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August 18, 2008
OLD SCHOOL: THE HOLY SPIRIT
Randy Santiago @ Aug 18, 2008 11:06 AM
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OLD SCHOOL: TITHING
Randy Santiago @ Aug 18, 2008 10:23 AM
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CHURCH AND TECHNOLOGY!
Randy Santiago @ Aug 18, 2008 09:25 AM
It looks like MTV and VH1 have lost a lot of speed and traction with the ‘youth and 20 somethings’ according to the latest research.  I’ll highlight their explanation:

The fundamental problem could be that the “youth demo” that Viacom has hotly chased after for the last couple decades is a bust. Teens and twenty-somethings don’t watch TV anymore; they don’t read newspapers; and they’re technologically promiscuous — how can big media sell advertising against them if you can’t corner them in front of any single device?

Dauman hinted at the problem, but he didn’t address it head on when he said some viewers are migrating from broadcast networks to cable channels, but “the trend did not benefit some of our networks that cater to younger demographics.” The key takeaway: Young people have left, and they’re not coming back.

“It’s a bit of a challenge to dominate that demo because of their technological proficiency and their willingness and excitement to embrace new [technologies],” says James Goss, an analyst at Barrington Research. “MTV has tried to respond by improving programming to create a little buzz, but nevertheless, it’s a greater challenge. [MTV and VH1] remain a central part of the business, and [Viacom] is trying to do something about it.”   

Question: 

How should the Church be using technology to communicate/engage/interact with culture??

How many years is the Church behind the learning curve???


OLYMPICS
Randy Santiago @ Aug 18, 2008 09:13 AM
Got sucked into the Olympics AGAIN! 
Enjoyed watching Michael Phelps! 
Found my self screaming at the T.V. for Dana Torres!  41 years old!
Then last night brought me back to reality and why I hate the Olympics...POLITICS! 
Our lady gymnists got robbed! 
Enjoy Michael Phelps while you can....feel good about being an American...but trust me there's more rip offs to come. 

SUNDAY NIGHT MIND DUMP
Randy Santiago @ Aug 18, 2008 09:04 AM
  • Well, Summer is over!  Attendance was up.  Pretty good day! 
  • OLD SCHOOL is turning out to be a great series!
  • Pre-service was CRAZY. Couldn’t get video camera to work.  Lost the song list.  Lonnie got it working by service time.  GREAT job! 
  • Message was a little different. Talked about why God has blessed us with so much.  Money doesn't lend itself to a whole lot of amen's. Tootsie Rolls rocked!
  • AIM performed their Holy Spirit human video. Wow! 
  • I'm not a big AG Fine Arts guy but Keely DiSalvo has some National talent! 
  • I heard KIDUP was INSANE with kids today! That would be a great area to get plugged in if you aren’t already serving (hint, hint)
  • Can you believe it is almost time for football? In case you didn't know it, Ohio State is #2.  Deal with it.
  • I’m a sucker for the Olympics!!!!!!!
  • CRAZY busy week but I wouldn’t have it any other way.
  • I’m out.
August 12, 2008
OLD SCHOOL: WORSHIP
Randy Santiago @ Aug 12, 2008 11:11 AM
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August 4, 2008
OLD SCHOOL: SALVATION
Randy Santiago @ Aug 4, 2008 09:09 AM
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July 28, 2008
SUPER NATURAL HEROES: SAMUEL
Randy Santiago @ Jul 28, 2008 12:46 PM
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SUPER NATURAL HEROES: RUTH
Randy Santiago @ Jul 28, 2008 12:01 PM
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July 27, 2008
SUNDAY NIGHT MIND DUMP
Randy Santiago @ Jul 27, 2008 06:41 PM
  • Attendance was terrible.  Looked like we had a bunch of people hitting summer trips before school starts back in two weeks.
  • I got to bed way to late last night...I paid for it today as I was tired!
  • I’m in the zone on my lifting but I'm really sore on Sunday.  This week it's my arms.
  • Miss the AIM team. 
  • 5 kids are getting baptized in water tonight...great job PT.
  • Teen challenge Midland came by with some baked goods today.  Hope they made some money. 
  • Saw some people taking some big cakes and donating a $2.00...come on!
  • Kid Up unveiled some new threads today...really nice t-shirts. 
  • I’m tired.
  • Hate closing out this series on supernatural heroes.  I love talking about the heroes of the bible.
  • Cooking steak and chicken after church tonight....ummm!
  • Looking rough outside...yeah I know...WE NEED IT!
  • I want to see people brought to Jesus! it consumes me!
  • Who in your life do you need to bring to Jesus?
  • Peace. I’m out.
July 21, 2008
GUEST SPEAKER: DWAIN JONES
Randy Santiago @ Jul 21, 2008 02:58 PM
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SUPER NATURAL HEROES: ESTHER
Randy Santiago @ Jul 21, 2008 11:43 AM
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AN APPLE GUY REMAKES MICROSOFT
Randy Santiago @ Jul 21, 2008 09:18 AM
Tim Stevens, excutive pastor for Granger Community church gave this great post.

