One of the reasons I joined "the Joomla! band wagon" originally was because I couldn't code a paragraph. I knew nothing - complete idiot when it came to code. I drove my son (computer science geek) nuts! 

All kidding aside, let me share a few serious thoughts on how this general debate (whether you have to be able to code to design a web page) affects the non-coder and creating open source Joomla! sites. I've been working with Joomla! for about 5 years now. I began the process without knowing code (xhtml, css), and found it frustrating at best. Perhaps you're frustrated.

"If it's so wonderful and does so much, why is it so frustrating to build?"

A local church is challenging it's congregation to "fast from technology" for 24 hours.

But God has been doing something very interesting in the Washington, D.C. area this past week. Snow and then, more snow.

I just put my boots on, stepped outside with the dog in the very still night. There's a lamp post that looks just like the lamp post in C.S. Lewis' story, The Lion,The Witch and the Wardrobe. I felt like I stepped into another world.

Maybe we need our weeks punctuated with snow. (And I'm a sun lizard personally.) I can feel the advantage of muffled sounds and schedules. I think my soul thirsts for more of it. How about you?

Usually all I hear when I step outside is traffic. Tonight is magical. The fairly faint whisper of snow. The blanket of brightness. Silence.

What a treat God. Thanks! Bring it on tonight Lord ... we need some silence.

"Be still and know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

Turning off the laptop . . .

 JC Reigns - a fantastic contemporary Christian band in Northern Virginia - brought their great lyrics and warm personalities to Pender United Methodist Church, Fairfax, Va this past weekend. "What if?" is their first CD release and each song has a story.

But the big story? The band is giving their CD to churches to use as a fundraiser for "whatever." As band leader, Kevin Havens, says, "This CD had been given to us as a gift, and we wondered what it would be like to do this CD in other churches as a 'parable of the talents' gift?"

David Seah always has good ideas. He blatantly admits that his life is a mess, and he's trying to get hold of doing the things that need to get done, and let the rest fall off the face of the earth.

How about you? Do you get done in a week what's reasonable and should get done? If you're like me, my time seems to slip away - sometimes in good ways (unexpected interruptions from people) and sometimes in a bad way (mind frolicking everywhere!).

That's why I'm trying out a New Year's resolution this year: Try to live more balanced.

And I've decided to use David Seah's tool - a Day Grid Balance sheet. I tweaked it for my purposes, mostly to add a weekly scripture focus. You can download my tweaks or download the original. It's all licensed under Creative Common license.

Explanation on how to use this effectively has been all written out here. I would add these experimental comments: 

•  It's not a waste of time! Living a reflective life is part of living a good life with God. ("Consider now, for the LORD has chosen you to build a temple as a sanctuary. Be strong and do the work." 1 Chronicles 28:10, NIV)

• Use a focus Scripture for the week and consider each event throughout the week in light of the lesson from scripture. What if each week were a God-honoring week?

Getting a better life? Does life feel the same this year as it did last year? Choose a guru. Muhammad. Mother Theresa. Deepak Choprah. Gandhi.

Historians place all of these names side by side, as if they each has historical value, lumped together as 'heroes'  of some sort.

But Jesus addressed our heroism centuries ago. He addressed our guru-itis. And he addressed our quest for the good life - all in one sweeping statement that even baffled the people hearing him say it. "I am the way and the truth and the life." (John 14:6, NIV)

What do you mean you're the way, Jesus?? Isn't that a bit - oh shall we say - arrogant?

Relative to every other guru, Jesus says he's ... the way.

"He could have scored more points in political correctness had he said, 'I know the way,' or 'I show the way.' Yet he speaks not of what he does but of who he is: I am the way." --Max Lucado, 3:16 The Numbers of Hope, p. 87

How can Jesus be my way today?

I want to live!

I am a student on a long learning curve in how to blog well. Fortunately, there's Chris Brogan with sound advice. How does he get his blog ranked high and read often? Well, he tells you in his article, "27 Blogging Secrets to Power Your Community."

His best point, IMHO, is "Don't finish the article - Let your community finish it for you."

You should read a fascinating article this morning from The New York Times: "The Andes Chronicles" by Stanley Fish. Why? The church should be looking with eyes like this reporter.

He describes a community experiment in people unofficially organizing and enjoying life together. And then there is our church - trying to officially organize. Sometimes our organizations run counter to the natural ways people want to organize. And sometimes we need to be counter-cultural, but still use the ways our surrounding culture 'wants to' get together.

