Friday, February 27, 2009 @ 6:34 pm by Josh Burcham

Are you on twitter? Are you following me? If you answered no to either one of those questions, your response should be one go to twitter and sign up and two follow me at www.twitter.com/joshburcham.

What’s twitter anyways? Watch the video below.

Join twitter and let me know. I’ll be your first follower!

Thursday, February 26, 2009 @ 11:09 am by Josh Burcham

Have you seen Jack in the Box’s new viral marketing campaign around their beloved CEO, “Jack,” being in the hospital? Great concept to get buzz around for their restaurants. My first exposure to the campaign was at the end of one of there commercials, flashed on the screen “filmed before Jack was admitted into the hospital.” With just shy of 5,000 followers on Twitter and almost 12,000 Facebook friends. They are gaining speed and excitement. You can even write a get well note to Jack Box. It hasn’t made me want to eat there, probably due to me watching Super Size Me, it’s caught my attention.

It’s a great example for a company to think outside the box for penny’s on the dollar.

Follow on Twitter
Friend on Facebook
HanginthereJack.com

Tuesday, February 24, 2009 @ 11:55 am by Josh Burcham

My brother posted this picture this morning. Don’t you love my long, flowing hair!

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 @ 1:16 pm by Josh Burcham

Another post, Missional Ministry, hit out of the park from Craig.

This generation doesn’t want to hear about what you believe. They want to see your beliefs in actions. And if you’re daring enough to live like Jesus, you’ll have a shot at reaching the next generation.

Wednesday, February 18, 2009 @ 10:16 am by Josh Burcham

Church Marketing Sucks has a great article, Another Lesson from Starbucks, on Starbucks recent changes and how we can learn as churches and leaders to not make the same mistakes.

I’ve had numerous conversations with church leaders about Starbucks’ concept of a “third place” and how the church could harness that feeling. We have work, we have home … Starbucks was that third place, a getaway, a place to relax, etc. etc.

Then they installed a drive-thru. So much for a third place, it was just a stop on the way to either home or work. They’ve put another nail in the coffin now with instant coffee. Doesn’t get any less third place than that.

Starbucks no longer has a story to tell. Their story is now the same as McDonald’s and Folgers.

I’ve seen the same thing in the local church. They start off with a core calling, know who they are and what God has created them to do. Then they either get bored or see the church down the road try something new and they change there story.

They lost their focus and in turn lost their unique story. I was known to say while working for the company, “drive-thrus were a bad idea for Starbucks.” And I said it for two reason, one I hated having to work the drive-thru and second, it changed what Starbucks was in their customers minds. It became a quick fix and not a destination. Their story was changed. Now, with these new recent changes. It’s going to be hard to find their story again.

Churches, you have a God-given vision/story. If you don’t know what God is calling you to do. Forget this article and focus on that. It’s just too important. But if you do know what God has called you to do and who to be. Hold on to that with a death grip. Don’t let go. Just because a new good idea is brought to the table, doesn’t mean it is the right idea for your church. Everything has to sift through your vision.

Elder of a church? This is your job in my eyes. That the church stays true to its God-given vision.

Read the article over at Church Marketing Sucks.

Monday, February 16, 2009 @ 1:46 pm by Josh Burcham

Here are some pictures from my iPhone’s first year of life:

Check out more pictures and videos under about. (passwords: pic033 and vid033)

Sunday, February 15, 2009 @ 10:15 pm by Josh Burcham

Quoting Jim Carrey from Dumb and Dumber, “so you are saying there is a chance”. My Colorado Avalanche have struggled this year and that is probably a understatement. They are sitting dead last in the Western Conference right now, but we might see some upward movement.

The Avalanche took down the Wings Sunday night by a score of 6-5 in a game that needed 5 shootout rounds to decide the winner.

For those counting, that’s 3-0 against the Evil Empire this season. Yep, my team sitting last in the Western Conference was able to take down one of the best teams in the league three out of three times and has officially taken the season series regardless of what goes down on March 4th. Now that wasn’t a small feat.

Recap from Colorado Avalanche.com
Ian Laperriere scored just 16 seconds into the first period and Wings and Avs fans alike were shocked. If anyone would score first, you’d think it would be the Wings loaded offense against a 3.00+ GAA goaltender in Andrew Raycroft.

The remainder of the first period was fairly sloppy. Nearly as sloppy as Chris Osgood’s puck handling abilities. The Avalanche killed off the first of their three 5-on-3 situations – conspiracy my ass, Wings fans – and headed in to the locker room with a 1-0 lead.

The second period opened with the Lappy line and once again, they didn’t disappoint. They pushed the puck deep into the Wings zone and then Laperriere got in front of Osgood to help create havoc in front of him, allowing a Ruslan Salei point shot to find the twine.

2-0 and the feelings of “ Is this real life?” were starting to kick in.

The question was quickly answered with four penalties, two 5-on-3 sequences and two Red Wings PP goals in the span of 2 1/2 minutes. Tack on a beauty Marian Hossa goal at 8:58 and real life was rearing its ugly head with a 3-2 Wings lead.

Then the third period started and everyone was thinking “It can’t happen again.” But happen it did. Andreas Lilja took a penalty just nine seconds into the period which ended at the 1:01 mark when Marek Svatos got a stick on a Wojtek Wolski shot to even things up at 3-3.

Marian Hossa put the Wings up 4-3, Ben Guite tied it up. Jiri Hudler put the Wings up 5-4, Milan Hejduk tied it up. Who would have thought the Avs would have the gumption to keep battling back against the Wings?

The Avalanche held off a late onslaught from the Wings to take it to OT. An OT which proved fairly uneventful so it was off to a shootout.

I won’t detail all the shooters since it went five rounds, but suffice to say that Hejduk is still money and when Leopold scored to end it, I leaped out of my chair with more joy than should be afforded to simply cheering for the winning team in a sporting event.

Tonight, I’m going to revel in the honeymoon phase of this win. Because when I wake up tomorrow, it will be to a bleak, uncertain future.

And for some great memories:

Saturday, February 14, 2009 @ 8:51 am by Josh Burcham

“Churches I’m Watching” page has been updated with, well you guessed it, Churches that I’m watching. Check it out as I add and remove churches as my passions and focus changes.

The churches listed are moving and shaking. At least enough for them to catch my eye. If I follow the pastor’s blog I linked it; if I don’t, I didn’t link it. Though the church may be listed, doesn’t mean I agree with their doctrinal statement. They are listed because I like something about them and I wanted to keep track of what they are up to.

Site Key: (found next to the churches in the list)

B – Church has a blog I follow
P – Pastor has a blog I follow or written books I would recommend.
S – Has staff I follow on Twitter or their Blogs.
W – Web Campus I attend from time to time.
O – Services stored online (or in a Podcast) I watch.
R – Offers resources I’ve used.
T – Twitter account I follow.

Check out the Churches by Clicking Here.