Give Me a Lion's Heart

Of Zombies and Purpose

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Tue, 26 Nov 2013 15:50:00 +0000

This morning, I scanned the guide of our cable TV offerings and clicked to watch a bit of one of my favorite movies of all time: "Toy Story". The zombie toys were attacking Buzz and Woody. I had a funny thought:

Then I asked a serious question I've asked a lot lately: Why are zombies, vampires, and other mostly dead so popular? The best explanation I've heard is from Mike Glenn.

You see, over the last year, I've had a unique vantage point to watch people. And I've seen what Mike is talking about.

A businesswoman hustling to a cab clacking her heels on the pavement because she had a chance to catch an earlier plane home. She could make it home before the kids went to bed.
A homeless man sucking on a disposable lighter rummage through an ashcan trying to find leftover cigarettes with enough tobacco to get a fix.
A wife whispering over and over again, "I'm sorry" as she helps her inebriated husband into a hotel. He had a comment on the clothes of every young lady on my side of the street... and the other. Yet, she apologized for him.
Dozens of women celebrating bachelorette parties carrying—and wearing—items that on 364 other days a year would make them blush.
Dads and daughters visiting colleges with the hope of the future burning in their eyes.
Newlyweds smiling for the camera with an exhausted mother looking on.
A new green card holder from the Philippines caught between the excitement over her first job in the United States and the devastation of her country.

Coming and going. Hurrying and lingering. Alone and together.

I've also been living in my own skin. The view in the mirror is sometimes scary, too.

How do we break free from our own zombie-like existences with patches of reality?

My son often quotes his tae kwon do sensei: "Walk with purpose." He doesn't want his charges to meander or delay. He urges them to move from one place to another with dispatch and an understanding of what will happen when they get there. He wants them to know why they do what they do.

Are we walking through life with a sense of why or a sense of huh?

For me, for today, I need to remember what Paul wrote to the church in Ephesus. In chapter one of his letter, he greets them then casts a beautiful vision of who Jesus Christ is. As you turn the page, he focuses on what Jesus should mean to us:

All of us also lived among them at one time, gratifying the cravings of our flesh and following its desires and thoughts. Like the rest, we were by nature deserving of wrath. But because of his great love for us, God, who is rich in mercy, made us alive with Christ even when we were dead in transgressions—it is by grace you have been saved. And God raised us up with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms in Christ Jesus, in order that in the coming ages he might show the incomparable riches of his grace, expressed in his kindness to us in Christ Jesus. For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God—not by works, so that no one can boast. For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.

The word "handiwork" is better translated "masterpiece."

You and I are not zombies wandering through life with little more purpose than survival. We are masterpieces crafted with love and a vision for what our lives would be. We've been set on a path that he's prepared.

It's time for us to walk with purpose. Are you ready?

Anonymous comments about Renaissance Nashville Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 10 Oct 2013 17:37:00 +0000

A collection of comments about Renaissance Nashville Hotel
from guests whose identities I have protected.

Staff Service:

The hotel staff was friendly helpful and very professional.
Great stay overall. Outstanding staff in every area. Every person encountered was great.
Friendly, professional, helpful.
Staff did their job.
They were truly amazing, friendly, and went above and beyond.
Friendly, helpful and knowledge of the area.
Polite, helpful, neat in appearance, opens doors, pleasant, will have conversations with you.
They helped me in a crisis and were wonderful.
So pleasant and accommodating. Southern hospitality.
I thought the staff service was good but nothing outstanding.
Awesome staff. Valet parking guys very nice and front desk very helpful and friendly
helpful, efficient
They were very helpful and friendly.
All staff were very friendly—front desk and housekeeping I met in the hall

Arrival Experience:

Greeted at valet and desk.
Has nothing to do with the hotel, more in line with the ability to park to unload because of the traffic around the building. At the time, we had to circle the building while waiting on the unloading zone to clear.

Additional Comments:

Overall experience was nice as well as the staff attitude
For the price paid and service received, this was not a value nor up to what I expect from a Marriott property. Very disappointed!
If I could rate the overall service of the Renaissance more than a 10, I would be happy to do so. The staff goes above and beyond to provide excellent service. I don't think I opened a door from the time I arrived until the time I left. The staff talks to you, smiles at you, have very pleasant attitudes and neat appearance. I travel approximately 150 days per year and can honestly say, this hotel is my favorite! I appreciate the extra effort the staff goes to in order to make a business travelers stay so pleasant.
The staff was extremely helpful
Customer service was the best I've experienced in the last 20 hotels I've stayed at in the U.S. over the last year. Fantastic staff. Front desk helped me recover a lost backpack and really cared and gave 110% to help me. Thank them for me BIG TIME!
What was lacking in style was made up with the staff who were always pleasant and accommodating. Great customer service!
I just don't understand how cheaper hotels can offer free internet in the room but higher end hotels can't. My travel budget was very tight so I could not afford to pay your internet fees to have internet service in the room. This made it very difficult to take care of business at the office. had to wait until I could either take my laptop to the lobby or use the conference's cyber cafe. It just seems like most hotels should be able to provide free internet in the rooms especially during conferences.
_________ checked us in and was very friendly and accommodating. Top notch in my book and I travel to many places and for many weeks every year. Please tell him thanks. The valets were also exceptional and went out of their way—above and beyond!
Each person took total responsibility for what was needed or requested. We did not hear, "I'll get back to you" or "Let me check on that" or, "I'll see if that person/service is available." Everyone seemed empowered. Nice!

What Visitors are Saying about Renaissance Nashville Hotel

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Tue, 08 Oct 2013 21:52:00 +0000

I sometimes serve as a doorman at Renaissance Nashville Hotel. I recently visited TripAdvisor to see what our guests are saying about our hotel and our valet/door service. Check it out here.

Consider coming to Nashville for your next trip and staying with us.

Read my TripAdvisor reviews here.

Five Star Review
CapeCotter726
Sandwich, MA
I recently stayed at The Renaissance for 5 days! It proved to be a wonderful hotel, located perfectly for enjoying the downtown area, with great customer service... The staff was very welcoming and helpful!

Four Star Review
Nadrod
Framingham, MA
This was our 40th (!) night in hotels all over the country, so plenty of rooms to compare…. Fast valet service, but one person helps you with luggage, another brings the car and yet another load the car! How many time do you have to tip for the service?!

Five Star Review
snmurphy07
NH
Note: This person has reviewed 131 sites on Trip Advisor
Service - treated excellent the two nights. Top service.
Parking - not great parking - garage nearby.

Five Star Review
Chris W
Champaign, IL
The staff was great and really welcoming. the Valet parking guys were super nice and were quick to run to our car when we realized we had forgot to bring in several important items we needed for the business part of our trip.

Four Star Review
JoeWillie12
Fort Myers, FL
The staff is always present around the lobby/front desk area to assist with any questions you may have. They were always extremely friendly. We were able to check in early which was great since we arrived at the hotel by noon time. We stayed on the 25th floor which is the top floor. Great views and super quiet up there. I was concerned about the past elevator reviews that I read but we never had a problem. Never waited more than a few minutes for a car. We did not have a vehicle but the taxi rate was 25.00 dollars each way to and from airport. We were able to grab a taxi right in front of the hotel within a few minutes.

Five Star Review
Dan K
Iowa City, IA
You should plan on the valet parking, since it is much easier. I will definitely plan another stay here in the future.

Five Star Review
Coastie16
Stafford, VA
Checking in I thought would be a challenge due to limited parking at the entrance. However, the bell-hops were very good helping guests unload and assist with checking. I was immediately provided assistance with luggage and provided an option either to have valet parking or self-park. I opted for the latter and paid $50 for the the week. Parking is directly across the street with plenty of spaces available. The garage ceiling height is over 7 feet, so any full sized vehicle will fit.

Three Star Review
Blake_Reagan
Knoxville, TN
3) Staff: The staff was really nice and the hotel has a very good "tone" of customer service.

Four Star Review
Race AMA
Atlanta, GA
Very nice professional staff (at check in desk/bell men etc), housekeeping did a great job for us (when we went for breakfast at 9:30am, (3 were working the floor) great views, easy to park across from hotel for $10 rather than $30 valet, bed was soft, bathroom very large, nice "cross over bar"

Four Star Review
hockeymom9310
Detroit, MI
The valet/bellhops were nice.

Four Star Review
tenthousandshort
Leominster, MA
the staff, were angels

Four Star Review
Smidgen21
Michigan
Beautiful hotel! Staff is wonderful.

Four Star Review
Apriltravels
Dallas, TX
Service was great, staff was professional and rooms were amazing.

Five Star Review
Johnwa559
Upon dealing with front desk, never been treated better....the lady I dealt with was friendly and accommodating, couldn't ask for better treatment. Front entry employees were smiling and very friendly. Breakfast buffet was great....employees in restaurant were very friendly. In fact, all employees with which I came in contact were great. Management can be proud of their well-run operation.

Three Star Review
DallasBchbum
Fort Worth, TX
Very friendly and effecient staff and self parking across the street from the hotel if you don't want to valet.

Three Star Review
Andi20102010
Waverly, TN
Note: This entire review worth reading because it's very insightful about the entire hotel and its state.
Excellent:
-Valet service - this is a fantastic option in an area of town that is difficult to navigate if you don't know your way around. I have to frequently come to Nashville for meetings and at times, it costs me as much as 22.00 to park in a garage and walk multiple blocks to my meeting location, so in my book, the 30.00 for valet parking is fantastic. The folks who staff this service are prompt, careful, and courteous. My husband and I felt spoiled by that aspect of the hotel service. :)

Five Star Review
JessiLynn015
Richmond Hill, GA
Great staff, especially the valet.

Five Star Review
NKY_Dave
Bulington, KY
I had an opportunity to stay at this hotel Sunday evening. The staff for this hotel give new meaning to southern hospitality. Beginning with the valet parking attendant to the bell captain and the clerk at the check-in desk, the greetings we received were second to none. We were given tidbits about places we should try for dinner that evening that didn't even include the hotel restaurant (a good one by the way). They treated us like royalty.

Five Star Review
ifonly83132
Philadelphia
The staff was fantastic, helpful. As soon as we got there, a bellman came out and assisted the 8 of us with our bags. Only one of our rooms was ready (no big deal), but we were arriving early (11 am). The concierge and staff were more than helpful in finding places to go, see, eat, etc. More than once, our cab company flaked on us and the valet people whistled us cabs immediately. The rooms were fine - beds comfortable - no issue at all with the water pressure. Over and over I see that people were complaining about the elevators. Never once did we have a problem getting an elevator!! No issues with noise at all.

