and charities should be no different. That's one way to look at it, anyway. Others argue that things work differently in the world of

• 

  CJ Alvarado

• Video: A Networked Society

  CJ

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:32 pm

  Very interesting video about urbanization and the role technology is playing in cities around the world. A must watch.

• Work vs Creative Labor

  CJ

  20 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm

  I found a great article on work and creative labor from 99%.  As a guy who leads creatives, the topic of work and creativity is one I’m always trying to better understand.  Work, as expressed below, is willed into action.  Creative labor, on the other hand, is not always something I can “will” in existence....

• Apple to announce tools, platform to “digitally destroy” textbook publishing

  CJ

  18 Jan 2012 | 1:43 pm

  The technology to completely challenge the way textbooks are handle in universities has always been here.  It’s the business model that’s scared so many away.  An article today gives us reason to believe Apple is going to stir it up again.  I love it. “MacInnis sees Apple as possibly up-ending the traditional print publishing model...

• Innovation Series: Chances With Wolves

  CJ

  2 Jan 2012 | 1:03 pm

  The Innovation Series feature creatives that are exploring new ways to share their passion with the world. 10 years ago if you had a beloved music collection of rare jazz recordings and wanted to share it with the world, it would be practically impossible to do so.  The internet and social technology is changing that...

• Power of Circles

  CJ

  30 Dec 2011 | 2:47 pm

  Social technology is giving us the ability to form circles of specialization in new ways and there is tremendous benefit to this.  Though the power of circles isn’t new per se, who we form them with, how we form them and how often we engage in them is entirely new.  Social technology gives us reach...

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  Revitalize Your Church

• John Fletcher's Heart Check Questions

  Mark Wilson

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:07 am

  My hero, John Fletcher, the 18th Century Vicar of Madeley, was a seeker after God. His heart's desire was to press in to love Him more fully. When I visited his grave a few years ago, I prayed, "Lord, make me a John Fletcher." He drew up this list of questions for personal reflection at the end of the day: 1 Did I awake spiritual, and was I watchful in keeping my mind from wandering this morning when I was rising? 2 Have I this day got nearer to God in times of prayer, or have I given way to a lazy, idle spirit? 3 Has my faith been weakened by unwatchfulness, or quickened by diligence this…

• Old Warmth is a Cold Notion

  Mark Wilson

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:00 am

  "A manifestation of the Spirit last year will no more support a soul this year, than air breathed yesterday will nourish the flame of life today. The sun which warmed us last week must shine again this week. Old light is dead light. A notion of old warmth is a very cold notion. "  -- Rev. John Fletcher of Madeley

• What People Talk About Before They Die

  Mark Wilson

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:37 am

  A good post from hopice chaplain, Kerry Egan, especially for those who provide pastoral care.,

• One Question Every Church Leader Should Ask

  Mark Wilson

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:46 am

  What is it Like to Be Someone Else in Your Church?

• How to Be an Online Jerk

  Mark Wilson

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Great post from Frank Viola:  The Art of Being a Jerk Online:  9 Sure Ways!

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  Challies Dot Com - Informing the Reforming

• Through the Jesus Lens

  Tim

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:12 am

  It is one of Jesus’ more audacious claims—that all of the Scriptures testify to him. As Jesus appealed to the religious authorities of his day and as he exposed their ignorance, he declared that he himself is the subject of the Bible; he himself is the one all of the Old Testament Scriptures were pointing to.Finding Christ in the pages of the Bible can be a challenge at times, and especially so when reading portions of the Old Testament. Michael Williams’ How to Read the Bible Through the Jesus Lens is a helpful guide to a Christ-focused reading of the…

• A La Carte (2/22)

  Tim

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:02 am

  Challenger Disaster - All these years later, some amateur video of the Challenger disaster has just turned up. “Captured in an era that precedes mobile phones, when few people owned camcorders, it’s one of few video recordings of the disaster by a member of the public.”Never Retreat - This is a neat article from Kathleen Nielson. “Looking through a musty box of family memorabilia, I recently came upon a brittle, browned letter dated September 24, 1918, sent to his parents by my grandfather, James Oliver Buswell Jr. Grandpa B’s years as president of Wheaton…

• Pretty Up Your Desktop

  Tim

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:59 am

  It has been more than a year now since I began offering free desktop wallpapers created by some fantastic Christian designers. I recently asked a friend to go through all of those wallpapers and select ten of his favorites. If you are interested in prettying up your computer a little bit, here are some great ways of doing just that.Free from the CurseCreated by Jeff Nine from Oklahoma City, OK.320x480, 1024x768, 1024x1024, 1280x800, 1280x1024, 1366x768, 1440x900, 1680x1050, 1920x1200, 2560x1440For the Healing of the NationsCreated by Jeff Nine from Oklahoma City, OK.320x480,…

• Entitlement

  Tim

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:59 am

  This week’s podcast has David Murray answering my request to hear him speak on the subject of entitlement. You can read or listen to what he had to say. If you choose to listen to it, you can also hear me interact with him a little bit.Jack Chambless is Professor of Economics at Valencia College. Every year he starts his class off by asking his students to write a 10 minute essay on what the American dream looks like to them, and what they want the federal government to do to help them achieve that dream. He describes this year’s results:About 10% of the students said…

• A La Carte (2/21)

  Tim

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:36 am

  The Pilgrim’s Progress - Christian Audio is offering an exclusive offer to the readers of this site. If you’d like to get the audiobook of The Pilgrim’s Progress, you can have it for just $4.98. Just click the link and enter the code Challiesrtc. Why don’t you grab it and then listen to it with me…Seinfeld’s Secret - Here’s an interesting success sorry based on following Jerry Seinfeld’s productivity secret. “The concept is simple: spend some amount of time doing a desired activity every day and, when you do, cross off that day on a…

• 

  Desiring God Blog

• What's the Deal with Anxiety?

  22 Feb 2012 | 3:00 pm

  Pastor John explains the nature and effects of anxiety, Think for a moment how many different sinful actions and attitudes come from anxiety. Anxiety about finances can give rise to coveting and greed and hoarding and stealing. Anxiety about succeeding at some task can make you irritable and abrupt and surly. Anxiety about relationships can make you withdrawn and indifferent and uncaring about other people. Anxiety about how someone will respond to you can make you cover over the truth and lie about things. So if anxiety could be conquered, a mortal blow would be struck to many other sins. .

• The Glory of God's Sustaining Grace When Our Prayers Aren't Answered

  22 Feb 2012 | 11:50 am

  It doesn't happen often, but it does happen — people see my son Paul and ask if they can pray for him. At places like WalMart (where it has happened) I usually accept their offer after quietly and quickly assessing their motives and authenticity. And people are usually appropriate. But a scenario occurred recently where I struggled to respond graciously. The Holy Spirit helped me in that moment as I could feel my pride being challenged. Here’s the story.  A Prayer for Healing We got to our church service a few minutes late. I plopped Paul down in the seats just outside the sanctuary…

• A. I. M. S. — A New Acronym for Living My Life

  22 Feb 2012 | 4:00 am

  I have a new acronym. Along with I.O.U.S. and A.P.T.A.T. and A.N.T.H.E.M. I now use A.I.M.S. to help me maintain my Christ-consciousness through the day. Two times in his second letter Peter said he meant to stir us up “by way of reminder” (2 Peter 1:13; 3:1). This is what I need all day long. Reminders of massive truth. If my mind is empty or worldly, my faith languishes. My joy in Christ weakens. I need truth. “You will know the truth, and the truth will set you free” (John 8:32). My mind needs glory: “Set your minds on things that are above” (Colossians…

• Jonathan Edwards on the True Excellency of the Gospel Minister

  21 Feb 2012 | 7:00 pm

  A lot has changed since 1743 — but not everything. The "true excellency of a minister of the gospel" is the same today as it was back when Jonathan Edwards preached an ordination sermon by the same title for a young Presbyterian pastor in Pelham, Massachuesetts. Though in our own day we're surrounded by an abundance of resources and leadership tips, we'd do well to hear Edwards as relevant now as he would have been if we were sitting under his counsel 269 years ago. Below is an outline of his sermon, "The True Excellency of a Minister of the Gospel." Sermon Text — John…

• 25 Top Quotes from J. C. Ryle

  21 Feb 2012 | 12:00 pm

  One neat thing about the blogosphere is the increasing accessibility to old gospel resources that would otherwise be buried in libraries. Case in point: J.C. Ryle Quotes. This blog is a repository of Christ-centered content from the nineteenth-century Bishop of Liverpool — who was also the subject of John Piper's recent biographical message at the Desiring God Conference for Pastors. In a recent post, Erik Kowalker highlights the top 25 posts over the past few years: 5 Dangers For Young Men 9 Lessons From God Concerning Sickness 7 Marks of a Right Heart Before God 5 Tips For Raising Godly…

• 

  ToddRhoades.com

• Bluetooth Tooth Brush

  Todd Rhoades

  16 Feb 2012 | 7:47 am

  OK… match this up to the ‘things I never knew existed, but are kinda cool’ category. A toothbrush with bluetooth. Wow… never even imagined or thought of something like this. The iPhone or Android app will keep record of how long and how well you brush, and even has a timer.  You can also set your brushing goals and lets you listen to music whilest you brusheth your teeth. Future versions will allow you to see what parts of your mouth you brush the most and which parts you neglect. Could be kind of useful.  Especially for kids (as a diagnostic to help them brush…

• Accidental Shooting at Florida Church

  Todd Rhoades

  13 Feb 2012 | 10:20 am

  According to FoxNews, members of a Florida church are praying for the recovery of their pastor’s daughter who was accidentally shot in the head at the church on Sunday. A small group of church members were gathered at the hospital to pray for 20-year-old Hannah Grace Kelley, who was shot in the head Sunday afternoon at the Grace Connection Church in St. Petersburg, Fla., MyFoxOrlando.com reported. The Pinellas County Sheriff’s Office was called to the church at about 12:24 p.m. on Sunday. Investigators say Moises Zambrana took two men into a nearby closet to show his gun to…

• Church OMG Sign Sparks Controversy

  Todd Rhoades

  8 Feb 2012 | 11:12 am

  “People forget what they are actually saying when they say ‘OMG’. “We’re reclaiming ‘oh my God’ for the church.” IT TOOK only three letters for a church to become the talking point of the neighbourhood. The ‘OMG’ (‘Oh My God’) sign on St Paul’s Anglican Church in Australia, has become the subject of photos, laughter and an internet frenzy. The Rev Howard Langmead said the sign was put there to “catch attention and be unexpected”. SOURCE

• Sermon Kills Man, Church Resurrects Him

  Todd Rhoades

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:21 am

  This church believes they raised a man from the dead. What do you think?

• Wycliffe: Oh No We Didn’t

  Todd Rhoades

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:01 am

  Wycliffe Bible Translators denied allegations that it removed the terms “father” and “son” from Bible translations meant for Muslim countries and said any problematic texts are no longer being distributed. Russ Hersman, senior vice president of Wycliffe Bible Translators USA, told The Christian Post that many of the works that critics like the organization Bible Missiology have pointed to as changing familial terms for God and Jesus have either done no such thing or have already been pulled from circulation. Read more here from the Christian Post…

• 

  Pastor Steven Furtick

• Perfect for You

  Steven Furtick

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  Perfect? Everyone desires to be in God’s will. But God’s good, pleasing, and perfect will might not look the way you think it should. We need to clear up what we mean by perfect. Otherwise, we could miss out on God’s will altogether because we’ll be too busy chasing our own daydreams. Our idea of perfect is perfect to us. A perfect day to you might mean everything is going the way you think it should go. A perfect marriage to you might be one that’s easy and stress-free. A perfect job to you might be one where you’re high on the leadership pyramid and banking loads of…

• LOVE Week 2012

  Steven Furtick

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  This weekend wrapped up LOVE Week 2012 at Elevation Church. Three years ago, LOVE Week started with a goal of serving 5,000 hours as a church in one week. This year, Mayor Anthony Foxx officially declared February 11th-19th as “LOVE Week” across the city of Charlotte. Thanks to our 93 partnering churches and non-profit organizations and 4,861 volunteers, we were able to serve 50,340 hours and impact countless lives for the glory of Jesus. Along the way, we built a house, made 20,000 sandwiches for homeless children, and donated $40,000 to a free medical clinic.   This barely scratches…

• The Turning Point

  Steven Furtick

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:55 am

  This weekend, we had the privilege of sharing one of the most powerful testimonies we’ve ever seen at Elevation Church. Her story was so poignant, we built our entire worship experience around it. Meet Fasha Davis—living proof that God uses us to initiate the turning points that may actually save someone else’s life.

• Fight the Funk

  Steven Furtick

  16 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  It’s inevitable. No matter what line of work you’re in or how much you love it. No matter how good you are at what you do. Sooner or later, you’re going to get into a funk. It happens to everyone. The best authors experience seasons where they hate writing and are lucky to have one good sentence in a hundred pages. The most passionate musicians have days where they don’t even want to pick up their instrument. While funks are unavoidable, we don’t have to resign ourselves to them. From my own experience, I have identified four responses we can take to combat being victims to these…

• Finish the Devil’s Sermons

  Steven Furtick

  14 Feb 2012 | 5:15 am

  As you navigate the story that is unfolding in your life, you’ll be quick to find that discouragement is everywhere. It seems that the harder you run after God, the harder the devil is going to try to prevent you from getting where you’re going. And all he really has to do to trip us up is drop one little hint of discouragement in our ears. You’re unworthy. You’re a terrible father. You’ll never be any better than this. He’s said it to me and I know that he’s said it to you. The worst part is, the devil doesn’t necessarily speak in complete lies. He gives us half-truths with…

• 

  adrianwarnock.com

• Fasting may be good for your mental health

  adrian.warnock@gmail.com (Adrian Warnock)

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:01 pm

  This is a rather interesting article on the possibility that fasting may be good for the brain.  Maybe the ancient ways are better after all?  Read more at “Fasting can help protect against brain diseases, scientists say.” The rest of this article is available by following the link above

• UK Councils win back the right to pray as minister Eric Pickles enacts new law early

  adrian.warnock@gmail.com (Adrian Warnock)

  18 Feb 2012 | 6:19 am

  Interesting new step in the current war over religious freedom in the UK.  Eric Pickles said. “By effectively reversing that illiberal ruling, we are striking a blow for localism over central interference, for freedom to worship over intolerant secularism, for Parliamentary sovereignty over judicial activism, and for long-standing British liberties over modern-day political correctness.” He [...] The rest of this article is available by following the link above

• Why believing God heals today does not make you a charismatic

  adrian.warnock@gmail.com (Adrian Warnock)

  16 Feb 2012 | 2:39 pm

  Many readers might dismiss the recent concerns about the ASA as a charismatic issue. The issue is much broader than that, as the following testimony demonstrates. The author takes up the story after a failed attempt at prayer for healing, and in the process most definitely does not become a charismatic as the full article [...] The rest of this article is available by following the link above

• Your dead shall live; their bodies shall rise

  adrian.warnock@gmail.com (Adrian Warnock)

  14 Feb 2012 | 2:37 am

  This morning I want to remind you of a glorious simple truth. It is the foundation of all truly Christian hope. It is the very centre of the gospel. Merely to announce that we are sinners and one has died for us is not enough. It never has been. No matter how accurate your doctrine [...] The rest of this article is available by following the link above

• British Muslim cabinet minister speaks out against militant secularists’ attempt to implement an Atheocracy in the UK

  adrian.warnock@gmail.com (Adrian Warnock)

  13 Feb 2012 | 5:29 pm

  From the BBC: British society is under threat from the rising tide of “militant secularisation” reminiscent of “totalitarian regimes”, a Cabinet minister will warn on Tuesday. In an historic visit to the Vatican, Baroness Warsi will express her “fear” about the marginalisation of religion throughout Britain and Europe, saying that faith needs “a seat at [...] The rest of this article is available by following the link above

• 

  Reformissionary

• Soma School: What We Did

  Steve McCoy

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:31 pm

  I'm trying hard to figure out how to explain Soma School. For a couple of weeks now I've been in processing mode while unfolding the story of my week in Tacoma for my wife and kids, our church leaders and some of our members, our community group, and our church as a whole. As a part of processing I'm working on a few posts to explain what I did at Soma School and what God is doing through what I learned there. First, what we did. The Soma School schedule for the week was well constructed to immerse us both in what they say and what they do by hearing it and actually doing it.

• Music Monday | Bon Iver (w/ Sean Carey)

  Steve McCoy

  20 Feb 2012 | 12:51 pm

  Bon Iver's 25 minute 4AD/Jagjaguar session, Justin Vernon with Sean Carey, is great. Enjoy! Pick up Bon Iver's new album for $6.99. His debut album, For Emma, Forever Ago, is $5.99. S. Carey: All We Grow is $7.99 and well worth checking out.

• Music Monday 2.20.12

  Steve McCoy

  20 Feb 2012 | 11:52 am

  Streaming FREE Dirty Three: Toward the Low Sun Fanfarlo: Rooms Filled With Light Field Music: Plumb James Vincent McMorrow: We Don't Eat Some good stuff burning up my iPod right now. If my Dre Beats could talk. Reformissionary Recommends... Burial: Kindred EP Polica: Give You The Ghost Sharon Van Etten: Tramp Shearwater: Animal Joy Also check out February's $5 albums.

• Shearwater | Animal Joy Is Out!

  Steve McCoy

  14 Feb 2012 | 10:35 am

  I can't hide my animal joy! Yes, Shearwater: Animal Joy is out today and only $5.99! Go get you some!

• Cheap Kindle Books 2.13.12

  Steve McCoy

  13 Feb 2012 | 1:25 pm

  Kindle does a good job of offering good, cheap books. Buy a Kindle ($79), Kindle Touch ($99), or Kindle Fire ($199). Or simply get a free Kindle app to read these books for cheap! FREE The Transforming Power of the Gospel | Jerry Bridges $1.99 Big Truths for Young Hearts | Bruce Ware $3.99 Shepherding A Child's Heart | Tedd Tripp Instructing A Child's Heart | Tedd & Margy Tripp Broken-Down House | Paul David Tripp Forever | Paul David Tripp Lost in the Middle | Paul David Tripp Herein Is Love: Genesis - A Commentary for Children | Nancy Ganz Everyday Talk | John Younts…

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  Worship Matters

• Show Us Christ – Video from The Gathering

  Bob Kauflin

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:37 pm

  When we were putting together the songs for The Gathering: Live from WorshipGod11, we ended up having not one, but two songs that served as a “prayer for illumination.” One is Your Words of Life, written by Pat & Joel Sczebel. The other is Show us Christ, which I co-wrote with Doug Plank. Show Us Christ reminds us that the purpose of preaching God’s Word is not simply to give insights for living, impress people with our knowledge of Greek, or to tell people they need to try harder. The primary goal is to display the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ (2 Cor. 4:6).

• Have Mercy on Me – Video from The Gathering

  Bob Kauflin

  24 Jan 2012 | 1:12 pm

  The first song I heard that I thought would be on our most recent album, The Gathering, was Have Mercy on Me. Co-written by Dale Bischof and Pat Sczebel, it combines grief over sin with an assurance of God’s mercy in Christ. Even though as Christians all our sins are completely forgiven (Col. 2:13), we can continue to battle either ongoing condemnation or arrogant presumption. The first results in an attitude that binds us, discourages us, and makes us fearful of approaching God. The second equally dangerous mindset supposes that because our sins have been paid for by Christ’s…

• David Peterson on Revelation and the Songs We Sing

  Bob Kauflin

  19 Jan 2012 | 7:36 pm

  My top recommended book on a biblical theology of worship is David Peterson’s Engaging with God. If you’re responsible for leading in your church, either as a pastor or a musician, I think you’ll serve people more faithfully and biblically if you read it. I go through it every year with my interns and never fail to come away from our discussion times with fresh understanding and inspiration for leading corporate worship. Peterson focuses on worship as it’s understood in the Old Testament, the gospels, and various epistles. The chapters on Hebrews and Revelation by…

• As You Go – The Evolution of a Song

  Bob Kauflin

  12 Jan 2012 | 8:15 am

  Here’s our latest video from The Gathering: Live from WorshipGod11. As You Go was written by Mark Altrogge, who has been writing songs for Sovereign Grace Music since the early 1980s. That’s a long time. It amazes me how he continues to write such theologically rich, relevant, singable songs. What you may not know is that even with the decades of experience Mark has, he is one of the easiest people to work with when it comes to suggesting changes to his songs. Rather than giving you a detailed explanation of why he wrote what he did, or sharing 5 reasons why no alternative could…

• The Piano in Contemporary Worship, Part 3

  Bob Kauflin

  7 Jan 2012 | 2:53 pm

  Last month I posted two sessions from the pre-conference workshop I taught at WorshipGod11 on the Piano in Contemporary Worship (Part 1 and Part 2). We finally finished editing the third session. This one took a little more time to edit because people were regularly walking past the window of the door in the video, which is a bit distracting. My good friend Dave Mackenzie performed his video wizardry and edited the movement out. In this session I deal with many of the specific questions I’ve been asked over the years. Those include: chord coloring inversions playing hymns developing…

• 

  Deep Thoughts by Gman

• Blog Less, Be more ....

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:14 am

  Blog less ... be more there in person. Social media less, off the internet .... be more there ...play more. laugh ...cry .... As I'm home this week ...I'm seeing that there is a lot of work to be done and not just online. So let's focus on being there in person for people.http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

• What One wants in their Preacher?

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:07 am

  What does one want in their preacher? The best conversationalist? The best communicator? The best dressed? Nope, nope and nope. People know that they shouldn't put their preacher on this pedestal; nor that is he perfect. In fact most preachers just need to point people, well, to Jesus. So here is three things I think people want in their preacher. I. Committed. A committed preacher to stay where they are. Committed to the Lord and to the local work. Pursuing to be Jesus' hands and feet to the World. II. Caring - care for people. Care for the Lord. Put love into action. III. Compassionate.

• Bible in 50 words ...

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:55 am

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

• Ignore the Hype and the Numbers.

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:39 am

  I see a lot of guys blogging everyday, (I use to be that guy) and wanting to get fame and recognized. They spend lots of time on facebook or other social media sites and wanting people to read what they had written. Trust me Ignore the hype, ignore trying to get numbers. Write what you are passionate about and write to yourself and not to gain an "Audience." Weird thing is one of my writings has ended up being published and now in a discount store: Ollies. I saw the book and my quote in it .... (The book was Making Sense of the Church BTW) ...I got thinking wow .... I'm no longer a celebrity.

• New Sermon Series: Joshua

  17 Feb 2012 | 9:21 am

  http://feeds.feedburner.com/blogspot/ZioO

• 

  Church IT Network

• Site to Site Streaming without breaking the bank – Test 1

  jasonlee

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  About this time last year we were preparing to open our campus in Galesburg, IL.  Since the opening last spring this Campus has been using the recording of Saturday night’s teaching during their 11 am service on Sundays.  This solution has been a fairly stable, but has hasn’t operated without issues.  Additionally our pastor has really wanted to be able to teach the Galesburg campus live but we have multiple limitations… the distance between campuses is 50+ miles, our Peoria Campus is about 3-5 miles from any internet connections that can provide more than 10mb upload and…

• Site to Site Streaming without breaking the bank – Test 1

  jasonlee

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  About this time last year we were preparing to open our campus in Galesburg, IL.  Since the opening last spring this Campus has been using the recording of Saturday night’s teaching during their 11 am service on Sundays.  This solution has been a fairly stable, but has hasn’t operated without issues.  Additionally our pastor has really wanted to be able to teach the Galesburg campus live but we have multiple limitations… the distance between campuses is 50+ miles, our Peoria Campus is about 3-5 miles from any internet connections that can provide more than 10mb upload and…

• Top Ten Reasons to attend the Church IT Roundtable 2012

  jasonlee

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  The 2012 top ten reasons to attend the Church IT RoundTable in Dallas Texas April 18th – 20th.   10. You have a project you need to finish by May 1st and don’t have a clue how to do it… nothing like 100+ free consultants to help you. 9. BBQ (nuff said) 8. North Texas spring thunderstorms are awesome! 7. LAN Party (Throw back to an old school LAN party) Bring your own DEW. 6. In & Out Burger AND Chick-Fila AND Hard 8 BBQ in the same city! 5. Free Workshops on Networking/Vmware, VOIP, Wifi and Exchange.  Yes I said FREE! 4. Trying out some of the cheapest most promising site…

• Top Ten Reasons to attend the Church IT Roundtable 2012

  jasonlee

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  The 2012 top ten reasons to attend the Church IT RoundTable in Dallas Texas April 18th – 20th.   10. You have a project you need to finish by May 1st and don’t have a clue how to do it… nothing like 100+ free consultants to help you. 9. BBQ (nuff said) 8. North Texas spring thunderstorms are awesome! 7. LAN Party (Throw back to an old school LAN party) Bring your own DEW. 6. In & Out Burger AND Chick-Fila AND Hard 8 BBQ in the same city! 5. Free Workshops on Networking/Vmware, VOIP, Wifi and Exchange.  Yes I said FREE! 4. Trying out some of the cheapest most promising site…

• Monitoring Wowza ConnectionCounts in What’s UP Gold

  Chris Kehayias

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:38 am

  For quite some time, years in fact, I have thought it would be really great to integrate data collection about the number of active connections from Wowza directly into What’s UP Gold.  This would allow for historical trending, and would keep the data in a place where other IT metrics are already stored and kept.  Here is a preview of the graph and the setup process! WOWZA Setup The Wowza Setup is actually really simple.  The only required step is to open the ConnectionCounts HTTPProvier up with no security.  I have tried to get this method to work with security turned on, but it simply…

• 

  markartrip.wordpress.com

• ADOPTION UPDATE: WHERE IS THIS BABY?

  markartrip

  15 Feb 2012 | 4:16 pm

  Well this has been an exciting year so far for the Artrip family. We announced a few weeks ago that we are transitioning this summer to plant a church in Hilliard,Ohio. Hilliard is a west side suburb of Columbus. We are looking forward to all that this year will bring on the ministry front! Last fall we did a “Facebook Fundraiser” for our adoption, and God answered our prayers and our goal was met! We are so thankful to all our friends and family from all around the world would gave in support. So now people are asking “Where’s the baby”? Or “Do you know when it will happen”?

• 2012 GRAMMY AWARDS MIND DUMP

  markartrip

  12 Feb 2012 | 11:34 pm

  Before I say anything else, lets just admit that this was a down year for the Grammy’s. In my hyped up mind they never really deliver but this seemed like an especially low year. Adele is classy, but with no Jay, Kanye, Beyonce, Justin, Usher, etc. it seemed more like a Billboard awards show that didn’t have as many iconic people to me. Did anyone else notice that Tony Bennett had his eyes open during LL’s Whitney prayer as they scanned the crowd? Guess he couldn’t hear him:) ? Speaking of Whitney, I have avoided tweeting anything but I can’t lie, I have a couple of her albums and I…

• KALAHARI 2012 MIND DUMP

  markartrip

  5 Feb 2012 | 7:14 pm

  Seven years ago two churches came together for a retreat at the Kalahari Resort.  One year later we (HSM and The Zone) jumped in.  In the last six years we have grown to 1475 people and 25 churches.  Every year I love the Kalahari retreat more and more because of the way I see God move in my students and the overall weekend. Sounds like a reason for a mind dump…   This year we finally were able to book Clayton King as our speaker.  I first knew of Clayton through his connections with Steven Furtick, Elevation Church, and Perry Noble and Newspring Church.  He is also a campus…

• ARTRIP LIFE UPDATE – WE ARE PLANTING A CHURCH

  markartrip

  29 Jan 2012 | 3:14 pm

  This past week has been the public communication of something that has been happening in our hearts for years and now even behind the scenes for months.  The communication timeline has had me tell our My lead pastor, our church administrator, our pastoral staff, our Elder’s, our student leaders, Student Ministry volunteers, my small group, and finally our students and parents this last Wednesday.  It’s a bittersweet time for us that has been tiring to navigate, but I am excited to finish well and look forward to what God has called us to. The letter below is the best way I could…

• THOUGHTS FROM @BRANDONRIKE

  markartrip

  24 Dec 2011 | 5:21 pm

  Brandon Rike is a designer, friend, cousin-by-marriage, and man that I respect the heck out of. He has a blog and recently wrote some posts (post 1, post 2) that were (kind of) about design but also about life.  I think anyone who is living in the years of 25-35 (or any age for that matter) can relate to them and learn from them. Here was my favorite quote of all…. “I must maintain a certain amount of reckless abandon when it comes to pursuing my ideas. I must be ready to learn from failures. I must not take myself too seriously. I must allow myself regular time to do the things I love.

