Great video about the real meaning of Easter.

Edith Easter from Krista McKinney on Vimeo.

Have you seen the TV spots for the Foundation For A Better Life?

I get misty-eyed every time I see one of them! Check this new one out (encouraging “Patience”) on their website at http://values.com. Sorry, they do not allow in-line posting on other sites.

I can certainly identify with that worker’s FIRST emotion. I wonder if I would follow his second emotion. How about you? I HIGHLY recommend that you visit the site and see all of their spots and the other encouraging posts that they have online.

BTW, I like to know WHO I am actually endorsing before I write such a post as this. The Wikipedia article for the foundation (here) says, “it [the Foundation] is entirely funded by billionaire Philip Anschutz.” So, I checked the article for Mr. Anschutz (here) and found that he “has been an active patron of a number of religious and conservative causes”   (here). The following list is only some of the causes listed on the Wikipedia article:

• Helped fund the Discovery Institute, a think tank based in Seattle, Washington that promotes intelligent design and criticizes evolution.
• Supported the Parents Television Council, a group that protests against what they believe to be television indecency.
• Financed and distributed films with Christian themes, such as Amazing Grace and The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, for mass audiences through his two film production companies and ownership of much of the Regal, Edwards and United Artists theater chains.
• Financed The Foundation for a Better Life.

Although some people. who are more aligned with the Democratic Party, may think that Mr. Anschutz represents an opposing viewpoint (due to his political affiliations), I believe that he & the Foundation represent CONSERVATIVE FAMILY VALUES. So, for my part, I endorse the work of the foundation – regardless of political parties!

Social Media: Although the Foundation has a Twitter accoun (@valuescom), it appears to be just an auto feed from their Facebook page (FBLife).  You may want to follow them there.

The Presentation Secrets of Steve Jobs

If you have ever seen a video of Steve Jobs presenting a new product (iPhone or MacBook Air, etc), you know how dynamic his presentations are! The video below describes some of the key ways that Jobs is able to develop such excitement among the “fanboys” at Apple – and anyone else who hears him. (Thanks to Jason Fitzpatrick and the Lifehacker website for pointing us to this video. And thanks to BNet.com for producing the video.)

Here are some of the major points in the video:

• OPEN STRONG! Inspire the audience by introducing a clear theme for your  presentation.
• PROVIDE AN OUTLINE. Give the audience an overview of what you will be covering then open —  and close — each point clearly. Always transition to the next point.
• BE ENTHUSIASTIC! Excite your listeners and be passionate about what you are saying. It was mentioned on the video but I have been telling young ministers for a long time, “If you are not passionate about it, then the audience will not be passionate either!”
• MAKE IT VISUAL. Use multimedia (if available) and make slides with very little text and few —  but exciting — pictures/clips. Add in (appropriate) video if it continues or adds to the excitement.
• STRONG CONCLUSION: Build up to the primary point of the presentation then present it with enthusiasm!
• REHEARSE. This must be done several times if the presentation is to be fluid and sync’ed with the multimedia and the overall “show.”
• ADD SOMETHING: Jobs often closes with, “And one last thing…” It may be some special music or a “deal” or something similar. The idea is to leave his audience with a feeling of having gotten more than they expected – something extra!

Take a look…

Can  you use some of these techniques in your ministry? I sure can. I plan to try some of them the next time I am up to speak!

Someone may say, “I just trust the Holy Spirit to lead me.” And I would NEVER dismiss such an approach. However, He (the Holy Spirit) is the One who “walks beside us.” WE must also walk. He will enable us and bring things to our memory (Jn. 14:26) but we must have learned them before He can remind us. He will always HELP but I want to do the best that I can as well. What about you?

Your comments are always welcome….

Updated Jan 17,  2010: You can check out my implementation of this technique here:  http://chiefshepherd.com/2010/01/one-word-bible-study/

I posted a humorous article about this over on my Bishop of Technology site here: http://raywaldo.com/2009/10/do-real-men-twitter/

Here is a funny video illustrating the problem: