converse christian

I'm going to hell...

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 16:38:00 +0000

Okay, I'm not going to go to hell for laughing at this video. You won't either.

Thanks to Matthew Paul Turner for pointing it out after it had been point out to him.
Matthew is worth following on Twitter @jesusneedsnewpr

Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Mon, 14 Sep 2009 15:52:00 +0000

I've had the Word of Promise Next Generation New Testament MP3s for months and listened a couple of times. I've attempted to use them with my youth. What I've learned is that my youth still respond to the authoritative rich booming voice. I'd hope that this would be a connetion for kids to give them some new insight to the Word of God, shatter the God sounds like James Earl Jones sterotype. Instead I've passed the copy our Children's Director, who is using it successfully!

There is some great voice talent on the discs. The dramatization is excellent as well, waves lapping, fire crackling and a host of other sound enhancements. So where would I use this? If I were leading children's church or I had young children of my own. In those settings it would be a no-brain purchase.

Repost from justinromack.com

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Wed, 13 May 2009 21:31:00 +0000

My Friend, David Runnels
April 27th, 2009 by Romack

Last summer, I went to UMARMY with my good friends David and Karen Runnels - which was an absolute blast. While I was on the trip, I ran out of one of the most essential items packed in my travel bag - Electrashave. You see, friends - I have sensitive skin. If you ever see me walking around, or even going to church, with scruff on my face, it’s not because I don’t know how to shave, didn’t want to shave, or don’t know how to shave - it’s because it’s incredibly painful to shave. David was making a Wal-Mart run and asked if I needed anything. I asked him to pick up a bottle for me…and he came back with one - and even picked up the tab on it.

…and now, almost a year later, I have a little bit left in this bottle. I shave about three times a week, so it’s a pretty good bargain. I say all this to say - David Runnels is a true friend. He has warmed my heart and soothed my skin.

LOST/Star Trek

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 05 May 2009 15:42:00 +0000

uh-oh

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Sat, 25 Apr 2009 17:04:00 +0000

I am now a Rhapsody suscriber. Over the past couple of weeks, I've seen mislabeled music. But this is the best database/coding error yet! I wish I would have been smart enough to think this up...

You are looking at the soundtrck for the movie Gridlock'd. You are also looking at Sesame Street albums. Little did you know the premise of the Gridlock'd move was absed on the adventures of Burt and Ernie on Sesame Street. That's one tough 'hood.

Last Will and Temperment

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Mon, 20 Apr 2009 15:54:00 +0000

Another good thing gone wrong. The Frantics, Last Will and Temperment skit is a classic. So close your eyes or ignore the pirates, please.

Corky and the Juice Pigs

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 14 Apr 2009 14:18:00 +0000

How I miss the novelty music of Corky and the Juice Pigs. Here's a a little something for my fellow REM lovin' peeps.

To the Only God

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 14:43:00 +0000

Shane & Shane, Mac Powell and David Nasser talking about and singing "To The Only God". Written by Chris Tomlin. Recorded on "Glory Revealed" by David Crowder and Shane & Shane.

little help please...

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 21:36:00 +0000

I asked my Twitter friends to suggest a song for a "go to" CD for my car. I often forget my ipod or I'm not in the mood for radio. This cherished, tweep produced, CD will live in my CD player. The songs are in the order suggested.

Here it is:

Song, Album, Artist, Suggested By

Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts, Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, The Beatles, suggested by friarbuck

Le Disko, Le Disko, Shiny Toy Guns, suggested by chuckazooloo

Deadly Sinners, Advance and Vanquish, 3 Inches Of Blood, suggested by thattalldude

Wonderful World, Undiscovered, James Morrison, suggested by itsdavey

Section 9 Light & Day / Reach For The Sun, The Beginning Stages Of..., The Polyphonic Spree, suggested by adrie518

