:::. joshbrickey.com .:::

Technology I'm using...

I forgot to post this the other day but I guess it's better late than never. There are so many new technologies out there that we can use in ministry...or simply in real life. The hardest thing is figuring out which ones are worthwhile. Here are some things that I think are worthwhile and I am currently using (or about to start using):

1) Twitter- I have been using twitter for about eight or nine months now. For those of you that don't know, it's a "microblogging" service that allows you to tell everyone what you're doing at any given moment. I use it update my Facebook page, as well as the "what I'm doing" part of my website (over on the right). It's interesting to see what other people are up to. I also use it to contact others in ministry that I honestly haven't even met in person (kind of like sending them a text, only I don't have their cell phone number).

2) 12 Seconds- I'm just starting to test this out, but it's kind of a video version of twitter. Basically, you have 12 seconds to record video updates of what you're doing from your computer or your cell phone. You can then share it online and even link it to your twitter account.

3) Remember the Milk- I am one of the most unorganized people in the world, so this site is a Godsend. This site allows you to keep track of any lists, events, or tasks that you need to keep up with. There are so many features of it, but the main thing to me is that you can keep up with everything via email, text message, and tons of other methods. It can even create a map of where your tasks will take place! Check it out for all the features.

4) Seesmic- Seesmic is a site that you can use to microblog, but it allows others to post video responses. I was amazed on Monday when I did a quick recording on Seesmic and less than 10 minutes late I had a response from a guy in Holland. Once again, you can even link it to twitter (see a pattern here).

All of these things have tons of features that I didn't get into. Check them all out for yourself! Are any of you using these tools?

Innovative Ministry...

Yesterday was a great day! I experienced two things yesterday that I have never experienced before. First, we took our student leaders to NewSpring Church's Greenville campus for church. It was the first time that I have experienced a video venue first hand. I have to admit, it was incredible! I've heard some people say, "well...it just can't be as effective without the pastor physically standing there and teaching. With the quality of teaching and the quality of technology, it was as if Perry (the pastor) was standing right there. Heck...I even heard people respond to his comments out loud as if he were standing there.

The other thing that I experienced was part of a collaboration between Life Church and Carlos Whitaker called LifeShare. Last night, our whole family watched the LifeShare event and sang along to a live worship stream. It was simply 'Los leading worship from the downstairs of his house and with over 100 other people joining in from around the country. Some say you can't have community online, but I beg to differ.

I think that the web is revolutionizing the way we do ministry. We can reach more people than we ever could have imagined if we take advantage of what's available.

Tomorrow I'm going to share some new tools I've found online, but I'd love to hear your response to this question: Do you think that the Church can develop true community online? Either leave a comment by clicking "Comments" below, or if you have a webcam, post a video reply to the video below. This might get interesting.

True Community?Video for my blog to discuss the question: Can the Church develop true community online?

Social Media

I have had a lot of discussion recently about social media and it's impact and use in the church. For those of you that don't have a clue what I'm talking about, I've basically spent a lot of time thinking about how technology and media can assist in connecting people. Specifically, how can the church grab hold and use these technologies to reach and disciple others.

So with that in mind... here's 5 quick nuggets about social media and how I am considering using it (or already using it) in the church.

1) Facebook- Honestly, this is our primary method of communicating with youth in the church. I feel that social networking sites like Facebook have to be used by our churches to connect with others. Heck...I have connected with friends online that I would have never connected with any other way, so it's not just the teens.

2) Text Messaging- We have been doing text messaging during our youth service for about a year now, with a lot of success. We have also started doing text alerts and using Jott to send them out.

3) Internet Campuses- I'm so intrigued by internet campuses. With the shift in our culture to a media culture, I think that churches should strongly consider using internet campuses. The biggest complaint I hear is typically, "but how do you connect people with others if you do an internet campus?" I heard someone else say, and I can't agree more.... how is it any different from broadcasting services on television? Hmmm.... more to come on this concept.

4) Mobile Media- I already mentioned text messaging, but the way we use cell phones is about to explode. I'm sure churches need to think about things like "can our website be accessed from a cell phone?" Also, how can churches make media and such so that people can receive it on their cell phone?

5)Roov- I'm interested in seeing how Roov pans out. I love the idea of an online community that connects people to others in their community. Would this be an option for creating new small groups? Serving groups? Simply connecting with and making new friends?

It was hard to narrow it down to five, but the others may be too geeky for most.
I'd love to hear people's thoughts. Where do you see social media going in the church? Comment below.

Pack Rats...

Are you one of those people that keep everything? You know what I'm talking about. You have souvenirs and junk from different times of your life everywhere. As in...a garage, closet, or yard barn full of stuff. It's funny because you say you're might use it one day. I mean...heck...you never know when you're going to need extra pieces of scrap metal or electric candles.

I am definitely NOT one of those people. As a matter of fact, I usually make fun of people that do things like that because it's amazing the amount of junk that you accumulate.

That being said, I had a revelation yesterday. I have become a pack rat. Not the kind that keeps things laying around the house that I might use one day. I'm part of a new breed of pack rats. I am a digital pack rat.

I realized yesterday that I have three hard drives full of stuff. Examples of some things on there...word documents from five years ago, over 1000 podcasts, and even logos that I designed when I lived in Kentucky. It is an amazing collection of videos, pictures, music, and documents.

