Look in the upper right. See the subscribe tools?

If you like what you’ve read here lately then exert enough energy to click the envelope to subscribe via email or the little orange button to subscribe in a reader.

If you do subscribe then shoot me an email (info “at” karyoberbrunner.com). When you do I will email you a secret code that will save you $137.50 off* your registration for my Equip Conference seminar (The Changing Face of the Church) next month (July 27-29 in Columbus, Ohio) with Gabe Lyons.

Gabe is the best-selling author of UnChristian and founder of the Fermi Project and Q Conference. Also presenting  with Gabe and I will be Dave Plaster, the Senior Pastor of the Grace Brethren Church of Columbus.

Our seminar titled, The Changing Face of the Church, will focus on the desperate need for the Bride of Christ to change in order to reach a changing culture. But the bigger question is, “What should we be willing to flex on and what must we rigidly avoid negociating?”

Dave Plaster will foucs on PAST examples of how the church flexed in order to transform culture.

Gabe Lyons will foucs on the PRESENT state of the church in terms of how UnChristians perceive believers.

Kary Oberbrunner will focus on the FUTURE manifestations of the church and where it is going.

* You must register by Monday June 15 on the Equip 09 website.

Don’t have time to read anymore?

No problem.

Now you can listen to THE FINE LINE.

The people at iTunes and Audible.com made it possible to get the full length version via your mp3 player.

Suddenly, your summer vacation travel plans just got a little more… intelligent?

Download your copy today and learn how to be in the world, but not of the world.

That’s right folks.

Technology has gone prenatal. Don’t believe me. Check it here. They call it KICKBEE (Thanks for the heads up Bob Laipply).

The truth is that some babies are actually using Twitter before they’re even born.

The bigger question?

Does this mean the public is now admitting that life exists inside the womb?

Ministry-minded.

Servant-heart.

We push these cliches around in the church world without even defining them. Because of this tendency, I vowed to refrain from ever using them. JUNK. I just did though. You see, Gabe Tavino is both of them…minus the cliches. And I’m going to define these words so you understand Gabe a little better.

Ministry minded = His life flows out of his relationship with Christ. He doesn’t compartmentalize his faith. Servant’s heart = He’s not in it for the applause. He puts others first regardless of the perks.

Keep reading in order to learn more about Gabe,  God’s Mac and his famous author wife Marla. Here’s the interview:

1. How did you get from there to here? I was blessed to be the first individual in my father’s family to achieve a college degree. That degree led our family through 11 moves (all in Ohio) and some nice corporate jobs. God showed me that making lots of money doesn’t bring satisfaction to life. I’ve personally come to an understanding that retirement is an American dream, but doesn’t have to be the finishing point for our efforts. Glorifying God should be our primary goal in everything. I’m thrilled to work from home now, assisting ministries with websites and graphic design, and being content with paying the bills and serving the clients God has given me.
2. What’s the Big Idea behind Digital Disciples? I work with lots of ministries around the world, utilizing technology to make the church go round. I sometimes feel like a hamster, spinning web magic as I speed the wheel faster and faster. We’re not called to DO. We’re called to BE. And the first thing we need to BE is a disciple of Christ. With as much excitement and anticipation that I’ve had in years, I have started forming a group of individuals in Columbus, OH. We focus on sharpening our talents with creativity and technology, and are offering that training for free to the public. Each session is concluded with a Bible study and time of prayer, with the goal of reaching our local community for Christ. I’m now eager to help start other groups in locations around the world.
3. What is God’s Mac and how has it connected you to unbelievers? God’s Mac is a podcast that consists of three segments in each episode. Technology review, an interview with a special guest, and concluding with discussing how God wants us to use technology. It started in August of 2006, and there are over 50 episodes now available online. I’ve been blessed with an awesome friend and co-host in Lee Love, and am happy with how it has encouraged the faith community. We’ve interacted with secular listeners and guests, even a few atheists. It’s my prayer that people see God through our discussions, but I’m more focused now on Digital Disciples and taking technology offline with personal interaction.
4. What are some God-sized dreams He’s placed in your heart that you have yet to see accomplished?This year God has started letting some dreams start to come true! I have a big desire to challenge the church to stop focusing on becoming like the world through our media and entertainment pursuits. Sure, we have to be great at what we do, but there is a shift back to service and discipleship that needs to take place. The church needs to once again leave the building, and as much as it hurts to say it, leave the internet and truly be social again. I am now speaking across the country about this, and am working on a book that I pray will hit the nail on the head. God is shaking the introvert out of me, that’s for sure!
5. In the circles you run in, what does it mean to be in the world and not of it…to integrate Christ AND culture?  I was once told by a friend that God couldn’t use the internet to reach people. Partially true, but mostly false. There is a shift going on where the church believes that it can do the work of the Lord virtually. I am sure the Spirit can move online as well as offline (I’ve witnessed it). But I’ve seen myself and so many other Christians get hooked with the online world, even becoming blind to the fact that God also wants them to have a life away from the desk. It’s time to physically wake up and not cop out of being bold for the Lord in our communities!

