I've uploaded the presentation from my Creative Team Planning for Pastors session at WFX and taken a post from the end of last year and re-purposed it for this blog entry. No sense in duplicating a post!

There are some basic "true-isms" that come along with working or volunteering at a church.

• Sunday comes every seven days.
• Yet being predictable (boring) is being irrelevant to your audience.
• And creativity doesn't come quick or easy by yourself.

In a sense, each Monday starts with a blank slate. Or, in vernacular that I grew up with, a clean chalkboard. Today, that might be a clean document or MindMap on your computer. Whatever the metaphor you choose to best represent your generational style, the reality is that we have to come ready to be creative and willing to work together and listen for the Spirit's guidance.

So what does your blank slate look like?

• Are you a Pastor stuck in the mire of week-to-week planning on your own?
• Are you in a church where creativity takes a back seat to more pressing day-to-day needs of shepherding and leading because it's hard to be creative under pressure?
• Are you a worship leader that doesn't get sermon concepts until Wednesday or Thursday before a service?
• Or are you a tech person who doesn't get notes until the last minute, leaving any creative juices mere minutes to "work their magic" or else it's time to open up that PowerPoint Template Wizard?

Starting with a blank slate is either a great thing or a potentially horrible thing. If you have the margin to think, collaborate, plan and execute, then that blank slate is welcomed as the canvas for creating a work of art with a team of committed, enterprising and creative individuals. But if you're in the get-it-done-now-or-else situation, that blank slate is like being in solitary confinement.

If you're in the latter type of situation, spend time praying that God will give you the opportunity to speak to the leadership of your church about changing the paradigm of last minute mayhem to blank slate bliss.

I've written about how to start and utilize Creative Planning Teams at churches. With so many new people reading my blog and listening to my podcasts, I wanted to bring up this series of blog posts (mini articles) to open up your eyes to just how awesome a blank slate can be when you're not the spiritual lone ranger forced to make it or break it week in and week out.

Be sure to read each of these (they're quick reads) and then come back to this post for follow-up questions and conversations.

Creative Meetings: Overcoming the Fears

Creative Meetings: When and Where

Creative Meetings: Picking the Team

Creative Meetings: Expanding "Go-To" Resources

Creative Meetings: Controlling the Meeting

The Chaos of Creative Meetings Comes to Order!

This is where you (anyone, not just pastors) get to tell me why you're not doing this yet. Seriously, put in a comment below and let's have some honest dialogue about this - I really do want to know!

No matter where you are in this process, I'd like to help. Shoot me an email and let's find a time for me to visit with your church leadership on how to transition from weekend services to weekend experiences through the implementation of Creative Team Planning. I've helped others make this critical change, so I not only know that it's possible, I know that it works!

I'm so excited when I see pastors, worship leaders and the creative and technical arts people all come together to elevate weekend services into weekend experiences! I look forward to hearing from each of you (that means you gotta post! Yes, YOU!).

OK, as promised, I’ve uploaded a PDF of my presentation this morning. If you download it, please leave a comment below with your honest thoughts on the class.

WFX Volunteer Training Class

Just a quick update from me at WFX. God is moving. I’ve been in prayer before every session that I teach and He’s been preparing me in such unique ways. I love it!

There’s a tremendous amount of excitement, passion and hunger from the attendees; it’s palpable!

I’m excited to see what God is going to do with all of this…uhm…momentum, maybe? Not sure how to define it, but maybe, just maybe, we’ll see a new level of technical excellence led by passionate people ready to love and do life with their staff and volunteers!

As most of you know, I normally am not at a loss for words. But there’s simply no way for me to capture on my blog what I’m sensing and seeing. I’m tellin’ you, it’s way cool!

I pray that God continues to let me teach. I absolutely love it!

- Anthony

Day 13

It’s easy to change when it means change makes our lives easier. But when change is hard, well that’s a different story! How do you handle change?

Here’s a famous set of verses that were made into a famous folksong:

Ecclesiastes 3
A Time for Everything
1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under heaven:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

God’s economy and his time-table is so far removed from our reality that we sometimes squirm when He decides to move at His speed. If there’s a time for everything above, then there’s got to be a time for us to evaluate what we’re doing and how we’re doing it. This honest inspection and introspection is a very powerful tool for evaluating our processes, traditions and priorities.

When’s the last time you were excited about an inventory of yourself and your ministry or job? When’s the last time you actually took the time to honestly self-evaluate?

If you’re comfortable, you’re probably in need of some change. So, with that in mind, here’s your assignment:

• Take inventory of what you’re doing and why you’re doing it.
• Evaluate how you’re spending your time. What can go? What needs more time?
• How much time are you putting into important relationships instead of yet more time into projects?

As promised, here are the links to the two presentations that I led at WFX today (Tuesday).

Embracing the Digital Culture

Essential Management Skills for Technical Directors

I’d love to hear your feedback - the honest good, bad and ugly. I’m here to serve and teach what you need, so please give me all of your thoughts and don’t worry about hurting my feelings if you disagree with me!

