Prior to Engage 21, I was contacted by one of the guys on the steering committee for some of my thoughts. I shared some, including developing a basic conference website. Unfortunately, we only got as far as an email address that bounced, a pretty atrocious poster with the typical COG head shots in pecking order, and a video that sent me into to epileptic fits.
Some time after the conference, which was a great first step, I was contacted again for my thoughts. I am glad to be included in the process. But, at this point after exchanging close to 20 emails with none of the suggestions getting any traction, I was beginning to feel a little patronized by the process (not the people talking to me). When queried about my thoughts, I shared again and then made reference to my original ideas, particularly the website.
Out of curiosity, I checked and all Engage 21 websites were available. I stress “were” because I went ahead and bought them under the name of “Trav and Tom, inc”. Engage21.com, Engage21.org, Engage21.tv, Engage21.info, Engage21.net, and Engage21.cc all now point to MissionalCOG.com. It took me about 5 minutes and a total of $60 to register them and another 3-4 minutes to point them to our site here. If we get serious about doing Engage, I’ll transfer the sites to the guys in Cleveland. If not, I’ll just thank them for the additional traffic to MissionalCOG and for making MissionalCOG the #1 search result on Google for the search “Engage 21.”
After registering the Engage 21 sites and in response to peer pressure from the Rev. Tom Sterbens, I started registering everything in sight, including the domain names for every member of the Church of God Executive Committee, the Council of 18, and a few others. Honestly, I was surprised at the availability of those domains.
I don’t know what I’m going to do with them at this point. I guess for now you can just say that every member of the Executive Council encourages you to visit MissionalCOG.
If you have any good BIG IDEAS, please share. I’m open to just about anything including starting a blog for any of our leaders and turning over the keys. But, don’t let that clog up your creative flow. What should I do with the following addresses:
billisaacs.net – bryancutshall.info -bryancutshall.tv – churchofgodblog.com – cogtoday.com – davidgriffis.com – davidgriffis.info – davidgriffis.net – davidgriffis.tv -davidramirez.tv -dennismcguire.info – geraldmcginnis.com -geraldmcginnis.info -grantmcclung.com -grantmcclung.net -grantmcclung.info – ishmaelcharles.com – jdavidstephens.com – jerrychitwood.com – jimbolin.info – jimbolin.net – joeedwards.info – larrytimmerman.com – larrytimmerman.info – martybaker.info – martybaker.com – mikechapman.info – mikechapman.org – mikechapman.tv – mitchmaloney.info – olivermcmahan.com – orvillehagan.com – paulwalker.us – raymondculpepper.com – raymondculpepper.org – raymondculpepper.info – rolandvaughn.info – rolandvaughn.net -scotcarter.com – scotcarter.info – scotcarter.net – scotcarter.org – tllowery.info
Filed under: church of god
good stuff man…this put a smile on my face this morning.
Travis,
I just have one thing to say to you. Are you ready for this? I must give it to you straight because I’m your brother in Christ. Here it is…..
Here it is…..
ARE YOU READY?
I LOVE IT!
Glad to just be a part of such a great awakening. Long live http://www.missionalcog.com and a lot of other .com’s .info’s .cc’s ……
You get the idea.
LOL
Travis,
I think you should just be careful. I don’t think you mean any harm and you expressed a desire to even help them start a blog etc. This could however, very easily be seen as an “I can’t believe you were to stupid to figure this out yourself” mentality. I don’t think that’s what it is, but it could be seen that way.
You have been put into a place of influence and the way you handle yourself will be overly scrutinized. I would suggest you remain positive and genuinely offer help and support.
And hey, at least you bought them and not someone who would use them to do harm.
contact each member directly and sell the domain to them with an attached “handling fee” and get some of your money back so it doesn’t turn out to be a total waste of your time.
John,
To a degree, that’s what I’m saying…concerning the Engage21 sites. On Actscelerate, someone said that I had “a lack of respect.” Actually, I’m just not going to spend my life taking myself so seriously. And, I’m not going to waste time with a bunch of silly imagined social protocols.
The domains have been available since Al Gore invented the internet. I just happened to be the one to grab them. Concerning the Engage21 sites, you have to understand that we’re trying to “engage emerging Pentecostal leaders” but, we can’t figure out how to register a domain and engage emerging leaders. We’re violating one of Maxwell’s chief principles, “you can’t lead people to a place you haven’t been.”
So, I got the domain names. Maybe I’ll design and post an equally absurd image like “Vote for Travis as the Presiding Bishop: He’s never spoken at a Camp Meeting. But, the kid sure does have an opinion on our archaic way of doing business and maintaining power.”
