Third Place Consulting & Cafe Divine

Third Place Consulting's Latest Project::

I'm excited to share about one of Third Place Consulting's latest projects. Cafe Divine opened in the early Spring of this year and is doing an amazing job at being a real Third Place. The cafe team is serving up community by engaging guests, making delicious drinks, and delivering 'A Taste of Inspiration'.

Third Place Consulting worked with Living Hope Church on:: Vision, Concept, Design & Layout, Equipment & Product Selection and Sourcing, Menu Development, and Staff Training for the ministry and business aspects of Cafe Divine.

This was an amazing team to work with and Third Place Consulting would love to work with your team to create a place that Connects People, Develops Leaders, and Funds Causes::

info@thirdplaceconsulting.com

Dirty Church launches thru Tokbox

This morning we launched the conversation of Dirty Church through the social media tool Tokbox - I think we had close to 40 people stop by and join the conversation.

Dirty Church is about recognizing that God is pleased when we use what He gives us. It is important that we don't work so hard to keep our church facilities clean that we don't allow them to get Dirty and used.

The Dirty Church Awards are being created in collaboration with The Idea Camp to bring awareness and conversation to the use of the buildings / facilities that churches have in their hands. We are building criteria or characteristics of a Dirty Church right now and would like for you to contribute and help us develop that; what makes a church a Dirty Church? Then, we will begin to create a few categories and open the discussion across social media to allow for nomination for the Dirty Church Awards.

Thanks to Charles Lee for his amazing help pulling off the launch. And thank you to the many who showed up to hear the heart and now share the story. You can join the conversation with us on Twitter (use #dirtychurch) or at The Idea Camp.

Michael Trent
@churchbartender

So You Think You Can Tweeter

I was recently asked, “So do I just go online and sign up for a Tweeter account and start Twittering?” My response:: “Step away from the computer sir before someone gets hurt!”

You see, this well indented leader, who travels a lot, wears multiple hats, and is probably more scared than excited about Social Media – is like so many people I see who go at this thing from the wrong reverse angle.

SHOPPING SPREE
Maybe you remember as a kid always wanting to win one of those Toy Store Shopping Sprees. You imagined this mountain of every toy you’d ever dreamed. I certainly have had that dream. Now imagine with me if you were given a 3 minute Shopping Spree at the Home Depot… (let’s be honest here, you can’t find a guy in an orange vest in 30 minutes in that place, but this is imagination….so stay with me people). Ready, set, go…your 3 minutes starts, you run frantically up and down as many isles as you can, throwing in things you need, don’t need, recognize, don’t recognize, and even a couple of bright shining things because we all love shapes and colors.

SELECTING THE RIGHT TOOLS
Oh yeah, and there’s one catch to the Home Depot shopping spree – you must go home and immediately use these tools to fix something or build something useful that adds value. This is what I see in my head when I watch people struggling to adapt to the essential ingredient of Social Media; they grab apps they need and don’t need, programs they recognize and don’t recognize, and even download a bunch of things because someone said, “Dude, you’ve gotta have that”.

We all hate those multiple runs in one day to Home Depot for that one item at a time that you realize you need in the middle of a project. But let's consider that maybe a better investment of time to fix you problems and build your Social Media Strategy than just downloading, signing up, and throwing into your computer and phone, everything you see or hear is gonna change ‘your’ life.

News flash: we are different, our problems and needs are different, and therefore, the strategy and tools to provide those solutions are different. What if we asked, “What’s the problem” first and not, “What do I do with this basket full of random tools”? Depending on where you are on your Social Media journey, here are a few STARTING POINTS:

BUG CONFERENCE
CULTIVATE CONFERENCE
CHURCH CRUNCH

Wes Stafford and Pineapple

What a way to start my first day in Hawaii - first, the best pineapple I've ever had and then hearing Wes Stafford, President of Compassion International. Wes and I had a chance to speak and I am so honored and inspired by this man's story and life.

