#1 – Stop Fighting IN IT and Start Fighting For It – as long as you see your spouse as the enemy your home will always be a battlefield, and EVERYONE loses when you fight with each other and not for one another. #2 – Stop Asking God To Fix Your Spouse And Ask Him To Fix You – no one in any marriage is perfect…and when we stop pointing out all of our spouses perceived inadequacies it really does make us a much better person to be around. (Psalm 139:23-24 is a GREAT prayer to pray when asking God to show you your very own “opportunities for improvement.”) #3 – Ask For…
Selected by markkim
-
Most Topular Stories
-
Seven Ways You Can Make Your Marriage AWESOME!
Perry Noble | Leadership, Vision & CreativityPerry Noble | Leadership, Vision & Creativity8 Feb 2012 | 4:28 am -
“J is for Jesus” Coloring Page
Ministry-To-Children.com8 Feb 2012 | 7:36 amClick above to download It wasn’t a surprise when our readers chose Jesus as the theme for our free letter J coloring sheet. The illustration shows Jesus welcoming children, as he often did in the Gospels. It’s important for kids to know that Jesus considers them just as important as the grown-ups at church. Directions: To download this free printable, simply right-click on the links below. We’ve made the sheet available in two different formats. PDF ~ easy to print JPEG ~ for advanced editing Please take a moment to leave a comment below. You can share how you will use this… -
Big Apple, Big Problem: 3 Reasons NYC School's Church Ban Is a Mistake
Ed Stetzer8 Feb 2012 | 7:50 amA few weeks ago, I spoke to a church in New York City that is now vulnerable to eviction from the school building where they meet because they spoke of the wrong things - religious things. As such, their speech is soon likely to be banned from NYC public school buildings that sit empty and unused on the weekend. According to city officials, worship in a public facility -- when the schools are not even in session -- is too much mixing of church and state so they've ordered dozens of churches evicted by February 12. I agree with most Americans who believe this is wrong-headed. In a recent study… -
Code Orange Revival Recap
Pastor Steven Furtick24 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amGod moved in a mighty way during the past 12 days of Code Orange Revival! These pictures are just a glimpse of some of the most powerful moments. And here’s a video our team put together to celebrate what God has already done through the first part of 2012. This is not a highlight reel – it’s a preview of what God is going to do this year. -
"Sifted": 2012 Exponential Conference Big Idea
daveferguson.org6 Feb 2012 | 6:26 pmWho wants to be Sifted? I know it doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? When we first picked the Sifted theme for the Exponential 2012 Conference, I wasn’t a big fan. I’m more of a big picture and positive sort of guy so thinking about being sifted made me cringe a little. As we continued to develop this theme, I began to realize this is exactly what we need to be talking about. God allows us to be “sifted” (Luke 22:31-32) through trials and temptations to grow us as followers and leaders. How we respond as church leaders not only shapes who we become, but also those who…
-
Perry Noble | Leadership, Vision & CreativityPerry Noble | Leadership, Vision & Creativity
-
Seven Ways You Can Make Your Marriage AWESOME!
8 Feb 2012 | 4:28 am#1 – Stop Fighting IN IT and Start Fighting For It – as long as you see your spouse as the enemy your home will always be a battlefield, and EVERYONE loses when you fight with each other and not for one another. #2 – Stop Asking God To Fix Your Spouse And Ask Him To Fix You – no one in any marriage is perfect…and when we stop pointing out all of our spouses perceived inadequacies it really does make us a much better person to be around. (Psalm 139:23-24 is a GREAT prayer to pray when asking God to show you your very own “opportunities for improvement.”) #3 – Ask For… -
A Letter From Pastor P To NewSpring Church
7 Feb 2012 | 4:07 amHowdy NewSpring Church, SEVEN things I want to share with you today… #1 – This past Sunday was an AMAZING conclusion to our “All In” series as we saw 296 people stand and publicly acknowledge that they had repented of their sins and trusted Jesus as their Savior! I’m still so excited I can’t see straight…we literally had someone receive Christ at every campus during every service! #2 – A HUGE thank you to everyone who went all out to bring people this past Sunday…it impacted a lot of lives. AND…for the ones who invited and the… -
Overwhelmed??
