Shorter Blogs, Please

Many people like the sound of their own voice. Still others enjoy the look of their own words on a screen. And a lot of them.

I love reading about new ideas. Grappling with fresh concepts and perspectives challenges me to look at the world differently. But, there's a catch. I'm not a fan of long articles. I'm also generally opposed to wordy blogs. Apparently, I'm not alone.

A recent post from Slate called "You Won't Finish This Article" statistically proves that most people rarely read an entire article online. Many never even get past the first few paragraphs. But the guy that wrote this piece didn't just choose a clever title. He chose an accurate one. You really won't finish his article.

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Why? He thinks it's a new cultural trend of mass skimming. He's wrong.

Bottom line: his piece is over 2,000 words. It's too long.

I spend about an hour every morning searching for interesting articles and blogs to talk about on our radio show. This takes me to lots of different sites. I rarely read entire articles, and often completely skip stories that are too long. It's not because I'm lazy. It's largely due to the fact that we all consume online information differently than we consume books.

When reading a book, you've carefully chosen the author and the topic. You've also made an informed commitment to the length of the book. When you decide to sit down and read it, you're prepared to devote an extended period of time to it.

Reading articles online is much different. We set aside a block of time for browsing through a long list of resources. If we find an exceptionally great article, we might read to the end. Otherwise, we'll read as long as necessary to get the information we need. Or as long as we're interested. Then we move on.

So I'm calling for a collective condensing of words online. A great writer should be able to get an introduction, thesis, body and conclusion composed in about 500 words or less. Anything more should be edited and trimmed. Get to the point as quickly as you can. You may not like this limited word count, but nobody will read much more than that anyway. So what's the point?

In the end, anyone with a college education can pound out 1,000 words or more on a topic. It takes artistic expertise to communicate ideas in only as many words as are absolutely necessary.

Oh, and for the record, this blog post is 426 words long.

Cover Art Matters

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First impressions are important. Really important.

This truth applies to interpersonal relationships. It also applies to anything from storefronts to websites. Whether we like it or not, the first few moments of interaction form a lasting impression.

Sadly, many authors and publishers overlook this simple concept when choosing cover art for new books. They may want the thesis of a book to captivate readers. They may craft an exceptionally clever title. But ultimately, none of this matters if the cover art stinks.

And all too often - it does.

As a radio producer, I receive dozens of review copies of books from publishers every week. As you can imagine, this only allows for a few fleeting moments to evaluate a book for an interview on our show. And in those first few seconds, the very first thing we see is cover art.

If it's bad, we almost immediately reject the book. 

Why? From my experience, bad cover art almost always equals bad book. So if you've got a great book, why in the world would you settle for anything but excellence in cover design?

Clearly, "good" cover art is somewhat subjective. Personal taste varies, and therefore two people can completely disagree as to whether a particular cover is "good". However, there are some basic do's and don'ts that most normal people can agree on:

• DO hire a professional graphic designer. Authors are skilled in the art of writing. Most aren't also skilled in visual arts. Therefore, authors should do the writing, and let professional graphic designers take the lead on cover design. Of course, authors should pass along their ideas and preferences. But don't micromanage. Artists do their best work when given the freedom to create.

• DON'T put people on your book cover. Ever. Particularly if that person is you. Pictures of people are a universally bad idea on covers. They're distracting, and almost always send a message that can limit your audience. Enough said.

• DO use white space. There's a lot of truth to the saying "less is more". Book covers that are filled with graphics and colors can be distracting. They can also be difficult to process quickly. As a result, simple eye-catching graphics strategically placed without other visual noise can be powerful. And memorable. 

• DON'T feature endorsements or forewords that aren't extremely noteworthy. Some names can sell books by themselves. If those famous people decide to endorse your book, proudly feature their name on your cover. But it your endorsements or foreword aren't from someone exceptionally noteworthy, don't put them on your cover. You lose with your audience if someone they've never heard of "endorsed" your book. 

