nickblevins.com

Google Chrome

I've completely switched from IE to Google Chrome.  I knew I wanted to make the switch when Chrome first came out and I downloaded it.  But, I had to learn the shortcuts and details before I was willing to make the switch.  So far, I like it.  It's clean and simple, and the shortcut keys are mostly the same.  (I know I'm a huge nerd for using a bunch of shortcut keys).  

It syncs really well with a couple web applications I use, particularly Google Reader & Remember the Milk.  Both have offline functionality that works seamlessly with Chrome.  Jennifer loves the way it shows thumbnail previews of your most frequently visited sites when you fire it up.  Mine goes right to google.com so I don't use that much.  Another plus is that when a page crashes, the whole browser doesn't.  In one case so far that wasn't true, but for the most part that has worked.

My only concerns:

• I wish it had the list of previously visited sites in the address bar
• Sometimes it locks up for a few seconds while trying to load a page.  I'm used to being able to cruise around the page while it's still loading.  
• I wish you could somehow make it default to opening links in new windows, not tabs.  I hate tabs.  I know I'm fairly alone in that, but that's just me.        

Receiving Criticism

Receiving criticism well is a difficult thing to do.  But, it's critical to becoming a better person and a better leader.  The Bible says:

Do not rebuke a mocker or he will hate you; rebuke a wise man and he will love you.  Proverbs 9:8

The word for mocker is also written as full of pride.  James 4 says that "God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble".  

Receiving criticism has definitely not been a strength for me.  I remember in a job I had when the only negative thing I got in my review was "you doesn't receive criticism well".  When my boss said that to me, I was mad, and realized I couldn't reply because I would make the statement true!  But, it already was true.  Pride, fear of embarrassment, competition, self-doubt, and a ton of other things all lead to us having difficulty receiving criticism.

Being on staff at CCC provides a great platform for learning to receive criticism well.  We evaluate everything as a staff which means nothing is sacred.  We want to continue to grow and do everything as best as we can.  I hope I will move along the path of becoming less of a mocker and more wise instead.  

How well do you receive criticism?

Friday Five

Here are my five favorite blog posts from the week:

Steven Furtick - How IS it my fault? - Great perspective for leaders

Access Church - Learning to Share - Interesting statistics to think about

Seth Godin - This is not the time to ask for money - Interesting perspective and it made me think about new churches that have started, or are starting, and are clearly asking for money

Perry Noble - Seven Things Senior Pastors Want Their Staff to Know - Part One - This whole series is great but I love how he had attitude as #1.  Attitude is a choice, but it seems like it's one of the hardest things to change in people.  

Craig Groeschel - Your Words Can Change a Life - Good reminder for me.  I often times don't say what I'm thinking about another volunteer because I'm too busy or I think it might be weird.  I need to push through that.

The Ring

No, not horror movie about a bad videotape, my wedding ring.  Unfortunately, my wedding ring is hanging out with Nemo and Dori in the bottom of the Natural Pool in Aruba.  I never had to take my ring off before, in the ocean, in the pool, wherever, because it always stayed on.  However, a couple times it did come off in a friend's pool when the algaecide was very strong and the water was very slick. 

But, in Aruba we got in the natural pool, which was probably one of the best places I've ever been.  When I was swimming under water I grabbed a rock to pull myself forward, and my ring slipped right off.  It's somewhere around here: 

(if you visit, please bring it back)

Anyhow, it's been weird not having it for the last few months.  It just doesn't feel right.  I'm in Philadelphia all week for residency classes and I miss it even more.  I like the fact that it symbolizes that by myself I'm not complete.  Without it, I feel like I'm hiding part of who I am, the part I'm most proud of.  It's a little weird to know that people that don't know me might think I'm single.  That's not really a problem since nobody is interested anyway but it is still odd. 

It's funny how powerful a symbol can be.  I'm not in to many symbols but I miss that one.  Too bad Jennifer and I are both procrastinators. 

Slow Decision Making in Church

Below is a video from the Innovate Conference that suggests would some churches have to go through in order to make decisions.  The video is hilarious but it illustrates a very painful truth about the state of most churches in the U.S.  While slow decision making isn't leading to people dying inside churches that are on fire, there are people dying outside of churches who never knew Jesus.  In some cases the church may have never had a shot, in others we messed it up.  Thanks to Tim Stevens for the video.

