As social media changes the way we interact, speculation has abounded for years on how the web may be disconnecting us from intimate interactions in favor of meaningless quests to rack up followers and “friends.” I have heard it for numerous times how social media is robbing us of authentic, honest relationships. Not so, says Stefana Broadbent, who explains that social networks function the same way online as they do in real life. While we may have lots of friends, we only really communicate regularly and meaningfully with a handful of them, and social technologies like e-mail, texting, and tweeting allow us to do so more often across time and space http://video.ted.com/assets/player/swf/EmbedPlayer.swf How has social media impacted the way you communicate?

Yesterday I heard 75-year old John Bisagno speak to a group of pastors at First Baptist Church of Jacksonville Pastors’ Conference. Dr. Bisagno retired after 30 years of ministry at First Baptist Church Houston leading that congregation to reach thousands of people in  Houston and around the globe. While most men his age would be tempted to reminisce about the good ol’ days and how the new generation has drifted away from God, Bisagno had no time for that. He was more interested in speaking about how to use social media to reach the lost. What has impressed me the most about Dr. Bisagno is a quality that I have valued since my early teens when an 83 year old school cook asked me to help her cook a dish she didn’t have a recipe for. I felt uneasy about telling granny what to do in the kitchen, but she…

Since we started The A Group 9 years ago, we have been giving Christmas gifts to our clients: expensive cookies, designer pen, leather notebooks, engraved pad-folios to name a few. However none has elicit the volume of feedback through notes, calls and lots of social media mentions as this past year’s gift: The A Group branded Snuggie. We sent them to clients in the cold North as well as in sunny Florida along with our Christmas card also featuring our entire team wearing Snuggies. None of us could’ve predicted such a warm reception (pun intended) nor some of the coldest weather in recent history. Here’s a few lessons from this year’s Christmas gift: This was not the most expensive gift we have ever sent, but it was the most original We are a professional but fun company and the branded Snuggie said it all In a sea of cookies, pop…

These are a few more pictures I took with my trusty iPhone. They are a bit random, but, again, so am I. Beautiful Repulse Bay. Who calls a place this nice “Repulse”? They call it the Chinese Riviera deservedly so. So the beach is immaculately clean. That’s because according to the sign above, you cannot do anything but look at it. Beautiful view atop Victoria’s Peak. Yep, iPhone. Juxtaposition of old and new worlds. Note the leopard print detail. . . and to finish the ensemble: matching breathing mask. Love the fashion forward of Hong Kong This picture strikes fear in the heart of middle-aged man everywhere. Steve Shantz, my travel companion poses in front of our nemesis

Sometimes intelligent people surprise me with their lack of business acumen, marketing savvy and just even common sense. A Pastor friend of mine had been in dialogue with a service provider who came highly recommended to him. According to his sources, this business owner went to an Ivy League school and was running a service business helping Pastors with their message research. Negotiations were going well until my friend received the following text message: First I thought it was a joke, but he assured me this was for real. He didn’t know what to say in reply but he knew he was not going to do business with the man for sure– Ivy League pedigree or not. Incensed, I helped craft the following reply: Am I overly sensitive or is this one of the worst attempts at closing a deal you’ve ever seen?

One of the most fun parts of my trip to Hong Kong was going to a street fair near my hotel. But in just a few hours after Steve Shantz, my travel companion and I made our way through the crowded fair Saturday, a man threw a bottle of acid into the crowd from a roof top injuring some 30 people including several tourists and children. You can read the CNN report here I’m specially thankful for family and friends who were praying for my safety during this trip. My son Derek and his entire class committed to pray for me as well. We often take prayer for granted, but incidents such as this bring the covering of prayer into the spotlight. Have you ever felt the power of prayer work in your own life? What’s your story?

Sunday night as I walked through the financial center of Hong Kong, one of the most beautiful and wealthiest cities in the world, I heard what I thought was the sound of thousands of birds. As it turned out, the sound came from hundreds, if not thousands of Philippine women under a large concrete structure. Their story broke my heart. http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=8656750&server=vimeo.com&show_title=1&show_byline=1&show_portrait=1&color=00ADEF&fullscreen=1 When was the last time your heart went out to a group of people or to someone in need?

After a 16-hour flight from Newark I landed in Hong Kong where my body is still trying to deal with a 14-hour time zone difference. It’s been wreaking havoc with my sleep cycle but it has been worth it. My first two days were mostly spent with the friendly TWR.org staff here in Hong Kong. They were gracious hosts and I thoroughly enjoyed my time with them. This afternoon, my traveling companion, Steve Shantz and I ventured out into the city. Here are a few random thoughts: 1. People in Hong Kong are not early risers. There’s nothing open before 7 a.m., and that includes the YMCA as well as Starbucks which was still closed by 7:30! Oh, but there are 24 hrs McDonalds and chicken feet stores. 2. Folks here love tea but it’s very hard to get a good cup of coffee. Take a look of the picture…

Christmas growing up in Brazil was a hot, humid affair with long sunny days often interrupted by a passing thunderstorm during the heat of the day. We spent most of the Christmas holidays at the pool, and since I was fortunate to have one at my house, my friends would come over and hang out at my house for hours. But whether I am in the South American heat or in the cold, short days of the northern hemisphere, Christmas has always been a time to thank God for the birth of His son and to celebrate life with family and friends. I find myself thankful to be able to share another year with my family, co-workers, and friends. After all, there is no illusive destination besides heaven, but the joy of life well lived with people whom you love and walk together for a season. While I’m still putting…

My oldest son, Marcus, turned 15 on Friday. While his uncle takes him fishing, hunting and to rural Mississippi, I decided to take him to New York City to stay near Central Park, go to Broadway to watch Wicked and eat at some of the world’s best restaurants. I wanted to make some special memories and I believe we have them. The city has a way of overwhelming you with its massive size, congested streets and over crowed sidewalks. But then there’s the art, and the food and the shopping and the cosmopolitan skinny people wearing the latest fashion while elegantly sipping their lates through the streets. It was a whirlwind of activity: We ate at world class restaurants: China GrillBobby Flay’s Bar Americain , Ferrara’s, and a couple of cafes. Let me say that the boy can put it down with the best of them. For a foodie-in-training, NYC…