White Jade: The Story of the First Sponsored Child of World Vision

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Wed, 25 Jul 2012 18:43:00 +0000

White Jade

The story of the first sponsored child

Marilee Pierce Dunker

In the summer of 1947 my father, Bob Pierce, was invited to hold a series of evangelistic meetings throughout China for an organization called Youth For Christ. For nearly four months he and the YFC team traveled from one major city to another, speaking to thousand of spiritually hungry youth. In a letter to his wife, Lorraine, dated September 9, 1947” he wrote, “We've now had about 11,000 accept Christ!….There is no explanation for these things except that God is sovereignly showing His power—‘calling out a people here for His name’."

The meetings were so successful that church leaders invited him back the following year. Once again he wrote home about the amazing things God was doing as thousands came to Christ. In a letter written en route between Chungking and Shanghai Dad confided, “In Tientsin the pastors said the meeting God gave us was the greatest revival in that world-famous city in 20 years. Missionaries in city after city, noting how ordinary our preaching is, have been dumbfounded at the tremendous response and results. Old-timers again and again exclaim they have never seen the like in China. God is working!”

In light of these tremendous results it is not surprising that a last minute invitation to speak at a girl’s school on an island off of Amoy is not even mentioned in my father’s letters. Often it is only in hind-site that we come to appreciate a moment that changes our lives forever.

The school was run by a group of Dutch Reform missionaries led by Miss Tena Hoelkeboer. As he always did my father gave the Gospel message with simplicity and great passion and many of the girls received the Lord. He then challenged the new converts to go home and tell their families that they were now Christians.

The next day when he returned to say goodbye, Miss Hoelkeboer met him at the door with a little girl in her arms. The child’s back was bleeding from the caining her father had given her when she announced that she was now a follower of Jesus Christ.

“This little girl did what you told her to do and now she has lost everything!” Tena declared.

Shocked and dismayed my father stammered, “Well you’ll take care of her, won’t you?”

“I am feeding as many children as I can,” the missionary answered wearily. “The question isn’t what I am going to do. The question is what are you going to do about it?” With that, she thrust the sobbing child into my father’s arms.

In an excerpt from Franklin Graham’s book, This One Thing I Do my father recalled that moment:

“I stood there with the child in my arms. Tears were running down her cheeks. She was scared to death…shaking in my arms. She was heavy and my arms were getting tired. I was shaken to the core…I had never been held accountable for any consequences of my message. Now I was faced with “Is what I say true? Is there any responsibility involved? Believe me. You do some thinking at a moment like that.”

My father was faced with a moment of decision. He could not stay to take care of the child and he certainly couldn’t take her home with him. He was not a wealthy man. In fact his own wife and child were living on the charity of others while he was gone.

But God never asks us to do what we cannot do; He only expects us to do what we can. Digging in his pocket Daddy pulled out his last five dollars, promising to send more when he got home. I have always believed that with that act of obedience my father’s life and ministry were changed forever and the seed of faith that would become World Vision and later Samaritan’s Purse was planted.

Within weeks of his return home the Communist took power and the missionaries had to flee from China. We may never know what happened to White Jade on this side of heaven, but there is no doubt that God used her life to awaken Bob Pierce to the fact that God’s heart is broken over the suffering of even one little child and that each of us is called to do something about it.

Two years later my father would go to Korea and be confronted with the suffering of tens of thousands of orphans, widows and refugees. Overwhelmed by the need he would write this simple prayer in the flyleaf of his Bible:

“Let my heart be broken with the things that break the heart of God.”

God would use that broken heart to give birth to two of this generation’s most impacting Christian relief and development organizations and to meet the needs of millions of children like White Jade through World Vision sponsorship.

One child’s need. One man’s broken heart. One missionary’s challenge.

“What are you going to do about it?”

Match Emotion for Emotion | How to Write Killer Copy: Code No. 6

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Fri, 15 Jun 2012 14:32:00 +0000

I am on a mission to crush I. M. Vague and bring him to justice.

You know of him, don't you? His picture needs to be on every copywriter's most wanted wall. I don't know how he infiltrates every organization and poisons the minds of copywriters. His schemes have worked on me.

I firmly believe if we can break his code, we can defeat him. I intercepted a communiqué containing his marching orders to his minions undercover in my organization and yours. We have deciphered other codes. See the end of this post for the clues.

Today, I've broken code number six.

I. M. Vague wants his spies to convice all of us to †FORGET EMOTION: MEFE.

The antidote to this thinking is:

DON'T FORGET EMOTION: MATCH EMOTION FOR EMOTION

Photo courtesy of David Schauer

Imagine watching your favorite prime time drama on television. The plot twists. The music changes. You lean toward your TV. You know the guest star should not enter that warehouse. She does anyway. Her steps echo off the concrete floor. "Take off your shoes!" you yell at the TV. She keeps going until she's in the center of the empty warehouse. Without warning, a spotlight shines down on her and a microphone stand rises out of the ground. She grabs the mic and starts... a comedy routine... with a pre-recorded laugh track.

How would you feel? The story doesn't pay off. The director, writers, producers, camera operators, actors, and even the grips let you down.

That transition point disrupted you.

Too often, our communications make the same errors. How can we avoid derailing the emotional impact of our messages? Our goal is to move others to spend money on our service, idea, or product (SIP). Interrupting the life of a reader, listener, or viewer (RLV) can get their attention. But disrupting a RLV in the middle of you communication will turn her away.

There are four key transitions in every message where matching emotion for emotion is essential. Not every message you produce will have all four and they will not always be presented in the same order. As communicators, it's our job to listen, watch, and/or carefully examine these transitions before we release our message.

From Attention-Getting Teaser to Story

From Story to Benefits/Features

From Benefits/Features to Call to Action

From Call to Action to Contact Information

I learned about the importance of transitions from Mike Trout, former head of broadcasting and announcer for Focus on the Family. Some programs ended on a high note or with a laugh. Others ended at very tender places. Dr. Dobson, the founder and host of the program, did a great job of helping the listener feel what the guest was feeling. Every program placed Mike in a predicament. If you are feeling what the guest is feeling then you might want to do one of two things. One, you might want to acquire the book or resource where that guest told her story. If a few minutes of her story moved you that much, then the entire story might be the balm for your soul you've been needing. Two, you may want to donate to the organization that introduced you to her story.

If in that transition, you don't match my emotion to the emotion of the moment, you disrupt the RLV and she may move on to another message.

If it's a high energy or funny moment and in that transition you become a "straight man," you consider the RLV a stranger. You have disrupted the moment and will be labeled a wet blanket.

Managing Transition in Audio

Embrace the power of pause - nothing is more powerful than a beat, a selah, a proverbial deep breath.
Ease into the new pace - if you're running out of time and have content to get in quickly, don't punch the gas; increase your speed in increments so that the listener doesn't know you're going faster
Careful with your dynamics - like pacing, dynamics need a ramp-up or ramp-down; no sudden changes
Appropriate use of music - The Bible says, "Love covers a multitude of sins." Using music to bridge across the transition can cover a multitude of transition sins.

Best Example: As much as I hate the commercials, the new pharmaceutical commercials do this well. Once the "life change" portion of the ad is complete, a different voice enters to give all of the side effects and warnings. Most every time, the new announcer matches the mood of the other voice and ramps up pacing and volume to gain the authority needed to communicate that "78% of those who take Xboxuria will turn green". He or she then ramps both back down for a final message from the one who loves the medicine.

Needs Improvement: Every year, I produce a series of commercials for a retail chain of stores. The first 45 seconds of the spot deliver price-point and time-sensitive sales information. We leave a "donut hole" for local location information then close with the branding tag line. Some stations do a great job of matching the upbeat approach. Others sound flat and disinterested. I wonder if listeners are motivated to shop in these stores or not when the guy sounds like he's calling roll in "Ferris Bueller's Day Off." Other stations cram multiple sites into the hole. They time-compress 15 seconds of audio into 10. It hurts my ears like rubbing wet fingers over a cheese grater. We can't control the local station.

Managing Transition in Video

Remember - audio in video can be smoothed using the same techniques as above
Avoid sudden camera cuts - moving from "on location" to "studio" or other such similar cuts can be disruptive. Put yourself on the viewer's couch to come up with ideas. Which is better in this situation? Dissolve? Voice over before seeing the speaker?
Respect the viewer - I once read about a film director who believed some scenes needed their privacy. For example, if a doctor is telling a husband and wife that their daughter won't recover from her injuries sustained in the car accident, the audience needs to give the scene some space. This director always zooms out while trucking back from the action. The same technique can be effective in transition. It signals to the viewer that you're moving away from that part of the message.

Best Example: Allstate's "Mayhem" ads are careful to manage their transitions. While the after-effects of the punchline play out, the voice of "Mayhem" delivers the brand promise as a voice-over. Dennis Haysbert then tags the spot with the call to action on the screen. His voice-over is seamless to the mood of the spot.

Needs Improvement: Several years ago, I worked with a church that aired their Sunday services live on the local CBS affiliate. The service opened with an exterior picture of the church with the name, address, telephone number, and service times superimposed over the grass. The picture was the same—glorious Spring—no matter what time of year. The voice over was the same recording—probably from when the church started broadcasting in 1962. He ended with "We join the service already in progress." That single line saved them because the music behind his voice was cut off as they cut to the choir mid-song. The pastor had a penchant for going long. When it was time to end the telecast, they would switch from the pastor—mid-thought—to a closing slide of the same picture of the same church with the same super.

Managing Emotion in Print or Online Media

Text spacing - Don't write your sales copy with a shoehorn [blog post]. A larger font size properly spaced is always easier to read and digest.
White space - What a well timed pause is to audio, white space is to print/online. Let the copy breathe. Lead the eye to the call to action.
Color and font management - Don't let your call to action be like wearing black socks with bermuda shorts.

Best Example: BMW runs a series of billboards here in Nashville. They call the passersby to get off at the next exit to visit the dealership. The photos make my eyes open a little wider, the copy makes me smile, and the call to action is placed in the direction of the exit. No arrows or flashing neon. The ads are created in such a way they are not needed.

Needs Improvement: I worked on a full-page, direct-response magazine ad depicting a husband leaning across a diner table to whisper in his wife's ear. They were holding hands. Her face was lit up by whatever he had said. The moment was tender... the type of moment that makes you smile when you spot it across a restaurant. The photo dominated the ad. There was light copy at the bottom urging the reader to call or go online to buy the book. A photo of the product rested in the bottom right hand corner. When the ad was passed around for approval, I received a note back asking me to put a yellow starburst in the upper right hand corner announcing "25% off for a limited time! Use promo code MAG!" The ad failed. Was it because of the ad, the product, or the starburst. I have my opinion.

