Observations

Observations …
As many of you know I just returned from a whirlwind trip around the Pacific Rim/SE Asia. Eight countries visited in less than 2 weeks. Thailand, Indonesia, Samoa …just to name a few. I recorded various video segments for the ministry and had a chance to taste the local cuisine as well. This isn’t my first trip abroad …but this is my first stab at listing the obvious and some new revelations!
Here are my observations from this trip and a few are surprising:
-Bottled water is my friend.
-Internet access is always more expensive at the hotels with more stars after their name. Seriously this is something that is really ridiculous.
-No place in America is the traffic even close to how bad it is in Jakarta Indonesia. LA, NY and Houston combined are no comparison.
-A wool suit is not a good idea in Bangkok.
-Samoa is Hawaii 100 years ago (before the touristy stuff )
-More and more places are discontinuing postcards.
-It’s harder on the body’s internal clock going east across time zones then going west.
-I love Polynesian/Asian cuisine!
-I am not interested in a Fish Spa.
-The closer to the equator you get …the better your sunscreen needs to be.
And on a more important note:
The growth of the Christian church is growing rapidly and we need to daily pray for the challenges that our missionary friends are dealing with …that they would have favor with leaders and have their financial needs met.
-The hunger for God’s Word is very pronounced in these countries.

All for now ...Godspeed

Create something today.

If you're like me you get bogged down from time to time with all the tasks due and what is expected each day. So it's easy to forget the important things ...
Today Create.
Take a moment over a cup of coffee and let your brain think out of the box. What can you do that is unique and new in ministry to better reach those around you?
Rethink your marketing? Rethink your strategy for appealing to the community?
As an individual what can you do today to shine the light of Christ to a growing skeptical world?
When you do this you'll get some ideas that are going to take time to implement ...but getting the ball rolling forward with progress is imperative.
Don't get discouraged. Don't get overwhelmed ...
Create something today.

My Favorite Apps free from the net

Ok, so I promised my students that I would give my opinionated listing of free apps from the internet that I like and or use the most. While there are so many more that I am researching, this is for now. These are ranked in importance or most use by myself. Please comment back as to what ones or others that you like using.
10. Facebook- While it has become very mainstream to use it ...it's still a great way to stay in touch and network.
9. Gmail- I didn't really use this until I started blogging. One of the easiest interfaces for webmail.
8. YouTube- My first stop ...although there are better quality options ...this one is still top choice.
7. Skype- I have used this a lot when traveling overseas. I love that it's even more reliable than the earlier versions ...and that it's free!
6. You Version- Easy to use Bible app ...makes my Blackberry more anointed too.
5. People Browsr- Just discovered and love the way that it makes twitter more useful and organizes my lists of networked friends.
4. Hulu- I have been using this for well over a year (even before their big add campaign) it's my top choice for watching many of the newest shows ...and classic ones from when I was a kid!
3. Blogger- I know that there are other options ...but for now this is the one that I use for blogging.
2. Filezilla- For now I use this as my quick way to transfer web content to ftp and websites.
1. Twitter- No surprises here. I am big on this app and will continue until I find a better way to update my Facebook AND my blog at the same time.
Honorable mentions-
Ping, Delicious, and Tidal TV

Connection ...leadership ...and how many friends??

I have been preparing for my classes that I teach this term on Media and Ministry ...and I have these insights that I wanted to blog.
-Number 1.
Connection is all people talk about ...but few fully understand it.
What I mean is everybody is facebooking, tweeting or in general social networking crazy! (those that aren't, are a shrinking minority) But, do we really grasp the magnitude of this? Can we really say that we are friends with this many people? Some think so ...I prefer to see it as a great way to stay in touch and keep some connection to people that I respect and want to learn from.
-Number 2.
Leadership is at an all time low in our world! Seriously! Can you ever remember when we have had so much indecision by our business leaders and so on? I've heard it said that 90% of people would prefer to follow ...and 10% want to lead. So if that many want to follow ...they'll follow someone even if they are being led in a bad direction!
-Number 3.
The church must embrace people's desire to connect! Essentially shunning social media ...or worse staying stuck in the old ways of doing things (same old media adds, print, etc) is only going to make people think that much more that the church isn't interested in being relevant.
-Number 4.
Knowledge is essential.
If we constantly stay educated and well versed in the latest methods of communication we will always have better answers for those who are searching. The church should lead not follow. Enough excuses that we don't have time ...or don't have the staff ...or the funds!
Think creative ...and ask God for wisdom to help beyond the limitations that we place on ourselves.
All for now,
God Speed

Listening for Whispers ...

When I worked in Christian radio about an ion ago I liked the band "Lloyd". They had a song called Listening for Whispers ...the central premise was that we are so busy trying to see the big picture ...we are missing the simple. Busy making a buck that we don't see the pain around us ...So worried about creating a big ministry that we forget about those close by that need help.
"We are listening for whispers while we cannot hear the screams".
All the trends currently are pointing to society wanting a more sense of local community. That is where we have to pay attention and provide that local ministry that they are wanting for their family in these turbulent times.
So listen for the whispers ...see those hurting folks around us that sometimes just need us to show them hope ...especially when they aren't seeing it very many places right now.
Godspeed,
D

Friendship

Just over two weeks ago I had started another busy day at the office when I received a call that shook me. My friend Ron McClelland had suddenly passed away at the very young age of 33. Some of you knew Ron as the talented musician from the Christian band Story Side B. I however was very privileged to know him as a ministry colleague before that.
In the early part of this decade Ron and I both joined the staff of a large church in SE Texas at about the same time. He was the music guy and I the media guy. We hit it off right away. He was a Michigan fan and I an Ohio State fan. He and I were the same age and had wives named Beka! We had also just moved a long way from home ...But more than that, we both had a heart for ministry and loved our families.
What truly was the watershed moment this week for me wasn't the age he passed (I also am 33) it was that I hadn't stayed in as close contact as I should have. We both had moved to other areas of ministry and the country ...and I talked to him maybe once or twice a year. (And I hadn't talked to him recently.)
What I realized is that I need to make the effort to be a better friend. Now I know that sounds cliche' but I really felt that. We are all busy with life, career, etc.
But there is always another game to go to ...another dance lesson to drive kids to, another service to attend ...but what Jesus said about being a friend is the thing that we need to remember.
I can't make up for lost time ...but I can do a better job being less busy and more concerned about the people that God has brought across my path in this world.
So my challenge to you is to think about your friendships ... they say people don't care how much you know until they know how much you care.

This time of year

I used to always love Christmas time because of getting the gifts as a kid. Christmas '87 lives in infamy ...the year my brother and I got our Nintendo. We wore it out over the next few years. Good memories of epic battles on Tecmo bowl. That was one of the better ones ...waking up with chicken pox when I was 10 would be one of the worst!
Now it's funny how all that has evolved. I am all grown up ...(at least I appear so :)
I can't wait to see my kids' faces on Christmas ...to see their surprise and excitement that I must have shown my parents all those years ago ...I resolve to slow down this year and enjoy the magic of children's smiles ...
Coming up I promise some more holiday memories ...