Super Bowl XLIII Live Blog: Cardinals vs. Steelers

Follow the Live and interactive Super Bowl Blog XLIII by Chris Chase, Andy Behrens and Jamie Mottram for an in depth game and commercial analysis. Click on the Link and follow the interactive blog. Enjoy the Game!

Super Bowl XLIII

What Will The Future Be Like for Next Gen Leaders?

After you watch this video, it will be interesting to see how our generation will leverage the advancements of technology and creativity  to expand the borders of the gospel:

Check this out…A glimpse of the future!

ORU Announces New President

Yesterday, Dr. Mark Green, the Chairman of the Board and The Board of Trustees announced the election of the new president-elect of Oral Roberts University – Dr. Mark Rutland.

Dr. Rutland comes to ORU from Southeastern University in Lakeland, Florida where he has served as president since 1999. Under his visionary leadership at Southeastern University the campus underwent $50 million in renovations and constructions and enrollment tripled in September 2008.

As an ORU alumnus, I am very excited about this choice. Dr. Rutland has an excellent reputation within Christian higher education.  With this kind of leadership in place, I know without a doubt that ORU will experience the greatest days a head.

Dr. Mark Rutland will begin his new role as President of Oral Roberts University in July 2009.

Who has sat in the seat of President of ORU?

• Dr. Oral Roberts (1963-1992)
• Richard Roberts (1992-2007)
• Billy Joe Daugherty (Interim President – Oct. 2007 – Jan. 2008 )
• Dr. Ralph Fagin (Interim President – Jan. 2008 -July 2009)
• Dr. Mark Rutland (President-Elect – Begins July 2009)

Visit the ORU website at www.oru.edu

Lessons from the Trials of Ted Haggard

It has been an interesting revisit back into the life of the fallen evangelical leader, Ted Haggard.

The leadership team and the members of New Life Church in Colorado Springs, CO will always have a warm place in my heart because I went to college with a lot of friends that either attend, work or are affiliated in some way with New Life Church. I just want to go on record and say that I love the ministry of New Life Church. Pastor Brady Boyd and his team have done and are doing an incredible job.

As you all know this week is the airing of the HBO documentary – “The Trials of Ted Haggard” produced by Alexandria Pelosi (daughter of Nancy Pelosi -Speaker of the House).

This week, more news was released pertaining to Ted’s unfortunate secret life plus additional national media coverage covering the scandal and update on Ted & Gayle Haggard on The Orpah Winfrey Show and Larry King Live.

One must stop to think what can this next generation of leaders take away from this  situation that we watched back in November 2006 and now revisiting again in January 2009.

A few things come to mind.

• Open accountability is everything
• Transparency locks-in real accountability
• Never let the ministry pull you away from growing daily in Christ

Will this be the last prominent Evangelical Leader to fall?

I wish I could say, yes. But, I doubt it. It’s very sad when these things happen, but the truth will always come to light. Be transparent with your close friends!

How should the Church respond to public Scandals?

The church should respond in compassion, love and acceptance to any fallen leader or person. If the world is viewed by responding in a compassionate way to a fallen leader and not the church, something is wrong. We must never forget that our main message is the message of forgiveness and compassion. Don’t let church politics in the moments of a scandal trump or fog the message or your ability to walk and live a life of forgiveness and compassion to leaders that fall.

Your Thoughts?

ORU Ignite Leadership Conference

This last weekend, I was at my alma mater at Oral Roberts University in Tulsa, OK hanging out with friends and watching the students produce the 7th annual ORU Ignite Leadership Conference.

I won’t go to much into detail, but some friends and I helped lay the foundation for Ignite. Go check it out at www.ignite.oru.edu. It was honestly one of the most fulfilling experiences when I was at ORU. Over the course of seven years Ignite has had the opportunity to host nationally recognized authors, ministry leaders, business leaders and worship artists such as:

• Dr. John Maxwell
• Dr. Tim Elmore
• John & Lisa Bevere
• Napoleon Kaufman
• Chris Hill
• Lynette Troyer -Lewis
• Morgan Hill
• David Salyers
• Matthew Barnett
• John Mason
• Jeff Deyo Band
• The Desperation Band
• Jared Anderson Band
• Aaron Keyes Band
• and many others

