Thursday, August 30, 2007

"RockStar"


Let's compare the following two songs, one from a Christian perspective, and one...not so much...but, are they really that different?

"Rock Star"
Third Day

Seeing my face up on the TV
Hearing my songs on the radio
People waiting all day in line to see me
Doing my pose for Rolling Stone
Well it's all right, yeah it's all right

I wanna be a rock star
But I ain't got what it takes
Well the drive and the determination
And the lucky breaks
I wanna be a rock star
But I ain't got the face
Yes and I wanna be a rock star
But I ain't got what it takes

Living lifestyles of the rich and famous
Turning all heads in the music scene
Flying in my own jet plane to Vegas
Riding in a big black limousine
It's all right yeah it's all right

No I ain't got nothing
But to You I'm something
Something so much more
Well it's all right yeah it's all right
Said it's all right yeah it's all right


"Rockstar"
Nickelback

I'm through with standing in line
To clubs we'll never get in
It's like the bottom of the ninth
And I'm never gonna win
This life hasn't turned out
Quite the way I want it to be

(Tell me what you want)

I want a brand new house
On an episode of Cribs
And a bathroom I can play baseball in
And a king size tub big enough
For ten plus me

(So what you need?)

I'll need a credit card that's got no limit
And a big black jet with a bedroom in it
Gonna join the mile high club
At thirty-seven thousand feet

(Been there, done that)

I want a new tour bus full of old guitars
My own star on Hollywood Boulevard
Somewhere between Cher and
James Dean is fine for me

(So how you gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name

'Cause we all just wanna be big rockstars
And live in hilltop houses driving fifteen cars
The girls come easy and the drugs come cheap
We'll all stay skinny 'cause we just won't eat
And we'll hang out in the coolest bars
In the VIP with the movie stars
Every good gold digger's
Gonna wind up there
Every Playboy bunny
With her bleach blond hair

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar
Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I wanna be great like Elvis without the tassels
Hire eight body guards that love to beat up a**holes
Sign a couple autographs
So I can eat my meals for free

(I'll have the quesadilla, ha, ha)

I'm gonna dress my a**
With the latest fashion
Get a front door key to the Playboy mansion
Gonna date a centerfold that loves to
Blow my money for me

(So how you gonna do it?)

I'm gonna trade this life for fortune and fame
I'd even cut my hair and change my name

And we'll hide out in the private rooms
With the latest dictionary and today's who's who
They'll get you anything with that evil smile
Everybody's got a drug dealer on speed dial

Hey hey I wanna be a rockstar

I'm gonna sing those songs
That offend the censors
Gonna pop my pills from a pez dispenser

I'll get washed-up singers writing all my songs
Lip sync em every night so I don't get 'em wrong


Any thoughts?

Nate

Wednesday, August 29, 2007

More Videos On The Web

Just an FYI, we've added some more NHC videos to the web. Check them out Here.

Nate

Conversing With The Unchurched

Tricia (my hot wife) and I have had two separate opportunities to have God-centered conversations with some unchurched people in the last few days. This is good for me, because it's been something I've been asking God for (opportunities) lately...the only way it seems these conversations happen when you're fulltime church staff is when you're incredibly intentional about finding them.

The first was with a woman named Dianne. We met Dianne through an unfortunate circumstance...good friends of hers were vacationing on the OBX last week when the husband suddenly died, leaving the wife all alone and 7 hours from home. Dianne was in need of a ride to the OBX to be a friend and help the wife home, and through some very clearly God-orchestrated situations, we were able to give Dianne a lift. We spent most of the 6 hour trip talking, and spent much of that time talking about NHC and the stuff that we get to be a part of here on the beach as well as Tricia’s upcoming double lung transplant...from that part of our conversation, Dianne asked us about our faith. If I remember her correctly, her basic initial question was, “As a Christian, do you believe that you faith is the only way to get to God, and why?”

What a great question, and certainly one that, from my experience, is one of the first questions being asked by those who are seeking. This question gave Tricia and I a completely open door to share our personal God stories.

The second opportunity that God gave us also came completely unexpected. Tricia and I are helping to organize a Great Strides Walk for Cystic Fibrosis that will be taking place in just a few weeks. Back in January, when we first began on this particular journey, a local newspaper reporter, Paul became interested in our efforts and wrote a story about Tricia and our walk. Through the grapevine, Paul heard about Tricia’s upcoming surgery and contacted us this past Monday asking for another interview for another article. We immediately drove to the newspaper office, along with Sophia, our CFF Special Events Coordinator and spent about 45 minutes explaining the upcoming surgery and giving updated details about the walk. Through a series of questions, we were able to share how our “positive attitude” is simply a result of our faith in God. Both Paul and Sophia and anyone else within earshot heard about what God has done and is doing for us, as well as about what God will do for us no matter what happens to Tricia in the coming months.

So, basically, thanks, God, for giving us these opportunities. We pray that you were pleased and that those we spoke with this week will remember what we said and that you will use it for Your glory.

