Larry Lessig on User Generated Content.

I found this Presentation on the website Presentation Zen. Ok... it is 18 minutes long... so you are most likely not going to watch the whole thing... though you should... but at least check out the first 2 minutes.

He starts off by talking about how the "talking machine" showed up in the early 1900's created quite a stir in its day.

"In 1906 [John Sousa] traveled to [the United Stated capital], to talk about [a] technology that he called 'the talking machines.' Sousa was not a fan of the talking machines (phonographs). This is what he had to say 'these talking machines are going to ruin the artistic development of music in this country. When I was a boy... in front of every house in the summer evenings you would find young people together singing the songs of the day, or the old songs. Today you hear these infernal machines going night and day. We will not have a vocal chord left,' Sousa said, 'the vocal chords will be elinated by a process of evolution, as was the tale of man when he came from the ape.' ... This is a picture of culture. We could descrivbe it... as a Read/Write culture. Its a culture where people particpate in the creation and the re-creation of their culture, and in that sense its read-write.

Sousa's fear was that we would lose that capacity because of these 'infernal machines.' And in its place we would have the opposite of read-write culture, what we could call a read-only culture.

A culture where creativity is consumed but the consumer is not a creator. A culture which is top-down, owned. Where the vocal chords of the millions have been lost.

Now as you look back at the 20th century, at least in what we think of as the 'developed world,' [it is hard] not to conclude that Sousa was right.

Never before in the history of Human culture had it been as professionalized... never before as concentrated... never before has the creativity of the millions been as effectively displaced, (by these infernal machines).

I think it is clear that he is right. The culture masses have forfeited their right to be creative and original for the right to be massively and passively entertained.

I think this same principal explains so much of what the Christian Church is going through in this country right now. After decade of professionalization, we are realizing that its just better when it is organic, real, and user generated than when it is professional, organized, and slick.

Where have you experienced this? What does it make you think about?

Does Church attendance really change people?

Willow has recently completed a study into how much long term church attendance actually does change people. They found that it is not causing the "guaranteed change" that they thought it was...

A lot of people have used the maxim, "I would rather have people at church for the wrong reasons, than not there at all." I heard it from my mom growing up... But I often wondered if it was really true.

Now... I would say that if by "at church" you mean "an genuine encounter with the dynamic living community of Christ on earth" ... I would have to agree... such an encounter would be beneficial to almost anyone regardless of their original intent for "attending."

BUT...

If "at church" means going to a hour long program where professional people talk and sing, tell us when to stand and sit, and the person next to you likely "doesn't know your name"... I confess I do not see the life changing potential...

I don't think it would have taken a well funded research to discover this...

Just think about it...

Jesus did not start a program but a revolution... A revolution might eventually have buildings... but it starts on the streets...

Jesus taught in the synagogues... but most of his memorable miracles and teachings were in gardens, hilltops, plains, streets, along rivers, by trees, in boats, fishing, and very prominently eating.

Jesus took the message to where people are in two ways...

1. Physically... he took it to their location, rather than inviting them to his location. Even the disciples, first he went to them, before he ask them to Follow him.

2. Culturally... Jesus spoke and illustrated things in the vernacular of his time period and audience. He explained himself using recognizable images.

The world will not be "rescued" by coming to us...

We need to go out.



Who do you know that really gets this... what are they doing?

Presentation overload... or good graphics?

So I went to the catalyst conference this year. They do everything there to the extreme. I enjoyed it but found myself wondering whether I was draw into the worship by them... or distracted from the worship by them.

I realize that this clip fails to capture the essence of being there... but what are your thoughts on the pluses and minuses... benefits and drawbacks to using really stunning visuals as part of the worship experience.

The paradox of well meaning nostalgia...

I was reading Seth Godin's Blog the other day and came across an interesting article about a band that really capture a truth about the church.

Seth writes:

Twenty years ago, the Cowboy Junkies released close to a perfect breakthrough album. It sold a bazillion copies.

Every since, they've been touring ... as they've released almost twenty records, none of them monster hits in the US. The paradox occurs at their concerts... when they play one of the old hits, the crowd goes wild.
The people most likely to come to their concerts are the ones most likely to encourage them to become an oldies act.

...the fans create the paradox. The fans, the ones that should be cheering on the hits and the misses, the ones that should be demanding the next thing, they are the ones that create the paradox, because they're the ones that cheer loudest for the old songs...