Friday Five

Here are my five favorite blog posts from the week, with some changes.  Two of them aren't single posts, but series of posts, so I guess that's more than five but oh well.....

Tim Stevens - Posts from the Catalyst Conference - Check out Tim's posts to see what topics were discussed at Catalyst 2008.

Craig Groeschel - Different Styles of Leaders - This is the first in a series where Craig talks about each different style individually.  Our Children's Ministry leadership team will use these to discuss which style each of us are, along with the strengths and weaknesses, when we meet in November.

Perry Noble - What they REALLY Mean - So true.  So funny.

Steven Furtick - Don't Back Down - I need more of this attitude right now.

Carey Nieuwhof - Meet the Teacher - Pain - Good wisdom about lessons we learn from pain. 

Stories

We have a Baptism Celebration this Sunday at CCC.  About 20 people will be baptized, which is the most we have ever had in one celebration.  David talked about baptism in a message about a month ago and half of the people that signed up, signed up that day. 

Earlier this year we started filming people telling their stories after they signed up for baptism.  We filmed a bunch last week and this week which has given me an opportunity to hear a ton of stories. 

I've heard stories about people who grew up in church but never understood the message.  People who grew up thinking Christianity was all about rules and being good enough.  People who had parents that raised them well and others who didn't.  People who had horrible things done to them.  People who did things they regret.  People who thought the church wasn't the place to find what they were looking for.  People who didn't even give God a second thought. 

The same people who were invited to church by a friend or received a mailer about the church.  People who were brave enough to give it a shot and found it to be comfortable, fun, life-giving, helpful and welcoming.  People who have given their life to Jesus in no small part because somebody invited them and there was a safe place where they could experience joy and forgiveness. 

Orange Tour Reflections - Part 2

In a previous post I shared some thoughts from our experience at the Orange Tour.  I mentioned that Jeff, my former-youth-pastor-now-friend-and-mentor came along.  Jeff was one of the 2 primary influencers in my life that helped lead me to follow Jesus as a teenager.  We recently started meeting together regularly as part of a mentor relationship.  Like most church pastors he is very busy and I appreciate the time he gives up for those meetings. 

It was cool to hang out with Jeff on the way up to the Orange Tour.  Jennifer and I both basically grew up in his student ministry.  Before our team left I let them know we would be meeting Jeff and he would ride up in our caravan.  I shared a little about the big influence he's had in my life.  He modeled the Christian life in a very real way and created environments in student ministry that I loved.  Up until that point church was very boring for me. 

At one point during the tour Reggie asked people to share some spiritual milestones in their journey.  Many people shared people who played a big role in their journey and Jennifer and I both thought about the fact that Jeff was that for us, and he was there with us.  I kept thinking that I hope our CCC Kids leaders know they could impact the life of a child the way Jeff has impacted mine.  And like Jeff, they have the opportunity to impact much more than one. 

Orange Tour Reflections - Part 1

A group of us went to the Orange Tour in Reading, PA this past weekend.  The group included 17 from CCC, 2 from Mosaic, and my former-youth-pastor-now-friend-and-mentor, Jeff.  Here are some thoughts about the tour:

• I was really glad they came to the northeast where few church conferences take place
• It was great to expose our team to the Orange philosophy
• Reggie has a ton of wisdom that churches need to hear.  There needs to be more people like Reggie talking to churches who need "revolutionary change"
• Finally met Carey Nieuwhof in person.  We talked through twitter and blog before but never met.  It's easy to see why he was able to lead his church through major changes because his great communication skills are coupled with a magnetic personality.  A bunch of people from our team commented on his passion and sincerity.
• Got the chance to talk to Kevin Ragsdale again.  He has to be the best, yet lesser known student ministry director out there (of North Point Community Church).  I oringally met Kevin through a Dash Student Leadership consulting he did for us at my home church.  Something Kevin said played a big role in my decision to seek a full time ministry position.  It's always great to connect with him.
• Our team got more of my dream for CCC Kids at the tour than they could have gotten from me in 3 years. 
• I took a ton of notes and came home with about 20 things to add to the to-do list.  Only got the ball rolling on about 3 or 4 so far.  Our preschool team is coming up with a list of their own. 
• Some from our team are interested in going to the Orange Conference in April.  I hope everyone who wants to go, can go (financially & schedule-wise).