on my way home

We're on our way home after spending the week with the family in Evansville IN. I remebered the things I enjoyed about living in the Midwest...seasons for one. The beautiful collage of falling leaves, dressing warm, appreciating a cup of hot coffee, even being forced to stay inside. It was nice. And it was good to be with our family.

Because this was only only time we would be together, Janie (my AWESOME mother-in law) decided we should just go ahead and do Christmas then. I've officially given the holiday the name Thanks Givemas.

It was a great week away, but after being gone for a week and a half in Africa, coming home long enough to unpack and repack, then spending another week away in Indiana, I'm ready to be home.

Just past Macon, 5 hours to go.

10 Connects News at 11:00

It was so surreal. I had people hunting me down between our two services Sunday telling me that there was a news crew outside looking for me. I thought it was a joke that I didn't get. No joke though, someone had forwarded one of my blogs onto them and they wanted to do a quick highlight on our work there.

The airing was a little disappointing, I took an opportunity to talk about how people could support our work and some opportunities we have coming up to get involved (including our Christmas programs), which didn't make it on air or on the site. But overall, I was glad for the opportunity.

You can check it out here.

Africa - Day Seven - Humility

I know you're probably saying to yourself
"What is that cowboy doing with that African warrior..."

The most memorable moment of the day for me came when, after a church service, we were invited to a very small house to visit a young lady named Rosabella. She was a single mother whose husband died many years ago. Her husbands death left her with two young boys to raise on her own. Fortunately she had the help of her mother. The best job she could find was in Nairobi two hours away working as house help to a family that treated her very poorly. She would go live in the slums in Nairobi for weeks at a time to make money and bring it back to her family. Between the rent that she pays for her small home in Nairobi and the rent she pays for her family in Nakuru (as well as all the other normal living expenses) - she has nothing.

Which made it all the more humbling when we walked into her house today and found a full spread of the best food available. She had rice & vegetables, chicken, home made chips, fried biscuits, and cokes for us to drink. As we sat down, she brought out a basin and pitcher and washed our hands for us. I image it was close to what the disciples must have felt like when Jesus washed their feet.

I felt humbled - almost embarrassed to be receiving so much from this woman who had nothing. I will never forget her generosity and hospitality.

-Chris

Day Six - A Pile of Crap

Today we spent the day in a part of town, known to the people of Nakuru as London. We would call it the city dump. Why, do you ask, did we spend the day in the landfill? Because we went to visit the village of poor families and orphans that live there in it.

Today was probably the hardest day we've faced here. As Douglas and I and crew climbed our way to the top of the pile of garbage, we had to focus on not gagging as not to embarrass the villagers that were so welcoming to us in their homes. The stench was almost unbearable. As we climbed we were surrounded by villagers - men, women, children just old enough to walk, as they sifted through the waste to find scraps they could sell or use for their families. Many children walked through the mountains of trash and broken glass with no shoes and only the clothes that they had managed to pull out of the rubbish.

We walked from home to home, welcomed by the families that lived there, to hear what life is like for them and what needs they are facing. We left in each house we visited a bucket of essentials that were put together back at the house. We found a few families that we were able to share the story of God's love for them with. For a couple of those families, we were able to pray with them to accept that love. It was very difficult for me though to find a way to talk about a good God in the midst of such a perverse environment. No one - no one should be forced to live like that - certainly not innocent people...children.

In the short time that we spent here in Nakuru, hands down, the hardest moment of the trip ransacked me today. As we were leaving one of the homes, an a old women who only talked about how good God is to her, eventually broke down in tears and shared in Kswahili that one of her grandchildren that she cares for had been badly burned. When we asked if we could see the child she led us to the small bedroom where we found a child, laying face down, with a burn spanning across the entire lower back. The burn was so bad, there was no skin left on the child, it had burned all the way to the bone. When we asked what had happened, she said it was an accident, but also that her family was feuding...? We gave her money to immediately take her child to the hospital and get it treated. If we hadn't gotten there today, that child would have continued to suffer and potentially not survive. It was hard to see, but when I realized that this young boy was the age of my Conner, I - lost - it.

So much emotion filled us as we walked through the streets, we weren't able to speak to each other.

There were some bittersweet moments during our time there. I was surrounded by children hungry for love and attention as we walked. They loved getting they're picture taken and seeing it on the camera. It almost cause a riot. As I walked, I at all times had two, three, or four children hanging onto me - holding my hand, squeezing my leg. They had obviously not seen too many "Mazungu" (pasty white guys) before. They would laugh and laugh as they rubbed the hair on my arms or felt my stubbly beard.

They erupted when I lifted up my shirt to show them the hair on my chest - they laughed and shouted. I was petted every time I bent down. They all wanted to be held, and though they were filthy dirty - they were completely irresistible.

It was a despicably disgusting place, and at the same time, filled with so much beauty. I couldn't get it to fit in my mind.

