I have found myself extremely interested in (and therefore regularly blogging about) Islam recently. I suppose the reasons are manifold but here are a few. I believe that there is a tremendous polarization bewteen traditionally Islamic cultures and traditionally Christian ones that thrives in part on misinformation and ignorance. This divide is [...]
Archive for June, 2006
Engaging Islam Part 1. –I believe we must do better…
Published by June 27th, 2006 in Global Issues and Islam. 6 CommentsiFeedReaders
Southern Baptist President attacks technology
Published by June 25th, 2006 in Uncategorized. 2 CommentsiFeedReaders
Spero News | Southern Baptist president attacks technology
Some interesting, and perhaps some what out of context remarks in this article quoting the now outgoing president of the Southern Baptist Convention. Still, found some of it rather thought provoking, especially the tirade against bloggers… Oh, and cell phone users…
In his farewell speech, Welch saved words [...]
Leadership Interview Part 8 –Dealing with Lack of Commitment
Published by June 22nd, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: In managing teams of people or a staff, what do you do when someone doesn’t live up the their commitment or what was required of them?
Me: Great Q. Dealing effectively with conflict is a key leadership skill. The conflict that arises when someone doesn’t live up to their previous commitment has [...]
Leadership Interview Part 7 –Management/Leadership Style
Published by June 21st, 2006 in Leadership. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: In order to keep teams, staff or programs running, what is your approach? Are you high-touch, low-touch, somewhere in the middle?
Me: I am trying to not let my personal sense of comfort with my own “management style” determine that as much as adapting to those I am leading. I am trying to develop [...]
Leadership Interview Part 6 –Management and Motivation…
Published by June 20th, 2006 in Leadership. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: ok…just a couple quick questions on management
Me: cool
Ry: As a manager of teams, staff or programs, how do you keep people motivated?
Me: Good question…, ha, This actually was the topic of my final research project undergrad. To discover what factors contribute to volunteer retention in the context of a local faith community.
Ry: [...]
Santa Barbara News-Press: Isla Vista School flies with ‘Peter Pan’
Published by June 20th, 2006 in Family and Friends and Isla Vista. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
I have already mentioned how insanely proud I am of my wife whose direction of J.M. Barrie’s Peter Pan for the Isla Vista Elementary school was a total homerun. Apparently, I’m not the only one who thought so. Following is a write up of the show in the Santa Barbara Newspress. Especially [...]
Leadership Interview Part 5 –Importance of Leadership to the Health of the Church Community
Published by June 19th, 2006 in Uncategorized. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry:How important is leadership to the health of the church?
Me: I believe that leadership is vital to the health of the church. Without anyone who is willing to take responsibility for the well being and growth of the faith community, it simply won’t happen. Obviously, I believe very much in a multiplicity of leaders. I [...]
Leadership Interview Part 4 –Can Leaders be Friends with Those they Lead?
Published by June 17th, 2006 in Leadership. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: What is your philosophy regarding the line between leadership and friendship?
Me: Hmmmm….
I think that ultimately this question goes back to the issue I raised earlier about the internal force within a leader. Specifically, a leader is consistently a leader because of an internal quality or orientation that posesses them and mobilizes them. [...]
Leadership Interview Part 3 –Use of Power
Published by June 15th, 2006 in Leadership. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: What is your view on the use of power by leadership? & How do you use your leadership power? and remember this is leadership as pertaining to to christian communities of faith…
Me: My ideas of the use of power lie theoritically in the teaching of Jesus to his early disciples. Essentially, he [...]
TIME Magizine: Bloggers chose the newest SBC president…
Published by June 15th, 2006 in Western Christianity. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
TIME.com: The Bloggers’ Favorite Southern Baptist — Page 1
“Without the bloggers Page wouldn’t have been elected. He was a relative unknown, and the bloggers really have created the whole conversation. It’s very much a generation shift.”
Whether it indicates a true political or theological shift remains to be seen. Page, although he reportedly acknowledged the bloggers’ [...]
Leadership Interview Part 2 –Characteristics of Effective Leaders
Published by June 14th, 2006 in Leadership. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Ry: What do you feel are good characteristics of effective leaders?
Me: I would say that an important characteristic of leadership is conviction, passion or a sense of meaning or calling toward what you are engaged in.
I think that effective leaders bring more than abstract leadership skill to the table in the context in which they [...]
Aljazeera.Net - Weblogs soar in Gulf states
Published by June 14th, 2006 in Global Issues and Islam. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Each month I have noticed an increase in traffic to my blog coming from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf state nations. Interesting article citing the rise of blogging in the middle east.
Aljazeera.Net - Weblogs soar in Gulf states
Leadership Interview Part 1 –Mission
Published by June 13th, 2006 in Leadership and Western Christianity. ClosediFeedReaders
A couple of weeks ago, Ryan interviewed me as well as a few other church leaders/pastors for a project he was working on regarding leadership philosophy in the church. The goal was to get a sense of the leadership styles and philosophies of church leaders in different contexts. Being the smart guy [...]
Urban Onramps » WORLD CUP: World Vision advert banned in Britain
Published by June 10th, 2006 in Global Issues. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
This is worth a look. Highlighting how a small contribution can make a world of difference to a child and contrasting it with the cost of Soccer’s World Cup seems to have raised the ire of some in British Television. I hope World Vision picks on the Superbowl or the World Series next. [...]
Praying for my brothers and sisters in China’s Henan Province.
Published by June 9th, 2006 in Global Christianity and Prayer. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
China Detains 28 Christians During Raid on Unauthorized Church
Chinese law does not allow Christians to worship outside the Communist Party-controlled Protestant church, although millions do so in underground congregations that have spread across large parts of China.
Those congregations, often called “house churches” because they gather in private homes to avoid detection, are subject to [...]
Bella B. is Kim Possible…
Published by June 7th, 2006 in Family and Friends and Video. 0 CommentsiFeedReaders
Hilarioius short film staring M.B. and Bella B. That girl has got some serious acting chops. Watch for the hair flip. BTW where did that evil bad guy come from?
Kim Possible - Google Video
The remade princess bride cartoons are great…TallSkinnyKiwi: Charles Colson Takes Another Shot
A blog about present and future church, contemporary culture, intercultural dynamics, and the implications of Jesus' Gospel of the Kingdom in today's context. 
Recent Comments:
PlanosLie, PlanosLie, billy, Ryan, Cole Davis [...]
Sam Andress, Julie Bradshaw, billy, George P. Wood
Amy Downey, nicholas armitage
billy, nate, billy, George P. Wood
Joseph Carnes
billy, Dave K
billy, Josiah Trandahl, Andy Sudhoff, Barret, LeRon [...]
Susan