This was really interesting to me because I run across it so often in the church. Most of the best churches start off by doing some cultural analysis of their unique community and then forming a church that is a natural expression of the Body of Christ in that community.

This is not a bad thing... it is what we are supposed to do... It is a simple incarnational reflection of what Jesus did when he came to the earth...

Something wierd happens as good churches age though...


Seth sums it up this way:

Your current customers want nothing but the old stuff, but the new customers don't know you exist, so they can't speak up.

Seth rightly identifies that often it is the strongest fans, customer or congregates who can cause an organization or church to become irrelevant and decline.

The more we demand the ways things were... the further we distance ourself from reaching the community that we co-exist with today...

When churches lock into a particular culture or expression, and link it to the gospel, they become incarnations of the pharisees who held to tradition rather than embracing the living expression of God that was right in front of them...

Everyone accepts that the Bible must be translated into new languages... but we need to realize that it needs cultural translation as well...

Where have you seen this principal at work for good or bad?

Turkey day fun...

For thanksgiving Emily and I had a lot of guests. My Brother Cory, his wife Vicky, their two daugters Zoe and Ainzley, and their dog Chewy, along with My mom and dad all were hanging out in Emily and my house for 4 nights of awesome family time.

Total= 3 dogs, 2 infants & 6 adults in a 3 bedroom ranch... NOT Bad at all... there were not fatalities and lots of fun times had.

This time with my family made me consider how thankful that I am for them, even the ones who are dogs...

Favorite moments:

-Watching Emily play guitar hero!
-seeing Ainzely play with the dogs...especially Francis,
-Holding Zoe,
-Getting to hug Ainzely goodnight
-Time off of work.
-Being with people who know you...
-Watching Izzy fight with Chewy
-A few glasses of good wine
-Seeing the pictures of Trent and Julie's new Baby
-Some awesome conversations about life and what is important
-Hearing about the ministry Cory and Vicky are going to be involved with
-Thanks giving dinner with both Emily and my family together
-Working with Cory and my Dad to build a corner cabinet
-staying up late playing Halo and Guitar Hero with Cory,
-Hosting loved ones with Emily!



All in all a good weekend.

Wendy Shalit, Author of "Girls Gone Mild" on youtube.

This is great advice and a little taste of why you should read "Girls Gone Mild"

Changes.... I can feel it in the water...

The World is changing... or has changed.

I think that these are some critical changes that make these times confusing...
-

We are Post Christendom...

The culture is no longer Christian, and the metaphors that people use to explain life have shifted and are largely un-informed by the Biblical Narrative.

-There is a elevated amount of religious bickering and name calling.

Not that this has not always existed, but in my life time, there seems to be more polarized religious camps. Anecdotally I have witnessed this myself, and know of nearly no Christian who has not been effected by Christian name calling and division recently. Labels like: postmodern, modern, emergent, established, etc.

-Language and cultural upheaval:

The cultural values have changed faster than we have. Communication technologies have connect the world, but the church is not keeping up on the information and technology curve. Where we used to have a voice that we used to gain justice for the marginalized... many of our traditions now are viewed to be marginalizing to woman, homosexuals, not to mention polarizing politically, racially, and in regard to gender. How do the good news of liberation and freedom in Jesus day, become so oppressive sounding to so many in these days?

-Technological revolution:

Like it or not, technology is closing the communication game. While we still do not have flying cars, who needs one when you can set up a visual teleconference with people from all over the world at the same time.

-Marketing Overload.

.. changes the methods of gospel presentation. But I have already posted about this...

-Different questions driving culture:

I feel like today people are driven by a different set of questions than before. What questions do you think people are asking today? Where are they searching for meaning?

-Globalism:

Thomas Friedman says the world is flat, and he is largely right. A church now must contend with ideas and influence from all over the world. Mom and Pop are out, and World Market took their place... Along with multinational conglomarates. This means that people are able to interact with ideas from all over the world... and it forces us to interact with them as well...


That is my list of "issues" we face... It is not comprehensive... What is you top five issues the church must face into?

Marketing burnout and the Death of the Gospel "presentation". (rough draft)

I am a marketing cynic... Whenever I am watching TV, driving, answering the phone for tele-marketers, getting my carpet vacuumed for free by a actual door to door salesman, walking through the mall, watching movies, or even the 15 minute run up to actually being able to watch a DVD that I purchased I am struck by how sick of marketing that I am. I am not alone either... do you think anyone really wishes there were more billboards or more adds before the menu comes up on a DVD?