How do you manage transition well? Comment below.

Remember, I will randomly draw two commenters in June

to receive a copy of my book, Fifty Nights of Family Fun.

How Would You Spend One More Day with Your Dad?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 14 Jun 2012 14:20:00 +0000

Jim Daly, President of Focus on the Family, posed a great question on his blog yesterday.

If you could turn back the clock and spend one last day with your father, what would you do?
If your dad is still living, what would be the ideal way to enjoy his company?

If you're a regular reader, you know I love and miss my dad who died in 2003. If I could spend one more day with my dad, I would try to accomplish two objectives.

Dad on Michael's Birthday

First, when my dad passed, my son was only 9 years old. He's now 18, intelligent, inquisitive, and has insightful opinions on everything from cameras to the Scriptures and everywhere in between. I would love to be in the room when my son and my dad discussed history, faith, sports, and anything else they could think of. I'd love to hear his questions and would hold my breath to hear Dad's answers. The glorious by-product of time like this would be laughter. I love my son's laugh and my dad's was very musical.

Secondly, I would want to make good on a mutual dream Dad and I concocted. Dad loved baseball. He loved playing it in his younger days and was even invited to try out for the Boston Red Sox farm system in 1948. He loved coaching the sport in the Army and early in his career. He loved watching it ... on two black and white televisions on the floor next to our color TV. Three games at once (Some times I chuckle thinking about my dad sitting in his recliner holding an iPad with a MLB.tv subscription.) We often talked about going to the Baseball Hall of Fame in Cooperstown, NY. It had to be a destination trip. We didn't go near it in any of our family travels. It's hard to get there from metro Atlanta. I would love to spend a day walking through the museum and sitting in the stands next door for a legend's game. I would love to hear him tell the stories and share the memories. I'd even love to hear him cringe at the exhibit that celebrates "The Giants win the pennant!"

How about you?

With Father's Day around the corner, answer these questions for yourself:

If you could turn back the clock and spend one last day with your father, what would you do?

If your dad is still living, what would be the ideal way to enjoy his company?

Share in the comments below.

Three Thoughts on the Tonys Telecast

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Wed, 13 Jun 2012 17:19:00 +0000

My middle daughter is crazy about musical theatre. We watched the Tony's telecast last night and enjoyed every second. [She told me, "Dad, you're gonna CRY when I get my Tony." I hope so, Angel Eyes. I hope so.] As we watched, I had three observations about the program.

1. The Tony Awards is the Most Entertaining Awards Show on Television
I was engaged for every moment. Set design, lighting, acting, singing, dancing, surprises, video clips. The program was jam packed and didn't disappoint. I have only watched the Tony Awards a few times in the past because it's not relevant to me. I don't live in New York and haven't seen the new productions because they haven't toured yet. Ratings plummeted this year, perhaps for the same reason it hasn't been relevant to me.

2. Christians are portrayed in Many Ways on Broadway
Jesus Christ, His followers, and some people who think they are following Him were out in force on the awards show which means there are a number of productions talking about things of faith.

I have always been a fan of the music from Jesus Christ Superstar. My older daughter and I debated whether or not the presentation of Jesus's last days reflects orthodox faith and supports the physical resurrection and ascension of Christ (which we believe).

What's your thought on Superstar? Do you like the rock opera or not?

Please comment below.

I've always been a fan of Godspell and wish that Corbin Bleu's inner-ear monitors had been attuned better. He struggled to find the key which is odd for this talented young man.

I haven't not seen Leap of Faith. Is there a redemptive story? Does the shyster come clean and understand faith or does this musical reflect only those who use faith as a cash register?

Several years ago, some investors tried to mount a high-quality production rooted in faith that they hoped would one day make it on Broadway. Their efforts failed.

I would love to see others try so that there are productions that wrestle with genuine Christian faith. No, I'm not talking about Left Behind: The Musical. I love Jerry Jenkins, but I don't think that would sell out and be nominated for a Tony.

I'd love to see someone pick up the mantle of Dean Jones' one-man powerhouse of St. John in Exile

What about Randy Alcorn's Safely Home as a musical? Imagine the fabric of American rock music versus rural Chinese folk music. Two cultures collide as two view of faith collide.

I long for great writers like Ed Lowry to get a break.

What existing Christian works do you think deserve a place on Broadway?

Comment below.

Hugh Jackman is the Man
The more I see from and hear about this man, the more I like him.

Happily married
Walked through miscarriages with his wife
Adoptive father
The man can sing and dance
His role as Jean Valjean may be his defining work on screen
Generous humanitarian

His acceptance speech was brilliant. I'm grateful for his work with World Vision. But, in some ways, this is my favorite video of him. This is an "oldie but goodie," but his 5- second cameo is amazing. (Note: Kristan, the husband who created this video, passed away in January 2012 after an extended battle with cancer.)

What did you think about the Tony's?

Did you watch?

Comment below.

Some Myths about Procrastination

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Mon, 11 Jun 2012 20:08:00 +0000

Bloggers note: I worked from the library today and ran across the book discussed below. Her content is in blue. While for students, the book is a fun read for adults, too. Author Diane Peters teaches at Ryerson University

I don't believe in minotaurs or unicorns, but I believe these myths about procrastination. Do you?

Everyone expects procrastination.

You're half-right. If you procrastinate a lot, people may stop trusting you to get things done. They may also think you don't respect their wishes and feelings when you miss deadlines.

My pastor, Mike Glenn [blog | twitter] has just released his new book, The Gospel of Yes. It's an outstanding read in a unique voice. (More on his book in an upcoming post.) Mike obviously doesn't believe in this myth. The publisher gave him a deadline. He met the deadline and turned in a complete manuscript on time. Two days later, his editor called him:

Editor: "What's this?"
Mike: "It's the manuscript. You told me it was due by July 1."
Editor: "Oh (big pause) really. I can't believe it. Nobody turns in their manuscripts on time."

My esteem for the man went up a few notches when I heard this. Way to go Mike Glenn.

The important thing is that it gets done.

Rushing to do a project right before the deadline causes stress to you and those around you. Plus, you could be short-changing yourself by doing a poor job.

This may be the myth I believe the most, the flavor of procrastination kool-aid I like better.

So many of the successful projects I've accomplished were only accomplished on time because of the heroic efforts of others. My text was late on this project. But LS pulled an all-nighter to get the interior design done on time. My production was four hours late there, but someone whose name I don't even know stayed late at the station to make sure the commercials got inserted into the log to run the next day.

And yet if you are near me when something is complete, you can probably hear me say, "The important thing is that it gets done."

To everyone who has been stressed out and dragged through the mud of my procrastination, I am sorry. I hope to reach all of you personally to seek your forgiveness.

Perseus slays Medusa.

I work better under pressure.

No one does their best work when they are under constant stress. Procrastinating keeps you from building the self-discipline it takes to do a good job all the time.

This myth is like Medusa. I slice off a tentacle of this myth often only to have it grow back with extra tentacles writing.

My friend John knows he does work better under pressure—real pressure, not the constant pressure of the procrastinator. John procrastinates. I am a procrastinator. John hits every deadline. I've never met a deadline I couldn't push or stretch.

We must cut off the head of this myth.

All work and no play makes me a dull kid.

Most people fell guilty and stressed out when they procrastinate. Having those feelings probably makes play time a whole lot less fun.

This is the myth that others quote to me. They don't know the real issues, struggles, and deadlines in my life. They see me with a stressed expression on my face or hear tension in my voice. They look at me and think, "He's working too hard." If they only thought, "He's letting everyone down," they wouldn't want to distract me for a little while. When I do watch a movie on my laptop, a program off my DVR, or do something fun, I am thinking constantly about what I could be doing to move the project forward.

When I procrastinate, I'm only hurting myself.

Your stress and frantic schedule can be upsetting for the people around you. It's hard on others when they feel like they can't depend on you.

I don't believe this myth. I never have. The pain in the lives of others is always so visible. I included Peters' myth here because being a procrastinator, I do believe a different myth: "This isn't hurting them too much." I believe that myth. I hurt those around me. I am choosing to do so. That's sad. Another myth to bust.

How about you? Which of these myths do you believe?

Comment below.

These myths quoted from Diane Peters' book, Procrastination: Deal With it All in Good Time from Lorimer & Co., Ltd. Publishers.

Who Inspires Your Worship?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Sat, 09 Jun 2012 12:02:00 +0000

In church, my dad sang in a rich baritone...quietly, but with great resolve. He sang every word. He meant every word. He was one of the first to stand and always had the hymnbook open early. My dad was my hero, so I picked up those traits. When I grew in faith beginning at 14, I built on the foundation he laid.

When I became a dad, I realized that my kids are watching me like I watched my dad. What about worship are they learning? [More on my dad here and here.]

Do you have children? What solid lessons are they learning from you about worship? What other lessons are you teaching that you wish you weren't?

Dr. Stephen J. Ortlip, Jr., or Mr. O as he wanted us to be called, taught me the power of corporate worship. His enthusiasm and passion are contagious. Mr. O was the organist/choirmaster at my church growing up. That's the equivalent of "worship pastor" today. His boundless energy fired me up to learn how to sing, how to play, and how to enjoy it. I'll never forget the day he took a few children up into the pipe room for the organ. He showed us how the pipes worked, how they could be tuned/repaired, how they worked together. He explained the meanings behind each song we sang and every hymn we learned. The guy must be passionate about every hymn, but "All Glory, Laud, and Honor" sticks out as one he gushed over.

Mr. O believed in congregational worship. He believed that the power of the congregation worshipping together. Dozens (or hundreds) of voices joining the choir, the instruments, and the acoustics to create a holy sound that honored God. The total is far greater than the sum of the parts.

Do you love the richness of congregational worship? This Sunday, position yourself in a place to see and hear what God does when the entire body is joined in a single purpose.

Todd Murray taught me many lessons about worship. Years ago at one choir rehearsal, he talked about an essay or book he had read which pointed out that one Scandinavian language has two words for music. There is one word for the notes on the printed page. There is another word for the sounds created by voices and/or instruments. He encouraged us to not make noten (black and white notes on the page), but to make true music.

I haven't spoken to Todd in several months, but something he said years ago echoes in my heart today. Every Wednesday night when I walk into choir practice, I remember his admonition to worship in rehearsal. None of us is promised tomorrow. There's no guarantee that we will sing on Sunday. Our time on earth may come to an end. While the worship in heaven will be rich and amazing, worship on earth is a gift to be enjoyed now. It's one of God's greatest gifts. Worship, really worship, now. Don't wait till Sunday.

