Scott Cheatham’s Weblog

Thursday night, ABC’s “Nightline” program aired a segment on twitter.

You can watch it here.

At first, I was hesitant to catch the Twitter bug, but now, I’m hooked.  I purchased the ebook on Twitter for churches by Anthony Coppedge and still need to read it as I have time.  We are planning to integrate Twitter into our church’s ministry later this year.  As for individual twittering, I’ve kept in touch with friends, and had many great conversations on Twitter that were never possible before.

BTW..You can follow me on Twitter by clicking on the bird at right or simply by visiting:

http://www.twitter.com/scottcheatham

Have a gread weekend!

Seth Godin has written a tremendous column today about the benefits of the growing ebook market.  While his instrument of choice in the column is the new Amazon Kindle II, his thoughts are pretty generic to the ebook market.  Personally I prefer the Sony Reader and last year purchased one of their new 500-series readers.  This was before their unveiling of the new 700-series and touch screen technology. 

I plan to write a series of posts on ereader technology at a later time but I wanted to focus on a few points made by Godin in his column:

1. “Pass Along” credit.  I like the idea of being able to forward a book to a friend.  I think this idea has merit in an era when there are umpteen books for a person to read and an author needs to get his name out there.  Both Sony and Amazon are proprietary in their content so this is an issue I think needs to be resolved at the publisher’s level as they release a license for their works.

2. Purchasing a “loaded” reader.  Godin mentions buying a reader pre-loaded with books.  I have one better.  Why not purchase a reader with credits to purchase books you like?  The Sony Reader comes with excerpts from several well known books on it.  My understanding is that the excerpts are updated every so often so a reader purchased today would have different selections than mine did.  Another bonus was the Sony Reader allowed me a download credit for 100 classic (i.e. Public Domain) books.  I would have liked to have seen them include a credit for ten to twenty free books under $15 at the Sony store.  Given the bandwidth needed to download the books and relative inexpensiveness of the file itself, this could be a huge bonus to get people to try a reader.

3. Knocking off the textbook market.  College texts (and middle and high school for that matter) are expensive.  Godin suggests using “open source” textbooks in a reader format that can be used by schools.  I’ve said for a while now that this is where the market should logically go.  Arming students with a light to carry reader and the textbooks they need on it would do wonders for their backs (do you ever see how large the backpacks are that they carry?) not to mention a person’s wallet (less expense).  This will be done after I’m done with my graduate degree I’m sure but it sure would be nice for my kids to have the option of having their texts downloaded to a school supplied reader and then have the kid turn it in at the end of the school year.  This could help build the market for reader purchases in the future not to mention goodwill for the company who first takes the plunge to offer schools this option!

Do any of you use a reader device for ebooks?  I never could get in the feel for it until this latest series of readers with their e-ink technology came on the scene.  Now, I love mine.  I can take literally hundreds of books with me in a small carrying bag without the hassle of hauling them and the resultant damage that occurs from such use.  Godin has long championed this format and I think his column today is a precursor of things to come.

Your thoughts?

This past weekend, the church I pastor met in my home.  Yep, you heard right.  IN MY HOME.  Without taking too long to explain, it was something that happened quite accidentally with the city in which we are located.  Our group is fine and we are doing nothing wrong but to be safe and within our legal boundaries, we elected to play it safe until we discussed the issue with the city.  Today, it appears we are okay.  The city says we should be back in our building this coming Sunday.  I will pray that is so..

Regardless, we had the pleasure of hosting all who would come in our home.  I went and grabbed our coffee like I always do.  My wife elected to bake cinnamon rolls that made the house smell tremendous.  I was pleasantly surprised that all but a few of our families came.  The children went downstairs for their lesson and my worship leader played music in our kitchen as the church assembled in a collection of dining room chairs, lawn furniture, and two recliners!  The atmosphere was amazing.

When the music ended, I was sitting on a bench near our picture window and I began to speak from the book of Acts.  I had already planned to speak from this passage but I was taken that in this time, we were meeting as the early believers did over 2000 years ago in homes, praising God, sharing a good meal, and being taught from the Word.  The message was more interactive due to our small space.  A few people stopped to ask questions.  In the end, we gathered and held hands as we prayed to close our time together.  75 minutes had passed and afterwards, we elected to travel to the local steakhouse to enjoy lunch together.

