Facebook

Facebook is Great!

Although I've never used My Space and have nothing to compare Facebook to, I can tell you it is the greatest social utility tool available [got that straight from the Facebook main page]. Not only can you keep up with old friends and make new friends, you can add all sorts of applications [apps, for those of us already involved in the Facebook community] to make your Facebook page unique. On my Facebook page, you can race me in Speed Racer or challenge me to a game of Scrabulous. Unfortunately, for me, I've never received any "flair", but I have thrown my share of sheep and groundhogs at my friends. I've also drawn graffiti on other people’s pages and I really enjoy writing on their walls.

However, this is not an advertisement for Facebook, nor is it a shameless plug to encourage you to add me to your friends list [you can access me through Facebook by searching for scootroc59@aol.com]. Instead, this post is about my favorite Facebook feature... the "What are you doing now?" question.

The "What are you doing now?" question appears directly below your name at the top of the page. This by-line lets the Facebooker tell other Facebookers what his or her mood is for the day, what he or she is thinking, or any other random thought [I usually use it to shamelessly plug this sight, livingunrestricted.blogspot.com]. This is my favorite feature because it's the one I mess with the most. I usually write something extremely silly and see what kind of reaction I get. It's exhilarating!

But the truth is we can control what others see of our emotions on Facebook. We can candy coat the "What are you doing right now?" answer to make it seem that we are fine when we really might not be fine. We can say we are disturbed when we might not be disturbed. We can say we are emotionally exhausted, when in fact we are just looking for someone to give us attention. Basically, the "What are you doing right now?" question isn't a fair question [which is why I generally write a silly response to it].

We all have a Facebook account. It might not be online, but it is with God. He knows everything about us... how we're feeling, what our emotions are, what we are doing right now... everything. Psalms 139:1-6 (NCV) explains it like this:

1 Lord, you have examined me and know all about me. 2 You know when I sit down and when I get up. You know my thoughts before I think them. 3 You know where I go and where I lie down. You know thoroughly everything I do. 4 Lord, even before I say a word, you already know it. 5 You are all around me - in front and in back - and have put your hand on me. 6 Your knowledge is amazing to me; it is more than I can understand.


Our Lifebook is spilled out for God to see. We can’t hide anything from God… He see’s it all. In my own life I’ve spent too much time trying to cover my tracks so as to please God after I have let Him down and not enough time just living a life that makes God smile. He see’s it all… why not live in a way that makes Him proud.

So, if God asks you the, “What are you doing now” question what can you say? Can you say you are, “Living to excite God”, or would you have to say, “I’m just covering my tracks today and waiting on tomorrow”. I hope… no, I pray that you are living to excite God. I pray that every day you wake up you realize the potential of the day and the awesome opportunity you have to bring joy to the One who created you. Will you pray that for me too? It’s easy to get caught up in the rut of everyday life. Lets make it a point to praise God even in the ordinary, because He can do extraordinary with even the ordinary.

In a few days I plan to post about Risky Business. I hope it will help shed even more light on living a life that makes God proud.

The Credit

I’m a weirdo.
If you’ve read any of my posts on here you’ve probably already determined that, and if it helps you see things in a different light that’s A-OK with me. You see, God created me this way.

On the other hand, maybe you’ve read some of what I’m writing and think, “Wow, I can really connect with what this guy is writing”, that’s okay too. It just means we’re in like company and you’re probably a weirdo too. [Just kidding. I mean, I think being weird is pretty cool myself.]

Either way, my prayer is that God is reaching you through what you find here, and God deserves the credit.

I am the type of person that is fueled by statements – both positive and negative. Before my wife and I were married we took the “Five Love Languages” course by Gary Chapman. If you’ve never taken this course or read the book, let me recommend it. It helps you understand how you hear “I love you” and how your spouse hears “I love you”. Sometimes just saying the words isn’t enough, you have to speak in their love language. My wife’s language is “action”. I show her I love her when I help put up clothes, help with the dishes, etc. [sorry baby, it’s not that I don’t love you, I do – I promise I do… it’s that you have a lazy husband]. Coincidentally, my love language is “praise”. When you tell me that I’ve done a good job you’re in effect saying [to me anyway] “I love you”. [So, to anyone who has thought and said that my hair looked nice or that I’ve lost weight, thank you… I love you too – but in a Biblical way. I’m taken and my wife and I are happily married.]

