Dance Revolution - a lesson from Oprah and the Black Eyed Peas

Most everyone has seen or heard about the Oprah flash mob dance video. The video features the Black Eyed Peas singing "I Gotta Feeling..." in front of a live crowd on Chicago's "Miracle Mile". It was part of Orah's launch to her 24th TV season in September 2009. If you haven't seen the video yet, check it out below before reading on.

Disclaimer: let me say up front that by using this clip in this post, I am not endorsing Oprah's show, nor am I condemning her or her views. Simply put, I don't watch her show or follow her career. This video is used here as an illustration.



One solitary dancer who initially seems to be alone in her joyful abandoned enthusiasm, is joined by a handful of others, and it multiplies like a rip tide throughout the crowd until 20,000 people are dancing the same choreography in unison. It's an impressive site, isn't it?

Even if you don't like Oprah or the BEP's, you can't help but wonder, How did they stage this event?

This didn't just "happen" minutes before the show. It took months and months of preparation. Here's the amazing thing, the choreography training started off with only 20 people. Then those 20 people trained 800 more people, and those 800 people trained even more until there were 20,000 dancers. Amazing!

This video demonstrates the influence of the small through the power of multiplication. All the great movements of recorded history, whether religious or non-religious, started with just a few people sharing a common vision, passion, and the courage to act. In most cases, they didn't set out to change the world, just their sphere of influence.

I used to work for an inner-city development mission in Detroit that was honored with a "Point of Light Award" by then President George H. W. Bush. We had a saying in that organization, "How do you change a city...? One block at a time..." The work of this organization changed the city's worst drug infested neighborhood by starting a revolution that spread person to person, house to house, block by block, until the drug lords and gangs were driven out. By doing so, it became a beautiful revolution that reclaimed a desirable neighborhood.

Greg Boyd wrote, "What Jesus was about was starting a revolution. He called this revolution 'the Kingdom of God'... manifesting the beauty of God's character and thus revolting against everything that is inconsistent with this beauty." Boyd calls this a beautiful revolution.

"So you see, the Kingdom has nothing to do with religion... It's rather about following the example of Jesus, manifesting the beauty of God's reign while revolting against all that is ugly."

This Cross becomes the paradigm for the revolution of sacrificial living, even suffering for others. That kind of life involves even revolting against society and traditions - everything that keeps us apathetic and narcissistic.

Erwin McManus wrote, "Anyone who can picture Jesus as the great Advocate of tradition is doing some serious doctoring of biblical history. Jesus was anything but the poster child for status quo. With a band of brothers and a small community of others, Jesus instigated an uprising that He expected to reach the very ends of the earth. You must never forget that it was only to a handful of individuals that Jesus entrusted an outcome that would make disciples of all the nations of the earth. The uprising was to transcend culture, ethnicity, race, religion, status - every and any divide established by men."

Every great revolution needs a revolutionary. Where does the revolution need to take place in your world? In your youth group? Your church? School? Neighborhood? City? It just takes one to start.

The following flash mob video illustrates this even more beautifully than Oprah's staged event, because this one is real and spontaneous. Watch it through till the end. It starts with only one...



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HT to Kevin

Monday Morning Mind Dump - some reflections on encouragement and the Marko situation

The Master, God, has given me a well-taught tongue, so I know how to encourage tired people. He wakes me up in the mornings, wakes me up, opens my ears to listen as one ready to take orders. The Master, God, opened my ears, and I didn't go back to sleep, didn't pull the covers back over my head. Isa 50:4-5 (Msg)

It would be an understatement to say these are difficult times. Despite some recent positive news with the economy (building materials sales are way up, which is a key performance indicator), it will take time for things to trickle down and for other industries to bounce back.

My wife was recently laid off after 10 years with her company. We're learning about unemployment benefits, COBRA, and budget belt-tightening on the fly. Two years ago, I was also unemployed due to a large corporate merger. I received a very generous severance and eventually found employment in my current ministry position. But the word "interim" remains in my job title after nearly 2 years and many signs point to this position being eliminated as part of a reorganization. I love what I do, but I've grown weary of the overall uncertainty and defensive posturing for sustaining this position.