I have an allergic reaction to the sales pitch.

In a strange coincidence my allergies also go crazy in churches, Christian bookstores, evangelistic meetings, christian concerts, or even just listening to christians talk. Sometimes in the middle of a sentence I realize I am even allergic to my own christian slogans...

I do not think I am alone here either.

Could it be that the further we position the story of God from the marketing schemes of the world, which over promise and under deliver, the better? Maybe instead of buying into the communication philosophy of commercialism and get rich or happy quick products, we should do our best to offer a real solution that stands on its own merits and does not need to be propped up like the wooden idols of Isaiah's day.

I think Jesus can stand on his own... and that the best marketing we can do is truly living and loving like he did... that would be viral...

I am all for sharing Jesus and his love with other people...I just don't want to do it like a high pressure salesman anymore...

Do I really want people to feel like I have sold them a used car that they didn't want with monthly payments they can't afford after I leave...

My suggestion is that we stop patting each other on the back about how many times we have "presented" the "simple gospel" or the "x # of spiritual laws" and start doing the hard work of learning to live and love like Jesus in this post-christian culture...

if our live does not make them ask, then we have nothing to say anyway...

In the mean time... can someone pass the allegra?

"GIRLS GONE MILD": A fresh look at modesty.

I recently asked some middle school students to define the word "Modesty" and they acted like I was speaking a different language. It was like they had never heard the word before, and based on the way that many in our culture live, I would say we have lost not only the word, but the whole concept of Modesty. It seems that the very idea of holding anything back is somehow offensive to our culture.

There seems to be some loud voice telling everyone to cast off all restraint and go "wild..." especially if the camera is watching.

Well... there is a cost to all this "freedom." Wendy Shalit has written a book called "Girls Gone Mild" where she articulately chronicles some of the effects that she has observed in her research.

Her first chapter entitled "HI Slut" makes some great points about this issue. Here are a few:

"To some baby boomers, it seemed, modesty is much worse than adultery"

"Although we live in a supposedly liberated age, our hysterical witch-hunting of those who question our ideal of recreational sex suggests something else: that our liberation does not extend quite as far as we imagine."

"Today many young women feel oppressed by the expectation that they will engage in casual sex, just as their mothers once felt oppressed by the expectation that they would be virgins until marriage."

What do you think?

How would you define modesty?

What motivation would you give to a young person to be modest?

Check out her website here or read the first chapter of her book here

Better yet, buy the book here

Blogging, disclaimers, and drive by "confrontation"

OK... I must be a little bit desirous of trouble because I blog my inner thoughts on the internet for the whole world to see. Being a pastor of at a church, and working with students and parents makes blogging an especially hazardous pastime. Yet, I still do it, which means I must desire the conflict on some deep repressed level of my subconsciousness.

I have thought a lot about this, especially lately, because a few people have been offended by various things I have endorsed, mentioned or opined about. I am always a little surprised when this happens... and I am not sure why. Today I got a phone call from someone who was very upset about my Blog... upset enough to call and leave me a long message about it...

Unfortunately their message also indicated that they will be out of town for a few weeks and would not be able to talk about it until then...

Anyway... all of that got me to thinking...

1. Should I have a blog as a pastor?

2. If so... how much should I censor what I write about... or reveal about myself and my thoughts.

3. Is there a way that I could truly write a disclaimer strong enough to somehow lesson the connection between "my ideas and thoughts" and "official Elmbrook policy and belief"

4. What things have I written about which were offensive to people? Was the offense avoidable?

5. How do we deal with conflict over ideas and new technology in a way that minimizes discord within the Church community?


What do you think?

Squirrel siting...

Squirrel Reader and relative Mike has used his crazy awesome paparazzi skills to capture the squirrel out on the town... or tree stump as the case may be. Sources close to the squirrel mentioned that he is prone to binge eating in the fall time, and that perhaps the publicity of this picture might help him get help.

Peeps: Explosive Peer Pressue

Phil gives into peer pressure with explosive results.

Help Me Decided...

I thought it would be fun to involve the loyal readers in a little slice of my life. I have a winter retreat coming up for our Middle School group and have to figure out which design to go with.

I like both.

SO which do you prefer?



Sno Rodeo is the Mosaic Middle School Ministry winter camp. This year's theme is "The Rise of the Ordinary Hero". We will explore how students don’t have to be “Extra-ordinary” to make a difference in their world, because we serve a “Extra-ordinary” God, who uses ordinary people. When connected to this super God everyone can make the world better for someone almost every day.