Please, comment below if you download the files.

Additionally, I referenced a few free articles and files that were requested during two of the sessions today at WFX. Here ya go!

Video Director Commands Quick Guide

Media Budgeting Series

Video Projection Formulas

Day 12

I’ve blown it with friends before. I’ve watched their trust equity in me drop to zero when I’ve dropped the ball and failed to follow through. These painful moments are stark reminders of the importance of having friends around you that will love you in spite of what you do, not because of what you do.

The kind of friends that will go to the mattresses with you (Godfather reference) are those that will be there with you when you’re wrong and tell you that you’re wrong without leaving your side. I count these friends as invaluable. They understand that we all go up and down, we all make mistakes and we all grow from those mistakes. They’re also the same friends that will be with you on the highest points of your life and celebrate with you.

Jesus said it best in John chapter 15, verses 12-13:
My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you. Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

If you’re one of my friends that I’ve dropped the ball with, someone who I failed to deliver or follow through with on something at some place or time, then I want to tell you I’m sorry. And I want to ask for your forgiveness.

You see, I don’t want to go through life with someone having anything to hold against me. I desire to have the humility to admit when I’m wrong, the character to do what is right and the relationship to be a friend through thick and thin.

As we all do life together and share in the world of ministry, it’s imperative that we work harder on our relationships than we work on our roles as creatives, techies and artists.

I don’t know about you, but I want to example Christ. And to do that requires that I follow His commands. That’s my lesson for today.

Here’s your assignment:

• If I’ve done something that needs correction in your life, please let me know.
• If you’re holding out on seeking, at the least, reconciliation (and at best, restoration), then make the hard call and reach out to that friend.
• If you know someone who has wronged you, offer them forgiveness.

Day 11

This should be an easy blog post to write. But it’s not. It’s hard. It’s humbling. It’s vulnerable. It’s unsafe.

Why is it that when Christians go through tough times that the first thought we have towards that person is along the lines of I wonder what’s wrong in their life that God is allowing/causing this to happen?

Looking back at the life of Joseph, this was a guy who had bad thing after bad thing happen to him - and he was without blame! Nothing about Joseph’s walk with God was in question. He wasn’t rebelling or hiding in sin. God simply used circumstances to bring about the eventual elevation of Joseph over Egypt.

Now I’m not saying God’s taking me through very tough stuff so that I can run a country, but I am being completely honest when I tell you that I know my walk with the God of all creation, His Son and the Holy Spirit is pure and holy through my obedience to Him. I’ve never, ever been more in the center of God’s will. Yet life is happening and it’s not easy. It’s actually very confusing and difficult.

If you’ve known me for more than 30 seconds, you know that I’m a passionate man. If you’ve known me since December of 2006, you know that I’ve dropped to the bottom and had Christ scoop me out and lift me up in His arms. I’m a new man, a truly new creation in Christ - and all this after I became a Christian!

So what’s this post about? It’s not about where I’m being tested, strengthened and made utterly dependent upon God. It’s about having the conviction that I am to share with you transparency - and that the best way to talk about it is to actually do it.

Well, here I am. I’m evaluating everything I’m doing: how I’m working, what I’m chasing after, the kind of projects I’ve proposed - everything - and asking God to show me what to do now.

You know something? God has seriously gifted me to be very good - some have said “one of the best” - at what I do. And I love it! But when literally 95% of the projects on the table get pushed back and things don’t land even though the sales pipeline is full, well, that’s gonna hit and hit hard. It’s crazy to have so much opportunity and so many proposals out there but literally to have God keep them from landing for the better part of 6 months…(I know, God is not crazy!)well, that’s rough! I need projects to land. It’s never been this difficult - not even close.

My wife shared an email with our closest friends and family. In it she said these words, which I couldn’t have said better:

I’ve never been good at asking for help, so God is now making sure that I can crawl over this obstacle in my walk with Him and move past that pride. This email is my way of asking for help. Not for someone to rescue us, but to see if God will use anyone we know to open a door. What God spoke to Anthony and I today is that if we don’t ask for help how can we expect God to help us?

So there it is in my wife’s words. It’s our lesson on transparency from God.

And here’s what I believe is your assignment:

• What about your life can you share transparently with others so that God is glorified?
• We are called to lift each other up. I ask for you to lift me and my family up in prayer.
• Do you have any friends that you can speak the truth in love to and help them with wise counsel?
• The kind of relationships that honor the Father are the kind that share in spirit and truth. If you don’t have that person in your life, please prayerfully consider to allow me or someone close to you whom you can trust in confidence.

Resistance really is futile. I’ve held off on Twittering myself even though I dig the technology and love the ministry implications…until now.

OK, OK. Thanks to Mark Newton and Terry Storch for giving me a push towards it. And then thanks to Mark Newton again for shoving me off the cliff into Twitterdom.

I’ll be using this to update, especially next week during WFX.

So pick me up … www.twitter.com/anthonycoppedge.

