Tony Dungy and THE MENTOR LEADER

Tyndale House Publishers has released the new Tony Dungy book, The Mentor Leader. You are no doubt seeing and hearing a lot of Tony on various media outlets.
Back in March, I traveled to Tampa to sit down with Tony and interview him for a radio special being produced by my friend Dave Koch and the team at Westar Media Group. The resulting program, with excellent hands-on production by Curt Morse, has now been released to radio stations. Anyone who’s interested can listen to the demo online at Westar’s web site. Just double click on the one hour radio special in the pop-up player. I very much enjoyed the whole experience of working with the teams at Tyndale and Westar in producing the special. God’s hand is obviously on Tony’s life and has given him a platform which he is using to serve Christ. I admire him greatly for that.

Confession of a Latecomer

Radio has opened many worlds that I never could have imagined were available to me.  I’ve explored topics, interviewed people, and traveled to places that were not even thinkable in the world in which I grew up.  As a result, I get to be a part of all kinds of radio programs and I love them all.

However, maybe it’s come with age (I like to think it’s wisdom), but I admit that I’m a latecomer to the world of public policy.  Notice I did not say politics.  I’ve always been an observer of politics and news in general, but to me arriving at the intersection of biblical thinking and public policy has been a very slow approach.  Now that I see how important it is, I regret that it took me so long.

My wake up call came when I left Moody Broadcasting almost four years ago.  As Manager of Programming and host of numerous programs, I always tried to support team members who wanted to delve into the issues of public policy and even initiated a few topics and ideas of my own.  The importance of news coverage was instilled in me from my earliest exposure to radio and I look back with gratitude for being a part of the team that provided the first live national news for Christian radio.  But not until I began working with one of my clients, The American Policy Roundtable, did I begin to really awaken to the issues– issues that call for more than just “conversation”.  They require our involvement.

Even as I write, I’m aware that as soon as I say public policy, some people are going to instantly think that I’m aligned to the whole ethos of Fox News and the Tea Parties.  I’m not a big fan of Fox, and the Tea Party movement has severe limitations.  Increasingly, I consider myself a “free agent” in matters of politics and public policy—free to follow my Christian convictions and principles regardless of what political party calls for my allegiance.  And through radio, I’m still hopeful that we can engage listeners and the Church on a deeper, more biblical level that eschews the labels we all put on one another

My friend, Dave Zanotti, has been a big part of that coming around, as has the whole team at our radio program, The Public Square.  From the start, Dave has described The Public Square as “walk” radio, instead of “talk” radio.  We desire to help people walk a biblical path even in matters of public policy.  We don’t do it perfectly, but at least we’re trying.  Jesus Christ said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me…”  That authority doesn’t stop at the door on the way out of church, or isn’t limited to a few select issues.  His authority is over everything.  That should give us a pretty good hint about speaking out with the authority of God’s Word—without political rancor– into matters of public policy.

A more recent wake-up call for me came as I read Eric Metaxas’ biography of Dietrich Bonhoeffer.  I saw how difficult it was for Bonhoeffer to convince the German church in his day of the dangerous path that Germany’s government was heading down.  Bonhoeffer, who was unfailingly committed to God’s Word as a guide in every area of life, knew the church had a responsibility to speak up and even resist, but for the most part he was ignored until it was too late.  Now, I know what we are facing is not nearly like the Germany of the 1930’s, but we need to learn biblical discernment and courage from that era.

These things, and many other little steps over the past few years, have convinced me that radio has an important role to play in educating and equipping the Church for our day—even, and perhaps especially, in matters of public policy as American culture and government is changing. Better late than never.

Dr. Kevin Leman Audio Book Interview

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In addition to being the narrator for a number of recent audio book projects, I’m also called on to interview numerous authors.  These interviews become part of the audio book product, but they are also posted online at the Oasis Audio website.  You’ll find a variety of interviews there, but I have also uploaded one of the more recent interviews with Dr. Kevin Leman here in the audio vault.

In Memoriam: Tedd Seelye

‘Well done, good and faithful servant.  You have been faithful over a little; I will set you over much. Enter into the joy of your master.’

COURAGEOUS DADS for Father’s Day

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The COURAGEOUS DADS Father’s Day Radio Special is fully produced and available to radio stations through Rennaissance Communications.  It’s a 54 minute program with local cutaways.