Do you worship in rehearsal?

Who has inspired your worship?

What have you learned?

Share your thoughts in the comments below.

During June, I will choose three commenters to receive copies of Fifty Nights of Family Fun.

The Lord's Prayer: For Yours is the Kingdom, the Power, and the Glory Forever. Amen.

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Fri, 08 Jun 2012 10:55:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the seventh and final post in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first, second, third, fourth, fifth, sixth). I'd love to hear your thoughts about magnifying God. Please comment below.

The controversial ending to The Lord’s Prayer does not appear in some of the manuscripts of the gospel of Matthew. In many Bibles, footnotes mark this fact.

Biblical scholars fill in the details from history. The words echo 1 Chronicles 29:11, a psalm of thanksgiving written by David in response to the outpouring of offerings for the construction of the temple. The worlds became the response of God’s people in the synagogue. After a prayer was offered, the people would respond, “For yours is the kingdom and the power and the glory forever.”

Christians carry on the tradition even today.

Bible commentator Matthew Henry highlighted this verse. The temple was built for the glory of God, David’s psalm points to the worship of God, and those who say these words are intended to be conduits of praise to God.

Praise is integral to prayer. The model prayer begins by ascribing praise to God. How appropriate that the disciples would respond with the words of praise they had been taught since childhood.

When you praise God, you magnify him. When Mary, the mother of Jesus, discovered God’s plan, she said, “My soul magnifies the Lord.” Sherlock Holmes magnified clues with his magnifying glass and scientists magnify the cell with a microscope.

Photo courtesy of Jasmine Mathews

When you magnify God, you are not a microscope; you don’t make the very small a little larger. Instead, you are like a telescope that magnifies a celestial object hundreds of light years away and larger than our entire solar system. The naked eye can see it, but magnification sharpens the details and inspires more awe of its beauty.

God is larger than you can imagine and your praise brings the details of his majesty into clearer focus and stirs your heart to even more worship.

In prayer, step up to the telescope and become amazed with God. Don’t sit on the couch and let others look through the lens.

What the Bible Says

In love he predestined us to be adopted as his sons through Jesus Christ, in accordance with his pleasure and will—to the praise of his glorious grace, which he has freely given us in the One he loves.

Ephesians 1:5–6 NIV, emphasis added

“The time is coming when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, and that time is here already. You see, the Father too is actively seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”

Jesus speaking in John 4:23–24 NCV

Praise God Because He Is

Quality	Reference	Quality	Reference	Quality	Reference	Quality	Reference
Excellent	Exodus 15:7	Great	1 Chronicles 16:25	Merciful	2 Chronicles 20:21	Powerful	Psalm 21:13
Majestic	Psalm 96:2–6	Truthful	Psalm 138:2	Holy	Isaiah 6:3	Faithful	Isaiah 25:1
Good	Jeremiah 33:11	Full of glory	Ezekiel 3:12	The hope of glory	1 Peter 1:3–4	Wise	Jude 1:25

Praise God for His

Quality	Reference	Quality	Reference	Quality	Reference
Promises	1 Kings 8:56	Deliverance	Psalm 40:1–3	Protection	Psalm 59:17
Judgment	Psalm 101:1	Works	Psalm 150	Consolation	Isaiah 12:1
Counsel	Jeremiah 32:19	Forgiveness	Hosea 14:2	Salvation	Luke 1:68–69

This chapter written by W. Mark Whitlock. Content Copyright GRQ, Inc. Material appears in the book, The Indispensable Guide to Practically Everything About Prayer completed and edited by Marcia Ford, published by GuidePostsBooks. Purchase the book here.

The Lord's Prayer: Do Not Lead Us into Temptation, but Deliver Us from the Evil One

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 07 Jun 2012 10:58:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the sixth in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first, second, third, fourth, fifth). I'd love to hear your thoughts about temptation. Please comment below.

Some have joked that this entreaty is the most often prayed phrase of The Lord’s Prayer. Temptations seem to be around every corner.

What tempts you? The bowl of chocolate candies on a co-workers desk? Clicking on the wrong link while surfing the internet? Expanding a simple misunderstanding into an outright lie? Spending money reserved for another part of the budget?

Jesus was tempted himself but withstood the onslaught on your behalf. His model prayer can encourage and strengthen you.

Temptation

Get your hand out of the cookie jar!
photo courtesy of Tan Hsin-Ee

The phrase, “Lead us not into temptation” should not be expanded to say, “Sometimes you do lead us into temptation; don’t do it any more.” Pastor and author John MacArthur points out that, “This petition reflects the believing one’s desire to avoid the dangers of sin altogether.”

James watched his half-brother, Jesus, travel around Nazareth, Bethany, and other towns in Judea. He was part of the family mob that showed up at Peter’s house for an intervention (Mark 3). He faced the most cunning and destructive temptation of all—disbelieving Jesus. But as Jesus’s ministry continued, James came to embrace his brother’s teachings and became a leader in the early church. He saw Jesus flee from and avoid temptation. He was up close and personal.

James wrote in his epistle, “Let no one say when he is tempted, ‘I am being tempted by God’; for God cannot be tempted by evil, and He Himself does not tempt anyone” (James 1:13 NASB). The devil must love to tempt a believer to believe his tempter is God himself.

The Apostle Paul had something in common with James: he disbelieved Jesus until God got his attention on the road to Damascus (Acts 9). He offered this warning and promise, “Therefore let anyone who thinks that he stands take heed lest he fall. No temptation has overtaken you that is not common to man. God is faithful, and he will not let you be tempted beyond your ability, but with the temptation he will also provide the way of escape, that you may be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:12–13 ESV, emphasis added).”

God knows the way of escape and will deliver you.

The Evil One

Part of military basic training takes place in the classroom. New soldiers learn the uniform colors, insignia, silhouettes of aircraft and tanks, and the weapons used by their enemies. In the same way, Christians should understand the profile of their enemy.

The Bible calls the devil arrogant and rash. The Apostle Peter, who denied Christ three times, understands the nature of the devil. In his letter, Peter wrote, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour (1 Peter 5:8 NKJV).

The Bible also calls the devil crafty and deceitful. Paul often points to how Satan tempted Eve as an example of how he twists words. The Psalmist compares Satan to a hunter: “Surely He shall deliver you from the snare of the fowler” (Psalm 91:3 NKJV). Jesus referred to him as a wolf in one of his parables (John 10:12).

“Bible Answer Man” Hank Hanegraaff wrote. “We must neither overestimate nor underestimate the power and province of our adversary. No doubt much to his delight, we often depict the Devil as the author of darkness in much the same way that God is described as the Author of Light. That, however, is far from true. God is the sovereign Author of all creation; Satan is but an angel that he has created. Satan is not the opposite of the Creator. Rather, as a fallen angel, he is the counterpart to the archangel Michael.

“He is a malevolent being, the vastness of whose intellect exceeds that of any human who has ever lived from Solomon to Socrates. Thus, ‘we must not expect that a man, unaided from above, should ever be a match for an angel, especially an angel whose intellect has been sharpened by malice.’”

When you pray “deliver us from the Evil One”, pray with confidence and courage that God will answer and deliver.

What the Bible Says

Turn, O LORD, and deliver me; save me because of your unfailing love.

Psalm 6:4 NIV

“Watch and pray so that you will not fall into temptation. The spirit is willing, but the body is weak.”

Matthew 26:41 NIV

Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance.

James 1:2–3 NIV

Check Your Understanding

Q. Will Satan be defeated? If so, when?

A. Think of Satan like a bull in a 19th century bullfight. As you interact with him on earth, remember that he is stabbed, bleeding, and near death. He is still dangerous, but already defeated. He is crushed (Genesis 3:15) and it’s only a matter of time until he is destroyed (Revelation 20:14).

Q. How should I behave when I’m tempted?

A. You should first prepare yourself for temptation. It will come. It is foolish to believe you are immune (Ephesians 6:11). When temptation comes, take your cue from Joseph. When Potiphar’s wife tried to seduce him, he immediately escaped and ran so fast that his tunic remained in her hand (Genesis 39).

Q. I’ve given into temptation millions of times. How can I possibly pray this prayer?

A. The apostle Paul called himself the chief of sinners, yet knew great mercy and grace. God’s grace is for you as well. Receive it and be refreshed (1 Timothy 1).

Final Thoughts

Hank Hanegraaff notes that, “It is significant to note that Jesus was led by the Spirit into the desert to be tempted by the devil’ (Matthew 4:1). Thus while Satan was the agent of the temptation, God was the author of the testing. Satan used the occasion to tempt Christ to sin; God used the occasion to demonstrate the he could not sin.”

The Lord's Prayer: Give Us This Day Our Daily Bread

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Wed, 06 Jun 2012 14:03:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the fifth in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first, second, third, fourth). I'd love to hear your thoughts about God's provision. Please comment below.

When the disciples heard Jesus ask for daily bread, they probably thought back on the familiar history of the Exodus; while the Israelites wandered through the wilderness, God miraculously met their physical needs with a daily shower of manna. Manna was wafer-like pieces of sweet bread that covered the ground every morning like fresh snow. Even though God gave them more than enough for each day, the extra couldn’t be saved.

God generously fed them constantly and consistently, but the people grumbled against his provision.

Did Jesus want them to pray for manna again, or did he mean something else?

Another Miracle with Bread

unleavened bread
photo courtesy of Lorent The Saint

A few weeks after Jesus taught his disciples how to pray, he performed another bread miracle: the feeding of 5,000 men plus wives and children in one day. There may have more than 20,000 fed on that single day. Jesus miraculously transformed 5 small loaves and 2 fish into a smorgasbord for a crowd that would overflow a high school football stadium.

That puts a twist in the equation—what is daily bread?

Bread is what you need—physically, intellectually, emotionally, relationally, and spiritually. Pray for the necessities, not the niceties of life. It’s too easy to be distracted from what’s important.

During the Korean War, a general commissioned his staff to survey all of his commanding officers about their most acute needs. His staff visited with COs leading infantry units at the front, managing M*A*S*H units a few miles back, and supervising headquarters staff. The results startled the general. Those at the front lines asked for more ammunition, more bandages, and more soldiers. Those farthest away from the fighting asked for Coca-Cola and better movies. The general reminded everyone that they were fighting a war, not taking a vacation.

