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mike mckenzie and the art of being ready

As those of you who watched the Saints-Patriots game last night already know, last night's game was incredible.  While the Saints played an unbelievable game on both sides of the ball, the story of the night almost had to be Mike McKenzie, who up until 12 days ago was an unemployed athelete.  Check out what he told Peter King in Sports Illustrated today -

"Here's the most startling thing of all: McKenzie, healthy but frustratingly unemployed, called Saints coach Sean Payton 12 days ago, desperate for a job.

"When I saw a few guys go down with injuries, I just picked up the phone and called Coach Payton,'' McKenzie said. "When I left last March, he was real good about it. He said, 'Stay ready. And make sure you come around. Don't be a stranger.' So I called, and I told him I was in good shape and ready to play, and he said they were going to bring me in next Monday to look at me.'"

I don't know what's going on in your world, but when you read a story like this you have to ask yourself the question - "Am I ready?  If opportunity came knocking tomorrow would I be ready?"  The next question would have to be "Am I actively looking and praying for opportunities."

What a great story . . .

one of the most stressful, worst-paying jobs is . . .

This just in from CNNMoney.com - it's now official.  Most of you probably saw the headline and knew the answer already, but it's always nice to see it in writing.  Number 5, with a bullet, on the list of most stressful, worst-paying jobs is . . . Music Ministry Director. 

On behalf of music ministry directors everywhere, we like to thank the closed-minded traditionalists, the stage parents, and each and every diva we've been blessed to work with.  And we'd especially like to thank that special group of people, Senior Pastors.  We could never have gotten here without your personal ambitions, your people-pleasing-knee-jerk reactions, and your willingness to throw us under the bus for a slight amount of relational credit from people who won't ever be happy until you turn time back to 1955.  Thank you.

the future of filmmaking

For many aspiring video and film producers, one of the most frustrating aspects of the craft is hitting a ceiling in your ability to create the images in your head.  No amount of study or effort or creativity can make up for the fact that you can't afford professional cameras and lenses.  Basically, unless you could come up with $100K or so, there was only so good you could ever really be. 

But that is changing. 

The video above was shot with an $800 DSLR camera (the Canon T1i) and a $400 lens.  To put this in perspective, my current weapon of choice is a $6,000 camera - cheap by industry standards.  Even shooting with cameras three times that expensive I've never been able to achieve images like this.  

This technology is still in it's infancy, but it's not an overstatement to say that this will change everything. 

reengage

Hey everyone.  I know it's been a few weeks since I've posted anything here.  The long and short of it is that I've allowed my life to completely become unbalanced by saying 'yes' to too many things.  Luckily nothing blew up in my face too badly, but yes, I do know that I've neglected this part of my life.  Thanks to those of you follow this closely enough to notice. 

a million miles in a thousand years review

This isn't going to be an objective review.  I tried writing that, but I just can't do it.  To write a critique of Donald Miller's writing would sort of be like critiquing myself, my life and my generation.  Not that I, or anyone else in my generation for that matter, can write as well as Donald Miller.  We can't.  But Miller is doing more than simply writing books or collections of essays.  In many ways Miller is writing the story of my generation, and every time I read a new book of his I'm reminded just how much he's writing about me. 

There are a few artists who come along every decade or so who do more than make pretty pictures, entertaining blockbusters or top 40 hits.  They are artists compelled to create work that will tell the world something about who we are as human beings, that will explain for future generations what it was like to be alive and engaged in this unique moment in time.  They are the voices of their generation.  John Mayer is one such artist.  Donal Miller is another. 

who I am, not what I do

So this blog is supposed to be about life, art and God, and I'm realizing I haven't been writing much about the journey lately.  The past year has been difficult for me in some ways.  Any time you step back from something you love (in my case being a worship arts pastor) there are bound to be some echos of longing for your old life.  The great thing is that God never stops growing us right in the hear and now.

I am more than what I do for for a living.  Finding the living, breathing reality of that truth has been extraordinary.

time to update

So when your mom has to tell you that the bio on your blog is woefully out of date you kind of have to do something about that. Sorry all. I'll fix that soon.  

why I don't twitter

Yeah, this is pretty much why I don't twitter.  Not that I have people who I boss around, but just because it seems so unstoppably vapid. 

(props to dave ferguson)

church planting and systems

This is a hard entry to write, but it's what I'm struggling through right now.  Any insights or thoughts anyone has to add would be appreciated.  Over the past few months I've had the chance to interact and assist a some young and/or struggling churches around the KC metro area.  It's always a little painful to hear the hearts of leaders who dream of the day their churches will finally rock its mission, yet can't seem to figure out how to help that happen. 

The other night Lori and I were kicking this around.  Just from our limited perspectives she could list off issue after issue and problem after problem that stood in the way of these churches becoming what they wanted to be.  As I thought about it, the problems really were systemic at their cores.  

Maybe you've heard the quote attributed to Frederick Taylor that says it this way - "Your system is perfectly designed to produce the results you are getting."  The bible says the same thing in a slightly more agricultural (and culturally-appropriate to his audience) way - "Whatever a man sows, that will he also reap."  

the most important question

Over the last ten years I've had the chance to talk with numerous churches and leaders about reaching my generation.  I used to tell them that postmoderns weren't interested in what you could prove was true; they wanted to know what works for you.  It think John Burke has gotten closer to the real heart of the question being asked.  He puts it this way -

Postmoderns don't care about what's 'true'; they question they are asking is 'Do I want to be like you?'

Does that question rattle you?  It definitely messes with me a little, mostly because I think it's right on the money.  And so I have to ask if there's anything about me that would stand in the way of sharing the Gospel with my life . . .

saturation point

"Of making many books there is no end; and much study is a weariness of the flesh." - Ecclesiastes 12:12b

Lately, I've been reading a lot of books.  Books about ministry.  Books about the Bible.  Books about church planting.  Books about leadership.  Books about theology.  Books about culture.  

By and large these have been great books.  Many of them have been recommended by friends, and most of them have been really helpful.  Some of them have been encouraging.  A few of them have been outright inspiring.  But I'm starting to get a little bit warn out. 

One of the great points about this time in my life is learning about who God's created me to be.  And learning about what he's created me to do.  I love the action, the orthopraxy of The Commission.  Reading a great book makes me want to move. 

What's hard for me is reading 10 books and being patient.  Anyone else ever felt that? 

t-mobile temptation

So I've never considered considered going with t-mobile.   I used to be a palm/sprint guy until I could finally jump over to the iPhone last year.  I have no intention of switching again. 

No intention at all.  Even though t-mobile is releasing an HTC phone with a fender casing.  A casing that matches my telecaster.  Exactly. 

No intention whatsoever.

(would someone please rip this off for the iPhone?  please)