Each year at WFX I have people bring a set of plans for a new building, a new technology upgrade or something along those lines, asking me to consult with them at the show. In the past, I’ve not been able to do much of this because I booked myself silly with teaching classes (I’m on the advisory board and get lots of class time if I ask nicely) .

But this year I wanted to make myself available to churches that just need a strong second opinion and insight on their plans, so I am hanging out with my buddy Dave Welch at the Duncan Video booth quite a bit between the classes I’m teaching.

So, if you want to book an hour with me at WFX, I’ll meet with you for next to nothing since we’re there anyway. But, since 1 Timothy 5:18 says “…a workman is worthy of his wage,” I will be charging a minimal fee for my time. It’s up to you, but $100 for an hour is a smokin’ good deal compared to flying me in for a day.

Just email me anthony AT anthonycoppedge DOT com with the subject line Consulting at WFX and I’ll be sure to get you on my calendar ahead of time.

See? That’s accessibility, baby!

You know, I love technology. I really do. But I, like everyone else, can get complacent. That happened when I was “fat, dumb and happy” on MySpace. But over the months I’ve been asked so many times about Facebook and why I wasn’t on there…but I never bothered to make the switch. Until now.

Yep, it’s official, I’m on Facebook and loving it. MySpace is different, but man oh man do I prefer Facebook. Schweetness.

OK, so here’s my profile link on Facebook.

Look me up. Friend up. I’m in.

Day 10

I’m sitting here trying to think of any successful venture that didn’t require training. Now I’m not talking about formal training, per se, but I do think that has a significant part to play in many people’s lives. What I’m thinking about is the kind of practical training that happens when you follow and learn from a true artist, a craftsman, a master.

If I may oversimplify a bit, I’d like to look at the example set by Jesus in training his disciples:

1. Invitation
2. Guidance
3. Encouragement
4. Development
5. Evaluation
6. Participation
7. Reproduction

Here’s how I’d break this down for us to train other creative and technical people:

Invite someone to learn with you. There’s something powerful about being invited and asked to participate in something bigger than ourselves. Most of the best volunteers I’ve met at hundreds of churches came because someone asked them if they’d like a chance to see what it was like to do what we do!

Guide someone through the process, initiate them slowly through the ropes and give them a lot of freedom to watch and observe.

Encourage those who have a giftedness at certain tasks or in certain areas. We all love hearing when we’ve “got it” and like to know we’re doing something well (or have the potential to do so).

Develop the people who show the most interest, have the best servant attitudes and are teachable. I’d much rather have a person who is inexperienced and teachable than an “expert” who can’t be taught.

Evaluate honestly. Hurting feelings doesn’t have to be a part of the job, so be gentle when you have to redirect people out of areas where they can’t accomplish the job. Keep written records of evaluation and offer tangible steps for people to either improve or find new ways to serve.

Participation has to be consistent. There’s not an expert or professional on the planet who simply showed up and started being a genius without any failures or dedication to their role. This is a “team sport” and it takes all of us working together in unison and not flaunting individual talents.

Reproduction should be a natural part of someone becoming seriously qualified and competent in their role. Far too many churches have “the sound guy” (as in ONLY ONE PERSON) or “the worship leader". While there can (and should) be a leader for decision-making and administration, a team of leaders is the only way to obtain consistency, quality and growth.

All of these steps can and should happen in your local church. But there are also excellent conferences and experts who are available to help you accelerate your growth and capacity. Just next week, for example, the Worship Facilities Expo, better known as WFX, is going to be in Indianapolis, IN. It’s an excellent and affordable conference for creative artists, techs, worship leaders, business administrators, executive pastors and even senior pastors to learn from a large number of seriously qualified experts and veterans.

About WFX:
WFX is dedicated to growing churches that are seeking information and resources to help plan, execute and manage their growth objectives through the use of their facilities and today’s revolutionary audio, visual and lighting technologies.

Event highlights for Spring 2008 that create the total experience include:

• Keynote address from a prominent figure in the church market, carrying on the WFX Keynote tradition of excellence
• Comprehensive conference program taught by the best minds and most dynamic personalities in the industry
• Local church tours targeting several unique Indianapolis churches
• Expo floor with thousands of products and services for growing churches

In addition to the show highlights listed above, WFX Spring will continue to provide conference attendees with the most comprehensive conference program available for facilities, technology and executive teams of growing churches. The program will cover:

• Facilities design, construction, remodeling and funding
• Facilities operations and maintenance
• Audio/visual equipment selection, and system design/upgrade
• Digital Church: IT, church websites and new media
• Green Church, new for 2008, with a particular emphasis on green building design and energy management that can result in cost control

I’ll be teaching:

• Embracing the Digital Culture
• Essential Management Skills for Tech Directors (panel discussion)
• The Ins-and-Outs of Video Venues (panel discussion)

I hope to see you there! Call me on my cell to meet up: 817 DASH 819 DASH 7288

Lest I forget, here’s your assignment:

• Invite someone to come and sit in the tech booth or backstage in the green room to experience - without pressure - your cool environment.
• Evaluate your current team and make notes on where they’re strong and where they’re weak, then offer training classes to get people up to snuff.
• Attend a conference. Even if you’re a volunteer, take the time to learn from those who’ve “been there, done that". Experience is great. Wisdom is even better.

