Wired Parish Blog

Hero Worship: Why Jay Is a Complete Child

Reached an in-principle agreement with a new podcast host yesterday. Won't name names since we don't have all the legal stuff squared away, but I looooove this gentleman.

To say that he's been instrumental in shaping my views on leadership would be a dramatic understatement. So I'm thrilled that we get to work with him if for no other reason than because we get to work with one of my idols.

Quick side note: A couple of months ago, our newest awesome team member Gabe called to say, 'Hey, we have a call set up with 'Bob.' Are you familiar with him?'

My response: 'Tell ya what, bud. I'm hanging up now because I don't like being lied to. You call me back when you can start telling the truth.' Click.

So yesterday 'Bob' said, 'I think we should start by working through my book 'X.''

'X' was the first book I read by him, and it's horribly dog-eared and highlighted.

My response was (and this is the part where I demonstrate that I can be a complete child), 'If you had told me 10 or 12 years ago when I first read that book that I would get a chance to dialogue with the author, I probably would have peed my pants right then and there.'

Thankfully, 'Bob' laughed, but I looked over at Gabe to see him shaking his head in shame.

I love being a child. :)

Greg Horton and My Flooded Email Inbox

I'm listening to the final minutes of Greg Horton's podcast this week on Wired Parish. It'll be available for download later tonight.

Just wanted to ask you, our dear listeners, to carbon copy me on any emails you send him after listening. I can't imagine how . . . what's the word . . . INTERESTING they'll be! I'm not going to respond to any of them. I just want to see the fireworks.

Just so you'll know, I share most of Greg's concerns that he raises in the cast, but I probably would have put them . . . um . . . a little differently. While I share his concerns, I don't think of them in quite as black and white terms as he does. And yes, I'm being intentionally vague about what he talked about. You'll have to listen for yourself!

I love Greg for many reasons, but two of the more obvious are that he makes me think and he makes me laugh. Sometimes at the same time. He did both this week.

Subscribe to Wired Parish. Your Momma Will Be Proud.

Podcast Co-Hosts

Quick Note: We're looking for a couple of co-hosts for new podcasts that we are launching. If you are in the Oklahoma City area and would be interested in 'sitting across the table' with one of our hosts on a regular basis, email me. I'll give you the details on what we're looking for.

The short version is that if you have speaking or interview experience and you're effective in asking questions and dialoguing, then we may have some opportunities for you.

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Conspiracy Theories

This is going to sound crazy, I know, but in the last 2 weeks, I've gotten the following:

1. 6 emails suggesting we hold a Brian McLaren Look-Alike Contest.

2. 8--yes EIGHT--emails calling for a Wired Parish Best Looking Host Contest . . . AND I KID YOU NOT . . . 7 of them nominated Anthony Smith. The 8th nominated Kyle Johnson, but that email actually was from Kyle Johnson.

Clearly, there are conspiracies afoot that I know nothing about . . .

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Four New Podcasts Added

This week we added four new podcasts to the Wired Parish lineup. I'm so proud of this new group of hosts. Ah! You're going to love them!

Here's a quick rundown of each:

Mindy Caliguire - Soul Care is a spiritual formation ministry that focuses on working with leaders. Mindy shares her expertise with you in this arena. She was the Director of Spiritual Formation at Willow Creek Community Church for several years. And she's on the fast track to becoming my hero.

Alicia Chole  - Alicia is an absolutely amazing person, and you will love her cast 'Raw Life.' Her first number of episodes are readings from her WONDERFUL book Anonymous. Check out the cast. Buy the book. You'll dig it.

Jim Palmer - Jim's first book Divine Nobodies was one of the best books I've read in the last couple of years. We're thrilled to have Jim and his dog Jack on board with us. His cast will make you think differently about the world you live in.

Andy Stephenson - One of the finest leaders I know. Andy directs the National Student Ministry for the Church of God (Anderson, IN) and has a wealth of experience (not just theory!) in developing leaders and affecting organizational change. We were able to snag him as a host because I threatened to post pictures of him from his days in bodybuilding competitions.

Check out these new casts ASAP!

Wired Parish: The New Atkin's Diet

Tripp Fuller blogged about the fact that Wired Parish has helped him lose 17 pounds. He lists his 5 part weight loss plan, and we're the centerpiece of 3 of the 5. (It's a highly entertaining read!)

We're now planning a 'Sweatin' to the Oldies' type workout video. But in our version, our hosts lead aerobics to Chris Tomlin songs. The beauty of the video is that between songs, our hosts stop to provide theological reflection on the lyrical content.

Seriously: Reggie McNeal in spandex is like nothing you've ever seen.

Leonard Sweet . . . Again

Seriously, people, if you haven't listened to Len's cast on 3 Problems with Praise and Worship Music, your life is incomplete. Seriously.

I loves me some Leonard Sweet.

Tim Conder on 'Out of Ur'

Make sure you check out Tim Conder's article excerpt on the 'Out of Ur' blog. He's writing on 'Missional Buzz' and whether or not 'missional' is just another fad in the Christian ministry world. The full article appears in the Winter 2007 Leadership Journal. Very insightful stuff.

If you're not listening to Tim on Wired Parish, you're missing out in a BIG way.

While we're on the subject of 'Out of Ur,' Shane Claiborne has a couple of posts up right now. If you're a fan of Shane's tune in to 'Between the Lines' on Wired Parish in a few weeks. I'm interviewing Shane on Monday, and the interview will air within a few weeks.

Leonard "The Legend" Sweet

Check out this list from The Church Report. Our very own Leonard Sweet is named the 8th Most Influential Christian in America. He was also named the most mobile Wired Parish host. We never know where he's recording from. I think he's hit at least 14 time zones in the first 10 times he's recorded.

If you're not listening to Len, you're SERIOUSLY missing out.

I Love Reggie McNeal

I sitting in one of our 'talent rooms' in our studio. Just got through with an interview, and I'm responding to emails here rathter than in my office.

Next door, Reggie McNeal is recording a few 'casts. (Actually, he's in South Carolina right now, but--yeah, I'll spare you the details of how our recording process works. His voice is next door. He's half a country away.)

Reggie is an absolute trip. He could be reading a cookbook, and I would love listening to him. It's RARE that I listen to one of his 'casts and go more than 3 or 4 minutes without laughing, and his insights into leadership and church life are really unparalleled. He is a tremendous component of what we're doing around here, and I'm deeply grateful to have him on board.

If you're not listening to Reggie, you need to!