It’s All About the Flow

Jon over at Stuff Christians Like recently wrote about a youth retreat where he was the featured speaker.  Jon says he’s not a comedian, and he’s not, but he is one of those guys that has the gift of finding the absurd in the everyday stuff we all see. 

At this particular event, he got stuck in a “flow nightmare.”  Slow melancholy music, leading into his talk.   Not fun to follow!

“If you’re planning on starting with a really funny skit and then following that with a devastatingly sad video, and then a sermon about tithing and then a really happy worship song, help us out a little. Give us some transitions on that emotional rollercoaster.”

This really drives home the value in planning.  When you plan a worship service, or any event, pay attention to the transitions.  Let me say that again:  Pay attention to the TRANSITIONS.

Television has an advantage.  They can fade to black to signify a significant change in scene or mood.  We don’t really have that option, most of the time, in services.

What we CAN do, is make sure that the individual elements are in harmony.  Make sure they work together.  Make sure that everyone involved KNOWS what is happening before their element, and after their element. 

Planning is not the most fun part of creating experiences.  The sad truth is that most churches don’t do it effectively.  Without it, we’re just rolling the dice as to whether or not our experiences will be effective.

Stuff Christians Like, Jon Acuff, harmony, event planning, transitions

A New Look is On The Way

Hey… check this out!

For the past three years or so, I’ve run this site courtesy of Blogger, and it’s been a great solution that I still recommend highly.  Along with all the other changes I’ve been working through, we’ve decided to make the switch to WordPress. 

The first step was actually to work through the branding process for TechnoPraxis.  I owe a huge debt to my friends Jeff and Laurie Carney at The Strategy Group in Wichita for their support and kindness over the years.  They’re branding gurus, and Laurie was great in helping me take scattered thoughts, and bring focus to the brand. 

Then, SG designer Karis Marsh hit it out the park with the logo you see above.  I love it, and it really speaks to where I see TechnoPraxis heading in this new season.

So, keep an eye out for the new look and feel.  I’m looking forward to actually using WordPress for my own site, instead of just recommending it to others.  And, as always, if you have questions, comments, criticisms or just like to see your name on the web, leave a comment below!

Not going to MinistryTECH? Catch it online!

I stole this from Jason Powell, who stole it from Jason Lee.  Yep, just plain old stole it!  It’s that good, and I’m that busy!

Geeky but grounded?
Plugged-in but cash-strapped?
Interested but otherwise occupied?

If you can’t physically make it to MinistryTech for some end-of-the-world reason, you can still take in part of the excitement virtually. We’ll be streaming selected workshops and all keynote sessions during the conference, FREE!

So fire up your smartphone, laptop, or other cool gadget and keep it with you at all times. Nothing is more important than MinistryTech’09. Here are some things to think about:

• Wife having a baby? No problem, use headphones. Imagine what an awesome thing it will be for you to be able to say that your newborn’s first geek experience was at age 0.1!
• Don’t have enough money to travel? This is free. Mooch some wireless at Panera.
• Actually have a job you can’t get away from? This will help you enjoy that more.
• Don’t like Colorado? Whatever.
• Afraid someone will ask what you’re doing? Don’t worry. They know you’re a geek. Tell them you’re logged on with hundreds of other “smart people” discussing the next generation of Church Integration Networking Social Internet Directory Management Infrastructure Ministry — you know, the ChINSIDIMS — 2.0.
• Get lots of [throw in some acronyms here]!
• It’s better than trying to follow someone else’s blog that is actually a digest of their tweets which just goes to prove their not really paying attention anyway. 

So how do you partake in this virtual goodness?

Register Here so we can make plans to reserve your virtual seat (the soft comfy recliners will go first, oh wait, you choose your own seat..)

So why did I need to steal this?  I’m busy with the last minute details of producing the keynotes for MinistryTECH.  Make sure you’re there, either in person or online, and give me a holler.  I’d love to connect.