Trolls

I read this today over at Seth Godin's blog and thought I'd post it here as well.

"Lots of things about work are hard. Dealing with trolls is one of them. Trolls are critics who gain perverse pleasure in relentlessly tearing you and your ideas down. Here's the thing(s):

1. trolls will always be trolling

2. critics rarely create

3. they live in a tiny echo chamber, ignored by everyone except the trolled and the other trolls

4. professionals (that's you) get paid to ignore them. It's part of your job.

"Can't please everyone," isn't just an aphorism, it's the secret of being remarkable."

I think the key is to identify those whose criticism is actually constructive and worthwhile and then applying their insight. It is also crucial to identify the critics that are simply trolls. Mr Godin has given some insight into identifying them: 1. this is their "M.O." 2. they rarely create and 3. others recognize their 'trollness'.

What are some other tell tale signs you are dealing with a troll?

Trolls

I read this today over at Seth Godin's blog and thought I'd post it here as well.

"Lots of things about work are hard. Dealing with trolls is one of them. Trolls are critics who gain perverse pleasure in relentlessly tearing you and your ideas down. Here's the thing(s):

1. trolls will always be trolling

2. critics rarely create

3. they live in a tiny echo chamber, ignored by everyone except the trolled and the other trolls

4. professionals (that's you) get paid to ignore them. It's part of your job.

"Can't please everyone," isn't just an aphorism, it's the secret of being remarkable."

I think the key is to identify those whose criticism is actually constructive and worthwhile and then applying their insight. It is also crucial to identify the critics that are simply trolls. Mr Godin has given some insight into identifying them: 1. this is their "M.O." 2. they rarely create and 3. others recognize their 'trollness'.

What are some other tell tale signs you are dealing with a troll?

What Might Happen?

What could God do with a community of believers that have died to themselves and were sold out to being remarkable for the fame and glory of our God? What could God do with simple acts of kindness to bring hope to our communities; how many lives can be positively impacted through an epidemic of hope?

What might happen, if for 8 straight weeks The Branches @ FFC blanketed East Central Indiana with remarkable acts of kindness. We are about to find out beginning on November 1st when we begin a new journey called, "The Hope Epidemic".

What Might Happen?

What could God do with a community of believers that have died to themselves and were sold out to being remarkable for the fame and glory of our God? What could God do with simple acts of kindness to bring hope to our communities; how many lives can be positively impacted through an epidemic of hope?

What might happen, if for 8 straight weeks The Branches @ FFC blanketed East Central Indiana with remarkable acts of kindness. We are about to find out beginning on November 1st when we begin a new journey called, "The Hope Epidemic".

Kindness

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

When Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, He is saying that you need to live in such a way that you make a marked impact on the lives around you. Local churches are a gathering place of "the salt"; I think God has called the church at this time to get out of the saltshaker and to be remarkable to the world. Something is not remarkable because it says it is; something is remarkable because people are remarking about it. What will get the attention of the world is when we live with the values of Jesus Christ and raise the level of kindness that we show to the world around us.

That means you need to be kind at home, at school, at work, in public, in private, etc. When the kindness drifts from our life then it simply reveals the fact that people are not important to you. Romans 2:4 tells us, "God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" How’s the kindness level in your life? What if God’s kindness affected you and then you allowed it to get a hold of your heart and you were kind to others?

Jesus loved people and was kind to those far from God. What if we let God’s love invade our life and then let that kindness lead others toward repentance?

Kindness

Matthew 5:13 "You are the salt of the earth. But if the salt loses its saltiness, how can it be made salty again? It is no longer good for anything, except to be thrown out and trampled by men."

When Jesus says you are the salt of the earth, He is saying that you need to live in such a way that you make a marked impact on the lives around you. Local churches are a gathering place of "the salt"; I think God has called the church at this time to get out of the saltshaker and to be remarkable to the world. Something is not remarkable because it says it is; something is remarkable because people are remarking about it. What will get the attention of the world is when we live with the values of Jesus Christ and raise the level of kindness that we show to the world around us.

That means you need to be kind at home, at school, at work, in public, in private, etc. When the kindness drifts from our life then it simply reveals the fact that people are not important to you. Romans 2:4 tells us, "God's kindness leads you toward repentance?" How’s the kindness level in your life? What if God’s kindness affected you and then you allowed it to get a hold of your heart and you were kind to others?

Jesus loved people and was kind to those far from God. What if we let God’s love invade our life and then let that kindness lead others toward repentance?

For Your Viewing Pleasure

You may borrow the elbow dance if you happen to want to win a dance off!

Winning Dance from Catalyst from Chad Nygren on Vimeo.

For Your Viewing Pleasure

You may borrow the elbow dance if you happen to want to win a dance off!

Winning Dance from Catalyst from Chad Nygren on Vimeo.

The Result of Compassion

This was a "3 kleenexer" for me. I lost it in front of my family this morning as we watched together what unselfish love can do for a human being in need. Jimmy's story begins at 3:45 into the video.



"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25

Do something.

The Result of Compassion

This was a "3 kleenexer" for me. I lost it in front of my family this morning as we watched together what unselfish love can do for a human being in need. Jimmy's story begins at 3:45 into the video.



"Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?' "The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'" Matthew 25

Do something.

Si Habla Espanol

Well, someday I can confidently say, "Si habla Espanol". Right now all I can say are things like "Los hombres beben" and "hola" Tammy, Shelby, and I have purchased Rosetta Stone in order to learn Spanish. We've only been at it a few days now, but I'm looking forward to the day when our family can carry on conversations in Spanish.

"Adios"

Si Habla Espanol

Well, someday I can confidently say, "Si habla Espanol". Right now all I can say are things like "Los hombres beben" and "hola" Tammy, Shelby, and I have purchased Rosetta Stone in order to learn Spanish. We've only been at it a few days now, but I'm looking forward to the day when our family can carry on conversations in Spanish.

"Adios"

Be Great

I'm totally stealing this blog post from my wife's blog today.

When I see this picture of my little one I think, "The sky's the limit for you!"

Nothing is holding you back.

You are still young enough to attempt great adventures.

You are not jaded enough yet to not think you can't do just about anything!

But today I want you to remember one thing...

Don't settle for just being good.

A good Christian...

A good daughter...

A good friend...

A good person...

Go beyond good.

GO and DO great things for God!

Go where He calls you to go.

Do what He asks you to do.

Do it even when it seems hard.

Go even if it means leaving where you love being.

GO and BE great for God.

Be Great

I'm totally stealing this blog post from my wife's blog today.

When I see this picture of my little one I think, "The sky's the limit for you!"

Nothing is holding you back.

You are still young enough to attempt great adventures.

You are not jaded enough yet to not think you can't do just about anything!

But today I want you to remember one thing...

Don't settle for just being good.

A good Christian...

A good daughter...

A good friend...

A good person...

Go beyond good.

GO and DO great things for God!

Go where He calls you to go.

Do what He asks you to do.

Do it even when it seems hard.

Go even if it means leaving where you love being.

GO and BE great for God.