Question 1) List the top five most important steps in the selling process?

Answer:

1. Rapport.

Help me, the customer, feel comfortable with you. The more comfortable I feel the more information I provide.

The more information I provide the more you understand my needs and wants.

The more you understand my needs and wants the easier it will be for you to sell me.

Be sincere. Nothing will turn a customer off quicker that insincerity.

2. Overview.

Help me understand what we’re going to do while we’re together today (assume this is our initial visit). I’m looking to purchase a new roof, you’re the rep for the roofing company. The overview would include the elements or the steps of the sales process.

EXAMPLE: “Teri, while we are together today I’d like to better understand what’s important to you when replacing your roof – such as the style, the color, as well as the budget you are looking to stay within. Next, I’ll measure the roof and show you the different options and packages we have available. And, finally, I’ll show you what we need to do while we’re together today to get started.”

3. Qualifying.

Using the right approach and asking specific, relevant questions in a non invasive way.

EXAMPLE: “Teri, have you ever had a roof replaced?

At that time what roofing company did you use?

Is there a specific reason you chose not to use that company this time?

How soon are you looking to have the roof replaced?

Aside from yourself is there anyone else that will be involved in the decision making process?

Is there a budget that you are looking to stay within?

How would you be paying for the new roof?

Cash, credit, or financing?, etc.”

4. Presentation.

Now that you’ve helped me feel comfortable, have identified the steps that will transpire while we’re together and qualified me on areas of importance, its time to provide a presentation that would include company bio, credibility, service, product line, etc.

5. Recap.

This step helps pull everything together by assuring you understand my needs and wants. Also, it gives you, the salesperson, an opportunity to clear away any additional questions or concerns that I might have, touch in on the benefits and features of your products, and allows you to show me why your company would be the best choice.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE CLOSE? – CLOSING STARTED WITH HELLO!

It’s not about the close – it’s about the qualifying. If you’re following a well documented sales process and asking great qualifying questions, the close will become a formality.

Question 2) Of these top five, which is the most important? Why?

Answer:

Qualifying.

Qualifying is critical because:

if you don’t understand my needs or wants;

if you don’t understand what motivates me to buy;

if you don’t know who the decision makers are;

if you don’t know if I could afford what you have;

How are you going CLOSE the sale?

DON’T FRUSTRATE YOURSELF!

Ask great questions and listen for the answers (objections, concerns, fears).

Question 3) List the top three steps in the qualifying process?

Answer:

1. Identifying the decision maker.

2. Identifying that there is a need or want.

3. Identifying affordability.

Question 4) Of the top three which is most important. Why?

Answer:

Identifying the decision maker.

Without identifying the decision maker/s you’ll invest a lot of time and emotion only to find there are one or more additional people needed to move forward. Don’t get caught in the trap of believing the person or people you are talking to will do a better job of selling than you can. If you’re not dealing with all the decision makers you lose. And, if by some miracle you do close the sale, it will be a very lengthy selling cycle.

Question 5) What is more important – qualifying or closing? Why?

Answer:

“If you don’t know the answer to this one, WE NEED TO TALK!”

CEO – United Sales Training (http://www.unitedsalestraining.com), 20 years as a Professional Sales and Marketing Troubleshooter, Trainer, Recruiter, Upper Level Manager, and Consulting Professional. Dedicated to the “keep it simple” approach.

To receive 1 free mini-consultation via email: tsamuels@unitedsalestraining.com

Comments Off

Various industries, including banks, stores and restaurants, use video surveillance equipment for safety purposes. Police officers use it for tracking criminal activities and private citizens find it helpful in protecting their property.

The basic types of video surveillance equipment are cameras, camcorders (camera-recorders), recorders/players, and video displays (monitors/televisions), which are fitted in some combination to create a complete video surveillance system.

The board camera is a special video surveillance system, which is easily concealed because of its small size. The power supply for this equipment is from an external device such as a transformer or battery pack. Video signals are usually sent to a monitor, video recorder, or video transmitter.

