Disqus - Latest Comments for Dave Sandell

Re: Largehearted Boy: Today's Updates to the Year-End "Best of 2008" Books & Music Lists (December 17th, 2008)

Dave Sandell — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 14:04:50 -0000

I always get a kick out of being on your list. Think I can make it in this year? http://word-processor.blogspot.com/2008/12/top-...

Re: Prayer for Des Moines.

Dave Sandell — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 13:02:50 -0000

Everyone - as you pray, add Waterloo and Burlington to the prayer too please... Waterloo's downtown is closed, Burlington is getting hit too.

Re: I ignore beggars.

Dave Sandell — Mon, 23 Jun 2008 18:28:09 -0000

I used to have similar struggles with this issue, and after much soul-searching, I think what's most important is that I believe Jesus works with your heart's intent. So if you give the beggar with a cigarette $5, you've given Jesus $5. You've still taken care of your corner of the kingdom, you know?

Re: What makes you so sure?

Dave Sandell — Wed, 25 Jun 2008 22:50:33 -0000

Word up. That's all.

Re: An autism question.

Dave Sandell — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 22:57:31 -0000

I remember reading this article a couple years ago and being intrigued. However, my brother showed signs that something wasn't traditional pretty much from birth, so it's hard for the TV theory to resonate with me.

Something to keep in mind is that autism wasn't really diagnosed before the 80's, so the increase might be more of a correlation than a causation. Lots of people who were wrongly diagnosed as something else were being properly diagnosed for the first time.

I'm excited to hear what others have to say though.

Re: Are You Spiritually Unhealthy?

Dave Sandell — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 11:40:07 -0000

Oh man... Peter's first book, The Emotionally Healthy Church, is the reason I started my own counseling journey, which I've now been on for more than three years. I mark it as one of the most significant places I've found freedom, healing and growth and I'll be praying for you as you work through the book and whatever issues come up afterward. I really think the things Peter points to are central to living the abundant life Jesus talks about, free of isolation and able to live from a healthy, whole place.

I checked off almost all of that list for myself at the beginning of this. I would also add (for myself at least) that during conflict and life patterns, I spent a lot of brain energy on how the other person needed to change and what it was about them that caused this conflict, rather than looking inward at my own brokenness. Asking "What is this about me?" is exponentially harder, but ultimately so much more life-giving (and life-changing).

Re: BeDeviant.com Welcomed To Alltop.com

Dave Sandell — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 23:35:25 -0000

Congrats! I love the design of AllTop. Very cool.

Re: What’s Your Tweet Worth?

Dave Sandell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:19:51 -0000

My tweets are worth very little ($1.34). Not having much luck attracting followers. Need a tip from the BeDeviant handbook. Of course, I don't want to dilute my twitter experience so I don't follow many other people either. That's probably the problem.

By the way, I like some of the subtle changes you've made to the site recently.

Re: Digital Conversion PSA

Dave Sandell — Wed, 22 Oct 2008 13:21:44 -0000

I like to imagine what that actress must be like in real life. Either she needed some dough or she's a real sport. Either way, bet she's fun to be around.

Re: A Question For You…

Dave Sandell — Thu, 23 Oct 2008 17:35:30 -0000

That sometimes when I read the Bible, I think you have to ignore a lot of scripture to not be a Universalist Christian.

Sometimes.

That was cathartic.

I'm feeling judged.

Re: 25 Things I Don’t Understand About the Election.

Dave Sandell — Tue, 04 Nov 2008 18:33:33 -0000

Indeed.

I agree on most of that. Although, while I agree that on Nov. 5, 2008 everything will be the same no matter who wins, I'm not sure I agree that on Nov. 5, 2010 everything will be the same, and so I think there's something here worth getting worked up over. It's important. The last eight years have certainly proven that the leader of our country can affect day-to-day life for many, many people.

By the way, I think the elephant/donkey thing is like the red/blue thing. Originally something in pop culture that the parties eventually embraced. I could be wrong though.