Day 9

I thought the movie “What Women Want”, starring Mel Gibson, was a clever and humorous look into what life would be like if a man could hear every woman’s thoughts. So, today I thought I’d share with you what would happen if we as creative artists and techies could hear our pastors’ thoughts - right before, during and after a church service.

What Pastors Think

• I can put the mic on myself. I wonder why he always wants to clip it on me?
• Oh, no, here comes Deacon Bob. He’s plugging his ears, so he must think it’s too loud!
• I hope the fog machine turns off before my sermon…
• I hope my mic works this time when I start talking.
• Please, please, please put the right song lyrics on the screen!
• I gave them my sermon notes right before service, so I don’t understand why they look so panicked in the booth?
• Where’s the sound guy? Why can’t I see the sound guy? Is that his head behind the console?
• Please have the video cued-up and NOT on the FBI warning again when I call for it to be played…
• We added video cameras and now I have these bright lights in my eyes. Man, it’s hard to see people out there…
• Uh-oh, the tech director is walking towards me with some sort of electronics in hand…he must want money to buy new gear - AGAIN!

What’s funny to me is that every single thought up there has gone through at least one pastor’s mind at some point in time. I know this because I’ve heard these comments from pastors before!

But, in reality, what pastors are really thinking about probably sounds a lot more like this…

What Pastors Really Think

• God, please let me hear you so clearly today and speak through me…
• Thank you, Lord, for all of these people here today.
• There’s Deacon Bob, coming this way. He’s going through so much since he lost his wife.
• I really should keep the mute button off on my wireless mic…but I like the control!
• God, I see you moving in this service already as people sing to you. Fall heavy on us, Lord.
• OK, I start with this and then I’ve got to remember to integrate that story with the passage in Luke…
• I can’t see the sound guy and my mic is making strange noises. Is he aware? Is he fixing it?
• I should have pulled the video I was going to use…giving it to them last-minute might be a mistake…
• Are they connecting with my message? I can’t tell if they’re really engaged or not…
• Uh-oh, the tech director is walking towards me with some sort of electronics in hand…I hope he tells me good news without the techno-speak!

There’s so much going on in a pastor’s mind during a service that we who support (and enhance if you’re working together) them need to extend bucketloads of grace and offer them all the latitude they need. We have no idea just how much they’ve got to deal with and need to focus our time with them as uplifting and solution-oriented.

Here’s your assignment:

• Write your pastor a note of encouragement. Write slowly if you have bad handwriting, but a hand-written note is far more personal than an email or typed letter.
• Take care of your equipment and keep your areas clean and organized. Part of building trust-equity comes when they see you taking care of what you have today.
• Make sure your entire team appreciates the pressure and responsibility of the teaching pastor. Be sure to nix any chatter on the intercom during the sermon so that we can try and pay as much attention as possible during the message.
• When things go wrong (and they will), make sure you keep your head up and eye contact with the pastor so he knows that you know and are taking care of it. A smile and a nod gives him confidence in your ability to handle technical issues.

Feel free to share you thoughts on what pastors are thinking or how we should engage and respond.

Day 8

It’s one thing to say “thanks guys” or “great weekend everybody” or “hey, good job today” after a service is completed and the volunteers are shuffling out the door. But it’s another to actively reach out to them on a weekday and just call to love on ‘em.

Few things make a person feel more appreciated and loved than when we pour our lives into each other. A pat on the back is nice. A compliment is great. But nothing beats someone authentically reaching out to a volunteer and honestly loving on them and pouring into their life.

If you’re a staff member or a volunteer, today’s your day to call someone (EMAIL will not suffice) and tell them how much they mean to you and how much they are appreciated. Then pray with them and transparently share what God is doing in your life so that they can see your genuine Christ-like love and further the relationship.

Here’s what Jesus told us to do:

A new command I give you: Love one another. As I have loved you, so you must love one another. - John 13:34

Here’s your assignment:

• Call a volunteer today. Not tomorrow. Today. Make the time.
• Be prepared to spend time talking with them, not just at them.
• That person who you know you really don’t want to call - yes, that person - call them FIRST.
• Come back to this blog and post how God used your time and honest transparency to edify each other.

Day 7

My wife and I were whistling last night while we played Canasta (and I got stomped 6 games in a row!) and the song “Don’t Worry, Be Happy” (note: that is one of the weirdest music videos…) was whistled briefly. I say briefly because it is almost as annoying as the Macarena song. Almost.

As I collected my thoughts and prayed for God to give me words for today this song popped into my head again, except this time I immediately thought about Jesus saying “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” (Matthew 6:34)

Yet we DO worry. We think about the what if and the should we or the how will I. But, Jesus wasn’t offering advice; He told us what not to do!

