Texting, Twitter, and the Church

As we see the way we communicate and process information changing daily, should the church change the way it communicates too? A number of churches are now using texting and twitter in service to foster interactive communication and worship. This Christianity Today article looks at how some churches are doing it and its strengths and drawbacks.

Mars Hill receives SMS questions during the service and Pastor Mark Driscoll responds to them.

"The first week we tried this, the sermon was about sex," he says, "and a woman who was pregnant as a result of rape asked if she could have an abortion. I answered her anonymous question, we stopped to pray as a church, and we followed up with her for pastoral care. As a result, she did not have the abortion she was planning and a life was spared."

However churches must be discerning about how they use it.

"We have to teach people to use it well," [Bruce Reyes-Chow] says. "If churches aren't taught to use it well, it can be a distraction—and then it becomes harmful to the church community."

We recently had a church snow day, so I was able to catch an online church service. There was an ongoing live chat window during the service where people were able to interact throughout the service. I found it both helpful and distracting. One woman commented that this was her first time "in" church in 17 years. Others were asking questions about the sermon.

But there was also a point where the discussion degenerated into spectatorship. There were some saying how much they like the pastor or whether or not they liked the particular worship song. I could see this same thing happening in a church, if the interactive elements were not used wisely. John Piper's comments address this problem:

"I think you should use Twitter before and after corporate worship to say what you take in and take out," Piper adds. "But when you are in corporate worship, worship! There is a difference between communion with God and commenting on communion with God.

Things I Can Live With (And one I can’t)

 

If they come, decide it's not for them, and leave, let them say: 
I wasn't a good enough speaker,
that I wasn't dynamic enough or conversational enough,
that I wasn't cool enough,
that I wasn't as engaging as the guy down the street,
that my shirt didn't match my socks,
that I wasn't wearing socks.

Let them say our band wasn't big enough,
or rockin' enough,
or hip enough,
or loud enough.
Heck, let them say it was too loud.

Let them say our group isn't big enough,
that our people aren't enough like them,
that our people are too much like them,
that there's not enough girls or not enough guys,
that we don't play games or have cool videos or enough special music.

Let them say we're too far away,
that we meet at an inconvenient time,
that we don't fit in their schedule,
that we don't have enough social activities.

I can live with all that and more.

But if they leave, if they decide it's not for them, never let them be able to say we didn't talk about Jesus.

Damn me if anyone is able to say that with any integrity.
And the other edge of that sword is:

If they leave because we talk about Jesus too much, I can live with that.

via Jared Wilson author of “Your Jesus is Too Safe”

The Word Visualized

This might be an interesting way to analyze overarching themes in large texts. This is taken from the first chapter John.

Created with Wordle.

Growth or Comfort?

“The decision to grow always involves a choice between risk and comfort. This means that to be a follower of Jesus you must renounce comfort as the ultimate value of your life.” – John Ortberg

What we can learn from Jon & Kate plus Eight

My wife and I started watching Jon and Kate about a year ago and got hooked.  The kids are simply too adorable.  We watched together the other night as the news broke about the divorce.  As much as reality TV often presents a distorted view of the world, we sadly found that the family’s troubles are all too real and just as common among many marriages.  While few of us have TV contracts or two vans full of kids, we can often face the same challenges of marriage.  Some of my thoughts.

1.  Marriage is hard. 

Apparently Jon and Kate got married when they were 22 and 24.  While that is not excessively young for marriage, I have found many younger couples look at only the bright side of marriage with unrealistic expectations.  The expected romance, constant companionship and unending love.  But once the honeymoon ends and real life hits, the real work of marriage begins.  Throw one or two (or eight) kids in the mix and it can lead to an explosive situation or more commonly a steady erosion of that love that once seemed so unending. 

2.  People are messed up. 

It doesn't take much of watching the show to witness how two people can be self-centered, uncaring, mean, angry, and greedy.  But really, most of us aren’t much better. Marriage can bring out the worst parts of us that we didn’t even know existed.  One of the most important things marriage has taught me is how big a jerk I can be.  And more often than not, rather than changing myself, I blame my spouse.

3.  God can change things. 

Without God's help, we are all helpless to our selfish and destructive nature.  But if we chose to put God at the center of our lives, and seek His will rather than our own, God can change us from the inside out.  He can replace our selfishness with love, our anger with patience, and our fear with trust.  I have seen marriages brought back together from the worst of situations in a way that was just short of miraculous.  God works in ways that we can’t do on our own. 