For what it’s worth, after the suggestion of someone on Actscelerate, I had to add a new domain (which I did), http://www.golfcartmafia.com. I might have to develop out that site….which should be interesting.
Travis,
Thanks for a great Monday kick off. This is going to be a great week. Thanks for speaking the truth and being willing to stand up. Change is in the air. The voices are growing stronger and we are being heard.
Travis, sorry, I’m currently out of BIG IDEAS about this, but will continue to give it thought. I think that perhaps the best thing that could happen out of it is that some would take the domains and do something with it (blogging, or whatever).
For what it’s worth, I would also echo John’s concern about perception. I do not want to be overly sensitive to imaginary social protocols any more than you do. However, there is another element here. To use an overgeneralization, we could be talking about the differences in perception between “digital natives,” “digital immigrants,” and “digital non-citizens” (this is irregardless of age). I suspect that most “non-citizens,” seeing as how they do not seem to understand the purpose of utilizing the web to address the complexities of 21st century ministry, would also not understand the purpose of these domain names–and I mean the purpose for them having them themselves, much less the purpose in you buying them up for them.
So, if you want them to consider doing anything with them, I suspect that you will have to take the time to (1) cast some vision for what they could do, and (2) explain your motives. Otherwise, I would expect that everyone of them would interpret it as one of those “power moves” that they have become accustomed to seeing in our current system of administrative politics.
Since I’m feeling a little ‘bearish’ on any of these guys jumping into conversations the virtual world I will keep racking my brain for other ideas.
…I should clarify, that I am talking about the potential of a “communication breakdown” where there could otherwise be the potential for a “communication breakthrough.” I talked about perceptions, but I mean how perceptions could hinder a dialogue that I think desperately needs to happen. As you know from my blog title, I don’t give a huge amount of thought to how others might be perceiving me!
As soon as I read this, I told my wife “someone’s gonna get himself in trouble.”
I looked everywhere for information about Engage 21 – but could never find the website. Then I found missionalcog.com. Thanks!
Big idea… Maybe there could be a COG blog portal for all these people (and any minister really) using WordPress MU and the domain names pointing to their blog. But getting people to blog, that’s another project. But I’d be willing to help with the setup.
Jon & John (the Johns),
These are fair concerns. I know I have and will polarize people But, I’m just taking advantage of opportunities in a way that is straight-forward and honest. No bull.
The truth is that I secured some pretty dominant web domains that will have COG interest for years to come, especially since we have a history of having leaders who take turns leading. The worst case scenario is that I polarize some good folks and walk away with some nice internet real estate pointing to MissionalCOG.com.
The best case scenario is that conversation takes place about some gaping holes in the way we do business and we can talk. In addition to the EC and Council of 18 domain names, I also snagged Marty Baker, Mike Chapman, Scot Carter, and other guys…even Mitch Maloney who is like a father to me. I’m not being a jerk. I’m just taking advantage of opportunities that exist.
Travis,
I enjoy most of what I read from you out here in cyberworld, but on this issue about securing domain names, I’m kind of leaning towards the area of perception. Your intentions may be to help, but take it from an old dog, your intentions will be as one guy said, over-scrutinized; more than you know.
So here is my idea: why not develop each domain with their own basic web layout, giving it the look of an established site and then link all the information back to your ministry. I know you have the domains already coming back to you on a basic engine search, so why not give it a real “web look” and then if they want to buy it from you it will have the appearance of an established site.
Reason: it might give your efforts a bit more credibility in case of confusion.
Dean,
First, thanks for popping in here…hope you do it often.
Second, the first time I ever spoke at a COG gathering, the Tampa Open Forum, I was perceived by some to be a 4 legged southwestern pack mule. However, while I was talking and inquiring about real issues, I was polite, courteous, and did everything short of kissing the ground before speaking. I’ve come to the conclusion that I simply can’t make everyone happy or keep everyone liking me, especially if I’m going to own my thoughts and speak to real issues.
With that said, I want to avoid unnecessarily isolating people. So, I’m open when I hear people like you, John Stokes, and the author of the “The Church of God has No Future” blog, Jon Stone tell me that I need to watch how I’m perceived. So, I’m listening and learning.
Here’s my journey so far:
THE PLEASE PEOPLE BUCKET
I was in this bucket for a while. I was always nice and guarded with my words. I rarely bucked anyone. I learned that if I walked, quacked, and acted like everyone else, I wouldn’t be noticed do anything out of the ordinary and more importantly, wouldn’t get in trouble.
THE SPEAK UP ONLY WHEN YOU ARE THE TARGET OF INJUSTICE BUCKET
I was in this bucket when I became the object of someone’s fury. When the hammer fell on me, I yelled…mainly because it hurt really badly. The problem with this bucket was that I had seen some stupid stuff going on and was silent. Then, when I was the focus, I had only a handful of people that lent a hand. I got out of that bucket.
