Yes, I sort of borrowed the idea from Andrew Conrad, so go check his blog out.

• Craig Groeschel over at LifeChurch.tv’s Swerve has been talking about church metrics.  A good read for any church leader.
• Terry Storch and the Digerati Team of LifeChurch.tv pushed out some new features of YouVersion.com, including the NIV version.  Youversion is an awesome tool.
• Ed Young is blogging!  He did a funny little video..
• Mark Batterson writes just a little bit about the reach of technology over at TheaterChurch
• Tim Stevens, Exec Pastor over at GCC, announced that his new site for his book, Pop Goes the Church, is up and running!  I cannot wait to read the book.
• Josh Scott gives some great thoughts on marketing, go check out his blog. He also is hooked on twitter and posted a cool video on what twittering is.
• Shawn Wood from Seacoast church is getting ready to release his book, gonna be a good one.

Thats all for now!  You can always check the Church IT aggregate feed for more.

I just finished re-reading the Phil Vischer blog post about “The Fall of the Big Idea“.. no not this Big Idea..

Phil’s story, which is also told in full in his book, always makes me re-evaluate what’s going on. It makes me want to ask the questions: What am I doing? Why am I doing it? What did I mean to be doing? Am I sure? God? Bueller?

We get so busy going about what we think we should be doing, we forget about going about doing what Christ wants us to do. Is that site really that important? How about those two Equallogic SANs I just got approved and purchased? Why are we doing that program? Hey, I’m just as guilty.

Phil’s story relates just as much on a business/ministry front as it does in our personal lives. (I really almost typed spiritual lives there, but like Rob Bell says, everything is spiritual… we cannot separate the two parts out.. spiritual and non-spiritual.)

Are we reaching out to our communities and the neighbors down the road? How are we interacting with our family members? Are we really letting the Christ IN us affect our OUTward lives?

It’s really like a roundhouse kick in the face by !Chuck thinking about it and taking it to heart and seeking God.

Thoughts?

Heard these while listening to Ed Gungor.  Thought they were good enough to post!

The world of performance is not a reflection of God.

Faith is supposed to be a response to this wonderful person who is in pursuit of us.

We turn prayer from being an open response to a pursuing creator to a performance to try and get him to pay attention to us.

  The Broadway production of The Phantom of the Opera will be coming to Tulsa this June.  The first and last time I saw this show was in 2002 in Oklahoma City.  I went in very skeptical; thinking that I was not going to enjoy the show at all.  Afterwards, I really was surprised about how much I liked it.

    Needless to say, I’ve got tickets on the floor of the TulsaPAC for June 28th.  Very excited!

Anyone else seen Phantom or any other Broadway show you liked?

Well, the last book update was quite awhile ago.

Quick Reviews:

I finished the Big Idea and loved it. I think the collaboration that Dave Furgeson talks about makes a whole lot of sense on many levels. Its a recommended read to anyone involved in ministry. Even if you aren’t on a pastoral staff, you could glean a lot of information of how to curtail information overload by simplifying the message.

On the other hand, I never finished Organic Church. While I agreed with some of what Neil Cole was talking about, I felt he may have gone a little to the extreme on the future of the church and focused a wee much that home or organic churches are where it’s at. I have to agree more with Tony Morgan who believes that many different types of churches, both home and mega-churches and all those in between can coexist as long as it is the design of the Lord. I’ll probably go back and try finishing the book, but I needed a break from it.

Next Up:

unChristian by David Kinnaman – This book talks about the state of perception of Christians in the minds of 16-29 year olds. So far the book isn’t surprising on its results, but nevertheless it is still as thought provoking as it could be. Kinnaman not only presents the results of their surveys, he offers ways in which we can help change perception without compromising our moral beliefs. So far so good.

Absolute Friends by John Le Carre – Everyone needs a little fun reading. I like spy novels. Most guys like spies.. so its fitting. With all the stats and serious talk and work, I need a mental break. Le Carre wrote the Spy Who Came in From the Cold and The Russia House, both very good books turned films.

Be sure and check out the upcoming MinistryTECH Conference in Oklahoma City, April 3-4.  Going to be a lot of amazing sessions and great people to meet. Registration is almost sold out!

I unfortunately will probably not make it… but…

The Church IT Spring Roundtable is the following Saturday April 5th.  Jason Powell has all the information you need.  I’ll be at this one.  Registration is$15..  It’s gonna be worth it and I’ll be there!  Not that I come anywhere near THE Jason.

This year I decided I was going to participate in Lent. Quite a few people have asked me why I decided to do such a thing since it’s “not in the Bible” and quite a few Bible School students I know didn’t even know what it was and those that did associated just with the Roman Catholic Church.  I think some more church history lessons are needed.

Lent lasts 40 days (like Christ’s 40 days in the desert), generally from Ash Wednesday to Holy Saturday. In this time, we are to remember and prepare for the commemoration of the death, burial, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Ed Gungor, Pastor of Peoples Church, describes the Lent season as a time in which we to make room for God in our lives.  I know I get busy with all the things going on in my life and take more into thought material items than I do Christ and his everlasting love for us.

I decided to remove Pop (or soda for you other people).  I’ve had pop all of my life and never go without it each day.  I have to say the first two weeks were stinking hard.   But every time I had a battle, I did my best to keep the focus on why I was doing this seemingly trivial abstinence.  Needless to say, there were quite a few occurrences and struggles.

I have to say I recommend participating in Lent for any Christ-follower, even us Charismatics and Protestants..  It’s been a very good experience and time to regain some focus back on Christ.

• Buffalo Wild Wings has a very high turnover rate of employees..makes it hard on consistency.. #
• Installing a CC processing software…yeah fun! #

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• I do not like mornings.. nope nope nope #
• Eating at 5andDiner for my bro’s birthday..strawberry lemonade is great! #

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• I’d love to blog tonight, but I’m just too tired anymore. #
• Setting up for the uscaa basketball tourney this week..audio broadcasting #
• Rocklobster! #
• Driving a friends convertible..its a nice evening =) #

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