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  Gabe Taviano

• Skillet and Winter Jam 2012 photo gallery

  Gabe Taviano

  29 Jan 2012 | 8:10 pm

  We took our three daughters (11-9-6) to their first Skillet show tonight, and also saw 9 other bands perform at Winter Jam 2012 here in Columbus, Ohio. We appreciated our friend (and crazy talented violinist for Skillet) Jonathan Chu coming over to chat before the show. The other nine bands included We As Human, For King & Country, Dara Maclean, Group 1 Crew, Building 429, Kari Jobe, Newsong, Peter Furler, and Sanctus Real. You know you had fun when the girls were rocking and saying that their ears and throat hurt….and that their heart could feel the Skillet rock, LOL. Enjoy the…

• Santa doesn’t belong in Cambodia

  Gabe Taviano

  20 Dec 2011 | 5:41 pm

  Was kind of confused what to title this post, a VERY RARE written blog post from me! I prefer to be posting a photo each day, but I just thought I’d share a few thoughts while in Cambodia. I’ve been in Cambodia now (with my wife and three daughters) for over a week, and we’re getting ready to celebrate Christmas here. This post doesn’t really have much to do with Santa at all, but more about what God (the giver of the true meaning of Christmas – in His Son, Jesus Christ) has given us. We’ve snapped over 2,000 photos this past week, but more importantly,…

• After the heart attack

  Gabe Taviano

  1 Nov 2011 | 11:22 am

  Life has changed. I had a heart attack on Saturday evening (Marla shared all of the details better than I could over on her blog). I’ll try to keep this as short as I can – since I’m trying to rest, eat better, start my 4 minute walk exercises, etc, etc, etc. Every day of life we get is borrowed time that the God who created us has given. Thankfully I know just how much He loved me and sent His Son to die for me. Without that understanding, I’m not sure I would have dealt well at all with the anxiety or stress that an event like this could bring with it. The plans and…

• Dennings family

  Gabe Taviano

  15 Oct 2011 | 8:22 pm

• Our Family – Fall 2011

  Gabe Taviano

  13 Oct 2011 | 7:51 pm

  Before all of the leaves fall off the trees, I thought it would be fun to take the family out for our own photo shoot (thanks to a tripod and wireless studio light). It’s crazy for Marla and I to look at this photos and realize how tall the girls really are getting. Thanks God, for my beautiful family!  

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  Marketing Integrity

• You’re Still Here?

  David Tonen

  2 Feb 2012 | 9:49 pm

  Don’t you have anything better to do? Go on…get going! Go. Honda’s extended 2012 Superbowl ad that plays off a classic movie from our past… If you cannot see the video, please click here…

• Knowing Your Audience

  David Tonen

  19 Jan 2012 | 7:07 am

  We are just a couple weeks away from the 2012 Superbowl Ads weekend. One of my favorite times of the year…for the game and for the ads!  The smart companies, who have invested a ton in their ad production and placement are leveraging social media to advance their marketing reach and impact. Volkswagen knows that one of their core demographics is the Star Wars generation. To to play on that nostalgia, they have created another ad themed around this and integrated…dogs. People of all demographics like animals in ads don’t they?  The combination is a perfect mix that…

• Technology Just Makes Sense

  David Tonen

  17 Jan 2012 | 6:51 am

  Sometimes, Dilbert just says it perfectly…

• In 2012, I Hate Religion

  David Tonen

  13 Jan 2012 | 7:54 am

  I am trying to re-calibrate my life. Everyone needs to do that right?  I am not talking about starting a new year and making a whole ton of resolutions that I will never keep. I am talking about assessment. 2011 was a phenomenal year for me.  I ran my church marketing and communications company full-time for the full-calendar year. It was an amazing journey and an amazing privilege to work with so many ministry-passionate clients.  I started a church communications podcast, teamed up with a great bunch of guys to launch a Christian Business Magazine, and served in my Halifax church as…

• God’s Not Dead

  David Tonen

  10 Jan 2012 | 11:36 am

  I realize we are already 10 days into 2012 but I thought I would start off the new year of posts here with a statement: God is Not Dead I think the Newsboys sum that up nicely in their latest music video. If you cannot see it below, please click here.

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  Elemental Children's Ministry

• Book Review: The Toddler’s Bible by V. Gilbert Beers

  henryjz

  21 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Recently, I was provided a copy of The Toddler’s Bible by V. Gilbert Beers from David C. Cook to review. When I received the book, I couldn’t imagine that it would be any different than the countless other Bibles out there made for toddlers and preschoolers. There are four different ones on my kids’ shelf! Upon opening The Toddler’s Bible, I was pleasantly surprised at the number of Bible stories that are featured. Most kids’ Bibles for young children I’ve read (and own) have a small number of stories in them; this one has over 100 of them! The stories are…

• Where Are You Gonna Go?

  henryjz

  10 Feb 2012 | 10:23 am

  I have found in many family ministry conversations I’ve been in, there is always this ideal of what a family should look like that gets touted out. Laments about the state of the family and the lack of parents taking their role as spiritual teacher immediately follow. Discussions like these always have ended up with someone elevating a certain family in his or her church to demagoguery status because that family is what all other families in the church should aspire to be. In her book entitled The Way We Never Were: American Families and the Nostalgia Trap, Stephanie Coontz challenges…

• Christ in the Chaos

  henryjz

  13 Dec 2011 | 9:39 am

  (image originally uploaded to Flickr by pixel pro photography south africa) Here are some thoughts I sent to the 4th and 5th grade leaders that I have the privilege of working with at MPPC: I’m not sure where the week went… I don’t know about you, but every year I promise to slow down at Christmas (the other time is Easter). Then Christmas rushes on by like a bullet train, leaving me gasping for breath and my head spinning. I feel bad for not reflecting… for not having that “Silent Night” moment. As I’ve been writing the storyteller scripts for the Christmas lessons, I…

• Book Review: Clean Water for Elirose by Ariah Fine

  henryjz

  30 Nov 2011 | 3:54 pm

  It’s been exciting to see children’s ministries all over the place helping children see and respond to global social issues. The challenge, though, for children’s ministry leaders and parents is finding resources to help children grab onto and understand issues like building wells for clean water. It’s such a foreign concept for children who grow up not having to worry about whether or not the water they are about to drink will make them sick or not. Here is a great picture book written by Ariah Fine entitled Clean Water for Elirose that speaks on a level that kids can…

• And the Winner of the Why Do We Call It Christmas Curriculum is…

  henryjz

  17 Nov 2011 | 12:18 pm

  Tim O’Neill!!! Congrats Tim, or should I say, “Timotheous Melancholias” Email me your snail mail addy, and I’ll get that curriculum in the mail for ya! If you missed the contest or didn’t win… sorry. Keep an eye open, though. I get to give away stuff every now and then If you hadn’t already checked it out, hop on over to my post on how you can use Phil Vischer’s new DVD Why Do We Call it Christmas? to teach about Hanukkah!

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  Blog

• Is There a Place for Creative Christians?

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:30 am

  When people describe the Church, "creative" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind. This sad truth isn't the result of a lack of creative Christians, but rather, Christians who don't know what to do with their creativity.

• Question of the Week

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: How does your church support the arts, both directly within your ministry and beyond?

• Lisa Whittle

  19 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  We talk to Lisa Whittle about her new book, Whole: An Honest Look at the Holes in Your Life —and How to Let God Fill Them. Click to listen now or subscribe at iTunes.

• What's the Point of Church Membership?

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:33 am

  When I hear the word “membership” I automatically think of sales reps in swanky gyms wearing track suits trying to sell me a gym membership that is more than I can afford and something I will inevitably cease to use. It smacks of insincerity. We all have different associations with the word and the challenge for most of us who are postmodern or “post-postmodern” in our upbringing is caution, if not skepticism, of all labels and camps. Hence when we attach membership to our notion of church it brings up all sorts of red flags. Various academics speculate that it is for this very reason…

• Question of the Week

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: What emphasis does your church place on becoming a member? What does that process look like?

• 

  Thinking Out Loud

• Wednesday Link List

  paulthinkingoutloud

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:09 am

  Church life: Hal West, author of  The Pickled Priest and the Perishing Parish : “No one will argue against the fact that since the beginning of Christian history there has existed a tension between two distinct groups in the church – the clergy and the laity. “  Read what pastors don’t get and what people don’t get. A. J. Swoboda: “I think not having our children worship with us in worship can be dangerous. Who else is to teach them why and how we sing? How else are children to learn the ways of worship? …I wonder if something was lost when we split…

• Christian Blogging: Longing for Open Source Community

  paulthinkingoutloud

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:58 am

  Did God give me what I’m writing right now or am I making it up on my own strength? That’s a question it’s fair to ask in all areas of Christian endeavor. Am I doing this ‘on my own’ or under God’s power? What about the idea that ‘all things come from God?’ Do I really ‘own’ the concepts and insights shown here. As we closed in on having 700 posts at Christianity 201 last week, for the first time we had a writer who objected to having his content used here. While blog etiquette dictates that you link back to writers’ original…

• The Devil Made Me Post This

  paulthinkingoutloud

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:47 am

  I could have not done this, but the temptation was overpowering.  But I’ll resist the urge to pass comment; after all, where would I begin?

• Mark Driscoll to UK Church: You Suck

  paulthinkingoutloud

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:19 am

  His offensiveness knows no borders. I wrestled with the headline (post title) for this one, but there’s no polite way to encapsulate the partial transcript of this radio interview with Seattle’s Mark Driscoll and Surrey, England’s Justin Brierley host of the radio show Unbelievable, whose wife happens to pastor a local congregation across the pond… This is just a sample, click the link at the end to continue reading –if you dare! — or just click over now. (The link in the first paragraph takes you directly to the full podcast.)  Commentary is by Chris…

• Person of the Week (2) – Jeremy Lin

  paulthinkingoutloud

  19 Feb 2012 | 6:12 am

  The words “overnight sensation” rarely apply, since they don’t reflect the years of practice and training; but Jeremy Lin’s meteoric rise to super-stardom in the National Basketball Association is truly an inspiration to players of all sports who wish they could get off the bench and into the game. Not lost in this story is Lin’s identification as a Christian.  His Wikipedia writeup states: Lin is an evangelical Christian who was a leader in Harvard’s Asian American Christian Fellowship during his time there. Lin would one day like to be a pastor who can…

• 

  Ministry-To-Children.com

• Lenten Bible Lessons for Kids

  Tony Kummer

  21 Feb 2012 | 8:19 am

  Many churches will begin the Lenten season this week. So, I’m including some Bible lessons to use leading up to Easter and the heart of the Gospel story. These will be helpful even if your church doesn’t talk much about the tradition of Lent. Parable of the Two Sons The Good Samaritan Parable of the Great Feast Parable of the Foolish Rich Man Parable of the Lost Coin Coloring Pages about Jesus Who is my King? Gospel Coloring Book What is Lent? Lent is a 40 day journey (not counting Sundays!) to focus on God and prepare to remember and celebrate Jesus dying on the cross and rising…

• “God’s Good Creation” Bible Coloring Sheet

  Guest Writer

  16 Feb 2012 | 12:56 pm

  Click above to download This coloring sheet shows all the finished work of God’s creation. It has many smaller details for children to enjoy. This could be another version of the 7th day of creation when all things are complete and the Lord declares it “Good.” Directions: Click on the preview image to the right to download a print-friendly PDF document. We’ve also uploaded this illustration in the JPEG format for advanced users to edit. This Bible coloring page was created by Carlos Bautista, a Bible college student from the Philippines. You can leave a comment below…

• Preschool Bible Lesson: Jesus is Crucified

  Kara Jenkins

  16 Feb 2012 | 12:33 pm

  This is lesson continues our curriculum for preschoolers about knowing Jesus. Each lesson is based on a passage in the Gospel of Mark. You can read the series introduction for more explanation and links to the other lessons. This particular lesson is from passages in Mark 15 where Jesus is on killed on a cross. This can be a sensitive and scary concept for younger children. Even so, it’s important to know how much it cost Jesus to pay for the sins of his people and earn perfect forgiveness for all his followers. Bible Passage:  Mark 15:16-47 Bible Lesson Title: Jesus is Crucified…

• Fun Ways to Teach Backpack Evangelism to Kids

  Mimi Bullock

  16 Feb 2012 | 8:44 am

  Kids are natural evangelists, they tell everything! Cultivate this love of sharing by teaching your kids about evangelism. By showing them how they can share their faith effectively, you will encourage their spirit and bring glory to God. Resist the urge to over teach with three month courses and seminars. Keep the gospel message powerful but simple. Incorporate some of these practical ideas backpack evangelism ideas into your curriculum and inspire your kids to build God’s kingdom. I love backpack evangelism. A helper and I came up with this concept. We wanted to teach kids how to share…

• McLessons For Children’s Ministry

  Guest Writer

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:20 am

  **This is a guest post by Glenys Nellist  from Kids Ministry Matters Whether we’re “lovin’ it,” or hatin’ it, there’s one thing we can all agree on—McDonald’s restaurants are successful. With over 33,000 franchises operating in 118 countries of the world and their golden arches gleaming from small village to big city, McDonald’s is rising in popularity. I don’t know about you, but I have never heard of a McDonald’s restaurant that closed down. Sadly, the reverse is true of the church. All too often, we hear of smaller churches that have had to close their doors. And…

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  beyond the noise

• Beefing up the band with digital musicians

  Matthew Starner

  14 Feb 2012 | 1:40 pm

  One of the ways I mentioned before about how churches can use technology was to add digital musicians to your worship team.  I wanted to go into a little more detail and share how we’re doing that at Journey now. First a few key things to understand: Generally speaking, I’m not in favor of replacing key instruments digitally. Our normal team consists of drums, bass, electric guitar and keyboard. Even if one of them were missing, I wouldn’t be comfortable replacing any of them with digital musicians because they’re too important. However, this does depend largely on…

• Sunday Setlist: January 29, 2012

  Matthew Starner

  31 Jan 2012 | 9:31 am

  We continued our Going Beyond Our Comfort Zone series this week looking at the area that everyone loves to hate: Giving. People seem to hate hearing about giving but what I think they fail to realize is that most churches hate talking about it as much as people hate hearing about it. But giving back to God is an important part of our relationship with Him. It’s a way for us to show our gratitude and a way for him to bless us even more. This Sunday’s Setlist: All to You by Lincoln Brewster Beautiful One by Tim Hughes, By The Tree’s arrangement Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin…

• Sunday Setlist: January 22, 2012

  Matthew Starner

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am

  We started a new series a week ago called Going Beyond Our Comfort Zone, looking at things like Sharing Your Faith, Growing in Faith, Giving and others. We found a great graphic over at CreationSwap.com that plays off of a Twilight Zone theme, because going beyond your comfort zone can feel a lot like going into the twilight zone! This week, we looked at Growing In Our Faith. This was a bit of a challenge because many people who regularly attend church feel like a message like this is just for those who are new to Christianity. They’ll tune out and decide that there’s nothing for…

• 5 Ways to Use Technology at Church

  Matthew Starner

  17 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm

  In case you might not have picked up on it, I’m a fan of technology. I’m also very pro technology when it comes to church and leveraging that technology to make things interactive, engaging and user-friendly. So if your church isn’t on the technology train yet or you’re wondering if there’s something new that you might be missing, here’s some places to start: 5. Get On Facebook Unless you’ve been under a technological rock for the last 5 years, Facebook is pretty much the biggest thing since, well, the internet. Right now, Facebook boasts some 800…

• Taking my next steps

  Matthew Starner

  10 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am

  At Journey, our mission is about helping people take their next step. For us as a church that usually means taking a next step in their relationship with Jesus, and EVERYone has a next step. When we stay in one place too long things start to stagnate – and that goes for all aspects of life, not just spiritual. That’s why last fall, I decided to take a next step in my life. I decided to go back to school and continue my education. It’s something I’ve thought about doing for some time but never really knew how I was going to make it work. Working full-time in ministry is…

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  The Jeff Blog

• Self Righteous Service vs. True Service

  Jeff

  18 Feb 2012 | 8:58 pm

  My pastor and I are are co-teaching a class on the Spiritual Disciplines during our Wednesday night service.  We are four weeks into this series and it has already been very challenging.  This past week I taught on the spiritual discipline of service.  It impacted me so much that I thought I would post an excerpt here.  The following points come directly from Richard Foster in his book, “Celebration of Discipline.”  These are some ways that you can tell the difference between self-righteous service and true service.  By the way, if you have not read this book I strongly…

• Down Time

  Jeff

  30 Dec 2011 | 12:01 am

  This is what every day has looked like since being in California.  No emails…no to do lists…no appointments…just time with my family to relax and prepare for the new year.  For the past several years I have had the opportunity of taking the week between Christmas and New Years off.  This is a week where I recuperate from the end of the year rush as well as take time to think ahead and set goals for the future. As I am currently coming to the end of a great week off, I hope to begin January with important tasks accomplished. Take a breather Since I love sports analogies,…

• I’m Still Here…

  Jeff

  16 Oct 2011 | 8:00 am

  So it has only been about seven months and seven days since my last post, but who’s counting?  Well…I am.  I have finally come to the realization that I needed to sit down and get back on track.  That is what this post is all about.  I am a long way off of my post per week goal, but with this post I hope to regain some traction. Where have I been?  Sitting at my kitchen table from 8pm-11:30pm almost every night of the week.  That is where I study as I get closer to obtaining my Masters degree from Midwestern Baptist Theological Seminary here in Kansas City.  For the past…

• Busy and Overwhelmed

  Jeff

  8 Mar 2011 | 9:43 am

  I am overridden with guilt as I realize that it has been almost a month since I last posted. Definitely a far cry from my 3-4 post per week goal!  The story behind this? Well…I have spent the past few weeks finishing my first term for my Master’s Degree.  Between that, spending time with my family, and doing my “regular” job…blogging has fallen in priority.  I told myself that during my week break in between terms I would get back on track.  A week has gone by and I am not on track.  I find myself a little overwhelmed with everything that is going on right…

• Excellent Worship For Your Children!

  Jeff

  8 Feb 2011 | 9:43 am

  A few weeks ago my pastor said from the pulpit that the church is supposed to be supplemental in the raising of your children.  I take this idea very seriously as a pastor and I am always trying to find ways to equip parents.  Today I want to recommend what I would consider the best worship music out there for children right now. More than a few times a parent has asked me how they could get their hands on quality worship music for their children.I always direct them to Hillsong Kids because I think it is great and it is what we play around our house.  It is relevant, entertaining, and…

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  Man of Depravity

• Embracing the Mess

  Tyler

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:42 am

  Today’s post is from my friend and fellow pastor AJ Swoboda who grew up in the same town as me. We spent several years together at the same church and youth group, though neither of us want to share about our time doing a high school church musical together I’m really excited for him to share with us today. If you’re interested in writing a guest post, head here for more information about that. A.J. Swoboda (Ph.D.) is a pastor, professor and writer in Portland, Oregon. His new book, Messy: God Likes it that Way (Kregel), is a manifesto for those whose faith is messier than…

• Praying For You

  Tyler

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:45 am

  Over the past 5 months I’ve done a lot of praying for myself. Each day when I pray I try to include a good amount of time focused on other people/situations/relationships. A lot of my prayers have instead been something like, “God I’ve been staring at this screen for two hours and I have absolutely nothing to say…will you allow me to (quickly) come to the end of myself so you can work? Please!” Sure enough God does something great. But today I want to pray for you. I have some time this evening after my seminary classes to spend time praying for you, the readers…

• The Three :: Pastor Edition

  Tyler

  17 Feb 2012 | 8:45 am

  1. Bob Hyatt is a pastor in the Portland area and also a contributor for the Out of Ur blog on ChristianityToday.com. This week he wrote a post that I believe all pastors and Christian leaders must read. I don’t throw it out there as someone beyond the problem he raises, but as someone who struggles to navigate it well. Read his full post on the problem of pastoral “fame” here. When pastors start building their “platform,” growing their influence, and raising their profile, it’s generally talked about in terms of expanding ministry reach, being a good steward of the…

• Married to Ministry #MarriageMinistry

  Tyler

  14 Feb 2012 | 8:40 am

  This post is a part of a series Rob Rash has organized titled #MarriageMinistry focused on how to navigate being married while being in vocational church ministry. It was a Tuesday evening. 5pm. I walk in the house through the garage door and enter into the kitchen to find my wonderful wife slaving away in the kitchen. This was the first night in close to two weeks we’d been together for an evening at home. I said to Rose, “long time no see. How are you?” It was one of those questions that wasn’t filled with love, it was one of desperation. I could have said, “do…

• All Good Things Must End

  Tyler

  13 Feb 2012 | 8:40 am

  Every October many of the players on the baseball teams in the playoffs grow out beards until their playoff run comes to an end. I took my own little twist on this time-honored tradition by growing out a manuscript writing beard. Being that I’m in Portland the beard didn’t really stand out too much. After all Portland is where the dream of the 1890s is alive and well. While most people I know seemed to hate the hairy thing, I grew to love it because I knew all that it meant. The beard for me was a reminder that the hard work was not done. The beard was a reminder that despite any…

• 

  BubbaSmith.net

• Snapshots

  bubba

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:17 am

  Our lives are made up of snapshots. In my 26 years of life, I can look back on my life and see some of my snapshots. A snapshot of me in middle school would show you a young, funny, overweight, insecure, hopeless romantic wishing one day that he would find a girl who would fall in love with him. You would also see a young christian who believed he was called to go into ministry. If you took a snapshot of me in high school you would see a young kid whose mother was ill and dad worked a lot, a kid who experimented a lot with drugs, sold drugs, and ended up graduating with a 1.6 GPA. When I was…

• Choose to Change Your Life!

  bubba

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:53 am

  “But if serving the LORD seems undesirable to you, then choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your ancestors served beyond the Euphrates, or the gods of the Amorites, in whose land you are living. But as for me and my household, we will serve the LORD.” -Joshua 24:15 Most people who aren’t living up to their potential want to change. They want to live a great life. They want to make great choices. They want to succeed. Often, they just don’t know how, so they settle for a mediocre existence. I’ve been there. Have you?  In life, you…

• What I Eat Every Day!

  bubba

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:56 am

  People have been asking me a lot lately what I eat on a daily basis! So I thought I’d share my what I currently eat almost everyday! If you’re looking to get into great shape, I’d love to talk to you about developing a nutrition plan! Just hit the contact me button on the side of this site and e-mail me or connect with me on Facebook or Twitter! If you’re a health nut, I’d love for you to critique my nutrition plan and let me know what I could be doing better! Photo Courtesy of MySymFitness.com Morning: 4:45 a.m. – Coffee 5:30 a.m. – Workout 6:45…

• The MacKay MBA of Selling in the Real World

  bubba

  17 Feb 2012 | 6:06 am

  I recently stumbled upon Harvey Mackay through my recent subscription of Success Magazine. This book is for people interested in learning how to sell. I’ve been interested in the topic of sales for the past few years and this book was a great resource for me. It’s an extremely easy read as it is broken up into nearly one hundred short nuggets on sales and personal growth. If you are new to the world of selling and personal growth or if you’re struggling with sales, I’d recommend picking this book up! Buy the hard copy version here! Buy the Kindle Version Here! Some…

• Make Every Day Exciting!

  bubba

  16 Feb 2012 | 4:59 am

  Do you find yourself looking forward to the weekends and dreading the work week? Do you find yourself bored with your life? If so, it doesn’t have to be that way! I truly believe that we can live an exciting life everyday we are alive! Life is too short to not enjoy every day! Photo courtesy of MyLot The best way to make everyday exciting is to make sure you always have something to look forward to! Make sure you do things everyday that you love doing! For me, everyday I: Blog Read Workout Talk to Laura Listen to music I love Eat well Listen to an inspiring message or podcast Connect…

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  Cory Center for Children's Ministry

• Losing It

  Jesse

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:47 am

  I’m coming off a few weeks where my schedule was crammed full of activity, planning, and more activity. In fact, I’ve had a season where life has simply been full. Here’s what I’ve noticed during these times: There’s two sides to this:  We can get so busy planning that it can seem like people who legitimately need time with us are squeezed out. We can seem unapproachable if we’re not careful. Our jobs of planning and doing can interfere with what we’re really called to do: shepherding. People get in the way of ministry On the flip side, the…

• Two Simple Ways to Make Sure Your Kids NEVER Like the Bible

  mguevara

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:48 am

  This is a guest post by Keith Ferrin.  Keith is a pastor, speaker, and author of the books Falling in Love with God’s Word and Like Ice Cream: The Scoop on Helping the Next Generation Fall in Love with God’s Word.  You can find Keith on Twitter and on his website www.thatyoumayknow.com. Two Simple Ways to Make Sure Your Kids NEVER Like the Bible Sarah, Caleb, and Hannah. All three are under 10 years old. All three live in my house. All three have the very real potential of growing up believing the Bible is true…and boring. If your kids grow up believing the Bible is true,…

• Healthy Marriages and Healthy Kids | Part 1

  Kyle Bostock

  17 Feb 2012 | 2:04 pm

  The longer I work with kids the more convinced I become that the foundation of an effective children’s ministry is a strong focus on strengthening and supporting marriages.  Healthy marriages lead to healthy homes and healthy homes provide the secure base kids need for emotional and spiritual health. I don’t have Barna certified statistics, just years of watching the same story play out over and over again.  Kids that come from homes where there is marital peace and a common since of mission and purpose do well.  They are more confident, they navigate peer pressure more effectively,…

• Be strong and courageous

  rhaslett

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:53 am

  Where does courage come from? How do we become so courageous that we are able to walk through a season of change? If courage is the state of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger or pain without fear then it is chosen state of mind. So what affects our state of mind? Rest, nutrition, focus (what we give attention to in our thoughts), education, whether we start off weak or strong affects our ability to have courage in a situation are some of the things that affect our ability to walk courageously. Courage comes also from the support of others who believe in you and…

• Dealing with Anger: Wrap Up

  Jesse

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:45 am

  If you haven’t surmised it by the series on anger that I’ve been writing over the past month, this is a monster that we battle in our home. Sometimes it’s caused by a lack of order but more often it is a perceived violation of rights. As I wrote last week, each time I attempt to maintain my own control and follow up on issues of disrespect. As I wrap up this series, I’m drawn to the discussion that I have had with each of my sons at some point after they have chosen to follow Christ. These discussions begin a careful watch over their heart. Solomon wrote, “Above…

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  STEVANSHEETS.COM

• Swaziland 2012 Update – 63%

  Stevan

  14 Feb 2012 | 3:45 pm

  Another gift this afternoon put me at 63% of my fundraising goal ($3,000) for my October trip to Swaziland, Africa! I have been humbled and overwhelmed at each gift and am continually thankful for the way the Lord continues to provide for this trip through some graphic-related jobs AND other gifts from friends and family! If you haven’t heard, I need to raise $3,000 for a mission trip to Swaziland, Africa that I will be joining my District Team on in October. While we are there, we will be providing a Pastor’s Conference plus doing work at the college and visiting local churches and…

• The Fabulous Bentley Brothers (aka Rhett and Link)

  Stevan

  13 Feb 2012 | 6:26 pm

  I’ve been a fan of YouTubers Rhett & Link for a long time. These are the guys behind a more than a couple genius, viral videos (Chuck Testa, Dope Zebra) Just today, however, I found out that they had some videos I had not yet seen. I knew the guys were Christians and was very glad to show off their YouTube videos often because of their family-friendly nature. What I didn’t know, was that they released a series of videos with the folks at JellyTelly.com under the guise of “The Fabulous Bentley Brothers”. The videos consist of an original song explaining some of the…

• Not just the “wiggly guy” on YouTube

  Stevan

  13 Feb 2012 | 8:08 am

  Nathan Barnatt – one of my favorite YouTubers was featured as a TED Talk presenter in Phoenix late last year. In his talk, he gives some great background on why exactly it is he does what he does – at least why he does his crazy dance moves in public places – The music video he is referring to in his TED Talk –

• Quoting Quotable Quotes

  Stevan

  9 Feb 2012 | 12:29 pm

  I’ve been thinking a lot about quotes lately. They show up in my life nearly every single day. I read them, I post them, I even look for them as illustrations and as point-makers. But occasionally, I have trouble finding “that quote” – the one that undoubtedly adds the verification and/or exclamation point to whatever it is I’m trying to say. I’m sure I’m not alone, that’s why I’ve decided to help us all out and list some helpful quotes here for your copying-and-pasting pleasure. “This is by far, one of those books that you read and…

• Collapsing Cooling Towers

  Stevan

  9 Feb 2012 | 10:10 am

  Love this commercial for Ecotricity. Giving ‘life’ to inanimate objects as they are demolished is a great idea!

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  Church For Family

• Things they NEVER told YOU: If we don’t, they won’t.

  Pastor Paul

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:43 am

  Has there ever been a time in your life when you wished they had told you? Sure, after the fact you understood, but what if you had known before hand? In this first installment of Things they NEVER told YOU, Pastor Paul shares “If we don’t, they won’t.”

• i HEART my church!

  Pastor Paul

  12 Feb 2012 | 9:00 pm

  iHEARTmychurch! This morning we didn’t let Pastor preach, instead we did! Listen to testimonies, videos and stories from some of those who have been touched through the ministry of ChurchForFamily.com

• Wholly Holy Part Five: Wholly S_x!

  Pastor Paul

  6 Feb 2012 | 11:47 am

  God created it. God encourages it. Yet our culture takes sex out of context and it’s hurting the most important person in your life. In this frank talk we discover together why God calls us to be Wholly Holy, especially in the context of sex.

• Wholly Holy Part Four: Defying Gravity

  Pastor Paul

  2 Feb 2012 | 4:58 pm

  If you are a genuine Christ Follower you have a power living inside you that allows you to overcome the gravitational pull of sin. In this survey through Romans chapter eight we discover together how God’s power is realized in our lives.

• Wholly Holy Part Three: Holy Treats

  Pastor Paul

  24 Jan 2012 | 8:12 pm

  If  it’s holy we should treat it as wholly. Many times we fail to treat people the way God treats them. In this talk we discover what it takes to treat others as wholly. You can download a discussion guide for this talk here.

