Make this year's holidays different?

Kinda funny ...or sad really how everyone runs around being festive for festivity sake and never slows the train down enough to really take-in the season we are in.
This is my 34th Christmas. 11th as a husband, 9th as a father. And to say that I have the recipe for the perfect holiday is far from accurate. But, about 3 years ago my wife and I had an epiphany of sorts.
What if we stopped the madness? I mean really halted things during the holidays?
No driving ...more staying still. Create memories with our little family.
So I offer this as an example. You might say "sorry man that won't work for us." Or maybe you can take a little idea and mold it in to a family tradition of your own.
 I know some of you do something like this ...and I commend you for beating me to the idea.

What if this year .... we didn't drive hours someplace only to turn right around shortly and drive right back...?
    We lit a fire in the fireplace and played Sorry, Clue and other various boardgames way to late ...?
Rent movies we always wanted to see at the theater but missed years ago ... stayed in pajamas all day, ate sushi we fixed at home together. Slept late repeatedly. Snacked all day ...
Stared at Christmas lights and prayed for snow ...?
Turned off the newscasts ...?
...Popped popcorn and ate peanut brittle and fudge before lunch. Drank way to much coffee ...? Didn't take on any major "home improvement projects"? Baked "Birthday Cake for Jesus", watched the Nativity, and read the story from Luke on Christmas Eve ...
 Turned off the cell and computer ... told stories to the kids of when I was their age ...(and watching their faces react to the idea of my being their age ever!)
Didn't try to solve family problems ...
Played old Nintendo games while the little ones giggle at mommy beating daddy at Mario Cart.
Laugh as my kids pound on pots and pans running in the yard at the stroke of midnight New Year's Eve ...
...Create memories ...that my kids will tell their kids ...
Loved more ...argued less ... ponder about all God has given me ...and thank Him ...
What if?

New Book Review Coming ...Mark Batterson's "Primal"

Just received a new book to review.
Excited to begin reading the new release from Mark Batterson "Primal, a Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity".
I will be posting a review in the very near future.
Hope everyone is close to having your Christmas shopping done!

Stay tuned ...
D

The tunes of the week ...

I was thinking about my music listening habits this week and decided to share what's spinning in the jukebox. What are you listening to this week? Love to hear new suggestions.

-Jars of Clay "Christmas Songs",
      I like the new version of Drummer Boy. Christmas Time is Here and Winter Skin are nice. I saw their Christmas Concert a couple seasons back ...good new songs too.

-U2 "No Line on the Horizon"
       Still spinning this one ...doesn't get old.

 I want to hear from you ...what's your faves?

Blog Rewind- "Listening for Whispers" ...

Originally posted Mar. '09
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.

Are we defined by our gratitude?

It's cool this week to have a post about thankfulness. Tends to be the default at a holiday. But, in an effort to not be maintaining the status quo I offer this question:
Are we defined by our gratitude? Do our actions reflect the premise that we believe what we profess on our t-shirts? I know that many sermons will or are being preached this week on thankfulness for the blessings we have. (so plenty of reminders there) But in being thankful are we being the blessing? Not are we blessed?
In the US we do have so much ...so are we being servants of the Gospel or just thankful for "what we got". We find the greatest blessings not in what we obtain, but in what we give out of grateful heart.
What defines you regarding thankfulness? Do you say you are thankful but actions reflect different?
So as you gather for turkey or whatever ...think about the gratitude adjustments we all need to make from time to time. I am preaching to myself on this one.
Happy Thanksgiving

Blog Rewind

Blog Rewind

Originally posted Wednesday, April 1, 2009 by David Adam Groves

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

Thoughts on Using Media and how it relates to the sermon

As promised to the class today at RBTC ...here are my main points from the lecture:

Regarding using video in your sermons.

1. Brief and to the point is best.
2. Quality matters (both audio and video).
3. Don’t rely only on the video (things go wrong).
4. Just because you want a video to supplement doesn’t mean you should have one.
5. Video should never replace a sound sermon.
6. Be engaging not distracting.

Tell YOUR STORY!
Nothing relates the message of the Gospel better than personal stories. The Bible is full of such examples.
“A generation ago the question was, “What is truth?” Today, the question is, “What’s the point?” -Billy Graham
Relating to the community on a level that matters to them is paramount to reaching a generation that is increasingly disinterested in all things church related.