Did everyone catch the live streaming U2 rose bowl concert? They should be rebroadcasting it here soon. I got a ton of hits from people searching for song lyrics and meanings. There’s so much great stuff in One, but did you ever notice the lyrics in this verse?
It’s too late tonight to drag the past out into the lights
Besides being profound and rhyming, every line here starts with a different variant of the sound 2… yet the song is called One… intriguing eh?
This is a great song and video by Dan le Sac vs Scroobius Pip. I love the radiohead sampling in particular. If you can’t quite catch all the lyrics you can find them here.
It seems I still haven’t been able to shake my love/hate relationship with speaking and preaching. I’m definitely my worst critic, but I feel bad when it leaks into the critique of others sometimes.
Some people speak just to say something (the blabbers),
And as the saying goes, some people speak because they have something to say (which is nice)
Some people have something to say, but it’s irrelevant to who they’re speaking to (the guy with the megaphone on the street)
Some people speak just to be heard (folks with passion and great stuff to say, but rush through it thinking that getting it off their chest will make a difference)
And then there’s people who speak to transform (and they leave a mark on your soul you can’t seem to get rid of)
I try to be the last. It doesn’t always work out, but I’m committed to the art.
If sharing Christ is a matter of communicating information, then Christians are in a lot of trouble.
It still boggles my mind that pastors can spend 30+ hours preparing for to articulate a half hour message each week.
I’m positive that no one wants to die simply knowing a lot of stuff, yet so many of us (Christians in particular) seem to often live as if we do. * Note the amount of money and time we spend on conferences, books, and other information acquiring vehicles.
Chris Anderson argues in his latest book “Free” that the future of business is free with the costs of a vast array of products rapidly declining to zero. In particular he cites how “information wants to be free”. You can get the book free here.
And information is free today. At least any insight that involves connecting to the Living God. The gospel ‘message’ is a google search away from just about anyone in the west. Whether they care to know is a whole different story.
I think what people desire today is formation, not information. Information is the easier option to deliver and receive. It can also easily deceive us into thinking we’re accumulating building-blocks to a stronger faith and life, when we’re not.
Information is a piece of the puzzle, but we’re doing ourselves, and others, a disservice when we’re fire-hosing data.
I often read the Scriptures scriptures and wonder if the people in ancient times had some other type of DNA allowing them to simply hear and believe, or discover and act. Or, maybe those we could respond the same today as well, if we weren’t so inundated with information.
What would your faith gathering look like if it didn’t center around the transmission of information?
Wifi was severely limited Limited at the conference so no live blogging – plus I didn’t bring my laptop around with me for the first time in my life… the iPod touch did just fine.
This isn’t really a recap, I can’t sum up my thoughts well at the moment, other than it was very good.
Two images that stuck with me… below is the bucket of cash collected for a pastor who was fired in the middle of the conference – just for attending it.
This is a biking video that was shown that I think depicts the beauty that can be created with just about any art-form taken seriously, including preaching.
A seminar for teachers, preachers, speakers, leaders and pastors serious about reclaiming the art of the sermon.
I’m really not big on conferences at all. But I’ll be at this one.
I’ve got someone looking to share half a ticket with (one registration gets two people in). Let me know ASAP if you’ve got one or know of someone with one.
My cheap cell phone plan doesn’t work in the States – but I’ll try to get some online access if possible. Contact or twitter me if you’re in the area. Would love to connect with some real people while I’m there.
Here’s a taste of what’s on the schedule:
The Original Guerilla Theatre (Rob Bell) The Story We’re Telling (Rob Bell) Returning to the New: An Introduction to Tranformance Art (Peter Rollins) How Technology Shapes the Sermon (Shane Hipps) The Fig and the Failure of Language (Rob Bell) Fumbling Around with Your Radar (Rob Bell) For Those With Ears to Hear: Parables and the Lost Art of Provocation (Peter Rollins) You are the Medium (Shane Hipps) The One Thing I’ve Never Heard Someone Talk About That Has Changed Everything For Me (Rob Bell)
Update: I think our ticket situation is taken care of thanks to the glory of twitter. You can also follow the twitter hashtag #ppp09 to follow along as well.
I participated in Government 2.0 online last year, but just got around to going through this talk by Mark Surman of Mozilla. He offers a great primer on technology and how the open source movement relates to civic engagement. My favorite insight was towards the end where he states that if people actually thought that the government was listening, they would actually jump aboard and get involved.
I wonder how many people we leave disengaged, because they don’t think we actually care enough to hear them out and do something about what they have to offer?
This was a thought provoking discussion, worth your time listening in. Peter Rollins will also be sharing at the Poets, Prophets, Preachers gathering I’m stoked to be at. (btw, I know the emergent term has been pulled through the gutter lately, but I’m also influenced by hardcore reformed fundies like Mark Driscoll and Tim Keller… does that absolve me?)
