Couple random stats I came across over the last week.
The average age of the video gaming male?...35 years old.
One in three men will move back in with his parents for extended period, likely until the age of 28 or 30.
I think we've got a serious Man Crisis on our hands. And here's just 5 possible contributors to why we've gotten here. You don't have to agree with them.
1. The Women's Rights Movement. Do not read here that I am chauvinistic. In fact, I am very supportive of equal rights and claiming the rights and voice of women. But hear me out...One of the ramifications to women achieving is that men have gotten lazy.
2. Lack of legitimate Role Models. The guys who are in the spotlight in the Western World are not typically world changers. They are not realistically attainable lifestyles. The world (and particularly the Church) doesn't need more Tiger Woods, Ben Roethlisbergers' or Wayne Rooneys. The world needs guys who will Reject Passivity, Embrace Integrity, Accept Responsibility and Lead Courageously.
3. Lack of Father figure. The Dead beat dad or absence of a father figure in the lives of adolescent boys (and girls for that matter) is huge. Broken homes or split family situations do nothing to foster a new generation of strong, capable men.
4. Life is a Game Motto. Guess what?! You are not likely to make it in the pro sports world! (If you're a parent...Guess what, your kid is not likely to make it in the pro sports world!) We spend hours and hours and hours trying to get our kid to be the best at a sport, thinking that this is the best foundation we can build. Guess what...a 26 year old who can still hoop it up but has no life dream or career aspirations is waste of potential. And dude...video games? seriously? I know I know...get your madden fix in...play some halo or whatever...but don't waste your life.
5. The Effeminate Male. There has been such a criticism of what has been deemed 'manly' in years past, that now media tends to convey the true man as the homosexual or the man in touch with his feminine side. Manliness does not have to equal neanderthal existence or chauvinistic existence or anything like that. Can a man just want to live in an adventure (I don't mean vicariously through their sports teams or their video game accomplishments or their kids either!) It is fascinating to watch the shift in what gets ratings on television...you've got action packed CIA shows where the main character is a woman...Woman is conveyed as this bad 'mother-father' who always gets the bad guy and plays the hero. Meanwhile...what are the popular movies for guys? Movies with guys like Adam Sandler and Seth Rogen that keep men in a perpetual state of adolescence until they are 40.
So...where do we go from here?
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Pretty Simple Math Equation
Well last night the Cavs started their first season in 7 years without the alleged chosen one. And they beat the team who beat the Heat on opening night. Not only that, but the Celtics were last year's Eastern Conference Champs. So you do the math. If We beat the Celtics, we're better than them and since they beat the Heat, we're better than the Heat as well. All this to say that if the season were to end right now, we would be the best team in the East.
Bring on the Lakers.
Bring on the Lakers.
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
John 15
So our lifeWorth Groups have been in John this semester. I taught on John 15 over the weekend and did a miserable job. Ever know what you want to communicate, but just can't seem to articulate it?
But God's Word is living and active. John 15 talks about the Vine and the Branches. The whole point seems to be about fruit. If you're not bearing fruit its not going to end well for you. If you're bearing a little bit of fruit, you need pruned so you can bear more fruit. And the ultimate goal is to bear much, lasting fruit.
But that is not the point of the passage. Its the product of the passage. John 15:4"Abide in me as I abide in you." This is the point. The word abide has this connotation of making one's home in a place. I took my dog Shadow on a walk down by the canal on Friday and I just simply prayed 'Make your home in me.' While I'm walking, while I'm working, while I'm golfing, while I'm sleeping, while I'm on a hot date with my wife, while I'm vacuuming...make your home in me.
The reason we don't see fruit in our day to day lives is because we try to compartmentalize God into a 30 minute devotional time or an hour worship service. These are really important things, but the communion with the triune God does not stop when we close our Bible. It does not stop at the benediction. Jesus says abide in me...apart from me you can do nothing.
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being 'good for nothing'.
Where does God need to be welcomed home in your life?
But God's Word is living and active. John 15 talks about the Vine and the Branches. The whole point seems to be about fruit. If you're not bearing fruit its not going to end well for you. If you're bearing a little bit of fruit, you need pruned so you can bear more fruit. And the ultimate goal is to bear much, lasting fruit.
But that is not the point of the passage. Its the product of the passage. John 15:4"Abide in me as I abide in you." This is the point. The word abide has this connotation of making one's home in a place. I took my dog Shadow on a walk down by the canal on Friday and I just simply prayed 'Make your home in me.' While I'm walking, while I'm working, while I'm golfing, while I'm sleeping, while I'm on a hot date with my wife, while I'm vacuuming...make your home in me.
The reason we don't see fruit in our day to day lives is because we try to compartmentalize God into a 30 minute devotional time or an hour worship service. These are really important things, but the communion with the triune God does not stop when we close our Bible. It does not stop at the benediction. Jesus says abide in me...apart from me you can do nothing.
