The Wired Wanderings of a Postmodern Pilgrim
May 29th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Just an update for all you listeners out there. We are in the process of a move into temporary housing since we managed to sell our Chicago house in this horrible market. I’m interviewing at several congregations around the country, so I don’t know where I’ll be landing yet but should be before summer is over.
So thanks for the thoughts and prayers and I’ll try to get a podcast up after the move this weekend.
tom
May 13th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
I’m passing this on, even though it doesn’t effect podcasting directly, it could in time. As big time streaming radio listener, I wanted to pass this on.
Dear SaveNetRadio supporter,
It has been a year since an increase in royalty fees for webcasters put the future of Internet radio at risk. Since then, more than 2 million people have called on Congress to save Internet radio, the Internet Radio Equality Act has been cosponsored by 150 Members of Congress, and a hearing was held in the House Small Business Committee. In spite of all this – nothing has changed. We need your help.
On Thursday May 15, Senator Sam Brownback of Kansas will introduce the Internet Radio Equality Act (IREA) as an amendment to the Orphan Works Bill (S. 2913) while it is being considered by the Senate Judiciary Committee . As you know, the IREA would level the playing field for Internet radio webcasters and promote greater parity within the radio industry, while doing away with the discrimination that now forces webcasters to pay fees more than twice as high as their closest competition, cable and satellite radio.
You can help. At least one of your Senators is a Member of the Judiciary Committee and we need their support. Call them today and ask them to support independent artists, small businesses, and the future of Internet radio. You can find their phone number and talking points here: http://www.capwiz.com/saveinternetradio/alert_9738601.html. Ask your Senator to support the Brownback Amendment to S. 2913.
We need your help to remind Congress that though Internet radio is still on the air and artists are still being paid for their work by webcasters, nothing has been resolved and we need them to act.
On behalf of webcasters, artists and fellow Internet radio listeners everywhere, thank you. Let’s finish what we started a year ago.
Apr 24th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Had this podcast ready a week ago but didn’t have time to get it posted. If you haven’t had a chance to play on a Wii, you are in for a surprising treat… even if you can’t blow anything up. What I found this past Easter is that the Wii may be an emerging venue for the re-formation of family and community.
I know, its sounds wack but take a listen.
Featured Congregation
Check out Jacob’ Porch, the Lutheran Campus Ministry at Ohio State University in Columbus, OH. Pastor Jay Gamelin is very real about creating authentic community not only for the students on campus but in ways that “regular” congregations could learn from. They are even doing a U2charist next month! Its good enough almost to make of Michigan fan like me give a little love toward the Scarlet and Gray.
Almost.
Program note: I had some issues with Audacity on my Macbook Pro while recording this podcast, so I’m not completely happy with it. However, with a temporary lock up that almost cost me all the data, I just burned the mp3 and posted it, minus some level editing and some background music I didn’t intend, so its a little rougher than normal. I figured you rather have the podcast than none at all this week..
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Apr 15th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Have you ever wanted to the chance to just talk with Tom directly or have your pastor listen to Wired Jesus? Pastors, have you been looking for someone on the onside to come into your congregation to introduce your leadership to the emerging culture that is all around them? Have you wanted to explore the world of experiential worship but believe you need a guide to get you started or take you to the next level?
Now you have the chance with Wired Jesus On the Road. For the next few months, I’m available to preach, teach, and coach leaders and congregations personally and on site. For an agreed honorarium and travel costs, I can bring what you love best about
Wired Jesus live to you and your congregation. Here are just some of the possibilities:
Supply Preaching:
I’m available to come and preach in your congregation, either to cover a pastor on vacation or to preach on emerging culture in support of the vision of your leadership. If you are in a denomination in full communion with the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (PCUSA, RCA, UCC, ECUSA, ECLIC to use the tribal codes), I can also preside at Communion.
Adult Forums:
If you have already invited me to preach, options can be expanded out from there to a Sunday morning adult forum. Interested in an adult midweek series, if you are in the Chicagoland area, that is a possibility as well. Topics can range from understanding postmodern/emerging culture, to guided book studies that are tailored to your congregation’s needs and direction.
Leadership Consultation
Would you like an opportunity for your congregational leadership to better understand the mission field of the 21st Century and their opportunities to engage it? Are there challenges involving a community transition, such as a rural congregation now experiencing suburban sprawl and a new culture on their doorstep? Is your leadership looking to transition from a committee-based form of governance to a team-based model? All these are areas of expertise that have been shared in personal consultations with other congregations and are now available to you through Wired Jesus On the Road.
Worship Consultation
Congregation worship stands at the core of any Christian community and therefore is often a difficult area to introduce change. Often, having someone from the outside coach a worship team or even come in to share a new style of worship for a single Sunday as “an experiment†can open the door for change. Wired Jesus On the Road can make that possible, from meetings with worship teams to cover the basics of experiential worship to helping you host your own U2 Eucharist.
Pastoral Coaching
Often times, being a parish pastor can be a very lonely place, particularly if you have a connection to the emerging generations who are increasingly missing from Christian congregations. Even other pastors may not understand where you are coming from and question your beliefs. That is where having the accountability of a personal pastoral coach can make a tremendous difference. While Wired Jesus is always there for conversation, an intentional coaching relationship is one step beyond. Via email, Skype, or even face to face, Wired Jesus On the Road can offer the opportunity for a contracted coaching relationship for helping pastors understand their leadership choices and navigate change management, personal spirituality, and pastoral growth.