Why didn't the United Methodist Church think of this - before there was a splinter group whose ideals may not be to spread the Gospel of Jesus Christ?

Listen to what Mr. Fish says:

"My wife joined the Methodist Church and met regularly with a few other parishioners to talk about life; no agenda, just conversation. But then another accident. A schism within the church led the members of the discussion group to leave, and they met for a while in the hotel and then in the restored tavern. As word got out, more and more people joined them, farmers, retired school teachers, professional musicians, lawyers, judges, shopkeepers, businessmen and -women, visitors from nearby towns, just about anybody; and now every Wednesday at 7:00 p.m. up to 70 people congregate to hear presentations and pose questions on every topic under the sun — Afghanistan, poetry, conservation, war, peace, the economy, energy, affirmative action, rural life, you name it."

We, the Church, should see beyond our models for where and how church takes place. We should be claiming these "third spaces" for a more Biblical, New Testament model of church where people met in homes, broke bread and shared life.

The Challenge: If we were to tear down our buildings, where would our church meet? And how would we engage the outside world in a new way?

I hope there's someone from the United Methodist Church - who loves Jesus and speaks to/of Him - in that informal town hall. 

Problogger.com just opened for business at $1.95 per month and boasts 1000 members. That means about $2000 per month income.

Did you catch that? $2000!

For what? A community of people serious about blogging and helping each other. I guess that pastors charge for downloading their sermons, so why shouldn't bloggers charge for a two way interaction forum?

Problogger just made a breakthrough. Until now, advertising or becoming a paid affiliate has been the way to "make money" as a blogger. Problogger is selling "expertise" in a new way.

My point? 

How could the church be just as savvy and just as innovative in funding ministry? It's time for new ideas period.

Some ideas:

• Get a Bigger Idea! You'll need a "Big Idea" Team. Discern and communicate the vision bigger than you currently have - together. Unless we communicate what God is asking us to do, why should anyone "buy in"? Meet with them on an ongoing basis over a year period of time and challenge them to pray and ask for God's blessing on what God is planning with you.
• Identify the business owners in your area and network like crazy! Which of those business owners seem to really influence and collect people around them? We want those people to hear about our vision and how it will affect our community. Take 'em to lunch. Ask them how they would fund a vision like yours? Listen. And ... build a growing relationship of mutual respect. Who knows what we'll learn or what help we'll get!
• Fast and Pray. No really! Fast and pray. God is the God of creativity. Maybe you don't have this problem, but I find myself denser than concrete some days. God needs my discipline to listen - harder. Why wouldn't I go to the source of creativity for a new wine skin and new wine?
• Have a Contest in Your Church! Make it a wild and crazy month. Ask for the wildest (but safe) idea to raise funds for terrific ministry - and give out recognition for it! Why? Brainstorming needs sparks and lots of adventurous fun to work. One spark leads to another and before you know it ... a new idea.

You can do it too! Do you believe the ministry you are doing is important? Obviously, Vince Antonucci believes what he is doing is valuable and he's raising money quite uniquely. How? He's put out a blog challenge - for 500 people x $100 donation - to rent a space.

It's going to work.

Starbucks made huge money and reputation by getting their name onto Ice Cream in your local grocery store freezer. Wouldn't you like your movement for Christ to be that noticeable?

Seth Godin shows how Starbucks landed that goldmine. They "developed" their business, i.e. found ways to leverage what they were particularly good at in partnership with another equally good business to get more of their brand into consumer's hands (read profit).

Starbucks partnered with a company, Unilever. Here's why.

"Unilever is the No. 1 ice cream manufacturer globally and they have strong experience with super premium brands," said Mary Theisen, director of business development for Starbucks' global consumer products. -- From "Starbucks new ice cream hits stories in SeattlePI.

How could we leverage the idea of Business Development to deploy our mission (see the big picture in Part 1 of this series)?

We're not about making profit quite the way Seth has imagined. We are, however, all about meeting and sharing Jesus with others. Let's make that VIRAL with a business development plan!

How?

1. Who in your community - business entities or individuals - are the most respected members of your community? Why are they respected? Is there an intersection with your church?
2. Approach those individuals and businesses for partnership around common values and desires for community transformation.
3. Take the time necessary to make that relationship strong. Don't sit behind a desk or prepare your sermon all day. Get out there!
4. Find people in your congregation who are pioneers and sold out for Jesus. Ask them to frequent these businesses and also establish relationships with the owners and employees.
5. After building relationships and testing the waters with these folks about their desires for their community, take steps to partner together on one project that reaches common goals.
6. Go for more!