Innovate Conference 09
I am a conference junkie and I am pretty sure I say that every time I blog about one. If you get a chance tomorrow to watch live the innovate conference it is well worth it. Innovate is put on by Granger Church in Indiana and they are on the cutting edge of the church world and technology.
Innovate is all about leadership in the church and using your leverage to build God’s Kingdom. ::Your Mission: “Why we are here” Your Vision: “What is pulling you into the future? What does the desired future look like?” Your Values: “How we play together along the journey”::
You can watch the conference tomorrow here.
Long Overdue Thoughts-VMA’s
A little long but worth the read.
I have been struggling with the blogging world as well as keeping up with reading blogs this last couple weeks. I read Walt Mueller’s blog on the VMA’s and wanted to share it. His insights on youth culture are priceless and typically accurate. He has a website called Center for Parent Youth Understanding and it is a great resource for parents. This is taken word for word from his blog. I will say that the VMA’s never cease to shock and annoy me with how quickly we will head south to get a quick laugh, regardless of whether it makes sense. I do love the production aspect of the program and I do enjoy seeing where youth culture is headed before we get there because teens naturally follow what they see.
Did you get to see the VMAs? I’m hoping you did and that you’re up for sharing your thoughts about the broadcast, the questions I posted here on Friday, and the implications of it all in terms of our ministries with kids.
I decided that this year I’d do something a little bit different. Rather than watch and then let it all ferment in my brain overnight, I decided to blog just a few of my thoughts in real time, posting them as soon as the show ends. So here comes Madonna to the mic . . . . talking, as expected, about Michael Jackson. . . and I’ll be jotting my thoughts as they occur. Hopefully you’ll be able to glean something from it all.
-Is it me, or is Madonna’s monologue a little bit creepy? How does Joe Jackson feel about Madonna talking about the fallout from his son’s lack of a childhood? And what would that have been like if Michael Jackson and Madonna had wound up as a couple? In his death, will Michael Jackson continue to be deified in spite of Madonna’s claims that he was only human? Yep. . . Michael Jackson was good and really talented. But we continue to slide into holding celebrities up higher than we should, doing ourselves and them no favors at all.
-Russell Brand’s opening monologue picks up where he left off last year. There are no bounds in what we talk about when it comes to sexuality. Brand has set his mark for the evening. . . Lady Gaga. He’s expressed what he wants to do with her, while telling the world about her bisexuality. The censors did kick in a couple of times, but you have to wonder how long those conventions will be held.
-And then the Best Female Video goes to Taylor Swift. Considering what this 19-year-old was up against, it’s good to see something and someone more wholesome take home the moon man. But surprise surprise. Kanye West ruins Swift’s moment by grabbing the mike and making a fool of himself by talking about Beyonce. . . nominated in this category. . . having one of the best videos of all time. Again, more evidence of our collective loss of respect, kindness, civility and decency. Another inflated ego tries to steal the show. Thank goodness, many in the crowd stood and applauded the shocked Swift. Wow. . . it didn’t take long for the first wacky moment of the night.
-I know Jack Black was trying to be silly in his mock prayer to the devil. . . but again . . . . creepy. When you know the enemy is real, it’s not
-Okay. . . her onstage rendition of “Paparazzi” was artsy and spooky. What’s the song about? Here’s what she’s said about it in the past: “The song is about a few different things – it’s about my struggles, do I want fame or do I want love? It’s also about wooing the paparazzi to fall in love with me. It’s about the media whoring, if you will, watching ersatzes make fools of themselves to their station. It’s a love song for the cameras, but it’s also a love song about fame or love – can you have both, or can you only have one?”
-Green Day performs “East Jesus Nowhere,” a song I’m still trying to totally understand. The song goes after religious hypocrisy (a legitimate target in many ways), and the intertwining of religion and politics (again, a legitimate target in the way the relationship often manifests itself). A song like this shouldn’t necessarily make us (as people of faith) angry. Rather, we should listen and then ask if there’s any truth to what they’re singing. Again, in many ways I think there’s some truth. But I always worry about songs like this that tend to lump the baby in with the bathwater, leaving vulnerable young listeners thinking negatively about both. Our lack of a fully integrated biblical faith with stuff like this to devalue true Christian faith.
-Wow. . . .what a marketing coup with the exclusive showing of the extended trailer for New Moon, the second installment in the Twilight saga film series. The fascination with Vampire culture continues to grow.
