Thursday, February 23, 2012

"For You" not "From You"


    
    I'm in the midst of fundraising for this project. Some people call it "support discovery," the thought being they are just finding the money and funding God has already provided. However you name it, the process is still the same.

  "Will you please give me money?"
 

   I struggle with saying these words. The theological knowledge of Gods ultimate providence for this project doesn't escape me, but these simple words do.

    I was sharing this struggle with my pastor, when he invited me to a conference on Generosity that he and several other leaders in the church were attending. The goal of the two day conference was to answer the question, "What if the Church was Generous?"
    Scott Rideout, a pastor in Arizona, presented his own struggles with how to answer the question and shared his churches journey toward becoming a generous church.  He spoke of the possibilities for the church and how to create a culture of generosity amongst believers.
    One important lesson hit home to me and my struggle in asking people to give.  He explained that asking people to be generous isn't about what you want "From them" it's about what you want "For them." It's not about getting an amount of money but instead offering them chance to be a part of something so much bigger.
    I admit I hadn't looked at it that way. I apologize not communicating to you what I desire "For You" as you generously give.  Let me clear up that mistake.

    What I Want For You:
       1. To See the Power of God as He works in peoples lives.
       2. To Fell the Joy of being part of Gods Workings.
       3. To be Challenged by God to serve in a new way.
       4. To be excited about Sharing your own Stories of what God is doing.
       5. To come to a new Understanding of the measure of God's love for you.

     Thank you for being so generous already. As you continue to give and be involved in this project, I pray that God will bring these things about in your life, even as He is doing so in mine.

Tuesday, February 21, 2012

Video Update #5


The Latest update on the Africa Video Mission Project.

Make sure to Check out the Leap Year Project at 
LeapYearProject.org

Links -
Blog:
cadvideo.blogspot.com/
Donate:
worldventure.com/page.aspx?pid=298#ng


Bloopers - vimeo.com/37157494

Monday, February 6, 2012

Joe vs. the Volcano

It's one of my favorite movies and not because of the goofy self-defacing humor or ridiculous plot devices.  Nor is it because of the amazing music and soundtrack.  It's not even the obvious use of production design to create thematic elements throughout the story.

No it's because of the one liners.  These singular lines which rise above their ludicrous settings and seem to touch on truths that everyone knows but only from a long forgotten dream.

Here are a few of my favorite quotes:

Joe Banks: I've got to do it. I've got to be Brave, I've got to jump.

Joe Banks: I've never been to L.A. before.
Angelica: What do you think?
Joe Banks: It looks fake. I like it! 

Patricia: I don't know what your situation is but I wanted you to know what mine is not just to explain some rude behavior, but because we're on a little boat for a while and... I'm soul sick. And you're going to see that.  

Joe Banks: So I'm not sick? Except for this terminal disease? 

Angelica: I have no response to that.

Joe Banks: But there are certain times in your life when I guess you're not supposed to have anybody, you know? There are certain doors you have to go through alone.

Patrica: My father says that almost the whole world is asleep. Everybody you know. Everybody you see. Everybody you talk to. He says that only a few people are awake, and they live in a state of constant, total amazement.
Joe Banks: I've been miserable so long, years of my life wasted. Been a long time coming here to meet you. A long time on a crooked road.

Patricia: Nobody knows anything, Joe. We'll take this leap, and we'll see. We'll jump, and we'll see. That's life, right?

My favorite comes at the climax of the film.  Joe and Patrica are stranded on his floating luggage, drifting through the sea.  One night after days of dehydration, the moon rises over their makeshift raft.




I find myself saying a similar prayer

God, Who's name I know. 
Thank you for my life. 
I forgot how BIG...You are...You made my life. 
Thank you for my life.