I don’t know what is in store for the Gosselins, or where they stand with God, but I hope that they will be able to look outside of themselves and let God repair in their marriage.  Even when things look their worst, Jesus says, “I make all things new.” 

Top 100 Bible Verses

Biblegateway.com recently compiled the 100 most searched for verses from their website. This would make a great memory verse challenge.

1. John 3:16: For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.

2. Jer 29:11: For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.

3. Rom 8:28: And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

4. Phil 4:13: I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

5. Gen 1:1: In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.

6. Prov 3:5: Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.

7. Prov 3:6: in all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make your paths straight.

8. Rom 12:2: Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.

9. Phil 4:6: Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.

10. Matt 28:19: Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.

Link via DJ

"But By the Holy Spirit" - Francis Chan

I was just blown away by this message from Francis Chan from Catalyst West, posted by Brett Crimmell in twitterized note form. An excerpt:

I had it out probably a year ago
speaking at a Youth Specialties thing
4:30 in the morning
crying
because my oldest daughter was in Junior High
need I say more?
:)

that's my little girl man
oldest of four
and she didn't love God
and it's not my fault

wife asked, "do you feel like you failed"
I'll admit my failures in life, but I am a good dad
it's not because I'm not around
we have a connection
she's 12 years old and she does not love God
everything you say is that hardened look

I said God I don't ask for a lot
but one of the things I've asked for since she was born
I don't know if I can handle my own flesh and blood not loving you
I can handle trial and pain but I don't think I can take this
but that's what I have and I can't do anything
she has a great youth group
I can't find a better youth pastor for her
she has a great mom who's a godly wife
it's not like a preach one thing and at home she sees another thing

God there's nothing I can do
either you put your Spirit in her
and she'll never turn away from you
or you don't and I can't do anything
there is only one factor ... and that is the Holy Spirit of God
then I had to speak to a room full of pastors heart broken
because everything I never wanted to happen was right there
six months ago, the Holy Spirit of God came into Rachel's life
and everything is different

I've always believed it could happen -
but when you see it radically change
but it just keeps increasing and increasing
the Holy Spirit came into her
not a "chew on the carpet" kind of transformation
but it is a radical life change

she loves her little sister!
she loves everyone!
she told me I know the Holy Spirit is in me
I talk to him during the day
he's there
he's with me
I got done preaching and came home
and she was sitting in front of the computer ... sobbing listening to sermons
and I said, "who are you?"
are you the same person?
NO!
you're a new person
this is insane!
then she shows me this 6 page article about purity and modesty
your flesh is not going to help at all
the Holy Spirit gives life
God give me boldness
I can be so bold and so can my people
either the Holy Spirit is in you and we can pull this off or the Holy Spirit isn't and you can't.
just go work and it'll be supernatural and you'll praise God and you'll be astonished
not by sermons
but by the Holy Spirit of God

More Catalyst West speaker notes at crimmel.com

Best Retreat Ever

SCL's solution to lame men's retreats:

I can't think of a single situation that wouldn't be improved by having Mr. T. there. From weddings and parties to your wife giving birth to your child, there's no time that is inappropriate for Mr. T to be around. Part of the gospel is realizing you are a fool in need of pity.

Fortunately, that's what he specializes in.

If you don't read "Stuff Christians Like" you should.

Reflections on Easter

"Simplify, simplify."
- Henry David Thoreau

This past Easter season has been a refreshing time for me. God has been stripping away distractions that I thought I needed and replacing them with greater opportunities to know Him and serve him. Too often I have allowed unimportant things to pull me away from the simplicity of loving God and following Christ.

Thoreau penned these famous words as he determined to escape from the draining forces of the world into true living. He retreated into the solitude of the woods, saying "I wished to live deliberately, to front only the essential facts of life, and see if I could not learn what it had to teach, and not, when I came to die, discover that I had not lived." Though he missed God in the process, I admire Thoreau's determination to seek out true life and to live deliberately. Not being driven by every wanton worry and urgent need, but to live with greater focus and purpose. Jesus calls all of us, like Paul, to throw off the non-essentials and to live solely for Him. I think Paul said it best -

"I want to know Christ and the power of his resurrection and the fellowship of sharing in his sufferings..." (Philippians 3:10)

Contemplative Youth Ministry

This is one of the best books I've read in the past year about youth ministry. Mark Yaconelli (son of the famous youth worker Mike Yaconelli) presents a fresh perspective on youth ministry that focuses on helping kids engage with God through our presence rather than simply words and activity. From the book description:

Youth ministry isn’t about what to say, what to do, or how to be; it’s about serving the needs of the students God has put in your life. This book is an attitude overhaul that creates a more organic approach to youth ministry that helps you create meaningful silence, covenant communities, and contemplative activities that allow your students recognize the presence of Jesus in their everyday lives.

