Been Reed - Life and Theology. The musings of a young pastor.

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To blog or not to blog

Ever considered starting a blog? Need some motivation to get one started? Blogs aren’t for everybody, but here are a few reasons starting a blog might be for you.

Reasons you should blog

1. It gets your message out. It gives you a voice. Depending on the nature of your blog, you get to talk about exactly what you want to talk about! Now, whether others will read it or not is another story…

2. It gets your message out quickly. RSS readers, Facebook, and Twitter, among other tools have made information transfer much quicker. When I post a blog, over 1,500 people know about it immediately, assuming they’re looking at the social networking sites I’m connected to. The old fashioned phone tree could take hours to do its job. Newsletters take a day or two in the mail.

3. Everybody’s doing it. Though your mother might warn you against doing something that everybody else is doing, I don’t think it’s always a bad thing. Blogs can give you a voice where others are talking, instead of just within the walls of your organization (though you have to do the work of saying things that they want to hear).

4. It’s a good way to connect with others concerning topics that interest you. The people who will read your blog posts will be those who find your topics of interest to them. It’s a great way to start up dialog about mutual concerns.

5. It forces you to flesh out your thoughts into a format that is understood by others. Writing a blog post can help to flesh out my thoughts and communicate them in a way that others can understand. I have to do a little bit of research, too. I can’t just say whatever I want. I need to be ready to be challenged on my claims.

6. It helps with your writing skills. Long, drawn-out blogs are, in my opinion, ineffective. That’s why my blogs are short. I try to keep them less than 500 words. With a blog, less is more.

7. It shows people another side of you that you wouldn’t necessarily have the opportunity to talk about. I’m not able to sit down with everybody over a cup of coffee and communicate what God’s been showing me. Or talk about something funny that’s happened. Or talk about what I think the role of parents is. Or tell them about an upcoming chili cook-off and how my chili is better than theirs. I’d love to, but I just can’t.

8. It fosters relationships. I’ve been able to maintain relationships with folks I would have lost touch with had it not been for my blog.

9. It helps your business or organization gain credibility. You’ve got an expertise that others could benefit from. Tell us about it, and in the process, you can convince me to hire you instead of that random company in the yellow pages.

10. You’re tired of printing and sending a company newsletter. 1998 called. They want their newsletter back.

Convinced that you should start blogging?

Although there are probably many more reasons you should blog, there are also reasons you shouldn’t. Tune in tomorrow for reasons you should not blog.

Purple Carrots

November 9, 2009 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

I’m reading the book Think Orange, by Reggie Joiner, and find much of it fresh and challenging. I thought I’d share this with you. I love what Reggie has to say in this quote (taken from page 136). It’s kind of long, but worth the 3o seconds it will take you to read it. Just trust me.

“Up until the sixteenth century, carrots were grown in a variety of hues: red, black, yellow, purple, and even white. There were no orange carrots until the seventeenth century when some Dutch growers began feeling patriotic. In honor of their king, William of Orange, they married some yellow and red carrots to produce our modern day orange carrots.

I imagine there must have been some orange-carrot skeptics in the beginning. They were probably overheard saying things like, “These can’t be true carrots,” or “Carrots aren’t supposed to look like that,” or “Those are not the kind of carrots my parents ate.” Nevertheless, the color of carrots changed forever. But here’s an important point: Changing the color of carrots did not alter the fundamental nature of the carrot. In other words, orange carrots were just as nutritious as black carrots. The only real difference between the two was that more people were willing to eat orange carrots than black ones.

If you knew more kids and students would engage in what you teach if you packaged it differently, would you? Would you color it orange if more kids would listen? Before you start using phrases like “watering down the truth” or “not deep enough,” just remember you can change the color of something without compromising its nature. It doesn’t mean you weaken your message just because you focus on what your audience needs.

The principle is clear; If you want more people to eat carrots, then change the color. If you want more students to listen to what is true, change how you present it.”

