Category: Uncategorized

this week’s round-up (october 3)

Of interest this week:

Chuck DeGroat on a Rant Against Change. It’s worth reading, especially for bits like this:

Now, here’s the deal. Families (=churches) are difficult. They are, more often than not, dysfunctional. Some families are so dysfunctional that it would be a sin not to leave. You leave abusive families. But, you stay and honestly engage in the rest. It may be difficult, but your own growth depends on it.

(via Scot McKnight)

Shareable’s list of recommended books.

The Eternally-Focused Church.

Kem Meyer on Changing Your M.O. for Better Results and Important Skills for Tech Stewards.

Donald Miller on Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell the Church. (And though I was sad to have missed his recent Storyline conference, the good news is that he is offering it again in January).

Turns out David Byrne (great musician, ex-Talking Heads) was in town this week – (I knew I should have gone on that bike ride in Detroit!! Meeting/biking with Byrne would have nerd pleasure overload). Anyway he writes about his experience of the D here. Unfortunately Byrne’s take has a few too many image of ruin porn, and doesn’t have quite the same optimism of “Detroit Lives” videos celebrating what’s right instead of rehashing what the city is up against.

Brandon Cox on Repurposing Content for Maximum Impact. Great reminder not only of the many avenues churches can use to reach people through social media, but a good reminder that you don’t have to reprint entire sermons or full worship services – sometimes smaller “bites” can attract, entice, and move people.

The Daily Green reminds of the importance of local libraries with the reminder that they are a great way to save for people on a budget. Again, because I’m a big nerd, I LOVE libraries, and my current local one is especially awesome with a great selection of books + music and DVDs (including complete series of Dr. Who, Red Dwarf and even Sledge Hammer!!)

Taylor Burton-Edwards on United Methodist Metrics for Discipleship and Mission tough questions, but good ones.

Eugene Cho on the Questions about President Obama’s Faith.

Jay Vorhees apparently shares my concern that Glee (so far) isn’t as good as it was last year.

I was preaching on the parable of the Good Samaritan and stumbled upon this song which was especially appropriate for the week.

I’ve been in a very musical mood this week, so let’s also give some love to a band I’ve just discovered from Detroit – Dale Earnhardt Jr. Jr.

October 3, 2010
this week’s round-up (september 26)

Ron Edmonson on 10 Random Things to Know about Pastors. They are all really good, but I especially appreciate:

Even though I’m teaching it…I may not yet have mastered it…but I’m working on it…

I get nervous every time I start to preach…sometimes sick to my stomach nervous…

Your story probably doesn’t surprise me anymore…but I am never callous towards it…

To my family I’m not a pastor…just a husband and dad…

If you tell me something on Sunday morning…you probably should back it up with an email to remind me…
Maps of Racial/Ethnic Populations in U.S. Cities. Check out the depiction of Detroit, based on racial/ethnic identification from the 2000 census (can you guess where 8-Mile is?) (Red = Caucasian, Blue = African American, Green = Asian, Orange = Hispanic, Grey = Other each dot represents 25 people). [Original image here].

Great site to find local recycling centers.

Seth Godin reminds us that the current recession is rooted in a much larger cultural shift. He also has some thoughts on risk-taking, noting:

The problem with putting it all on the line…

is that it might not work out.

The problem with not putting it all on the line is that it will never (ever) change things for the better.

Not much of a choice, I think. No risk, no art. No art, no reward.

There’s a really important message for the church in there.

Jeremy Smith has some thoughts on Why Every Church Needs Video Engagement. He’s probably right, but I notice feelings of resistance within myself that I can’t quite pinpoint – I think the first main reason is that I’d hate to do video (streaming or podcasts) so poorly that they would be a deterrent to reaching new people and populations (but that’s probably just the perfectionist in me). The second is that I’m still nervous about the idea of a purely “virtual” church where a person’s interaction is only (or primarily) through a computer screen. I say that knowing the irony is that I tend to be tech-obsessed, and would much rather send a e-mail than call someone. Jeremy isn’t even suggesting the virtual church, he’s just recommending another tool, but I fear how that tool might be misused in the future, in a way that reduces the incarnational aspect that is vital to ministry.

Check out Don Miller’s post on humility.

