Church

My first experience with what would become the Internet was in the early 1990's.  My first ISP (Internet service provider) was Net something -- I can't actually remember.  I used FIDO net to communicate with other users and didn't have a "graphical" web experience until signing up with AOL in 1992 or 1993.  My first modem was a 2400 baud and I can remember the excitement I felt each time I upgraded to "faster" speeds (4800, 9600, 15400!). So, it is with great interest and nostalgia that I pass along this article: "The 10 Founding Fathers of the Internet." The truly geeky and nerdy among us may recognize 7 or 8 of the 10; if you recognize all 10, you're the winner!

During our July 4th weekend services, we gave the audience the ability to text their vote regarding song selection (our band had learned three special songs and were ready to play whichever one won). Each service had a different winner. We also used a fun pre-service poll to greet people as they arrived.  We asked them to vote for their answer to this question: Which would you rather have? George Washington's hair Abraham Lincoln's beard Martin Van Buren's sideburns It was a simple and fun way to engage the crowd, especially the kids. The technology behind text voting is simple and pretty straightforward.  Our IT guy created an iPhone app to toggle between the questions on the fly.  The results also updated on the big screens immediately. For those who are wondering: More people preferred Martin Van Buren's sideburns over George's hair and Abe's beard.

We had a fun 4th of July weekend at Mountainview.  Our worship services were "family" style, which means the kiddos come into worship with their parents.  We started the service giving the audience the chance to vote for the song they wanted our band to play at the end.  They could text their vote for one of three songs: Born in the USA R.O.C.K. in the USA God bless the USA Saturday night's crowd picked R.O.C.K. in the USA and Sunday's crowd chose Bruce Springsteen.  It was fun watching the crowd respond to both the voting and having the band play the song.  Our band did a fantastic job, too. I spoke on the idea that true freedom is found only in Christ.  To begin my message, I showed a series of pictures of myself as a kid -- making the comment with each one that I was "free to…

The only time I’ve traveled in the back of a police car was on the 4th of July. I hadn’t been arrested, though it felt like it.  A few of us kids from the neighborhood were playing with firecrackers – and we found that by throwing them under a trash can made the explosion sound that much louder.  Unfortunately, it also sounded like a gun shot. I’ll never forget seeing two cops come running around the back of my friend’s house.  After talking with us about “how serious the situation was” they put me in the back of the car and drove me home.  My mom just about died (I was only in elementary school at the time). I didn’t experience too many of the joys of freedom that July 4th night. But I have experienced the joy of freedom.  I’m blessed to live in a free country.  I’m blessed…

More from our off-site leadership day at Mountainview. What are the stakes? Why does it matter if we as a ministry team function properly?  I reminded our staff that the stakes are different for us in ministry than if we were selling used cars.  We are dealing with the lives and destinies of people. Learning from obstacles. Not surprisingly, we as a church currently face many obstacles as we seek to move the Kingdom forward.  Money is tight.  Facilities are limited.  People are busy.  In fact, we generated a rather lengthy list of very real obstacles. Yet, according to James, these same obstacles can become great opportunities: When all kinds of trials and temptations crowd into your lives my brothers, don’t resent them as intruders, but welcome them as friends! Realize that they come to test your faith and to produce in you the quality of endurance. But let the…