You are on the frontlines, not on the sidelines, of your life. When you pray avoid the temptation to pray for daily cupcakes. Allow God to supply your needs and bless you beyond belief.

Day by Day

Someone once quipped, “Life wouldn’t be so hard if it wasn’t so daily.” The movie Groundhog Day hits home because viewers feel trapped in the monotony of the daily grind.

A few minutes after Jesus taught the model prayer, he coached his disciples on worry. He said, “So do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own” (Matthew 6:34 NASB, emphasis added).

When you pray for daily bread, ask God for what you will need for the next 24 hours. Prisoners of war have reported praying hour-by-hour or minute-by-minute.

Consider the Lilies

It’s as if Jesus anticipated our problems with praying for his will and for daily bread. Almost in the same breath as his instructions on prayer, Jesus said, “Look at the birds. They don’t plant, harvest, or gather the harvest into barns. Yet, your heavenly Father feeds them. Aren’t you worth more than they? Can any of you add a single hour to your life by worrying? And why worry about clothes? Notice how the flowers grow in the field. They never work or spin yarn for clothes. But I say that not even Solomon in all his majesty was dressed like one of these flowers.”

When you doubt his provision and pray for daily bread with a skeptical heart, look around at the majesty of creation that he holds together.

Jesus is the Bread of Life

After Jesus fed the multitudes, the crowd became too rowdy. Jesus headed to the mountains and the disciples headed to the water. A storm tossed the ship in the middle of the night. While they trimmed sails, they spotted Jesus walking across the lake. They invited him into the boat and “immediately the boat was at the land to which they were going” (John 6:21 NASB). The crowds chased Jesus all the way to Capernaum. They were hunting for more food and more miracles. Jesus excited them when he said, “For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world” (6:33).

The crowd only cheered for more, but he silenced them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst” (6:35).

When you pray for daily bread, don’t forget that the ultimate bread is Jesus himself. Ask him to draw close, to surprise you amid your stormy seas, and be the provision that never leaves you hungry.

What the Bible Says

“For the bread of God is that which comes down out of heaven, and gives life to the world.” Then they said to Him, “Lord, always give us this bread.” Jesus said to them, “I am the bread of life; he who comes to me will not hunger, and he who believes in me will never thirst.”

John 6:33–35 NASB

So teach us to number our days

that we may get a heart of wisdom.

Psalm 90:12 ESV

Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes.

James 4:14 NIV

Points to Remember

Goal-setters struggle with the concept of daily bread. “Isn’t it wise to think ahead?” they argue. “Doesn’t the Bible say, ‘count the cost’?” It does, but the Bible also warns, “The mind of man plans his way, but the LORD directs his steps” (Proverbs 16:9 NASB). Ask God for today’s dose of planning ahead always remembering that he clothes every bird and flower.

Digging Deeper

All the requests in the Lord’s Prayer—including daily bread—are plural. Bible scholar Hank Hanegraaff observes, “Not only are we praying for the needs of our immediate family, but we are praying for he needs of our extended family as well. We do not pray as mere rugged individualists but as members of a community of faith. All we need to do is turn on the television to see that our sisters and brothers around the world suffer daily from maladies ranging from droughts to deadly diseases. Yet, these images fade from our minds before the next commercial interruption.”

Final Thoughts

Agur, son of Jakeh compiled the wise sayings for what is now known as Proverbs 30. He asked for daily bread in his wise prayer.

“Keep falsehood and lies far from me;

give me neither poverty nor riches,

but give me only my daily bread.

Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you

and say, ‘Who is the LORD?’

Or I may become poor and steal,

and so dishonor the name of my God” (30:7–9 NIV)

The Lord's Prayer: Your Will Be Done on Earth as It Is in Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Tue, 05 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the fourth in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first, second, third). I'd love to hear your thoughts about heaven. Please comment below.

Amazon.com lists more than 25,000 books written about how to discover God’s will for your life. Christians throughout time have been frustrated trying to find the secret code or formula. A + B doesn’t equal C.

Jesus prayed for God’s will. He also told believers that he will grant whatever you pray according to God’s will. If God’s will is so important to the Christian faith, why does it feel so elusive?

Imagine...

The Return of the Prodigal Son, Rembrandt van Rijn
1606-1669

Imagine yourself as the apprentice to a master painter such as Rembrandt. What if instead of applying the paint to the canvas himself, he talked you through every brushstroke attempting to paint his vision through your hands? How well would you do?

God has chosen to coach us through accomplishing his will. He teaches us about his will through the example of the heroes and heroines of the Bible. They are his masterworks.

If you travel to Paris or Rome, you’ll see art students of every age and ability level copying the work of the masters. They sit for hours in front of a painting at a museum to try to capture and understand what the artist is trying to accomplish. Some art students have sketchbooks full of hands as rendered by their favorite artists. They hope to capture the nuance of his or her work.

In the same way, you must become a student of the will of God and sit for hours watching the lives of the men and women of the Bible.

Questions to consider as you study the lives of Bible heroes:

How did he handle adversity?
How did she respond to the adulation of others?
How did he express hope?
How did she react to failure?
How did God speak to him?
Who was her archenemy?
Who and how did he love?
What did the enemy attempt to derail her?
How did he complain?
How did she worship?

When you pray for God’s will, you join Jesus in his prayers. At his darkest hour, he prayed, “Not my will, but yours be done” (Luke 22:42 NASB).

What the Scriptures Say

Look carefully then how you walk, not as unwise but as wise, making the best use of the time, because the days are evil. Therefore do not be foolish, but understand what the will of the Lord is.

Ephesians 5:15–17 ESV

It is better, if it is God's will, to suffer for doing good than for doing evil.

1 Peter 3:17 NIV

Something to Ponder

The most important aspect of pursuing the will of God is attitude. Micah 6:8 tells us the walking humbly with God is incredibly important. When frustration grows but you don’t understand the will of God, pull back, take a deep breath, and remember to humble yourself before him. Ask him to show you his will.

Final Thoughts

Think about a bottle of kids’ soap bubbles. When you pull out the wand, it drips with the thick, glistening liquid, but they don’t become bubbles until you gently blow behind the ring. Each day is like a ring of soap bubbles. Like the original creation, you must await the breath of God. Only then can you soar. Pray for his will to be done and get ready to fly.

The Lord's Prayer: Your Kingdom Come

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Mon, 04 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the third in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first post, second post). I'd love to hear your thoughts about heaven. Please comment below.

Many of Jesus’s parables begin with the words, “The kingdom of God is like…” His descriptions are like snapshots of remote Australia or the moon tacked upon a bulletin board. The more you look at them, the more you want to see the entirety of the landscape and experience it for yourself.

When the kingdom of God is fully realized, all pain, suffering, mourning, and tears will evaporate faster than the morning dew. Theologians call this the second Advent. As Israel looked forward to the coming of the Messiah, so Christians long for the coming of the Kingdom of God.

The Kingdom of God is Full of Mysteries

The disciples questioned Jesus often about his parables. They were looking at his snapshots but not understanding the panoramic picture. Jesus told them, “The secret of the kingdom of God has been given to you” (Mark 4:11 NIV). The disciples still struggled with the meanings of Jesus’s teaching. Jesus was pointing to himself as the fulfillment of the prophecies and the personification of the kingdom of God. Yet the disciples were still searching for—like many of their contemporaries—a political coup d’état.

The Kingdom of God is Not of this World

Jesus did not come to overthrow earthly kingdoms or unseat military dictators. During his trial, Pilate questioned him about his identity and mission. Jesus answered, “My kingdom is not of this world. If my kingdom were of this world, my servants would fight, so that I should not be delivered to the Jews; but now my kingdom is not from here” (John 18:36 NKJV).

In his longest teaching session—often referred to as the Sermon on the Mount—Jesus urged his followers to “Seek first His kingdom and His righteousness” (Matthew 6:33 NASB) but doesn’t promise that they will fully realize it until he comes again.

When the apostle John describes the second advent, his words were still full of mystery and surprise. “And I saw the holy city, the new Jerusalem, coming down from God out of heaven like a bride beautifully dressed for her husband. I heard a loud shout from the throne, saying, ‘Look, God’s home is now among his people! He will live with them, and they will be his people. God himself will be with them’” (Revelation 21:2–3 NLT).

The Kingdom of God is Within You

The paradox of proximity exists with the presence of God—he is both infinitely above you and intimately close to you. The same paradox exists with the kingdom of God. It is not of this world and simultaneously within you. This paradox should inspire awe and tenderness.

Fifteenth century Catholic monk Thomas à Kempis challenged himself and his readers to “Turn, then, to God with all your heart. Forsake this wretched world and your soul shall find rest. Learn to despise external things, to devote yourself to those that are within, and you will see the kingdom of God come unto you, that kingdom which is peace and joy in the Holy Spirit, gifts not given to the impious.

“Christ will come to you offering His consolation, if you prepare a fit dwelling for Him in your heart, whose beauty and glory, wherein He takes delight, are all from within. His visits with the inward man are frequent, His communion sweet and full of consolation, His peace great, and His intimacy wonderful indeed.”

Christ has Already Won the War

The Bible shows us the end of the story—the enemy of your soul is eternally defeated—but there are days when you feel like the war will never end.

Dutch-born seminary professor Anthony Hoekema compares the “now and the not yet” of God’s kingdom to the end of World War II. “Suppose that up in the almost inaccessible north some small village with a Nazi overlord failed to hear the news of the liberation for some weeks. During that time, we might put it, the inhabitants of the village were living in the ‘old’ time of Nazi occupation instead of the ‘new’ time of Norwegian liberation.”

When you pray for God’s kingdom to come, you are praying under occupation for the coming liberation. To put it another way, you are like a citizen of a medieval city; when trouble comes, run across the drawbridge into the safety of the walls and allow the Lord to defend you with the vast resources of his kingdom. When you pray for God’s kingdom to come, you acknowledge his power and victory.

What the Bible Says

And [Jesus] entered the synagogue and continued speaking out boldly for three months, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God.

Acts 19:8 NASB

For the kingdom of God is not a matter of eating and drinking but of righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.

Romans 14:17 ESV

For the Kingdom of God is not just a lot of talk; it is living by God’s power.

1 Corinthians 4:20 NLT

Final Thoughts

Consider the thieves crucified on either side of Jesus. They represent the tension between the kingdom of this world and the kingdom of God. They both mocked him, but one wised up and asked Jesus, “‘Jesus, remember me when you come into your kingdom.’ Jesus said to him, ‘I tell you the truth, today you will be with me in paradise’” (Luke 23:42–43 NCV).

