Big Is The New Small

If I am being completely honest, the one thing that has shocked me since I have been in full-time vocational ministry, is the number of Men that come into my office to talk about their struggle with pornography.  Over the years, my naivety has turned into the harsh realization that pornography is a huge problem that’s plaguing the Christian community and society in general.  It’s great to see organizations like XXXChurch.com fight the good fight and help people who are struggling with this sin.  In the next couple of weeks, there will be an event help address this problem and provide solutions.

From May 23-28, LifeChurch.tv and XXXChurch.com present ThePornEvent.com, a 25-minute interactive experience focused on the real-life effects of pornography. ThePornEvent.com has two segments, one for men and one for women; more details and the schedule can be found at ThePornEvent.com.

During ThePornEvent.com we will examine the effect porn has on our lives and relationships, and look at next steps for those who are struggling. Expect a non-threatening environment featuring stories, helpful answers, and an open conversation with people who’ve traveled a similar path. ThePornEvent.com is for anyone who is interested in what it looks like to live a life beyond pornography.

Men’s Segment

During the men’s segment of ThePornEvent.com, we’ll take an honest look at how porn affects us as men, fathers, and husbands. Through stories, answers to common questions, and open conversation we will talk about the hope men can find in life beyond pornography.

Women’s Segment

During the women’s segment of ThePornEvent.com, we will talk about how porn affects us as women, mothers, and wives. Through stories, answers to common questions, and open conversation we will talk about the hope found beyond our personal struggles with porn and also how to support and care for family members that are dealing with sexual addiction.

Please spread the word about this event!

Why is pornography such a problem in the Christian Community?

I’m excited to announce my man @AndyKirk  is releasing his new album May 11th.  Andy was my Worship Pastor at the NW Oklahoma City Campus of LifeChurch.tv for over a year.  During his tenure at my campus he was able to share several of the songs that are on this album during our weekend worship experiences.  The amazing thing about Andy is that he’s a young guy with life experience beyond his years.  Not only is Andy a great vocalist and a gifted writer, his music is rich and Biblically accurate.  Everyone at the n-dub loved to worship to his tunes and I know each of you will as well.

Andy’s debut release Wake Up My Soul hits stores and iTunes on Tuesday May, 11th. The album title reflects his heart as he explains this way, “I hope to see God’s people awake from their slumber. Awaking from the numbing effect of culture and society, to the knowledge and revelation of who Christ is and what He can do through us. I’m truly humbled to see what God has done with a small seed of talent in my life, and I am eager to share these new songs of hope and surrender with the Church.” This ten song release includes “Wonderful Savior,” “Let Justice Ring,” “Falling In Love,” and more.

My personal favorites on this album are: You Are God, Healer (His Version), Wake Up My Soul, Remarkable & Falling In Love.  I could actually mention all of them as favorites.  For those of you that know me, know that I keep it real and don’t give lip service to something that I’m not fond of.  This cat is just good and he and his wife Elizabeth are a strong Christian Couple.  Go pick up his album on Tuesday and I guarantee you will like it.  His appeal ranges from my 7 & 10 yo sons, me & my wife, teenage girls, parents with teenage girls all the way to grandmas and grandpas.

I have 5 copies of his CD right here in my hand that I’m going to be giving away.  Everyone will have an opportunity to win and I will ship them tomorrow, which means you will have them in your hand before you can buy it.  Winning a copy of Wake Up My Soul is as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Leave a comment stating that you would like to win a copy, in your own words of course.  If you have a favorite song, please share.
2. Re-Tweet my tweet about winning a copy, or simply copy and paste this tweet info. to your Facebook status if your aren’t on Twitter.  If you don’t have Twitter or Facebook, simply leave a comment an we will pray for you to move into the new media generation.  :-)  Seriously leave a comment and let me know that you don’t have  either Facebook or Twitter.  Here is the tweet or you can simply find @scottwilliams on twitter and re-tweet it. Win A Copy of hot Up & Coming Christian Artist @andykirk’s new CD Wake Up My Soul B4 U Can Buy It: http://bit.ly/winandy
3. Go check out Andy’s website and sneak peaks of his songs here & leave him a comment: AndyKirk.tv

I will randomly draw 5 Names from those who complete steps 1-2-3 by 11:59 pm central time 5/7/10.  Good luck and share this info. with your friends.  10 hours to win an amazing album with 10 amazing tracks.  Ready, Set, Go!

