I figure we can help build each others playlist…

What is that one song that gets you to push up that last rep or run that last 1/4 mile?
Los

Or My wife’s blog…
My girls gave their hair up tonight to Locks of Love.

Gulp. They are gorgeous.
Los

First of all. I HATE the Creative Chaos logo. Please somebody make it not suck.
Go HERE and HERE.for the rules and explanation on how to be involved in this post.
Every Thursday YOU write a post on your blog as to what creative element, secret, process, whatever took place in your life the past week or month, or year, or decade.
Music, Art, Video, Production, Scripts, Sermon Illustrations, Design, ect. You get the vibe.

My entry to this week is quite simple. It is our Service Programming Division Hopes and Dreams for 2008. I like to share this with people and read it once a week to make sure we are on track at Buckhead Church in “Closing the Gap” between the worshipper and our God on Sundays. Here it is with little fanfare…

Close The Gap in 2008
1. Innovate
a. Authentic creativity within the church creates authentic culture outside the church.
b. Spend time with secular leaders looking ahead.
c. Write songs for Buckhead/NorthPoint/BrownsBridge
2. Examine
a. What is Next?
b. What is Current
c. What has Past
3. Disturb/Disrupt Career Christians
a. Teach and Show Biblical worship with great worship leaders!!!
b. Consistently break tradition

So that is what I came up with for our team and gave that to them in January. We have made great strides but have a long way to go. I look forward to the second half of the year.

OK. Your Turn. ONLY FILL OUT THE WIDGET BELOW IF YOU HAVE LINKED BACK HERE FROM YOUR BLOG. We want this community to continue to grow.

Let the chaos begin!!!
Los

Lynse Leanne had a cool post today linking over here. She talked about the post that got her blogging. It was here. And it reminded me. So I put it in the Best Of category over to the right. So I am going to repost it.
Go ahead. Where do you sit? What camp do you belong to?

……………………..

So I have been catching a vibe lately around the blogoshphere. There are camps forming. A few camps.

The Evangelists
These are the zealots. They preach blogging like Salvation may be found. They check their stats a few times a day. They blog multiple times a day. They convert one new blogger a day. A lunch will not be had without some pitch about blogging being able to change ones life. From the very core. They know more about your life than you do. They Digg everyday. They YouTube everyday. They comment on 20 blogs at a time in order to stay in the loop. They read blogs only in RSS readers. More than likely, they have had a marital argument about blogging. I am one of these.
Hello. My name is Carlos. And I’m a Blogger.

The Believers
These are the blogging faithful. They believe that there is TRUE community in this stuff. They post almost everyday. They comment a lot. They try to grow their blogs. They try to actually have relationships. They pick up the phone and CALL other bloggers. They see the future of communication existing in a large way through blogs. Probably to their fault. But none the less, they blog. Their motto is, “Blogging is fun, Blogging is phat, Link to me, and I’ll link you back.”

The Seekers
These are the back row Baptists. They are blogging every couple of days. They look at the blogging believers like they are nuts. They play it safe and keep it pretty narrative in their posts. They wonder what is it about this blogosphere that can help them. They definitely don’t want to be like the Evangelists, but maybe becoming a believer wouldn’t be so bad. They READ blogs daily. Searching. For something. They feel involved when in “Blogging Conversations”. They don’t think blogging is fun. They still have a MySpace. It is almost a chore. But they blog.

The Lost
These are the ones who still ask…”Whats a Blog?”

The Atheists
These are the ones who feel persecuted by the bloggers. “Why must they (bloggers) ALWAYS talk about it? They must have watched You’ve Got Mail one too many times.” They will NEVER blog. They will NEVER read a blog. They make fun of all who do. They make me nervous.

So. I carry the coin in my pocket.
Where do you fall?
Los

Hugh Hewitt, the Blog Godfather and author of BLOG: Understanding the Information Reformation That’s Changing Your World wrote a great article mentioning our little community we have here. Be proud of what you guys have created.

