Ghandi
Mother Teresa
Nelson Mandela
Jesus
My senior school French teacher
Influenced and changed society because of who there are, what they did, and what they stand for.
Forbes top ten power list
BRW RIchest 100
Politicians
Tabloid celebs.
Known for what they take or earn.
How is your church positioned within your community?
What is it known for? What it takes, or what it gives?
Rhythm. It is a sweet, sweet concept.
Rhythm isn't something that can be manufactured. It is something that comes from deep, deep within. You just feel it. It seems to happen out of something that is unexplainable, yet seems to come naturally without a second thought.
Out of the rhythm comes a beauty, a harmony that is sweet and can sooth the soul beyond measure.
Teams that run in rhythm are just like this. Different people, with different strengths, gifts that when they are together in rhythm sing a harmony that is sweet as cherry pie, or create a visual masterpiece that just seems to breathe life into your soul.
Does your team have rhythm? What does it does it look like for your team?
Breathe deeply. Listen carefully. What do you hear? What do you see?
My local paper, the Herald Sun recently reported that the Salvation Army had set up a stand at a local porn industry show called Sexpo.
The Salvos say that they are going to offer a Christian view of sexuality. They won't be condemning those who are there. They are using materials developed by XXXChurch called Jesus loves porn stars. It contains stories from those in the sex industry and a contemporary translation of the Gospel of John.
They are prepared to do what no other church is prepared to do at least that I'm aware of in Australia. Positively engage in unfamiliar, and I dare say uncomfortable territory. For the Salvos, it's not an issue of sexuality, but an issue of justice. They are sending their Social Justice Director, not their fiercest preacher.
I for one applaud you Salvos. Great innovative vision & strategy.
They are using innovative ways to communicate to those that no one is reaching.
It seems that I'm not the only one who think they are doing a good thing. The readers of the Herald Sun thought it was appropriate venue for them to preach at being there 68% yes 31% no. That has to be a first. The general public are overwhelming in favour of a church being there.
Makes me ask the question. Again.
What innovative ways is my church communicating to those that no one is reaching.
I know, I know. The headline was kinda a sucker headline. But I'm learning how to write creative headlines at the moment.
An (un)official Australian Church web directory
It's not a top 100 movers & shakers list, or a top 100 rich list, or a top 10 web apps list. It's just a list. Not a definitive list by any means. Just a reference point if you are looking for church websites in Australia.
Is your church In Australia? Drop in a comment and add your url to the list. Or pass onto a friend so they can add their church url!
Christian City Church Oxford Falls
Christian City Church Whitehorse
Northside Christian Church (Soon to be Nexus Church)
We've been reviewing different Church Management Systems (ChMS) over the last year to upgrade our current database because our existing database wasn't meeting all of the functionality that was being set for the future.
This series of blog posts is a bit of a inside peek on my journey and the lessons I learnt.
I thought I would start with an overview of how we came to our conclusion and the product we are in the process of implementing right now.
Selection Methodology. Our research and decision thought through the following grid:
1) The brief: What do we need to do?
2) Discovery: What are our existing needs and future needs?
3) The search: Options. There are many different ChMS around. We looked at different 'oranges', and tossed out the lemons. And yes there were a few zesty lemons out there.
4) Review and shortlist: Which is the best ChMS fit? Will the ChMS answer the brief? Will it meet existing and future needs. Lemon tossing time. And also some orange tossing too.
5) Recommendations: Which is the closest glove to our hand.
I'm curious. Who are you?
Hold on. I wasn't asking that profound kinda question that requires you to look deep inside yourself and ponder your inner self.
The reason why I want to know who you are is that I have people from so many different countries visit my blog in the last month since it launched. I've had visitors from Sweden, Malaysia, Denmark, Belgium, United Kingdom, Canada, South Africa, Germany, USA and Australia to name a few.
So again. I'm curious.
Who are you? Why did you visit? Was your visit work related or totally unrelated?
Drop me a line in the comments.
"To reach those who no one is reaching we have to do things that no one else is doing."
Frankly this thought blew me away. It was originally from a talk that Craig Groeshel gave at Catalyst Conference in the U.S.
I've tweaked it to make it more relevant to my role at Crossway and it's done my head in.
'To communicate to those who no one is reaching we have to communicate in ways that no one is communicating.'
I don't have many answers. Infact it is promoting more questions than anything.
Some would say more Facebook, Twitter and other social media tools. Others would say we have to get back to the basics and just make it all about Jesus and relationships.
What do you think? Is there anything new under the sun?
Remember the Nike ad campaign which was centred around Michael Jordan? It was called "be like Mike" there was a catchy jingle and various cutaways of Mike owning the basketball court.
When it comes to website design many churches often "wanna be like Mike" and immitate the largest/fastest growing church or highest profile pastor in their denomination. They immitate design, site architecture or latest sermon series. Immitating isn't a bad thing in itself in our low/no budget/GFC environment if you are a church who's culture, identity is similar or identical.
But often the church that immitates is nothing like the 'Mike' church. Take time to discover who you are.
Don't be like Mike. Be you.
They say that life begins at 40.
Today is a big milestone in my life. I'm 40. So let it begin!
According to some people I'm supposed to be going through a mid-life crisis.
You know, driving a big red sports car. Sorry I've got a Subaru wagon.
I'm supposed to feel my age. Sorry again, I feel like (and my wife says I act like) a kid on the inside.
Today I've decided to be thankful. Thankful to God for my family, my friends, my church, my memories of days gone by and what is yet to be.
I'm also thankful for you. I hope that the blogs past, present and future will add value to your life, your work.
Thanks.