Patrol car surveillance systems are special video (and audio) equipment designed particularly for police applications. In addition to officer safety, the systems provide a clear record of faces, vehicles, license numbers, weapons, and the talks that transpired before and during dangerous situations.

The retractable surveillance system is designed to work like conventional overhead closed circuit television systems (CCTV systems). The Knox Forward Intelligence Gathering System (FIGS) like systems are in-ground/above-ground products intended for both industrial and government applications.

On occasions when it is impractical to monitor an area from a distance or when the subjects often shift from one location to another, portable video surveillance equipment systems are used.

Video surveillance equipment can identify subjects (including persons) at varied distances and at varied light levels. It is true that robberies are far less common when this equipment is placed in conspicuous spaces.

The video surveillance equipment boom is likely to extend even to the home. Parents find them especially helpful when this equipment (such as hidden cameras) can be used to keep an eye on the person watching their children.

Comments Off

Well, it is that time of year again, the holidays are approaching quickly and it is time for me to do my christmas gift shopping. Now, I say that, but inevitabily I end up waiting until two weeks before Christmas, and because of that I tend to miss out on the best bargains and the best Internet stuff because I do not have time to wait for delivery. I have determined that I am not going to do that this year, I don’t want to miss out on all of the great deals simply because I am lazy, I want to start my Internet shopping today!

And I have found that buying something for my dad, my husband, and my brothers is far more difficult than purchasing something for my sisters or my mom. I cannot explain it, but it is so hard to come up with great unique gifts for men. In the end I traditionally end up purchasing them a gift card to some store so that they can pick out whatever it is they want. I really want to find that perfect gift though, and although they do not care nearly as much as my mom or sisters might, I still take great pleasure in finding that perfect gift.

Comments Off

Have you ever met with, or talked to a prospect that wasn’t ready to buy what you had to offer? What did you do with that prospects? Most sales gurus of the 1980’s and 90’s wrote books that told you to move on to the next prospect who is ready to buy now, and not waste your time on those that aren’t ready yet.

Here’s the wrong assumption to make in that situation. You took the time and educated the prospect; they walked out, and you automatically think that they either bought from someone else, or they were just tire kicking. Wrong!!!

Why Prospect Shop Price Alone

Did you know that your prospects were conditioned by your industry to make price the overriding issue when looking for products and services? Whose fault is this? In my opinion, I would have to say that in most cases, it’s the fault of the vendors that are selling your product or service.

Why do I say this? Think about it…most prospects that call you have done most of their research regarding the type of product or service that you offer and are now ready to buy. The typical prospect makes 3 to 5 phone calls asking who can provide the best price, because they’ve already done the research and know what their needs are. What might you tell them? You might jump at the opportunity to gain a new client and say, “I’ll give you the best price, what did the other guy offer you?”

Have you ever wondered how to sell your products and services more on value than simply on the price?

Understanding The Educational Spectrum

Think of the Educational Spectrum as a horizontal line from left to right, with the letter “A” representing the far left hand side
of the spectrum and “Z” being the far right. Prospects jump on
the educational spectrum somewhere from A to Z. A is when the prospect first gets the idea that they have a need for what you have to offer. We call these “Future Buyers”. Z is when money changes hands and they acquire the goods. We call these “Now Buyers”.

Here’s a simple illustration of the Educational Spectrum. The key is to determine where your prospects are on this spectrum and help them move comfortably and consistently towards the right of the spectrum where they then become the “Now Buyers”.

“The Educational Spectrum”

A====D=========G=====J=======M=======P========S=======V======Z

A- Prospect firsts gets the idea to buy what you sell

Z- Money changes hands

A====D=========G=====J=======M=======P========S=======V======Z

Just like we know that having a baby takes 9 months, you have a good idea what the selling cycle is for your products. Whatever it is, you know it is fairly constant. So why rush the future buyers to buy when they are not ready? Why not use the selling cycle to your advantage?

Become The Logical Choice To Do Business With

Understanding the job of effective marketing will allow you to assist your prospects when you know that they are not ready to buy what you have to offer by providing marketing materials that are hit their hot-buttons and educate them in a systematic way until they are ready to buy.

This process should be systematic and automated, so that they receive industry significant information that helps them to make a quality decision. In other words, you can become the advocate for your industry that prospects look to for advice. When they become “Now Buyers”, where do you think they will go for their purchase? Good chance, it will be you!

Think of yourself as the fountain from whence all information flows when it comes to buying what you have sell.

It should not be important who your prospect buys from as long as you are committed to providing the best information and knowledge so they can make the best buying decision for themselves and their situation.

In the end, no one wants to feel like they made a bad decision to purchase your product or service, so it is important that you assist your prospects every step of the way as they are gaining confidence in doing business with you.

About The Author:
Marc Gamble, the author, teaches business owners, entrepreneurs,
and professionals how to acheive bigger, bottom line results
from their advertising & marketing efforts without spending more
time, effort, or money. Learn marketing strategies and tactics
to separate yourself from your competition and become the
obvious choice to do business with. To learn more about how to
improve your own Marketing Efforts and Achieve Better Results,
visit: http://www.MYMOnDemand.com/vpc1_mgnm

Email: mgamble@mymondemand.com

Comments Off

Maximizing Brand “You”

A cutting-edge product, flawless portfolio or terrific credentials can only take you so far. Building brand equity is about identifying what makes you a valuable asset or a “go-to” person. Branding is differentiating yourself–finding ways to distinguish you and the product and services you can provide–from the competition. Branding transcends sales and job lines. Developing your own personal stamp is valuable in every market and profession. It also enables you to make or charge more for what only you can uniquely deliver. So just how do you establish and keep brand loyalty? How do you go from no-name cola to the drink of choice? Let me show you how…

Coach Nick’s steps to building your brand equity: * Be introspective. Creating your own brand requires personal reflection. Spend time thinking about what you stand for, what you want to accomplish and how you want others to see you. Avoid trying to shape your brand to fit a specific bidding situation or fill a void in the company. Drawing on energy from within gives your brand its own personality, rather than creating a copycat version of someone else’s. * Take an informal poll. Still puzzled about what your brand is all about? Ask colleagues, customers and friends what adjectives they would use to describe you and to recall their first impression of you. Getting straight feedback from people you trust can help better define your brand and improve upon it. * Draft a brand mission statement. Write down three or four key elements that best describe brand “You.” Your statement should identify your talents, assets and values as well as who you strive to be. By weaving them through everything you do, these truths become part and parcel of your brand image. The mantra that results from your mission statement is your brand’s tag line, the impression you create and what sticks in people’s minds long after you’ve met them. * Stimulate brand loyalty. What makes your personal brand better than someone else’s? Strong connections. We’ve seen it with products made with virtually the same ingredients, yet one seems to taste better because of the image it evokes. Making your own brand personal is what makes it distinctive. Sharing who you are is the first step in creating a brand image that triggers lasting relationships. When you become a well-known brand, clients, customers or senior executives seek you out again and again, the same way they loyally reach for a favorite product off the shelf. All things being equal, people choose to do business with people they feel comfortable with and truly like. * Be anything but bland. There’s nothing exciting about picking up a generic product. For individuals, branding works the same way: Rather than just being the person who shows up to work and does a good job, you need to develop a clear-cut identity that leaps into people’s mind. Make sure you are known by something other than the location of your desk. Distinguish yourself through words and actions, so after you’ve made contact and walked away, people make a point to remember your name.