• 

  REyouthpastor.com | Home

• Back to the Future: Traveling Back Into My Youth Ministry Past

  Jeremy Zach

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:04 am

  (Back To The Future Car pic is brought to you by destino2003) The movie Back to the Future is one of my favorites.  Two of my favorite parts of the movie are: 1) When Marty McFly plays Johnny B. Good on the electric guitar Click here to view the embedded video. and 2)  The sweet Back to the Future car aka DeLorean DMC-12               So the other day I was thinking about what if I could travel back in time to my first youth ministry job??  And I continued my thought by asking the questions of: I wonder what I would do differently in youth ministry in…

• Help! I Am A Youth Worker With ADHD (Like Symptoms)

  Jeremy Zach

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:00 am

  (pic:  Some rights reserved by ADHD CENTER) If you are anything like me, I perform my best when I am doing a ton of different projects at a time.  Any given time, I will typically have 6-12 windows open on my computer. I have self diagnosed myself as having ADHD. I don’t know if this ADHD thing  is a byproduct from hanging out with a teenage generation who is constantly distracted or a chemical imbalance in my brain?  But serving in the trenches of youth ministry, I have somehow adapted and become a very distracted 30 year old. The issue is that we (youth pastors) are subjects…

• A Frequent Question Middle Schoolers Ask: Is My Pet Going To Heaven?

  Jeremy Zach

  8 Feb 2012 | 7:13 am

  (cute pet pic brought to you by:  Some rights reserved by Apogee Photography) I will never forget a particular prayer request I received once at the end of a middle school youth group.  An 8th grade guy nervously raised his hand, requesting that we pray for him because his cat had died earlier that day.  As he was sharing his request, he started crying–very intensely.  I could sense that this 8th grade student was literally destroyed because his little cat had died.  He wanted God to not only heal is pain, but also to know if he would ever see his cat again.  I was so moved by…

• Sir Isaac Newton’s Advice For Youth Pastors: How The Law of Inertia Can Strengthen Students’ Faith

  Jeremy Zach

  1 Feb 2012 | 9:39 am

  See, there is a reason why I call this website an experiment lab for youth pastors.  I thoroughly enjoy looking at the laws of physics and intersecting them with youth ministry.  Granted God engineered these systems (Psalm 19.1)  so I think it is fair to say there is overlap between physics and youth ministry. My hypothesis:  For the postmodern teen I believe putting them in unfamilar and uncomfortable environments “to do hands on” ministry will greatly test their spiritual maturity. The Law of Inertia states:  Unless acted upon by an outside force, a body at rest stays at…

• Top 5 Board Games That Get The Youth Group Party Started Immediately

  Jeremy Zach

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:51 am

  (Board game pic brought to you by:   All rights reserved by dennoir) I know this post may seem elementary and that youth group is NOT about games.   But I need to share why I had so much success using these 5 board games.  By using these 5 board games you can build instant community and fun in youth group in a matter of minutes. In years past I have had to really work hard at blending different type of student clusters in order to make youth group manageable.  Some student clusters would not talk with other student clusters, so it was very difficult to have a productive time–…

• 

  Kevin Campbell

• Mr. & Mrs. Better Half: Fighting Fair

  20 Feb 2012 | 2:12 pm

  Here are some thoughts from the third week of Mr. & Mrs. Better Half: This week Troy Martin shared a message called Fighting Fair.  I am grateful for Troy and the great Word that was shared.  We are blessed to have him and his family as a part of Elevate Church. I first and foremost celebrate two people giving their lives to Christ on Sunday!  That is awesome! We are currently experiencing a 50% growth over this time last year.  Celebrate! Here are some highlights from the message How To Fight Fair: (Ephesians 4:22-32) No matter how much love each other, you WILL…

• Mr. & Mrs. Better Half: Friend With Benefits

  13 Feb 2012 | 1:29 pm

  Here are some thoughts from a great day at Elevate! It was the second week of Mr. & Mrs. Better Half and we shared what it takes to be a "friend with benefits." First and foremost, we celebrate two people giving their lives to Christ!  That is awesome! Mark it down - Friendship is the key to a healthy marriage.  Everything else good or bad in your relationship flows from the depth of your friendship. Song of Solomon 5:16 - "This is my beloved and this is my FRIEND." Read Genesis 2:18-25.   There is so much goodness packed in those verses.  I can't even do it…

• Mr. & Mrs. Better Half: No Strings Attached

  6 Feb 2012 | 1:50 pm

  Here are some thoughts from week one of Mr. and Mrs. Better Half at Elevate Church: The first week we shared a message called No Strings Attached.  We opened up the message with some well known love songs to help get everyone in the loving mood.  :-) Huge props to our stage design team!  They did a great job with the look of this series. My wife joined me for the welcome time. I love her so much and she is truly an incredible wife! We gave away a marriage book to an engaged couple. We will have giveaways each week of the series.  If you are interested, here is the link to…

• Trust Me, Watch This Video!

  3 Feb 2012 | 8:30 am

  Take a minute and watch this video.  It is hilarious and SO true!  Be sure to join us THIS Sunday at Elevate Church for the kick off of this relationship series - Mr. & Mrs. Better Half!

• Mr. and Mrs. Better Half...Starts This Week!

  2 Feb 2012 | 4:24 pm

  Elevate Church | Mr. and Mrs. Betterhalf Home | Times/Directions | Share on FB We want to invite you to join Elevate Church for the kick off of a highly anticipated relationship series called Mr. & Mrs. Better Half. Searching for your Better Half? Married and wonder what happened to your Better Half? If so, this series is for you! My wife and I have been married almost 11 years and dated four years before that. We have been through a lot of ups and downs learning a lot along the way. I can't wait to share with you from God's Word and our experiences of how to become Mr. & Mrs. Better…

• 

  Worlds of Wow Blog

• North Texas KidMin Leadership Training

  3 Feb 2012 | 4:22 pm

  This past week we hosted a group of North Texas large church children's ministry pastors at Gateway Church in Southlake, Texas. We brought in two children's ministry gurus, Greg Baird (KidMin360.com) and Kenny Conley (ChildrensMinistryOnline.com) to share leadership principles and lessons for leading teams, leading across ministries and up to their leaders.Greg and Kenny opened up the discussion to the nearly 50 attendees for shared experiences, practical advice and creative take-aways. Gateway Church's Ken and Mary Jackson hosted a tour of the amazing children's facilities and shared the…

• 12 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm

  12 Jan 2012 | 5:00 pm

  WIN 2 TICKETSTO THE ORANGE CONFERENCEWorlds of Wow is all about fun, so we're hosting a Facebook contest and giving away two tickets (a $638 value!) to The Orange Conference! This year's conference theme is "GAME CHANGERS", so our contest is for your children's ministry to show or tell us about the GAME CHANGER that will rock their ministry in 2012.2 WAYS TO PLAY This contest is only on our Facebook Fan Page, so here's how it works: 1) Post on the Wall of our Worlds of Wow Facebook page what GAME CHANGER your children's ministry team will be doing in 2012!OR2) Share a photo on our Worlds…

• Theme Pictures from White's Chapel UMC - Southlake, TX

  21 Dec 2011 | 2:17 pm

  Our team has just finished out the second phase of a new digital theming project at White's Chapel United Methodist Church in Southlake, TX. Leila Carlson, the Director of Children's Ministries, shared her excitement about the latest addition: "I am thrilled with the project!!!  The guys did an amazing job of installing everything and they are always delightful to be around!"This project included creating a whimsical, bright Faithville. One hallway is the Zoo, another is an amusement and water park, and the others include a sports/fitness park, city hall, bakery and shoppes. Together,…

• KidTown Photo

  3 Dec 2011 | 11:14 am

  This is one of our favorite install photos, ever! Absolutely love this hallway and the immersive environment it creates for the kids at Overlake Church. To see all of the photos from this project, click here.One of the main children's hallways at Overlake Church

• Preschool Project Completed at Calvary Baptist Church in Clearwater, FL

  29 Nov 2011 | 4:15 pm

  Our team was able to work with an existing theme concept and add new elements and artwork in the new construction of a Preschool area as well as incorporate theming into the existing children's space.The project with Calvary Baptist in Clearwater, Florida, was a significant upgrade from the previous theme. Part of their issue was the peeling stickers and decals used by the original theme company. Our team replaced the peeling decals by painting airbrushed appliqués on-site to both remedy the problem and add a 2D relief to the walls for a cleaner look and feel.We also added a new…

• 

  Digital Evangelism Issues

• Bible books as a chemistry periodic table

  admin

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  Please share- You may be familiar with the chemistry periodic table, which lays out all the elements in relation to each other. Tim Challies has placed all the books of the Bible in a similar layout, and given people the freedom to reuse or publish it in any way. Click on the image to view it in larger size, or download as 1Mb PDF file. The only condition: don’t sell it. For more details, and also download as desktop wallpapers, or with a white background to save printing ink, see Tim’s original post. Bible resources Bible.org announce big improvements to their online Bible Study…

• Sharing good news on Facebook and social media

  admin

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  Please Share: One of the most significant digital evangelism initiatives of 2011 was the release of YesHEIs.com. The team recently released this Our Chance video to highlight social media opportunities that YesHEIs gives. You can easily download this video to show in church meetings or seminars. Watch on YouTube: See more on using Facebook and other blog posts about social networking. Where to find video clips to share As well as YesHEIs.com you can find sharable conversation-starting video clips at God: New Evidence, Global Short Film Network, and Damaris Culturewatch. These videos can be…

• Messages in Incredibly Loud, and Marigold Hotel

  admin

  17 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  Please share:Culturewatch ministry Damaris has produced resources to bring out spiritual and life lessons embedded in two great new film releases… Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close The moving story of a boy with Asperger’s whose father has died in the Twin Towers: Watch trailer on YouTube: Jonathan Safran Foer’s novel Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (now a major Hollywood film starring Sandra Bullock and Tom Hanks) explores one boy’s search for meaning after the death of his father in the Twin Towers attacks. Peter S. Williams and Sophie Lister explore the deeper…

• The secret structure of great talks

  admin

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:21 am

  [Please share] Nancy Duarte’s [bio] communication insights in this TED lecture seem vital. Follow her analysis of both Steve Jobs’ iPhone launch and Dr King’s I Have a Dream speech. These are surely principles that work for advocacy, preaching or evangelism? Please add your thoughts using the Comment link below. Watch at TED: Share & re-use . . . Please also share this post on Facebook, Twitter and Google +1 using the one-click links below. You can also automatically syndicate our blog posts to your Facebook Wall (and/or your Twitter stream) in three easy steps. You are…

• Arrietty is a winner: finally releases in USA & Canada

  admin

  14 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  [Please share] Regular readers of this blog will have noticed an occasional tendency to enthuse about the Japanese animé films from Studio Ghibli. So here we go again! Arrietty is their latest. Released in Japan in 2010, it came to Europe in early 2011 and UK/Australia in July. Now, finally, North America gets it too – released on 17 February, under the US title The Secret World of Arrietty. The delay must be in part because Disney, for better or worse, has rejected the existing English soundtrack and started again with different, American, actors. Actually, when watching Studio Ghibli…

• 

  Brad Lomenick

• Young Influencers List, February Edition

  bradlomenick

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:58 pm

  Here you go, the February edition of the Young Influencers List. You can check out all the past months lists here. 1. Dale Partridge- CEO and Chief Word Changer at Sevenly, plus die hard entrepreneur and writer. 2. Jeremy Lin- recent phenom and point guard for the New York Knicks. Linsanity!! 3. Justin Buzzard- pastor of Garden City Church in Silicon Valley, author of soon to release book Date Your Wife. 4. Beth Redman- author, songwriter, worship leader, wife of Matt, and part of 27 Million movement – releasing the hit song on Feb 27. 5. Matt Barkley- quarterback for the USC Trojans,…

• Leadership Lessons from playing Point Guard

  bradlomenick

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:46 pm

  I played point guard on my high school basketball team. We were pretty good. Not great, but pretty good. And I was average as a point guard….. yeah, football and golf were my real sports! But I learned some solid leadership lessons playing the point, and when I watch great point guards play basketball still today there are lessons that emerge. Here are a few that we can apply to our own leadership paradigms: 1. Making a great pass is as important as making a great shot. Helping someone else on your team succeed is in many ways more important than you being the star. 2. Know the team…

• My Simple Rules for Greetings

  bradlomenick

  18 Feb 2012 | 9:54 am

  Hello. How are you? What’s up? Hey. All of us greet differently. There is no right or wrong. These are a few of my thoughts on Greetings that might create a few laughs. Most of these are related to greetings within the office, but a few are appropriate anywhere. Enjoy these and add more below in the comments section! 1. If I don’t know you, we’re probably not going to hug. Let’s stick with a firm handshake for the first introduction. And no fist pumps if we don’t know each other. 2. If I’ve already seen you that day, we don’t have to regreet each…

• 10 Reasons to attend Catalyst West 2012

  bradlomenick

  16 Feb 2012 | 9:47 am

  I’m so excited about Catalyst West coming up April 18-20, 2012 in Orange County (Irvine) CA at Mariners Church. If you are considering attending, you’ll want to go ahead and REGISTER TODAY to get the BEST RATES on tickets. TODAY, February 16th  is the early registration deadline, so go ahead and get your team or staff signed up at the lower prices. And when you register, use Rate Code FOB for an additional 10% off. Just for being a part of this blog community. Here are 10 reasons why I am excited about Catalyst West, and why you should attend: 1. The speaker…

• Lights, Camera, Action!

  bradlomenick

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:53 am

  One of the most valuable traits of any employee or team member is someone who executes. A leader who gets it done. A team member who makes things happen. Is driven towards ACTION. However, most of us, at the end of the day, default towards INACTION. We lean towards giving up, quitting, stalling, “redirecting” our attention, or procrastinating. We start with a great idea, but getting to the finish line and “shipping” as Seth Godin likes to say is a rarity. One of the things I love about our Catalyst team is that we have team members who get it done. Action and…

• 

  MOVING FORWARD - pastor mike landry

• Dream A Lot!

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:19 am

              “Ask of Me, and I will surely give the nations as Your inheritance, and the very ends of the earth as Your possession.”  Psalm 2:8             Dream a little!  NO, DREAM A LOT!  I’m not talking about wishful thinking or fantasy.  I’m talking about opening your eyes to see what God made you for.  Don’t settle for less than God’s best just because you can’t see how you could make it happen.  It’s not dependent upon you other…

• New Movie "The Vow" Defines Needed Commitment in Marriage

  17 Feb 2012 | 1:14 pm

           A new movie entitled "The Vow" just came out and had a positive message about the need for commitment, loyalty, and sacrifice for any healthy marriage.  My son-in-law, Nathan Schneider, blogged a review of the movie that is certainly worth your reading.  I've included it below.Reflections from "The Vow" I’m not a big fan of chick flicks and not for the typical guy reasons. I don’t mind a love story, but Hollywood’s version of love is usually defined by emotion and not commitment. It’s usually about following your heart to find…

• Suffering Always Precedes Freedom

  9 Feb 2012 | 9:59 am

   “But we do see Him who was made for a little while lower than the angels, namely, Jesus, because of the suffering of death crowned with glory and honor, so that by the grace of God He might taste death for everyone.”  Hebrews 2:9 NASB            This morning I received an email from a good friend with the words, “Valley Forge Park this morning.”  As he drove to work, he stopped and took a picture of the park and sent it to me; knowing I love Revolutionary War…

• Relational Numbness Is Not Acceptable

  31 Jan 2012 | 5:49 am

  John 11:33, 35 (NASB) When Jesus therefore saw her weeping, and the Jews who came with her also weeping, He was deeply moved in spirit and was troubled...Jesus wept.God empathizes and has compassion.  It is not a detached show of emotion that Jesus has here.  He is not acting.  He genuinely hurts for Martha and Mary over their grief concerning the death of Lazarus.  Jesus knows the rest of the story.  He is going to raise Lazarus from the dead.  But this knowledge did not prevent Him from identifying with Mary and Martha and mourning with them as they mourned.God…

• POLITICAL CAMPAIGNING CAN MAKE YOU MAD…BUT ARE YOU PRAYING?

  28 Jan 2012 | 1:33 pm

  1 Timothy 2:1-4 (NASB) First of all, then, I urge that entreaties and prayers, petitions and thanksgivings, be made on behalf of all men, for kings and all who are in authority, so that we may lead a tranquil and quiet life in all godliness and dignity. This is good and acceptable in the sight of God our Savior, who desires all men to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth.            Our nation is faced with an upcoming election that will have critical consequences.  We’d better be on our faces before God and praying…

• 

  Glocalnet Blog

• NATIONS ARE NOT GOING AWAY!!!

  Bob Roberts Jr.

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:14 am

    Parag Khanna maps of the world talk given 2009. I was asked to listen to something and asked to comment on it.  I don’t know Parag Khanna - but his talk on TED is incredible.  Furthermore, for the most part I agree with him.  He concludes his talk by saying, if we do what he says, we will all experience our “dream of a borderless world” - on that point I disagree with him.  That dream will not happen until Jesus returns!  His plan, however, on how nations and peoples connect through infrastructures like pipelines, railways, etc., is right…

• Keller Citizen:  NorthWood Members Work at Weight Loss Challenge

  Bob Roberts Jr.

  14 Feb 2012 | 8:27 am

  Read the Keller Citizen article:  Northwood members work at weight loss challenge.

• I AM NOT ALONE

  Bob Roberts Jr.

  14 Feb 2012 | 8:03 am

  Sometimes I’m asked, “Are there other evangelicals like you who are passionate about their faith, believe in the Great Commission, and yet reach out to other faiths like you do?”  YES - there are and Skye is one of them.  We spoke together at the Q conference last year in Portland and I’ve know him a few years.  I was stunned when I found out he grew up with Eboo Patel, a very good friend of mine who is a Muslim.  (Eboo if you’re reading this it’s gonna be 2 on 1 now!!!!!  I believe you’d make a great church planter up in…

• I LOST TEN POUNDS!!!!

  Bob Roberts Jr.

  13 Feb 2012 | 8:12 am

            The “other” team lost 4.6% of their weight.  Our team lost 4% of our weight, that was because we were healthier!!!  Just kidding.  Anyhow, it’s been a wild week.  I’ve kept my calories below 1500 a day, worked out everyday, but not excessively.  I’m really excited and think this is going to be good.  One thing I’ve learned is that if you want people to come to church early, do something stupid - they love stupid! 

• INCREDIBLE TED TALK

  Bob Roberts Jr.

  10 Feb 2012 | 7:37 am

  Hear Sheikha Al Mayassa talk about Globalizing the Local and Localizing the Global here.

• 

  TeamRCIA

• 17 best prayer practices for RCIA team members

  Nick

  17 Feb 2012 | 10:57 am

  As we approach the beginning of Lent, it is a good time to think about how we teach the catechumens to pray. The best way, of course, is by example. So here is a list of suggestions for deepening our prayer lives this Lent. Pray at a set time Make an appointment with yourself to pray every day at a set time. Create a prayer space Pray in the same place every day. Find a place that is free from distraction. Pray some version of the Liturgy of the Hours. Here are three great resources, listed in order of their level of complexity: Give Us This Day: Daily Prayer for Today’s Catholic Work of…

• How will you catechize your RCIA group about anti-Semitism?

  Miriam

  15 Feb 2012 | 11:45 am

  With Lent come the long narratives of the passion and death of Jesus. The Passion story is meant to be a story of hope and transformation, a story of the restoration of humanity to right relationship with the Loving God who created us all to be in God’s image. The ugly secret is that too often, these same narratives are the source and support for a long history of anti-Semitic attitudes and behaviors in church and in society. As we enter into the sacred mysteries of Lent and the Triduum, how will we handle this ugly secret with our catechumens, candidates, and parishioners? How will we…

• RCIA with teens: who’s in charge?

  Nick

  27 Jan 2012 | 10:39 am

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• Four ways to keep your children’s RCIA catechesis from boring your kids to tears

  Rita Burns Senseman

  17 Jan 2012 | 11:33 am

  When twelve-year-old Connor started nodding off in our children’s RCIA session, I knew it was time for me to stop talking and for everyone else to get up and move. As a catechist in children’s RCIA, I sometimes have to resist the urge to talk too much. No matter how brilliant our RCIA session may be, talking too much can bore our children to tears! Here are four ways keep boredom at bay. Get up and move One of my favorite ways, and the kids’ favorite ways, to keep the session moving along is to actually get up and move. I like to call them “field trips.” We go and visit and a…

• 6 essential rules for communicating a new RCIA vision

  Nick

  2 Jan 2012 | 12:16 am

  Without looking it up, can you tell me what your parish mission statement is? If you can, can all the members of the parish council? And what about the RCIA team? And if they can, can the parents whose children are in the school or religious education process tell me? What about the neophytes in your parish? Do you know what your parish mission is? In most parishes, hardly anyone can say clearly what the parish mission is. In some cases, they’ve never heard it stated. In other parishes, it appears on the cover of every Sunday bulletin and is sometimes read aloud at Mass. And still people…

• 

  Brandon A. Cox

• Be a More Balanced Church

  brandon

  19 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  Be a More Balanced Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.Remember the old V-8 commercials where someone who wasn’t taking in a balanced diet would be leaning to one side? That’s what I think of as I read the thoughts and opinions of various church leaders about “what the church should be all about.” It typically sounds something like one of the following… Jesus was a disciple-making discipler who discipled disciples, so the church should be all about making disciple-making discipling disciples as well. Let’s disciple some more disciples. Soul-winning is the…

• Good Idea. Now What? Charles Lee Helps Answer This Question

  brandon

  13 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  Good Idea. Now What? Charles Lee Helps Answer This Question is a post from Brandon A. Cox.Our Creator designed us to be creative. And out of our inborn creativity come forth plenty of good ideas, but an idea is only as valuable as its successful implementation. In other words, brainstorming is good, but completing ideas is even better. Charles Lee, the founder of the Ideation Consultancy and many other brilliant ideas, helps leaders cross the finish line with well-developed good ideas. In his new book, Good Idea. Now What?, Charles presents a guidebook that is very thorough, but also very…

• The Savior-Sensitive, Seeker-Sensitive Church

  brandon

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:14 pm

  The Savior-Sensitive, Seeker-Sensitive Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.In 1975, Bill Hybels assumed the leadership of a fledgling church plant that would grow into the rather influential Willow Creek Community Church. Under Bill’s leadership, the church pioneered many concepts in the seeker-sensitive strain of worship and ministry. In 1997, Bill and his wife, Lynne, co-wrote Rediscovering Church, an inside look at how the church grew from 100 to 15,000 in weekend attendance. In 1980, Rick and Kay Warren relocated to Orange County, California to launch Saddleback Church. In 1995,…

• Celebrating the Diversity of the Church

  brandon

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  Celebrating the Diversity of the Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.I grew up white, middle class, and in the mid-south. My high school was diverse, but not peacefully so. Tensions ran high between races, classes, and groups, which was to some degree a reflection of the entire community. I very well should have grown to adulthood with all kinds of prejudice. But God, in His grace, showed me a different way. As a teenager, when I studied the Bible, I couldn’t help but notice that diversity is something God celebrates. Yes, He chose the Jewish people as His own special people, but His…

• The Pro’s and Con’s of Planting a Church In a Movie Theater

  brandon

  30 Jan 2012 | 1:53 pm

  The Pro’s and Con’s of Planting a Church In a Movie Theater is a post from Brandon A. Cox.This past Sunday made the fourth week in a row we’ve worshipped in a local movie theater with January 15 being our official launch. We didn’t intend to launch in a theater. I fact, we spent a great deal of time looking at retail spaces, but eventually landed at the Malco because of space, price, and availability. There’s a part of me that fell in love with the idea before we moved in, and has remained attached to it since. Advantages of Meeting In a Theater We know that we…

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  Build the Church

• Build the Church 439

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:47 pm

  Today we have some of the best musicians in all Christian Indie music. Today hear the sounds of Shelley Moore Band, Eight Days Later, Awaken the Hero and Frank Hart.Enjoy today's Build the Church. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast Click here to get all of the Shelley Moore Band's music.Click here to go to the Shelley Moore Band's website.Go here to find the Shelley Moore Bands in myspace.Click here to buy Eight Days Later album "Awake".Click here to go to Eight Days Later's website.Go here to find Eight Days Later in myspace.Click here to go to Frank Hart's website.Go here to find…

• Build the Church 438 - Sonia V

  30 Jan 2012 | 2:00 pm

  Today we have a special Build the Church, today we feature the music of Sonia V. Along with some old favorites we throw in a brand new song off her album "Oh Sweet Tragedy."Enjoy the podcast! MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast Click here to go to Sonia V.'s website.Find Sonia V in myspace by clicking here.Make friends with Sonia on Facebook by going here.Send Sonia V a tweet on Twitter right here.Shout out to Sonia on Shoutlife by clicking here.Buy Sonia's music by clicking here.

• Build the Church 437 - A Sleeping at Last Christmas

  24 Dec 2011 | 4:18 pm

  Get ready for another special Christmas music only edition of Build the Church featuring music from a favorite of ours, Sleeping at Last. All the music is from Sleeping at Last's Christmas album which you can get for free by following the links below.Enjoy this special Christmas edition of Build the Church. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast Click here for the free Sleeping at Last's Christmas Album.Go to Sleeping at Last's website by clicking here.Go here to find Sleeping at Last in myspace.Download songs by Sleeping at Last on PureVolume.Buy Sleeping at Last's music on iTunes by…

• Build the Church 436 - More Podsafe Christmas

  9 Dec 2011 | 4:48 pm

  Get ready for more great Podsafe Christmas Music on Build the Church! Today hear 3 Blind Mice,The Hot Rods, Allison Crowe, Adrienne Pierce, Geoff Smith, Candy Butchers and the Podsafe Artist Compilation,Podsafe For Peace!Enjoy another special Christmas edition of Build the Church. MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast Click below to find these artists on the Mevio Music Alley.Podsafe for Peace3 Blind MiceThe Hot Rods Allison CroweCandy ButchersAdrienne PierceGeoff Smith

• Build the Church 435 - Christmas is in the Air

  1 Dec 2011 | 2:19 pm

  Christmas is in the air and the trees and decorations are everywhere! To celebrate the season, enjoy great Podsafe Christmas Music by Derek Miller, Allison Crowe, Bree Noble, The Alice Project, Richard Taylor and Jimmie Bratcher on Build the Church! MP3 File - Click Here to Download Podcast Hear all these great songs and artists on the Mevio Music Alley.Just Click their names to find them on the Mevio Music Alley.Derek Miller Allison Crowe Bree Noble The Alice Project Richard Taylor Jimmie Bratcher

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  Biblical Preaching

• Lessons from Bible Storying

  Peter Mead

  22 Feb 2012 | 11:07 pm

  In Cor Deo we have been enjoying the benefits of an approach to engaging biblical story known as “storying.”  Coming from the study of oral cultures and the field of orality, storying is a mine of ministerial potential currently somewhat restricted to missiologists in non-literate cultures. Forgive my brevity in description, but storying involves bringing a group of people into the experience of a story through the process of telling the story and having them re-tell it so as to enter in to it.  In our setting we have found the Cor Deo participants discovering the interpretational value…

• Preaching Story: The Challenge of Acts

  Peter Mead

  21 Feb 2012 | 11:26 pm

  Are there specific challenges with preaching the narratives of Acts? I think so, but it’s a book I love to preach from.  Let me offer a few points to ponder: 1. Acts is not all action.  Every biblical narrative tends to lean heavily on dialogue as a key feature in the inspired telling of the story.  Ancient texts were often punctuated with the pause presented by means of speeches.  To see Acts in all its glory, it is vital to see how the speeches are not a pause in the action, often they are the action.  So let’s not skip Stephen’s great speech with a little summary statement…

• Preaching Story: The Challenge of the Gospels

  Peter Mead

  21 Feb 2012 | 12:20 am

  Are there specific challenges with preaching Gospel narratives?  I believe there are, both in terms of the parables, and in terms of the accounts from the life of Christ.  Some points to ponder: 1. We are dealing with two “authors” when we preach from the Gospels.  We have Jesus telling the story to a specific audience in about AD30.  Then we have the inspired account from Luke or Matthew, etc., some decades later, potentially to a very different audience, and most likely in a different language!  The focus of the inspired writer is on the authorial intent of Jesus, so rightly we…

• Preaching Story: The Challenges of the Old Testament

  Peter Mead

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  Are there specific challenges with preaching Old Testament narratives?  I think there are a few points worth pondering here: 1. Typically we have less familiarity with the broader flow of the Old Testament and may be tempted to only preach the familiar handful of Noah, Joseph, Joshua, Goliath, Jonah, Daniel narratives.  Take a look at some of the lesser known stories.  I am willing to guarantee that if you study an obscure story you’ll want to preach it.  More than that, if you really wrestle with it in its context, then you’ll probably preach it well! 2. Not only do we have less…

• What Kind of a Bible Would You Give?

  Peter Mead

  20 Feb 2012 | 2:05 am

  If you were God, what kind of Bible would you give by inspiration?  It really depends what kind of a God you were. This post is hosted on the Cor Deo site, please click here to read it.

• 

  samluce.com

• Experience Napkin 2012 Online

  samluce

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

    Not everything that happens in Vegas needs to stay there. As a result the staff at Napkin Conference have decided to launch The Napkin Conference 2012 online as well as live. All of the 6 main sessions and 2 discussion panel sessions will be streaming live and anyone can register to attend. You can register on the website just the same as on-site registration. The cost is $49 per log-in for access to all six sessions as well as some added interactive features between sessions and during the discussion panel sessions. This is a great opportunity. For you as a leader or for your staff.