Nate

PS. I’ll work on getting a link for the newspaper article, which came out this morning.

Monday, August 27, 2007

Something Good About Us

Imagine that...

Jeremy Keegan

Nate

Friday, August 24, 2007

Hair Cut

Before

After

I get about 1-2 haircuts a year, so this is a big deal...



Nate

Monday, August 20, 2007

My Pastor Blogs About Worship!


Check out what My Pastor is saying about his experience with God during this past Sunday's worship services.

Nate

Sunday, August 19, 2007

New Blog on My List


Check out Gary Lamb. I especially like his "Sunday Night Mind Dump" posts. Good stuff!

Nate

Untimely Amens


I traveled with Light Ministries while I was a student at Liberty University. I was a vocalist and the road manager for two years (repectively) for the band. We traveled most weekends during the school year to local churches up and down the east coast. Most of the churches we traveled to were smaller, SBC churches, and one of our favorite things to do was to keep track of what we called "untimely amens." If you've ever spent much time in a traditional church, especially a southern church, you'll know exactly what I'm talking about. Somebody says something with zero spiritual significance from the stage (I know, I know, everything can have some spiritual significance...but you know what I mean), and somebody in the congregation let's out a robust "AMEN!" We would actually write many of these untimely amens down, and the best of them became inside jokes with our team.

While most churches have a few good untimely ameners, ours does not, so when we do get an untimely amen on rare occasion, it's a pretty big deal, at least to me. This morning, we had one of the best untimely amens I've ever heard. My pastor was talking about growing up around the pig farms of our great state of North Carolina (I honestly can't remember why he was talking about this...), when he made the following statement; "There's nothing that smells quite like a pig pen on a North Carolina summer day." A woman (a guest, and I'm assuming a Christian because I can't remember the last time I heard an unchurched person let out any kind of amen in our church...which makes me feel OK about sharing this story because I don't mind making fun of other Christians) sitting right near the middle of the worship center, about 3 rows in front of me (which means it must have been fairly loud, and I know that others heard it and also made note) expressed her holy agreement with, "AMEN!"

Anyway, I just thought I'd share...feel free to share your own untimely amen stories.

Nate

Saturday, August 18, 2007

First Impressions #1: The "bible" of Greeting Teams


(Before reading this post and jumping in on the conversation, please check out the explanation of the First Imressions Series I posted on Read Here First! on July 10, 2007...it will help you understand a little more. Thanks!)

First Impressions: Creating Wow Experiences In Your Church is the best resource for creating and growing a greeting team ministry. The top reasons for reading this book yesterday...

> "Before the message has been given or the songs have been sung, your guests have formed opinions of your church based on their first impressions."
> "I am a consumer. So are you. So is every individual who enters your church." Before people explore the claims of Christ, "they are shopping for a spiritual experience that addresses their personal needs."
>The other Christ-centered churches in town are not your competition. "Your competition, the rival that will keep people away from your church, is any business, service, or experience your guests have encountered in the past few weeks. The competition includes restaurants, malls, golf courses, and amusement parks...The competition for your guests began when they were wowed in another environment."
> "If our guests can't say, 'Wow! I'm impressed!' within their first ten minutes on campus, then we've failed."

Nate

Friday, August 17, 2007

WOW!

Check this out for some new inspiration for your acoustic guitarists...

Nate

Thursday, August 16, 2007

Good Blog (not mine)

Check out Shaun Groves latest post...good stuff.

Nate

Wednesday, August 15, 2007

Definitions


In order to make our conversations on this blog a little easier, here are some of my personal definitions of some of the words you may see me use on my blog.

"Purpose" - I use this word to refer to the meaning of existence of a certain something. For examples, the purpose of my truck is, "Getting me safely, reliably and quickly from Point A to Point B." The purpose of my church is, "Reaching people to discover life in Christ." While many use "purpose" and "mission" interchangeably, I do not.

"Mission" - I usually use this word to describe an action that involves living out The Great Commission of the Christian life as found in Matt. 28: 18-20. My basic definition for this word is, “Anything a believer(s) does to serve an unbeliever in the name of Christ.” Mission usually takes place outside the walls of the church.

“Missional” – I use this word to describe a person, church, etc. that is living out The Great Commission.

“Ministry” – My basic definition for this word is, “Anything a believer(s) does to serve another believer in the name of Christ.” Ministry often (but not exclusively) takes place in the walls of a church or in another “Christian” setting such as a Bible Study or Small Group.

“Worship” – I use this word to describe any thought, action, behavior, etc. that brings glory to God. My basic definition for this word is, “Worship is our response, both personal and corporate, to God – for Who He is! And what He has done! Expressed in and by the things we say and the way we live.”

"Unchurched" - I use this word as an synonym for "unbelievers", "seekers", "the lost", "pre-Christians" or whatever else you want to use for people who don't know God.

I’ll add to this list as questions come up. Thanks!

