Proof that art comes in all sizes courtesy of a London artist known only as Slinkachu.
Check out inner city snail for more pictures.
Graffiti snails on the loose
Published September 5th, 2008 in laugh more and originality. 0 CommentsI was deeply saddened to hear that the moving story behind the still incredible song “Healer” was a lie. Michael Guglielmucci was conning everyone, including his own family. But as all sin does, it finally caught up with him. He’s not alone, there have been many, many high positioned ministers, etc. that have fallen publicly. There’s even a website that gives a top 10 which also points out it’s not just Christianity.
So why talk about? Why not just brush it under the rug? Because it’s a reminder to all of us to watch where you are headed and who you believe in.
Our faith should only be found in Christ. Allow yourself to be shepherded, but keep your eyes and adoration on God. Too often I believe we set the leaders up for failure, we put them up on pedestals to the point where they can do no wrong and they become untouchable. In the world of church marketing, we need to be cautious not to turn our pastors into untouchable rock stars. Ask yourself “who are we giving glory to?” Our marketing and communications must be authentic, and the only way to do that is by focusing on the power and holiness of God.
Salvation is found in no one else, for there is no other name under heaven given to men by which we must be saved.
When our faith is in God, when we rest upon God for our strength, news like this will sadden us but it will not shake our foundation built on Christ.
Thank you Ragamuffin Soul for the video link:
Christianity today has an article about some new advertising taken out by the Church of England to “soothe commuters travelling into work this morning”. Obviously as we move out of summer into the fall season it becomes a busy time for everyone. The church conducted a survey that shows that this new season brings extra pressure and a desire for change.
Dear God,
You know me. Don’t you? I’m not just a person on a bus or a train.
I’m not just another face on CCTV; or just another login name.
I’m me, and I have stuff going on.
Love life issues; bills to pay. Egos at work to deal with; an overflowing inbox.
So please, give me strength. Guide me to focus on what’s really important. And help me make the most of every moment of this new day in this new month.Thank you.
Amen
It’s great to see the church engaging in the media and I love the fact that they made it about the people reading it and not all about them. Too often we get so wrapped into our ministries, our sermons…that we forget about the real lives, the real hurts of the people we were called to serve.
Okay, maybe there aren’t really 713 reasons to not use IE…but there are a number of them. The number one reason is: Firefox is just better. The number two reason: IE is a pain to develop for and now Microsoft gives us a new reason: Porn mode.
Fox news reports that Microsoft’s latest Internet browser includes a piece of software that allows Internet users to hide the audit trail of websites they have visited.
The InPrivate feature on Internet Explorer 8, nicknamed “porn mode”, allows users to conceal the sites they have viewed at the click of a button.
Granted, you can do the same thing in every browser…but they’re highlighting it and giving it a special button…and it’s a good excuse to get all churches moved over to Firefox and then every developer has one less browser to test for. Win!
You need to see this, it asks a very important question: what are christians known for? As a christian you might feel a bit beat up in the beginning…but please, wait until you get to the outreach and confessional portion…powerful and sobering. Are we known for love? I’m not sure we are.
Thanks Sean P for the link.
This isn’t a political post…but it is about a politician. Obama has taken the elections by storm, here’s a man who on paper would never have a chance to be on the ticket…and yet people are paying attention. For the first time in my adult life I have watched the DNC…and I’m not a democrat. Now while you may not agree with all of Obama’s positions (at least I hope not) he has caused people to once again believe and take part in politics.
Why? And so what?
How did he pull this off? Sure he has charisma, he’s a brilliant speaker, but it’s more than all that. We’ve seen that before. Obama has a story to tell. He has personality…and it’s all his own. He’s found his story and he’s telling it well.
If your a pastor, a leader or simply want to bring change you need to do the same.
Pastors, learn from Obama. You can be a brilliant speaker, you can have charisma…but when you find your story, bring your personality into the mix you’ll reach a new level of preaching and leading. Don’t try to be Stanley, or Warren, or Bell…be you and be it well. Rehashing the same old techniques simply isn’t working any more, it’s time that pastors rise up and take notice. It’s time you find out who you are and help people once again believe and take part in the church.
