One of the most interesting things I get to see from time to time is what I call the tilt head and look oddly into the distance look when I tell people about Redeemed Point.  Some assume right off the bat that because we are streaming “church” online, and because, at the moment, don’t use pews and a “standard” seating arrangement, that we are some sort of strange radical group or trying to do things in a completely new way. If you get nothing else from this post please at least get this:

THIS IS NOT NEW!

Ok, sorry for shouting.  When the church began some 2000+ years ago it is safe to say that the Internet did not exist.  Nor phones, television, cell phones, twitter, facebook, or even. . get ready . . mass produced books!  The church was successful not because of what or how they did things, but because of WHO they did things for.

Jesus gave us a commission;

Mark 16:15 And he said to them, Go into all the world and proclaim the gospel to the whole creation.

Like the early church we need to go to where the people are.  You and I know people who would never consider stepping foot inside a “church”, yet make contact with them by some online means and you may just have an opportunity to tell them about your faith.

Above all things Tanya’s and my desire it to reach the lost for the Lord.  Tanya does it in her own way, she shares insights of her walk on her own blog (hehe, took me long enough to convince her to start it) while I use podcasting (in the past), blogs, games IE (World of Warcraft) and other geeky and techie things.  Redeemed Point is born out of this.

Imagine if you will a small group of dedicated men and women who seek to do what Christ has called them to do in a local body, not only local but not forgeting Mark 16.  We are going out, and if by chance we can reach just one person, one at all, it is worth it!

So are we crazy?  Yea, don’t you want to be crazy about Jesus as well?

(NOTE: WordPress had eaten my first attempt at this article.  If it seems disjointed please forgive me and know more will come.)

Yesterday we said farewell to some of our best friends in real life.  Bob and Michelle Veach, and boys, are leaving Cooper Ave Baptist Church after 9 and a half years of serving as Associate Pastor of Students, or whatever Bob’s title ended up during the time there.  It was a wonderful time filled with stories that made us laugh and cry.  I was standing near our families usual seat in the sanctuary when Dr. Tom Stringfellow, our associations Director of Missions came up to me and asked  a simple question.

“So what do you want to be when you grow up Mike?”

At face value one could get a little insulted at such a question.  Especially when you are forty years old.  I mean, shouldn’t you know what you want to do and be doing it?  But Tom was not asking in order to insult, he was asking to find out what he could do, as an equip-er, to help.  He knows, exspeicaly with the emotional air around Bob leaving and heading out into the unknown, that the wounds from my leaving First Baptist where fresh.  And honestly for the past few months I have been floundering back and forth wrestling with God on what it is he desires of me and my family.

I have come to the point that I know that the only thing I can do, the only thing that I am truly good, or gifted at, is serving God.  So I told Tom just that.  I want to do what he can use me in.  Now . . most would say, what a cop out.  Not sure eh?  Some might expect someone to say, “I want to be the senior pastor of (fill in the name of a huge successful church here).”  But honestly I have always wanted what he wants.  I have no aspiration to be top dog, I just want to serve.  Mind you I am aware of the gifts he has given me, in leadership, teaching, connecting with people.  But Tom pushed the subject, and it led to a little bit of discussion between us, as much as standing in the middle of a rapidly filling auditorium could allow.

To be honest with myself and with you, part of my hard time answering the question is that God has shown me some wonderful things in how to truly connect with people.  The frustrating part is that when I begin to talk to someone around me in the real world about how cool it was to hang out with 9 other people online, working together to take down a enemy together in order to pass out some loot that it drops that most likely goes to someone in our group that needs it. . well.. imagine a deer in the headlights look.  Facebook, Twitter, Email, Computer games, Coffee at Starbucks, texting back and forth on your cell phone, just a few examples of how people are connecting, and where people are today.  So part of the reluctance might be not wanting to be looked at like some loon.

Not limiting the possibilities is another reason to possibly not directly answer such a question.  If I say, yes, I want to be a Worship Pastor, then what if he wants to show me a senior pastor position, or even a custodial job that allows me to shine in his kingdom?  I have always been a sort of jack of all trades master of few, or even none.  I love to learn, I love to teach others about what I learn, I love technology, innovation, relevance.  I don’t want to pin him down and lose out on something.

So my answer was, “Whatever he wants of me.”

Then as the service went on, Tom brought the message, my mind was going over what I was going to say about Bob since I had been asked to join the group of people getting up to speak about him and say something nice.  My mind raced as I saught our families life verse when it hit me.

Jeremiah 29:11
“For I know the plans I have for you” —[this is] the LORD’s declaration—”plans for [your] welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope. ” (HCSB)

God has gifted me with some unique talents.  He has given me a desire and hunger to reach people that, for the most part are not sought.  He has shown me that it is possible.  I turned to Tanya and said, “Hun, I think I just need to put down that He has called me to be a tech pastor.”  Instead of the look of frustration with me for having my head in the clouds she said, “then that’s what you put on your resume.”