6 Feb 2012 | 4:42 amI saw a report on Fox News yesterday that said that antidepressant medicine sales have increased in America 400% in the last 20 years!!! We are, by far, the wealthiest and most blessed nation on the planet… AND…the most depressed and overwhelmed! On Sunday, February 12 (THIS COMING SUNDAY) we are beginning a brand new series based out of the book of Daniel entitled, “Overwhelmed!” In it we are going to take a hard look at what the Scriptures say about worry, fear, anxiety and depression…and I am going to be sharing more of my three year battle with depression… -
The Goal Of A Leader…
2 Feb 2012 | 4:58 amJust some thoughts I’ve been thinking lately… The goal of a leader isn’t to keep people happy but to keep people moving, which often times makes them not happy! The goal of a leader isn’t to get something out of people but rather to invest in them! The goal of a leader isn’t to DO all of the work, but to DELEGATE the work to the right people who can do it better than them anyway. The goal of a leader isn’t to merely identify problems but rather to initiate the solution to the problems. The goal of a leader isn’t to declare what he is against but… -
Hey NewSpring…This Weekend…
1 Feb 2012 | 8:45 amA few quick reminders for our church…and an explanation… #1 – Acts 4:29-31…let’s be bold in the prayers we pray and the words we say and do all that we can to bring people to church this weekend as we are believing that God is going to do GREAT things as the Gospel is clearly communicated and lives will be impacted for eternity! #2 – Anderson and Columbia campuses…remember that for this week only we will be moving our normal Sunday evening services to Saturday evening. So, Columbia will have services this weekend on Saturday night at 6:00 and then…
-
Ministry-To-Children.com
-
“J is for Jesus” Coloring Page
8 Feb 2012 | 7:36 amClick above to download It wasn’t a surprise when our readers chose Jesus as the theme for our free letter J coloring sheet. The illustration shows Jesus welcoming children, as he often did in the Gospels. It’s important for kids to know that Jesus considers them just as important as the grown-ups at church. Directions: To download this free printable, simply right-click on the links below. We’ve made the sheet available in two different formats. PDF ~ easy to print JPEG ~ for advanced editing Please take a moment to leave a comment below. You can share how you will use this… -
How To Earn Trust with Parents
8 Feb 2012 | 7:19 amRecently our community experienced a great tragedy in which it was revealed that an individual who was highly respected and trusted had been living a life of unbelievable sin for decades. Yet again, a trusted leader who claimed to be a believer in Jesus had broken trust with an entire town. Our world hears these stories over and over. In this case, it was a highly esteemed teacher. In many cases it is a pastor, a youth pastor, a government official, or some other high level leader who messes up big time and causes many to wonder who can truly be trusted. We live in a world where… -
“Uncle Charlie” Giveaway from Only 144
7 Feb 2012 | 7:10 amWe’ve just worked out a new giveaway for our readers sponsored by ONLY144.com. There’s something cool happening at ONLY144.com this Friday. They’re offering the entire UNCLE CHARLIE Children’s Worship Video and Music collection for only $97 for 144 hours. It’s $1600+ worth of stuff, and it’s really an incredible deal. And, we’ve got one to give away here on Ministry-to-Children.com this week to one lucky reader. All you have to do is enter your email below and you’ll be registered. We’ll announce the winner on Thursday, February… -
Valentine’s Day Object Lesson for Loving God’s Family
7 Feb 2012 | 6:08 am“Love one another,” is the command Jesus gave to us in John 13. He also said that the world would recognize us as his disciples because of this love for one another. Valentine’s Day is the perfect occasion for presenting kids with this loving command. Teach kids what this kind of love is and how kids should show this love. Valentine’s Day need not be about candy hearts and falling “in love.” What a great opportunity for building important truths in the hearts of your kids! Introduce the concept of loving God’s family by reading this to kids: “Love has many faces. You love your… -
Top 10 Love Bible Verses for Valentine’s Day
7 Feb 2012 | 5:59 amIn the next few days leading up to Valentine’s Day, love will be marketed in advertisements and store displays. Love will be equated with chocolate and cards and flowers and romance. And yes, love can be demonstrated in these ways. But as followers of Christ, we know that love is so much more! Communicating that kind of love to our children in our homes, neighborhoods, and ministries is essential. Compiled here is a toolbox of scripture references that define love. Use these verses for personal reflection, lesson plans, games, as memory verses, creative gifts for your students, in…
-
Ed Stetzer
-
Big Apple, Big Problem: 3 Reasons NYC School's Church Ban Is a Mistake
8 Feb 2012 | 7:50 amA few weeks ago, I spoke to a church in New York City that is now vulnerable to eviction from the school building where they meet because they spoke of the wrong things - religious things. As such, their speech is soon likely to be banned from NYC public school buildings that sit empty and unused on the weekend. According to city officials, worship in a public facility -- when the schools are not even in session -- is too much mixing of church and state so they've ordered dozens of churches evicted by February 12. I agree with most Americans who believe this is wrong-headed. In a recent study… -
A Closer Look: The Message and Lifestyle of the Apostles
8 Feb 2012 | 5:00 amI've written on apostles on two occasions-- consider the meaning and the usage today. Today we take a closer look at the term apostle-- both what it means and who they were. In his short essay, Michael J. Wilkins provides a clear, biblical understanding and application of the term. As I'm doing all year long, I am giving away a free HCSB study Bible to a commenter. To be entered to win this week's giveaway, share with us your thoughts on the term and the people we know as apostles. The apostles of the New Testament lived through what is arguably the most significant era of human history. They… -
