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bobby
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1 month ago
in Time to Pay the Piper (My Response to John Piper's Blogpost on Twitter in Church) on Vertizontal
Well put JVo. Thanks for your thoughts. Interesting conversation as I have mad respect for you as a friend and inspiration, and Piper has become a bit of a hero because of stuff like Desiring God and soul shaping messages from Passion stuff.
Is listening to a sermon really the only way we hear from God? Yeah, that is a bit narrow. While I agree with Pat that you will be distracted anyway if it's a poor presentation, I also think we should question if we have perhaps missed the boat in elevating the presentation of the pastor/teacher above everything else in the process of spiritual growth and community gatherings.
Let's try and be more holistic in how we approach gatherings and discipleship. I don't think we should do away with teaching and preaching by any means, but there is also something to be said about the collective knowledge of everyone else in the room that at some point probably far outweighs the talking head.
Is listening to a sermon really the only way we hear from God? Yeah, that is a bit narrow. While I agree with Pat that you will be distracted anyway if it's a poor presentation, I also think we should question if we have perhaps missed the boat in elevating the presentation of the pastor/teacher above everything else in the process of spiritual growth and community gatherings.
Let's try and be more holistic in how we approach gatherings and discipleship. I don't think we should do away with teaching and preaching by any means, but there is also something to be said about the collective knowledge of everyone else in the room that at some point probably far outweighs the talking head.
1 reply
shameonyoko
You're right, man. 100 years from now people will still gather together to worship and there will be preaching and music. There are other semi-regular to regular pieces of corporate worship as well including baptism and communion. Being in dialogue about how to do all those things well in our own context is key. Holding form loosely is key. We have an absolute metaphysic but a relative epistemology.
1 month ago
in Wearing Shorts: Rules for Men Over 35 on Vertizontal
I agree with most of those. However I think I do see a slight cultural difference in terms of geographic location. Board shorts are probably much more acceptable in communities where there is at least an ocean nearby, such as mine.
And BTW, I'm not saying this cause I wanna wear speedos, but if you can wear bike shorts if you're on a good bike, and sports shorts if you play the sport, shouldn't you be able to wear speedos if you play waterpolo or swim competitively?
And BTW, I'm not saying this cause I wanna wear speedos, but if you can wear bike shorts if you're on a good bike, and sports shorts if you play the sport, shouldn't you be able to wear speedos if you play waterpolo or swim competitively?
1 reply
shameonyoko
Good point on the waterpolo and swim comp. Didn't take that in to consideration because they are so offensive. At least, in those instances, men are submerged more than they are out of the water. Unlike the idiots that strut it on the beach.
On the board shorts . . . yeah, around water is okay. No problem. Just like the swim trunks. Notice, in #18 it was more about the "pairing" than anything. Water shorts=must be around water.
And remember, this is men over 35. The rules tighten the older you get. Until you hit 65 and can do whatever the crap you want.
On the board shorts . . . yeah, around water is okay. No problem. Just like the swim trunks. Notice, in #18 it was more about the "pairing" than anything. Water shorts=must be around water.
And remember, this is men over 35. The rules tighten the older you get. Until you hit 65 and can do whatever the crap you want.
3 months ago
in New Westwinds Ad on Vertizontal
Sweet dude. Good stuff.
Where will this be played?
Where will this be played?
1 reply
shameonyoko
Movie theatres, local tv, etc.
7 months ago
in Signs of a Lukewarm Worship Leader on Ragamuffin Soul
I'm kinda with Christopher on this one. The realit is there are lots of great songs out there that often say what needs to be said where we're at. the way it plays out in the current local church is much different in my opinion that the sermon. We're not comparing apples and apples there, imho.
Don't get me wrong. I have been challenged by the call to write songs. i think it can be a great thing and some great songs come out of a need to express a thought that isn't already written into a song. But I don't think it's fair to call that person luke warm.