I’m excited to announce a new Lead Pastor Announcement with the Vanderbloemen Search Group.  The Details are below:

Church- Crosspointe Church

Location- Norman, Oklahoma

Church Size- 1,400+

Cool Facts- 30 year Senior Pastor is retiring.  Crosspointe is healthy, respected in the community and lots of potential.  Norman, Oklahoma is a college town and home of the University of Oklahoma Sooners.

If you are interested or any have questions, please contact the Vanderbloemen Search Group here or submit your resume here.  All information/correspondence is held in confidence between you and the Vanderbloemen Search Group.  Should your church is interested in this type of search, feel free to contact me personally scott@vanderbloemensearch.com.

I remember the old days of growing up in Rural America, we called it “The Country.”  That might be a shock to many of you, but I have not been a city slicker all of my life.  I distinctly remember attending church in Rural America.  I don’t have these memories of being a child that was in awe of my church experience, as a matter of fact it was quite opposite.  I grew up believing that church in Rural America operated a certain way and that way was definitely different than church in the Big City.  It wasn’t a matter of thinking negative about church in Rural America, those were just the rules that my experiences and society had set.

My friend Shannon O’Dell breaks all of the rules about church in Rural America.  Shannon and his wife Cindy left my hometown of Oklahoma City and their church of 4k to accept a calling to Rural Arkansas to a town with a population of 88.  That’s what you call faith and obedience.  That’s also called breaking the rules.

Shannon decided to write a book to share his experiences and vision, the book’s title is quite fitting “Transforming Church in Rural America: Breaking All The Rurals.”  In Transforming Church in Rural America, Pastor Shannon O’Dell shares a powerful vision of relevance, possibility, and excellence for these small churches, or for any ministry that is stuck in a “rural state of mind.” The book reveals:

• How to generate growth through transformed lives
• ways to create active evangelism in your community
• no-cost solutions for staffing challenges, enhancing the worship experience, and inspiring volunteers

Focusing on vision, attitude, leadership, and innovation, you can learn the practical strategies and biblical guidance that helped to grow a church of 31 into a multi-campus church of several thousand, with a national and global outreach. Discover effective structure and ways to cast God-given vision so others can follow and make an impact. Experience the blueprint for transforming into effective, dynamic, and thriving churches – no matter where the location or how small it may be.  As someone who is on staff at LifeChurch.tv (The Most Innovative Church In America), I say Shannon’s insights and innovations are valuable for all ministry leaders.

I am breaking some Rules by giving away 100 Copies of Transforming Church In Rural America.  Here is how you get your free copy, it’s as easy as 1-2-3.

1. Leave a comment below in the comment section, stating that you would like a copy of this book in your own words of course.  Feel free to share why you would like to receive a copy.
2. Re-Tweet my tweet about winning a copy, or simply copy and paste this tweet info. to your Facebook status if your aren’t on Twitter.  If you don’t have Twitter or Facebook, simply leave a comment an we will pray for you to move into the new media generation.  :-)  Seriously leave a comment and let me know that you don’t have  either Facebook or Twitter.  Here is the tweet or you can simply find @scottwilliams  on twitter and re-tweet. || Giving away 100 FREE Copies of @shannonodell’s new book, Transforming Church In Rural America here: http://bit.ly/rurals
3. Click this link and fill in your information, so New Leaf Publishing Group can promptly get your FREE copy in the mail.

The 1st 50 People to do steps 1-2-3 will receive a copy, the 2nd 50 will be randomly selected from those who complete steps 1-2-3 by 11:59 pm central time 5/6/10.  Good luck and share this info. with your friends.  Ready, Set, Go!

I’m excited to announce that LifeChurch.tv is launching a new 9-month apprenticeship program for young leaders called LeadershipXP.   The program is designed to develop young leaders, dreamers and the world changer of tomorrow by providing them opportunities to work on the front-lines at LifeChurch.tv.    Individuals accepted into the program will have opportunities to immerse themselves in the LifeChurch.tv culture while being involved in this unique mentorship program.

LeadershipXP is not an internship, coaching network or cookie-cutter program. It’s a unique flavor of experiential learning via mentorship, serving, responsibility, leadership, freedom, and collaboration. It’s a lifestyle that develops character, leadership skills, spirituality, and emotional intelligence.

If you or someone that you know is interested, the requirements are as follows:

• Age: you must be 18-24 years old
• Time: you must commit to a 9-month experience
• Expense: you must pay the $3,250 investment (housing included)
• Location: you must agree to work at and live near one of LifeChurch.tv’s many locations

Deadline to apply is May 28.
LeadershipXP begins September 7.