• DO ensure that your thesis and cover art are cohesive. A quick glance at the cover should immediately connect the average reader to the core ideas of your book. Mixed messages can be confusing. And annoying. So, take time to make sure that the visual message on your cover clearly and accurately matches the central idea of your book.

• DON'T make your cover design too abstract or weird. Artistic people love to find hidden meaning. They also enjoy deeper analysis of abstract ideas. Let's reserve this type of higher-level art for museum walls and art history textbooks. Book covers should immediately make sense to the average person. And the average person isn't an art snob. Simple concepts cleverly displayed for normal people to understand make for the most palatable covers. 

Following these simple principles for cover design might increase your chances of landing a radio interview on your book. Better yet - more people might actually read it.

Christian Dating Is Weird: 5 Ways To Stop The Madness

Christian dating is weird. really weird.

I had some fun discussing this in a recent episode of the podcast I co-host. You can listen to it here. 

For those unfamiliar with the strange world of "Christian dating", it's actually a bit difficult to define. I almost laughed out loud when I discovered Wikipedia has a detailed article on the subject called "Biblical Courtship". Honestly, the list of complex explanations and detailed rules is embarrassing. Do we really need to make such a big deal out of this?

No. We don't.

While well intentioned, "courtship" has some significant flaws. First of all, the idea of focusing so early in a relationship on marriage puts way too much pressure on a couple. Why in the world would you want to talk about marriage with someone you hardly even know? That's awkward at best.

Secondly, this approach to dating relationships devalues women. It's a father's job to protect and teach his daughter while she's young. But acting like an overbearing gatekeeper for her relationships as she matures implies that she's incapable of making good decisions on her own. Ultimately, it devalues her intelligence and discernment. It also sends a message to all Christian women that they aren't smart enough to make good relationship decisions. Is that a message we really want to send? I hope not.

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Lastly, courtship fails to address the difficult aspects of emotional, spiritual and physical intimacy in a dating relationship. Vague terms like "purity" are tossed around without proper definition. Rather than address these challenging issues directly, many Christian parents promote a form of courtship that contains absolutely no intimacy of any kind. Without a doubt, this does a disservice to the couple. And it may lead young couples to get married for the wrong reasons. I'm certainly not aware of any marriage counselor that thinks lust is a good reason to get married.

So how can Christians approach dating like normal people? Here's five specific suggestions:

• Stop creating a "one-size-fits-all" formula for dating relationships.  I have four children. They're all completely different in personality, temperament, maturity, and spiritual development. So I parent them all differently. This is just common sense. Why should Christian dating relationships be any different? People are unique, and so are their circumstances and life experiences. Therefore, Christians deserve freedom to develop unique Godly relationships. Formulaic models can't possibly work for everyone.
• Model healthy marriage for your kids. This means arguing in front of them sometimes. It also means resolving conflict in front of them. Parents should hug and kiss each other in front of their kids. They should pray together and play games together. They should talk and laugh. Get the point? Let them see you experiencing all normal aspects of a marriage relationship.
•  Have blunt conversations about physical intimacy. I believe the primary reason courtship exists is because parents refuse to have honest conversations about this issue. Vague declarations of "purity" need to stop. When they're ready, talk to your kids about physical intimacy at all levels. Anything from hand holding to sex. Talk to them about what God says about these things. Lead them toward an understanding of what's appropriate. Empower them to make the right choices - and then trust that they will.
• At some point, dads need to stop being gatekeepers. All kids mature emotionally and spiritually at different rates. Obviously, parents need to be gatekeepers for all types of relationships when their children are young. But at some point, parents need to let go. Teach them while they're young, and love them enough to let them make their own decisions when they're older. If you do it right, you won't have to force them to bring potential dates to you. They'll actually want to.
• Dial back the intensity a few notches. Christians are wound-up way too tightly about dating. Quite frankly, our entire complicated and quirky approach makes us look exceptionally odd. To a world without Jesus, we're already weird enough. Let's just take a collective deep breath, talk about this like normal people, and fearlessly address the difficult issues connected to dating relationships within our own families. Use intelligence and Biblical wisdom as a guide. But no more books. No more catch phrases. No more acronyms. Please? 