So, what do I want to be when I grow up?  I still want to be someone that God can use for what he wants.  What that entails is working with technology, computers, media, sound, video, facebook, twitter, computer games, phones, computer software, whatever it takes to reach people and be a friend.

For those who have a mindset that the church is to look like, or feel like it was in the 50′s, well, thank you for all you have taught me, thank you for all you have done for us, and thank you for how radical you where then.  But please, remember that society is changing and the best way to reach people is to be where they are.

So, Brother Tom, what do I want to be when I grow up?  A Tech Pastor.

We truly live in a very connected and wired age.  With this age of communication ease has crept up some interesting and fantastic tools that help plug people into one another’s busy lives.  Gone are the days of “small town” Mayberry, where on any given evening you could walk around and talk with your neighbors as they swung on a large comfy swing on the front porch.  Today our lives are so busy that once we get home from work we rush to the fridge, get dinner started, make sure the kids are getting homework done and getting ready to rest and relax for the night, that is if you do not have extracurricular activities, preparation for the next day at work or what not. 

Our world has changed.  People are not as open to company just dropping by as they once did (This affects church and ministry life drastically, but ill save that for another post.)  At the beginning of this age you could feel a vacuum as people started to pull away from others, but then something deep inside of us longs to be connected.  But we don’t have time. . We are busy.  I should take an hour or two out of my night to go over and see so and so, but then it turns into a 4 hour ordeal, then we get to bed late, and wake the next morning more tired that before.  Ever happen to you?  So what do we do to connect?

I am so glad you asked.  *smile*  About a year and a half ago I learned of something called Twitter.  At first it seemed silly.  It was explained to me that you simply put in up to 140 characters of what your doing, and people who follow you can read it. 

At first I was like.. “uhm. . so?”  I mean who wants to know when someone had a really yummy peanut butter sandwich?  So I put it aside for a few months until some issues in my ministry and life fell apart to such a stage that I withdrew into a deep cave.  It was at this time, the time I needed people and connections, that I blew the dust off of this platform and started to learn of its power to connect people together on so many layers and levels.  It was not simply about eating lunch.

Twitter has grown into an organic thing with people posting whatever they want, within the 140 character limit.  As of this writing I follow 138 people, and have 110 people following me.  This is amazing.  As someone who wants to know what others think and feel I can . . eavesdrop on a public conversation they chose to share.  I have been able to learn some amazing things about some of the people I have known for years or even days.  Things they reveal are non threatening, yet give us a picture of who they are. 

Not only can I see what they post, but I can in turn respond to them in a quasi IM.  By responding to them with an @ symbol I can direct a message to them that others that follow me and them can see.  Connection!

Now when I post something I have 110 people that will read it when it comes across their feed.  They too can then respond to me.  I will typically share small tidbits about my gaming, struggles, blog posts, ideas, questions and more.

Twitter has opened our world that is busy, bored, and alone into something that even in our hectic schedules gives us the ability to connect on a level not done before.  The ways to use it are endless.  And to be honest, the best way to get your head wrapped around it is to just do it. 

Head over to http://twitter.com and set up an account.  Then follow some users.  You can follow me by going to http://twitter.com/manorton Once you are following people just sit back and watch, learn and interact.

Come join me and others on the new swing on the new front porch, doing the same thing we did 50 years ago;  Sharing small bits of our lives with others.

Got tagged by Taylor Kent

http://thesnarkyavenger.com

Here are the rules for those I’m tagging. Check the list after my 6 Random Gamerz Things to see if you’ve been tagged.
1. Link to the person who tagged you.
2. Post the rules on your blog.
3. Write six random things about yourself.
4. Tag six-ish people at the end of your post.
5. Let each person know he or she has been tagged.
6. Let the tagger know when your entry is up.

6 random things about me, Mike Norton

1. I collect bald eagles, not the real thing, but anything with them on them.
2. I met Tanya in college.  The very same college Bethany will be going to this coming fall O.o
3. My first video game addiction was “Return to Castle Wolfenstien“
4. I can balance a spoon on my nose.
5. My game tag ManO comes from my first clan mates in Team Fortress Classic shorting my name MANorton to ManO. It sort of stuck.
6. I’m an ubber Geek.  No . . really.

Six tagged people

Scott Bridwell (http://blog.scottbridwell.com/)
Carey Norton (http://yarnpaperscissors.blogspot.com/)
Warren Kelly (http://pewview.mu.nu/)
Rick Presley (http://www.ill-legalism.com/)
BigRedKitty aka Daniel (http://www.bigredkitty.net/)
Phaelia (http://www.resto4life.com)