• Winners of Zonderkids Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum

  samluce

  17 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  Told you a few weeks back if I win you win. And I won so you win. The winners are as follows. 1. @henryjz 2. @Barbaragraves 3. @CommanderBill If you won DM me your address. Thanks! Thanks for participating all of you who did. For those of you who have never heard about Jesus Storybook Curriculum. At first look through it really looks great. I have checked out quite a few of the videos. I haven’t gotten to deep into the actual lessons yet but hope to do so soon. Here is a link if you want to buy it for your church. It’s on sale right now totally worth the investment.   …

• Why do you do what you do?

  samluce

  16 Feb 2012 | 7:20 am

  As leaders it is so easy lead from a position of What we do and how we do it. If we want to make a difference in our lives, our kids live those who we lead at work we need to do everything from the position of why. Simon Sinek wrote a book called “Start with why.” I don’t yet own it but plan to very soon. He gave an amazing TED talk on starting with why. Such a great thought as leaders we try to get people to why rather start with why and get them to what. Wow such an impacting idea. I don’t do this enough Here is a great quote from his talk with his…

• Free Curriculum for Easter: God to the Rescue

  samluce

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:14 am

  I’ve shared here and here about the how and why leading up to the creation of a free resource for the kidmin community by the kidmin community. We are really excited to be able to offer it for free on our blogs. What we did was create a 5 week curriculum that unveils God’s rescue plan unveiled in the Old Testament and seen in action in the days leading up to Good friday and Easter. I love how the clear emphasis is on Christ and what he did and what we can do in response. The format of the curriculum is pretty basic. -Icebreaker – K-2nd Grad and 3rd – 5th Grade -…

• Why we wrote our own Easter Curriculum?

  samluce

  14 Feb 2012 | 7:09 am

  (This is a Repost of a blogpost I did last year I am going to re-do the whole seises as people in #kidmin are starting to plan for Easter. Hope this helps!) I want to start this post by saying I do not know everthing there is about curriculum production, and I in no way am thinking of one curriculum company as I write this post. My goal in this post is to hopefully create a diolog, or even to get us as children’s pastors to ask hard questions of ourselves and of the curriculum we give our teams to teach our kids each week. I personally believe that there is some problems that are…

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  Children's Ministry Online

• The Nashville Illuminate is 4 days away!

  Kenny

  13 Feb 2012 | 4:11 pm

  And I’m pumped! As of right now, we have 522 people registered to attend! That’s right, 522! Crazy number for just a regional conference. I’m so grateful to the local Nashville churches who helped get the word out. It’s going to be an amazing event and I expect to see hundreds of volunteers encouraged and equipped this Saturday. It’s going to be awesome! So, if you’ve been thinking about coming, it’s not too late. Online registration will remain open until Wednesday at noon. After that, anyone can register at the door (doors open at 8:00 AM) on…

• Orange Week: I need help!

  Kenny

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:13 pm

  It’s been almost four years since I first learned about the Orange strategy. One of the most compelling concepts was it idea of two combined influences – church and home. This really clicked for me as a long-time children’s pastor who felt such an unbelievable burden to raise and disciple kids yet struggled with doubts about long term effectiveness. Clearly defining the family as the other part of the combined influence wasn’t an “out” for me, but a moment of clarity on how I could use my time more effectivity… or even strategically. However, as a…

• Never get too comfortable

  Kenny

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:10 am

  Last week I came across this article I found in someone’s facebook feed. America’s largest church is facing a 10+ million dollar lawsuit because of something that happened (or didn’t happen) in their children’s ministry. Who knows what is going to happen, but this whole thing probably could have been prevented. The article states: The lawsuit accuses the church of negligence in its investigation, in reporting the alleged incident to police and in lacking surveillance that could have saved Guzman from being wrongfully accused of a crime. The church also is accused of…

• A free and highly accessible kidmin resource

  Kenny

  31 Jan 2012 | 9:09 am

    I’ve learned that most kid’s pastors I’ve met are highly resourceful. They’re always looking for great new resources and the cheaper it is, the better. If it’s free, well that’s incredible. So, I figured that all the resourceful kidmin peeps who read this blog would be interested in this great free resource. Are you ready for this? Really? Here goes…. It’s called following #kidmin on twitter. Wait a second, before you bail on this blog post, hear me out. Some of you have refused to get on twitter because you’ve not seen it’s…

• Systems help you win

  Kenny

  30 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm

  One of the things I’ve learned most this year from the books I’ve been reading is the critical nature of systems. I’m absolutely convinced that systems help you win. You can be a great leader with a lot of charisma, but if you don’t have solid systems, you’ll never maintain what you want to achieve, if you even get there in the first place. I mentioned this in a post a few weeks ago along with the books I’ve read this year that supported this idea. So, a few weeks ago I rented the movie Moneyball. I don’t like baseball, but I LOVED this movie. I saw…

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  daveingland.com

• Happy Valentine’s Day!

  daveingland

  14 Feb 2012 | 10:49 am

  It’s Valentine’s Day, another one of those commercialized holidays that gets us to spend money for a loved one. I know, kind of a downer. I’m no stick in the mud or scrooge though. I’ve never been fond of this day as it always seemed so hokey to me. However, my problem isn’t really with Valentine’s Day. Nope. My problem lies within me. I should treat my beloved wife like it was Valentine’s Day everyday, but I do not. She doesn’t complain about it (that much--haha), but today reminds me of what an ass I can be. To my wife Charlotte, know that I…

• Why church diversity falls short

  daveingland

  6 Feb 2012 | 2:45 pm

  I’ve been seeing more posts lately on other blogs about church diversity, and they constantly remind me about how the church focuses on the visible, without digging deeper in this issue of diversity. When a suburban, white, middle-class church attracts a few people of different ethnicities, it becomes something to be celebrated. Why? What does having a black family, or a Chinese family coming to your church service have to do with anything if your songs are contemporary, white America, Christian radio songs and your message speaks to your white American congregation? We quote lots of…

• Creativity has gone and done it again

  daveingland

  5 Dec 2011 | 1:22 pm

  I just experienced a calm November with no stress or conflict. It was such a great feeling to be at peace. However, there is always this feeling within me that I’m missing--or missing out on--something. This feeling resurfaced again when I found myself working on tidbits of graphic design: dabbling in some elements to start considering a whole makeover of this blog and creating a new business card for my current full-time gig. In total, I probably spent about 3 hours doing this. As odd as this may sound to some, it was 3 hours of feeling connected to something in my core that brought me…

• Who is this Dave Ingland?

  daveingland

  21 Nov 2011 | 1:17 pm

  Living life online doesn’t really give one much of a glimpse into the true person that I am. Maybe you’ve seen me tweet some things that have merit, yet you don’t know if I’m qualified to validate those tweets. A lot of times, people just have questions when they learn that I’ve spent most of my life as an atheist, only to sell off a successful business and enter into full-time, unpaid ministry for 7 years. Every once in awhile I devote a day on the blog to answering questions about myself so that those of you know that may only know me through Facebook and…

• Life is like a box of chocolates…

  daveingland

  12 Nov 2011 | 10:07 am

  Many people remember the movie Forrest Gump very well. I, on the otherhand, only remember this phrase: “…Life is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you are gonna get.” I convinced myself that life--my life--was going to be just like that. I never knew what I was going to get and just tried to make it through each day in preparation for the unknown coming my way the next day. As of yesterday, I had to put this way of thinking to rest. Think about it… When we go to the store to buy a box of chocolate, we are faced with many choices. We can choose the…

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  RELEVANT Magazine

• When Church Becomes a Verb

  21 Feb 2012 | 3:20 pm

  Finding a church isn't easy. Finding your place in a church really isn't easy. For a place that’s supposed to welcome and love all, what gives? After being a pastor’s kid and growing up in a close-knit church family, I never realized how difficult it could be to find and fit into a new place of worship. As a single adult, I’ve walked alone into church after church, reluctantly raised my hand (or worse, stood up!) when the pastor asked if there are any visitors, and proceeded to "greet my neighbors" when prompted (translation: swapped hand germs with that stranger who just blew…

• The Cultural IQ of the Church

  10 Feb 2012 | 1:30 pm

  Super Bowl commercials for Go Daddy, Teleflora and other companies received a lot of complaints this week for their continued objectification and exploitation of women. But these major companies weren't the only ones airing insensitive ads during the broadcast, as evidenced by Michigan Senate candidate Pete Hoekstra’s political campaign commercial. When I saw it, those chicken wings I consumed during the Super Bowl wanted to come back up. After watching it, the question arises: Is Hoekstra racist? No. And I’d rather not go there in this post because once you do, you miss the deeper…

• When Jesus Meets TMZ

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:32 am

  Why celebrity culture is overtaking our pulpits. Much has been said in recent years about the rise of so-called “celebrity pastors” within Christianity, particularly within evangelicalism. Just mention names like Ted Haggard, Rob Bell, Mark Driscoll, Joel Osteen, John Piper, Francis Chan, Bill Hybels and Joyce Meyer, and you’re guaranteed to get a fair share of impassioned praise or heated criticism. But students of Scripture will know this is not a new phenomenon, that even the early Church developed something of a "celebrity apostle" culture in which Christians were aligning…

• Why I Am Not Joe Paterno

  26 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pm

  EDITOR'S NOTE: Earlier this week, Joe Paterno passed away from lung cancer. His death added a new dimension to the controversy that has surrounded Penn State and the charges against former assistant coach Jerry Sandusky. Many wondered, what will be Paterno's legacy: as the winningest college football coach in history or as an accomplice to a child sex-abuse scandal? RELEVANT posted an op/ed column by Shaun King addressing this question. King's stance was that, on some level, "we are all Joe Paterno"—that with the horrors of rape and abuse taking place all around the world, many of…

• Is There a Place for Creative Christians?

  25 Jan 2012 | 8:28 am

  Restoring the relationship between faith and art. When people describe the Church, "creative" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind. This sad truth isn't the result of a lack of creative Christians, but rather, Christians who don't know what to do with their creativity. Many believers struggle to balance their art and their faith. Some think that to be a truly successful poet, painter, musician or producer, their work must be held separate from their faith. Others may believe unless their song, design, book or film is not littered with overt spirituality, it cannot…

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  Managing Your Church

• Congress Extends Payroll Tax Holiday Through 2012

  21 Feb 2012 | 1:01 pm

  Churches must verify employee withholdings are correct.

• 17 Ways the Church May Become Accountable to the State

  21 Feb 2012 | 8:14 am

  Grassley Commission Outlines Progress on Key Points

• Commission on Financial Practices Seeks Input from Churches

  16 Feb 2012 | 8:00 am

  Online town hall meeting scheduled for Friday.

• Extension of Payroll Tax Holiday Appears Likely

  15 Feb 2012 | 12:32 am

  Churches will need to verify employee withholdings are correct.

• How Did Giving Go in 2011 at Your Church?

  14 Feb 2012 | 8:00 am

  Receive $125 in resources just for taking our short survey.

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  Branded With Love

• Baptisms, Paintball, and White Flags

  Jason

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:32 am

    I’m so excited we’re doing this series, White Flag. The story of Jonah is amazing. We get to address some questions like, “Why do you run when things get hard?” “Who is really in charge of your life?” “When God asks big things from you, are you willing to listen?” “When things don’t go your way, how do you handle it?” “What will it take for you to wave the White Flag and let God be in control?” Here’s what has got me so pumped- it’s talking about topics like these which lays the groundwork for God…

• Sunday Extras

  Jason

  6 Feb 2012 | 7:45 am

  Yesterday at Forefront had some great energy. Even more than normal which was cool. If you missed service, here are something things to help you out this week: The band keeps cranking out amazing worship song sets. I love getting to work with Justin and the musicians here. If you want to listen to some of the tracks they played (by the artists who wrote them), click here. If you don’t have Spotify, you should! It’s free and a great way to listen to music.  Each week we post the messages online for you to listen to. You can listen on our website, via iTunes, or we post it on the…

• I Have A Crush On Alice In Wonderland

  Jason

  30 Jan 2012 | 10:37 pm

    We pray together every night baby. I always end with, “God, thank you for letting me be Chloe’s daddy. Amen.” With every beat of my heart, I mean it. You’re a gift. But tonight, you broke down your big ol’ daddy to a puddle of emotion. As we opened our eyes you looked at me. I drown in those baby blues every single time you bat your lashes. You’ve got me whooped. You’re mommy and sissy have the same eyes. I don’t stand a chance. As you gazed into my face, you looked intently as you whispered- “I’m glad I get to be your Chloe.

• Make It Meaningful.

  Jason

  30 Jan 2012 | 10:04 pm

    Just the other day I was talking on the phone with a fellow Forefronter. As we were chatting it up for a bit, I began to imagine he was one of the cool kids in high school. Walking the halls with a swagger that Kanye or Jay-Z would be envious of. Giving high fives & fist bumps with the other athletic kids, and enjoying “hellos and hey bros” from people as he strutted through his little kingdom, that we mere mortals call high school. To be honest, he had confirmed many of my thoughts I was thinking in previous conversations. He was admittedly a cool guy in high school.

• Broken Down Cars, Dogs Almost Ran Over, And Stop Thinking Someone Else Will- You’re The Someone Else. And People Are Watching

  Jason

  27 Jan 2012 | 9:22 am

  I had just dropped off my girls at school. It’s my day off. All I was thinking was, “My bed is waiting! Ahhhhhhhh!” I turned the corner, and… Traffic. At. A. Stand. Still. Ugh. Don’t these people know my day off is freakin’ important?! Then I saw it. A broken down car with the lights blinking. People flying by her. Not stopping to help. Honestly, I debated it in my head. “Help this person out, or maybe someone else will.” “Wait, I am not that guy. Quit being a selfish bastard jerk.” (my inner dialogue censors itself sometimes) So, I…

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  david kenney

• Ash Wednesday

  David

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:43 am

  photo credit: Pleuntje Not being Catholic, I didn’t know much about Ash Wednesday. I had hoped to offer something to the community this year to recognize it, but the holiday kind of rushed up on me, oh well.. maybe next year. Ash Wednesday is the beginning of a 46 day repentance, it’s a compilation of several biblical traditions all rolled into one. First it’s a time of sadness and so the worshiper receives ashes on their forehead following the middle-eastern practice of covering yourself with ash as a sign of mourning. Jeremiah 6:26 (CEB) “My people, put on…

• Geek Report Volume 1 issue 2

  David

  21 Feb 2012 | 11:21 am

  Today’s Geek report is solely devoted to one of the greatest trilogies of all time – The Matrix. I recently got the movies on blu-ray and since I now have 3 sets in my house, I thought I would write up a quick summary of what is included with the blu-ray movies. A long time ago, I purchased the original trilogy individually, then later the Ultimate Colection on DVD and now this blu-ray release. I knew eventually that I would need to scale up to blu-ray, but was always worried that I would “lose” some of the special features. The Matrix movies are certainly one of my…

• Man Alive

  David

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:53 am

  Since the late 80′s, Patrick Morley has been one of America’s most respected authorities on the unique challenges and opportunities that men face. After spending the first part of his career in the highly competitive world of commercial real estate, Patrick has been used throughout the world to help men think more deeply about their lives. I received his latest book Man Alive: Transforming Your Seven Primal Needs into a Powerful Spiritual Life from Multnomah publishers & Edelweiss for an honest review. From the onset, Morley writes, “Over the last four decades, I’ve…

• I Am A Follower

  David

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:17 am

  Leonard Sweet is currently the E. Stanley Jones Professor of Evangelism at Drew University, Madison, NJ and a Visiting Distinguished Professor at George Fox University, Portland, Oregon. Author of more than two hundred articles, over twelve hundred published sermons, and dozens of books, including the Jesus Manifesto. His latest book, I am a Follower is a leadership book for anyone who has never connected with leadership books. What I mean to say is, it’s an anti-leadership book. As a pastor I read leadership books all of the time, and there are a lot of great ones out there. I also…

• Torn

  David

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Jud Wilhite is an author, speaker and senior pastor of Central Christian Church in Las Vegas. Jud graduated from Dallas Christian College and holds a master’s degree from Lincoln Seminary. Jud co-founded People of the Second Chance which is a blog and a movement of people championing grace and love in our culture. Jud is an espresso fanatic and loves playing the guitar. I got his latest book “Torn – Trusting God When Life Leaves You in Pieces.”  from his publisher Multnomah Books, so that I could write a review for my blog; and I think the title speaks for itself…

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  (re)made

• Getting Things Done

  Adam Smith

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:46 am

  Creative Commons Photo Credit by ilike When a certain task takes a larger amount of concentration than usual and you can’t seem to get it done or it’s just taking longer than it should due to distractions, it may be time to change things up. Of course, if you don’t know what to change exactly, you can begin to experiment with things. You may need to change your environment or even shut yourself off. I have found that the more I put myself around distractions, the more difficult it is for me to complete things. And even if I do complete them, it takes much longer than it…

• Knowing How to Get There

  Adam Smith

  19 Feb 2012 | 9:02 pm

  Creative Commons Photo Credit by mcbutterbuns Knowing who you are now and who you want to become are two of the most important things to know in life.  Here are a few things to pay attention to while you are on this journey: 1. The actions that you make will determine who you become. Whether you realize it at the time or not, each decision makes up where you will be and who you will become. 2. Be intentional with every moment. Yes, that is right. Plan things out. And when you are there, BE THERE. No, really be there. Put down the phone. Don’t put a computer screen between you and those…

• Worst Church Singer Ever

  Adam Smith

  5 Feb 2012 | 11:27 pm

  I thought I’d start your week off the right way… with a smile. Enjoy. View the video after the jump… Yep. You’re welcome.  Thoughts? « Previous Finish This: Quick Question of the Day   Next » Knowing How to Get There

• Finish This: Quick Question of the Day

  Adam Smith

  1 Feb 2012 | 10:58 pm

  Creative Commons Photo Credit by b-tal Over time, I have learned that the number one rule of creating a great relationship is ______________. « Previous Taking Some Time Off   Next » Worst Church Singer Ever

• Taking Some Time Off

  Adam Smith

  30 Jan 2012 | 11:21 pm

  “Vacation Starts Now” on instagram It’s ok to take a break. There I said it. Having fun is ok! But, you have to be honest with yourself and know when you need a break. Some need time away more than others, but start thinking with your family about how often you need vacations. Here are a few reasons that you have to get away every once and awhile… 1. Things will keep going, even without you. No matter who you are and how important you are, there are other capable people that will help you take care of things while you are gone. Find your “go to” person(s)…

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  Paul Clark

• 10 Ground Rules for Staff Meetings

  admin

  6 Feb 2012 | 6:40 am

  Disarm people’s fears or hesitancy to speak up (humor, affirmation, win-win questions). Talk about the problems; listen first, delay judgment. Don’t take “push back” personally. Healthy debate is healthy. Be sure people walk away with clarification of roles and responsibilities. Allow the team to make team decisions. Be sure you have skin in the game. Be encouraging- mentor and coach. Make sure there is mutual respect for opinions. Insist the team supports a team decision. Don’t use age and experience as your “trump” card. It doesn’t work with millennials.

• Some vital statistics for 2011

  admin

  29 Dec 2011 | 12:25 pm

  I’m a firm believer in measurable outcomes. The New Testament is full statistics. Just this morning I was reading in Mark 8 where Jesus reminded the disciples that he had fed 5,000 people on one occasion and another 4,000 people on a second occasion. He knew exactly how many baskets of bread were leftover each time. He kept track, right? I like to see data to know whether we are accomplishing the things we say are important to us. Since our adoption of 13 Measures of a Healthy Church several years ago, below are some of the vital statistics we report on each month. The data below is…

• Congregational Meeting

  admin

  20 Dec 2011 | 11:06 am

  This past Sunday we held our only annual congregational meeting for the purpose of electing new officers to our Boards and for conveying to the congregation our approved 2012 budget. I think our presentation was excellent and so with that in mind, I thought I’d share the handout with you. It led with vision and inspiration, which is critical, and conveyed the figures with a sense of “let’s join God in what he is doing at Fairhaven Church.” The meeting was positive and forward-looking. We are blessed. 2012BudgetBooklet

• Six factors toward an effective team

  admin

  31 Oct 2011 | 8:07 am

  I was reading an HBS article this weekend, “Why Some Teams Succeed” and appreciated a set of six factors which the author believed contributes to team success. Since I both lead teams and participate on other teams, I am a student of good team dynamics. Here is the list, in my own words: A clear set of goals and objectives which everyone can understand. Why are we here? What are we trying to accomplish? A method for measuring success, i.e. good metrics. What does success look like? Ongoing training so that key skills necessary for success are reinforced. Do we need improved hard…

• Top 10 ways to relax

  admin

  28 Oct 2011 | 3:51 pm

  Wow– these past few months have been off the charts. So busy that most days it seems like I don’t have time to even take a breath. A new construction project, dashboard reports, Board meetings, meetings with bankers, the 2012 budget, staffing puzzles to solve, overseeing staff, writing curriculum… it never ends. How do you relax in the midst of your crazy stressful work life? Here’s how I spell relief: Take a walk in the woods. Play a round of golf. Spend time with my grandson. Do some woodworking. Read a Civil War novel. Get away for the weekend with Kay. Relax in…

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  Vineyard Church of Ithaca

• Missions Report From Peru

  Erin

  1 Feb 2012 | 11:39 am

  This past January, the Vineyard helped support Josephine Chen’s missions trip to Peru. Jo is one of our undergraduate students at Cornell. We’ve asked her to share a little about her experience in Lima.  Pamplona This year, from January 7-15, I took a trip to Lima, Peru, with the non-profit organization MEDLIFE (Medicine, Education, and Development for Low-Income Families Everywhere). For half the trip, I worked with medical professionals in a mobile clinic offering primary care to community members. My tasks included everything from teaching kids how to brush their teeth to…

• Pastoral Search Update from Sunday

  Erin

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:54 am

  This past Sunday James gave a quick update about where we are in the Pastoral Search Process. We want to pass the text along from what he said. Thanks to everyone for your prayers during this process. The Pastoral Search Team will be available for any questions following our 10 am worship service on January 29th. Here is the text from James’ Pastoral Search Team update given on Sunday, January 15, 2012:   Morning everyone. I wanted to take a few minutes to give you a brief update on behalf of the Pastoral Search Team. First of all thank you for all the praying and fasting and…

• Prayer & Fasting

  Bob

  7 Dec 2011 | 12:27 pm

  Starting on Monday, December 12, we are having 5 days of prayer and fasting to seek God concerning our pastoral search. While many of us have been doing this individually, we would like to tak Monday through Friday of next week and ask people to consider taking a 24 hour period of time to pray & fast. On Sunday we will provide a place on the connection card where you can sign up for a day. Or drop us an email if you’d like to sign up now. More info on Sunday.

• Pastoral Search Update

  James

  20 Nov 2011 | 5:45 am

  James Cherian Usually, when I think of meetings and committees and group projects, I think of a million other things I’d rather be doing. Being on the Pastoral Search Team has been a different story- It’s actually fun and exciting. I look forward to doing the work in preparation for our meetings, and enjoy the time we have together. The things I most dread about these types of meetings (long, pointless debates, passive aggressive personalities, lowest common denominator decisions) have been met with a refreshing, thoughtful, engaging, and meaningful process in discerning who it is that…

• Working on the Website

  Erin

  14 Nov 2011 | 11:05 am

  If you landed on our website, we’re glad you found us! Look around, email us if you have questions. We are in the process of changing our website around a bit, so if things seem like they are in bizarre places – we’re tinkering. We’re sorry for any confusion. Thanks!

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  HalMayer.com

• Learning to DOUBT your Doubts!

  Hal Mayer

  20 Feb 2012 | 12:13 pm

  I do not remember the first time I heard this statement- “Instead of believing your doubts and doubting your beliefs… Why not doubt your doubts and believe your beliefs?  I like the idea and yet sometimes it seems I can’t get past my doubts. Have you been there?  Maybe you have prayed the same prayer for years and they go like this: Father, please bring my child back to you.  They are chasing everything that will destroy them- God please help… And yet nothing has changed. It’s my husband Lord- Father would you help him find Jesus as his savior…and he still is not a Christian…

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  ChurchTechToday

• Outreach Resources of the Year Announced

  Lauren Hunter

  22 Feb 2012 | 1:52 pm

  Outreach Magazine announced today that 20 resources have been selected for recognition as 2012 Outreach Resources of the Year. They are highlighted in the just released March/April 2012 issue of Outreach. The annual Outreach Resources of the Year feature celebrates the best outreach-oriented books and curricula in areas such as evangelism, compassion and justice ministries, missional living and cross-cultural ministries. These resources deserve accolades, but Outreach Resources of the Year is about more than that,” said Outreach Editor Brian Orme. ”We strive to help churches share…

• Church Website Usage Stats [Infographic]

  Lauren Hunter

  20 Feb 2012 | 12:14 pm

  Everyone knows that  the church website is the gateway into the church experience for many, many people. Most people visit a church’s website when looking for a new church home, and if they don’t like what they see, they often move on. This is especially true for Millennials. iMinistries, a church website firm, recently compiled six months worth of stats they had been monitoring through Google Analytics on all the websites they’ve created for church and ministries. The results have been compiled into one fascinating infographic. Some results were to be expected. Others…

• ProPresenter 5 for Mac Released

  Lauren Hunter

  17 Feb 2012 | 9:56 am

  Renewed Vision just launched ProPresenter 5 for Mac, and will release the PC version this spring. I know this is great news for many church media directors who rely on this software to run worship day in an day out. CTT has written about worship software in the past, and quite a few folks weighed in. New features include: Dynamic slides Media management Cued transitions Planning center online Live video feed Multi-screen Video/image effects iOS Remote Song select Twitter functionality Integrated scripture For a free two week long demo of ProPresenter 5 for Mac, click here. If your church…

• Free Online Giving Resources

  Lauren Hunter

  15 Feb 2012 | 1:56 pm

  At ChurchTechToday we love providing helpful free resources to our readers. Once a month, we send out a “Free Resources” email on a different topic. This month’s topic is online giving resources. If you’d like to receive this email full of great free resources and future resource emails, sign up below and wait just a few moments to receive the email in your inbox. Enjoy! Free Resource Online Giving Email Includes Info From: ServiceU Church Commmunity Builder Clover Donations Giving Rocket State of the Plate Survey 2012 Free Online Giving Resources is a post from:…

• 5 Technology Trends to Watch

  Steve Caton

  13 Feb 2012 | 10:08 am

  I love technology because it can be leveraged in amazing ways to support processes and strategies, which lead to greater effectiveness and growth. It can also be a bit mysterious and intimidating at times. However, as church leaders, we can’t put our heads in the sand and ignore it. We must think critically about ways we can leverage technology to further our mission. Technology – leveraged well – can help serve the church more effectively. Here are five new trends we are paying close attention to in 2012: 1) Mobile - According to Mashable, in three years more U.S. Internet…

• 

  Blog

• Is There a Place for Creative Christians?

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:30 am

  When people describe the Church, "creative" probably isn't the first word that comes to mind. This sad truth isn't the result of a lack of creative Christians, but rather, Christians who don't know what to do with their creativity.

• Question of the Week

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: How does your church support the arts, both directly within your ministry and beyond?

• Lisa Whittle

  19 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  We talk to Lisa Whittle about her new book, Whole: An Honest Look at the Holes in Your Life —and How to Let God Fill Them. Click to listen now or subscribe at iTunes.

• What's the Point of Church Membership?

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:33 am

  When I hear the word “membership” I automatically think of sales reps in swanky gyms wearing track suits trying to sell me a gym membership that is more than I can afford and something I will inevitably cease to use. It smacks of insincerity. We all have different associations with the word and the challenge for most of us who are postmodern or “post-postmodern” in our upbringing is caution, if not skepticism, of all labels and camps. Hence when we attach membership to our notion of church it brings up all sorts of red flags. Various academics speculate that it is for this very reason…

• Question of the Week

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Each week, Neue asks a question that is meant to challenge, inspire and encourage today's ministry leaders. Feel free to respond and discuss in the comment section. This week, we want to know: What emphasis does your church place on becoming a member? What does that process look like?

• 

  Artie Davis

• 3 Signs of a GREAT Leader

  artie

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:58 am

  "He’s a GREAT Leader!" Every leader wants that to be said of them as they lead. What makes a leader great? Well, a lot of that can be debated, but there are 3 things that every leader MUST have in order to be a great leader… Humility – Great leaders are humble. They know that they don’t have all the answers and they aren’t afraid to admit it. They put valuable truth in their team to pick up where they fall short. They don’t run with half baked ideas because they’re unwilling to ask for help to develop them better. They’re humble… Leader,…

• Start Over the RIGHT Way

  artie

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:14 am

  Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God…" Everyday you wake up and put your feet on the floor, you have the chance to start over. The biggest reason we want a fresh start or a do-over is because we started wrong in the first place. We read the first verse of the Bible a lot of the times and skip right over it… not thinking of the value. The value that comes from starting over the right way… the God way. You see, if what you do, what you say, and where you go on a daily basis doesn’t begin with God and with hearing what he would have you do first, you’ve started the…

• I’d Rather Be Wrong Than Send Someone to Hell

  artie

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:12 am

  I know that sounds kinda crazy. Like I could actually SEND people to hell… I can’t. It’s not up to me. What I can do, though, is put a sour taste in the mouths of unbelievers. What I can do is miss my opportunity to represent Jesus the way He wants to be represented. What I can do is spend my time arguing with other believers about the particulars of our faith rather than sharing what we can agree on with people that desperately need it. So, what do I often do when other believers want to ‘argue’ specialized doctrine and minuet details of our faith? I surrender.

