I am Jamaica's husband, Foursquare's comm director, Personality's founder, and a catalyst for CFCC.
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Church Marketing Sucks
November 2004 Archives
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November 29, 2004
Zean Nielsen
Filed under: Inspiration
I wrote an entry over at Church Marketing Sucks about Zean Nielsen, the director of marketing for Bang & Olufsen America.
I share a similar story with Zean in that I too was hired at age 23 into an organization that had never hired anyone so young to serve a role with so much responsibility.
I'm encouraged.
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November 27, 2004
Are Blogs a Fad?
Filed under: Media
Randall Rothenberg, author and longtime journalist, argues in the November 8, 2004 issue of Advertising Age that the power of blogs have been greatly exaggerated.
"Blogs are this year's fad," he says, adding that bloggers have about as much sway "as your average op-ed columnist."
Admittedly, Rothenberg says he has only participated in the "sport" of blogging for a "short two months."
The real test for blogs will be in the long term, but I do agree with Rothenberg's closing comment: "The medium isn't the message. The message is the message."
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Dawn Hudson
Filed under: Inspiration
In the premier issue of Point, a new magazine (supplement) to Advertising Age, there was a cover story on Dawn Hudson, president of Pepsi-Cola North America. Through the penning of Thom Forbes, I learn Dawn is a 46-year-old wife of a stay-at-home dad and mother of two daughters. I learn that "her devotion to her children is legendary" and that she is "an exercise nut." I learn that Dawn was not given her role at Pepsi on a silver platter, but that she earned it.
I am inspired by Dawn Hudson because of her tenacity to win, her passion to prove, and her unquenchable drive to learn.
It is remarkable to think that just two generations ago Dawn wouldn't have even been able to vote.
Way to go Dawn. I don't know you, but I'm sure you're an inspiration for many.
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November 26, 2004
Google Scholar Search
Filed under: Stuff I Like
Check out the new Google Scholar search tool (in beta). Like Apple, Google just keeps getting better.
Thanks to Chris Busch for the link and to Robin Good for a great summary.
Jamaica is really going to like this.
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November 17, 2004
Pride's Antidote
Filed under: Big Ideal
Could the antidote to pride be swallowing a pill called "unattached?"
If I am unattached to everything in life, I have nothing to base my pride on, do I?
If I am only attached to God, is not my identity then found in him?
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November 15, 2004
Quit Trying to Find God's Will
Filed under: God, Faith & Spirituality
I can't count how many times I've banged my head over the subject of finding, doing, and fulfilling God's will for my life. Over the last couple of years, I have really come to terms with the reality that I don't think God gives a flip about what we do in our lifetime as long as it does one thing and one thing alone: bring glory to him. Every action, every thought, everything must bring glory to God. If it doesn't, I'm out of God's will.
If you're a musician: rock on.
If you're a writer: write on.
If you're a business person: make a lot of money.
If you're a student: learn everything you want to.
If you're a mom: raise those kids to be champions.
If you're an actor: be wildly famous.
Do anything you want to do! Just be sure that when you're doing it, God is being glorified.
How's that for finding God's will?
Sometime ago, U2's Bono referenced a quote that a pastor had told him once: "Stop asking God to bless what you're doing. Find out what God's doing. It's already blessed."
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November 14, 2004
The Greatest ________?
Filed under: God, Faith & Spirituality
Growing up in a Christian family, community, and church, I was always quick to agree with people who made the all-to-familiar comment: "Jesus is the greatest [insert noun here]. Maybe you have heard a few of these statements:
- Jesus is the greatest story teller.
- Jesus is the best friend anyone could have.
- Jesus is the strongest person in the world.
- Jesus is the most talented guy ever.
- Jesus is the greatest soccer player.
Could there be anything Jesus is not the greatest at? According to my unintentional inadvertent childhood application of this concept, I think not.
Now that I am past my flannel graph parable-telling Sunday school days, I tend to think Jesus could not be the greatest at everything. How could Jesus be the strongest man in the world? How could he be the best carpenter ever? How could he tell the best stories? How could he have the best fashion sense? Better yet, how could we ever measure any of this?
It seems like such a subterfuge for setting up an argument. Does Jesus really need to be the greatest ever ___________ in order to establish himself in the hearts of people? Do I really care if Jesus is the best writer in the world? Heck, the only time he ever wrote was in the sand!
I realize my point here is minor.
Perhaps this should be filed under pet peeves.
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November 8, 2004
The Not-So-Wild West
Filed under: God, Faith & Spirituality
Why do stories of the Church (big C) coming out of other countries, particularly where persecuted Christians exist, always seem so inspiring, motivating, and thrilling? As if their spiritual journey of faith is all that matters.
All this despite:
- They have a Bible that often consists of just a few pages.
- They lack complete structure (i.e., no regular meetings) for the very fact they are often "underground."
- Their Christian walk is almost completely experiential (theology training is rare) and yet their relationship with God is definitely authentic.
Here in the West, our Bible is complete. Our structures are solid (i.e., church once a week). And our Christian walk is often steeped in training, theology, and thinking. Our relationship with God can most certainly be authentic.
When was the last time you heard a story coming out of the West that was inspiring, motivating, and thrilling? Besides that one time...
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November 7, 2004
God, Tied for First
Filed under: God, Faith & Spirituality
I'm sharing some thoughts I've been mulling over in my head for staff devos tomorrow morning. My thesis is this:
It's not that I don't put God first, it's that I don't make everything else secondary.
We read in Exodus 20:3, the first of the ten commandments. "You shall have no other gods before (or besides) me."
I looked up "gods" in the dictionary. One of the definitions that stood out to me was "one that is worshiped, idealized, or followed." I then looked up the word "idealized" and found 1) A conception of something in its absolute perfection; 2) One that is regarded as a standard or model of perfection or excellence; 3) An ultimate object of endeavor; a goal; and 4) An honorable or worthy principle or aim.
It's easy to think of all the things we should not put first and give ourselves a pat on the back for not doing that (immorality, greed, jealousy, etc.).
It's not so easy to see all the good things we do - even God-things - as also needing to be put secondary to God (our family/spouse, friends, job, personal life, even the motions of devotions).
What can I do to make sure everything else is secondary to my relationship with God?
In 2 Chronicles 16:9 Hanani the seer came to Asa king of Judah and said "God is always on the alert, constantly on the lookout for people who are totally committed to him. You were foolish to go for human help when you could have had God's help. Now you're in trouble - one round of war after another."
God searches for those who will make him their single desire, who will say like David in Psalm 16:5, "My choice is you, God, first and only. And now I find I'm your choice!"
I want God to be first place.
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