Third Places Now & Next

Absolutely amazing - now this is what I'm talking about. Finally someone has put into a short video what I've been hearing, sensing, picturing, and believing for - watch, think, enjoy, change:

Bartender In Church - Illustrated

An amazing artist and friend created this after reading my blogpost: "So a Bartender walks into a church..."

Dry Communication Keeps Friends Close

Do you or a friend need this reminder?

So this Bartender walks into a Church...

A Cowboy and a Bartender walk into a church just before services were to begin. This motley crew of jeans, t-shirts, boots, tattoos, and hats were spotlessly clean. In their hands were worn-out bibles. The church they entered was in a very upscale and exclusive part of the city. It was the largest and most beautiful church they had ever seen.

The people of the congregation were all dressed with expensive clothes and accessories. As the Cowboy and Bartender took their seats, the others moved away from them. No one greeted, spoke to, or welcomed them. They were appalled at their appearance and did not attempt to hide it. As they were leaving the church, the Pastor approached them and asked if they could do him a favor. 'Before you come back in here again, have a talk with God and ask him what he thinks would be appropriate attire for worship.’ They each assured the Pastor they would ask God that question.

The next Sunday, they showed back up for the services wearing the same ragged jeans, shirts, boots, and hats. Once again, they were completely shunned and ignored. The Pastor approached them and said, 'I thought I asked you to speak to God before you came back to our Church. 'We did,' each man replied. 'If you spoke to God, what did he tell the proper attire should be for worshiping in here?' asked the Preacher. 'Well, Sir, God told us that He didn't have a clue what we should wear. He said He had never been in this Church before.

Erwin McManus Understands Third Places

Erwin McManus has gone coast to coast - Orlando to the OC in two days, sharing of the importance of places and the church's role and responsibility. Thanks Erwin for your heart, passion, and recognition for Third Places.






Here are his main points with some thoughts I sprinkled in:

Erwin McManus

1. Create a place for others - where people different from us feel welcome.
· You may want to ask others not like you what they think
· Someone Great that we follow had a great tendency for doing this.

2. Create a place in the Marketplace – where everyday life happens.
· Contributing to the community vs. Simply Consuming of it
· People need to know who they can trust to have a conversation with
· The marketplace doesn’t need a watered down gospel, they need a gospel that makes sense

We need to love, love covers a multitude of irrelevance.

It's Okay To Not Be Okay

I love this video from Central Christian Church in Las Vegas - especially the quote "Church, where it's okay to not be okay".

If you've never been to a church like that - I'm very sorry.

If your church really isn't like that - stop faking it and For the Love of God - CHANGE (really).

Nano-Blending

Bailout Blend



iPhone smoothie

Post Offices In Churches

Post Offices were once considered viable Third Places. During a time when mail was not delivered to businesses or residences - people would contastantly gather at the Post Office and linger in conversation.

The following article was found online at: http://adjix.com/prwg

Government moves to help churches deliver public services including day care centres and post offices
By Daily Mail Reporter

Last updated at 1:38 AM on 25th March 2009

Churches could be used as post offices or day care centres so they become useful to everyone in the community and not just worshippers, according to official Government guidance. Ministers also want charities and other public bodies to overcome their 'squeamishness' about giving money to religious groups.

A guide published by the Government and the Church of England tells clergy how they can obtain grants to make better - and wider - use of their buildings. It says churches are often ideally placed to run services as they have good-quality buildings and willing workers with a deep knowledge of their local areas.

'Growing trend': Rt Rev Richard Chartres, Bishop of London, said 12 post offices operated out of church buildings

The guidance will not only help local people but also aid the preservation of historic churches, many of which need repairs. At least 12 post offices operate from church buildings in the UK while many more of the 16,000 parish churches host child care centres, youth clubs and cafes.

Culture Secretary, Andy Burnham, said: 'Churches and other places of worship are at the heart of neighborhoods. They are the local landmarks by which we navigate and they often represent the best of our heritage. 'Both the buildings and the people that frequent them, are so often active in enhancing the lives of many people, offering services to meet the needs of the local community.'