I don't know about you, but I'm tired of being 'good for nothing'.
Where does God need to be welcomed home in your life?
Monday, October 25, 2010
The Challenge and Excitement of Systems
Our church has a pretty active Sunday School program. But last year the goal was established to increase participation in Small Group Ministry. The first few attempts at making this happen were challenging because people had ideas in their mind about what "Small Groups" meant. In the past, they joined a Small Group for 40 day studies like Purpose Driven Life and others like it. On Day 41, most disbanded. On top of this the leaders generally saw themselves as facilitators and not leaders or teachers. Generally, the fruit from these types of small groups was minimal.
The reason I share this, is that we are all parts of Systems that don't produce what we desire them to produce. Systems produce what they are designed to produce. So for us, we have two systems for adult discipleship: Sunday School and 'Small Groups'. And we have realized neither of them by themselves are adequate to help people grow (Sunday School is constrained by time and generally by inconsistent attendance--'Small Groups' as mentioned are only drops in the bucket of discipleship and the leaders of both are not trained or coached.)
So as Leaders, when our systems don't work, we have to address this. There's 3 Options in doing this.
THE CLEAN SLATE: At first I wanted to try to eliminate the systems that weren't working and start fresh. This method may be productive down the road, but drastic change that is not fully endorsed by the people will lead to drastic resistance.
THE WHEEL REINVENTION: Option two is to take the existing system and reinvent it. If Sunday School isn't working because of time restrictions, untrained leadership and lack of commitment. Then, this model says invest all your energies and efforts into revitalizing those three areas...Lengthen Sunday School...Demand of teachers that they come to training and demand of participants that they be fully engaged. This is the least shocking to the existing system, but it is still working with the same groups who generally don't want changes to take place. You will find yourself asking if these dead bones can live!?
THE SYSTEM SIDE BY SIDE: At Steak & Shake they have milkshake options that are called Side by Sides. I can get a Strawberry and Vanilla Side by Side where at the beginning I get the delicious flavors of each individually depending on where my straw is. Then, by the end, the two flavors have merged into a tasty deliciousness. This is the System we are implementing at Church. Rather than eliminate the less fruitful system, we are letting it continue to operate. However, we have established a new system called lifeWorth Groups. We have started small with four groups. Each group has a leader and an apprentice. Each group is studying the same material (John) and every other week, I meet with the leaders and apprentices to cover the next two lessons. The leaders are trained well, equipped well and empowered to lead. I invest 75 to 80 % of my efforts into this system and the rest is in managing the other system. Next year the apprentices will break off and we will go from 4 groups to 8 groups, slowly expanding the system all the while ensuring that the leaders buy in, are trained and equipped. For now the two systems are side by side. But the vision eventually is that the inadequate system in place will gradually see the fruit of something new and desire to merge into that.
Leaders will destroy themselves in trying to change the culture of a movement drastically overnight. They will also be exhausted if they seek to bring life to a system that is outdated or ineffective. The effective leader must be willing to affect change incrementally so that the culture change will be significant and permanent.
The reason I share this, is that we are all parts of Systems that don't produce what we desire them to produce. Systems produce what they are designed to produce. So for us, we have two systems for adult discipleship: Sunday School and 'Small Groups'. And we have realized neither of them by themselves are adequate to help people grow (Sunday School is constrained by time and generally by inconsistent attendance--'Small Groups' as mentioned are only drops in the bucket of discipleship and the leaders of both are not trained or coached.)
So as Leaders, when our systems don't work, we have to address this. There's 3 Options in doing this.
THE CLEAN SLATE: At first I wanted to try to eliminate the systems that weren't working and start fresh. This method may be productive down the road, but drastic change that is not fully endorsed by the people will lead to drastic resistance.
THE WHEEL REINVENTION: Option two is to take the existing system and reinvent it. If Sunday School isn't working because of time restrictions, untrained leadership and lack of commitment. Then, this model says invest all your energies and efforts into revitalizing those three areas...Lengthen Sunday School...Demand of teachers that they come to training and demand of participants that they be fully engaged. This is the least shocking to the existing system, but it is still working with the same groups who generally don't want changes to take place. You will find yourself asking if these dead bones can live!?
THE SYSTEM SIDE BY SIDE: At Steak & Shake they have milkshake options that are called Side by Sides. I can get a Strawberry and Vanilla Side by Side where at the beginning I get the delicious flavors of each individually depending on where my straw is. Then, by the end, the two flavors have merged into a tasty deliciousness. This is the System we are implementing at Church. Rather than eliminate the less fruitful system, we are letting it continue to operate. However, we have established a new system called lifeWorth Groups. We have started small with four groups. Each group has a leader and an apprentice. Each group is studying the same material (John) and every other week, I meet with the leaders and apprentices to cover the next two lessons. The leaders are trained well, equipped well and empowered to lead. I invest 75 to 80 % of my efforts into this system and the rest is in managing the other system. Next year the apprentices will break off and we will go from 4 groups to 8 groups, slowly expanding the system all the while ensuring that the leaders buy in, are trained and equipped. For now the two systems are side by side. But the vision eventually is that the inadequate system in place will gradually see the fruit of something new and desire to merge into that.
