Song List: October 31st, 2010

Should have thought about doing the song "Skeleton Bones" by John Mark McMillan since it was Halloween on Sunday, but thought about it after! Grrr!

Anyway, we did an unplugged set with candles and stuff.

Song of Hope - Robbie Seay Band
Cannons - Phil Wickham
Lead Me To The Cross - Brooke Fraser
Jesus Paid It All - Kristian Stanfill version
How He Loves - John Mark McMillan (original lyric version)

Song List - October 17, 2010

All Because Of Jesus - Steve Fee
Glorious One - Steve Fee
Our God - Chris Tomlin
We Crown You - Steve Fee
Everything - Tim Hughes

New Release Tuesday! - October 12, 2010

I have decided that if I'm really excited about a CD coming out, that I would highlight it when it is released (which usually happens on Tuesdays). Today I actually want to highlight two albums that are released today.



The first is Flags by Brooke Fraser. Brooke is a musical artist from New Zealand. If you have paid attention at all to the last few Hillsong United albums, you have definitely heard her songs and her voice. Some of the worship songs you may be familiar with that are hers are Hosanna, Lead Me To The Cross, and Desert Song. However, she is more known in her home country of New Zealand as a best-selling solo artist. Her last CD is called Albertine and was my favorite album of that year.

Flags continues her excellent work. At first listen it seems a little less dark than the last album - both musically and lyrically. My favorite track so far is the last one, called "Flags." If you get it through Amazon, you get a bonus track, which is an acoustic version of Flags and I think even better than the original. Here is a snippet of the lyrics from that song:
You who mourn will be comforted
You who hunger will hunger no more
All the last shall be first
Of this I am sure

You who weep now will laugh again
All you lonely be lonely no more
Yes, the last will be first
Of this I'm sure

I don't know why the innocents fall
While the monsters stand
I don't know why the little ones thirst
But I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first
I know the last shall be first

I am looking forward to listening to this album over and over again over the next several weeks.

---


Although, the same day that Flags is release, another favorite artist of mine, Sufjan Stevens, has released an album - so I guess I will have to alternate between the two.

Sufjan it seems has abandoned his quest to write an album for every state in the U.S. Which kind of makes me sad, but it's probably not a very realistic goal. Unless he's planning on doing this at age 95 or something. Anyway, not only is his new album The Age of Adz not a state project, it's also different musically than the last several of his albums, which have leaned more towards what I like to call "Americana quirky folk," filled with banjos, flutes, Sousa-type musical numbers, and cheerleader background vocals. (Don't worry, the flutes and cheerleader vocals seem to still make their appearances on this one.) Musically, The Age of Adz adds some electronica to the mix. So far I've really enjoyed it, although I've heard there's a song with some "surprising" lyrics coming from Sufjan, a professed Christian. But I'm okay with that.

Song List - October 10, 2010

One outdoor service. 625 people. Awesome day!

Happy Day - Tim Hughes
Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
Great Is Thy Faithfulness - Lincoln Brewster version
God Of This City - Chris Tomlin version

The song that Tiffany Kelly sang was "Your Hands" by J.J. Heller.

Song List - October 3, 2010

All Because Of Jesus - Steve Fee
Not To Us - Chris Tomlin
Blessed Be Your Name - Matt Redman
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King - Gateway Worship
The Wonderful Cross - Chris Tomlin/Matt Redman

Chase The Lion Testimony Video

I would much rather speak live than on video, but I thought this video turned out pretty well. I guess I could say that one of my fears is that when I open myself up like this, especially when it's about my brain surgery or whatever, that people will look at me differently. But I'm glad for the opportunity to talk about my past and what the future looks like with fighting human trafficking.

Chase The Lion

Miamisburg Christian Church is starting up a new message series this coming Sunday, and I think it's going to be a great one! Join us for Chase The Lion!


Sept 19 - Defying Odds

Sept 26 - Facing Fears

Oct 3 - Overcoming Adversity

Oct 10 - Embracing Uncertainty

Oct 17 - Taking Risks

Oct 24 - Seizing Opportunities

Oct 31 - Looking Foolish

Miamisburg Christian Church Live Out Video

This video makes me proud of our church and the impact we have in our community and around the world. We may do some things wrongly, but in this area - we are doing it right!

