Independence Day in a Multi-national World

One of the truly unique experiences I have as host of an internet-based church community is the interaction with people from all over the world.  It continually challenges my “set ways” of thinking about how I operate and interact with the world around me. 
On any given Sunday, it is not unusual for people from several [...]

O’Charley’s and Breaking Through the Barrier of the Background

The family and I had a great dinner experience at the O’Charley’s on Atlantic Blvd in Jacksonville this evening. Special thanks to Ashley, our waitress, and Tracy, the kitchen manager, for making us feel so at home.  We really enjoyed ourselves and plan on returning soon. 
Just a couple of thoughts from my experience…
 

We have lived [...]

The Changing Face of Christian Ministry

I am sitting here this morning bouncing around online and something is abundantly clear.
WHAT A GREAT TIME TO BE A PART OF THE BODY OF CHRIST!
It is really amazing to see, hear, and read all that God is doing in all the various parts of His church. No one can deny that there has [...]

The Eye for Average

Average is not a word most of us would like used to describe us.  Certainly, we wouldn’t want to describe our church as “average”.
And yet, we will make plans or form thoughts based on an idea of the average person.
So many have limited themselves because they are unwilling to expect more than the average person.
The [...]

Just remake yourself… Lessons from The Incredible Hulk

One of the summer’s anticipated movies is The Incredible Hulk starring Edward Norton. It is not unusual for a studio to offer a sequel comic book movie five years after the original. It is unusual for them to essentially revamp the entire story and act like the first movie never existed.
In 2003, there [...]

Facebook? Twitter? Why? (cont’d)

Thanks to Tony Steward for finding this…
Social Media in Plain English from leelefever on Vimeo.

Facebook? Twitter? Why?

 
Over the last several months, I have slowly entered the world of online community. First with Facebook, then blogging, and now Twitter. 
The big question/objection I’ve received from others when it comes up is either:

“Don’t you have anything better to do?”
“I don’t have time for that…”

My reasons are simple.
In an increasingly technology driven world, I believe [...]

Aspiration of Art within the Church

Continuing thoughts on artistic expression within the church…
Every culture has a form, style, or place of prominence that its members aspire to. They are the standards by which everything is measured.  And much of what we do, whether intentional or not, is informed by these external forces.
And the church is no different.
In most churches on [...]

Innovative Use of Silverlight and DeepZoom

Thanks to John for the following link…
Check out this great functionality by combining Silverlight and DeepZoom.
There are some tremendous opportunities for expanding the online experience.  Any ideas?

Confidence in awkwardness…

Talking with a filmmaker friend recently about artistic expression within the church…
It seems that finding genuinely creative thoughts, concepts, stories, and images is difficult within the church world.  Every movie is either about what Jesus did or will do.  Cross and Rapture.  That’s it.  
I think the struggle stems from the feeling that we have [...]