Re: The Generation That Elected Obama

Dave Sandell — Fri, 07 Nov 2008 19:00:30 -0000

I'm pleased that I get to claim to be a part of generation we (born 1978 or later). This was very inspiring.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Dave Sandell — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:36:12 -0000

We're moving towards this model to become a member. Small groups are the lifeblood of our church, and the only way i can see the era of the digital pastor bearing much fruit. Got to plan for community time.

Re: Megachurch v. Mini-church

Dave Sandell — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 23:40:07 -0000

Realizing that might not make much sense to people who don't actually know me. By "we're moving towards this model to become a member", I specifically mean the church at which I'm a pastor. Potentially true in the church-at-large, but not what I meant.

Re: “Christians Are the Worst Tippers Ever.”

Dave Sandell — Wed, 26 Nov 2008 12:14:42 -0000

20% is standard. I expect to add it to my bill and I consider it when I'm ordering. It's part of the budget. However, I wasn't raised to believe that so every time I sign that 20% it stings a little. But it's a good sting. The sting of giving more than you want to, when you could get away with giving less.

I liked what Kyle said about tipping bad service out of grace. Just knocked my "10% for abysmal service" argument on its side. So... that's gonna sting too. But I'm resolving to never tip less than 10%.

Now, can someone offer insight on how much to tip delivery guys, hair stylists and other non-restaurant situations?

Re: What Do You Do When You Don’t Feel Good?

Dave Sandell — Wed, 04 Feb 2009 00:20:04 -0000

Okay, first off, I miss you and all of your idiosyncrasies. Second, Verity swears by loading up on vitamin C till you just can't take it anymore. Like, unreasonable amounts. And she gets sick less than I do. But rest when you can, power nap it at least once a day, don't eat junk food even though you probably don't have a lot of non-junk options (most veggies can be steamed in the microwave with a little water) and find an... ahem... "spirit-filled" cronie to pray for you.

In fact, do the last one first.

Re: The Younger Evangelical Church

Dave Sandell — Sat, 14 Mar 2009 17:23:43 -0000

So true for me - we're starting a third service this fall, and I'm trying hard to not make it a Gen X & Y service for that reason - I don't want people to feel like they have to figure out whether or not they qualify to be a part of what we're doing, or that there is something inferior about what we're doing - like it's preparation for what's ahead. I remember being a high school freshman and looking forward to college, and then in college, wondering about adulthood. Now I just want to be in the moment, with this community, for as long as people want to commit to it.

Also, his points about intercultural community & intergenerational communities resonate with me. Our church is 44% non-white (and growing several percentage points each year) and the median age is 33. And coming into that auditorium and seeing a sea of faces that don't look like mine always feels like what I hope heaven feels like.

Re: You Know What They Say About Assuming…

Dave Sandell — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 14:25:36 -0000

True enough. It seems most doable if you're starting from scratch, but most of us cherish our communities even though they might be loaded with warts. How do you go about transforming those communities, where some of the things mentioned above might be 30+ years old?

Re: What Are You Reading?

Dave Sandell — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:17:44 -0000

Just finished: "Your Money Counts" by Howard Dayton
Reading now: "The Smartest Investment Book You'll Ever Read" by Daniel Solin (notice a theme?)
Can't wait to read: "Following Jesus" by NT Wright (been on my wishlist forever, so backlogged with books though)

Justin - is "Younger Evangelicals" a must-read, or simply a good read?

Re: What Are You Reading?

Dave Sandell — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 22:19:19 -0000

Yaconelli is so good. He's the soul food of Christian literature. Read "Messy Spirituality" as soon as you can after "Dangerous Wonder"

Re: A Christian Responds to the Iowa Gay Marriage Ruling

Dave Sandell — Fri, 03 Apr 2009 20:51:03 -0000

Why do we have to qualify our thoughts on this stuff ("I can't say that I'm crazy about the (unanimous) decision..." & "Granted, it goes against my personal beliefs..." for example)? I do the same thing sometimes and it strikes me as some form of a backhanded compliment.