• They Haven’t Met Jesus! They Met You, and Don’t Like YOU!

  artie

  2 Feb 2012 | 11:31 pm

  Had a friend Tweet this yesterday… "Just had to defend my faith in a grocery store, a guy just talking junk about Christians, faith…don’t mess with my savior man." I don’t know many things, but I do know this…Jesus doesn’t need defending. He can certainly defend Himself, quite well. I know my friend didn’t fully understand what they were writing, but the statement causes me great pain. Those Outside the Kingdom Need to See When we make it our mission to "defend" the Gospel, what we do is "Offend" with the Gospel. I’ve never seen anyone…

• 10-That Never Change While Leading

  artie

  1 Feb 2012 | 7:24 am

  When you lead, some lessons are learned easily, some are learned through fire. Wisdom is gained by learning through your own failure, and observing the failure of others. 1- You will never be able to give more to others that what you have gotten from God 2- Those that you choose to be with you will complete or completely destroy the vision 3- No matter what is happening with you, never neglect those with you 4- If you lose your passion you will lose those who followed you for your passion 5- If you lose the vision, you will lose those who followed the vision with you 6- Never let hurt or…

• 

  Brandon A. Cox

• Be a More Balanced Church

  brandon

  19 Feb 2012 | 11:01 pm

  Be a More Balanced Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.Remember the old V-8 commercials where someone who wasn’t taking in a balanced diet would be leaning to one side? That’s what I think of as I read the thoughts and opinions of various church leaders about “what the church should be all about.” It typically sounds something like one of the following… Jesus was a disciple-making discipler who discipled disciples, so the church should be all about making disciple-making discipling disciples as well. Let’s disciple some more disciples. Soul-winning is the…

• Good Idea. Now What? Charles Lee Helps Answer This Question

  brandon

  13 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  Good Idea. Now What? Charles Lee Helps Answer This Question is a post from Brandon A. Cox.Our Creator designed us to be creative. And out of our inborn creativity come forth plenty of good ideas, but an idea is only as valuable as its successful implementation. In other words, brainstorming is good, but completing ideas is even better. Charles Lee, the founder of the Ideation Consultancy and many other brilliant ideas, helps leaders cross the finish line with well-developed good ideas. In his new book, Good Idea. Now What?, Charles presents a guidebook that is very thorough, but also very…

• The Savior-Sensitive, Seeker-Sensitive Church

  brandon

  9 Feb 2012 | 5:14 pm

  The Savior-Sensitive, Seeker-Sensitive Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.In 1975, Bill Hybels assumed the leadership of a fledgling church plant that would grow into the rather influential Willow Creek Community Church. Under Bill’s leadership, the church pioneered many concepts in the seeker-sensitive strain of worship and ministry. In 1997, Bill and his wife, Lynne, co-wrote Rediscovering Church, an inside look at how the church grew from 100 to 15,000 in weekend attendance. In 1980, Rick and Kay Warren relocated to Orange County, California to launch Saddleback Church. In 1995,…

• Celebrating the Diversity of the Church

  brandon

  6 Feb 2012 | 10:13 am

  Celebrating the Diversity of the Church is a post from Brandon A. Cox.I grew up white, middle class, and in the mid-south. My high school was diverse, but not peacefully so. Tensions ran high between races, classes, and groups, which was to some degree a reflection of the entire community. I very well should have grown to adulthood with all kinds of prejudice. But God, in His grace, showed me a different way. As a teenager, when I studied the Bible, I couldn’t help but notice that diversity is something God celebrates. Yes, He chose the Jewish people as His own special people, but His…

• The Pro’s and Con’s of Planting a Church In a Movie Theater

  brandon

  30 Jan 2012 | 1:53 pm

  The Pro’s and Con’s of Planting a Church In a Movie Theater is a post from Brandon A. Cox.This past Sunday made the fourth week in a row we’ve worshipped in a local movie theater with January 15 being our official launch. We didn’t intend to launch in a theater. I fact, we spent a great deal of time looking at retail spaces, but eventually landed at the Malco because of space, price, and availability. There’s a part of me that fell in love with the idea before we moved in, and has remained attached to it since. Advantages of Meeting In a Theater We know that we…

• 

  The Navy Christian

• Feeding the Dragon

  Dan Smith

  21 Feb 2012 | 8:35 am

  So the honest truth is that Sea Stories isn't my first book. In fact, there were two books before Sea Stories. My first book ever published was called The Art of Defense, and it was a Christian fantasy novelette. Sadly, I chose a bad publisher and so it died on the vine. Apparently, Amazon still has a few copies. Someday, I want to take the time to rework it and republish it with a new

• Mentoring Monday: Borrowed Identity

  Dan Smith

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:49 am

  You've heard of identity theft. It's a plague that has festered in the pre-internet years and spread like wildfire with each new potential technology offers. Your identity can be stolen over the internet, by mail, and over the telephone, all in situations that place you in a compromising position, often without even knowing it. In these cases, you are left innocently giving out sensitive

• Mars and the Garden of Eden

  Dan Smith

  18 Feb 2012 | 7:37 am

  I first wrote this several years ago as a speculation piece based on some of the ideas my grandpa and I used to toss back and forth on the farm. It was published a long time ago, I believe, in some little sci-fi online magazine. Interesting discoveries have been made recently with respect to Mars by the rovers Spirit and Opportunity. The biggest of these discoveries is the potential traces of

• CPO 365 Community Relations Project

  Dan Smith

  13 Feb 2012 | 5:54 am

  As part of our ongoing effort to usher in a new wave of US Navy Chief Petty Officers, and to align our command with the MCPON's guidance, my command joined the CPO Mess with the First Class Association for a join Community Relations Project at a local food bank. I had worked with them before and I know they do good work in the community, so it was a no-brainer to get my group involved when they

• iBooks review of Sea Stories

  Dan Smith

  11 Feb 2012 | 5:45 pm

  The first review of my book has been posted by Greg in San Diego! You can read it on iTunes and below: "I am stoked to be the first review. This was my first download in iBooks and it kept my interest the entire way. I was very humbled to be mentioned in your book and it was truly a blessing to share some of these “Sea Stories” with you. It brought me right back to the great memories." Click

• 

  Cory Center for Children's Ministry » Blog

• Losing It

  Jesse

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:47 am

  I’m coming off a few weeks where my schedule was crammed full of activity, planning, and more activity. In fact, I’ve had a season where life has simply been full. Here’s what I’ve noticed during these times: There’s two sides to this:  We can get so busy planning that it can seem like people who legitimately need time with us are squeezed out. We can seem unapproachable if we’re not careful. Our jobs of planning and doing can interfere with what we’re really called to do: shepherding. People get in the way of ministry On the flip side, the…

• Two Simple Ways to Make Sure Your Kids NEVER Like the Bible

  mguevara

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:48 am

  This is a guest post by Keith Ferrin.  Keith is a pastor, speaker, and author of the books Falling in Love with God’s Word and Like Ice Cream: The Scoop on Helping the Next Generation Fall in Love with God’s Word.  You can find Keith on Twitter and on his website www.thatyoumayknow.com. Two Simple Ways to Make Sure Your Kids NEVER Like the Bible Sarah, Caleb, and Hannah. All three are under 10 years old. All three live in my house. All three have the very real potential of growing up believing the Bible is true…and boring. If your kids grow up believing the Bible is true,…

• Healthy Marriages and Healthy Kids | Part 1

  Kyle Bostock

  17 Feb 2012 | 2:04 pm

  The longer I work with kids the more convinced I become that the foundation of an effective children’s ministry is a strong focus on strengthening and supporting marriages.  Healthy marriages lead to healthy homes and healthy homes provide the secure base kids need for emotional and spiritual health. I don’t have Barna certified statistics, just years of watching the same story play out over and over again.  Kids that come from homes where there is marital peace and a common since of mission and purpose do well.  They are more confident, they navigate peer pressure more effectively,…

• Be strong and courageous

  rhaslett

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:53 am

  Where does courage come from? How do we become so courageous that we are able to walk through a season of change? If courage is the state of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, danger or pain without fear then it is chosen state of mind. So what affects our state of mind? Rest, nutrition, focus (what we give attention to in our thoughts), education, whether we start off weak or strong affects our ability to have courage in a situation are some of the things that affect our ability to walk courageously. Courage comes also from the support of others who believe in you and…

• Dealing with Anger: Wrap Up

  Jesse

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:45 am

  If you haven’t surmised it by the series on anger that I’ve been writing over the past month, this is a monster that we battle in our home. Sometimes it’s caused by a lack of order but more often it is a perceived violation of rights. As I wrote last week, each time I attempt to maintain my own control and follow up on issues of disrespect. As I wrap up this series, I’m drawn to the discussion that I have had with each of my sons at some point after they have chosen to follow Christ. These discussions begin a careful watch over their heart. Solomon wrote, “Above…

• 

  Christian Web Resources :: Index

• Church Websites 101: Not Always Easy, But Should Be

  12 Feb 2012 | 5:45 am

  Category: Web StrategiesTitle: Church Websites 101: Not Always Easy, But Should BeSummary: 3rd in a series introduced in Church Websites 101: Easy. Not Simple. Last time, we fixed the easy stuff - now you'll need a little tech savvy to take care of some of these things. If you've selected a good CMS, most of this will be easy. If you're having to edit the pages or configuration directly - not so easy.If you've gotten this far, you are well ahead of the majority of non-profit organizations. You have overcome the hurdle of publishing online and have developed a discipline for regular updates.

• Church Websites 101: Fix the Easy Stuff

  1 Jan 2012 | 5:47 am

  Category: Web StrategiesTitle: Church Websites 101: Fix the Easy StuffSummary: Introduced in Church Websites 101: Easy. Not Simple, we're now going to dig deeper into the strategies you can employ to build and maintain a more effective website for your church or ministry.The easy fixes are things you have, or should have, direct control over - the content is yours. This is all about what you post online. Examine your topics, your schedule for posting and updating, the language you use and your presentation. Do it now and keep doing it - establish a discipline (be a disciple) for your…

• Church Websites 101: Easy. Not Simple

  2 Dec 2011 | 6:37 am

  Category: Web StrategiesTitle: Church Websites 101: Easy. Not SimpleSummary: Point. Click, Type, Click. Drag, Drop. Share. Take a fresh look at your website - it might be easy, but it ain't simple! The number of easy-to-use site building and publishing tools is cllimbing, but the task of building and maintaining a good website is not getting any simpler. Until now.The concepts are easily learned and, with proper discipline, you can have an effective, enjoyable website for your church.

• How To Build The Ark

  3 Nov 2011 | 5:59 am

  Category: Web TechnologiesTitle: How To Build The ArkSummary: When technology works - it's great. When it doesn't, life can be miserable. God had Noah build the ark. He also had Joseph store up grain for the famine. What preparations have you made for the ups and downs you'll experience?

• Developing an Effective Church Web Strategy

  19 Jul 2011 | 5:13 am

  Category: Web StrategiesTitle: Developing an Effective Church Web StrategySummary: Having a web strategy for your church is really a part of having a communications strategy for you church - your website is just one aspect of all your communications media. Even your web strategy will be broken into several components - a website, possibly a Facebook page and a Twitter account, maybe other online channels like YouTube and MySpace.There are many pieces to your web strategy, but just having all the pieces doesn't mean they all fit together - yet!Just like shaking the box won't assemble the…

• 

  the running reverend

• Christian worship as "secular liturgy"

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:59 pm

  “Camp Hill Praise” by Jason TrommJames K.A. Smith wrote “An Open Letter to Praise...

• Maps, Compasses, and the Church

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:20 am

  “Compass Study”Photo by Calsidyroase Earlier Seth Godin posted the following thought on...

• Compartmentalization or integration? What is the relationship between mission and family?

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Earlier this month, Mike Breen (of 3DM) wrote a blog post in which he asks: Is the church (and are...

• Just in time for Lent! Join me (and many others) on a transformative journey this Lenten season...

  20 Feb 2012 | 12:24 pm

  You can get your hands on a copy of The Metamorphosis Project in a number of ways. Here are just a...

• 10 Blogs That I've Particularly Enjoyed As Of Late

  18 Feb 2012 | 7:19 pm

  Video! Audio! Disco! the blog of Josh Walters The blog of A.J. Swoboda Jesus Creed the blog of Scot...

• 

  Matt Carlisle

• New Website Launch for Northern Illinois Conference Foundation

  Matt

  7 Feb 2012 | 9:04 am

  I am proud to announce the launch of http://www.nicumf.org, the official website of the United Methodist Foundation of the Northern Illinois Conference, Inc. The Foundation partners with individuals, United Methodist churches, agencies, and the Northern Illinois Annual Conference to increase funding for ministry. Charitable websites often focus too much on the money and miss the mission and ministry. I believe that the Foundation's new website illustrates the impact of their benevolence.

• New Website Launch for Christ United Methodist Church

  Matt

  2 Feb 2012 | 5:44 pm

  I am proud to announce the launch of ChristUMCFranklin.org, the official website of Christ United Methodist Church located in Franklin, Tennessee. Christ United Methodist is a congregation that is about relationships—with Christ, with one another and with God’s hurting world.

• Profile: Steve Fogg of Crossway

  Matt

  2 Nov 2011 | 10:40 am

  I recently had the pleasure of conducting a virtual interview with Steve Fogg. A great resource for many church communicators, Steve serves as the “big cheese” of communications at his church, Crossway, located in Melbourne, Australia.

• Don’t Miss Upcoming Church Social Media Training

  Matt

  29 Sep 2011 | 11:29 am

  Next week I will be traveling to Springfield, Illinois to lead a social media ministry training event for the Illinois Great Rivers Conference of The United Methodist Church. If you live in the area, I encourage you to join me.

• Archiving Church History Forever

  Matt

  22 Sep 2011 | 10:34 am

  At the heart of any web development project or communications strategy are the stories. Stories of how the church is reaching out in ministry to the community, member testimonials, as well as the history. Often times these stories are lost because they aren’t passed down to the next generation, or no one has taken the time to keep a record.

• 

  Mark Batterson

• The 7:14 Experiment

  mark

  19 Feb 2012 | 7:33 am

  We have a core value at National Community Church: everything is an experiment.  My favorite kind? Experiments that are based on the Bible.  I think of as them holy experiments. So here’s the scoop.  We’re going to circle II Chronicles 7:14 during Lent. I guess you could call it an experilent. What would happen if we circled this promise in prayer for forty days?  I intend to find out. If my people who are called by my name will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven.  I will forgive their sin and heal their…

• 12 Prayer Maxims

  mark

  17 Feb 2012 | 6:57 am

  I love maxims. Always have. Always will.  Jesus was the master of maxims!  He could say so much with so few words. I’ve always strived to not just love like Him and pray like Him, but also talk like Him!  Sometimes the way to say more is to say less.  Here are 12 prayer maxims from The Circle Maker. 1. Prayer is the difference between YOU FIGHTING FOR GOD and GOD FIGHTING FOR YOU. 2. Prayer turns appointments in DIVINE APPOINTMENTS. 3. Pray like it DEPENDS ON GOD and work like it DEPENDS ON YOU. 4. If you don’t establish a PRAYER HABIT you’ll never break the SIN HABIT.

• Overlook an Offense

  mark

  16 Feb 2012 | 6:36 am

  How you handle offense has the potential to make you or break you as a leader.  You will offend. The only question is: who will you offend?  And you will be offended. The only question is: how will you respond to offense? As God expands your sphere of influence you’ll offend more and more people. It’s inevitable. But there is a right way to handle it and a wrong way to handle it. First things first: who are you offending? Some leaders are so afraid of offending people that they offend God instead. Let me tell you who you should offend: thou shalt offend pharisees! That is who…

• 16% Laggards

  mark

  15 Feb 2012 | 10:55 pm

  Abraham Lincoln said, “You can please all of the people some of the time, some of the people all of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all the time.” That is the reality of leadership! Based on research done by Everett Rogers on the “diffusion of innovation” there is a bell curve of personalities ranging from innovators to early adopters to laggards.  Some people will jump on the bandwagon no matter what. Others will offer resistance no matter what. It’s called the adopter categorization. I’m not sure if this will be encouraging or…

• Who is Equal to Such a Task?

  mark

  10 Feb 2012 | 11:11 am

  Who is equal to such a task? II Corinthians 2:16 is one of my common refrains these days.  I’ll be honest, leading National Community Church isn’t getting easier. It’s getting harder. But that’s a good thing!   Honestly, I feel less and less equal to the task God has called me to.  And I wasn’t even qualified to start with.  I had one summer internship and one failed church plant on my resume before National Community Church.  I’ve always felt like I’m in over my head.  But that’s when God has you right where He wants you.  Why?  Because…

• 

  Liberty Church NYC | New York City

• Connect Groups Are Breaking Records!

  Gracie

  17 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  Last week Liberty Church kicked off our new model connect groups for 2012 – Connect Groups 2.0. We were so excited to learn that this season of connect groups saw a monumental increase in people wanting to get plugged in to our church community. As last year there was an average of 70 people in [...] Related posts: Connect Groups 2.0 – Get Plugged In Today New Online “Connect Group Finder” Connect Group Profile: Tribeca

• Launching In 2013: Our Brooklyn Community

  Gracie

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:38 pm

  A few weeks ago on Liberty Church’s one-year anniversary, it was announced that a third community will be launched in Brooklyn in 2013. Yesterday I sat down with lead pastor Paul Andrew to get some more details on the exciting news. When was the idea for a Brooklyn community born? Well, Andi and I live [...] Related posts: Highlights: Union Square Community Launch Service Launching “Visionaries” – Our Entrepreneurial Community Why “Community”?

• “The Conversation” Sebastian Buffa – Podcast

  Paul Andrew

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:42 pm

  Subscribe in iTunes to the LibertyChurchNYC podcast to receive new teaching automatically. Sebastian Buffa preached this message called “The Conversation” at our services in Tribeca and Union Square on Feb 12th 2012. Sunday Services- Tribeca – Tribeca Cinemas 11am Union Square – New York Film Academy 7pm Related posts: “Is God Asleep In Your Boat?” [...] Related posts: “Is God Asleep In Your Boat?” Sebastian Buffa – Podcast “A Theology Of Freedom” Sebastian Buffa – Podcast “The Power Of ‘I Must’ /…

• Video: Liberty Church News Feb 12th

  Paul Andrew

  15 Feb 2012 | 4:35 pm

  All the latest from Liberty Church NYC | Tribeca & Union Square | New York City Liberty Church is a Christian community in New York City which began in 2010. Our Lead Pastors are Paul & Andi Andrew. Liberty Church, Tribeca & Union Square, Manhattan Related posts: Liberty Church – Launched 2010 Video: Liberty Church [...] Related posts: Liberty Church – Launched 2010 Video: Liberty Church News Feb 5th Tribeca Service – 11am Tribeca Cinemas

• Liberty Church 101 – RSVP now

  Paul Andrew

  10 Feb 2012 | 9:59 am

  If you’ve been thinking about making Liberty Church home then we would love to invite you to Liberty Church 101. RSVP now by emailing info@libertychurchnyc.com We see it as a significant milestone that every person who joins our community should benefit from. It’s a two hour class where you have the opportunity to spend time [...] Related posts: Liberty Church 101 – RSVP Today Liberty Church 101 Union Square – Launching Sun Sept 18th – New York Film Academy

• 

  MarkHowellLive.com

• Frequency: Discovering Your Unique Connection to God

  Mark Howell

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:50 am

  Had an opportunity over the weekend to take a good look at Frequency: Discovering Your Unique Connection to God.  Written by Eric Parks and Casey Bankord as a companion resource to the Monvee Spiritual Growth Assessment, there’s a lot to like about Frequency. First of all, the metaphor of frequency to describe our unique pattern of connecting with God is just beautiful; a picture of our individual design that is easy to paint and use to explain connecting with God. Next, the chapter on finding your frequency does a very good job of integrating an understanding of several aspects of our…

• Fresh: Reviving Stale Faith | New DVD-Driven Study from Kerry Shook

  Mark Howell

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:50 am

  Looking for a study that will help your groups put their toe in the water of spiritual practices like meditation, fasting and silence?  You might want to take a look at Fresh: Reviving Stale Faith.  The newest addition to Lifeway’s Platform Series, this six session study features Kerry Shook, senior pastor of Woodlands Church, a multi-site church in Houston, Texas and one of the fastest growing churches in America. The DVD segments are engaging and compelling; each a portion of a message from a series delivered live at Woodlands Church.  Noted for his creative presentations and…

• STIR: Authentic Transformation in Small Groups

  Mark Howell

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:50 am

  A little more than a month ago I had the opportunity to preview a Willow Creek Association resource that I think you’re going to want to purchase for your small group leader training library.  STIR: Authentic Transformation in Small Groups Kit is a collection of six outstanding 30 minute sessions featuring a great list of speakers on a set of topics that can be used as ongoing training or a half or full-day event. Great pricing?  Originally offered at $129.99, they’re available right now at $49.00.  Even better?  Enter the special code and get a seat in the online LIFT course…

• We’ve Tried That Before…and It Doesn’t Work Here

  Mark Howell

  17 Feb 2012 | 8:39 am

  One of the things I love doing is talking with small group pastors and directors about their small group ministry.  How it’s designed.  The structure.  How they coach their leaders.  How they connect unconnected people.  It’s just fun hearing about what they’re trying. Tell Me More About That… And of course…I can’t help asking questions along the way.  ”Tell me more about that?” is one of my favorite questions.  ”What do you mean by that?” is another favorite?  ”Why do you think it’s that way?” is still…

• 7 Core Ideas about Small Group Coaching

  Mark Howell

  16 Feb 2012 | 7:21 am

  Have you established a coaching model in your small group ministry?  Better…what’s the most recent coaching model you’ve implemented?  Even better…what coaching model are you leaning toward implementing next? It would be funny if it weren’t the truth for many of us. Still, it might pay to do some basic thinking about small group coaching philosophy before you make your next move (or your first move in the case of a new small group ministry). Here are 7 core ideas about small group coaching: Jethro’s wise advice to Moses in Exodus 18:13-27 is often cited…

• 

  the mayward blog

• Blue Like Jazz: Official Trailer

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:58 am

  The film version of Donald Miller's memoir is coming to the big screen April 13, but not before premiering at SXSW in Austin, TX. I got to see a pre-screening of the film this past fall, and was pleasantly surprised. I have pretty high standards for films in general (one might label me a "film snob," which wouldn't be far from the truth), and I love Miller's books, so I really wanted to like the film. And I did. A lot. And this before the final sound production and editing. I loved that it wasn't a "Christian film." It's a film about a Christian. It's his story and struggles and the…

• Remember Well: Recalling Your Memories of Adolescence

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:31 am

  At a wedding in 7th grade. Love the turtleneck. Do you remember what it was like to be in junior high? In high school? In college? I've found that most adults tend to block out this period of their life, choosing to recall vague notions of memories rather than specific moments on their timeline. Even when we can remember the specific events, it's even more difficult to recall the feelings and thought-processes we were experiencing. (E.g. in 7th grade, how did it feel to be rejected by that girl at the dance?) Yet these are some of the most life-shaping and important moments of our lives. Some…

• Chronicle

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Another "lost footage" film? Haven't we had enough of the shaky camerawork and first-person perspective? How many Paranormal Activity movies do we really need? And who keeps finding this footage? (They clearly have great editing technique and a lot of time on their hands.) Isn't the genre beginning to fade? Then a little film like Chronicle comes along and reignites the genre's dying coals. A teen-driven "lost footage" super hero film, Chronicle is the Carrie for the YouTube generation. The opening scene is a camera focused on a white bedroom door with a mirror attached. No cameraman is seen.

• Sharks and Fish

  16 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  A large school of fish keeps their distance from some sharks. (ht to Karl Robertson via 22 words) Is the picture above representative of how people respond when you come near? On the one hand, I don't want to be a shark in my leadership. I don't want to devour or unnecessarily damage those I lead. I don't want to be intimidating and unapproachable. On the other hand, good leadership often requires a leader to strike out alone, to rise above the crowds and masses. Edwin Friedman calls this self differentiation, and it can be a lonely existence. Friedman writes, "differentiation is the…

• Keep The Towel - Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  After our high school gathering last night, a friend and volunteer in my ministry was feeling quite discouraged. His attempts at meaningful conversation with the guys he disciples appeared futile, and he wore his frustration in his posture. "I feel like we've taken twelve steps backwards in one night," he lamented. He was ready to throw in the towel. I wanted him to keep it. He asked me, "how do you do it? How do you keep going in youth ministry when there are nights like this?" Great question. It's one I wrestle with at least once a month. Well, maybe once a week. Okay, A LOT. Here are some…

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  CharlieWhitlow.com

• 40 Days to a New You

  Charlie Whitlow

  16 Feb 2012 | 11:14 am

  This is no gimmick. Do you need direction? Do you need a break through? Does your marriage, family or business need a turn around? Could you stand to have God actively working in your favor? The truth is God is the fountain or source of every blessing-peace, health, a new start, a positive outlook, sound decision making & on & on! God is the most incredibly generous, bighearted, forgiving and unprejudiced being. He is the ultimate philanthropist! Obviously, drawing closer to him has a high probability of extraordinary results. And there’s the catch. We have a choice to make.

• The Way I See It

  Charlie Whitlow

  2 Feb 2012 | 2:59 pm

  Many Christians live under a heavy burden of guilt-a joy & strength zapping feeling because of what they’ve been taught. Certain behaviors & opinions are wrongly made out to be of monumental importance-to be BIG sins, deal killers-that aren’t even on God’s radar screen. If we are not careful, additional standards of righteousness & holiness are gently & compassionately added on until the burden is unbearable. In fact, it was a burden we were never meant to bear. Religious zeal without calm, critical & logical thinking almost always ends up hurting the…

• 2011 in Review at Community Church

  Charlie Whitlow

  3 Jan 2012 | 8:17 pm

  Well, 2011 is in the history books now. Here are a few highlights & 1 low light we shared together as a church family. In February, during our Sextastic series Jill preached to one of our largest crowds on the subject of ‘Marital Sex’. If you missed it…well, what can I say but sorry! Every couple present received the best ‘sex’ counseling for free. Just think about that benefit. Every Sunday we at Community get superior life ‘counseling’ from scripture just by showing up regularly & paying attention…but I digress. For those that missed Jill’s ‘Marital Sex’ talk…

• New Series: BeChristmas

  Charlie Whitlow

  23 Nov 2011 | 12:03 pm

  Christmas is the time that we remember & celebrate the birth of Christ—our liberator & redeemer. Christ is central to Christianity. In reality, he is the center piece of humanity. But, Christianity is NOT just believing the right stuff about Christ, even though this is critical. It is also doing the right stuff. So, our goal this Advent season, is to focus intently on NOT just celebrating Christmas but being Christmas; on NOT just believing in Christ BUT actually being like Christ; on NOT just thinking right but translating our theology into behaviors everybody can understand. Well,…

• 21 Days of Prayer & Fasting

  Charlie Whitlow

  1 Nov 2011 | 11:00 am

  Our 21 days of unbroken prayer & fasting is on! (Sun Oct 30th – Sat Nov 19th) If you haven’t signed up for a time slot, feel free to jump in at anytime. You can pick a slot here. Ok, here is a reminder about what we’re praying about. (Of course, you can pray about other things but these have our attention as a church family)   Prayer Themes: 1) Re-surrender: Throughout our spiritual journeys the Lord continually checks our attitudes (our hearts) to see if they are still right. Truly, the only acceptable offering we can give is to be a ‘living sacrifice.’ (Romans 12:1)…

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  ChurchKreatives

• What Graphic Designers Actually Do (infographic)

  bobbychandler@gmail.com (Bobby Chandler)

  15 Feb 2012 | 5:02 pm

  In honor of the pop-up meme that has hit the www, I decided to create an infographic for designers.   Related posts:Infographic: The World of Megachurches 25 [...]

• Mars Hill Using Pinterest: Just More Spam?

  bobbychandler@gmail.com (Bobby Chandler)

  7 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  I love Mars Hill. I love their pastor. I love their use of media arts. I love that they are daring, forward thinking, and innovative. But I’m [...]

• Study: Why People Use Facebook

  bobbychandler@gmail.com (Bobby Chandler)

  17 Jan 2012 | 2:06 pm

  The answer to the question, “why do people use Facebook?” can be simplified with two answers. 1. The need to belong 2. The need for self-presentation According [...]

• Infographic: The World of Megachurches

  bobbychandler@gmail.com (Bobby Chandler)

  27 Nov 2011 | 3:59 pm

  Interesting infographic from Good Magazine. The sources for the stats come from Leadership Network, Christian Post, and Forbes. A few things to note here: Almost half of [...]

• History Of The CBS Eye Logo

  bobbychandler@gmail.com (Bobby Chandler)

  26 Nov 2011 | 9:25 pm

  “The History of the CBS Eye Logo” tells the story of the iconic, 60 year old CBS logo, which was created in 1951 by designer William Golden. [...]

