Together We Think Forums: Recent Posts

Together We Think Forums: Recent Posts http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Just another bbPress community en Thu, 29 Jul 2010 11:04:42 +0000 reids on "Online Toolkit" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=11#post-17 Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:43:26 +0000 reids 17@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ I use blogger on my 2orMore site because my host server set me up with that. I'd like to find something that allows me to customize more though. However, before I put time into adding features to my blog, I would like to become more consistent in blogging - something I'm not able to do in this chapter of ministry. Google Reader has been helpful in consolidating and categorizing the blogs I follow. More recently, I've been getting a lot out of Mac Lake and Tony Morgan's blogs. My primary social network platforms are Facebook and LinkedIn. I like FB b/c of its popularity and way of bringing different social circles together. It allows me to keep a lot of my relationships around the world real-time because of how it integrates with Twitter. I always keep FB as an open tab on my computer watching people's status updates because increasingly leaders are discovering the power of leveraging social mediums for disseminating essential ideas coupled with links in 140 characters or less. I personally use Skype b/c it's great for 1-on-1's. I've experienced (never initiated) sessions on Mogulus, which gets the job done for webcasting. However, it - like Tokbox - needs to have very good audio set-up to work effectively. I love the idea of Tokbox, but it hasn't worked for me b/c I've experienced AV delay. Some are fans of it, but it needs improvement in my opinion. I prefer freeconferencecall.com to bring people together even though I can't see them. I'd prefer clear audio over the distractions of AV delay anyday. Evite has been effective with my Community Leaders. I like it because it comes across more personal than an email and it records each person's response for everyone else to view, which brings a positive accountability since it's couched in an "invitation". Google docs has been helpful because it provides web-based solutions for things as simple as a master list of small groups. In other words, it creates ONE document that we all work off of and edit. YouSendIt has been useful in transmitting files too large to email. I love youversion. It's an app on my iPhone I refer to continually. Not long ago, I signed up for WORD2U on purposedrivenchurch.com, which sends a verse a day to my phone. I'm excited about the potential of using the third screen for communications. I haven't gone too far with this yet - but want to explore using things like Twitter and Jarbyco for that reason. People are more tethered to their hand-held devices nowadays than their computers. I guess phones increasingly are becoming people's computers...aren't they!? :) I'm curious...what's everyone's favorite downloadable phone apps? What have you all found to be most useful? reids on "Reid Smith" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=10#post-16 Sun, 31 May 2009 15:22:49 +0000 reids 16@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Would love to: 971-506-1556 (cell). scott on "Online Toolkit" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=11#post-15 Sat, 30 May 2009 01:53:31 +0000 scott 15@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ This is great Reid! Just the kind of thing we need in the forum. Would love to know which of these you are using and why you chose them! S. scott on "Brian Vasil" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=6#post-14 Sat, 30 May 2009 01:51:20 +0000 scott 14@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Brian, Great to have you on board! I love Flamingo and think a lot of your leadership there! Lets see if we can get a phone call on the calendar to talk more about what you guys are doing. Sounds like some great stuff! S. scott on "Reid Smith" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=10#post-13 Sat, 30 May 2009 01:49:51 +0000 scott 13@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Welcome to the conversation Reid! Glad to have you on board! Let's sync up by phone soon! S. reids on "Online Toolkit" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=11#post-12 Tue, 26 May 2009 18:13:35 +0000 reids 12@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Following is an "Online Toolkit" that Tina Brown (Saddleback's Online Community Specialist) pulled together. It includes contributions from Mark Howell and myself. We used it as a handout in a workshop we did together at Saddleback's Small Groups Conference this year this year called "Using Technology to