We worshipped

We worshipped in my home

We worshipped in my home with gladness

When it was over and my wife and I returned home to take up the chairs, she complimented my message but for me, the message had occurred  as we gathered to pray.  It felt different but good.  I was grateful for the experience.  What Satan had intended for bad, God used for good.  I believe we grew stronger yesterday.  People gave praise reports..several of them.  All left smiling, hugging and happy.

God inhabits the praises of His people…

Indeed!

I had a friend ask me that earlier this week.  “Hey, where’s your blog?”  In short, I was traveling this week for a missions training summit my employer was hosting.  It was a great time but left me little time to write.  Besides, I felt a little tech fast was in order though I did TWITTER a bit from the event.

Upon returning, I’ve gotten a nasty cold and had to focus on our weekend worship coming up.   Of course there’s always all the work left behind while you’re gone too.

Normal blogging returns on Monday!  I hope you have a blessed weekend and I’ll see you then!

One of my “quirks” as my wife likes to call it is my enjoyment of fine writing implements.  I have some really nice pens in my collection at home but my day to day life is lived with pencils.  Over the years, I’ve added a few mechanical pencils to my writing collection and while they are nice to look at, I’ve never been satisfied with them compared to the wood variety.  As communication technology continues to improve and most writing is done with pen and ink, finding good quality pencil and pencil related materials is getting more and more difficult.  Even a trip to the office supply stores (any of them) yields at best, mediocre quality because of the cheaper price.

Recently, I again tried some new mechanical pencils to see if any measured up.  My biggest beef with mechanical pencils is the durability of the lead.  It seems that it’s constantly breaking and that leaves marks on my work not to mention a scratchy feeling when I begin to write again after clicking out some new lead.  I purchased two nicer quality daily use pencils and gave them a whirl.  Boy was I disappointed once again.  Nice to look at but again, poor performance and below average writing.  Fine wood pencils have a harder, better crafted lead and this produces solid, smooth, smudge free lines.  Erasing is clean with a quality eraser (the “pink pearl” being a good choice).  My wife calls it my “geek” factor when I use them.  I’ll admit I AM particular because much of my note taking is being done in my bible and I underline, annotate, and use my own little “glyph” system to track thoughts, notes, and even small outlines I use for potential sermons.  It’s imperative my writing choice produces quality marks the first time.

I didn’t even begin to use these mechanicals in my bible.  Instead, I used them on daily writing and teaching where it didn’t matter as much to me about the markings they left.  After a few weeks, I’ve decided that I will go the way of Ernest Hemingway and stay with my cedar wood pencils, quality metal hand sharpener (of which I have two), and my pink pearl erasers.  Since I was running low on wood pencils, I stopped by my favorite web site for all things pencil, “Pencil Things”, and I ordered some British made Oxford pencils like those you see at right.  A box of 12 costs 32-cents a pencil (plus s&h) but I ordered a few others things while I was there to make it worth my while.  I’ve ordered my sharpeners, pencil extenders, and quality pencils from this site and have always been pleased.  You pay a little more but it’s worth it for the quality and variety of items you can get no where else.  Besides, owner Don Bell always throws in some extra goodies as a thank you so I always get to try new things.

So now I wait.  My son has already claimed my mechanical pencils for his school bag after my new ones arrive.  Perhaps I’ll try again when someone comes up with a reasonable, high-quality, pencil where the lead doesn’t break off at every other line!  Until that time, I break out my trusty sharpener and look forward to many more pages of profitable writing!

The following is a link for a video called “This is Coffee”.  It was filmed in 1961 I believe but I had to laugh.  It’s interesting to see how coffee preparation and styles have changed over the years.  You gotta love some of that antique equipment they are using too!

If you are a coffee lover, it’s about 12 minutes long.  Enjoy.  It’s worth your time for the smiles you’ll get.

Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some coffee to make!

A few weeks back, the Gallup folks released the result of a survey they did to find the “most” and “least” religious states in our nation.  The chart at right shows their findings.  Not surprisingly, Colorado finds itself on the “less” religious side.  I come from Missouri which is listed as “more” religious.  The color on the chart says it all.  Why am I a church planter?  This is why!

