Rand Rambles

I guess it’s time for a real blog. My last few blogs have been random videos and stuff from the interwebz. This has been mainly a result of working and having a life. LIfe has been pretty wild lately for me, many changes. Last week I went from being part-time at my job to officially becoming a full-time employee, which means I get benefits now so I don’t have to fear for my life too much if I get horribly sick or dismembered (Wow, that messed with my stomach).

As I mention in the title my life has been very good lately and also very weird. I am going out more, enjoying my time with friends and also enjoying time on my own. Apparently it shows because even when I speak to my Dad on the phone he mentions how happy I sound now. You see, a couple of months ago I was feeling miserable, I was at a place in which I couldn’t be myself and where I was feeling stuck. So when people ask me why do I look so happy now, my response is short and sweet: I quit my job. And yes, there are some trade-offs, I’m not getting rich at my current job but I feel very happy there. I love what I do, even on the not-so-great days.

For a few years now I have been enjoying the benefits of a great self-esteem, to the point of some people thinking I’m cocky. Sometimes I can be, but it is mostly joking . But there have been areas in my life that I’ve been so afraid to enjoy that I kept them buried in a dusty vault. Lately, I’ve been more open in letting those areas out of the vault and they are enjoying being in fresh air. That’s what feels weird, but awesome at the same time. I am loving getting to know more of who I am, who I was created to be and letting others enjoy those areas of me as well. There are still fights inside of me, there will always be things that I could change and make better but I have decided to embrace to a certain level some areas that for a while were a mystery. The amazing thing is that I feel so good and God’s love upon me feels as fresh as ever. I love that.

I am Rand. If you knew me before you may think I am different, and I am. I am not a hypocrite. I’m just different, I’m just making the choice to the let the real me flourish and live. I try to be the best I can be and everyone will have the option to either love me, hate me or disregard me. But, if you know me you know that the last two options would be too difficult. I’m so lovable. Haha! Lately I’ve been having some great conversations, chats and interactions with some friends and I have been amazed by their greatness, they are gold I tell you. So, Charlie, Tanch, Jonathan, Scott, Andy Mc, Abby, Emily, Andrew, Taylor, Digitalberto, Eric, Mike, Tyler, Marisa, thanks for being awesome. The world is better for people like these. All very different but very awesome.

Ok, done with my acceptance speech, this ain’t no award show fool! So, keep an eye around this blog. New things coming, alright?

Have fun! Love.

I got a new tattoo yesterday and many have been asking what’s the meaning behind it. I’ve been wanting to ink the words “All Things” on myself for about two years now and always put it off so I finally did it and I love the outcome. You can’t see it clearly but it is black with an orange glow around it.

Basically the root of it is a lot of verses that have those two words which are very important for me, here are some of them:
All things God works for the good of those that love him. Romans 8:28
I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me. Phil. 4:13
With God, all things are possible. Matthew 19:26
I know that you can do all things, no plan of yours can be thwarted. Job 42:2
The heart is deceitful above all things. Jeremiah 17:9 (good reminder)
Through him, all things were made. John 1:3
He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things? Romans 8:32
For the Spirit searches all things, yes, the deep things of God. 1 Cor. 2:10
He has put all things under His feet. 1 Corinthians 15:27
All things were created through Him and for Him. Col. 1:17

And one last one…

For if our heart condemns us, God is greater than our heart, and knows all things. 1 John 3:20

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A couple of weeks ago I had a meeting with the Development Leader of the church I go to, The Oaks, regarding Social media and the Church. The meeting was basically to brainstorm about how the church can use social media more effectively and have a more effective presence online.

I know this is not super extensive and I may be able to come up with other crucial points in order to take the best advantage possible of the resources that are currently available. But for now, these are some of the points I shared with him.

• Social Media Beats Automated Publishing: It is okay to use Twitter and Facebook to publish content, but these sites are mainly built for social interaction. A personalized message along with posts or sporadic tweets about things that are going on in people’s lives will go a long way.
• Don’t Just Publish, Communicate: As part of a church with such strong media it is not surprising that many members utilize Twitter and Facebook. Many of them, me included, usually tweet from Church, at events or even stating that we are on our way to @the_oaks. These are great moments to engage in communication with people, respond to their tweets or retweet them and let them know their value.
• Look Around and Improve: There is a huge amount of great Churches with a healthy social media presence, it is a great idea to follow them and see what is their approach and and see how we can use it and improve upon it.
• People Love Free Stuff: Many companies are doing this and it has been successful to get their name around. Giveaways can be a great way to have people retweet you and through that get more people to follow you. This can be a good idea but we need to be careful not to over-do it. Once every month or two months should be good.
• Twitter is What You Make It: One of the best things about Twitter in my opinion is that its simplicity allow us to make it whatever we want it to be. Brainstorming on this can bring great ideas on how we can be more effective and reach a greater.
• Tweet The Service: Whenever a service is going on I believe it would be nice to have someone in the service tweeting some of what is happening at the moment: message points, important news, people getting saved or baptized or even some song that is been played. This can give people a sense of life in the Church that will motivate them to visit. 1-5 Tweets a service would be a good amount to start with, some people that get tweets to their cellphone may feel it’s too much but most people don’t use those notifications from tweets, just mentions. You can even ask questions to the Twitter followers from the service and reply on real time. I believe that could make for a great experience.

Is your Church involved in any social media efforts? What are some other things that you would add to this list?

For many years, while living in Puerto Rico, I worked as a youth leader. I basically started leading a cell group and from that I went to be one of the leaders of my Church’s Youth Group. After several years as a leader, I was became the main leader of the group when the Youth Pastor suddenly left the Church. It was an interesting situation through which I learned a lot, but it was hard. I really enjoyed being in a place where I could bless others and help them in their daily lives, encouraging them and leading them. It was a great time but there was a lot of chaos. During these years, I experienced several stressful situations that a lot of people don’t experience often, or at least so quick one after the other. As I mentioned, the Youth Pastor left the Church, not long after that, the Church went through a nasty division, followed by the death of our Pastor, whom I loved a lot, and after the period of grieving we experienced some confusion, every preacher that visited the Church during this time confirmed that the Pastor’s wife was to be the one to continue leading the church but for some reasons many of the leaders did not want to comply and ended leaving the Church. Chaos. Craziness. Turmoil. The Church has experienced growth and blessing after all this but I can’t help but wonder, what if some of these things were dealt with in a different way? Some of these stressful situations were impossible to avoid but others weren’t and if there’s others that have gone through hard situations like these, wouldn’t it be wise to learn from them?

In “Steering Through Chaos”, Pastor Scott Wilson explains in a deep but simple way how to handle situations that are bound to happen when we are in leadership. It is sad that so many pastors and leaders give up the place where God has placed them because of burnout and lack of direction. It happened to me, after several years of chaos, one of the reasons I left Puerto Rico was because I was tired, plain and simple. I needed to be refreshed, refocus and be fed. I truly believe that it is possible to be a minister and live refreshed, successful lives, quitting shouldn’t be our option.

Among other things, Pastor Scott explains the importance of focusing on our vision and how we, as leaders, shouldn’t avoid transitions but be the ones creating them at the same time that we recognize opportunities and avoid obstacles. These and other awesome points are practically described and further examined through profiles from actual scenarios in thriving churches.

If you are a leader or involved in any kind of ministry, I highly recommend you get this book. Even if you were a leader and experienced the chaos and barely made it alive, get this book and be refreshed with a new outlook and the possibility of going at it again, not only surviving but celebrating every step of the way.

Click here to get the book on Amazon!