And I'm not sure about the lazy part either. I think smaller churches are at 2 disadvantages when it comes to wrenching out songs. One is simply amount of people. In a congregation of 100 people, it's very possible that there is not yet a gifted songwriter. Then the question comes in balancing the beauty of personalized worship for the congregation with quality writing and music that will we are often aiming for. That's could be a tough balance on both ends.
The other one is less staffing. It may not be a matter of laziness as much as time. As much as I'd like to be more involved in looking for songs from people and really pushing artists, it does become harder when Worship isn't a pastor's sole responsibility. I don't want to make excuses, but just recognize the time that gets eaten up for me when I am practicing my craft, putting together sets, running life groups, overseeing tech teams, preaching on occasion, organizing events, and leading a short terms mission trip. I'm not trying to whin, I just am always wishing I could do more. But if I do, I will get luke worm cause there's no margin for my own soul. kinda make sense? Or am I just rambling?
Don't get me wrong. I have been challenged by the call to write songs. i think it can be a great thing and some great songs come out of a need to express a thought that isn't already written into a song. But I don't think it's fair to call that person luke warm.
And I'm not sure about the lazy part either. I think smaller churches are at 2 disadvantages when it comes to wrenching out songs. One is simply amount of people. In a congregation of 100 people, it's very possible that there is not yet a gifted songwriter. Then the question comes in balancing the beauty of personalized worship for the congregation with quality writing and music that will we are often aiming for. That's could be a tough balance on both ends.
The other one is less staffing. It may not be a matter of laziness as much as time. As much as I'd like to be more involved in looking for songs from people and really pushing artists, it does become harder when Worship isn't a pastor's sole responsibility. I don't want to make excuses, but just recognize the time that gets eaten up for me when I am practicing my craft, putting together sets, running life groups, overseeing tech teams, preaching on occasion, organizing events, and leading a short terms mission trip. I'm not trying to whin, I just am always wishing I could do more. But if I do, I will get luke worm cause there's no margin for my own soul. kinda make sense? Or am I just rambling?
1 reply
bleedworship
Bobby I feel you bro... sometimes I get so angry (for lack of a better word) at all the song-writing inspiration I get and all the desire in my heart to write... because no matter how many ideas I have and how hard I try, I have not yet been successful in attaining to the level of writing I know I am called to live at... so far maybe 10 songs.. but there are literally over 200 on my voicemails, dictaphone, and notepads that I have had inspiration for but not adequate time to nurture and finish. :/
thankfully LOS recommended a book recently and I am reading it ("Getting Things Done" by David Allen) and learning how to create some time with all the demanding ministry responsibilities I have other than Worship - I believe our songs are coming very soon... be encouraged. And don't be afraid to delgate or dump things you shouldn't be doing... (I am preaching to myself as well)
thankfully LOS recommended a book recently and I am reading it ("Getting Things Done" by David Allen) and learning how to create some time with all the demanding ministry responsibilities I have other than Worship - I believe our songs are coming very soon... be encouraged. And don't be afraid to delgate or dump things you shouldn't be doing... (I am preaching to myself as well)
7 months ago
in How long does it take 4 McLean’s to setup a Tree? on BetterThanBlank
Fun. And no offense, but I still think fake trees are somehow unamerican. ;)
1 reply
betterthanblank
church planters love fake trees because you only pay for them 1x :)
7 months ago
in Blog Bottleneck on BetterThanBlank
Oops. That reply to Rich was supposed to be a comment. Not used to the whole disqus thang. I still vote for comment luv.
1 reply
betterthanblank
yeah bobby, I'm feelin' ya on the comment luv - but I'm giving disqus a run for a while. And I'll be blogging on the eschatology ideas soon - but just quickly: in my head I'm thinking that what you believe about how & when Christ returns, the world ends, etc. will form what you value today. For example - if you believe God will destroy the earth completely (with fire or nuclear war), than what is the point of 'saving the planet' or 'being green'... conversely - if you think that the stories are not literal, and were more written for the 70 BC church dealing with Romans, well, then that changes things a little... interesting things for me to wrestle with.