People are watching.
Los

Smraisin - This is the growths under a man’s T-shirt when he has walked into a very chilly room or outside and he looks as if he is “smuggling raisins”.
Common use - “Dude. Your smraisins are showing. Go back outside and warm up.”

Your turn.
Let’s see what you got.
Make up a neologism and share it below.
C’mon little Websters…
Los

I’m sitting in what could quite possibly be the largest starbucks I have ever seen. Here in Cumming, GA. Don’t laugh. Thats the real name.
I assume they have to have room for the cows to come in or something. Anyways, one of the barristas is looking at me in a not so normal way. Like either he thinks I am hot or he knows me. Maybe both.
After he walks up to me…
“Hey…Are you Carlos? Dude! You are. You were on LA Ink right?”
“Yea. Totally.”
“Dude. You went to Briarlake Baptist Church right?”
“Yup”
“Dude. You were my camp counselor!!! Remember? I threw a shoe and hit you in the face and then you chased me down mooned me.”
“Um. I don’t remember that. Maybe it will come to me. So, sorry about that dude. How is your family?”
Los

Hey guys. As my days go on during DRIVE…The BEST way follow the conference is on the TWITTER tip.
You can follow my twitter here… http://twitter.com/loswhit
And there are lots of other tweets going during the conference.
If you are here tweeting then let us know in the comment section.
Lots of pics and 140 character spouts.
Join the fun!!!
Los

So these 2 days have worn me out. Go Go Go Go. And you all know I love this pace. But every once in a while I need to get away.
Nobody around. It only takes about 30 minutes and I’m full again.
So right now I am sitting in the west auditorium, all alone, listening to Andy’s session 2 talk.
It is just me and the cleaning crew.
Oh. And Andy. But just on screen.
2500 people are on the other side of the wall.
I literally feel my tank getting filled up again.
I love to ride the bus alone. I love to go to the movies alone. I like to go to Starbucks alone.
I actually love to be alone. Not long. But for a few moments a day.
How about you?
Where do you find your fuel?
Do you need alone time or do you need to be engaged in conversation?
Los

OK. So since I am smack dab in the middle of “Conference World” right now.
I have a question.
If you could build the PERFECT Conference but could only submit one idea to the grand scheme…
What would you want in it?
What would you want NOT in it?
Los

Some shots from the blogging gathering tonight.
It was a fantastic time of awkward side hugs and feeling a bit like we all know too much about each other.
Seriously though, it was amazing.

From the bottom row, L to R.
Tyler Reagin, Carlos Whittaker, Andyi816, Chad Roberts, Pete Wilson, Jenni Catron , Matt Funakawa , Heather Whittaker, Nick Blevins, Jennifer Blevins, Kye Chung, Jason Samuels, Pete Kim, Josh Lazar, Miranda Wiggleston, Kevin Bunnell, Brad Bretz, Rich Barrett, Joe Wiggleston, John Cornelius, Loran Lichty, Brian Reese, John Weatherford, Tim, Reid Greven, Got No Blue .
Those were the blogs I remembered. I think there are 2 links missing from the pic and a few peeps not in the pic.

A few things I found out about Ragamuffin Readers tonight.
1. They like their beer.
2. The like to cuss. Especially the pastors. (just kidding)(sort of)
3. The love Jesus.
4. They’re a good looking bunch.
5. They are all completely sane. All but Tyler.

We talked a bit about how the church either needs to jump on the wave that is social media or move out of the way because it is coming. And the church can either fight it and drown, or embrace it and surf.

I think I would rather surf…
Have you had a blogger meet up like this before?
Los

Bahama Breeze…
Here is the website
It is about 4 minutes from NP.
Right after the main session tonight.
Let’s take over the patio.
To get an idea…
Check in if you are coming…
Los

No words can describe the agony that went through my being as I watched this on the IMAG screen.

Did you feel it?
Los