Leaders will destroy themselves in trying to change the culture of a movement drastically overnight. They will also be exhausted if they seek to bring life to a system that is outdated or ineffective. The effective leader must be willing to affect change incrementally so that the culture change will be significant and permanent.
Saturday, October 23, 2010
Fresh
Got ambitious or bored tonight and thought it might be time for some aesthetic updating. I am excited for tomorrow as we'll be wrapping up a series on Ezekiel. Then, Shaina and I are going to veg in the afternoon. I love Sundays lately. Shaina doesn't work at Kohls on Sundays so we get to just be together in the afternoons.
Browns vs. Saints at one p.m. I know that the Browns are viewed as one of the worst teams in the league, but there is still a different feel about this team than the last couple years. I like Peyton Hillis. He is such a Cleveland blue collar kinda guy. T.J. Ward and the rest of the defense are improving vastly from years past. I'm not sold on McCoy but its hard to provide a verdict on a guy who doesn't have many weapons to throw to...especially since Thug Harrison wiped out two of the primary targets in a 10 minute stretch last week! haha.
Browns vs. Saints at one p.m. I know that the Browns are viewed as one of the worst teams in the league, but there is still a different feel about this team than the last couple years. I like Peyton Hillis. He is such a Cleveland blue collar kinda guy. T.J. Ward and the rest of the defense are improving vastly from years past. I'm not sold on McCoy but its hard to provide a verdict on a guy who doesn't have many weapons to throw to...especially since Thug Harrison wiped out two of the primary targets in a 10 minute stretch last week! haha.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
How do you define a 'good Sunday'?
We've all been there. Where we've walked out of a worship service and had a pretty distinct, clear thought..."What was the point of today?" Either our hearts weren't ready to receive and exalt or the message was a bust, or the music didn't resonate with our soul's cry...and we leave in a fog...not sure why the fog was there.
I preached this past Sunday and multiple people who were unable to make it asked me "How did it go?" I don't know how to respond to that.
Is it a good Sunday if the people don't look like they want to kill the message and the messenger at the end of the service (or is it good when the comfortable are afflicted?)
Is it a good Sunday when the people are engaged and moderately entertained during the message? (Or is it good when people are broken and sobbing?)
Is it a good Sunday when people come up to you and high five you for the message? (Or is it a good Sunday when people avoid making eye contact with you out of conviction and God wrecking them.)
Is it a good Sunday when the message is 30 minutes and the music is 20? (Or is it a good Sunday when the message is 20 and the music is 30?)
Is it a good Sunday when the preacher speaks on a relevant topic and uses a Bible verse to support the topic? (Or is it a good Sunday when the preacher uses the Bible and speaks to directly what the Bible is speaking to?)
The point is that every person who comes in the doors and is somehow involved in worship has expectations that they are wanting met. But God is a God who doesn't generally appease our expectations. He'd rather blow them away. This is the difference between expectation and expectancy. Expectation is preference driven. Expectancy is Spirit led. Expectation says "My will be done" Expectancy says "Thy will be done" Expectation limits worship. Expectancy enhances worship. Expectation leads us to wholly disappointment. Expectancy leads us to holy anticipation. Expectation prays "Move this way" Expectation prays "Move".
Your expectations on Sunday Morning are often the primary hindrance to you experiencing the presence of God.
Buy or sell?
I preached this past Sunday and multiple people who were unable to make it asked me "How did it go?" I don't know how to respond to that.
Is it a good Sunday if the people don't look like they want to kill the message and the messenger at the end of the service (or is it good when the comfortable are afflicted?)
Is it a good Sunday when the people are engaged and moderately entertained during the message? (Or is it good when people are broken and sobbing?)
Is it a good Sunday when people come up to you and high five you for the message? (Or is it a good Sunday when people avoid making eye contact with you out of conviction and God wrecking them.)
Is it a good Sunday when the message is 30 minutes and the music is 20? (Or is it a good Sunday when the message is 20 and the music is 30?)
Is it a good Sunday when the preacher speaks on a relevant topic and uses a Bible verse to support the topic? (Or is it a good Sunday when the preacher uses the Bible and speaks to directly what the Bible is speaking to?)
