Rest in Peace

This blog has passed away, it is no more, it has gone to meet its maker. It shall be deleted soon, so as to clear the web of clutter and so as to cause me to feel guilty no more...

Thanks for reading!

Odyssey Touches A Heart

A pastor friend in upstate NY sent this encouraging note, demonstrating the power of our audio work. Rejoice!

When we were looking for a house we used a realtor who was your classic aggressive female saleslady. As we were house hunting she mentioned that she had a five year old son who was blind from birth and she asked me if there was anything that would good for him to listen to that had a good message. She knew I was a pastor. We suggested Adventures in Odyssey. We bought her a set of the first shows so her son would get some background on the characters. He loved them!

I don't know where she's at spiritually. The family is Catholic. But let the
Odyssey staff know that the show ministered in a special way to a young boy
who was blind and the show may open the doors to the getting gospel to the
family. Keep up the good work!

Devos Today

Read from Revelation. A book of great mystery, drama and hope. In the end, the bad guys lose, the saints win and the King returns! Superb story, and all true. In this life, we have much tribulation, but we do not lose heart. The Lord is sovereign and always carrying out His incredible plan.

Congrats to Patty and also to facilities staffer Frank Shepherd for their recognition! Great dedication and service attitudes.

Long debrief about yesterday's Impact Update. Some good laughs along the way - thanks for those, by the way. It is a wonderful privilege to work here, and to work alongside YOU!

Webcast Metrics - August '06

Interesting numbers from some of the data about web radio listening habits.

At #6 overall ranking, our friends at KLOVE (EMF Broadcasting) have

>> more people listening online during any given 15 minute segment (AQH) than ESPN or Air America, and

>> only slightly less cume (total unique listeners) than ABC Radio Networks' online presence.

That's a pretty impressive showing!

Perspective:
Same month stats show over 119,000 downloads of the podcast version of our own daily FOF broadcast. And we're not even promoting it much. Growth potential is huge here!

Devos Yesterday

Here's a link to the devotional book I read from yesterday. Written by Ken Gire, this is a favorite, year-after-year.

FYI, the topic for the thought I shared was God's grace, demonstrated time again in His work through and in flawed humans. He uses us!

More Anniversaries of Note!

While I enjoyed my "day in the sunshine" as we collectively celebrated my 15th anniversary with Focus, it is important to note that I am not the only individual in these parts who has hit a milestone of note. Hats off to these fine friends who have served faithfully for significant periods of time. All were honored as part of the chapel event a couple of weeks back, and all deserve a slap on the back (careful) for reaching this esteemed status. Kudos to all!

5 years:
Arbuckle, Bill
Delgatty, Christi
Harlow, Rick
Rexford, Linda
Stevens, Andrew
Trefren, Sam

10 years:
Cadman, Lisa
Christakis, Steve
Halbert, Jake

15 years:
Maxwell, Rae Ann
Pencoff, Ivan
Samuel, Dave
Van Laar, Chuck

Thanks for 15!

Personal note from the editor: I wish to thank each one of you for the kind words expressed in person and/or in the very nice cards given to me on my 15th anniversary of service here. Wow, do I feel appreciated and affirmed!

It has indeed been my pleasure to be part of the Broadcast team my entire time here at FOF, and I really mean it when I say that we have some of the finest folks found at any organization. You all make working here a joy, and enjoyable, too!

So, thank you for the thoughtfulness in preparing and bringing in the food we had after devos, for the wonderful cards and words, for your continued prayers and friendship, for 15 years of rich memories.

I am a blessed man!

Briefly: Back After A Hiatus

Whew, it has been a busy few weeks, with activity everywhere I look. Thus, it has necessarily been quiet here at the blog. Briefly, though, some things of note.

First, the photo. I've given it a caption. "Watching The Clock" seemed appropriate. Do you have a better one? Can you telll me what in the world the folks pictured here are doing?

Next, hats off to the Duplication team for their good work in transitioning to the DFS from the AFS (complete explanation given in devos yesterday). You've all done well here! Also, commendations to Greg and Ivan for the extra effort on the recent flurry of TV uplinks. And congrats to Rudy "The Workhorse" for being "the man to whom much is given."

My devo thought, condensed, from yesterday:
Q1: What are some of YOUR life’s goals?

While many goals are good and worthwhile, it is instructive to think along the lines of Stephen Covey’s “7 Habits of Highly Effective People,” of which one is to “Begin with the end in mind.”

Q2: For the believer in Christ, what is an “end” worthy of vigorously pursuing? In Acts 20:24 Paul said this to the Ephesian elders,

"But none of these things (earthly accomplishments) move me; nor do I count my life dear to myself, so that I may finish my race with joy, and the ministry which I received from the Lord Jesus, to testify to the gospel of the grace of God."

Q3: How will YOU finish? What’s ultimately important to you? Is that where you are investing your time, treasure, talent? Is that what drives you in the morning?
Let’s be about doing our work well, allowing the fruit of the Spirit to be manifest in our lives each moment of the day, and let’s strive to finish today well. It may be our last.

More to come. Submissions welcome. Thanks for checking in!

Podcasting: How It Affects Radio Listening

Maybe you've wondered, when it comes to making programming available on both broadcast outlets and also as podcasts,"Will folks listen to our podcast AND the broadcast as heard on our affiliate stations or will they listen to the podcast INSTEAD OF the station?"

Mark Ramsey has some answers. And I think he is "spot on." From his blog, here 2.0:

Good question. And the answer is...

It depends.

If the podcast is FREE and your show is LONG (e.g., a few hours long) and DAILY (or so)...

If you podcast highlights or bits or interviews of your show as online bonuses or delay the podcast for a reasonable time, I believe this will ADD to your on-air audience, i.e., "I can listen to the podcast, but to hear the REST of the content I need to listen to the station."

If you podcast your entire show online on the same day it runs live, I believe you will SUBTRACT from your audience, i.e., "I can listen to the podcast, I don't need to listen to the station." And for those who don't already listen to the station, they may be reluctant to sample such a large slice of your show's pie. Tidbits, that's what they need.

Read the whole article and learn how to do podcasting right. Ramsey is an insightful fellow.

Email Overload

From Alan Mason's blog, a consultant, some thoughts about email overload. And a modest suggestion about coping with the stuff.

First off, there’s the habit of using email instead of going to meet with the other person. Even within the same office it’s not unusual to find people emailing to someone five doors down. There’s a growing concern that we’re reducing human contact. All of us has either sent an email, or received an email, that was written in a much more harsh tone than what that person would do in person. There’s no intonation or facial expression in an email, so it’s much easier to misinterpret the email. Or, the sender became another person for a minute, saying something in email the way they never would face to face.

The second major challenge businesses are having is wasting time. How many times have you replied to an email requesting you at a meeting, to which you replied “I’ll be there,” and the other person responds with “Great.” Or someone who thinks they’re Robin Williams tries to regale you with their sense of humor? Then there’s my favorite, where what I have to say is so important that I CC half of Northern America.

But the third problem may be the most important one: Studies have shown that email is keeping us back from making a decision as quickly as we would face to face. It’s too easy to respond with more questions, and then forward it to someone else to see what they think. All while the question goes unanswered, and the clock keeps ticking. In a face to face meeting questions are asked and answered right away, and the decision comes more quickly.

Some more innovative businesses have created “Email Free Friday,” where you must conduct all business in the same office face to face, and within the country via the telephone. You have to interact directly with a human unless they’re out of the country. Those who have tried this see quick results and decisions being reached more quickly. They’re seeing a business that’s more productive overall, and more sensitive to the human element.

What do you think? Would your workweek be more productive if you banned email every now and then?