My article on human trafficking

Things are really ramping up for me in the area of fighting human trafficking, which is exciting and scary at the same time!

I was asked to write an article for a cool online magazine called Circle Six as they are spending all week long focusing on human trafficking. Yesterday they "published" my article, so here is a link to it:

A Crime So Monstrous

Permission To Speak Freely

Anne Jackson, author of "Mad Church Disease", has a new book out called "Permission To Speak Freely." It's a book that looks similar to what Frank at PostSecret has done for some time now - collecting people's anonymous "confessions." Anne's book deals more specifically with the struggles and confessions of Christians. She has a few examples at her book's website, and I thought that this one was really interesting:



Through September 3rd, you can get Anne Jackson's new book in audio form for only $2.99 by going here and putting in the promo code JACKSON7210 when prompted to do so.

Song List - August 29, 2010

I haven't done this in awhile, so here is the song list from this past Sunday:

Indescribable - Chris Tomlin (this was only done first hour)

Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United

From The Inside Out - Hillsong United

Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

It Is Well - Todd Fields version


The background song on the baptism video was the song "Beautiful Things" from the worship band Gungor (on their Beautiful Things album, I highly recommend it!)

Baptism Video - August 29, 2010

I have neglected this blog greatly over the last month, but my hope is that I will post more frequently in September!

Here is the baptism video that I put together that we showed this past Sunday. Thanks to all of our media team members who for the most part filmed each baptism video!

New Arcade Fire album

I'm not the biggest Arcade Fire fan (I think I mentioned that below), but I like them and definitely appreciate their creativity and approach to music. At NPR, you can listen to the new album in its entirety, which is pretty cool.

If ever there was a video and song...

that could be created that would take my thoughts on God, religion, politics, society - whatever, it would look like this.

Thank you once again Gungor.

Gungor

I really like this worship band's new CD, called Beautiful Things. They call themselves a "liturgical post-rock" band. Very cool stuff.

Here's an explanation of the band itself as well as an introduction to their new CD.



Here is the title song from their new CD. Enjoy!



EDIT: Here is an acoustic version of Beautiful Things. LOVE LOVE LOVE

My Daughter Runs To Grandpa's Camera

I love this video. Just found it again, so I thought I would share!

VBS Slideshow

Okay, here's the last one - it's a slideshow of last week's VBS!

VBS Slideshow from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

VBS Announcement Video

I thought this was great!

VBS Announcement Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

VBS Recap Video

VBS week was last week, and it was so much fun! Great to see kids get excited about Jesus and grace. Here's a two and a half minute recap video.

2010 VBS Recap Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - June 20, 2010

Hour #1:

Happy Day - Tim Hughes
Rise And Sing - Steve Fee
Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
Jesus Lord Of Heaven - Phil Wickham

Hour #2:

Rise And Sing - Steve Fee
Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United

Preschool kids sang This Little Light Of Mine and You're Powerful

Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle

Then the elementary kids joined us for:

Happy Day - Tim Hughes
Amazing Grace (Woo Hoo) - no idea


It was a lot of fun!

Song List - June 13, 2010

Rise And Sing - Steve Fee
Cannons - Phil Wickham
Mighty To Save - Hillsong United
Beautiful Jesus - Kristian Stanfill
The Stand - Hillsong United

We also did Jesusland by Ben Folds as a special music. Nathan you will be missed!

If you've never heard the song, here is the music video of the song.

2010 VBS Training Video

I did not film this video, but I did edit it. I thought it came out pretty well.

2010 MCC VBS Training Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Lost In Translation

I thought these were awesome - some of them I had heard before, but I thought I would share.

----

Coors put its slogan, "Turn it loose," into Spanish, where it was read as "Suffer from diarrhea".

Clairol introduced the "Mist Stick", a curling iron, into Germany only to find out that "mist" is slang for manure. Not too many people had use for the "manure stick".

Scandinavian vacuum manufacturer Electrolux used the following in an American campaign: Nothing sucks like an Electrolux.

In Chinese, the Kentucky Fried Chicken slogan "finger-lickin' good" came out as "eat your fingers off".

The American slogan for Salem cigarettes, "Salem-Feeling Free", was translated into the Japanese market as "When smoking Salem, you will feel so refreshed that your mind seems to be free and empty".

When Gerber started selling baby food in Africa, they used the same packaging as in the US, with the beautiful Caucasian baby on the label. Later they learned that in Africa, companies routinely put pictures on the label of what's inside, since most people can't read English.