Enhance the Small Group Experience." Blogs Blogs create the opportunity for your church and community to hear what God is doing in your small group. You or somebody in your group could serve as the point person for posting. Anyone in your group could type up stories of life change occurring and submit them so others can learn about how biblical community is being experienced by your group / church. A blog can also be set-up to allow readers to comment on what a blogger posts. This could allow people to provide encouragement and perspective to help inspire you and other small group leaders. * Blogger * Wordpress * Twitter (Micro-Blog) * Tumblr * Livejournal * Typepad RSS RSS (Rich Site Summary) is a format for delivering regularly changing web content. Many news-related sites, weblogs and other online publishers syndicate their content as an RSS Feed to whoever wants it. <a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english" rel="nofollow">http://www.commoncraft.com/rss_plain_english</a> * Google Reader * Bloglines * Feedreader * Feed Social Networks Social networking is the grouping of individuals into specific groups, like small rural communities or a neighborhood subdivision, if you will. Although social networking is possible in person, especially in schools or in the workplace, it is most popular online. <a href="http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking" rel="nofollow">http://www.commoncraft.com/video-social-networking</a> * Facebook * Myspace * Orkut (more popular outside of the US) * Friendster * MyFamily * Plaxo * LinkedIn * Ning * Unifyer * KindleJoy.com (prayer network) Communication Tools Video: * Skype * Tokbox * Mogulus * Ustream.tv * Google video (video.google.com) Chat/IM: · Meebo · Campfirenow · AOL Instant messenger · Yahoo messenget · Google talk · Msn messenger · Skype · Gizmo5 · Tokbox Text Messaging: * Tatango * Jarbyco Other: * Twitter * Dabbleboard – (a digital white board. Great to use with Tokbox for live meetings.) * Circleup.com – (e-mail or IM a question to a group of any size and get back a single result with everyone's answer.) * Weebly (build website & blog) Invite/Event Management Tools * Evite.com * Meetup.com * Eventful.com * <a href="https://beta.yodio.com" rel="nofollow">https://beta.yodio.com</a> - (record audio anywhere from your phone, combine photos with your sound files, and create an audio postcard) * Mypunchbowl.com - (create a cool looking invitation) Information Sharing Video: * Youtube * Godtube * Vimeo * Blip.tv * Jumpcut – easy way to upload & edit video * Kyte Bookmark/News Sharing: * Del.icio.us * Digg * Reddit Photo Sharing: * Flickr.com * Shutterfly * Photobucket Data Sharing * Google Docs * pbwiki.com - (easy-to-use web page that multiple people can edit.) * YouSendIt * Dabbleboard Just some other cool sites that might be helpful or fun: YouVersion – interactive Bible Picnik – easy way to jazz up photos. Can add text, frames, effects, and share BlueFishTv.com – Sermon illustration videos SermonSpice.com – Sermon illustration videos Blogs: (There are a TON you can follow. These are just a few that I follow on a regular basis through my RSS) <a href="http://digital.leadnet.org/" rel="nofollow">http://digital.leadnet.org/</a> <a href="http://www.djchuang.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.djchuang.com/</a> Tonymorganlive.com (Tony Morgan from NewSpring) <a href="http://theresurgence.com/" rel="nofollow">http://theresurgence.com/</a> (Mark Driscoll's Blog) <a href="http://www.tonystewardblog.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.tonystewardblog.com/</a> (Tony Steward at LifeChurch.tv) <a href="http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/" rel="nofollow">http://sethgodin.typepad.com/seths_blog/</a> (Seth Godin's Blog) <a href="http://www.morethandodgeball.com/" rel="nofollow">http://www.morethandodgeball.com/</a> (Great for Youth/Student Ministry) reids on "Reid Smith" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=10#post-11 Tue, 26 May 2009 18:03:52 +0000 reids 11@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Hey Everyone - I serve as the Community Life Pastor of the 13,000 member multi-site Christ Fellowship Church in Palm Beach Gardens, Florida (www.goChristFellowship.com) - a "tough gig" as one friend puts it - and the founder of the 2orMore small group leadership training and resource ministry (www.2orMore.org). I live in Jupiter, Florida with my wife of 14-years, Lisa, and two children: Mikayela (7) and Drew (4). I received my Master of Divinity with an emphasis in Cross-cultural Studies from Fuller Theological Seminary and have been applying 'best practices' in small group ministry start-up / restarts, operations, and leadership development for the last 15-years. My life-purpose