Help Me Save a Life
Nov 15, 2009 Communication, Devotions and Thoughts, Me
For the past two years I have been supporting the “Nothing But Nets” campaign. The campaign raises money to provide mosquito nets that protect from Malaria with the goal of wiping out the disease on the continent of Africa.
Between now and Christmas I want to raise enough money to buy 1000 nets. At $10 each that makes a total of $10,000
Wow, you might say that’s a lot of money but think of it this way.
Between now and Christmas is around 45 days. That means if you saved 22 cents per day between now and then you would have $10 for a net.
I figure that I have about 2000 people I am connected to between facebook personal page, fan page and twitter. If only half participated we would reach the goal.
How you can help:
1. Donate: I have created a netraiser team called Fork In the Road. You can help support me by making a secure online donation. Click here to donate.
2. Forward, Retweet, Repost: Send this on to your friends in your social networks. Get them to help.. who knows we could pass 1000 nets easily.
3. Start Your Own Team: Why not start your own effort with your church, youth group, or among your social media friends. It doesn’t matter who raises the money, just that they get raised.
For more information on how YOU can participate in Nothing But Nets, please visit www.NothingButNets.net
Thanks for your support!
Tags: application, camp, CD, Christmas, Church, Click, facebook, fork In the Road, help, Malaria, Methodist Church, Mosquitos, Music, Net Raiser Team, Nothing But Nets, people, Team, twitter, Wave, work, youth
Before You Create Your Webpage
Nov 11, 2009 Uncategorized
“Do you want people to spend time visiting your church website or visiting your church?” This is the question a wise person asked me when I was talking about upgrading our church website. The question caused me to rethink some of the things I was planning for our site. I am not arguing against having a quality website, however I think there are some questions to be asked, and things to seriously be considered when you are starting a website for your church or non profit organization. Here is a list of questions I came up with:
1. What is your goal? You need to decide what your website will provide. Maybe it will have basic information like dates, times and forms. What ever your reason make sure that you are using the appropriate tool, or site, for the job.
2. How much are you going to spend- You can easily spend $2500 or more to have a beautiful website designed for your group or church. You need to ask yourself whether that money should be spent on your web presence or if it could be put to use in your organization in a better way.
3. What do you need to get your message across? Wait.. first figure out what your message is. Then what do you need to get that message out. Will flash slideshow with pictures be the best format? Would video updates be effective? Do you need to be able to create podcasts?
4. Who is your audience and how do they like to be reached? Don’t just think about who you are communicating with but also consider what ways they communicate. I recently had a member of our church tell me she does not go to our website. When I asked why, she said that she gets our email updates and facebook messages and they all came to her phone. She has no idea what the website looks like, how many hours I spent choosing the right photo or how much money we spent designing it. She gets the information she wants in the best format for her. That’s what’s important.
5. Consider other forms of communication- In this artcile by Fred Zimny he proposes that with services like facebook and twitter, that websites are becoming less important and are being forced to change:
“Over the next few years, we’re going to see official institutional websites become less important. They will cease functioning as the only point of web interaction between businesses and customers and will become merely the official storefront. The main “conversion goal” of these retooled portal sites will be to drive interactions onto the third-party social networking sites.”
It used to be that your goal was to get people to come to your website for interaction with your company. It seems more and more that websites are directing their visitors to their presence on social networking sites like facebook and twitter. Consider the thought that a website cannot be the only online presence your organization has.
6. Will your web presence be mobile?- Look at the number of iphones, blackberry’s, droids and other smartphones that are out there. More and more we access the web on the go. Are you considering how your site will be accessed by these devices?
What questions do you think should be considered before starting a website for your organization?
Tags: Church, Communication, email, facebook, people, photo, Pictures, podcast, question, Service, sing, twitter, video, websites, work
My Shared Items 11/02/09
Nov 2, 2009 Communication, Media and Technology, What I'm Reading
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.
Tags: blog, blogs, facebook, Google, google reader, guest, late, Reading, Share, subscribe, twitter
Creative Artists or Praise and Worship Cover Band?
Oct 28, 2009 How To, Worship Planning
I was reading through various friends facebook updates when this one by Chuck Harris caught my attention:
“The church does not prize originality, but rather cloning, it does not prize freedom, but control.” Leonard Sweet.
