Friday, April 27, 2012

Follow Friday: Joel Osteen

I swear to you, if I ever become the pastor of a mega church, I will get a giant spinny golden earth to stand in front of.

Love him or hate him, Joel Osteen is one of the most influential pastors in the United States. Located in the former Compaq Center in Houston, Texas, Lakewood Church is the largest congregation in the United States with over 43,000 in attendance every weekend. And that doesn't count the people in over 100 countries around the world who watch him preach on TV, read his books, and follow him on Twitter or Facebook.

I had a chance to sit down with the good reverend for a completely fake and in no way real interview.

Me: Hi Joel, thanks for agreeing to do this interview.

Joel: It's my pleasure. I want to help your blog become everything God intended for it to be.

Me: That's very kind. Do you think it has potential?

Joel: UNLIMITED potential! Have you prayed for more followers? More readers?

Me: Not really. I mean, I just want to do my best, and if people like it, great. If not, it must not be meant to be and I'll just do something else.

Joel: Dan, my son, if you don't ask God for the followers, you'll never get them. God is just waiting to pour out a blessing of readers upon you that you cannot even fathom.

Me: Well, my goal isn't necessarily to have the most followed blog. It's just to do my best and give people a chance to discuss this stuff and hopefully learn something along the way.

Joel: Your lack of faith is troubling.

Me: I don't lack faith. At least, I don't think so. I think my blog is worth reading or else I wouldn't write it.

Joel: So it's worth reading, you just don't want people to read it?

Me: Yes..no. Wait. Of course I want people to read it.

Joel: So it's worth reading, and you want people to read it, you just want to do it on your own without God's help?

Me: I totally want God's help. Without God I'm nothing. I'm just not praying for the biggest blog ever just for the sake of having a big blog.

Joel: Dan, if you stop trying to do this yourself and just give it to God, just pray for it, and squint your eyes like me, God doesn't just bless you with a few readers. He doesn't bless you with a couple dozen readers. There will be multitudes flocking to your blog! You just have to ask and believe that it can be done! If you are saying you don't want a big blog, then that means you don't want God involved.

Me: I'm not sure your theology is completely accurate.

Joel: It's worked for me. Look at Lakewood. It's the biggest church in America. I asked for it, and God blessed me with it.

Me: Why haven't other pastors asked God to have the biggest church in America?

Joel: They have. They just haven't believed in it like me.

Me: OK. Starting today, I'm going to pray God gives me the biggest church in America. Your church. And I'm going to believe it way more than you.

Joel: No fair! I'm going to believe it the mostest!

Me: We're getting off track here. Look, the truth is, you inspire a lot of people in the name of Christ, and I think that's a great thing.

Joel: Thanks. It's a huge blessing to get to do what I do.

Me: And I know a lot of people criticize you for the size of your home and the expensive suits and all that stuff. But I just think that people focus on that stuff because they have a hard time accepting the success you have. You really have helped a lot of people.

Joel: It's true. Thank you....my private jet does rock though.

Me: Totally. I'd love to take a ride sometime.

Joel: If you truly believe it, it could happen.





Thursday, April 26, 2012

Luddites

It's easy to forget that not everyone lives in Facebookland.

In the 19th century a group of English workmen destroyed mechanized looms in protest. They wanted to keep things simple. The way they have always been. Their mythical leader was a Robin Hood-like character named "General Lud." They became known as the Luddites.

Since then, the term Luddite has been used to describe anyone who is slow to embrace new thoughts, ideas, or technology.

And I stink at ministering to Luddites.

How am I supposed to tell you about Jesus if you don't even have email?

What do you mean you aren't on Facebook.

Wait...you don't even have a cell phone?

I'm sorry. I can't help you.

My problem with Luddites is that I don't understand them. I don't get the way they think. I don't know how to communicate with them. If I'm supposed to meet them somewhere, and I can't text them, how can we possibly find each other?

Apparently, Jesus loves Luddites, too. So how does a tech geek like me minister to someone with a rotary phone?

It all goes back to what Paul said. Become like the Greeks to win the Greeks. Become like the Facebookers to win the Facebookers.

Become like the Luddites to win the Luddites.

Ugh.

Truth is, we have common ground. We have the same savior. We need the same salvation. We just talk about it in different ways. But it is way easier for me to learn to speak their language than for them to learn mine.

So sometimes I need to put the cell phone away and leave the iPad behind, and just sit down for something we can both agree on: a good old fashioned cup of coffee.

Wait...you don't drink coffee?

I think we're done here.

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Social Media Pastor?

The other day I heard someone suggest that before long churches might start hiring social media pastors. I laughed.

Then I googled it.

Apparently, this already exists.

I have mixed feelings about this. I go back and forth. At first, it totally excites me. Yay! Churches are at the forefront of ministry! Reaching the lost in the Twitterverse!

But I also can't help feeling like this is every pastor's job. OK, some of them stink at using computers. But logging on to Facebook or Twitter and sharing your thoughts isn't exactly the same as web design or software development. It's pretty basic stuff.

Also, isn't this a great opportunity for each and every person who is a Christ follower and has an internet connection to reach out to others? Have we gotten to the point already where we need social media pastors to be our professional Christians online? If every Christian is a minister, which I believe, and there are Christians online already, why is there a need for a social media pastor?

But then I go back again and I think this makes total sense. I mean, there are Christians in the world, right? Why do we need pastors in the world? Shoot, maybe we don't? Am I out of a job?

Truth is, there is definitely a place in the social media world for some more spiritual leadership, guidance, and caring. If a church can find a way to get a social media pastor, I say go for it. But my hope is that all pastors try to have a presence in social media, and all Christians learn how to share their faith.