When you pray, “Your kingdom come”, hear Jesus’s response: “You will be with me in paradise.”

The Kingdom of God...

The Kingdom of God	Reference
Should be prayed for	Matthew 6:10
Should be sought	Matthew 6:33
Is like a farmer	Matthew 13:24–30
Is like a mustard seed	Matthew 13:31–32
Is like a net	Matthew 13:47–50
Is difficult to enter	Matthew 19:23–24
Is like a landowner	Matthew 20:1–16
Is like a king	Matthew 22:2–14
Is near	Matthew 3:2
Is within you	Luke 17:21
Is for childlike faith	Luke 18:17
Should be primary	Luke 18:29–30
Is for the born again	John 3:1–8
Is not of this world	John 18:36
Is spiritual	Romans 14:17
Is pure	Ephesians 5:5
Is full of light	Colossians 1:13
Will last forever	2 Peter 1:11
Is universal	Revelation 5:9
Is omnipresent	Revelation 5:13–14

My Son Graduates Today

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Sat, 02 Jun 2012 14:24:00 +0000

Our beloved son, W. Michael Whitlock, graduates from high school today.
We have:

marveled at his determination
been humbled by his faith
cringed at a taekwondo punch or two
laughed hard thanks to his sense of humor
been inspired by his tender heart
listened to his musical expressions
and look forward to more hard and great things

I put together a quick slide show of some favorite pictures. Click here to enjoy.

If you would, leave your congratulations, advice, or wishes in the comments below.

The Lord's Prayer: Hallowed be Thy Name

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Fri, 01 Jun 2012 11:00:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the second in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer (read first post). I'd love to hear your thoughts about heaven. Please comment below.

Reginald Heber wrote the lyrics for the majestic hymn “Holy, Holy, Holy.” John Dykes’ transforming melody makes this song an enduring anthem to God’s most wondrous attribute: holiness.

Holy, holy, holy! Though the darkness hide Thee,
Though the eye of sinful man Thy glory may not see;
Only Thou art holy; there is none beside Thee,
Perfect in power, in love, and purity.

Holiness is the state of being wholly other, separate, or set apart. If God is holy, why do we pray, “Hallowed be thy name?”

Theologian and author R.C. Sproul points out that many of us miss the intent of Jesus’s specific words. “The first line of the prayer is not a petition. It’s a form of personal address. The prayer continues: ‘hallowed be your name, your kingdom come’ (Matthew 6:9–10). We often confuse the words ‘hallowed be your name’ with part of the address, as if the words were ‘Hallowed is your name.’ In that case the words would merely be an ascription of praise to God. But that is not how Jesus said it. He uttered it as a petition, as the first petition. We should be praying that God’s name be hallowed, that God be regarded as holy.

“There is a kind of sequence within the prayer. God’s kingdom will never come where His name is not considered holy. His will is not done on earth as it is in heaven if His name is desecrated here. In heaven the name of God is holy. It is breathed by angels in a sacred hush. Heaven is a pace where reverence for God is total. It is foolish to look for the kingdom anywhere God is not revered.”

The name for God in the Old Testament was so holy that most would not say it aloud. The scribes would not write it down. Jesus was considered blasphemous when he uttered it during his trial: “I Am.” Jesus’s name itself also meets the standards of holiness.

There are two types of holiness:

Being set apart for a special purpose
Set apart from evil and sin

Jesus’s name meets both criteria. Jesus was set apart for a special purpose by being named in heaven. Gabriel shocked young Mary. He told her that she would conceive and deliver a son. He instructed her to name him Jesus. Then, he described what this son would become: “He will be great, and will be called the Son of the Highest; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David. And He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of His kingdom there will be no end” (Luke 1:32–33 NKJV)

Joseph was upset. His future wife was pregnant. He thought she was pure and set apart. How could she do this to him? The angel surprised him and told him to go through with the marriage. He then said, “And you shall call His name Jesus, for He will save His people from their sins” (Matthew 2:21 NKJV)

This name—Jesus—is set apart in history. Those that needed healing or deliverance called it out on the street. The religious leaders cursed the name and plotted to erase it—and the man—from the earth. His name became a part of the mocking death sentence nailed above his head on the cross—This is Jesus, the King of the Jews.

Jesus’s name is also set apart from evil and sin. It is the name Christians pray to and the name of the Savior. Paul would eventually call it the name above all names. Pastor and magazine publisher A.W. Tozer marveled at Christ’s holiness. “We cannot grasp the true meaning of the divine holiness by thinking of someone or something very pure and then raising the concept to the highest degree we are capable of. God's holiness is not simply the best we know infinitely bettered. We know nothing like the divine holiness. It stands apart, unique, unapproachable, incomprehensible and unattainable. The natural man is blind to it. He may fear God's power and admire His wisdom, but His holiness he cannot even imagine.”

The name that we pray to is not just different or unique. It is wholly holy.

What the Bible Says

His Son, who was born of a descendant of David according to the flesh, who was declared the Son of God with power by the resurrection from the dead, according to the Spirit of holiness, Jesus Christ our Lord.

Romans 1:3–4 NASB

For he has been mindful of the humble state of his servant. From now on all generations will call me blessed, for the Mighty One has done great things for me—holy is his name. His mercy extends to those who fear him, from generation to generation.

Luke 1:48–50 NIV

Indeed Herod and Pontius Pilate met together with the Gentiles and the people of Israel in this city to conspire against your holy servant Jesus, whom you anointed.

Acts 4:27 NIV

Something to Ponder

Jesus could’ve taught, “hallowed be thy character” or “thy memory”. Instead, we pray, “hallowed by thy name.”

One More Thing

Songwriters Bill and Gloria Gaither created the Homecoming concert series where the audience sings along with well-known recording artists. The chorus “There’s Just Something About That Name” is one of the highlights. The lyrics and emotion underline the nature of the name of Jesus. His name should be spoken in reverence, never as a punctuation mark or expletive.

The Names of Jesus

Many names for Jesus are found in the New Testament. These names highlight the wonder and majesty of the name above all names.

Name	Reference	Name	Reference	Name	Reference	Name	Reference
Messiah	Matthew 1:16	Immanuel	Matthew 1:23	Holy One	Mark 1:24	Son of God	Mark 3:11
Dayspring	Luke 1:78	Savior	Luke 2:11	Lamb of God	John 1:29	Bread of Life	John 6:35
Light of the World	John 8:12	I Am	John 8:58	Good Shepherd	John 10:11	Resurrection and Life	John 11:25
The Way	John 14:6	The Truth	John 14:6	The Life	John 14:6	Prince of Life	Acts 3:15
Messiah	Matthew 1:16	Lord of All	Acts 10:36	Immanuel	Matthew 1:23	Chief cornerstone	Ephesians 5:23

The Lord's Prayer: Our Father Who Art in Heaven

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 31 May 2012 19:00:00 +0000

Blogger's note: This is the first in a series of posts about The Lord's Prayer. I'd love to hear your thoughts about heaven. Please comment below.

The first rule of communication is: know your audience. Broadcasters, public speakers, pastors, and teachers all face the ongoing task of learning about their audience. In prayer, you have an audience of one. To understand your audience, it is important to understand his where he lives.

Heaven is a mystery that has been misunderstood and misrepresented for as long as poets and pundits have tried to define it. While it will remain mysterious until you see it with your own eyes, you can try to understand the fundamentals.

God Lives in Heaven

Photo courtesy of Robert Michie

God told Moses to create a Tabernacle—a tent in which God’s people could worship. Many years later, Solomon built a permanent structure, the temple, and dedicated it with a powerful prayer. Solomon acknowledged that neither a building nor the entire earth could hold God. He prayed, “Listen to the plea of your servant and of your people Israel, when they pray toward this place. And listen in heaven your dwelling place, and when you hear, forgive.”

While God dwells in heaven, he is also “close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit” (Psalm 34:18 NIV). The paradox of majesty and proximity is wrapped up in the title “Father.” When you pray to the Father, you are praying to one who’s wholeness cannot be contained but who is as close to you as your skin.

Heaven is Your Ultimate Home

Author and apologist Randy Alcorn wrote a landmark book entitled Heaven. He writes, “When Jesus told his disciples, ‘In my Father’s house are many rooms…. I am going there to prepare a place for you’ (John 14:2), he deliberately chose common, physical terms (house, rooms, place) to describe where he was going and what he was preparing for us. He wanted to give his disciples (and us) something tangible to look forward to—an actual place where they (and we) would go to be with him.”

Christians are ambassadors—emissaries from another country. The ambassador’s permanent citizenship is in her own country. Here she is merely representing her native land on foreign soil. You are an ambassador from heaven. When you pray to God in heaven, you are sending a letter home or asking for more supplies for your outpost.

What the Bible Says

We know that our body—the tent we live in here on earth—will be destroyed. But when that happens, God will have a house for us. It will not be a house made by human hands; instead, it will be a home in heaven that will last forever.

2 Corinthians 5:1 NCV

But according to his promise we are waiting for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

2 Peter 3:13 ESV

The Characteristics of Heaven

Eternal Rewards
Matthew 5:11–12

Joyfulness
Luke 15

Peacefulness
Luke 16:19–31

Full of God’s Glory
Romans 8:16–23

Inheritance
1 Peter 1:3–4

Righteousness
2 Peter 3:11–13

Service
Revelation 7:13–17

Rest
Revelation 14:12–13

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A Civil War Soldier’s Prayer: Praying for the Wrong Things

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Tue, 29 May 2012 11:12:00 +0000

Some skeptics believe that, if there is a God, he probably sits around on a cloud removed from the lives and problems of the humans he created. Not so.

God has your best interests in mind and is involved in your life even from before birth. You might feel alone and unable to reach him, but he hears your prayers and answers them with firmness and compassion.

A soldier serving in the Confederate Army during the American Civil War caught a glimpse of God’s intentions before dying on the field of battle.

July, 1863

Gettysburg, Pennsylvania

Photo by Alexander Gardner (1821-1882), public domain

General Robert E. Lee shifted in his saddle and surveyed his soldiers and the opposition amassed near the small college town. The Union Army of the Potomac had a new commander, General George Meade. Meade brought a cadre of 94,000 men along with their new Spencer repeating carbine rifles to bear against Lee’s 72,000. The Union’s lines ran south-to-north along Cemetery Ridge and turned east to form a fishhook. On July 1, Lee’s soldiers attacked the left flank, pushing the lines back into the town or the hills.