* Shamelessly self-promote. No advertising is better than word of mouth, so treat every encounter as an opportunity to sell your brand. When you network, leave new acquaintances with a vivid verbal snapshot of who you are, rather than just a business card. Treat sales presentations as your own personal infomercial, making sure the executive not only knows your background, but what makes you tick, too. Brand recognition builds and is strengthened through repeat exposure (i.e. regular communication with your clients or associates through phone calls, networking meetings, emails, presentations, etc.). * Be consistent. People buy the same brand because they know they’ll get exactly what they expect. Even if you’re just returning e-mails or sending off a quick memo, treat small tasks with the same attention you would a major presentation, sales call or report. People seek out brand “You” when they’ve come to rely on consistent satisfaction from you on all levels. * Flaunt it. A winning smile, a great sense of humor, or a personality that makes others feel at ease–these are likable, marketable qualities you shouldn’t save for family and friends. Make sure the moment you walk into a room, you showcase your best assets and exude the persona you want to project. * Make it fun. Your brand emerges and becomes better defined when your real personality comes through in your professional encounters. Being able to reveal your true self and deliver what you promise is the reward of developing your brand. There’s nothing more satisfying than knowing who you are and being valued by others. Maximizing Brand “YOU”: THE NEXT LEVEL Once you’ve done the work to establish a personal brand worth selling, it’s time to take brand “You” to the next level… Coach Nick’s strategies for guerilla branding:

* Protect your brand. Great brands have gone down the tubes because of bad associations or products that don’t deliver on their promise. Building brand “You” requires diligence and attention to detail. Every action should polish, rather than tarnish, your brand image. Don’t risk disappointing clients in any way and avoid projects or alliances that ultimately don’t serve your brand integrity. * Extend your brand. When your personal brand grows, clients and customers expect the same level of brand satisfaction from your partners or support staff that they do from you. Make sure everything, from your answering machine message to the appearance of your workspace, reinforces the brand image you’ve created. If you have a personal assistant, he or she should reflect and positively reinforce your brand image during any and all contact with others.

* Update your brand. Having a killer brand means never resting on laurels. Set goals for your brand so you’ll always have new accomplishments to promote. Accept challenging assignments that enhance your brand image. Find ways to highlight your skills and increase brand-name recognition, such as joining committees, writing articles for newsletters, or taking on any leadership roles. Use names culled from networking to develop new, beneficial relationships. Periodically rewrite your executive profile and brand mission statement to keep it current. * Expose your brand. Utilizing internet tools, such as creating a personal website, contributing to discussion forums, engaging in e-mail networking, or pursuing online media coverage, can give you added exposure. * Hone your brand. You don’t have to sell to everyone to be a successful brand. For instance, if you’re an event planner, handling only corporate functions or large-scale gatherings lets people know you’re a specialty brand. By becoming an expert, you can take your brand to a level not open to those perceived as “jacks of all trades.” * Create sub-brands. A brand identity that displays all your interests and skills can sometimes lead to confusion. To pursue work in different specialties, start a new brand separate from your main identity. This can be as simple as setting up a separate phone line or website to prevent overlap. Even if people discover your other “brand,” you appear more professional and impressive as a result. * Remember, the key to a great brand is that the audience has a developed sense of attributes in mind for a product – they don’t have to do a taste test. Whether you’re networking or selling the next “killer app”, most contacts and buyers are inundated with choices. Anything that makes you both easily identifiable and desirable gives you a decided edge over the competition. And that’s exactly what developing your personal brand will do for you. Please remember, “All things being equal, people choose to do business with people they feel comfortable with and truly like.”

Comments Off

Terminology / Acronyms

ABC figures: This is the independently audited sales figure for all recognised publications in the UK. By using the ABC figure, you can quickly establish how much the advertising will cost per 1,000 readers.
Account Managers: These are sales people who have great skills in getting repeat orders and maximising revenue returns from existing accounts. It is very rare that a good “Account Manager” will be good at winning new clients.

Blue Bird: This is an unexpected sales opportunity that has a high chance of turning into profitable business.

BRAD: This book lists every UK publication including magazines, newspapers, vertical publications etc. It also contains key information i.e. “ABC figures”, advertising deadlines etc and is one of the most useful tools available if you are looking to place advertising or embark on DIY PR.
Comfort Factor Statements: Also known as credibility statements they show that you can deliver exactly what you say you can. They must not be emotive i.e. include words like “the best”, “fantastic”, “amazing”, “superior” or contain anything that cannot be proven i.e. “high level of customer satisfaction”, “unparalleled support”, unless supported by facts.
Commission Plans: This is how a salesperson is paid for their efforts. It is strongly advised that you include a minimum contribution and ensure that if you plotted a graph of gross margin and percentage of target it would create an incremental curve.

