If it looks like I’m tired…
That’s because I had to get up at 3:30 this morning (or last night…I’m not sure what it was). I don’t even think Perry gets up that early. We caught the direct flight to Dallas this morning from Greenville. The amazing thing is that the pre-dawn flight was full. Apparently people had things to do in Dallas this morning.
I’m here for the launch of the Dynamic Church Conference. Jeff, the CEO and president of Fellowship Technologies and tonight’s keynote speaker, picked us up at the airport at 7:30. That’s service. More importantly, he took us straight to Starbucks to start pumping caffeine into our bodies. I’m feeling a little sorry for the guy I’m meeting for coffee tonight at 9:00 (that’s 10:00 South Carolinian time). I’m going to be operating on Starbucks fumes by then.
After we landed at our hotel, my peeps and I headed out to find breakfast. That was quite an adventure. We set out on foot, took a detour through a shopping mall, crossed a couple of major highways, trudged through ditches and knee high weeds and landed at IHOP in Frisco. I think the bellhop’s last words were, "Yea, you shouldn’t have any trouble walking there." We took the shuttle back to the hotel. (My omelet was excellent by the way.)
While Skye and Amanda have been in breakout sessions this afternoon, I’ve been reconnecting with some friends with the Fellowship Technologies team and other churches. There was a Granger staffer sighting earlier this morning. I’m looking forward to catching up with some of my former peeps who are hanging out at the conference.
Bottom line? It’s good to be in an environment with a bunch of folks that recognize that technology is critical for the Church at this moment in time. We can’t reach today’s culture without maximizing the use of technology. It intersects everyone’s lives. The Church is impotent without it. There was a day when the Church embraced the printing press to reach people for Jesus. That’s what technology including the Internet is for the Church today. We have to embrace it. We have to leverage it. And, because of that, I can’t wait to see what results from this gathering in the days to come.
And that’s why Kip sang, “Yes I love technology / but not as much as you you see / but still I love technology / always and forever”
“the Church is impotent without it”
bro tell me this is hyperbole… right? A bit of an overstatement?
Tony, I am rolling on the floor laughing at this point… as I am reading the importance of technology, Jack is having issues with his cell phone…. the alarm won’t shut off… and has just reminded him of a meeting he had on May 6th…. gotta love technology. I am so laughing because it is me that typically has the operator error issues… all he has to do is touch it and it works. Not this time.
Be safe while traveling!
Yeah Tony,
I love your blogs and the thoughts that you put up here, but I have to agree w/Riddle on this one. There are churches out there that are reaching the lost without the use of technology.
I was contacted a couple of months ago by a pastor who was updating the tech in their main room; adding a PA and moving from a traditional organ to a DX7. Of course I guided him to a more updated keyboard, but he informed me that attendence at his sunday services and midweek biblestudies, as well as sunday school had tripled in the last 18 months, using only an organ, piano, and no PA.
Come on bro. You can’t put the Holy Spirit in a box like that.
Well, guys, I’d agree. A bit of hyperbole. But, here’s something to think about. If I were a missionary to China, I’d have to learn how to speak Chinese in order to effectively present the Gospel message in that culture. We live in a culture today that’s driven by technology. That’s the language of our culture. Not everyone speaks that language, but most people do. (I’ll be talking more about that tomorrow at the conference.)
I was with a guy last night, as an example, that pointed out that 96% of his community has a broadband connection in their homes. If his ministry doesn’t effectively use technology, they take a huge risk because the church wouldn’t be speaking the right language.
What if God is giving us the tools to reach the world for Christ, and we’re not taking advantage of them? If that’s the case, maybe, just maybe, I’m not the one that’s putting the Holy Spirit in the box…
tony
Tony, my thought is that people are GOING to surf the net… I would rather them surf God honoring stuff than the crap that satan is providing!
Our database team went to the conference and all ran up to me this morning saying…”CARLOS!!! We met Tony Morgan!!!”
You are such a blog star. I love it. Well done. They raved about your keynote.
Los
“96% of HIS community has a broadband connection in their homes.” (emphasis mine)
That might be true for HIM. It’s not true for everyone.
“It intersects EVERYONE’S lives.” (emphasis mine).
This just isn’t factual or realistic. Perhaps use the word “almost”, and your golden.
“The Church is impotent without it.”
Think about that statement. The Church, the bride of Christ is IMPOTENT (your word) without technology?
Perhaps in YOUR culture, and even in MY culture, but you can’t make broad sweeping statements like that and not get called on it.
Tony, you’re too bright a guy, and far too gifted to believe this down deep. You’re a tech guru, and I’m sure a really freaking good one at that. You’re passionate about your ministry, and that’s why I look forward to what you have to say on this blog.
But I challenge you to get outside of your comfort zone, away from the conferences, and hang out with some folks who still use pen and paper instead of email and texting, who still have a hard line in their house, or perhaps have to use the pay phone at the corner.
Am I nit picking? Probably, and again, I don’t believe that you actually believe that “The Church” is impotent without technology.
PLEASE tell me you were all hopped up on 1′s & 0′s hangin’ out with other techies, and that you just exaggerated.
Sorry, Doug. I disagree. I think if the Church doesn’t learn to speak the language of today’s culture (using technology and media), we might as well wear robes, sing 16th century music and speak in Latin. Respect your opinion. I just disagree.
tony
So what you’re telling me is that God is incapable of working, in churches that still wear robes, sing 16th century music and speak Latin? Remember, you were the one that used the word impotent.
That’s no different than those that say there’s no place for secular music, guitars and drums, and jeans in the pulpit.
Can’t respect that opinion brother. That’s a smaller God than the one I worship.
Tony,
First of all things for being willing to say “it was a bit of hyperbole” that actually ratchets up my respect for you a dozen notches of so.
Second, I agree technology is going to be an important factor in reaching people as we move into the future.
Third, this makes theology even more important, because the medium is the message… we need theologians who are working alongside our technology gurus as we try new things. (I’m guessing you may have read Shane Hipps book on this?) For instance the printing press contributed to unhealthy individualism we see today.
Fourth. Good news is always contextual and God is able to speak thru a variety of ways, technology being one of them to people.
thanks again.