With a little bit of effort, Christians can approach dating relationships Biblically...without getting weird. At least I hope we can.

Why So Much Apathy?

Sometimes I feel completely alone in my outrage.

It seems that whenever I raise the issue of racism among my peers, I get empty and abbreviated responses. Don't get me wrong - everyone always agrees that a particular incident of racism is bad. But the tone of the responses I hear is similar to the disappointment one expresses after watching a bad movie or eating a below average meal.

In my mind, anything other than outrage at racism in our society is equivalent to apathy. Particularly for followers of Jesus.

A recent example in the news illustrates my point.

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Like virtually every high school in America, Wilcox County High School has an annual prom. Only in this Georgia community, the school doesn't sponsor or organize the event. The parents do. And every year since schools were integrated in the 1970's, parents have organized two proms: one for the white kids and one for the black kids.

Yes, you read that correctly.

This year, some of the students finally had enough. Four girls (two white and two black) created a Facebook page to raise funds for an integrated prom. Gratefully, they were successful. National news stories are now celebrating the first integrated prom at Wilcox County High School.

If you read all the way to the end of the ABC news story covering this, you'll find a disturbing fact. It says,

"Despite this year's groundbreaking integrated dance, once again this year there was a segregated prom attended only by white students. It wasn't an officially sanctioned event, but a private one organized by white parents."

Yes, you read that correctly as well.

This makes me angry. Outraged, in fact. It also deeply hurts my heart. It's not just that racist parents continue to sponsor a 'white only' prom. It's also that this segregated prom existed at all. For so long. How in the world could it be acceptable for such a blatant form of racism and segregation to take place in our society until last year?!

The Bible is clear that God loves justice. Jesus taught about the importance of justice. References to justice can be found throughout the entire Bible. Plus, God created all people in his image, and he makes it clear that heaven is beautifully diverse.

So why aren't white Christians in our society more upset by such disgusting examples of injustice and racism? Where's the collective outrage? If there were ever cause for righteous anger among Christians in America today, wouldn't racism like this easily qualify? Shouldn't white churches be leading the charge in our culture toward racial justice? Perhaps some of these questions can be answered by my thoughts in a previous blog.

I pray that my generation will renew the call for racial justice in America. May we boldly work toward racial unity, and become a model for the rest of the country to follow.

Is It Safe There?

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Racism has changed. It used to be disgustingly obvious and impossible to ignore. Gratefully, the days of racially motivated beatings, lynching and other forms of overt discrimination have almost completely disappeared.

But racism isn't gone. It just looks different.

When I moved my family to Chicago a few years ago, we felt it would be best to rent before we buy. We wanted to get a feel for the city before we decide exactly where we'd settle down. So we found a decent place on the north side of town and started the acclimation process. It didn't take long to realize that our large family would require more space and cheaper living. It also didn't take long to realize that one of the only areas of Chicago that offers homes at an affordable price is on the city’s south side. And by God's grace, we found a perfect home there at an unbelievable price.

You'd think that the first reaction we'd get from others would be excitement. But it wasn't. The same question kept repeatedly surfacing: "Is it safe there?"

That question still shocks me.

These people knew me. I wouldn’t willingly move my family to a dangerous neighborhood. Who would do such a thing? Chicago has some terrible neighborhoods all over the city, and given a choice nobody would want to live there. So unless all of our friends at the time assumed that we’re stupid, they were implying something else altogether.

For those of you unfamiliar with the geographic and demographic make-up of Chicago, it’s really pretty simple. On paper, the city is extremely diverse. However in practice, Chicago is almost completely segregated. The Spring 2010 issue of Perspecta contained a fascinating ethnic map of Chicago based upon 2000 census data. You can find an interactive online version of the map here. As is clearly indicated, the vast majority of people on the south side of Chicago are African American.

