In The Dash Launch

I have been challenged by many to put my thoughts to a digital footprint about what I feel is really important and about what I have learned over the last year or so.  One of the many things I have learned is figuring out and prioritizing what is really important in my life.  Faith.  Family.  Friendships.  After those three things most everything else seems irrelevant to me anymore.

I went through a sermon series a few years back called Live Different, and to be honest at the time I took it for granted.  It wasn’t until this last year that I applied what I had heard several years before.  In some cases it was too late and in others it was just in time.  So I began to write what I would do if I had just 30 days left to live.  What would I do that would leave a legacy and leave a mark on the life that I would leave behind?

So what you are going to read over the next 30 days is called In The Dash, 30 Day Challenge.  30 things that if I knew I had 30 days left to live I would do.  Here is the catch though, there’s always a catch.  Why not live as if you had 30 days left to live today?  We are not guaranteed tomorrow and what I have learned is that were not all given a second chance to live differently and live with passion.  So in the true spirit of a digital footprint, instead of using 140 characters as Twitter has used so effectively, I will write each chapter in 140 words.  These are simple thoughts but I believe some of these simple action steps to be life changing and legacy changing.

These words are my passion, my heartbeat and my challenge to myself to live In The Dash with a purpose and invest my life into what truly matters.  Maybe you will be able to take away a step or two that will significantly change the course of your faith, family or friendships.

I would love any feedback or comments that you would be willing to give as I try my hand at being an author.  Answer for me each day if this something that you are doing or feel compelled to do?  If you feel it is important or not? What other ideas do you have?  How can we truly make our faith, family and friendships stronger as an online community?  As always thank you so much for taking the time to read my words.

Ryan

 

 

 

140 Characters or less

A picture is worth a 1000 words but I don’t find myself moved by pictures nearly as much as I am by words.

Words carry so much meaning and words have the potential to motivate and inspire or to deflate and destroy lives.

Words can say how we feel, describe something we want and words have the ability to ironically paint pictures.

Everyday I am constantly challenged by 140 characters.

Today I wanted to share some of those 140 characters that have shaped me, challenged me, intimidated me, made me cry, made me angry, made me laugh and inspired me to be better.

 

