May 08
We shot our video sermon for One Prayer tonight and it was strange to teach in that setting. I have never taught in a studio setting and focusing on the camera and the people on the other side of the camera instead of the people in the room was different. I think I could have done a lot better job, BUT I was very pleased with it being the first time we have ever done it.
Most amazing thing is I kept it to 25 minutes! It took me longer to record all the personalized intros for the guys who requested them than it did the sermon. 
Shout out to Ryan Fitzgerald and Joe Wiggleston for the video help! This was our first time working with Joe and I dug the dude. Ryan is always awesome and I enjoyed catching up with him for a few minutes.
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May 08
We are getting ready to shoot our sermon for One Prayer and I am actually nervous. Not sure why but to know others will be showing our video has me a little freaked out and this is the first time I have ever taught in front of a camera so that will be different.
The good thing is I have a ton of video intros to do for churches who are using our sermon so I can warm up a little doing those.
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May 08
Earlier today I mentioned that had cut way back on which blogs I read. At one time I was reading about 120 through bloglines, but I am now down to around 20. After that post I have gotten several e-mails asking me how I decide which blogs to read so that got me thinking about it because I guess I had an answer since I did pick which ones to keep and which ones to delete, but I had never thought about it before.
So after looking over the blogs I have kept, here is how I decided which ones to keep:
- I have a relationship with most of the bloggers whose blogs I read
- 90% are church planters. I am one and I relate to those planting churches
- I kept guys whose church and leadership speak to me
- Most of the guys I keep up with mix their blog with leadership stuff, church stuff, and personal stuff. I like that.
- Guys that I just like. I know that sounds dumb, but at one time I was reading guys just because everyone else was. Now, I am focused on guys that I simply like to read their stuff
Some of the ways I decided to quit reading some blogs:
- If you are always selling your crap on your blog, I ain’t reading
- If you post very long posts, I ain’t reading
- If you aren’t being real, I ain’t reading
- If I don’t really know you, I probably ain’t reading
That doesn’t mean any of those above things are bad, they just are some things that personally drive me nuts.
I will still keep up from time to time with some of the blogs I deleted and I will hopefully be adding guys back as they connect with me during different stages of this adventure in pastoring.
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May 08
Preston beat me to the big news, but I am excited to announce our newest hire at Revolution. You can go here to see a video of him in action.
Nice
EDIT: Just realized this guy is going to be down by my buddy Chris so I might have to go check him out. Chris, can I crash on your couch? I HAVE to see this guy kick someone in the face or leg drop a pastor!
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May 08
I have taken HUGE steps in the last months to do away with distractions that take up my time and keep me from Revolution and my family and I feel more focused and excited about the future of my life than I have in a long time.
Today I finished off the cleaning house of my time by deleting the blogs I follow down to 18, shutting down my facebook account, and by this time next week I will have a new cell phone number and a new e-mail address.
I think every pastor needs to take time every few months and evaluate what it is that is distracting them and is wasting their time.
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May 07
I am at the warehouse right now listening to the band (they are rocking) and let me say this: IT IS FREAKING HOT!!!!!!!!!!!! As you know, our AC was put in wrong in the warehouse so it is NOT cooling down right now.
I said all that to say if you are planning on coming to the One Prayer taping tomorrow night you need to dress in summer clothing. Conditions are perfect for a sermon on hell.
See ya tomorrow at 7:00!!!!!!
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May 07
Thursday night we are filming our message for One Prayer at The Warehouse. It is going to be a fun night and would love to have you join us. The Warehouse doesn’t hold many people, but we’ll fit you in! I am going to be teaching on the subject, Lord, Make Us REVOLUTIONARY.
We’ll start at 7:00 p.m. and we’ll close the doors at 7:15. After 7:15 you will not be allowed in as we will be filming. So be on time
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May 06
I get asked a lot about what a typical day at the Revolution office is like. I know that seems weird but I totally understand the question because it is one I ask a lot when I met with various pastors and something I try and observe when visiting other churches. I have been at both ends of the spectrum. I have been at a church that had NO office environment at all (you came and went as you wanted) to one that was very corporate (dress code, you had to be quiet, etc.).
I’m not sure how you would describe our vibe, but I can try and give you a glimpse into a typical day:
- LOUD!!! I am loud, Preston is loud, Taylor is loud, it is loud!
- LOTS of music! There is always music blaring and you never know what you are going to hear except that it is going to be loud.
- Lot of “hall meetings.” I think our best meetings are unscheduled and just happen
- Lots of Revolutionaries in and out. We always have people up at the office serving, dropping off food, and just coming by to tell us some crazy story.
- Lot of working in each others office though this is changing a lot.
- Occasionally Adam walking around with certain parts of his clothing not on. Trust me there is nothing good about a ghost white man covered in tattoos walking down the hall uncovered.
- Heated debate. We can get pretty passionate and pretty heated about topics. I love that.
- Lot of the girls telling us to hold the noise down.
- Meetings. Man, we have a lot of meetings.
- Lot of sharing awesome stories from the people of Revolution
- Normally there is some type of bet taking place or betting pool to join. Right now we have all selected wrestlers that we think will die next. Winner takes all.
- A lot of asking how much money would it take to do or eat something gross. Tim normally is willing to do it for the least amount.
- Probably one good fight a day.
- We do lunch together 90% of the time
- 75% of our time is focused on Sunday services
- Dress code is pretty slack though we are getting tighter but we do ask that they at least wear clothes
- LOTS of fun!
Between all this A LOT of work is happening as we are getting people celebrating, connected, and contributing to the vision of Revolution. The only day things aren’t like this are Wednesday and on that day it is a ghost town. That is my study day and it is very calm and very quiet which I like.
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May 06
Chris Reeder has a pretty cool thing going on over at this blog. He has asked a bunch of different church planters for advice on planting a church when you basically don’t know what you are doing. I have enjoyed reading the posts. I’ve never been to his blog before but after going there I am pretty sure I met him at ChurchPlanters.com. Plus he is calling his church Revolution so he has to be decent.
Check out the posts from different church planters here.
Posted in Blogging, Church Planting, Leadership | No Comments »
May 05
So I started Twittering (is that a word?) just because I thought I would try it because everyone else is doing it. A few days into it I can honestly say I love it. It is what Facebook and Myspace are supposed to be but are not. It is a way to stay connected to what is going on in the lives of your friends without having to do all the stupid junk that goes along with facebook and myspace and the best part is they have keep up it under 140 characters. That is a big plus.
If you haven’t tried it yet, give it a shot. I think you’ll like it. You can check my page here AND you can actually check out DeAnna’s here (you know it has to be the bomb if she is doing it).
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