The point is that every person who comes in the doors and is somehow involved in worship has expectations that they are wanting met. But God is a God who doesn't generally appease our expectations. He'd rather blow them away. This is the difference between expectation and expectancy. Expectation is preference driven. Expectancy is Spirit led. Expectation says "My will be done" Expectancy says "Thy will be done" Expectation limits worship. Expectancy enhances worship. Expectation leads us to wholly disappointment. Expectancy leads us to holy anticipation. Expectation prays "Move this way" Expectation prays "Move".
Your expectations on Sunday Morning are often the primary hindrance to you experiencing the presence of God.
Buy or sell?
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Interesting article on Young Adult Ministry...or shameless self-promotion?
The East Ohio Conference of the United Methodist Church just released their Fall issue of their magazine "Joining Hands". Here is the link to the online article. Its on pages 4-5. The scholarly resource interviewed in this article has a great deal of insight, charm and manliness...if I do say so myself. haha.
Monday, October 18, 2010
Weighing in on NFL and Violence
So we're at a bit of a crossroads in professional football. The evidence is in and the guys who repeatedly hit and get hit hard have a brain on par with those with advanced alzheimers by the time they retire. The elite size and power of the athlete has far exceeded what can be technologically protected with equipment.
It has led some experts like Malcolm Gladwell to predict that football will be obsolete in 25 years because any parent in their right mind won't let their kids' brains turn to mush. It is hard to believe that all the hysteria surrounding this game would vanish that quickly, but I do respect Gladwell and his insight a lot and I think we have to at least hear the warning cries.
This past weekend saw a number of big hits leading to offensive players being removed from games. From Todd Heap getting hit by Brandon Merriweather, to DeSean Jackson, Josh Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi.
It is one thing to tackle in a way that causes offensive players to think twice before going across the middle again. It is another thing completely to go for a deliberate, excessive hit that doesn't cause the offensive player to think twice...but causes them to stop thinking.
I get that football is a dangerous and violent sport. But are we going too far? Just like if blue collar workers were working in dangerous conditions, there would be advocacy on their behalf for safer conditions, so we ought to be evaluating whether its an ok thing for athletes to risk their very livelihood for the sake of a catch in a silly game.
Merrill Hoge is a former NFL player who had his career ended by concussions and he actually had to go into two years of rehab to relearn how to read.
So the solution that looks to be proposed is that instead of fining players for bad form in tackling, the league will now suspend offending players. I think that this is a step in the right direction as charging a pro athlete the equivalent of charging me a $50 fine won't really change much. I'd love to see a repeat offender clause that says if you are deliberately using excessive violence to take out a player in multiple contexts, you will be suspended without pay for 1 game then 4, then a season.
For what its worth...James Harrison's hit on Josh Cribbs was a tolerable hit...though he lead with his helmet, it was making a play on a runner. Harrison's hit on Massaquoi was not ok. He went helmet to helmet and it was obvious that the intent was to blow Massaquoi up rather than hit him hard. The link is here...Watch Harrison's arms and then his demeanor after the play and it is obvious that it is excessively violent. He didn't even get flagged for this even though it was obvious in real time for the announcers and for the viewers at home that it was not a clean hit.
I'm not voting for making the NFL a soft game...but you've got to tame and manage the killer instinct in some of these athletes or you will see not only games or seasons ended but careers and lives.
As an aside...to show I'm not completely biased against the Steelers and for the Browns...TJ Ward had a shot against Cincinnati that was also excessive.
So what do you think? Let well enough alone or start controlling the violence?
It has led some experts like Malcolm Gladwell to predict that football will be obsolete in 25 years because any parent in their right mind won't let their kids' brains turn to mush. It is hard to believe that all the hysteria surrounding this game would vanish that quickly, but I do respect Gladwell and his insight a lot and I think we have to at least hear the warning cries.
This past weekend saw a number of big hits leading to offensive players being removed from games. From Todd Heap getting hit by Brandon Merriweather, to DeSean Jackson, Josh Cribbs and Mohammed Massaquoi.
It is one thing to tackle in a way that causes offensive players to think twice before going across the middle again. It is another thing completely to go for a deliberate, excessive hit that doesn't cause the offensive player to think twice...but causes them to stop thinking.
I get that football is a dangerous and violent sport. But are we going too far? Just like if blue collar workers were working in dangerous conditions, there would be advocacy on their behalf for safer conditions, so we ought to be evaluating whether its an ok thing for athletes to risk their very livelihood for the sake of a catch in a silly game.
Merrill Hoge is a former NFL player who had his career ended by concussions and he actually had to go into two years of rehab to relearn how to read.
So the solution that looks to be proposed is that instead of fining players for bad form in tackling, the league will now suspend offending players. I think that this is a step in the right direction as charging a pro athlete the equivalent of charging me a $50 fine won't really change much. I'd love to see a repeat offender clause that says if you are deliberately using excessive violence to take out a player in multiple contexts, you will be suspended without pay for 1 game then 4, then a season.