What do you think? Can we change the way we present the Truth (or the way that we “do church,”) without altering the Biblical message?

Wedding Day Blunders

November 7, 2009 / Ben Reed / 11 Comments

Wedding Cartoon

I’m preparing to perform a wedding ceremony today. I get more nervous doing a wedding than I do preaching a normal, full-length sermon. I guess the reason is that if I mess up a wedding…well…let’s pray that never happens.

Very few, if any, weddings are complete without a goof-up, or two, or three. On our wedding day, my keys were lost (notice I didn’t say that I lost my keys…I still think it was a conspiracy against me!), the groomsmen showed up 1 hour late for pictures, it took way too long for the wedding party to make it to the reception, and it rained, which meant that our reception had to be inside (the building could hold about half of the amount of people we crammed into it). You know what, though? At the end of the day, we were married. And I guess that’s my point.

Mistakes are bound to happen. Details will be forgotten. The pastor may even mess up. But for all you brides (and maybe even grooms), breathe a sigh of relief. The goal is marriage. And as long as that’s accomplished, the day can be counted successful.

What mistakes happened on your wedding day?

Starting Point

November 5, 2009 / Ben Reed / 1 Comment

One of the small group experiences that we offer multiple times each year is called Starting Point. We believe that the foundational truths of Christianity are learned best in the context of relationships. This is a small group that is designed for “seekers, starters, and returners,” but is beneficial for people at any spiritual maturity level.

I love this video that helps explain the value that Starting Point offers. (ht: Mark Howell)

Starting Point – Fall 2009 from buckheadchurch on Vimeo.

Change starts Small

November 5, 2009 / Ben Reed / 2 Comments

Rex, our 1 year old son, is walking. Well…sort of. He’s taking lots of steps. But he’s taking lots of falls, too. In fact, at least half of every attempt at walking ends up with him falling to the ground. Does that mean that I scold him and shame him for even trying to take a step? Constantly tell him he should’ve tried harder? Should’ve asked God for more help? That now he may never be able to walk?

Change We’d like to think that change happens overnight. But in reality, it rarely does. I mean, we reward the overnight change. We give those people stage time. We herald their stories on videos and movies. We stand shocked when those folks share their stories with us. We want to capture them on video so that the rest of our church can see them. We venerate the “big” salvation experiences.

Oftentimes, change is much slower than we’d like.

More often than not, it’s, “I got saved 2 years ago, and I’m still struggling.” or “I got saved 6 months ago, and still have to fight against sin on a weekly…daily…hourly…basis.” or “I’ve been saved since I was 16, and I’ve been fighting against sin, but I still mess up…but with the power of Christ, I soldier on.”

I’ve written about Josh Hamilton before, HERE. He’s got one of “those stories.” However, even after having gone public with his fight against drugs and alcohol, after having been saved, after having been restored to his family, he messed up. But you know what he did after he messed up? He told his wife and his family. He sought their forgiveness. And they granted it.

Change, at one level, happens in an instant. We are saved, from one specific point in history, forever into eternity. But from another, very real aspect, we’re still in the process of being saved. Let’s be honest about this.

You’re not perfect. Neither am I. Lets take off the mask and quit acting like something we’re not.

I cheer for Rex every time I see him take a step. Because that’s one step closer to walking.

Do you need encouragement? I’ll clap for you.

How can you celebrate and encourage someone today who’s taken a step towards Christ?

You should not be in a small group if…

November 3, 2009 / Ben Reed / 9 Comments

Here are a few reasons that you should never, under any circumstances, be in a small group:

You should not be in a small group if

…you cannot tolerate messiness. Doing life together with others is often messy, because you are doing life together with sinners (don’t forget that you’re a sinner, too!)! Don’t always look for a neat bow to be tied at the end of each week of meeting together. It’s just not going to happen. Your story, and those in your group, is ongoing.

…you cannot tolerate a bit of chaos. Coordinating schedules, activities, emails, curriculum choices, food choices, etc. can be a big headache. If you can’t put up with a little bit of chaos, please check out now.

