Ustream.tv

I’ve been playing around a little with ustream.tv, and I think that for our context, this may have huge implications.

As you know, we’ve been thinking about starting an informal youth ministry training program, which would consist of classes on Saturday mornings. The program would last about a year, and it would involve basic youth ministry principles that we teach at the seminary. I’ve been thinking about offering the classes in 3 different ways: Live in person, online downloads, or distance (with CDs and DVDs).

Now, we may have the option of doing it live online. With Ustream, you can broadcast live video online (it’s really easy to use). Your video also has a little chat box, where people could ask questions and you could interact with them. I’m just playing around with some ideas, but I think it could be a good use of technology for classes, conferences, workshops, etc.

That doesn’t even include the personal uses such as broadcasting birthday parties, etc, for the family.

Thoughts on preaching

I’m convinced that we spend a lot of time preparing what we are going to say and not enough time on how we are going to say it. I just read Mark Batterson’s thoughts on sermon branding, which I loved.

I want to make his conviction mine: the greatest truths ought to be communicated in the most unforgettable ways. The ideas that he has in that blog post would change the way people look at the gospel.

He’s TWO!

I can’t believe that Nathan is two years old! He’s growing so fast, it’s hard to keep up. Anyway, here’s a compilation of some of my favorite pictures from his first two years.





Home alone

Janell and Nathan went back to Florida yesterday. This is our summer to spend in the US, so they went back early. I will be back sometime in May, after seminary is over. They made it safely, but that means I’m home alone for a few weeks. I SHOULD be able to get a lot of work done. I guess that depends on how disciplined I am.