People Still Talking About Twitter Church

I'm amazed people are still talking about Twitter Church and Westwinds' TIME article. But, tonight I saw a blog post by Rachel Motte in Siren magazine online and I had to respond.

You can read the whole article here but these are the parts that concerned me . . .

SIREN:

. . . Twitter, it’s argued, strengthens community ties and offers church goers a new way to express what they are thinking and feeling during the Sunday morning service . . .

. . . In other words, twitter allows people to begin silently “fellowshipping” with other believers before the Sunday morning coffee hour even starts . . .

. . . But is this genuine community? No, not really. That’s the problem . . .

. . . The writer of Hebrews told his readers, “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another – and all the more as you see the Day approaching.” (Hebrews 10:25) He meant that literally. No matter how advanced communication methods become, there will never be an adequate substitute for face-to-face interaction, and there will never be a replacement for real-life fellowship . . .

. . . We have souls, and we crave interaction with other souls, but we also have bodies. When we communicate through technology, we functionally disembody ourselves. There’s a great difference, for example, between talking to your mother on the phone and talking to her in person. When you can communicate with someone unseen without even using your voice, you separate yourself even further. Misunderstandings become more commonplace and relationship building more difficult. Instead of bringing us closer to those around us, technologies like twitter actually tend to separate us – and it’s hard to teach people about the glories of the incarnation while dis-incarnating yourself online . . .

. . . So should you tweet during church? Not unless you are trying to help someone far away (say, in the mission field) feel marginally included. When you are in church, you should be in church, and you risk being less than fully present if you’re busy with your iPhone. So perhaps instead of asking WWJT? “What would Jesus tweet?” the real question should be WJT? “Would Jesus tweet?”

MY RESPONSE:

You make some decent points here Rachel and certainly I don’t mean any disrespect but I think your conclusions are a bit short-sighted. I hope we can have some friendly-fire here.

Your presumption is that the weekend gathering of believers is simply about community but I'm not sure that is the biblical apex of gathering together. If community is the goal of weekend gatherings then churches need to make a ton of adjustments. There is no community listening to a speaker for 30 minutes, there is no community watching people sing on a stage, there is no community watching videos, dramas, etc.

I agree face to face communication is preferable but your argument about communication is misplaced. When do people ever communicate with one another during church? It would be one thing if a church was trying to replace face to face communication with technology but instead, a church was introducing another kind of communication into an environment where interaction seldom happens.

You also said, “When you are in church, you should be in church, and you risk being less than fully present if you’re busy with your iPhone.” I see where you are coming from but you are making two different arguments here. You suggest that Twittering isn’t real “community” but you introduce another argument when you mention being “fully present.” If by being fully present you are suggesting one should be still and listen to someone speak, there is certainly no community in that.

At Westwinds we believe the Bible gives an incredible amount of freedom for corporate gatherings. We strive to create an original, unsullied, experience-rich, multi-layered environment where we increase the occurrence of people interacting with God, his Word, his truth, his people, and face their barriers that interrupt and antagonize the life Jesus invites. The only non-negotiable element in the whole weekend experience is God’s Word as the living, enlightening torrent of truth that must be present every week. Other than that one item, everything else is negotiable.

I certainly don't believe Twitter is for everyone. We experimented a few times three years back and we use it occasionally in different ways. One of the things it does is it gives people another way of being involved in the weekend gathering as opposed to just being a spectator. I think we need to think of many other ways of accomplishing this kind of interaction.

John Voelz

Time to Pay the Piper (My Response to John Piper's Blogpost on Twitter in Church)

Many of you have either sent me emails, called me, or twittered me and asked my response to John Piper’s post on Twittering in church. Piper’s post was actually a response to Josh Harris’ post in much the same vein. These posts are like a handful of others I have read in recent days like this one and this one.

I didn’t want to respond for a few reasons including (1) I think most of the arguments I am reading are dumb and assume many things about how we used Twitter without taking the time to do their homework (2) I don’t want to get into an argument over something so petty and (3) I respect Piper and Harris and don’t need a blog war.

And, true confession, I don’t know that I can reply without a bit of sarcasm.

Some of the blog posts and comments I have read post TIME article are not worth my time. Or your time.

But, since Josh linked to our TIME article I am going to respond since I have been thrown into the mix and, in some way, put under the microscope. If I'm honest, I feel my integrity as a pastor has been called into question in a small way. I guess I asked for this and should have expected it. Both of these men's opinions are widely read and you asked for my response. So please, John, Josh, all due respect and here we go . . .

This is long. You may want to fix a snack.

