Instagram is an addiction. If you have an iPhone or Droid smart phone you may have already been hooked. Like most social networking apps, Instagram has its rockstars. TransitionPete has led many of us to use the squish technique each day in May.

Part of the allure for me is the community in real time. People who also love coffee, food, family, and music love to connect with me. I would love to connect with some of you lurkers, so I dare you to leave your username for Instagram and the favorite subject you photograph.

Here is my feed for Instagram (rkweblog).

I am excited about teaching a 4-week community class at Rancho Community Church in Temecula, CA. It starts this Wednesday and runs from 6:30 to 8:00 PM (April 11, 18, 25 and May 2). The class is FREE. REGISTER

How to navigate the maze of social networking, video gaming, and online entertainment.

Bring your iPad, Laptop or Smart Phone to interact with the class live!

Consider the following situations:

A local school has police investigating a fake Facebook account where a teen threatens to hurt himself.  A college student jumps off a bridge, then his roommate faces jail time for webcasting his illicit encounter. An employer looks at a social networking site, then chooses to not hire a candidate based on pictures posted.

Social networking, video gaming, and our real lives all intersect with the smart phone in our pocket, our living room cable boxes, and our laptops.  Families need to be equipped to protect themselves and their children from the real threats of the “online” world in which we now live.

Key topics covered:

• Intro: A primer to online life in 2012.
• Online manners: what are they and how to have them!
• How to…
  • Protect your family from online threats.
  • Write an online “code of ethics” and live by them.
  • Use basic online tools to streamline your online time.
  • Leverage online activity for good — making a difference.
  • Keep Video Gaming, Cable, and Satellite TV in balance.
  • Help your family to make better choices online.
• What should I really be afraid about? (This might surprise you!).

Besides rain in Southern California, the news of my blog (Rich Kirkpatrick’s Weblog) winning “Best Religion Blog” from the World Media Awards was a surprise. Some of you nominated me for this and the panel of prestigious bloggers and media people who chose this blog make it a humbling and affirming moment. The real value of this blog is the fact that I get to have a conversation with real people that otherwise might not be facilitated.

Thank you readers, stalkers and fellow bloggers for being a part of this conversation on faith and culture for creatives, leaders, and influencers!

The year in review. Yes, 2011 is nearly complete. I have a had a record percentage of first-time visitors to this blog, so I think a review of some of the most popular posts makes sense. This blog is about “conversation” so the hundreds of comments, emails, Facebook likes and tweets are greatly appreciated!

Unique “visitors” to my blog this past year:
40,249

Subscribers from Networked Blogs, RSS and Email:
~1,900

5 top blog posts:

1. Love Won or Love Wins: A different take on Rob Bell, his book and Christian dialog
   While apparently “alarming” for some, I decided Rob Bell is not a heretic, but that there are other questions more obvious if we think critically about his book. It seemed that either there were blind supporters who cried foul or critics who claimed the worst. Is there a different way to look at it?
   
2. Rob Bell and Heresy: Do we have the right to use the “H” word today?
   What is being a heretic? We have expanded that word beyond its original use, perhaps. And, are we not allowed to ask questions? Is it possible to dialog about a popular author’s view of things and ask our own questions to the question asker?
3. Let’s Be Tasteful Mark Driscoll: Worship Leader & Pastor humor to poke fun at us both
   I have a huge respect of Mark Driscoll, so instead of criticizing when he misspoke I decided to poke fun further at those of us who lead worship as well as our pastors. Are we able to poke fun at ourselves?
4. STORY: Awkward gym shower encounter schools me in leadership
   This is a powerful story of how our prejudice of those we lead sometimes conflict with the reality of who they are. Awkward moments instruct us, because sometimes being caught off guard is the only way to get our attention.
5. 5 ways to leverage sensitivity, a strength & trap for the creative
   Creative leaders in ministry are different. One of the best and worst qualities for us is the empathetic and sensitive way we see and react to the world. Here are some tips to deal with that reality. If you are not a creative type, this might help you coach or support your colleagues who are.

Thanks for being part of the conversation here at RKWeblog. If you are a lurker, please come out and say “hey” or if you are a regular, leave a comment about your highlight from 2011.

Merry Christmas! My blog is closing as far as new content the next days, although I will be here to answer any comments.

I cannot wait to reconnect in some IRL (in real life) interactions over the next few days or so. I thank you my readers, lurkers and friends for being a part of the community online.

Here is a picture of my family. I send a blessing to you on your celebration of the Advent of Jesus. The Incarnation of Jesus is the greatest miracle. Without it, there is no Son of Man. There is no cross and resurrection.