Breaking the 200 Barrier Webcast (NOW COMPLETED)
7 Feb 2012 | 4:00 pmDownload Growth Barriers Booklet Growth Barriers Conference Webcast Breaking the 200 Barrier February 7, 2012 • 7:00 pm--9:00 pm Speaker Ed Stetzer, President of Lifeway Research Topics • Information for church leaders to assist in understanding the inherent barriers to growing the church to her God given size. • Focus on assisting leaders to develop a strategic plan for their barrier. -
Beyond My Church: A Book Interview with Jason C. Dukes
7 Feb 2012 | 8:00 amI've known Jason Dukes for a few years now. A pastor in the Orlando area, Jason and his local congregation focus on being the church, doing life together, and giving themselves away. They emphasize "living sent" - being a letter from God communicating His love and hope in the message of their daily lives among all whom they encounter. As someone who frequently talks and writes on our "sentness," you can easily see the connection Jason and I share. In Jason's new book Beyond My Church, he explores the essentials of church unity and explains how it can become part of the DNA of your local… -
Monday is for Missiology: Seeing Missional in 3D
6 Feb 2012 | 8:00 amThe term missional is commonly used in conversations among Christians today. The earliest known usage of the word missional occurred in 1883 in The Heroes of African Discovery and Adventure, by C.E. Bourne, and its next usage materialized in 1907 in The Age of Justinian and Theodora by W.G. Holmes, though neither of these occurrences uses the word the way it is used today. As the term has grown in popularity, it brings with it some theological concerns, challenges, and opportunities. The defining missiological debate in mission history has been the relationship between "church and mission,"…
-
Pastor Steven Furtick
-
Code Orange Revival Recap
24 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amGod moved in a mighty way during the past 12 days of Code Orange Revival! These pictures are just a glimpse of some of the most powerful moments. And here’s a video our team put together to celebrate what God has already done through the first part of 2012. This is not a highlight reel – it’s a preview of what God is going to do this year. -
The Vision Behind the Elevation Network
12 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amThis is such an exciting time for our church. Not only did Code Orange Revival kick off last night, but we have also launched a brand new initiative that will open up unlimited opportunity to reach people all over the world with the power of the gospel. As a church we have always sought to leverage technology to increase our platform for ministry, so we have launched The Elevation Network: a 24 hour a day, 7 day a week Gospel preaching ministry. The Elevation Network is our gift to you, and is a free online network that will stream round the clock gospel preaching. When you tune into the… -
Code Orange Revival Behind the Scenes
11 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amWe wanted to share a quick insider, behind the scenes look on the eve of the launch of the Code Orange Revival. Make your plans to join us starting tonight at 6:12pm. -
The First Step to Realizing God’s Purpose—Special Sneak Peek
10 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amI got such an encouraging response the last time I did this, I felt like it was time to do it again. In September of this year, I’m planning to release my second book, Greater. It’s getting hard for me to be patient, because now that the final edits are complete, I am bursting to get this message into your hands. I feel confident that it is going to help you ignite God’s vision for your life, whatever that vision may be. But production schedules are what they are, and we’ve got to wait a while. So, in the meantime, I thought I’d give you another sneak peak into one of the chapters… -
If You’re Feeling Stuck…
9 Jan 2012 | 3:15 amAbout two years ago, I completed a personal evaluation exercise in my journal. I wanted to uncover the 3 main factors that keep me from moving forward and embracing new paradigms in my life and leadership. In other words: why do I stay stuck? From my journal to your computer screen, here’s my short list. I blogged it in 2009, but felt like it may be appropriate to share as we begin this new year…to help somebody go forward in God. 1. Complacency Change is hard. Positive change is just as hard as negative change. Sometimes it’s easier to stay stuck than to move forward. Often it’s more…
-
daveferguson.org
-
"Sifted": 2012 Exponential Conference Big Idea
6 Feb 2012 | 6:26 pmWho wants to be Sifted? I know it doesn’t sound like much fun, does it? When we first picked the Sifted theme for the Exponential 2012 Conference, I wasn’t a big fan. I’m more of a big picture and positive sort of guy so thinking about being sifted made me cringe a little. As we continued to develop this theme, I began to realize this is exactly what we need to be talking about. God allows us to be “sifted” (Luke 22:31-32) through trials and temptations to grow us as followers and leaders. How we respond as church leaders not only shapes who we become, but also those who… -
Interview with Wayne Cordeiro - Story of Sifting
24 Jan 2012 | 2:45 pmAs President of the 2012 Expoential Conference I recently had the opportunity to interview Wayne Cordeiro about the big idea of his new book, SiftedYou should definitely give this podcast a listen as Wayne speaks very candidly about some of the struggles and pain of ministry and how God got him through it and taught him much needed lessons. Wayne will be leading a main session and his book will be a featured book at this years Exponential Conference. Check it out by ciicking HERE -
What Stats Should Matter To Churches?
