I want my son to see his life as an adventure. He just turned 3 the other day, and has never been camping. My wife was gone the other night and wasn't going to be home until later on, so after we put Ana down to sleep, Noah and I got some blankets and went and laid out under the stars. We looked at the moon, we looked at airplanes, we looked at the stars, we looked at venus. It was awesome. I told him we were going to do it early on in the day, so he was talking about it all day.
I just love how excited he gets about things. I don't want him to see his life as I go to school, come home, watch tv, do homework, go to bed. I want him to beg each day for discovery.
I'm trying to live my life that way too. It's tough, and it takes commitment, but imagine how much richer your experience will be. JM
4.30.2007
Matthew 16:13-20
What has God shown you? I love looking at the Bible and expecting God to speak to me. It's awesome how truly alive of a book it is. Yesterday God used a passage to inspire me. What's funny is, I shouldn't have even been reading it.
But God shows us wonderful things when we dive into his word. JM
But God shows us wonderful things when we dive into his word. JM
4.29.2007
Transition
I'm trying to convert this blog over to its own URL of www.ghostofmediocrity.com, but it seems to be taking a while. Sorry for any problems you've been having. I'm hoping that by Tuesday all of the kinks will be worked out and everything will be back to normal again. JM
Matthew 15:21-28
The power of faith is incredible. Jesus loves to compliment people who have great faith. I love this story because the woman is desperate. She is passionate about pursuing Jesus because she has a personal need. She wants to see her daughter be happy again. She wants to be able to interact with her daughter like she used to. She misses her daughter.
But Jesus doesn't want to help her. Probably because it would make everybody freak out. Whatever the reason, he only does it because of her persistence. She is passionately pursuing Jesus because she knows that he is the only one that can make her world right again. I think this is the passage that I'll use for mother's day. I'll have to try to develop this tomorrow. I'm excited about speaking, though. JM
But Jesus doesn't want to help her. Probably because it would make everybody freak out. Whatever the reason, he only does it because of her persistence. She is passionately pursuing Jesus because she knows that he is the only one that can make her world right again. I think this is the passage that I'll use for mother's day. I'll have to try to develop this tomorrow. I'm excited about speaking, though. JM
4.28.2007
Matthew 16:5-12
I need to go to seminary. I really want to be able to critically think about what the Bible teaches on a more academic level. I've studied a lot on my own about church structure, church growth, youth ministry, post-modern ministry, and things like that, but theology seems really daunting to me. At some point my children will grow a little bit older and I might have some time that I could devote to studying, but right now it just seems so impossible.
JM
JM
4.27.2007
Resolutions Update
So I've actually achieved one of my New Year's Resolutions already. I wanted to be able to rep 135 pounds on the bench press, and today I did it. I'm trying to train for endurance so I only do 2 sets, but today I did a set of 10 reps and then a set of 7 reps.
My other resolutions are not doing as well.
I've only run 18 miles and I want to run 1,000 this year.
I've read 6 books and I want to read 18 this year.
I've come up with the main ideas for my book, but haven't started writing it yet.
I haven't learned any of the 4 U2 songs.
And I still need to learn InDesign and Premiere.
There's still tons of time, though. JM
My other resolutions are not doing as well.
I've only run 18 miles and I want to run 1,000 this year.
I've read 6 books and I want to read 18 this year.
I've come up with the main ideas for my book, but haven't started writing it yet.
I haven't learned any of the 4 U2 songs.
And I still need to learn InDesign and Premiere.
There's still tons of time, though. JM
Granger Communications Workshop
Here's a summary of my notes from Kem Meyer's communication workshop. It was awesome and inspiring. I learned so much it's incredible, and she has a great relational way of presenting tons of information so you don't feel as though you're overloaded. Anyway, here's my notes:
Granger Communications Workshop - Kem Meyer
Session 1 - Are People Letting You In Or Shutting You Out?
Worldview - bias that affects the story we tell ourselves to make it easier to live in a complicated world.
Frame - the words, images and interactions that reinforce (or speak respectively to) a bias someone is already feeling. In other words, how you wrap your message so that it communicates to a bias.