For what its worth...James Harrison's hit on Josh Cribbs was a tolerable hit...though he lead with his helmet, it was making a play on a runner. Harrison's hit on Massaquoi was not ok. He went helmet to helmet and it was obvious that the intent was to blow Massaquoi up rather than hit him hard. The link is here...Watch Harrison's arms and then his demeanor after the play and it is obvious that it is excessively violent. He didn't even get flagged for this even though it was obvious in real time for the announcers and for the viewers at home that it was not a clean hit.
I'm not voting for making the NFL a soft game...but you've got to tame and manage the killer instinct in some of these athletes or you will see not only games or seasons ended but careers and lives.
As an aside...to show I'm not completely biased against the Steelers and for the Browns...TJ Ward had a shot against Cincinnati that was also excessive.
So what do you think? Let well enough alone or start controlling the violence?
Sunday, October 17, 2010
When God Breathes
Got to preach it today out of Ezekiel 37.
Here's some thoughts/reflections:
Sometimes less is more. In each of the services, the amount of music used was less than typical. But each piece of music was intentional and I had multiple people comment about the overall flow and power of the entire service.
The Word of God speaks for itself...I loved how Ezekiel 29, Jeremiah 52, and so on and so forth told the story and fate of Israel. Ezekiel 37 is one of the coolest passages and it is impossible to give it justice.
Sometimes we need a kick in our buts...we have so many cop outs, excuses and justifications for delaying obedience and that is not an okay thing.
Studying when and where God has breathed throughout the Bible is eye opening. And it is crazy to know that He is not done breathing.
God wants us to know that in the midst of exile and pain, He is right there and He desires to do a new thing and bring the deadest of dead fully alive.
Preaching 3 services is exhausting. Shaina and I were up at 5:15...and that is why I'm heading to bed now...bed and a day off tomorrow. Thank you Jesus.
Here's some thoughts/reflections:
Sometimes less is more. In each of the services, the amount of music used was less than typical. But each piece of music was intentional and I had multiple people comment about the overall flow and power of the entire service.
The Word of God speaks for itself...I loved how Ezekiel 29, Jeremiah 52, and so on and so forth told the story and fate of Israel. Ezekiel 37 is one of the coolest passages and it is impossible to give it justice.
Sometimes we need a kick in our buts...we have so many cop outs, excuses and justifications for delaying obedience and that is not an okay thing.
Studying when and where God has breathed throughout the Bible is eye opening. And it is crazy to know that He is not done breathing.
God wants us to know that in the midst of exile and pain, He is right there and He desires to do a new thing and bring the deadest of dead fully alive.
Preaching 3 services is exhausting. Shaina and I were up at 5:15...and that is why I'm heading to bed now...bed and a day off tomorrow. Thank you Jesus.
Friday, October 15, 2010
Gungorrific
At Catalyst one of the session was opened up by a musical group and they didn't get introduced or anything...But as soon as they started singing about bones crying out, I knew it was Gungor. I think the Tomlin era of worship music that is accessible and somewhat generic musically is encountering a new era where the creativity of musicianship IS worship. Gungor embodies that...They express worship to God in a unique language of creative image painting and expressive style of musicianship. Here are 3 songs Gungor did that were powerful in worship at Catalyst:
This song, which goes ridiculously well with the message for this Sunday (you should come!)
This song, which I'd never heard before but paints the picture of creation in both lyric and instrument. (And this version is done live in the forest!)
And this song which I love and could only sing through tears!
This song, which goes ridiculously well with the message for this Sunday (you should come!)
This song, which I'd never heard before but paints the picture of creation in both lyric and instrument. (And this version is done live in the forest!)
And this song which I love and could only sing through tears!
Thursday, October 14, 2010
Good Leaders are Good Readers
I will post all the books I've read in 2010 with some reflections on them in December. But right now I've got two books going that are pretty powerful. I'm reading Piper's "Don't Waste Your Life"...and he talks about retiring at age 48 and playing softball, golf and yachting in Florida as a wasted life. Powerful...convicting...Motivating.
The second book is called "Generation iY" by Tim Elmore. Maybe one of the more insightful books on generational trends and young adult ministry I've ever read. I really, whole-heartedly agree with the reviews that every parent, teacher and mentor of anyone born from 1990 on has to read this book...before you screw up your kid "by helping them" and before you mess up leadership and culture for years to come.
Also have read some interesting articles from a magazine called Neue.
Next on my list is probably linchpin by business tycoon, blogger extraordinaire and popular author, Seth Godin.
What are you reading right now? And should I be reading it too?
The second book is called "Generation iY" by Tim Elmore. Maybe one of the more insightful books on generational trends and young adult ministry I've ever read. I really, whole-heartedly agree with the reviews that every parent, teacher and mentor of anyone born from 1990 on has to read this book...before you screw up your kid "by helping them" and before you mess up leadership and culture for years to come.
