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What I Read This Summer..

Russell Martin — Sat, 30 Jul 2011 05:38:32 +0000

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/daviderickson/

I subscribe to a bunch of blogs and take time a few times a day to read through what others are writing on the topics of communication, worship, church and life in general. I generally pull them up on flipboard or google reader, skim through the headlines and star those posts that I find interesting. Here are a few I thought I would share with you.

1. 5 Reasons Why You Need to Get Better at Saying “No” by Michael Hyatt -

#5. “Every time I say “no” to something that is not important, I am saying “yes” to something that is.”

If you haven’t read anything my Michael Hyatt now is the time. Every post is great but this one stood out to me because it’s something I struggle with. Understand these 5 reasons and it will help you to re balance your life.

2. Publishing is Not Enough: Become a Blog Post Curator! from TentBlogger by John Saddington

“Your blog is a dynamic and living representation of you, your goals, your mission, your ideas, and more. You would never call yourself or your life “static,” right? As such you should treat your blog with a little bit more care and become more than just a publisher of content – become a curator of your content!”

Are you a publisher or a curator. This post reminded me to continually craft, edit, and revise my blog instead of hitting publish on a post then forgetting about it. Here we get 10 tips on how to keep your blog fresh, creative and alive.

3. Church Websites 101: Call to Action from Church Marketing Sucks by Kevin D. Hendricks

“So you think your church needs a website. Or a new site. Or a better site. Rock on. Welcome to Church Websites 101, a quick and dirty series about how to start or restart your church’s website.”

Church Marketing Sucks (or Church Marketing Stinks, if you prefer) is a great resource for information, ideas and trends for church communication. Here is just one post in a series on how to create a better website for your church called Church Websites 101.

So what are some of your favorite posts you have read recently? Share them in the comments below.

Photo from http://www.flickr.com/daviderickson/

3 Steps to Manage Blog Reading

Russell Martin — Thu, 02 Dec 2010 06:12:01 +0000

I read a good number of blogs on a daily basis. They range from tech blogs to worship blogs, from communication blogs to friends blogs. For a long time I have used Google Reader to organize these blogs. Here’s how…
1. In the morning I read through the blog headlines and see which ones sound interesting. Sometimes I’ll read the whole post, sometimes just a little bit. If I like it, or would like to read it later I put a star by it
2. In the evening I read through the starred blogs more closely, and determine whether I will keep it, delete it or share it.
3. If I keep it it stays starred. If I delete it I remove the star. If I want to share it I click the share button.

Those shared items are then put onto their own page that you can access. Just go to http://www.google.com/reader/shared/rgmmusic to see my most recent shared items. If you don’t have time to go there now, here are a few of my most recent favorites. If you like, you can also subscribe directly to my shared items on google reader.

When It Comes to Media, It’s Time To Get Real

Freebie Friday 199: Free motion PowerPoint backgrounds

Best Practices of Combining Typefaces

Movieclips.com Raises $3 Million to Help Bring Movie Clips to the Masses

I’m working on creating a twitter list of all those individuals whos blogs I have shared over the past year. See the initial list at @rgmmusic/shared

What I Am Reading-Freebies, Printing Press and Questions

Russell Martin — Thu, 26 Nov 2009 20:48:16 +0000

Thought I would let you in on a few different blogs and articles I have been reading lately-

1. The Internet is Not Your Delivery Boy- From Church Marketing Sucks I learned that the internet is not just the 20th century printing press, but should be so much more. It’s not about informing but connecting…

2. Freebie Friday- Tim Schmoyer from Life In Student Ministry shares different freebies each week. Last weeks was #152: Dallas Theological Seminary Courses on Itunes-

3. Finally David Risley in a guest post from ProBlogger asks the question, “Are You Talking At or To Your Readers” in a recent post. I wonder how many of the questions, and lessons learned, in this post could be applied to churches too?

What I’m Reading-Revolution, Connection and Forgiveness.

Russell Martin — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:50:04 +0000

Revolution, Connection and Forgiveness. This is what I learned from reading blogs over the past few days.

First Kem Meyer posted a video called Social Media Revolution. If you thought social media was a here today, gone tomorrow venture then think again. I have seen this video before but it is definately worth reviewing.