It got me to thinking about how we approach worship music in the church. Do we foster an atmosphere of creativity and unleash our members to use their talent in unique and creative ways, or do we throttle creativity by insisting on playing a piece just as it was recorded by the latest worship band? I admit it is much easier to do the second. I also think that we are encouraged to do so by artists and publishing companies because they make it so easy. You can find now an extensive library of resources where the worship tunes have been charted out to mimic their recording. It is easier to learn the music when CD’s can be listened to and are available for easy reference. I wonder though if it has not just made us a praise and worship cover band. Although it is easier, is it best?
I had been thinking on this topic even before I read the quote above. One of our band members, who had been thinking along the same lines, asked if we could try an experiment. He said that we should pass out a chord chart to a song, and let us come up with the arrangement before listening to it on the CD.
I really want to get your thoughts.
What are the benefits of using CDs and pre-written charts?
What are the benefits of doing your own thing?
Which do you use more often? Why?
What are other ways you can foster creativity with your band?
Tags: band, CD, charts, chord chart, Church, facebook, Free, late, listen, Music, praise, praise and worship, Reading, Recording, Resource, resources, sing, song, Thoughts, Worship
My Mistake and Our Big News
Oct 15, 2009 Uncategorized
Yesterday I posted something on facebook that at the time was a huge mistake. I didn’t realize it of course, but as the day wore on, and comments started coming in I saw the error of my ways. What was it?
Big news for the Martin household. More details later.
I saw nothing wrong. We had big news happening with us. It made sense to me. What I failed to keep in mind is that out of my facebook friends and followers there are many women who were all of the sudden drawing their own conclusions and speculations as to what our big news was. You can guess what they were thinking. Sorry to disappointed but the letter “B” has nothing to do with this announcement.
The news is that we have found and begun the process to purchase a house. It’s a nice starting home here in Texarkana. I’ll post pictures once everything is final. This is a big step for us and a huge commitment. We would definitely appreciate and covet your prayers as we go forward.
I apologize again for being so open ended and allowing for so much speculation my status update. I will try not to do that again.
Tags: announcement, Appreciate, facebook, facebook friends, followers, house, late, Pictures, Prayer, Sorry, Texarkana, Win
Instrumental Reflections Live #1 Haunting Melody
Aug 19, 2009 Free Stuff, Instrumental Reflections
Basically this is how it works. I found a web cam I had bought a few years ago. Then I set up my keyboard, ran it into a small mixer and then into my computer. I then signed up for a ustream account and set up a show called “At the Piano.” From there I just sit down, invite some friends and just play.
Today I asked my friends to give me several notes in a random order. I took the notes in the order given and gave myself the challenge of creating a melody and chords based on the give notes.
Want to know when I play next? Follow me on Twitter and Facebook
Tags: application, CD, Chords, facebook, Instrumental, Music, piano, reflections, twitter, video, work
Question of the Day: Scripture
Aug 10, 2009 Devotions and Thoughts
Yesterday on facebook I posed this question:
List one scripture that has meant something to you recently and why… Go
Here are some of the responses so far
“I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me” because I am looking for a job and it is hard to stay strong.
You do not know the plans that I have in store for you….
Pleasant words are a honeycomb; soothing to the soul and healing to the bones. Proverbs 16:24 It’s my girls and my current memory verse. Trying to teach them to speak kindly to each other – even when they don’t want to (A good reminder for mommy too).
delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart… it’s a promise from God that has yet to be fufilled but the fact that it’s been made keeps me going
1 Corinthians 10…God keeps his promise, and he will not allow you to be tested beyond your power to remain firm; at the same time you are put to the test, he will give you the strength to endure it, and so provide you with a way out.
LOVE this verse…because I know no matter how bad things get, God will not let me down!
So it’s your turn. List one scripture that has meant something to you recently and why… Go
Appreciating Your Worship Team: Social Media
Mar 15, 2009 How To, Youth Worship
There are many ways to let your worship team know you appreciate them. Some of these include sharing a meal together, or even giving a CD as a gift. One more I way I thought of today is to use social media.