Also have read some interesting articles from a magazine called Neue.
Next on my list is probably linchpin by business tycoon, blogger extraordinaire and popular author, Seth Godin.
What are you reading right now? And should I be reading it too?
Booty God Booty
Jon Acuff, blogger and writer of 'Stuff Christians Like' spoke at a Catalyst Lab. Acuff uses satire to help the church see themselves through a better lens. I wasn't sure if going to his lab would be helpful/insightful or not.
Surprisingly, the takeaway was a really helpful preaching/speaking tip...
BOOTY. GOD. BOOTY.
Acuff told the story about how he was listening to a hip hop radio station and there was a song about gettin' some booty...then they had a 5 minute "God Time" where they read a Bible verse and gave some Words of Life for the day. Then, there was another rap song about gettin' some booty. He felt awkward...Booty/God/Booty? Something wasn't quite right. Then he realized that his life was often times, "Booty. God. Booty." That his actions were often self centered, less than christian, then he'd have a God moment. Then he'd follow it up with for wretched heart syndrome. He was booty/God/booty.
He wrote about this on his blog and people resonated with it. Now where this is insightful is that every Christian Communicator has tried to address the inconsistencies and incongruencies of the Christian life with a life of sinfulness. Most of the times it falls on deaf ears because we don't help the story land. People grab hold of "our lives should be consistently reflecting Jesus" and they file it in their brain under the "Heard it already" Bin.
But when its articulated that our lives shouldn't be Booty. God. Booty. Our brains aren't able to file that away. Communicators need to articulate their message with high levels of stickyness or it will have no impact.
**Its important to note that I am not saying that we should go SHOCK AND AWE...but we should seek to surprise our people with vernacular that is not same old same old.
This is helpful for preachers, worship leaders who speak during segues between songs, layspeakers, and virtually any type of communicator. If you can't say it in a fresh, creative way that will stick...then is it really worth saying?
Surprisingly, the takeaway was a really helpful preaching/speaking tip...
BOOTY. GOD. BOOTY.
Acuff told the story about how he was listening to a hip hop radio station and there was a song about gettin' some booty...then they had a 5 minute "God Time" where they read a Bible verse and gave some Words of Life for the day. Then, there was another rap song about gettin' some booty. He felt awkward...Booty/God/Booty? Something wasn't quite right. Then he realized that his life was often times, "Booty. God. Booty." That his actions were often self centered, less than christian, then he'd have a God moment. Then he'd follow it up with for wretched heart syndrome. He was booty/God/booty.
He wrote about this on his blog and people resonated with it. Now where this is insightful is that every Christian Communicator has tried to address the inconsistencies and incongruencies of the Christian life with a life of sinfulness. Most of the times it falls on deaf ears because we don't help the story land. People grab hold of "our lives should be consistently reflecting Jesus" and they file it in their brain under the "Heard it already" Bin.
But when its articulated that our lives shouldn't be Booty. God. Booty. Our brains aren't able to file that away. Communicators need to articulate their message with high levels of stickyness or it will have no impact.
**Its important to note that I am not saying that we should go SHOCK AND AWE...but we should seek to surprise our people with vernacular that is not same old same old.
This is helpful for preachers, worship leaders who speak during segues between songs, layspeakers, and virtually any type of communicator. If you can't say it in a fresh, creative way that will stick...then is it really worth saying?
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Sing It!
three minutes and forty eight seconds of artistic brilliance and passion. I laughed and I cried.
Monday, October 11, 2010
Interview with Mark Driscoll
Mark Driscoll is a good preacher...sometimes he is over the top...sometimes he is more shock and awe than he ought to be...but this excerpt from a recent Neue Magazine is thought provoking:
On what keeps him up at night regarding the church:
"With young people...it tends to be a more materialistic culture. People tend to be more selfish. They can tend to treat the Church more like a community of friends, but not really a place to be generous and be on mission. So that is concerning, maybe a lot of people using the Church but anot a lot of people loving the Church. I think there is going to be a tonintued hemorrhaing in the mainline denominations over things like homosexuality and universalism. Can you have sex outside of heterosexual marriage, and do you really need Jesus to go to heaven? I think you're going to see the mainline denominations continue to fragment and crumble around those issues...there is going to be a lot of bloodbath..."
On Boys, Guys, and Men:
More women are graduating high school...more are graduating college...more are buying homes...more women are doing things that are more adult and responsible (than men). We've created this. Its a sociological category. It used to be you go from 'boy' to 'man' and now you go from 'boy' to 'guy' to 'man'. There is this whole new creation of a 'guy'.