Depending on other research polls, you can find Colorado listed as the third highest unchurched state in our nation.  Apparently, that claim is made by pure population numbers.  Regardless, it’s apparent that Colorado as a whole is a mission field that needs new churches.  Sadly, I’ve watched many church plants similar to mine fade away and close up shop in this rough economic stretch we’re going through.  Why?  Less tithes means the rent can’t be paid and most of the places in Colorado cost an arm and a leg to rent each month.

If you are inclined, please pray for our work.  We just recently moved into our own storefront location and in the years ahead, my prayer is that we will have a permanent home somewhere.

One night I was up late and having problems getting to sleep.  After getting an update on the evening sports scores I began surfing the channels and a familiar infomercial came on featuring the super absorbent “Sham Wow” and the hawker selling them (at right).  If you care enough to look for the product online, you can view the same infomerical I did and watch this guy quickly fast talk his way through a bottle of soda spilled on a carpet and how just one of the “Sham Wow” towels picked it all up even to the padding underneath.

How a spiritual illustration came to me during that time I’ll never know but I began to wonder how many people were picking up their phones to order after this demonstration?  The hawker claims to have made good money on the product (he owns it).  So much so, he’s now also hawking some chopper that you can hit with your fist to make mounds of salsa (he owns that product too)!

Anyway, my thought was this: When we talk about Jesus to our friends and people who ask, are we pitching Him just like the sham wow guy?  Look at the similarities.  This guy makes a mess and tells us his answer will quickly fix it down to the very pad.  In our anxiousness to see people come to the Lord, do we sometimes take their lives and spill it out like the cola on the pad and then claim that Jesus can come and fix it all, sopping up our mess right down to the pad?  Oh there may be a rough spot, even the sham wow guy has to flip the towel and give it a few hits of the hand to soak up the last ounces of cola.  But look, the sham wow picked it up in seconds.  Perhaps we “turn the towel” when our friends bring up this objection or that objection.  We get so focused on the decision, we forget that life’s messes don’t quite clean up like the sham wow.

Does that mean Jesus isn’t worth the decision?  Absolutely not.  But when we get so worried about the decision rather than the heart condition of the person making that choice, we risk damaging them for eternity.  Sure Jesus forgives our sin when we accept him.  But that doesn’t mean he’ll clean up the messiness of consequences after forgiving us.  Besides, if were truly repentant, the consequence would mean little compared to the gift of eternal life.  Accepting Jesus was the best decision I have ever made.  I’ve still lost jobs, been hurt by “church” people, watched friends die lost, and have watched my mother suffer excruciating pain over these past few months as she recovers from yet another illness.  Do I still believe?  Yes.  Do I still trust in the Lord knowing that his greatness will see me through?  Absolutely.  Do I understand all that God is doing around and in me?  NO.  I struggle with anger, sadness, and the flesh warring against the Holy Spirit that dwells within me.  To paraphrase the apostle Paul’s writings, why is that sin seems to be within easy reach and holiness can at times feel like a constant struggle?

We deny our friends the sweetness that comes in the good times when we deny that the bad times stink and can really, REALLY hurt.  When we tell them about Jesus, we only want to focus on the good.  It’s in the discipleship that we must, MUST focus on the bad.  The sham wow isn’t coming along to sop up the mess and make it all go away.  Our good actions in thankfulness to God will eventually help us but we must wade through the bad things sometimes.  When we get past the clouds and the sun is shining again, then we can look to the heavens with our fist clenched high and praise God for his goodness.  As Job wrote: “Though he slay me, I will give him praise” (Again, my paraphrase).

Thanks sham wow guy.  Thank you for clarifying my vision of witnessing to the people I care about.

Good night!

While in Missouri for a business trip I had the chance to stop at my favorite fast food joint, White Castle!  If you’re not a White Castle addict, I understand.  It’s either a love or hate relationship with the place but for me, it’s about growing up in Illinois across the river from St. Louis.  White Castle has been around forever and there was always something cool about Dad bringing home a sackful of “belly bombers” for a special dinner treat.  As a teen, my friends and I hung out at the local White Castle in Fairview Heights, Illinois many late nights eating way too many burgers and paying for it the next day.