CRM: “Customer Relationship Management” This is software that organises all your sales contacts, schedules activities and is used in targeted marketing campaigns. This is vital to all sales operations and there are many packages to choose from costing anything from £80.00 per user upwards i.e. ACT! Goldmine etc. Previously known as TCM.

Double Bubble: Sales slang for two people being paid out the full amount of commission on a specific deal / incentive or the same person being awarded double the amount of commission.

Elevator Pitch: This term comes from the theory that if you are in a lift on the 10 th floor of a building you should be able to explain what you do before it gets to the ground floor i.e. about 10 seconds. This is often the opening statement of any form of communication and is predominantly used in lead generation and marketing activities.

Farmers: These are sales people who have great skills in getting repeat orders and maximising revenue streams from existing accounts. It is very rare that a good “Farmer” will be good at winning new clients.

Gross Margin: The difference between your buy price and your sell price.

Hunters: These are sales people who are very good at winning new accounts and getting the first order but tend to lose interest when they know that the new customer will continue to buy, this often makes them very bad farmers. Also known as New Business Sales Exec’s.

Kick Back: This is when a company gets an extra soft margin when they buy sufficient numbers / value of a product. i.e. if you buy 10 cars we will give you / or the company free servicing.

Minimum Contribution: This is the account value that all sales staff are required to reach, in gross margin terms, before any commission. This is put in place to ensure that commission is not paid before staff have covered their basic salary plus all other costs i.e. NI, travel, phone, expenses etc.

New Business Sales Exec’s: These are sales people who are very good at winning new accounts and getting the first order but tend to lose interest when they know that the new customer will continue to buy, this often makes them very bad farmers. Also known as “Hunters”.

OTE: “On Target Earnings” This is how much the sales person will earn if they hit their sales target. Please note that when the person has achieved 50% of target they should not earn more than 30% of their OTE. By using this method it creates a further incentive for the salesperson to hit the their sales target.

Over Ride: This is the term used when a sales person over achieves his target and hence is given a large bonus. Remember the bigger the “over rider”, the bigger the incentive and hence this increases the motivation to over achieve the gross margin sales target.

PPC: “Pay Per Click” This is a much-targeted method of advertising and enables sponsored links to be placed at the top of search engine results when your particular key words or phrases are encountered. For each sponsored link placed you are charged from as little as 10 pence upwards.
Prospect: A company / person that you know will require your services and they are looking to purchase. Particularly if you have been asked to bid for the work

RTR: “Ready to Run” This is the term used mainly by advertising agencies or company’s for an advert which is ready to be placed. It is then common practice to place the advert on the deadline in order to get the lowest possible price.

Sales Forecast: The system that sales people and managers use to look at how much business is likely to be won each month, unfortunately these are often misleading due to sales processes that minimise inaccuracies not being implemented.

Sand Bagging: This is a tactic used by sales people who hold back orders so that as many as possible fall in the same month or quarter and hence they over achieve the target to win a large Over Rider. This is not only expensive because extra commission is paid but can also have very negative effects on cash flow. By having a properly implemented Sales Forecast it is very easy to establish if this is occurring.

SEO: “Search Engine Optimisation” This is the method of making sure that your website gets lots of traffic and enables your company to be listed higher in the search engines for specific key words and phrases i.e. car hire Newcastle, buy discount fishing rods, mortgage advice etc. The downside of this methodology is that it takes several months for your website to get a good position on the major search engines i.e. Google, Yahoo etc.

Soft Margin: This is most commonly found in the reseller market and generally provided by the manufacturer in form of marketing assistance i.e. for every £10,000 of product x sold we will provide you with y amount of money that must be spent on promoting our product / service.
Suspect: A company / person that you know will require your services but nothing else is known.

TCM: “Time Contact Management” This is software that organises all your sales contacts, schedules activities and is used in targeted marketing campaigns. This is vital to all sales operations and there are many packages to choose from costing anything from £80.00 per user upwards i.e. ACT, Goldmine etc. Now known as CRM.