Hangin Around, Desert Life, Counting Crows, suggested by angelaromack

Fly, Ancient Skies, Michael Gungor Band, suggested by markjaffrey

Beautiful Day, All That You Can't Leave Behind, U2, suggested by pastor_robbie

I'm Bad, I'm Nationwide, Degüello, ZZ Top, suggested by olderbutnotup

Waitin' On A Woman, Time Well Wasted, Brad Paisley, suggested by 1OldFart

Stand Up Comedy, No Line On The Horizon, U2, suggested by pattigibbons

True Love, Cannons, Phil Wickham, suggested by ChadLemke

My Only Offer, Re-Arrange Us, Mates of State, suggested by joshcook83

Unfailing Love, Unfailing Love, Russell Martin, suggested by rgmmusic

Stories (Down To The Bottom), Beauty From Pain, Superchic[k], suggested by AlexisRae

Elias, Silent Steeples, Dispatch, suggested by MichaelJames05

Big Casino, Chase This Light, Jimmy Eat World, suggested by justinromack

Glass of Water, Prospekt’s March, Coldplay, suggested by InRhythm

The Funeral, Everything All The Time, Band Of Horses, suggested by corystaylor

Thanks for your input! Aren't tweeps great?

Fire at will

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:13:00 +0000

I got tagged. Decided to play.
"Your iPod says alot about you..."
1. Put your iPod (or media player) on shuffle.
2. For each question, press the next button to get your answer.
3. YOU MUST WRITE THAT SONG NAME DOWN, NO MATTER HOW SILLY IT SOUNDS!
4. Tag 10 friends who might enjoy this quiz as well as the person you got the note from.

IF SOMEONE SAYS "IS THIS OK?" YOU SAY?
Polar Bears and Shark Fins
WHAT WOULD BEST DESCRIBE YOUR PERSONALITY?
Drive In Saturday
WHAT DO YOU LIKE IN A GUY/GIRL?
Dead and Gone
HOW DO YOU FEEL TODAY?
Better than Wine
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE'S PURPOSE?
This, Here and Now, With You
WHAT IS YOUR MOTTO?
Breathe
WHAT DO YOUR FRIENDS THINK OF YOU?
People C’mon
WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT VERY OFTEN?
Always
WHAT IS 2+2?
Loaded Gun
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR BEST FRIEND?
Burn Out Bright
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Close Your Eyes
WHAT IS YOUR LIFE STORY?
We Won’t Be Quite
WHAT DO YOU WANT TO BE WHEN YOU GROW UP?
Aqua Boogie (A Pyschoalphadiscobetabioaquadoloop)
WHAT DO YOU THINK WHEN YOU SEE THE PERSON YOU LIKE?
Redneck Rampage
WHAT DO YOUR PARENTS THINK OF YOU?
The Eyes of My Heart
WHAT WILL YOU DANCE TO AT YOUR WEDDING?
Everything You Are
WHAT WILL THEY PLAY AT YOUR FUNERAL?
Satan, Your Kingdom Must Come Down
WHAT IS YOUR HOBBY/INTEREST?
Bang the Doldrums
WHAT IS YOUR BIGGEST SECRET?
Everybody Wants the Same Thing
WHAT DO YOU THINK OF YOUR FRIENDS?
Something So Strong
WHAT'S THE WORST THING THAT COULD HAPPEN?
Good World Gone Bad
HOW WILL YOU DIE?
Here
WHAT IS THE ONE THING YOU REGRET?
Shot Down in Flames
WHAT MAKES YOU LAUGH?
Just Like Me
WHAT MAKES YOU CRY?
Entertaining Thoughts
WILL YOU EVER GET MARRIED?
Tears of the Saints
WHAT SCARES YOU THE MOST?
Star Me Kitten
DOES ANYONE LIKE YOU?
Family (I really dislike this Todd Agnew song, but I’m so glad it’s in iTunes for this very reason!)
IF YOU COULD GO BACK IN TIME, WHAT WOULD YOU CHANGE?
Runaway Train
WHAT HURTS RIGHT NOW?
Wait and See
WHAT WILL YOU POST THIS AS?
Fire at Will

The Jesus You Never Knew

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 14:46:00 +0000

I get that Jesus looked nothing like our modern-framed-hanging-on-the-wall-white-church-Jesus depictions. I'm good with that. But if Jesus returns in a spaceship, dressed in some funky sequined jumpsuit/bib; I've got a problem.

