What do the Disney and Playboy corporations have in common other than peddling fantasies, pencil-moustached founders, and rodent mascots? They seem to occupy very different worlds. One is the global leader in family entertainment. The other is the most recognized distributor of adult entertainment. But these two companies share an interesting bit of history. In fact, it’s possible that the Disney Corporation would not be what it is today without Playboy. Let me explain.

In the late 1960s Walt Disney covertly purchased 47 square miles of swampland in central Florida. His intent was to build an “experimental prototype community of tomorrow” or E.P.C.O.T. In a short film presented to Florida legislators about the project, Walt laid out plans for an actual city with 50,000 residents, hotels, offices, factories,…

Two years ago I was invited to speak at the first STORY conference held at the Paramount Theater in Aurora, Illinois. Ben Arment, the mind behind the event, moved STORY to downtown Chicago last year. And this year Ben has given me the opportunity to be a part of the gathering again. I’ll be speaking briefly on Friday, September 16. STORY is intended to be a conference for the “creative class” within the church. In advance of the event, I was interviewed by Jeff Goins about imagination, storytelling, and creativity. Check out the interview below, and visit Jeff’s blog to read more about STORY, how you can be a part, and who else will be at the event.

What is your best personal definition of…

We live in a dark world. Our hearts long for goodness, beauty, justice, and peace, but they are often hidden behind the shadow cast by evil and sin. This is why preaching is so necessary. Whenever the kingdom of God is proclaimed, it is like a bright burst of light. In those brief moments, the shadows recede and we are given a glimpse of a world behind the darkness. It is a sublime vision that reorders our perception of reality and leaves us hungry for more.This understanding of preaching, the unveiling of an inspiring vision of God’s kingdom, is not the one I’ve always held. I was formed to think that the primary purpose of preaching was instruction. This view of preaching expects the informed, articulate person behind…