My morning was so strange I literally couldn't stop laughing on the way into the building.

Ever have one of those days where everything seems to go wrong? Not one or two things, but so many that you just know there is a curse on you?

Well this morning was that for me. I headed to Sbux as usual and that is where it started. The barista handed me my debit card and coffee, chatted a bit and then made me wait while he looked for my card and coffee...

Next, I pulled out and stopped at the light. But then started to go on the green arrow rather than the green light. Luckily for me it was a fast stop and back up a foot or so but the dirty looks came anyway.

I pulled up at the church and realized my coffee had spilled into the cup holder (probably from my jarring stop when I realized I was driving into oncoming traffic) so I set my coffee on the center console and cleaned up the mess in the cup holder.

As I was cleaning I somehow knocked the coffee over with my elbow and didn't get it picked up until more coffee had spilled into the back seat and all over the console.

And finally when I had everything cleaned up I backed out of the car and bumped the horn (apparently everyone in the parking lot needed to know what type or morning I was having...)

Just thought I'd share...

The media player is a big part of the GCCwired.com site because it's a visual representation of what takes place at the church on any given weekend. To give you an idea how often it is used I looked at the total number of videos watched since July 3, 2007 and here is what I found:

Over the last 8 days there have been 4,230 videos started in the media player - an average of over 400 views per day. I'm pretty sure we're not going to touch YouTube, but it seems like a pretty big number to me.

For those interested:

The player was designed to play flash video clips 5-10 minutes in length (360x270) in the progressive download format. But recently our web developers added the ability to do streaming video through the player as well which is huge! Now we are able to stream video clips of any length and at twice the size (640x360) of the progressive download clips.

The other cool feature with the streaming video is that it can be viewed in three formats:

• 1x (which is actually 50% for our streaming video)
• 2x (which is actually 100% for our streaming video)
• Full screen (only available with streaming video)

So how do I know what type of video I'm watching?

We recently broke down and purchased an edger for the lawn since we have been in the house for over a year without attempting it. And within minutes I realized that it probably hadn't been done by the previous owners either. In spots I was cutting back almost three inches of lawn! It took quite a while so I had plenty of time to think and find similarities between edging the lawn and my day job (maintaining websites).

Here's what I observed:

• Your website can get overgrown: A great website has all the essentials and doesn't try be all things to all people. However, over time it can slowly adopt pages, elements, pictures, etc. that cause drift from its otherwise laser-focus. Take time to "edge" your site once and a while to bring it back in alignment. Once these edges are trimmed back it's amazing how much better it looks.
• Static websites won't look good for long: Your site probably looked incredible the day it hit the big time. But within months the luster fades. This could be due to user-familiarity, dated graphics, old copy and/or changes in technology. Because of this we need to be constantly updating the copy, tweaking images/graphics and using the emerging technology to keep the site "fresh."
• Failure to maintain can do damage: You may not realize it, but allowing your site to become overgrown can actually harm your audience and your brand. Notice (see picture above) the black stains where the overgrown grass used to be. I'm not sure if these stains will go away or if I'm stuck with them. Similarly an overgrown website can harm the user by giving faulty information, giving a bad impression and making it hard for them to find what they are looking for. Your brand can also be tarnished if your site doesn't express the level of excellence your church maintains in other areas.

Next time you do a "5000 Foot" analysis of your website, allow your lawn to guide you...

One of the cool things I get to do is help promote workshops and conferences at Granger - the biggest of which is the annual Innovate conference (previously the Innovative Church Conference). Each year we get together to develop the design, strategize about the print pieces and figure out how to use the website to get the word out.

This year we landed on the following:

• WiredChurches.com home page: Innovate trailer able to be watched in small media player. Larger version of the trailer (warning: audio begins automatically on this page) is available if you click on the link below or click the video as it plays. Large flash element links to the "mini-site" for Innovate 2007.
• Innovate 2007 Home Page: This page is the actual product page hosted inside the eCommerce solution - allowing the user to register for the conference. A navigation window is provided to hit "hosted" pages (outside the eCommerce system) for more conference information.
• Innovate 2007 Mini-Site: Made up of the "hosted" pages that offer information like schedule, speakers, breakouts, etc.
• Countdown2Innovate Podcast: Tim Stevens (Executive Pastor) and Kem Meyer (Communications Director) are hosting a podcast to discuss the conference, chat with scheduled speakers and go over topics related to innovation in the church.

It's been a fun ride watching all these pieces come together and I can't wait for the conference. This year it happens on September 27-28 with WiredChurches.com Workshops happening the day before on September 26, 2007.

We are also hosting the second annual Granger Film Festival after the midweek service on Thursday night.

We'll see you all there!

On May 21st we held the first ever WiredChurches.com WEB Workshop. Derived from the highly popular Communications Workshop - the WEB Workshop pulls high level communication strategy together with technical tips and tricks to help people take their web presence to the next level no matter what the next level is.

Kem Meyer (Communications Director at Granger) discusses 5 Web Myths and Best Practices for the web along with a three part strategy for implementation. I round out the day by telling my story from volunteer to full time staff at the church. Along this journey I parallel technology milestones, weekend attendance, website content and the number of staff/volunteers needed to handle the site during those times.

We started well with an attendance of 30+ so I'm looking forward to the next installment on September 26, 2007. The WEB Workshop will be offered as a pre-conference workshop the day before Innovate 2007. I'm looking forward to seeing you all there!

I have heard about, and read a lot on the topic of leadership since joining the granger team. Its part of the DNA of the church and you won't hear me complain. I've seen these principles lived out in our team and in the lives of volunteers that offer their time and talents to the church. And it has created an environment of trust and growth that I love being part of.

But allow me to talk for a minute about mis-leadership.

Long story short...

We recently decided to upgrade our camera (Canon Powershot A85). It was a gift, and it not only served us well for years, but was also the perfect introduction to the age of digital photography.

So I did my research and asked questions in order to make a well informed purchase. A friend at the church suggested I stay away from online stores that claimed to have low prices. He even gave me a online site that offered everything your heart could want - but at prices that were similar to your local camera store.

In my search I found this to be true. One site offered the camera body with two lenses for the same price as the body alone at most stores. After calling and inquiring about the Nikon lenses in the ad - I learned that they weren't really Nikon lenses at all. They were Sigma lenses made for Nikon cameras...

But then came my big break! I found an online store that offered the Nikon D40x with a genuine Nikon 18-55mm AF-S Nikkor lens for $175.00 less than everywhere else. What I bargain I thought - so I pulled the trigger.

A few days went by and I got a phone call from this online retailer (I'll graciously allow them to remain nameless...). The guy on the phone started by verifying my order and making sure my address and billing information were correct. Good so far.

But then he said, "So I see you chose not to get the accessories that come with most cameras - you must have a Nikon camera already."

Come to find out, the "package deal" I purchased included the body of the camera, the genuine Nikon lens, a myriad of trinkets (cheap flash, full size tripod, camera bag, display covers, cleaning kit, etc.) just not the "unimportant accessories" like the battery, charging cord, data cable for transferring images to the computer, software, etc.

[Note to self] There may be photography professionals reading this right now - laughing hysterically...

I don't know if this is typical of camera sales, but it felt a lot like ordering a car online and having the sales guy say, "I see you ordered the vehicle without seats, seat belts and a gas tank - would you like me to add those for a small price?"

--------------------

The good thing is that I wasn't taken for more than the camera was worth. In fact I even saved a few dollars - just not the $175.00 I was expecting...

Turns out I basically paid the same amount I would have paid at the store my friend suggested and just a bit less than walking down the street and buying it at a retail store.

Life Lesson

Are you leading well? As a web professional, am I leading the audience or mis-leading them? And then comes the big question. If you are mis-leading people - is it by accident or on purpose?

Do we promote our "product" with integrity? Or do we "forget" to give people all the details? Do we exaggerate things or shade the truth to make it more palatable?

These are questions I'm wrestling with this week...

(I'll let you know how things turn out with the camera later this year...)

Well...it has arrived. Adobe Creative Suite 3 (web premium version) came on Friday and I've been loading it up and giving it the once-over this weekend. Obviously I can't give you a detailed product review since I haven't even used it yet in the line of duty...

I am officially over the bitterness and resentment I felt when Adobe and Macromedia joined forces. For years I was a loyal user/advocate of Macromedia products only to see them join the competition and eventually even give up the Macromedia name. It just doesn't seem right to offer the "Adobe Flash Player" download on the Adobe home page.

But no one can argue that these products are the best around. And I'm hopeful. Hopeful that the best of each was preserved and that they will work even better in concert.

I'm looking forward to testing the integration between things like Adobe Photoshop and Macromedia (I mean Adobe) Flash. Can I design a layered image in Photoshop and pull it directly into Flash as layers in the timeline to bring a static graphic to life?

We shall see - all in good time. I'll give it a few months and then get back with you for a more detailed review of CS3.

...except for the little hamster in the cubicle at the end of the hall...

A chunk of our team is out of the office this week putting on Regional Workshops for WiredChurches.com - so things have been quiet. Except for the fact that things still need to get done - even with people gone! Which just reinforces the fact that each spoke in the wheel is important - or the wheel stops spinning...

I thought I would take this opportunity to brag on our Communications Specialist - Lisa DeSelm. In her absence I have learned all over again just how important it is to have someone like her on your team. She juggles a myriad of tasks weekly with a speed and accuracy that boggles the mind. She is fluent in a variety of software programs, admin panels and online aps in order to oversee web maintenance, maintain products in the online store, produce our two weekly enewsletters, do graphic/print design and a variety of other (not-so-desirable) tasks.

This coupled with her infectious smile and great customer service skills makes her indispensable.

Do you have someone like this on your team? If not, don't ask for Lisa - she's ours!

It's that time again. Today I get to step away from the web world and sit in on the WiredChurches.com Communications Workshop here at the church. Kem Meyer (Communications Director) presents on the communication strategy at Granger, busting the top five communications myths, describes best practices for communications at your church and offers hands-on tips for implementing a strong communications strategy.

The room was filled with pastors, leaders and communications specialists from churches around the country. The entire Communications Department from Granger was there to add support and be available for Q&A afterward.

There was a bit of web strategy thrown in, but much of that content has been transitioned into the full length WiredChurches.com Web Strategy workshop to be held on May 21. If this is your cup of tea - join us in May and we'll chat.

There's just something inspiring about new technology. I mean, the current stuff is good and it works well. But when you get to taste the new stuff - there's no turning back.

This week a few things happened that gave me this experience.

1. I went out and switched cell phone providers so my wife could have my "old" phone (Motorola i870). She needed a bluetooth enabled phone so the simple (and inexpensive)thing to do was for me to switch to a company that has awesome phones for under $100.00 so she didn't have to spend $300.00 to upgrade hers (those of you that know anything about cellphone companies just figured out which provider she has...). I switched to the Moto Q and so far I love it. Very similar feel to my Dell Axim PPC with Windows Mobile - just without the stylus. I haven't signed up for the data plan but look forward to being connected via the exchange server for email synchronization.
2. Then I was honored to receive my new desktop - complete with Windows Vista. Again, all you have to do is play with Vista in Best Buy a few times and you'll be hooked. The look and feel is so different than XP. Window movement and basic navigation is refined and typical tasks are much more straight forward with better documentation and hints.

Just two small upgrades in technology, but what a difference it makes. I love getting to experience the cutting edge of technology.

Next up on my gadget list:

• Microsoft Office 2007 (when bestowed upon us at work)
• Nikon D40x Digital Camera (when the money starts rolling in)
• Sony HD camcorder (when even more money starts rolling in)
• Sony 46" Bravia XBR3 HD LCD TV (when ____ freezes over)

Isn't it a great time to be alive?

I thought it was about time I posted again about the Zune. It has been almost 6 months so I figured it might be a good time to offer a product review and gadget critique.

At this point I'd give it 8 stars (out of a possible 10). And here is why:


On the positive side:

• I think it looks good
• Large screen - flips to landscape for video and pictures
• You can swap out the wallpaper to personalize the player
• Has an FM tuner with preset functionality
• Does a good job organizing albums/songs/genres/artists etc.
• Wireless sharing (which I never use)
• Genuine Zune accessories match the look and feel of the device
• Solid buttons that feel like they could take a beating and still function well
• You can get a Zune Pass for unlimited downloads
• It is fairly easy to add "non-Zune" files like pictures, music and videos to the device

On the negative side:

• Wireless is there but I currently have no use for it
• Had some stability issues until version 1.3 of the firmware was released - now working well
• The Zune Marketplace is SLOW!
• I have yet to be able to connect to the Zune Marketplace with anything other than my desktop at home. I have two Dell laptops that have the software installed but will not connect to the online store
• Poor support on the Zune website for known issues
• No podcast functionality yet (MP3 podcast files are just viewed as songs)
• Car FM Tuner accessory doesn't have a strong enough signal
• Zune Marketplace doesn't have TV shows or movies

So why did I give it 8 stars with all the negatives listed above? Well, it's simple. The majority of the problems are software problems - which can and will get fixed as time goes on. For example, the Zune Marketplace will get better with each upgrade and there will eventually be a podcast feature. But the device itself has amazed me and I see no reason why it shouldn't be a top contender overall in the digital music player lineup.

So what do I use my Zune for? Well, before I bought it I was a bit embarrassed to admit that the purchase was more out of a desire to have such a cool gadget - rather than to fill a need in my life. But since then I have put it to good use. I find myself using it at work a lot! It's a great way to section yourself off (in your cubicle) from the outside world. It keeps me focused and I can really jam on projects (excuse the pun).

I also use the video playback feature by subscribing to video podcasts (vodcasts) of flash and photoshop tutorials. Once on the Zune I have a library of immediate answers on how to leverage these programs on the job.

And with the new Logitech X-240 PC/MP3 Speakers coming out this month it will be all good!

A friend of mine recently said this when they saw my Zune, "People actually buy those?"

I'm proud to say, "Yes - And I don't regret it at all!"

I love attending a growing church.

I grew up in churches where the size of the church was directly proportional to the number of "sworn members" in that location. For example, if you had 300 people in your town that called themselves (insert denomination here) then you built a church that held 350 (so you didn't feel squished and the younger couples could have children...)

Completely different mentality at Granger. The expectation is growth. And the "sworn member" is actually not a member at all. In fact this person is often completely unaware that they will be attending our church. Call it "seeker sensitive," "reaching the lost (un-found)," "taking the message to the world (ever heard of the Great Commission?)" or simply, "making room for our friends."

However you stack it this church has an outward focus that I resonate with. I have been through 3 building campaigns in the past 10 years and I wouldn't have it any other way. Anyone who tells you that adding numbers to your church is a bad thing hasn't read the book of Acts in a while. In fact the only type of church I saw Jesus endorse on earth was the type that added numbers on a regular basis.

Am I allowed to say, "Church is less for the convinced and more for those that are searching?"

The current weekend series and building campaign has been called My Life. Its this whole idea that Her Life, His Life, Their Life and yes, My Life really matter to God.

So I thought I'd just give you a quick overview of the web strategy that accompanied the series/campaign:

• 5 Week message series titled My Life with typical series page on the website for program, message notes, discussion guides, audio/video links
• My Life landing page to serve as a one-stop shop for information on the campaign and launch site for other campaign specific content
• My Life Postcards blog - A site where postcards from people describing their life experience are posted
• My Life progress blog - A site where construction updates can be posted (future addition)

I think we're in for a great ride. Stop by and join us if you're in the area.

I have the opportunity to work with two great companies: Our web guru's (Aspire!One) and our church management specialists (Fellowship Technologies). The only problem is that for a long time, the two were anything but integrated. Our site was designed by Aspire. Our CMS was plugged into our website via WebLink - a component of the FellowshipOne (F1) software. However, this meant that every time we captured information from the web user, a button would pop-up a F1 window and require the user login to the F1 database before proceeding.

It worked...but we had ideas...

Enter Aspire!One.

Our friends at Aspire went out of their way to work with our friends at Fellowship Technologies in order to come up with a more integrated solution. They pushed the envelope as far as they could with limitations in the F1 system and I think it is a huge enhancement.

Here are some screen shots of the changes:

New login feature allows the user to login and remain logged in throughout visit (browser session). Login box drops when user clicks the "login" link or whenever they click a button that requires F1 login.

Once logged in, the header changes to welcome the specific user and swaps the "create account" link for the "my account" and "logout" links. The "my account" link goes to a page that allows basic account management. Now don't get carried away - we don't allow full access to demographic information even though much of it is possible. Due to accounts being tied to financial giving our business department would rather be in charge of changing the occasional address by hand...

For the people new to the church we encourage the creation of a GCCwired.com account. This page was also created by Aspire and links directly to the F1 database.

All I can say is, "Good job guys!" Collaboration and integration is where its at.