First off, for the record, I don’t care if Piper or anyone else starts to use Twitter in church or not. I love it, I use it, but I don’t have a Twitter mission. It was never about Twitter for Westwinds. So, I’m not offended—as far as Twitter is concerned anyway.

With that said, I believe the use of Twitter is highly contextual for the church. I wouldn’t propose a cover of a Flaming Lips song if I were asked to lead worship down the street at the Orthodox church. I wouldn’t push for the new Crowder tune at the Acappella Church of Christ. I wouldn’t push for a hot tub baptism at St. Joe’s Catholic Church. For Westwinds, the use of Twitter, among many other things, are appropriate for us but may not be for everyone. It is our culture. It is expected we will try different things. Some will fail. Some become part of us.

We believe Westwinds is something pretty special. An anomaly in the greatest sense of the word. Something incongruent with most of our collective church experiences. It’s been a long road of fostering a community that values imagination, permission, authenticity, and community. It’s not an attempt at being “relevant” which is usually ghettoized to mean “look and speak cool.” It’s about incarnation and a particular offense to mediocrity.

It’s a deep-rooted belief that God has called us to act upon the stuff in our heads. The thirst for the sacred, the mysteries of God, the magic of the sacraments, the otherworldliness of corporate worship, the tears spent on broken people—they call us to act. We act by creating. By making stuff. We incarnate our thoughts into visual art and music and poetry and film. Projects, proposals and petitions. Moments and movements.

And, in this case, occasionally Twittering in church.

There are probably 101 things we have done at Westwinds that would make many pastors raise an eyebrow and/or point a finger. That’s fine. God has given us leadership responsibility over a church of 1000 people in Jackson, MI. That church values creative engagement with the gospel and one another on the weekend. Those are the people I do life with.

I have two other major points of contention with Piper’s perspective (which is shared by a few others in the blogosphere). First, I believe he is making the use of Twitter an entirely theological argument when it should not be—it is methodological. And second, I believe his philosophy of what happens on the weekend is a bit antiquated, narrow, and unfortunately the stance that keeps many of my friends from ever stepping in to a church—including the Christian ones.

I agree with Piper when he says, “Preaching and hearing preaching are worship.” From there, we may agree and disagree on a handful of things when it comes to the “how” of preaching. Is it expository? Thematic? Systematic? Done in a series? With notes? Without notes? 30 minutes? 45? 15 with a break for music in-between? From NIV? King James? The Message? Sitting? Standing? On video? In person? Responsive readings?

The answer to all those things is . . . yes. And more.

(Honestly John, I think your whole electric cord thing is weird but it doesn’t mean we can’t have lunch together—and I hope we do some day.)

One would be hard pressed to find a strict biblical model of a 30-minute sermon preached while people sit in pews facing forward hanging on every word . . . uninterrupted.

Furthermore, I find it interesting that we want to make a case for uninterrupted preaching since it is “worship” but churches everywhere will interrupt their “worship music” this weekend with video, drama, and weak announcements. Double standard?

Some of these arguments are the same shallow arguments used over 20 years ago when we fought about Powerpoint and large screen projection.

Is it possible to preach the word of God and worship while inviting your whole congregation to comment and interact with you and others while preaching? Yes! Is it possible that is an act of worship for some? Yes! Is it possible someone will engage and be engaged better by use of this technology? Yes!

Is it for everyone? No. Is it possible it will distract? Yes.

So will bad preaching.

Is it possible to worship God without a 30 minute sermon at all on a Sunday? We better say yes or we have got a LOT of conversation ahead of us.

Piper also said, “Don’t tweet during sex” which made me laugh out loud. I know he’s being funny but even that comment is a bit narrow. Sex is not purely physical. Every woman will tell you sex begins in the morning. And, if that is true, my wife and I are guilty. We keep those twitters private though.

Bottom line, we need to stop arguing about things as if they were prescriptive for everyone. We waste a lot of time.

P.S. John, your book, “Desiring God: Meditations of a Christian Hedonist” is the first Christian book I ever read cover to cover. I was 19. It meant a lot to me. It’s partly responsible for this conversation.

Westwinds in TIME

So, I'm camping on Sunday and I get a million tweets coming to me saying Westwinds is in TIME magazine online! Fun stuff. I unplugged for a few hours to spend time with the family uninterrupted and everyone found out a few hours before me.

I got an email from TIME tonight. They are putting the online article in the print version of the magazine and sending photographers out to the church.

They did a great job on the article. I was impressed with Bonnie, the wonderful woman who interviewed us. She did her homework and double-checked the facts.

Westwinds was represented well but, more importantly, God and the church were represented well. This is a fun moment for Westwinds because, we have been pretty proud of our Twitter experiments.

Please follow Westwinds on Twitter here.