is to empower God's people in mission and I've been able to accomplish this by providing customized small group leadership training, consulting, and resources for pastors and small group ministry leaders around the world. I also serve as Saddleback Church's Area Point Leader for the Purpose Driven Small Group Network in Florida, Caribbean, Freeport Grand Bahamas, Puerto Rico, and the Virgin Islands. I've also been functioning as a regular contributing author for online publications such as Christianity Today’s smallgroups.com and smallgroupexchange.com. I love making memories with my wife and children by going on fun family outings. Reading and reflection on how the local church can get better at reaching the lost are activities that energize my spirit. I enjoy traveling, hiking, movie nights with Lisa, and going out to eat with the company of good friends. Early in my relationship with Jesus, I sensed a call to empower God's people in mission. This paired nicely with my heart to “become all things to all people so that by all possible means I might save some” (1 Cor 9:22b). As I contemplated how to invest my life in order to have maximum Kingdom impact, the Lord brought to mind the multiplication of leadership and discipleship communities. Groups played a big role in how I came to Christ and grew spiritually. They were a fitting bridge between God's call and my heart further defining my life-mission: To empower God's people in mission through groups. I am excited about the possibilities that technology affords us now in forming and developing healthy group-life! scott on "About Me (Scott M)" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=9#post-10 Tue, 19 May 2009 03:27:54 +0000 scott 10@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Since I'm moderating, I suppose I should tell a little bit about myself! I was born in Iowa where my dad was in Chiropractic school and grew up in Three Rivers, Michigan. Moved to Miami, FL in high school where I graduated from Dade Christian School. Attended Liberty University in Virginia where I received my degree in ministry. The short (ok, maybe long) list of where I have served is: World Help, Thomas Road Church, Christ Fellowship, Garden of Life, Purpose Driven and North Point. I have been married to my sweetheart, Natalie for 8 years and we have a 3 year old son, Silas. We love North Point and Atlanta and believe we will be here for a long time! I am really into a great experience and hanging with friends! My hobbies are reading, triathlons/half-marathons and garage saleing with my wife! My mission statement is to help each person discover and become all that God has called them to be! My Profiles: Myers Briggs - INFP, Right Path - Adapter, Strengthsfinder - Relator, Connectedness, Ideation, Developer. There you go...more than you wanted to know!!!! scott on "Books I am reading" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=8#post-9 Mon, 18 May 2009 21:57:00 +0000 scott 9@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Here is a short list of the books I have been reading that have been very helpful in my thinking on this subject: Here Comes Everybody: The Power of Organizing Without Organizations - Clay Shirky Click link for more info: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/rbjx78" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/rbjx78</a> Groundswell: Winning in a World Transformed by Social Technologies - Li & Bernoff Click link for more info: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/q8qlnw" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/q8qlnw</a> Mediated - How The Media Shapes Our World and the Way We Live In It - Zengotita Click link for more info: <a href="http://tinyurl.com/r4xs49" rel="nofollow">http://tinyurl.com/r4xs49</a> In my opinion these are must reads as we try and discover how to best leverage technology for the purpose of moving people into deeper relationships and community. Looking forward to hearing what you are reading! allenwhite on "About Allen White" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=7#post-8 Mon, 18 May 2009 19:57:59 +0000 allenwhite 8@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ I am the Adult Discipleship Pastor at Brookwood Church in Simpsonville (Greenville), SC. We're a 15 year old church with an average attendance of 6500 and about 175 small groups. Prior to Brookwood, I was the Executive Director of Lifetogether.com with Brett Eastman. I met a lot of you guys via conference call during my work with Brett. Before moving to the O.C. and attending Saddleback, I served as Associate Pastor for 15 years at New Life Christian Center in Turlock, CA. I've been online longer than most people. God actually used me to lead an online friend to Christ on Compuserve back in 