Pulling Our Boats: When Culture and Technology Hinder

I was watching PBS recently (as always) and saw a great episode of Nova titled “Arctic Passage“. It detailed the failed Franklin Polar Expedition from the 1850’s.
Outfitted with the best 19th century technology, Sir John Franklin set out on a journey to navigate a northwest passage through the Arctic waters north of Canada. [...]

What are you waiting for?

Woke up with this question bouncing around my head this morning…
What are you waiting for?
As I was coming up in church there was always a sense that we were waiting on God to bring revival or to do something stupendous to that would be like flicking the first spiritual domino in a long chain of [...]

Permission and Mindset

Continuing some thoughts on permission and creating environments of innovation…
The “big news” of the weekend was Colin Powell’s endorsement of Barack Obama.  
I think there will be some Republicans who hear what the General has to say and will be influenced by it.  Certainly, some will join him and “convert”.  Not all, but some.
Colin Powell [...]

Hello, my name is…

For the past nine months or so, I have been thinking and writing and talking to God about identity.  
Who am I?
Why am I?
You know, the basic existential questions that make up most teenage angst and mid-life crises.
The big question I have been asking is, “What am I using to define who I am?”  
I [...]

Brett Favre and the Body of Christ

So, what happens when a guaranteed Hall of Fame quarterback decides to call it a career? 
Well, we hold press conferences where tough guys cry.  We heap praise on them and begin to talk about their accomplishments in reverential tones. 
Then we move on…
But, what happens when he decides to come back?  You get the Packers vs. [...]

Wondering…

Wondering if I am less effective trying to make an impact than I would be if I was simply living like God was real…
Wondering if my desire to see change on a massive scale has blinded my ability to see the incredibly beautiful, wonderfully small things happening around me…
Wondering if I have spent too much [...]

Essential Relationships for Worship Leaders – Media/Tech Director

Continuing thoughts on key relationships for worship leaders…
One of the best friends a worship leader can have is Media/Tech Director. Anyone who has ever grabbed a microphone understands that they have little control over the sound. The guy on the sound board at the front of house can have a huge impact.
My media director and [...]

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 [...]

Before you hit “SEND”…

Great post from Seth Godin on double checking your emails before sending…
Some of my favorite points…
10. Have I corresponded with this person before?
11. Really? They’ve written back? (if no, reconsider email).
13. Am I angry? (If so, save as draft and come back to the note in one hour).
Ever have an email “disaster”?

QRT and Worship Disasters

One of the most important qualities anyone can have at THE CHURCH of Jacksonville or THE CHURCH Group Worldwide is called QRT. It comes from Pastor Mike’s Ten Commandments for Excellence.
Quick Recovery Time.
It’s not how you function when everything is well, but rather how you function when everything that goes wrong, that distinguishes people [...]