RussHutto.com

Head on over to The Worship Community for the review!

I really enjoyed listening through this one!

I’ve had a few people in the last week ask me why twitter is such a big deal. So I thought I’d share.

For me, twitter is:

• Connection: And by connection I mean instant. For all the other twitter-ers that I “follow” conversation is but a click away.
• Networking: By interest. By career. By life phase. By ministry. I follow a ton of other worship leaders, musicians, artists, and designers. And a lot of those same types of people follow me. At any given time I can ask a question, post a design or song for feedback, ask for prayer, or just start up a conversation about the areas of life, work, and ministry that I am interested in.
• Conversation: Twitter is NOT only about posting what you had for breakfast or what you’re wearing. It’s about quick, engaging, meaningful conversation. Information is distributed at lightspeed. Global conversations are happening. I can talk about worship leading and graphic design with people on the other side of the world in real-time. And it’s not limited to an instant messenger service, so if others that see our conversation are interested they can join in.
• News: Twitter “breaks” news faster than the major media outlets do. Which is why you’ll notice that ALL the major media outlets use twitter. When there’s an earthquake, or a plane crash, or a political revolution people are tweeting news from ground zero.
• Blogging: I will continue to run this blog, but twitter has become a place where I can “microblog” – send out short (140 character or less) bursts of what would normally occupy an entire blog post. I share music. I share photos. I share thoughts. I share scripture. I share encouragement.
• Fun: I’ve made new friends all over the world through twitter. And the beauty of it is, for the most, part because I follow very selectively, just about everyone that I follow shares common interest, purposes, careers, ministries, and life goals that I do. It’s just FUN meeting new people!

For me, Twitter is NOT about:

• Fame: I don’t care how many followers I have as long as they all think that I add some value to our conversation. I also won’t follow people just to follow them. Either I know you already, OR I think that you are worth getting to know. Like I said before, most likely that’s gonna be because we share a lot of common ground.
• Trend: twitter is all the rage in 2009. All the big networks and media outlets are twittering. All the celebs are. But they weren’t almost 3 years ago when I saw the amazing potential for networking and I joined.
• Deep Connection: though I like the idea that I can be connected to people from all over the world and I can develop some meaningful friendships through twitter and blogging, I will NEVER EVER replace my face-to-face friends with twitter. I will not hide from “real life” to play in a fantasy world of virtual friendships. What I WILL DO however, is develop both sets of friendships appropriately. Spending time with my family and friends here is priority, and hoping to meet my twitter friends in person one day would be great! If not, then we’ll have a tweet-up in heaven!

You can find me and all my online networking, microblogging, song-sharing, tweeting goodness at twitter.com/russhutto.

Here’s the deal: I’m going on a ministry trip to Honduras in July. Our airfare is paid in full. We still have a few travel expenses to raise. And we’re also going to be filling duffle bags with clothes to take and donate. International flights are now charging more for extra checked bags. Would you consider helping out?

$20 Gets you a sweet, custom RussHutto.com blog header. I’ll take your photos, colors, and style preferences and custom design you a great header!

ALL proceeds will go directly to our Honduras trip. If you’re on wordpress.com or blogger.com this is a GREAT opportunity to spice up your blog image! Or if you just want to help out and get a sweet blog header in the process, now’s the time to do it!

I’ll take the first 10 contacts. This is a limited opportunity so act now!

Some examples of my blog headers and post headers:

More here at my Tumblr.

I’ll be taking donations through PayPal via our Honduras page, but make sure you contact me through the Contact page to get your header.

Challenge: take 50 pics on the mobile phone on Friday and share them on facebook, flickr, or your favorite photo sharing app.

Had a great time! Snapped my 50th photo right before bed.

You can view the set on flickr.com here.

Over on facebook as well. Add me.

Our airfare has been raised. Thank God!

We baked cookies, sold music, and had 3 mega yard sales. the third of which almost did us in. My office still contains some of the donated treasures that we weren’t able to give to our local charities.

We’ll be packing up and heading to Atlanta the weekend of July 4th, 2009 and then heading down to Central America on the 6th. I’ll be liveblogging, twittering, and photoblogging the whole experience.

Would you prayerfully considering donating a small amount of finances to help cover our costs? We all can’t take these international trips and I know that many of my readers follow with great excitement what the Compassion Bloggers do on each of their overseas trips! I know I do. We’re doing the same thing, just on a smaller scale, and working with a local pastor to focus on just one area.

I know that Shaun Groves is challenging us here back in the States to really think about what we can do to incorporate more serving into our lifestyles. I know for me one small way that has always presented itself is by giving (finances, time, and prayer) to others who are going on ministry trips. The bottom line is that we all can’t afford to just pay for trips like this out of our pockets, so imagine if the worldwide christian family pitched in just a little here and there?

This is definitely not the only way to serve. I know that ALL of us should be serving right where we are. First, in our families and then in our circle of friends, and then in the world around us. I think Francis Chan said it best when he said [paraphrased],

“If we don’t place high emphasis on 1) Loving One Another (including financially), 2) Sharing God’s Word together (and with others) 3) Encouraging one another through trials and tough times (including helping out financially), 4) Sharing Communion, and 5) Praying with and for one another, how can we rightfully call ourselves the Church? (From “Gospel Conference Part 5)

I’m definitely convinced that the BEST way for us to BE the church is to be participating (at the very least) in those 5 “together” activities.

I do “life” with many of you online through the blog networks, theworshipcommunity.com, facebook, and twitter. I consider it such a privilege to even have the capacity to even ask for your help. It’s a real honor to know that I have friends all over the world.

I’m not asking for huge heaping piles of cash, every little small amount helps, and I’m convinced that if we all pitched in a few dollars here and there we could cover what our team needs to make this trip happen.

Would you prayerfully consider making a donation? Of course, it almost goes without saying (though I will say it anyways), that I covet your PRAYERS more than anything!

* Donate securely through Paypal.

Those who donate $5 or more will get a special digital download album (10 Russ Hutto Originals + 3 Wallpapers). I’ll send you the link.

For more details and specific info on our trip.