I hope we all become followable.







Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The 5 Types of People on Facebook

So if you want to minister to people on Facebook, you have to know what kind of people you are going to encounter. There are lots of people, but I want to introduce you to 5 of them that you will commonly find.

1. The game player. The game player will almost exclusively post about their exploits on farmville, bejewelled, and other games that can be played on Facebook. You can try to talk to them, but mostly you will get game requests so they can buy a new virtual feeding trough for their new virtual cow.

2. The kid bragger. This person has the best kid in the world. All of their posts are about their child's accomplishments. Their profile picture is of their kid scoring a goal at a soccer game. They feel bad for you and your normal children.

3. The complainer. This person is the black hole of Facebook. They only ever post about how poorly their life is going. They are masters of passive aggressive posts that jab at their ex boyfriend or girlfriend. Their life is in shambles, and they want you to be a part of it.

4. The song lyric quoter. This person has just heard a song that totally defines their life. It will likely impact you in a deep and profound way. "I was like baby, baby, baby oh!" Moving. Insightful.

5. The ninja stalker. You will never notice this person. They friended you two years ago, but haven't posted a status update or new profile picture since. And yet, they log on every day. Maybe twice a day. They see you and your every move. They are judging you in silence.

Again this is just a short list. And just like there are different kinds of people in your church and in your community, there are different kinds of people on Facebook. And guess what: Jesus loves each of them. So...how do you reach the game player? The kid bragger? The ninja stalker?

Monday, April 23, 2012

The New Mission Field

This week I want to explore something I briefly mentioned last week - the new mission field.

If Facebook was a country, it would be the third largest in the world. Twitter would be number twelve.

So let's play this out. Imagine Facebook and Twitter are the world's two newest nations. In many ways, they are. They have their own infrastructure, their own language (hashtags, @ replies, etc.), they have their own social norms, and their own economy. Their economy is only slightly based on the dollar, but more valuable still is your number of friends/followers/traffic. Exposure is the new currency.

If these nations existed in the physical realm, the church (I hope) would immediately send our best and brightest evangelists who have a heart for the lost to share the gospel. I mean, the third largest country in the world has appeared out of thin air in less than a decade! Has the field ever been more ripe for harvest?

There are some peculiarities to Facebookers and Twitterites. None of them are native. They all have dual citizenship in some other physical nation. They all are living in a place where they at least have access to the internet, meaning they have a certain amount of wealth.

How well have we studied these new nations? How well do we know them? Before we throw missionaries in, we would want to educate them on what they will find once they arrive. Have we done our research?

I believe this is one way we as the church need to be viewing social media sites. It is an opportunity to share the gospel. But just like sending missionaries to the rest of the world, you've got to know the culture. So this week, I want to look at the culture of social media, and how we as the church can begin sending missionaries to Facebook.

Friday, April 20, 2012

Follow Friday: Tim Tebow

If I ever have a son, I want him to be just like Tim Tebow. Except with better mechanics. My son would have a quicker release to avoid fumbling from a strip/sack hitting his blindside.

And he'd go to Ohio State, not Florida. But Urban would be his coach so it's kinda the same.

Tim can often be found on Twitter with the handle @TimTebow, in between confounding defensive coordinators and healing blind children with leprosy.

I had a chance to sit down with the savior of the New York Jets for a completely fake and in no way real interview.

Me: Hey Tim! Thanks for joining me.

Tim: No problem, it's the off season, I've got lots of spare time.

Me: Really? It seems like maybe you should be spending time learning the play book for your new team, the Jets.

Tim: Meh. You and I both know I'm just going to pull it down and run anyways.

Me: Fair enough.

Tim: Actually, I'd rather not talk about football. Football is just the platform I use to get to do what I really want to do.

Me: Well, obviously your faith is a big reason I asked you to do this interview, so that's fine with me.

Tim: Yeah...I don't want to talk about that either.

Me: Really? I thought you loved sharing your faith. I mean, you invented "Tebowing!"

Tim: Oh, sure. I totally invented dropping to my knees and giving thanks to God. No one in the history of the world had done that before.

Me: Ok, fine. No Jesus questions. You must've meant that football is the platform you use to promote the Tim Tebow foundation. I heard you just opened a hospital for children in the Philippines.

Tim: Big deal. Who hasn't?

Me: Um...the Philippino government apparently?

Tim: Look, all that stuff is fine, but I'm kind of over it. I'm leaving it in Denver. I'm a New Yorker now! Things are different. I have a new passion, a new calling in my life that I want to share with the world.

Me: Awesome! What is it? AIDS awareness? Homelessness issues? Racial reconciliation?

Tim: Nope. It's...(dramatic pause)...swearing.

Me: Huh?

Tim: Swearing! Four letter words! Cussing! Dan, it's the best!

Me: I'm confused.

Tim: Rex Ryan, my new coach, taught me. My first work out with him, I missed a pass, and I said, "darn it!"

Me: I'm terrified of where this is going.

Tim: Rex flew off the handle! "Nobody gets better I'd they only care enough to say 'darn it!' You've got to get mad, son! Let it out! It's in you, I know it is!" I missed the next pass and said, "dang it!" And then...

Me: What?

Tim: He let loose with a string of expletives that made my ears bleed. I was stunned. I cried a little. I may or may not have wet my pants a bit.

Me: Wow.

Tim: So I missed the next pass. By a mile. And I just felt all the pent up curse words within me begin to rise to the surface. And they came out. All at once. Just a string of swear words and expletives that would make an Italian gangster from Jersey blush. I had never felt so alive. And I knew right then, I had to share this feeling of joy with others.