Story - how you live out your promise. If you’re authentic the details will line up and the contradictions disappear.
Good communicators do not try to change worldviews, they simply identify the worldview and then frame a story around it.
5 Marketing Myths
Myth #1 - You are in control
Average people are good at ignoring you. They have too much to look at. They have a different P.O.V. than you do.
Your content does not create interest. Worldview and first impressions create interest.
Seth Godin says that there are 3 types of listeners:
Visual - Decide if they are interested based off of the logo and feel of the media.
Readers - Decide if they are interested based off of the text.
Financial - Decide if they are interested based off of the cost.
Myth #2 - The more choices the better.
USA Today: Too many choices has negative consequences, regardless of the generation.
- Boomers get overwhelmed and shut down.
- GenXers labor over whether or not they’re making right decisions.
- GenYers just ignore you and move on.
Less is not more. More is less.
- The more elements on a page, the less important each element becomes.
- The more announcements from the platform, the less important each announcement becomes.
- The more brochures in a church, the less important each brochure becomes.
When you are overwhelmed, you don’t know how to move. When you simplify things, you make the next step obvious.
Copy expenses at Granger went from $12,000 in 2004, to $8,000 in 2005, to $4,800 in the first 9 months of 2006. During this time attendance continued to increase.
Granger Home Page Rules
- Can’t Scroll
- No more than 5 boxes/opportunities
Myth #3 - Advertising creates interest and reinforces the brand.
Advertising creates awareness. Awareness is not necessarily positive. People are aware of cancer, but they’re not lining up to get it.
Great experiences don’t contradict themselves, neither do great brands. Invest your energy in creating great experiences at every point of contact someone can have with your church.
Granger makes sure that all elements are consistent: series promotions, service experience, electronic media, print media, other media. They must all be consistent or each ministry/event will develop its own brand, or people will feel cheated and lied to.
Myth #4 - It worked before, so it will work again
Marketing Receptivity Study
- 70% of consumers are interested in products that enable them to block out advertising.
- 56% avoid buying products that overwhelm them with advertising.
- 33% are interested in choosing the marketing when it’s convenient for them.
People are struggling to figure out what will make the most difference. Why would they spend their time and attention on you?
Myth #5 - People care about what you have to say
People need inspiration, not information. What are you saying to inspire people?
We remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 40% of what we do, and 100 % of what we feel. Emotion is the on/off switch.
Find a way to speak respectfully to where people are and communicate to inspire them.
Granger did a series called “The 5 Most Irritating Things About Christians.” It worked because it met people where they were.
Session 2 - Best Practices
Know your audience. What is your focus audience? You need to know demographic and psychographic information. Know about them, but also know what they do, what they read, where they hang out.
- Call local TV & Radio stations.
- What’s popular in your community.
- Claritas.com - Free resources by zip code showing demographic and psychographic information
- Give them a place to speak candidly and anonymously.
- What is relevant to their life?
- Where is their comfort zone?
- Where do they spend their time?
- What do they hate?
- Go to where they are. Go to websites, concerts, read magazines.
Remove barriers to entry - identify distractions and either remove them or address them. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Look at your environment, signage, flow, registration. Don’t make people read tons of pages. Give them one option. What is your audience doing 5 minutes before they encounter your media?
Language - Don’t use church words:
- No Yes
- Intimacy Connections
- Fellowship Community
- Visitor Guest
- Ministry Team
- Recruit Invite
- Spiritual Maturity Growth
- Program Experience
- Need Opportunity
- Go Deeper Next Step
- Announcement Next Step or opportunity
Communications motto: Our goal is to simplify everything your audience sees or touches to make their life easier or more rewarding.
Session 3 - Building A Cohesive Strategy
It’s communications job to harness a message, clear the path, and give the message life.
Before you do something, ask questions.
- Is this a tool or is it just cool?
- What current problem is it solving?
- What is the return on ministry?
Get rid of individual ministry logos.
Delete clip art to maximize impact of what you say.
Is it appealing (context), engaging (presentation), and helpful (content).
Granger - All communications are run through the communications department to be proofed in a 24-hour turnaround. This ensures consistency.