REVIEW: Christianity in Crisis

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 17 Feb 2009 03:04:00 +0000

REVIEW: Christianity in Crisis: 21st Century by Ken Hanegraaff

A reworking of the book released 20 years ago, Author Ken Hanegraaff makes it clear his view that the “Word of Faith” movement is a dangerous departure from solid Biblical tenets and cancer growing within Christianity. Hanegraaff, an Evangelical Christian, lays out his argument by painting the “Word of Faith” movement with a broad brush, developing caricatures of the increasing popular leaders of movement and ultimately using these to support his claim that movement and its leaders are not charismatic, they are cultic.

Hanegraaff takes great care to not label everyone involved in the movement. He admits that there are good, committed Christians involved with “Word of Faith” churches. However, he writes them off as new or misinformed Christians.

Principle to his arguments are the three steps: Ask, Believe and Receive. Stating that whatever one states, positive or negative, is spoken into one’s lives. Hanegraaff believes these ideas deify man and Satan and demote God and Jesus. The author also deals with issues of the atonement, wealth and sickness.

Hanegraaff does offer five chapters that lay out a course of action to steer a reader to a balanced view of the Christian faith. He focuses on the primary issues in which Christians should find common ground and leaves the secondary issues that often divide to be debated beyond the book.

While Hanegraaff’s work is full of scholarship and Biblical reference his arguments early on appear to be strawmen. The author returns time and time again to a Biblical model of faith and repeating his belief that the up and coming almost “rock stars” of the Faith movement are a danger to Christianity centered in Christ.

My analysis is “Christianity in Crisis” will be well received by evangelicals, spurned by those active in Word of Faith churches and a launching pad for discussion for those main stream Christians wishing to bridge idealistic chasms and dialogue about our stories and the richness of faith.

Sunday night

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Fri, 13 Feb 2009 18:41:00 +0000

I love (there's that word) this idea. This week has been filled with gross capitalization of "love". This is the most divisive holiday on the books (maybe not, Texas has Conferate Heroes Day that coincides with MLK Jr. Day). So were putting it in context.

Let me share some of the ideas I've already heard tossed around as potential gifts at the exchange:
- Pig's heart
- Positive pregnancy test
- Free guest membership to a gym
-Weight loss pills

Care to add to the list?

the eyes have it

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Thu, 05 Feb 2009 21:39:00 +0000

Cadbury Eyebrows from Nils-Petter Lovgren on Vimeo.

HT: Rick Smith

I might rethink Myspace...

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 12:46:00 +0000

MySpace Chat Foils Boy's Plan to 'Shoot Up' North Carolina School
Thursday, January 08, 2009

BREVARD, N.C. — A plot to "shoot up" a western North Carolina high school was derailed by tip from a teen who chatted with the suspect online, authorities said Thursday.
Investigators took a 15-year-old boy into custody Friday and found at his home a computer and DVD with plans for an attack on Brevard High School, Transylvania County Sheriff's spokesman Lt. Brian Kreigsman said. Kreigsman said the plans were not elaborate, and would not say whether weapons were found.
Kreigsman said the teen told a 16-year-old girl from New York earlier that day that he planned to "shoot up a school" on Monday. The two were chatting on the MySpace social networking Web site.
"The potential was here for this to be a major threat," Kreigsman said.
The girl pulled the boy into a private chatroom to get more information, Kreigsman said, and he referred to a shooting in Greensboro in 1979 in which white supremacists killed five people and wounded 10 others.
The girl told authorities that the boy, who also referred to himself as the "Grand Dragon," then abruptly ended the conversation.
After the online chat, the girl notified local authorities, which contacted North Carolina law enforcement.

Kreigsman declined to identify the teen, who's undergoing a mental-health evaluation. No charges had been filed Thursday afternoon.
Brevard County Schools spokeswoman Dian Brewton said the suspect, who isn't currently a student at the 750-student high school, had been in a mental health facility. He was home waiting to be transferred to another one when he was taken into custody, she said.
Security at the high school hasn't been changed because of the plot, she said.

