Archives for category: communication

Couldn’t Have Said It Better Myself

February 14, 2008 //

Nothing says, “Hey, you’re pretty cool and I would totally have given you this friendship card even if it were not basically mandated to give one to everyone in the class” like this Optimus Prime Valentine’s Day message that my daughter gave out to her preschool classmates today (among other assorted, totally non-sequitur Transformers messages):

Freedom is the right of all sentient beings, Valentine.

I suppose if you’re going to look for every possible (or impossible) marketing hook, tie-in or promotion, then you might as well really go for it. Maybe I can turn this into an Easter outreach postcard for our church :)

Categories advertising, communication, design, family, just grinning

Life, But How To Live It?

February 13, 2008 //

I lifted the title of this post from the Norwegian mid-90s punk band of the same name. While not necessarily the biggest fan of their music, I have always loved their name. Six words can convey so much.

Smith magazine is releasing a book called Not Quite What I Was Planning: Six-Word Memoirs By Writers Famous And Obscure. This book was inspired by the tale of Ernest Hemingway writing a compelling narrative in only six words: “For Sale: baby shoes, never worn.” The excerpts from Not Quite that I saw at NPR offer humor (Well, I thought it was funny – Stephen Colbert) and heartache (I still make coffee for two – newly single 27-year old) in unexpectedly powerful ways. In my mind, “Watching quietly from every door frame” paints an entire history.

If Linda Williamson had not already written it, Painful nerd kid, happy nerd adult would have been mine! Add your six-word memoir at the Bryant Park project (or just sort through gems like Miss you dad. You’d be proud and Job stinks. Art doesn’t pay. Dang amidst the assorted Yoda-sounding phrases).

Categories books, communication, faith

1-2-3 Meme

February 11, 2008 //

I’ve been tagged by J. Evans for this 1-2-3 Meme. Here’s how it works: “The game is to grab the book nearest to you and turn to page 123. Find the 5th sentence and share the next 3 sentences with everyone. Then you tag five people.” So, from my desk to your screen…

Preaching Re-Imagined, by Doug Pagitt

“Is it possible that this kind of phrase (ball hog) could also apply to pastors who do all the studying, all the talking, and even have the gall to think they can apply the messages they create to the lives of other people? In this setting there is little for the hearers to do besides decide if they agree or not. Is it possible that we have, through the practice of speaching, created a culture in churches where agreeability is the necessary posture of our people?”

As a preacher-type, this hits really close to home. I’ve struggled for awhile with tying together the notion of the priesthood of all believers with the role of preaching. Certainly, a vocational pastor will have time to devote to exegesis, study and meditation on Scripture that others do not. Hopefully, prayerfully, this hard work will translate God’s voice to, in and for a particular community. However, I would love to see a more active, participatory engagement of Scripture from our entire community. I don’t know if we’d approach this in quite the way Solomon’s Porch does, but Doug’s thoughts here are a great jumping off point.

* * * * *

I haven’t really participated in a meme before, but I am really interested in discovering what is on the bookshelf of Sam, Rich, David, Wayne and Dan.

Categories books, church, communication, community, faith, meme, missional, preaching

Ways Of Understanding Church

February 7, 2008 //

Jason Evans recently posted a thought-provoking article over at the Ecclesia Collective, Church as a co-op. I love the idea of searching out new analogies that help us delve deeper into what it means to be the called out people of God in community. After all, even the familiar concepts of the Church as the body of Christ and the family of God are also analogies.

“Organic” has become an increasingly popular analogy for the church (The Organic God, Organic Community and Organic Church to name a few recent books), I believe, out of this desire to reclaim the idea that the Church is not a static, artificial monument but rather a dynamic, real movement.

Of course, any language we choose to use runs the risk of being misunderstood, overused or rendered virtually meaningless because of conflicting ideas and preconceived notions. The emerging/emergent church movement and corresponding controversy come to mind. For more information about the emerging church, DJ Chuang has posted a great article to help you navigate the many kinds of emerging church. Here is another post that might help you understand the relationship between Emergent and the emerging church (including insightful comments from Scot McKnight and Jamie Arpin-Ricci).

I’m looking forward to hearing more of Jason’s thoughts. As a huge believer in the priesthood of all believers (God has called all of us into ministry, whether that’s our professional vocation or not) I whole-heartedly agree with the idea, “To be the Church is to choose unity with those that also choose the way of the Kingdom through Jesus.”

Categories church, communication, community, controversy, emerging church, ministry, missional

Making Conversation

February 1, 2008 //

Because of my increasing introversion and shyness (and general mental sluggishness) I often find it difficult to make conversation with other people — strangers, in particular. According to this article, How To Be A Great Conversationalist, I’m on the right track because at least I’m not an interrogator or a braggart. Sometimes I worry about wasting someone else’s time with small talk. Other times I just don’t get the words out.

For example, here was a conversation I had awhile back at my daughter’s preschool. I was taking my daughter out of the car in the parking lot and we were just heading over to her classroom. Another parent was driving by, stopped and said out the window:

Person: Go Blue!
Me: ?
Person: I saw your Michigan plates the other day — we’re from Michigan too! (smiling)
Me: Oh. That’s nice! (grin)

In my mind, I was thinking, “Both my brother and sister are Wolverines! Hail to the Victors!” and I was all set to make the Michigan map on my right hand and ask where they were from. But, somehow, the words just floated away. I find this happening with greater frequency.

Should I worry, or should I just Wiki it?

Categories asian american, communication, community, just grinning