Just last week, I received a phone call from the leader of a popular summer conference that our church youth have participated in for many years. He informed me that the 2010 conference is in doubt and likely to be canceled. The numbers to sustain it financially just aren't there anymore. It's such a beloved tradition that bore much fruit. I can't believe it's going away.

I could write a very long list of stories involving friends, family, and traditions that are victims to the current economic realities. Lately I confess it's a struggle to find the strength and words to respond.

What does one say when encountering loss and grief over life tragedies? People are weary and anxious about life's hardships and realities. How do you speak to "encourage tired people"?

When Jesus sent out the twelve, he said they shouldn't worry about "what to say or how to say it" (Mt 10:19). Does this mean that God fills our minds with thoughts we've never had before, or does he draw from a deep ocean of accumulated truth and life experiences that he wants us to share? Such answers are beyond my pay scale, but I'm convinced of this: we'll never have anything worthwhile to say until we start taking in God's words.

God speaks to us in solitude. He whispers his all-knowing secrets in our ears. There we begin to see only what he can see and discern his voice. Jesus also said when sending out the twelve, "What I tell you in the dark, speak in the daylight; what is whispered in your ear, proclaim from the roofs" (Mt 10:27).

John Wesley wrote, "I sit down alone - only God is here. In his presence I open, I read his books and what I thus learn, I speak."

George MacDonald said, "Hide yourself in God and when you rise before men, speak out of that secret place."

It's a matter of desire - to meet with God every day. It's also a matter of obedience - obedience is the first step towards learning more. Lastly, it's a matter of prayer - inviting the Spirit to indwell the Word within you and then asking God for the opportunities to give that word away.

A vivid illustration of a God-inspired, God-directed word comes from a story recently posted by Mark Oestreicher. As many youth leaders know by now, Marko is no longer with Youth Specialities (YS) - an organization that his name was synonymous with for many years. The details behind the decision are probably known by only a select few - and it's better that way. But a tactless and poorly written press release by Zondervan's CEO Moe Girkins (YS' parent company), announcing Marko's release has generated a lot of criticism throughout the blogosphere towards Zondervan. Seriously, how does one rise to CEO of a literary organization by writing such spin? It's definitely a case of someone not "getting" their intended audience. The comments from various bloggers blasting Zondervan are both harsh and amusing. In my opinion, Zondervan just brought it upon themselves by handling it the way they did. One thing l've learned in leadership, you set the stage for the new leader by how you part ways with the old leader.

Since his departure, Marko's comments on Facebook and his blog have been gracious and above the fray. In a recent blog post, Marko describes his transitional journey over the past year in a very vulnerable and honest manner. He also shares a story about how someone whom he never met, offered words of encouragement that had a profound impact on him. The words came in the form of an email from a youth worker. You can tell that her words were born out of her desire to meet with God, her obedience to share, and prayerful opportunity. Click here to read Marko's post.

I am grateful to Godly men and women who have spoken into my life recently with sincere words that didn't ring hollow (Pastors Doug, Mike, and Sonny - you're awesome!). I've searched for something to say directly to Marko as a word of encouragement. I certainly echo the many affirming sentiments that other youth leaders have posted in support of him. He has inspired so many and continually reminded us all why we don't quit this thing called youth ministry. I just feel ashamed by my own weariness that seemingly prevents me from finding the right words to say, but I'll try...

Marko - I'm truly sorry for your job loss. We all share a sense of loss without you in the YS platform. God used you as the voice for so many because you knew your audience and understood the culture of what we do. I believe the prayers for your future are going to be answered in the most amazing way, allowing your gifts and personality to shine and touch others beyond your imagination. I pray for your transitional days ahead, that they may be filled with contemplative reflection and affirmation, strengthening of bonds with family and friends, and rest and joy in the journey as you leave this calling and cleave to a new. Oh, and one more thing - I'm glad you're blogging again.