Me: Ok. This might sound crazy, but hear me out on this. What if...and this is a bold strategy...but what if you stopped missing your passes so badly? What if you decided to get really good at your job and didn't have to live a life of frustration and rage?

Tim: Huh...wow. You think that's an option?

Me: *%&!




Thursday, April 19, 2012

Evangelizing on Facebook without Ticking Off Everyone You Know

So here's the Catch 22. I keep talking about how your social media self should look a lot like your real, every day self. And you should do your best, as in real life, to not totally anger everyone you encounter. Avoid the land mines. Steer clear from controversy.

So what about the Jesus stuff?

The truth is, if I'm going to talk about my life on social media, then I'm going to have to talk about Jesus. Jesus is such a huge part of my life, I can't help but talk about him.

If this is not the case for you, we need to have a completely different discussion.

Talking about Jesus, though, is a great way to get people angry. Unless all of your friends are Christians.

If this is the case for you, again, we need to have a completely different discussion.

But what if you DO talk about Jesus and your friends AREN'T all Christians? How do you share your faith on Facebook without making everyone angry? Well, you won't. The Bible tells us that the gospel is offensive to those who are lost. There are going to be people who don't like what you have to say. That's a part of the cost of following Christ. People will get upset with you. They might even unfriend you.

That's not as bad as being fed to lions in the coliseum. But hey, this is 21st century suburban America. Unfriending someone is basically the same thing, right?

And sharing your faith on Facebook doesn't always mean that you are directly talking about Jesus. You might be talking about justice, or morality, or church. Stuff Jesus likes and is associated with being a Christian. Even in these things, people get upset. Its not just Jesus that's offensive, it's what he stands for.

There are ways to share your faith online without making everyone want to burn you at some sort of digital stake.

1. Do it in love, not condemnation. Don't use Jesus as your weapon to beat down the ungodly. I don't think he would like that. It's ok to be passionate, it's not ok to be cruel and condescending.

2. Be consistent. Don't post your favorite Bible verse or make a strong stance on an issue of justice and morality and then tag a picture of yourself passed out drunk on spring break. Be aware that just as in life, you can be an online hypocrite.

3. Be honest. You aren't perfect in life, you don't have to be on Facebook either. There's a difference between being a hypocrite and being real. The real you is imperfect. It's ok to admit your struggles. You might post something like: "Pastor Dan talked about forgiveness in his sermon today. I really have a hard time forgiving some people and I need to work on it. He is so wise. And handsome." Stuff like that.

4. Post other stuff too. As much as Jesus is the central part of my life, I do other things. I have a family, I love football, I drink lots of coffee. I post about these things as well. It helps spread things out. If all I posted was Bible verses, my posts would just become noise lost on someone's timeline. I try to be witty and engaging and interesting. Maybe I only am in my own eyes, but that's the effort I'm making. That way, people are genuinely interested in what I have to say.

I keep thinking of Mufasa's quote on the Lion King: "I'm only brave when I have to be. Being king doesn't mean you go looking for trouble." There are times when it becomes imperative to be outspoken about beliefs that may not be accepted by others. That doesn't mean you need to go looking for trouble.

Let's face it: Jesus ticked a lot of people off. When something needed to be said, when injustice or sin was in his presence in the worst kind of way, he was harsh and controversial. And yet somehow he was able to remain the greatest ambassador for love and peace that the world has ever seen.

Jesus didn't wake up in the morning to go looking for trouble. But he confronted it when it was necessary.

He also got crucified for it. You might have to be willing to endure that also.

And he saw that what he was confronting wasn't individuals, but the darkness of sin that had crept in. Remember who and what the real enemy is out there. It isn't the person who attacks you online. It's what is going on in their heart.

These are just some thoughts, but I think important ones. Facebook is a mission field, and we are ambassadors for Christ every time we log on.






Wednesday, April 18, 2012

What to do if (and when) you offend someone

So what if it's too late? You've stepped on a land mine and made someone angry with something you posted.

Here's the thing: you probably didn't see it coming. You thought it was an innocent post. Pretty much everyone feel the way you do. Or it was just a joke and someone took it WAY too seriously.

Or maybe you did mean it. Maybe a part of being the real you means that now and then, you are going to say something someone doesn't like.

Either way, it's happened.

Here's what happens with me. First, all the blood runs to my face. My mind races. I feel remorse, I feel stupid, and I feel embarrassed. That quickly turns in to anger and outrage at the person who was offended. What's their problem? Why are they so sensitive? Why didn't they have the decency to call me or send their thoughts as a private message instead of throwing me under the bus in front of the entire internet?

For whatever reason, some people view themselves as Facebook vigilantes, scouring their news feed for people who are mistaken and need corrected with a virtual public flogging. We'll thank them someday for exposing our ignorance of everything that they already know is right and true.

I don't always respond to them well. But if I did, this is what I would do.

1. Humanize them in a way that they did not do with you. My first reaction is usually to write a well-worded response to their obvious ignorance. Two can play at their idiotic game. I will tell them why I'm right and they need to get off their high horse.

This is a terrible idea. All it does is blow up the land mine more. Everyone gets sucked into it. And no one feels good about themselves.

Remember that the person who said whatever they said is still a person that God loves. Ugh. We hate that. And they may have a way deeper reason for saying what they did. What people say on Facebook is not always who they are as much as it is a visible symptom of what is going on in their lives.

2. Apologize well. Look, I know you did nothing wrong. You, in fact, are probably incredibly right. But here is what just happened: you have happened upon a wounded bear. Poking it and getting it to admit it that is grumpy will likely result in you being mauled. Instead, see the wound, and apologize. And there's a difference between "I'm sorry" and "I'm sorry you got offended at what I said." The second is not an apology.