On the second day of the campaign, fierce fighting broke out on high ground. Union troops held firm to Little Round Top, Peach Orchard, and Wheat Field. At Devil’s Den, a Confederate sharpshooter tucked himself into the rocks and harassed the charging Union troops, which gave the Confederates an opening to rally. To counter this pesky sharpshooter, Captain Augustus Martin of the Union V Corps artillery ordered a percussion shell strike. The blast killed the sharpshooter.

On July 3, Lee spearheaded 15,000 men into the Union lines at Cemetery Ridge. General George Pickett led 4,300 men in the now-famous Pickett’s Charge as part of this offensive. But Union artillery tangled their lines, which allowed them to flank the Confederates on three sides. The retreat left thousands of men dead, wounded, or stranded as prisoners. More than 7,800 men died in three days.

The Union had broken Lee’s drive into the North. The war had turned.

How many men—in Blue and Gray—had prayed for victory, for safety, for peace, or for an end to the war? How can God respond amid the wounded flesh and scorched earth of war?

A sliver of an answer was found on the battlefield. During the following days, the pungent odor of sulfur and gunpowder dissipated as the armies tended to their wounded and dead. Ammunition was collected. Foodstuffs and valuables were claimed as spoils. And a folded sheet of paper was found on a Confederate soldier who died near the fabled Devil’s Den. History books will never list his name, but his insight into prayer—and the God who hears and answers—endures like one of the monuments erected to commemorate the battles.

I asked God for strength, that I might achieve,
I was made weak, that I might learn humbly to obey.

I asked for health, that I might do great things,
I was given infirmity, that I might do better things.

I asked for riches, that I might be happy,
I was given poverty, that I might be wise.

I asked for power, that I might have the praise of men,
I was given weakness, that I might feel the need of God.

I asked for all things, that I might enjoy life,
I was given life, that I might enjoy all things.

I got nothing that I asked for, but everything I had hoped for.
Almost despite myself, my unspoken prayers were answered.

I am, among all men, most richly blessed.

The soldier’s observations were not forged in an afternoon; they were forged over months of seeking God in prayer.

God is more concerned about the intent of your prayers than the content of your prayers. The soldier called out to God when he could have complained or cursed. God saw the soldier’s heart and lavished his gifts on him.

God is open-handed out of love. God did not wait for the soldier to realize the wrong intent of his prayers. God responded out of his character. He is the One who does “immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us” (Ephesians 3:20 NIV).

Civil War coins, belt buckles, uniforms, and weapons have all but disappeared, but the words of this soldier have endured. They stand like a battlefield monument to remind all who read them of the character and heart of God. God is listening to your prayers and answering according to his plan for your life. He is working to bless you.

What the Bible Says

Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives to all generously and without criticizing, and it will be given to him.

James 1:5–6 HCSB

“Ask and it will be given to you; seek and you will find; knock and the door will be opened to you. For everyone who asks receives; he who seeks finds; and to him who knocks, the door will be opened.”

Matthew 7:7–8 NIV

Lord, You have heard the desire of the humble; You will prepare their heart; You will cause Your ear to hear.

Psalm 10:17 NKJV

Something to Ponder

Even Jesus prayed for the “wrong” things.

The end of Jesus’ earthly ministry was coming. After the Passover Feast, Jesus led his disciples to the Garden of Gethsemane and asked them to keep watch while he prayed, “O my Father, if it’s possible, let this cup pass from Me; nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will” (Matthew 26:39 NKJV, emphasis added).

The cup did not pass. Jesus was arrested, tried, wrongfully convicted, and executed according to Roman law. God was working out his ultimate plan to accomplish your salvation.

In the same way, pray for what you desire, but do so with an attitude of, “nevertheless, not as I will, but as You will.” God will take care of the rest.

Take it to Heart

Look at the lessons the Confederate soldier learned. For which of his requests have you prayed—strength, health, riches, power? Have you felt that God wasn’t listening or responding? Take a few minutes to pray for the qualities the soldier received—humility, wisdom, joy. Allow his learned lessons to remodel your prayers.

One More Thing...

Devil’s Den got its name before the American Civil War. This collection of granite-like rocks has peaks that resemble a bat’s ears. Emanuel Bushman, a local resident, recorded stories of a monstrous snake that lived in the cracks and crevices. They named the snake the Devil because it eluded those brave enough to hunt for it. The outcropping soon became known as Devil’s Den and is now immortalized in Civil War history.

________________________________________

Written by W. Mark Whitlock. Content Copyright GRQ, Inc. Material appears in the book, The Indispensable Guide to Practically Everything About Prayer published by GuidePostsBooks. Purchase the book here.

Remembering on Memorial Day

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Mon, 28 May 2012 14:19:00 +0000

Blogger's Note: This article and image by Getty Images photographer John Moore originally appeared in 2007. Throughout my career, I have purchased many images from Getty's libraries. I'm grateful to see into the heart of one of its photographers.

This Memorial Day, let us remember those that have died wearing the uniforms of the United States Armed Forces. And may we pray for those, like Mary McHugh, who lost their loved ones through the "last full measure of devotion."

After spending much of the last six years covering the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, I felt like I needed to visit Arlington National Cemetery this Memorial Day weekend. I felt like I owed it some time.

I went with my family—my pregnant wife and my young daughter. Separately and together, my wife and I have covered a lot of heart-wrenching stories around the world, but Section 60 was unlike any place we had been.

The beauty and serenity of Virginia’s rolling hills and awe inspiring views of Washington, D.C. clash with today’s reality of national loss, where grief is raw and in your face. You step over grass sods still taking root over freshly dug graves. You watch a mother kiss her son’s tombstone. Two soldiers put flowers and a cold beer next to the grave of a fallen buddy. A young son left a hand-written note for his dad. “I hope you like Heven, hope you liked Virginia very much hope you like the Holidays. I also see you every Sunday. Please write back!”

Section 60 is not about a troop surge or a war spending bill or whether we should be fighting these wars at all. It is about ordinary people trying to get through something so hard that most of us can’t ever imagine it. Everyone I met that afternoon had a gut-wrenching story to tell.

Mary McHugh is one of those people. She sat in front of the grave of her fiance James “Jimmy” Regan, talking to the stone. She spoke in broken sentences between sobs, gesturing with her hands, sometimes pausing as if she was trying to explain, with so much left needed to say.

Later on, after she spoke with a fellow mourner from a neighboring grave, I went over and introduced myself and told her I was photographing for Getty Images and had brought my family on our own pilgrimage to the site. I told her we had been living in Pakistan for the last few years, how we had come back to the States for a few months for the birth of our second child.

Mary told me about her slain fiance Jimmy Regan. Clearly, she had not only loved him but truly admired him. When he graduated from Duke, he decided to enlist in the Army to serve his country. He chose not to be an officer, though he could have been, because he didn’t want to risk a desk job. Instead, he became an Army Ranger and was sent twice to Aghanistan and Iraq—an incredible four deployments in just three years. He was killed in Iraq this February by a roadside bomb.

I told her how I had spent a lot of time in Iraq and Afghanistan, photographing American troops in combat. I told her that earlier this year I was a month in Ramadi and then a few more weeks in a tough spot called Helmand. I told her how I am going back to Iraq sometime this summer and that I was very sorry to see her this Memorial Day in the national cemetery, visiting a grave.

Mary said that they had planned to get married after Jimmy’s four years of service were up next year. “We loved each other so much,” she said. “We thought we had all of the time in the world.”

After a few moments more, my beautiful wife, Gretchen, now almost 9 months pregnant, walked over with our two-year-old Isabella. Our daughter started climbing over me, saying “daddy” in my ear and pulling on my arm to come walk with her. I felt awkward and guilty about the contrast, but if Mary felt it too, she was nothing but gracious and friendly. I told her that I would forward her some photos of her from that day if she would like and she gave me her email address. We said our goodbyes and I moved on with my family through the sea of graves.

Later on, I passed by and she was lying in the grass sobbing, speaking softly to the stone, this time her face close to the cold marble, as if whispering into Jimmy’s ear.

Some people feel the photo I took at the moment was too intimate, too personal. Like many who have seen the picture, I felt overwhelmed by her grief, and moved by the love she felt for her fallen sweetheart.

After so much time covering these wars, I have some difficult memories and have seen some of the worst a person can see—so much hatred and rage, so much despair and sadness. All that destruction, so much killing. And now, one beautiful and terribly sad spring afternoon amongst the rows and rows of marble stones—a young woman’s lost love.

I felt I owed the Arlington National Cemetery a little time—and I think I still do. Maybe we all do.

Mary McHugh mourns her slain fiancé Sgt. James Regan at "Section 60" of the Arlington National Cemetery, May 27, 2007. Regan, a US Army Ranger, was killed by an IED explosion in Iraq in February 2007. This was the first time McHugh had visited the grave since the funeral. (Photo by John Moore/Getty Images)

To the End of the Earth

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 24 May 2012 18:08:00 +0000

I blogged at LifeWay Stewardship today. Here's an excerpt. Please read the full post here.

Last night, our director, John Burke, and I both attended the Commissioning Service for IMB missionaries held at Brentwood Baptist Church. Frank Page, Mike Glenn, and Tom Elliff helped 101 men and women (plus countless children) get ready to answer God's call on their lives.

For me, the evening was more personal... and surprising. Two days ago, my wife received a Facebook message from a family friend. Her daughter, Angela, was one of the missionaries to be commissioned. I thought, What a neat connection. After the service, I sought out this family only to discover that this young woman had been our flower girl at our wedding. Now the little girl too afraid to drop rose petals down the center aisle at Faith Presbyterian Church (PCA) was dedicating her life to introducing The Rose of Sharon to people in North Africa and the Middle East. (see pictures below)

: Short-term missionary Angela T. Yemen. 2009.

: Angela as flower girl. May, 1990. Athens, Ga.

Will You Check Your Heart Today?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Wed, 23 May 2012 13:46:00 +0000

Feel free to skip my preamble and get right to the list below. I'll provide context for those who like it.

In 1995, Nancy Leigh DeMoss stood on the platform at Moby Gym on the campus of Colorado State University to address the gathered staff of Campus Crusade for Christ (now known as Cru). She simply read the list below and added some observations about brokenness and context from the Scriptures.

The agenda for the next several hours was scrapped as hundreds of staff members came to the microphone to confess sins. Others sought out those they had offended. In the hours and days that followed, God worked through Nancy and this list to restore relationships, break hearts, bring men and women to Himself in salvation, and rekindle hearts for ministry.

Last night, I read these observations again. I substituted my name in the statements like this: Mark focuses on the failures of others.

I want a heart God revives. Don't you?

Spend a few minutes with this list. Substitute your own name. Ask God to meet you. Seek His forgiveness for where you are riddled with pride.