22 Jan 2012 | 8:17 pmIn the movie Moneyball, Brad Pitt plays the part of the Oakland A’s General Manager Billy Beane. While most of the baseball old timers and scouts had a set of stats they used to look for young prospects, Billy Beane understood that the only stat that mattered was runs scored. Through statistical analysis he changed the game of baseball forever and was credited with indirectly bringing a championship to the Boston Red Sox for the first time in 85 years. In much the same way churches should not confuse a variety of different stats like attendance and offering with the one stat that… -
How To Choose A Justice Cause To Champion
2 Jan 2012 | 8:07 amEver feel overwhelmed by so many needs and so much injustice in the world that you end up paralyzed and do very little? I was feeling that way and Dr. Soong-Chan Rah gave me some insight in how to respond when there are so many causes and so little time. I was at a special gathering planned by CCDA and World Relief to inform leaders like myself about the need for immigration reform. Sitting with me were Troy Jackson and Kirsten Strand, two good friends and leaders who have a great understanding about restorative justice issues. In the middle of this gathering I began to feel convicted… -
Ross' Story: "Finding My Way Back To God"
31 Dec 2011 | 1:47 pm
-
Less Clutter. Less Noise.
-
20 minutes about communication trends in the local church…
2 Feb 2012 | 11:23 amSean Cannell over at Think International sat me down on Skype last week for an interview about communication trends in the local church. Best practices, bad habits, missed jokes and all–we covered it in 20 minutes. -
How we addressed our growing connection and communication gaps as a church…
30 Jan 2012 | 7:42 amWe launched the Table at Granger last fall. Since then, I’ll regularly get emails and voicemails from other churches wondering why we made the choice, how we rolled it out and what’s happened since the launch. Last week, I took some time and answered all the FAQs over on the Table blog. Hope it’s helpful. Part 1: Why did you feel Granger needed its own private social network? What made you pick the Table? How did you get leadership buy-in? Part 2: What kind of response has the Table received at Granger? What’s your favorite feature of the Table so far? Part 3: What do… -
If I asked you to describe your job with one visual, what would it be?
27 Jan 2012 | 10:09 amI had a special guest in the office on Monday. Emily, an eighth grader, shadowed my goings on for a full work day as part of a Career Day assignment for school. She was all in–going to meetings, listening to phone calls, observing emails, catching hallway conversations, going out to lunch with the gang, etc. She showed up more prepared than most adults and kept me on my toes–asking questions about the why behind the what, sharing unique perspectives and jumping in wherever she could add value. Several of my teammates thought she was in college. At the end of the day, she ran me… -
Economics for humans…what we don’t measure and why it’s a problem.
24 Jan 2012 | 6:59 amI listened to an HBR Ideacast this AM that had an encouraging perspective from an unlikely source. An economist was advocating that there is more to life than a growing GDP. Here’s a few notes I jotted down. If I asked you what a good life consists of, your answer would be about more than money & stuff. It would be about a life rich in relationships (social capital), accomplishment (organizational capital), meaning, fulfillment and passion (emotional capital)—all of those things add up to a meaningful life. Economics as we know it and live it doesn’t really capture this… -