But for real, when I hear a statement about myself it’s like my drug. I strive to do better the next time, always trying for more of that drug. I know what you may be thinking, “Everyone wants to hear good things about themselves”. True. But some people hear it and let it go while I dwell on it. Positive statements fuel me, negative statements drain me, but either way statements affect me.

Since I’ve been writing this blog I’ve received some really great statements, and I really appreciate them all. It’s those statements that fuel my desire to continue. It’s those statements that let me know that you’re reading and that the blog is reaching. Your statements are important because they help me gauge what is written. But the recognition for this stuff has to go to God. He’s the one that designed me this way, and He deserves all the credit for that. You can continue to give me feedback if you like and I’ll be careful to pass that along to the One that deserves it. You can pass it along too if you’d like. I would appreciate that.

You see, I’m writing this because it is affecting me right now. I would love to post something new every night. However, if you’ve noticed, in the past few weeks I’ve slowed down considerably. I think it is because I was taking some of the credit for the things I’m writing. It’s not that I just haven’t posted anything – everything about this experience has slowed down… ideas, concepts, perceptions, everything – except desire. The desire to write is a pressing but the ability has diminished, and I think it is because I started taking some of the positive statements from the readers and made them my own. But they’re not mine, they’re Gods. It’s as if I heard God say, “Un uh Scoot [God calls me Scoot], I designed you with this talent so I could receive the glory. You can go on getting the praise if you like, but it’s gonna be harder to do when you do it on your own”. I don’t want to take God’s praise. I want to give Him the credit!

God created all of us with gifts and talents designed to praise Him. My question to you is, “are you using your talent?” If you are, great! Are you giving God the glory for what it produces? I hope so. While God designs us with the abilities (talents, gifts) to make things happen, it isn’t complete without Him. God is the missing ingredient that brings it all together. The Apostle Paul reminded his friends in Ephesus of this,

14For this reason I kneel before the Father, 15from whom his whole family in heaven and on earth derives its name. 16I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, 17so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, 18may have power, together with all the saints, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ, 19and to know this love that surpasses knowledge--that you may be filled to the measure of all the fullness of God. 20Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, 21to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen. (Ephesians 3:14-20 NIV)

So, I’m a weirdo for God. God has blessed me with a unique ability to see things from another angle [take for instance “Throwing up on God” or “Jon Bon Jovi Rocks or my Synopsis of the Life of the Apostle Paul in the Book of Acts”], and I’m okay with that. I’m excited if you like what you’re reading. It helps me know that God is using me to reach others. To God be the glory!

Quotables

You cannot follow Jesus and remain the same.
- Erwin McManus

Then he said to the crowd, "If any of you wants to be my follower, you must put aside your selfish ambition, shoulder your cross daily, and follow me.
- Jesus
Luke 9:23 NLT

SF: Church Marketing

A few years ago the youth group I was leading decided to sell car tags to the congregation of our church as a fundraiser. The white, plastic tags were printed with the church’s name, service times, and a cute little catch phrase that I can’t even remember now.

The problem with the car tags was that they
1.) Didn’t attract new people to church
2.) Didn’t encourage new visitors to come back.

So, I started thinking… what wound make someone come back to a church after a first visit – which prompted me to write this handy list of items to help with church hospitality/marketing. Here are some things that I think would help bring new and first time visitors back to the church.

1. Commemorative Photo
A few years ago my wife and I along with another couple took a weekend trip to Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. We had a great time [thanks for asking]. While we were there we had the opportunity to go to Dolly Partons’s Dixie Stampede. At the “Stampede” [as us in the know call it], the first thing you do is get your picture taken by the Stampede photographer. I was confused at first, until about 45 minutes into the production when a nice lady walked up and showed us the print. Seems they sell these photos to their guest so they can remember the great time they had as a visitor to the Stampede. For only $21.95 we could have [catch that… could have] owned a photo that we could put in the back of our wedding pictures [because we look at them so often] to remind us of the great time at the Stampede.

