Free Music

Coldplay is giving away a new song from their new album "Viva La Vida" that drops in June.  If you want it click here!

Free stuff is cool.  Good free stuff is even better.  

What do you think of the song?

Exponential Conference Day 2 & 3

The conference concluded this afternoon with Rick Warren bringing it home.  He sat down on a chair in the middle of the stage and talked about ways leaders can build reproducing churches.  That was the reoccurring theme of the conference - Churches reproducing churches.  I believe that is the mission of The Church - to duplicate itself.  Many are doing that with plants or multi-site venues.  Multi-site seems to be a fad right now.  Not sure if it's a trend or full fledge movement.  

Here is a question.  Should all churches reproduce themselves? I am not sure about that.  As much as I would hope and believe our responsibility and call is to disciple/reproduce ourselves.  Tim Keller, pastor of Redeemer Presbyterian Church, New York City, had a great point.  "Cell multiplication without a purpose is called a CANCER!" - Does that mean a church plant or a multi-site venue could be a cancer to the body of Christ?  Some churches are planting and multi-siting cause it's popular or the latest trend.  Purposeful?  That's between the pastor and God.

I enjoyed listening to Alan Hirsch.  He challenged thinking and brought some insight into church planting and different things happening in the Body of Christ these days.  

I didn't get to hear Scott Hodge (walked by him) but did like Vince Antonucci - what a great story of what God is doing in VIrginia Beach!  Some amazing things!

I will have to post some pics a little later - My batteries died in BOTH of my cameras!  We had a good time with the Wyatt's and got to hang out at Downtown Disney!

Exponential Conference - Day 1

Andy Stanley is a great communicator. Not just in the books he writes but in his style of communication. He spoke to a bunch of peers today and made his talk clear, helpful, and motivating. Here are some of the thoughts I had during his talk.

Andy Stanley

· Andy's got a cool authenticity.

· China's underground church is looking for models – (Security Model is what they have – "don't get arrested" model.

· It's foolish to allow a ministry thing to divide a family/family member.

· North Pt started with 1500 people!

· North Pt. has two churches 20 miles north and 20 miles south. 14 churches planted.

· The glue that holds it all together: Peter said, "You are the Christ, the son of the living God."

· Vision: a mental picture of what it COULD be fueled by a passion of what SHOULD be!

· Vision begins as a burden. What burden are you carrying?

· The WIN is when the vision is clear and communicated clearly.

State it simply:

· What are you trying to accomplish.

· Memorable is portable! Easy to remember – It's not easy (we assume everyone knows what you are all about)

· Vision doesn't stick . . . It let's us know how poorly we've communicated it.

· "create a church where unchurched people love to attend."

· ONE campaign– to make poverty history (compelling and clear)

· If we are committed to Growth and Multiplication - the statement must be simple/compelling statement in order to last

· Barrack Obama = Change (He will get to explain what it means if he wins)

· What is our one sentence job each day we show up for work.

Cast it Convincingly

· Nehemiah 2 – ultimate vision casting story.

· Wall was down for a while.

· Three components: Define problem, offer solution, why/why now

· People have to feel the problem – Craft the vision as the solution to the problem people connect to!

· What must be don? What would go undone if our church ceased to exist. When we answer that problem we see what our vision statement addresses.

· Businesses have created . . . the idea that we are the solution to your problem.

· Why plant in this community now? A clear vision motivates people to act.

Repeat it regularly

· In every organization there is a rhythm. What is our Rhythm?

· January: A good time to vision cast (or when ever attendance is up)

· Vision leaks . . . We repeat it regularly – recast, recast.

Celebrate Systematically

· When you catch someone living the vision out, living the mission. . . make them a public WIN that is celebrated! "When I say . . . a fully devoted follower of Christ . . . that is what we are talking about."

· Stories clarify vision –

· How do we Celebrate these stories . . . Systematically.

· What happened last week that made you feel successful at what you do here (at The Crossroads).

Embrace it personally and publicly

· Personal stories, celebrated – help others see you've bought in.

· Reiterate that their job was significant.

· Be intentional with sharing those moments. What COULD be and what SHOULD be will be clear on what God has planted in your heart.

Bad Children's Book Titles

There is an article in Newsweek that described a new book out to help kids cope with their parents (Mommy) getting a plastic surgery.  It's called "My Beautiful Mommy."  

It led me to find another list of bad children's book titles.  I am not sure I will be running out to buy one of these anytime soon.

Here is a sample:

"The Boy Who Died From Eating All His Vegetables" 

"Dad's New Wife Robert" 

"Fun Four-letter Words to Know and Share" 

"Grandpa Gets a Casket" 

"The Pop-Up Book of Human Anatomy" 

"Things Rich Kids Have, But You Never Will" 

"Pop! Goes The Hamster...And Other Great Microwave Games" 

"Your Nightmares Are Real" 

"Strangers Have the Best Candy" 

"The Attention Deficit Disorder Association's Book of Wild Animals of North Amer - Hey! Let's Go Ride Our Bikes!" 

Dr. Seuss these are not.  Any other book titles you'd like to share?  

Stuff Christians Like

I came across this blog today called "Stuff Christians Like".  There is some funny stuff on here.  This one caught my eye, cause I dabble with the graphic design.

Here some of my other favorites:  

#157 - Testamints - Sending Bad Breath to hell.

#118 - Slowly turning against Oprah.

#99 - Mixed bathing.

It's OK to laugh at ourselves!  It a sign of a healthy self-image.   Thanks to Scott for sharing this with me. 

If you read the blog, what were some of your favorites?

Back on baby!

I took a necessary break from blogging and my blogroll.  Just felt a little informationed - out!

I am back and plan to blog a little more frequent than once every three weeks.  

What have you recently got burned out on?

Text Questions. Get Answers.

This concept is not all that new - I've heard of a few churches doing something similar - but we are trying something new for us.  

Check out this link and post I just wrote that explains it all.