One more music post – for the longest time I thought I was going insane remembering a song that didn’t exist. One summer when I was working at Adventureland Amusement Park this song was on a 4-hour loop tape that played over the sound system. I was sure it was the B-52s (Fred’s voice is pretty unforgettable), I never knew what album it was from, and while I never didn’t a completely thorough search of their catalog, the few times I tried to figure out the song, I never could. Google & YouTube to the rescue! Turns out the song was removed after the first printing.
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The B-52’s- Don’t Worry
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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.
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.
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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.
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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.
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 Daily Show Full Episodes Political Humor Tea Party -
this week’s round-up (september 12)
Back again! Getting caught up after a week away.
A few things all Leaders should have. It feels a little like “Hipster Pastor 101” – but I do have a Moleskine, use Google Reader, and have “played” with Evernote (never used it to it’s full potential, though).
Peter Rollins at Mars Hill. It’s an mp3 file – very interesting listen.
Here’s the opening blessing from his recent Insurrection tour, beautiful use of language – this is the kind of poetry I wish I could write:WTF Church. Apparently this made the rounds on Twitter a couple weeks ago, and everyone assumed it was just a case of a church being horribly out of touch in it’s use of language. Turns out they did it on purpose, and it’s a core part of their identity. I’m not quite sure where I fall on this one – I like the idea of turning a pop culture phrase on it’s head, but I’m not sure this is quite the way I’d go. In the words of Nigel Tufnel, “There’s such a fine line between stupid and clever.”
Donald Miller – Knowing Where You’re Going will Keep You From Making Bad Decisions.
Mike Slaughter and Jeremy Smith on the Qur’an Burning controversy.
Seth Godin on Interpreting Criticism.
Scot McKnight on fundamentalism and maintaining a public persona.
David and Ben Crumm provide a nice summary of their recent trip across the US with the reminder that actual conversations (as opposed to shouting matches) still matter, and are needed more than ever.
Great series on Detroit:
Part 1Part 2
Part 3
I apologize for this, but it had to be posted:
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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.
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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.
(worth checking out if you are into Islandic alterna-pop).