Even if you are right, just apologize. I'm sorry, I shouldn't have posted that. I need to realize that the things I say can incite strong feelings in others. I should have been more careful with my words.

I know you don't like this option. You probably disagree with it. You're an American, and we don't apologize. Unless you're on of my readers from Pakistan. In which case, شکریہ پڑھنے کے. Remember, you aren't admitting that your opinion is wrong. But even if my kid accidentally knocks someone down on the playground, I have her apologize, even of that kid wasn't watching where he was going.

3. Message them. Send a private note, reiterate your apology, and then show you care about them as a human being. "Sorry about that. Haven't talked in a while. How have things been?"

You have now turned a potentially volatile land mine into a chance to speak love into someone's life. Whatever point you were trying to make in the comment that ignited all of this was not nearly as important as that.


OK, now let's say that this tactic is a complete failure. The same person feels like they need to constantly police your words. For one, you probably need to post less controversial stuff. Maybe you should just post cute pictures of kittens for a while. Use this one:





You have to still be you, but sometimes you have to know when to back off for a while.

If they still find fault with you, its time to block/unfollow/unfriend them. And that stinks. Message them. Tell them why. Be kind. Be loving. Let them know how they've made you feel. It's going to be messy. But guess what: that's what relationships are. And if you think that these relationships aren't real, once you have one of these discussions, you'll recognize how real they actually feel.

Tuesday, April 17, 2012

The worst thing you can do on Facebook

Full disclosure: I have stepped on this landmine more than once.

And it always ruins my day.

I'm a pretty mellow guy. I don't get too fired up about politics, hot button issues, and all that stuff. I tend to believe that the most important thing for people to come to agree with me on is Jesus Christ and Him crucified. We can work out the rest of the details later on.

But now and then, I will allow something to upset me. I'll get passionate about a somewhat controversial topic. I will find that many people disagree with me, and I know that they are way wrong or misinformed.

And I post a Facebook status about it.

Cue dramatic music.

The worst thing you can do on Facebook is stir up controversy over touchy subjects. Please hear me when I say this: I'm sure these topics are important. They may be consuming a large portion of your personal life. It may be all you are thinking about. You may be absolutely sure that you are right.

Please leave it off of Facebook.

Facebook is really good for a lot of things. It is not good for controversy. Here are some reasons why:

1. It is almost impossible to convey a tone of voice or demeanor over Facebook. I tend to make a lot of snarky comments and I love me some good old fashioned sarcasm. When dealing with hot button issues, sarcasm does not translate on Facebook. People who are passionate on one side of an issue or the other often will totally miss the joke and go straight for why you are an inconsiderate sinner who is ruining the world with your presence and your opinions. It doesn't matter how many smiley faces you put after your comments or how thick you lay it on.

2. Many of the people on Facebook don't really know you. People who really know your heart will likely be able to read the intent behind what you are saying and even if they disagree with you, they will respect you and your opinion. But Facebook is full of people you haven't seen in ten years or had a real conversation with, like, ever. You can't assume people will know where you are coming from.

3. It creates a stumbling block for people. I have been unfriended for comments I have made on issues that are not nearly as important to me as making sure someone knows just how much God loves them. Now, they see nothing positive that I post, and only remember that I'm a Christian and they hate my ideas and opinions. I've wiped out any chance of communicating anything good to them.

Many of these are conversations that need to be had. They are topics that need to be discussed. Just not on Facebook.

Have you ever stepped on that landmine? Was it a topic you didn't realize would be so controversial, or did you know what you were getting in to?

Think before you post, and ask this question each time: Will this help me accomplish the larger goal of making the name of Jesus famous?


Monday, April 16, 2012

Theme of the Week: Making People Mad

So this week I want to tackle a topic that a lot of people struggle with on Facebook, Twitter, and...well...life in general.

One of the biggest problems with the internet is that everyone gets to talk, and a lot of people are stupid.

Maybe that was harsh, but honestly, we've all thought it from time to time. We see what other people say or post or tweet or comment or whatever, and it makes us mad. We can't believe that people would think, let alone SAY, the things they say on the internet.

Take some time to read the comments section on a local newspaper. Or Huffington Post. It's enough to make you want to claw your eyes out with a rusty fork. Or at the very least, you assume that God has to be about done with humanity and they shall be smited from the face of the earth shortly.

Here's the thing: in real life, we encounter these same people every single day. And while there are certain people we may not get along with or agree with, we can be cordial to one another. We can somehow live on the same planet...even the same internet...as they do.

Online, all filters are gone and we just say with absolute bluntness the things we want to say. If you don't like it, stay off the internet.

And that's what many choose to do. We log off, block users, shut down Facebook accounts. And maybe that's not a bad thing. From time to time, it probably needs to happen.

For me though, the internet is a mission field. People are there, Jesus loves people, I love Jesus, so I'd better love people, even internet people, even if they are saying stupid things.

So this week I want to look at how to deal with making people mad on the internet. This is for everyone, but especially for pastors, who are really good at inciting angry mobs carrying virtual pitchforks. In the meantime, keep your eye out for internet anger, lack of a filter in what people are saying, and all that is divisive and hurtful. Ask yourself this question: what if the internet were a third world country that God was sending me to as a missionary? Where would you start? What are the issues that need confronted? How does the gospel need preached? What land mines do you need to avoid?



Thursday, April 12, 2012

Follow Friday: Rob Bell

Confession time: I wish I was as cool as Rob Bell. The glasses. The books.

