Pete and Repeat got into a boat, Pete fell out. Who was left?

The key to successful vision casting is repetition.

Repetition is annoying though isn’t it? It gets old being told the same thing over and over again. Many times I take it as an insult to my intelligence.

But it must be done.

Here’s the deal. When people are left to guess what you expect, they can, and often will, guess incorrectly. And can you blame them? No one, no matter how well they know you, can read your mind.

And people forget.

This isn’t a knock on their intelligence; it’s just true that people have more going on in their lives than your organization. So take the time to refine your vision…and repeat it constantly. Then take the time to evaluate how well it’s working and refine your process. And always remember, people won’t remember what you say; they’ll remember what you’re passionate about.

Of course, this all presumes you actually HAVE a vision for your organization…

This morning (09/13) I felt prompted to kneel down and pray during the first service while the bands were finishing their sets. I’m not sure why but I just felt nervous about the tech for this service, specifically something during the start of the message. As I got on my face before God and prayed hard that He would spread His love during this service, I felt like I needed to go upstairs to the Crow’s Nest immediately. I went up just in time to help my director trigger the recording for Stage 123 and immediately noticed something was wrong. At some point this morning a simple BNC cable for camera 4 died, leaving the camera dull and lifeless on screen (like a weird black and white). Quick action and some spare cables (which I bought for next to nothing on a whim) helped us minimize the effect and fix the problem. How strange is it to feel prompted by God? Strange. How cool is it to see prayer answered right before your eyes? Very cool. I hope and pray that God will continue to prompt me and that I will be still long enough to hear Him. Also, never forget to turn off your screen saver before the service.

A few days ago Tennessee Titans punter A.J. Trapasso kicked a football into the World’s Largest HD Screen in the brand new Cowboys Stadium. The problem? This happened during the game. Here’s the video. [EDIT: video has been removed]

While the tech guy in me thinks that the 180 foot screen is the most beautiful thing I’ve seen (other than my wife), part me wonders if this isn’t indicative of our culture. We’re willing to change the integrity of the event itself to have a better view or to have the most impressive technology. Stick with me here as I’m going to make a leap.

Do we do this in our churches as well? I’ll be the first to shout the praises of a new technology, but has all this equipment altered the experience for the better? Are there any places we’re using technology which actually gets in the way? We use IMAG, moving head lights, HD video, and a host of other technologies in our services, and often these can be leveraged for great impact. But let’s take a lesson from Cowboys Stadium. We should always ask if this equipment is going to distract from the truth (or worse yet, alter it.) If it doesn’t pass the test, don’t use it.

By the way, the screen in Cowboys Stadium is over 25,000 sq. ft. That’s just ridiculous.

[vimeo 5732523]

How do you balance work, fun, and family?

It’s not always as easy as it seems. Deadlines loom. Schedules conflict. Hours fly by. The urgent crowds out the important. And before you know it, too much time has passed.

For me, this is an always evolving battle. I love my job and I know God has called me to it, but I still have to make the right choice everyday. God’s been beating me with this a bit lately and wanted to share the action steps He’s put on my mind.

1. At least one day a week, turn off your cell phone. I take Saturday and Monday off each week. Because my week revolves around Sunday, I stay somewhat available on Saturdays. Mondays are a different story however. I try to turn off my cell phone. I try not to answer (or even check) work emails. Turn it off, don’t answer phone calls, don’t respond to emails, don’t twitter. Just be with your family. This is something with which I still struggle. But it’s so much better when I succeed.

2. On vacation, set someone else as your go to person and don’t answer any calls unless they are from that person. I work with a couple of guys in our worship department who do a great job of covering for me when I’m out of town with the family. I’ll change my voicemail settings and set an auto-reply for my email directing everyone to one of my coworkers. Then, if that coworker calls, I know it must be important. Everything else can wait.

3. Tell them consistently. People won’t remember what you say, they’ll remember what you’re passionate about. Consistently tell your family you love them. Show them attention. Be present and attentive. This is another one I struggle with. I love technology and the ability to be always connected. The downside is that we’re always connected. It’s too easy to become a slave to these devices. I don’t want my sons’ memories of me to all be with my computer on my lap or my phone in my hand. (By the way, I suck at this.)

No matter what I do, I hope and pray that my family always knows that they come first. When I’m old, I don’t want to look back and wish I’d been around more. I don’t want my wife and I to grow apart. I don’t want to miss my boys growing up. I want to experience every minute of it.

What do you do to keep your family where it should be?