I see businesses (and churches) all the time that are small yet they try to play big ball (huge marketing campaigns, etc) when their strengths are relational community and viral word of mouth. It is okay to be who you are. Be a point guard. Exploit your nimbleness and lack of bureaucracy for quicker reactions and doing more intimate relationships than a 6’11″ company would ever consider.

 Example: Offer a personal handwritten thank you card to every customer with a small appreciation gift included and 3 business cards for referral.

A great article on why you can play small ball and win.

This morning I awoke at my in-laws house, journeyed downstairs, and headed to the Thermos in which my father-in-law pours his pot of coffee (he says to prevent the burned taste). As I poured my cup of Joe, I considered all things ‘Thermos.’ Some brands are synonymous with a product. Thermos is one of those. I asked my Father-in-law if he ever knew of a time when a Thermos was called something else. He couldn’t.

In the 1970′s, after throwing your Thermos in your lunch pail and heading to the office, you would have asked a secretary, “Can you Xerox this for me?” But by the 80′s you would have learned that not all brands-as-synonymous are permanent. In my career lifetime, I have never requested my admin assistant Xerox something.  Copy it, yes.

Kleenex, Levi’s, Speedo, Rolodex, Bobby Pins and other brands have or have had brand-product synonymy. Sometimes brand as product name is regional. In Texas, we’ll ask you if you want a Coke, then ask you ‘What kind?’

Having a brand-as-synonymous position does not guarantee a sale, it only means you were an originator or set the quality bar. Rejoice if you have it, but do not rest on your laurels. The last time my family bought a box of Kleenex, we were Xeroxing.

Produced this story a while back. A story of how Melinda came to realize God could take what was not good and work it for good by allowing her to minister through her past pain.

Tech stuff: Chris Johns shot it. We used one camera and I had her retell sections so Chris could get different angled shots to cut away to. I had Melinda tell a long paragraph version and a short paragraph version so we had the ability to compress sections that contributed less power to the story. My theory is compress the non-power points of the story and allow more detail into the “power sections” of the story. Melinda did a great job complying to my producer/director requests. We used an SLR camera in video mode (if you want the nerd-speak, read here).

A Story of Faith from Northwood Church on Vimeo.

Use of the parallel technique where a parallel situation shows how something functions in the original situation you intend to teach. Great method of teaching (and quite funny).

As I look over my verbose notes for this week’s message a recurring thought enters my mind…..

My biggest preaching challenge is not “God, what do I say,” but “God what do I cut out so this comes with Your power and not my words?”

1 Corinthians 1:17 For Christ did not send me to baptize but to preach the gospel, and not with words of eloquent wisdom, lest the cross of Christ be emptied of its power.
1 Corinthians 2:4 and my speech and my message were not in plausible words of wisdom, but in demonstration of the Spirit and of power,
1 Corinthians 2:13 And we impart this in words not taught by human wisdom but taught by the Spirit, interpreting spiritual truths to those who are spiritual.

President Obama had difficulty with the word “superfluous” (video of the episode). He then joked with audience that it is tough to say “superfluous” with twelve stitches. I didn’t see this as an excuse but a moment where he was being vulnerable. When he was finally able to get the word right, the audience applauded showing a clear sign of identity with him and his plight. Sometimes communicators feel the need to appear “above it all” and that they must have it all together. In doing this,  the lose the opportunity to really identify with their audience. There have been several times over the years I have preached sick. Once, only a few days after having a non-malignant cancer removed, I got very light headed on stage and joked about having to preach laying down. Being honest about a weakness actually helped because people now knew what was wrong and were not distracted the whole time thinking, “What is wrong with that guy? Why is he so sweaty and pale?”