Each year I visit, I pick up a coffee mug from the Collinsville, Illinois shop.  White Castle changes the design from year to year and this year’s mug is at right.  The traditional logo in a blue stoneware mug that holds a good amount of java!  In talking with one of the workers, I found out that the same company that does Starbucks’ mugs did White Castle’s.  I quickly snapped one up and put it in my suitcase to take home to Denver the next day.  That and a sack of burgers to share with my Dad that night before bed.

Most everyone knows White Castle for their burgers but what many do not know is that White Castle actually makes a really good coffee for it’s morning and late night faithful.  While in Farmington, Missouri I stopped at the White Castle there for a breakfast sandwich and a cup of joe.  It’s a good medium roast blend that’s very smooth.  I asked about purchasing a bag to take home but was told the bag coffee is only sold in certain grocery stores and not in the actual restaurants.  From pictures I’ve seen from other fans, the coffee is pretty reasonable at about $5-$6 for a 12 ounce bag.  I can’t find it anywhere though so I guess I’ll have to keep looking.

Well, I just brew my favorite coffee and enjoy it in my new mug.  For me, I think it’s more about the memories than the mug.  I’ve begged the White Castle folks to build in Colorado but they keep saying no.  I guess I’ll have to wait until my trip to Nashville in a few weeks to get some more sliders to enjoy.  The frozen ones in the box can help get you through but nothing tastes like the ones made fresh in the restaurants.

Okay, all this writing has me hungry now.  Guess I’ll go heat up some frozen ones while I think about my Friday blog post!  Have a great day.

My work week starts much the same as many of my friends.  I wake up early to shower and shave and soon after, the coffee is brewing.  I usually enjoy my quiet time with a cup of coffee and then I’m ready to hit the road.

I spend a lot of time sharing my coffee addiction with others of like spirit but what many do not know is that my first love of hot beverages has always been tea.  Years before I began drinking coffee I was boiling tea.  In my teen years growing up in Illinois I used to go take an afternoon two to three times a month to dig up sassafrass roots from the ground so I could clean them and make tea from them. (Thank you Foxfire books!)

Of all the bag teas I buy, my favorite kind has to be “Earl Grey” which is a black tea usually combined with lavender essence and the oil of the citrus fruit bergamont.  While coffee usually whiles away my morning (and sometimes late evening) hours, my tea time usually occupies my mid-to-late afternoon and early evening times.  I usually keep a box of Earl Grey tea in my coffee shelf at home along with one other flavor I’m trying out.  

Imagine my surprise while I was away on business in Illinois and I ambled in to the local Starbucks and noticed their new “Tea Lattes”.  Starbucks has always had tea but never really pushed it.  Most coffee shops do.  I was waiting on a friend so I decided I would give the “London Fog” latte a try since it’s base was Earl Grey tea.  I was pleasantly surprised by the taste; not too overpowering but enough to satisy your tea cravings.  A few days later I tried another one and asked the barista about the mix.  Earl Grey tea of course, along with vanilla syrup and some steamed milk added.  The tea bag used is Starbucks’ tea of choice, Tazo, in the full leaf bad variety.  It made for a pretty strong brew after it was done steeping.  Starbucks is putting a lot into this campaign to reposition itself.  The increase in gourmet coffee shops, not to mention the McDonalds’ chain offering high quality coffee beverages at a lower price and with drive through convienence, has forced the Seattle coffee chain to make some changes.  Pushing the tea beverages makes sense.  While very good, they are a bit pricey.  I went online to see if anyone else had came up with a home brew recipe for the new beverage and sure enough, I found one.  You can check it out here.

I love both coffee and tea.  I’ve been making a concentrated effort though to get more black and green teas into my diet since my dietician said it would be better for me in the long run.  She lets me have coffee but told me to cut down a bit to protect my blood pressure.  Since that time, my love of tea has come back to me and now, I look forward to a mid-day fix.  You might want to try one of these “London Fog” latte’s and see if you don’t like it as much as I do.  Try the recipe and see if you can make one as good at home!

Here’s to an afternoon tea time!