joshburns.net/blog

JSquared Episode 24 – Ridiculous Reflexes

Josh Burns — Fri, 03 Feb 2012 19:18:04 +0000

This week we cover some big tech news, Apple’s quarterly profits, Facebook’s imminent IPO, and a Mcdonalds Twitter blunder. We’ve also got some great picks of the week for you, and a very special guest joins us! Also some of the best outtakes you’ve ever heard, so listen till the end!

Also, we are now on iTunes! So if you wanna listen to us from your phone or iPod check it out here.

Shownotes:

Apple’s HUGE profits!
Facebook’s IPO
Mcdonald’s Twitter Campaign gone wrong
Hiker almost went into cardiac arrest!
Tennis ball boy catches ball in mid-air!
Video of tennis umpire hit in head was removed from youtube
The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Star Wars Episode 1 in 3D
The Titanic in 3D

SCTV :: Episode 2 – Ask Questions

Josh Burns — Thu, 02 Feb 2012 14:32:44 +0000

In this episode we talk about a great tip for churches in social media that is easy to implement and enables a lot of interaction among your community. So check out the video below, or just download the audio. Also, a new feature is going to be the show notes featured below with links of things that I talk about in the episode.

An example I used in the episode of a question to ask your community.

JSquared Episode 23 – Ravenous CEO’s

Josh Burns — Wed, 25 Jan 2012 02:59:31 +0000

It’s time to enjoy another episode of JSquared as Josh and I talk about the Super Bowl, SOPA, and some drunk CEO’s all while I’m folding my laundry. Unfortunately Josh P. was a little ill so you’ll get the opportunity to hear a great sneeze So listen up, and give us some feedback, topic suggestions, or just some comments.

Shownotes:

JSquared Episode 22 – The Resurrection

Josh Burns — Sat, 21 Jan 2012 23:00:11 +0000

For those of you who didn’t know, myself and one of my good friends, Josh Puckett used to have a podcast. Unfortunately because of the craziness of life we have not been able to produce an episode for over 2 years, until today!

The JSquared Podcast is back in action and we are pumped! This is our episode 22 and we discuss a wide range of topics from movies, to tech news and everything in between. You may or may not be thoroughly entertained by this show, but we hope you’ll check us out.

For those of you who listened to us in the past, we are still debating as to whether we should upload the old episodes. Are they worth it? It is actually hilarious to go back and listen to them, but what do you think? Anyways, listen to Episode 22 – The Resurrection below…

You can also, download the audio. We will be iTunes soon, so sit tight!

SCTV :: Episode 1 – Don’t Talk About Yourself

Josh Burns — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 20:25:22 +0000

A while ago I had an idea to create a show for those of you who are doing social media for your church. There aren’t many resources out there just yet, so I thought I’d add my thoughts and experiences to the mix. The church is a bit of a different animal when it comes to using social media so I thought I could offer a unique perspective since part of my job for Park is to run our presence online.

So click below to watch the first episode and look for more to come. Right now the show will be hosted here on my blog, and you can follow all the updates by subscribing by email, or following me on Twitter. I’d also love to hear your feedback, suggestions for things to cover, or if you’d like to be interviewed leave a comment below, email me, or @reply me on Twitter.

When You Wake Up

Josh Burns — Sat, 14 Jan 2012 16:28:10 +0000

Recently I read a blog post from Seth Godin talking about the first thing we do when we sit down at the computer (it’s worth the read). He encourages us to not let our first moments be wasted by checking Facebook, Twitter, and email, but instead write down ideas that you have. When I first read this I didn’t think much of it. But I’m going to take it a step further and say that the first moments when you wake up are crucial.

Today is Saturday. If I don’t have plans on a Saturday morning, my normal routine is to sleep-in, wake up, lay in bed for a couple minutes thinking about things, and then get up and check my online social outlets. Today though, I did something different. I woke up, laid in bed thinking about things, and a couple ideas came to mind. I got out of bed and instead of reaching for my laptop, I reached for my notebook. I quickly scribbled down these ideas, then spent some time with God, then picked up my laptop started executing one of those ideas immediately (hence this blog post).

So it turns out that time between getting out of bed and checking Facebook is crucial. If I wouldn’t have recorded those ideas then I probably would have ended up forgetting at least one of them, and trying to remember the rest.

What is the first thing you do when waking up in the morning?

Do you think trying this will help your idea process?

Leave a comment below…

What’s The Solution?

Josh Burns — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 20:24:06 +0000

This post is a little out of the normal scope for my blog, but I was so moved this week, and I want to hear your thoughts on it.

This week the podcast This American Life put out an episode which was a man named Mr. Daisey doing a monologue of his experiences in China at the Foxconn Factories. For those of you who don’t know, Foxconn is where most of the electronics that we use on a daily basis are manufactured. If you use a computer or cell phone, it was probably made at a Foxconn factory. Recently some reports have been released about a number of suicides taking place at the Foxconn factories due to harsh working conditions.

Listen to this podcast and then I want to hear your thoughts. Yes, I know it is a bit long, but I honestly want to hear what you think.

