Collide Magazine Debuts Online
add new commentIf you've been reading Collide Magazine, then you'll enjoy their updated, new website. This month it features an interview with me on the book "Branding Faith" and what it means for the church today. ... read more
John Hagee Apologizes for Anti-Catholic Remarks
7 comments
By now, you've all read about Pastor John Hagee from
San Antonio apologizing for many year's worth of anti-Catholic
comments in his sermons and on television. From my perspective, when are we
going to realize that this approach to "reaching the world" simply doesn't
work? You're not going to win the Catholic community to your way of
thinking by calling them "the great whore." If that worked, ... read more
The Damage of Showing Up Late – Even a Little…
11 comments
I met a producer the other day who is really frustrated. He
doesn’t perform well at meetings, he continually gets turned down for
jobs, and his career is suffering. I met with him because I knew him to be
talented, has great energy, and good people skills. I was baffled at what
his problem might be until he showed up for our meeting….late.
For some reason, I couldn’t get his being late off my mind so I
started to probe. I found out that being late for things is pretty much a
constant in his life. He won’t admit it of course, but I started to ask
around, and sure enough – others had the same experience as me. ... read more
An Interesting Question from Joyce Meyer
13 comments
I was interviewed by Joyce Meyer on two of her TV programs week (I’ll let
you know when they’re scheduled to be broadcast.) She wanted to
discuss the media and how it bombards our daily lives. She was
particularly interested in how we can protect our hearts and minds (and our
families) from the onslaught of violence, sexuality, and generally coarse
behavior we often find on TV and in the movies. I always enjoy being
with Joyce, an ... read more
Are Your Business Cards Killing Your Career?
3 comments
I wish I could say I’ve seen my last card from Kinko’s,
but truth is, I expect people will keep using the quick and cheap method. I
know money can be a problem, especially if you’re just starting out in
business or going through a rough patch financially. But what most people
don’t realize is how much the perception of a business card matters. We
might wish we lived in a world where our expertise and enthusiasm were most
important, but for whatever it’s worth, people start sizing you up from
the minute you hand them a card. ... read more
What Makes People Give?
13 comments
One of the key issues in non-profit or religious media is
donor development. Fergus Scarfe, head of that area for the God TV Network
in Europe, sent this New York
Times report on donor incentives highlighting recent
research which suggests that seed money is a better investment for
charities than matching gifts. The research found that match offers had a
material impact on influencing donors to give. In an experiment, 2.8% of
people who received a match offer made a ... read more
"Casual" Church Part II
14 comments
When I wrote my earlier
post on the good versus bad trends toward casual church services, I
think we spent too much time on the issue of clothes. While torn jeans and
exposed shirt-tails are certainly a visual indicator of the trend, for me
it’s much more than the way we (or a pastor) dresses. I’m looking at
the overall experience. When the worship experience becomes too casual,
where is the mystery? I really think there should be a place for the
transcendent in worship, and to be honest, I don’t see much of it in
churches today. ... read more
Post a Branding Faith Review on Amazon
add new comment
If you've read "Branding Faith" (especially if you like it) go to the
book's page on Amazon and write a review. Just scroll
down to the "write a review" button. It will really assist others looking
for help in this area, and I would be grateful! ... read more
Reactions to Traditional "Christian" Television From Christians in Hollywood
13 comments
The Biola
Media Conference has become the largest gathering of Christians that
work in the mainstream entertainment industry. At the event on
Saturday, I spent some time talking to the attendees, and I asked quite a
number about what we might call “explicitly traditional Christian
media.” That would especially mean Christian TV stations and
networks. I mentioned a number of the largest television
ministries, like Joyce Meyer, Joel Osteen, TD Jakes, Rod Parsley, and
others out there. The response I received from the conference
attendees was sobering at best. Keep in mind ... read more
The Biola Media Conference Report
6 comments
Directors Peggy & KathleenIf you
attended the Biola
Media Conference at CBS Studios this past weekend, I’d love to hear
about your experience. From my perspective, it was really terrific. The
quality of speakers, the format, the sponsors – I enjoyed the entire day.