TMUP: “Target Market User Profile” this is the type of company / person that would be a prime target for your business i.e. single male 30 – 40 and divorced or SME services based companies with staff of between 3-10 people based within 5 miles of central London etc. Finding and Targeting your prime TMUP will reduce the cost of sales and increase marketing and new business efficiency’s.

Tyre Kicker: This is a company / person who pretends to be interested in your product / service. This term comes from the motor trade when customers would kick the tyres to fain interest when they had no intention of buying a car and were just browsing / looking for a test drive. Sales people who are not performing and wish to give the impression that their sales pipeline is strong often put this type of prospect on their sales forecast.
USP’s: Unique Selling Points i.e. what makes your company different from its competitors. This is used predominantly in lead generation and marketing activities and therefore is a MUST HAVE for any sales strategy to work.

For further information please visit www.bizal.com

Paul Scott works for BIZAL Ltd (http://www.bizal.com) who provide sales development services for the UK market

Comments Off

New precise Global Positioning System readings carried out on the 16-17th Oct have established that Mount Blanc numbers 4810.7 metres. Mont Blanc is covered by a dense icecap which has augmented by 2.15 metres in barely 2 yrs but more suprisingly the mass of the snow and ice has nearly doubled . Least ways that is according to the professionals.

The amount of snow and ice was computed for the maiden time in 2001. It worked out to be 14600 cubic meters higher up than 4780 metres. It was just 13600 metres cubed in 2003 perhaps owing to the heat wave with positive temperature as high as 4850 meters alt. All the same the ice-cap has just about increased twofold since then and nowadays equals 25000 meters cubed.

Chamonix Mont Blanc’s renowned near by weather man Wanda Anderson explained the development in the scale of the ice-cap is one of the contrary consequences of climate change: Snow has not increased overall in the French Alps but with the climate change we’re seeing a lot of hot westerly winds that bring rain at lower altitudes but during summertime this means significant snow that rests higher up than 3600 meters height therefore the mass bulk of the icecap is expanding. Counterpoint this to the state of affairs during wintertime where snow crystals are extremely cold and are moved by air currents so don’t rest on the summit.

Comments Off

Are you scanning the market place attempting to locate the optimum foreign currency exchange rates? The online world is an exciting way to asses what is on offer and obtain the best offering. Then again, it is not entirely about searching the market place the optimum exchange rate – fees, commission and transfer costs will often all make an enthralling rate all of a sudden horrible value. Finding the best foreign currency exchange rates doesn’t have to be a chore – talk to Foreign Currency Direct.

In this unhappy period of worldwide financial unrest you really need to associate with a respectable company that you can really trust – to not only get you the greatest deal achievable at the time but furthermore to provide you with assistance and advice. Foreign Currency Direct has been noted in such well thought of news-papers as The Sunday period and The Observer as a leading organization with whom to do business with when you are thinking about buying foreign currency. And so, you know you’ll be working with a honest & appreciably noted organization.

Dealing in foreign currency can be a challenging business – the prices perpetually swing, hence, if you do not appreciate up-to-date access to the latest information & accomplished knowledge you might wind up forfeiting a great deal of cash. Foreign Currency Direct are experts when it comes down to working with currency exchange rates – in operation ever since the year two thousand Foreign Currency Direct have evolved from strength to strength.

Foreign Currency Directs exchange rates are based on live, second by second interbank’ prices (the price at which a bank sells to another) which are given in real time, making them way more competitive than those offered by far less specialised financial institutions and building societies.

The only thing you must do is register an account with Foreign Currency Direct and you 4 commence buying currency – you may receive exchange rate quotations by phone, if you take the offer you shall obtain an email, fax or postal conformation of the contract.