The Heart God Revives

Proud people focus on the failures of others.

Broken people are overwhelmed with a sense of their own spiritual need.

Proud people have a critical, fault-finding spirit; they look at everyone else’s faults with a microscope but their own with a telescope.

Broken people are compassionate; they can forgive much because they know how much they have been forgiven.

Proud people are self-righteous; they look down on others.

Broken people esteem all others better than themselves.

Proud people have an independent, self-sufficient spirit.

Broken people have a dependent spirit; they recognize their need for others.

Proud people have to prove that they are right.

Broken people are willing to yield the right to be right.

Proud people claim rights; they have a demanding spirit.

Broken people yield their rights; they have a meek spirit.

Proud people are self-protective of their time, their rights, and their reputation.

Broken people are self-denying.

Proud people desire to be served.

Broken people are motivated to serve others.

Proud people desire to be a success.

Broken people are motivated to be faithful and to make others a success.

Proud people desire self-advancement.

Broken people desire to promote others.

Proud people have a drive to be recognized and appreciated.

Broken people have a sense of their own unworthiness; they are thrilled that God would use them at all.

Proud people are wounded when others are promoted and they are overlooked.

Broken people are eager for others to get the credit; they rejoice when others are lifted up.

Proud people have a subconscious feeling, “This ministry/church is privileged to have me and my gifts”; they think of what they can do for God.

Broken people’s heart attitude is, “I don’t deserve to have a part in any ministry”; they know that they have nothing to offer God except the life of Jesus flowing through their broken lives.

Proud people feel confident in how much they know.

Broken people are humbled by how very much they have to learn.

Proud people are self-conscious.

Broken people are not concerned with self at all.

Proud people keep others at arms’ length.

Broken people are willing to risk getting close to others and to take risks of loving intimately.

Proud people are quick to blame others.

Broken people accept personal responsibility and can see where they are wrong in a situation.

Proud people are unapproachable or defensive when criticized.

Broken people receive criticism with a humble, open spirit.

Proud people are concerned with being respectable, with what others think; they work to protect their own image and reputation.

Broken people are concerned with being real; what matters to them is not what others think but what God knows; they are willing to die to their own reputation.

Proud people find it difficult to share their spiritual need with others.

Broken people are willing to be open and transparent with others as God directs.

Proud people want to be sure that no one finds out when they have sinned; their instinct is to cover up.

Broken people, once broken, don’t care who knows or who finds out; they are willing to be exposed because they have nothing to lose.

Proud people have a hard time saying, “I was wrong; will you please forgive me?”

Broken people are quick to admit failure and to seek forgiveness when necessary.

Proud people tend to deal in generalities when confessing sin.

Broken people are able to acknowledge specifics when confessing their sin.

Proud people are concerned about the consequences of their sin.

Broken people are grieved over the cause, the root of their sin.

Proud people are remorseful over their sin, sorry that they got found out or caught.

Broken people are truly, genuinely repentant over their sin, evidenced in the fact that they forsake that sin.

Proud people wait for the other to come and ask forgiveness when there is a misunderstanding or conflict in a relationship.

Broken people take the initiative to be reconciled when there is misunderstanding or conflict in relationships; they race to the cross; they see if they can get there first, no matter how wrong the other may have been.

Proud people compare themselves with others and feel worthy of honor.

Broken people compare themselves to the holiness of God and feel a desperate need for His mercy.

Proud people are blind to their true heart condition.

Broken people walk in the light.

Proud people don’t think they have anything to repent of.

Broken people realize they have need of a continual heart attitude of repentance.

Proud people don’t think they need revival, but they are sure that everyone else does.

Broken people continually sense their need for a fresh encounter with God and for a fresh filling of His Holy Spirit.

Three Confusing Facts about AMC's The Pitch

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Tue, 22 May 2012 20:08:00 +0000

AMC's "The Pitch" is like m&ms to anyone who markets anything. You must keep eating.

Every Sunday night after their breakthrough hit "Mad Men", AMC treats her viewers to behind-the-scenes machinations by two leading ad firms as they compete for the business of a major brand.

I've watched all five episodes, including the pilot available online.

Three things bug me every week. These three activities should be second nature to these large and profitable agencies. I will give the producers the benefit of the doubt. Perhaps the footage of these activities gets cut out and stored on disc never to see the pixels of a TV screen. Perhaps these activities don't provide enough drama.

They may not provide much drama, but they provide much wisdom to ad writers and designers everywhere.

SAMPLING THE PRODUCT

In the pilot, neither agency was seen eating from Subway's new breakfast menu
In episode 2, neither agency was seen touring Waste Management's energy production work, talking to employees, or observing as Waste Management trucks did their work
In episode 3, neither agency was seen making a call to any of the Clockwork brands to experience a service call
In episode 4, neither agency was seen eating Popchips
Finally, in episode 5, both agencies were seen drinking Frangelico

How can you demonstrate the power of a service, idea, or product (SIP) you've never experienced?

I work with some writers and producers who are content to stand on the side of the pool and look at the water but won't dive in. You can observe many things about a swimming pool from the polished aggregate of the surrounding deck. You can make a lot of assumptions about the experience of being in a pool. But do you really know?

When you are building messaging for your SIP, dive in.

UNDERSTAND YOUR AUDIENCE
Your reader, listener, or viewer (RLV) is the most important person in the entire process. She is more important than your client. Without the RLV, the client's business will implode. Without the client, your work will evaporate.

The viewers have

not witnessed demographic research
not watched interviews with members of the target audience
rarely viewed the agencies trying out ideas on anyone outside of their four walls

Why are these agencies resting on their assumptions instead of constantly refreshing their understanding of the target audience?

Kudos to The Ad Store for taking Frangelico (episode 5) out to the public and getting some ideas.

You can read more of my thoughts on audience here.

TEST YOUR CONCEPTS
Have you ever watched an ad on television or listened to an ad on the radio and thought to yourself, "What were they drinking?" I'm convinced that too many ad concepts are dreamed up in rooms that smell of yesterday's pizza and today's BO. Those in the room are hopped up on too much Red Bull and have been sleep-deprived long enough they're laughing at anything. I wonder how many libations are served at the restaurant before they sell these concepts to their clients.

I have learned the hard way that the words I write and the images/video I choose mean one thing to me but sometimes something completely different to someone else. If I don't test my words and images, I may communicate a different (and often harmful) message.

Test your message outside of your group, department, or agency. Make sure that every word, image, and sound convey the intended message. If chosen well, they will work together to be greater than the sum of the pieces.

The Ad Store took their ideas to an all-woman agency. They were shot down immediately. Their well-honed ideas meant something completely different to women than it did men.

The Ad Store lost again on Sunday night (they had previously lost during episode 2), but at least they didn't take their horrible and offensive ideas into the pitch room.

Have you watched "The Pitch"? What do you think so far?

What's your favorite campaign?

Which agencies should be on episodes in the future?

Please comment below.

Remember, at the end of May, I will choose three commenters at random

to receive a free copy of Wizards, Hobbits, and Harry Potter.

Read my other communication posts:

How to Write Killer Copy: Code No. 5

How to Write Killer Copy: Code No. 3

Two Techniques to Create Memorable Messages

Discover and Define the Audience You Really Have

Don't Write Advertising Copy with a Shoehorn

The Anti-Spot

How Far Would You Go to Make a Delivery Like This?

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Mon, 21 May 2012 11:09:00 +0000

Imagine a place where 700 gods demand worship.

Every god is angry. Every god must be appeased. You strive for years to satisfy these gods only to receive the smallest spiritual refreshment... the tiniest drop of cosmic water.

How can your soul live on so little? Is there more?

Pastor Madill knew the answer.

For three years, Pastor Madill rode his bicycle for hundreds of kilometers every week to deliver copies of a banned and illegal book to those who were soul-starved. He stored these books in a small thatch hut behind his house. Every few days, he strapped two small cardboard boxes of these books onto the back of his bike and pedaled off to deliver them to those that could not afford them... Those that needed them the most.

He was delivering Bibles.

He knew that when you hear that there is One God who loves you... One God who sacrificed His son for you ... One God who can give everlasting life... Your soul is satisfied... Your thirst is quenched.

That is good news indeed.

One day, radical Hindu marauders attached him.

They beat him unconscious. They shot one of his sons. They slashed his wife with a machete.

Then they set the small storage hut on fire... And threw Pastor Madill inside to die in the flames.

Pastor Madill delivered Bibles in India for Bible League International. He gave his life so that others would live. He gave his life so that others would know that the God of the Bible loved the world so much that He gave His only son, Jesus, that whoever believes in Him will not perish, but have everlasting life.

The Bible.

Read it.

Give it.

For the next 28 days, you have the opportunity to radically change the lives of men and women in India by sending Bibles through Bible League International. Each Bible only costs $5 to translate, print, box, ship, receive, and deliver to someone who has been longing for a Bible.

How many Bibles can you send? Give Bibles today.

For a limited time, you can receive a free 28-day devotional. Each day gives you a snapshot of The Word—Jesus. Click here to subscribe. (Subscribe via Twitter, Facebook, RSS, email, or text)

Paul Harvey would have loved this story. Here's "the rest of the story"

Pastor Madill's son survived the gunshot wound. Now, he and his brother deliver Bibles. In their father's name. Help fuel their work.

Mark Whitlock of Mark's Outdoor Sports Loses His Valiant Battle with Cancer

noreply@blogger.com (W. Mark Whitlock) — Thu, 17 May 2012 21:14:00 +0000

Mark Whitlock of Mark's Outdoor Sports
passed away on 5/17/12

This is the blog of W. Mark Whitlock of Franklin, Tennessee. Thanks for stopping by.

If you're looking for information about Mark Whitlock, the owner of Mark's Outdoor Sports, please click here to read a news story.

I met Mark in 2009 when I was a guest on the Rick and Bubba Show. Rick and Bubba made a big deal out of the fact I was NOT the Mark Whitlock. They called me "The Other Mark Whitlock".

From what Rick and Bubba told me and what I saw first hand, Mark was a man of God who loved his family, the outdoors, and served his customers well.

You can find his obituary here.

The family will receive friends one hour prior to the 2 p.m. memorial service Friday, May 18, 2012 at the Church at Brook Hills. Dr. Charles Carter will officiate. In lieu of flowers, memorial gifts may be made to The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

I hope this information is helpful. Feel free to read my articles on faith, creativity, writing, and procrastination.

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Mark Whitlock of Mark's Outdoor Sports Loses His Valiant Battle with Cancer