There’s this girl that I like, and I she used to like me, but then she didn’t, and now maybe she does again. We’ll she seems really great, and always said she liked me, but I’m a really screwed up guy, so this surprises me A LOT!

We are different. She’s an extrovert, I’m an introvert. She loves people and talking, me, not so much. I like to read, she doesn’t. I’m shy, she’s outgoing. I’m a nerd, she’s not.

Can this work? Any married folks have input on this? How different can you be and still make it work? What differences are deal breakers? What are the necessary ingredients for a good marriage?

“WHOA, marriage? You just met the girl!”
OK, I know. I’m evaluating her for marriage. If it won’t work, it’s not worth pursuing. Is this the wrong attitude?

I’m not a big global warming guy. Despite all the evidence, it still seems fishy to me. But this video really grabs my interest. I immediately went to 350.org when it was done.

Why?

Is it because there were no words? Is it because it was all graphics? Is it because the animation was so fun, good and compelling? Is it because there’s an element of getting everyone together and creating a buzz, creating a social movement? Is it because they propose a measurable goal?

I don’t know, but it’s a compelling video. Is it compelling to you? Why?

Thnku redemptiovox.

So, I was supposed to move into the van July 1st. But I’ve been super busy lately, and hanging out with some friends (or a friend) past midnight a lot.

So I chickened out and haven’t moved into the van yet. I’m staying one more week at my house and then the van.

But, I did tint the windows last week. Here’s picture of the beauty (and a picture of how messy it is in the back!)

So, I ordered that software from Craigslist, the guy never sent it. I called and called, emailed, he would never get back to me, it was a VERY VERY shady situation. I would call every day, multiple times a day, I was very angry. I would leave messages, not nasty ones - I kept my cool - but sometimes I stressed the need for him to call me back, or send my package.

It’s been about 3 weeks I think (that post I wrote came-up a week after I actually ordered it) - maybe a month. So I gave-up. I think I called once in the last week, and sent an email.

Well, today, I got this reply:

Denotation = the literal definition of a word. Cool = slightly cold in temperature.
Connotation = the common or cultural meaning of a word, or the feelings that come along with the word. Cool = hip, or “agreed.”

What causes the connotation of a word to differ from the denotation? In your opinion?

Continue reading ‘Where Do Connotations Come From?’

= awesome.

Ben Arment, paid me a HUGE compliment on his blog the other day. Coincidentally, the next day, LifeChurch featured Ben’s blog on their blog saying how awesome he is - so maybe I’ll get some name recognition from that. Really, he is way too kind and I’m totally humbled and encouraged by his compliments. But I’m going to link to it anyway, I’m proud, what can I say?

Also, I have a new blog - this blog is just a shadow of things to come, my practice run. I hope to have a much cooler theme (not up yet) and much cooler posts at http://www.churchology.org or http://www.churchinnovation.com . In the future, but not yet … soon.

thank you for reading.

I AM INSANELY CRAZY ABOUT THIS POST.

I LOVE WHAT Cornerstone Simi is doing, and I think their project REEKS! of biblicalness and good stewardship.

Instead of building a $50 Million building, they’re saving money, building a park and amphitheatre, interacting with their community, giving away a lot of their money to help people. And they’re influencing a lot of other churches, too. I think this is very, VERY, VERY biblical and wonderful (as you know, if you’ve read my other posts!) and I am beyond fired up about it! Continue reading ‘Francis’ Crazy Building Project’

Street evangelism is interesting. It totally doesn’t work in the US (although I think it sometimes does), but there are evangelical groups that insist on doing it, and believe that the very low rate of return is because the world’s heart is hard.

While the world’s heart may be hard, trying to reach people using street evangelism is almost impossible - because of an interesting phenomenon recognized in psychology, branding, and cognitive science disciplines - basically it’s stereotyping.

It’s not that people don’t want to hear the gospel, it’s that the method being used to communicate it is psychologically impossible for them to receive. Does that make sense? The message may be great, and if it were communicated in another way, it may get across, but there is such a negative stereotype of the street evangelism method that noone is open to it.