• “The common problem facing employees at all levels is not their own motivation. It’s work environments that demotivate.” @tonymorganlive
• “We need less religious professionals & more people who will put themselves in a position to do whatever God is asking.” @perrynoble
• “We will either be defined by the voice of the critic or the voice of Jesus…who we listen to the most will determine our direction!” @perrynoble
• “The level of influence increases the level of criticism.” @theswizzle
• “Leaders are not concerned about who is catching them but who is watching them.” @brandonaldson
• “God can’t give you the blessings He has for you until you first put down the other things you are clutching in your hands.” @jennicatron
• “God is much more worried about who we’re becoming rather than where we’re going.” @jennicatron
• “Instead of focusing on building your platform, build your character.” @flowerdust
• “A great leader doesn’t care about being the leader, but instead cares about the mission, the vision & the people they lead.” @jeremyerndt
• “If the size of your vision isn’t intimidating to you, there’s a good chance it’s insulting to God.” @stevenfurtick
• “In this season of your life, what is the main role, the primary job God has given you to advance His kingdom?” @wilmington
• “If we’re not secure in our own skin, we’ll spend our whole lives either: 1. copying everyone else; 2. condemning everyone else.” @shawnlovejoy
• “Either the size of your vision will determine the size of your budget or the size of your budget will determine the size of your vision.” @markbatterson
• “The signs of outstanding leadership appear primarily among the followers.” @johncmaxwell
• “The end of an era does not mean the COMPLETION of your destiny. When something comes to an end, commit to the future.” @brianchouston
• “There is more to Christian growth than knowing what the Bible says; nobody is every nourished by memorizing menus.” @scottiesellers
• “Leadership goal: Surrounded by leaders who are WISE enough to say NO, but COURAGEOUS enough when they need to say YES.” @brianchouston
• “People who purposely choose an unfrosted pop tart when frosted is available should not be trusted with big decisions.” @jonacuff
• “You’ve lost focus of your purpose when you are more focused on what your against instead of what you are for.” @garylamb
• “Loyalty is a two way street…the leader who always demands it but never offers it doesn’t understand it!” @perrynoble
• “Presumption, assumption and miss-communication KILL organizational unity” @pastorjgerdes
• “How do you know your church has become a social club? You don’t associate with people who need Jesus but talk about how much you love them.” @jeffwhickman
• “The higher up in an organization you go the harder it is to get honest feedback” @pwilson
• “More people will visit your church website than will visit your church building.” @edstetzer
• “Geniuses aim at targets that others can’t see and hit them.” @mark_sanborn
• “A fundamental of leadership is to develop & attract people who will flourish in your unique culture.” @maclake
• “The 3 “C’s” of team-building have been Character, Competency, and Chemistry… it’s time to add a new “C”: Culture.” @taddgrandstaff
• “There are times you sit back and watch certain things change and it confirms why you were called to do something months earlier.” @garylamb
• “Your wisdom, not your age, is what matters in leadership. Age only matters if you’re cheese.” @johncremeans
• “Never follow a leader who cares more about WHAT you do than WHO you are!” @perrynoble
• “Most great people attained their greatest success just one step beyond their greatest failure.” @czaucha
• “Creativity is thinking up new things. Innovation is doing new things.” @jarrettstevens
• “I believe that no matter what you are going through if you are willing to place yourself in God’s hands he will carry you to the other side.” @scottchapmanorg
• “It’s always harder than it looks. Never desire to succeed like others until you know what they gave up to get there.” @rickwarren
• “I find it interesting that not all leaders actually lead. Some just seem to want a title!” @joelabell
• “No one likes religious people except other religious people.” @trippcrosby
• “Before the success of your goals can be realized, the success of the people you lead must be prioritized.” @stevenfurtick
• “Ever noticed that hospitals don’t do much marketing. If your church welcomes the sick and broken u wont have 2 either.” @cmsucks
• “Don’t be so quick to judge people or write them off. People who are willing to learn can always change.” @stovallweems
• “When people tell u it can’t be done u just found out who’s not willing to do it with u.” @timjchambers
• “Often times a single act of courage, is the tipping point for something extraordinary.” @andystanley
• “Never be ashamed of your scars-they are proof that healing has taken place!” @buddycremeans
• “The only way to make it look easy when everybody’s watching, is to bust your butt when nobody’s watching” @matt_ortiz
• “A CHURCH is only a church if it’s about REACHING the UNCHURCHED!!!” @edyoung
• “So thankful for those people that you just know are put into your life for a reason.. If for no other reason, just to be there.” @jonathonpearson
• “To have authority one day you have to learn to work under authority today.” @shaneduffy
• “When senior leadership hold themselves to different standards than those they oversee there are no real standards.” @rickowerton
• “How you treat those who can do nothing for you is a true judge of your character.” @thelock
• “Conflict leads 2 making up. Making up leads to making out. Making out is good, therefore conflict is good!” @jeffkapusta
• “success is connecting with people in your communities who have pain and staying with them” @bradlomenick
• “People often associate their value with their place on an org chart. Your best value is doing what you’re wired to do.” @anthonycoppedge
• “A two-year-old is kind of like having a blender, but you don’t have a top for it.” @pastormark
• “God loves the version of me now, not the version 10 years from now.” @mattchandler74
• “Continuously improve your processes. Always ask “why,” but more importantly ask “why not?” @disneyinstitute
• “RELATIONSHIPS: Some need to be initiated, Some need to be developed, Some need to be restored & Some need to be severed.” @scottwilliams

 

140 Character Tombstone

If you could write out what would be on your tombstone today what would it say?  Better yet what would someone else write about you?  What if you could only use a 140 characters like you would in a Twitter feed?  Twitter has changed the way that people and companies communicate.  It has changed the way people even blog requiring shorter, quicker posts that don’t lose the attention of our readers.

I think it is an interesting idea though, how do you sum up your life in 140 characters or less?  So I throw this challenge out to you today, 140 characters or less how would my life be summed up?  That’s right I am asking you to write my faux Twitter tombstone today.  What better way to improve in the weak areas than to see what people would say about you today?  Why wait till its over to make the changes?  Make the change necessary today to impact today.