I was having a conversation with a clergy friend last night, who was recounting a conversation he recently had about the future on the United Methodist Church. The person my friend was talking to suggested that people my age probably wouldn’t retire from the UMC. Many of the local churches will still be there, but the institutional structure will have collapsed under it’s own weight by then and something new (probably more regional in nature) will have replaced it. I find that difficult to think about – on one hand I think what will come out on the other side will be exciting and a healthier institution, but I know it’s going to be a long painful process to get there, and unfortunately this change isn’t going to come proactively, but as a result of crisis. Then, on my way to church this morning, I listened to this sermon by Adam Hamilton and realized that as long as we carry forward the missional DNA from our Wesleyan roots, we’re going to be okay, even if “the institution” radically changes (or goes away completely).

(Yes, I am fully aware of the irony of mentioning my concerns about churches using video in the same post where I link to a video of a sermon, AND where Hamilton suggests that this might be part of the future model of church. I’m not really anti-video streaming, I just want it to be done well (which COR does) and I think we need to be asking questions about how the incarnational piece is maintained in a virtual setting (which COR is also considering)).

Music this week from Belle and Sebastian – their new album (Write About Love) comes out October 12.

have hope

a few friends are going through a rough week, and with this pastor as minor poet retreat coming up i’m trying to get back into writing… so here’s something i came up with this evening – it’s rough and not quite my usual style…

to those
   who are feeling
   wiped out
   washed up
   without a clue of what to do
to those
   who are feeling
   fearful
   forgotten
   freaked out and full of doubt
to those
   who know not what tomorrow brings
   who can find no comforts in the little things
   who are left feeling tired and used
   who can go no further being abused
   who just don’t know where to turn
   who hold that anger that always burns
have hope
   that in the dark
   a new day dawns
   that in the cross
   a resurrection song
have hope
   that fire may burn
   but not consume
   that waters may rise
   but not entomb
have hope
   that
   love
   still
   wins

this week’s round-up (september 19)

Shane Claiborne offers an important reminder about humility and Terry Jones’ decision not to burn the Quran.

Be Unreasonable!

Bike Maintenance for Beginners.

Great article at Ragamuffin Soul about being intentional about spending time outside the office. (Thanks to Paul Thomas for the tip!)

A couple good ones from Seth Godin this week on Self-delusion and Self-loathing and on Marketing and Responsibility.

Interesting ministry idea: Positive Picketing!

Scot McKnight gives a thumbs-up to the book by Efrem Smith Jump: Into a Life of Further and Higher; it looks interesting (although the reviews on Amazon aren’t quite as strong as McKnight’s take).

Mike Slaughter keeps it short and simple with a few thoughts around When Christians Disagree.

Fred Clark offers a parable, of sorts, on the moral decisions we have to make when our worldview is incongruent with reality.

File under trips I’d like to take: Back to the old stomping grounds in Chicago to attend this and then to Washington D.C. at the end of the month for this:

The Daily Show With Jon Stewart

Mon – Thurs 11p / 10c

Rally to Restore Sanity

www.thedailyshow.com

Daily Show Full Episodes

Political Humor

Tea Party

Music from Jonsi’s album Go (worth checking out if you are into Islandic alterna-pop).

Jonsi |MTV Music

this week’s round-up (august 29)

Another abbreviated round-up this week, less time spent web surfing, more spent with friends and family at Clergy Family Camp. It was a great time to reflect, reconnect, and be recharged.

More teens becoming ‘fake’ Christians.

Leading your church to change.

N.T. Wright on the Hunger for Worship.

Donald Miller asks If 40 is the New 30, Then is 20 the New Junior High?

Nothing is striking me musically this week, sorry.

this week’s round-up (august 22)

Keeping it short and sweet this week. I working my way through Leonard Sweet’s new book Nudge and plan to get a review posted in the next couple weeks. I also want to do something more with Seth Godin’s book Lynchpin but not quite sure what it will look like (or how to find the time to make it happen).

Does Commuting by Car Make You Fat?

Twitter Lessons from Rick Warren

Imperfect is the new perfect. Transparency builds trust.

