loss

How SNL helped HEAL me after September 11

The anniversary of September 11, 2001 is here, many Americans are sorting through their minds and hearts. How have I changed? What do I feel when I think of September 11, 2001? Where was I on that fateful day? Why am I still sad? Where can our country go from here?

Fifteen years ago on September 11, I was in college. I was getting out of a Tuesday morning class when I heard people talking about an airplane crash. As I walked back to my apartment, I heard more and more information. I walked by a truck and heard words on the radio, “World Trade Center… airplane… Pentagon… crash.” I thought to myself, this is serious. Minutes later I watched the towers come down. I felt utter loss and grief.

As many of us were anxious, worried, upset, and downtrodden, Saturday Night Live kicked off its 27th season. “Oh no” – I thought, how can we laugh at a time like this? Thousands dead, lives changed, and the future looks dark, how could we have any sense of joy? We Americans felt damaged. We were afraid.

Leadership

The future of ministry is not in seminary

That’s right. The future of ministry is not going to be found in the traditional 90 credit seminary degree but in modified virtual centers of learning.

Why?

As I explained in my book, The Work of the Associate Pastor, churches must find alternative avenues for finding ministers other than the traditional college and seminary educated pastor. The full-time professional clergy person is becoming a difficult sustainable goal to achieve for many churches. The Atlantic highlighted the state of middle class clergy carrying a seminary degree: high debt, low wages, vanishing churches, and part-time pastor positions.

The traditional mainline church track for full-time pastors followed like this: 4-years of college, 3-years of graduate seminary education, and ordination. This process launched a generation of pastors into their ministry in the 1950’s, 60’s, and 70’s. The traditional 90-credit seminary degree, the master of divinity, became the mark of an intellectual, professional, and full-time pastor. Churches had the people and money to support such a model. The pastor typical could raise a family and even buy a house (if one was not provided).

Those days are gone.

Now, because of cost of graduate education, seminary graduates are saddled with debt. In the $40,000 to $60,000 range (on top of college debt). The pace of the rise of the cost of education has exceeded the rate of inflation: to the tune of 500% since 1985. Usually, when a professional incurs such a debt, their boss gives them a raise because of their higher degree. Not the case with pastors. Many pastors have the same credit hours as school administrators, but paid much less.

With this current reality of shrinking churches, downsized church budgets, less full-time pastor positions, and need for a generation of clergy to lead churches into a new culture, a shorter more focused distance modified seminary degree is needed. A distance modified 45-credit degree could shake up this bleak future for pastors and churches. Seminaries like Northern and Palmer are introducing these types of programs.

Here’s what the 45-credit “seminary” degree could look like:

Christianity

Are social media thoughts and prayers helpful anymore?

In the wake of tragedy it has become an automatic social media response for many Christians: Our thoughts and prayers are with… I know, I said it on social media after the shootings in San Bernardino, Sandy Hook, and Aurora. Maybe you were like me and wanted to express your grief and wanted to respond.

However, not everyone sees “thoughts and prayers” as a helpful expression of grief in the face of tragedy.

After the shootings in San Bernardino, The Daily News featured several Republican politicians’ Twitter posts expressing their “thoughts and prayers” for the victims with the headline “God isn’t fixing this”. The response from many Christians was sharp and curt.

It seems that mass shootings are growing. According to The Washington Post, there have been 351 mass shootings in the United States this year alone. That’s 351 “thoughts and prayers” to shooting victims on Facebook and Twitter feeds. To many observers, politicians who claim to be Christian and use “thoughts and prayers” on social media and yet do nothing about reasonable gun control laws, are seen as tone deaf.

As a pastor, I use my own Facebook and Twitter feeds to express grief, sadness, and lament in times of tragedy. I read the “God isn’t fixing this headline” and sat in contemplation. I wondered, “How does the world see Christian “thoughts and prayers” on social media? Is that all we are as followers of Jesus? Thoughts and prayers? Continue Reading…

social media

Church leaders need viral social media

Last night I moderated #chsocm [It’s Church socialmedia. #ChSocM (ch-sock-em)] on Twitter, which is a weekly chat about using social media. We had a great discussion around the topic of viral social media stories, pictures, videos, etc… I enjoyed the experience. I sought to guide the discussion towards how church leaders in social media can use viral content for engagement. To my amazement, the discussion sometimes lacked ideas on how to use viral social media content.

