Picture of the Day
Sep 5, 2008 Uncategorized
I’m speechless.
And out of breath from laughing.
(via Rocketboom Blog):
My Message Prep Process
Sep 4, 2008 Uncategorized
Earlier this week, I posted my iPhone Ap Review and while the review was considered “boring” by many, a few were curious about my message prep process. It’s also a question I get nearly every week, so I thought I’d post a bit here.
My process is entirely my own, influenced of course by everyone who I have ever heard teach or talk about how they prepare their messages. In other words, just like preaching its an odd combination of inspiration, sweat, plagiarism, and the Holy Spirit.
Step One - Farming
I know my preaching topics a few months in advance. I usually kick a few ideas past our Creative Team and some of my co-pastors. Once I have settled on a concept, my brain goes into “farming mode.” Every website I skim, every magazine I read, every movie I watch, every song I hear, every passage in the Bible I know begins to be farmed for inspiration. I always have my notebook and iPhone with me to capture ideas as I have them. I also scan a bunch of stuff into Evernote for future reference.
By the time I get to my next step, I have a huge stack of paper to wade through.
Step Two - Processing
I then take all of this raw material and spread it out on a table in my office. If I am preaching through a specific text of the Bible, I print it in 5 or 6 translations and that goes into the mix, as well.
The pile stares at me. I stare at it. Patterns emerge. I begin to chicken scratch concepts onto a pad of paper, all the while stopping to pray for a bit, take a walk, drink coffee, read the Bible, etc. Eventually, I transition to my white board and I start mindmapping out a message.
Once it has taken shape, I usually leave it alone for a day or so to marinade.
Step Three - Manuscript
I then stare at the whiteboard with my trusty MacBook Pro in front of me and I type away. I convert the mindmap into a manuscript and I play around with the wording. Sometimes I can get way too anal at this point, being picky about the exact words I want to use. However, this pickiness helps me to really turn the message over and over in my head.
Step Four - Practice
At this point, I practice the message outloud as if I was preaching it at church. I reword constantly as I go and I also time the talk, writing little timestamps all over the notes. I then type these changes into the manuscript and put the message away for a few days.
Step Five - Doodle
After a few days, I come back to the message and I reread it (half outloud), drawing little doodles on the edge of the paper. When I am done, I transfer these doodles onto a legal size sheet of paper and I talk through the message in my head while I do this. By the time I am done with this step, the message is mostly memorized. I scan it into my computer and when I am teaching the pictures are right there on my monitor to help me remember where I am in the message.
That’s it. My process has been evolving quite a bit (especially over the last year) and I think I am finding a bit of a rhythm that works for me. I am sounding more like myself and less like other guys I listen to all the time. That is a good thing.
Just in case you are curious, here are a couple links for you:
A copy of last week’s manuscript with doodles.
A copy of last week’s final doodles.
Any other pastors out there want to share their process? I would love to learn from you.
Riv is back on the radio!
Sep 2, 2008 Uncategorized
It has been several years since Riv did any advertising mostly because we just didn’t have the capacity in our building for too many new people. Well, now that we have the new addition complete, we are diving back in with a flurry of radio ads the next three weeks.
The first ad launched yesterday on 5 area radio stations and I’ve already had people telling me they heard it. You can listen to my pretty voice here:
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Here are a bunch of things you can pray for:
- Pray that tons of people who don’t have a church home would hear the ads and decide to give Riv a chance.
- Pray that all of us at Riverview will do our best to introduce people to Jesus.
- Pray for other churches and Christ-folowers in town. Specifically, pray that there would be a spirit of unity during this ad campaign. Sometimes, advertisements like this can come across as us vs. them, but they are not intended to be so. They are intended specifically for those outside of our the Christian faith, not those in other churches.
The iPhone 3G Interview
Aug 29, 2008 Uncategorized
What could be better for an Apple Fanboy than to be interviewed about his new iPhone 3G for the paper?
You can read the whole article here: AT&T’s latest network rolls out | lansingstatejournal.com | Lansing State Journal. But here’s the important part:
AT&T Inc. has rolled out its faster 3G data network in the Lansing area, something that should let new iPhone users tap into some of the device’s new features…
The upgrade was great news to iPhone user Noel Heikkinen.
The pastor at Riverview Church uses his phone for e-mail, his calendar and contacts when he’s out at meetings or traveling.
“As I’ve been traveling, I’ve loved 3G. It’s way faster,” he said. “In Lansing, it’s been killing me that I haven’t had it.”
That changed abruptly last week when Heikkinen was surfing the Web on his phone.
“It kept flaking out on me,” he said. “I was getting all mad, and then suddenly, ‘blip,’ it was 3G. I was ecstatic.”