Re: Lutherans Love Kitchens… And Signs

Dave Sandell — Thu, 23 Apr 2009 16:04:37 -0000

That. Was. AWESOME.

I'm using the word 'awesome' about that.

Re: http://www.bedeviant.com/2009/05/15/21st-income-2/

Dave Sandell — Fri, 15 May 2009 15:18:14 -0000

Certainly there's tons of need for hands and feet to do tons of things. But I'm with Justin. Sometimes we can use our hands and feet to generate income which allows us to do lots of cool stuff to bring Heaven to Earth. In our city, there are a lot of people losing their jobs, needing rent payments, gas payments, etc. My hands and feet can only do so much for them. Heck, I sometimes wish our staff could get paid a little more.

And this microfinance stuff? All the relief work being done after natural disasters? All of that is bonafide. And all of it costs money. We need soup kitchens & extra beds for the night, but we also need long-term relief in the way of housing policy, family law and education policy. We need affordable medical care and business skills training. We need counselors who are subsidized so that people can do marriage counseling without going broke.

That stuff costs money. To theologize our way into poverty isn't doing anyone any good. No one is saying "Money is the answer to everything". We are saying "Money might be one means to accomplishing God's work." I believe some of us are called be good stewards of what God has for us, rather than broke people with good intentions.

Re: http://www.bedeviant.com/2009/05/18/21st-communications/

Dave Sandell — Mon, 18 May 2009 10:43:39 -0000

Enjoyed your thoughts... for what it's worth though, I think most people love TiVO/DVR because it allows for time-shifted viewing. AKA, my life doesn't have to revolve around Mondays at 7 and Wednesdays at 8 anymore (and Thursdays at 8 too... eek).

Not that we ever don't fast-forward through commercials.

However, I think this raises a similar point to what you talked about here. People are going to become less interested in revolving their lives around other people's schedules, which of course will have huge implications for the church. Decentralizing will be part of this. I think people will still go when they want to (just as I prefer to watch Chuck & Lost live), but other options will be helpful when other things have to take a priority. Services on different nights, lots of different small group options (including some daytime and weekend ones), audio podcasts for sermons, online sanctuaries where people can get help, and tons of different entry points will all become necessities.

Re: http://www.bedeviant.com/2009/05/18/21st-communications/

Dave Sandell — Mon, 18 May 2009 12:13:54 -0000

Interesting question, given the implications for the church. I'm drawn to Lost & Chuck live because of two things:

1) They give me a ton of joy and I generally count them as my some of my very favorite ways to unwind, get caught up in a story and either laugh a lot and get really excited (Chuck) or go bonkers with theories, connecting dots and generally getting sucked further into the dense mythology (Lost). I find the story telling on those shows life-giving and energizing, and I don't have to turn off my brain like so much other television (this previously happened with The Wire & Arrested Development too). So I look forward to them, and knowing that there's new Lost & Chuck in existence that I haven't seen is thrilling and I want to inhale them as quickly as possible.

2) I want to be a part of the conversation, particularly on Twitter and some of the blogs that work through both of those shows. If I don't watch Lost live, I have to more or less stay off Twitter until I do watch it because spoilers are everywhere and that show can be ruined by even the smallest spoiler. With Chuck, I like connecting with other Chuck fans (#Chuck) because the people who love that show LOVE that show and seem to get drawn into intense feelings about other awesome things in the world to, so it's fun to track them down and be known by them as well.

So there's a felt punishment for getting behind on Lost, and there's a feeling that I'll get left out of something I want to be a part of if I'm behind on Chuck. And on the first point it's because of how wonderfully great they are to experience. Perhaps those could be three valuable metrics for a weekly church experience as well.

Re: The 21st Century Church: The Worship Service

Dave Sandell — Wed, 20 May 2009 20:47:53 -0000

We're having a similar conversation in our church right now, as we begin a new service in the fall. I think our original intention was to break all of the rules and see what happens, but like your post on boundaries being helpful for creativity, we found that a wide-open spread left us all over the place, but a few limitations have helped our ideas flourish. For instance, simply having an order of service helped us to make each element go deeper. And while we have a different order of service than our morning services, it's not to be different. Rather, it's because based on our goals we believe it will serve us best.

