DoxA

Looking Good

Win this CD!

Someone once told me that when a person drastically changes their appearance it usually denotes that person is currently experiencing a personal crisis. It seemed too general a statement at the time and a bit demeaning for it to bear credibility. However, having spent a bit of time in counseling people through life's struggles; it can be argued as a stereotype. So, I need to admit; I'm having a personal crisis and I want to change my look!

The blog, that is. I'm tired of the design, the functionality and the stale info. I'm sure you are too.

Here's how you can help. Please let me know you're favorite looking or best functioning blog. Also, if you would like to include why you like the blog-engine you use (no need to share the reasons you don't care for it). The design I choose as the one I like the best and will try to make my new blog resemble will get a copy of North Point's Worship CD Louder Than Creation. That's right! I'm giving stuff away at DoxA. But here are the rules... suggestions must be left in the comments. Anyone who emails me will be ineligible.

I will post my selection in a week and contact the winner for mailing info.

Thanks for playing along and helping me with my new look!

To Walk the Talk part free

Today after our prayer time, my friend Tom and I headed over to a local St.Ourbucks to discuss church, life, you know... et al. While we were chatting away I noticed something that made me smile. A older man who appeared to have what the world would consider success and security by wearing a nice suit and tie, his shoes were new and shiny. He stooped down and picked up a penny and placed it in his pocket and then walked on. I thought, "Was this a 'penny saved a penny earned' thing or is the economy really that bad and a penny saved is one for a rainy day?"

My thoughts moved to the poor of this world where a penny could make a difference and remembered the words of Jesus, "You will always have the poor among you." We see them... but do we know them? So I have two questions, little comment from myself and would love to have as many answer as possible below in the comment section (please let us know your thoughts... it only takes a moment).

1. Who are the poor?
2. What did he mean by among?

Go ahead... talk amongst yourselves!

Joining in the discussion on art and culture at the Watercooler on this Blog Action Day.

Competition: The New Sin Nature

I love competition. I like the sport of it, the reward of it and the rapport of it. People say I'm competitive. I don't think I am to a fault but that's what I think.

I don't remember if anyone coined the phrase, "Competition is good for America" but I seem to hear that a lot. Lately, there's been much discussion about regulation. It's spoken in pendulum-swing rhetoric to deregulation as the banking industry consolidates in response to the credit market's demise. Deregulation of markets and industry was meant to spur higher levels of competition among providers assuring better quality and pricing. This seemed to work wonders in telecommunications. I wish my cable company was subject to this concept.

But in certain social and political environs competition is seen as evil and selfish. That it somehow breeds exclusivity and elitism. It causes those with lesser talents to wallow in their lack of accomplishment and forces classism. As the word fairness is tossed about, entitlements and legislated equal opportunity are force fed upon those who would rather compete than share while those who benefit from them deal with the shame of handouts that grant other dubious titles such as "welfare recipient" or "unemployed."

I have to admit when my daughters were younger I had a hard time "letting" them win. What kind of a dad was I? I must of been bad dad, right! Or was I just fine as a dad but it was the competitor in me that needed to be dealt with?

When we don't want to take responsibility for our actions or behaviors we simply modify the definition of what caused those choices and point fingers escaping sure retribution and placing the cost on the innocent... Sound familiar?

So, here's the question. Is competition good or evil?

A late edition to the discussion at the Watercooler today going on HERE.

The Real American Idol

This morning, in our Wednesday Morning Prayer time, we had a discussion of the current affairs of our country and how we should pray. A part of the conversation revolved around the comfort and security of a nation that is comprised of individuals who center themselves in their own comfort and security. We agreed, since our economic and political future appears to be dubious for a time it would be wise to place our trust in God rather then our 401Ks. After all, the very money which we rely has declared it is God in whom we trust. But do we really? And did we ever?

We are calling for a stronger economic system, crying out for effective and truthful leadership and commanding greater freedoms in personal behavior and choice than given in the past. We have to rely on the government for somethings because individually we could not do what collectively it can. So individually we may agree to trust God but collectively we're looking to the government for some answers.

