Awesome.

This represents my opinion exactly.

Bloopers

Just because it's fun.

The "F" Word

On a recent post on Church Marketing Sucks about the use of words in a church service, there was a comment that made me laugh out loud.

"Sometimes I refer to "fellowship" as the "f-word."" -David

Ever think about the idea that the way you speak might affect if others feel included or excluded?

This article is worth reading.

Keep It Simple.

Jesus now called the Twelve and gave them authority and power to deal with all the demons and cure diseases. He commissioned them to preach the news of God's kingdom and heal the sick. He said, "Don't load yourselves up with equipment. Keep it simple; you are the equipment. And no luxury inns—get a modest place and be content there until you leave. If you're not welcomed, leave town. Don't make a scene. Shrug your shoulders and move on." Luke 9:1-5

This is from today's Daily Bible Reading and it made me think.

I have had people use this verse at me like a weapon. The Bible talks about itself in being a two-edged sword, but people are out of control. Really.

And then I want to verbally rip them a new one. (If you know what I mean... and if you don't please don't ask me to elaborate.) AND I can't because I understand that Jesus told me to turn the other cheek when people attack me.

It's not fair, but I digress.

So... context. I have been told that using audio and video in the way that many newer churches do is bad. And this is normally their proof-text. Which is funny because the Bible is in harmony with itself right? And this is the SAME Bible of Paul who said: I will become all things to all people so that I can win some.

So the example of Paul in the Bible is to become all things to all people to win some... but using tech and appealing to the post-modern generation is bad? 2+2 appears to = 5.

This verse is NOT talking about WHAT we use to reach people. Jesus is telling the ministers of the gospel how He wants them to live. Not how to reach people.

As a minister of the Gospel (which if you follow The Way you are as well) I am called to not think to much of myself and expect to live a cushy life. Though I am blessed and pretty much do, if God calls me out of it he expects me to be cool about it and not whine. Jesus was giving them the best advice at the time for what they were doing.

Much Love.

Video Training Class

The video training class we had this Saturday was a huge success!

Big thanks to everyone who helped me to both set up and tear down. We had a time of teaching and equal time to apply what we had learned with a live video mixing set up as well as two different film projects that we completed.

The end result was 14 more people comfortable with video camera and related equipment and additions to the video team! In addition to that Kat filmed a trailer for an upcoming series at LFC (See it here).

My crew filmed something less serious. Enjoy!

Throw the First Punch

This is from the blog of Pastor Steven Furtick and I love it:

"When I started middle school my dad taught me a simple, slightly controversial, and very effective strategy in case I ever got in a fight.

(He was already about 3 years too late, but better late than never.)

“Now boy, don’t you ever go looking for trouble, but if someone starts something with you, here’s what I want you to do. The moment you realize a fight is unavoidable, you make sure you throw the first punch.”
(Actually I think he said “get the first lick in”, but I’m not sure how that would translate for my non-Southern readers.)

Relax, I’m not advocating fist fighting (necessarily ). Just thought it made for a cool analogy.
Every single morning I wake up, I’m a marked man. Every day of my life, there’s going to be a fight, God’s Word says so.

So why should I wait around to get sucker punched? Why not drop kick the devil in the teeth before he knows what hits him? Why not get the first lick in every single morning?
Lately I’ve been waking up, going straight to the shower, and quoting the Word of God out loud. I’m not going to spend the first part of my day playing defense, I’m going on the attack.

I think too many Christians wait until just before the T.K.O. to start fighting. We unnecessarily get our brains beat out by failure, sickness, and overwhelming pressure…

Try this.
The next time you feel temptation coming on, don’t wait until the standing 8 count starts to get serious about the fight.
The next time you hear depression or discouragement taunting you, don’t wait until you’re seeing stars before you begin to block and bob and weave and counterpunch.

You’re in for a fight every day of your life.
Come out swinging.
And go for broke.
After all, the fight is fixed. "

No Advance Notice.

But Daniel determined that he would not defile himself by eating the king's food or drinking his wine, so he asked the head of the palace staff to exempt him from the royal diet. The head of the palace staff, by God's grace, liked Daniel, but he warned him, "I'm afraid of what my master the king will do. He is the one who assigned this diet and if he sees that you are not as healthy as the rest, he'll have my head!" (Daniel 1:8-10)

Living for God requires determination. If you don't choose to make the right choices in advance you will probably make the wrong ones.