Rethink Possible

AT&T has a new marketing campaign titled “Rethink Possible”.  On their site is a little intro video type thing that explains this.  Here is what it says: Expand your boundaries of can.  See what’s on the other side of to far.  Play the angel’s advocate.  Outsmart can’t.  Put a restriction on your limits and expect to be wowed.  Explore.  Try.  Do.  Because before it could be done, it couldn’t.  These are indeed amazing times.  Rethink Possible. I love it.  We can argue all day long about what cell phone company has the best coverage, lowest rates and least dropped calls but that is not what this is about.  AT&T is trying to get the consumer to think outside the box and think about what can be.

The church is no different.  For years there was a certain way to do church.  Hymnals, KJV, Sunday’s best.  Long talks that lacked application but were full of information.  Then people started to “rethink possible.”  Churches started adding musicians and became relevant and progressive.  People wore whatever they wanted to church. Other versions of the Bible were taught. People started inviting their neighbors.  Talks were shortened and people were challenged.  Life groups and community began to happen.  People began to think missionally.   Satellite churches were launched and multi-site campuses became the norm.  Churches became portable and met in theaters, schools coffee shops and some churches actually double as a business.  Internet campuses were formed and community was developed through social networks like Twitter and facebook.

How we do things today will not be the way they are done in 5 years or even 3 years.  Culture is changing and the church must adapt without losing it’s true identity.  No it’s identity is not in song selections, clothing and versions but instead in what it is doing to connect people to the very core of it all…Jesus.  All the bells and whistles do not replace the work of the Holy Spirit in an individuals life.  So as culture moves so must the church and so must we as individuals who make up the church.  There are people who would be willing to listen if they could understand what we are saying, not in our words but in our actions.  Live out your faith today and “rethink possible.”

Difference Maker: Shaun King

Ok let’s be honest, we hear all the time that one person can make a difference, but is that just something we say to encourage and motivate people, or do we really believe that?  I completely believe it and I can prove it.  I want to introduce you to Shaun King. He’s a 30 Year Old Husband, Father, Grad Student & Lead Pastor of The Courageous Church (www.Courageous.tv) in Downtown Atlanta, and he is making a difference.

I started to follow Shaun over a year ago as I heard he had planted a church in one of the toughest neighborhoods in Atlanta and I had a chance to meet and talk with him at Catalyst [although I am pretty sure he would have no remembrance of me].  The things that stood out about this man was his humility and his willingness to talk to  someone who is pretty insignificant in the global perspective of the church world.  One minute with him and you can tell his passion and excitement.  I highly recommend following him on his many social networks.  Below is a list of the tweets that he made last night about what is going on in Haiti.  Shaun is using Twitter to mobilize, impact and create an awareness in Haiti and it is incredibly impressive.

• Setting out my Soapbox. About to step on it for a few tweets. 1st my opinions then quotes from leaders on the ground in Haiti
• ALL OF THE EXPERTS ARE DEAD WRONG…..
• When the earthquake 1st hit, thousands of you immediately wanted to go and help BE the solution, be the hands & feet of God…
• But you were told by the experts NOT TO COME. You were told to wait until some magical time when things were much better…
• The experts were wrong. Some probably meant well because they didn’t want you to get hurt or be in the way, but let me tell you what…
• Is missing in Haiti -passionate, hard-working, unskilled, loving, non-experts. They are in SHORT SUPPLY. I mean RARE…
• Consequently, the MAJORITY of supplies are sitting unused & the teams of unskilled non-experts I am advising are regularly…
• 9 days later, regularly the first people to have ever visited orphanages and disaster sites. They ALL tell me that we should have…
• IGNORED the experts. Let me tell you a story that will kill you. The caretaker of the Notre Dame orphanage told @SpenceNix…
• She heard dozens of dying babies trapped in the rubble scream & cry for 5 whole days before they all died. 55 babies died. Nobody ever came…
• One more tweet from me then I want to type you a quote from our team on the ground…
• It is NOT TOO LATE. If you feel CALLED to go to Haiti GO. GO! GOOOO! It is tough work, but GO! I will help you…
• Next tweets are direct from our teams on the ground…
• “The growing feeling here in Haiti is that the BIG ORGS & government don’t really care. It’s like they are here b/c the world is…
• focused here. If they care, little passion is ever displayed. Seems like a job or obligation. Even my sponsoring organization…
• (name of large Christian org) pretty much just set up a tent, gave us a vest and stickers and said go. No support. No passion. No questions…
• Large amounts of supplies are just sitting in boxes everywhere. I have seen them there for days while hurting people & doctors…
• Need them. This has opened my eyes wider to the wastefulness of large charities and benefit of small, nimble, passionate groups…
• I have been in Haiti for 6 days and I still have not seen one large Red Cross presence. I honestly think social media has…
• Saved more lives since the earthquake than all but 3-4 great organizations here now. Passion. Relationships. Technology has changed…
• the game. We saved so many lives today and it was just us doing it bro.” <<<<<End of quote
• Thanks for listening.