Twouble With Twitter

Twitter Me This

Another Awesome Westwinds Faith Story

These stories never get old for me. Dan is a great guy that I have been getting to know over the last year--again another relationship growing through Twitter.

Coffeehouse Tour Setlist

I decided to try something fun and ask all my Twitter friends to help me put together a setlist for our coffeehouse tour of Jackson this month. They all delivered! I am very excited about these tunes.

If you can't make the shows, we will be streaming live on my Mogulus channel on the 15th and the 16th. Both shows are at 7:00pm. You can save my Mogulus channel in your favorites here.

The 15th gig is at Nomad Bookhouse downtown Jackson. This event will be recorded live. The 16th gig is at Bearclaw Coffeehouse on the corner of S.Jackson and Horton.

Curious about the setlist? Click the picture above.

Westwinds.org and Twitter

We just got our webpage all set up at Westwinds.org to update our church Twitter feeds via a feed aggregator. SO, if you visit this link on the church webpage you will get our most recent updates. It refreshes for new updates every few minutes.

This is such a great way to get updates to the folks who aren’t using Twitter regularly.

It is also a great way for us to disseminate information and get a quick view of all the latest Westwinds updates at once.

Also, the front page of our website now includes this message:

“These days we have been fond of Twitter—the social networking site. We have used and continue to experiment with Twitter live in our weekend Fusion experience as well as keeping a conversation going throughout the week. If you are interested in joining the weekend series' conversations and/or following the updates and conversations our staff is having throughout the week, please go to Twitter and sign up for an account.

It is free! Once you are hooked up with Twitter you can "follow" "WestwindsSeries" or any of our staff. You can search for staff members on Twitter simply by typing their names in the search box. Once you follow a staff member, you may want to see who they are following, and meet some new friends.

Join the conversation today. Once you are signed up and signed in to Twitter, you can follow anyone listed below by clicking on the link. You may also visit the link on this page to see the ongoing conversation if you don't use Twitter. “

• To sign up for Twitter, click here
• For news and information on Westwinds' message series, updates, and live Fusion conversation, click here
• For occasional updates on general Westwinds stuff, click here
• For John Voelz, our Coriolis:Experience, click here
• For David McDonald, our Coriolis:Narrative, click here
• For occasional Coriolis updates, click here
• For Bed Redmond, our Student Journey designer, click here
• For Lori Tate, our Kids' Journey designer, click here
• For Frank Meely, assistant to John Voelz, click here
• For Noma Racey, assistant to David McDonald, click here
• For Becky Veydt, our Causemology/Satellite link, click here
• For Juan Cordova, our Tech Media Guru, click here
• For Andra Campo, our Coffee Aficionado, click here
• For Brad Kimpell and the Image Team, click here
• For David Buchanan and Co-efficient Media (our website dude/jack of all trades), click here

Twitter Church : : : Word Gets Around

Vacation has been great. I haven’t “unplugged” but I have certainly taken longer breaks between 2.0 exposure and the iPhone.

One of the things that have kept me coming back to my computer has been the massive response to my blog posts on Twitter Church. I have followed links to blogs that have linked backed to my posts. I have read the banter. I have read the responses. I have read the comments and the emails.

Most of the blogs have said wonderful things about Twitter Church experiments at Westwinds. On the other hand, I think it’s hilarious how some bloggers must have never heard of “Google Alerts” and either didn’t think I would find out about their post or they don’t care that I read it—either way, some folks haven’t been all that nice. I DO know about Google Alerts so I will reserve the name calling I have for some of them for the conversation I am having in my head.

The “Twitter Church” post—in and of itself—generated quite a few links to other blogs and the subsequent posts generated quite a few as well. If you are interested in reading a few of the responses click here.

I also received a tip that Twitter Church was being talked about at PodCamp Ohio and listened to on of the podcasts. Check it out!

Twitter Church Hurdles?

I have received a couple of comments lately from people who are itchy to hear about the negatives of us using Twitter in church.

I am very much a technological early adopter and optimist so that’s partly why my posts about Twitter Church have been so void of negatives. It’s not that we didn’t encounter negatives—they were just few and it is early in the game.

I like to expect great things to happen.

I don’t mind a little ready-shoot-aim every once in awhile. We learn through the process of taking risks and if we try to figure it all out cautiously and have too many meetings with the devil’s advocate, we never get anything done. No guts, no story.

But, I know not everyone is like me and some of you are working with church staffs that need to “weigh” everything before proceeding. Okay. Fair enough.

Here is a list of hoops we jumped through, negative responses, and hiccups in the process. Hopefully this will help mobilize you rather than paralyze you as you try something fresh for your church.