Its jsut extended adolescence, where 20s, 30s, sometimes even in his 40s, he doesn't really want to get married, doesn't really want to have kids, doesn't really want to pursue a career. He has a lot of hobbies, got a lot of buddies, watches a lot of porn, gambles, has a lot of fun, maybe plays in some band or is in a guild of World of Warcraft, or something ridiculous like that. And they've even got little mottos like 'Its all good' and 'Bros before hos.' Its just this whole adolescent, juvenile culture. Kind of Adam Sandler-esque view of life, and there is this whole genre of comedy movies built around these kind of inept, irresponsible, immature guys, and I think part of the problem is, as well that the Church in large part has accommodated that.
Those guys tend not to go to church. If those guys do show up at church, its usually just to find a couple of gals to break the commandments with. And the Church doesn't really know what to do with them, so the least likely person in America to go to church is a guy in his 20s who is single."
Do you buy what this guy is selling?
On what keeps him up at night regarding the church:
"With young people...it tends to be a more materialistic culture. People tend to be more selfish. They can tend to treat the Church more like a community of friends, but not really a place to be generous and be on mission. So that is concerning, maybe a lot of people using the Church but anot a lot of people loving the Church. I think there is going to be a tonintued hemorrhaing in the mainline denominations over things like homosexuality and universalism. Can you have sex outside of heterosexual marriage, and do you really need Jesus to go to heaven? I think you're going to see the mainline denominations continue to fragment and crumble around those issues...there is going to be a lot of bloodbath..."
On Boys, Guys, and Men:
More women are graduating high school...more are graduating college...more are buying homes...more women are doing things that are more adult and responsible (than men). We've created this. Its a sociological category. It used to be you go from 'boy' to 'man' and now you go from 'boy' to 'guy' to 'man'. There is this whole new creation of a 'guy'.
Its jsut extended adolescence, where 20s, 30s, sometimes even in his 40s, he doesn't really want to get married, doesn't really want to have kids, doesn't really want to pursue a career. He has a lot of hobbies, got a lot of buddies, watches a lot of porn, gambles, has a lot of fun, maybe plays in some band or is in a guild of World of Warcraft, or something ridiculous like that. And they've even got little mottos like 'Its all good' and 'Bros before hos.' Its just this whole adolescent, juvenile culture. Kind of Adam Sandler-esque view of life, and there is this whole genre of comedy movies built around these kind of inept, irresponsible, immature guys, and I think part of the problem is, as well that the Church in large part has accommodated that.
Those guys tend not to go to church. If those guys do show up at church, its usually just to find a couple of gals to break the commandments with. And the Church doesn't really know what to do with them, so the least likely person in America to go to church is a guy in his 20s who is single."
Do you buy what this guy is selling?
oh buddy
I am preaching out of Ezekiel 37 this coming Sunday. Sermon will be titled "When God Breathes". I am excited about this opportunity and God is stirring some things in me. Can't wait to bring it...Need your prayers for God's anointing on speaker and hearers.
If you are interested, you should come on out and worship with us at Wadsworth UMC! 195 Broad Street in Wadsworth!
8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Hope to see you there!
If you are interested, you should come on out and worship with us at Wadsworth UMC! 195 Broad Street in Wadsworth!
8:15, 9:30 and 11:00 a.m. Hope to see you there!
Wednesday, October 6, 2010
Catalyst Day One
Oh boy. My head is throbbing status and Shaina and I actually skipped the last lab session to get read for tomorrow!
Here's one thing that was 'sticky' from each session I did attend.
John Ortberg..."Your sanctification is at least as dependent on the grace of God as your salvation is."
Reggie Joiner..."95% of Christian evangelical kids in elementary and junior high attend church. 55% of them attend through high school. 11% attend through college."
Eric Mason..."If you say you love Jesus but you don't love the church, you are ripping God's bride (and yourself)."
Tim Elmore..."16-24 year olds were interviewed and asked to answer 'what marks adulthood?' The number one response? Not high school graduation. Not college graduation. Not their first full time job. Not marriage. The perceived mark of adulthood is the birth of one's first child. Average age of first childbirth is now around age 28...28 is the new 18 because the parents of this generation have let them be OVERWHELMED, OVERCONNECTED, OVERPROTECTED AND OVERSERVED."
Jon Acuff..."Booty God Booty" enough said.
Chris and Phileena Heurtz...when asked at the end of their talk on contemplative prayer, what exactly the definition of contemplative prayer was, Chris said "The fathers of contemplative prayer would roll over in their graves if they heard me trying to define contemplative prayer. The whole point of this type of prayer is to disassociate from categorization, busyness and agenda."
So much more but this is a glimpse to get you thinking. Anything strike you?
Here's one thing that was 'sticky' from each session I did attend.
John Ortberg..."Your sanctification is at least as dependent on the grace of God as your salvation is."
Reggie Joiner..."95% of Christian evangelical kids in elementary and junior high attend church. 55% of them attend through high school. 11% attend through college."
