Open it up, and... where's all the people?
Well, studies suggest that they're all online. I'm amazed at the number of my pastor friends who question the relevance of social media, web presence and blogging. Read these numbers.
Where are the people, pastor?
Welcome to Interactive Sermon remixed.
Come on in. Take a look around. Kick the tires.
You'll find that the remixed version of Interactive Sermon is simpler. Simpler in design and simpler in navigation. You'll find that it's friendlier. Friendlier to read and friendlier to interact through comments, borrowing, favoriting and tweeting. You'll find it's refocused. Refocused where content is concerned to be more meaningful and resourceful. Gone is the clutter. Here is the remix.
You may have noticed the more streamlined list of categories. Let me give you a primer: Behind the Scenes will take you... well, behind the scenes of my life and ministry. Big Buts speaks for itself. Chapter & Verse are bible study and theology posts. Christ's Church is where you'll find CCA related material. Church & Culture covers the missional and not-so-missional. Darin Michael Shaw--hey that's me! In this category you'll find segments of my attempts at writing and art. Did you see that? is a humor and whacky news items category. Hot Topix is what's buzzing in conversation. Inner Geek is my "I am a tech wannabe" channel. Scariest of all, World Inside My Head is... um, proceed with caution.
Part of the remix isn't visible to the naked eye. In refitting the blog I've also made some (here I go with that Inner Geek stuff) programming tweaks to make the page more efficient, to better connect with others of my social media and blogging endeavors, to improve Interactive Sermon's SEO, and to set the table for future features. Too much information?
Please allow me then to sum it all up. It's really all about one thing: I am so very thankful to YOU for sharing this journey with me since 2005. I look forward to many more miles together. Blessings to you this New Year!
Fifty-two months worth of blogging; fourteen-hundred-thirty-two posts; eighteen-hundred comments; one-hundred-four-thousand-three-hundred-forty-seven blog visits--and only one overhaul during that time (that in April of 2007).
It's time.
Blogging has changed. So have you. So have I. Interactive Sermon Remix debuts January 2nd.
A new look ~ Simple.
A new approach ~ Simpler.
A new decade ~ Simply Interactive.
Thank you for sharing the journey with me.
Three weeks ago I added Droid to my technology stable. Yes, me, the guy who has lived by the mantra "telephones are for calling people" went robotic. I could blame it on my brother Dave. At our last family get-together he was teasing me, "You? With all your blogs and writing and Twitter and... What? You carry a cell phone to call people?" You'd have thought I was still sporting a 1980s mullet or something.
I also blame in on Motorola's advertising. The Droid commercials caught my attention. "Oh, you mean like R2D2?"
But in the end, it was my desire to maximize AND minimize that finally drove me Droid. It's been three weeks. I'm SOLD!
Here are my favorite FREE apps so far:
Twidroid ~ A Twitter app that allows me to choose how I'm informed, what I'm informed about, and who I'm informed about. It also allows me to post, search, follow and find, as well as offering up all the normal Twitter functions--@, D, and RT, etc. While I like this app and am somewhat satisfied with it, I'm hearing that Seesmic has an app out there, and as much as I've liked their functionality on my PC, I plan on trying them out on the Droid soon. I'll let you know.
Facebook for Android ~ The Facebook app... functional but not the wow factor. Again, Seesmic may be my future here, too.
Pandora ~ Internet Radio via Pandora is awesome. I've set up my channels and love them. As I type this I'm listening to a Nat King Cole holiday music channel. YES! Of course, the Droid allows me to run Pandora in the background while many other apps are open simultaneously, so music is my companion throughout the day. (Try that with your iPhone Dave. Wait... you wearing a mullet?)
MyPOD ~ I've selected MyPod as my podcast player. It's a new app for me (just a few days old). So far I love it's functionality. I've organized the podcasts I subscribe to, as well as having search features I can use--I'll be adding more, soon. What a great thing! (By the way, in setting up MyPod I noticed the stats on my Historical Fiction podcast Chronicles of War--up over 4000 subscribers. WOW! I better get back to producing more episodes soon.)
Andread ~ This is a RSS Feed reader for Android. Pretty basic. I loved it initially, but have noticed a couple of quirks just today. I'm still getting to know this app. The idea, however, of gathering blog RSS feeds (and other feeds) in the Droid for convenience and sorting is a welcome tool for me. In addition to writing a flock of blogs, I regularly view dozens of them. Remember--maximize AND minimize.
Aldiko ~ This is one of many eReader apps available. I tried it first because it was listed as "five stars" among users. No complaints so far. I've added a small library of books and I've used this app a few times when I've been caught in a waiting room or holding pattern. It's making me rethink my desire to purchase a reading device like Kindle or Sony Reader. I might just hold off on that purchase if I can get more use out of Droid in this manner. Time will tell. I hear many ePublishing companies are developing apps. I may give a few more a test drive. Will keep you informed.
Action Complete ~ This is a task planning and personal managing app. I've utilized it so far in organizing my daughter's college application process. It's been useful. The jury is still out on whether I would get regular use out of such an app. And, I about freaked when I was driving down the road and heard a British woman's voice say "You have work to do!" Took me a minute to realize it was Action Complete talking to me. Thought at first I was hearing voices.