Final Night of Baseball
Aug 29, 2008 Uncategorized
This year, I have been to more baseball games than I can count between Jesse’s two leagues, Ethan’s league, Lugnuts, and Tigers. In fact, I would hazard a guess that if you added up the number of all the games I have been to up until this year, it would not match this year’s number. And it has been a blast.
Last night, we hit the final game of the year, which was also the Lugnuts final home game. The game was extraordinarily boring, but three things made it a blast: Ethan got a trophy for his Championship win, there were really good fireworks, and the kids got to get autographs from the players afterward. Here are a few shots from the game:
Oh, and I forgot to post this from the last time we were at a Lugnuts game, but my friend Kathy snagged some video of our kids at the game. Here’s her edited footage…you gotta love minor league ball.
Awesome Shirt
Aug 29, 2008 Uncategorized
I just laughed outloud when I saw this shirt from CafePress. I must have a sick sense of humor. Prerequisite for a Riv pastor, I suppose.
My Final DNC Post
Aug 28, 2008 Uncategorized
OK, next week I’ll have to do the same amazing coverage on the Republicans as I have done for the Democrats this week. You know, fair time and all.
I wrap up this week’s coverage with a link to Don Miller’s Blog. He posted an amazing set of emails between him and Senator Obama. I was laughing and crying all the way through.
Here’s his preamble. You’ll have to go to the site to read the letters:
I want to share with you a correspondence that has taken place between myself and Senator Obama. People have asked whether I know the Senator and whether we’ve met. Barack Obama and I have had an ongoing e-mail correspondence for several months, the bulk of which I have posted as a first entry to my blog.
It all started when I attended a rally here in Portland at which more than 75,000 people showed to support the Senator. Somehow, I managed to get a spot close to the stage and during his speech the Senator pointed at me and told me Yes, I could, something I think he might have stolen from the Black Eyed Pea’s, but oh well. Anyway, I was moved by the speech, but I had questions. I can do what? At the time, I was trying to pick paint colors for the living room, but was frozen between Icelandic Blue and Mossy Rock Green.
To my amazement, Barack e-mailed me shortly thereafter. I don’t know if it is appropriate to share our personal correspondence, but I offer it to you anyway. On my blog, I’ve posted Barack’s e-mails followed by my responses.
Good and Bad News About Credit Card Use
Aug 28, 2008 Uncategorized
Via The Institute:
Financial research firm Javelin Strategy & Research (www.javelinstrategy.com) released today its latest report on credit cards and consumer spending, which shows that Americans are cutting back on credit card use and having difficulty paying off balances. The report indicates conservative spending behaviors as a result of the economic downturn and the ramifications of the mortgage crisis, soaring fuel costs and rising food prices.
“The sharp decline in credit card spending challenges the popular belief that Americans are charging basic goods in order to sustain their quality of life,” said Jim Van Dyke, president of Javelin Strategy & Research. “Consumers are making deliberate cutbacks like shopping at superstores, eating out less and watching what they charge. We believe this is because most people have already been impacted by the downturn or they’re anticipating that we haven’t seen the worst of it. It’s very cautious behavior.”
The good news is Americans are slowing down on their use of credit cards. The bad news is they can’t pay off the ones they have.
Proverbs 22:7 “The rich rules over the poor, and the borrower is the slave of the lender.”
Odd Ads
Aug 27, 2008 Uncategorized
Interesting that these two ads would appear together on Facebook. Except that they’re both places many guys look for a wife, I suppose.
Another Obama Moment
Aug 27, 2008 Uncategorized
Continuing today’s DNC coverage, I give you my favorite quote of the day from an article entitled Obama Modifies ‘Yes We Can’ Message To Exclude Area Loser.
‘Yes We Can, Except Nate Walsh,’ Obama says.
Barack Rolled
Aug 27, 2008 Uncategorized
In honor of this week’s DNC, I present to you something that makes me smile everytime I see it. (This version via Certified RANDOM):
The Shack
Aug 26, 2008 Uncategorized
“The Shack” (William P. Young)
Every once in awhile, I feel compelled to post something a specific topic. Today is one of those days.
I am going to post about the book “The Shack.” I don’t really feel strongly one way or another about this book, but it seems like I get 1-3 people a week either giving me a copy or asking me what I think about the book. Because of this, I’m just gonna throw my thoughts out there. Take them for what they are worth.
My Summary
I thought it was an average book both in its literary merit and its content. It was predictable and didn’t flow well. For me, that probably kept me from really getting into it. I seem to be in the minority on this one, but that’s OK with me. I think there are a few times and places I would use “The Shack,” but quite honestly not many. For instance, I gave it to a Native American “holy man” I met on a plane. I thought it was perfect as an introduction to Christianity for him based on our conversation.
My Concerns
The goal of the book was not to be theological, but in many people’s minds it teaches theology. That concerns me a bit.