I think it would do us all a bit of good to sit as judges and look at those people or things that are vying for our affection and discover the "real" American Idol among us. Then perhaps we could manage the greed and ambivalence by doing what was always necessary to regain God's favor for a nation and to return to a time and place of prosperity... Remove the Idols!

Submitted as my random opinion on this Watercooler Wednesday. If you agree, disagree, want to offer up your idol, leave a comment and check out the discussion others are contributing HERE.

No Longer Pre Posterous

For those of you following my adventures into the Social Networking scene... here's my latest addiction. It's called Posterous. Thanks to friend and fellow pastor2.0 type Jon Talbert, I have a quick and easy way to post pics, video, music, thoughts, which can update several applications simultaneously. It will even take your podcasts (pastors... hint, hint) and and link it to iTunes for your friends and followers to subscribe.

It's simple to set up. Easy to manage and it's FREE!

I'll be exploring this more in days to come... you on the other hand, can explore what's happening around the Watercooler today over at Randy Elrod's blog ETHOS and jump in on the various discussions of Art and Culture and add your two cents... maybe by posting "Posterously."

Fact or Crap

A while back while my friend Jamie was having surgery I was in the waiting room with her family. To help pass the time, her husband Courtney brought along a game called, "Fact or Crap." In the game you have to determine if a statement is either true or false. Example: the inventors of Corn Flakes are the Kellogg brothers. That happens to be a Fact.

Just recently I was going to quote a phrase in a recent blog post that I was told came from Winston Churchill... "If your in your 20's and you're not a liberal you don't have a heart. If your in your 30's and not a conservative you don't have a brain."

As I started to write the phrase I began to wonder if Churchill actually said it. The person who told me the phrase is a reliable, well read individual and otherwise trustworthy. However, in doing a little investigation, I found while it is widely believed that Churchill said this phrase there is no evidence or remembrance of those who study Churchill that he ever said it.

I'm finding this to be true about many things. We can easily promote un or half truths simply because we are trusting the source and not questioning their source or even caring for that matter. It's as if we allow an ignorance-is-bliss rule to trump truth. In our "wiki"society where the the collaborative process is healthy in developing a community of interaction we endanger the strength of that community by building it on sands of uncertainty rather then the bedrock of truth.

Urban legends, email forwards, photoshopped images are perpetuated every day as though fact... it's time we begin to consider the source. Not sure, do a little research (google, Snopes.com or truthorfiction.com) before you actually pass it on.

So what is your favorite tale? What have you found to be "Crap" when you thought it was true all along? Let me know as your contribution to this Watercooler Wednesday conversation. Then see what others are talking about at the WC too by going HERE.

BTW - picture up above... Fact or Crap?

Playing by the Rule

politics and religion... Someone said along time ago that we should never discuss these two things in public. I think the conclusion was determined due to some awkward, "Now what do I say?" moment when it appeared obvious to two people who stood on opposite sides of either issue but didn't want to disrupt their civility.

For politicians, the paid professionals in the world of politics and those in the clergy, the paid professionals of religion, you would assume there would be a moratorium on this social rule. That politicians and clergy can speak freely on the subjects... After all it's what they're paid to do right? Well, I don't know. Scuttlebutt in the street seems to say otherwise; that religion should remain a private affair and politics in the hands of those who know better. Even so, there seems to be a lot of talk about how the religious professionals are trying to determine political outcomes and how political bureaucrats are deepening the divide on moral issues as some kind of wrong. Just watch the news, from same sex marriage issues to political "rightwing, conservative," special interest lobbies in Washington, it appears there is a lot being said about religion and politics these days! On both sides... about both sides.

Why just a couple of weeks ago, the two presidential candidates were present at a discussion forum at Saddleback Church in Southern California and moderated by recent Time Magazine, cover feature, Rick Warren. This forum was important enough to garner national television coverage and become fodder for radio talk and TV news channels. Someone is breaking the rule and like a driver who decides to run a stop light because it's stuck on red... others are following.