To apply for LeadershipXP, or for more information click here.

It’s unfortunate that all of us from time time simply let days slip away without making the impact that we should.  I am amazed on a daily basis by the things that God has placed inside of me and the opportunities that He has placed before me.  It’s my responsibility and your responsibility to make those things happen and not let the days simply roll on by.  The Time Is Now.

The Time Is Now for you to make that little dream that you have a reality.  See it, Want it, Believe it and Do it!   Your dreams are your paint, the world is your canvas, your thinking is the brush to get it done and God makes it all good. dream BIG. think BIGGER.

Stop worrying about what people think and being plagued with the fear of failure.  Failure is only a mile marker on the road to success, it’s not your final destination.  You can do all things through Christ who gives you strength, seriously The Time Is Now! Don’t just count the days, make every day count.  The Time Is Now!

Write down what is stirring deep down inside of you.  Recognize that what’s stirring on the inside, needs to become a reality on the outside.  Get some accountability and go make it happen.  You have what it takes, God believes in you, it’s time to start believing in yourself.  The Time Is Now!

The Time Is Now!

In my opinion one of the most under-estimated leadership principles is The Forsaken Leadership Principle of BELIEVING.  That may sound like a novel concept; however the importance and implications are great.  To believe in something is to have faith, confidence and trust in something.  There is nothing more important for employees than having their supervisor to have faith, confidence and trust in them.

Sometimes organizations and leaders get into the habit of focusing on the negative.  They are quick to point out flaws, illustrate areas for correction and provide reason why so and so isn’t cutting the mustard.  Cutting the mustard is one idiom that doesn’t make a lot of sense.  With that being said, the lack of belief in employees or team members doesn’t make a lot of sense either.

Let’s use the recent NFL draft as an illustration.   Imagine an organization drafting a player, bringing them to camp, giving 15 reasons why they don’t cut the mustard and then eventually releasing them.  A better scenario would be to draft an individual, acknowledge they are now on your team, coach them in their areas of weakness, enhance their strengths and win as a team.

I don’t want to sound over-simplistic, but I truly believe that the lack of success for many team members boils down to the lack of belief from their coach.  If you have a team member who is struggling, believe in them and help them to get better.  The worse thing you can do to a quarterback who is throwing interceptions is to talk about the interceptions.  You coach em’ up and talk about the completions and touchdowns they’re going to throw when they get back on the field.

Theodore Roosevelt once said, “Believe you can and you are halfway there.”  I’ll take it a step further and say, “When your leader believes that you can and you start believing in yourself, you are three-quarters of the way there.”  For those of you that may have struggling team members who have been throwing a bunch of interceptions, don’t be so quick to kick them off of your team or sit them on the bench.  Coach em’ up and focus on the touchdowns that they are going to throw, knowing that their coach believes in them.  Believe in your people and they will believe in themselves, what a novel concept.

The Forsaken Leadership Principle of BELIEVING.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts and experiences.

Thou Shall Twitter In Church (This is new and improved version of a post that I had written a year ago; I re-worked it to be released last week over at Church Marketing Sucks)

Thou Shall Not Twitter in Church… Says Who!

I haven’t seen that anywhere in the Bible.  I have seen Twitter in the Bible “Like a swallow, like a crane, so I twitter…” Isaiah 38:14 NAS

In all seriousness, there are many people that believe that you shouldn’t Twitter in church.  As a pastor, I would say, “Get Your Tweet On!”  As a matter of fact, I say “Tweet and Tweet Often!”

Many times “church people” can look at particular methodology and technology as a negative thing.  Technology is basically neutral; it’s what you do with it that allows it to have positive or negative implications.  I know there are some varying opinions about texting and utilizing social media during church.  Personally, I use the YouVersion Bible app. on my iPhone during church and it has this great option of sharing scripture instantly with the Twitter World.Not only can you share scripture with YouVersion, but also any person sitting in any church service around the globe can share thoughts, points and notes from sermons as they are happening.

Today, we live in more shared world than ever as information access and people connectedness just happens.  The beauty of this world is that people can engage with God, engage with their pastor and share pieces of those engagement with the world, all at the same time.  There are entire real, living, breathing online church services where online congregants share information throughout their service.  These services are just as real and God encountering as a physical building.  Again, I say “Tweet and Tweet Often!”