Of course, it’s no secret that pockets of Chicago’s south and west sides have been plagued by violence. But it would be a vast oversimplification and extremely naïve to assume that all neighborhoods south of downtown Chicago are “dangerous”. There are plenty of areas north of Chicago that are just as dangerous as the south side. And I’ve seen a lot of wonderful areas to raise a family on the South Side. I happen to live in one.

So what did my white friends mean when they asked whether the South Side is “safe”? I believe they were unintentionally revealing a truth among many white people in America today. Deep down, we’re scared of black people.

Yup – I said it. Many white people today are afraid of black people. And they’re either too embarrassed to admit it, or have convinced themselves otherwise. It’s the reason so many white people quickly lock their car doors when there’s a black guy in the crosswalk. It’s the reason white people clutch their purse or walk the other way when they encounter a group of black teenagers at the mall.

What’s the cause of the fear? Is it ignorance? Perhaps it’s a lack of familiarity with African American culture? Could it be a conditioned response based upon negative portrayals of African Americans in the media? Or maybe it’s a subtle underlying feeling learned from parents and grandparents? I know my grandfather was an unashamed racist and anti-Semite.

Ultimately, it’s probably a combination of all these factors.

Racial slurs aren’t socially acceptable anymore. The days of legal discrimination are gone. But our society hasn’t progressed as far as we’d like to believe. Tragically, we have a long way to go. Why? Real change will only happen when racism is confronted within yourself. At a heart level.

If the first stage in changing a behavior or kicking a habit is ‘acceptance’ – are we even there yet?

4 Reasons Gratitude Matters at Work

“You’re all expendable!”

That was the short and inspiring speech I heard from a bandleader years ago. As you can imagine, my colleagues and I in the band felt highly valued and ready to wow the next crowd.

But in a sense, he was right.

In his book “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership”, John C. Maxwell says “…the only way to make yourself indispensable is to make yourself dispensable. In other words, if you are able to continually empower others and help them develop so that they become capable of taking over your job, you will become so valuable to the organization that you become indispensable” (p. 126-127)

It’s counterintuitive, but it’s true.

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We should all empower others around us to take over our jobs. We should create an environment in which our absence wouldn’t destroy a team or a company. This is particularly true in radio, as most programs are comprised of complicated teams.

But applied poorly, this principle can obviously lead to a very unhealthy work environment. So what’s the secret to implementing this concept appropriately?

Gratitude.

Gratitude is the key to success in creating a team of people who are happily dispensable. Why? Here are 4 reasons:

• Gratitude fosters security. There’s nothing worse than constantly being worried about losing your job. Or upsetting your boss. Ultimately, insecurity leads to people making cautious and safe decisions. This is hardly the formula for growth and success. The most effective antidote for insecurity is words of gratitude. 

• Gratitude breeds loyalty. Most leaders desire loyalty. Most teams also want loyalty. Why? Because loyalty creates a sense of personal investment and ownership. That sense of ownership will likely translate into a more satisfied and dedicated individual. Over time, consistent words of gratitude will deepen the loyalty within a team.

• Gratitude inspires confidence. How do you know you’re doing a good job? Hints don’t work well. Indirect feedback creates ambiguity and uncertainty. Gratitude is one the surest ways to let someone know they’re doing well. Whether it’s a small task or a major project, direct words of gratitude and encouragement give people confidence in their performance. It lets them know they’re headed in the right direction. The resulting confidence will make them better employees. 

• Gratitude creates resilience. No matter what, every team and organization will experience setbacks. Mistakes are inevitable. When bad things happen within an unhealthy work environment, more problems will be just around the corner. But a person that regularly receives direct verbal expressions of gratitude will be able to quickly bounce back from errors and adversity. Their internal sense of value within the organization will inspire them to withstand whatever difficulties come their way.

Without a doubt, gratitude is a powerful weapon for good in the workplace. Apply it liberally.

4 Lessons From An Unlikely Friendship

It’s probably the most unlikely friendship in American history.