Nate

Our Church Media #1: "The Pastors (Simpsons Style)" Video

(Before reading this post and jumping in on the conversation, please check out the explanation of the Our Church Media Series I posted on Read Here First! on July 10, 2007...it will help you understand a little more. Thanks!)

Thanks to SimsonizeMe!, we have a fun new way to introduce our pastors!

Nate

Tuesday, August 14, 2007

Discussion #4: Churches Need Customer Service















(Before reading this post and jumping in on the conversation, please check out the explanation of the Discussion Series I posted on Read Here First! on July 10, 2007...it will help you understand a little more. Thanks!)

(The following is taken word for word from an article my wife and I recently came acrros in The Herald Sun)

I suggest that churches declare August “Customer Service Month.”

This is the time to train the many people who carry out the critical customer-care functions that have more impact on congregational health than excellence in the pulpit or grandeur of structure.

Like it or not, modern church are like banks and hardware stores. Their “products,” if you will, are commodities; widely available, similar from one vender to the next, set apart mainly by the quality of customer care.

For many years, churches have tried to escape competition by claiming to be the only true expression of God’s truth and desire. That works for some – who wouldn’t want to think oneself superior? – but increasingly, churchgoers are behaving like shoppers who have choices, and they float freely from brand to brand.

Church leaders can bemoan such fickleness and intensify their claims of supremacy. But if they want to have a future as Christian communities, churches need to learn from reality, not denounce it as beneath them.

We could learn from Chase Bank, our family’s new banking home. Like any modern enterprise, Chase has an excellent Web site and up-to-date services. But what sets Chase apart, in my view as a customer, are the highly trained customer service agents posted just inside the front door of every branch.

They do more than say, “Take a seat over there.” They are trained to engage the customer, answer questions, resolve issues, handle transactions and find the right person for further assistance.

Imagine a similar cadre of customer service reps positioned inside the church door. Imagine them trained to do more than hand out a bulletin or point toward a coffee urn. Instead, they would engage both visitor and member and respond appropriately to their different needs.

Imagine another cadre trained to respond to people after worship. Instead of a long line hoping for 10 seconds of the pastor’s time, imagine people trained in the delicate craft of identifying need, helping people talk to each other and gathering information for pastoral follow-up.

The wise enterprise learns that technology does some things well, but not all things. At Chase, I can transfer funds and pay bills in a few mouse clicks. But when it comes to personal questions, I want a live person, not a lazy “Frequently Asked Questions” Web page.

Imagine, then, a church telephone that is answered by a person, not a machine, and a Web site that facilitates certain transactions like paying pledges and posting schedules, but invites personal email inquiries for other needs.

Imagine church procedures that respond to visitors immediately, not after someone happens to recognize them several weeks later, and that provide reliable attention to pastoral cues, rather than depending on the pastor’s memory and networking.

There are trainable skills. Sunday greeters, for example, can be more than nice people wearing “Greeter” badges. They can be trained in the psychodynamics of being a church visitor and of coming to church mid- or post-crisis. The can prepare for questions and unusual circumstances. We ought to take church work as seriously as we take banking. We ought to think through our systems, especially for customer care, and train people to do it right.

(Tom Ehrich is a writer, church consultant and Episcopal priest. His Web site is www.morningwalkmedia.com)

Monday, August 13, 2007

Discussion #3: The Purpose of Your Sunday Morning Worship Service

(Before reading this post and jumping in on the conversation, please check out the explanation of the Discussion Series I posted on Read Here First! on July 10, 2007...it will help you understand a little more. Thanks!)

This topic was inspired by a question and discussion posted on worshiptogether.com as well as a Paul Baloche "Modern Worship" DVD I recently watched for the first time.

What is the purpose of your Sunday Morning Worship Service/Gathering?
Have you thought this through as a church leader?
Have you thought this through with the rest of your church leaders (pastors, team leaders, etc.)?
Why have you chosen your specific purpose (meaning, based on what?)?
How do you effectively communicate this with your church members? Regular attenders? First-time guests?

I don't have time to post my answers right now, but I'll get to them later tonight if I can.

Nate

Thursday, August 9, 2007

Music Videos #1: August 5, 2007

(Before reading this post and jumping in on the conversation, please check out the explanation of the Music Video Series I posted on Read Here First! on July 10, 2007...it will help you understand a little more. Thanks!)

Here is video of our entire setlist from this past Sunday as posted on youtube.com. We set the camera up last minute because our missionaries from France who are in town wanted to take some video of us back home to show their band/church. Quality's not the greatest, and you'll here our last-minute camera-man Buddy singing slightly off-pitch in the background a few times, but whatever... I was glad that we recorded this because we had several comment that this was an awesome Sunday. This video is actually of our second service, although I thought that the first service was a little more "with it". ;) Enjoy!

Nate


Made To Worship


All To You


From The Inside Out


One Pure And Holy Passion


Let The Praises Ring