Check out the new Chevy Malibu Commercial. I am not a Malibu fan and really can’t remember the last time that a Chevy car commercial caught my attention, but they hit a home run with their message here.

Let’s face it, when was the last time the boring design of a Chevy Malibu (inferior to what it would like to call it’s competitor, the Camry or the Accord) caught your attention? Likely never.

That being the case, Chevy’s creative team (more than likely a marketing firm they hired out of house) was willing to say “Let’s face it…the Malibu has been boring, and for a loooooong time!” (hasn’t really changed the design much since 1999) and now we have a new design.

They nailed their message and did an excellent job. I appreciate it when a company can poke fun at their weaknesses while simintaniously seek to address them.

One of my ongoing frustrations in this temporary life is customer service…or shall I say the lack thereof. When I was in the San Diego last week I experienced the ultimate example of What Not to Do in customer service.

Now, before I go on any further, let me say that I operate under a few basic assumptions when it comes to customer service. I expect good customer service. Not because I walk from my car to the door on a red carpet, but because # 1, if you are in business you should be responsible and # 2 good service is the standard we hold ourselves to at RHP. With that said… Read the rest of this entry »

Wow…that was probably one of the best movies, I had never heard of.

We just stopped of at Red Box and picked up this Fox Faith title The Ultimate Gift and we were pleasantly surprised. Jason, the self-centered leading character in the film is in-line for the largest share of his grandfathers inheritance. However, instead of receiving a lump sum check, he is actually in store for a life changing journey that challenges and shapes his character.

Great drama. Well written. Well casted. Funny. And I shed the appropriate amount of tears!

Refreshing entertainment. I highly recommend this film. Fox Faith…keep it commin’.

Each year I try to get a few new dress shirts as my “attempt” to try to stay cool. As Christmas is nearing I’ve been keeping my eyes peeled for a few shirts that could go on my Christmas list. But guess what? I can’t find anything that I like, and it’s not for a lack of trying. I have been to Gap, Old Navy, Target, Wal-Mart (sorry…low budget), and a few other stores in the mall and the only thing I can find is Lumberjack style shirts. Since when did lumberjack plaid make a come back?

Do you remember the scene from The Devil Loves Prada? (I just spent 30 minutes trying to find this clip and can not find it).  This is not an accident. Some designer, about 18 months ago thought that this was a brilliant idea to bring back lumberjack and it has finally trickled down to a $19.99 Old Navy dress shirt. I have spent the last 13 years of my life running from plaid flannel and flannel-like shirts and now Gap is trying to tell me that this is the thing to wear? Give me a break! Not a chance.

I am not buying it. Literally. What’s more, my wife is on the look out for some cool shirts for our boys for Christmas as well. She is running into the exact same problem. Last week we were shopping in San Diego and stopped in at an Old Navy store. The manager was asking me my opinion on some items and I let her know my thoughts on the flood of Lumberjack long sleeve dress shirts. I was shocked by her response. She completely agreed! And she was the Old Navy manager for a store that does $30,000 worth of business a day. She said that she just doesn’t get it. As you can tell, I thoroughly agree!

The thing is, I have really liked the styles the last 2 years. I was looking forward to another year of dress shirts with angled stripes with the no-button collar. Wishful thinking.

Looks like I will be shopping for shirts on eBay or Goodwill to find last years styles. If you are on the same page with me and know where I can find what I am looking for, please let me know.

My wife and I just flew out of a very smoke filled San Diego. As of this morning there were eight different wild fires surrounding the city: one to the south, four to the west, and three to the north. Even as I write this, we are looking at fire down below. Read the rest of this entry »

Two weeks ago, Randall House and exhibited at the Catalyst Conference in Atlanta, GA. We lead with our D6 campaign and our Devotional Magazines for the whole family. It was a huge hit, if I do say so myself. The interest level was high. D6 has struck a cord with the Church…personally I think it’s because the need is so huge. Tomorrow we head to San Diego for the 2007 National Youth Workers Conference (Youth Specialties).

We plan to build many new relationships and to share our Teen Magazines with hundreds of potential first time customers. It is so easy to take for granted what we have. I am so familiar with our products…both of my boys use CLEAR Devos and I use one as well. The thing is, tons (literally) of Christians out there do not have a Bible Study resource or a daily devotional tool.

Youth Pastors and youth workers are looking for resources to help plug their students into the Word, and we have a tool that can help. We are honored and excited to have the opportunity to go and share with these potential customers. Each time we go to an event like this we always get to hear comments like “I have been looking for something like this” or “I didn’t realize there were resources like this out there…and you have one for each age level, and they all study the same Bible theme together!” It is encouraging when you can supply a customer with a resource that connects their students to God.