Worry is part of our flawed thinking that we are in control of our lives or our situations. If you can’t breathe without God, what makes you think you can worry and make it any better?

Here’s how worry has reared it’s head in my life:

• Finances
• Health
• Raising kids
• Job performance
• Relational conflict
• Critical decision-making
• Career choices

…just to name a few. Yet I absolutely know that when I give my worries, fears and anxieties to God, He will sustain me and provide for me in every way AND that His plan will be infinitely better than my plan!

Take comfort in the words and word-picture painted by our Lord:

25″Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? 26Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life[b]?

28″And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? 31So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.

Here’s your assignment:

• Spend some alone time with God and give your worry to Him.
• Don’t let worry rob you of the joy God has for you in any and every circumstance.
• If you’re worried about something with your boss or a co-worker or friend - speak openly, gently and transparently with them about what’s bothering you. People need to know in order to help you and understand you.
• Don’t worry, be happy!

Life has been coming at me full-steam and I’ve not taken the time to post the thoughts God has given me to write about. This morning I sat down and typed them all out and am having them added to the blog throughout the day to get us caught back up.

We now return you to your regularly scheduled blogging.

Day 6

In the Day 5 post, I talked about a simple vs. complex mind.

Well, true to form, I’ve found that I have a hard time quieting my mind to hear God speak. Recently, I found out just how much I struggle with a mind moving at warp-speed all the time.

Until tonight.

Tonight I had a wonderful Christian woman pray over me. The Holy Spirit revealed to me just how much I was doing in my own capacity.

For the first time in longer than I can remember, I have a clear, focused mind. IF I CAN DO IT, SO CAN YOU!

Here’s your assignment:

• Rebuke confusing thoughts by the name of Jesus. Take your own mind captive.
• Clear your mind and learn to hear God’s voice - from a shout to a whipser!
• Ask God to lead out in front of you and don’t second-guess Him.

Day 5

Simple or Complex. My wife is simple. I don’t mean “simpleton” or “slow", as she’s actually quite discerning and quick witted, but rather simple as in “she sees things very simply.” Allow me to explain further by compare and contrast.

I see things as complex and needing multiple options for resolution.
She sees things as simple and straightforward.

My mind is always racing with literally dozens of thoughts all competing for first place, even when I’m trying to clear my mind and relax.
She can literally sit and think of nothing.

I plan out everything to make sure all options are considered.
She is usually quick to action after making a simple plan.

We’re very much alike in most things, but in how we think, we’re very, very different.

I think maybe it’s the artist/creative/techie inside me. If you’re also an artist, creative or techie, I would imagine that you most likely relate with my thought processes. We have such great potential because God has given us such a gift to pull from so many places and congeal ideas and concepts together. But, we’re also at a disadvantage because we can either 1) over-think the process, or 2) steamroll people not on our wavelength.

I’m learning (I’m slow on the uptake) to try and quiet my mind and think simple. It’s hard. No, scratch that. It’s nearly impossible. Consider Psalm 46:10, which says “Be still, and know that I am God; I will be exalted among the nations, I will be exalted in the earth.”

Yeah, I’m not good at that whole “be still” thing but God doesn’t offer it to me as a friendly suggestion.

I think we can sometimes (often?) over-complicate things by:

• Trying to get the latest cool new toy (music gear, tech gear, artistic toys) when what we have now works fine.
• Forcing our way into a process that needed a tweak, not an overhaul.
• Making sure everyone knows we’re the expert and they should acquiesce.
• Over-thinking a simple decision. Sometimes we need to “just do it.”

Here’s your assignment:

• When given your next choice for a simple or complex solution, try the simple one.
• Listen to those who are not experts but offer their own “non-techie” solution.
• Rest in the omniscient, omnipresent character of God.
• Learn to “be still, and know He is God.” This one is the most delightful but perhaps most difficult for those who want to do instead of just be!

Day 4

In seeking the Lord for the assignment I am to write to you today, I was reminded of several conversations I’ve had with my bride recently about resting in God. I was also prompted to download and listen to a sermon I heard almost a year ago on rest.

The words below are paraphrased from Robert Morris, the senior pastor at Gateway Church in Southlake, TX (my church). I’ve heard lots of sermons on and about the Sabbath, but nothing reached my creative artists’ heart like this one.

To listen to the sermon, click here.

To watch the sermon, go to their website and click on the video link for Rest is Part of His Plan.

Here are the key parts that I am prompted to write and share with you (yes, you personally - I know God wants me to write to you).

-Beginning of paraphrasing-

The Sabbath is the refreshing of our soul (your soul is your mind, will and emotion). I wonder how many creative ideas we’re missing for our business and family because we’re too tired to come up with them?

Have you ever been emotionally exhausted? Have you ever blown up? What’s the reason we give when we repent? “I was just tired.” Why don’t you just be honest and say, “I was just violating the principles of God and not resting, so I blew up.”

Mark 2:27 “The sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath.”