Friday Funnies - The side hug and other Youth Group rules

Yesterday Jonathan Acuff posted a funny but all so true list of youth group rules on his awesome blog, Stuff Christians Like. Here's the post:

“What am I supposed to do, swivel?”

An exasperated friend asked me that recently. He was telling me about a rule he had received as a Christian youth camp counselor. In the contract for the camp, he had been told, “You can only side hug the campers. No front hugs.”

And that’s an OK rule. That makes sense, I get that. It’s designed to protect both the campers and the counselors. But my friend had a problem. Occasionally a camper would break down in tears, say something like, “My uncle just died and it is killing me” and then throw their arms out for a front hug.

Which is when my friend proclaimed, “What am I supposed to do swivel? In that moment, as they lean in for a hug, should I just turn, lightning fast and offer them a side hug? ‘Go ahead, let it out fella, go ahead and cry on my hip.’”

The weird thing is my youth group basically had the opposite rule. At the end of each time we hung out, we couldn’t leave the room until we had all hugged the mandatory number of necks. The youth minister would say, “5 mandatory hugs tonight” and then the most awkward 7th grade hugs would commence. (They weren’t awkward for me, I was rocking MC Hammer type pants and a vanilla ice stripe in my eyebrow, my hugs were dope. Yo.)

But hearing his story about the forced side hug made me realize something: there are no internationally agreed upon rules for the governance of youth groups.

So today, I thought I would set out to right that wrong. To create a list of rules for all youth groups based on the ideas we’ve all discussed in the last 18 months. I give you …

The Stuff Christians Like Youth Group Rules …


1. The youth group bus or van will not be purchased from a dealership named, “Vans that like to catch on fire & buses that break down in the middle of the night on the side of the road on the way to New Hampshire ski retreats.”

2. Only one “dude with an acoustic guitar” will be allowed per youth group.

3. If you go on a retreat and you’re boyfriend/girlfriend doesn’t go, they should expect to get dumped when you return home. Cause that’s happening.

4. All youth group ministers should expect at least one kid to ask for a precise definition of “what it means to be a virgin.”

5. Only tankinis and swim shirts shall be worn on youth group beach trips.

6. All youth group retreats should be held at locations that could double for horror movie backdrops because it adds to the intensity of the weekend.

7. Youth group volunteers who are helping out primarily to relive their own high school glory days vicariously through the teens will be removed quickly and quietly.

8. At no point should there be a circle of back massages during a youth group event. (Saw that happen a number of times.)

9. At no point should a youth minister try to keep a bad dating relationship together simply because he knows that as soon as the church girl dumps the non church boyfriend he’ll drop out of youth group.

10. Every month there should be at least one gross food related game played. Preferably involving baby food. Preferably not involving me.

11. The big tub of orange drink should not be stirred with a youth worker’s sweaty arm.

12. You should pull and eventually apologize for epic pranks, claiming that you want to do “all things with excellence” when you are caught.

13. The one parent who complains about something you did will not be empowered to steer the entire course of the youth group. The 50 other parents who didn’t complain will also be considered.

14. If someone hasn’t complained or taken issue with or questioned something your youth group has done in the last six months you will retreat to your youth room and ask yourselves, “What are we doing wrong?”

15. The guy with the jeep will always let the pastor’s kid ride shotgun. In 1993 that would have meant me and the jeep guy were pretty tight.

16. If the youth minister changes his/her tone of voice, vocabulary and outfit, when they get around youth, saying things like, “Yo, my tweets are blowing up, we ballin’ on a budget,” that youth minister will be hit with water balloons filled with honey.

Those are my rules for youth group, but I’m sure I missed some.

What rules did your youth group have?

What rules for youth group would you add?

Meltdown for a Cause

Being in student ministry leadership, you're always keeping your eyes and ears open for new and creative ideas that work. Below is a unique fundraising idea that actually worked during these difficult economic times.

The following comes from Christian Standard magazine online.

Despite the generosity of her members, SouthBrook Christian Church (Miamisburg, Ohio) faced a budget deficit in late 2008. At the same time, requests for financial help from church members began to increase. Worst of all, the reduced income meant the church would have to delay its commitment to complete construction of a desperately needed AIDS clinic in Manzini, Swaziland.

