Tweet off...

I started a Twitter account back in 2007. That was before it was even cool. I tweeted once and left it alone. But now I'm back and I need your help.

Josh and I decided to create a competition to see who could gain the most followers on Twitter by mid-June. The loser has to do something stupid. I'd rather that I was not the loser.

All I'm asking of you is to sign into Twitter and follow me. If you do, I promise to follow you in a completely unstalking fashion. Deal?

If I sound pathetic asking you to do this, then you need to know that Josh got his mom to sign up for an account to start following him.

If you're on Twitter, just look for knotter.

Book # 16...

Mad Church Disease
Anne Jackson

I'm starting a new list of books that must be read every year and this one is going on the list. As someone who has experienced countless sleepless nights and even an occasional panic attack, I'm well aware of some of the burnout that can come from working for a church.

I'm also thankful that I haven't been wiped completely off the map by it. But to stay that way I need to take some precautions.

This book will not only be a wake up call for many in ministry, but I think it will save lives.

If you are in ministry, do yourself a favor and go buy the book. Seriously. Do it.

The "other" voices...

Two things dawned on me lately that I'm not particularly proud of.

One is that even though I like to think I'm a half decent communicator, I'm finding that I still have a long way to go to become a better communicator with the 3 other people closest to me. So that's one area that I need to key in on. It's a work in progress that I'm trying to sort out.

Second, I have found that I have surrounded myself with a lot of input by 30-40 year old Caucasian males (mostly from the US). I'm sure there is some societal explanation for this that I will never understand, or attempt to understand, but I am unnerved that it is there nonetheless.

I heard Rick Warren speak this last week about how we need to learn from everyone. I'll spare you the details of the interview for now, but suffice it to say that it gets me thinking.

Who do I learn from?

What books am I quick to buy and read?

What podcasts and speakers am I quick to listen to?

Needless to say, I need to start listening to some new (and in some cases "older") voices. So here's what I've done, or am doing:

• Read "Mad Church Disease" by Anne Jackson.
• Attended a seminar and picked up a book by Margaret Feinberg
• Picked up "Orthodoxy" by G.K. Chesterton
  

I know there's more to be done, but at least it's a start.

So, what "other" voices are feeding into your life?

Catalystic review (not)...

A few of you were probably fast enough on the blogging front to catch a couple blog posts I made from my cell while I was away at Catalyst this week. Nothing really exciting, except maybe for the photo of what I ate while at Fuddruckers in Burbank.

At some point this week I hope to do an official summary of the week, which I must say was great.

I also have some reading updates to do, a few books to give away, and a few other randomocities.

Hope I see you around this week.

Weekend update...

Wow, I'm becoming a blog slacker.

Wondering what I'm up to? I'm not too sure myself some days. But here are the big two:

• Watching playoff hockey.
• Watching football (EPL, FA Cup, Champions League)

And here's a little video for your viewing pleasure.

Book #15...

10 Dumb Things Smart Christians Believe
Larry Osborne

I'm participating in a blog tour for this book next week, so I'll save my thoughts for then. I'll also be giving away a couple free copies of the book in case you don't want to buy your own, so you might want to stay tuned if you like free stuff.

Starting the week at 4:00am...

Our friends Ryan (former intern) & Lauren were staying with us this past week and I offered to drive them into Vancouver this morning so they could catch their flight. Not 10 minutes into our drive we witness 2 people jogging. Who on earth jogs at 4:25am on a Monday? Or on any day for that matter?

I was back home by 6:30ish, but instead of heading back to bed I opted to do some video editing and catch up on some reading.

But the couch is looking more and more appealing as time passes.

And if I go back to bed I am worried that I will not wake again until tomorrow. And I have things I need to do today.

So...

It's Easter. What are you up to?

Thursday afternoons...

I had a crappy night at youth last night. It was one of those occasions where it seems like little is going right. Everything from the setup to the worship to the message seemed to be off. And I have no explanation for it. I was more prepared than usual, and yet I was completely out of sync.

In order to not get caught up in the "woe is me" mentality, I have decided that I shall try to focus on the things that bring me joy on these cloudy Thursday afternoons.

The guacamole video from 2 weeks ago is still changing lives. Swarley Swift has "entered" the world. We have friends camping out with us. I'm a couple of weeks away from a California trip. And I finally have new glasses that are not disintegrating (sorry Nathan & Peter, but I couldn't go for the matching specs like you).

And since you have hopefully already shared in the joy that is the guacamole video, I will now present you with Swarley Swift's video debut:


Swarley Swift (The Medley) from knotter on Vimeo.

Book #14...

Starving Jesus
Craig Gross & J.R. Mahon

It seems like everything I'm reading lately tends to challenge me in the same areas. And since the theme of this book tends to be about getting "out of the pew", it's once again fitting as some of the topics in the book (Bible reading, outreach, fasting) are things that have been popping up in other areas of my own thought life.

In the last couple of weeks I feel myself being pushed to make some changes. Things cannot stay the same. I don't mean to be cryptic, but I haven't been able to flesh anything out yet. I just know that it's there.

As for the rest of this book, it is a combination of Craig's thoughts, mixed with J.R.'s stories, and interspersed with scripture. While the book doesn't detail the entire 40 day journey they took on their Starving Jesus Tour back in 2006, it does give some of the background into what led up to the journey, as well as highlighting some of the more noteworthy moments in their travels.

Mostly, I'm just thankful for the push.

Catching up...

The week in review:

• Started a new teaching series for our students called Coffeehouse Theology. We based the idea on the book of the same name that I'm currently working my way through.
• Almost had a drunk homeless man take a swing at me 10 minutes after hugging me for finding him a way to stay out of the rain.
  
• The Habs have really turned things around and I'd like to think they could really make some progress in the post season if things keep clicking.
  
• Welcomed home some friends from their YWAM trip with a spaghetti supper. It's great to share some laughs and reconnect after not seeing them for so many months.
• Trying to buy some guitar pedals. I've got my eye on a few Craigslist leads, but we'll see if things work out.
• Watched my son completely break down in tears when he lost most of his money in last night's Monopoly game to his mom. To be honest, I almost cried 30 minutes earlier when she took all my money too.
• Where was Becca during the game? Washing the dishes. Sure, if I was her boss I would have fired her for not actually cleaning anything. But hey, she wanted to do it. You can't say no to that, right?
• Watched Liverpool score in the final minutes their game which keeps the pressure on United to keep winning. No more slip ups.
• Hung out with the soccer boys today and had a BBQ. I like these guys, and while I can get frustrated with our lack of skill at times, I do like hanging out with these guys.