The biggest objections made by organizations for NOT engaging with online and digital social media are often founded in fear. Common fears are lack of understanding, loss of control, technical barriers, limited time and resources. Those are all valid concerns that can be addressed by investing a little bit of time with someone who has conquered those fears.

Places you can learn, gain control, overcome the technology and acquire time and resources are plentiful, if you know where to look. Over the past several years, I have been fortunate to find some of those resources and continue to unearth new resources every day. The notable, life-changing and visionary in my journey include LeadNet, Geeks & God, Christian Web Masters, Heal Your Church Website, Our Church, Church Marketing Sucks, Internet Evangelism Day, Web Empowered Church, Social Media Church and ChSocM.

A lot of these resources are still around, thanks to the tireless support of their community and leaders. Some are growing in activity and some are going dormant, at least publicly. And that is the secret of this post. continue reading ...

"On the twelfth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - 12 drummers drumming ... "

12 days of Christmas gifts, each day growing in the size and number of gifts. It has become our nature to focus on the gifts in each of these verses, or to think we could never be as generous as this giver, rationalizing that all these gifts are excessive. Perhaps we need to open ourselves more to accepting our worthiness as a recipient. continue reading ...

"On the eleventh day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - 11 pipers piping ... "

Not only is today the 11th day of Christmas, it is also our granddaughter's birthday - double cause for celebration! As we drove to have dinner tonight, we passed by a home that has an awesome tree they light every year as Christmas approaches. It is one of the highlights of my daily commute during December. Tonight, I noticed the tree was no longer lit. A sign that Christmas is coming to a close. continue reading ...

"On the tenth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - 10 lords a-leaping ... "

10 days - when they lie ahead of you, they seem to stretch on forever, especially when spent in anticipation. But, when they lie behind you, they passed too quickly. Observing Christmas every day for 12 days has served to both expand and compress time around me. Don't you wish you could have just pressed "Pause" on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day? continue reading ...

"On the ninth day of Christmas, my true love gave to me - nine ladies dancing ... "

This is turning into quite a party - all sorts of delicacies and now the dancing starts! What do you have to dance about?

As I've gone through each of the days of Christmas, I've been focusing on a single day at a time. Now, for some reason, I have stepped back and taken a look at the whole season and the gifts bestowed. The carol is turning out to be a recipe - for a party! continue reading ...