If you go to Israel today, you’ll find that on the Sabbath (Saturdays), the elevator buttons don’t work. Instead, one elevator will run automatically and stop at every floor, then rise all the way back to the top and repeat the process. Why? Because pushing the buttons is work! God never wanted us to get legalistic about keeping the Sabbath; instead the Sabbath is a benefit as much as it is a command.

Here’s the metaphor Robert came up with to describe how we miss out on the blessing of the Sabbath (rest):

If your job was to be a driver for a fuel tanker truck, you’d be busy going back to the source (refinery) and then taking the full tanks of fuel to each station. In our lives, we are like that fuel trucker. We have to go back to the refinery and wait - literally doing nothing - while we rest and take on a new load of fuel.

But in our lives, we look at “doing nothing” as a waste of time. So we then take that day of rest and spend it trying to “be productive”! But just like the fuel trucker, if we don’t go back to the refinery and refuel, we won’t have anything to give to the stations in our lives, such as family, friends, work or church. In thinking that we’re being efficient, we’re actually being foolish and running out of gas!

-End of paraphrasing-

Guy and gals, I know that we ‘work’ on the weekends, but that means you must take a day off during the week. Let me tell you straight up: I didn’t do this. I would work 7 days a week because I couldn’t get everything done that “needed” to be done. What a lie from the pit of Hell!

Listen up: God knows what you need far better than you do. Take a day of rest and relax. Let God speak to you in your time of relaxation and joy. You’ll not only have more physical energy, your mind will be more alert and creative and your walk with the Lord will be greater. I don’t guarantee it - He does.

So here’s your assignment:

• Mark your calendar (and PDA) with your day off and stick to it!
• Spend quality time with God each day and enjoy the easy, free conversation you’ll have on your Sabbath with the Lord, your God.
• Review the things that must get done and ask God which ones are not really needs at all.
• Ask for God’s forgiveness (He’s so ready to give it to you) for only obeying 9 of those 10 commandments.

I know you will be as convicted as I was by this truth. I implore you to share this blog post with your leaders, peers and volunteers. Just click here and copy the link so you can email it to those people God lays on your heart.

Day 3

Churches want worship and tech arts people who are well rounded; people who have a diversity of skill-sets and can handle every aspect of their job description. Problem is, a well rounded person is also called “a Jack-of-all trades, but master of none”. But don’t fret! You don’t have to know it all; you just have to be networked enough to know who has the answer.

Remember, it’s not how much you know, it’s who you know.

If you ever have the chance to hang out with pastors during their sermon development time, you’ll typically find a huge library of books they reference for research. Today that might also mean additional research is done online, podcasts of other preachers are listened to and blogs are read - all for the purpose of pulling together the best content to help them deliver a well-crafted message.

In the same way, worship and tech arts needs a large reference library, too. In fact, there are a few books that I think are worth buying and reading that help any of us in the creative arts ministries. Here’s a partial list:

• The Heart of Technical Excellence
• Branding Faith
• An Hour On Sunday
• Guide to Sound Systems for Worship
• The Blogging Church
• Visioneering
• Can We Do That?
• The Starbucks Experience
• Emerging Worship

But more than books (which are great), knowing who you can call or email is a huge - possibly the biggest - asset.

The greatest tool for creative artists isn’t software or hardware; it’s peopleware.

Who can you call when you run into a technical snag?
Who would respond to an urgent text message if you needed help with a last-minute project?
Who do you email to get a second opinion on that new quote for equipment?
Who could you call when life and ministry are just plain tough?

You don’t have to be the person who knows it all. You just have to know who to call.

It’s not how much you do, it’s how much you get done.

Have an address book full of people who are experts where you are weak, helpful and available, friendly and compassionate, creative and inspiring, industrious and resourceful and spiritually strong and faithful. You simply can’t have too many people in your network!

Here’s your assignment:

• Reach out and introduce yourself to at least 5 worship/tech/creative arts people in churches within a 20 minute drive.
• Have a monthly lunch with area worship, creative and technical arts peers. Mix it up and make sure it’s not just techies or just worship leaders. Be consistent and meet regularly.
• Subscribe to both secular and Christian trade publications and reach out to the authors that intrigue you the most by contacting them via email.
• Heck, email me. Introduce yourself and provide your contact info. I love being networked. anthony AT anthonycoppedge DOT com
• Share this blog post with at least 3 peers who you think need to hear this assignment from God.

I can’t wait to see how God expands your ministry, reach and influence!

Apple finally released the long-awaited Final Cut Server.

With so many churches using more than one Final Cut editing system, sharing projects, files, archiving and creating workflows is important to increase productivity and efficiency.

Key features I think matter most to churches:

• Automatic asset cataloging
• Collaboration features
• Multi-format delivery
• 10-client license
• Media and content Management

Kudos to Apple for getting this product out…even if it’s almost a year late.

Day 2

Yesterday I had a couple of incredible conversations that confirmed that today’s topic would be asynchronous communication. I love it when God makes things so clear and puts the right people in my path to show me what He has in store for the day! So, let’s get started!

