Notes from YS One Day Event

Here is the promo video for the theme of the Youth Specialties Training event we hosted at The Hub a few weeks ago:

I’ll post some of the notes from the ONE DAY Event all this week.

In the meant time, enjoy your Memorial Day!!!

Youth Specialties One Day Training Event

Today we had the opportunity to host a Youth Specialties OneDay Training Event – (my notes of the training event to come early next week).  The theme/topic of the event was The Bible: Bring It On.  

Two of the things I walked away with:

1. the reminder of the power of God’s word. – “The word of God is living and active” – Hebrews 4:12 
2. the power of storytelling. – The way something is presented is just as important as what you are saying.

“People are being changed by their media.  In order to speak to changed people, the Church must speak in changed ways.  Preaching myst adopt a new kind of language – a language of narrative and emotion.” – Richard Jensen “Thinking in Story”.

I’ll talk more about this crucial topic in a later post.  In the mean time, check out this incredible website on biblical storytelling – http://www.echothestory.com/

Selfless Sacrifice

This Sunday I’ll be sharing in FUEL about how we are called to live lives of Greater Love by showing Selfless Sacrifice to others – “put others before ourselves.”  How are you living your life?

The Paul tells us in Philippians 2:3-5 - ”Don’t be selfish; don’t try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves. Don’t look out only for your own interests, but take an interest in others, too. You must have the same attitude that Christ Jesus had.”

Check out the story of college student Brittany Merrill – here and here – who selflessly sacrificed years of her life to build an orphanage in Uganda.

Seeker vs. Missional – Pastor Mark Driscoll

Being in ministry, I hear people describe their church as, “we are a seeker church”, “…a journey church”, “…a post-modern church”, “… purpose driven church” or  even “…a missional church.”

At a recent Conference in 2006, Pastor Mark Driscoll, from Mars Hills Bible Church in Seattle Washington, shared his thoughts on a Seeker Church vs. a Missional Church.  Love his thoughts in part one and his wrap up in part two.  (See below)

I want to be a church that is missional on purpose!!!

A church that Loves God, Loves Others and Proves It everyday!

What about you?

Modern Acts 4:32

“All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had.” – Acts 4:32

Check out this incredible ministry link – thecommon.org – that enables your local community to come together and serve one another whenever needs arise.

more about “Modern Acts 4:32“, posted with vodpod

Free Church Conference

Are you on the creative team of your church? Check out this incredible FREE opportunity for you and your team this July at an incredible student ministry center in Louisville, KY called The Block.

more about “Free Church Conference“, posted with vodpod

Celebrating Our 5th Anniversary!!!

My wife and I are celebrating our 5th Anniversary this weekend.  We are heading to Toronto with no specifc plans and lots of time and memories to recall and remise.  Perhaps we’ll stop off at IKEA, the RainForest Cafe or even the Eaton Centre.  But it was 5 years ago that we first began our journey together through life.  It has been the most incredible and amazing 5 yrs of my life and only gets better and better each day.   Becky, I love you so much and I could not imagine living life without you.  So, today we celebrate together our love and the last 5 years together.

And in thinking back over the last 5-6 years, as in most relationships that begin these days, there comes some point in that relationship were the internet (AOL IM/FACEBOOK) has played a role in the deepening of that relationship.  I can remember being at work and IM’ing Becky when I had down time between producing radio spots.  In fact, some of the questions that I never would have had the guts to ask in person while we were dating were made possible through the internet conversations.  And so when it comes down to it, while we we were dating we owe alot to social netowrks and chat apps.  And with that thought in mind, check out this awesome video featuring Nick Thune…

 

New Hillsong United Trailer

Here is a trailer I saw out at Catalyst West of the latest project by Hillsong United called “We’re All In This Together”

Check it out…