How NOT to get me to follow you on Twitter

ministry, Social Media

I have come to really like Twitter.  So much so that I have to tell myself to take a break once in a while so that I can get something done.  Twitter levels the playing field and allows anyone to share what’s on their mind or what they’re doing.  It’s a great way to extend your ministry, bless others, and create connections.

Where Facebook is about affiliation (who you know or have known) Twitter for me has become about affinity (what do we have in common?)  I really like finding others with common interests and passions and following each other.

That said, unless you’re a major public figure, you’re probably finding followers the way most people do; by searching for like-minded individuals, following them, and see if you get a follow back.  If you do, you’ve made a connection.  Good day!

So let’s say you’re trying to expand your Twitter community and you’re having trouble getting people to follow you back.  Here are some reasons why this might be happening:

1. A user name that’s difficult to understand. Zboy1509YO might mean something to you, but it doesn’t do a thing for me.  Try keeping your user name as close to your real name or organization’s name as possible.

2. No picture. The Twitter bird is cute but I don’t want to see that graphic all up and down my time line.  Use a picture of YOU.  I’m interested in connecting with other people, not their dog, car, or favorite beverage.

3. Incomplete bio. I’m going to let you in on a secret.  I like to follow people back who share my same interests and affinities.  If I see that you’ve followed me, I’m going to check your bio to see if you’re someone I’d like to follow back.  Add a link to your blog (not your sales presentation) there.  If there’s no information there, I’m going to assume we have nothing in common and not follow you back.  The key is to make me work as little as possible to find out if you’re someone I would like to follow back.

4. A protected profile. Sometimes I like to read a few of your tweets before I decide whether or not to follow you back.  You send me a follow.  I click on your name to see your Twitter profile and I see a padlock.  “Tweets are protected.”  How do I know you have anything interesting to say?  I’m not taking any chances on a protected profile.  No follow back!

5. All of your tweets include a link. If I see links on all of your tweets, chances are I won’t even read them to see if they’re interesting.  When 100% of your tweets are links to your web site, chances are you’re only interested in driving traffic or selling something.  I’m in it for interaction and community, not to read 140 character commercials every few minutes.  With that said, I do follow those links when posted by people who have other things to share too.

6. You’re building a fan club. One of the worst Twitter travesties I’ve seen is when people thin out the number of people they’re following to cause a greater gap in their followers to following ratio.  Look, if you’re a major celebrity, it’s understandable to have 100,000 followers and only be following 25.  The sad thing is that I’ve seen people in ministry drop followers to appear more popular (or something).  It’s one thing to unfollow others who aren’t following you back but come on!  Unfollowing people who are following you because you want a Twitter ego boost?  Shame!  Twitter is about connection and community, not about building up your fan base. Ministers should be especially aware of this.  So, if you unfollow me, don’t expect me to keep following you back.

The key is to represent yourself with clarity and, as I said earlier, make it as easy as possible for people to discover if you’re the kind of person they’d like to follow back.  It’s about affinity and community, a really cool thing in this day and age.  Keep building your community (not your fan club) and we’re in for a great time together.

What are some things that cause YOU not to follow back?

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Why Don’t People Go to Church?

ministry, The Church

I was listening to a message recently that listed the top four reasons people give for not going to church.  They are as follows:

Services are boring
The people are unfriendly
They just care about money
The questionable safety of their children

I know I’ve felt all four of those things at one time or another, but I still love church.

Do you think those reasons are valid?  Can you think of any other reasons why people don’t like to go to church?  Feel free to list them in the comments.

But hold on!  Not so fast! It’s no good listing faults if you can’t suggest any solutions.  What are some realistic things the church can do to remove these excuses?  Let’s hear your best ideas!

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What Does This Sign Say?

Communication, culture, ministry

I love communication. I’m always asking myself, “What message does this give?” Sometimes, when I walk from my car to the auditorium of a church, I’ll think about all of the different messages a visitor might perceive when taking the same route.

I pass this church from time to time and I wanted to know what you thought:

1.) What message do you think this church is trying to give by this sign? (church name, etc)

2.) What message do you think is perceived by those who pass by it?

