• Considering dropping the Monday Morning Quick Hits. I enjoy doing them and passing them along, but sometimes they are several days old and in our hyper  society that can be ancient. Plus most of these links are tweeted by me, so it feels a bit redundant. If you enjoy this weekly post or just follow the links on Twitter could you let me know in the comments?
• Skye Jethani examines calling and why we are losing young people. Great article very worth your time.
• As does Donald Miller.
• Todd and Matt discuss having hard conversations. I think Rookie Pastors struggle the most with this crucial skill.
• Daniel Tosh overcomes social anxiety and shyness by creating a “mask”. Probably not the healthiest, but interesting.
• Didn’t watch the slam dunk contest but did enjoy the 45 second highlight piece of the 2 hour show.
• A new way to figure out what to read next.
• Still enjoying Mailbox and curious if they come out with a desktop app, but it is still easy to become a procrastinating slave to email. Addresses symptoms not problems.
• My awesome wife was part of a band led by my friend Cameron that opened for Charlie Hall last night. His new album The Death of Death is pretty dense theologically (I mean that in the positive) and I enjoyed eavesdropping on a really genuine conversation between the two bands. Great album.
• A look inside IDEO. All comes back to observation.
• Adam Mchugh, who wrote Introverts in the Church, isn’t going to be a pastor anymore.
• A couple of critiques of Tim Keller’s Center Church.
• Recap from the Platform Conference.
• Tweet seats in church?
• Interested in advertising here at Rookie Pastor? Have flexible rates and options available, drop me a line if you are interested.
• Thoughts on Valentine’s Day from a single pastor.
• Lies holding the creative in you back.
• What pastors won’t hear in heaven.
• The stupid reasons you don’t delegate.
• Some best practices when speaking to teenagers. Brilliant stuff here.

What We Talk About When We Talk About God

Think the working title was Velvet Elvis 2.0?

As you can see in the video this isn’t a trailer like Love Wins, no this is about the process. Almost a tortured artist sort of feel to it. Just watching parts of the video you could surmise this is about the creative process, which maybe it is.

Now maybe this tone was different because of the hostile reaction to the Love Wins trailer or maybe they don’t think book trailers are all that effective; either way it is almost apologetic in tone. Love Wins was more assertive, this video is more humble.

Maybe I’m reading too much into this.

Regardless I assume there are other posts out there parsing every word and labeling Bell’s latest book as a piece of heretical trash or as the next (to borrow a Bell line) “this changes everything” book.

It is probably somewhere in the middle and you should definitely read it before passing judgment.

Also if you want some more background on the fallout after Love Wins I’d recommend Rob Bell and a New American Christianity.

I who am humble when face to face with you, but bold toward you when I am away!

2 Corinthians 10:1 ESV

• If you are going to resign always do it in Latin. 
• And my favorite tweet from the Papal resignation goes to Bryan Allain.
• I didn’t watch the Grammy’s but according to Twitter it was quite the event. Twitter for live national events like the Grammy’s or the Super Bowl is something to be experienced.
• Speaking of the Grammy’s, 12 years to become an “overnight success”

• So one of the Newtown pastors apologized for participating in the interfaith service that Obama spoke at. Don’t know but sounds like a young pastor got pressured by denominational headquarters. 
• It sounds great on paper but sometimes when you get up to speak you struggle.
• Passionate or Passive, which one are you?
• Donald Miller on worry.
• R.A. Dickey is fighting sex trafficking.
• The bookshelf we all need in our lives.
• A Phelps leaves Westboro Baptist. You have to read about her moment of realization.
• How the CEO of Evernote works.
• The essentials of church communication.
• One of the most important things you can do as a pastor is know who you are.
• Looking back on ten years of church consulting.
• How Michael Hyatt works.

CNN reports

Stunning story coming out of the Vatican this morning as the Pope announced he is stepping down at the end of the month citing age and health concerns.

This is the first time a Pope has resigned since the 15th century.

As a Protestant I don’t fully appreciate this news and the implications, but as a fellow Christian I understand at least a bit of the importance.

Will be interesting to see if the next Pope will be someone from the Global South or at least someone outside of Europe.

Love the way he announced the resignation though. With a quick statement in Latin at the end of standard address to available Cardinals. And that some of the Cardinals didn’t even catch it as first.