A Flexible Alternative
Wired Jesus has been about exploring the edges and wandering where the Spirit leads. Wired Jesus On the Road is aimed at being a flexible alternative for pastors for continuing education and an affordable resource for congregations for learning and leadership. If you would like to discuss working with Wired Jesus On the Road, just email Tom Lyberg at tom@wiredjesus.com or call at 630.888.8093. You can always learn more at the Wired Jesus Podcast website at www.wiredjesus.com.
Download the audio promo here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Apr 11th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Okay, I’m really getting tired of reality shows. Even a foodie like me has a hard time watching the third season of Top Chef… and its here in Chicago. However, my wife and boys like American Idol, so I took a break from fragging demons in Hellgate: London and came downstairs to watch the finale of the Idol benefit concert. It was cool to see the Wilson sisters (always been a heart fan) and was pleasantly surprised by Fergie’s contribution to Barracuda.
But then came the closing and I was left puzzled. Okay, “Shout to the Lord” (along with “Awesome God”) is a catching song but its the late 20th Century “Amazing Grace” – nice to since once a year but any more than that and its “oh, no, not that again.” A nice song but so over used its become tiresome.
Yes, I picked up leaving the name of Jesus and despite some of the blog buzz, no big deal. Its PC network television – I expected no less. What I didn’t expect was this nod to the Christian music scene that frankly had no connection with the ending montage, or seemingly to the rest of the show.
I guess I came away from the performance thinking it was a lot like the Church today, at least in the West. Nice tune, doesn’t really say a whole lot, and disconnected from the rest of the show. If the Time-Life Worship collections are any indication, Praise and Worship is stuck in a rut – three collections of CDs with virtually the same songs, just different artists (and often not even that.)
Perhaps its just that old cycle of life that was talked about in Ecclesiastes (“there is a time for every season). I think Idol/reality shows are getting tired and disconnected, and so is Praise & Worship and a fair number of our congregations.
Maybe its time to sing a new song…
Apr 4th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Personally, I don’t think pastors do enough biblical preaching. I don’t mean taking a verse, word by word, old style expository preaching. I mean that we don’t do what Jesus did and connect the Bible with real life and realize that we are part of God’s story, that there is still a conversation going on.
Thanks to David Fredin for his Garageband help, I checked out his blog and podcast and found this little gem. Now even though the Lybergs are Swedish, I don’t speak the language but this clip is in English. Somehow, I don’t think this is what Biblical preaching is about.
No information on who this preacher is or where this sermon happened and probably just as well. It certainly is way too much information for his congregation and it doesn’t do any favors for taking either Christians or the Bible with any seriousness. God save us from ourselves.
Apr 2nd, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
I’ve been working on an online worship resource for our denomination’s publishing house, Augsburg Fortress, for the past two weeks. The goal is to get pastors and worship planners to contribute sermons, worship service elements, music, and media resources that will be indexed and available by subscription. I’m just finishing up the worship service and media resources for a sermon series on the Ten Commandments called Dreaming Big. I was cruising YouTube and came across this movie trailer called 10 Things I Hate About Commandments and felt the need to share it. Its ancient Egypt as Pharoah High School and Pharoah and Moses vying for the love of a girl. God is Samuel L. Jackson as Principal Firebush. I love it.
I’m actually recommending it for the resource that could be used with a high school group discussion on the commandments and connecting it with real life. If it wasn’t for the f-bomb at the very end, it would considering using it in a worship service with a congregation that has an open sense of humor.
Yes, there are some out there.
Enjoy.
Mar 27th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
Judging from all the emails, straight mp3 is what folks want. So here it is.
Download #41 – MP3 format – here.
Podcast: Play in new window | Download
Mar 27th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
I have received several emails from listeners who don’t have Ipods but use different mp3 players about Podcast #41, namely, they can’t listen to it. Garageband only generates ACC files, apparently and Audacity won’t import them.
I’ll try and get a straight mp3 version up later today.
Let me know if you prefer just a straight mp3. If enough of you want that, I’ll drop the enhanced podcast experiment.
Mar 26th, 2008 by Tom Lyberg
My good friend and pastor, John Armstrong is launching a new book with his writing partner, Fr. Thomas A. Baima, this Sunday and I wanted to let everyone in the Chicago area to come join the discussion. If you have ever wondered what the differences and similarities are between the major Christian tribes regarding Communion, this is the place to be. I led the last forum on postmodern mission and this should be a good one as well. Here are the details and a link.
Understanding Four Views on the Lord’s Supper
at a discussion between the editor
Dr. John H. Armstrong
and one of the authors,
Fr. Thomas A. Baima
Join us at
Elmhurst Christian Reformed Church
905 South Kent Ave.
Elmhurst, Illinois 60126
March 30, 2008
6:00 PM
John H. Armstrong
Who should participate in the Lord’s Supper?
What happens when we eat the bread and drink from the cup?
What do Christians dis agree about and what do they hold in common?
These and other ques tions are explored in this thought-provoking book
President of ACT-3: Accessing the Christian Tradition in the Third Millennium
Thomas A. Baima
Provost of the University of Saint Mary of the Lake / Mundelein Seminary
Click here for more information from Act 3.
Questions or comments? E-mail us at tbaima@usml.edu or call 847-970-4866