Comments Off

What do women want in a pair of glasses? Well, it really depends on the particular woman who is shopping for the glasses. The truth of the matter is that most women want a pair of eyeglasses that looks good and complements the shape of their face. A lightweight frame is also a huge plus, as well. Yet, looking good is very important to most women. Therefore, women probably take longer when shopping for eyeglasses than men. Women like to find out what all is available and then choose. After all, eyeglasses can actually be considered as an accessory for the face, even if they are worn to improve vision. There is an advanced search feature on many eyeglasses web sites that will allow the woman who is shopping for eyeglasses to choose her eyeglasses by color, shape and size, as well as material and price. Therefore, if a woman desired to find a pair of aluminum eyeglasses in gold with a modified oval shape at any price, she could use the advanced search feature to locate them. Women should really like being able to shop from home using an advanced search feature. It makes it so much easier to locate the pair of glasses she wants.

Comments Off | Lees verder »

Faith Fellowship Church…PO Box 1586…Broken Arrow, OK 74013…918-451-0270…Terry Dashner, Pastor

Jesus still walks among men and women. And He wants to walk with you.

The name of Jesus is still all powerful. Jesusthere is no other name greater.

Are you aware that you serve a living Savior and not a book, doctrine, rule, or a creed. Since the movie, The Passion of the Christ, I’ve become even more aware of the power behind the story of Jesus’ suffering. Not long after the showing of the movie in America, I read a report of a murderer in Texas who lived with a guilty conscience. He murdered his pregnant girlfriend and had somehow evaded suspicion by the police; however, after watching the film he was so moved that he sought spiritual guidance immediately. The Passion film was so powerful that it brought conviction to his heart, and afterwards he turned himself over to the police. Jesus is still all powerful.

Now let me share something else with you. The New York Times reported (May 6, 2004, in a story by Sharon Waxman) that MGM was screening a film titled, “Saved!” Hollywood’s “big shots” who told Mel Gibson he was crazy for making a movie about Jesus, were themselves wanting to capitalize on a religious film. But, then again, Hollywood is twisted and misguided. To think they could match or surpass the success of Gibson’s film is preposterous. According to Cal Thomas, “‘Saved!’which opened May 28, 2004, in selected citiesstaring Mandy Moore and Macaulay Culkin, whose character is confined to a wheelchair…are siblings and attend a Maryland Christian high school where ‘Jesus loves you’ is a mantraand an order. A giant cutout of Jesus dominates the campus. Pastor Skip, played by Martin Donovan, is the school’s spiritual leader, described as handsome and hip. Here’s where it really gets good. Jena Malone plays a teenager who gets pregnant while attempting to cure her boyfriend of his homosexuality. Her mother is a widow played by Mary-Louise Parker. She is ‘trying to be right with God but has an affair with Pastor Skip.’”

I think you get the idea. Hollywood can never make a good story right. And why do they always portray the people of God as perverts and shallow who mock the very purity of Jesus Christ? When Christ comes to live in the heart of a man or woman, the man or woman is changed. A true believer wants what Christ wants for hima clean and willing vessel, redeemed by the blood of the Lamb to love God and his neighbor. Christians have their faults. We are human and hammered constantly by the wicked one. We fall. But Christians don’t want to stay fallen. Christians do not want to live in darkness. We want to live in the Light of God and bless others with the love of Jesus Christ.

Hollywood makes films about the lurid passions of men, knowing that many Americans have an appetite for such perversion. Mel Gibson made a film about the Passion of Christ. Christ was the center of his story, and men of all persuasions flocked to it. What made it work? Thisit magnified the very person that changed the world. And that person, Jesus, is still drawing men and women from around the world to receive his sacrificial love. Hollywood gave us “Saved!” and it bombed. Mel Gibson took a risk and displayed, graphically, the suffering of Jesus. The film is still showing around the world, and people are still coming to know Jesus as their Savior and Lord. The story of Jesus has always had an impact on the world whether in word, testimony, sermon, or film. And the story of Jesus will still be changing lives when Hollywood is nothing more then a fading memory.

That, my friend is the power of Jesus’ name!

Keep the faith. Stay the course. Jesus is soon coming (imminent), and coming soon (at hand).

Pastor T.dash

About the Author

Pastors Faith Fellowship Church in Broken Arrow, Ok.

Comments Off