I asked, “What viral “churchy” or “non churchy” news/video/pictures have caught your social media attention recently?”

The responses were broad: Vine, recent general news stories, and other current events topics. One person said:

T1 In our circles “going viral” is more bouncing around the echo chamber. Not sure there are #chsocm Bieberisms

— Beth Felice (@bfelice) May 29, 2013

In general, the term “viral” means: an object or pattern that is able to induce some agents to replicate it, resulting in many copies being produced and spread around. (wikipedia)

There were a few people who understood what I was asking for:

T2: We typically don’t. Sharing viral vids or even “hot topics” questions haven’t proven very thought-provoking in our spaces… #chsocm

— Marcus A. Cylar (@pastorcylar) May 29, 2013

We’re excited to get 50 RTs on an evening prayer. Does that count as viral? #chsocm

— Episcopal Church (@iamepiscopalian) May 29, 2013

@alanrud T3: @toddrhoades / MondayMorningInsight.com is a good place to follow trending stories. #chsocm

— Paul Steinbrueck (@paulsteinbrueck) May 29, 2013

T3: Mashable. Twitter. BuzzFeed. Radian6. @mashable. Did I say Mashable?#chsocm

— Episcopal Church (@iamepiscopalian) May 29, 2013

Many included using Facebook and Twitter for viral content, but there were others who don’t use Mashable, Stumbleupon, Buzzfeed, Reddit, or NewsWhip. This told me that some church leaders are not utilizing viral content into ministry, preaching, or evangelism. Those videos or stories that are feel good, funny, shocking, or just plain strange can help spark social media interaction. Viral social media bits can be shown in worship, shared on Facebook, or used in a small group.

This realization of mine was educational and not judgmental. I realized that there is an opportunity for church leaders to use viral social media stories for more than just laughs. Viral social media content can be shared, analyzed, used as a discussion starter, or to lighten the mood. Non-tech people can still take part if the content is show on video or printed out.

Church leaders don’t have to make viral social media content but they can copy it (legally of course) or put their own spin on it. Videos like the Harlem Shake or a Jesus photobomb can make it easy for church leaders to share or create their versions. That is part of why something goes viral. When the content is copied, shared millions of times, and spawns imitators.

I think most of us know what makes something viral worthy. Some responses during the chat included:

@alanrud Grabs immediate attention #chsocm

— Thomas W. Healey (@ThomasWHealey) May 29, 2013

T4 Essential element to go viral: taps into some kind of universally recognizable/relatable thoughts or emotions. #chsocm

— MeredithGould (@MeredithGould) May 29, 2013

@alanrud T4: It’s gotta be unique and emotional – funny, surprising, moving.#chsocm

— Paul Steinbrueck (@paulsteinbrueck) May 29, 2013

#chsocm T4 Hmm, I think dramatic content (life loss, harsh pictures), significance (weather or polit events affecting many), or humor

— Caroline Carson (@Conductor222) May 29, 2013

Viral social media content is an easy way for church leaders to grab attention, engage an audience, or just spark an idea. So go ahead! Use that viral social media nugget for yourself and your ministry!

social media

In the wake of Boston, social media heals

It was last week American experienced its first terrorist act through the lens of social media. Millions turned to Twitter, Facebook, and other social media networking sites to gain information on the bombings in Boston. During 9/11, many turned to TV and radio to seek information but in 2013, social media led the way in information and healing. This is a different internet age.

When the bombs when off in Boston, I was driving my friend Gary Long to the airport. Gary checked his iPhone and said, “A bomb went off at the Boston Marathon.” Immediately, my Twitter and Facebook media feeds contained with first hand accounts, information, and pictures. At times media reports were riddled with errors and misinformation. Our culture’s need to immediately digest information fed inaccuracies.

