Let them Stink

The people leading thousands in worship today were once untalented, undisciplined kids making a racket in their youth group because a leader let them.
Most of us in student ministry don’t have the budget or the draw to get Chris Tomlin to lead worship in our youth group. But we can give tomorrow’s Chris Tomlin his start today.
Maybe one of the most important things we can do with students is provide a safe atmosphere for them to try new things that might just lead to a real gift to the world and God’s kingdom down the road.
The truth is, with changes in technology and media, they can just as easily grow in talent without the church and we would have missed a great opportunity.
So let the wild ruckus begin!

Dan Miller’s Thoughts on Wisdom

Dan Miller shares some great thoughts on the difference between knowledge and wisdom. Check it out.

Thoughts on reaching a new generation for Christ

We shouldn’t complain when a newer competing program is more effective than an older one. Sometimes the only way to see that you’re riding a dead horse is to have a living horse next to it.

What are the new needs and how are we meeting them as a vehicle to the truth? what are the needs of the past that we are trying to meet (that are no longer needs). Many times tradition is answering needs that no longer exist.

Everyone has an obstinate child in them that rebels against rules.  The Church in the past has been great to answer the what (Bible knowledge) and that was just fine *(they were okay with “God says it, that settles it”). The church is doing better with the how (application). But the younger generation is more pragmatic and less tied to the church and scripture as authority. They need to first be approached with the why. If we don’t answer the why, they will not care about the what and will not practice the how.

Older men and women in the church should not fear that new ideas and methods will relegate them to obscurity; but should realize that their roles have shifted, according to scripture, as mentors to the young. They play a crucial role in the growth of the church. It has been said that children are the future of the church. I would contend that the elderly and thier response to change and their shifting roles determine the future of the church.

Where the Wild Things Are

I’m so excited about the making of “Where the Wild Things Are.” This is one of my favorite books as a kid and the previews of the movie look as magical as the story in book form. I can’t wait to get immersed into Maurice Sendak’s world of monsters – and to introduce that world to my kids. They have such wonderful imaginations already. I can’t wait to share this with them. I am curious as to what they will do to flesh the story into a full length film. If you haven’t seen it yet, check out the preview. See if it doesn’t give you chills!

Tech Backlash

It’s been a while since I’ve posted on my site. In fact, it’s been a while since I’ve read anyone else’s posts. In fact, I’ve slowed down dramatically in listening to podcasts and even reading. I go through cycles of hitting a wall where I feel oversaturated and I need to step back and experience some quiet. During these times I just want to read/listen to a novel, or read a quick article in a magazine. One of the articles I just read (I can’t remember if it was WIRED or Entrepreneur) about Twitter regret – or feeling guilty about not being diligent in one’s post. I certainly resonated with that.
A month ago I got to go to a luncheon where Gabe Lyons was speaking about his book Unchristian. He used the term “digital pollution” and nailed me between the eyes. We get so busy and occupied with Facebook, itunes, blogging, etc. that at some point it just becomes white noise. We become overwhelmed and over saturated and we can’t process any more. He made a great point – that any new technology takes the place of something else.
In fact, he used the illustration of blogging. When someone starts a blog and posts fairly regularly, they tend to give up journalling. When this happens, we rob ourselves of the self talk and processing that takes place in journalling. And many times because of this we tend to post ideas and sentiments that we haven’t fully thought through. This can be at least a poorly communicated idea, and at worst a venomous rant. He has a point. I have saved myself embarrassment, stressed relationships and even my job by processing my thoughts in my journal. Those thoughts typically have no place on a blog. So I guess, it lets me off the hook a bit.
I’ll continue to post, but not feel that I have to put one out every week.
I don’t need to feel guilty if I’m not keeping up with every Kawasaki, Godin, Greoschel, or Ruggles blog entry. And I will make sure that journalling takes precedent over any of these technologies.

IdeaNation gets 100 Members

iDEANATION is a social network of ministers exchanging ideas and resources.  We share what’s new and what’s working in the local church.  The group was created and is managed by Josh Webb, worship leader at Northstar church Kennesaw, GA. Check it out and join the gang.  We’d love your input.

Don’t just get mad, get solutions

I had a church member call me the other day.  She informed me that they would no longer be recycling because the bin outside the church was constantly full.  They ended up throwing their plastic, glass and tin in the trash.  This was frustrating because I was excited to bring this opportunity to our church and community.

I was in the shower the next day and God put a thought in my head.  Part of the frustration that we had in our recycling was due to the fact that the company we use (run by a great, but overwhelmed entrepreneur) is the only option in our area.  I began wondering what other options we might have.  I started by identifying the problem.

Plastic waste in particular takes up a ton of space.  A family can go through trash bags full of milk jugs, water bottles, egg cartons, product wrapping and foam cups in a week’s time.  I built a bin at home and quickly noticed how rapidly the container for plastic would fill up. I learned a few practical steps such as crushing water bottles and recapping them, sloshing a small amount of hot water in a milk jug making it easier to collapse, and even breaking the plastic down chemically.  At one point I kept a glass jar filled with acetone.  I would dissolve egg cartons and foam cups into little white gooey blobs in order to save space.

It was there in the shower that God gave me an epiphany.  The church member who had had it with our church bin was a retired chemical engineer!  He had a unique background that might give him insight into other possible options for us.
I gave him a call later that morning and asked him to kick around some ideas regarding solutions to storage and disposal of the plastic.  I began to wonder who else in our church might have different vocational skills and resources at creating new solutions.  What if we were to come up with a better option that would not only help us but our community and even our recycling provider?

Here was my take away.  Anger and frustration are not only normal responses to broken systems, they are also important to finding answers.  Anger and frustration can fuel us to come up with better solutions.  When stated, this seems like a no brainer.  But how often do we get frustrated and angry and then simply stop there?  Sure we might be justified in griping and moaning to others when institutions are inefficient, or businesses offer lousy customer care or how we are inconvenienced by poorly engineered merchandise, but why stop there? Why not be a part of the solution? For one, frustration that isn’t handled correctly turns to bitterness and cynicism.  But frustration and anger aimed at solutions is healthy and helpful. So next time something gets your goat, consider solutions to the problem.

Have you come up with solutions that were originally fueled from frustration?  Share them with me.

Any ideas on our recycling challenge? Be a part of the solution.

Our Response to the Election

This election has been such a dramatic, all consuming process that saw the country just about 50/50 on thier choice for president.  Check out Brad Ruggle’s post on our country’s choice and the Christian response.  It’s the best I’ve read so far.  There are some great comments after his post as well. Click here to check it out.

What Would Jesus Buy?

Here’s a great video to watch with your kids before the Christmas season.  It should get a great dialogue going on what Christmas has become and how we are pulled into the lure of the season.

Follow Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping Choir as they go on a cross-county mission to save the Holidays from the Shopocalypse: the end of mankind from consumerism, over-consumption and the fires of eternal debt!

What I like to do on my alone day

As a minister, I work on Sundays so I don’t get a full weekend like most folks.  I must admit, there are times when I envy other folks (even church folks) who take time off with their families to go camping for the weekend or just get away together.  To deal with this issue many churches give their ministers a day off during the week.  It doesn’t really help the get away opportunities with the family (they’re in school), but when I get to take my day off I get it to myself.  This is very nice – to relax while the rest of the world is at work or school.  My wife really envies me on this. So, here’s a list of my favorite things to do during my day off (and some of my least favorite).

Things I LOVE to do on my day off
Staying in home clothes (usually mesh shorts and an old t-shirt)
Not shaving
Sitting on the couch or laying in bed and catching up on my Tivo episodes
Falling asleep while catching up on my Tivo
Snacking
Catching up on blogs, or just piddling around on my laptop
Reading
Playing video games
Going to the movies

Things I normally have to do but don’t mind that much
Minor house work (dishes, clean the kitchen, laundry)
Mow the lawn
Exercise
Duck into work for something last minute

Things I hate to do on my day off but sometimes need to
Dr. Appointments – these are time killers
Wash the dog – we have a big dog – at the end of this ordeal, I’m covered with water, fur and my back hurts
Paint – I hate painting trim and after 4+ years in our house, I still haven’t finished it.
Field Trips – I love my kids, but dairy farms…not so much

So, when you get a little alone time, what does your list look like?