Colgate introduced a toothpaste in France called Cue, the name of a notorious porno magazine.

An American T-shirt maker in Miami printed shirts for the Spanish market which promoted the Pope's visit. Instead of "I saw the Pope" (el Papa), the shirts read "I saw the potato" (la papa).

In Italy, a campaign for Schweppes Tonic Water translated the name into "Schweppes Toilet Water".

Pepsi's "Come alive with the Pepsi Generation" translated into "Pepsi brings your ancestors back from the grave", in Chinese.

We all know about GM's Chevy Nova meaning "it won't go" in Spanish markets, but did you know that Ford had a similar problem in Brazil with the Pinto? Pinto was Brazilian slang for "tiny male genitals". Ford renamed the automobile Corcel, meaning "horse".

Hunt-Wesson introduced Big John products in French Canada as Gros Jos. Later they found out that in slang it means "big breasts".

Frank Perdue's chicken slogan, "it takes a strong man to make a "tender chicken" was translated into Spanish as "it takes an aroused man to make a chicken affectionate".

When Parker Pen marketed a ball-point pen in Mexico, its ads were supposed to have read, "it won't leak in your pocket and embarrass you". Instead, the company thought that the word "embarazar" (to impregnate) meant to embarrass, so the ad read: "It won't leak in your pocket and make you pregnant".

The Coca-Cola name in China was first read as "Ke-kou-ke- la", meaning "Bite the wax tadpole" or "female horse stuffed with wax", depending on the dialect. Coke then researched 40,000 characters to find a phonetic equivalent "ko-kou-ko- le", translating into "happiness in the mouth".

Probably the most famous of all is John Kennedy's announcement to the people of Berlin, "Ich bin ein Berliner!" JFK thought he said, "I am a citizen of Berlin!" What he *really* said was, "I am a jelly doughnut!" ("Berliner" is German for "jelly doughnut".)

Some friends from England visited us a few years back. Their teenage daughter got a huge laugh from the name of an airline back then: The Trump Shuttle (Donald Trump's airline). They said in England, "Trump" translated into "fart"!

No wonder macs are the best selling computer in Japan, Microsofts Windows '95 ad slogan, translated into Japanese: "If you don't know where you want to go, we'll make sure you get taken."

June 6, 2010 Song List

Song Of Hope - Robbie Seay Band
Everlasting God - Lincoln Brewster version
Glorious One - Steve Fee
God Of This City - Chris Tomlin version
Only You - David Crowder Band

Decision:

You Are My King - Billy Foote

Song List - May 30,2010

Your Grace Is Enough - Chris Tomlin
Because Of Your Love - Paul Baloche and Brenton Brown
Awakening - Chris Tomlin and Reuben Morgan
Meet Us Here - Mike Hornholz
He Knows My Name - Tommy Walker

No Words

Here's the new commercial for the Stanley Cup Finals. Awesome. Also great to see Ray Bourque in there after winning with Colorado.

New Arcade Fire single

I'm not the biggest Arcade Fire fan, but I do like them, and certainly like them more when I'm in certain moods.

Here is the new single, I really really like it! (And the spinning record thing is awesome)

Song List - May 23, 2010

O Worship The King - Chris Tomlin version
Shine In Me - Caleb Clements
Awakening - Chris Tomlin and Reuben Morgan
Everything - Tim Hughes
You Hold Me Now - Hillsong United

Teacher Appreciation Sunday

Here is the video I put together using two different videos (and some editing of words) for our Teacher Appreciation Sunday we had this past Sunday.

Teacher Appreciation Sunday Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Swagger Wagon

I love this video - still have never owned a mini-van, but I have driven one and like them! But since we're a family of three, I don't see us ever getting one. But if we do, I'll be rapping away like this family.

How Great Is Our God done with iPhones

I thought this video was absolutely amazing. Using technology to create art is cool.

Law Enforcement Recognition Sunday videos

Here are two videos I put together for the Law Enforcement Recognition we did this past Sunday. I hope that the officers were touched by the videos, the words of appreciation and the prayer at the end for them.

