There has to be some sort of metaphor here. Technology, spiritual, whatever. What do you think?

This was taken over labor day weekend on the Oregon coast. The fog moved in in about 20 minutes after a beautiful day!
I blew it.
I forgot to think before hitting enter. I needed to take a breath and think and pray.
Recently I wrote a status update on Facebook after I had just hung up the phone from a hard conversation. I shouldn’t have. I was the most frustrated I’ve been in a long time. I should have talked to the Lord about it instead of seeking affirmation from the world…seeking affirmation that I was right.
I’m sorry.
Please hear me, I’m incredibly thankful for this person and their investment in Jody and I and the ministry. I’ve been so blessed by their generosity and the handful of times I’ve spent face to face with them. They have incredibly hearts to serve the Lord and their community. I also believe they are making what they think is the best decision, so for that I applaud them for sticking to their convictions. I wish them all the best as they continue to follow Christ wherever it might take them.
All that to say, the conversation was hard and I felt like I was on the defensive. But I have no rights. I have no rights to be heard or to seek affirmation. I’m a slave to Jesus Christ. I follow him wherever he might lead me. I don’t deserve anything. He stood in my place and took the pain I deserve. For that, I’m grateful.
I tell people this all the time….think before you hit enter. Lessoned re-learned.
Showing up to campus, the computer or staff meeting expecting the God of the universe to work. Taking Him at his word that he is active and working in our lives and the students lives of this city.
I Samuel 14 caught my eye this morning in Dale Ralph Davis’ commentary. It was the story of Jonathan boldly charging into the Philistine camp full of faith inspite of circumstances. His eyes fixed on Yahweh. The following is an excerpt from Davis…
Faith arises in such a situation because it looks not to circumstances but to God. Jonathan has clear conviction about God (“for nothing can keep Yahweh from saving”) producing great expectation of God (“perhaps Yahweh will act for us”) and recognizes God’s “normal” manner of working (“by many or by few,” i.e., through his servants).
Jonathan is not trusting his own daring scheme. He does not say, “Perhaps Yahweh will act for us, for we are rather clever.” If anything, his daring is an expression of his trust in Yahweh.
The beauty of Jonathan’s faith is its imagination (Come, let us go…perhaps Yahweh will act for us”); and the beauty of that imagination is its balance (“perhaps”). If is if Jonathan says, “God can do mighty works with very small resources, and God may be glad to do it in this case; and how can we know, dear armor-bearer, unless we place ourselves at his disposal?
How refreshing.
Perhaps God will show up for us!
The only rule of Fed-Ex day is that you have to deliver over night on a new ministry tool, idea, solved problem or anything else remotely tied to our organization. We just wrapped up the presentations of the Portland Metro staff team Fed Ex day. Here are the idea that were presented!
The brain power and creativity on display amongst our staff team was awesome. It was fun to dream and allow for those dreams to be worked on. Plus the presentations were fun (think crazy fire transitions between Keynote slides) and developmental for our staff.
Do you do anything like this on your team?
Did you know that during a video call you can share your screen?
Hmmm, maybe I was the only one who didn’t know this fact of awesomeness. No more trying to explain with words…now I can show you. If you’re on a Mac all you gotta do is hit this little button and the person you’re talking to can see your screen.
I need to know.
The interweb needs to know.
What is the best new idea you’ve implemented for this season of ministry? What shiny new idea do you feel like God has laid on your heart. Is it a new technology or a new direction or emphasis? Is it simple, is it complex? What is it? In what new area are you trusting the Lord for something new? Light up that comment section!
Photo courtesy of Northcountry Boy
Want to know how we do ministry in Portland…here’ you go.
A while back Tim Casteel inspired me to do a one page document (albeit a long one page) on how we do ministry with his version in Arkansas. I stayed up late one night and got busy on ours. Many thanks to Tim for allowing me to plagiarize some parts.
Our Audience
Everything we teach should be gospel infused and Christ-centered – (discipleship, Cru Talks, Life Groups)
Our vision is “That everyone would know someone who passionately follows Christ”
Our mission – To help students know Christ, grow in their understanding of how to walk with him, go into their sphere of influence now and for a lifetime proclaiming the message of Christ.
Staff’s Job
We reach Freshmen
Life groups are the backbone of spiritual movements
Holding ministry focus and scope in tension
We partner with others
We have the world in view – we are a sending pipeline to the world
*I use a wordpress plugin powered by cforms for the “Connect with Cru” form
**Homebase terminology originated with Chris Brogan. I did a seminar on it last year.
***Here’s an old screencast on why we use a wordpress site for our ministry.
I couldn’t agree with this statement any more! Thanks Matt Turkington for this comment on google+.

There are some times technology amazes me more than others. Chatting with people around the world via Skype has become completely normal and I don’t think it impresses me anymore. But when something like this happens and technology enables a once-in-a-lifetime interaction that would have never been possible otherwise, it blows me away. The next picture in the stream shows them with headphones on chatting for a few minutes. The mother died a few weeks after the wedding.
If IT had a PR campaign, I think it would use pictures and stories like this, along the lines of the “Plastics Make it Possible” campaign. This moment sponsored by IT.
Sheesh, I’m getting teary eyed just writing this post. Makes me want to rethink how we recruit to operations. What do you think?
I created a landing page for our PDX Cru Facebook page the other day. (Thanks for the inspiration U. of Central Florida).

It’s got a giant welcome picture along with links to our “Connect with Cru” page and info on all of our meetings. I’m hoping its a better way to translate Facebook advertising into people actually getting involved. Especially as we blitz the city with some advertising at the beginning of the school year.
It was a little bit of a confusing process and involved inputting some HTML. Start here if you’re interested and then you’re on your own.
Is this a good idea? Do you use Facebook advertising at the start of the year?