The Goings on and Work of Sam Mahlstadt

I believe that creating culture has a lot to do with how we leverage media. Today, people can create, critique and converse with relatively few barriers due to new media such as Facebook, Twitter and blogs. The church finds its hope and direction in an ancient text circulated in oral civilizations. In ministry, it is important to maintain a balance of old and new media to communicate a story of salvation in a culturally relevant way. I figured this concept would make for a question for someone who just wrote a book about communication…

Me: How do church’s find a balance in utilizing new and old media in their presentation of the gospel?

Kem: This is a great question. Very timely and messy. A lot of people are looking for a black and white answer with the perfect formula, but this new media can’t be domesticated. It can only be channeled. We have moved past the industrial age through the information age to the interconnected age. In Branding Faith, Phil Cooke says “Yesterday it was about dumping the same message on the mass audience because they didn’t have much choice. Today, it’s about making a connection—the kind of connection that not only makes people hear what you have to say, but also makes them respond.”

New media is one way to make a connection. But, it can appear threatening at first, especially to any organization steeped in tradition like the church. One of my friends (who is a pastor) was initially outspoken against some of these new media outlets. He was skeptical and dismissive. But, he changed his opinion when he went and checked it out for himself. “Technology is a neutral medium.  It only amplifies what is already inside of me, for good or for bad. Sometimes, I forgot the obvious. It’s easier to blame something outside of me versus face up to the internal realities.” Rob Wegner

It’s true that life change happens in relationships and this new human behavior is all about developing relational collateral online. It’s one of the most important issues facing ministries (and other organizations) today. If we don’t find a way to meet people in their online spaces, or at least learn about them, we end up becoming completely out of touch. So, instead of dumping the same message on the masses, what if we get back in touch with what people are connecting with and develop our approach from there?

Me: Love the thoughts so far. How does this look practically? What are some simple steps for ministry leaders?

Kem: Part of the church’s new role is to hang in the ‘balance’ to:

• offer spiritual affirmation, insight and direction via blogs, twitter, etc.

• watch others interact online (even if we’re not ready to interact there ourselves) to find ways to use our old media to answer the new questions people are asking.

• create less content and more conversations by giving people in the church a place to interact via texting, comments, Facebook, etc.

Me: Followup; pancakes or waffles?

Kem: PANCAKES

That’s quite a bit to chew on. So, what are your thoughts? Do you agree? Disagree? Should we worry about media? You can get a FREE copy of Kem’s book, which is full of communication insights by leaving a comment.  One winner will be selected. Join the conversation.

Prop 8 was upheld in California, when the state voted to ammend their constitution in order to bolster the traditional definition of marriage. It seems to me, that the heat surrounding the issue of gay marriage is more about the definition of marriage than anything else. I have heard many evangelicals who are fighting to ban gay marriage say things like, “I believe in everyone having equal rights, I just don’t want homosexuals to be able to be ‘married.’” While this seems like a contridiction, I have heard similar things from the pro-gay marriage side of the aisle, “We don’t care if it’s called marriage, just give us equal rights.” Even Elton John weighed in on the level of semantics, saying that if the U.S. of A. weren’t so hung up on the word marriage, this wouldn’t be such a difficult issue for the gay community to get passed in legislature. So I honestly wonder, do most homosexual people want equal rights, or do they want the label of marriage pronounced over their relationship? Are the two tied in such a way as to not have one without the other?

As a Christian, I believe in the scriptual definition of marriage as a covenant between a man and a woman. I also believe that homosexuals should not be ridiculed, judged or persecuted. I believe above all else that everyone is in need of a relationship with Christ. Outside of that relationship, we are not fully experiencing the life that we were created to live. No one can earn a relationship with Christ, and no one is deserving of grace - that’s the beauty of it.

I know that I went from gay marriage to semantics to grace, but I think there is a process our society is going through right now that needs to be funneled through a healthy dose of grace.

So, for you Christians who are reading this, stop cheering and have a conversation with someone who is affected by this ruling. Have a real conversation about real issues with a real person, complexities and all; nothing is black and white.  And, for you homosexuals who are reading this, please know that God loves you no matter what Christians have said, and I would love to extend love and grace and peace to you in any way that I can.

Time is up…almost. At the end of today, I will submit a question for Kem Meyer to answer when she stops by in a few days on her blog tour, and I would like your input. Win a free copy of her book, Less Clutter. Less Noise, by leaving a comment here.

The clock is ticking…

Today I make the official transition from 22 years old to 23 years old. I can tell you this, I feel quite the same.

I am asking for no gifts, but if you are just too giving and must do something – go here.

I would like to give a gift away in celebration, I have a free copy of Kem Meyer’s book to give away, as I mentioned yesterday. If you would like to receive the book, simply leave a comment, either on this post, or the couple previous.

If you would like to join me in developing a question for Kem, that would be grand. Have a great day everyone!

In only a week, on May 29th, Kem Meyer will be stopping here on her blog tour. I will be asking Kem one question about her new book, Less. Clutter. Less. Noise. To celebrate the book, I will be giving away a free copy to one of you lucky readers. Here is the deal: you leave a comment with an idea for the question I should ask by May 25th, and you will be qualified to win the book. That’s it, leave a comment and you are in the drawing. The question and Kem’s answer will be posted on the 29th, and the winner of the free book will be announced the following day. It’s my birthday tomorrow, and I don’t want a gift, I want to give one away. So let’s welcome Kem to Creating Culture by asking a question worth answering. So…wuddya got?

P.S. if you haven’t read her book, do yourself a favor and get a copy.

Creating Culture will be a stop on the Kem Meyer blog tour for her new book, Less Clutter. Less Noise. I am excited about this, as I have read the book, and love the message. Kem has something important to say, and her book needs to be read by anyone in communications and/or ministry leadership. <– Fact, not my opinion.

What would be the one question you would like to ask Kem Meyer? I am open for collaboration on this, so post your questions in the comments section, and I will take them into account when I submit my question in a few days. You need to have your question in by May 25th to be considered. Who knows, you may even see your question when she stops by on May 29th! Ask away, let’s see what we can come up with.

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I am ashamed to be associated with people like this who call themselves Christians. I am also glad I wasn’t in Des Moines today. The folks from godhatesfags.com made their rounds, laid out on the schedule of their pickets in Des Moines, IA for a hateful Cinco de Mayo.
These people are ridiculous, and make me feel nothing but total shame and embarrassment to be associated with them on any level. I know this is a very strong statement, but I feel as if these “representatives of Christ” are far from the Kingdom of God. They are a church, which means they are to represent the way of Jesus, and this is far from it. I don’t care on which side of the aisle you stand politically, if you are carrying the name of Jesus, this is absolutely unacceptable.
I have one message for any homosexual in Iowa or anywhere else for that matter; “God loves you!” That is the Good News that we call the Gospel of Jesus Christ. No matter what, He loves you so much that he came as a man in the form of his son Jesus and moved into the neighborhood to show us a complete, perfect love. I would like to apologize on behalf of the Christian Church who acts in such a way that retracts a loving hand in order to pick up a sign that only causes strife and stifles conversation.
Picket signs and hate speech is far from the complete love found in a relationship with Christ.
So, if you claim to represent Christ, act like it. If you won’t act like it, shut up so the rest of us can do our best. Grace and Peace to you all.