-Whenever I watch Beyonce I can’t help but think back to what she wrote in the liner notes of the Destiny’s Child Survivor album back in 2001. You need to check it out.
-Muse performs their anti-establishment/resistance song “Uprising.” They sing,
The paranoia is in bloom,
The PR, the transmissions, will resume,
They’ll try to push drugs to keep us all dumbed down,
And hope that we will never see the truth around,
SO COME ON!
Another promise, another scene,
Another package not to keep us trapped in greed,
With all the green belts wrapped around our minds,
And endless red tape to keep the truth confined,
SO COME ON!
They will not force us,
They will stop degrading us,
They will not control us,
And we will be victorious!
Anyone out there know much about these guys from the UK? I wonder if their words are prophetic in the sense that they point to a looming and growing generational divide over ideologies? I’ve long thought that the cultural-generational gap that exists in today’s world is due more to the pace of cultural change than to ideological differences. In the former, people on both sides are more prone to want to come together. With the latter, they are ideologically divided. . . like in the sixties. Is that what we’re heading towards?
-Oh man!. . . Lady Gaga is winner of the Best New Artist. They zoom in on her wearing that red thing. . . . and I think I’m going to have nightmares tonight! She won her award “for God and for the Gays.” I think that more than anything else at this year’s VMAs, Lady Gaga is the best indicator of where we are and where we’re going as a culture. For that reason, she warrants our attention, and a deconstruction of her music, story, and worldview. Her popularity means that her message is getting through.
-Best performance of the night. . . . Pink. Gutsy and pretty creative.
-Now that’s a classy move on Beyonce’s part. She wins Video of the Year then steps aside to have Taylor Swift come out and have “her moment.” In a world filled with posturing, bad sportsmanship, and egos, this was a wonderful moment of redemption for Taylor Swift, courtesy of Beyonce.
So. . . what caught your eyes and ears this year? Who are we as a culture? What do we value in our culture? What do we believe in our culture? Who are we choosing to live in our culture? And what does all this mean in terms of how we minister to kids?
Feel free to share your insights.
God Potential
Have you ever had someone believe in you? Have you ever had someone believe you can be more? Have you ever had someone take the time to invest in you? I have been blessed with people in my life who not only believe in me but have invested time and resources into me to be the best that I can be. People who have poured into me so that I can reach my God potential. I can’t tell you how thankful I am for their investment. I can’t tell you how many times I have felt so undeserving of it all. I now get to be a part of a leadership program called Backstage because someone not only believed but provided for me to go to a whole notha level.
All I can do is pass it on to others. Pass on what I learn, pass on their passion, pass on the time investment, pass on the financial investment. All I can do is pour my life into others just as my life has been poured into. Who tomorrow, this week, this month or this year can you pour into and help them reach their God potential?
What I do know is that I will not be the same leader next month or next year that I am today. I will be a better husband, father, friend and pastor because someone took a chance to invest me, take a chance and invest in someone else. You do have a lifetime of knowledge and life experiences to share.
Weekend Wrap Up
- Set up was great this morning and there was a lot of energy.
- Worship was great and we did a country song, I can’t remember the last time we did one of those.
- I don’t know what was up with the cow tipping video but I thought it was hilarious.
- I heard they had like 75 in Kid Venture Live…my son loved it.
- Met so many new families today who were looking for a church just like us.
- Friday night Kid Kollage was awesome. Dan & Kristi are so talented at what they do.
- UNITED was great. We had 4 students receive Christ.
- SQUID a band from GVHS played and they did awesome.
- Donny was insane with the praise band…we may have to start looking at making an album, they are so talented.
- Life Groups kicked off tonight and our leaders that work with students are amazing.
- The first student coaching network kicked off tonight and all the students showed up and gave me so many ideas.
- There was a great turnout for the life group meet and greet this morning.
- There is a lot of energy about our fall upcoming events.
- Parents…PLEASE get your kids to our events and make it a priority in their life, you will thank us later.
- Get to relax tomorrow and spend time with my boys in between driving them everywhere.
The Life As A Wife
This post will be much more popular for woman than for the men but it needs to be read by more men.
I for only a short time have walked in the footsteps of a woman, my wife, and I have more admiration than ever before. I have caught myself saying and thinking on occasion about my wife being the lucky one getting to stay home while I go and “work”. Boy was I wrong. Yes she is blessed to stay home but it is work. I have been helping out around the house and I have come to a few random thoughts.