The Bishop of London, the Right Reverend Richard Chartres, said: 'This is an example of a growing trend to return church buildings to their original function as places of worship but also places of assembly and celebration for the whole of the local community.'

Business Secretary Lord Mandelson has said the Government will not support any further post office closures. He said: 'The closures of the past year were difficult but they were necessary.

'The network is now on a more secure footing and better placed to look to the future. And its unrivalled network of branches, strong brand, face-to-face contact that it offers - all of these are the Post Office's real assets.'

Part of the Daily Mail, The Mail on Sunday, Evening Standard & Metro Media Group
© 2009 Associated Newspapers Ltd

Twouble With Twitter - best twideo ever

The Morning Before PILL

You've heard of the Morning After Pill - personally I've never taken one - for obvious reasons, but I did get to thinking about The Morning Before PILL.

In reflecting on what means the most to me; what keeps me up at night; and how I'm doing at living that out - I came up with this (it is not FDA approved - so take at your own risk):




THE MORNING BEFORE PILL - what if we start each day considering


POTENTIAL: unlocking the potential of ourselves and those we come in contact

INFLUENCE: understanding that you are a Superhero to someone; so act like one

LEVERAGE: everything counts - so make it all count

LEGACY: you can only take with you what you give away - so have nothing left when you go

The choice is yours: take the PILL to start your day or take the PILL to try and erase your day.

Justin Pope - Leaving A Legacy

Marines guarding the casket and body of one of their own; trading duties with two other soldiers - such beauty in the care and protection of their brother. A man with a white beard and Scottish quilt playing Amazing Graze on bagpipes as he led the family into the church. 21 shots fired into the air, a bugle playing Taps, Marines folding a flag to hand to the beautiful bride of a fallen soldier -

I'm still very much struggling to find the words to describe this past week. A young man that I had the honor and privilege of youth pastoring was killed in Iraq this month. Last week I was asked to come and participate in the funeral services. I am very blessed and humbled to have been a part of this young man's life. At 25 yrs old, he lived more than many people twice his age.

What I recognized through all the memories, photos, and stories that were shared is that Justin had discovered his passion and given 200% to it -figuratively and literally giving his whole life what he was passionate about and felt called to do. Justin is the quintessential balance between compassionate heart and committed soldier. I am so inspired by the life that Justin lived - it has already made a difference in my life these past few days.

Part of what I shared in the services was that "We may not always know God's will - and even when we do, we may not always understand or even like it; but even when we don't know or understand or like God's will - we must remember and know that God Will ---- God Will use Justin's life far after his death and in some ways even more; just like He did the life of his own Son." Justin invested his life into the live of others and that is how one Leaves A Legacy -

Thank you to all who Live your life protecting mine and for all who Give their life so I can live mine - may we all LIVE the life you've given us the Freedom to live to it's fullest.

Jobless Third Places

There are a lot of upsides to the times we are living in: creativity, innovation, and a return to recognizing how much we need each other.

In Chris Seay’s book, The Dust Off Their Feet – Acts 2:44-45 it says, “There was an intense sense of togetherness among all who believed; they shared all their material possessions in trust. They sold any possessions and goods that did not benefit the community and used the money to help everyone in need.”

Leadership Journal just published a brief column entitled Jobseeker Sensitive, bringing to light some ideas for churches to consider as a way to use what they have in their hands to help those in need who are closest to them:

Networking: sponsor a monthly lunch for jobseekers and business leaders in your congregation / community to meet. Start a new small group especially for jobseekers.

New Skills: Job-hunting has changed in the past decade, and workers released from long-held positions may need a refresher. Invite a job counselor to teach resume writing, interviewing skills, and job hunting on the web.

Office Space: Provide room at the church several mornings per week for unemployed people to get out of the house and work on their search. Counselors recommend spending as much time on the search as they did one the job (in other words – make it your Job to get a Job).

Jobs: even small ones to provide involvement and participation. Draft a list of odd jobs around the church. Even volunteer jobs give a person reason to get up in the morning. And recruit unemployed people to lead the ministry to unemployed people

Share your thoughts: What are ways that churches could use their existing facilities to help the Jobless?