11 ways my DVR tempts me

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Sun, 11 Jan 2009 22:33:00 +0000

1. '24' (Fox)
2. 'Battlestar Galactica' (SciFi)
3. ‘The Office’ (NBC)
4. 'Big Love' (HBO)
5. 'Desperate Housewives' (ABC)
6. 'Flight of the Conchords' (HBO)
7. 'Lost' (ABC)
8. 'Gone Country' (CMT)
9. 'Heroes' (NBC)
10. 'Life on Mars' (ABC)
11. 'Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles' (FOX)

Eli Stone - Two Ministers

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Wed, 31 Dec 2008 16:31:00 +0000

Eli Stone is a show I will miss. I've had some great spiritual discussions with folks that I may not have had access to if not for Eli Stone.

The episode titled "Two Ministers" just aired and as usual a great episode. In the episode a transgendered pastor had been fired after recovering from the surgeries. The show stated in one bit of dialogue that the pastor was in the United Methodist Church. The UMC church has struggled with this issue. Pastors have had to take action to be allowed to remain. I believe it is healthy to examine ourselves our beliefs and our biases to which they give rise.

A few items stop this episode from being reality for 12 million United Methodists in the US (and the apparently three or four of us that watch Eli Stone).

TV: The pastor served at St. Ann's UMC
reality: Our saint names are as predictable as John, Paul, George and Ringo; Mathew, Mark, Luke and John)

TV: St. Ann's fired the pastor.
Reality: As United Methodists our pastors are subject to an itinerancy system (appointed by the Bishop of the conference). As such, the local church does not call or hire pastors. Which means we do not get to fire pastors as a local body.

TV: The pastor always worn a clerical collar.
Reality: Some UMC pastors choose to wear clerical collars. It is not the norm. An exception would be chaplaincy situations.

TV: The pastor sued the local church for the right to remain.
Reality: The pastor would have appeared before the Judaical Council of the UMC (after many other steps). If after this there were a civil case the defendants table would have been packed with individuals from the church, district and conference.

This is minutia to most. However, it is important to note the United Methodist Church is not a mish-mash of Catholic and Baptist polity.

All of this to say, anyone wanting to hire on a consultant for future media projects give me a call. You can make 4 or 5 of us very happy!

Muppetlicious

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 21:38:00 +0000

I'm huge muppet fan. Enjoy this classic muppet moment. I'm pretty sure you'll instantly recognize what you are seeing. You're welcome.

HT: Tony McCollum who I'm pretty sure I hacked off via twitter. Sorry?

Style, Content, and Context

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 13:42:00 +0000

I have been frustrated. Better stated, I have had a frustration. I could not clarify what the frustration. I knew it when I saw it. I could say, "that's it!" I couldn't tell you the root of my frustration. There were plenty of reasons I could be legitimatly frustrated by these things. But I could identify the cause, my belief. My lack of understanding was leading me to become hypersensitive to the "thing" that I was seeing all around me, in my church, among fellow youth workers, in Christian leaders I look to for wisdom and in myself.

A month ago, I began to get some clarity.

Good communication has style and content. Most do not master both style and content. A pastor must first be concerned with content. A sunday school teacher, youth worker or anyone delivering a message (Christian or other) needs to be concerned with the content first. "So faith comes from what is heard" (Romans 10:17a). By definiton content is the substantive or meaningful part.

Style is important. How we say something or present something has an impact. There is a robust discussion with in the church in regards to style. What can we do to enrich the message, to engage the recevier and perhaps provide additional meaning? Style.

Part of my frustration is I see far too many folks running around wanting to be "style" people. People concerned about how things look and how they are preceived. Some are legitimate. Some are what I call the "cool kids" (cool for the sake of cool). Most are those responsible for content.

Sidetrack: I declared the word "cool" dead in my vocabulary about four months ago. The word is over used and has lost it's meaning. If I say we are doing something "cool" what have I communicated? What does it say about us that we want "cool" leaders? If you hear me use the word "cool" I am describing the weather, the forehead of my child or I'm on a rant.

For months I have been confronted with content people that want to be style people. I have found myself desperate for content. Grown weary of "style" being the higher priority. As I mentioned before most of us can do one or the other (content or style) well. So, a content person spending their time concerned with style, while neglecting content is bad, bad, very bad.. It has affected my worship, forced me to examine my ministry, become the focus of relationships and left me exhausted.