"Alex Bogusky built the country's slickest ad shop using Apple products. His next challenge: Persuade people like him to buy Microsoft's stuff."

That leading sentence to a recent article in Fast Company magazine sucked me in to the article. The story is about an unlikely firm (albeit "hot" and "hip") hired to overhaul the image problem that has plagued Microsoft for...what, about 600 years?
 
I don't know if Alex can do it, but I did enjoy the article, and found three great quotes in the article:

"To try to be cool is to not be cool. To chase cool, you're chasing something that already exists, which means you're always going to be on the wrong side of it, you'll always be following.
Uh, wake-up call, how many times do we do this as church leaders?

When asked if Alex was going to force his staff to stop using Macs in favor of Windows machines since Microsoft was now their largest client, he replied, "It's not a matter of forcing people. It's getting them to want to use it. If you can't, you're not going to do great advertising."

Sometimes it seems like we're having to force leaders to do something.  They should want to and we need to make it compelling for them to do so.

"As the company draws bigger, more traditional clients, the risks grow proportionately. Edginess and risk taking mean nothing without results."

You can be traditional and effective. You can be edgy and ineffective. Edgy might get you on a top 100 church list somewhere, but it doesn't mean you are making disciples. Let's focus on disciple-making, and if edgy gets it done, then go for it.

According to the article, the new Microsoft ad campaign (being developed by Alex's company) is slated to break this month. Should be interesting!

SUNDAY NIGHT MIND DUMP
Randy Santiago @ Jul 21, 2008 09:00 AM
  • Jesus ROCKS! GREAT weekend! Crowd is starting to pick up….lots of new faces.  I hate the summer!
  • Steve Byrne from THE WAY was in the 10:30.  Miss him, praying for him. 
  • Folks really responded in the 2nd encounter.  It’s a God thing when people start hitting the altar before you can even say a word.  Eager to step into their moment!
  • I miss the AIM team already.  As a pastor you get use to seeing those faces every Sunday. 
  • Dwain Jones IS THE MAN!  If you weren’t here Sunday night you missed it.  What passion and faith.  He walked out of my office before the service and said “let’s believe God for $10,000 dollars for Bangladesh?  Dude got it in one check.  And we’re in a recession.  God aint broke.
  • Saw Batman with the fam on Saturday.  I love that the dude has no superpowers but just kicks people’s teeth in. Not as good as #1 but Heath Ledger was everything you have heard. All I could think of was what a waste of talent.  Movie starts out slow, and the story line is hard to follow.  If not for the Joker and the insane makeup on Two Face it would have been a disappointment.  Still a good go and see.
  • Got off my diet and had some popcorn.  Watching a movie without popcorn is like kissing your sister.
  • I had a good conversation Sunday afternoon with the board of a church that’s looking to hire Pastor Tal.  Looks like Tal and Mikki are headed to Albuquerque.  Pray for the Burdines.
  • Remember to pray for each other and encourage each other whenever you have the chance.
  • God is awesome!  
July 16, 2008
UNCONVENTIONAL WORSHIP
Randy Santiago @ Jul 16, 2008 11:34 PM
The Church at South Las Vegas (Henderson, NV) has created some unconventional worship programming.

Sandwich 1 worship experience between 2 preaching experiences
.

In other words, instead of adding a full new service, they simply added a half service. Not only does it let the band play one less service, but it also allows The Church at South Las Vegas to maximize the number of services they can have on Sunday mornings.

They do not use this format for every service. They currently have services on Saturday evenings at 6:00 and Sunday mornings at 8:30, 9:00, 11:00, and 1:00. For Sundays at 8:30, they begin with preaching, and then the 8:30 service stays for the worship at the 9:00 service. After a month, so far the feedback is positive, and about 90% of the 8:30 service stays for the 9:00 worship.
 
Let's hear some feedback:  Tell me what you think?  Would you stay for worship, or take off?