Category: Uncategorized

Bessie “Betty” Criswell: 1913-2006

Bessie “Betty” Criswell died yesterday at Baylor Hospital in Dallas, she was 93.
Betty was a strong supporter of her husband, Rev. W.A. Criswell, and taught a Sunday School Class for over 30 years. Her last class was July 9.
I never knew her, I just heard her weekend and weekout on the radio as my dad would play KCBI 90.9, a station founded by her husband and First Baptist Dallas, every Sunday morning.
She reminded me in ways of my own grandmothers who were both active in the church.
Her passing is an end to the Criswell era at FBC Dallas.
Billy Graham, a friend and member of First Baptist said, “We join in rejoicing that Betty Criswell has joined her beloved husband in heaven at the feet of the Lord Jesus Christ, whom she has served so long. Her tremendous ministry will be greatly missed at First Baptist Church of Dallas.”

Graphic designer help

CMS has posted a list of helps and pointers for graphic designers:
5 Lists for Graphic Designers (click the above link to read the stories)

  • 1. 50 Ways to Become a Better Designer – Loads of ideas, best practices and general creative stuff straight from the mouths of fellow designers.
  • 2. 10 Things They Never Taught Me in Design School – Start with what you know, then tackle the unknowns. Don’t over-think the problem. Learn to give some hierarchy to the details and the big picture. (FYI, the list includes a few profanities)
  • 3. 10 Strangest Desks and Tables – OK, this one has little to do with design, but sometimes you need some funky inspiration, especially when you’re thinking about decorating the usually boring church space.
  • 4. 4 Principles that Make for Great Logo Design – Simple and basic stuff, but sometimes that’s exactly what you need. Complete with thumbs up and thumbs down examples.
  • 5. 7 Ways to Improve Your Logo – OK, so they don’t pitch it in a numbered list format, but we’ll make it work. Good thoughts on how to polish an existing logo, including examples from Microsoft and Apple.

    • How to not do PR

    Public relations can be a tough job. Believe me, I know. I deal with PR reps every day at the newspaper. But many spokesmen and PR folks just don’t get it and can make their company, church or organization look bad just by not following some basic guidelines (from CMS):

  • Choose your words wisely.
  • Don’t bring up the worst possible fears (like bringing up Chernobyl when talking about a new nuclear plant)
  • Don’t be callous about death.
  • Don’t state the truth in a way that can be misleading.
  • Don’t spin bad news. Bad news is bad news.
  • Don’t insult people (they could be your customers, or in the case of churches, potential visitors)
  • Make a positive statement when you have the opportunity.

    • Creative Arts


    Creative Arts
    Originally uploaded by LVRyan.

    I love this ministry idea. Its a great way to expand your media ministry and creative arts.
    From the creator of the flyer:

    I created this a couple days ago for our Creative Arts nights which are starting this week. We’ll have “connect groups” for people interested in a variety of topics where we’ll provide in-depth instruction and hands-on experience. It’s targeted at youth high school and up, and adults 18-34.

    Statue of Liberation Through Christ


    I’ve been catching up on some of my blogs tonight that I don’t read on an every day basis.
    So get ready for some fun posts…
    A church in Memphis, Tenn. has constructed a 72-foot Statue of Liberation Through Christ, which is basically a Statue of Liberty with a cross instead of a torch in one hand and the 10 commandments in the other.
    Are you serious?!
    “[It’s] a creative means of just really letting people know that God is the foundation of our nation,” said World Overcomers Outreach Ministries Church pastor Alton R. Williams.
    Williams has also bought full page ads in a Memphis paper condemning homosexuality, lists “legalized abortion, a lack of prayer in schools and the country’s ‘promotion of expressions of New Age, Wicca, secularism and humanism,'” among the nation’s ills, and claimed Hurricane Katrina was punishment for the sins of New Orleans.
    It keeps getting better and better doesn’t it?
    Kevin Hendicks says, “Just add it to the other religious monuments, including ‘touchdown’ Jesus and the 99-foot eyesore.”