1995. That was old school online where everybody was a number, not a name. Brian Vasil on "Brian Vasil" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=6#post-7 Mon, 18 May 2009 19:19:44 +0000 Brian Vasil 7@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Hi Everyone, My name is Brian Vasil and I am the Internet Campus Pastor at Flamingo Road Church in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. We have been a iCampus for just shy of 2 years and I have learned a ton. I am passionate about reaching out and connecting people online from around the world. As a leader, I would describe myself as relentless, driven, focused, and passionate... That may sound a bit over-the-top...but I feel that when your gifts are paired with your calling...and you find your purpose...you can't be anything but those things. Some other misc. facts about me... I am married and have 1 daughter. I am a Florida native and have never lived farther than 30 miles from the place I was born. I am a Mac fan...love the Minnesota Vikings...and have a fair amount of trivial knowledge stored up in my brain. I look forward to contributing to this growing forum...hoping to learn from the many that post here. Regards, Brian ed@crossroadsgrace.org on "Heard it through the grapevine" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=4#post-6 Mon, 18 May 2009 19:02:38 +0000 ed@crossroadsgrace.org 6@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ I've heard of churches that have internet based groups...I'd love to know what internet technology they're using...any ideas of that technology? ed@crossroadsgrace.org on "Me (i.e. Ed Applegate)" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=5#post-5 Mon, 18 May 2009 18:53:51 +0000 ed@crossroadsgrace.org 5@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ I am the Pastor of Spiritual Formation at Crossroads Grace Community Church in Manteca CA (www.crossroadsgrace.org). Five ways people describe me: Seriously smiley, Life-long learner, Warm-hearted, Easy-going and a Dedicated family-man. What I do for Crossroads: I oversee Growth Groups, the core classes we run (Newcomers, Spiritual Foundations, Connexions and Baptism) and The Theology Program. I also preach occasionally on Sundays. I love developing leaders and seeing individuals and groups grow spiritually! Family: I married my amazing wife, Kiah in July 2004, and have two children: Alathea (2) and a boy due June 7. What he’s passionate about: I long for others to find their joy in Jesus, so I work hard studying, communicating and training others. I also love doing home improvement projects. Previously in life: I was born In England and moved to and lived in Modesto, CA from the age of 4 until the age of 13. I then moved back to England until the age of 24 and kept my American accent! I received a BA and teaching degree from Oxford University, taught math to junior high and high school kids in England, then moved back to Modesto to attend seminary (Western Seminary San Jose) and to pursue his sweetheart, Kiah. scott on "Heard it through the grapevine" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=4#post-4 Wed, 13 May 2009 15:04:26 +0000 scott 4@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ What are you hearing through the Grapevine about churches using technology around connection and community? Most of us have heard about Life Church in Oklahoma, but there are a lot more out there doing some fun and unique things. For example, Seacoast Community Church in Charleston or Christ Fellowship in West Palm Beach. Who else do you know of that we could learn from and what are they doing? S. scott on "Your Church" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=3#post-3 Wed, 13 May 2009 15:01:36 +0000 scott 3@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Are you doing some things to experiment with technology & community? This could be in your own life personally, it could be with your current church attendees, or maybe you are using technology to try and reach those in your community and beyond. Whatever you are doing, we would love to hear about it! S. scott on "Lets Get Started!" http://togetherwethink.com/forums/topic.php?id=2#post-2 Wed, 13 May 2009 14:58:55 +0000 scott 2@http://togetherwethink.com/forums/ Here we go! Thanks for jumping in and bringing your unique perspective to the mix in this conversation! Here are a couple questions to get us started. 1. What has you the most excited about using technology to reach, connect and engage people? 2. What are your biggest concerns in using technology for the purpose of community? 3. How are you personally using technology in your own life to enhance or create community? These seem like a great place to start, so let's start posting and learning from each other!!!!! S.