“They are just words.”
This week I’ve been looking back at a book that I never quite finished reading several months ago called, “Presentation Zen: Simple Ideas on Presentation Design andd Delivery.” If your profession in any way involves the communication of ideas, I highly recommend this book. Almost all of us have sat through a boring presentation that was enhanced only be equally boring powerpoint slides. You can pick up a copy here.
In his section on crafting the story, Garr Reynolds writes this:
We do not tell a story from memory alone; we do not need to memorize a story that has meaning to us. If it is real, then it is in us. Based on our research, knowledge, and experience, we can tell it from our gut… You can’t fake it. You believe in your story or you do not. And if you do not, no amount of hyped-up, superficial enthusiasm or conviction will ever make your time with an audience meaninguful. If you do not believe it, do not know it to be true, how can you connect and convince others with your words in story form? Your words will be just hollow words. [pg. 81]
I thought that was worth sharing today. They reminded me of what Mike Slaughter, Senior Pastor at Ginghamsburg UMC, shared with us in reference to the importance of daily devotion. He said, “Daily devotion helps me to be who I need to be and who my family believes me to be.”
What stories are you sharing with the world?
In what ways does your life reflect that those central stories are “in you?”
Related posts:
- These words…
- “The Dream” and N.T. Wright
- Stirring Souls
- Injured at District Conference
- Constraints and Creativity
Category: Leadership
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David Alexander is the owner of www.davidsbucket.com. To find out more about David, click here.View Author Profile
David,
Saturday morning at 8 am , Courtney asked me to be in charge of the devotionals at the first two Upward games that morning at 9 am…so at 8:30 am I was busy writing, practising and worrying about what I was going to say…it really isnt just 20 kids you are speaking to also about another 100 to 150 that make up the entire audience …so with no lead time and not being a professional pastor as your self – I was a little panicky…but at 8:45 am I read this message from you and immediately recieved peace and I quit my practising and worrying and decided to to speak plainly, briefly and from the heart with no notes. Not sure how it went over but I think it was a lot better then if I had continued to “practise” and “worry” … a good God timed message – Thanks! Art
David,
Our small group is doing the Transformation Journal as our study. Last night there was a wonderful discussion about God in the OT vs. God in the NT. Many different ideas developed into a wonderful discussion. It was brought up when we read about passover and how God had the first born of the Egyptians killed. How He provided a way for His people to be passed over. So the question that remained is one I have heard many times before, “How could God have such vengeance”? We know that it was because of sin and that there wasn’t a sacrifice worthy enough until Jesus, but His vengence through out the Old Testement is confusing. Could you enlighten us a little? Thanks,Libby