As I sign off, I wonder one thing about you…how have you integrated technology and evangelism. I’d like to know. Shoot me a comment below.

Aspire. 

According to Webster “Aspire” is all about: seeking to attain or accomplish a particular goal. But if you’re Dawn Nicole Baldwin there’s no seeking about it. She’s already done it!

With an impressive resume working with clients like Willow Creek Church and Big Idea (creators of Veggie Tales) Dawn has a passion for learning, stretching imaginations & making a difference. She’s currently focused on helping churches reach peoplemore effectively as founder & lead strategist of AspireOne

Keep reading in order to learn more about Dawn and AspireOne. Here’s the interview:

1. How did you get from here to there? I started my first business when I was 13, (selling customized locker illustrations to classmates) so I guess you can say I’ve always been an entrepreneur although my path is a bit nontraditional. My career started at a boutique ad agency but the hours required made it really challenging for a young mom with two small children, so I quickly launched out on my own. During this time I also volunteered heavily at Willow Creek Community Church in communications & after a few years I was offered a staff position leading the department. My husband, Keith, left the ad agency he worked with to take over my small roster of clients while I was at Willow. I’ve always been a huge fan of VeggieTales so when I was offered a position at Big Idea Productions, I leapt at the opportunity. Our little company was beginning to grow, so after spending two years with Bob & Larry, I left the vegetables to rejoin Keith at AspireOne in 2001. Over the past eight years I’ve been privileged to work with some incredibly talented people while pursuing my passions of writing and speaking. I absolutely love my team and the clients we partner with. Recently, I joined Jarbyco (a mobile communications startup) as a senior partner in addition to my role at AspireOne.
2. Give us the Big Idea behind AspireOne? The reason why we exist is to help churches reach people more effectively. There are so many that feel they are the community’s best kept secret or are battling misperceptions–not only of their church, but sometimes Christianty in general. Our passion is to help churches understand how to live out their unique purpose and communicate that with clarity.
3. I applaud your vision for AspireOne. What is your “God size” vision for it? Our God-sized vision is to enable churches at a deeper level and on a global scale. Helping churches not only understand marketplace best practices, but the unique purpose God has in mind for their specific church. This is beyond brand strategies, marketing tactics or convincing some not to imitate what other influential churches are doing. But helping each church realize their potential and connecting others to that vision.
4. Please identify one of your leadership weaknesses that’s been exposed while functioning as the Lead Strategist of AspireOne. It’s hard for me to believe that God would use me in the way it appears He might want to. Honestly, I’m humbled by some of the circles I’m invited to play in, and a lack of confidence can become exposed due to the absence of a pedigreed education or experience climbing a traditional corporate ladder. It’s caused me to hold back when I’ve needed to speak up or step forward because I’ve doubted my abilities.
5. How have you closed that leadership gap? It may sound trite, but I’ve been stretching my faith to trust God more & myself less. I’ve also been intentionally looking to surround myself with people who will be honest with me about what I can and can’t do and then balance our teams with talented people who complement those skills.

As I sign off, I wonder one thing about you…what are you aspiring to become. I’d like to know. Shoot me a comment below.

I just wanted to give a hearty shout out to the sponsors for this month. They believe in the message of this website and I believe in them. If you’re interested in becoming a sponsor and getting the traffic you need to your website, blog, or business, click here to get the ball rolling.

1. Earth Tourist – Exploring and appreciating the Arts & Culture of the World, from a perspective of Faith.  Founded by Travis Klassen
2. T.R.E.N  E Docs – Searching for Research? Your Resource for Theological Research. Directed by Robert Jones.
3. Collide Magazine – Where Media and the Church Converge. Editor Scott McClellan.
4. FGBC - The Fellowship of Grace Brethren Churches. Supported by Tom Avey

My buddy, Gabe Taviano of Gods Mac started Digital Disciples. It was a huge dream of his-to blend free technology training with evangelism-and I’m thrilled to see it off the ground. I’ll be supporting his dream by speaking at the next gathering on Thursday night. Why not be a digital disciple, if only for one night?

What is Digital Disciples? 

A monthly gathering where area churches and the public would be freely invited to an evening of technology training, followed by a time of Bible study, prayer and fellowship. The evening will consist of a variety of 2-3 sessions which the individual could choose from, lasting for approximately 60-90 minutes. Each would cover a different area of technology (basic computing, graphic and web design, audio and video, photography, networking, programming, search-engine optimization, etc.). Once the sessions are over everyone would meet up together for a time of Bible study, reflection and prayer.

Let’s give some props to God and our disciplers. I’d love to hear the name of one person who discipled you and why you chose to follow him/her?

Me? Carl Muenzmaier. He was authentic about God AND his emotions.