The COURAGEOUS DADS Special was largely produced on the set of the COURAGEOUS movie– the latest from the creators of FACING THE GIANTS and FIREPROOF.  It features interviews with Alex and Stephen Kendrick, Pastor Michael Catt, and Jim McBride.  These men spent a year in prayer before ever attempting to start producing another film and feel the call of God to proclaim the themes of courage, integrity, and spiritual leadership.

COURAGEOUS DADS also features an interview with Mark Hall of Casting Crowns, and songs by Casting Crowns, Revive, Michael W. Smith, and Jars of Clay.

I’ve posted just the first segment of COURAGEOUS DADS for you to hear.  Any radio station who would like to air the special on or near Father’s Day, should contact Joe Battaglia at Rennaissance Communications at (201) 847-1292.

Happy Man Revisited

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Cleaning and organizing an office cupboard today, I smiled as I ran across a few CD copies of Happy Man, a radio special featuring Buddy Greene, Jeff Taylor, Mike Card, and Keith Compton.  Produced over 3 years ago, Buddy had just released his Happy Man CD when he joined us for an IN THE STUDIO with Michael Card radio program.  That evening, after finishing Mike’s show, Producer Joe Carlson and I cooked up the idea of staying a little longer in the studio and knocking out a radio special– in one take.  No rehearsal, no big plan or even a paycheck–  just have a group of friends play some music in the studio and enjoy each other’s company.  It was one of those days I’ll never forget and I thought you might enjoy hearing the result.  It’s nearly an hour long, but I bet it will make you smile.  A lot.

A Broadcaster For the Ages

Ernie Harwell is with the Lord.  The long-time voice of the Detroit Tiger baseball broadcasts was a man I have long admired, not only for his folksy manner in calling baseball games, or the stories he could tell about the game, but because he was a man who loved the Lord Jesus Christ.  I only met him once (I was never more nervous in my life), and subsequently only interviewed him a couple of times on the phone, but it seems to me that while Ernie’s faith was quiet, it was not private.  In any interview he gave, he was always open about his love for and faith in the Lord.  As I’ve heard and read the testimonies of people who loved Ernie, there was little doubt that everyone knew exactly where he stood with God.  One of the moving tributes I read was by the Detroit newspaper columnist and author, Mitch Albom.  I was moved to tears to read his column.

When you read Mitch’s column, you’ll discover that Ernie had a way with words that was absolutely poetic, which brings to my mind how Ernie describe the game of baseball quoting something he wrote in 1955 upon the occasion of his 1981 induction into the National Baseball Hall of Fame:

Baseball is the President tossing out the first ball of the season and a scrubby schoolboy playing catch with his dad on a Mississippi farm.  A tall, thin old man waving a scorecard from the corner of his dugout. That’s baseball. And so is the big, fat guy with a bulbous nose running home one of his (Babe Ruth’s) 714 home runs.

There’s a man in Mobile who remembers that Honus Wagner hit a triple in Pittsburgh forty-six years ago.  That’s baseball.  So is the scout reporting that a sixteen year old pitcher in Cheyenne is a coming Walter Johnson.  Baseball is a spirited race of man against man, reflex against reflex.  A game of inches.  Every skill is measured.  Every heroic, every failing is seen and cheered, or booed.  And then becomes a statistic.

In baseball democracy shines its clearest.  The only race that matters is the race to the bag.  The creed is the rulebook.  Color merely something to distinguish one team’s uniform from another.

Baseball is a rookie.  His experience no bigger than the lump in his throat as he begins fulfillment of his dream.  It’s a veteran too, a tired old man of thirty-five hoping that those aching muscles can pull him through another sweltering August and September.  Nicknames are baseball, names like Zeke and Pie and Kiki and Home Run and Cracker and Dizzy and Dazzy.

Baseball is the cool, clear eyes of Rogers Hornsby.  The flashing spikes of Ty Cobb, and an over-aged pixie named Rabbit Maranville.

Baseball just a came as simple as a ball and bat.  Yet, as complex as the American spirit it symbolizes.  A sport, a business and sometimes almost even a religion.

Why the fairy tale of Willie Mays making a brilliant World’s Series catch.  And then dashing off to play stick ball in the street with his teenage pals.  That’s baseball.  So is the husky voice of a doomed Lou Gehrig saying, “I consider myself the luckiest man on the face of this earth.”

Baseball is cigar smoke, hot roasted peanuts, The Sporting News, ladies day, “Down in Front”, Take Me Out to the Ball Game, and the Star Spangled Banner.