1. There is a semi-steep learning curve for some in your church when it comes to tech. I had to host a Twitter how-to clinic the week before and still got questions through email.

2. Some won’t/can’t participate. There is a possibility they will feel “left out.” A lot of the burden is on you for this one as a leader. Point out the benefits of observing if you are not Twittering.

3. Twitter went over capacity a couple of times while live. Not a big deal, but a little annoying. It refreshed quickly in all situations.

4. You may have to do some IT work beforehand to boost your WiFi signal strength and increase your bandwidth. We did. We've got it screaming fast in the auditorium but it took a bit of time and a very small amount of money.

5. We did not censor our feed—Twitter it is happening in real time and we were up for the risk. Some things that came across were “silly” and/or “dumb.” But, I still thought they were fun and added to the community feel. It is possible someone will say something you don’t like. You just have to count the cost. We got in front of this by planting a handful of people to steer the conversation.

6. Many said it was “distracting.” Some said it was distracting “at first” and then wasn’t. Some said they watched the screen the entire time. This didn’t bother us a whole bunch because with any change and new idea there is going to be this kind of feedback. Part of the burden is on you as a leader to talk through change and method and mission, etc. Part of the burden is on the people. Some will just hate it. But, some people hate lots of things. If you find something useful and meaningful, educate and communicate. 15 years ago, half my church in California hated screens and projection . . .

7. It takes some time to promote. I started four weeks out. I still felt like I could have done a better job and I talked it up QUITE a bit.

8. You need to do some resolution adjustments to your screen so that it projects big enough. This takes some time and could be a pain if you don’t have multiple computer feeds and switchers to go between during the service.

9. Twitter takes a while before you start understanding all the wonderful benefits. When a person first starts out and does not have a lot of people in their network, Twitter doesn’t make a whole lot of sense. Some people told me they tried it and didn’t get it or like it. Those people gave up before they came to church. So, it was a bummer at first but, once they saw it in action, all those people went back home and started updating their Twitter.

10. The last negative I can think of is I made a “service flow” error and wrecked a mood once. It wasn’t a Twitter negative; it was my error of judgment. Specifically, I programmed communion at the top of Fusion and it was self-guided. Instructions and reflections about communion were on the screens side by side with Twitter. While there was some good communion reflection banter through Twitter, it didn’t “feel” right to me. I don’t think it was bad or wrong, I just earmarked that as a “do not repeat” moment. We want the Twitter to bolster and augment what is going on—not just fill space.

So there you go. Those were the “negatives” and how we dealt with them.

I hesitated to put them out there but did so to help you think it through and plan if you are going to give it a shot. The benefits FAR outweigh the negatives at this point. I have had many many emails and conversations this week about how people dug it.

P.S. Below is a great video of Jack Dorsey--the CEO and founder of Twitter talking about all the wonderful applications Twitter has. Wait till he hears about Twitter Church!


Jack Dorsey Presents Twitter from biz stone on Vimeo.

20 More Ways to Twitter in Church

Like I said earlier, not everyone loved and embraced Twitter in the way we used it this weekend though the response was very positive. My friend Paul asked that I share the other 20 ways we brainstormed how to use Twitter in church. Thanks for the nudge, Paul.

If you have another idea, add it to the list.

1. Breakout discussions during the service—reserve 10 minutes for Twitter banter with some instrumental tunes.

2. Put 20 Twitter Plants in your audience and tell them the things you want them to reiterate on the screen. The new worship leaders.

3. Give permission for Twitter at any time—even when it is not on the screens. Get your people sharing their thoughts with one another.

4. Communicate with your booth, ushers, nursery, or whomever through Twitter. Last week I twittered it was hot in the room. The ushers got right on it.

5. Have your other staff Twitter with the message and guide the conversation and what you want people to remember most.

6. Q and A

7. End of service on-screen surveys.

8. Text your vote. Put up a list of songs at the end and ask people to Twitter what they like and don’t like.

9. Send messages to missionaries and those in cyber-land during the service.

10. Promote the events that are happening throughout the week on the screen at the end of the service.

11. Let your people interact with your elder board.

12. Line up 50 people to give 140 character testimony/faith stories during communion.

13. Script an entire Twitter conversation and gather 50 people to help pull it off.

14. Do a Twitter scripture reading. Split your scripture up between as many people as you like and have them Twitter the scripture in sequence on the screens.

15. Do a ministry fair blitz through Twitter. Get all your ministry heads present on Twitter between or after church services talking about how to get involved with their area of ministry.