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  The Discipleship Diary

• A Prayer for Revival and Reformation

  Melini Moodley

  11 Feb 2012 | 6:44 am

  Great and honourable Father, we come to You through theprecious Name of Jesus. You established us as Your Church, to do Your Will onthe earth and to make disciples of all men. Attached to this mission, Yougranted us the power of Your Spirit, that we may prevail against the gates ofhell. We come to You today asking for Your mercy and forgiveness.We have each gone our way and neglected Your GreatCommission. You told us to be in the world, yet not of it; we have madeourselves comfortable here. Trading in the wares of the world, we have madeenlargening our barns for survival our primary activity…

• The Deadly Sin of Self-righteousness Part 2

  Melini Moodley

  27 Jan 2012 | 5:59 pm

  “How art thou fallen from heaven, O Lucifer, son of the morning! How art thou cut down to the ground, which didst weaken the nations! For thou hast said in thine heart,  I will ascend into heaven, I will exalt my throne above the stars of God. I will sit also upon the mount of the congregation, in the sides of the  north. I will ascend above the heights of the clouds; I will be like the Most High.” –Is 14:12-14It was a deadly mix of pride, hypocrisy and self-righteousness that, in the beginning, caused the created to revolt against his Creator. Lucifer, the most beautiful of…

• The Deadly Sin of Self-righteousness

  Melini Moodley

  20 Jan 2012 | 12:17 pm

  Would you be surprised to learn that the deadliest of sins, self-righteousness is not as obvious as one may think? It’s curious and decadent wrapping makes it all the more dangerous. Having its roots in hypocrisy, it manifests in myriads of ways that are not often viewed for what they really are. Examine the story of the blind man healed by Jesus in John 9. The Pharisees, critical of all Jesus’ works, sought occasion to accuse Him of breaking the Law of God. They did not see the fruit of His work in the confident, young man that stood before them eloquently sharing the testimony of how he…

• How to make the best of 2012

  Melini Moodley

  6 Jan 2012 | 9:19 am

  Having finally entered into the New Year, I decided it might be a fitting time to outline some tips on how we can make the best of 2012.  I hope you find them encouraging and helpful.-Put God first in your life and seek Him for guidance in your decision - making. (Ps 119:105, Ps 37:23)-Embrace a positive attitude and surround yourself with positive people of faith. (Num 13:30, Num 14:6-10)-Decide on the legacy you would like to leave behind. Your legacy will impact on the vision you have for your future. Remember, legacies are not comprised solely of things of monetary value but rather…

• A Message for the New Year - 2012

  Melini Moodley

  31 Dec 2011 | 1:35 pm

  Time has flown by! Tomorrow, should the grace of  God allow, we will greet the first day of the new year. 2011 has been a year of new experiences for some and tragedy for others. We have definitely been reminded of the brevity of time for the coming of our Lord; the signs have been more pronounced than ever before. We should know where our priorities lie.2011 brought with it an increase in natural disasters. Storms, cyclones, floods, tornadoes, tsunamis and earthquakes  have been commonplace, and the second biggest nuclear disaster the world has experienced since Chernobyl shocked…

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  Pray Chat

• Tell me that ill never be set free

  Pray Chat

  2 Feb 2012 | 12:40 pm

  Pray i find a new planet with a friendly breed of aliens cause I Hate this place so much and i don’t want to spend eternity in heaven or hell with any of you

• mending souls

  Pray Chat

  30 Jan 2012 | 11:41 am

  I’ve been praying about this for months, but feel as though I need to ask for help from others. My relationship is slipping away, the man I am inlove with is going through something, I don’t know what. Midlife crisis? Crisis of self? Whatever it is, he’s pulling further and further away. There is a harridan who’s stepped into our lives, as the guise of a “friend” first to me, and then to him. I recognized her lies and uses for waht they were, but he has a ‘knight complex’ and feels the need to help. I would not mind helping, if her need was…

• Urgent Prayer for Relationship close to the edge

  Pray Chat

  30 Jan 2012 | 11:41 am

  Hello My relationship has been so strained lately, things are so complicated and me and her have ended up in a massive argument. Although I am not ‘angry’ towards her, she is very very much so towards me. Please I beg, Pray that her feelings of anger will be wiped away and replaced by a calmness and that we will talk very soon in a calm and loving way about everything. Please help, this is so urgent ~ Thank you, God Bless!

• A maricle

  Pray Chat

  30 Jan 2012 | 11:41 am

  My grandmother had recently had a stroke. She is at the peak of death. It seems like every time she improves just alittle the devil sinks his claws in and she’s back to where she started, suffering. Every hope I have that god would heal her is just faded.

• My Brother’s healing

  Pray Chat

  24 Jan 2012 | 2:32 pm

  Please pray that my brother is healed spiritually & that he is no longer angry at me. No email reply is needed. Thank you.

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  GC Ministry

• Loving Your Wife

  RevCollins

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  GC Ministry First off, Happy Valentines day! Today is the day we celebrate that special love we have in our lives. It might be your spouse, boyfriend/girlfriend, parent, child, or classmate. I also want to remind you to remember Christ as your valentine as well. Since today is a great day for love themed ideas, I want to deal with a topic that is special to me. When we discussed priorities, one of our priorities in life was our family or wives. Loving Your Wife When we talk about loving your wife it is easy to just think that we as men are the leaders or the house and become mini-dictators.

• What Are Your Priorities In Life

  RevCollins

  10 Feb 2012 | 5:53 am

  GC MinistryI. What are your priorities in life? We all have priorities in our lives. We have priorities at work, school, home and even at church. The more we stuff into our schedules, the more we realize that time is a precious commodity that we can never replenish. First, I want to look at what you believe your general life priorities are.  I think it is fair to say that most Christians would put their life priorities as: God Family Work Society   For ministers, #3 can often be confused with #1, I know it can for me. Take a moment now and think on what you would want you priorities to…

• What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

  RevCollins

  7 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  GC MinistryI found this hilarious video on YouTube the other day. It poses the question “What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church?” I thought it was hilarious and yet very thought-provoking. It gets to the heart of why you need a personal real relationship with God. You may never look at church the same way again. Do you see anything wrong here?No related posts.What if Starbucks Marketed Like a Church? A Parable.

• The Power of One

  RevCollins

  2 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  GC MinistryTraveling What is the power of one?   That is the question I am exploring today in my guest post for my friend Kevin Martineau on Shooting The Breeze. Stop in and check it out!Related posts: Favourite Links Friday – 3 Great Posts Favorite Friday Links Sept 30, 2011 David’s Heart – - Rainbow Heart Love Blog The Power of One

• Kari Jobe: We Are (acoustic version)

  RevCollins

  1 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  GC MinistryKari Jobe: We Are (acoustic version) I had the fortunate opportunity to hear Kari Jobe in concert last year. Her heart was so tender for worship and I had such an amazing time. I wanted to share with you this beautiful studio Version of her song We Are. I hope you enjoy this weeks video. What are some ways we can let our light shine?Related posts: Gungor-Beautiful Things Casting Crowns – Just Another Birthday Chris Tomlin: I Will Rise Kari Jobe: We Are (acoustic version)

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  Artie Davis

• 3 Signs of a GREAT Leader

  artie

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:58 am

  "He’s a GREAT Leader!" Every leader wants that to be said of them as they lead. What makes a leader great? Well, a lot of that can be debated, but there are 3 things that every leader MUST have in order to be a great leader… Humility – Great leaders are humble. They know that they don’t have all the answers and they aren’t afraid to admit it. They put valuable truth in their team to pick up where they fall short. They don’t run with half baked ideas because they’re unwilling to ask for help to develop them better. They’re humble… Leader,…

• Start Over the RIGHT Way

  artie

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:14 am

  Genesis 1:1 "In the beginning God…" Everyday you wake up and put your feet on the floor, you have the chance to start over. The biggest reason we want a fresh start or a do-over is because we started wrong in the first place. We read the first verse of the Bible a lot of the times and skip right over it… not thinking of the value. The value that comes from starting over the right way… the God way. You see, if what you do, what you say, and where you go on a daily basis doesn’t begin with God and with hearing what he would have you do first, you’ve started the…

• I’d Rather Be Wrong Than Send Someone to Hell

  artie

  9 Feb 2012 | 7:12 am

  I know that sounds kinda crazy. Like I could actually SEND people to hell… I can’t. It’s not up to me. What I can do, though, is put a sour taste in the mouths of unbelievers. What I can do is miss my opportunity to represent Jesus the way He wants to be represented. What I can do is spend my time arguing with other believers about the particulars of our faith rather than sharing what we can agree on with people that desperately need it. So, what do I often do when other believers want to ‘argue’ specialized doctrine and minuet details of our faith? I surrender.

• They Haven’t Met Jesus! They Met You, and Don’t Like YOU!

  artie

  2 Feb 2012 | 11:31 pm

  Had a friend Tweet this yesterday… "Just had to defend my faith in a grocery store, a guy just talking junk about Christians, faith…don’t mess with my savior man." I don’t know many things, but I do know this…Jesus doesn’t need defending. He can certainly defend Himself, quite well. I know my friend didn’t fully understand what they were writing, but the statement causes me great pain. Those Outside the Kingdom Need to See When we make it our mission to "defend" the Gospel, what we do is "Offend" with the Gospel. I’ve never seen anyone…

• 10-That Never Change While Leading

  artie

  1 Feb 2012 | 7:24 am

  When you lead, some lessons are learned easily, some are learned through fire. Wisdom is gained by learning through your own failure, and observing the failure of others. 1- You will never be able to give more to others that what you have gotten from God 2- Those that you choose to be with you will complete or completely destroy the vision 3- No matter what is happening with you, never neglect those with you 4- If you lose your passion you will lose those who followed you for your passion 5- If you lose the vision, you will lose those who followed the vision with you 6- Never let hurt or…

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  All Articles

• Getting Your Feet Hot by Brandon Cox

  Think Eternity

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:03 am

  Early in my adult life, I endured a particularly trying time in ministry leadership. I was 19 and serving as the Pastor of a church - way too young, probably, for the task at hand. I was also naive to the relational issues that sometimes exist in churches and I walked into the middle of a difficult set of circumstances. A few months later, when it was all said and done, way too much had been said, and very little done. I walked away from that experience feeling like a failure and so discouraged that I privately vowed to give up on being a Pastor. I was determined to stay out of any primary…

• Who Do You Think You Are?

  Think Eternity

  19 Feb 2012 | 4:15 pm

  There's a great new TV show on lately called "Who Do You Think You Are?" that follows celebrities as they discover their geneology and ancestry roots. There is something so powerful for all of us about learning about our ancestors.  I have known a few different interesting facts about various ancestors, but this weekend I learned some exciting and surprising new facts about a distant relative. My dad has been reading a book by a former missionary to China who was my great-great-great Uncle. His name was Henry Brown. Henry Brown travelled as an evangelist across the US and Canada for…

• Whitney Houston: Love vs. Hate by Terry Weaver

  Think Eternity

  18 Feb 2012 | 9:45 am

  Today in Newark, New Jersey, Whitney Houston will be laid to rest in her church that seats 1,500 with her family, friends, and lots of famous people paying their respects to her and celebrating her life. Sadly like so many funerals of the famous and the infamous,  Westboro Baptist "Church" will be there to protest her death and life. They will be there with their message of hate. They will probably have signs that read "God Hates Whitney Houston".  They have even gone so far as to post a parody of one of her most popular songs, "I WIll Always Love You,"changing it to "God Will…

• Praying Circles Around Your Biggest Dreams and Greatest Fears

  Think Eternity

  16 Feb 2012 | 12:18 pm

  I've been thrilled to recieve and read an advanced copy of Mark Batterson's newest book "The Circle Maker," now out and already a New York Times bestseller. I have read almost all his books now, and love his blog. Here is an excerpt I had to share with you ... "The Bible tells us that the Lord is watching over His word to perform it. There is nothing God loves more than keeping His promises. He is actively watching and waiting for us to simply take Him at his word. He is watching over Matthew 18:18. He is watching over Isaiah 59:21. He is watching over Luke 7:23. He is watching over each and…

• In Case You Haven't Heard of These Worship Leaders

  Think Eternity

  13 Feb 2012 | 6:07 pm

  Photography Brandon Werth l Model Pradeepan JeevaI can't get away from posting a blog every few months of my favorite worship music. It's in my system. I'm always so excited about the new stuff I'm hearing, that I've got to share it with you here. Here are some of my favorite worship artists, that you may not know about yet. Some of them have an international presence, but aren't as talked about in circles I'm around. Others are up and coming, and not on the international scene yet.  Will Reagan & United Pursuit - recently discovered these guys out of Knoxville, Tennessee and can't…

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  RobShep.com

• The Isle Of Man Interview

  Rob

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Kevin Haggerty’s blog, The Isle of Man, has come on like whirl wind. It’s literally taking over the entire world wide web. If you don’t know him then check him out… The image that came up when I Googled Kevin Haggerty On almost a weekly basis he holds great interviews with other bloggers. I was honored when Kevin asked to interview me. We talked about my twins, DC Talk, and our band from when we were in high school. I’d love to have you click here and check out the interview.

• I Can’t Support That: Generic Products Edition

  Rob

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:40 am

  I tend to challenge the process. I see things and start asking questions about why things are the way that they are. That has led me to a series that I like to call “I Can’t Support That.” I understand the desire to save a buck. I’m thankful that there are less expensive products that try to taste like the real thing. I’m thankful for the idea but not for the names. Come on man. You can do better than… Seriously? Dr. Perky sounds like a porno. I’ve never watched one but I don’t have to in order to know that I just can’t support this name. Okay I have…

• Mind Dump

  Rob

  20 Feb 2012 | 4:55 am

  My brain is constipated with random thoughts. It’s time to free up some space with another Mind Dump… I’ve missed you. Last week I took the week off from blogging to focus on planting a church. I had some great guest posts. I hope you checked them out and then went to visit their blogs. Because I was off I have an extra lot to Mind Dump about. Today is President’s Day. I’m not even sure what that means. All I know is that furniture stores love to give sales on President’s Day. Their commercials usually include George Washington and Abe Lincoln. Do you think…

• My Second Week Of Church Planting

  Rob

  18 Feb 2012 | 6:14 am

  My second week of church planting was just as adventurous as the first. Here are some thoughts so far… Monday started with not one but two sick babies. I work from home and normally they are with my sister in law on Mondays. Well Hayden started coughing so bad that Monica picked him up. He decided to bless her by throwing up all over her arm. I jumped up but I had no idea what to do. She tells me to take him and as soon as I pick him up he starts spewing like something out of the Exorcist movie. It resulted in this… So my next adventure was trying to clean up six feet of baby…

• Daddy’s Got You: Guest Post By Ricky Anderson

  Rob

  17 Feb 2012 | 3:53 am

  I’ve missed you this week. I’ve been working hard planting a new church. Thankfully my good internet friends have been here to fill in for me. Next up is Ricky Anderson. Ricky is an IT guy who has it. He’s funny, (I mean this in an incredibly platonic way) good looking, and for one day a year my internet arch nemesis.  On days when we are not battling it out he’s one of my favorite people on the internet. Enjoy… _________________________________ Sometimes my son doesn’t get it. Granted, he’s only 6 months old, but you’d think that would be long…

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  News and prayer information from Richard and Pinuccia Wilson

• More training

  Richard Wilson

  12 Feb 2012 | 4:22 pm

  This afternoon there was a two hour training conference for the churches of Trento and Rovereto. Tim Chester, director of The Porterbrook Institute, church planter in Sheffield and author of over a dozen books, was in Italy for a few days, and we managed to get him to come to speak to us on missional church, missional life style and missional leadership. There was a very good turnout from the churches, and what was said and discussed was helpful for us individual and as two churches. Of course, this commitment to training (both from the leadership of the church and from the members) is a good…

• Training and equiping

  Richard Wilson

  5 Feb 2012 | 4:19 pm

  During the week, there was a training and coordination meeting for all the group leaders – the five Bible study groups, the four “specialized” groups (Youth, Young Adults, university students, English language) and the three Sunday School classes. I was a bit surprised when I counted them all, and arrived at 23 people. And then there is the same number again serving in other ministries in the church: welcoming, preaching, Sunday School assistants, prayer, music, our social-cultural association, and son on. Half the church mobilised for ministry in some way. When I started…

• Social work

  Richard Wilson

  29 Jan 2012 | 2:57 pm

  Today there was the annual general meeting of Altrimenti, the social-cultural association run by people of the church. There was nothing new in the meeting, but it was good to be able to take a step back and see all that has been done in the past three years. It has worked in overseas aid (Romania and Cameroon), helped refugees and other foreigners in the province, and organised cultural events (conferences and theatre on freedom and human rights, games for people at the street markets), which meant a turnover of more than €10,000 last year. But more than that, it has been a time of making…

• Meeting week

  Richard Wilson

  22 Jan 2012 | 3:08 pm

  This coming week there are a few special meetings to pray for. Tomorrow night Pinuccia leads a meeting to plan for the children’s camp in June. I should be at the meeting as well, as I will be one of the leaders of the camp, but I will be staying at home with the children. I have already written up my contributions, which Pinuccia will take to the meeting, and I hope that the others will not decide in my absence that I will have to do most of the work to prepare for the camp. On Tuesday there will be a meeting of most of the ECM missionaries in Italy at our house, until I have to leave…

• Trips

  Richard Wilson

  8 Jan 2012 | 2:34 pm

  We arrived back home from Sicily on Friday afternoon. Just enough time to get unpacked, sort the house out, and have a bit of a rest, before the other three go back to school tomorrow. And I get back to preparing Bible studies, other meetings, and programming. As usual, a lot of our time in Sicily was spent with friends and relatives, eating a lot and having late nights. The nights certainly disrupted the children’s usual life style, although in some ways it did make life it a bit easier for me. I tended to go to bed at my normal time, but with the children exhausted and waking up a lot…

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  Will Mancini

• Who Are You? Really?

  Will Mancini

  16 Feb 2012 | 7:07 am

  For years, I have been thinking about, and writing about, how to discover and apply a unique vision in your personal life. But, I have primarily shared these ideas with friends and pastors who I have close relationships with.  They have responded positively to these concepts and have encouraged me to share this with more leaders. I am really pumped to share these with you now. So, what would it look like if you could have stunning clarity about your gifts, leadership, calling and direction? I will be sharing more about this in the future. For now, I would like to invite you to attend two…

• Sifted: Leading with Brokenness (#Exponential)

  Will Mancini

  11 Feb 2012 | 2:39 pm

  I look forward to #Exponential every year. Why? Because it brings together over 5000 church leaders – thought leaders, planters and those in the trenches who gather to share and encourage. SIFTED is the theme of this year’s conference. What does it mean to be sifted?  The Exponential conference leaders put it this way, “Every ministry leader has a unique story of being sifted, the seemingly painful process through which we face trials that result in us being broken and refined, strengthened and restored.” How does personal and organizational clarity fit with the Sifted them? You…

• 7 Reasons Why Your Church Should Create an Annual Report

  Will Mancini

  6 Feb 2012 | 9:50 am

  You’ve heard of annual reports, but have you thought of creating one for your church? The point of course is not to imitate a common corporate practice, but to leverage every opportunity to cast vision. As we scan a few reasons why you should do this, let’s start with a definition. Wiki: An annual report is a comprehensive report on a company’s activities throughout the preceding year. Annual reports are intended to give shareholders and other interested people information about the company’s activities and financial performance. The details provided in the report…

• What’s Your Surprising Proposition?

  Will Mancini

  28 Jan 2012 | 10:44 am

  In Church 3.0, Neil Cole discusses several catalysts for creating movement. One of them is called the “Surprising Proposition.” First of all why would anyone want to go through life without a Surprising Proposition to share? If we belong to the infinite creator God, are being transformed into the likeness of the living Jesus, and are leading others into eternally significant ministry, wouldn’t it be natural to have a few bold ideas to guide your leadership? Sure it would. And, it’s more than worth the time to process, pray, dialogue, wrestle, sweat and figure it out.

• Great Vision, Bad Execution – 6 Common Mistakes

  Will Mancini

  23 Jan 2012 | 5:08 pm

  It’s a delight to watch teams get clear on the future. But it’s a fright to see that hard work of visioning go south when it comes to execution. If the work of visioning can be compared to taking a journey, there are six mistakes I see most: #1 Spinning Wheel Decision-making. Sometimes a team can have a great vision process only to get bogged down in complex or ineffective decision-making after the fact. On a car ride of a thousand miles, the spark plugs fire a thousands times each mile. If the little steps to make the vision happen don’t fire, you’ll only putter…

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  Live To Worship

• RIP Frank Carson ~ 1926-2012

  Alastair Vance

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:26 pm

  One of Northern Ireland’s most loved comedians has passed away today at 85.  :-( Click here to view the embedded video.   Related posts: RIP Amy Winehouse How Irish Dancing Started (Funny!) NEW RESOURCES: Worship Central Course (Free)

• How To Share Your Propresenter Library Using Dropbox

  Alastair Vance

  18 Feb 2012 | 1:51 pm

  We use ProPresenter 4 at Story Church.  The song slides are created on different computers and emailed during the week. I have just recently discovered a ProPresenter feature that allows you to sync your library with a folder on your computer.  This is great if you have multiple computers on a local network, but make this folder a dropbox folder and you have instant library synchronization with anyone you share that dropbox folder with!  Nerds rejoice everywhere! This is perfect for me, as I can create slides on different computers while always having the latest library to start off…

• Story Church Set List – 12 Feb 2012 #sundaysetlists

  Alastair Vance

  18 Feb 2012 | 8:33 am

  My Savior Lives – Glenn Packiam (A) Blessed Be The Name – Matt Redman (A) Mighty To Save – Hillsong (A) Came To My Rescue – Hillsong (A) Desert Song – Hillsong (D) Related posts: Story Church Set List – Oct 23rd 2011 #sundaysetlists Story Church Set List – 05 Feb 2012 #sundaysetlists Story Church Set List – 08 Aug 2010

• Video: Great I Am (Jared Anderson) Acoustic Cover

  Alastair Vance

  13 Feb 2012 | 10:06 pm

  Click here to view the embedded video. A favorite at Story Church right now is this song from Jared Anderson.  It’s called Great I Am and sounds way better with a piano driving it rather than my pingy guitar strings. I wanna to be close close to your side So Heaven is real, and death is a lie I wanna hear voices of angels above Singing as one Hallelujah holy holy God almighty great I am Who is worthy None beside thee God almighty Great I am I wanna be near near to your heart Loving the world hating the dark I want to see dry bones living again Singing as one Hallelujah Holy holy God…

• Video: Thank You For Saving Me (Martin Smith) Cover

  Alastair Vance

  13 Feb 2012 | 9:59 pm

  Click here to view the embedded video. I was going through some of my old song folders and found this gem – a classic from Martin Smith of Delirious – Thank You For Saving Me. Thank you for saving me, what can I say? You are my everything, I will sing your praise. You shed your blood for me, what can I say? You took my sin and shame, a sinner called by name. Great is the Lord, Great is the Lord, For we know your truth has set us free, You’ve set your hope in me. Mercy and grace are mine, forgiven is my sin, Jesus my only hope, the Saviour of the world. “Great is the…

• 

  Authentic Christian Living

• Inspiration for Today: The Best Use of Life

  Authentic Christian Living

  14 Feb 2012 | 4:05 pm

  The best use of life is Love. The best expression of love is Time. The best time to love is Now. Pin It

• Never place a period where God has placed a comma (pic)

  Authentic Christian Living

  3 Feb 2012 | 11:03 am

                               Related article: Are you open to God changing your plans? Pin It

• Inspiration for Today: His Timing

  Authentic Christian Living

  1 Feb 2012 | 9:22 am

  God’s timing is perfect. He may not do things on your timetable, in the way that you would like or plan for, but he is never late. Remember, He wants more for you than you can imagine.

• Are you open to God changing your plans?

  Authentic Christian Living

  29 Jan 2012 | 1:15 pm

  Guest Author: Kurt B. Uhlir Follow @KurtUhlir We make plans and lists for all kinds of great reasons: It’s the beginning of a new year and time for resolutions; a desire to become healthier; we want to improve our relationship with our spouse; a possible promotion at work or job in another city; we feel [...]

• Lead Me – Story behind the song and your part (video)

  Authentic Christian Living

  19 Jan 2012 | 8:19 pm

  Last year Grammy-nominated, Dove Award-winning Sanctus Real released a song called ‘Lead Me’. The song is a personal confession and prayer written by lead vocalist Matt Hammitt. “My wife and I aren’t shy about sharing that we’ve had some pretty major struggles,” admits Matt after his wife implored him to be a better spiritual leader [...]

• 

  Kristine Remixed

• Never Stop Praying

  kristinemac

  22 Feb 2012 | 7:21 pm

  "Never stop praying".  1 Thessalonians 5:17 (NLT) I was talking with my mother today.  She reminded me of a woman from her church. A godly woman who has known me all of my life. Someone who God called to pray for Thom and me. What I didn't know is how long she has been faithful to that call. My mother told me two years ago that this woman had been praying for us, but I assumed she began when Thom and I were separated. Today, I learned exactly how long God has placed us on her heart. How long she has been praying for us. Twenty-three years. This sweet woman has been…

• The Paranormal Fascination

  kristinemac

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:46 pm

  In the past two years, since I began sharing my story  I've noticed something—specifically among Christians. Some know exactly what I'm talking about when it comes to the paranormal fascination in our present culture. They hear what their friends are saying. They know Christians who are visiting mediums. They are aware of the proliferation of ghost hunting/medium/psychic programming on television. More importantly, they understand the need for the conversation within the church. Others look at me as if I'm speaking a foreign language. They have no idea what I…

• Are You Praying It Through?

  kristinemac

  20 Feb 2012 | 4:22 pm

  In January, my husband and I were in our local Christian bookstore. It was his birthday, so were looking for something he might want to add to his music or book collection. As I was browsing, he came up, holding a book in front of him.  "Hey, haven't you talked about Honi the Circle Maker? It looks like Mark Batterson has written a book mentioning him". Taking the book from my husband's hand I began thumbing through the pages. I was excited to see that someone is talking about this ancient Jewish miracle worker in a new context. Bold prayer. You see, when I hear…

• How Can I Pick Just One?

  kristinemac

  19 Feb 2012 | 10:48 am

  My friend, Bonnie of Faith Barista, asked us to pick one thing which attracts us to Jesus. My first thought was (and still is) how can I pick just one thing? One facet of who Jesus is which describes why I call him my Lord. There is SO MUCH from which to choose. Jesus is: Compassion. Grace. Mercy. Forgiveness. Healing. Salvation. Righteous. Holy. Love. Jesus is—EVERYTHING. "Though he was God, he did not think of equality with God as something to cling to. Instead, he gave up his divine privileges; he took the humble position of a slave and was born as…

• A Quiet Kind of Valentine

  kristinemac

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:19 pm

  "I am my lover’s, and he claims me as his own. Come, my love, let us go out to the fields and spend the night among the wildflowers. Let us get up early and go to the vineyards to see if the grapevines have budded, if the blossoms have opened, and if the pomegranates have bloomed. There I will give you my love." Song of Solomon 7:10-12 (NLT) My sweet husband had reservations for a nice Valentine's Day dinner for us to enjoy—even though he's convinced the "lovers holiday" is a marketing scheme created by candy…

• 

  What I Learned Teaching Sunday School

• Mark 8:22-30

  Nancy

  21 Feb 2012 | 4:08 pm

  Mark 8:22-30 22 They came to Bethsaida, and some people brought a blind man and begged Jesus to touch him. 23 He took the blind man by the hand and led him outside the village. When he had spit on the man’s eyes and put his hands on him, Jesus asked, “Do you see anything?” 24 He looked up and said, “I see people; they look like trees walking around.” 25 Once more Jesus put his hands on the man’s eyes. Then his eyes were opened, his sight was restored, and he saw everything clearly. 26 Jesus sent him home, saying, “Don’t even go into the village.” 27 Jesus and his disciples…

• Mark 8:1-21

  Nancy

  19 Feb 2012 | 1:32 pm

  Mark 8:1-21 1 During those days another large crowd gathered. Since they had nothing to eat, Jesus called his disciples to him and said, 2 “I have compassion for these people; they have already been with me three days and have nothing to eat. 3 If I send them home hungry, they will collapse on the way, because some of them have come a long distance.” 4 His disciples answered, “But where in this remote place can anyone get enough bread to feed them?” 5 “How many loaves do you have?” Jesus asked. “Seven,” they replied. 6 He told the crowd to sit down on the ground. When he had…

• Mark 7:31-34

  Nancy

  6 Feb 2012 | 3:57 pm

  Mark 7:31-34 31 Then Jesus left the vicinity of Tyre and went through Sidon, down to the Sea of Galilee and into the region of the Decapolis. 32 There some people brought to him a man who was deaf and could hardly talk, and they begged Jesus to place his hand on him. 33 After he took him aside, away from the crowd, Jesus put his fingers into the man’s ears. Then he spit and touched the man’s tongue. 34 He looked up to heaven and with a deep sigh said to him, “Ephphatha!” (which means “Be opened!”). Jesus goes to a new area next: Decapolis. It’s on the other side of Galilee from…

• Mark 7:24-30

  Nancy

  5 Feb 2012 | 6:27 pm

  Mark 7:24-30 24 Jesus left that place and went to the vicinity of Tyre. He entered a house and did not want anyone to know it; yet he could not keep his presence secret. 25 In fact, as soon as she heard about him, a woman whose little daughter was possessed by an impure spirit came and fell at his feet. 26 The woman was a Greek, born in Syrian Phoenicia. She begged Jesus to drive the demon out of her daughter. 27 “First let the children eat all they want,” he told her, “for it is not right to take the children’s bread and toss it to the dogs.” 28 “Lord,” she replied, “even the…

• Everyone who needs Christ is Called

  Nancy

  19 Jan 2012 | 3:26 pm

  Matthew 11:28-30 28 “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. 29 Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. 30 For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”Come to me – ALL! God isn’t looking for perfect people, but people who want to be perfected. People who know they need Him. Come!

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  Our Rising Sound

• Video: Chris Lizotte, Kirsten Ford and band performing “Love of God” (Live)

  Kyle

  4 Feb 2012 | 6:58 pm

  This was recorded live at the Burn Bright conference here in Phoenix last year which I had the pleasure attending and blogging from. This was my favorite moment of the conference and really embodies what I still love about Vineyard worship. No pretense…none at all, just some great people, with some great talent laying their hearts out there in a beautiful and inspiring way. And if I haven’t said it before, my friend Ryan Delmore has written here one of the best worship songs I’ve heard in the last 5 years or so. Doesn’t get much better than this tune, well done my…

• Video: Worst Church Singer – killer falsetto!