I got to be on the world’s only user-antagonistic podcast…
20 Jan 2012 | 11:53 amThanks Anthony, Heath & Matthew… I could do this every week.
-
churchrelevance.com
-
Atheists vs Christians Research Study on Personality Differences
8 Feb 2012 | 7:47 amMatt Baker of UsefulCharts is conducting some very important research regarding the personality differences between atheists and Christians. Please take a moment to complete the quick questionnaire by clicking here. The survey has already received about 25,000 responses from atheists and is in great need of more Christian participants to balance out the dataset. I’ll publish the results on Church Relevance when available. Sponsored by: E-zekiel: Websites for Active Ministries E-zekiel.com is a flexible platform that thousands of churches depend on to create and manage their website and… -
The Top Churches in America to Watch in 2012
1 Feb 2012 | 12:18 pmThe metrics that matter most in ministry are true conversions, maturing disciples, and selfless acts that advance the gospel message. Unfortunately, it is almost impossible to truly measure this in just one church let alone tens of thousands of churches. Instead those who study churches rely on metrics like weekly attendance, growth rates, subjective opinions, scope of influence, and church planting efforts as hints to gauge if a church is successful. The underlying flaw with this is sometimes exceptional churches have humble results in terms of size, growth, and influence while sometimes… -
Whoops! Open Church Delayed but Coming Soon
25 Jan 2012 | 4:20 amOpen Church’s launch has moved to March 1, 2012 for the ministry ideas section and likely April 2012 for the free resources. WHAT HAPPENED? Developing the site wasn’t as easy as our developer expected. After previous delays, we pruned off features to make a mid-January launch possible, but those pruned benchmarks were not hit either. Unfortunately, what is left is unstable and missing most of what we hoped for. It is clear we need to go a different route. The developer has moved on. I apologize for this. Any payment the developer received was underwritten by my company or came… -
What Ministry Conferences Are You Attending in 2012?
24 Jan 2012 | 9:14 amChurch Relevance’s list of 2012 church conference recommendations has been updated to almost 40 ministry conferences. There’s no way it includes all of the conferences worth considering. So check out the list, and please leave a comment letting us know which conferences we forgot and which ones you’ll be attending. Sponsored by: Leaders Book Summaries Leaders Book Summaries help you grow as a leader. Receive the best books for leaders in concise, easy-to-read summaries. Thirty times/year receive a 12-15 page complete summary and a 2-page Nutshell of each book. -
Leaders Book Summaries
17 Jan 2012 | 3:00 amI love books. From the Bible to theologians to business experts, books are a quick way to get wisdom which in the long run helps you make better choices and avoid dangerous pitfalls. Over time my library has grown to about 1,500 books I haven’t read yet, but over time, my responsibilities have also grown to the point that I have to be very strategic about what I read and how long I read it. In 2012, I have purposed to read more by using book summaries from Leaders Book Summaries. I’ve avoided book summaries in the past because I liked the sense of accomplishment from reading a…
-
LifeChurch.tv : swerve
-
Round Tables at LifeChurch.tv
24 Jan 2012 | 5:35 amIn order to help serve churches, we will be hosting several round tables this year. Here is information on the first two. ARC (Association of Related Churches) will be doing a one day Leadership Forum for all pastors and church leaders at LifeChurch.tv. Pastor Chris Hodges, Rick Bezet, Joe Champion, and I will be contributing. This round table is for those who are interested in church planting and for pastors interested in developing their leadership skills. The forums will be a great time of learning, sharing ideas and growing relationships in a dynamic setting. There will also be an… -
ACCEPTABLE PRIDE?
19 Jan 2012 | 6:00 amWe know God opposes the proud. But some forms of social media seem to have redefined what pride is and what it’s not. For example: Imagine if I stood before our church and told everyone, “Joe Smith said, ‘Craig you are the best preacher ever! Your sermons changed my life.’ And Jill Denny said, ‘I loved your book. Everyone should read it. You are the best author I’ve ever read!’ Not only that, but Mike Mitchell said, ‘Craig, Life Church is the best church in the world! No church is as good as Life Church.’” Chances are good most people would look at me funny and think I’m… -
Church Online Platform is Live
9 Jan 2012 | 11:29 amI’m very excited to let you know… Church Online Platform has officially launched! This is the same technology that makes Church Online happen at LifeChurch.tv. What we’re making available to other churches for free is identical to what we’re using internally. We’ve been looking forward to this moment for a long time. Ever since the early days of Church Online (or the Internet Campus as we called it back then), one of the most frequent questions we received was, “How can we develop something similar?” Through the partnership of a handful of like-minded… -
Free Platform Helps Any Church Launch an Online Ministry
