Christopher Harper

Elisabeth reading her very first book

Christopher — Wed, 18 Jan 2012 05:05:12 +0000

My oldest daughter is in Kindergarten. She is learning to read. Here she is practicing her first book. Isn’t she doing a fantastic job?

My favorite part is when she accidentally repeats Jon three times. Great stuff.

Sound will be bigger than video

Christopher — Tue, 03 Jan 2012 02:49:29 +0000

I agree with Alex Ljung. He has put together one of the most important presentations I have heard recently on media, the internet, and the future of online communication. Very few people in the industry agree with him right now. Others are catching on quickly.

The video below is about 25 minutes long, but his presentation only consumes about 15 minutes of that time. The remaining content will not likely be of interest to you.

Do you have any thoughts on the potential of audio and the future of the web? I plan to do a more lengthy update on the subject after launching a related project at some point in the near future.

Great broadcaster, great memories, great future

Christopher — Sat, 03 Dec 2011 06:32:04 +0000

Having spent the majority of my professional life as a broadcaster, I have a tremendous appreciation for quality broadcasting. Arlo White is a primary example for soccer play by play.

I have had the privilege of hearing him each week during the MLS season, calling Seattle Sounders FC matches.

His clarity and insight on the game are excellent, and each call has creative flair and exactly the right amount of excitement.

After a couple of years with the Sounders, Arlo is moving into what is the best job in American soccer broadcasting today at NBC Sports. No one deserves it more.

Mediocrity is too often the norm in network broadcasting. Some commentators and anchors should not have jobs. In this case, it was terrific to see real excellence rewarded. Bravo NBC. Bravo Arlo White.

What makes a place your home?

Christopher — Fri, 04 Nov 2011 02:53:27 +0000

I have been thinking about the term “home” lately, in the context of a city or state in which a person lives. A 3,500 mile move just over a year ago has caused me to wonder where home is for our family.

We understand that no place on this earth is our true home. God teaches us in His word that our true home is heaven. I am not not discounting, bypassing or forgetting that fact. It is the truth.

Still, people feel at home in a certain place. I am wondering what factors contribute to that feeling and considering the ingredients for developing a sense of belonging to a community.

Trying new software and services online

Christopher — Sun, 02 Oct 2011 19:09:06 +0000

I want to find simpler and more effective ways to communicate online. Some of the projects I am working on at Maranatha deserve to be shared, but are often so time consuming they leave me with little time to write. Recording audio updates appears to be an excellent solution to the little-time, much-to-share problem. With this in mind, I am experimenting with several different services. Here’s a first attempt with SoundCloud.

Good sense in the soccer business

Christopher — Fri, 15 Jul 2011 00:00:13 +0000

I am a Major League Soccer fan. I have enjoyed watching their business grow over the past few years. They have made smart choices time and again to become a serious professional sports league in this country. If you are a business or soccer geek, you need to check out this video. I have particularly focused on their digital strategy. They are doing a phenomenal job marketing MLS online and in a variety of digital formats.

Those who know, say Don Garber is the best commissioner in sports. I agree. He has MLS in a period of major growth at a time when the naysayers are many and the business climate isn’t exactly favorable. Great job, Don.

Stop trying to be cool

Christopher — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 17:00:00 +0000

To be “cool” is to resemble more closely the popular people and culture of the world in which we live. Those who don’t “fit in” cannot be cool.

Should Christians be cool? Should we have a desire to be cool? What does our desire to be cool say about our spirituality?

Well…our Bible tells us to be set apart, to be separate from the world. Not removed from it, but certainly not like it. Therefore, a desire to be cool is incompatible with a desire to be Godly. They are, by their very nature, totally opposing one another.

To make it clear: one cannot more closely resemble popular people and culture, while at the same time being “set apart”. It is impossible.

Important, not just great, message

Christopher — Wed, 13 Jul 2011 05:07:39 +0000

I made a special effort to listen to this year’s Spiritual Leadership Conference sessions from Lancaster Baptist Church in California. So far, I have heard only two, but they have each been a true blessing.

Tonight, my wife and I were able to view the Monday evening sermon from Pastor Paul Chappell. It is a fantastic message that is every bit as dynamic as it is important. If you are a fundamentalist and you listen to no other video or audio sermon this week, devote an hour to this one. In it, Dr. Chappell addresses issues that few others of his stature dare to address. He does so with passion, eloquence and a clarity that is rare. I am placing it in my permanent files and will pass it along to as many as I can.

The Spiritual Leadership Conference continues this week. You can tune in the livestream or download each message soon after they are given. I’m certain you will not regret devoting some time to this endeavor. These are sessions that are certain to be filled with exhortation and encouragement.

Baptists making a difference online

Christopher — Wed, 23 Mar 2011 03:41:13 +0000

The new podcast from Vision Baptist Church in Alpharetta, Georgia is compelling. We know it is genuine because this church and its pastors share their burden for world evangelism online every day via blogs, Twitter accounts, videos and more.

This episode focuses on the needy country of India. I pray with Pastor Gardner that God would raise up men who would seek to reach lost souls in that part of the world.

Vision, its pastors, members and missionaries are doing so many great things online I cannot adequately list them all. Here are a few of my favorite Vision-related sites. If you are committed to world missions, you should click:

You may also subscribe to the Vision Missions podcast here.

Stop, make adjustments, try again

Christopher — Wed, 02 Feb 2011 06:16:24 +0000

I am in the middle of a major project. Right now it seems like the biggest project I have ever tackled as a professional.

Today I give myself a low grade on progress.

Instead of taking measured steps every day, I find myself getting tiny bits done…occasionally.

Getting back on a productive track is paramount. Here’s a list of things I should do. Feel free to listen as I give myself a lecture.

Stop considering scope. – Looking at the big picture occasionally is useful. Being overwhelmed by the big picture is paralyzing. Take it one step at a time and focus on small victories.
Say “not right now.” – There are many opportunities to get side-tracked. Sometimes they are easy to take when the big project is giving me fits. Delay them if at all possible until primary objectives are met.
Make concessions. – Not everything can be done my way. Not everything should be done my way. Not everything will be done my way. Give in sometimes.
Meet tomorrow’s deadline. – The project deadline is looming. If the work that needs to be completed tomorrow doesn’t get finished, neither will the project. Set it. Achieve it.
Enjoy the journey. – This stuff is supposed to be fun. I get to work on this project. I wanted to work on this project. I should be enjoying it while it lasts!

Working on anything “big” right now? If so, I hope this lecture was a help. I know I will be referring to it often in the coming days.