Recent Articles
Gas Prices in 1998
Oct 2, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments
Thanks to Innovation Timeline for sharing this video about gas prices in 1998. That’s a mere ten years ago, for those of you who are bad at math.
Song of Solomon Girl
Oct 1, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
OK, this is brilliant (via The Ongoing Adventures of ASBO Jesus). If you don’t know what this means, read the Song of Solomon.
Picture of the Day
Sep 30, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments
I don’t know why this struck me so funny but I just spit coffee out of my mouth when I saw it.
(via A Picture Is Worth 1000 LOLz)
I may have to move to New York
Sep 29, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
I have never been so tempted to move to New York City as I was when I saw this proposed skyscraper.
If only I could figure out a way to build something similar in Holt.
ESV Study Bible
Sep 26, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments
You have really got to give mad props to the people behind the ESV. They have really done a great job going all Web 2.0 on the launch of the new ESV Study Bible.
They have the ESV Study Bible Blog.
They have PDFs previews of tons of the resources included in the Bible.
They have 20 different embedable videos pitching different aspects of the Bible.
They have an online version which comes free with the purchase of the Bible and of course they announced this on YouTube:
They have endorsements on their site from scholars, pastors, and you guessed it: bloggers.
It seems everywhere I look, people are talking about it.
And it hasn’t launched yet. Amazing.
Nice work, ESV team, you have some great viral marketing going on.
I ordered my copy today.
BTW, looking around, I think the cheapest place to get it is Amazon. It’s only like $30 (with Free Shipping) and I suspect it will be totally worth it.
Politics Part 3
Sep 25, 2008 Uncategorized 7 Comments
Whenever I mention politics at Riv, I get emails that all ask pretty much the same thing.
Why do you/ Riverview not share your political views with the church?
I figured since I get this question so often, I should post my response here.
Let me say at the outset that I believe very strongly in our way of government and that each citizen (and each Christ follower) should vote their conscience. In fact, I have posted about this several times on my blog lately. I read this quote once and loved it:
“Religion should not be the exclusive possession of the Republican or Democratic Party, the right or the left, but must be able to critique and challenge both. And clearly, in this election, Christians will be voting both ways, because of their faith.”
Here are a few reasons I don’t make politics an issue:
1. People are all over the map politically at Riverview and many of them take the position they do because they believe “it is the most Christian position.” One side may see abortion as the main issue, the other may see human rights abuses at Guantanamo as a bigger issue. One may see stewardship of the environment as essential, the other may see freedom and liberty as essential. Each of these positions have faith in Jesus as their basis.
2. Because of this, I don’t believe either candidate has a monopoly on “morality” or on being “Jesus’ party.”
3. It is illegal for me to endorse a candidate as a pastor at Riverview and encourage people to vote for that candidate. We could lose our tax excempt status.
4. Focusing on politics has the potential to divide unneccesarily.
5. Focusing on politics runs to risk of us losing our focus on Jesus.
Next Riv Production?
Sep 25, 2008 Uncategorized 7 Comments
Recently I posted the next Riv Band. Should this be the next production they put on? (via MondayMorningInsight.com and thanks to Rick for finding a copy after it had been removed)
It’s a shame this wasn’t performed with a sense of irony.
What holds you back?
Sep 24, 2008 Uncategorized 49 Comments
This weekend James Granger is launching into a 2 week mini-series at Riv’s Holt Venue on the Pace of Life. John Freeman is going to be teaching at the East Lansing Venue on Villains of the New Testament. Both of these are going to be awesome, so make sure you check them out.
Meanwhile, I’m working on my next series which will start on October 11th.
This is where I need your help. This series is going to be on the things that hold us back from going all out for Jesus. I have a bunch of ideas, but I don’t want to be limited to what is in my puny brain.
So, here’s my question: What holds you back?
A Plan for Church Growth
Sep 24, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Thanks to Dan for sending this amazing plan for Church Growth. The author gives 8 pieces of advice, with a commentary for each. Since Dan is the one who sent this out, I will only print the commentary for his main area of ministry. To read the rest, you’ll have to go read the whole thing.
Stop preaching crappy sermons.
Get rid of the prayer announcer.
Your praise band sucks. Get rid of it. It is a proven, scientific fact that only 2.3% of praise bands actually put on that slick-as-snot professional performance every Sunday morning. The problem is that to do that kind of music the way it’s meant to be done, you need to have actual professionals and tons of practice. Most churches are too small to afford that (yes, afford), and they’re also too small to cull that kind of talent. And since if you have one of those bands, you’re too important to be reading my blog, I assure you that your praise band sucks. Also, fire your “worship pastor.”You have some crap hymns in your hymnal. Don’t sing them.
Quit acting like such a fruit up there.They’re supposed to be announcements, not Chinese Water Torture.
Teach stuff. Seriously.
Get to know your people and care about them.
Catching up on Reading
Sep 23, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments
I am just starting a two week break from teaching at Riv, which means I am finally catching up on my reading pile. Usually, when I am in a teaching season, I find myself working slowly through a few books but I have a hard time digesting anything too “meaty.”
For instance, I have been reading “The Black Swan: The Impact of the Highly Improbable” (Nassim Nicholas Taleb) for more than a month. This is a book that deserves serious time and attention, but alas, I have been denying it.
But I digress.
This morning, I grabbed the book that was on the top of my pile. It was an advanced copy of “Achievement IQ Moments” by Stanley F. Bronstein, who I follow on Twitter. Immediately, I realized this should have been the book I was reading through my teaching season. It’s a super easy read and there are some inspiring stories in there.