6 Dec 2011 | 5:06 amOne of the most common questions we receive about Church Online is, “how can I start something similar at my church?” That’s why I’m excited to share this news about the Church Online Platform… If you’d like to stay in the loop as we near the launch date of January 9, just enter your email address at ChurchOnline.org. And if you know churches who might be interested, please share this post with them! -
The Imaginary Deadline
6 Jul 2011 | 5:00 amFor years I struggled with managing my time effectively. One tool I learned that dramatically increased my effectiveness is the “imaginary deadline.” If I’ve got a project without a deadline, it’s easy to procrastinate or work halfheartedly. When an assignment has a hard deadline, I start faster, work smarter and focus better. Instead of thinking, I need to have my sermon finished before I preach this weekend, I have a Wednesday-at-noon deadline. It’s not anyone else’s deadline. It’s mine. Rather than saying this video needs to be finished by next week, I complete all videos by…
-
Church Marketing Sucks
-
Office Hours: Communication Volunteers & Church Social Media
8 Feb 2012 | 3:00 amEvery week I hold online office hours and answer questions from folks like you. This week we’ve got a question about communication volunteers and staff. I also take a look at the true meaning of social media and how churches can participate. Take a look and be sure to join me every Wednesday from 2-4 p.m. CST for online office hours! I’m setting up a creative team at our church to handle all the communication requirements. There are no staff on the team, just volunteers. Any advice on what to focus on most and what can wait until later? My answer: This is what I would do if I were… -
Churches Reaching Out With Pinterest
6 Feb 2012 | 5:21 amWhether you’re crazy about pinning or think that it’s just a fad, there’s no denying that Pinterest is a new player on the social media scene. In January it beat YouTube, Reddit, Google+, LinkedIn and MySpace for percentage of total referral traffic in January, according to a Shareaholic study. One church is pioneering this new territory and has some insights to share on how churches can use Pinterest. Jake Johnson is the publishing and content manager for Mars Hills Church, Resurgence and PastorMark.tv. He oversees content strategy for all of Mars Hill’s online… -
Job Board: Director, Web & Media
3 Feb 2012 | 6:15 amAre you looking for a job in church communications? The CFCC Job Board has some listings that you might be interested in. Here are a few of the recent listings to the board: Hempfield United Methodist Church in Lancaster, Penn., is looking for a director of communications. Click here for details. Northview Church in Carmel, Ind., is looking for a web coordinator. Click here for details. Victory Highway Wesleyan Church in Painted Post, N.Y., is looking for a media designer. Click here for details. Is your church looking for a communications professional? Be sure to get your free listing on the… -
Lessons from Bible Billboards in Egypt
1 Feb 2012 | 6:09 amOn Sunday my church had a visit from the general secretary of the Bible Society of Egypt, Ramez Atallah. His visit coincided with the one-year anniversary of the beginning of the Egyptian revolution. But rather than a typical discussion of passing out Bibles, he offered a lesson in marketing. In Egypt the Bible Society isn’t allowed to evangelize, so they advertise. They’re not allowed to give Bibles away, so they sell them. Atallah admitted he freely borrows from the business world, saying “If it works for Pizza Hut, it can work for us.” That includes using billboards and… -
Annual Report: We Need Your Help
31 Jan 2012 | 11:54 amWe need your help. As an organization that has delivered thousands of breakthrough moments—those key sparks that frustrate, educate and motivate the church to communicate, with uncompromising clarity, the truth of Jesus Christ—we believe there is even more to be done. We’ll get to that in a moment. First, 2011 was a remarkable year and I want to celebrate what took place. Last year included events such as the launch of Outspoken: Conversations on Church Communication, Creative Missions, more CFCC meetups and the continuation of Cultivate. I’d encourage you to read the 2011…
-
Echo Hub » Posts
-
MyBetterStory.com: How to Help with Technology
8 Feb 2012 | 7:19 amI could probably say this every week, but Elevation Church is up to something cool. Elevation’s current sermon series is called “Living a Better Story,” and in order to support that series, the team at Elevation launched MyBetterStory.com. It’s a simple website that invites people to identify and articulate the stories they think God is calling them to live. As Pastor Steven Furtick explains in the video below, the site was birthed out of a desire to help people explore and apply the sermon series — what a great concept! As Furtick goes on to say, the site represents an opportunity… -
Our Very Own Dumb Jib Dolly
7 Feb 2012 | 11:54 amOver the last six months, we at Igniter Media have produced some scripts that required a few shots that went beyond just a stationary tripod. When we brainstormed “Strangers” back in August, the script was screaming out for a few long dolly shots. And thus began the creation of our 22-foot dolly track. I’d never built something like this before, so I hope you enjoy reading about my experience, and I hope you can use it to make something even better. (Thankfully, we already owned an Indie-Dolly so we were fortunate to not have to go out and purchase rollerblade wheels as suggested… -