This is a similar deal with telemarketing. Is it possible that companies are calling me to give me a good deal, to let me know about a product or service that I want? Yes, it’s very possible. However, because telemarketing has such a negative perception by people (for good reason, right?) - noone likes calls from telemarketers. They hang-up in the telemarketer’s face (I’ve done Christian telemarketing for an AWESOME brand, Catalyst, and it still happens!).

So, telemarketing is a good example. Most of us consider it “impossible” that telemarketers have anything good to tell us. Some of us stick through the call, but we still believe that it’s a waste of our time, and nonsense. This is how street evangelism is perceived (mostly). So, not only do people not get to hear the message, they become “immunized” against the gospel - their negative experience with the gospel via Street Evang makes them resistant to the gospel in other forms, even from friends and stuff.

SO, to sum up, I believe that because of the, now, very negative public attitude toward street evangelism, we should stop employing that tactic for communicating the gospel, as, I believe, it is actually digging us deeper in the hole - not because it’s a wrong tactic, but it’s made wrong by the fact that it’s now 95% repulsive to non-Christians. It worked for Jesus and Paul’s day, but our culture is repulsed by it.

I feel we should focus on engaging outsiders, loving them and sharing with them across a bridge of friendship.

I feel like Christians are messed-up, we’re getting it wrong, I think part of the solution is rethinking how we’re doing church. Not everyone agrees with me on this - it seems like people think we’re doing okay. Here’s a video from Scott Hodge that may change their minds.

I did something sketchy. I’m a perenially trusting person. I never lock my car or my house (partly b/c I’ve locked myself out so many times, but still). I grew up with mom never locking the cars or house (mostly). I’ve only had one thing stolen (I think) and it was my backpack out of an open window in my car - it had nothing valuable except a book or two for school.

Also, I pick-up hitchhikers (sketchy ones) and take them miles and miles out of the way. Anyway, so I’m trusting.

But I did something sketchy today. I need a copy of Adobe Creative Suite 3 cuz I’m an undiscovered graphic design genius, and I’m losing my job soon, so I want to do freelance (for Pepsi, and MTV and folks like that) - so I need CS3. And where do you find things that you need? THE INTERNET! Where on the internet? CRAIGSLIST (if you don’t know craigslist, slap yourself right now and don’t come back to my blog. JK - check out craigslist.org).

So I went on Craigslist to find CS3. I’ve done this before. Lots of shady people on there selling illegal versions for real cheap. I’m a Christian, so I don’t steal software ;P So I’m looking for the legal versions … not many. But there is this one that sounds too good to be true. CS3 Master edition, unopened, unused, comes with like a bunch of “how to” CDs and a couple books, $350! … $350! - I think it retails at $2,000. So I jump on it.

Turns out the guy is in Pennsylvania. He claimed on craigslist that he had cuz he’s moving and he needs money. So why doesn’t he just sell in PA? He says there’s no market up there. He says he travels around the US a lot - so why would he need money? $350? why not sell it for $500? he claims he got an extra copy from his boss so he doesn’t need this one.

Anyway, so he wants me to go to walmart and send him a money gram. He emailed me photos of the product, a scan of his driver’s license, scan of a filled-out FedEx packing slip and some other nonsense. How do I know that’s his license? How do I know he’ll send it?

Well, as the title says, I went to WalMart and wired him $380 ($30 extra b/c I felt like $350 was too much of a deal) - in total it costs $402 - $22 for the service.

Here’s the kicker. When you send a moneygram, you get an 8 digit code that you give the other person to pick it up. He offered to let me keep the code until I receive the package. I gave it to him anyway. I felt bad and untrusting to not give hime the code (though I told hime several, several times that I thought this was sketchy and asked for proof). So … I hope I recieve (which is it “ie” or “ei”?) - my package soon. If not, I’m an idiot. If so, I’m a daring genius! who just saved a ton of money!

Have you ever done a sketchy thing like this? Share your story!