It’s awesome to be a part of something that you helped build at ORU and then come back and watch future generations run with the vision to raise up and equip young leaders to go after their dreams. The ORU grad’s that directed and spear-headed Ignite at the senior leadership level the past seven years are as follows:

• Selah Hirsch (2002-2003) – Alum ’03
• Sara Grace Wall (2002 -2003) – Alum ’03
• Stephanie Farina (2003-2004) – Alum ’04
• Micah Davis (2003-2005) – Alum ’05
• David Lawrence (2004-2006) – Alum ’06
• Jacquelyn Brydon (2005-2006) – Alum ’06
• Paul Daugherty (2006-2007) – Alum ’07
• Sara Swanson (2006-2007) – Alum’07
• Katie Bohrer (2007-2008)  – Alum ’08
• Chad King (2008-2009) – Present – Alum ’09
• Joy Gooch (2008-2009)- Present – Alum ’09

The Church, The Brand & Perception – Pt. 5

Some churches know how to advertise great sermon series campaigns. A few come to mind. Well, these are my recommended favorites, but you are welcome to suggest others:

• Ed Young / Fellowship Church
• Perry Noble / New Spring
• Steven Furtick / Elevation Church
• Andy Stanley / North Point Community Church
• Craig Groeschel/ Lifechurch.tv

How do these guys know how to promote a well engaged sermon series? A few things come into play:

• Rich/depth sermon content
• A dynamic creative team
• An innovative technical team
• A strategic marketing team

Here is one of my personal favorite sermon series promotional videos from Elevation Church led by Steven Furtick in Indian Trail, NC.  See Below! It’s awesome!

The Church, The Brand, and Perception…Pt. 4

We’ve been on this topic about marketing and branding for churches. Apparently, it’s been raising some controversy. Like, I’m surprised by that. HA! It’s sad that some people view marketing and branding as only effective and valuable within the corporate/business sector.  Marketing is a tool, like money is a tool…to help build the Kingdom and spread the greatest story ever told…The Gospel. Jesus himself was a great marketer. He told parables or stories to communicate His message. I’m sorry to tell you but, that is marketing.

He knew which audience to communicate what message or lesson. Because He did not speak at the same level to each audience.

• He knew what to speak to the 5000
• He knew how narrow the audience to reach the 70
• He knew when he needed to share things only with the 12
• He knew when needed to spend time with the 3
• And, He knew when he only wanted spend time with his  favorite follower, John.

I’m sorry to say, but that takes a marketing mind. Jesus knew how to tailor His message to each specific audience…like it or not, that’s a marketing function.

Your Thoughts?

44th Presidential Inauguration – President Barack Obama

Today, millions of people around the world watched on tv, over the internet or stood in line to cram onto the National Mall parade route in Washington D.C. to see the first African-American sworn in as the 44th President of the United States of America.

It was definitely an historic day for our country. Whether you agree or not with President Obama’s policies, we have a responsibility to pray and support him as the leader of this great nation.

It can’t be denied that whoever sits in the Presidential Oval office these next four years will have their work cut out for them. It won’t be an easy term.

The three main areas that will need major Presidential oversight these next few years is not hard to figure out:

• The Economy
• The Iraq War
• Our National Defense

It is exciting to be alive and see history made. This will be a day that I can live and tell my grandchildren about. Why? Because as next generation leaders, we should leverage this moment into the obstacles and circumstances that hold us back from pursuing our dreams.

Dr. Martin Luther King had a dream. ..And, today that dream became reality!

The Church, The Brand and Perception…Pt. 3

There are some really awesome churches that know how to develop a powerful and authentic brand. These’s type of  innovative churches let people know who they are, why they exist and what they do. One church comes to mind— Lifechurch.tv led by Craig Groeschel in Edmond, OK.

Look at this video that Lifechurch.tv opens with in their weekend services. It’s quite motivating and it reminds their audience of why they are there, why they exist and what they are called to do. Now, that is branding! Like I’ve said before, the Brand = the story or the message that surrounds your organization…it goes way beyond than just logos.

The Church, The Brand and Perception…Pt. 2

I came across this youtube video, called Starbucks Church. What if Starbucks marketed like a church? This video is awesome…the message speaks for itself. Enjoy!