Second, you can tell from my change in layout that I hit a wall with my blog and needed a change. Darren Rowse talks about the Getting Over the 6th Month Blogger Itch. Its a bit of encouragement for those of you needing a little push to keep going.

Finally, a new blog I have begun reading recently is Withoutwax.tv by Pete Wilson. In this one he talks about being Fast to Forgive. When we hold on to grudges and hurts usually we are only hurting ourselves. This is a great reminder to just let go and forgive.

My Shared Items 11/02/09

Russell Martin — Mon, 02 Nov 2009 06:56:43 +0000

Each week I receive posts from over fifty different blogs. I collect and read them on Google Reader and thought you might benefit from some of the things I am reading. So here are some of my favorites from this week.

In Happy Hallow…. Harvest Festival, Michael Buckingham talks about ways to use Halloween as an opportunity, not a stumbling block. Yes I know it’s a little late, but file it for next year.

One of my favorite new blogs to follow is Michael Hyatt’s Blog. On 10/30 he shared a guest post from Margaret McSweeny on 12 Strategies for Leadership Success.

And finally TechCrunch, Pandora now offers integration with Twitter and Facebook

If you like, you can subscribe directly to my shared items on google reader.

Also if you have a blog to suggest, please put it in the comments below.

Sunday Setlist- 06/07/09

Russell Martin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 04:21:46 +0000

This week was a sad yet joyous one for our church. Our associate pastor Frank Coats has been appointed to a new church in Houston. Today was his last Sunday with us. One thing Frank is known for is wearing bowties. So this week many members showed their love by wearing bowties of their own. We are sad to see him leave but wish him the best.

Here were are songs this week.

Everywhere I Go-
Today is the Day-
Come Ye Sinners
Child of God
Power of Your Name

My Five -Posts Since August

Russell Martin — Mon, 23 Mar 2009 05:49:35 +0000

I’ve been writing posts for this blog since August of 2008. So after 9 months I wondered what my most popular posts are… well I wonder no longer cause here they are. Apparently so far a lot of people are looking for free backgrounds. Tune in later for my 5 favorite posts.

Past Year (Since August)

Free Stuff:Angel Background
Youth Worship: Worshipping Without a Band
Free Backgrounds
Cardboard Testimonies
How to Make Your Own Worship Background

Youth Bands: Who provides the equiptment?

Russell Martin — Mon, 19 Jan 2009 23:56:42 +0000

Our bass player was playing at practice three weeks ago when her strap came off and her bass landed right on the input jack, busting the jack, solder joints, and a good portion of the body of the bass. I was not sure if the bass would be repairable or how long it would take to fix or for her family to replace.

So I got to thinking, “Do many youth programs and bands have instruments that belong to the church for the kids to play, or do all the kids play/bring their own gear? Our band uses all my gear including my PA, drum set, bass amp, and guitar amp and effects, but they play their own instruments (I play left handed). So, what do the rest of do with their youth bands? Do I need to look into buying some instruments and equipment through and for the church?

Jason Huffman is the youth director at Palestine FUMC. He shares his own thoughts about ministry and more on his blog.

Iphone Audio Applications

Russell Martin — Wed, 14 Jan 2009 15:00:50 +0000

Over the past few weeks I have shared posts highlighting some of my favorite iphone/touch applications for musicians. If you enjoyed those make sure and check out this post on churchaudio.blogspot.com for some audio apps that might be helpful as well. And if you missed them, check out iphone apps for musicians part 1, part 2 and part 3.

A Wednesday Funny

Russell Martin — Thu, 08 Jan 2009 06:02:22 +0000

Working at any job I used to think the worst days were Mondays. But I have learned that Wednesdays are the days I tend to dread more. Yesterday my friend Russ Bowlin sent the entire staff this video. Apparently his goal was to inspire, and encourage us all this tough point of the week. I can tell you, I was inspired.

Hopefully Wednesday videos will become a weekly tradition. To read some of Russ’s slightly more serious thoughts you can follow his blog at http://russbowlin.blogspot.com/ or catch him on twitter @russbo