Ragamuffin Soul

I don’t censor my blog comments.
I just don’t.
I mean if someone is being a complete @$$, I’ll let them for a moment and then shut them up.
I’m not here to make friends.
I’m here to have honest conversation that disturbs and disrupts people to see Christ’s face fresh again.
Here are a few thoughts I have on how to use social media to have honest and authentic conversation.

1. Realize that you are not going to convince anyone of anything they don’t already believe through online banter.

Correct me if I’m wrong but I don’t know of anyone who had a twitter conversation and suddenly accepted Jesus or became a Buddhist. It is what it is. You are not smart enough, wise enough, or witty enough to change the world with a single tweet.

2. Everyone except you knows your online persona is way sexier than your offline truth.

If you come correct with this at jump street, people will take their capes and breastplates off faster than if they think you think you are all that.
Admitting your faults while rejoicing in His strength will get you a lot farther in conversation than you imagine.
And my abs online look WAY better than they do offline.

3. Remember that people probably only see 25% of what you blog/tweet/say.

We all think that we are the center of the universe. It revolves around us.
So I say things all the time like…”Why is that guy going off on my because of that one Instagram with a beer in it? I Instagram pictures of beer all the time?”
Um. Earth to Carlos. He is not holding his phone waiting with baited breath for the next unoriginal sunset picture you Instagram.
Newbies to my blog may read something without getting the holistic view of me and suddenly think I’m a stuck up shock jock.
Little do they know I cower in the face of conflict and fear confrontation.
But I can’t place this expectation on my readers.
So I have to be consistent in my inconsistency.

4. Don’t just have conversation in your own space. Have it in other spaces.

When people see you stepping out of your space and entering theirs for conversation they feel safer to be genuine with you in yours.
I regularly visit conversations with opposing views as I and comment in direct opposition to their view without being filled with venom in order to make my place safe for them.
The post below on Elevation is a perfect example.
There are plenty who disagree with me, but the venom filled commentators won’t be gaining conversation from here. The authentically concerned who commented in love will.
It’s not rocket science.
Be an idiot and eat alone.
Be kind and eat with me.

5. Be willing to be wrong.
You will want to take the post down.
You were wrong.
You don’t want to look like an idiot.
You will want to take it down.
Don’t.
Bask in your idiotness for a good while.
And think harder before hitting “publish” next time.

These are some things I do to keep my authentic conversations sharp online.
What are some practices you use to keep it real online?
Los

Critics.
They are actually valuable.
To the ones that say just ignore the critics and only listen to the supporters, I say you will become stale and irrelevant in no time.
But for every truth from a critic there is truth from a supporter.
It is how you see the truth in the critics that will move you towards greatness.
If everyone is agreeing with what you are doing then you are probably not doing it right.
Elevation Church has their share of critics.
When a church grows at the pace that they do jealousy begins to peek out of the most secure.

When The Code Orange Revival began the critics came out in droves.
And I would read their “reviews” (because you can review when God moves?) and see jealousy seeping out of all of them.
I would watch the revival online and watch what God was doing from afar.
Then this weekend I got to lead worship at Elevation, which I do every other month or so, and see what God was doing first hand in the life of that church on the final weekend of the revival.
A few observations.
1. The people calling Elevation shallow would DROWN in the shallowness.
2. The lives I saw changed directly in front of me will be with me forever.
3. It is when a church sits in the confidence of God that they walk as confident as Elevation.
4. The city of Charlotte is literally changed because of the hands and feet of Elevation Church.
5. When we begin to focus on how God is using US as opposed to how God is using another church, the beginning of revival can take place in our lives and in our cities.

No church is perfect.
And the second you find it and show up, you have screwed up the perfection.
God isn’t calling us to all do it the same.
He’s just calling us to do it.
Lets glorify what God is doing in EACH OTHER and try to repair OURSELVES as opposed to glorifying OURSELVES and pointing out flaws in EACH OTHER.
Thank you Elevation for growing in healthy ways and growing people’s lives in even healthier ways.
It’s better that way.
Los

I honestly would never watch a 9 minute video on YouTube. You don’t have to watch the video to get the point…

…But every 45 seconds, when I would try to close the window, I simply couldn’t.
I want to know what would come after your I’m or I statement…

The broadcasting squad at Liberty Middle School in Madison, Alabama produced this video. It was entirely shot on iPads and mixed with music by Sigur Rós.

You’re Turn…
I or I’m _________________

Los

The only reason I can’t completely mock this picture is because I definitely rock a mild to mini sag.
How about you?
Do you rock a sag?
Or do you pull them boys up to where you are singing soprano?
What do you prefer?
Sag or no sag?

Los

There is going to be a moment where it all seems to much.
It is.
There is going to be a moment where you want to throw your hands up and walk away.
You can.
There is going to be a moment where you want to spit in the face of love.
You might.
There is going to come a moment where you want to cower in the face of fear.
You may.
There is going to come a moment where it will seemingly crush every ounce of your spirit.
It will.
There is going to come a moment when you realize you have been completely fooled.
You were.