16. Schedule a post-service Twitter application group focused around the message for the day.

17. Have your people Twitter links to their favorite inspiring websites.

18. Ask people to Twitter their burning questions about the service.

19. Promote the ministries of the church in 140 characters. i.e. @shameonyoko is waiting at the coffee bar to talk to you about the band. @loritate is dying to share with you about kids journey after Fusion. Come down the hall for snacks! Join @shameonyoko for a beer at Westpoint tonight at 6:00. Etc.

20. Have your people send out their prayers of encouragement to someone who can’t be there. i.e. @shameonyoko says, “I am praying for your peace” @guerillahost. @normzie says, “we are so proud of you guys working in Mexico on ! We are praying for your strength!”

This post is part of the conversation around the Cultural Watercooler over at Ethos Check it out! Every Wednesday!!!

Twitter Church

This past Sunday, Westwinds tried another “why the heck not” idea and hosted our first “Twitter Sunday.”

I blogged in anticipation of the weekend and now that it is past; I’d like to give you all an update on how it went and a peek inside my head.

I’m not gonna lie—I love technology. I love blogging. The computer. My iPhone. If you read this blog you’re saying, “duh.” But, though my love of technology and our penchant for taking risks as early adopters at Westwinds played a role in Twitter Sunday, there was a much deeper inertia.

First of all, I know Twitter isn’t for everybody. I also know that half of the people who say it’s not for them simply don’t understand it or a need hasn’t surfaced for it. There is another large contingent who are simply “afraid” of technology. I get that. And, while we are not trying to push the techie envelope to change those people, there is part of us that feels like it is our duty to make sure our people are speaking the language of the culture and learn new communication platforms.

15 years ago, I had a conversation with a friend about multi-screen auditoriums as we were building our new building in California. It was like pulling teeth to get people to think about the possibilities. Then, once we did it, half the church hated it. “Screens are distracting.” “I can’t pay attention, I keep looking at the art behind the words.” “I don’t know which pastor to look at—the one on the stage or the one on the screen.”

We have come a long way.

And, still, we are having the same “kinds” of conversations about technology today. The conversation will always be there. There will always be something to fear. Something not to trust. Something new to learn. Something that makes us feel like the world will pass us by if we don’t seek to understand.

We don’t have to adopt all new technology and wave the banner of the new kid in town. We don’t have to be fans of every new web app. But, I do believe it is important to be able to connect with the world around us—the people who ARE having the conversations about technology and are being saturated by it and in it.

The world has changed. Mayberry went straight from the VCR to managing your life and your entertainment in the palm of your hand with an iPhone in seconds flat. We need to be able to speak intelligently into the conversation as Christians.

On top of all of that, we now understand that Westwinds reaches more people outside of Westwinds through the web than we do on a weekend. To the tune of thousands more. Our podcasts/vodcasts/teaching atlases, etc. go out to way more people than we ever dreamed possible. We need to create more ways to connect with those people.

Enter Twitter.

I will admit. There are some things I don’t like about Twitter. Surprised? As with any technology or social networking platform it is easy to have a love/hate relationship.

BUT . . .

In my church, I have seen life-altering small groups formed and forged through Twitter. I have seen teams of people mobilized to do volunteer service like nothing else in the past through Twitter. I have seen needs met financially through Twitter. I have made friends through Twitter. I have witnessed theological discussions, seen prayer answered, seen surprise rendezvous’, connected with leaders better, I've seen friends come to the aid of others health . . .

So we started wondering, what would it be like to bring the Twitter kind of participation into Fusion in the same way we would think through any other worship interactive—something that gets people involved in what is happening—so Fusion isn’t happening “to” them but rather “with and because of and through” them.

Sunday morning there was electricity in the air. iPhones and laptops were carried in one hand—coffee in the other. The live stream was going. Over 70 people were following “westwindsseries” on Twitter.

The big screen as well as two other screens were live with the Twitter feed as people came in. Through communion, songs, message, etc. Twitter was live for our inaugural Twitter Fusion. Live and VERY present.

The conversation began light.

• “Nice shirt JVo,”
• “I love this song,”
• “So glad they are doing Lenny Kravitz,”
• “Somebody turn Jimmy’s guitar up,”
• “Westwinds rocks,”
• “Thank God for coffee at church”

One girl Twittered from home she was late and on her way. Ha.

And, while the light conversation was present through all of Fusion—both Fusions—there was also some great interaction with the message, restating what was said, personal struggles shared, opinions, agreement, etc.

• “to be selfless, humble”
• “The more I press in to Him, the more He presses me out to be useful”
• “sometimes healing is painful”
• “I have a hard time recognizing God in the middle of everything.”
• “It is easy to give Him credit after the fact but it is my prayer to see Him now.”
• “God is challenging us to live for Him in a culture that rejects Him—His own peers did that”
• “He has given me so much”
  

Both kinds of interaction were important. The “deeper” thoughts allowed people to process out loud, be affirmed by others’ responses, and have a bit of public confession.

