Purpose Driven Network Summit and persevering faith

A word of welcome to the click-thrus from the ChristianityToday news article, “Rebooting PEACE: Rick Warren adds reconciliation to an already ambitious mission strategy.“. According to the press conference after the Summit, 1,700+ were in attendance; not sure how the CT article counted 650.

See my PD Summit links (live-blogging, live-twittering, recorded live-streamed videos) by scrolling down to the blog post titled “Links to Live Summit at Saddleback“. Read great summaries of the 12 main sessions by clicking over to the Learnings @ Leadership Network blog.

On another topic, I read how this LA Times reporter lost his faith, in The Man Who Learned Too Much: For eight years, William Lobdell reported on an industry plagued by scandal, deceit and corruption. It cost him his faith, and now he’s writing a book about his odyssey. I wondered what keeps me hanging in there with my faith in Jesus Christ. [*] Also see Ken Fong’s commentary on having lunch with William Lobdell last November (which got 110+ comments) and Ken Fong’s mirror of the original LA Times article.

I too see and experience things about churches and Christians that are disappointing and disillusioning. My conclusion? When things seem darker, I gravitate to 2 passages: 1 Corinthians 15 and John 6:68 — ““Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”

What keeps you from losing faith?

May 29, 2008 | Filed Under internet, journal | Comments 

slow down & save money. open house & bbq.

While working out (I try to do that 3x a week) walking on treadmill, saw the big weekend news item about excalating gas prices — $3.87 national average, over $4.00 in my ‘hood. CNN was interviewing a guy from Consumer Reports saying that if you speed up from 55 to 65 mph, you lose 5 mpg in fuel (in)efficiency. Accelerating from 65 to 75 mph, you lose another 5 mpg. Tip: drive 55 mph, get 10 more miles to the gallon. Being translated, save $6 per tank when you slow down. Pointing finger at myself, no one else.

Hosting an open house and bbq at our new condo town home on Memorial Day 10am-8pm. Come by as long or as short as you’d like. Family-friendly. Swimming pool and house tour optional. RSVP to me and I’ll get you directions to Aliso Viejo.

An overflow this week with conferences on both coasts. Purpose Driven Network Summit (#pdsummit08) had over 1,700 pastors and leaders from Tues to Thurs at Saddleback. 30+ recorded videos on Ustream of interviews & conversations with panelists and attendees. I’m in a handful of them too - look for orange. At the PEACE Coalition press conference afterward, they said they’d do this Summit again next year in May 2009. Props to Tony Steward for pulling off excellent live-streaming web coverage, and my fellow conversationalists Carlos, Tony, Tom, and Mike! Aside: 1 of my audience shots.

LIVE Summit team

Whiteboard Sessions (aka #WiBo) kicked off their one-day big deal on Thursday with around 1,000 — lotta videos over at ConferenceChannel.org . More than a handful of crazy pastors went to both! [update: just read these sagely words from Jeff Shinabarger recognizing people's gift and potential -- do go over there and welcome Jeff to the blogosphere! He's blogging into his 2nd month now.]

Question to all: should I create a new Twitter account for play-by-play conference tweets? A few have said that I’ve overloaded their phones.

Shifting gears between conferencing + conference calls + phone calls + meetups has wiped out. Maybe I’m getting too old for this. Extending my weekend, starting now, to be unplugged. Peace out.

May 23, 2008 | Filed Under journal | Comments 

Links to Live Summit at Saddleback

Get real-time updates and videos for the Purpose Driven Network Summit at Saddleback Church, May 20-22:

More links here as I have time to post them.

[aside] twitter feeds for Mark Batterson and Ben Arment are unofficial / unauthorized tweets of their blog posts. Anyone know how to get access over to their rightful owners? Mark Driscoll’s twitter is also fake.

[day 1 post-event: very full day. very tired. i tried too hard to cram in extra lunch meeting off site and took several calls too. feast or famine. lots of other great blogging. YouTube video clips take longer to upload than I have time for. I'm thinking of spending more time in the Ustream broadcast room for live conversations and interviews, rather than presentations from main stage, anticipating less live blogging next 2 days; props to my teammates: Tony Steward's masterful new media strategies & productions + Tony Morgan's a great interviewer + Carlos "loswhit" bringing lots of energy and enthusiasm + many more I'm too tired to name and link up :) Rick Warren jumps in to say HI (at 13:56) during this Ustream interview with Bobby G; also see Pastor Rick say HI to webcam #2 at 9:40]

[day 2 post-event: jumped in on several interviews + conversations on Ustream today--- with Mike Foster + New Media and the Church + more about Multi-Sites at Saddleback and North Point. fun to banter. made a Chipotle run for lunch, yummy! Found out about free book giveaway over at Books @ Leadership Network blog! More next week too! Uploaded more than 17+ PD Summit videos onto YouTube]

May 20, 2008 | Filed Under internet | Comments 

twas the night before Rick Warren’s stealth conference

The conference known as the Purpose Driven Network Summit kicks off tomorrow, Tuesday morning 5/20 shortly after 8:00am Pacific Time. The LIVE Summit Team will be blogging + podcasting + live-streaming videos, plus feature interviews with the 35 pastors serving as panelists. Rick Warren himself will be delivering 4 or 5 messages to the 1,500+ pastors in attendance.

At the pre-event briefing this afternoon, the LIVE Summit Team heard about the schedule and logistics. The first Rick Warren message will be live-streamed for the pastors to watch LIVE — the message is specifically for pastors, and the organizers want as many people to watch/hear it as possible. The web link for this exclusive live video feed will be emailed out to subscribers of Rick Warren’s Ministry ToolBox. Sign up at saddlebackresources.com for free.

One thing I’ve noticed today is how Pastor Rick and his staff all exude a desire to support pastors in as many ways as possible. They’ve been doing it for years via Pastors.com. This Summit looks to be quite the roll out for several great things that will support pastors on the front lines of ministry. Here’s a hint: they’re working on using the Internet to provide free videos that’ll encourage pastors weekly, especially those meeting in small groups. And, I’m anticipating there’ll be more info about how the P.E.A.C.E. plan can help more pastors and churches serve & love the world.

May 19, 2008 | Filed Under internet | Comments 

prep’ing for Purpose Driven Network Summit 2008

Special thanks to Tony Steward (and Rick Warren) for getting us connected and getting us bloggers access to the Purpose Driven Network Summit this week May 20-22 at Saddleback Church! Tony has dubbed us the “LIVE Summit Team“, which includes Carlos “RagamuffinSoul” Whittaker, Josh “morethandodgeball” Griffin, Tony Morgan “Live”, and me. Tony (over-?) ambitiously wants to reach 15,000 viewers

We, the LIVE Summit team, will be blogging, podcasting, and live-streaming video during the entire conference. We’ll use Twitter too — those of you who twitter at the Summit, please use hashtag #pdsummit08 to be trackable.

Watch the PDSummit08 live-streaming videos and interviews at www.ustream.tv/channel/purpose-driven-network-summit-2008

I’ll be live-blogging at the Learnings @ Leadership Network blog and here, if CoverItLive works the way I think it should. Plus, we’ll be equipped with FLIP cameras, so I’ll be posting raw videos over at my YouTube channel, a la man-on-the-street style.

After it’s over, the PDSummit08 conference podcasts will be posted at Rick Warren’s Ministry Podcast.

Your turn - what question would you ask Rick Warren and/or any of the 35 panelists? Ragamuffinsoul already has 38 comments — don’t make me look bad with any less! :)

May 18, 2008 | Filed Under internet | Comments 

Older Ideas »