Homeless Third Places

Ever asked how do you have a Third Place, when you don’t have a First or Second? Below is a true story from yesterday and borrowed from an amazing guy I’m proud to call my friend – Jake Stum [ @jakestum / www.jakestum.com ]

TRUE COMMUNITY

I had an overwhelming experience at church this morning. I help lead a class that targets our homeless population. This morning we had almost 30 people in our class. In the last few weeks we have had three people get jobs and they are now looking for housing. This is exhilarating to me, but the really cool part is what else is happening–story time…

First, let me tell you about a friend that I will call Bob (not his real name). We helped him get a job about a month ago. He was able to get a little car and moved out of the warehouse and into his car. With his first pay check he went and bought some whole turkeys and brought them to the church. He said that because the church had done so much to help him, he wanted to give something back.

Second, this morning was amazing. One of the guys in the class, who has recently gotten a job, fixed up some used bicycles and brought them to the other members of our class so that they could have transportation to job interviews. Then a senior adult ladies class heard what was going on and has offered to donate the money for this guy to continue buying bikes and fixing them so that everyone in the class can have some type of transportation.

Third, we have had several who have committed their lives to following the way of Christ who have NEVER been into our sanctuary. They wouldn’t feel comfortable there, but we have made a place for them to connect in community.

Geez! I sat in the class witnessing the church in action. Unbelievable. Don’t know what else to say.

Jake has stuck his neck on the line to love and provide a place for this Community and God is both pleased and showing off like only He can.

Valentine's Day Doesn't Have To Suck

Below is from the TWLOHA website / blog:

Hey Guys.

i think we can all relate to all of the following: pain, hope, love, loss, laughter, questions, joy, loneliness, dreams, sickness, fear and friendship. Sometimes life is this really amazing thing. Sometimes it hurts like hell. Sometimes it's just plain awkward.

Valentine's Day can be pretty great if you have a date or a wife or boyfriend, or something along those lines. But like most holidays, it can also remind you what's missing or what hurts. It can be a pretty lonely day. (It can certainly be awkward.)

We believe that conversations are powerful, that with all of the issues we speak to and so many of the messages we respond to, the answer begins there, with choosing to live less alone, choosing to do life with other people.

So, for the second year in a row, this is our attempt at taming a famous awkward day. We did this last year and it turned out to be a great night. We're aiming for more of the same this year, wanting Saturday night's live chat to be a taste of community, honesty and hope for a lot of people.

See you Saturday? : )jamie

PS: It's pretty easy. You'll just need to go to AbsolutePunk.net at 8pm EST this Saturday night (2/14). If you want to participate in the chat, you'll need to create an account. It's easy and it's free. PS2: We'll be in Chicago for events Thursday and Friday. Check the calendar for info.

Using Technology Isn't Proof You Have Community

This article here is sad on a number of different levels, but I think there’s a small takeaway here.

Essentially, a man “divorced” his wife by changing his Facebook status. From one perspective it’s just sad that he decided to use Facebook to tell his wife that it was all over. From another, there’s something to be said why he made it first public to the masses before his beloved bride.

But a small “nugget” of wisdom might be the reminder of the fact that just because you use web technology, engage with others in the digital world, have “conversations” all the time, and feel like you’re building “community,” none of this proves that you have real community at all. It may suggest it, strongly perhaps, but it doesn’t prove anything.

There’s something about community offline that’s important for us to remember. Community online will never and cannot ever fully and completely replace community offline.

Your thoughts? If you want “another interesting thought” perhaps you should consider Facebook Suicide.


This content was BlogJacked by Permission from the great people at ChurchCrunch

Tired - Hungry - In Need of a Change

I just overheard someone say, "Ya know, she really is a good baby. She only cries when she is tired, hungry, or needs to be changed."

So the thought occurred to me, I wonder if God, while drinking a coconut latte with a few of His favorite creations has ever said about His children on earth: "Ya know, they really are good kids, they only cry when they are Tired, Hungry, or In Need of a Change."