And let me tell you something.
No one can get up from being hit, until they have been hit.
Resolve doesn’t come from an easy life.
It comes from those moments above.
And I’m here to tell you, those moments I listed above…
As true as they will be in the moment…
They will pale to the moment you realize that you did not cower, run, or hide.
They will pale to the moment you realize that there is more inside of you that you ever dreamed.

They will pale to the moment, you stand.

So bring on those truths.
They will be true in their moment.
But they will not be true for a lifetime.
Be Brave And Stand
Los

You’re Welcome,
Los

Hey Ragamuffin Church Leaders and Creatives…

Looking for awesome Children’s & Preteen Ministry resources for your church?  Check out this sale from ONLY144.com. $97 for $1,678 worth of Children’s and Preteen Ministry stuff.  They’re like GROUPON for ministry stuff, and they have some ridiculous 144 hour deals.  Only 74 or so hours left on this deal so don’t miss it.  The website is ONLY144.com Spread the word.

Here’s all the resource providers.  Click the photo to check it out.

So it’s time again.
Last session we have 10 AMAZING creatives join me for my Creative Coaching…
A Photographer
A Project Manager
A Social Media Ninja
A Producer
A Event Planner
A Worship Leader
A Media Director
And a few other amazing creatives.


I took them through my ideation system and watched them deconstruct and assemble it in their own way.
We talked through Innovation, Examination, And Disturbing and Disrupting.
It’s a process that I feel after 2 years has been sharpened to a point that is essential in the life of a creative.
So, let me take my knowledge from Sandals, Northpoint, Catalyst and other amazing organizations help give you permission to be the most creative person you can be. Lawyers, dentists, singers, preachers, moms. It’s for all of you.
I am starting my next round of Creative Coaching the first week of February.
If this seems like something you feel would be good for you please email my assistant Noelle@ragamuffinsoul.com and she will give you the deets.
Apply here.

We have a limited number of spots so jump in fast!
Los

It happened so fast.
We were in the Memphis airport getting off one plane and walking on another.
I’d just spent 22 days straight with my kids.
I was tired.
We were almost home.
The 9 year old… “Daddy? Will you read this to me?”
“Can I do it on the plane when we get settled in?”
“OK” she replied.
We got on the plane, got settled in, and I fell asleep.

We got home and she said…”Dad?  Can you read the book to me now?”
“YES! I can.”
She cuddled up in my gut, like she used to do when she was 3.
I started reading Diary of a Wimpy Kid Part 3524.
She got settled in.
She fell asleep in 10 seconds flat.

The grace she showed me in my sleep I treasured in hers.
She wanted no story from me.
She wanted me.
And when she got me.
She dreamed of me.

Your nine year old wants you more than whatever they are asking you to do.

Fill their heart with the pace of your voice and the rhythm of your breath.
It’s better that way…
C

Hey kid.  Quit looking at me like that.  You know it works…

You were only 7 months old.
So small. So tiny. So perfect.
It was cloudy outside and the roar of Korean diesel trucks was louder than our failed attempt of thanks happening inside that fluorescent lit room.
There were a few things hanging on the wall and a tv in the corner of the room.
The intensity of what was happening in the room made the room warmer than it actually was.
My mind was spinning and my heart was racing.
“What if I screw this kid up?”
“Can we back out now?”
“OMG. He just cried when I held him. He hates me.”
“I cuss sometimes and I’m a pastor. I didn’t tell them that. Shit. I wonder if they would take him away if they could read my mind?”
“I’m Mexican. My wife is white. He’s Korean. He’s doomed.”
The thoughts kept flying.
I gripped Heathers hand a bit harder than normal and she looked at me with that look I have grown accustomed to…
RELAX.
So I did.

The moment that your Oma placed you in Heather’s arms and released you from hers I saw so much.
Your brother and sister were standing 4 feet behind Oma. They were as respectful and serene as the old lady I sat next to on the bus the night before.
Almost reverent.

When he came to shake my hand he gripped it strong enough to show strength and peace at the same time.
Within the serenity and peace they provided there was a flicker of hope.
A flickr of hope that I am in no way going to mess you up.
That I’m actually only getting to borrow you for a lifetime to watch the amazing thing that God is going to do with you.
It was the glimpse of peace I needed in order to not crawl in the corner and suck my thumb.
When we walked to the lobby doors we saw the cab.
It was the first time I saw any emotion from Oma.

She placed her hands on her head for a moment.
A single moment of “This is too much. I love him so. Please don’t go.”
Then when we got in the van I noticed something.

You never took your eyes off her.
Not until she was out of sight.
And as we pulled away I saw one more thing.
A single tear.
Gathering.
Waiting.
Gliding.
Falling onto the hand she had covering her mouth as to not let us see the intensity of her cry.

She had cared for you alone all day and night for 6 months and she was strong.
Strong enough to let you come with us.
And it is the strength of that moment…
The strength of her sacrifice…
That will press me towards reminding you that you have been loved with a ferocious intensity by those in front of you, those behind you, and Him inside you.

And I thank your Oma, for allowing me to be… beside you…
Dad.