Dave and I promised that we’d post copies of our typical service schedules on the site. Enjoy! Sorry, these files are outdated and have been removed.
These files are in zip format. You can download the free 7-zip program to uncompress them.
I stumbled across this photo on Digg.com and wanted to share it with all of you.
It instantly took me back to my own childhood (though I was never as ‘cool’ as these guys). One of the greatest gifts God could give a children’s minister would be the ability to remember what childhood felt like.
I pray that God will help you remember yours, so you can minister more effectively to the children God has entrusted to you.
(Click the pic to make it great biggie.)
Have you ever been in a conversation with someone and something they say reminds you of a similar story from your own life? We all have. But what about when everything they say reminds you of something else and you feel the need to share every thing, every time? At what point have you stopped swapping stories and started to hijack the conversation to make it all about you? This can be a common thing, especially when trading funny life stories.
You can’t be a good storyteller without being ready to listen to someone else’s story. Here are some tips to help you be a better listener… and storyteller.
The attention you pay will be the attention you are repaid. (You can quote me on that if you want) It’s a spin-off of the Golden Rule. Listen to others the way you would have them listen to you. Do you want someone texting while you’re sharing? Do you want them nodding like a moron the whole time you’re talking because they’re waiting for a pause so they can interrupt? No! Then be the listener you want them to be.
Does your input compete with the situation shared by the other party or does it enhance it? To often we share our version because it’s “better” or “worse” than theirs (ie: “You thought that was bad? Listen to what happened to me last summer!”) or we’re trying to prove that we’re even funnier. This is passive-aggressive at its root and not the foundation for a comfortable conversation.
Your responses should be just that, responses. This person is sharing something with you that they care about. They’re not trying to out-do you or brag. People typically share things because it was exciting to them and they want to share that feeling with their listeners. If you will go into each conversation with this assumption, it will make it easier for you to be a listener and a participant without being a topic derailer.
The typical thing to do after someone shares a story is to come back with a similar happening in our own world. It’s our attempt at relating but it waters down the conversation and steals the thunder of the storyteller. When we don’t have a way to relate, commonly we will respond with a statement, “That sounds awesome,” or simply, “Wow”. This hands the ball back to the storyteller… but gives them nowhere to go. The best response is to start asking questions. Pull more of the story out of them. You’ll see their face light up at your interest, and as an added bonus, you don’t have to think of a way to relate!
When the storyteller is done, then it’s your turn. Do yourself a favor though, give them just a title and tagline before you read the entire article. Put just a bit of your story out and see if there’s any interest before you waste their and your time. It may sound something like this:
“You know, one time I fell down a cliff too. It’s the tumble that nearly killed me.”
See how that pulls you in? I just made that up but even I want to hear the rest of that story.
What tips would you have for our readers? What do you hate about folks who can’t listen? Share your thoughts in the comments!
I was looking up an article I wrote on How To Tell A Funny Story to see how it ranked in Google’s search results. Google begins offering suggestions as you type, showing you popular search words/phrases. I took a screen shot of what was being suggested because it made me sad.
I know why it affected me… what does it say to you? (click to make it big)
Nine out of 10 parents have heard their parents swear in front of them, according to research.
This article and study is from the UK, but are we in the States any better?
Nine out of 10 parents swear in front of children [via telegraph.co.uk]
There are approximately 20 million podcasts available for download across the world. Most of them are probably crap. For many, that’s okay. They just want the experience of doing a podcast, they don’t really care about the listener. But for many of us, though we don’t have the greatest equipment and resources, we want to sound like we do. Since we’re poor and ill-equipped we have to find more creative ways (read: cheaper) to pull off that professional air we’re going for. Here are a few tips that I give when someone asks me how to help their podcast stand out from the crowd. Continue reading
Over the past year I’ve been asked several times, “How did you get your wife to podcast with you?” Though there’s no guarantee that what worked for me will work for you, I’m going tell you how I did it. Hopefully you’ll get some pointers that will help you reach your couple’s-casting goals.
1. Ask her
Don’t tell her. Don’t nag her. Don’t demand it. Just start by asking… and don’t be surprised if she is appalled by the idea. Think of your asking like a seed. Plant that seed and give it time to grow. Don’t kill your chances by getting angry if she doesn’t share your passion for recording right away.
2. Keep asking
This is not the same as nagging. Once a week or so, remind your spouse about your original request. Restate how much you would enjoy it if they joined you behind a mic. Help quell their fears about the sound of their own voice (most folks hate how they sound to others). Again, you’re not nagging here, you’re watering that seed, keeping it as a possibility in the back of their mind.
3. Make it easy Podcasting takes a lot of time. For the hour you spend recording, plan on at least a half-hour of pre-show prep and up to 2 hours of post-production work. Recording can be stressful if there are children, chores or other distractions. Find a ‘hole’ in your week where there is nothing else going on. This may mean you have to make a hole by helping more around the house. Maybe you can work out a trade. Your time for a little of hers. If you can make podcasting more fun than not podcasting… chances are good that you’ll get your co-host!
4. Duplicate your equipment
If it’s important for you to podcast with your wife… prove it! If her voice is as important as yours, give her the same equipment you’re using. Make sure her ‘spot’ in the room is just as comfortable. You don’t want her sitting in a metal folding chair behind your desk while you’re enjoying a $75 Walmart office chair. Don’t toss her a $14 headset mic and expect her to feel valued. What if you can’t afford another mic? Give her yours and you take the headset. I know it seems to make sense that the host would have the best equipment… but we’re investing in the long term. You can always save and buy a mic later… but there’s no point if you don’t have a co-host by then.
5. Interview her
When she finally does relent to your wily ways, she’ll most likely do so begrudgingly. Like a child trying brussle sprouts, she’ll be willing to give it a chance, but if it doesn’t go well, she’s done. So it’s important to make her feel like a natural. One of the most common things I hear is, “I wouldn’t know what to say,” or “No one will care.” So help her with both of those fears by creating a list of interview questions for your first show together. Give them to her in advance so that she can prepare responses. Then when it’s time to record, start asking those questions. She’ll feel comfortable with the topic. She’ll be more confident and informed. And trust me, internet people love to hear ladies talk! It’s a win, win!
6. Make it a win
Speaking of win. You’ve got to make the first experience an enjoyable and memorable one. The first show is not a time to critique her mic technique, how many times she says um or smacks her lips. If you want to lose your co-host before you even have one, start trying to perfect her from the get-go. Don’t pick. Don’t make fun. Better your humor be self-defacing than making her the butt of your joke. You might even consider not releasing your first. Let her know it’s a “pilot” episode (you can always release it later once you get a listener base, fans love that kind of stuff). It may help her relax.
7. Make it fun Here are some of the things I’ve done to make podcasting as enjoyable for her as for myself.
I hope these tips will work for you. Podcasting with my spouse has become the highlight of my week. It is a truly rewarding experience in every way. If I or Jennifer can help you in your podcast journey in any way email us at geeklovesnerd@gmail.com. Do you have any tips or comments? Post them in the comments!