3.) Do those messages gel?

Let me know what you think!

* My apologies to all those who commented on this post.  I lost it during maintenance and had to repost it.  Feel free to comment again!


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The Greatest

culture, Jesus, social justice

In our culture, it’s so easy to become caught up in the game of appearances.  What does my car say about me?  What about my house?  Am I perceived as successful?  Smart?  Or do people see me as needy?  Do I look like I’ve made some bad decisions along the way or am I a success story in the eyes of my community?  What about my clothes?  Do they reflect my social status (or make me look even better?)

Funny how we care so much about our social standing.  We love the preferred treatment.  It’s nice to be able to go straight to the front of the line, sit in the green room, be recognized, be served.  There’s a pecking order, and we like to be at the front of it.

It’s not hard to tell who’s at the front of the pecking order either.  Celebrities receive special treatment and are often treated to complimentary you name it.  The CEO gets the best parking spot, and the good-looking get the benefit of the doubt.  They are the greatest in our culture, the kings and queens of western society and we play along as we work extra hours, bend the truth to sell more and motivate ourselves with GQ and Car and Driver.

Then there’s Jesus.  Wham!  The King of Kings, the famous one.  The most influential man to ever walk the planet (after He created it).  He comes along and declares a new system.  In Luke 9:48 he says, “Anyone who welcomes a little child like this on my behalf welcomes me, and anyone who welcomes me also welcomes my Father who sent me. Whoever is the least among you is the greatest.”

That’s it!  We have a new standard for greatness!  The least are now great.  The poor are deserving of attention.  The needy are to be honored and the sick are to be loved.  What more needs to be said?  We now have the tremendous privilege of serving those whom Jesus stuck with, stood up for, and identified with.

When you see Jesus begging today, give Him something.  When you see Him in Africa, Asia, and India honor Him.  When you see him sick with AIDS or living on the street, welcome Him.  He’s The Greatest.

*I originally posted this on the Worldhope.us blog.  A great organization helping those in extreme poverty.  Check them them out at www.worldhope.us.

A New Found Weakness

Christ Following, ministry, prayer

With tears in his eyes and as much attitude that he could muster, my six-year-old son looked at me, flexed his right bicep, and yelled, “I’m as strong as a bear!” He took a pillow smash in the face from his older brother and it hurt.  He just didn’t want anyone to know it.  I tried to comfort him and intervene but he wasn’t interested.  He just wanted everyone to know how strong he was.

He spent all night preparing a sermon he thought would mark a turning point in his church.  He preached it with passion, then punctuated it with a well rehearsed song.  When the appeal was made, no one responded.  It was like God slept in that Sunday.  What happened?

2nd Corinthians 12:9-10 says, “Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me.  That’s why I take pleasure in my weaknesses, and in the insults, hardships, persecutions, and troubles that I suffer for Christ.  For when I am weak, then I am strong.”

Our weakness is the condition that allows God to work! He works in us and through us when we are weak.  Every time I read this passage I’m amazed.  “My power works best in weakness.”  He didn’t say, “My power works best when your strong.” or “My power works best when you keep your chin up.”

Paul didn’t say that the power of Christ worked through him because of his speaking ability, education, ministry budget, musical talent, new sound system, or Bible software either.  I’m not against those things but it floors me how many ministers will spend five hours preparing their message and five minutes preparing their heart.

It’s our weakness that drives us to our knees. It’s our weakness that keeps us centered on Jesus.  It’s our frailty that allows Him to comfort us, heal us, and give us wisdom when we’re hurting or afraid.

In ministry, it’s the awareness of how feeble we are that keeps us fully depending on God to move, instead of using our talents to manipulate people to respond to our message.  When we realize how truly useless we are without Him and cry out to him for help, then He can move in and do what only He can do.

So be free to be weak.  You really aren’t as strong as a bear.  Your abilities, talents, and budget are needed and are good things, but they really won’t change the world.  When we stop flexing our muscle, God will flex His.  And when He flexes… it changes everything.