Baseball is a tongue tied kid from Georgia growing up to be an announcer and praising the Lord for showing him the way to Cooperstown.  This is a game for America.  Still a game for America, this baseball!  Thank you.

Coming Attractions

With the month of May fast approaching, it looks to be one of those months that won’t quit– and that’s a good thing!

Along with Joe Battaglia, we are working on a Father’s Day radio special, COURAGEOUS DADS, featuring the COURAGEOUS movie team from Sherwood Baptist Church, the makers of FLYWHEEL, FACING THE GIANTS, and FIREPROOF.  In addition to Pastors Michael Catt and Jim McBride, and brothers Alex and Stephen Kendrick, we are hoping to have music and comments from Mac Powell of Third Day, Michael W. Smith, Jars of Clay, and Mark Hall of Casting Crowns.  This idea came to me after visiting Sherwood Baptist a few months ago for the announcement of the new movie, COURAGEOUS, and hearing how passionate the team is to challenge fathers to fulfill their God-given roles.  By the way, COURAGEOUS has starting filming and we plan to be on the set recording interviews in Albany, GA May 17-19.

Another radio special that will start production in May is with Far East Broadcasting Company (FEBC).  Featuring the great, young leader of FEBC, Gregg Harris, this special will tell the amazing stories of God at work through radio to reach people with the Gospel in some of the hardest to penetrate areas of the world.  The challenge to us will be to provide inexpensive radios and give hungry listeners the opportunity to hear God’s Word.  I’ll be recording with Gregg in the FEBC studios in Southern California, which will be exciting for me since it will give me the chance to see the FEBC facilities for the first time and meet some of the staff.

Another new broadcasting friend I’ll be spending some time with while in California is Pastor Philip De Courcy of KNOW THE TRUTH.  Although we’ve been on the air since mid-March, this will be the first chance we’ve had to sit down face-to-face and spend some time together both on and off mic.  ‘Looking forward to it!

In addition to all of the ongoing radio projects, there are several other interesting things coming together in May, so it promises to be a full but energetic month.  Thanks for your friendship and prayers!

UPDATE:  Another radio special, this one with Sheila Walsh titled BEAUTIFUL THINGS HAPPEN WHEN A WOMAN TRUST GOD, will soon be released by Thomas Nelson Publishers through Westar Media Group.  Produced by Brian Beatty, I provided the VO for the special.

Know The Truth Radio Is Launched

A new, 25 minute daily radio program titled Know The Truth has been announced here at the National Religious Broadcasters convention in Nashville.  Featuring the Bible teaching of Pastor De Courcy of Kindred Community Church in Anaheim Hills, CA, Know The Truth will start broadcasting on March 15 and will be made available to stations all over the country.  One of it’s first releases will be on KKLA in Los Angeles.

It is my privilege and honor to serve as the host/announcer for this exciting new ministry which will be produced and represented by my good friend Roger Kemp and his team at Roger Kemp and Company.

Who is this pastor with the Irish accent?  He was born and raised in northern Ireland by committed Christian parents.  While working as a street cop in law enforcement, Philip felt the call of God to study for the ministry.  That crossroad in Philip’s life led him to southern California where he attended The Master’s Seminary.  After earning his degree, Philip began working and teaching local churches.  And today, he’s the senior pastor at Kindred Community Church in Anaheim Hills, California.  Philip is married to June and they have three daughters.

On Know The Truth you can expect the straight- forward proclamation of God’s inspired Word.  This daily program will be a place you can count on to hear in-depth teaching from the Bible and it’s application to every aspect of our lives.  To learn more about Know The Truth and Philip’s ministry, visit the soon-to-be launched website KTT.org.

Thanks for your prayers for this exciting new ministry venture!

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Chattanooga, TN Policy Briefing

THE PUBLIC SQUARE is a show I host along with Dave Zanotti and the team at The American Policy Roundtable. This weekly show is aired on Moody Radio and other stations across the country, and both the weekly and 2 minute daily version are archived online. It’s always an unrehearsed panel-based discussion of important public policy issues in the news.

From time to time we hold a public policy briefing in local communities and one of those is coming up on Thursday night, Feb 25, in Chattanooga, TN.

I’ll be there and I hope you can join us:

Sheraton Read House Hotel
827 Broad Street, Chattanooga, TN 37402

7:00 – 8:30 PM

Please Pre-Register by Contacting:
Allison Allen
1(800) 522-VOTE ext.104
aallen@aproundtable.org