The light talk only added to the sense of community, family, fun, and not taking ourselves too seriously.

It “felt” like a success right off the bat.

Sunday night, our leaders got together at “Loveshack”—our leadership gathering. The feedback was just about split down the middle. Some loved the whole experience and couldn’t stop talking about it. Some hated it and found it distracting. Then, those who hated it found things they liked about it and those who loved it understood why it was distracting for some.

Now ask me if I’m surprised.

I am not surprised at all. As with anything new, some will be early adopters, some will love it, some will hate it, some won’t care . . . and, they are all entitled to their opinion. We are just grateful to be in a place where this kind of thing is expected. We WILL try crazy things. We WILL go out on a limb. We WILL fail. What a kick.

The positive buzzwords for this were

• “I felt like part of what was happening,”
  
• “I felt part of the community,”
  
• “I felt like a leader,”
  
• “I felt like it was more than just about me.”

Bottom line, it is worth it to try these kinds of things. Out of this experience, we came up with a list of 20 other ways to use Twitter in Fusion and outside of Fusion.

And, now that our group is going on Twitter, the conversation hasn’t stopped. The day after, many were Twittering about all the things they loved at Twitter Fusion and how they love being part of our community.

I highly recommend giving it a shot. This weekend, we will use Twitter in a more limited capacity, on different screens, and for a “focused” time. The following week, we will not have Twitter on the screens but rather encourage people to Twitter throughout while monitoring their laptops. The possibilities are endless.

Twitter Addiction and Westwinds

Twitter has changed my life. Not in a spiritual reorienting kind of a way, but it has certainly changed the way I do things. The way I communicate. The way I go through my day. The way I keep up with friends. The way I make new friends.

Twitter is a free social networking/micro-blog application that allows users to send short posts-up to 140 characters long to the Twitter site. Users may also utilize mobile phones and third-party applications such as Twitterific or Facebook to send and receive updates.

The updates are displayed on the Twitter users homepage/profile page and instantly sent to any other users who have signed up to “follow” them. Users have complete control over their “fan base” and can restrict delivery of their updates to individuals if they wish. Users can also update the entire Twitter world if they wish.

Norma, one of our assistants, is freaked out by Twitter. She thinks they are downloading her financial information and spying on her and her new husband. Not so Norma. You are in control.

So, my day begins by telling my friends what I am doing and I read their quick updates. I use Twitterific which is a pop-up translucent window that updates whenever my friends update. Twitter has helped me stay in close contact with friends and associates, clue my secretary in to my whereabouts and plans, talk with my wife, and meet new friends.

I also follow CNN, Barack Obama, and some guy posing as Darth Vader.

Case in point : : : Jason and Erin Kreger are a couple who started coming to Westwinds a few months ago. I met them briefly at an event one time and came away with three things . . . they were introduced to me as a “cute couple,” they are fans of art (Erin is a painter) and they Twitter. The next week we were following one another. Since then, I have learned more about Jason and Erin than some folks who have attended Westwinds for years. We have had lunch. We have double dated. We have shared scotch. We have prayed for one another. I have made new friends.

Last week, while in Nashville, I added a few new friends to my follow list and feel connected to a whole new group of people such as my new friend Michael Hyatt.

I meet with a group of people every year for a think-tank called cre:ate and most of them Twitter. I feel like the think-tank never stopped this year.

My married daughter Karysa who lives out of state Twitters.

I received over 50 "Happy Birthdays" and felt loved on my big day a couple of weeks ago.

So yeah . . . I am a Twitter fan.

Wanna read about how Twitter has saved lives? Go here. And here.

Now . . . hold on to your hats (whatever that means) : : :

On June 1st, Westwinds will introduce Twitter into the live format during Fusion on the weekend. We are in a series on “Images of ATONEMENT” and we are inviting all our people and the rest of the world to participate in the conversation. Unedited. Unfiltered.

We are hosting a Twitter training session on May 25th—the weekend prior—to help those who are less computer savvy get on board (though it is totally easy).

Then, on June 1st, we will have Twitter live on our screens in Fusion. Our people are invited to bring their iPhones, mobile phones, laptops, etc. into the space and communicate via Twitter throughout the experience. We invite not only Westwinds but people all over the world to participate.

Participants can watch the live stream of Fusion directly from our website at www.westwinds.org and log in to Twitter to weigh in.