Quickly after the bombing, social media was ablaze with pictures and stories of regular people rushing to the scene of the explosions. There was something different about this act of terrorism. The shock was lessened by bystanders heroic action rather than fearful reaction to the explosions. The emerging story on Facebook and Twitter was not about details of death, grief, and loss but stories of healing, hospitality, and love. Google quickly set up a missing persons exchange to find loved ones in Boston.

Facebook messages of prayer and sentiments of grief for Boston filled my feed:

After the wake of the Boston bombings, social media became a tool for American to heal. A tool used to gather together as a digital community. Social media became the mechanism by which people shared a common grief and a common resolve to heal. The pictures and stories of average people doing powerful things to save lives gave us hope. Social media brought us together. We all saw the pictures, witnessed the tragedy, and experience grief through social media.

In the end, the power of social media brought us together to pray, cry, and mourn. But, we didn’t stay mournful long because our collective social media conscience encourage us to respond with healing and prayer – not anger or fear. As we move forward as a country, social media will increase our sense of national community and will play a greater role in healing.

Leadership

Why leadership and ethics are the next big thing

“I choose Business Ethics” – Billy Madison

In the movie Billy Madison, young Madison (played by Adam Sandler) must out wit his rival to take control of his father’s company. Billy Madison picks the category of ethics in a winner-take-all contest because he knows his opponent lacks any sense of fairness when it came to business. The immature Billy wins the day because his opponent breaks down under the pressure of a sense of right and wrong.

If Bernie Madoff, Enron, Bear-Sterns, and the sub-priming lending disaster are our examples of business ethics, then our culture could use more business ethics. Recently, Slate posed the idea that teaching ethics in business school is a tough proposal, but a needed one. Ethical failures cost companies… a lot.

There is a shift occurring in the world of business and organizational operation. In the 1980’s and 1990’s, middle management was a prime focus in business. Somehow and someway, managing people became the norm for companies. Do people and problems really need managing? It seems managing people and problems is more placation than about leadership. Leadership has more to do with moving organizations and people forward towards a goal or idea. Management has more to do with keep things kosher within a business or company.

The MBA, the recent standard of middle to upper business/organizational management, is beginning to see changes – hopefully for the better. Most programs teach students how to run a company or business, but few teach how to lead people… a more complete concept. Years ago, the trend was to crank out problem managers rather than making leaders. Xavier University is one of the growing schools focusing on leadership and ethics, rather than cut-throat profit and get-ahead tactics. Here’s the program in a nutshel l:

Church Leadership

Robert Griffin III, the Redskins, and dying churches

It was awful. It was embarrassing. I couldn’t watch it anymore.

My team, the Washington Redskins had started a good fight against the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday night football. The Redskins came out strong and scored 14 points quickly. My team was looking like they were a sure win to continue into the NFL playoffs with strong momentum. I was hopefully that my Redskins were going to taste a Super Bowl after 20 years.

And then, a Redskins fans greatest fear came to reality.

Robert Griffin III our star rookie quarterback, who was not 100% healthy, sustained hit after hit and injury after injury. Mean while, the Seahawks put together a multi-quarter drive to put points on the score board. As it happened, RG3, became weaker and weaker. His passes were ineffective and his signature running game was just a limb jog to the sideline.

Ugh. It was like watching a train wreck slowly.

“Is anyone going to do anything about RG3!?!” I yelled at the TV.

Passes were misfired, plays were broken up, and interceptions occurred. The play-maker for the Redskins was hurt and no one seemed to do anything about it. Finally, the game was lost.

Immediately, fingers start to point as to who was responsible for RG3’s unhealthy play. It was the coach. It was RG3. It was the team doctor. The list went on. It seems that the team leadership was simply concerned about winning and not about the long term health of the quarterback

How could this happen?

Israel Trip

Israel Day 8: Saving Children, Israeli General, & Suffering

Wolfson Medical Center

There are those who think health care in this country is poor, but what about billions of people who have no health care?

In the morning, we arrived at the Wolfson Medical Center in Tel Aviv. We met Tamar and she shared with us about To Save a Child’s Heart. To Save a Child’s Heart works with communities around the world who have children that need serious heart surgeries. The surgeries cost around $10,000. These children come from countries where there is no medical expertise in heart surgery. Surgeons are Jews and Muslims working side by side with their patients, some of which are Christians. These surgeries take place in Israel.

