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!

It has been a while since I have posted this series about our New Adventure. In fact, it has been over a year that my family has been traveling down this new path so here is an update on the life and times of the Kirkpatrick clan here in Murietta, California.

Changes: My time at Venture Christian Church has ended.

About six months ago I took an interim contract to lead worship part time at Venture Christian Church in Murietta, CA. That has now ended, with me serving my last Sunday this week. Even though we knew this was not a longterm fit for us and the church, it surely has been rewarding seeing people raised up. And, leading this group in worship these past months has been deeply meaningful. I have enjoyed this group of worshipers!

One of the most inspiring reflection about my time there was hearing my friend tell me the difference I made in the lives of the team he left me to lead there. He said people were given confidence and the ability to rise to the occasion because of my leadership. This was humbling and encouraging to hear. Most of the time when we lead people we never know what the investment truly brings to the kingdom.

Creating Music: A recording project, Fundraising, and Concerts.

Many of you have seen Emilie grow up on this blog. This little 17-year-old is nearing completion on her first profesional project: a 3-song EP to be released this fall. All the songs are hers and the process has taught her and her dad a lot about creating music. From her angle, she just recorded music with a talented producer and gifted musicians and held her own. My side of this has been the rewarding activity of coaching my own child in becoming a leader, artist who in her own right is going to make a difference with her gifts in people’s lives.

We finished the tracking of the voice and instruments. We have the mixing and mastering left as well as printing and digital distribution to get going. All of this could not have happened without family members, friends and people who we have connected with on social media pledging to help her! (We have just a day or so left, so click here to help out).

On top of this, Emilie is performing at a local worship training event, leading worship with me. And, a local fund raiser. Please check those out if here in SoCal. Or, if you want to book her, me or both of us call me or use the contact form.

Writing: Yes, I am writing…and speaking.

I am writing music, but this past year has seen some activity in writing articles and more. Here is a sample of stuff I have been doing.

• ChristianityToday.com Faith in the workplace site published this: Workplace Ethics in the Local Church: Thou Shalt Not Pray the Bills
• Stan Endicott published a devotional book called Reflect for worship leaders and worshipers which includes a chapter and story I penned.
• I am working on a book to be  published professionally… not gonna give away the details on this, but this is for real and a bit scary, too.
• There is an e-book I will self-publish soon that will aid leaders in structuring worship teams and the like.
• Blogging and blogging communities like the High Calling are still a staple for me as well as is the podcast over at WorshipMythbusters.com.
• Besides writing, I am also speaking a few times this year. Here is what I currently have on the docket.

I am still interested in church ministry, but this time of new endeavors is shaping me so I am not in a hurry. Our family, like many others, has financial strains to deal with. God is also shaping us through those. As we continue as a family to move forward I pray I can rest in all of that and be ready for this still-emerging season in my life.

Well, thanks for reading! What is up with you these days, my faithful readers?

EPISODE 9 of Worship Mythbusters is LIVE! I had an energetic discussion with my good friend Jeremy  Blasongame about church tech and all things in the “booth”.

In an Amish or Mennonite community there is this iconic thing called a barn raising. The whole community dedicates a day or longer to build something for one family. This collective effort over a short period of time allows a family in the community to sustain themselves for a long period of time. The infrastructure of a barn secures cattle and other livestock for the winter. It stands as a symbol of solidarity. The people care for one another. The whole community’s investment for a small sacrifice times many people equals a long-term benefit. Crowd funding can work this way, too.

I have embarked on my very first crowd funding endeavor with my daughter’s recording project on Kickstarter.com. Crowd funding is where many people get together to pre-fund a creative or entrepreneurial project and in most cases do not buy a stake in it but receive perks of value such as an advanced copy of a CD or names on the credits of a film. With creative endeavors, I am learning that it builds and reflects community or lack of it. If you fund the project, you show you have support! If you do not fully fund with a tool like Kickstarter.com you do not fund anything. It is all or nothing.

Obviously, some crowd funding is done where you get access to the funds regardless of reaching your goal, but if that hampers the quality or vision of a project then I think that is not a good thing. So, with my daughter Emilie’s project we know that if fully funded we can deliver the perks and that in doing so will meet or exceed the expectations of those who show support. If we miss the mark, then we can always try later. This is a hard reality, but I’m OK with that.

Recently, I was happy to support a former pastor of mine who used Kickstarter.com to crowd-fund his independent book. He even had a cover art contest on Facebook. A digital community gathered to see his book released. Launching this book with the funds to edit, print and digitally distribute means for a longer time many will have access to this book! Many will be helped with this leader’s teaching in a book form for years to come.

If you want to get started helping raise a barn, why not help my teen Emilie begin her career. Many ask her and I, “When is your CD coming out?” Well, we need people to make that happen. So, the answer is this: “The CD is coming out as soon as you buy one!” Is not that brilliant? Think about it, no middle man. No big corporation to sign on with debt. Creative people today have a chance to see their dreams come true and the people around them can support them in affordable yet beneficial ways to themselves. It is a win win.

Dialog time: Are you with me? Do you see crowd funding as a barn raising?