Eric Mason..."If you say you love Jesus but you don't love the church, you are ripping God's bride (and yourself)."
Tim Elmore..."16-24 year olds were interviewed and asked to answer 'what marks adulthood?' The number one response? Not high school graduation. Not college graduation. Not their first full time job. Not marriage. The perceived mark of adulthood is the birth of one's first child. Average age of first childbirth is now around age 28...28 is the new 18 because the parents of this generation have let them be OVERWHELMED, OVERCONNECTED, OVERPROTECTED AND OVERSERVED."
Jon Acuff..."Booty God Booty" enough said.
Chris and Phileena Heurtz...when asked at the end of their talk on contemplative prayer, what exactly the definition of contemplative prayer was, Chris said "The fathers of contemplative prayer would roll over in their graves if they heard me trying to define contemplative prayer. The whole point of this type of prayer is to disassociate from categorization, busyness and agenda."
So much more but this is a glimpse to get you thinking. Anything strike you?
Monday, October 4, 2010
Getting Ready for Atlanta
I started reflecting back to last year's Catalyst Conference this morning and recalled a few 'aha' moments. Thought I'd write 'em down as a reminder for me and encouragement or challenge for you.
So here are 10 leadership lesson highlights from Catalyst 2009.
1. Sometimes the crowds thin (Rob Bell). When you preach the truth of the gospel, sometimes the crowds don't multiply...they thin.
2. There is a gap between our expectations and our experiences of the people around us. (Andy Stanley). What you choose to put in the gap...either "Believe the best" or "Assume the Worst" will make all the difference in your organization, church, or staff.
3. Integrity trumps Image (Chuck Swindoll). Everyone wants us to polish the image. Make the appearances more stylish, sexy or relevant. But at the end of the day, how you do what you do is more important than what you do when you do it.
4. Move that bus! (Louie Giglio). The people should see His glory on our faces. They don't even have to see God to know that he is awe-some. Because they see it on our faces.
5. Focused Intensity over Time multiplied by God gives us Momentum (Dave Ramsey). You want to see significant organizational, financial or life change? It won't happen just by wishing it to happen.
6. Arrogance is the cause of the financial meltdown in our economy and its the cause of many of our church's meltdowns as well. (Malcolm Gladwell) Don't be like John Lee Hooker!
7.God is doing exactly what he said he'd do! (Matt Chandler) Maybe we will see great victory, maybe we will be crushed, but the bottom line is that God is doing what he said he would do and we just need to be faithful to him.
8.Don't waste a minute of your time wondering who is for you or against you. (Andy Stanley) But instead, spend every moment living out who you are for.
9. Sometimes we get so good at conveying and teaching the message that we never internalize it. (Francis Chan) His Word IS enough. His cross IS complete. His grace IS sufficient!
10. High diving into a kiddie pool from really high distances can be done...even by old guys.
Depending on wifi availability, I will try to keep blogging throughout the week. If not. Be back this weekend!
So here are 10 leadership lesson highlights from Catalyst 2009.
1. Sometimes the crowds thin (Rob Bell). When you preach the truth of the gospel, sometimes the crowds don't multiply...they thin.
2. There is a gap between our expectations and our experiences of the people around us. (Andy Stanley). What you choose to put in the gap...either "Believe the best" or "Assume the Worst" will make all the difference in your organization, church, or staff.
3. Integrity trumps Image (Chuck Swindoll). Everyone wants us to polish the image. Make the appearances more stylish, sexy or relevant. But at the end of the day, how you do what you do is more important than what you do when you do it.
4. Move that bus! (Louie Giglio). The people should see His glory on our faces. They don't even have to see God to know that he is awe-some. Because they see it on our faces.
5. Focused Intensity over Time multiplied by God gives us Momentum (Dave Ramsey). You want to see significant organizational, financial or life change? It won't happen just by wishing it to happen.
6. Arrogance is the cause of the financial meltdown in our economy and its the cause of many of our church's meltdowns as well. (Malcolm Gladwell) Don't be like John Lee Hooker!
7.God is doing exactly what he said he'd do! (Matt Chandler) Maybe we will see great victory, maybe we will be crushed, but the bottom line is that God is doing what he said he would do and we just need to be faithful to him.
8.Don't waste a minute of your time wondering who is for you or against you. (Andy Stanley) But instead, spend every moment living out who you are for.
9. Sometimes we get so good at conveying and teaching the message that we never internalize it. (Francis Chan) His Word IS enough. His cross IS complete. His grace IS sufficient!
10. High diving into a kiddie pool from really high distances can be done...even by old guys.
Captain Splash at Catalyst from Tommy Bowman on Vimeo.
Depending on wifi availability, I will try to keep blogging throughout the week. If not. Be back this weekend!
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