So what am I going to do now that I've discovered it? It's time to go through it all and delete! I very well may delete 500 GB of stuff. It should be fun.

So what kinds of things do you keep laying around that you are probably never gonna use? (like the massaging yoga ball in my closet). What do you have around your house that you haven't used in over five years? What's in your junk drawer? (For those of you new to responding to blogs, click "comments" below and you can respond. It will only take a minute.).

This could be interesting.

Crocs, Beanie Babies, and other ramblings

For so many years, my experience as a Christian showed me churches that were primarily focused on developing relationships with the people already inside of the church. The main ways to attract outsiders was to have a weeklong "revival" (which...ironically implies that your church is dead) or by "Vacation Bible School." Don't get me wrong...I saw a lot of close knit relationships develop through the church, but there just seemed to be something missing in the development of the church.

I have been thinking a lot about innovation lately. Why is it that most churches are some of the least innovative places and so resistant to change? It's not just in traditional churches. It's "contemporary" churches as well. While the methods used may have been considered innovative 15 years ago, it's definitely lost it's effectiveness now (Some things of note in 1993: Sega Genesis, Beanie Babies first released, and Leonardo Dicaprio in What's Eating Gilbert Grape).

Let's face it, we have to seek ways to be on the cutting edge of innovation. It's bigger than Facebook, Twitter, or text messaging (if you don't know what those are...look them up). Sure we can use those things now (and should). But we need to create ways of ministry that are constantly fresh and innovative. Let's think outside of the proverbial box. Heck...we should be nowhere near the box. Let creativity be more than simply filling in a template for a weekly worship service. Let creativity be more than a clever joke in a sermon. Let creativity be more than an email prayer chain.

Here's my prayer today: God...not only now, but when I'm 85 years old (let me make it that far please)...I hope that I am open and searching for new ways to teach about you and introduce people to you. Oh...and please let Crocs go out of style. They are so ugly.

Why?

I have been doing a lot of thinking lately about what church should look like. I guess the question I've really been asking is this: Why do we do church the way that we do it?

Don't get me wrong. This is not about questioning traditions. It's about making sure that every single aspect of what we do as a church has a purpose. AND...THAT purpose lines up 100% with the main purpose of the church.

Let's take a typical worship service at our church for example. Some of these things I see the point in, others I do not. Here's some questions to ask ourselves about each element.

*Countdown- Do people need a countdown to let them know when it's starting? Does there cell phone not sync up with the satellite?
*Opening Song - Why have a song to signal the start of a service? Kind of like the national anthem maybe?
*Welcome- Why do people need to be welcomed during the service? Did multiple greeters and other people greet them on the way in?
*Worship Set- Why have music at all? Can worship only begin with upbeat music and work gradually to slower, apparently "more worshipful" songs?
*Offering Prayer and Special Song- Why does this need to be in the middle of the service? Can people only give if there is some background music playing?
*Bumper- Why do we need a video that transitions between the offering song and the sermon? I wonder how Jesus could have been effective without it.
*Sermon- Why does it have to be a live speaker giving a lecture? When was the last time you invited your friends to a lecture?
*Invitation- Why should we give an invitation every week? Do you think one more verse will bring them down? (I see that hand).
*Closing Song- Why does it have to end with another song? Was six not enough?

Obviously, I said a lot of things tongue in cheek. I see a lot of reasons that we should do some of the things mentioned above. The main thing is, we have to know why we do what we do. If what we do does not line up with the vision and purpose of the church, we shouldn't do it. (What is the vision and purpose of your church? Sorry...I couldn't resist.)

What questions do you think should be asked about church life?

Tim Stevens at Wibo

NOTES FROM STEVENS:
* Used Desperate Housewives clip from last month. (Great clips)
* Reality #1- Churches are not making an impact. In a lot of cases, churches are the problem.
* Reasons people are turned off by churches (from UnChristian and Barna): hypocritical, too focused on getting converts, homophobic, sheltered, too political, and judgmental. Perceive church life as irrelevant, have bad memories of bad personal experiences with churches, feel unwelcome.
* We’re doing great with the churched, but we are not getting the job done with unchurched and dechurched.
* Reality #2 Spiritual interest is growing in culture.
* People recognize need to develop inner life, but they don’t see the church as able to help it.
* As a church, a lot of times we are asking questions that no one is asking.
* John 1:14 “Christ became flesh and blood and moved into the neighborhood.” (MSG)
* Christ used the signs and symbols of day to reach people.
* Christ would watch our movies, surf internet, use pop culture, use music lyrics, to reach people today
* How can we leverage the culture in church to reach people?
* What’s an example of a biblical basis for using culture to impact people? Acts 17:10-33
* Paul used the culture around him to teach them about Christ!
* He quoted two different poets, an idol in the town,
* BIG IDEA: Leverage the culture or risk losing your impact.
* Celebrate what God is doing in the community in the here and now, rather than constantly talking about the past.
* Too often we don’t like asking questions. Typically, our churches aren’t a place to answer questions most of the time. We focus too much on just providing answers.

Tim Stevens at Wibo (Pt. 1)

Part of clip that he just used at Whiteboard. Awesome!

Mark Batterson at Wibo (pt. 2)

Video at end of Batterson's message:

Welcome Video

Check out the welcome video for our Sunday service yesterday. What ya think?