Law Enforcement Recognition Sunday Video #1 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Law Enforcement Recognition Sunday Video #2 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - May 16, 2010

Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin (I got to play electric guitar, hooray!)
Love The Lord - Lincoln Brewster
You Alone - David Crowder Band
Lead Me To The Cross - Brooke Fraser

I also led the classic service, and we did:

Come Now Is The Time To Worship
Be Thou My Vision
Fairest Lord Jesus
Come Thou Fount, Come Thou King
It Is Well (new version)
Joyous Light
I Stand Amazed

2010 VBS Promo Video

It was fun putting this promo video together! (And certainly not as time-intensive as last year's video!)

2010 MCC VBS Promo Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

The Greatest Leadership Lesson

The greatest leadership lesson is not learned from a book.

It's not learned from an instructional video.

It's not learned from a peer.

It's not learned by watching TED videos.

It's not learned by sitting at John Maxwell's feet.







It's learned from a shirtless dancing doofus.

Mother's Day Videos

For Mother's Day at MCC, we showed a video that was broken down into three sections. It was neat to hear messages to moms not only from kids, but also from adults.

In case you missed them, here they are:

Mother's Day Video #1 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Mother's Day Video #2 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Mothers' Day Video #3 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - May 9, 2010

I Am Free - Desperation Band
All We Need - Charlie Hall
Hallelujah (Your Love Is Amazing) - Brenton Brown
I Will Sing - Matt Boswell
Only You - David Crowder Band

Help For Haiti

Next Saturday, Miamisburg Christian Church is hosting a Haiti Relief Tour. This is a community event to bag food for Haiti. Invite your family, your friends, neighbors to work a two-hour shift bagging nutritious meals to help hurting people. The cost per person is $40 which pays for all the food, shipping it to Haiti and a cool t-shirt!

You can register by going here. For more details, contact the church office or see our website.

Help For Haiti Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Contemporvant

The below video is so awesome, I'm still laughing at it. Unfortunately, it's also true for a lot of churches. It reminds me of the foundation graphics that I posted in my blog a few years ago about how most churches focus on Sunday morning so much that it becomes the foundation of their church and everything that happens during the week is geared towards the Sunday morning services. If that's our focus, if that's our foundation, then the video is basically what happens. Sunday morning becomes a well-designed show that is all about having people come to church on Sunday morning.

However, if our focus is on the mission that God has called us to, then Sunday morning is important, but it's not the most important thing.

So check out the video - you'll laugh, probably painfully, because you know it's true.

(I've also included the graphics from my past post.)

"Sunday's Coming" Movie Trailer from North Point Media on Vimeo.

The Prayer of St. Fursey

The arms of God be around my shoulders,
The touch of the Holy Spirit upon my head,
The sign of Christ's cross upon my forehead,
The sound of the Holy Spirit in my ears,
The fragrance of the Holy Spirit in my nostrils,
The vision of heaven's company in my eyes,
The conversation of heaven's company on my lips,
The work of God's church in my hands,
The service of God and the neighbor in my feet,
A home for God in my heart,
And to God, the father of all, my entire being.
Amen.

Song List - May 2, 2010

Song Of Hope - Robbie Seay Band
Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United
Glory To God Forever - Steve Fee
Jesus Lord Of Heaven - Phil Wickham
Only You - David Crowder Band

AWESOME.

I do not endorse the comic that inspired this short video, but I do think this video is rather hilarious.

New Love146 Video

If you want to know what I do for a living, I will tell you that I'm a worship minister.

If you want to know what my calling is, I will tell you that I'm an abolitionist and I work to free child sex slaves from their horrible lives and to help them rediscover their lives as children of God.

Love146 Overview from LOVE146 on Vimeo.

Song List - April 25th, 2010

Let It Rise - Big Daddy Weave
Love The Lord - Lincoln Brewster
Everyday - Hillsong
God Of This City - Chris Tomlin
It Is Well (new version) - Todd Fields (North Point)

Broken Is Beautiful

A new video by People Of The Second Chance has come out. I love what this video reminds us. My favorite quote: "You really can't experience happiness until you've experienced pain, because then you are able to compare the difference."

Check it out here:

BROKEN IS BEAUTIFUL from PEOPLE OF THE SECOND CHANCE on Vimeo.

Bittersweet Songs

In preparing for a memorial service that took place last night, I pulled out of my iTunes songs that I felt were appropriate to play as people were coming in and leaving. What I noticed with these songs was that they were some of my favorites. It made me realize that some of my favorite songs are what I would call "bittersweet" - honest expressions to God through despair and disappointment that ultimately point to God as our hope and the One we cling to in time of need.

