10 posts from July 2008

Pop Goes the Church: Should the Church Engage Pop Culture?

I'm reading through Tim Stevens new book, Pop Goes The Church, and I came across this phrase:

"It is about building churches that focus more on preparing followers to live in culture and leverage the culture rather than criticizing and building walls of protection around our commune-like congregations."

My mind is racing with a single thought: churches around the country are doing a terrific job leveraging culture to reach people, but are we training people how to do the same? It's the know-how of taking the hottest songs, movies, television shows, or whatever, and connecting the dots from one soul to God.

How do we accomplish this? I'd like to start the conversation here...so if you have a thought, leave a comment...

Today is the third day after my surgery and I am surprisingly feeling really, really good.  I actually was up for getting out of the house today so we packed up the kids in the van and went to church.  That was nice for me for a lot of reasons.  First, to get out of the house and actually smell fresh air was very welcomed.  Second, having lots of people express concern and compassion to our family just makes a guy feel incredibly loved!  Third, to be able to go to church, sit with my wife through the whole service, and not have to worry about any of the details was surreal.  I made this comment on the TNC Blog earlier while posting the set list that most people would never understand all that goes through the mind of a worship leader during a service.  I think I'm going to post something later this week about all that floods my mind on a given Sunday..make sure to check back for that.  We'll have some fun!

Laurie has been phenomenal.  I'm convinced she moonlights as "Wonder Woman"!  To take care of five kids (yes, I added myself to that count), keeping us fed, keeping the house clean, and playing referee, she's got my vote for the next president (though she has gratefully already declined that position).

The kids are taking it all in.  Austin, our 8 year old, and Stephen, 5, have pitched in and done everything we've asked them to.  Responsibility and maturity are just two words that come to mind.  Zane, 3, and Ella, almost 2, are very loving and sweet and extremely curious about my leg brace and bandages.  Zane has even told me lately that both his knees are hurting now.  Got to love the innocence of children!

So this week brings three physical therapy sessions and the hopes that I'll be about ready to drop the crutches by the end of the week.  All the prayers and outpouring of love in various ways from friends and church family has been cool.  I'm convinced that is one way God gives us a big old hug!

It's just before 7:00 am and my doctor just came in to check out everything. The surgery went very well. We should be heading home this morning after a stop at the physical therapist.

It's amazing to me the knowledge and skill of people in the medical field. Knowing exactly what to do when to do it and always doing with a smile (at least that was my experience!). Thanks to all you who checked on me in some form or fashion. I can definitely feel the love!

Now for the journey to recovery...
Sent from my BlackBerry Smartphone provided by Alltel

The SPEED of Trust: The One Thing That Changes Everything

The staff at TrueNorth is reading a book by Stephen Covey Jr titled The Speed of Trust. I highly recommend this book as it has taught me a whole lot of stuff about how the level of trust effects everything in our lives, from family to friends to work.

This week's chapter we discussed was all about learning to listen first. How many times have you been in a conversation with someone and while they are talking you are already formulating in your mind what you will say next? I know that is something I struggle with a lot. There's also prentend listening...you know what I mean, right? It's that glazed over, disinterested look people get when they could careless what you have to say.

Some of the things we brought out are how important it is to listen to others with your eyes, ears and heart and to listen without an agenda! People want to be heard in our culture today. That's why we have blogs and text messaging and Twitter and Facebook and everything else that allows us to put our thoughts and opinions out for all to see...without interruption!

For me, I'm really going to start practicing listening by keeping my agenda out of the conversation until I have heard the other person thoroughly and also being aware how much my body language portrays my level of attentiveness. After all, it shows others I care about what they have to say!

Typing that post title, my mind is drawn to the Matrix Trilogy, specifically Matrix Reloaded.  Maybe they will release a fourth one...Matrix Overloaded.  Anyway, I digress...

As I have expressed before, I am enjoying a new form of social networking called Twitter.  Twitter is a micro-blogging service that allows people to keep up with you throughout the day.  I have found it to be a great way to connect with friends and family, as well as leaders in the church world (you will find leaders in any field that you can find in order to stay current on thoughts and trends in that industry).

Twitter Overload

Well, one downfall to Twitter is the dreaded whale picture seen to the right.  If you see Moby over here, that means Twitter is experiencing high traffic and the service is not available.  It usually does not last long, but it can be irritating.  I do believe the tech folks of Twitter are on top of it though because these inconveniences are short lived these days.

So there, I admit one thing I do not like about Twitter.  But to all you nay-Twitterers out there, I am not giving it up!  (That means this guy.)

For those of you on Twitter or curious about it, stop by when you get a chance.

Today marks one week from my dreaded, but welcomed, knee surgery.  Yes, if you haven't heard (you know, both of you), I am having surgery to repair a torn ACL in my left knee.  I can't express the excitement that I have about this.  I'm ecstatic.  (Can you feel the sarcasm?)

Seriously, once it's all said and done, I'll actually be able to run around and play with my kids which I can't do right now for fear of blowing my knee out.  I'm 31 and I'm an invalid.

So...anybody want to play some basketball in about 8 months???

So I discovered a really cool thing (thanks to my brother, Brian).  It's called Pandora, and it's a free online music site that actually creates radio stations based off your likes and dislikes.  How stinkin' cool is that?

Here's how it works.  When I signed in, it asked me to type a band/artist name that I like, so I typed in Coldplay (after all, who doesn't like Coldplay?).  So from there, Pandora begins learning my musical tastes.  It will play a song that is either from Coldplay or a similar band and I check whether I like or dislike.  Really innovate. 

I think this whole Web 2.0 thing is going to catch on...

Family Ties

I would have to rate Family Ties as one of my favorite shows from my childhood.  Not really sure what it was, but it was one I rarely missed.

I had the privilege of seeing family ties in action this past week as I got to hang out with my father-in-law, Ronnie Jenkins, on our vacation to Knoxville, TN.  To start off the week, he had organized a family get together of all the extended family in honor of our visit.  I enjoyed watching him enjoy the day as family members laughed and reminisced of good times they'd experienced in the past.  After it was all over, we (me, Laurie and my in-laws) sat and just talked about the great day we had.  The joy in his eyes was contagious!

Later in the week, as we watched my boys run up and down a slip-n-slide, we shared memories of how each of us grew up...family fun and quirks that have shaped us to be who we are today.  I listened intently to him share and he did the same with me.

I learned a whole new respect and admiration for my father-in-law as his love for family was shown throughout the week.  It was actually incredibly inspiring to me and made me realize how much I can tend to take my family for granted.  In time when family values are becoming rare, I'm thankful for this reminder of its importance!

I've been spending time this morning planning upcoming services and one particular theme has resonated in my heart...compassion.  I spent time sifting through videos and songs to see how we can provide the most powerful worship experience for that service.  I also ran across this video on Steven Furtick's blog (he's the pastor of Elevation Church that we have been showing for Week 4 of the One Prayer series at TNC).

I become more and more convinced that it is through compassion and love that God will continue to change this world.  It breaks my heart that many in our world today view God's people as lacking compassion.  They see us for what we're against and not what we're for.

Two songs that are on the front of my mind are Mighty to Save by Hillsong United and I Will Go by Starfield.  The heart beat of them both is powerful.  If you don't already know them, download them ASAP because the message at the heart of them both is about loving people and not focusing on ourselves.

God, break our hearts for what breaks Yours.  Clothe us with compassion to change this world.  Amen.