I think that's what I want from the 21st Century Church. Not throwing out the rules for the sake of throwing out the rules, but rather re-examining the rules and infusing them with new life and new meaning.

PS - I love this conversation, and I love how you're thinking about using technology in your services. Do you have a video archive of what you did last week? I'd love to see it in action.

Re: The 21st Century Church: A Recap

Dave Sandell — Fri, 22 May 2009 19:16:49 -0000

Just a huge well done to you, Justin. This was a really great series, well-written, though-provoking, and the conversations were a lot of fun to be a part of.

Hats off.

Re: Sunday Funday: The Wonderfully Bizarre

Dave Sandell — Sun, 24 May 2009 16:53:20 -0000

I saw Yacht open for LCD Soundsystem a couple years ago. It was the most bizarrely thrilling concert I've been to. He comes out on stage by himself, presses play on a computer, talks over it, and occassionally taps on a keyboard. But most of the time he just dances Napolean Dynamite-style. It's marvelous. For the first ten minutes, the crowd (including me) was creeped out and confused, but after we realized this wasn't a joke, that this was our opener and this was for real, everyone got into it and had fun. Highly recommend seeing him live. Also, LCD Soundsystem's live show is beyond dope.

By the way, Yacht used to collaborate in the group, The Blow, which is super-hip and fun. Check it "Parenthesis", "True Affection" and "Fists Up".

Re: Cultivate 2009: Prepare Ye Head to Explode!

Dave Sandell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 01:31:12 -0000

Gonna try to make this, though i might not have the budget for it since we're using all of our personal conference dough on Poets, Prophets, Preachers. Perhaps the church could splurge since it's in my backyard.

And speaking of backyards, if you need a place to crash while you're in town, holla at ya boy

Re: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Dave Sandell — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 17:54:23 -0000

Those poor people born between 1965-1979 are gonna be irked as they get passed over. They're the Fredo generation apparently. I'm very late '79, but sometimes feel like I'm going to have to fight for my moment since I'll be just finishing my 30's when all of this goes down.

Re: Standing on the Shoulders of Giants

Dave Sandell — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 08:32:28 -0000

Fredo was the passed-over son in the Godfather. There's some other implications there too, if you've seen the movies.

Re: The First to Go

Dave Sandell — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:34:53 -0000

Twitter. Followed closely by breakfast. Unfortunately, I'm busy most of the time so my Twitter presence usually happens around watching certain TV shows or venting. I have yet to make good on my goal to use Twitter to spread something of a good message.

I need to stockpile some blog posts cause a daily posting might get lost in the shuffle sooner or later too.

Re: The First to Go

Dave Sandell — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 16:39:24 -0000

Also, just noticed I'm #3 on the top 10 commenters list. I'm coming for you next, Jim. Boo-yah.

Re: Are Reproducing Muslims the Enemy?

Dave Sandell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:25:54 -0000

I recently heard someone say that while we aren't called to go out there and make people like us, we're not called to go out there and make people *not* like us, either. My fear with the way many people have gone about "loving" Muslims is that we're nailing the latter category. If our baseline is fear (which this video serves up like a four-course meal), then I don't see how love flows out of that.

Re: Are Reproducing Muslims the Enemy?

Dave Sandell — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 18:08:30 -0000

But "your religion sucks" is not doing anyone any good. I want to meet the muslim who has found the message of Jesus compelling through a "your religion sucks" experience. I think we need to be developing relationships, friendships and trust. Let our lives embody Jesus. And see where that and prayer get us. It's working for guys like Carl Medearis and Rick Love. It's working for New Frontiers as best I understand it. This video doesn't scream relationship to me. It screams "quick, get the muslims out of here". And that's just not winning anyone over.