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I recently read Chuck Colson’s autobiography “Born Again”. It was absolutely captivating. But the most fascinating part of the story was his friendship with a Democratic Senator from Iowa.

In the early 1970’s, our country was entangled in one of the greatest political controversies of all time – Watergate. In addition, the Vietnam War further divided the country along political lines.

Chuck Colson was a conservative Republican and one of the closest advisers to President Richard Nixon. He had a reputation for ruthless political maneuvers and possessed an unwavering support for the Commander-In-Chief. As the pressure of Watergate began to unravel his career and his personal life, Chuck Colson did something most people simply couldn't believe. He became a follower of Jesus.

Harold Hughes was a liberal Democratic Senator from Iowa. After serving in WWII, he became a truck driver and an alcoholic. This lifestyle alienated him from his family, and led him to thoughts of suicide. But one night, he cried out to God for help. His subsequent faith in Christ helped him overcome alcoholism and establish a political career. He eventually became Governor of Iowa, and later a United States Senator.

Before they met, Colson described Hughes as “…anti-war, anti-Nixon, anti-Colson and we couldn’t be further apart politically.” (pg. 146) When asked his opinion of Colson, Hughes said, “There isn’t anyone I dislike more than Chuck Colson. I’m against everything he stands for.” (pg. 160)

In the midst of the Watergate scandal and the Vietnam War, their paths miraculously crossed in Washington DC. And they became the best of friends.

Why? Because they shared the most important commitment a man can make. They both fearlessly followed Jesus.

In spite of their dramatically different views on social, fiscal and political issues, they shared the deep bonds of friendship. When publicly describing this newfound friendship, Hughes once told a prayer gathering,

               

“I’ve learned how wrong it is to hate. For years there were men toward whom I felt consuming bitterness. I wasn’t hurting them, only myself. By hating I was shutting Christ’s love out of my life. One of the men I hated most was Chuck Colson, but now that we share a commitment together in Christ, I love him as my brother. I would trust him with my life, my family, with everything I have” (pg. 177)

I believe we can glean 4 important lessons from this incredible friendship between Colson and Hughes:

• Political opinions should never be an obstacle to Christian friendship. Many followers of Jesus today have dramatically different political opinions. Christians can be counted as members of almost every political party in America – no matter how obscure. But if these two men can become friends, anyone can. Do you have any Christian friends with whom you disagree politically? If not – why not? Colson and Hughes proved that political disagreements just aren’t that big of a deal in Christian friendship. Who knows – one of your best friends in the world may turn out to be someone with different political opinions than you.

• We should pursue friendship with Christians across the political aisle. I don’t have time to tell the whole story in the context of this blog, but Colson and Hughes didn’t become friends effortlessly. They had to work at it. Other Christians took the time to help them come together under the banner of Christ. But their friendship served as a powerful example of the uniting power of Christ’s love in the midst of a culture that was deeply divided. These unlikely friendships are worth pursuing in our lives as well.

• Politics just aren’t that important. I have strong political convictions, and I exercise them in the voting booth. You should too, as it’s our civic duty. But aggressively proclaiming my political ideologies doesn’t help me forge friendships. It actually works against it. So I don’t freak out about politics anymore. I actually avoid the topic as much as possible. I don’t want politics to become a stumbling block in my pursuit of friendships with other Christians.

• Jesus doesn’t belong to one political party. One of the most annoying things in the world is when I hear someone’s faith questioned for no other reason than their political party affiliation. This is embarrassing. And offensive. Viewed through a Christian lens, all political parties have strengths and weaknesses. Colson was a Republican. Hughes was a Democrat. Both were followers of Jesus. Making political party affiliation a prerequisite for faith is nothing short of heresy. So don’t place politics before your faith. Or before your Christian friendships.

I pray that we all make an effort to follow the example set by Chuck Colson and Senator Harold Hughes. May our mutual love for Jesus Christ be the primary motive for pursuing Christian friendships - even unlikely ones.