Now, while I may sound a little sarcastic, don’t you think it would be a great idea for new visitors? You could have a faux podium set up in the welcome center that would serve as the centerpiece of your commemorative photo. Right before the choir comes in a representative from the church could find the visitor, welcome them, and offer an opportunity to purchase an item that would help them remember the first time they came to Suchandsuch Church.
The proceeds, of course, would go to the building fund.

2. Screen Printing
Nothing says advertisement like printed clothing. Everyone has a shirt with something printed on it; in fact, I buy shirts that have fake business names printed on them. Why? Because they make me feel trendy and hip [I’m not sure what trendy and hip are – that’s why I need the shirts].

Now, we’ve all seen church names on shirts too. That’s been done. My idea is to print the church name, address and service times across the backside of jeans and pants. I’m not sure why it is, but if there is writing there people look. They might as well be invited to church at the same time, right?


3.) Tomato Soup
My wife and I recently visited a church that gave us a nice welcoming gift. It was a coffee mug with a pack of hot chocolate, candy and welcome note from the pastor in it. It was all wrapped up and pretty and let us know that we were important.

My idea is to give out a can of tomato soup to first time guest. Nothing says you’re important like a generous serving of lycopene. Plus, whenever that person goes to the cabinet to make dinner and sees the can-o-soup they can say, “hey, there’s that can of tomato soup that Suchandsuch Church gave me. I should go there again this week!” Or, when they are in the grocery store they might say, “Here’s the tomato soup isle. WOW, I really need to join Suchandsuch Church and get involved there.”
Trust me, NO ONE will forget your church if you hand out cans of tomato soup to first time guests!

~~~~

Okay, I know what you’re thinking… these ideas are great! Well, as welcome as you are to trying them at your church, it is important to remember that ministry done with excellence is what attracts and keeps new guests and long time members.

Are you serving in your church? Are you serving with excellence?

Jon Bon Jovi Rocks or My Synopsis of the Life of Paul in the Book of Acts

When I was a teenager I hung out with some pretty rockin’ people… one of which was Jon Bon Jovi. Okay, I’ve never met Jon Bon Jovi, but my first really cool rockstar cassette was Bon Jovi’s Slippery When Wet album that came out around 1986 when I was eleven years old. Listening to it made me instantly cool.
Now that I’m 33 [and much cooler] I can see the similarities between Jon Bon Jovi was and the Apostle Paul. I mean, you can see how Jon Bon Jovi and the Apostle Paul are similar right? A few connections would be:

- Both had/have very interesting lifestyles
- Both have gone on “tour”
- Both had really cool long hair

Okay, so the long hair part isn’t true.

But for real [in a weird kind of way], I think it is concievable that the titles to the songs on Jon Bon’s album Slippery When Wet was a Rockumentary [if you will] of the life of Paul as described in the book of Acts. Explain you ask… certainly.

Below is the Slippery When Wet track list. You decide for yourself.

Let It Rock (7:58, 14:19)
Isn’t it a little two coincadental that the first time we hear about Paul (at that time Saul) he is involved the stoning of Stephen, and then once he gets into his ministry full force he is stoned himself. And I don’t mean stoned like rock stars get stoned, if you catch my drift.

You Give Love a Bad Name (9:1)
Lets face it, before Paul was Paul and he was Saul he gave love a bad name. A very bad name. And, since love is such an important message of Paul’s ministry, I think he fully understood “what love has to do, has to do with it”… [sorry, wrong artist, different blog].

Living on a Prayer
Once Paul began his Christian ministry [because he did have that non-Christian ministry that didn’t work out for him after he was on his way to Damascus], I think it is safe to say that Paul was living on a prayer. I mean, he was beaten, arrested, chased, stoned, homeless, in a boat wreck, etc. At least he had prayer!

Social Disease (14:19)
I’m not sure what the Social Disease was. It was either Paul’s view or his opposition’s view. Either way, it seemed that everywhere Paul went he had a bunch of “bizarro groupies” following him and turning the people against him as if he had a social disease.

Wanted Dead or Alive (23:21)
More like dead. The Jews had enough of Paul and his talk about Jesus, so they planned on ambushing him and putting him to death. They believed the only way to stop him was to eliminate him; however, they could never seem to accomplish their goals.

Raise Your Hands (16:26-34)