Re: Today Show: Marriage is Dead

Dave Sandell — Wed, 24 Jun 2009 18:52:27 -0000

Can't remember where I read or heard this, but found it profound... I think it's really easy to make a commitment based on what's happening right now, especially if what's happening right now is we're madly in love and passionate and happy. If you're committing to doing what's happening right now forever, that's not really a commitment. Things change, people change. We grow and become. So I committed to my wife that I would stay with her forever, regardless of what happened. That's a much harder commitment to make, but I find it much easier to keep, because if things go south, my options are changed to "stay south together" or "go north together". Two surprising cheers for limiting my options!

Re: Augmented Reality

Dave Sandell — Tue, 23 Jun 2009 17:13:16 -0000

hawt.

Re: What is God Teaching You?

Dave Sandell — Thu, 25 Jun 2009 14:28:42 -0000

God is teaching me to live in the tension of someone loving you and being upset with you, rather than trying to make sure everyone is never upset with you because you're scared of losing love.

Re: Is Sunday School Failing?

Dave Sandell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:35:50 -0000

I got my hands on a book by Wess Stafford called "Too Small to Ignore" that makes a very compelling case to make children and youth ministry the #1 priority of a church. I think Sunday School has failed many, many churches and people. And I think parents need to play a greater part in spiritual development. But it would benefit everyone if the church figured out how to fix Sunday School and fix it quick. The Sunday Schools I've seen don't create room for doubt and tension. And while I think we need to be careful (on Dave Schmelzer/Scott Peck's stage theory, kids in High School probably benefit from a stage two ministry as much as I'd like them to receive a stage four ministry), but we could help people doubt well. To find God in the midst of doubting. To know how to read all of the things they'll read and receive all of the things they'll learn in a way that's life-giving, that challenges them to think deeply about what is ultimately true in the universe (which is different than teaching them to dismiss all critics of Christianity, most of whom have something we need to hear as a Christian institution).

I think doubts arise from incongruency. Go to Sunday School and come home and play Grand Theft Auto, and you've got a pretty clear sense that what we just learned clearly doesn't matter for the rest of our life. And if we address GTA (what I see most churches do), we miss the chance to address the truths about what God created (what I don't see most churches do), which would eventually spill out into your opinion about GTA. But GTA=bad does not help.

Re: Is ‘No Sex Before Marriage’ a Realistic Expectation?

Dave Sandell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:23:11 -0000

I'm chiming in late (the joys of getting ready for vacation) but I think a couple who has gone through a decent premarital course is in much better shape for the rest of their lives than a couple who hasn't. I look at the ceremony as leverage to get a couple through premarital, so they can have a fighting chance in our divorce-happy society. Perhaps that's a twisted version of a Jesus-reality, but if the church's goal is to create solid marriages, I think we have to reconsider what the #1 priority here is.

Re: Is ‘No Sex Before Marriage’ a Realistic Expectation?

Dave Sandell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:25:46 -0000

One more. Last year I was at a retreat for Kenyan pastors. There was a tricky situation they were asking for help with. A man with three wives started coming to their church. He was a great leader, and had completely turned his life over to Jesus, post-three marriages. There were two separate questions: Do we need to ask him to leave the church, and if not, is it okay to use him as a leader, given his heart, charisma and gifts. After much (MUCH) debate, one wise, almost zen-like voice rose above the fray: Do you accept his tithe checks? Perhaps that's a sentence we could consider here too.

Re: Dancin’ Down the Aisle

Dave Sandell — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 09:36:59 -0000

Let's pretend I didn't first see this on the Today Show this morning. Okay? Everyone pretending? Good.

Re: Women, Divorce and Gays

Dave Sandell — Wed, 05 Aug 2009 19:02:35 -0000

Just for the sake of argument (and not to say anything about anything I do or don't believe), what about being openly gay and celibate?

Re: Open-Source Sermons

Dave Sandell — Wed, 12 Aug 2009 21:47:02 -0000

That was extraordinarily fun. Looking forward to seeing if my thoughts make it in!

Re: Did You Know?

Dave Sandell — Sat, 26 Sep 2009 22:27:15 -0000

I like your new digs. Did you do it yourself? Well done.