Pics from IBC trip
What Is Twitter? January 8, 2009
For many on my blog readership the word Twitter conjours up some thought that I have developed some involuntary tick or muscle twitch. Twitter is an online social media where you connect with people around the world. You follow these people through their “micro”blogs each day as they describe what they do, what they see, how they feel, and any other moment that they capture.
This is a video that simply describes what Twitter does.
Through Twitter I have made some life long connections. I’ve met some in person and some are only known to me virtually.
Do you Twitter?
Be The Church January 8, 2009
My friend Pete Wilson has a killer post today over on his blog. You can read it here.
Pete passionately states several things about church:
1. It’s not a building
2. It’s not programs
3. It’s not the style of worship
His metaphor is a shocker-I would more liken it to a spiritual drug that the church has created with it’s culture. And unfortunately for those of us who lead her today, we bare responsibility for her addiction to the things that she thinks she must have.
Tell me, are these things being the church:
1. Ministering to children who have no parents or a being raised by grandparents?
2. Taking food to people who have no food?
3. Giving clothes to those who need warmth?
4. Providing shelter for those who have no home?
5. Praying daily for the sick and infirm?
6. Meeting people in the community where they are, instead of at the church?
How about my friends with church starts that have no building to meet in except on Sunday? Can they be the church without a permanent home? (The answer is yes and perhaps they are more “church” than those with established homes).
I’m thankful for Pete’s honesty and you can see by the 88 plus comments that his passion resonates with people who want to “be the church” instead of just going to church.
Your thoughts…how did this strike you?
Everything Has Potential for Creativity January 7, 2009
I’m reading the book “THE CREATIVE HABIT” by Twila Tharp, world famous choreographer. It’s a book that I’ve peeked at before and now have on my list of must reads.
One statement tonight caught my attention: “Everything, everywhere, everyday has potential use for creativity”. She says that she uses every moment of every day to draw inspiration for her creativity.
How well do you do this? Do you consider every event of everyday a potential resource for creativity? Every visual you see, every song you hear, every relationship that you have–potential creativity?
Tell me what you think!
O Christmas Tree, O Christmas Tree January 6, 2009
Much discussion has taken place this weekend over on Twitter and Facebook on when it’s appropriate to take down the Christmas tree.
So far I’ve heard:
Christmas Day
Not before New Year’s–it’s bad luck (this was the one I grew up with)
Epiphany (that would be today)
Never–make it an all season tree.
We’ve had our tree up a good long while this year. It went up Nov. 2 (yeah–that early) and we just haven’t put it up yet. We went through a post-Christmas feeling this weekend with the cold weather and the smell of chimney’s burning copius amounts of wood and a SANTA CLAUS trilogy that lasted until Sunday night. I suppose we’ll get around to putting it up later this week.
I’ve got friends that have whole closets that hold their trees–upright and decorated with a bag over them. All they have to do next year is wheel them out. I have another friend who has 13 trees!
So–when do you take down your tree?
How long do you keep your Christmas tree up?
I Think I Rocked Their World January 5, 2009
You know sometimes it just comes out… the truth and the passion about a situation that you are very familiar with. And sometime after the conversation you stop and think “Oops..I might have been a little too raw with my emotions there.”
That happened today with some friends. We got to talking about a related situation with a friend of mine (one that I’m all too familiar with in church life) and I began to peel back the veneer of church life as a minister. It’s not always pretty.
There are things that happen and they are not always godly and not always handled in a God glorifying manner. As we told them our story, things that had transpired in our lives, they were shocked, never having heard some of it that happens to people called to ministry. I think their world was rocked today. But I think they’ll be ok.
Tell me–would you ever dare to share your deepest hurts in ministry with those you serve? Do you have to wait until the next place of service? Do you just trust them to the Lord and move on? Let’s talk!
Christmas Gifts–And The Set Is Complete January 4, 2009
One of the best gifts I got for Christmas were the final pieces to my WILLOW TREE Nativity set. I only lacked the OX/GOAT and the SHEPHERD/CAMEL pieces. I got one for Christmas and one for Birthday! So–set complete.
I got the original set from FBC Sweetwater when I left there in 2001. It has been displayed in my office everyday since then and I can see it across the room from me as I work and create in my office.
I love the simplicity of this set and leaving it out all year long really reminds me that Christmas is more than just one day a year. It reminds me of the old Larnell Harris song that says:
“All year long we must worship and obey….may the Christmas tree lights and the sleigh rides at night remind us all today…” It’s Christmas all year long!
Worship Post-Fessional, January 4, 2009 January 4, 2009
This post is part of Sunday Set List on Fred Mc Kinnon’s blog
We’re back in ONE service for the next few weeks. Originally we called these service VISION services, but they’ve turned into CELEBRATION services as we look back over the year 2008 and celebrate what God has done among us. Each week we’ll have an interview or something creative to bring out our theme of the day.
Today’s theme was Celebrating God’s Faithfulness
Our set list was:
All Hail The Power of Jesus’ Name (G3 Worship)
Majestic (Praise Charts)
Welcome
A Look Back @ 2008–Short video compilation of picts and photos of 2008
Celebrating God’s Faithfulness through Finances (We went with a Global offering this year–combining all of our offerings for missions and projects together in one. We had a goal of $66K and came in at $77K for the offerings. More for missions than we had ever given before)
He Leadeth Me (Hymn Charts)–A new resource for us this week and we’re going to lean heavily upon them in the coming weeks for blended worship resources.
Open The Eyes of My Heart (Praise Charts)
All The Way My Savior Leads Me (Praise Charts)
A Table of Celebration–Interview with folks who have had some major breakthroughs this year.
Message–Short message from our Pastor
It was a busy week. I was officially off on vacation (right!) but was communicating daily with my assistant and the office on things that had to happen. Christmas decor had to come down; set had to change; music for rehearsal had to be printed; posters for windows; printing for stage design; balloons and more.
One of the highlights of the day was having Chuck Harris (@chuckazooloo on twitter) with me for worship. His grandmother is in my Sr. Adult Choir. Chuck is a fellow worship leader and Texas Techsan!
How was your first Sunday of the new year?
One More Time.. RAIDER… POWER!!! January 2, 2009
It’s time again for the Red Raiders to rise up and play today as they take on the Mississippi Rebels in the Cotton Bowl
Hopefully I’ll be able to watch the game…if not I’ll be checking the score regularly.
Go TECH!
Who do you think will win?
A NEW YEAR’S DAY TRADITION–The Rose Parade January 1, 2009
Every year we say “next year we are going to the Rose Bowl Parade”. It has always been a dream of ours to be there and we never make it.
It began at our first church that we served. A church member there has a brother who owns a float decorating company and I think we could get a birds eye view of the decorations.
Maybe some year we’ll follow through with our dreams. Until then, we will have to suffice to watch it on HGTV on Jan. 1 morning.
Have you ever been to the Rose Bowl parade?