“I felt a real sense of urgency to finish the clinic,” says Jerry Ittel, extension ministries leader. “The people in Manzini had overcome so much to move it forward—I just had to figure out some way to make it happen.”

A SouthBrook member suggested taking advantage of the huge demand for precious metals by collecting donations of unwanted gold and silver jewelry and selling it to a metal refinery. The goal was $100,000, and the call to action was simple: “Your class ring could save a life.”

“The idea was perfect,” Ittel says. “It was a compelling vision, we had a volunteer willing to lead the effort, and everyone could participate. Even people who were struggling financially could find something to donate.”

By the end of “Meltdown” week, the church had received $160,000 worth of metal, $100 from an 11-year-old boy without jewelry who wanted to help anyway, and a prized plastic ring from a little girl.

“This worked beyond our wildest dreams,” Ittel says. “If you put your faith in God and you’re open to some out-of-the-box ideas, miracles can still happen.”
The church offers its planning and promotional materials free of charge for any congregation interested in planning its own Meltdown experience. Visit http://www.southbrook.org/.

Just for fun, Steve Taylor's old song Meltdown at Madame Tussaud's is embedded below.



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Character

Recent circumstances at work, home, church, with friends and even the economy have all given me reason to reflect on my character lately. If you've been through those seasons when God orchestrates these circumstances all at the same time, you know it's not fun. This is one of those times...

I'm not a young man anymore. I've had my share of "character" building moments, some of which were punctuated by some remarkably patient and gracious role models. But I still get impatient during these times, as much with myself as with God, wanting it to be over. Maturity comes in its own time and way. We want to look over God's shoulder and chart our progress, move the schedule along, put limits on the process, and then write a book about it.

Oh sure, in many of my past circumstances, I've definitely brought upon myself the need to be sifted and seasoned. Through these times, I've learned how to apologize, seek forgiveness, understand compassion and grace, as well as to learn that life does not guarantee happy endings - at least not on this side of heaven.

Our job is to follow and obey with humility and be open to what God is doing in and around us. We must surrender with a humble heart and let Him work it out within His time.

It's still not easy. Even today, I still sometimes feel like a kid being punished. I have a lot of past memories of adults shaming me into the desired behavior or action that suited their agenda. Agendas kill opportunity. I'm so conscious of that now as a parent.

I believe the Cross instills in us a desire to do better and He who prompts that desire is able to fulfill it.

Phyllis McGinley writes: "The wonderful thing about saints is that they were human. They lost their tempers, scolded God, were egotistical or testy or impatient in their turns, made mistakes and regretted them. Still they went on doggedly blundering toward heaven."

David Roper writes, Every day has its mishaps and memories of something we should have done or not done... though in process and incomplete we are freely loved, fully forgiven and on our way to glory. Sin may frustrate us for a day, but God's favor goes on forever and on ahead lies perfection.

In the meantime, I pray I have his character to wear on my face.

The following movie clip is an amazing illustration of learning the difference between truth in character and agendas. It's from the movie, The Big Kahuna.

The story line is a veteran salesman (Danny DeVito) who schools a young and idealistic company researcher (Peter Facinelli) while on an important business sales trip. They hope to sell their particular brand of industrial lubricants to an elusive customer. The young Christian man has a few things yet to learn about life.



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Is Missional becoming too weird?

There's an old theology joke that goes something like this -

A group of theologians were gathered together having an intense theological discourse. Suddenly, Jesus appears before them and says:

"Who do you say I am?"

They replied, "You are the eschatological manifestation of the ground of our being; the ontological foundation of the context of our very selfhood revealed; the kerygma in which we find ultimate meaning in an interpersonal relationship."

And Jesus replied, "Huh??!!"

The word "weird" which refers to things that are odd or strange, is derived from the word wyrd which means something a little different: things that are unaccountably different mysterious and uncanny and better left that way.