It has helped me slow down in my focus on tasks and programs and just "be there" for youth as well as adults in my life. It brings me to that constant reminder that church is not about doing things, but being with God and people. This book has helped me tremendously.

The marketing of worship

I was recently browsing worship music website when I saw this ad (see the original animated version here):

Here is a moment of worship from a famous worship leader, branded and commercialized to sell a product.  It is no surprise that secular marketers are tapping into the profit potential of the worship movement with all the money to be made.  But they have taken something that was meant to be holy and beautiful and degraded it to the level of worthless internet banner ad. 

Unfortunately this doesn't just end with the marketers.  How often have you seen churches advertising their "powerful worship" or Christian events promoting their "intimate worship experience" in order to draw more people.  Worship has been made into an event.  A promotional piece.  A way to attract crowds.

Worship was never intended to be a means to an end.  God-directed worship is the end in itself.  It is the loving meeting place of the hearts of God's children with their Father and should never be made less than that.  No matter how many microphones it can sell.

Do Hard Things

I recently purchased a whole stack of "Do Hard Things" for our youth leaders to read for this year as part of their training. It is a great book, written by two teenagers (brothers of Joshua Harris of "I Kissed Dating Goodbye" fame).

The book basically challenges teens to look beyond the low expectations society has for teenagers and to see the potential they have to change the world even at a young age. They address the "Myth of Adolescence" which says that teens are immature adults who cannot be expected to accomplish much. As long as they stay off the streets and don't get into drugs, most teens are considered successful, or at least "good kids". However, the Harris brothers bring to light many examples of people throughout history who have changed the world, even in their teens.


I was reminded of the book recently when I read about one 12 year old whose work could be instrumental in solving the energy crisis and leading the way into the green revolution. While not all teens can be super genius science scholars, it still illustrates the impact that young people can have.

Yuan decided to focus his project on finding the most efficient way to harness the sun’s energy.

“I felt solar energy had large potential but it was underused,” he explained. “Fossil fuels like oil, coal and natural gas are only finite and are slated to run out by 2050.

“We need to make solar energy more cost effective and efficient.”

With that thought in mind, Yuan got to work.

“Current solar cells are flat and can only absorb visible light,” he said. “I came up with an innovative solar cell that absorbs both visible and UV light. My project focused on finding the optimum solar cell to further increase the light absorption and efficiency and design a nanotube for light-electricity conversion efficiency.”

Yuan worked on his project for the past two years with the encouragement of his science teacher Susan Duncan; support of his parents Gang Yuan and Zhiming Mei; and counsel of professional mentors Professor Chunfei Li of Portland State University’s Center for Nanofabrication and Electron Microscopy, Fred Li of Applied Materials Inc. and Professor Shaofan Li of the Department of Civil Engineering at the University of California – Berkeley.

“He is our youngest fellow in science that we’ve ever had,” Moessner said. “He is really spectacular.

“His project will really make a difference in advancing the technology of solar cells. You would never know he’s 12 looking at the quality of his work.”

Watching his dedication impressed William’s parents.

“This generation’s sense of urgency is much stronger than my generation’s,” his father said. “They are thinking about the future and want to know how environmental issues will impact their generation.”

Best Worship Band ever!

This video illustration from Bluefish made me lol. They have a lot of other good videos including their take on the Christian movie industry.

Death of the Bulletin

This church took an interesting step in eliminating the weekly bulletin and replacing it with a monthly version. This not only cut printing costs, but forced leaders to be more organized in their planning and efficient in communication.

Sometimes its hard to let go of "we've always done it this way," but often doing so leads to innovation, if even in the smallest of ways.

Get to work

“If you wait for God to do big stuff in your life, you may be waiting until Jesus comes. He simply does not operate like that. He wants you to be willing to be hidden and unknown, unappreciated, unheralded, and unthanked - if necessary - in order to do what He wants you to do." - Charles Stanley

via Terrace