Want in on the action? Set up your own Twitter profile at www.Twitter.com. Then, follow us at www.twitter.com/westwindsseries

Follow my personal Tweets at www.twitter.com/shameonyoko

On June 1st, Westwinds will have already made the switch to two Fusions for the summer (2 for 3 as we call it happens on May 25). So, the live Twittering will be at 9:00 and 11:00EST.

Want a fun Twitter explanation? Watch the video below.

P.S. this post is also found over at Ethos where great ideas are posted every Wednesday around the Watercooler--go check it out!

2.0 be or not 2.0 be. That is the Question.

(actual screenshot of last night's ah-ha moment)

Needed to unwind last night. Everyone asleep. Me—still feeling a bit whacked. So, what better way to unwind than with my laptop?

I got a few Twitters from @spencesmith (his Twitter) as we joked about how old we are getting (although, now that I think about it, I think it was more about how old “I” am getting). Talked about The Tubes, Wings, 8-Tracks, cassettes, the “introduction” of the debit card . . .

It reminded me that earlier on in the same day my daughter asked me if I was alive before DVD’s.

Then it hit me in the face—just how much my world has changed in the last few years. The revelation came to me as I stared at my laptop and looked at the multiple windows and frames that were up and running.

iTunes playing the soundtrack from Once.
Twitteriffic open
Email open
Word open
My blog open
Watching ragamuffinsoul play ping-pong live on Mogulus
Chatting with everyone who was watching ragamuffinsoul vid
iChat open

This is how I unwind. Loving every minute of it.

Some mock me. Some don’t understand.

What’s not to understand?!?!

I can play my iTunes library straight for 950 days straight—that’s 24/7—and not hear the same song twice. I can talk into my cell phone and have it turn my message into text that immediately posts on the web for hundreds of my friends and thousands of others. I can watch my friend in ATL play a game on live streaming video while writing a post for my blog and chatting with my friend in Nash-Vegas. Duh.

Most opponents to this tech-saturated life say things like,

• “That stuff is supposed to make life easier and I just see people spending more time.”

• “Technology is hard to learn and I have done just fine without it!”

• “If you really want to simplify your life throw that computer away!”

You know what? They are right.

My life is not “easier.” My life is not “simplified.” Technology is “hard to learn” sometimes.

We need to stop talking in terms of web technology “simplifying” our lives and stop defending that stance. Sometimes, it just doesn’t. We need to use a new vocabulary when talking about what web technology can do for us and stop apologizing.

1. What technology (2.0, apps, digital, etc.) does for me : : :
2. Puts me in touch with people I rarely have a chance to talk to
3. Introduces me to new ideas
4. Stretches my creativity
5. Helps me learn processes that help me in multiple venues
6. Keeps me sharp and talking the current language of our culture
7. Helps me communicate what I want to say
8. Makes me more accessible
9. Makes my friends more accessible
10. Helps me promote business
11. Invites others into a conversation with me I couldn’t have otherwise
12. Helps me network
13. Helps me meet new friends
14. Helps me share about Jesus and what He has done for me
15. Promotes collaboration
16. Introduces me to new things fast!
17. Helps me learn what people are saying about the church and me
18. I can speak my mind before others spread what they “think” I said
19. Get my news fast!
20. Helps me not lose touch with my kids
21. Share and spark ideas in real time
22. Emergency alerts through a variety of vehicles
23. Conference with people when they are inaccessible
24. Exchange important data stat!
25. Warn people of impending robot domination (this one is just to make sure you are paying attention)
    

This list was off the top of my head at breakneck speed (you should see how fast I typed them!). I’m sure the list isn’t complete.

Bottom line : : : If an easier life is what you want then let life pass you by, clean your VCR and go buy a roll of stamps. Then again, if you are reading this that last sentence probably doesn’t apply to you.

Don’t get into a battle with anyone over things “not getting easier.” It is the wrong battlefield and a losing battle.

Life is not getting any easier.

For those who choose to embrace this new life2.0 however : : : it is exciting, friends are closer than ever, new friends are waiting to be met, new businesses are waiting to be dreamed and promoted, brilliance is a Google search away, and the world is indeed very, very, small.

By the way, I talked with (2-way conversation) over 50 people while writing this post.

Atonement Talk and Twitter

In May we will be doing a six-week series at Westwinds where we discuss various theories of atonement. This may be one of the more “heady” series we have approached in a while but at the same time, perhaps one of the most practical and freeing.

When we (the Christian church) talk about Jesus and tell the story of the cross—whether we are at youth camps, retreats, playing a concert, Sunday morning service, or across the kitchen table—there are certain “words” and metaphors we have all become accustomed to when it comes to atonement and what Jesus has “done for us.” Is it about substitution? Payment for a debt? Satisfaction? Ransom? Covenant?