Graceway Media Joins RT Creative Group
7 Feb 2012 | 8:04 amAs you may know, Echo has a parent company called RT Creative Group. I spend most of my time focused here on Echo Hub and putting together Echo Conference, but I still work closely with the rest of my colleagues in the company. They spend their time helping me on the Echo side and/or creating great church media through Igniter Media. Anyway, yesterday we announced a new addition to the RT Creative Group family: Graceway Media. If you’re not familiar with Graceway Media, just know that it’s made up of a great team of people who design and deliver title graphics, banners, motion loops, and… -
A Sale and Other News from the Echo Hub Store
6 Feb 2012 | 12:44 pmThere have been a few new developments in the Echo Hub Store, and I wanted to make sure you heard about them: First, the Echo DVD 4-pack is on sale through the end of the week. Get the DVDs from the four previous Echo Conferences for just $179, a savings of $50 off the regular price. As you might imagine, the DVDs feature audio and video recordings of fantastic sessions from past Echo events. The 4-Pack is a great resource, and you can find out more here. Culture Making by Andy Crouch is now available. This is one of the best books I’ve read in the last five years, no doubt about it. -
REVIEW: The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace
6 Feb 2012 | 7:32 amI’ll confess: I love personality surveys. I think they’re fascinating. So when I saw The 5 Languages of Appreciation in the Workplace I was intrigued. I had read Gary Chapman’s The 5 Love Languages and found it a good resource for communication in relationships, and I was curious to see how it applied to work. Then Champan and his co-author, Paul White, started throwing out statistics like these (true against any job type): 64% of people who leave jobs do so because they don’t feel appreciated. 70% of employees say they receive no recognition or praise at work. I…
-
Ministry Best Practices
-
Unchurched Do Not Ponder Life's Purpose
7 Feb 2012 | 9:51 pm"Half of the Americans who do not attend church also do not wonder if there is an ultimate purpose for their lives or the possibility that God has a plan for them, according to a recent survey. The study by LifeWay Research, which surveyed 2,000 U.S. adults, also found that people with even a slight curiosity about a higher purpose to life are more likely to participate in worship services. About 75 percent of the adults surveyed indicated that they either agree or strongly agree with the statement, “There is an ultimate purpose and plan for every person’s life.”" (ht: Survey:… -
The Power Of Vulnerability
2 Feb 2012 | 9:23 pmBrene Brown studies human connection -- our ability to empathize, belong, love. In a poignant, funny talk at TEDxHouston, she shares a deep insight from her research, one that sent her on a personal quest to know herself as well as to understand humanity. -
How To Spot Visitors In Your Church
2 Feb 2012 | 7:45 am(ht: NakedPastor) -
Does The Internet Rot Your Brain?
31 Jan 2012 | 5:00 amIn ministry, many of us use and leverage the internet for all kinds of purposes. We use it to: Communicate with our church Advertise and market the church Prepare for sermons Connect with our flock And dozens of other tasks.... But even though the internet provides a wealth of tools and resources for ministry, it also comes at a cost. See the infographic about how Social Media (and even how the internet) may be ruining our minds by reading on: -
Free E-books And Resources
30 Jan 2012 | 5:14 pmThe Internet has introduced unprecedented challenges, and the potential threats can change daily. Being in ministry, I see all the time, the challenges to Christians and their families. As a part of the MinistryBestPractices family, I am committed to helping you be resourced in order to protect yourself and your loved ones online. To help educate you about these Internet dangers, I am pleased to offer the latest educational resources from Covenant Eyes. All of them are completely FREE. I know you will find these informative guides valuable, and I hope you will share them with your…
-
Brad Lomenick
-
Favorite things from 2011
8 Feb 2012 | 9:46 amGot this idea from my buddy Jon Acuff. Listing out my favorite things from last year in 2011. I’m a little late to the game in reviewing 2011 since it’s now already the first part of February 2012, but oh well. Here you go: Favorite new band: Seryn Favorite new artist: Josh Garrels Favorite song: 10,000 Reasons by Matt Redman Favorite organization: Atlanta Mission Favorite movie: Moneyball Favorite book: Unbroken Favorite TV Show: Gold Rush Favorite App for iPad: Fruit Ninja and Netflix Favorite new person: Katie Davis, founder of Amazima Ministries and author of Kisses from… -
Look me in the eye
6 Feb 2012 | 2:56 pmSo I had the chance last week to attend all the festivities in DC tied to the National Prayer Breakfast. Every year this event is put on by Congressional leaders, and high profile leaders from all over the world are invited to attend. I’m always honored to be in the room with many well-known folks. One thing I’ve noticed about those who have “arrived” in terms of influence, and stature, and credibility, is that they are usually the kind of leader who authentically takes an interest in you when you first meet them. They ask good questions, and are genuinely interested… -
