History in the Making

The Downside of Making Asks

Every once in a blue moon I get a nice direct message from a prominent church leader via Twitter. It's just a hey-wazzup kind of note, and I'm always honored by it. But with this new-found direct connection, I can't help but... make an ask.

And always without fail, I get the same kind of responses. If I put them through a Wordle, it would look something like this...

Policies
We
Decided
Limitations
Budgets
Cannot
Unable
Couldn't
Mobilize

Don't tell anybody, but I've actually banned these words from my vocabulary. I actually feel sorry for them. They follow more laws at work than the traffic laws they follow getting to work.

How Do You Redeem an Airport?

I try not to travel too much... mostly because I hate airports. They're a cesspool of brute, raw, human emotions. Sweaty passengers. Overpriced food. Angry passengers. Airline employees who are "over it." And cold businesspeople. But yesterday, sitting in O'Hare, I wondered how you redeem these things?

Curious... have you ever had a redeeming conversation or encounter in an airport?

The Plot-line of Sermons

I hate to admit it, but I just devoured what seems to be the book of the year in Christian circles... Robert McKee's Story, which is about writing screenplays. Fascinating read. It's forever changed the way I watch movies.

One thing it taught me -- the best movies introduce plot as soon as possible in the storyline. There has to be a tension for the audience to hold on. Proved to be true when Ains and I watched Wolverine this past weekend. The plot wasn't introduced until 40 minutes in... Snore.

I think the same goes for sermons. There has to be tension for the audience to hold on... a great conflict that must be relieved. A dilemma that the truth of scripture must come in and save. And the sooner it's introduced... the better.

It's a Good Day When...

Rental car was so new it had 1 mile on it when I drove it off the lot. Breaking it in baby.

Trading the Beach for Deep Dish

En route to Chicago today for my last on-site production meeting before the big event. I've been there - what - like 5 or 6 times - over the past year, and it's starting to feel like a second home. I'm even starting to swing my "A's" and "I's" up in a mid-western direction...

Goodbye iPhone... Maybe

So my iPhone screen cracked the other month, and I've had a good long run with it. But I've been checking out at the alternatives... the NuviFone from Garmin is finally here. Love it.

Interested to know what phones you recommend besides Blackberry or iPhone...

To Not Just Be Blessed

I don't know about you, but I'm always seeking to "be blessed."

I'd like our family to have a less-ghetto minivan. Play Station for the kids would be nice. Maybe an actual savings account. And just as I opened birthday cards as a kid hoping there would be money inside, I have tended to be expectant in my relationships for these blessings. Eight years as a church planter certainly didn't help.

I want to live out the second half of God's great promise to believers...

I will make you into a great nation
       and I will bless you;
       I will make your name great,
       and you will be a blessing.

I would rather be the guy putting checks in birthday cards.

The Cold, Hard Truth about Vision

A great vision will never come about unless God goes before you. But keep in mind that sometimes you might be the vessel by which God goes before someone else.

The Great Church Planting Conspiracy

I think church plants would get off to a much better start if the planters recognized that just as God builds his church... that goes for new churches too. Most planters try to initiate the work of God, rather than join the one he's already been cultivating.

It's like a root system taking shape before the green leaves emerge.

It's a Church in the Making.

You will already be leading people. They will already be following you. You will already have spiritual influence in their lives. And they will practically be asking you to start services.

You know those churches that had break-away success? The ones we try to emulate? They have a massive root system that's invisible to the naked eye.

I'm releasing a free PDF book in the new year called "How They Started."

I Dream of Jeannie... and Slater

Last year, had the great pleasure of working with the very talented Jeannie Mai on Catalyst west coast as she helped emcee the program. Well, last night, I saw her hosting the TV show Extra with Mario Lopez.

You're welcome, Jeannie.

You're welcome. =)

Beatiful, Meet Ben

It's been a long time since I left Virginia Beach. So when I came back, there's this whole new town center with skyscrapers and lifestyle shops and theaters and such. Was strolling around and came across the Sandler Center for the Performing Arts.

It's breath-taking.

And then I start feeling this dream emerge.

Oh no.

Bike with a Bucket

Nobody rides mountain bikes in Virginia Beach. Nor 10-speeds with the curly handlebars. It's beach cruisers all the way. Came across the amazing Madsen bikes which are all the rage in Mormon, Utah.

I inquired about becoming a distributor in Virginia Beach because I think they could make a killing.

But no reply.

I think I might drink too much coffee to qualify.

Friday Fun Blog Day

Nothing serious to blog today. All fun...

Starting with HBO's Imagine site -- storytelling via the cube. Love that you can spin the cube and watch 4 perspectives of the story at the same time. Jon Acuff sent me this site...

I warn you... you click on this, and you'll get nothing else done today. You're finished...