If you have to say it, then you’re not. (We’re cool! We’re fun!) Just do it, and then let others talk about it.
Granger - Worship bulletin is their first impression piece. They give info on church in membership class.
Granger - Bulletin on Sunday and weekly e-newsletter. All communication drives people to the website.
How do you know if you’re getting through?
- What stories do you hear?
- What is attendance like?
Granger Communications Workshop - Kem Meyer
Session 1 - Are People Letting You In Or Shutting You Out?
Worldview - bias that affects the story we tell ourselves to make it easier to live in a complicated world.
Frame - the words, images and interactions that reinforce (or speak respectively to) a bias someone is already feeling. In other words, how you wrap your message so that it communicates to a bias.
Story - how you live out your promise. If you’re authentic the details will line up and the contradictions disappear.
Good communicators do not try to change worldviews, they simply identify the worldview and then frame a story around it.
5 Marketing Myths
Myth #1 - You are in control
Average people are good at ignoring you. They have too much to look at. They have a different P.O.V. than you do.
Your content does not create interest. Worldview and first impressions create interest.
Seth Godin says that there are 3 types of listeners:
Visual - Decide if they are interested based off of the logo and feel of the media.
Readers - Decide if they are interested based off of the text.
Financial - Decide if they are interested based off of the cost.
Myth #2 - The more choices the better.
USA Today: Too many choices has negative consequences, regardless of the generation.
- Boomers get overwhelmed and shut down.
- GenXers labor over whether or not they’re making right decisions.
- GenYers just ignore you and move on.
Less is not more. More is less.
- The more elements on a page, the less important each element becomes.
- The more announcements from the platform, the less important each announcement becomes.
- The more brochures in a church, the less important each brochure becomes.
When you are overwhelmed, you don’t know how to move. When you simplify things, you make the next step obvious.
Copy expenses at Granger went from $12,000 in 2004, to $8,000 in 2005, to $4,800 in the first 9 months of 2006. During this time attendance continued to increase.
Granger Home Page Rules
- Can’t Scroll
- No more than 5 boxes/opportunities
Myth #3 - Advertising creates interest and reinforces the brand.
Advertising creates awareness. Awareness is not necessarily positive. People are aware of cancer, but they’re not lining up to get it.
Great experiences don’t contradict themselves, neither do great brands. Invest your energy in creating great experiences at every point of contact someone can have with your church.
Granger makes sure that all elements are consistent: series promotions, service experience, electronic media, print media, other media. They must all be consistent or each ministry/event will develop its own brand, or people will feel cheated and lied to.
Myth #4 - It worked before, so it will work again
Marketing Receptivity Study
- 70% of consumers are interested in products that enable them to block out advertising.
- 56% avoid buying products that overwhelm them with advertising.
- 33% are interested in choosing the marketing when it’s convenient for them.
People are struggling to figure out what will make the most difference. Why would they spend their time and attention on you?
Myth #5 - People care about what you have to say
People need inspiration, not information. What are you saying to inspire people?
We remember 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 40% of what we do, and 100 % of what we feel. Emotion is the on/off switch.
Find a way to speak respectfully to where people are and communicate to inspire them.
Granger did a series called “The 5 Most Irritating Things About Christians.” It worked because it met people where they were.
Session 2 - Best Practices
Know your audience. What is your focus audience? You need to know demographic and psychographic information. Know about them, but also know what they do, what they read, where they hang out.
- Call local TV & Radio stations.
- What’s popular in your community.
- Claritas.com - Free resources by zip code showing demographic and psychographic information
- Give them a place to speak candidly and anonymously.
- What is relevant to their life?
- Where is their comfort zone?
- Where do they spend their time?
- What do they hate?
- Go to where they are. Go to websites, concerts, read magazines.
Remove barriers to entry - identify distractions and either remove them or address them. Don’t be afraid to laugh at yourself. Look at your environment, signage, flow, registration. Don’t make people read tons of pages. Give them one option. What is your audience doing 5 minutes before they encounter your media?