Fox news is reporting that cattle seem to know how to find north and south and have an innate sense of direction. Of course I didn’t know that when I first decided on the name Holy Cow…but I’ll take it. I originally decided on the name as that’s what I want people to say and to feel when they see how the church is communicating. I was working with a church on a pro bono project and they said “Holy Cow that’s killer.” … and the name was born.
While we do certainly bring great creative to how the church communicates, I also want to help give the church direction in how they are communicating and marketing themselves. When creating a brochure, sermon brand, you name it we must focus on more than just pretty visuals. Just because it looks good doesn’t mean it is good. Where is it headed? Where does it lead someone? Answer those questions first, then make it hot!
I know this sounds like just self promotion (and certainly don’t miss it…I do want to work with you) but also read it as a reminder to know where you are leading your church.
There’s a good post over at the Church Marketing Lab about taglines and how to ‘find’ the right one in which I make the simple statement:
I -highly- recommend finding a great copywriter to work with. It’s easy to come up with a tagline, it’s even easy to be clever…but a copywriter will help you create something powerful.
Logos, taglines…all easy to get done so you can check it off the list, but creating something powerful that is more than just a mark or words is worth the full effort.
You see, when you don’t bring in someone who is really talented and gifted at what they do we end up with things like Purity Balls. Now to some of you who are much more wholesome than I you may automatically think of a celebration of protecting your child’s purity….that’s not what I thought when I first read it.
Can you find someone to come up with a tagline, or the clever phrase on your church sign? Sure. But it’s another one of those things that shouldn’t just be a check in a list of to-dos. Put the energy in and you will get the full benefit in return.
One of the things I want to help the church change is who we put into positions. I adamantly believe we need to be exercising the giftings God has given to us and not trying to fulfill a role we weren’t designed for.
Kenaniah the head Levite was in charge of the singing; that was his responsibility because he was skillful at it.
1 Chronicles 15:22
Too often I see well meaning people trying to be what they are not. This can be seen in all aspects of ministry and is especially prevalent in marketing and design. It’s cool to design, it’s fun…but if you aren’t truly skilled I really think you should leave it to someone who is. Yep, you can buy photoshop, find a few free fonts and put together a direct mail piece…but is that enough? I can buy a wrench but trust me you don’t want me to fix your car.
Whenever someone tries to fill a role that they weren’t design for we see several problems:
- Because you are not fully equipped you face increasing frustration. You are going to run into hurdle after hurdle and bring unnecessary hurt on yourself.
- You are blocking someone else from living as God designed them. Get out of the way and support the person God appointed.
- Though you can check off the task as completed, it’s not effective in practice. Doesn’t the task deserve more than that?
- Your true design is not fully being realized. Take joy in the appointment God has given you.
If you’re filling a role that just isn’t yours, it’s time to course correct.
Embrace the design God created in you,
grow in it,
find joy in it.
Encourage others in their gifting.
If you have an interest in an area you aren’t gifted in find ways to bring your giftings to that process. You have been given exactly what you need to realize God’s full potential in you, tap into that
Be who God design you to be.
The media, unbelievers…you name it…they are making fun of us. Just watch a reality show, of all the christians they could put on to represent that segment they find the most outrageous (and out of touch) person they can find.
Stop giving them so much ammunition. I went back and forth of whether or not to even post this video…but I think we need to see it; in this case especially those involved in TV ministry. Try not to get defensive, try to realize you are seeing it the way they are seeing it.
Pay attention to one comment this video received, it says it so well:
it may be a fact or truth 4 u, but its confusing 2 others. Im not saying avoid biblical questions, but there’s a right + wrong way to talk 2 people about other beliefs
I’m not in TV, I don’t know any of these guys…but I am in the business of changing the way the Church communicates and it must include an understanding of not only what you are saying but what they are hearing.
Ok…brace yourself, prepare to be made fun of, maybe even insulted…but allow it to make you a better communicator.
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