Found, Changed and Rearranged

Stuff Christians Like

For all you entrenched Christians and even more so, for those of you who think you are not entrenched:

I give to you my new favorite blog, StuffChristiansLike, that provides a fresh perspective to things we do and say without thinking. Read it. Be Convicted. Laugh.

Some Favs: Singing with our hands raised, The Tankini, Baby Crack and Veggie Tales, and for the church-marketer in me Sunday! Sunday! Sunday!

Victoria Beckham Is A Unique Marketing Tool

My friend has a unique gift for pointing out hilarious things in the media. In a recent post, she questioned the marketing genius behind these ads.

These are Victoria Beckham’s new Marc Jacob ads.  And they are retarded.  I had no idea that Marc Jacob had his own line of dishwashing gloves, but apparently he does, and they apparently make you want to curl up fetal-like and suck your thumb and/or make out with frogs.

The Weight Room?

I was helping my son put on pants last week and without moving a muscle, my back spasmed. It has been killing ever since. Not sure why this happened, but it only further reinforced my thoughts that I should be utilizing our health club membership for more than the occasional swim with the kids.

So, I'm thinking a visit to the weight room would be a great help, but here's the deal:

• I'm scared to go by myself.
• I don't know where to go.
• I don't know what to do once I get there.
• I don't know who to ask questions to.
• I don't feel like looking like an idiot because I don't know what I'm doing.
• If only the gym offered a guide to help me get familiar with things.
• Even better, if only I had a friend that could show me the ropes.

And then it hit me. Going to church for the first time is a lot like going to the weight room for the first time. There are probably people out there that would consider going to church just to check it out, but they're saying:

• I'm scared to go by myself.
• I don't know where to go.
• I don't know what to do once I get there.
• I don't know who to ask questions to.
• I don't feel like looking like an idiot because I don't know what I'm doing.
• If only the church offered a guide to help me get familiar with things.
• Even better, if only I had a friend that could show me the ropes.

Charles Arn in recent research found that 75% of unchurched people came to church because of a personal invitation. Got a friend? Invite them. It may be what they've been wanting to do, but just didn't know how to go about it.

Lesson from a garbage man

A few nights ago at 1:30am I should have been sound asleep. Instead, I was on the couch shivering, body aching, throat killing and surfing the TV for something to take my mind of the misery. I landed on a PBS documentary on Chad Pregracke.

In 1997, concerned about the condition of the Mississippi River, he set out to make a difference... one river at a time... one piece of garbage at a time.

In the decade since, his non-profit has pulled over 4 million tons of garbage from America's rivers. Watch this video and you'll understand how his contagious energy and passion fueled his dream.

His story reminded me that:

1. People respond to vision (with their time, money, etc.)
2. One person can make a difference

"Be the change you want to see in the world"  Mahatma Gandhi
"Do it. Do it"   David Starsky (of Starsky & Hutch fame)

Being Unremarkable

Part of my job is to help SLWC think from the outside-in. Think how a visitor would. Understand how they view church and us. Reaching them and speaking to them weighs on me because I'm not always sure who "they" are. While we have many great individual things going on and stories to be told, one thing is for certain, we have much to learn in how effective church marketing fits in to our ministry. So I've been reading books and reading outreach publications and reading blogs all pertaining to marketing. It's been fun. Really!I ran across this post at ChurchRelevance.com. A few comments hit me hard.

Marketing promotions is a tax you pay for being unremarkable.

A few lesson to be learned:

1. If your organization is unremarkable, you will have to compensate by spending more money on marketing promotions to be successful.
2. If your organization is remarkable, marketing promotions will only amplify your success.
3. If you can only be remarkable in one area, have a remarkable product or service because it will keep people coming back for more as well as generate word of mouth.

#3 gives me the most hope. A target. Pick one thing and do it really well. If you do it well enough, you'll become remarkable.