  Kyle

  25 Jan 2012 | 10:00 am

  No seriously…he’s killing me with that falsetto. Related posts Worship leaders, don’t chase your mountaintop experience (5) Video: Worst performance of O Holy Night ever! (5) Video: Little kid shows us what “Nu Thang” God is up to (0)

• SNL: Beethoven (funniest skit of the season)

  Kyle

  23 Dec 2011 | 11:17 am

  Related posts Video: Worst performance of O Holy Night ever! (5) Video: Worst Church Singer – killer falsetto! (5) Video: Little kid shows us what “Nu Thang” God is up to (0)

• You might be a niche blog if…

  Kyle

  31 Oct 2011 | 4:35 pm

  …you come to grips with the fact you aren’t an expert in anything. …you understand that the hour or so you put into thinking about a blog post doesn’t really constitute as “research.” …you don’t try to fit everything into a Top 10 list. …you don’t lose any sleep when you have nothing interesting to post…oh and you don’t post uninteresting things in those cases, which I hereby dub unimaginative blogger tourette syndrome. …you are entirely uninterested in getting a post out to capitalize on the latest controversy.

• 13th Floor: Powerful videos on sexual abuse, trafficking, abortion

  Kyle

  7 Oct 2011 | 12:28 pm

  My pastor, Aaron Dailey, and brother in law, Josh Dailey, run a ministry called Pure Path here in Phoenix and they just released a video teaching series called 13th Floor. These are some of the most powerful, gut wrenching videos I’ve seen about sexual abuse, sex trafficking, abortion and other painful topics. Very proud of these guys as well as those in the videos, most of whom are good friends and/or members of our church, Life Connection Church. We are a small church of 150 when filled, but we have some of the most talented, passionate and committed folks I’ve ever known. They…

• 

  Mobile Ministry Magazine (MMM)

• Carnival of th Mobilists #262 at Tego interactive

  Antoine

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Providing this week’s suite of mobile writing, the Carnival of the Mobilists is being hosted at Tego Interactive this week. There’s a diverse group of submissions presented this week, including one from us. Grab a cup of coffee or tea and enjoy the 262nd Carnival of the Mobilists.  

• Forum Oxford: Tablets as Remote Phone Controllers

  Antoine

  21 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Am contributing to a discussion happening over at Forum Oxford asking if tablets (and therefore laptops or desktops) can serve as remote phone controllers. Neat idea, and one which could have some implications for many of the mobile projects we’ve touched on (hint, hint). Here’s a snippet of the discussion: Where is your phone when you use a tablet? Not too far away? In your pocket? Then… Why couldn’t a ‘tablet’ just be an ‘external display’ for a phone? 1.Everything that is displayed on the phone screen is seen on the tablet. 2.Touch, swipe, tap, type: on the…

• Mobile Ministry Training Course from Cybermissions

  Antoine

  20 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  For some of you looking to learn more about mobile ministry so that you skillfully apply some of the approaches and perspectives put forth here, you might want to look into enrolling into the Mobile Ministry Training Course offered by Cybermissions. This 4-week course is designed to introduce you to the uses of mobile technology platforms for Christian ministry. Here’s what the four weeks of courses look like: Week 1: Overview Theory: Overview of Mobile Ministry & Its Potential Practical: Student is introduced to the various main types of mobile phones, and mobile delivery…

• Tablet Word Processing App Comparison

  Wes Allen

  19 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Earlier in the week Antoine posted asking about some of the apps pastors use, and asked for the kinds of apps you might use. Around the same time, I started a series looking at productivity apps on the iPad that I use and what I liked/didn’t like about them. What resulted was a Mobile Suite showdown, and the first installment looking at the editor layout of some popular office apps on the iPad (and similar tablets). Productivity apps on the iPad continue to be one of the top selling points for the device. It’s no surprise, then, that there are several office suites available in the…

• Using Your Smartphone, Tablet, and Some Things More for Bible Study (And A Poke to Do Better)

  Antoine

  17 Feb 2012 | 6:00 am

  Two contexts here. The night before writing this, I was at a Bible study where we went over the story of Zaccehaeus in Luke 12. My notes were… different. Then there was this post from our friends at Church Tech Today talking about apps which you can use on your smartphone for Bible studies. Good stuff right? Well, let’s just push this a bit. Let’s actually study the text and speak towards those with different types of learning styles at the same time – with mobile and tablets in the midst of the solution. Things started when we got the assignment beforehand to read…

• 

  Ron Moore's Blog

• How do you pray for family members who are not saved?

  ronmoore

  22 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

   

• Journey Thru the Bible | Deuteronomy 6:6-7 | Devotional

  ronmoore

  22 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  Deuteronomy 6:6-7 These commandments that I give you today are to be upon your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Compartmentalization is a curse that impacts many Christians. This happens when our walk with Christ is separated from instead of merged with all the other areas of our life. Jesus becomes the subject of the songs we sing on Sunday and the Person in whose name we pray, but is seldom invited into our marriage, family, business, and recreation. But remember, Jesus lives…

• Does Christ forgive us for our bad habits?

  ronmoore

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

   

• Journey Thru the Bible | Deuteronomy 3:22 | Devotional

  ronmoore

  21 Feb 2012 | 3:00 am

  Deuteronomy 3:22 Do not be afraid of them; the LORD your God himself will fight for you. Nelson Henderson said, “The true meaning of life is to plant trees, under whose shade you do not expect to sit.” That’s what Moses was doing in today’s passage. An act of disobedience had disqualified him from leading Israel into the land of promise. So, he is encouraging the next generation with the truths that he has personally experienced. That’s the job of every godly leader. Godly leaders leave more than a business or an inheritance to the next generation. They pass on certain confidence…

• What is our responsibility for educating ourselves and being active in the upcoming elections?

  ronmoore

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  To save this audio to your computer, right click on the “Download” link below and choose “Save Target As” or “Save Link As” and then click the “Save” button in the window that appears. Download  

• 

  the mayward blog

• Blue Like Jazz: Official Trailer

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:58 am

  The film version of Donald Miller's memoir is coming to the big screen April 13, but not before premiering at SXSW in Austin, TX. I got to see a pre-screening of the film this past fall, and was pleasantly surprised. I have pretty high standards for films in general (one might label me a "film snob," which wouldn't be far from the truth), and I love Miller's books, so I really wanted to like the film. And I did. A lot. And this before the final sound production and editing. I loved that it wasn't a "Christian film." It's a film about a Christian. It's his story and struggles and the…

• Remember Well: Recalling Your Memories of Adolescence

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:31 am

  At a wedding in 7th grade. Love the turtleneck. Do you remember what it was like to be in junior high? In high school? In college? I've found that most adults tend to block out this period of their life, choosing to recall vague notions of memories rather than specific moments on their timeline. Even when we can remember the specific events, it's even more difficult to recall the feelings and thought-processes we were experiencing. (E.g. in 7th grade, how did it feel to be rejected by that girl at the dance?) Yet these are some of the most life-shaping and important moments of our lives. Some…

• Chronicle

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:50 am

  Another "lost footage" film? Haven't we had enough of the shaky camerawork and first-person perspective? How many Paranormal Activity movies do we really need? And who keeps finding this footage? (They clearly have great editing technique and a lot of time on their hands.) Isn't the genre beginning to fade? Then a little film like Chronicle comes along and reignites the genre's dying coals. A teen-driven "lost footage" super hero film, Chronicle is the Carrie for the YouTube generation. The opening scene is a camera focused on a white bedroom door with a mirror attached. No cameraman is seen.

• Sharks and Fish

  16 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  A large school of fish keeps their distance from some sharks. (ht to Karl Robertson via 22 words) Is the picture above representative of how people respond when you come near? On the one hand, I don't want to be a shark in my leadership. I don't want to devour or unnecessarily damage those I lead. I don't want to be intimidating and unapproachable. On the other hand, good leadership often requires a leader to strike out alone, to rise above the crowds and masses. Edwin Friedman calls this self differentiation, and it can be a lonely existence. Friedman writes, "differentiation is the…

• Keep The Towel - Overcoming Discouragement in Ministry

  15 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  After our high school gathering last night, a friend and volunteer in my ministry was feeling quite discouraged. His attempts at meaningful conversation with the guys he disciples appeared futile, and he wore his frustration in his posture. "I feel like we've taken twelve steps backwards in one night," he lamented. He was ready to throw in the towel. I wanted him to keep it. He asked me, "how do you do it? How do you keep going in youth ministry when there are nights like this?" Great question. It's one I wrestle with at least once a month. Well, maybe once a week. Okay, A LOT. Here are some…

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  ChurchLeaders.com

• 7 Tips on Starting a Great Study for Women

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:37 pm

  Coordinate a fabulous bible study just for the women in your congregation with these helpful tips.

• Developing a Group Discussion Plan That Works

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:27 pm

  Preparing a great discussion requires preparing a place, planning the time, and choosing the right questions.

• Spiritual Growth Begins With Discomfort

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:13 pm

  Rick Howerton advises small group leaders to be aware of the discomfort that often accompanies spiritual change.

• Is Your Small Group "On Mission" or "Missional"?

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:06 pm

  When it comes to small groups, there's a difference between being on mission and being missional. Which better defines your group? And why does it matter?

• Teaching Small Group Members to Pray

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:00 pm

  Jesus taught the disciples to pray. Shouldn't we do the same?

• 

  Don't Eat The Fruit

• Someone on the Internet Is Wrong: The 10 Stages of a Christian Internet Controversy

  John Dyer

  16 Feb 2012 | 11:36 pm

  Has it really been almost a year since Rob Bell’s Love Wins trailer? When the social media backlash began, I noticed that the responses to Bell were nearly identical to what John Piper received the year before when he made his tornado comments. Now, a year later, the tables have turned again and Piper’s comments that Christianity has a “masculine feel” have prompted his detractors to follow the same script right down to the call to stop giving Piper attention. So before the next controversy hits, I’ve attempted to catalog a step-by-step (and tongue-in-cheek) account of what…

• 5 Things I Learned From “Reading” 10 Audiobooks

  John Dyer

  31 Jan 2012 | 4:56 pm

  Not Enough Time Last spring, I was finding that I just didn’t have enough time to read several books that I really wanted to read. Then a friend reminding me about something called “audiobooks.” Because I have a long commute, I had always wanted to try audiobooks, but I had dismissed them because I didn’t want to keep track of CDs, tapes, or synced files. But since I last looked into audiobooks, two things lowered the barrier of entry for me. First, smartphone apps like audible.com take out all the work of managing physical media or syncing files. Second, my wife…

• PhoneStack: Next Time We Meet, Let’s Do This

  John Dyer

  13 Jan 2012 | 8:50 am

  Tech history professor David Stearns pointed out a post on Kempt magazine about a new idea for social gatherings called PhoneStack. It works like this: as you arrive, each person places their phone facedown in the center of the table. As the meal goes on, you’ll hear various texts and emails arriving… and you’ll do absolutely nothing. You’ll face temptation—maybe even a few involuntary reaches toward the middle of the table—but you’ll be bound by the single, all-important rule of the phone stack. Whoever picks up their phone is footing the bill. As Dr. Stearns points out,…

• The Top 5 Technologies that Will Shape the Church in 2012

  John Dyer

  6 Jan 2012 | 1:19 pm

  It’s another new year, one that is sure to be full of predictions about Mayans, American presidents, and technology. Below are the technologies that I think will be the most powerful shapers of Christian spirituality in the next 360 or so days (inspired in part by Wired’s The Best Five Toys of All Time) 1. The Clock This morning when you woke up, what was the first thing you did? Brush your teeth? Make coffee? Read the Bible? Kiss your spouse? I can almost guarantee it wasn’t any of those things. No, the first thing we do when we wake up (and the last thing we do before falling back…

• The Evolution of the Mobile Phone (as told by Christmas presents)

  John Dyer

  23 Dec 2011 | 8:26 am

  While out shopping with my kids last week, the toy phones caught my eye. I let the kids play with a toy guitar while I rearranged them in roughly chronological order. The original candy bar phones are still available (far left), but I couldn’t find a phone with a cord anywhere in the store. At the high tech end, Fisher Price now sells a “Smilin’ Smart Phone” that looks much like an iPhone. This little evolutionary history lesson seems to show a movement away from the mechanical and physical toward something that mimics it. Early phone had rotary dials and wires, then…

• 

  Nathan Creitz

• Reaching Unreached People Groups In The City

  nathan.creitz@gmail.com (Nathan Creitz)

  17 Feb 2012 | 3:34 pm

  There are people from at least 62 unreached people groups living in New York City. One way to reach them would be to train and deploy 62 missionaries in 62 countries who would spend 2-3 years learning the local dialect and culture, and be supported financially for the rest of their lives to live in those countries (where they may never be fully accepted). This, I think, is our primary international missions strategy and it is effective. We need to continue sending missionaries to live and serve in nations around the world. We need to count the cost and go to them. Where are the Unreached Most…

• Five Marks of a Spirit-Empowered Disciple

  nathan.creitz@gmail.com (Nathan Creitz)

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:18 am

  Before Jesus left the planet, He promised His followers that He would empower them by the Spirit to pursue His mission. When the promised Spirit filled them on the day of Pentecost, He turned ordinary fishermen into extraordinary fishers of men. Simple Galileans began preaching the Gospel in the languages of the nations. Peter, who had denied Jesus three times preached a powerful message of the Gospel and 3,000 people were added to their numbers. A movement began. The next day, and the next, and the one after that, the new believers committed themselves to one another and to God. Acts 2:41-47…

• Three Reasons To Reach Cities With The Gospel

  nathan.creitz@gmail.com (Nathan Creitz)

  9 Jan 2012 | 1:44 pm

  Tim Keller, the pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church in New York City, often speaks about God’s mission for the great cities of the world. Below, I’m including a 16 minute video of Keller’s plenary session at Lausanne Cape Town 2010 Congress in which he shares God’s global urban mission.  Here are a few thoughts from Keller’s talk about why we must reach the great cities of the world with the gospel and a few of my own reasons for sharing the Gospel in New York City specifically. Reason #1: Cultural According to a Foreign Policy article: The 21st century will…

• My Top 11 Posts In 2011 // Plus A Free Gift!

  nathan.creitz@gmail.com (Nathan Creitz)

  29 Dec 2011 | 4:18 pm

  I thought I’d take a minute to thank you for reading, commenting, and sharing my blog posts in 2011! As a way of showing my appreciation, I’d like to give one of my readers a new NIV Archaeological Study Bible from Zondervan. I’ll explain how you can get a copy below. But first, here are my top 11 posts from 2011: Making Disciple-Making Disciples - “Sermons, seminars, and classes need to be extra-curricular to the more risky and time consuming core curriculum of modeling a transformed life in front of others.” Bible Translations, Tools and Tech for the 21st…

• Seth’s Secret to Viral Church Planting

  nathan.creitz@gmail.com (Nathan Creitz)

  2 Dec 2011 | 9:40 am

  If you are involved in church planting and have never heard of Seth Godin, you need to pay attention. Seth Godin Seth writes mostly about new marketing but I think you’ll find his ideas are refreshingly compatible with Biblically healthy church practices. This morning I ran across a post Seth wrote a couple of years ago called First, ten. Check it out and let me know in the comments how his marketing “secret” applies to church planters and leaders: First, ten This, in two words, is the secret of the new marketing. Find ten people. Ten people who trust you/respect you/need…

• 

  Christian Droid

• Are You After Edmund’s Biggest Fan?

  Sele

  22 Feb 2012 | 12:27 pm

  Don’t forget to submit your comment at the end of the article.  You could be chosen as After Edmund’s Biggest Fan and win the $45 incentive package FREE! Photo © marfis75 via Flickr With only 36 hours to go, After Edmund is closing in on their goal of raising $20,000 to help fund their new album.  The band has been blessed by the outpouring of support that they have received over the past 28 days, raising over $17,700 of the $20,000 needed.  However, there is still a little work to be done.  If the $20,000 goal is not met by 12:00 am EST on February 24, 2012 the band will…

• Giving It Up For Lent?

  Sele

  22 Feb 2012 | 3:15 am

  Today is Ash Wednesday which marks the beginning of Lent, one of the most important seasons of the Church.  Being raised in a Southern Baptist church my entire life, this really didn’t have much meaning for me.  We never observed Ash Wednesday, or any Wednesday for that matter.  We were a small once a week church that met each Sunday at 11:00 am, sat still and listened, shook hands with the preacher and then returned home for some fried chicken. Yesterday, I received a phone call from my wife that started with “Have you talked to your son?”  No. “Well, you are not…

• An Apple A Day … Didn’t Do Much For Adam

  Sele

  21 Feb 2012 | 3:47 am

  When I saw the above cartoon this past Sunday, I could not help but chuckle.  I love cartoons and Speed Bump is one of my favorites.  (that’s why you will see numerous posts here containing them)  However, as I thought about this particular cartoon, a more serious thought entered my mind.  This cartoon is not that far off from real life.  How many times throughout your life have you sinned and thought you could hide your sin from God?  Be honest with yourself no one else is watching you right now.  Have you ever done something and then thought “maybe, He won’t…

• Is That In The Bible?

  Sele

  20 Feb 2012 | 3:36 am

  Several months ago, I told you about Bible or Not!, a mobile Bible quiz game that is available for iOS and Android operating systems.  It quickly became my favorite of all of the available mobile Bible quiz programs that are available.  (You can read original review here.)  This game gives you a simple quote and it is up to you as the player to determine if the quote is from the Bible or Not!  Sounds simply enough, but it is not.  My family has used this mobile application to provide us with hours of entertainment and study while traveling. So I was very excited to learn that the authors…

• Nudge Nudge, The Clock Is Ticking!

  Sele

  18 Feb 2012 | 11:03 am

  The clock is ticking and time is running out on the After Edmund efforts to raise money to help record a new album.  After an exciting week and great support from their fans and friends, After Edmund finds themselves just $5700 shy of reaching their goal with 5 days to go.  This may seem like a long way to go, but with a lot of prayer and little financial support from the community, we can make this dream a reality. I am asking that everyone who reads this blog over the next 5 days to please take a moment and pray for the success of this ministry!  There are plenty of good reasons to…

• 

  The BIGBible Project

• #BigRead12: Thursday after Ash Wednesday

  bigbible

  23 Feb 2012 | 12:00 am

  Are you joining us for The Big Read 2012? Look for today’s reading in the book, or sign up for daily emails from 12Baskets. Here’s today’s thoughts: Bible Reading THURSDAY AFTER ASH WEDNESDAY: Mark 1.21-45, focussed on 1.21-8 Read on Bible Gateway Read on YouVersion Listen on Bibleis Discussion Point #BigRead12: Who inspires you? #Inspirer Actions Tear Fund Carbon Fast: Compost. Put nutrients from your food waste back into the soil, not into methane-emitting landfill. If you don’t have a garden, investigate other options like wormeries. Christian Aid: Christian Aid…

• Press Release: ‘After studying for 35 years, the questions don’t always get any easier.’ – Theologian, Professor Tom Wright

  bigbible

  22 Feb 2012 | 12:30 pm

  The Gospel of Mark is shallow enough for a child to paddle in but deep enough for an elephant to wade in.” – Tom Wright It’s not often that you get a chance to ask a question directly to one of the world’s foremost (and busiest) theologians, but Professor Tom Wright took an to answer questions live online. Some questions had been submitted beforehand via Facebook and Twitter, whilst others were presented via a chat window or audio feed, directly to Professor Wright, who noted that although he has been studying this material for 35 years, the questions don’t…

• Wake me up, Lord and help me get ready (#bigread12, @thomasmathie)

  headphonaught

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  One of my favourite websites at the moment is “the burning house”… it is a fab tumblelog that presents participants’ responses to the question… “what would you save if your house was burning down?” I love looking at the pictures of all the treasured items… photos of family members… old cameras and heirlooms… harddrives full of the data we now hold so dear… clothes… books… CDs and records… etc. I also love the various participants’ responses to the ’things’ that are not ’things’… their significant other……

• Giving up Social Media for Lent? Think Again…

  drbexl

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:10 am

  Something that I get very frustrated in seeing are people saying that they are going to give up Facebook/Twitter, etc. for Lent. Vicky Beeching has written a post today in which she summarises well why so many are doing this: The ethos surrounding these sort of statements are ‘I’m fed up with being so distracted’ or, ‘this is all a waste of precious time I could be giving to other things’. Some are also saying ‘social media is SO much less genuine than face to face relationships’ and hoping that giving up social media for 40 days will ‘re-establish their deep…

• With @40Acts: Act ONE: Create a giving jar

  bigbible

  22 Feb 2012 | 6:30 am

  The #BigRead12 will be posting daily actions from @40Acts, on the site, on Twitter, and via @12Baskets daily newsletters.  Acts 20: 35  ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive’ http://www.40acts.org.uk/ And so it begins. Between now and Easter Sunday you, me and millions of other Christians around the world will walk an ancient path. Some of us will give up chocolate, coffee or cakes while others will become pilgrims, literally walking in the footsteps of countless generations. Whatever we do, Lent will unite us: the persecuted Christian living in the Middle East, the farmer…

• 

  Children's Ministry Online

• The Nashville Illuminate is 4 days away!

  Kenny

  13 Feb 2012 | 4:11 pm

  And I’m pumped! As of right now, we have 522 people registered to attend! That’s right, 522! Crazy number for just a regional conference. I’m so grateful to the local Nashville churches who helped get the word out. It’s going to be an amazing event and I expect to see hundreds of volunteers encouraged and equipped this Saturday. It’s going to be awesome! So, if you’ve been thinking about coming, it’s not too late. Online registration will remain open until Wednesday at noon. After that, anyone can register at the door (doors open at 8:00 AM) on…

• Orange Week: I need help!

  Kenny

  8 Feb 2012 | 12:13 pm

  It’s been almost four years since I first learned about the Orange strategy. One of the most compelling concepts was it idea of two combined influences – church and home. This really clicked for me as a long-time children’s pastor who felt such an unbelievable burden to raise and disciple kids yet struggled with doubts about long term effectiveness. Clearly defining the family as the other part of the combined influence wasn’t an “out” for me, but a moment of clarity on how I could use my time more effectivity… or even strategically. However, as a…

• Never get too comfortable

  Kenny

  8 Feb 2012 | 10:10 am

  Last week I came across this article I found in someone’s facebook feed. America’s largest church is facing a 10+ million dollar lawsuit because of something that happened (or didn’t happen) in their children’s ministry. Who knows what is going to happen, but this whole thing probably could have been prevented. The article states: The lawsuit accuses the church of negligence in its investigation, in reporting the alleged incident to police and in lacking surveillance that could have saved Guzman from being wrongfully accused of a crime. The church also is accused of…

• A free and highly accessible kidmin resource

  Kenny

  31 Jan 2012 | 9:09 am

    I’ve learned that most kid’s pastors I’ve met are highly resourceful. They’re always looking for great new resources and the cheaper it is, the better. If it’s free, well that’s incredible. So, I figured that all the resourceful kidmin peeps who read this blog would be interested in this great free resource. Are you ready for this? Really? Here goes…. It’s called following #kidmin on twitter. Wait a second, before you bail on this blog post, hear me out. Some of you have refused to get on twitter because you’ve not seen it’s…

• Systems help you win

  Kenny

  30 Jan 2012 | 2:50 pm

  One of the things I’ve learned most this year from the books I’ve been reading is the critical nature of systems. I’m absolutely convinced that systems help you win. You can be a great leader with a lot of charisma, but if you don’t have solid systems, you’ll never maintain what you want to achieve, if you even get there in the first place. I mentioned this in a post a few weeks ago along with the books I’ve read this year that supported this idea. So, a few weeks ago I rented the movie Moneyball. I don’t like baseball, but I LOVED this movie. I saw…

• 

  samluce.com

• Experience Napkin 2012 Online

  samluce

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:00 pm

    Not everything that happens in Vegas needs to stay there. As a result the staff at Napkin Conference have decided to launch The Napkin Conference 2012 online as well as live. All of the 6 main sessions and 2 discussion panel sessions will be streaming live and anyone can register to attend. You can register on the website just the same as on-site registration. The cost is $49 per log-in for access to all six sessions as well as some added interactive features between sessions and during the discussion panel sessions. This is a great opportunity. For you as a leader or for your staff.

• Winners of Zonderkids Jesus Storybook Bible Curriculum

  samluce

  17 Feb 2012 | 8:06 am

  Told you a few weeks back if I win you win. And I won so you win. The winners are as follows. 1. @henryjz 2. @Barbaragraves 3. @CommanderBill If you won DM me your address. Thanks! Thanks for participating all of you who did. For those of you who have never heard about Jesus Storybook Curriculum. At first look through it really looks great. I have checked out quite a few of the videos. I haven’t gotten to deep into the actual lessons yet but hope to do so soon. Here is a link if you want to buy it for your church. It’s on sale right now totally worth the investment.   …

• Why do you do what you do?

  samluce

  16 Feb 2012 | 7:20 am

  As leaders it is so easy lead from a position of What we do and how we do it. If we want to make a difference in our lives, our kids live those who we lead at work we need to do everything from the position of why. Simon Sinek wrote a book called “Start with why.” I don’t yet own it but plan to very soon. He gave an amazing TED talk on starting with why. Such a great thought as leaders we try to get people to why rather start with why and get them to what. Wow such an impacting idea. I don’t do this enough Here is a great quote from his talk with his…

• Free Curriculum for Easter: God to the Rescue

  samluce

  15 Feb 2012 | 7:14 am

  I’ve shared here and here about the how and why leading up to the creation of a free resource for the kidmin community by the kidmin community. We are really excited to be able to offer it for free on our blogs. What we did was create a 5 week curriculum that unveils God’s rescue plan unveiled in the Old Testament and seen in action in the days leading up to Good friday and Easter. I love how the clear emphasis is on Christ and what he did and what we can do in response. The format of the curriculum is pretty basic. -Icebreaker – K-2nd Grad and 3rd – 5th Grade -…

• Why we wrote our own Easter Curriculum?

  samluce

  14 Feb 2012 | 7:09 am

  (This is a Repost of a blogpost I did last year I am going to re-do the whole seises as people in #kidmin are starting to plan for Easter. Hope this helps!) I want to start this post by saying I do not know everthing there is about curriculum production, and I in no way am thinking of one curriculum company as I write this post. My goal in this post is to hopefully create a diolog, or even to get us as children’s pastors to ask hard questions of ourselves and of the curriculum we give our teams to teach our kids each week. I personally believe that there is some problems that are…

• 

  jeff mikels

• Boys and Girls Part 1

  Jeff

  14 Feb 2012 | 11:19 am

  This past Sunday, I started a series of messages at Lafayette Community Church entitled “Born this Way” in which I intend to investigate the number of different Bible passages on gender issues. The biggest problem for me was that for most of the week, I was wrestling with how to tackle the message. You see, there are a lot of controversial passages in the Bible when it comes to gender issues, and I always want to teach the Bible in a compelling, motivational way, and I am always cautious to teach in such a way that the contentious emotions can be defused. So I struggled with the…

• He Came

  Jeff

  31 Dec 2011 | 11:10 pm

  Jesus came as Prophet to bring the Word of God to us. Jesus came as Priest to represent us to the Father. Jesus came as SON to bring us into God’s family Jesus came as Savior to take away our sin. Jesus came as King to receive our submission. to have 1-4 without 5 is pointless mercy to have 5 without 1-4 is Islamic legalism to have them all together is the beautiful harmony of grace

• The Church: Can you be a Christian without going to church?

  Jeff

  30 Nov 2011 | 3:29 pm

  This post is part of a series investigating the most important items of Christian doctrine. View all posts by clicking here or the DOGMA tag above. This past Sunday, I ended our service by taking some live questions from the congregation, but I wasn’t able to address all the questions live. Therefore I’m tackling some of them through this blog. Does this mean that you cannot be a Christian unless you go to church? The simple answer is that you can be a Christian without going to church if you define “Christian” to mean “I have been saved.” (Salvation does…

• The Church: Why Sundays?