A doctor with To Save a Child’s Heart

The medical team travels abroad to diagnose and treat children with these heart conditions. Many travel hundreds of miles to be seen by the doctors of To Save a Child’s Heart. Around 40% of patients come from Arab counties. After the surgery, children are able to live a full and vibrant life. Since 1996, more than 3,000 children have been saved from 44 different countries around the world. And, many of these children are Palestinians. There are over 70 Wolfson staff and doctors that work with the To Save a Child’s Heart organization. The organization raises money from private and public (including the European Union) funds to cover the cost of the evaluations and surgeries.

Medical team

Next, we traveled to the port city of Jaffa, where St. Peter received the vision that he should eat unclean food from God , as recorded in Acts. This marina area provided great views of the sea. Lunch was curbside at a great bakery.

In Jaffa.

Israel Retired General

9/11, Culture, September 11

Three responses to 9/11 grief

On September 11, 2001 I was in college. I was getting out of a Tuesday morning class when I heard people talking about an airplane crash. As I walked back to my apartment, I heard more and more information. I walked by a utility truck and heard words on the radio, “World Trade Center… airplane… Pentagon… crash.” I thought to myself, this is serious. Minutes later I watched the towers come down.

With the 11th anniversary of September 11, 2001 here, many Americans are sorting through their minds and hearts. How have I changed from 2001? What do I feel when I think of September 11, 2001? Where was I on that fateful day? Am I still sad? Where can our country go from here?

As we reflect and look back, we have three main responses to the attacks on September 11, 2001:

Rick Warren

Rick Warren’s purpose driven weight loss

Rick Warren, a mega-church pastor and author of The Purpose Driven Life, latest weight loss ministry has raised questions about the purpose of a church. Warren has lost 60 pounds under a new ministry called “The Daniel Plan“. The Daniel Plan is based on the story of Daniel only eatting vegetables. The weight loss lifestyle ministry employs healthy eating, regular exercise, stress reduction, prayer and small groups meeting in church member’s homes. Apparently, the ministry is effective. The church claims to have lost over 250,000 pounds among its 30,000 members.

What sparked this ministry? Warren explains his revelation to CNN:

On that particular day, I was baptizing 858 people… That took me literally four hours. As I’m baptizing 858 people, along around 500, I thought this … ‘We’re all fat. But I thought, I’m fat,” he said. “I’m a terrible model of this. I can’t expect our people to get in shape unless I do.

This weight loss ministry for Warren’s Saddleback Church is catching on. Dr. Oz is now partnering with the church and is providing a fitness and diet plan.

Is Rick Warren’s latest announcement a gimmick for weight loss or is there something deeper going on?

Pentecost 3b

Caught in a Storm

Meteorology has always been a fascination of mine. I would watch the TV and check out the internet websites that forecasted major weather events like hurricanes and snowstorms. Weather storms are an interesting meteorological event. Storms can be predicted but never do they present themselves as the weather forecasters predict. Every summer and fall, hurricane predictors try to figure out how many major storms will hit land. As we have seen from hurricane Katrina, storms can catch us off guard and teach us that we must be careful how we prepare for storms.

I think I loved weather events as a kid because that meant that there would be no school. I guess I still have a little of that still in me, except I do not go to school anymore. I remember one storm that hit the Mid-Atlantic with so much ice they closed school for days. The storm iced everything with a half inch of slippery,cold ice. All of the kids in the neighborhood broke out their ice skates and we skated all over the roadway! The only way you could get anywhere was on ice skates. We loved it because everything was shut down and we were stuck, which meant the school buses could not pick anyone up.

In this week’s readings, we read about two storms: one on land and one on the sea. In the first storm, we read about David, the young anointed one in 1 Samuel 17. David comes to the front line of the battle to face the giant Goliath. This little shepherd boy is mixed up in this battle just as the armies meet. Nobody thinks that David can beat Goliath, who represents the strength of the Philistines. David is caught in a political storm as these two nations meet.

On Facebook