Google Maps, Google Street View, Google Earth and GPS ~ Utilizing the Google OS, I have all the navigation I could ever imagine needing. So far I've used Google Maps a dozen or so times to find my way out of holiday traffic jams, and I've used the GPS twice. I give both high praise.
Key Ring ~ I haven't had luck with this app yet, although a friend of mine swears by it. You're supposed to be able to add all your "keys" into your phone and flash them at the cash register scanners in stores to avoid carrying all those discount cards in your wallet or on your key ring. I've only got two of those anyhow. And I tried one at Stop and Shop. Didn't read it. One of these days I'll play with it to see if I set it up wrong. But in the meantime... maximize AND minimize... going back over the set up isn't high on my priority list.
Movies ~ Times, locations, viewing trailers, prices, ticket ordering and more all in one... awesome. Where has this been all my life?
Barcode Scanner ~ This app allows me to scan barcodes in a store and have a product description, details, and even competitive pricing displayed in the blink of an eye. Awesome when I'm in one of those "we match our competitor's pricing" situations. "You will? Well, my robot tells me that Target sells this thing for a dollar less than your price!"
Bible ~ By Lifechurch, A ton of versions, really every one you could ever imagine using, as well as notation possibilities (preachers like this). I couldn't be happier with it. I've used it a lot already.
I'll share more in the coming weeks. So, what technology finds can you recommend that are helping you maximize AND minimize?
You know that for months I've been attacking the way in which technology has been stealing minutes (read 'hours') from my life. I've been committed to maximizing the benefits while minimizing the intrusion that blogs, social networking and virtual community in my own life. I've blogged about personal browsers and filters that I've employed on my computer (and now on my cell phone). I've blogged about techniques I've employed, like re-categorizing folks in my virtual/social circles and even--gasp!--de-friending people. And while I think that I'm presently in control of it all, I realize that I teeter on the precipice. The animal is ferocious.
(I plan to keep sharing about my strategies, what works for me and what doesn't, as I go.)
At the same time, I observe. I watch those I live with, those I'm close to, and those who Facebook calls my "friends." I'm concerned. I watch the frequency of posts, the ridiculous nature of posts, and the time consumed and I scratch my head. It's especially concerning when I think I know a little more about the broader situation--a friend of mine in Florida, for instance, has been out of work for months and yet apparently has hours a day to be taking quizzes and playing games on Facebook. He's an expert in Mafia Wars and Farmville but last I checked those activities don't pay the bills.
The pastor in me is concerned also. I have seen an upturn in marital difficulties related to the internet in the last few years. I'm not just talking about pornography--I'm talking about husbands and wives who are seeing a decline in intimacy and closeness in their relationship for their involvements in internet contact, be it Facebook or Classmates.com or whatever. Not to mention the time spent.
Here is an article I found thought provoking. Give it a read. Take the addiction test if you want. I did. I'll tell you my score in a later post. What's yours? What do you think? What, if any, strategies are you employing to maximize and minimize? Or is this all a bunch of hooey in your opinion?
In my continuing effort to maximize and minimize through technology--to keep up with all the blogs, social media and latest apps for this and that--I've taken the plunge I had previously resisted. I'll let you know how it goes. For now, just this...
Look out world.
Just about the time I get the social media monster under control, Facebook goes and changes things on me. Again. I've seen more than a fair share of my "friends" complaining about the latest changes to the news feed and wall functions. But wait!
These changes may actually work for the better!
Here's a link to a site that explains how you can use these new changes to your advantage. After a bit of playing around, I'm sold. I've concluded that this Facebook change helps. Give this link a look: http://thefacebookinsider.com/2009/10/how-to-set-your-facebook-news-feed-and-wall-settings/ and you may just be on your way to agreeing with me.
...the new #shortstorytweet
Why would anyone undertake writing a short story 140 characters at a time? Why not? It is a Twitter world.
FACES is an unfolding story. It will be created in those 140 characters daily. In other words, it's not a complete story that I have broken into short segments to tweet. What you read today is as far as the story has gone... today. The story will evolve. I hope. I've started with a man. He has a face. We'll see where it takes us.
I am going to attempt to add at least one 140 character tweet per day to the story. Some days I might do more. Perhaps one day I'll add a few, and on another day I'll not post--law of averages, you'll see about one addition a day. You can follow along in one of three ways. You can sign up for Twitter and FOLLOW ME! (See how self serving an author wannabe I am?) If you do that you'll receive the tweets. Or, if you can search Twitter hashtags using #shortstorytweet and keep up to date. Or, finally, you could simply go to the #shortstorytweet page of my writing site here. It is there, by the way, where I will continue to compile all the 140 character segments, so that people can read it all sequentially should you miss a tweet along the way.
