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.