This is another option that I considered...

Peeps: Making New friends is hard.

Sometimes it's hard to make new friends. Phil the peep and Francis the puppy look like they are going to be friends

Peeps Video... some things are worse than being alone.

We have some strange things we do to make a point.

Paul thanks for asking... I am right here.



(PS... Paul is an awesome photographer)

Scandalous

So a few observant readers have noted that the picture on this blog is actually of red squirrel and not a brown squirrel. Who knew... but the whole town is buzzing with the scandal...


Fear not all you avid brown squirrel readers... (both of you)... this will not discourage his legendary-ness... but the adventure will continue...

after all... the color in the adventure was never about the official color of the squirrel...

but about the squirrels true colors...

which remain unabashedly brown...

Painfully true...

(image: www.despair.com)

Awesome ministry Insight from John Stott...

Several weeks ago I heard a mp3 of John Stott's Final address. Stott has been a stalwart of evangelical faith for half a century, and to be honest I was not expecting much from the message. My own cynical struggles aside, I was quite surprised when the message held some incredible and timely wisdom for the church.

I will lay out what I thought was the most significant stream of thought in it... but feel free to read it for yourself and tell me what I missed.

I want to share with you where my mind has come to rest as I approach the end of my pilgrimage on earth and it is – God wants His people to become like Christ. Christlikeness is the will of God for the people of God.

[There is a] sense in which the Incarnation was not unique: the amazing grace of God in the Incarnation of Christ is to be followed by all of us. The Incarnation, in that sense, was not unique but universal. We are all called to follow the example of His great humility in coming down from heaven to earth.

[In] his commissioning in John 17 [Jesus] says ‘As the Father sent me into the world, so I send you.’ These words are immensely significant. This is not just the Johannine version of the Great Commission but it also an instruction that their mission in the world was to resemble Christ’s mission. In what respect? The key words in these texts are ’sent into the world’. As Christ had entered our world, so we are to enter other people’s worlds.

This entering into other people’s worlds is exactly what we mean by incarnational evangelism. All authentic mission is incarnational mission. We are to be like Christ in his mission.

Why is it, you must have asked, as I have, that in many situations our evangelistic efforts are often fraught with failure? Several reasons may be given and I do not want to over-simplify but one main reason is that we don’t look like the Christ we are proclaiming.

John Poulton, who has written about this in a perceptive little book entitled A today sort of evangelism, wrote this:

‘The most effective preaching comes from those who embody the things they are saying. They are their message. Christians need to look like what they are talking about. It is people who communicate primarily, not words or ideas. Authenticity gets across. deep down in side people, what communicates now is basically personal authenticity.’

What thoughts does this generate for you?

Systems are more important that mission statements...

This was the main point of a talk by Andy Stanley at catalyst. I was really engaged by the concept. Marva dawn has written a whole book on how human systems are effected by sin and create injustice. But for the purpose of church leadership, here are Andy's points that I liked.

Systems create behaviors...

Preaching and Cool environments do not create behaviors; systems create behaviors.

A system is the way that your organization gets things done, or fails too.

The system you adopt will impact what staff and volunteers do... 80% of your problems are most likely related to systems...

For Example: If people in your church are not inviting people.... it is because there is a system that is creating that behavior... an announcement does not do this.. nor a video... nor _______

Your church is a combination of multiple systems... if you don't fix them, you will spend time blaming people, firing people, and never figure out why things don't change.

if you dont address things on the system level, nothing changes...

Components of a Good system (or lack of):
1. Expectations / rules...
2. Rewards (or lack of...)
3. Consequences... (or lack of...)
4. Communication, (style and content...)
5. Behavioral patterns (of those in charge...)

Look at those five things and ask what are the expectations in our organizations... (what do we reward... )

In any organization, what's rewarded is repeated.

---> Missions statements are less significant than systems....

--->Your staff is doing what you have led and rewarded them to do...


1. This principal explains why it is so difficult to transition an organization...

2. If a new leader casts a new vision and never addresses old systems, nothing changes.

Change the system... change the organization...

IF you create a context in which leaders are free to lead, and you will attract leaders...



Three Questions that we need to ask ourselves as we explore this stuff...

1. What are the behaviors that we wish characterized our people and organization?

2. List one thing we are doing systematically to encourage them?
-What are we doing in the rhythm of our organization to get it?

3. List the things you are doing to encourage wrong behavior?