Written in short phrases.

Mind-bending.

Words made up.

Incarnationified.

The former pastor of Mars Hill Church, creator of the Nooma videos, and author of "Love Wins" has been a lasting presence at the forefront of emerging Christian leadership.

You can try to follow Rob on Facebook and Twitter, but he has already moved on past those forms of social media.

Rob took time out of trailblazing a path to where Christianity is supposed to be in his eyes to sit down with me for a completely fake and in no way real interview that didn't really happen and I am making up. He did not say these things. Any of them.


Me: Hey Rob, thanks for agreeing to meet with me. I know you're busy.

Rob: It's no problem. I love being incarnational with common people.

Me: Yeah, um, it's generous. By the way, I love your glasses. Where did you get them?

Rob: I don't want to tell you.

Me: What?

Rob: I don't want anyone else to have these glasses.

Me: Isn't this a Seinfeld episode?

Rob: No. I came up with this first.

Me: Why don't you want anyone else to have your glasses? You used to have the black plastic rimmed ones. I got some just like them, they're awesome.

Rob: I know. Everyone copied me. I want to be the only one with these new ones.

Me: But those glasses made me a better pastor! I was suddenly relatable, yet slightly more intelligent than those I was talking to. Being a pastor on the growing edge of fashion is so unheard of, I was immediately flocked with adoring parishioners who knew that I knew more than them, and yet would speak about it in trendy, hipster demeanor while showing video clips of...I don't know...a seed sprouting into a plant in the palm of my hand.

Rob: First off, the glasses did nothing for you. By the time you got them, they were out of style. Second, a seed growing in your hand? What is this, 2002?

Me: I have so much to learn from you.

Rob: I know.

Me: So your book "Love Wins" seemed to spark a lot of controversy. What was that all about?

Rob: It was expected. People always have a hard time when you start talking about God's grace. It doesn't make logical sense to them.

Me: What in particular made people so upset?

Rob: I think it was when I said that I wasn't sure that Ghandi was in hell. I just asked the question without giving an answer. I said, "Really? He's in hell? Are we sure of that?"

Me: Yes.

Rob: What?

Me: No, I'm totally sure he's in hell.

Rob: How are you so sure?

Me: His classic quote. He said, "I very much like your Christ."

Rob: I don't follow.

Me: Look, you said "love wins." Ghandi just "liked" Jesus. Love wins. Like loses.

Rob: But what if it isn't about how Ghandi felt about Christ, but how Christ felt about Ghandi?

Me: UNIVERSALIST! ROB BELL IS A UNIVERSALIST!

Rob: No, I'm not. I never said Ghandi was saved.

Me: Yes you did...didn't you?

Rob: No, I just asked the question. Could it be possible that he isn't in hell?

Me: Right, and I answered your question.

Rob: Did you? Or did the question reveal an answer about you?

Me: You just blew my mind.

Rob: It's what I do.

Me: I really want your glasses.

Rob: No.

Me: So what have you been up to recently?

Rob: I've quit my church, moved to Los Angeles, and have begun working with the producer of "Lost" to make a TV show based on my life.

Me: You've got to be kidding.

Rob: It's called "Stronger." It's been picked up by ABC.

Me: You know there is no chance this will work, right?

Rob: Yeah, it's a dumb idea.

Me: I see you are on Facebook and Twitter but don't use it much. I feel like someone at the forefront of new ministry would be really engaged in social media.

Rob: Oh I am, just not on Facebook and Twitter.

Me: Google+? It's more on the cutting edge I guess.

Rob: That has as much a chance of succeeding as "Stronger."

Me: Nice one.

Rob: I use Expluvo.

Me: Expluvo?

Rob: It's new. You probably haven't heard of it.

Me: How new?

Rob: I just made it up.

Me: And yet...I want to be on it. You just say it, and I know if I also do it, I will be cool like you. What is this spell you have over me?

Rob: That's how I roll.

How (and Why) to Tweet a Sermon

One of the main things that I tweet are sermon notes. It will look like this:




This is the last sermon I tweeted. It was Jason Collins' (@jasoncollins75) message called "Decision Time" on Palm Sunday. It rocked.

Tweeting a sermon can be helpful for several reasons.

- It helps you put into your own words the things the preachers are saying. The pastors I tweet rarely make 140 character comments, so I have to summarize. That helps me internalize what they are saying and it sticks.

- It creates a record of thoughts. Truth is, people have been doing this for years, they've just been writing it in the margins of their Bible instead of in the twitterverse. (hint: if you make your notes in YouVersion, you can then share them on Twitter. It's like tweeting your Bible margins. More on that in a later blog).

- It lets the preaching pastor see what stuck out for others. I'll often go back after my sermons and see what was tweeted by the couple of people I know are doing it. It provides me with instant feedback on what was communicated well. Feedback is a good thing. Sometimes after the sermons when we are sitting down with our teaching pastors and going over last weekend's sermons, they will ask what we thought. I will just pull up my Twiter feed and share with them the things that stuck out for me.

- It allows others to follow along who can't be with you. As I tweet the sermons, I will sometimes have parishioners comment that they are glad I'm doing it because they are sick or out of town or something. I will sometimes even get complete strangers to follow along.

- It provides extra resources. If a pastor mentions a book or something I will quickly hop onto Amazon.com or other website and provide the link to that book. I will also provide links to the scriptures that they use.

- It gives people a chance to dialogue. Now and then a point will become a topic of discussion on twitter. You can model how to have a mature, Christian discussion on a theological topic right there on Twitter.

- You can tweet pictures. It gives people the ability to see what it looks like there even if they aren't there.

