For the past month or so I've been slowly reading through Dan Roam's latest book The Back Of The Napkin.

It's a great read on simplifying the daunting - making rocket science available to the common man through simple doodles on the back of napkins (assuming that's all you can get your hands on...).

Seems simple enough - but he also describes the science behind the doodles. There are very specific things you draw to get very specific points across.

Who knew there could be a method behind the chicken scratch?

I love the core message:

What's the point in using big words and complicated spreadsheets if no one understands what you're talking about?

So I'm trying to learn from him and apply it in our setting. Here are some places I think it would be helpful:

1. Meetings: On whiteboards and in handouts. Make it simple - not because they can't handle it - but because the more simple and concise it is the more likely it will be that everyone leaves on the same page.
2. Process Documents: Make simple instructions with obvious drawings for maximum impact.
3. Taking Notes: No better way to take notes than to illustrate from time to time. Helps flesh out the concept.
4. For the Office Walls: People think you're smart if they see drawings posted all over your office or cubicle.

Grab the book and see for yourself.

Also - Dan just released downloadable/printable versions of the basic concepts here.

Good stuff!

A few posts back I alluded to three big things I was working on. The first two are taken care of (online giving and weekend experience pages) and the third one is finally ready to be unveiled.

Tim Stevens (Executive Pastor at Granger) recently finished work on his latest book Pop Goes the Church (available in April 2008) and we were trusted to develop a website for it.

The site (popgoesthechurch.com) went live last night with 'close-to-complete' functionality. Don't get me wrong, you won't see an 'Under Construction' sign, but there are future enhancements to be rolled out when the book becomes available (more on that later).

PGTC Workshop
I also had the good fortune to sit in on the first ever Pop Goes the Church Workshop today. If you're interested in the way churches are leveraging pop culture to remain relevant to the world you don't want to miss the next offering on Monday, June 23. Tim has an interactive teaching style and includes numerous examples where pop culture intersects spirituality. This media-heavy workshop is practical, informative and entertaining.

Back to the website (creative process)

• Brainstorming session: Team met to develop the concept for the site.
• Big idea: Traditional church meets pop culture.
• Making it happen: Photo shoot (Jeff Myers) of Tim using a variety of technology tools in a traditional church setting.
• Creative layouts (Jeff myers): Designed with book cover in mind but also adding in a 'grunged up' feel for the Internet.

Back to the Website (development process)

• HTML/CSS: duh...
• Flash: Used for home page feature and main navigation.
• Keywords: (Lee Hutson) Javascript driven keyword lookup feature for use with keywords found in the book (coming soon).
• Blog: RSS (XML) feed pulled in with BuzzBoost (a FeedBurner component).

Good stuff. I love doing stuff like this on the side to keep the creative and development juices flowing.