Here is the playlist from last night, perhaps some of these songs resonate with you as much as they resonate with me.

The Valley Song - Jars Of Clay
This Road - Jars Of Clay
Healing Is In Your Hands - Christy Nockels (2010 Passion CD called Awakening)
Hymn - Brooke Fraser
Calmer Of The Storm - Downhere
Dear God - Grover Levy
You Hold Me Now - Hillsong United (we do this one at our church)
Still Is My Soul - Jill Phillips
Won't Back Down - Mat Kearney
The Love Of God - Rich Mullins
If I Stand - Rich Mullins
Only Hope - Switchfoot
Be Thou My Vision - Pedro The Lion version
By Your Side - Tenth Avenue North
Hold My Heart - Tenth Avenue North
O God Where Are You Now - Sufjan Stevens (David Crowder version)

Song List - April 18, 2010

I was reminded yesterday that I hadn't posted the song list from this past week (I'm glad someone still reads this blog!), so here it is:

All To You - Lincoln Brewster
Your Grace Is Enough - Matt Maher (Chris Tomlin version)
Enough - Chris Tomlin
Draw Me Close - Kelly Carpenter
It Is Well (New Version) - North Point Community Church (Todd Fields)

We also showed a great video from Dan Stevers that used the song "Broken" by Lifehouse. Here is the video:

J.R. Smith's Alley Oop Dunk

How this dunk didn't make the NBA.com's Top Ten List of the Year is beyond me, but it is certainly amazing:

Song List - April 11, 2010

Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United
Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
Glorious One - Steve Fee
You Alone - David Crowder
Here I Am To Worship - Tim Hughes

Avs Clinch A Playoff Spot!

Song List - Easter (April 4, 2010)

We had a great Easter - lots of people, lots of craziness! We added another service to the mix, which was a bridge between contemporary and traditional (it was called Celebration)

Celebration Service:

My Redeemer Lives - Hillsong
I Am Free - Jon Egan
Come Thou Fount Come Thou King - Gateway
Mighty To Save - Hillsong
It Is Well (new version) - Todd Fields

Contemporary Service:

Happy Day - Tim Hughes (Fee version)
Song Of Hope - Robbie Seay Band
Sweetly Broken - Jeremy Riddle
Jesus Paid It All - Kristian Stanfill

We also did I Will Rise by Chris Tomlin as a special in all three services.

The Choice

I'm not much of a traditionalist by any means, but there is one tradition during the weeks leading up to Easter that I try and follow each year: reading through the book Reliving The Passion by Walt Wangerin Jr. He's the guy who wrote the short story Ragman, and I recommend pretty much all of his books. But especially his devotional book about the Passion of Jesus. Each chapter is a day of Lent, and he does an incredible job of putting different thoughts and words together concerning the last week of Jesus.

I'm behind in my readings, so I'm trying to catch up, and one chapter I read last night really hit me for some reason, so I thought I would share.

---
The Twenty-Third Day
Monday

Mark 15:6-11
Now at the feast he used to release for them one prisoner for whom they asked. And among the rebels in prison, who had committed murder in the insurrection, there was a man called Barabbas. And the crowd came up and began to ask Pilate to do as he was wont to do for them. And he answered them, Do you want me to release for you the King of the Jews?" For he perceived that it was out of envy that the chief priests had delivered him up. But the chief priests stirred up the crowd to have him release for them Barabbas instead.

Behold the people! Though they think themselves the force of the morning, in charge of things (by virtue of their numbers and their noise), they are in fact being put to a test which shall reveal the truth beneath their words, the reality beneath their self-assumptions and all their pretense.

Behold the nature of the breed!

A crowd has gathered at the Praetorium, a rabble, an obstreperous delegation of Judeans whose presence complicates Pilate's inclination to release Jesus. These crowds are volatile. Instead of a simple release, then, a choice is offered the people. Let the people feel in charge; let the people decide. The Governor will, according to a traditional Passover amnesty, free one prisoner. Which will it be -

Jesus of Nazareth? - whom they have falsely accused of treason against the Empire?
Or Barabbas? - treasonous in fact, one who committed murder for the cause?