The first concern I have is that I believe Scripture should always be our “filter.” I have concerns that the book leans a little heavily on “personal experience” and feeling than on what the Word teaches. Of course to be fair, he was trying to write an allegorical tale, but because of the subject matter the subtle digs on the church / those who find direction in the Word alone are a little concerning. I agree with the book when it talks about seeing God in creation (he is after all the creator), but not at the expense of the Bible.
Another concern I had was the authority issue. If I remember right (it’s been awhile since I read the book), it downplays God’s role (and corresponding authority) in the Trinity. That subtle message begins to cause us to not see the value and importance of God given authority in the church, family, and government.
Things I Liked
The author of “The Shack” clearly states in interviews that this was a book written to his children to tell them about God and was not meant for wider distribution. I don’t know his children, but I know that as a father I want my children to know God. Each of them are in a different place in their journey and the stories I would use to tell them about God would differ. That helps me to offer him grace on some of the issues I have problems with because he knows his children and I don’t.
I love the picture painted in this book of God relentlessly pursuing the main character. I need to be reminded of that again and again in my life.
The picture of forgiveness and how important it is not only for those who have sinned, but those who have been sinned against was cool. Too many people I know stay chained to other people’s sin and can’t see that forgiveness is the way to break that chain.
Final Thoughts
Great and godly men and women disagree with me on this and I’m OK with it. If you liked the book, cool. If you didn’t, fine. Just make sure that you examine everything you read through the lens of Scripture. Of course, you should do that with anything you read…including Scripture.
Snakes, Birds, and the Truth
Aug 22, 2008 Uncategorized
This is my favorite time of year. School gets in session and in many ways it is the beginning of the ministry season at Riv. This year, it’s even bigger because we are in our expanded Holt Venue and we are launching our new East Lansing venue.
Make sure you hit one of our four services this weekend as we launch our new series: Snakes, Birds, and the Truth.
Holt Service Times: Saturday 7:00ish, Sunday 9:30ish and 11:30ish
East Lansing Service Times: Sunday 11:00ish
See you there!
My Wife is Awesome
Aug 21, 2008 Uncategorized
This week I have been all by my lonesome. My wife and kids are in Chicago visiting family until Saturdayish.
While I have gotten a lot done, I realize how much I miss them while they are gone, especially Grace. Last night we talked on the phone for a long time and I realized what I miss the most is just talking every day about all the “stuff” going on in our lives.
It seems silly that conversations about what stores she shopped in, how I captured 30 boxelder bugs, the construction she is facing in Chicago, etc etc are so important, but they are.
These little things add up to a significant part of our lives.
(Oh, sorry to Grace for posting the picture above. I just think it perfectly describes us in so many ways.)
Fun Times
Aug 19, 2008 Uncategorized
My wife is out of town this week visiting family in Chicago with the kids. During this season each year, I do two things:
1) Eat weird things at weird times
2) Work a ton
This week, my extra time has translated into doing something I haven’t done in a long time: working on the set and lights at Riv. That’s right, I have been working on the set crew…in fact, a few of us were at the church until 11ish last night.
And it has been a blast.
I used to do this stuff all the time and I forgot how fun it is and how much work it is. Mad props to Nate, who is the set and lights guru at Riv. The guy is insane.
Make sure you come to Riverview’s Holt Venue this weekend to check out his latest masterpiece. We are launching a new series called “Snakes, Birds, and the Truth” and Kristie has outdone herself again on the artwork as well.
I am stoked.
Pray for us Today
Aug 18, 2008 Uncategorized
Today, we have our annual Riv planning retreat. This is the one day each year that all of the staff and ministry leaders spend the day together. If you think of it, please pray for us today.
Here are some specific prayer requests:
1) That we would be “of one heart and mind.” As we are getting bigger as a staff, it is harder and harder for us all to row in the same direction. Pray for unity on our team.
2) For huge dreams. It is so easy to just get into maintenance mode. Please pray that we will dream dreams that are so huge that God would have to show up if we are to achieve them.
3) For good plans. It is kinda late in the year for us to have this retreat. Through my bad planning, instead of meeting in the spring we are literally meeting 5 days before our big fall rush begins. Please pray that this would not hinder us making great plans.
There are many other things to pray for, but that should get you started. If you would like to follow along with our retreat, check out my Twitter page where I will be twittering updates all day (assuming I have phone access in our remote location). Also, if you would like to type out your prayers here, that would be cool so we can know you are praying!
The Next Jonas Brothers
Aug 16, 2008 Uncategorized
My boys are working on becoming the next big brother group following in the footsteps The Jackson Five, Hanson, and of course their idols Jonas Brothers. They have been performing many concerts for us, writing their own tunes, and of course singing all the time. And when I say “all the time,” I mean ALL THE TIME. In fact, while I am typing this Ethan is singing his new song on the stool next to me.
And so, to bring you into my world, may I present Coley’s rendition of “Burnin’ Up,” which was performed shirtless and a cappella.