A conversation, as you know, is the use of speech for informal exchange of views or ideas or information. It used to be that we’d have a conversation in a linear format, like this:

“Hello. How are you?”

“I’m fine, thanks. Boy, it’s hot today.”

“Yes, I agree completely. Well, have a nice day.”

“You, too.”

Today, however, this would probably look like:

“Hey. How R U?”

“Fine. Tks. Its hot 2day.”

“Yup. C U L8R.”

“u2.”

But, in addition to the shorthand that comes with texting, this conversation might also be followed by others in a non-linear fashion. With Twitter and blogging, it’s entirely possible to share your day with anyone who wants to subscribe to your RSS feed. And it might therefore be something that is commented upon and discussed by others.

The day is here where we must master the communication and technology in order to have conversations. No longer is it enough to have the real face-to-face, synchronous conversations (though that’s important on a number of levels). The virtual conversation can happen in real time or over time and in or out of order depending upon who has access to a blogged feed.

So, what does this have to do with churches? Simple: our conversations have to be heard and shared for us to have the greatest effect. I call this asynchronous communication.

Regardless of the size or denomination of your church, the need to communicate clearly, succinctly and effectively means that you can’t be neck deep in the sand, upside-down. Change is happening at light speed - literally - and if you’re not at least joining the conversation, then you’re potentially flippin’ your community the bird because they don’t do things your way.

If you don’t know what all this means or how to get started, check out these free resources:

What Twitter is all about and what it means

How to Twitter

What is blogging, really?

5 Blogging services reviewed

Keeping blogs organized and easy to read

Here’s your assignment:

1. Learn about the possibilities for asynchronous communication.
2. Define how your church can and should engage via technology.
3. Evaluate your communications and determine if you’re doing it effectively.
4. Develop a plan and roll-out strategy for communicating the right way, with the right tools to the right demographic subsets in your church and community.

Are you communicating asynchronously?

Though I blog often, I sensed God prompting me to make a special effort to blog each day for 30 days. I’m seeking Him about what this means, but I don’t need an answer to simply say “Yes, Lord!” and write to you (yes, this is directed at you personally).

I’m not sure what will come of all of this or how this may affect me or you. But I am sure that this is what I’m supposed to do, so here goes somethin’.

Day 1

Have you read a bunch of blogs lately? Have you noticed how many of them share a kind of “sameness” to the layouts? Something I’m seeing a lot of is a left and/or right sidebar that includes links such as “what I’m reading” and “what I’m listening to”. Invariably, there seems to be no shortage of recommended books, podcasts and CD recommendations, but it does make me wonder…

Are we really learning or just drowning in information overload?

I’m an avid reader (though not as much as my 13-year-old who devours a book a day - I am NOT kidding), and I love learning from others (that’s called wisdom) but I wonder how many bloggers are really reading all of those books or simply posting links to books they’ve heard are good but haven’t yet read?

Unlike any other time in human existence, we have more access to a flood of information. I’m all for books (have two coming out very soon myself), but there seem to be more opinions than sound advice in much of what I’ve read. I suppose this is borne out of our experiences and preferences, but isn’t there something better than just more information?

Too much information can sometimes confuse a situation that otherwise would have a simple solution.

With more information comes more options. On the one hand, having options (and opinions) is good because we can weigh the pros and cons in our own context. But when we’re deluged with an overflow of information, we can become paralyzed by the enormity of our choices. Some will be good choices. Only one will truly be best.

And so it goes. Faster information flow than ever before.

Information is great, but an answer is so much better.

How can church leaders wade through it all, especially when the flow of ideas, technologies, implementation strategies and cost analysis budgets change on, quite literally, a daily basis?

I can tell you with great certainty that reading more blogs, listening to more podcasts and sifting through more trade magazines isn’t the answer. The answer is entirely based on first understanding and truly owning who you are as a church; not on what church you most want to be like.

Here’s your assignment:

• Cut through the clutter.
• Read what matters most to you, especially when it challenges you.
• Look for answers to questions that include the why to what you do.

In my previous post entitled “Is this bid too high?”, I covered the basics of understanding that vision drives need, need drives cost and cost drives budget. When we learn to balance the expectations with our available budgets, we can accomplish the vision, even if that means a phased-in approach.

Today I want to ask “Did you get a second opinion?”

If a doctor tells you that a very expensive and/or dangerous surgery is necessary, do you get a second opinion? Of course you do!

If you get a large estimate for repairs on your vehicle, do you get a second opinion? Every time.

But if your church receives a proposal for expensive technical upgrades or additions, do you get a second opinion? If not, why wouldn’t you?

When tens of thousands - and sometimes millions - of dollars are at stake, how can we be good stewards of the resources God entrusts to our churches if we don’t get a second opinion? I don’t see a reasonable answer for “why not", yet I hear from churches time and again that they are now stuck with a technology system that either doesn’t meet their short or long term needs and/or they feel as if they were over-sold on the technology.

