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I get a kick when I hear someone refer to blogging as "old school."  Canvas Converse are old school. But it is true that of the three major forms of social media -- Facebook, Twitter, and blogging -- blogging is the oldest form.  Even more so when you realize that blogging is just the electronic version of keeping a journal (I would say diary but that turns off most guys). I have had some form of a blog at kenhensley.com since 2001.  There are several reasons why I have chosen to continue blogging.  These include: 1.  Platform.  A blog provides a platform to express yourself without the limits of 140 characters, 30 minutes, etc.  This is not about ego but influence.  I try to write blog posts that have benefits beyond myself.  I try to pass along helpful information from other writers and sites.  Having a blog is a great…

Twitter can be a scary place for pastors: it limits your posts to only 140 characters. Aside from Facebook, I believe Twitter is perhaps the second-most-important place for a pastor to be.  A few of the same reasons from yesterday's post apply to Twitter -- so I won't go into those.  I will offer a few other reasons I believe you as a pastor should be on Twitter. 1.  You have instant access to thought leaders and trend setters.   The list of people I follow on Twitter ranges from Guy Kawasaki to Rick Warren and Mark Driscoll to John Maxwell.  In real-time I am provided a snapshot into what they are thinking or reading.  It's like shadowing them around but being able to do so from your smart phone. I have tried to select leading thinkers from multiple disciplines: church, theology, business, science, leadership, etc.  With Twitter and Twitter-related apps…

This was my communion meditation for this weekend ... Back in the days before digital photography, a young college guy wanted to have a picture of his girlfriend duplicated.  He took it to a photography studio where the owner carefully removed it from the frame.  On the back, the owner noticed this handwritten note: "“My dearest Tom, I love you with all my heart. I love you more and more each day. I will love you forever and ever. I am yours for all eternity.” It was signed "Love, Helen.” It also contained a P.S.: “If we ever break up, I want this picture back.” In communion, God declares his love for us. At the cross of Christ, God declares "I love you with all my heart.  I will love you forever." Yet many Christ-followers wait for the P.S.  When does the "but" come?  Could God really mean it? If…

Even people who don't use computers know about Facebook. Launched in 2004, Facebook had 100 million users by 2008.  In other words, it took four years to add 100 million people.  By the middle of 2010, Facebook had over 500 million registered users.  One year later, the total stood at 800 million.  In church planting terms, that's exponential! I want to focus on how you as a pastor can benefit from being on Facebook. 1.  It allows you to connect faster with more people.  As your church grows, it becomes increasingly harder for the people in the pew to feel like they "know" you.  One key ingredient of effective preaching is the relational bond between preacher and audience.  I have found that being on Facebook not only allows me to learn names and faces quicker, but it also establishes camaraderie and rapport.  I have had more than one person say…