Here are 5 Reasons To Twitter During Church:

1. You have the opportunity to be a real-time extension of your pastor’s voice while he/she is communicating God’s word. You and your pastor can do some tag team teaching while you are being fed all at the same time.
2. If the pastor shares something that moves you, inspires you or changes your life, there is a good chance it will have the same impact on the lives of some of your Twitter followers as well. Here is a tweet awhile back from Pastor Steven Furtick — “Preaching recently I noticed the crowd was too busy tweeting to verbally respond. Click clack is the new amen.”
3. When Jesus said: Go into all the world and preach the Gospel… “All The World” applies to the Internet world, as well as the Twitter World.  Do your part by going into all the Twitter World, tweeting the Good News.
4. You will have a stored database of your compelling thoughts and notes, from your favorite sermons.  Use a #hashtag to keep up with the information that you share.  We could even implement a universal Twitter In Church Hashtag.  There are some being used that are more comical in nature and/or being cross-used by different content.  I’m thinking #iTwic, iTwurch, #TweetInChurch or #TwitterInChurch… Any suggestions?
5. Many times people suffer from (SADD) Sermon Attention Deficit Disorder.  So instead of just wandering off into space, simply wander off into the space of the World Wide Web.  It’s better use of your time Twittering great thoughts, instead of drawing on the back of offering envelops.

Some people including pastors get upset and complain about these new age people being a distraction when they are using their mobile phone Bible and Twittering in Church.  I think doodling on the offering envelopes is more distracting… Hmm I have not seen a big push to remove those offering envelopes from the church.

Thou Shall Twitter In Church, Remember God’s Omnipresence applies to Twitter as well.  Get Your Tweet On!

What do you think about Twittering In Church?  Any Suggestions on the hashtag?

I previously shared a post entitled “7 Deadly Sins Of Twitter.”  This was a very popular post and one of the more prominent Deadly sins that I shared was Envy.  Many of the comments and Re-Tweets made reference to this particular Twitter Deadly Sin.

I thought I would un-pack Twitter Envy a little further with these 5 Signs Of Twitter Envy.  Remember: “Envy is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius, hard-work, success and the appearance of success…”

5 SIGNS Of TWITTER ENVY

1. Making Fun- IF you find yourself making fun of or talking about certain Tweeps.  Making statements like “He/She tweets the stupidest things, no one wants to hear that stuff.”  When your Twitter attention and time is spent making fun of or talking about other Tweeps then you probably have Twitter Envy.
2. I Should Have More Marbles Then They Do- If you find yourself always comparing marbles, I mean if you find yourself comparing the number of followers that you have, to the number of followers that other Tweeps have and thinking that you should have more, you probably have Twitter Envy.
3. Comparing Influence- If you find yourself making statements like “They would never have this much influence in real life, I bet they couldn’t lead their way out of a paper bag in my world, They are just trying to build their brand…”  You probably have Twitter Envy.  Remember- No matter the arena, influence is something that must be earned over time.
4. LOL & IOI- If you find yourself Laughing Out Loud (LOL) at what certain Tweeps are Tweeting and at the same time Irritated On The Inside (IOI) Then you probably have Twitter Envy.  That little sign of (IOI) could be a symptom that a bitter/envious root is festering below the surface.
5. D All of The Above- If you do any of the above, in addition to complaining about, talking about, questioning why certain Tweeps (Both Celebrity & Non-Celebrity) have a particular influence and you continue follow them…  There is a very good chance that you could be the poster child for Twitter Envy.

The amazing thing about Twitter and any form of Social Media that it’s an Influence Earned Society; in other-words influence must be earned.  Seth Godin eloquently outlines this principle in his book Tribes.  Reminder (Free Of Charge)- You don’t have to follow someone if you don’t want to!   Here is a prison video that I shot dealing with the deadly sin of Envy. If you experience or notice signs of Twitter Envy, feel free to use the hashtag #TE.

Love looks through a telescope and envy looks through a microscope.

What do you think?  Share your thoughts on these 5 Signs and add some additional to the list.

Hostage – Envy from Nick Jones on Vimeo.

This is a video, that I shot a couple of years back dealing with the deadly sin of envy. Envy is real and it’s deadly. Here are some envy quotes to ponder:

• When men are full of envy, they disparage everything, whether it be good or bad.
• Envy is thin because it bites but never eats.  ~Spanish Proverb
• The few who do are the envy of the many who only watch.~Jim Rohn
• Love looks through a telescope; envy, through a microscope. ~Josh Billings
• Envy is the tribute that mediocrity pays to genius, hard-work, success and the appearance of success…

Share your thoughts on The Deadly Sin Of Envy, This Video or These Quotes.