Leonard Allen, Director of Leafwood Publishers and Abilene Christian University Press, recently wrote a guest post for the New Media Project's blog about the challenges and opportunities in digitizing theological texts. Allen suggests that digitization expands the potential audience for these texts and allows for increased interaction between readers as well as, in some cases, between readers and the authors. While these potential gains are significant, they are only Read More …
Single Objective of Youth Ministry (#0601)
How would you complete the following sentence: The single objective of youth ministry is __________. Youth ministry expert Mark Oestreicher answered the question with Christlikeness. So What? Youth ministry is typically thought of in terms of what it offers its participants, especially in terms of programs and relationships. Youth ministry leadership teams would benefit greatly from taking time to explore together why they do what they do. The simple yet challenging Read More …
Time in A Web-Based World (#0600)
Seth Godin is the author of twelve books that have been bestsellers around the world and changed the way people think about marketing, change, and work. He is also the master of saying a great deal using relatively few words on his blog. As we start the year most call 2012, he wrote a 204 word post about the artificiality of time that included this sentence: "The decision to work at a different rate than others can be a significant competitive advantage." So What? Time isn't what it was Read More …
Different by Design (#0599)
Yesterday I realized that I had not upgraded to the newest release of Mozilla Firefox. On the upgrade page, I found a video that everyone should see (whether or not you ever have used or will use this browser). It is, without qualification, the best video I have seen in 2012. So What? Imagine if the idea captured within this video were to be applied to your local congregation. I transcribed the video, then gave the words a makeover for a new audience. I Read More …
Within 24 Hours (#0598)
It has been several years since I made a resolution to begin a new year. This year, however, I opted to make a few resolutions. One resolution is to reply to e-mail within 24 hours. While I have generally done so, I have not always sought to provide feedback to all people within that time horizon. So What? Because I currently have multiple employers (and in boxes) and a varied schedule, e-mail is often the easiest way to reach me. Rather than use different rules to guide Read More …
Better Off Than Our Parents (#0597)
While the economy has struggled the last few years, most Americans feel that financially things now are better than they were in our country a generation ago. More specifically, according to Gallup's latest research 69% of Americans believe they "are better off financially than their parents were when they were the same age." So What? While the majority of those polled in all age groups and at all income levels believed they are better off than their parents, the percentage holding Read More …
Progressive – The Best Word? (#0596)
The Pew Research Center for People & the Press released the results of their recent poll of American's views of political terms. The term with the most favorable view is progressive. Interestingly, it rates about 33% higher than the term liberal. So What? Many people characterize mainline churches as theologically liberal. Do you think congregations and denominations should move beyond that label and claim the more culturally valued term progressive to describe themselves? Read More …
Review of Divinity of Doubt (#0595)
Meet the Author Vincent Bugliosi started his legal career in the L.A. County District Attorney's office, where he successfully prosecuted 105 out of 106 felony jury trials, including receiving 21 of 21 murder convictions. In that capacity he is best known for the Charles Manson case. That experience enabled him to write Helter Skelter (1974), which remains the biggest selling true-crime book in publishing history. Since then, Bugliosi has continued Read More …
Top 11 Books Published in 2011 (#0594)
For the second year (last year's list is available here) I offer my list of the "top 10 books published this year." Since this is 2011, I have expanded the list to include eleven titles. Aboujaoude, Elias Virtually You: The Dangerous Powers of the E-Personality Borg, Marcus Speaking Christian: Why Christian Words Have Lost Their Meaning and Power – And How They Can Be Restored Chaves, Mark American Religion: Contemporary Trends Chittister, Joan Happiness Kinnaman, David You Lost Read More …
Review of More (#0593)
Meet the Author Ronald Bishop is professor of communication at Drexel University. Prior to his career in academia, he was a journalist and newspaper editor. Bishop's books include More: The Vanishing of Scale in an Over-The-Top Nation (2011), When Play Was Play: Why Pick-Up Games Matter (2009), and Taking on the Pledge of Allegiance: The News Media and Michael Newdow's Constitutional Challenge (2007). Book Basics The message of More is so powerful and different Read More …