This morning driving to work it became clearer. Context has to enter into the mix. Jesus had content down. He was the Word (how's that for content). I know there books about teaching the way Jesus did, but none I know of about dressing like Jesus. Adopting the look of Jesus isn't going to help any more than me dressing like (insert name of coolest Christian you know). Jesus made things relevant. Even if we are too stupid, proud, or sinful to see it.

"So faith comes from what is heard, and what is heard comes through the word of Christ." Romans 10:17

So I'm focusing on staying true to the Word and finding ways to be relevant to the community.

Help me out. What are your thoughts?

Test me!

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:30:00 +0000

I met Meghan on our summer mission trip last year. She was one of the many amazing people I met and shared a week with. Meghan posted this the following on her facebook and I'm shamelessly ripping it off. So play along!

Comment on this post and I will reply with one of the following:

1. I'll respond with something random about you.
2. I'll tell you which song or movie you remind me of.
3. I'll pick a flavor of jello to eat with you. =]
4. I'll say something that only makes sense to you and me.(if possible. If not, I'll say something that only makes sense to me.)
5. I'll tell you my first memory of you.
6. I'll tell you what animal you remind me of.
7. I'll ask you something I've always wondered about you.
8. I'll tell you my favorite thing about you.
9. I'll tell you my least favorite thing about you.

I should have called in gay...

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 16:41:00 +0000

I almost missed that across the nation today, folks are “calling in gay” from work to show how much this country relies on a certain group of people who is often discriminated against.

A really interseting story already is unfolding here.

If someone has "called in gay" and is looking for a place to serve I'm sure they can use a hand getting ready for "An Evening in Old Bethlehem".

pauvre mardi

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 14:37:00 +0000

Tuesday has largely been overlooked in the world of song writing. Monday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday get all the glory.

Here's a list of songs about the day, Tuesday:

"Tuesday Afternoon" Moody Blues,
"On a Tuesday in Amsterdam Long Ago" Counting Crowes
"Tuesday Heartbreak" Stevie Wonder
"Tuesday" Spyro Gyra
"Sun Comes Up It's Tuesday Morning" Cowboy Junkies
"Church on Tuesday" Stone Temple Pilots
"Groovy Tuesday" Smithereens
"Another Tuesday Morning," Jim Brickman
"Tuesday Morning," Melissa Etheridge

Are there others? (besides "Ruby Tuesday" by the Rolling Stones...not about Tuesday)

I feel compelled to give mention to Til Tuesday, Aimee Mann's project in the 80's. "Hush, hush even down, down, voices carry"

What's your favorite Tuesday song?

National Youth Workers Convention

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Thu, 20 Nov 2008 13:18:00 +0000

After a long drive filled with great discussions, Karen Annie Gipson adn I arrived in Nashville last night just before 10 pm. We are all excited to be here.

I love NYWC for many reasons:
::a chance to get new ideas ministry
::practical suggestions
::being with thousands of people that understand what I do
::connecting and reconnecting with friends
::getting tons of free stuff to support ministry

I can promise you that you won't be reading any blogs from me this week. Internet costs $10/day and the convention center.

If you want to keep up with ideas I encounter or sessions I'm attending then you should consider being my friend on facebook or follow me on twitter. Honestly, I'm better in smaller more managable sizes, right?

The Weepies

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Wed, 12 Nov 2008 22:26:00 +0000

How can you NOT love this band?
SPOILER: Last video has puppets!

eye of the beholder

noreply@blogger.com (david) — Mon, 10 Nov 2008 14:31:00 +0000

I'm always intersted in how people view my church. There are some strong stereotypes of this place in the community. I struggle, at times, to confront these missperceptions. I believe that confronting a misunderstanding about the church isn't what we are called to do. Instead we need focus or accurately representing the Gospel and strive relevant to our community.

So why mention it?

Story one: There are youth in the community that have shared with me that they don't want to come to my church because "Name of a specific youth" goes to FUMC Lufkin. The student has come to one event ever! Not a member. Sighs...

Story two: Olan Mills has been on campus taking pictures for our church directory. They have display photos they set up to encourage you to buy pictres afterwards. These display photos have people, families and couples of all ages and races (I know this beacuse if you leave something out and open at the church I'm bound to peek into it to either identify its owner or satisfy my curiosity). Here are the display photos that were set up on the final day of the photo shoot. What does it say about this church?