We had a great “reality TV” panel, including the producers of “The Dog
Whisperer,” “The
Real Housewives of Orange County,” “Intervention,” and the winner of the “On the Lot” program
created by Steven Spielberg. We also had leaders in the digital media world
as well as established producers from traditional media. Phil Vischer of
“Veggie Tales” fame told his story, which was powerful, and we ended
the day with my interview with Todd Komarnicki – producer of the Will Ferrell
Christmas blockbuster “Elf” and the upcoming summer release ... read more
Phrases That Should Be Challenged
14 comments
In
the new book “The Milkshake Moment: Overcoming Stupid Systems,
Pointless Policies, and Muddled Management to Realize Real Growth” by
Steven S. Little, (I highly recommend it) he lists some phrases that are
often unnecessary hindrances to growth in organizations. Here’s a
few: ... read more
Is Obama Losing His Story?
10 comments
The USA Today editorial pages – as well as every other
newspaper in America – are reporting how Barack Obama has broken the
relationship with this supposed pastor of 20 years, Jeremiah Wright, after
he viewed the tapes of Wright’s bizarre appearance at the National Press
Club on Monday. But this blog isn’t about politics – it’s about
media, and telling your story in a media-driven culture. That’s why what
interests me is ... read more
Has Church Become too Casual?
22 comments
In our well meaning effort to relate to the culture, I’m
getting some interesting comments about contemporary churches today.
Pastors are now preaching in T-shirts and torn jeans, and many large,
contemporary churches today look more like concert arenas than churches. I
understand the trend and I helped lead the charge. In the search for
excellence in all things, us baby boomers want perfect lighting and sound,
as well as something different from the dressed up but ... read more
What is “Contemporary” in the African-American Church Community?
12 commentsWhen I lectured at the National Association of Broadcasters Conference in Las Vegas a couple of weeks ago, the administrator of a large African American church in the South asked me an interesting question. In the context of “contemporary” churches, you might find Ed Young, Bil Cornelius, Perry Noble, Erwin McManus, or Greg Groeschel. These are guys who generally preach in casual clothes, understand marketing, are savvy with technology, and yet still preach a Christ centered message. They’re also White. She asked, ... read more
"Expelled" Update - Yoko's Odd Problem
3 comments
In a rather bizarre and almost funny update on Ben Stein's
movie "EXPELLED:
No Intelligence Allowed” – the movie is being challenged by Yoko
Ono. She’s filed lawsuits against the film for the use and critique
of John Lennon's song “Imagine”. One of the suits seeks preliminary
injunctive relief, essentially meaning that they are trying to expel
EXPELLED as it is now being shown in theaters. Premise (the production
company) did not pursue a license for the song and says it had no
obligation to do so based on the fair use doctrine. The brief “Imagine”
clip, consisting of only 10 words, was used as part of a ... read more
Moviemaker Magazine looks at Faith Based Films
4 comments
Check out the Spring 2008 issue of MovieMaker magazine
featuring Tom Allen's feature story on faith based filmmaking. Tom
interviewed me for the story as well as mentions "Branding Faith." It's
a terrific overview of what's happening and what faith-driven filmmakers
should be considering when exploring this genre of movies. ... read more
Non-Profit Law for Religious Organizations
5 comments
A
lot of the questions I receive here on the blog are about legal issues that
religious and non-profit organizations face. Do I pay taxes on book
sales? Can a non-profit own a for-profit business? What about
product sales? These types of questions – especially administrative
and governance issues – are extremely important. That’s why Bruce
Hopkins and David Middlebrook’s new book “Non-Profit Law for Religious Organizations” is a
great resource. It’s easy to understand, and covers a wealth of
issues and subjects. Get it. Make sure ... read more