- It helps provide clarity. When I am preparing to preach, I will sometimes ask myself, "Could someone tweet this?" If the thoughts are incredibly complex, too complex to tweet, maybe you need to find a better way to say what it is you're saying. It's a great practice in communicating clearly.

I know some people don't like the idea of tweeting or being on smart phones at all during sermons. And maybe it's not for everyone. But for me, I actually find it helpful.

What do you think of tweeting sermons? Let me know in the comments below!

Wednesday, April 11, 2012

What to Tweet

Tweeting is an art form. It takes a while to understand how to speak the language of Twitter. But once you learn Twitter, it becomes a great way to communicate your ideas and thoughts, the things you've been focused on, and to see what the rest of the world is doing in their thinking and every day lives.

The beauty of the tweet is that you have to condense your thought into 140 characters or less. This makes you focus and disciplined in communicating what really matters. The fluff is wiped away and it is just the basic thought. You learn to say things well.

So there are a couple schools of thought when it comes to using Twitter as a pastor. The first is to create your brand. In other words, all of your tweets revolve around the same basic concepts. So if I were to do this, all of my tweets would revolve around using social media in the church. Doing this helps you become influential in one realm of thought. People who are interested in this realm will follow you.

I've chosen to go with a separate school of thought. My tweets are more eclectic. You'll find me tweeting about a little bit of everything. It's very much how I also use Facebook:when someone reads my Twitter feed, I want them to see that it is very much who I am. The things I talk about on Twitter are also the things I talk about in real life. I'm the same person in both places.
While I likely won't ever become a viral sensation within a certain realm or topic, it is more important for me to be real and authentic and just me.

I want Twitter to be an extension of me and who I am because that's what I use in my every day ministry. Authenticity and openness and vulnerability are key traits. So with that in mind, what do I tweet about?

Looking back on some recent tweets, here's what I've got:




So this was during the NCAA tourney. I tweeted a lot about the Buckeyes. During the game, when I can't get together with a bunch of guys and watch, I hang out on Twitter with those who are watching and making snarky comments about the game and the refs and all that stuff. I follow a bunch of people who love the Buckeyes and do the same thing. So I will retweet some of their really good comments.




Here is another day that was full of retweets. Re-tweeting is a great way to share info from people you either follow or find through searching hashtags you are interested in. I like funny ones, especially church humor, and will often retweet them. There is also in the middle a tweet of an Instagram picture I took.




This is what my feed will often look like. Lots of links. Some to this blog. I use the hashtags to help people interested in certain topics to find my tweets. I also mention people by their Twitter name so they can easily see I was talking about or to them.

So tweet often. Keep it updated. Decide if you want to be about a specific thing or just use Twitter as a microcosm of your life as I do. And follow interesting people. Like me. :)

Who do you love to follow on Twitter? Tell me in the comments section below.

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

Why Memes Matter

Some of you probably think I just made up a word. I did not.

A meme (pronounced meem) is a current, trending thing on the internet. It is usually incredibly goofy and meaningless, though now and then has some actual intellectual value. Examples of memes, both new and old, are:















OK, time to be honest, I'm not sure memes matter. Other than if you use and/or reference them ever, you will gain cred among your techies. Which maybe really does matter.

What was your all time favorite meme?

Monday, April 9, 2012

Instagramming Your Church

Instagram is one of my new favorite forms of social media. It is entirely picture based. You take pictures and share them on your Instagram feed. It also easily connects with Facebook, Twitter, and Foursquare. One of the coolest things about this app is that it allows you to very easily add some cool filters and focus options that make your pictures look very cool and professional.

The church is a perfect place for using Instagram. By simply taking photos with my iPhone, I can then quickly edit and share the pictures on Facebook and Twitter, allowing people to get an idea of what's going on there in a way that words can't always capture.

Side note...if the pen is mightier than the sword, how do actions speak louder than words? Let that explode your brain for a while.

Here's some Instagram shots I've taken at our church. Enjoy, and consider downloading the free app yourself!





People coming on stage last week to make a commitment to become a follower of Jesus!




The first Sunday back in our newly renovated sanctuary.




Me preaching during the Not A Fan series.




Pastor Mark preaching during our Six Habits series





"Snow" inside during our Family Christmas Eve service




Sanctuary altar at Christmas Eve




Anderson Hills UMC

Friday, April 6, 2012

Follow Friday: Fake Interview with Rick Warren

In one of my very first blog posts I talked about how well Rick Warren uses social media. It's like he was built for it. I'm pretty sure everything he says is in 140 characters or less. I love this guy.

You can follow him on Twitter at @RickWarren.

The pastor of Saddleback Church and author of The Purpose Driven Life was kind enough to sit down with me for a completely fake and in no way real interview that didn't really happen, ever.

Me: Hey Rick, I appreciate you sitting down with me. Can I call you Rick, or do you prefer Pastor Warren.

Rick: Please, call me Rick. I'm Renewed, Intense, Candid, and Kind. RICK.

Me: Ah! Gotcha! I see what you did there.

Rick: It's who I am. I just have to be me. You asked me to sit down with you, so I SAT: Sincere, Authentic, and Timely.

Me: I see.

Rick: SAT. Write that down.

Me: Done. Now Rick, you are constantly on Twitter. Why do you think it is so important for you to be involved in social media?

Rick: Dan, it's right in the name. It's a place where I can be Truthful, Winsome, Engaging, Encouraging, and Thought-provoking. TWEET.

Dan: Uh-huh.

Rick. TWEET. Write that down.

Dan: Yeah, I did. It's good.