…you show up expecting to receive, but not give. In a small group, you’ll be expected to participate in the discussion. To reach out and build relationships. You’ll be expected to, on occasion, host the group in your home…or pray for others…or lead an icebreaker…or lead the group discussion. If you’re there just to soak it all in, small groups aren’t for you.

…you think that discipleship is limited to information transfer. It’s not! Read more about my thoughts about discipleship HERE.

…people get on your nerves. It’s inevitable. There will be “that guy” in your group. If you just absolutely can’t stand to be around “that guy,” then you can count on God putting him (or her) in your small group (just so you know, I think that it actually works for your good when God puts people who are not like you in a small group together. Conflict with others often reveals the sinful patterns in our own hearts. James 4:1-6 speaks to this.

…you are comfortable with your life. Small groups stretch you to love more, serve more, give more, and sacrifice more. Small groups are not for the faint of heart.

…you don’t want your faith to grow. Being an active part of a small group will grow your faith. The early church met in a gathering service and in homes (Acts 2:46). I’m not saying that the fact that they met in homes is the sole reason that “the Lord added to their number daily those who were being saved,” (Acts 2:47) but it was surely one piece that God was using then…and that, I believe, he continues to use now.

What can you add to this list? Why would somebody not want to be in a small group?

Sunday School vs Small Groups

October 29, 2009 / Ben Reed / 9 Comments

discipleship

“Sunday School guys” and “small group guys” are often pitted against each other. Here are some of the stereotypes:

Sunday schools help people to grow in Biblical knowledge…small groups don’t.

Small groups build healthy relationships…Sunday schools don’t really care about the relational aspect.

Small groups are relevant…Sunday school was relevant 50 years ago.

Sunday school really helps people go “deep” in their faith…small groups stay on the surface-level depth of Christianity.

Here are a few things I can confidently assert about the discipleship in the Christian life:

Discipleship is more than just information transfer. The disciples spent time with Jesus. They heard him preach…but that wasn’t Jesus’ only method of making disciples. He spent significant amounts of time with them.
“Depth” doesn’t just mean a person can quote all 9 of John Piper’s sermons on TULIP, or completely and succinctly recite the Westminster Catechism. Some of the deepest, most life-changing conversations I have had with others haven’t revolved around difficult, divisive theological issues. Depth, in my opinion, is about things which matter both here and in eternity. Not all of those things necessitate insider language. (see my post on the danger of insider language HERE) Can we really say that the intricacies of the atonement are “deeper” than the challenge to truly love our neighbor?
However we communicate (via sermon, blog, twitter, Facebook, over a cup of coffee, a text message, an email, a letter, or an iPhone app), we need to portray the life-transforming nature of the Gospel (the nature and pervasiveness of sin, the hopelessness of the sinner, the person and life of Christ, and the hope of a coming resurrection) in a way that makes sense to both believers and non-believers alike.
The goal of Christianity is Christ-likeness. See Romans 8:29, 2 Corinthians 3:18, Galatians 4:19, Ephesians 4:13, 22-24
This goal cannot be accomplished without the help of others. Jesus, in John 13:34, said, “A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another.” You cannot do that on your own!

I believe that the way that we, at Grace, do small groups is the best way that the above truths of discipleship are accomplished. If, at some point, we cease to make disciples, I’m willing to throw out the system in favor of the mission. Don’t believe me? Read my post about that very thing HERE and HERE.

What do you think? Is discipleship better accomplished in Sunday School or small groups? Should we throw both of them out and start all over?

If you want to see small groups expert Rick Howerton and Sunday School guru David Francis talk this through, check out the video they put together HERE.

1 Year of Parenting

October 28, 2009 / Ben Reed / 5 Comments

Rex

My son had his first birthday yesterday. I can’t believe how quickly this year has flown! I’ve learned a lot about parenting, about children, about faith, and about myself.