I have to believe that when Paul and Silas were in prison and the earthquake shook them loose, they had to raise their hands in praise. I also have to beieve that once the jailer heard that all the prisoners were still there he had to raise his hands. I also have to believe that the jailer and his whole house accepted Christ, they all raised their hands.

Without Love
Paul was undoubtedly Addicted to Love [wait, that’s Robert Palmer, not Bon Jovi]. Throughout all of Paul’s writings love is a central theme; therefore, I think it is safe to say that Paul understood the concept that Jesus died for our sins because of love, and Without Love we wouldn’t be offered Salvation.

I'd Die for You (21:13)
Paul was willing to die for his beliefs, in part I believe because he understood the sacrifice that Christ made on the cross. He knew that message must be shared no matter the cost. [When did this concept change?]

Never Say Goodbye (20:22 & 25, 21:6)
Goodbye’s are always hard, especially if you never see that person again. Paul knew that prison and hardships were on the way. I believe he didn’t want to say goodbye, but he knew that soon it would be “bye for good”.

Wild in the Streets (28:30-31)
Acts ends with Paul in home arrest. The book ends like this:
30For two whole years Paul stayed there in his own rented house and welcomed all who came to see him. 31Boldly and without hindrance he preached the kingdom of God and taught about the Lord Jesus Christ.
I can imagine that there were some folks that were wild in the streets about the love of Jesus.

And we all thought rock music would distort our brains!

The Bible Experiement

Okay. About four months ago I bought a new truck.

Well, it's not actually new... it's a 1987 Dodge Ram 50. I bought it for $100. I've put a little work into it and it runs, but it is nothing spectacular. It is just a truck. I call him M&M (Mini Masterpiece) and I'm quite proud of him. He is a welcome addition to our family.

The biggest problem with M&M right now is that he is missing a portion of the back window. It has (had) one of those really cool slider back window's, but the middle was busted out for some reason or another before I purchased it. Needless to say, locking my truck does little to no good. Which brings me to my next point...

About seven years ago I took the youth group I was leading at the time on a mission trip to Spartenburg, South Carolina. We spent the week in a homeless shelter cooking meals and making friends. Before we left for Spartenburg I went to Sam's Club and bought a Rainbow Study Bible with the full intent of giving it away if I found someone who needed it. Apparently, I didn't find anyone that needed it on that trip because I still have it.

So, to tie these two themes together I have come up with what I will call The Bible Experiement.

The Bible Experiment is simple: I have a truck that stays unlocked all day long with the windows down, no matter where I go. I also have a Bible that I want to give to someone in need. Are you catching my drift? The Bible Experiment is to simply place my Bible on the drivers seat of my truck and "hope" someone gets it.

I know, I know, this sounds ludicrous. Here's the catch... I'm going to leave a note in the Bible. Here is what it will say:
_________________
Hello,

First let me say thank you for taking this Bible. You may think you stole it, but in all actuality you didn't. I left it here for you because I knew you needed it. It is free to you because I want you to know about Salvation. Salvation was free to me, and Salvation is free to you as well, if you will accept it.

Secondly, I'd like the opportunity to share more with you about how your life is important and how God has a purpose for you. My phone number is ___-___-____. Please call me anytime. I won't turn you in or call the officials. After all, I gave you the Bible, you haven't stolen anything from me.

I do have one request. If you decide not to read this Bible, please don't throw it away. All I ask is that you pass it onto someone else with this letter intact so that if you don't feel like finding your purpose then maybe the next person will.

I hope you enjoy this book. It will truly change your life if you allow it.

Sincerily,
SA
________________

Crazy? I know. But it is an intentional way to spread God's word.

Now, I have a request of you. I may never meet my "thief", and that is okay. All I ask of you is to pray that this Bible changes the life of the one who recieves it.

I will post any new developments when they take place.

Quatoables

1Be imitators of God, therefore, as dearly loved children 2and live a life of love, just as Christ loved us and gave himself up for us as a fragrant offering and sacrifice to God.
- Apostle Paul
(Ephesians 5:1-2)

33b ... any of you who does not give up everything he has cannot be my disciple.
- Jesus
(Luke 14:33)