2008 March | haRdLy NOrMal

Archive for March, 2008

No – I didn’t pay him

Published by March 13th, 2008 in Friends, Just Me, My Big Mouth, Personal

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Wow, someone actually wrote good things about me for a change

Holy Cow meets Hardly Normal

Published by March 13th, 2008 in Blogs, Community, Friends, Just Me, Marketing, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Personal, Remarkable

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Besides getting to hang with “The Sindorfs” (I always kind of like to sing their name like you would “The Simpsons”) I was blessed by getting to know Michael Buckingham who is the founder and creative director of Holy Cow Creative.

When I heard I was speaking with Michael I was excited. I have been reading his blog for some time now and I am extremely impressed by his work. If you are looking for graphic or internet design I highly recommend you give Holy Cow a call. They even just won an Addy Award for the most original web design I have seen in a long time.

Mr. Holy Cow and I agreed on most everything. The only item in our presentation I had to differ with is Michael believes you should not steel ideas and instead be inspired. I on the other hand find inspiration to plagiarize. That view comes from my music days. Frank Zappa did everything you could musically and KISS did everything you could as far as stage show. What’s left? You figure that out!

Creativity is forgetting where you stole the idea from! (the moderator of our presentation stole that line from me, and I stole it from an animator I had lunch with the day before)

I spent a few days allowing “The Sindorfs” (don’t forget to sing it) to pick on me and getting to know Michael. Success is our value of relationships and my journey to NRB was very successful. I am hoping someday soon I will be able to work with Michael on a creative project because not only will I learn, it will be fun!

Holy Cow meets Hardly Normal

This was shot right before we spoke at NRB. I sure hope we didn’t mess anyone up!!! btw, my power point made Michael’s look good, although mine was much more entertaining! Look! A Squirrel!

Whatever God!

Published by March 12th, 2008 in Change, Character, Future, Homeless, Just Me, Leadership, Learning, Life's Lessons, My Big Mouth, Personal, Personal Growth, Recovery, Remarkable

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As I was driving to Nashville in a crazy snow storm to speak at NRB I received a devastating phone call. Well, it should have been devastating since I was being delivered some very bad news.

For about the last 10 months I have been through hell. I have been beat down to where there is absolutely no fight left in me. Everything that has happened, all the misunderstandings and whacked perceptions are so weird I cannot even explain it. The end result is I am now back in extreme debt and I am very close to losing everything – again!

When I was homeless I had nothing to lose. The stress this time is insane and I would be lying if I didn’t admit that the fear sometimes is almost paralyzing. I don’t dwell on the fear and I always do my best to stay positive, but sometimes it just slaps me in the face.

Now here is what is interesting (at least to me). As I was driving through that snow storm this past Friday, and hung up the phone after receiving very bad news, I said out loud, “whatever God” with a smile on my face. I had peace about my situation. It was as if I completely surrendered and raised the white flag.

The National Religious Broadcasters Convention, I thought, would be all business. I never expected to get anything spiritual from the event. I was wrong! Saturday morning a friend talked me into going to hear Phil Vischer speak. Phil is the original creator of Veggie Tales and to be honest, talking vegetables have never done anything for me. I would have never gone to hear Phil without some coaching.

It was amazing and just what I needed to hear. Phil had everything and then lost everything yet God continues to do an amazing work in his life. There was a God purpose in everything! He has now started Jelly Fish Labs. The name alone is worth going to the session. A jellyfish cannot completely control where it moves. Phil’s talk is encouraging and spiritually enlightening and I highly recommend you buy the CD. RB-S01 Reach Keynote Session – Phil Vischer.

While driving I also listened to a leadership series by Andy Stanley that is probably some of the best teachings I have ever heard. If you are going to only buy one teaching series in 08 make it this one! It will change your life. Buy it for your pastor, leaders and friends. The church is changing. Leadership is changing! Everyone needs to hear this: The Best of Catalyst – Andy Stanley Buy this teaching and share!

I don’t know what is going to happen in my life. God has stripped me of everything before so I would pay attention and let Him drive. I don’t know if that is the case here, but this last week, in the face of severe darkness, I was blanketed with a peace that could have only come from God.

Whatever God, although scary, is a very good place to be!

I am headed to Nashville.