Basically, the author travelled around interviewing a bunch of people who had achieved amazing stuff in their lives. The main thing he looked for was some sort of trigger moment that got them moving. Some of the people he interviewed are decently big names, some you have never heard of. He then took 50 of them around wrote out their stories in this book.
It’s always inspiring to read stuff like this and it made me think of two things:
- I can’t wait to one day get to heaven and see how God has woven billions of people’s lives together into the one big story he is working on.
- I wish someone would travel around and do interviews like this with Christ-followers in different arenas. They could interview pastors, business leaders, grandmas, little league coaches, etc. about how they leveraged their lives for Jesus and what the trigger was that got them moving.
Of course, one of the quotes in Bronstein’s book was this one:
“Anything one person can imagine, other people can make real.”
- Jules Verne
So I guess what I’m saying is if you want to write that book, go for it. Just thank me in the front somewhere. 
Coley sings a song he doesn’t know
Sep 23, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments
A few weeks ago, I posted a video of Coley singing the Jonas Brothers song “Burnin’ Up.” Well, he knew the words to that song. “Bet on it” from High School Musical is a song he doesn’t know quite as well.
Recently he was watching the DVD in the van and singing along with his headset on.
Enjoy.
Eat It
Sep 22, 2008 Uncategorized 9 Comments
Somewhere in the neighborhood of a decade ago, I did this video tribute to Michael Jackson’s “Eat It.” It was the first video we ever made for our youth group and it was a hit around these parts. Now, I laugh at the production quality, etc, but I thought I’d post it at my own expense.
I referred to it this past weekend at Riv and promised I’d throw myself under the bus by posting it, so here it is . Enjoy.
Creative Nutjobs
Sep 19, 2008 Uncategorized 4 Comments
If you’ve been to Riv, you know we have some crazy uber talented artists. Kristie (our Creative Director) oversees a cast of nutjobs called the Black Shirt Club (or “Bacon Satisfier Club” depending on who you ask). This group seeks to translate each message series into art. That means the set, the graphics, the program, the music, the lighting, the videos, etc.
We see this as vitally important because there are so many right brained people out there. We want the creative side of our services to communicate along with the more linear side into a cohesive message.
We also create art because we are made in God’s image and he is an artist himself.
Why do I bring this up?
Because I know there are artists out there who would like to help. Maybe you are good at making videos or sculpting or painting or photography or **insert your art form here***. We can use you! Just shoot Kristie an email at Kris...@RivChurch.com to let her know you want to help. Oh, and be prepared to show her samples of your work (we are pretty particular on quality).
Also, if you like to build things, we could use your help big time. Now that we are in the new auditorium, we are getting a little more ambitious in our set design. This last set took Nate a crazy amount of time to build and he is a volunteer. If you would like to help with that side of things, contact Nate at Nate...@RivChurch.com.
Tagging Rebel
Sep 19, 2008 Uncategorized 2 Comments
Billy tagged me to do one of those meme things last week. Normally, I don’t do these but since it’s Billy I’ll make an exception. Of course, I’m going to be a rebel and change the rules.
Here are his rules and my edits:
1. Post the rules on your blog
2. Write 6 random things about yourself
3. Tag 6 people at the end of your post anyone who feels like doing it
4. If you’re tagged, DO IT and pass on the tag
Here’s my randomness:
- I drink too much Diet Coke and Diet Dr. Pepper
- I have a pair of skinny pants that I just barely fit into this week
- I have two Jesus bobbleheads
- I only like to write with one kind of pen
- I always match my belt buckle and socks to my clothes but no one ever sees them
- I do cartoon voices to entertain my kids
Afterward Q&A
Sep 17, 2008 Uncategorized Leave a comment
This weekend I am going to be the target at a Q&A night at “The Afterward.”
So, if you need something to do Saturday Night, come to Riv’s service at 7ish then hang out afterward to listen to me squirm a lot, hem and haw a bit, and answer a few questions.
Politics Part 2
Sep 17, 2008 Uncategorized 6 Comments
(via bob.blog)
This monologue by Craig Ferguson is absolutely brilliant. And just in case my previous post made you think I don’t care at all about the upcoming election or politics in general, let this video speak for me.
And my previous post still stands….I’m not telling you who I am voting for.
Just call me “Tarp”
Sep 17, 2008 Uncategorized 6 Comments
According to the Sarah Palin Baby Name Generator, if she were my mom, I would be
Tarp Lazer Palin
Brilliant.
Picture of the Day
Sep 17, 2008 Uncategorized 5 Comments
This one requires no commentary from me. (via A Picture Is Worth 1000 LOLz)
Politics
Sep 16, 2008 Uncategorized 3 Comments
I have had a lot of people ask me recently who I’m going to vote for in the upcoming election, what my “political leanings” are, etc. I have had a few suggest I should at minimum blog about the upcoming election or at most teach a series at Riv.
That’s why I was so glad to read Mark Batterson’s interview with LeadershipJournal.net. He is a pastor in Washington DC and has to respond to these types of questions often. Here’s a great answer he gave to this question:
When someone new arrives at National Community Church, how do you encourage them to leave their politics at the door?
Loud silence. In a city that’s always talking about politics, it’s noticeable when we don’t talk about it. We want church to be a safe place to hear a dangerous message, and it’s not a political message. It’s the message of the cross. We’re very intentional about avoiding political stuff or anything that will distract from our core message. So, we’re screening our bulletin, we’re analyzing what we say up front. We keep it pretty simple. And I think that’s what’s really protected us from being distracted by the politics around us.
Here’s some thoughts on government I posted a while back.