Rick: No, it's great. I only do things that are great. Genuine, Real, Expository, Altruistic, and Terrific. GREAT.

Dan: Sure, ok, it's great.

Rick: GREAT. Write that down.

Dan: Let's talk about something else. Are you married? Tell me about your wife.

Rick: She is everything a wife should be. Wonderful, Impressive, Forthcoming, and Elegant.

Dan: Uh...

Rick: WIFE. Write that down.

Dan: I notice you seem to be really in to Hawaiian shirts. What's that about?

Rick: They fit my personality. They are Happy, Ample, Washable, Anti-bland, Intense, Incalculable, Appetizing, and Nuanced.

Dan: Some of those adjectives don't make sense for both the shirt and you.

Rick: HAWAIIAN. Write that down. And don't question my acronyms.

Dan: Do you have any advice for young pastors engaging in social media?

Rick: Just be YOU: Young, Overwhelming, and Understated.

Dan: OK, that doesn't even mean anything.

Rick: What do you know. Do you have a book?

Dan: No.

Rick: Then I win. Witty. Incapacitating. Nocturnal.

Dan: K, I'm going to leave now.

Rick: I WIN. Write that down.



Thursday, April 5, 2012

Why Foursquare Matters

This is not about the playground game.

Foursquare is a social media application that allows you to "check in" to various locations. Any of your friends on foursquare can then see where you are and what you are doing. You can leave reviews of the places you are at and add tips for people who would come along later. If you are the person who checks in at a place the most, you become the "mayor" of that location.

I am the mayor of Caribou.

You can choose to show your check in on Facebook and Twitter also and add pictures. Some of the places you check in have "specials" associated with them. These are essentially coupons for when you check in there. For instance, if you check in at the tanning salon next to Caribou, you get 10% off a lotion purchase.

Not that I've used that.

Lots of people are wary of the idea of foursquare. Why would I want people to know where I am and what I'm doing? How vain am I? Plus, isn't that just inviting people to come rob me when they know I'm out of the house?

Valid points, but the truth is, most of my generation and those younger than me simply don't care. We have no problem exposing every aspect of our lives. It's not necessarily vanity. It's a form of communicating with friends.

"Hey, I'm at Caribou, come hang out."

If you are a church, here's why this matters to you. Most of your churches are on foursquare whether you know it or not. You don't have to be the owner of an establishment to create a foursquare location page. If I'm at a church and I want to check in there, if there is no location found on foursquare, I can make one with the push of a button. And then everyone else who is on foursquare can use that location when they check in there.

At my current church, about 5-10 people a weekend will check in during services. For the tech savvy, this is often their first social media glimpse of the church. Those who have come before have left reviews and pictures and all sort of stuff. Even if you don't know that foursquare exists.

Is this hitting a huge population? No. But it is visible to the most tech savvy people that visit your church. What are they seeing when they show up?

Don't be afraid of foursquare, but get on there and make sure people are having positive experiences. Use it as another tool. For five to ten people a week, this is our front door. If no one has checked in to your church yet, create the foursquare location and have it ready for others when they come.

Do you use foursquare? Have you ever checked in to a church? Tell me about your experience in the comments section below.



Wednesday, April 4, 2012

How to Strike up a Conversation at a Coffee Shop with a Stranger

So yesterday I talked about how I believe we need to recover the lost art of striking up a conversation and meeting with people face to face.

Let me start by saying I know that for some of you this is incredibly difficult. You are the silent type. The meek. You say "I am introvert, hear me whisper."

The church is full of introverted pastors. I am not one of them, but I have met lots of them. I am aware that you exist. But that doesn't get you off the hook for needing to meet with people where they are at and have conversations with them. And I think you might actually have an edge in doing this once you get past the first part.

OK, let me set up the scenario for you. You approach the coffee shop you frequent. Go up to the counter and make your order. Here's where you get to do a warm up exercise. Make small talk with the barista. Ask their name. Learn it so you can greet them by name next time. Ask how their weekend was, what they've been up to. Get to know them. Do this every time you come in.

Now that you have your coffee, pick your seat.

HA! You picked the quiet corner in the back didn't you. Amateur. Pick the seat that is most in the open, where you can see the most people, and the most people will walk by. Mine is the table by the counter. People waiting in line have to stand next to me. An empty chair across from me just begging to be sat in.

Now, scan the room. Eavesdrop. Find that person that you find to be interesting. Smile at people. No headphones. Appear free and ready to talk.

You now have two options. Since you are in a prime location, you may be able to greet a passerby who you can then invite to sit down. Always extend your hand, make eye contact, and say, "Hi, I'm (Dan), what's your name?" They'll tell you. If you overheard them talking about something interesting, bring it up and start out with "Didn't mean to overhear, but..."

Your second option if no one stops by is to find someone sitting alone at a table. You need to recognize something about them. Maybe they frequent the place also, you've just never met. Maybe they look vaguely familiar. Maybe you're wearing the same shoes. Just an ice breaker.

I've found that people are creatures of habit and most of the people I see at Caribou are not there for the first time. I've seen them come and go before, and so my opening line is usually, "You know, I've seen you here a lot, but we've never met. I'm Dan." Then just make small talk. What do they do here? Read? Work? Relax?

Now here is where you introverts have the edge. Because I usually want to dominate the conversation. Instead, the best thing to do is to just ask questions and let them do the talking. And you don't have to stick around long (I tend to overstay my welcome). This is the introductory meeting.

Now you've talked. Say "it was nice to meet you" and let them get back to their stuff. You've just made their day.

Because you noticed them.

Now, chances are you'll run into them again. You know their name, you've had the introductory conversation, and actual conversations happen. Congrats! You just made a friend!