People to Avoid When Flying
4 Feb 2012 | 8:26 pmFrom the Archives for Your Enjoyment Reality is, most people shouldn’t fly on airplanes because they simply lack airplane etiquette. I have flown in the last 16 years around 850,000 miles, on basically every carrier, and visited 14 countries and almost every US state. Many of you have flown much, much more than me, and have way more experience and insight, so feel free to add your own points to this ever evolving list. Power to the flying people on this one. Will make a good coffee table book in the future….. The 14 people I try and avoid when flying…… 1. The middle… -
Write it Down
2 Feb 2012 | 3:16 pmYoung leaders consistently ask me: “what’s one practical piece of advice for becoming/being a leader who gets things done?” A leader that is trustworthy and reliable. The kind of leader when you ask them to get something done, you have complete confidence that it will happen. My answer is always the same: Write It Down. Always. What do I mean? 1. never show up to a meeting without a pen and a notebook. My preference is a sharpie and a moleskine notebook. But doesn’t matter whether it’s a legal pad or a Red Big Chief pencil, Or your iphone or laptop. ALWAYS show… -
The Real You is Needed
1 Feb 2012 | 4:51 amAuthentic. Who I really am. The REAL YOU. The REAL Me. True Authenticity might be the hardest thing for us to do as leaders. Deep down, we constantly want to be someone else, act like someone else, talk like our favorite speaker, pray like our favorite pastor, be funny like the guy who is always making everyone laugh. You get the point. We are wired to improve, get better, constantly change, and keep moving. We wear the same clothes, memorize the same lines, tuck our shirts in the same way, tilt our hat similarly, drink the same coffee, watch the same TV shows, and somehow think that someday…
-
Backpacking Light Magazine
-
(M) Crazy for Quilts â How Quilts Became My Sleep System of Choice, PLUS A Review of My Favorite, the Stateless Society Custom Quilt
6 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pmTake a walk through the backpacking addicted mind of Ray as he explains his journey to custom quilts, and read a review of his favorite model, a 14-ounce beauty made by fellow BPL-er Javan Dempsey. by Ray Estrella | 2012-02-07Let me take a moment to explain the reasons and route I took to get to quilts for backpacking. I am a toss-and-turn side-sleeper. It is almost impossible for me to sleep on my back, as it is very uncomfortable and causes me to snore (which then wakes me up). Way back (early 80s), my favorite three-season bag was a Sierra Designs semi-rectangular bag that I used above 40… -
(M) Backpacking and Hiking with an Umbrella
6 Feb 2012 | 11:00 pmFrancis is an umbrella advocate, eschewing typical rainwear. Find out why he's backpacked over 12,500 miles with an umbrella... and decide if you should follow his lead. by Francis Tapon | 2012-02-07When I'm backpacking, hikers often ask, "Why are you carrying an umbrella?" An umbrella seems out-of-place in the wilderness. It's for city folk, not for macho backpackers. However, hiking with an umbrella is not as foolish as it looks. I've used umbrellas on the Appalachian Trail, Pacific Crest Trail, and Continental Divide Trail. Umbrellas have also protected me during my treks across Costa… -
(M) Storm Resistance of Ultralight Shelters: Part 1, Introduction
30 Jan 2012 | 11:10 pmEvaluating the wind and snow loading of shelters for ultralight backpacking in inclement conditions. by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-31This article introduces a new long term initiative at Backpacking Light: to analyze existing standards of design, manufacturing, and materials of ultralight shelters and relate these standards to observed performance in response to adverse environmental conditions. Shelters of interest to the ultralight backpacking community may be characterized by one or more of the following attributes: The use of lightweight fabrics to save weight; The use of construction… -
(M) Deep Freeze: A Cold, Hard Look at Winter Stoves
30 Jan 2012 | 11:00 pmInvestigating the lightest-weight options on the market and assessing ease-of-use, reliability, fuel efficiency, and time to boil. by Brad Groves | 2012-01-31Little problems during a winter trip can be a lot more serious than the same problems in summer. There's not as much room for error in winter, and it's not the time for marginal gear. If your body isn't producing (or your insulation isn't trapping) enough heat, you need a source of external heat. You also need that heat for melting snow or ice for water, cooking up some meals, as a general source of cheer... A winter stove needs to work… -
(M) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar Shelter Review
23 Jan 2012 | 11:10 pmSimplicity and strength in an all-season shelter. by Ryan Jordan | 2012-01-24The 17-ounce (482-g) Mountain Laurel Designs TrailStar claims to be the "first shaped tarp with five low-angle sides and no doors that combines the performance of a traditional pyramid shelter with the open and multi-function pitching of a tarp" (manufacturer website on December 20, 2011). The primary purpose of this review is to push the TrailStar to its performance limits and find out under what scenarios this and other manufacturer claims start to break down. My first experience with the TrailStar came in the…