Probably most Christians answer a hearty yes to all of the above.

A book that has been very helpful and encouraging to me in recent days is “A Community Called Atonement” by Scot McKnight. I highly recommend it.

In the prologue of his book, McKnight tells a helpful story about golf wherein a friend asks him what his favorite golf club is. His reply is “when I am at 150 yards, I like to ‘knock down’ my 7-iron. When I am at 200 yards and there is no wind, I like my 3-iron. When I’m on the tee box, if the fairway is open, I like my driver. On the green, I like my putter. When I’m in the bunker and a green, I like my sand wedge. When I’m at 80 yards and in the fairway, I like my lob wedge. “

The point of McKnight’s story is that all the clubs are useful at some point, they are all valid, they are all designed for certain situations, and none can or should ever be completely ignored in the grand scheme of things. We need to “understand the value” of each club.

In my opinion, one of the huge dangers the Christian church has mired in over the years is the inability to reconcile atonement theories with one another or have a workable understanding of how to present “the gospel” in light of all scripture teaches about the work of the Jesus and the redemptive work of God. This often causes division, fights, and confusion. Some become very “religious” about their understanding of redemption and the work(s) of Jesus. And, in some cases, the story is dumbed down to a few hoops a person has to jump through to be reconciled to God. All the while, there is seldom thought given to the way God has shaped each individual and the idea that each individual is part of a story.

I think there is an entry point into unlocking everyone’s redemption story and the entry point is not always the same.

How do you talk about Jesus to the man or woman who believes they are okay with God because the concept of “sin” doesn’t jive with them? Well, you certainly don’t start with talk about the debt they owe. This doesn’t mean that sin is a non-issue, it just means it is not the entry point.

How do you talk about Jesus to the man or woman—like many of my friends—who grew up in a good home, two kids and a dog and cat, parents had great jobs, never wanted for anything, good student, never gets in trouble, a bright future in a good company, big house, good neighborhood, great group of friends and community, etc.? Do you start with the new covenant and Jesus’ ability to restore community and people? Probably not.

To my grandparents, Jesus was the Victor. The man who led their battle. The one who slays the enemy and keeps him at bay. To my parents, Jesus is the one who washed them white as snow. Cleansing them of all their impurities. To my new friend at church who was first introduced to Jesus in prison, Jesus is the one who makes everything right, the one who is his judge, the one who paid the penalty, the one who did the time without the crime. All of them are right. Jesus is all of those things. And more.

I can’t wait to dive in.

For this series, Westwinds has set up a new Twitter identity that I am managing. We are encouraging people to bring their laptops and/or cell phones to church throughout the series so we can have ongoing discussion on-screen, in interactive moments, and throughout the week. If you would like to eavesdrop on the conversation and/or join in, please follow us here on Twitter. We will be up and running in a few weeks and I will keep you updated. If you don’t yet have a Twitter account—what are you waiting for? Go to Twitter and get set up!

You are welcome to watch the live stream of Fusion and interact during the series as well by going to this link.

Why I Twitter

Top 20 Reasons

The micro-blog component—the ability to share my thoughts and hear other’s thoughts in “real time.”

A chance to laugh with one another. Most Tweets enjoy saying something witty when they Twitter and it keeps us smiling all day long

The feeling that I am connected to a network with the tap of a key

Staying in touch with my friends daily without phone calls and lengthy emails that require responses. Yes, it is somewhat impersonal but, there’s no way I would hear from all these people everyday otherwise.

Sharing prayer requests and praying for others : : : stat

Easier than a chat room and not as annoying and interruptive throughout the day. I can walk away for a bit and catch up on the conversation in 2 minutes whereas a chat usually requires my immediate and focused attention

The occasional “vent” to my friends and people of like mind. I hear theirs as well. Different than venting in a blog or some other permanent vent for the whole world to read.

Fast new info. It happens : : : I hear about it

Getting together—facilitating a place to meet

Knowing where my friends are at all times and being able to visualize them in those places

Banter : : : teasing one another : : : all in fun.

Following people I wouldn’t follow otherwise and feeling like I am making friends in the process

Following my friends’ conversations with people I don’t know but they do.

The 140 character limit on length requires thoughts to be concise

Great for interactive communication in a group setting—put ongoing twitters on screen for all to interact with presentation

Build a network very quick! Get an account and have a large group of people to follow within minutes as opposed to MySpace and other networks

Very easy to access and have open all day (with Twitteriffic especially)

No need to sign in and enter passwords every freaking time you want to check up or post something real quick

Love the feeling that when I see some friends a year from now I will feel like we have been hanging out together on a regular basis

The ability to get quick updates from corporate web sites and blogs I follow on a regular basis