THE TICKED OFF BUCKET
I was in this bucket after the previous bucket because I had been burned and just needed some payback. This bucket basically sucked. It was great to escape that nasty place and move on.
THE ACTION BUCKET
I think I’m currently in this bucket. It feels like someone is carrying it. All thoughts and ideas are being sloshed around, occasionally spilling on people. Its an enjoyable ride.
I think this is the bucket my grandfather was referring to when he told me that if I wanted omelets, I had to be willing to crack some eggs. This bucket gets messy. Its somewhat unpredictable. Its going places. Its getting things done.
I am happy to get in another bucket. I have no aspirations beyond this bucket though. I just want to be in the middle of seeing some wonderful Kingdom action on the fringes, in the action.
Beyond the Engage21 domains, I’m not trying to make any huge political statements, though there are some small statements there. I just saw an opportunity, went on a shopping spree, and am pushing the envelope…which I think in the end is a good thing unless I was running for COG political office, which I’m not. But, maybe I can move the ball and some other guys can step in and take advantage of the shifting cultural opportunities available for our fellowship.
Where does that leave me in regard to your suggestion/concern? I don’t know. I’ve had the domains for a month or so now. So, it wasn’t a split second decision. It was thought out. I may not have done it right….or maybe I have. But, I did and the conversation is moving forward in relation to our structure in a rapidly changing digital age.
Maybe that leaves more questions than answers. I don’t know. But, I do know that I’m glad to be alive right now in ministry tumbling around in a seismic cultural shift that is here. I’m certainly not the first to point that out.
As was pointed out at Engage 21 by members of the EC and by Thomas Friedman, the world is truly flat.
That is really interesting. It could turn out to be something cool.
My first reaction was “YIKES!” and this sick feeling in my stomach for you. I know… it’s fear of man not fear of God.
I think it will be seen by some of those like a joke was played on them. If I was someone from your church who wasn’t very happy with you and had bought RPJOHNSON.org (which is available) and made it point to hillaryclinton.com it might be seen as a joke or it might be irritating.
It is very silly that Engage21 had no web presence. I hope it will be online next time. It would be like having a general assembly in a city with no place to eat or buy suits.
Just offer to help the EC “get on that interweb” and share that you didn’t mean to make them the butt of joke. If it’s done in the right way it might encourage them to be more proactive.
Travis,
I am glad that you’ve drawn attention to this. Its been a real problem in the COG for years.
When I started the site for ENC COG 10 years ago I couldn’t find the INTL COG site to link to. The obvious choices were taken by individual congregations and the simplest was taken by a Wiccan cult (and I think still is).
All that said, I too share the sentiment on perceptions. HOWEVER, on the COG committee/council domains, you could put some kind of historical aspect to it
OR list out the top 10 runners up from the previous Assembly(ies)
OR take a poll for the dream team for each position
OR all the above.
BTW, as someone who had a couple jokes which did get out of hand when I was in Cleveland, I found that most of these guys would laugh with us.
In Him,
Darrell B Jr.
Travis,
Man have you ever peed in some post-toasties!
I don’t want it to come across like I am somehow opposed or upset with what you have done. I just thought I’d look at the other side of the fence.
The more I have thought about it I think you are in a great position to be of service to these individuals. It would be a great show of respect and honor to contact these men and offer to set them up a blog or personal homepage for free. They would have to maintain it, but we could assist them in set-up. I say we because I believe out of all of us that post here, surely someone would have the time to help. I’m in if you get any responses.
P.S.
How many posts do I have to have to get my name on the blog roll? I mean really, I thought we were friends, well at least aquaintences, Ok you possibly could pick me out of a line-up.
OOPS…misread the blog on my Treo. Sorry…thought you had registered councilof18 and/or cogexecutivecouncil.
Sorry,
Darrell B Jr.
Dean!! Hey, how’s Cali?
Travis, I really like your bucket list. Don’t change buckets, I like the one you’re in. And definitely don’t kick the buck altogether!
I once again echo John. However, I can also relate to that initial queasy feeling Mike described. But I think there’s something to be done here and you’re in the position to do it (again echoing John…geez why am I even posting?). Anyway, I think if you want to get more out of the couple hundred bucks you dropped than the opportunity to flip the proverbial bird, then I just wanted to add that you want to consider how the targeted audience might tend to filter this. Done in the right way, I think there is at least a small chance that you can nudge at least one or two of these guys into ‘that interweb thingy that Al Gore invented.’
Travis said…
“If we get serious about doing Engage, I’ll transfer the sites to the guys in Cleveland.”
