Your probably thinking that since you don’t visit Ustream, others won’t either. Your wrong. Just like YouTube, millions of people are viewing things that don’t relate to you. What this means is that you should use multiple means to send our your message, THE message. Take a look at this simple country church that uses Ustream. They even broadcast the organist practicing for Sunday’s service. Why not? http://is.gd/cDK7j
Improve Your Blogging and Twitter Skills
June 5th, 2010 
Mark If you blog or use twitter, then you are going to want to review this site often. It will give you TONS of help. I am going to reread this many times over. www.copyblogger.com
An Abbott and Costello Takeoff On The Economy
May 30th, 2010 Mark Did you ever watch the Who’s On First comedy act by Abbott and Costello? Even if you didn’t you will want to view this great comedy clip on the economy. You will want to use it in presentations too! Enjoy it HERE.
Live Your Passion
May 14th, 2010 Mark Gary Vay-ner-chuk in his book “Crush It!” says some great things about life and he has a fantastic Vook mobil video sample with an interview of Rick Newman, Chief Business Coorespondent for US News and World Report. You must view it at: http://is.gd/c8d3L This guy Gary is amazing, fun, and yup, I kinda feel like I am looking in a mirror. Well, maybe not the hair part but he does have energy.
Here are some great quotes from his book:
1. He has three rules: “Love your family, Work Superhard, and Live your passion.”
2. “If you don’t already live the first principle, get on it, bc what i’m going to tell you in this book is worthless if your’re not taking care of your family.”
3. “Live your passion…It means that when you get up for work every morning, every single morning, you are pumped bc you get to talk about or work with or do the thing that interests you the most in the world.”
Stop right there. Maybe Gary is talking about something the average Christian is missing. Maybe the reason that most believers never personally lead anyone to Christ is because they have never gained a passion for the gospel and they have not decided that they are suppose to be passionate about the gospel.
I hope that I can get to meet Gary some day….I want to tell him about Christ!
“Sunday’s Coming” movie trailer
May 12th, 2010 Mark What do you expect next Sunday. Maybe you already know….take a look. Sunday’s Coming
Gandhi Missed It By One
May 5th, 2010 Mark “Seven Blunders of the World” by Mahatma Gandhi
1. Wealth without work
2. Pleasure without conscience
3. Knowledge without character
4. Commerce without morality
5. Science without humanity
6. Worship without sacrifice
7. Politics without principle
BUT he missed the most important one….
8. Redemption without Christ
Since we are all made in the image of God, is it any wonder that a humble and reflective person should have such great thoughts. Yet when left to our own considerations, the issues of life can cloud our appreciation and trust in God’s provision for our soul.
Time for Social Media Abuse
May 5th, 2010 Mark Up until now, I have not used this blog for personal gain but that record must be interrupted. So, I am going on vacation this summer to Yellowstone and Rushmore. Got any suggestions on what to see beyond a couple of guys in a rock and some water shooting straight up? Comment here or go to my email marklydeckertoday@gmail.com
So, You Don’t Think Twitter Rocks? Then Read This!
May 4th, 2010 Mark Here are 10 professors who say its all about using Twitter. Follow this lead: http://chronicle.com/article/10-High-Fliers-on-Twitter/16488/
New Millennial Study
April 28th, 2010 Mark Here is USA today taking note of the study on Millennials. Gotta read it!
http://www.usatoday.com/news/religion/2010-04-27-1Amillfaith27_ST_N.htm?csp=hf&POE=click-refer
Top 10 Ways to Use Social Media
April 27th, 2010 Mark The top 10 MUST ways to use your social media:
1. Be prepared to alter and adjust with those who follow you. Everything (well, almost everything) is changing….don’t resist what you cannot stop. Be prepared to change what you are doing and how you are offering it. Don’t be a a Pinto or Pacer….sorry, you gotta be a Boomer to get that one.
2. Extend yourself through others. Let others have the voice and input. You won’t come up with one voice. Multiple voices will speak into issues way beyond what you can…and they will give you AND themselves new perspectives.
3. Try to get the influencers in on stuff. You need respected voices to share your thoughts and concepts with others. They speak more powerfully to an issue than you can.
4. Never go to sleep on your media. Stay up on it just as you would watch your favorite team on Monday Night Football. Don’t add it to the end of your day….make it part of your day.
5. Get input from everyone on your team at work and whoever else can share something with you. Don’t be an island. Listen for new and creative thinking as well as good old advice.
6. Evolve. Don’t stay static. Don’t anticipate staying static. Listen to other bloggers, tweets, FB and all sorts of media. Stay fresh.
7. Build lists. Know who you are addressing. Add info and people, constantly. Find your way onto others lists.
8. Get everyone in your organziation on board. Not everyone appreciates the value of social media so prepare a research paper on it and get testimonies….online and live!
9. Learn from your mistakes and correct them, quickly. Not responding to negative comments will bury your influence.
10. Anticipate growth. Don’t expect to get everything overnight but do make a list toward where you are going and you can see where you have been. Write that down….and where you have been.
Thoughts on Transitioning Students In Life
April 25th, 2010 Mark Last week at College Metro 2010 Louisville, Dr Timothy Paul Jones presented at a seminar on transitioning students from High School to Adulthood. He shared 5 transitional thoughts that every church should consider. Here they are:
1. Re-Present Christian maturity as a desireable goal.
2. Re-Envision teenage years as a Period of Preparation for maturity.
3. Develop Benchmarks and Rites of Passage to assess and to celebrate movements toward maturity.
4. Celebrate Marriage and Parenthood as God’s Normative design while viewing singleness in light of God’s providence and plan. (boy this is really good and needs enlargement! When do you think the last time teens heard their parents say…”wish we get to have more children or assist others with theirs.”)
5. program so that college students develop Healthy Intergenerational Relationships.
Too bad the seminar had not been recorded but you can contact Dr Jones through www.sbts.edu