Church Websites ~ You have heard by now of the re-launch of Christ's Church's website this past weekend. I am really very happy with the look and the functionality of it. We're continuing to look for more creative ways to connect with and engage people and to communicate through our website. We're continuing to look for ways to make our website more of a resource. In the redesign (and as we continue to make ongoing tweaks) I'm visiting a number of other church websites. I found a few I liked. I found far more that look terrible to me. Here are my pet-peeves:
1) Church websites that are filled with stock-photos of people, rather than real representations of their congregation. You spot them quickly--the picture that has a couple of white folks, a black woman and an Asian man, all dressed in clothing from The Gap, and all gathered around a bible, laughing and singing KumBa-Yah. Yep, that's our congregation, all right! In this day of digital photography, why would any congregation not put real pictures of real people on their sites? Makes you wonder, doesn't it?
2) Church sites that have out-dated calendar entries or events throughout their pages. This is actually one of the reasons we've redesigned our site--to be able to better communicate in real time. Here's my observation: For every four church sites I visited, three of them have had outdated info prominently displayed. I know that there are too few hours in the day to think about updating the site--but if people aren't going to keep dated info current, there's always this option: Don't put any dated info on the site in the first place! Now, there's an idea.
3) Dead links. We, as the church, preach life. Our websites, however, are littered with dead links. Again, for every handful I visited, I would estimate half of them had links that went nowhere, to sites or pages that no longer existed. Gotta love those Internet Explorer error pages: "Sorry, the site you've tried to visit DOESN'T EXIST!" Just like the church to be giving antiquated direction, eh?
4) Under Construction & Coming Soon messages abound! It's true, the majority of church sites I viewed had pages and links that led to some form of a message saying that more info was coming soon. The absolute worst of them have a little "Construction Zone" sign. Why is the page / tab / hyperlink even there if you don't have content? UUUUuuuggggGGHHHH! (Sorry, getting worked up.) Think bio page links that read "Pastor Tim's bio coming soon." Six months later you revisit and it says "Pastor Tim's bio coming soon." Six months later you visit and it says...
5) Billboard / flyer / yellow-pages look-a-like sites that offer no ways to interact also disappoint me. You know what I'm talking about. These are the pages that offer a list of service times, the aforementioned stock photo of an ethnically diverse bible study, and a button you can click to learn about the pastor--that leads you to another billboard / flyer / yellow-pages ad looking bio page, complete with a... "Coming Soon" message. I think that many churches construct a website for the purpose of saying "we have a website" rather than truly trying to connect and serve folks who would visit. And, I think churches are missing a great vehicle for doing so.
Honorable Mention: Church sites that are littered with words spelled incorrectly or grammatical errors. Now, everyone makes mistakes, and an occasional 'your' where a 'you're' should be is going to happen. But what I am talking about is simply neglect. I went to a church site this week that had the word church spelled chruch... four times on one page. I saw another that had the aforementioned 'your' in several core value statements that should have read 'you're.' The same site used 'then' in several places that should have read 'than.' Don't even get me started on sites where there are subject and verb disagreement! People: Spell check. Grammar check. Proofread. Edit.
Here are some closing thoughts: The Christ's Church site is averaging well over 300 page views a day. Most of the people who visit CCA tell us that they visited our website before they visited a Sunday service.
I'm reminded of the Contemporary Christian music scene of the early 1980s. I liked the CCM of the day, but was very aware that the Christian music scene was a step behind the rest of the music world--the style and quality of talent, equipment and technology utilized was ten years behind the times. If you were a music lover then, you will recall exactly what I'm talking about--somebody say Amen! Oh, and do you remember when the church got in on the 'electric drum' fad? Some still haven't got off that train. I rest my case. Point is: Church websites remind me of that "step behind the times" era. Not good.
What do you think?
Here's a few thought provoking reads that crossed my path in the last week or so. Check them out.
Brad Boydston's Top 10 Reasons the Church Planting Movement in North America is in Trouble. I found this very interesting for the many conversations I have with friends involved in church planting around the country. Makes you go 'hmmm.'
Thinklings take on Court Orders a Christian Child to Get a Secular Education. This one hits close to home, literally--it's here in New Hampshire. This story caught my interest because my wife was asked recently to provide a letter for a family involved in a similar dispute. A new way to drag the kids into the middle of an ugly divorce or separation--just what the world needed.
Michael Hyatt recently offered Rethinking My Facebook Strategy. Many of you recall my own musings on Facebook and social media over the last couple of months. Michael hits the nail right on the head (nails on the heads actually, as he makes several good points). Me thinks it's time to lose some more 'friends'.
What's this? Imagine That Dance is Amanda and Katie's new website. They're preparing to start another season of classes and now they've gone world-wide-web with it. Wow! Great job girls. I'm proud of you both!
And finally, this is just messed up. See for yourself. By the way, I think the Pirate Jack Sparrow (fifth from the top) looks more like Steven Tyler from Aerosmith. What do you think? My personal favorite is the Tatonka... is it lunchtime?
Stephen Ambrose: Undaunted Courage : Meriwether Lewis, Thomas Jefferson, and the Opening of the American West
A gift from my inlaws. Loving it!
Ariel Gore: Bluebird: Women and the New Psychology of Happiness
New book from one of my favorite writers.
David Crowder Band: Church Music
They've done it again.
Pink: I'm Not Dead
Gift from my daughter. Yeah!
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