Thought it was incredible to hear hands on what is going on in Haiti and see one person making a difference.  How can you make a difference in your circle of influence and in the world?

 

25 Days Of Christmas_Day 11

This post is taken directly from Twitip.com.  I think this is hilarious and fun for those of you who Twitter.

Spread Christmas Cheer, ‘Naughty or Nice’ Twitter App

Digital creative agency Collective has unveiled their ‘Naughty or nNce’ Twitter-driven app, featuring their very own Collective Santa. Users can find out whether they’ve made it onto Santa’s Naughty or Nice List before discovering what they deserve in return.

Visitors enter their Twitter username to wake Santa from his snooze. They can then watch as Santa checks their tweets for various naughty or nice key words while he boogies to the music. Once the results are in, Santa responds by telling the user if they are naughty or nice and what they deserve this Christmas (anything from a “ruddy good talking to” to “a little donkey”).

If the user has been naughty, they’ll be encouraged to add some Christmas cheer to their tweets and try again.

Results are shared on Collective Santa’s Twitter page and can also be shared on the user’s Twitter or other social networking pages. The user can also choose to add a new naughty or nice profile picture to show all their followers.

In case your wondering, Santa says I am nice and deserve the pipes of peace.  Not sure what that means but I am nice this year.

LIFT Summer Camp 09

Parents, friends and family check back here regularly for updates each night (probably late) about the days activities at camp. My goal is to get a video of pictures that are happening each day at camp as well as video shots from throughout the day.  Anything written will be under the blog tag and all video will be on the main tab located under the feature video.  I will do my best we have 47 total with leaders and students.

You can also follow me on Twitter for constant updates of the days adventures.

If your on facebook you can follow me or follow the Fellowship Student Ministry group page.

Flutter Is The New Twitter

Twittering?

By now you have probably at least heard of the social network called Twitter.  If you have ever updated your Facebook status, you can use Twitter. It simply asks the question, “What are you doing?“.   You can read more about it in this post from Greg, as well as check out this brief video which explains Twitter in Plain English.

Twitter is being used by some great church leaders and ministries across the world. One of the interesting things about technology is the way it tends to ‘flatten the earth’ when it comes to communications. You have unprecedented access to people who you never could have just a decade ago.  You can see why Mark Batterson, Lead Pastor of National Community Church in Washington, D.C., likes Twitter here, here, and here.

Fellowship Student Ministries now has a Twitter account as well.  We will be using this account for quick updates, announcements and other communications of interest to UNITED events and Life Groups.  I strongly encourage you to give Twitter a try. Even if you don’t want to sign up for Twitter yourself, you can still follow FSM by sending the following text message to 40404 ‘follow fsmunited‘  (only drop the quotes).  This will allow you to receive text messages about FSM without joining Twitter.

Here are some good resources to help you understand and get started with Twitter:

• Getting to Know Twitter FAQ’s
  
• Official Twitter Commands
• Using Twitter on your Phone
• Newbies Guide to Twitter

Oh yea, you can also follow Ryan on Twitter also!