- Laundry-after several loads I have learned that clothes don’t clean themselves. The loads never apparently end and the clothes keep coming. Folding may be the worst thing ever. I vote for bigger washers and dryers that do it quicker and fold themselves.
- Meals-I ate last. I can’t remember when that has happened, and today my food was cold. Apparently this is a regular occurrence for my wife. Her food is always cold because she puts others first. Did you know that after you eat there is a clean up process?
- Dishes-the dishwasher cleans them but they have to be pre-washed. The floor has to be swept and the table has to be wiped down. Then after the dishes are cleaned they have to be put away.
- General-There is vacuuming and sweeping and dusting. Toys are always being taken out and put away. Beds have to be changed and trash taken out.
I guess this stuff always seemed to get done without me really stopping to think how it got done. I’ve been spoiled and I have realized that there is no way I could do what my wife does. Women are so much tougher than guys and can apparently run on no sleep at all. I have learned one other thing when it comes to intimacy. No wonder women are not as interested as men are. We have more energy than them because they apparently do a whole lot more than us. Honestly I was exhausted last night and I wonder if I helped out more she would have more “energy”.
I have talked to several ladies who have said, “Is there anything I can do to help you?” goes a long way. I can’t remember the last time I had asked that question. My wife says it is the small things that make a big difference.
So men, have you asked that question to your wife lately?
An End And A Begining
“To everything (turn, turn, turn), There is a season (turn, turn, turn) , And a time for every purpose, under heaven. A time to be born, a time to die, A time to plant, a time to reap, A time to kill, a time to heal, A time to laugh, a time to weep, To everything (turn, turn, turn), There is a season (turn, turn, turn), And a time for every purpose, under heaven. A time to build up,a time to break down, A time to dance, a time to mourn, A time to cast away stones, a time to gather stones together. To everything (turn, turn, turn), There is a season (turn, turn, turn), And a time for every purpose, under heaven. A time of love, a time of hate, A time of war, a time of peace, A time you may embrace, a time to refrain from embracing. To everything (turn, turn, turn), There is a season (turn, turn, turn), And a time for every purpose, under heaven. A time to gain, a time to lose, A time to rend, a time to sew, A time to love, a time to hate, A time for peace, I swear its not too late.”
This song Turn Turn Turn sang by The Byrds is also an adaption from a chapter from the Bible, Ecclesiastes 3. I have read that and I have heard that so many times and this week it was lived out. On Wednesday morning I received a call that my grandmother had lost her battle with cancer. One of the most optimistic and Godly woman I have ever met. Her and my grandfather (who passed away several months ago), were so generous and gave their lives away to serve and invest into others and God’s kingdom.
When My grandfather died it was very difficult on my mom to loose her father and yet my sister had a little boy right around the same time to add comfort to her and once again with my grandmother passing on Wednesday, Jess and I prepare to bring a new baby into the world tomorrow afternoon, and once again it is providing a comfort to my mom and our family.
As a pastor I always talk about God’s timing is perfect and sometimes it can become a ritualistic speech because you don’t know what else to say, but the reality is when you look back it is true. For once I get to realize it while in the midst of it. I am so thankful for a God who’s timing is perfect. I know that my life is in His hands and I am trusting Him in all the situations in my life right now.
Change & Response
I saw a Comcast commercial last night where the gentleman starts out saying, “The world is changing and Comcast is responding.” Sounds great, very touching, moving, relevant and yet what a horrible business model for anybody to follow. This is not a hate blog towards Comcast, I have their service and it is fine.
Anytime an individual, a business, a church says that is is responding to change it says something about who they are and how they lead. There are times that necessitate response but I would like to be on the other end that causes those around to have to respond. The Gospel is powerful and requires a response from others. Serving is powerful and requires a response from others. Vision is powerful and requires a response from others. Do you get where I’m going with this? There is a time to respond and follow and there are times to initiate change and lead.
As Ed Young says, “Change, conflict, growth.” Every situation involves this formula of change, conflict and growth. When you are leading you will face this with almost every decision. When you initiate change and lead you will see this formula play out in your organization. I don’t want to respond to change, I want to be a catalyst for change. You can’t be scared about who will say it and how others will react to it. Leaders lead. Leaders initiate change. Leaders force others to respond. How about you? Are you a changer or a responder?