So I'm curious... what are your thoughts on this RULE? Do you agree or disagree. Should there be a separation of the Church and State when it comes to opinion? Please leave a comment... here there are no rules!

Part of a Watercooler Wednesday discussion happening at ETHOS. See what others are talking about there by clicking HERE.

Music Mirror

Talking with my daughter Sara, who is a music encyclopedia, I had to agree with her that music reflects the times. Simplistic as that may seem, her expertise is in the "indie" scene where, she tells me, the real music exists. Here where the "suits" have no control, the artist is free to express without the conflict of marketing, AR, profit thresholds and Billboard 100. Content is reflected in a true creative environment akin to pure water pushed through rock... the real kind not the music type.

For us boomer types we like the comfort of our known bands. Give me Genesis, U2, the Police and Coldplay. But travel to a younger state and you hear tunes from St. Vincent, MGMT, Tokyo Police Club and  The Notwist.

My daughter thinks it's weird I like St.Vincent. Why? She tells me... "Because I just recently found them and you're much older than me and that's just weird."

Here's a band she turned me on to called Nickel Creek...

...what happens when a band stops being indie because they become mainstream? Do they loose their reflection on the world or gain it? Is it bad or good for the art from of musical expression? What's your favorite indie band or do you not have one?
 
Respectfully submitted as one of topics of conversation around the Watercooler this day. Check it out here.

My World Turned Upside Down

Dennis Oppenheim's sculpture, Device to Root out Evil gains a progressive new home through Calgary's Glenbow Museum, states artdaily.org saying, "Originally celebrated by the Vancouver Sculpture Biennale and arguably the most valuable piece of public art in Vancouver; Oppenheim's compelling 22-foot glass, steel and aluminum structure became more than the Vancouver Public Parks Committee could handle." So this sculpture is being dismantled and moved to Calgary, Alberta...

I've heard of planting churches but this is something completely different.

But seriously, what does this mean to you? I could go on and on because my world is the church but I want to know your thoughts...

Please leave a comment and letting me know what you think. Then check out all the discussion at the Watercooler where other people are contemplating more serious issues of culture and art on Randy Elrod's blog, Ethos.

Church Steroids

Steroids and other artificial means to grow the body is considered a crime in most places.

Hans and Franz wanted to "Pump you up!" But we knew that was a joke. Marion Jones cried through her admission she was pumped up and it's sad to see she's doing time. Barry Bonds continues to deny he was pumped up and I'd be happy to see him do time. Watching the Tour de France this year has been exciting because they are promising a "clean" tour and there is no clear favorites and everyone's fighting for the yellow jersey. This is good for cycling because the past couple of years of doping accusations and revelations frustrated the fans of cycling to the point many had nearly given up on the sport altogether.

Yesterday I posted about Gary Vaynerchuk whose marketing and branding practices revolve around social networking and has taken a family business from 2 million in annual revenue to 50 million in about six years. Those are impressive numbers in light of our business which often is numbers obsessed. If you don't know about Gary check out yesterday's post. But thinking about Gary's success and the idea of natural or (sorry Westwinds staff) organic growth got me thinkin'.

I like to occasionally drop by the Church Marketing Sucks blog and see what some churches are doing and what thoughts are generating discussion. Again, a lot of these discussions revolve around numbers. Here in San Jose, as well as most of the country, churches that are growing tend to do little or nothing to reach the outsider but experience the artificial growth of disgruntled and ambivalent church-hoppers looking for the hippest show in town.

Please know, I'm not complaining or expressing "sour grapes;" our church is growing. I believe we are doing so at a healthy and natural pace but I have to admit many of our new people are from other churches which you can not avoid nor should you condemn. But my questions are... What are the church steroids? Program, marketing... And should we expose the artificial growth and clean up our image or embrace it and pass around the syringe?

What are your thoughts on this Watercooler Wednesday? please leave a comment below and join the many other discussions at Randy's blog, Ethos.