Anne Jackson, at a breakout session at the recent Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, said that it’s dangerous to blog about difficulties that you’re in the middle of. It’s good to be open and honest about your struggles, but she wisely pointed out that it’s better to write about issues which you’re already having victory over. I agree with this. Which is why it makes it so dangerous for me to write on parenting…I’m right in the middle of it!

So, knowing that it’s dangerous for me to write about parenting, I’ll limit it to this first year:

9 Truths I’ve learned through my first year of parenting:

My wife works much harder than I do. She deserves a raise!
I’ve learned to love in a way I never thought possible. For the record, my love for Laura, my wife, does not compare with my love for Rex, our son…it’s just different.
Rex looks up to me. This is quite humbling…and reminds me of the great responsibility I have as his dad.
Quality time is not superior to quantity time. It’s in the quantity time that I find quality time.
I have to be much more intentional at planning date nights for my wife and me. For the record, I still have lots of work to do in that area.
I still really have no idea what I’m doing in the area of parenting…but I’m not alone in my cluelessness.
I understand God’s love for me in a new way.
I’ve learned to quit saying, “I can’t wait until Rex…” and “If only he would start…” and start saying things like, “I love how Rex…,” and really value each moment and each stage in his life that God gives us.
I’ve learned not to ask other people, “Is your child doing _____ now?” The implicit (though sometimes it’s made explicit, too) follow up is, “Because when my child was that age, they were already doing that…and your child must be much slower than mine.” Proverbs 18:21 rightly tells us, “Life and death are in the power of the tongue.”

I left my list at 9 so that you could add number 10.

What did you learn/are still learning from your first year of parenting?

For a list of my other parenting posts, click HERE.

Time with the Lord

October 22, 2009 / Ben Reed / 0 Comments

Quiet time Spending time with the Lord is essential to your spiritual growth. But how essential is the location where you do that?

I grew up hearing the importance of separating yourself from others, in a dark place, with no noises or distractions…in fact, they called it a “quiet time.” If I couldn’t find “the holy place” and “the holy time” then I needed to evaluate my life’s priorities. Anybody else ever hear that? My question for us today is this:

Is that the only true way to spend time with the Lord?

I was recently talking with a small group leader at Grace, and he said that the most powerful time he had with the Lord recently was when he was on an airplane. Looking out at the open sky, he was able to appreciate, all over again, the beauty, majesty, and power of God.

Each of these statements below represents me, and what I found most important and helpful, at different points in my spiritual journey.

1. It’s vital to spend time with the Lord daily (well, that’s even an understatement…the Bible says, “Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)). When I don’t spend time with the Lord daily, my spiritual life shrivels up and dies…quickly.

2. The Lord speaks most clearly and definitively in the Bible. In fact, we need to spend much time in the Bible in order to discern His working and His voice in other areas (such as art, music, nature, etc). When I consistently look to other sources in place of Scripture, I lose focus.

3. God doesn’t live only in a box…especially one of our own creation. Therefore, spending time with the Lord only in a “quiet” box is not only nonessential, but it may also be a detriment (if that’s the only time you have with the Lord). I have to get outside of the box.

4. With our society becoming more and more mobile, it’s not feasible to set aside “quiet” time in the same way that our ancestors did. We need to find different (though not less meaningful) ways to spend time with the Lord. I’m constantly on the go, and if I only spend 10 minutes in the “quiet zone” in the morning, that’s not enough. I have to get creative in the way that I spend time with Him.

5. With our society becoming more and more mobile, we need time set aside to actually be quiet. To still the thousands of voices in our heads. To not hear the cell phone ring. Or our boss yelling. Or our kids yelling. Or the doorbell ringing. Undistracted time is a huge blessing.

Which one (or more) of these statements connects with you right now?

Our crazy staff

October 22, 2009 / Ben Reed / 3 Comments

Building team camaraderie is important.

Laughing together as a team is essential.

Building unity is an undeniable advantage.

Doing stupid videos for Remix…probably not a must, but at least we made fools of ourselves!

Do you need a Sin Cage 2009?