Notes from the Trail

If you're new here, you may want to subscribe to my RSS feed. Thanks for visiting!

I had incredible high school English teachers. There was a point in my life that I distinctly remember enjoying the ability to diagram sentences. To turn a perfectly ordinary linear sequence of words and thoughts on a page into what looked like a sports bracket was liberating. It gave English a sense of competition, of being able to be conquered. It may have birthed in me a love for writing, of being able to use words to entertain, connect with, inform, cajole, correct, and inspire. Knowing what words to use when was like calling a winning play with 10 seconds left on the clock in the big game.

The thing about language use is the amazing mystery and ability it has to captivate a reader. For instance, if you’re still reading this post… there has been some elusive quality to it, a mental magnet that has drawn you into the second paragraph from the first, wondering… what’s the point? What is Jeff going to wide up with? Will I be delighted or disappointed? It’s been intriguing so far, but will all these connected letters and words produce for me a satisfying response upon their conclusion? Will I want to talk to others about this post later? Will I forward a link to it? Perhaps… it has so ensnared my imaginings that I will even comment on it…

I’m gay.

Not really.

But you see? Two simple words combined into a sentence produced immediate reaction and response in you. A millisecond impulse of confusion/unease/trepidation. Such are the power of mere words. And these words coming from a 38 year-old Arkansan who is a graphic designer/pastor. I’m so… ordinary. Yet these words from my mind to this screen have engaged your being and thoughts for several minutes now. Your life is on hold. Your mind is in my hands. Your existence is intertwined with mine for the moment.

The power of words….

More »

For those of you Treo users out there… I’m assuming by now that you use TreoAlarm. I mean, why in the world would anyone own a Treo and NOT use it?! It would be like buying a Mercedes with no wheels. I’ve used it for a while now and love it! The ability to set multiple, repeating alarms, check the weather forecast for different locations, and a host of other cool features make it a must-have program for the best cell phone in the world.

I no longer use an alarm clock at all. I put my Treo on my bedstand, and I’m ready to go. It’s so easy to use, I also use it for those afternoon “power naps.”

Zip on over to treoalarm.com and get it today!

What the heck?! I just finished George Hunter’s The Celtic Way of Evangelism. It’s a short book, and though I rarely do this (yea, right!), I must urge you all to run out and buy a copy today. C’mon, you can do it. It’s only 121 pages. But stuffed into this small book is such profundity that you will find your perspective on church, outreach, strategy, and history refreshed and encouraged.

I wanted to provide you an outline/synopsis of Chapter 4 (one of the best)…

More »

It’s been a few weeks since my first entry on this subject, but you can review it here.

In this entry, I’d like to offer up some thoughts about why churches choose NOT to plant. And away we go…

Why Churches Choose Not to Plant:

• A lack of understanding of the nature of the Church
• Ignorance of planting even being an option (even the best option in many cases!)
• Selfish reasons
• A lack of leadership from denominational or church leaders
• Assumptions about the life of their church
• Failure to understand and connect with their community
• Desire for achievement, recognition, or status
• Lack of leadership development

Let me attempt to address the first few reasons in this entry, and I’ll come back to the others in the near future…

More »

I went and did it. I’ve designed a cool shirt for all you bloggers out there! Pass the word. It’s $10. Here’s what it looks like…


If you want to place an order, click the order below. Make sure you give me your shipping ($3 extra) and your shirt size. Shirts will be ready by the first of next week and will ship out immediately!

Update:
The “Read My Blog” shirt was referenced by Sillcyrystal on April 14, 2006.

4/23/06 - Shirts are not currently available, but if you want to order one, let me know, and when I get 50 orders, I’ll have have them run. I will email you when you need to pay. Just drop me a comment if you want one…