When I found out that my current lawn service did not mowed grass in my new neighborhood, I decided to call on a few people who have left cards or mailed pamphlets to my new house. One that caught my attention was Will’s Lawn Service. Will is a 15-year old 9th grader from the neighborhood, but according to his marketing piece he “has been on a lawn mower since I was 5 and have been cutting grass professionally for the past 3 years.” I called on 4 different people including Will. I talked with 3 people and left a message with the other, including my new address and needs; however, Will was the only one who called from the property with a price. He also offered to cut the grass right away. It’s been over a week now since my first round of calls, and I haven’t heard back from…

I put my house in the market a couple of weeks back and, of all the upgrades we’ve made over the years, i.e. granite, commercial appliances, our cat condo got the most attention. We built the “cabitat” when we moved in 10 years ago in the garage to give Bob and Kissinger (Bob has gone to cat heaven) a place to enjoy the outdoors without going out since they were both de-clawed. The cabitat is near the garage door and is accessed from the house through a tiny door hidden behind a couch in our great room. I have been asked by several people who have heard of the contraption to take pictures. I decided a video was a better idea. How far have you gone for a pet?

Even though I think their theology is flawed–we’re gonna have a big breakfast in heaven–this video just make me happy! center this In the clip, Minister Cleo Clariet and his fiancé Katherine Lane are shown singing on “The Kay Bain Show” in Tupelo, Mississippi in May or June of 2004.Clariet passed away from congenital heart disease on Dec. 13, 2004. Lane said he would have been thrilled to know his song is now entertaining so many people. So what’s your favorite breakfast food? Mine? Biscuits with chocolate gravy, eberskivers (Dutch pancakes filled with jams, fruits or cheeses), and egg white omelets.

What do you do when you’re not ready to make a move, or change your career or go out on your own, but, suddenly, you’re pushed out of your comfort zone? Do you free fall to the ground, or are you ready to fly? I was reminded of my own story today as I visited with my friend Joshua Phillips. I met Joshua years ago when he refinanced my home. Since then, he has put together three different mortgages for me and has become a good friend and client in the process. Besides being a businessman, Joshua has a heart for ministry and has spent a lot of his effort and money in helping people see themselves as God sees them through his involvement in Fully Alive Ministries. Three days after I closed on my new home at the end of January, Joshua emailed me to let me know that…

People often say they like change. But they lie. We really dislike it. Very few of us are truly “change agents,” as it has become of the battle cry of so many consultant wannabes. Most of us only seriously contemplate change when staying the same is more painful than the perceived cost of the path. But whether any of us like it or not, change is being thrown at us at an unbelievable pace. If you have problem with it in your life, watch the video below at your own risk. centerthis vidhttp://www.youtube.com/get_player So what does it mean to you? I’d love your input.

It’s a Recession. It’s a compression. It’s a depression. Whatever it is, it’s bad and particularly so to non profits. Right? Recently, however, I experienced something that cannot be explained easily if you’re listening to the news and getting your worldview from the media. Tuesday morning I attended the “We Build People” kickoff breakfast for the YMCA of Middle TN. I hosted a table of 8 and invited some of my Y buddies whom I see most every morning in spin class, Yoga class, swimming pool, running group or workout floor (Ok, I get around). During the breakfast, we heard first-person accounts from cancer survivors finding support group in the ABC (After Breast Cancer) program , from a woman whose entire family livelihood had been wiped out by a debilitating disease finding a welcoming place at the Y through the Open Doors program that makes the Y network free for…

I remember hauling a 15 lb projector around the country that took most of the space on my carry on bag. Recently, Microvision unveiled a mobile projector. Yes, this thing is the size of a cell phone. All I can say is wow. Now I need to figure out a way to justify the cost. After all, I’m in the communication business and this is a communication tool, right? http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=3340611&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=0&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1 Would buy one of these?

Great communication always involves passion for the subject. Oceanographer Sylvia Earle presented at this year’s TED conference. Her 18-minute presentation is one of the best I’ve ever experienced. She used video along along with her written speech in a seamless and effortless talk that had me mesmerized, even as I watched it through video. Her smile was contagious, her warnings were sobering and yet she offered hope along with her challenge. This is her presentation. If you’re like me, you’ll want to see the whole thing. It’s remarkable. centerhttp://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf How are you using media in your presentations?

It’s easy for me to see what needs to be fixed in the churches I visit. I hate to admit it, but I’m a critic. I’d like to think that I’m a nice one, but I’m a critic nonetheless. After all, people don’t pay me to pat them on the back and tell them good job. Church leaders want to know what’s not working well and what can be done to be more effective for the kingdom. However, my favorite part of any secret shopper visit is to celebrate what’s done well. And nothing makes my heart happier than when I run into volunteers who love God and serve their church with a smile and open arms. This past weekend I was able to reconnect with two of the best volunteers I’ve ever encountered in all my secret shopper visits. Linda and her husband Harrod have been greeting at First…

“I think our pastor is spending too much time on his blog,” said the voice on the other side of the phone. I had to disagree with the caller and spend some time talking with him about why blogging was one of the best way for his pastor to spend his time, even if it meant that he had to cut some of his office time short or send someone in his place to make a hospital visit.When done well, social media will help a pastor connect with his congregation in a level that, previously, he could only do with a select few. My pastor, for example, Pete Wilson, is an avid blogger, Twitterer, and Facebook user. He has over 6,000 people who daily visit his blog and whose lives Pete speaks into, even though our church only runs 2,500 people in attendance. I keep up with him mostly through…