If they choose the latter, their loyalties to the Empire (which Jesus is supposed to have offended) are revealed a vile sham, and these are no more than temporizing hypocrites, pretending any virtue to satisfy a private end.

But the Governor will release only one prisoner. Which will it be?

Jesus - who is the Son of the Father, who is the Kingdom of God come near unto them?
Or Barabbas - whose name means "the son of a (human) father," flesh itself, the fleshly pretensions to god-like, personal power in the kingdoms of the world?

This, precisely, is the timeless choice of humankind.

If they choose the latter, they choose humanity over divinity. They choose one who will harm them over one who would heal them.

If they choose Barabbas, they choose the popular revolutionary hero, the swashbuckler, the pirate, merry Robin Hood, the blood-lusty rake, the law-flout, violence glorified, appetites satisfied, James Bond, Billy Jack, Clint Eastwood, Rambo, the celebrated predator, the one who "turns them on," over one who asks them to "deny themselves and die." They choose (voluntarily!) entertainment over worship, self-satisfaction over sacrificial love, getting things over giving things, being served over serving, "feeling good about myself" and having it all and gaining the whole world and rubbing elbows with the rich rather than rubbing the wounds of the poor -

The choice is before them. And they think the choice is external, this man or that man. In fact, the choice is terribly internal: this nature or that one, good folks or people essentially selfish and evil, therefore. It's an accurate test of their character. How they choose is who they are.

Behold a people in desperate need of forgiveness.

---

Wake Up - Arcade Fire

I've heard this song before. Many times. And I don't know if it's because it's in the trailer for Where The Wild Things Are, or if it's played every day at the end of the Dan Patrick Show, but for some reason, now...just now...it's becoming my favorite song.

The first minute needs to be my ringtone, gotta make that happen.

Set List - March 21, 2010

Salvation Is Here - Hillsong United
Glory To God Forever - Steve Fee
Everything - Tim Hughes
You Hold Me Now - Hillsong United
God Of This City - Chris Tomlin

Announcement Video - March 21, 2010

If you've never been to a Bass Pro Shop, you need to check it out! We were treated so well there as we filmed our announcement video, it was great!

032110 announcement video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Set List - March 14, 2010

Salvation Is Here (A) - Hillsong United
Everlasting God (Bb) - Lincoln Brewster
God Of Wonders (Bb) - City On A Hill
Wonderful Maker (C) - Chris Tomlin
Hungry (C) - Kathryn Scott

St. Patrick As Told By Veggietales

I don't think this is exactly how it happened, but Veggie Tales does a good job of explaining the life story of St. Patrick, as told through a puppet with an Indian voice...



Happy St. Patrick's Day!

I've been attacked by Glenn Beck!

First, Beck railed this week against churches who preach "social justice." Now he's attacking individual church leaders, including me!

March 7, 2010 Message Bumper

March 7 2010 Message Bumper from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - March 7, 2010

The asterisked songs were only done during the first hour, since we had Girl Scout Sunday and two baptisms second hour.

Sing Sing Sing - Chris Tomlin
* Not To Us - Chris Tomlin
Mighty To Save - Hillsong
* Lead Me To The Cross - Hillsong United
Jesus Paid It All - Kristian Stanfill

My Daughter and Other Girl Scouts Do The Announcements.

How awesome is this video? Very awesome.

March 7 Announcement Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Earthquake In Chile Affects A Brother In Christ

Raul Concha is a chaplain at Sycamore Hospital, only a mile away from my church. We see Raul almost every month at our Miamisburg Ministerial Association meeting, except for the past month, because he was on vacation in his home country of Chile. Yes, that same country that was just devastated by an earthquake. Thankfully, Raul left the day before the earthquake hit, and his family is okay as well, but we need to continue to pray for his family, that they can get water and other necessities, as well as the people of Chile who are now beginning to rebuild their homes and lives after this massive earthquake.

Here is a local news story on Raul and his family.

My Favorite YouTube Videos

After I clicked on a link that brought me to another really funny YouTube video, it made me think, what are my favorites of all times from the YouTube world? Well, here's what I came up with:

- Russian Man "Sings"

This is the one that was sent to me today.



- John Daker



- Omazing Grace



- O Holy Night



- Praise Brothers



- Kid Hits His Head On Counter



- Reporter Gets Hit By Snow Tube



- News Anchors Laugh At Model Falling Down



I'm sure there are more, but that's a good start.