  Jeff

  30 Nov 2011 | 3:11 pm

  This post is part of a series investigating the most important items of Christian doctrine. View all posts by clicking here or the DOGMA tag above. This past Sunday, I ended our service by taking some live questions from the congregation, but I wasn’t able to address all the questions live. Therefore I’m tackling some of them through this blog. If the church is the community of believers who are to be continually gathering and working to build the kingdom, why do we meet on Sunday mornings the way we do? How does this fit and/or conflict with the picture of the church in Acts? One…

• The Father: God’s will and human freedom

  Jeff

  2 Nov 2011 | 4:48 pm

  This post is part of a series investigating the most important items of Christian doctrine. View all posts by clicking here or the DOGMA tag above. At the end of our service last Sunday, I took some live questions from the congregation. An interesting pattern revealed itself. Here are all the questions that came in: How do you mix all knowing, all powerful, and free will? Do we mess up his plan? Or does he choose not to know what we are doing so as not to compromise our free will? Can you expand the reality of God’s power & righteousness as it applies to being in or…

• 

  TimSchraeder.com

• Ash Wednesday

  Tim Schraeder

  22 Feb 2012 | 2:47 pm

  Today is Ash Wednesday, the beginning of the Lenten season. While most evangelical churches don’t observe Lent, this year I decided to go along for the journey and see what it’s all about. Park Community Church’s office was briefly located in the John Hancock Center, right across the street from Fourth Presbyterian Church. I attended my first Ash Wednesday service there about four years ago during my lunch hour with some coworkers. That was the first time I’d ever been to one and joined the ranks of people all over Chicago with ash crosses on their foreheads. Ash…

• 10 Other Things That Drive Someone Else Crazy About Working for a Church

  Tim Schraeder

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:37 am

  One my top posts of all-time is 10 Things That Drive Me Crazy About Working for a Church. I had no idea what a nerve I would hit with it when I posted it nearly 2 years ago. It has made rounds around the interwebs and was even featured on The Christian Post. Recently, my friend Tyler Braun asked if he could add to my list.  I gladly obliged, so here are 10 other things that drive someone else crazy about working for a church. Tyler Braun is a 27-year-old INTJ living in Portland, Oregon with his wife Rose. He works full time as a worship leader, while also finding time to study at Multnomah…

• Monday Mind Dump

  Tim Schraeder

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:41 am

  Happy Monday everyone! It’s time for the lastest and greatest in my weekly windup of links, Likes, and more! I’ve been busy! So I’ll admit I’m failing a bit on my commitment to daily blogging. The good news is, it’s been good busy and I’m excited about what’s ahead. Stay tuned for more! So I went to see “The Vow” this weekend… and it was very disappointing. I LOVED that Chicago was the backdrop for the movie and was even more surprised to find out that it is based on the true story of a Christian couple. However,  how it was written…

• Monday Mind Dump :: Grammy Edition

  Tim Schraeder

  13 Feb 2012 | 11:26 am

  It’s the Monday after the Grammy Awards! Here’s my take on the biggest night in music in this week’s download of the latest and greatest. First off, I love how social media enhances shared experiences. I felt like I was watching the Grammys with all of my friends in a virtual living room last night. It was great to hear everyone’s reactions and thoughts on the night. My favorite tweets from the night are below. Speaking of social media, it’s pretty unreal and tragic about Whitney Houston on the eve of the Grammys. Again, such a great talent taken way too soon.

• My VIP Experience at Elevation Church :: First Impressions Matter

  Tim Schraeder

  10 Feb 2012 | 10:14 am

  First impressions matter. Oftentimes in the programming and planning of church services we can quickly neglect an important aspect of our worship gatherings: how we welcome first-time visitors. As I travel around and visit churches, one thing I love to do is play the part of a ‘secret shopper’ and experience how a first-time guest is welcomed at a church. I thought I had seen and heard all of the tricks and styles of welcoming visitors to churches, but my recent visit to Elevation Church in Charlotte changed my perception. They literally treat their first-time visitors like VIPs. Here’s…

• 

  What Christians Want To Know

• 10 Reasons You Might Need Biblical Counseling

  Pam

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  Our world moves so fast sometimes we just can’t keep up. It seems like time is always running out and what really matters gets put on the back burner. We desire to have great marriages and more... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Bible Study About God’s Grace with Life Application

  Pam

  21 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  One of the most wonderful, yet least understood principles in the Bible is the wonderful gift of God’s grace. The gospel of grace is so simple that even a child can understand it when it is... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 7 Attributes of God You May Not Know

  David

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  There are several well-known attributes of God. These include omnipotence, omniscience, omnipresence, immutability, holiness and mercy. The attributes discussed in this article are attributes that... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• Why Are Arabs and Jews Enemies?

  Jack

  19 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  Why do the Arab nations want to destroy Israel?  Where did Arab – Israel conflicts begin?  Why do the nations seem to persecute the Jews? Why do the Arab Nations Want to Destroy Israel?... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 7 Prayer Meeting Ideas

  David

  18 Feb 2012 | 5:00 am

  When you come together with a group of friends, family or church members and you want to pray, it is helpful to have a purpose for your time of prayer. This purpose can be defined by a particular... [[ This is a content summary only. Visit my website for full links, other content, and more! ]]

• 

  Practical Youth Ministry

• Encountering God in Youth Ministry

  Brandon

  22 Feb 2012 | 4:08 pm

  The LORD said, “Go out and stand on the mountain in the presence of the LORD, for the LORD is about to pass by.” Then a great and powerful wind tore the mountains apart and shattered the rocks before the LORD, But the LORD was not in the wind. After the wind there was an earthquake, But the LORD was not in the earthquake. After the earthquake came a fire, But the LORD was not in the fire. And after the fire came a gentle whisper. When Elijah heard it, he pulled his cloak over his face and went out and stood at the mouth of the cave. Then a voice said to him, “What are you doing here,…

• My Youth Ministry Plate

  Brandon

  20 Feb 2012 | 10:07 pm

  I haven’t been blogging much, partially because of THIS (I’ve bitten many holes in my tongue), but there has also been a lot going on. Here are a few things I’m working on and looking forward to: Simply Youth Ministry Conference (March 2-5)- Next week is SYMC in Louisville, KY. I will be blogging from the conference and will distill what I think is most helpful. If any readers are going to be there, I’d love to meet you in person! Helping Students Find Churches (April)- This Spring I am teaching a class for parents designed to help them teach their graduating students…

• Dad Shoots Daughters Computer

  Brandon

  10 Feb 2012 | 11:20 am

  [Warning: The video embedded in this post contains provocative language.] A 15 year-old girl rants on Facebook about her parents and home responsibilities. Her father responds with a Youtube video response that ends with him shooting the computer. I asked my 9 year-old what she thought about this and I love what she said: “I don’t think the girl should have put that stuff on Facebook because she wouldn’t want someone to do that to her. I think the dad should probably take the computer away, but posting a video sounds like he did something even worse.” Besides violating…

• Youth Ministry Tension

  Brandon

  3 Feb 2012 | 6:15 am

  We want students to have God as their first priority in decision making, but last priority when there are schedule conflicts. We want students to develop primary relationships among Christian students and adults that they see the least. We want students to become spiritually mature in an environment of spiritual consumers. We want students to be integrated in the Body that is segregated demographically. This is the tension I feel as a parent and as a youth minister. What would you add? Related Posts Parent Support for Teen Spiritual Discipline Top 3 Ways to Share Faith

• Internetiquette and Grace Blogging

  Brandon

  1 Feb 2012 | 4:21 pm

  One of my goals for this year is to learn the art of niceness. Since this blog began in March of 2011 I have deleted 5 posts and rewritten 10+ after realizing my own “jerk” potential. But the ‘delete’ button does not undo pain, hurt feelings, and relationships. Since this is a weakness of mine, I am looking for reader suggested rules or guidelines that allow conversations to be direct, involve disagreement, and engage debate with grace and respect. I will also invite my readers to call me out if you see posts that you believe are unloving. The goal is love, truth,…

• 

  beyond the noise

• Beefing up the band with digital musicians

  Matthew Starner

  14 Feb 2012 | 1:40 pm

  One of the ways I mentioned before about how churches can use technology was to add digital musicians to your worship team.  I wanted to go into a little more detail and share how we’re doing that at Journey now. First a few key things to understand: Generally speaking, I’m not in favor of replacing key instruments digitally. Our normal team consists of drums, bass, electric guitar and keyboard. Even if one of them were missing, I wouldn’t be comfortable replacing any of them with digital musicians because they’re too important. However, this does depend largely on…

• Sunday Setlist: January 29, 2012

  Matthew Starner

  31 Jan 2012 | 9:31 am

  We continued our Going Beyond Our Comfort Zone series this week looking at the area that everyone loves to hate: Giving. People seem to hate hearing about giving but what I think they fail to realize is that most churches hate talking about it as much as people hate hearing about it. But giving back to God is an important part of our relationship with Him. It’s a way for us to show our gratitude and a way for him to bless us even more. This Sunday’s Setlist: All to You by Lincoln Brewster Beautiful One by Tim Hughes, By The Tree’s arrangement Holy is the Lord by Chris Tomlin…

• Sunday Setlist: January 22, 2012

  Matthew Starner

  24 Jan 2012 | 10:27 am

  We started a new series a week ago called Going Beyond Our Comfort Zone, looking at things like Sharing Your Faith, Growing in Faith, Giving and others. We found a great graphic over at CreationSwap.com that plays off of a Twilight Zone theme, because going beyond your comfort zone can feel a lot like going into the twilight zone! This week, we looked at Growing In Our Faith. This was a bit of a challenge because many people who regularly attend church feel like a message like this is just for those who are new to Christianity. They’ll tune out and decide that there’s nothing for…

• 5 Ways to Use Technology at Church

  Matthew Starner

  17 Jan 2012 | 2:07 pm

  In case you might not have picked up on it, I’m a fan of technology. I’m also very pro technology when it comes to church and leveraging that technology to make things interactive, engaging and user-friendly. So if your church isn’t on the technology train yet or you’re wondering if there’s something new that you might be missing, here’s some places to start: 5. Get On Facebook Unless you’ve been under a technological rock for the last 5 years, Facebook is pretty much the biggest thing since, well, the internet. Right now, Facebook boasts some 800…

• Taking my next steps

  Matthew Starner

  10 Jan 2012 | 9:32 am

  At Journey, our mission is about helping people take their next step. For us as a church that usually means taking a next step in their relationship with Jesus, and EVERYone has a next step. When we stay in one place too long things start to stagnate – and that goes for all aspects of life, not just spiritual. That’s why last fall, I decided to take a next step in my life. I decided to go back to school and continue my education. It’s something I’ve thought about doing for some time but never really knew how I was going to make it work. Working full-time in ministry is…

• 

  The Long View

• Uighur: an early bibliography

  Justin Long

  22 Feb 2012 | 11:54 am

  If you have items to contribute, please email justinlong@gmail.com. _____. “China’s Uighur Bogeyman: fighting the extremist Islamic terrorists of Beijing’s imagination,” Wall Street Journal, 6 Jan 2012, http://on.wsj.com/wgorpw ___. Backgrounder on Uighurs. Council on Foreign Relations, http://www.cfr.org/china/uighurs-chinas-xinjiang-region/p16870. Atabaki, Touraj and Sanjyot Mehendale. Central Asia and the Caucasus: transnationalism and diaspora. Beller-Hann, Ildiko. “Temperamental neighbors: Uighur-Han relations in Xinjiang, Northwest China.” In Imagined Differences: Hatred and…

• The Stateless Border Brides of Central Asia

  Justin Long

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:00 am

  “The Stateless Border Brides of Central Asia,” The Atlantic. A growing number of Uzbekistani women who marry men from across the border in Kyrgyzstan are ending up citizens of neither, meaning they have officially ceased to exist. There are several thousand of them.

• Reaching 2% of Somalis

  Justin Long

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  The world’s biggest refugee camp is now 20 years old. Could you imagine having grown up in this camp? Or having a 20-year-old ministry in it? Here you can bless something like 2% of all Somalis (is that a tipping point?).

• Bringing the planet up to code

  Justin Long

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:00 am

  I’ve been really struck by a few things recently, including a couple today, that I am pondering. In church today, Pastor Brent Gentzel was talking about the Christian as a worker. One of the things he mentioned was the need to be excellent. Somehow my brain went from this went to the idea of we as believers exist in the world to do work that doesn’t just make money but actually serves the community and is a blessing (Genesis 12). Into my thinking came the phrase “bringing things up to code.” My brain recalled this tonight while I was watching one of my favorite shows,…

• Organizational transformation through personnel development

  Justin Long

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:55 am

  At MUP, we generally theorize that church planting movements arise not out of better tactics and tools (e.g. resources, DVDs, tracts, Bibles, etc). Those are all useful but they are not the keys. The real key is a disciple who reproduces him or herself in another disciple, who reproduces him or herself in another disciple. Movements arise out of modeled lives. Therefore, helping people develop into better models is a key issue. “Growing people: the heart of the organizational transformation,” Pamela Weiss, ManagementExchange.com. This is an interesting summary of a program run by…

• 

  The Inclusive Church

• Teen Helper Training

  AmyFentonLee

  15 Feb 2012 | 9:49 am

  Below is a teen training outline that I wrote for a church where I had served as a Vacation Bible School lead teacher.  This training was written for a children’s ministry that has a very high number of participating children and a relatively low number of adult teachers.  For this church, the success and safety of the VBS week is largely dependent on the quality of service provided by teen helpers.  This training can also be adapted for Sunday morning, Wednesday night, and special needs ministry service utilizing teens. Teens can be an asset or a liability, depending on the culture…

• Beeping Easter Eggs

  AmyFentonLee

  14 Feb 2012 | 7:31 am

  Seems appropriate on this day, Valentine’s Day, that we are preparing our children’s ministry for the next holiday, Easter. Danielle Christy, former Children’s Pastor for Mount Hope Christian Center (Burlington, MA), provides today’s guest post. When I was in High school, one of my friends invited me to volunteer at an Easter egg hunt hosted by the Pennsylvania Association for the Blind. So that children who were visually impaired could participate in the hunt, beeping eggs were used. These sound-emitting eggs would all be turned on and placed near eggs filled with…

• Accommodating Kids with Allergies and Dietary Restrictions

  AmyFentonLee

  12 Feb 2012 | 1:00 pm

  Food  allergies and special diets are becoming more common among the population of typically developing kids and kids with special needs.  An easily overlooked (and easily addressed) strategy for keeping children safe at church involves preventing and responding to an anaphylaxis reaction.   A couple of years ago I was serving in a Vacation Bible School class, leading a room a 25 entering kindergarteners.  That week we narrowly averted an life-and-death crisis when a child’s nanny dropped him off  making no mention of the child’s severe peanut allergy.   While the…

• Win a FREE Pass to the 2012 Orange Conference

  AmyFentonLee

  7 Feb 2012 | 4:17 pm

  The Orange Conference recognizes that churches want to do a better job of including kids and students with special needs.  That’s why OC12 has an entire special needs ministry track.  If you serve in a volunteer or paid capacity at your church and could benefit by attending the OC12 special needs ministry track, we invite you to submit an entry to win a FREE PASS to The Orange Conference.  Watch the following video for more information about the special needs ministry track and the contest. Wanna chance to win a free pass to OC12? Here are the rules: 1)  The nominated candidate must…

• 2012 Orange Conference Special Needs Track

  AmyFentonLee

  18 Jan 2012 | 3:44 pm

  Mark your calendars for April 25th- 27th, 2012 to be at the Gwinnett Arena  in Duluth, GA (outside Atlanta).  Below are the workshops slated to be part of the Special Needs track for OC12.  Registration for the below preconference breakouts and workshops are now open. HOW TO: Create a Special Needs Ministry Environment - Meaghan Wall In this session we will walk through the details to consider as you create a safe and sensory-rich ministry environment.   Ideas will be offered for every budget and so that you can make your existing environment more conducive to special needs inclusion…

• 

  RevTrev.com

• Why Doesn’t the International Negativity Fast Start the Same Day as Lent?

  revtrev

  22 Feb 2012 | 10:29 am

  The 2012 International Negativity Fast hosted by RevTrev.com starts February 28 and goes for 40 days until April 7th. For those of you who aren’t part of the tradition that observes Lent or you’re not currently running your own autoresponder, I should explain a few things. Lent is a 40 day fast that starts on Ash Wednesday and goes until Easter. The thing about Lent is that it doesn’t include the weekend. Don’t ask me why, observing Lent is not part of my tradition either. Now my daily emails go out every day of the year. They start the day after someone signs up. There’s no easy…

• Why Not Give Up Negativity Over Lent?

  revtrev

  21 Feb 2012 | 10:41 am

  The 2012 International Fast From Negativity is seeing some changes from previous years. Churches as still encouraged to participate, but I won’t be providing resources unless specifically asked and it’s a little too late to bulk order books. The new home for the fast is on RevTrev.com - http://revtrev.com/negativity-fast/ along with all the Bible Reading Plans, Personalized Personal Identity In Christ for Men and Women and Personalized Book of Ephesians for Men and Women. The daily emails are now designed to be more interactive. I’ll explain what I mean by that in a future post. And I…

• How to Get the Good Audiobook is Now Available

  revtrev

  18 Feb 2012 | 8:03 am

  I’ve been able to produce the “How to Get the Good Audiobook” for people who have more time listen than they have time to read in their day. You can download it right here or read more about  it here. Let me know what you think about it in the comments. What has been your experience with audiobooks? Do you enjoy them or have you never even tried them? Listen to an excerpt:Download audio file (GettheGoodAudiobookExcerpt.mp3) Get the Audiobook - $9.99 Subscribe to My Newsletter Download How to Steward Your Destiny Your Best Email:  Powered by Subscribers Magnet

• Does Perspective Alter an Offense?

  revtrev

  17 Feb 2012 | 11:27 am

  It’s been a few weeks I’ve written an article to get people up to speed with a few of the things that I’ve had to figure out with RevTrev.com and my online world. If you’re interested in why I’ve been away you can check it out here: http://revtrev.com/news/my-books-are-back-on-revtrev-com/ I’m amazed I’m was still getting people sign up for my email lists. I know it’s been very hard to do, so a congratulatory welcome to everyone who has. Let’s get on with this newsletter. Does Perspective Alter an Offense? I need to give a little bit of background to this story. It shows you…

• My Books Are Back on RevTrev.com

  revtrev

  17 Feb 2012 | 9:11 am

  It’s been a while since I’ve posted. There’s been a lot on the back end I’ve been doing since I found out the amount of traffic that’s been coming to my site. It turns out javascript programs like Google and WordPress stats wouldn’t load when I was getting a lot of traffic, so they couldn’t record what was actually taking place. I’ve got a faster server now (that I will need to upgrade soon) and so those javascript services are picking up more traffic as well. But I also signed up with Cloudflare and they include the cache-page views. I’m…

• 

  Nate Fietzer .:. Leading the Future

• Monday Blog Roundup – 02/20/12

  Nate Fietzer

  20 Feb 2012 | 7:07 pm

  WOW! What a week for blogs. I found some really great posts this week. Posts that made an impact on my life. Here are just a few of them. 7 Practical Ways Organizations Can Leverage Social Media by Scott Williams he World Of Social Media is here to stay and that has major implications for the business sector, non-profits, organizations and Corporate America. There are over 250 million bloggers, over 845 million Facebook users, 500 million Twitter users, 40 million Google+ users and 34% of these folks post opinions about products and brands. These shared opinions are a big deal, as research…

• Risk

  Nate Fietzer

  20 Feb 2012 | 1:37 pm

  “The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing, and becomes nothing. He may avoid suffering and sorrow, but he simply cannot learn and feel and change and grow and love and live.” ~Leo Buscaglia

• Monday Blog Roundup – 02/13/12

  Nate Fietzer

  13 Feb 2012 | 11:21 am

  I am an avid reader. It’s like an addiction to me. I need to read. If I don’t read for a couple of days I start to feel the “booogityblues”. As you may have guessed, I find so many great reads each week on the web. There are so many phenomenal leaders publishing blogs that it can be a feeding ground for leaders. With that in mind, each week I would like to share with you some of my favorite blog posts. So without further adieu … this weeks posts. The 8 Best Worst Ideas For Leadership Growth Ever by Margaret Feinberg Many articles are dedicated to nurturing a…

• Empty Your Storage

  Nate Fietzer

  13 Feb 2012 | 9:33 am

  Let’s face it—God’s greatest leaders have historically been the antithesis of remarkability. The people that have made the greatest difference were never the ones that spoke with the most eloquence, knew all the rules, or even looked the part. But they were the ones that had the audacity to say, “God, I’m nothing without you. If I’m going to do anything for you, I need you to fill me with everything I need.” They made enough space available in their lives for God to do something great. The good news is Jesus already died to heal your imperfections. To strengthen your weaknesses.

• An Interview with Jon Gordon on Leadership

  Nate Fietzer

  23 Jan 2012 | 7:00 pm

  Recently I was afforded the awesome opportunity of interviewing Jon Gordon. Jon is a husband, father, and author. His best-selling books and talks have inspired readers and audiences around the world. He is the author of The Wall Street Journal bestseller The Energy Bus, as well as The No Complaining Rule, Training Camp, The Shark and The Goldfish, Soup: A Recipe to Nourish Your Team and Culture, and his latest book The Seed: Finding Purpose and Happiness in Life and Work. I could literally write pages and pages about all Jon’s accomplishments from sharing his principles with NFL Teams…

• 

  reconciled

• Romans: The Prelude

  Matt Smith

  21 Feb 2012 | 9:17 pm

  To me Romans is the only book of the Bible I need to read. Of course that’s wrong, but that’s how much I love the book. Everything you need to know about the entire Bible is right there in that … Continue reading →

• Is Morality Holiness?

  Matt Smith

  16 Feb 2012 | 8:07 pm

  When morality or how good we behave becomes the foundation of our faith we are left with one great big question. How good do we have to be? With so many denominations, sects within those denominations, and opinions it’s hard … Continue reading →

• Pain and Suffering

  Matt Smith

  14 Feb 2012 | 6:51 pm

  If you want answers look away. I’ve got way more questions than answers today, but maybe I can talk my way through this. It’s the age old question of why there is pain and suffering. As a Christian it is … Continue reading →

• In God I Will Trust

  Matt Smith

  13 Feb 2012 | 7:42 pm

  Today, I’m writing to myself. I need a pep talk so I’m going to regurgitate all the juicy little things I’ve come to truly believe the past few years. Refrigerator verses aren’t going to keep you true if they are … Continue reading →

• Prop 8 and the Adulterous Woman

  Matt Smith

  9 Feb 2012 | 8:40 pm

  The Problem So a California appeals court has ruled Prop 8 unconstitutional. This will probably go to the United States Supreme Court. Why is this a big deal about Prop 8? I’ll tell you. Prop 8 a big deal because … Continue reading →

• 

  Media Outreach

• The Internet as a Mission Field

  Laura Burrus

  21 Feb 2012 | 2:55 pm

  I ran across this video today on Internet Evangelism Day’s blog.  Hear how others are using social media to share their faith with their friends. What are your thoughts on sharing the Gospel via... For the full article, please visit: www.mediaoutreach.com

• Welcoming First Time Guests

  BJ McCurdy

  15 Feb 2012 | 12:38 pm

  What do first time guests think when they come to your church?  Many churches focus on outreach and getting people in the door for the first time, but what are you telling first time guests once they... For the full article, please visit: www.mediaoutreach.com

• Sharing Your Love on Social Media

  Laura Burrus

  14 Feb 2012 | 11:05 am

  In light of Valentine’s Day being…well, today, I thought I’d see what people were saying in regards to social media and this heart shaped holiday. Times have changed from the handwritten love note to... For the full article, please visit: www.mediaoutreach.com

• January 2012 Top Blog Posts

  Laura Burrus

  7 Feb 2012 | 5:23 pm

  How Your Church can Use QR Codes Using Media During Worship Service Closing the Back Door Presentation Software Review faitHighway offers new website solution with Wordpress themes faithHighway Go... For the full article, please visit: www.mediaoutreach.com

• Empowering Church Volunteers

  BJ McCurdy

  1 Feb 2012 | 11:19 am

  One of the things I find most common as I talk to pastors and church leaders every day is that most churches have a volunteer who is their “webmaster.”  The title “webmaster” is the first sign that... For the full article, please visit: www.mediaoutreach.com

• 

  Ramblings on the Way

• Is Youth Ministry a good option for work experience?

  22 Feb 2012 | 1:47 am

  Last week I had a chat with a teen about my job and we somehow got onto the topic of work experience. In most schools around my area they do two separate sessions of work experience, one vocational and the other more community based.So... Would doing work experience with your youth minister be a good idea?Personally, I've never had a work experience kid join me, but I've seen it happen numerous times in the past.From what I've seen, it appears to be a positive experience for all involved.Assuming the teen is a committed Christian, it gives the student a far greater understanding of what goes…

• Suicide, the afterlife & abortion disclaimer

  20 Feb 2012 | 1:01 am

  Previously I've written about ministerial disclaimers.This week I've added another disclaimer to my arsenal.Over the last week I've been in a series of email discussions about various questions. Some of the queries have revolved around the topics of the afterlife and suicide.Before launching into my half-baked answers I gave the following disclaimer...Again, like a discussion on hell, I always feel a little uncomfortable talking about suicide because 1) the bible doesn't give us the details that we sometimes desire and 2) it potentially touches on the very real and sometimes awkward topic of…

• Second chance invite

  17 Feb 2012 | 7:28 pm

  Inviting people to church, a youth group or the Christian activities at your school for the first time can be hard. It can be awkward. You might get shot down. In flames.But I think there's an ask which is much more difficult.The invite to something which they have already experienced. Inviting a friend to the evening service at your church after they came previously and it didn't rock their world.Inviting a kid back to your youth group after they stopped attending a year ago.Inviting a teen to the lunchtime group at school, knowing that they tried it once and thought it was lame.The second…

• Should Youth Ministers be first date masters?

  16 Feb 2012 | 3:08 am

  I know, a lot of youth ministers are not single. Either they are already married or in a long term relationship.It makes perfect sense.During their Christian life they been a part of many of the usual this-is-where-I-met-my-spouse activities. They have been to many camps, probably a couple of beach missions and at least a few years in a Christian learning institution.Over the last few days I've been pondering dating and youth ministers (not that I'm thinking of taking it up!).Single youth ministers should be pretty good at dating.Youth ministers are generally outgoing.They encounter a lot of…

• Dinoshark

  14 Feb 2012 | 9:07 pm

  If you're a long-time reader of this blog then you'll know that I will gladly spend 90 or so minutes watching less-than-top-notch SiFi films (Like Sharktopus or Mega Shark vs Giant Octopus)Today I had a meeting get postponed.How do I pass the time?Spend time with my heavily pregnant wife or watch Dinoshark? Dinoshark wins!

• 

  Ryan Guard

• “I have loved you with an everlasting love…”...

  20 Feb 2012 | 5:29 pm

  “I have loved you with an everlasting love…” Jeremiah 31:3 (Taken with instagram)

• “Put me in coach!”. Griffin is a couple years away...

  18 Feb 2012 | 10:28 am

  “Put me in coach!”. Griffin is a couple years away from dominating out here. (Taken with instagram)

• Loved As You Are

  11 Feb 2012 | 11:01 am

  I was listening to one of Brennan Manning’s final sermons, and I had to write this part down. You can find a clip that contains this HERE. “Do you believe that the God of Jesusloves you beyond worthiness and unworthiness, beyond fidelity and infidelity,that he loves you in the morning sun and the evening rain, that he loves you when your intellect denies it,your emotions refuse it,and your whole being rejects it.Do you believe that God loves without conditional reservation, and loves you this moment as you are, and not as you should be?” I believe it.

• My Worst Sermon Ever

  10 Feb 2012 | 2:51 pm

  They say public speaking is the #1 fear for most people. That seems silly to me, maybe because I’m comfortable speaking to large groups… but also because I’m much more afraid of guns, sharks and checking my bank account balance. But on a Wednesday night back in 2008, I stood in front of a large group of teenagers, microphone in hand, and I was petrified. I have been speaking once or twice to students since the beginning of 2002, not to mention some camps, trips and other events, so I had probably given 700 or 800 sermons before that day. At least a dozen of those sermons were the same…

• Brennan Manning

  7 Feb 2012 | 11:56 pm

  I’m really thankful for Brennan Manning’s books. I hope you’ve read them all, or at the very least THE RAGAMUFFIN GOSPEL. I just finished ALL IS GRACE tonight, and I feel sad. I love a lot of writers, but none of them have impacted me in the same way as Manning. I’m sad that there are no more books on the way… Here are some of my favorite quotes from his books. If you haven’t read any of his books, I hope they compel you to pick one up. Some have labeled my message one of “cheap grace”. In my younger days, their accusations were a gauntlet thrown down, a challenge. But I’m…

• 

  Fr. Peter-Michael Preble

• Liturgy Schedule for Lent

  22 Feb 2012 | 8:38 pm

  St. Michael Orthodox Church and St. Columba of Iona Orthodox Monastery publishes the list of Divine Services during Great Lent.  The schedule is printed below. Monday, Tuesday, Friday 6:30 am ~ Midnight Office 7:45 am ~ Canonical Hours (1st, 3rd, 6th, 9th) 5:15 pm ~ Vespers (with Compline on Friday) 7:45 pm ~ Compline Wednesday 6:30 am ~ Midnight Office 6:30 pm ~ Presanctifield Liturgy     

• Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America: Year in Review

  22 Feb 2012 | 5:00 pm

  In today’s secular society, which is often filled with meaningless rhetoric, it is encouraging to report that the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America is progressing toward its stated goals. Recent achievements include the official incorporation of the Assembly on October 18, 2011 as the Assembly of Canonical Orthodox Bishops of North and Central America (ACOB). (

• Bishop Michael ~ Why We Fast

  20 Feb 2012 | 9:26 pm

  FASTING: 7 Questions and 7 Answers from Ken James Stavrevsky on Vimeo.

• St. Vladimir’s Seminary Implements Fully Paid Tuition Plan

  20 Feb 2012 | 8:39 pm

  One of the obstacles to attracting more "native" clergy was the cost of attending seminary.  St. Vladimir's has placed itself out in front and has made it their mission to provide a quality education for future priests and theologians. ++++++++++ YONKERS, NY [SVOTS Communications]“It is now possible for students to come to our seminary with their tuition fully funded,” announced Archpriest John

• Why do we pray for the dead?

  17 Feb 2012 | 7:27 am

  From the Synarxarion (Explanation) in the Triodion of THE SATURDAY OF THE DEADSoul Saturday On this day, Soul Saturday, according to the order instituted by our Holy Fathers, we call to remembrance all those who have died from the beginning of the ages in faith and in the hope of the resurrection and of life eternal. The present commemoration of the dead is based on the reality that many of our