The older I get, the more comfortable I am with the concept of wyrd. Theologically speaking, everything seems too categorized, neat and orderly. Theories about when, where, how and why don't bother me like they used to. It's not that I doubt or lack conviction about the existence of God, but rather my awareness of His reality keeps growing to where I can't find the words to explain Him. His ways are beyond my understanding.

Ireneaus said that the the essential difference between orthodoxy and heresy is that orthodoxy is rooted in paradox and mystery. Heresy, on the other hand, is rooted in clarity and precision.

I have a lot of respect for articulate people (of which I am not) who can offer clear concise explanations about things, for which I have no explanation, using words that send me dashing to the dictionary because I have no idea what they meant. But I'm beginning to wonder, do these people really know what they're saying, especially when filtered through reality? As Tony Campolo once said, there's nothing more amusing then listening to brilliant people articulate stupids concepts. It is amusing that some brilliant thinkers often seem to lack basic common sense, people skills, and street smarts.

Yesterday my devotions were from Psalm 131. I prayed for a heart like David's - "My heart is not proud, O Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. But I have stilled and quieted my soul; like a weaned child with its mother, like a weaned child is my souled within me."
Psalm 131:1-2

So what does that leave? Hopefully a discerning heart and quest for only the things that truly matter (Luke 10:42).

Yesterday, I stumbled upon this video featuring some popular missional thinkers. Watching and listening to the first 5 minutes made me laugh out loud as these pastors and church leaders were articulating "missional" in such a way that made brilliant sound weird. I imagined Jesus saying "huh?!" at some the rhetoric being used.

To be fair, many of the leaders featured in this clip come from the Emergent and Emerging movements, which now refers to itself as "Missional." What they define as Missional is not necessarily the same as how we define it in the EPC. The EPC has an excellent primer on what Missional means historically.

Historically speaking, doctrine and creeds, modes and methodologies of baptisms, church government, roles of women, Bible versions, eschatology, have become like an oxymoron - "non-negotiable non-essentials" which define our differences rather than our reason for having community. Hard dogma can be isolating. Similarly, has the pendulum swung so far in the opposite direction that we now define church to be so inclusive that it is actually exclusive? Would Calvin, Luther, Hus, Augustine and others be stifled by all this?

At the same time, the last half of this video almost brought tears to my eyes as the dialogue became more real and raw regarding the realities and struggles of ministering missionally.

A former seminary president wrote that humility should so encompass our statements about God that we are driven to speak "with the tone of a high school sophomore telling what she knows about vectors to a Nobel prize-winning physicist. What we say may be true enough, but so obviously spoken out of ignorance that we dare not chatter on in blissful confidence. Perhaps... it is time for a deferential hush."

As a wise country pastor once said, knowing very little has something to do with "the way we look at our own growth in grace. The main thing is not to know more things, but to live out the things we know: to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind and follow him in grateful obedience. We do not need to know the secrets of God. We just need to love Him and do what he shows us to do."

And hopefully we won't need weird words to describe what we do.

TransFORM: Missional Community Formation from TransFORM on Vimeo.

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HT to David Roper for some borrowed ideas and quotes from his book, In Quietness and Confidence.

What are Your Ministry Social Media Patterns?

Last week there was a conference in Chicago I really wanted to attend called Story. Though I was unable to participate due to another travel commitment, I found these copious notes from all the sessions on Tim Schraeder's blog.

The following notes pertain to a session on Social Pulse by Drew Goodmanson & Cynthia Ware. Even without being there, Tim's notes allow you to feel a part of the discussion. There are some great bullet points for youth and church leaders to ponder. Simply ask yourself, what are your connecting points as it relates to social media patterns? This discussion just can't be ignored.

Also, the following video, which was posted here previously, is a good warm up to the discussion.




What are churches current social media patterns?