We will be sharing:

Explorers Guide II – Our Devotional Magazine for 4th, 5th and 6th graders

CLEAR Direction Devotional and Bible Study Magazine - for 7th and 8th graders

CLEAR Horizon Devotional and Bible Study Magazine – for 9th, 10th, 11th and 12th graders

If I don’t catch you in San Diego, maybe some of my buddies will see you at the Atlanta event coming up in November. I better get some sleep…

Okay, don’t get me wrong, I love a funny commercial! I am always looking for a commercial that makes me laugh out loud (Herding Cats by EDS is my favorite ever!). However, I just saw a wonderful, family friendly commercial by the Kellogg cereal brand, Rice Krispies.

A mother, daughter and son are in the kitchen together making the all-time family fav Rice Krispie Treats. The treatment is in black and white with the exception of the cereal box and the cereal in the bowl. Very nostalgic feel to it! What makes it so cool is the message at the end of the commercial. The Narrator says something like “it’s not about having the Rice Krispie Treats to eat when you are done. It’s about the time spent doing something together.”

Now, I am a marketer. I “get” it. I am sure that over 100,000 moms went out to Kroger moments after that commercial ran for the single purpose of buying a box of Rice Krispies. But so what…that’s the point of marketing, is it not? What so impressed me was that they found a unique way to blend product marketing with a very family friendly message. Way to go Kelloggs!

BTW, I spent the last 30 minutes trying to find this commercial online and no one seems to have posted it. However, if you go to the Rice Krispie site, they do have some other commercials posted that are a part of the same campaign, but not the exact one I am referring to here.

As an adendum to my post earlier this week, check out some of these quotes from George Barna’s Revolutionary Parenting:

“A final conditon for success that we discovered is that those who produce spiritual champions embrace parenting as their primary job in life.” pg. 24

“American culture does not support the notion of parenting being a full-time job.” pg.27

Revolutionary parents… “Intentionally identify their children as their main earthly focus in life during their parenting years.” pg. 29

This two chapter section of the book that I read a few weeks ago is incredibly powerful. The problem among many Chrisitian parents manifests itself in two primary ways: (1) being a Revolutionary Parent (D6 Parent) is something you have to get jazzed about (it becomes a part of who you are), and (2) it has to be such a priority to you that it becomes a normal part of your behavior so that you actually follow through with living out D6.

If you are a Revolutionary Parent, this is paramount to you. This is the mission for this part of your life. The day job (or even day ministry) is VERY important to you, and it should be, but to be at the top of your game and to loose your children? Who wants that?

Transferring your faith from one generation to the next…now that’s a big deal!

During the “day time” I have the incredible opportunity to make an impact at my job. It’s my choice. Each day at work I have the opportunity to help others, encourage others, make a “sell”, build a new relationship or strengthen an old one. And to be honest, I love it. I get to go to work.

As important as it is, what I do from 9-5 is not my primary job. Sure it pays the bills, it’s provision, etc. But it’s not my primary job.

I have been reading George Barna’s 07 release Revolutionary Parenting which says that if you want to be a Revolutionary Parent (a parent who will raise spiritual champions…kids who grow up to be adults that stand strong in their faith in Christ), you must view Parenting as your primary job.

Deuteronomy 6:6-9 tells us that we are to love the Lord with all of our heart. But it doesn’t stop there! It goes on to say that we need to impress God and his word, onto the hearts of our children. The cool thing (practical) about this passage is that it points out 4 distinct daily opportunities in which we should take advantage of these teachable moments: at home, out and about, bed time, morning time. How practical is that!

So, as a biblical, Christian parent (oh how quickly we forget the biblical part), this tells me that I should not just be striving to make it to small group on time, or to be sure to get my child to Wednesday night church, but that I need to be looking for teachable moments throughout the day and throughout my week.

No one will have more of an opportunity to impact your child’s heart like you will. So, love the Lord today. Praise him in the car! Go to your Tuesday night Bible Study. BUT, don’t forget to transfer your faith to your children. These opportunities don’t just come in Sunday School. These opportunities transfer best while being experienced together on the field of life…at home, out and about in the van, over breakfast at Cracker Barrel, or laughing together at bed time.

Impress God’s Word onto the hearts of your children all throughout the week. Strengthen your relationship with them today. Now that’s something worth making a big deal over.

Burger King has the best breakfast sandwiches. I love the Bacon, Egg and Cheese Croissanwich and their Chicken Biscuit. When I travel, I often grab one of those on the go along with an ice cold Coke before an early morning meeting. But not any time soon.

I am sure you have seen their latest set of commercials with the father and son. The Father: A man in a full size Whopper costume. The son: A teenage boy in a Whopper Jr. costume.

OK, now at first they were a little funny…playing off of the all too common dysfunctional relationship between a father and a son with the infamous line that they coined “I wish I had never been broiled.” If you have seen it you know what I mean.

However, the last two commercials they have released have crossed the line for me. Read the rest of this entry »