Am I pointing fingers at non-technical church leaders for not knowing enough about the technology? NO! Am I throwing tech directors under the bus who must burden the responsibility for these decisions? Not at all!

What I am saying is that while we make personal choices to get second opinions from unbiased sources in our own lives, it’s a sad reality that church leaders often don’t consider getting an unbiased opinion on huge capital purchases.

Yes, I will be the first to say that my opinion can be second-guessed by other professionals. But I don’t make money from the sale of equipment or the labor for installing the systems. I’m paid for my knowledge, technical aptitude and - most of all - ministry experience.

What church wouldn’t pay a tiny fraction of the cost of a major purchase to make sure that the equipment is necessary, the longevity is acceptable and the volunteer usage plausible?

Here’s what I believe to my core: Good stewardship has a lot less to do with how much money is saved and a lot more to do with how much money isn’t wasted.

It’s God’s money, after all. Are you getting a second opinion?

If you’re looking for a great magazine that comes digitally (instead of print), then check out this link to subscribe to Studio Monthly. I love it!

I’ve added a new link on the right side of my blog. You can’t miss it, as it’s a large image of the coolest church digital kiosks I’ve ever seen. Here’s an even more ginormous picture of it:

Our company has developed an entire new church kiosk division headed up by one of the pastors that was on staff at my church. It’s so exciting to see the wonderful, Godly and talented co-workers develop not only new systems, but integrate their mad-skillz programming into a rippin’ cool kiosk CRM application. Can we say schweet? Yes! Schweet!

You can check out all of the cool kiosks the guys have developed over at www.thechurchkiosk.com and then shoot Reed Grafke an email (reed DOT grafke AT churchmedia DOT cc) about how you drooled on your monitor.

I love it when cool tools can be leveraged for churches. Yes, schweet!

I love the new RSS feed from my buddies over at WorshipHouseMedia. Now you can get an updated-to-the-minute feed on any and all new videos that are added to WorshipHouseMedia.com.

Schweet!

I had a great time hanging out with over 200 church techs from both the IT and AV side of life this past week up in Edmond, OK at MinistryTECH. It was great to see friends like Terry Storch, Jeff Hook, Jimmy Williams, Tony Dye, Kurt Longhoffer and many others at this fun and informative gathering.

I taught two sessions, Integrating AV & IT and How to get Budget. As promised, here are the class notes in PDF format.

Integrating AV & IT

How to get Budget

If you attended my sessions, please leave me your honest feedback (the good, bad and ugly) as I want to always improve how I teach and how I deliver information.

I loved the opportunity to teach and hope that you enjoyed the sessions!

- Anthony

“Is this bid too high?”

That’s a question I get from churches who have received proposals that have pricing on equipment that far exceeded their anticipated budget.

As a consultant that has been on staff at three churches and done consulting ministry work with hundreds of other churches, my perspective on budgets and expectations comes from the viewpoint of fulfilling the vision of the church. It is my unwavering mindset that vision drives need, need drives cost and cost drives budget. In other words, if what a church wants to do requires certain technologies, and those technologies have certain costs associated with them, then our budget will result from those costs.

In reality, all budgets are in competition with the church leaders’ expectations. Everyone likes a Ferrari, but few are willing (or able) to pay for one. So we either find a way to afford our expectation, or we must lower our expectation to meet the budget. Usually, both must happen, wherein we lower our expectation and raise our budgets in order to match the vision.

So is your bid too high? Does it really cost more than it should or is the bid reflecting the technology required to meet your expectation?

Read more! »

If you came home to find 75% of the stuff in your house GONE, how would you react? If you’re like me, your first thoughts would be along the lines of “They took MY STUFF!”

But if you’re like the fantastic folks at Kinetic Church in Charlotte, NC, you’d put out a billboard that said THIS:

And then you’d create a YouTube video that invited those who stole to please accept forgiveness and allow you to buy the thieves dinner!!

I’m humbled by this incredibly Christ-like response and the brilliant outreach that this represents. Well done, Kinetic Church!

I’ve been with LinkedIn now since June of 2004 and have loved the service and networking it’s provided for me. If we’ve connected before, please reconnect with me by clicking here and sending me an invite.

Ain’t technology cool?

I’ve talked about how the context, content and environment of your church matters before, lots of times, such as:

• Required Church Staff Field Trip to Starbucks
• Service with a Smile
• Seeing with Visitor’s Eyes
• Deceptive First Impressions at Church
• At Your Service

But today I read a post from a pastor I’ve yet to meet in person but have followed via his blog for a while now. This pastor, Scott Hodge, has a fun and thought-provoking post about “Environment Matters”. It’s a short, great read that I highly recommend!

My friend Susan, respectfully referred to as the Copyright Queen, has a terrific post on using content from You Tube (or any other file sharing service) and talks about the WorshipCast License that many churches are still unaware exists.

Her blog is one that I keep updated via RSS because her expertise and content is so good. Make sure you check her site out!