The beauty, and sometimes curse, of social media is that whatever you put up, most anyone can see. Services like twitter and facebook are a great way to get a message out to alot of people at one time. Why not use this means to show your appreciation to your worship team. This morning our youth band led worship and did a great job. As I was getting in my car I just posted a short twitter that said “Couldn’t be more proud of the youth band, they did a great job.” My goal was that when this posted to my facebook account that some of the youth band members would see it. What happened was that other church members who were there also chimed in and left comments like “Yeah they were great.” So my simple twitter/facebook update actually prompted others to show their appreciation too.
Is this the only way to show appreciation… no. But here are some of the benifits I have seen:
1. It is immediate- A handwritten card may be more personal, but by the time you write it, mail it, and they receive it, 3 days could pass by. I was able to send out this message immediately.
2. It is global- Write a note to one person showing your appreciation and that one person will see it. Write it on something public like twitter or facebook and many people can see it, and chime in too.
3. It encourages others- When you share your appreciation on a public site like facebook then it prompts others to share their appreciation too.
4. It’s easy- No pens, envelopes, stationary, or desk was involved.
5. It gets to the point- When I write a letter alot of times I end up rambling not knowing what to say. Using a text or twitter makes me say what I want to quickly and concisely.
If you like this article then consider subscribing to Fork In the Road music by email or using your rss reader. Visit my contact page for more ways to stay in touch. Follow me on twitter.
Tags: Appreciate, band, CD, Church, facebook, fork In the Road, Team, twitter, Worship, youth, Youth Band
Sunday Setlist 1/11/09
Jan 11, 2009 Worship Planning
When we started rehearsing today, my thoughts were that this was not going to be a good morning. If you follow me on twitter or facebook you know what I am talking about. On Wednesday we had installed four brand new wireless Sure microphones and when installed there were a few cracks and buzzes but I thought we had worked them out. Sunday morning, as we began rehearsal, the gremlins reared their ugly head and the microphones again were cracking. Luckily we had the old microphones, reinstalled them and we were good to go.
When things don’t work well I start worrying. I know I shouldn’t but we also had a guest singing with us this morning and I wanted everything to work well, you know, so she didn’t think that this is how it always was. So I really spent my morning worrying about pleasing people and not God. I think there is a verse about that. Thankfully God worked even inspite of me and the morning was great. The band sounded awesome, and the vocals did a great job. And yes.. the microphones worked great. It turned out to be one of the best Sundays that we have had so far.
So with all of that here was our Songlist
Wade in the Water- (Based on Eva Cassidy Version) Our service this week was on the Baptism of Jesus by John the Baptist. Having the voices of Shelly and Kerri this song was a natural choice for us to use to kick off the service.
Cover us- (The Sonflowerz) We heard this on the Song Discovery 72 CD. We actually will be working 6 or so songs from this CD in the next few weeks.
Stir In Me (Todd Proctor) They were doing this song even before I got here and it has made it through the years. I think it’s because it’s easy to sing and the band loves to play it.
Did You Know? and Thank You For Loving Me- (Shelly Wilson) The band loved playing this song off of Shelly’s latest CD and the best part was that she was here to sing them live with us.
You Never Let Go-(Matt and Beth Redman)- Our pastor ended his sermon talking about the fact that no matter how we feel God is always there no matter what. I didn’t know really how his sermon was going to end but this song fit perfectly.
To view what other churches did this week visit Fred McKinnon’s Sunday Setlist.
Tags: band, CD, Church, facebook, Fred McKinnon, rehearsal, Setlist, Songs, Sunday, Sunday Setlist, Thoughts, twitter, voices, work
Which Books Would You Recommend?
Dec 4, 2008 Uncategorized
Our church is starting a bookstore and we are in the process of finding which books we should include. I thought I would ask my twitter and my facebook friends for their suggestions so I posted this. “If you were to recommend a book for a church bookstore what would it be?” Here were the responses so far. (The links are to Amazon.com)
Traveling Mercies- Ann Lamott
Cure for the Common Life: Living in Your Sweet Spot- Max Lucado
Couples Who Pray- Squire Rushnell and Louise DuArt
Having a Mary Heart in a Martha World- Joanna Weaver
Velvit Elvis- Rob Bell
Free Of Charge-Miroslav Volf
Celebration of Discipline- Richard Foster
Challenge of Jesus- NT Wright
Anything by NT Wright or Henri Nouwen
Charting a Bold Course- Andrew Seidel
The Shack- William P. Young
Anything by Ted Dekker
Anything by Rob Bell
So what books do you recommend?