Right now I’m stuck. I listened to this story and then thought for a long time. I honestly don’t know what we can do to stop this. Literally almost everything we use on a daily basis is made in these factories. So do we stop using these things? I don’t think that is the solution, but I don’t know what is. So I’ve concluded that I just want to raise awareness, and then get your thoughts on the solution.

What do you think?

Listen to this episode…THEN

I want to hear your thoughts…

UPDATE: Apple has recently joined the FLA (Fair Labor Association) which will result in much closer inspections on these factories.

Creating vs. Consuming

Josh Burns — Fri, 13 Jan 2012 16:08:56 +0000

I live in this tension many times of creating vs. consuming. Since much of my job deals in the realm of social media and online community it can be very easy to constantly consume content and forget that the real magic happens in the creation of content.

Why is content creation magical?

It is magical because it allows me to put my ideas forth into the world to the benefit of others. Creating content not only benefits the person consuming it, but it also benefits me as a creator. When I am creating content it is causing my mind to work in ways that it never would if I was just constantly taking in other people’s ideas and thoughts.

The magic happens when I am caused to create something of my own. Sure most of the things I create have probably been done before. In fact these thoughts I’m writing at this moment have probably been recorded before by someone else at some other point in time, but the fact that these ideas have come about in my mind makes them unique to me, and even if you’ve heard these ideas before, I hope they serve as a reminder to use your mind in ways that it was meant to be used.

Balance is important.

I mentioned at the beginning of this post that I live in this tension many times. Most of the time my laziness tells me to click “Next Episode” on Netflix after I’ve already watched 2 consecutive episodes of MadMen. And while it is a very well written and addicting show, there comes a point when I need to take some of the thoughts and ideas that come into my mind and record them, whether that is just in my notebook, or here on my blog. For you it may be writing a song, creating a short film, or knitting a scarf.

Whatever your creative outlet is just remember that a healthy balance can be struck between consuming and creating. Much of my job requires constant creation, so many times my time of consuming is on the weekends, I just need to make sure I’m not wasting my whole weekend on Netflix.

Is this a struggle for you?

How do you strike a balance between consuming and creating?

Leave a comment below…

Those Who Have Gone Before

Josh Burns — Fri, 06 Jan 2012 23:07:53 +0000

Today I’m reminded of those who have gone before me, and what I have learned from them. My great grandmother died 4 years ago at the age of 96. Today she would have been 100 years old. We called her ‘Ma’, short for ‘Maude’.

This Ma with a lot of her great grandchildren. Yes, that is me on the right (I went through a baggy clothes stage).

Ma was an amazing woman. I have many memories from visiting her house while she was watching Jeopardy and being offered a ham sandwich or some of her famous monkey bread. Every time I visited, without fail she would offer to give me something, whether it was something free she had received in the mail, or one of the many beanie babies she collected, she had one of the most giving spirits of anyone I have ever known.

I remember sometimes going to the nursing home with her as she visited some of her friends and as she played the piano during chapel. Watching her love on people was so amazing to see.

My mom would always say that the reason Ma lived so long was because she gave of herself freely and lived for God always.

She was a great example of humility and unselfishness, and I consider it a great privilege to have been one of her grandchildren. It is rare to get the opportunity to observe closely a life that is completely committed to God, and I have had that opportunity.

Thank you God for the life that you gave Ma, and the people that she influenced. Thank you for allowing me to learn from her about what it looks like to love others the way you have loved me.

Happy Birthday Ma!

Who has gone before you that you have learned from?

What have you learned from them?

Leave a comment below…

What I have seen in 2011

Josh Burns — Sun, 01 Jan 2012 02:55:24 +0000

Well it has been quite a year, both in my work at Park and my own personal life! I’ve seen so many things, I’m not sure if it’s going to be possible to contain it all in this one post, so I’m going to highlight a few big things…

Beauty is such an amazing thing! I’ve seen many beautiful things this year… I have seen my girlfriend of now 15 months be baptized this past summer, which overall has been such a beautiful transformation to witness.

I have seen people’s live’s transformed by the powerful work of God, and have had the privilege to communicate those stories of transformation to the rest of the Park community (one of my favorite things about my job).

I have seen a community of people come together to support a group of people halfway across the world in a time of need.

I have seen some of my time being spent with a boy to help him learn more about what it means to be a man.

I have seen many people’s experiences and stories shared through Twitter and Facebook, which was seen by many more.

I have learned…

Take a risk.

Don’t always do the safe thing.

The time when you’re afraid to say something is probably when you need to say it the most.

Tell stories. They move people.

Love God.

Spend time with God.

Love people genuinely and well.

Father the fatherless.

If you don’t love what you do, then commit your spare time to doing what you love until you can support yourself by doing that.

Be a linchpin.

Use social media with intentionality.

Interact with people through social media.

Stop talking about yourself on social media.

Church isn’t a one-way street, it has to be a conversation.

Use the correct social mediums within your context.

These are my commissions for 2012. 2011 has been a big year, in fact I’m writing this post from Australia as I’ve spent Christmas with my girlfriend’s family. So who knows what 2012 will hold.

Would you add anything to this list?

Leave it in a comment below…