When you read this part in Daniel it's easy to see the results of making right choices. He ate food that was clean and because of that him and his friends were the healthiest. We can see that we should choose to live God's way and we will have good results right?

Remember this: Daniel did not know that he would end up the healthiest.

He was willing to follow God's way and take whatever the consequences were. In the same way we don't always know that following what God tells us to do will end with results that are easy or simple.

Choose to do what Jesus would do anyway. Now, before the crunch time.

Do You Pray?

This is a man on the street interview that we produced from Sunday at church (LFC).

Props to my video team for going out and getting the footage.



Do YOU pray?

Servant Evangelism

Ahhh... it's so crazy it just might work.

Peace!

LIFE Journaling

This is an article I wrote for my churches webpage. Enjoy!

I have hidden your word in my heart that I might not sin against you. Psalms 119:11

Why does LFC encourage you to journal?

We believe that biblical truth taught in creative ways will change lives.

We also believe that the greatest tool you will ever possess is the ability to self-feed. Self-feeding is the time you spend with God, His word and with an open heart to dig out the treasures of the scriptures.

We want to take you beyond just being taught the Word by others and into creatively allowing the Word of God to impact your life.

Have you ever sat down to read the bible, read a chapter or two and then realized that you didn't really take any notice of what you were reading? You are not alone. Many people have a lot of trouble retaining and applying what they read in the bible.

Life Journaling, using the SOAP acronym, is a way that many people find useful. The method is simply a matter of following the letters of the word soap. You will need a bible, a pen and something to write in. Use a journal to keep your reflections together. LFC sells Life Journals at our resource table (following services for $5.00) and in our church office. But you can always get a more inexpensive spiral notebook. The reason the Life Journal is so practical is that it provides the right formatting, the bible reading for the day (in the back) and is set up for ease of use.

Let us look at how journaling can cause growth in your LIFE.

Journaling helps you to:

Listen

The LORD says, "I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you. (Psalm 32:8)

Every day of our life God has lessons to teach us that we will miss if we are not listening. In order for us to know what God sounds like – we need to spend time with His ‘word to us’ – the bible. What types of things does God say? How does He speak to and through others? As you listen to His written word you begin to get a sense of how He shares His heart with others and what He sounds like. Too often we are so busy either with our lives or with telling God what we “need” that we never listen to what He has to say to us.

Inquire

If you look for me in earnest, you will find me when you seek me. (Jer. 29:13)

God wants us to ask, seek, and knock on His door. If we are diligent in seeking after Him we will find Him. An interesting thing about journaling is that when you look back on the questions you asked God a week, a month, or a year ago you will often see how He answered it later and you didn’t even notice! Writing down your questions and your prayers allows you to review them later on. As we easily forget things – writing them down assists us to remember.

Faith

Discipline yourself for the purpose of godliness. (1st Tim 4:7)

Our faith will grow as we get to know Jesus better!

So then faith comes by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. (Romans 10:17)

As journaling helps you to read and then understand the Word your faith will increase! The things we read, listen to and ponder have a great impact on our faith. Taking in a daily dose of God’s word will cause growth and increase our faith.

Experience

Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
(John 13:17)

Of course we would be wasting our time if we didn’t allow the lessons from the Word, and the increased faith it brings us, to change us and our hearts. As well as changing us it will also challenge us to go out and do the things we are called to do: to love God with all of our lives and to love others, serve others and reach others.

Do not merely listen to the word, and so deceive yourselves. Do what it says. (James 1:22)

So what is SOAP journaling?

Scripture: Select and write a scripture from today’s reading. Open your Bible to the reading found under today's date of your Bible bookmark. Take time reading and allow God to speak to you. When you are done, look for a verse that particularly spoke to you that day, and write it in your journal.

Observation: Write a personal observation from today’s reading. What do you think God is saying to you in this scripture? Ask the Holy Spirit to teach you and reveal Jesus to you. Paraphrase and write this scripture down in your own words, in your journal.

Application: Write a description of a way to apply this to your life today. Personalize what you have read, by asking yourself how it applies to your life right now. Perhaps it is instruction, encouragement, revelation of a new promise, or corrections for a particular area of your life. Write how this scripture can apply to you today.

Prayer: Write a little prayer. This can be as simple as asking God to help you use this scripture, or it may be a greater insight on what He may be revealing to you. Remember, prayer is a two way conversation, so be sure to listen to what God has to say! Now, write it out.