Always smile. Always say hi. Always have time to talk to them.

None of this is rocket science. This is basic relationship starting 101 kind of stuff. But many of us stink at it and just reading this made you break out in hives.

The best way to become good at it is to just do it.

I challenge you, right now, to talk to strangers.






Tuesday, April 3, 2012

Why Caribou Matters

I write virtually all of these blog posts in my local Caribou Coffee shop. Caribou is right across from the church I work at and has affectionately become known as our "North Campus." I drink way more coffee than necessary. I spend a ridiculous amount of hours here. And probably not for the reason that you think.

Regardless of outward appearances, I'm not a slacker. It would be easy to think that. I'm constantly on my iPad hanging out in a coffee shop, just shooting the breeze with people. And this is the most important thing I do with my day at work.

Because Caribou is where the people are.

One of the reasons social media is so popular is that it allows us to meet with people without having to actually meet with people. We like the idea of a maximum impact with a minimal effort on our part. And sometimes that's a great thing. I am obviously a huge proponent of using social media. But no matter what incredible forms of social media are created or how well they are used, nothing will ever bring people together better for communication and relationship building than this:





Caribou is of significant importance because it is where I meet with people, face to face, and talk about life. When a pastor begins to believe that this is an expendable part of their job, they need to stop and re-evaluate. A friend on our staff often says, "People don't interrupt your work...people ARE your work."

It can be easy to forget that. It's much easier for us to sit down and write a sermon because at the end we see a finished product and we feel as though we have accomplished something. If you spend an hour talking with a stranger about how his ex wife is driving him crazy (that just happened), it's harder to see how that matters. Where is the accomplishment? Where is the finished product?

The thing is, what Jesus modeled was a seemingly ineffective, people-based ministry where he stopped and talked to ever single person who was clamoring for his attention. Yet somehow, through these constant conversations, he managed to change the world.

I have to imagine that if Jesus was pastoring your church, you'd be much more likely to find him in the local coffee shop (or more likely, bar) than huddled up in his office trying to get work done.

We have to recover the lost art of meeting people. Striking up conversations. Stepping out of our own world to be in someone else's world for a time. I have come to love the times when I am in the middle of something I perceive to be of utmost importance, and I have to stop, close up the iPad, and look someone in the eye while sipping on a nice hot cup of joe. Because that's when I'm really doing my job.

Monday, April 2, 2012

iPad/iPhone Apps for the Church World

If you are a pastor and you are cool, you have an iPad. This is a statement of fact.

But while being cool is REALLY important, it is also important to be able to use the iPad effectively as a tool for your ministry and not just as an accessory. So here is a list of iPad apps I have found to be essential.

1. YouVersion - free! - Bible app offered by LifeChurch.tv is undoubtedly the best one out there. Several translations, places to share nots and thoughts about scripture, ability to share scripture on twitter and facebook, and all sorts of Bible reading plans.

2. Docs to Go - $16.99 - OK, it's a bit pricy. And it's MS Office based. But guess what: so is most of the rest of the world. The great thing about this app is that it is MS Word, PowerPoint, and Excel all in one place with cloud capability. To get this on a desktop is $249. You get it for $16.99. Well worth it.

3. Notability - On Sale this week for $0.99 - My favorite app overall. I use this for preaching, meeting notes, etc. The reason I use this for preaching is that when I start preaching, I can hit the "record" button at the top, it records the audio, and shows a timer right with it so I know how long I'm going. Once you're done, with a touch of a button, you can share the audio on iTunes. Instant webcast! For regular note taking, you can easily switch from text to drawing and sketch out graphs and whatnot. Very convenient.

4. Fruit Ninja - free version - my kids love it. You slice fruit with your finger. Like a ninja.

5. Things - $9.99 - OK, another pricey one. But Things is worth it to organize my life. Unlike the stock Reminders app you get, this allows you to categorize things really well. It still isn't perfectly ideal, but it's the best I've found so far. If you have a better one, tell me. (I tried Bento...SO much potential, but it doesn't do notifications or share with the iPhone app).

6. Notes (stock) - free - The little yellow notepad app that comes with every iPad. Nothing better when you need a scratch piece of paper

7. Dropbox - free - Start now with using the cloud. Servers are eventually going to be a thing of the past and if you aren't in iCloud or Dropbox now, you're already behind. Dropbox is free and gives you a pretty decent amount of storage space for free also. It's incredibly secure and really useful. We use it on staff all the time, though when I move churches, I think we're going to try out Google Docs.

8. Kindle - free - I will never be the pastor with a ton of books on my shelf. But I'll have a bunch in my Kindle app. This basically turns your iPad into a Kindle. Instantly get access to the books you need and want. Have them with you wherever you go. Usually books are cheaper in Kindle than in print.

9. Google Currents - free - This would be up way higher if it didn't take so long to synch every time I open it. But once it synchs, it's unbelievable. Pretty much every great social media and online news source is available in Google Currents and can be accessed in this one app. Makes it easy to skim, read, and share.

10. Twitter - free - The regular old Twitter app is as good as any other in my opinion. I can't justify not having it on the list. I use it more than any other.

BONUS: MUST HAVE ACCESSORY

Bluetooth keyboard case - one of the big iPad complaints is that it doesn't have a keyboard and the display one is hard to use. I got a case made by Belkin from Target for about $80. It has a built in Bluetooth keyboard. Downside: you have to charge it separately. Upside: I've charged it once since having it and it's still going strong. Folds away when you don't want it and is there when you do. Very cool.

What other apps have you found to be helpful? Share them in the comments section below.