Language - Don’t use church words:
- No Yes
- Intimacy Connections
- Fellowship Community
- Visitor Guest
- Ministry Team
- Recruit Invite
- Spiritual Maturity Growth
- Program Experience
- Need Opportunity
- Go Deeper Next Step
- Announcement Next Step or opportunity
Communications motto: Our goal is to simplify everything your audience sees or touches to make their life easier or more rewarding.
Session 3 - Building A Cohesive Strategy
It’s communications job to harness a message, clear the path, and give the message life.
Before you do something, ask questions.
- Is this a tool or is it just cool?
- What current problem is it solving?
- What is the return on ministry?
Get rid of individual ministry logos.
Delete clip art to maximize impact of what you say.
Is it appealing (context), engaging (presentation), and helpful (content).
Granger - All communications are run through the communications department to be proofed in a 24-hour turnaround. This ensures consistency.
If you have to say it, then you’re not. (We’re cool! We’re fun!) Just do it, and then let others talk about it.
Granger - Worship bulletin is their first impression piece. They give info on church in membership class.
Granger - Bulletin on Sunday and weekly e-newsletter. All communication drives people to the website.
How do you know if you’re getting through?
- What stories do you hear?
- What is attendance like?
4.26.2007
Crucible Improvements
The only thing I know that I want to change for next year's Crucible is to divide up the debrief of each characteristic between the other leaders. I normally say something and then invite the other leaders to share, but I think it would be better if we divided them up beforehand and had them prepare something short (like 5 minutes or something). JM
Crucible Recap
Man, Crucible was awesome again this year. Crucible is our 8th grade guys rite of passage event. We spend 7 weeks covering what we say are the 7 attributes of manhood: faith, responsibility, integrity, faithfulness, courage, self-control, and care and protection for the weak and unlovely. They are basically just modified versions of Rick Bundschuh's characteristics that he gives in Passed Thru Fire.
So we have a week of devotions for each characteristic, then a lesson on it, then they memorize a verse from the story and they memorize the definition of the characteristic. We also make them read a book. This year it was In A Pit. We test them every week and track their progress.
They don't have to have any percentage done to go on the weekend retreat, but in order to participate in the Saturday night initiation ceremony, they must have it all completed.
The weekend was awesome. I was worried that I wouldn't connect as well with these guys as I have in year's past, but this event really provides plenty of opportunities to do that. It's got a camping, military, prison feel to it. Basically it's all high stress, high expectation situations. We have an activity for each characteristic where the students are challenged to demonstrate their understanding of the characteristic. We don't tip our hand on the front end, but rahter put them through the activity, observe their behavior, and then debrief it afterwards.
The coolest part is on Saturday night we have an initiation ceremony. The students dad's come out, and we all eat dinner together. Then we have a prayer service where the student explains the characteristics to his dad, prays for himself, and then his dad prays for him. At the end, our senior pastor prays with each of the students.
Then we go outside and we give the dads the opportunity to symbolically recognize their son as a man. It's an awesome, emotional, spiritual time.
I love it, and the students respons so well to it. JM
So we have a week of devotions for each characteristic, then a lesson on it, then they memorize a verse from the story and they memorize the definition of the characteristic. We also make them read a book. This year it was In A Pit. We test them every week and track their progress.
They don't have to have any percentage done to go on the weekend retreat, but in order to participate in the Saturday night initiation ceremony, they must have it all completed.
The weekend was awesome. I was worried that I wouldn't connect as well with these guys as I have in year's past, but this event really provides plenty of opportunities to do that. It's got a camping, military, prison feel to it. Basically it's all high stress, high expectation situations. We have an activity for each characteristic where the students are challenged to demonstrate their understanding of the characteristic. We don't tip our hand on the front end, but rahter put them through the activity, observe their behavior, and then debrief it afterwards.
The coolest part is on Saturday night we have an initiation ceremony. The students dad's come out, and we all eat dinner together. Then we have a prayer service where the student explains the characteristics to his dad, prays for himself, and then his dad prays for him. At the end, our senior pastor prays with each of the students.
Then we go outside and we give the dads the opportunity to symbolically recognize their son as a man. It's an awesome, emotional, spiritual time.
I love it, and the students respons so well to it. JM
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