I like your heart here Travis. Will you now be proactive in making the next move toward them or wait and see? Just wanted to know your thoughts.
I think John Stokes has a good thought we he says, “you are in a great position to be of service to these individuals. It would be a great show of respect and honor to contact these men…”
Contrite confession……….
I am the one who started it and purchased Engage21.com. I admit it. I am older…I should have known better.
And….then….in a moment of inspirational conversation there was suddenly a frenzy of dot com appropriation……Travis just went berserk… I couldn’t save him from himself. It was ugly. Dot coms were everywhere. Everywhere.
And then….as the smoke cleared…and the still of the soul returned…rising from the fray…the vision and mission was born…TravAndTom, Inc.
TravAndTom, Inc. is a not for profit humanitarian cyber hostage organization. This initiative is dedicated to the unscrupulous acquisition of unsuspecting dot coms to be auctioned on the open market. (We feed them well and will not abuse them while in captivity).
OUR PLEDGE…OUR PURPOSE: 100% of the proceeds from ransom money will go to the restitution of misspent Church of God Home Missions and Evangelism funding.
Thank you in advance for your prayers.
LOL!
I’ll ask once more. . .
Is My Name ALIVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
FYI – Stokes.
I added your link…don’t know how you got left out. Consider that a gift in lieu of harming your domain name.
Mike,
If someone wanted to register RPJohnson.com, they can. I know my great grandfather isn’t going to do it. He’s been dead for quite some time. He actually died 4 years after the ARPA Net was invented and the first packet was exchanged. As of that moment, there were no domain registries.
ok what are your terms?
should there be a dropoff of unmarked bills?
just don’t harm him. It’s like a piece of me is missing!
oh yeah, thanks for the add!
My buddy Tom who is forever getting me in trouble said this:
“OUR PLEDGE…OUR PURPOSE: 100% of the proceeds from ransom money will go to the restitution of misspent Church of God Home Missions and Evangelism funding.”
I think it illustrates a legitimate deflection from my current supposed predicament (some would call it that. Others might say I’m following in the footsteps of Ezekiel cooking my food over poop cakes). Some, even my good friends are saying I may have paddled myself up crap creek with virtual acquisition of the entire Executive Council, the World Missions Director, the Presiding Bishop, a seeker sensitive Pentecostal pastor, a loyal detractor of the Tithe of Tithe racket, and a Communications Director of the COG.
This socially offensive behavior has some good folks on Actscelerate calling me arrogant, rebellious, dangerous, insulting, and a few other beautifully descriptive words. Yet, at the same time, as Tom points out, we have called Jesus irrelevant by deciding we value our bureaucracy more than we value our mission. Its taking place in every single state and region- the marginalizing of the mission of Jesus by way of the Evangelism and Home Missions budget. Hardly a peep is made.
I guess I’m trying to say that if someone is tripping over my repetitive, good-hearted social hangnails while yawning at the missional headwound afflicting us, they may need to reconsider priorities.
Now, certainly these two things aren’t inextricably tied together. But, one has certainly contributed to the affliction that is driving me to have so much fun and stir up the waters of cultural and missional conversation.
Great point. Keep cookin’ up poop cakes like that and I’ll eat whatever is served!
http://www.poopcakes.net……. is available
(Trav, control yourself….restraint….restraint…)
I don’t think you’ve done anything wrong, just something that will attract some heat.
If you don’t mind the heat, stay in the kitchen all day my friend.
I have no desire to buy rpjohnson.org just trying (apparently unsuccessfully) to allow you to see the other side of the joke.
Perhaps your dot.com ministry is for such a time as this?! Often times it takes someone who is willing to push much further than others are willing to go (i.e. Luther, Wyclffe et al), just to ultimately find a middle ground.
Keep pushing.
I’d love to see http://www.poopcakes.net become something.
I’m afraid to actually click on http://www.poopcakes.net. We have Covenant Eyes on all of our home and church computers. I’d hate to see what the report would have to say about that.
Just FYI …
I just bought every domain name that started with: TravAndTomInc.
They will be kept in isolation through an abandoned hard drive that is locked up in my secretaries office. Whatever you do, don’t look under the loose board by the copier. I plan to use these hostages as experiments to determine just how popular the TravAndTom network really is.
P.S. No domains were actually hurt in the previous production and “NO” I really didn’t buy those domains, in case a few Acts folks are reving up to nail my hide to.
P.S.S. Hi there Jon Stone, hope all is well – drop us an update on your mission.
poopcakes.net is available but the .com is already in operation.
[...] up for Grabs on March 11th Posted on December 11, 2008 by travjohnson Remember all the domains that Tom Sterbens dared me to buy?! Well, they’re expiring on March 11, 12, and 13. So, I’m taking bids! LOL. [...]