• We are living in a world people dreamed of.
• There used to only be a computer at work… then it went home… then to your lap… now to your hand.
• Mobile ubiquity, where everyone has a phone, presents challenges and opportunities for the church.
• There’s an embedded value system in social media [public/participatory, new media].
• There’s value in it that it’s instant.
• Everyone is an equal creator… it’s user-generated content.
• We’d rather buy something someone tells us about than what we are told by businesses or corporations.
• Users have a voice and are able to generate content.
• In a relationship economy, what people say matters deeply.
• We now have greater accessibility to information.
• Churches need to move from having “please have your phone off” signs to “please have your phone on” signs.
• The media is affecting our small group communities and the way that they interact.
• We’ve torn down the boundaries of distance; there’s now a worldwide conversation going on that anyone can participate in.
• The definition of “presence” is changing.
• We HAVE to think through these things theologically.
• Is physical presence necessary for you to be a part of and “be” the church.
• Social media allows customization [personalization].
• One size does not fit all … [MySpace, my reviews, my favorites, etc.]
• My can be consumer oriented, but it reflects the fact that media is in the hands of every person and every person has the ability to create media.
• Everyone is a content producer.
• We now watch TV on our own terms [TiVo].
• New generations are being raised with these new ideas embedded in their everyday interactions.
• As technology becomes cheaper and more effective, the Church is confronted with one of the greatest opportunities along with one of the greatest challenges of how to steward it.
• The Men of Issachar were able to see the times and were able to know what to do.
• Let’s go to the next level… let’s find out what we are capable of doing and how are we able to frame it in a Biblical context?
• The word of our testimony is the critical story we have that’s a powerful conduit [Christianity is viral] to reach someone we may have not been able to reach any other way.
• We’ve moved to a digital age.
• It will be normal for us to connect online, first and then meet in person.
• 43% of churches say social media is one of the most effective ways for them to communicate and engage with people.
• Church websites are the front doors to churches.
• 77% of people say the church website was an important part of why they chose to go to church.
• If people can’t connect to your website they may not go to your church.
• People make judgements about a church based on what the church communicates across their website.
• It’s a missiological issue.
• John 17:18
• Facebook is the 4th largest nation in the world if you look at the number of people that are on it.
• Non-Christians do not go to your website.
• Your website is primarily visited by believers looking for information about churches.
• 20% of all data people are accessing on church websites is information for new visitors… that’s a significant portion where you should invest your time.
• Use the web to help people new into the church to get deeper into community.
• Your web strategy should be looked at as an Internet Presence Management.
• What are you communicating online?
• How are you connecting to where people are talking and engaging?
• Where are you present? Where are you absent?
• Who is responsible for your church’s online presence?
• What does it mean to be the Church online?
• How do you define presence? What’s your theology of presence?
• We need to recognize that participatory media is decentralized.
• It’s unregulated.
• We have a lack of control.
• We have to look deeper at our theology.
• A mobile, extended presence can be used missionally.
• Is virtual community real community?
• What is Biblical community?
• We need to define Biblical community before we define online community and if it’s possible to have church online
• We need to ask if we can use an online presence to build real life community?
• We need to intently be on the internet, it’s a mission field.
• We, the Church, are called to be counter-culture… what does that mean at this technological crossroads?
• We are willing to be transparent online, but vulnerability is not often seen online.

Top Social Media Sites

1. Facebook
2. Twitter
3. Private Member Portals [ MemberHub, Monk, Tangle, Unifyer, etc ]
4. GoogleGroups
5. MySpace
   

• Greatest needs online: events, post prayer requests, get connected, finding small groups and ways to connect throughout the week, integration with their church website and resource sharing.
• Churches are wrestling with how to use participatory technologies.
• The Cobblestone Community Network is a tool that’s been developed to help churches have private communication that’s integrated into social media channels.
• If you don’t set a strategy you’re going to have a difficult time pulling it together later.
• What is your strategy for the community online?
• Pick a horse.
• If you don’t lead your people, they will find their own way and go their own direction.
• This is something we need to pay attention to but we don’t need to know the mechanics of it; you can find volunteers or someone on staff to help manage this.
• Things are easier than they were before.
• There are challenges and effort required but it’s more centered on your strategy.
• Let people tell you how they want to be contacted… be platform neutral.
• Let people choose how the content gets to them.
  

HT to Church Marketing Sucks