This is the week of the Geeks and God Conference.
If you're interested in coming there are still tickets available (we really aren't turning anyone away). This means I won't be blogging again for a week but, when I come back there should be lots of good juicy material to blog about.
Thanks to Pauls blog post I've learned about a new widget, called skribit, that I'm trying out on Innovating Tomorrow.
Skribit provides a platform for social suggestions, as they call them. The idea is simple. People can ask you questions or suggest blog topics through the widget and then others can vote for them. This can help bloggers know what their readers are burning for them to answer.
So, what questions do you have for Innovating Tomorrow to answer? What would you like me to blog about? Click on the widget title (on the right) and up will pop the question form.
Today, May 1st, is the National Day of prayer in the United States. It's a day set aside for everyone to pray. So, what are you praying for? What are you praying for in the technological world?
My prayer is that God guide us to find more and better ways to use technology connect, guide, teach, and help people. I'd like to see more efforts like FreeRice.com and the fshbwl. I'm praying that God does even more of this for his good.
How about you? What are you praying for?
It's time for another vacation. For the next week I'll be off on vacation with my lovely wife, Kristin. We are going to disappear for a week and I'm going to take a much needed break from my regular Internet rituals. Posts will start up again on Monday February 4th.
To help disconnect while I am gone I won't be checking email, blog posts, forums, or any of the places I regularly lurk. Talk to you when I get back.
We have now entered the fun filled and joyous holiday season. I'll be taking the next week and a half off from blogging to take in the holidays, spend time with family, and work on a few pet projects. Look for posts to start up again on January 2nd.
What are you talking a break from during this holiday period to remove some of the clutter of life and take in some more of Christmas?
A couple months ago I was trying to tie in a web service my church was using into our new church website. The service advertised tying in their service to church websites as flexible and easy to do. Not finding it so flexible, I contacted their technical support for answers. What I found was that the amount of customization and tie into church websites was lacking. It was methods and technology that were available at the turn of the millennium. When I asked why their service was out of date they, honestly, said that churches and ministries didn't expect more. This is what my friend, Bob, likes to call 'Good Enough For Church'.
'Good Enough For Church' is where churches settle for just having something rather than doing it well. Maybe the church has a website so they can say they have one rather than having one that makes a difference. Maybe the church has a podcast to say they have one rather than having one people actually listen to. There are a million places this can and does happen. Technology is often a place where 'Good Enough For Church' shows itself.
This makes sense. Churches and churches leaders have a lot going on. Why should a podcast take a priority over something else? Why should they time to support and be involved in one?
Technology people are busy in churches. The time and skill to do things well takes time and energy. Something that is often not there.
Then there is the elusive dollar issue. Technoloy costs money. Is a CD/DVD duplicator worth the $1000 cost? How about the church sound system? How about the difference between a great church website and one that passes as having one?
It's time for a change. Churches should expect more from their service providers. Church service providers should be doing more for the mission. 'Good Enough For Church' doesn't cut it. Good use of technology in ministry can make a difference. It can reach people. It provides other ways to reach people with the message. It can aid in connecting people with people to help each other out. Taking advantage of what's out there helps us in the church take the message to people where they are at.
The challenge is for every church technology person to go for more. Take it beyond 'Good Enough For Churches'. Learn how to do it well. Learn what to expect. Learn how to take full advantage of what's out there. Learn how to use technology to take the message to the people where they are at. Learn to use technology to serve others.
That's what this blog is about. Stepping up to the challenge. The Geeks and God podcast has been one avenue to seek doing it well. This blog is another.
If you're a church technology person, or even just someone interested in how and why it matters, subscribe to the blog and check out the podcast. technology is now about people and where they are at.
Welcome to the new Innovating Tomorrow. Innovating Tomorrow has always been about technology but it's time for a change. Innovating tomorrow is now a blog about technology and the church. Here is what you can expect:
Ideas are what power technology. We will share ideas. Some from here, some from guest bloggers, and some from readers. The idea is to get ideas out there, brainstorming on ideas, and people using them to reach people with the greatest message out there.
One of the things I am asked the most is how to do technical things. Maybe it's get transparent pngs to work in IE or how to setup a content management system to build something. There will be posts about these and everything in between.
Time is important. With pastors, church leaders, and people through the church not having enough time to get everything done why should they do something we are suggesting or something new.
From another angle we have questions to talk about like, why do an online community a certain way?
There are a lot of products and services that affect and can empower the church. We'll review them and give you the opportunity to chime in. Details on this in the coming weeks.
This new site is starting out small but it will grow. Look out for more to come. If you have any questions or comments please use the contact form.
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