02/28/10 Relationslips Bumper #4

One more to go...

Relationslips Message Bumper #4 - 02/28/10 from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Miamisburg Christian Church 2009 Recap Video

I like how this turned out. It was a lot of effort, but fun to do!

Miamisburg Christian Church 2009 Recap Video from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - February 21, 2010

Glorious One - Steve Fee
Famous One - Chris Tomlin
I Will Sing - Matt Boswell
We Crown You - Steve Fee
How Great Is Our God - Chris Tomlin

Message Bumper - February 21, 2010

February 21 2010 Message Bumper from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Song List - February 14, 2010

I have decided to get rid of the blog that I have for church, and just have it link to this one. It's hard enough to keep track of one blog, let alone three (I have another blog about human trafficking here.)

Of course, on my "work" blog, I really only posted what we did the Sunday before, because I had some people at church ask what the songs were after we did them. So, this will now be an addition to this blog as well.

02/14/10

Cannons - Phil Wickham
Everyday - Hillsong
Holy Is The Lord - Chris Tomlin
Everything - Tim Hughes
How He Loves - David Crowder Band version (special music)

Message Bumper - February 14, 2010

We're in this message series called "Relationslips" and I thought it would be fun to put together four bumper videos to coincide with each week's theme. This last week's one was much better than the week before (although I didn't have much time to do it, being in Savannah and all). I'm already starting to think about what next week's is going to look like.

February 14 2010 Message Bumper from Miamisburg Christian Church on Vimeo.

Letting Go Of "The Dream Job"

I was talking with one of my fellow staff members here at MCC, and somehow the subject of our dream jobs, i.e. dream ministry positions came up. We both had good stories.

For him, in the early 90's he had the opportunity to be the student minister at a church in Huntington Beach, CA - which would have been a great ministry, I know the church and the town well - but he and his wife decided that since they had young kids, the beach wasn't the best place for their kids to grow up.

My dream opportunity happened when I was in Dallas as a student minister there. My wife and I knew that although we liked the church a lot and had some great times there, it just wasn't a good fit for us (or for them, really), and so I started putting out some feelers to see what was out there. And then I found it: an open youth ministry position at a church in Steamboat Springs, CO. This church had an incredible retreat facility that my home church, when I was youth minister there, took great advantage of. (the above picture is of a fall retreat at that retreat center) If you know me, you also know that growing up I wanted to become a ski instructor and as a matter of fact was able to do so for a couple of years before going to college.

This youth ministry position had everything I wanted: (1) it was in a ski town. (2) it had an incredible facility. (3) I would have hung out with ski bums like myself.

I applied for the position, went out there to interview, and waited (im)patiently for them to call me and tell me I was hired. The call came, but it was to tell me that I was #2, and they had hired the #1 guy. I was extremely upset, to say the least.

In my conversations with fellow ministers, I've noticed that it seems like most of us don't settle down in one place for long. Back in the day, a minister would stay at a church for a lifetime. Of course, back in the day as well, our fathers would stay at their job for forty years. It isn't that way any more. Even if we're happy at our position, we have an eye open for the next big opportunity, the next happening church, the "dream job".

I'm done with that. Experience has taught me well, and it hasn't been an easy lesson to take. God is calling His workers to grow roots and thrive where He has planted them. I love my church, and although I haven't been there long, I've decided that my dream job is where God has me now. I get to work with some incredible men and women of God, both on staff, and those who volunteer. Our eldership takes care of its staff and has our backs. I'm ready to develop roots and grow where God has planted me.

Blake's Story

Well, here is my first post of the new year. I thought I would start posting more often, but it's actually been less often. Oops!

Here is a testimony by a pastor named Blake. I don't personally know Blake, but we do have a couple of things in common:

1) I was the youth pastor at my home church for six and a half years. Blake was the youth pastor at my home church a few years after me.

2) I was deeply hurt by some things that took place at my home church. Blake was also deeply hurt by the church as well.

I have heard things have gotten better, but this church is known for eating up youth ministers and spitting them back out alive, but barely. In fact, in the ten years since I've been there, that church has gone through I think seven youth ministers.

Blake's testimony hit home with me. I'm sure that everyone can find some similarities with their own stories.

God's Restoration in Ministry Burnout from Anne Jackson on Vimeo.