Published by March 7th, 2008 in Just Me, Learning, Life's Lessons, Marketing, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Remarkable, Technology, Television, Vision

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I am speaking again at NRB this year. It really is an honor (and a miracle) that anyone would ask me to open my mouth. I get a daily quote from Carl’s Quote of the Day and here is the one for today:

The human brain is a wonderful thing. It starts working the moment you are born, and never stops until you stand up to speak in public.
–George Jessel

I am not so much concerned about public speaking as I am about having to listen to country music everywhere. That will be torture. Truthfully I am really excited because my life is about to drastically change in the next few days. Also I get to hang with some very cool people and catch up with old friends!

Phil wrote about NRB and you can read his post here

Neat word of mouth idea!

Published by March 3rd, 2008 in Just Me, Marketing, My Big Mouth, Remarkable

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I now have a new favorite place to stay in Hollywood which is kind of funny because not only have I walked by the Roosevelt Hotel for 17 years; in 2002 – 2003 I lived directly across the street. The Roosevelt really has a great combination of the old mixed with contemporary and is not that expensive, at least for LA. My only regret is that the ghosts of Marilyn Monroe or Montgomery Clift did not appear. I was looking, too!

They also have a very unique way of creating word of mouth. The hotel places a custom medicine vial on the night stand filled with custom colored M&M candy. The first night I thought it was a vial filled with pills the other guy left out and I did not pay much attention. Then when going to breakfast the next morning one of the people in our party asked if we noticed the vials filled with candy. “Is that what that is?” I responded. They all thought it was dumb yet kept on talking about it the rest of the trip. I thought it was pure genius!

Vial filled with candy

People hate change – continued

Published by March 3rd, 2008 in Change, Internet, Just Me, Learning, Life's Lessons, Marketing, Ministry, My Big Mouth

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This past Friday afternoon I had a business meeting and the people I went to LA with had to go fend for themselves. Upon their return I asked them where they went. They responded Taco Bell! No, they were not kidding! Going to Taco Bell in the Echo Park area of Los Angeles is like going to Pizza Hut in Rome, Italy (if there is one).

Later that night we were looking for a place to eat and they all wanted a chain restaurant even mentioning Applebee’s.

What is interesting is if you asked these people about change they would say they love change. The truth is most people don’t. We gravitate to what is familiar – always!

In producing Christian television almost yearly every pastor has asked for a new show open. They feel they are not being progressive if they don’t have change. Now, if there is a ministry or strategy change then YES change the show open. If not leave it. 60 Minutes has had the same clock open for over 20 years for a reason. Secular shows DO NOT change their show formats or opens because they know we are creatures of familiarity.

Keep in mind when you change stuff you make people feel uncomfortable!

I’m famous in Los Angeles

Published by March 3rd, 2008 in Homeless, Just Me, Learning, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Personal, Recovery

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I always laugh when I am recognized in Los Angeles. See I moved to LA to get my big break, which I did – I met Jesus.

When I walk down Hollywood Blvd or the Promenade in Santa Monica I am just like everyone else. When I walk around in Skid Row I am recognized and too me that couldn’t be any more perfect!

Mixing from the front row.

Published by March 3rd, 2008 in Change, Just Me, Learning, Media, Ministry, My Big Mouth, Technology

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I have worked in several churches where the senior pastor mixes the live sound from the front row. Not in every church but in most. They figure out a form of communication to the soundman and make constant changes all throughout the worship.

Here is a truth. Mixing from the front row only feeds control issues and DOES NOT make the sound in the room any better. The front row usually gets a lot of bleed from the stage sound. Also, front-of-house speakers are usually not positioned to give the best sound to the front row.

I agree there needs to be communication from the front row to the technical people. As someone who has run operations from the front row of several churches I mainly communicate about multi-media issues and not sound.

I was speaking to a pastor who leads a small church and constantly mixes from the front row. I tried to bring this to his attention. That it might be better to focus on the sermon then always tweaking the sound. He responded “if the sound for worship is not right then I will not feel comfortable.” I do somewhat see his point, but because sound is subjective to personal taste, he really is being self-centered. Church should be about the people not the pastor. If the sound is bad in the middle of the room the people will not feel comfortable. Too me, it is more important that the people in the room have a good experience then the pastor.

Unfortunately because mixing sound from the front row is more of a control issue than anything else pastors may never change. Pray for your soundman. It is a thankless job!