The Spirit of the Lord is upon me,
for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor.
He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released,
that the blind will see,
that the oppressed will be set free,
 and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.

Luke 14:18-19 (NLT)

 

Dunn & Wilt are special guests debunking myths about Christmas worship and more. WorshipMythbusters also celebrates 12 Episodes and its 12th month! Woo hoo!

Go and get the podcast!

Funny to read in the the virtual newspaper that stocks have soared this morning due to a record turnout for Black Friday. Even without cable or satellite TV, my family received the deluge of intel on it. The marketing force this year executed with military precision this campaign rendering Thanksgiving as a footnote. Some publicity was free. From pepper-spraying-Xbox-buying moms at Walmart to Occupy Bestbuy, our nation engaged in battle with a bad economy. On twitter I read “what recession” while personally knowing many who may never fully recover their losses. Now, Cyber Monday hits!

Our culture loves the idea of this techie stuff. As a cyborg I am attached to my iPhone like it is an appendage. As I type this, I am viewing a young couple walking about in the Starbucks looking at their iPhone screens instead of each other at a 2-1 ratio. There is a church staff meeting going on next to me where they are planning their Christmas show and the cover art I got to peek at as I eavesdrop is a picture of an iPhone. As I am enjoying my Orange Blossom Green Tea, because Starbucks coffee is just over-roasted and beneath me, I type on a MacBook Pro. It is a Cyber Monday, indeed. Steve Jobs, too bad you can’t take it all with you!

The juxtaposition of a beret wearing Occupy-Wall-Street-hipster with a waxed handlebar mustache in his 20s reading an actual book while everyone else looks on a Kindle, iPad or some other device tells the tale. Yes, a crumpled sports page actually makes this a real place. The idea is we feel more authentic, I think, when somehow we have actual paper and wooden chairs to go along with the over-hyped coffee. Those of us online here in the coffee shop feel more real-life because of the hipster reading a 3,000 page book or the barista with tattooed sleeves. I already feel less cyborg-like writing that.

Then the virtual noise deafens with pings to my phone, email, and SMSs. Groupon.com taunts while you are assaulted with “like” requests for the page of a vendor, church or eatery. Yes, you unlock coupons on Foursquare.com as you collect badges akin to video game level ups. Then, you tweet on Twitter.com how special you are for finding the sale first among your friends. My apologies for those of you lost in this banter in the first paragraph. You live either under a rock, or you remain firmly, staunchly a “digital immigrant” in a land of natives who were birthed with a Droid in one hand and a bottle in the other. You reject existing entirely a cyborg while you surf the football games holding one of ten remotes. We cannot help ourselves.

In the constant digital cacophony, Cyber Monday gives us another programmed chance to worship the god of stuff. But, this idol invisibly evades. How? Some of the things we purchase in cyberspace actually remain in the cyberspace. The MP3s stay ones-and-zeros from the ones-and-zeros of our bank accounts. But, nothing about human nature changed with the medium of this technology other than now we easily broadcast a picture of our bagel at breakfast. And, we spend our money with less thought and effort than ever. It is a Cyber Monday every Monday, already. Isn’t it?

Head on over to WorshipMythbusters.com to Episode 11 and enter the CD give away of Rita Springer’s new CD “The Play List” which has been having great reviews. Ever wonder if there are some fresh tunes for the women who lead worship? You will find some answers in this CD. Also, I give a tribute on mentorship. Happy Thanksgiving!

What an honor to be among some very talented and thoughtful bloggers who were also nominated in the category of Worship Blogger.

Here is the list:

• DavidSantistevan.com
• Ragamuffinsoul.com
• RKWeblog.com
• Worshipmatters.com
• RobRash.us
• VickyBeeching.com

Go vote there for this category as well as others such as worship band or favorite worship song. And, thanks to you my readers for continuing the conversation about faith and culture which worship surely encompasses!

I am grateful to the editors at Worship Leader Magazine for choosing RKWeblog as a “Best of the Best 2011″ Blog with four other bloggers. (StephenBrewster.me, LarryTardy.com, DavidSantistevan.com and LoopCommunity.com/blog). Here is what they said about this blog:

Rich Kirkpatrick is a worship leader and a tech steward. Versed in social networking, music, and leading, this is a perfect place for Web savvy WLs to plug in. Rich’s podcast, Worship Mythbusters is worth a stop on your next walk through the Web, as well.

Check out the other bloggers. I recommend them as well! With so many leaders and worthy sites, it is humbling to be mentioned. Thanks to my readers for participating in the conversation here!