Scot McKnight gives a thumbs up to Adam Hamilton’s latest When Christians Get It Wrong

I never appreciated The Call like I probably should have – I liked the few songs I heard on the radio, but never bothered to pick up an album. Michael Been, singer and guitarist, died this week; he was working with his son’s band Black Rebel Motorcycle Club (which are worth checking out, too). Thanks, Michael, for the music. (The first video is the song you’re probably most familiar with if you listened to pop/rock from the mid-80s; the second is one I don’t remember as well, but am quickly growing to love).

Spending some time with clergy colleagues and their families this week (as well as my own). A time for renewal, inspiration, and support… which means there might be slim pickings next week as well.

dis at cvs (i’m old and uncool)

So Friday night I stop in to the local CVS because I needed to grab and gallon of milk and was too lazy to go to the grocery store; to provide some context, his CVS is across the street from DTE Music Theatre. Here’s the conversation that unfolded as I made my purchase:

CVS guy: Hey, how’s it going?
Me: Not bad.
CVS guy: Do you know who’s playing across the street tonight?
Me: Yeah, I think it’s like Rob Zombie and Korn.
CVS girl standing nearby who overhears our conversation: ARE YOU GOING??!!
CVS guy (answering before I can get a word in): No, this DOESN’T look like the kind of guy who would go to THAT SHOW!!
Me (now mildly offended by the judgement): No, I’m not going, but back in the day I did work at a hard rock station and played stuff like Metallica and Tool.

I saved the two the 20 minute lecture how I was listening to bands like White Zombie while they were still in diapers, met members from The Melvins and Fishbone, and have far more “rocker cred” than my appearance would suggest. But then I also remembered how I never looked liked rock guy, even back when I was a DJ and making frequent visits to Gabe’s during college, and today I would be that creepy old dood if I did make it to a show.

I can admit it – I’m old, I’m not cool (and never really have been), and I’m okay with that… and really even back then I didn’t have much interest in bands like Rob Zombie and Korn, but I still have enjoy a good rock song. (And yeah, since I’m old, I’ve got to go old school) –

this week’s round-up (july 23-ish)

I don’t think the round-up is going to move to a Sunday evening publishing schedule (I’ve been trying to keep it on Fridays), but it might end up making that jump. It’s a short list of links this week, and nothing is really hitting me musically at the moment, but here you go:

Tim Stevens on Reimagining Church.

Carol Howard Merritt on What Causes Pastors to Burnout? (Thanks to Jeremy Peters for the link to this one!).

Doug Pagitt posted an interview with Paul Jesep regarding a Christian response to credit cards.

Julie Clawson has a great article this week on social justice, Glen Beck and a neighborless Christianity.

Scot McKnight helps explain the Wesleyan Quadrilateral (for a non-Wesleyan perspective), and does a nice job at it.

this week’s round-up (july 16-ish)

A few days late on the round-up this week – it was a busy week, an exhausting week, and an inspiring week at our Vacation Bible School. The church I serve hosts their VBS at a local campground so not only is there lots of space to run around, but it connects with a community of kids who might never find their way through the doors of our church building. (It was also a great opportunity to push the idea that the church needs to move from an “attractional” mindset to a “missional” one – go where the people are, don’t wait for them to come to us!)

Links of interest this week:

Fred Clark writes on how Martin Luther King’s legacy (and words) have been misused by some conservative thinkers.

The 2010 State of the Church report is out for the UMC. I haven’t had a chance to study it yet, but Andrew Conrad summarizes a couple points noting that many churches lack a clear vision and that the average age of United Methodists is significantly higher than the general population – not really a surprise, but definitely a point of concern.

Scot McKnight asks an important question around “Virtual Sermons.” McKnight shares an article from CNN on the topic which quotes Tom Long on the incarnational aspect of preaching that is missing from a video feed. I understand the appeal of allowing high-quality preaching to be heard in a variety of locations and freeing up others to do the work of ministry, but there are some serious questions it raises as well.

Seth Godin offers some great thoughts around celebrating what’s right, instead of giving all our attention to the problems. I’ve also (finally) started to read Linchpin this week – only a few pages in and I’m in love with it. The book seems to coincide really well with this piece from Hugh MacLeod:

(From Hugh MacLeod via Waving or Drowning)

Also, apparently now God Hates Nerds – is it bad that my first thought was that quote attributed to Niemoller, “Then they came for me and by that time there was no one left to speak up.”

A couple nerd-rock anthems from the early ’90s to cap off this week’s post: