Nashville Day Four

Started off mighty early today. I took medicine and went to bed around 8pm last night. I have been wide awake since around 3am.

I gathered some stuff in the dark, dressed quietly, and headed out of the room around 3:30am. I've been in a nearby lobby for the past few hours watching a DVD on my laptop, watching the night crew clean the stairs and carpet, and thinking about NRB.
I really enjoyed NRB last year. This year, I haven't caught the spirit. I am not sure if is due to the fact that IFL has a good game plan for 2009 and I am not hearing anything that is challenging me to think further down the road. Or could it be that no one has a great idea what the future holds for Christian media?

I can't help from thinking about a few major points. Even though there is such thing as best practice and human nature, Christian giving comes from a different place than charts, graphs, data, and trends can document. And will the model built for Christian Radio/TV ministries morph to the Internet? Is the Internet just another leg on the stool or a whole new chair?

It is fun meeting people, hearing ideas, spotting trends, and learning the industry, but I am wanting to see clearly down the road. I guess I'm frustrated I can't do that right now.

So, I guess I will work on learning to walk with bisters on both heels and learning to talk with a sore throat. And just keep at the gameplan we have already established for the next year. Its sound.

Nashville Day Three

The morning started off great.. had a small breakfast buffett with Wayne and Bill at an artificial riverside cafe. Had theological discussions about the messages from the night before and philosophical discussions about ministries in general.

Bill and I attended a worship service. It was nice and had great music too.
I then headed to a cafe and asked for hot water and salt. I gargled for a few minutes to try and relieve this pain in the back of my throat. I'm not exactly sure but I am thinking a 10-12lb frog with sandpaper on its back, crawled into my throat last night and is break dancing in and around my sinuses. When I try to swallow, he puts his arms and legs against the walls of the opening and tries to block anything from passing, then kicks me a few times. I feel OK, but my throat is killing me.... did I say killing? Good, I meant it!

After the gargle, I went to a 2 hour lunch/meeting to discuss Convio, meet other ministries, and the Convio team. Great time, wish I felt better so I could interacted more and with a clear head.

I am now in bed for no other reason but to protect myself from talking to people... Did I mention I am in pain?

I wish I knew how to get medicine here. I need some sinus medicine BAD. Maybe a Z-pak! Are there bootleggers for this sort of thing?

Nashville Day Two

Woke up and worked out. I was out of breath before I even made it to the gym. This place is huge. I did get in a few miles at the treadmill and the stationary bike.

I then made a horrible discovery. 260 lbs will not fit into a 240 lbs black suit. I'm not sure if this suit will make it back into the closet in one piece. I feel like a teenager in a chicken suit holding a "Eat at Joe's" sign. I'm not naked but I feel out of place and know people are watching and shaking their heads in disbelief. :)
Today is the big day. www.insight.org won Best Ministry Website of the Year and we receive an award and have a photo op later today. More to come. (I have to go sign up for a Yoga class).

We received our NRB award. We had our picture taken with the president of NRB and we had a few famous people in the room with us.

After the photo op and a quick bite to eat, we headed to the General Opening session of NRB and sat on the third row. A great 2 hours. A Christian band, Salvador, played. Billy Graham's daughter, Anne, spoke, then Alistair Begg.



I am coming down with something. My throat is killing me. I also made a horrible mistake. I bought new shoes before I came and now have two giant blisters on my heels. I may "seriously" have to wear tennis shoes with my suits for the next 3 days. Otherwise, I will need to rent a wheel chair. I will see what kind of looks I can get from people when I mix suspenders with K-Swiss.

Nashville Day One

Back at NRB (National Religious Broadcasters) in Nashville Tennessee. We are at the Gaylord, right next to the Grand Ole Opry. This year was not as bad as "day one" last year. We didn't have to fight through delayed flights, icy weather, getting lost leaving the airport, and long lines at check-in.

It was smooth sailing from the time Bill picked me up in the driveway till tonight's viewing on our 30 anniversary DVD in our IFL suite.

Blue skies and 65 degree weather greeted us as we unloaded our bags and checked in. After unpacking, most of us went to the suite to help setup the furniture and electronics. Somehow I seem to always get the backseat in any vehicle I get in. I don't mind but as I get older and heavier, my body doesn't enjoy the positions I torque into.
Then an evening at a steakhouse capped off the night nicely. We enjoyed a nice evening of good food and told each other eccentricities about ourselves. I think I had the worst, but I am not surprised. The prime rib was one of the best I have ever eaten and I think I gained 4 lbs by just looking at the dessert. I need to thank Cynthia again.

The IFL Day One Crew

My Blog Spot

I am headed to bed and hope I wake up. I have a Canadian coming into the room after 10pm. Not sure what they do after dark. But I hope it doesn't involve watching hockey, calling moose, or singing their national anthem. Good night.