-Chris

Day 5 - An African Safari

Today was a great day. We certainly couldn't come to Africa and not go out into the bush! We spent the better part of the day in Lake Nakuru National Park on safari. Here's just a few of my favorites:

These are just a few of the hundreds of animals and cool stuff we saw today - all within the state park. Amazing!

Another Day In Africa

Today was our 4th day here in Africa. It was another emotional day. A lot less anger, a little more tears, and a lot more grace. I saw God's hands and feet today-I got to be a part of it. We heard more stories from more women and men about life here in Africa. The more you learn, the bigger the problem seems.

I got to spend a lot of the day with people, not just behind a camera. I love the children here. I played for a couple hours with two little street boys here. We took goofy pictures, I showed them how to use the cameras, they showed me how to spear a lion...you know the normal stuff.

Hearing their stories makes passion and love for them grow deeper and deeper. Francis, one of the boys I spent the day with, told us his story. Here is an excerpt of a post from Douglas (my Pastor traveling with me):

Today I sat out on the veranda of Joseph and Molly's home with a 15 year old young man named Francis. His mother died sometime ago and his father remarried a woman with two children. His step-mother despises him and his alcoholic father violently abuses him when he drinks...which is most days. Francis showed me the scars where his father has bitten off his flesh...one wound is still open. He let me see a scar on his left leg where his dad swung a machete at him. He told me how his father recently taped his legs together and hoisted him in the air and before his dad could build a fire under him, neighbors intervened. Many days his family refuses to give him food and many nights they refuse to let him in the house so he huddles down in the bushes or garden to sleep. He told me how his father denies this bright young man the money to attend school. I could go on, but by now you more than get the circumstances of his life.

Francis then went on to tell me how good God is to him. How God spared his life by sending the neighbors to his rescue. How when he has not eaten for a few days God provides by sending Joseph and Molly and they give him food. How God has been so generous to Him by giving him money to pay for school through the Bails. How God even has put such nice clothes on his back, once again through you know who. "God is so good!", Francis kept telling me. "How can people not believe in our good God"..."God saved my life"..."God saved my soul"...Then he sang a song for me, lyrics that said: "My God, my God how good is thy name!" Francis wants to one day be a Pastor so he can tell people how good his God is. I told him that all of heaven is cheering him on and that as a Pastor myself, I can honestly say he would be a credit to my profession.

I fought tears he sat and told his story. And he is just one...just one of the voices drowned out by the roar of the millions of others just like him.

But tonight, as we sat to eat a traditional Kenyan meal around the table. We got to laugh and enjoy the meal with the friends we have made here. I got to hear how God and the church are breaking through thousands of years of tradition. I could never go into the complexity of the struggle here. Thousands of years of deep roots are working against the much needed change to this country, but tonight I got to see the power that God can bring to lives. Power that goes beyond tradition, government, distances, hatred, and hopelessness. I see the change that Molly and Joe and the work so many people are financially supporting - and it's real! Its a few lives at a time, but those few lives are joining in the work and changing their families and slowing beginning to bring change to their tribes & villages.

A hard day, but so good for my spirit. I wish you call could be here to see it.

Day Three - Salgaa & Kabarak

Today was our first day of shooting. We spent the first part of the day in a little village called Salgaa. But before I tell you about our time there, let me first just tell you that no one will ever get away with complaining out our roads or road maintenance construction back home. I traveled to our first stop (about 45 mins away) riding in the back of a 9 passenger van on roads, (some of which I'm not sure should even be given the name 'road'). I've made so much fun of Douglas and his "travelers tummy" - but let me just go on record today and say that I am all done joking about that...nuff said.

So after being very glad to be out of the car, we were greeted by a church service that was going on in our honor. We were introduced to the small village. They sang, danced, and told stories about life in the small village. I was terrible humbled by the way we were treated. I drop more at Starbucks any given morning than some these people have made this year. They went out of their way to make us feel welcome. I was given a mug of something that I am still a little uncertain of...it was warm and smelled like milk straight from the utter. I put it to my lips, did my best impression of someone drinking, and smiled. They also gave us cokes, which I was grateful for.

After the service, we were able to walk through the village into some of the homes there and hear the stories of the families there. It was overwhelming to say the least. These families are facing a hopeless situation in the coming months...and there is nothing to be done. A village of people who, for circumstances out of their control, are being forced out of their homes. Some of which they've lived in for 50 years. I was overwhelmed with emotion...some tears, some anger, all painful.

We left that village and made our way to Kabarak (on a different, but equally as sickining road). We met and filmed a story of a girl named Helen. We interviewed her in the house that her and her son live in (aka-a 10x10 room). We heard her story - growing up, loosing parents, and eventually contracting aids. It was a painful story to hear, but even more painful is the realization that she and the others we saw today are just a microcosm of the millions of other lives here in Kenya.

As painful as the day was, there were moments of grace. Conversations with Joe and Molly on the long trips of what God is doing in them and through them, meeting some exceptional people who shine, despite the dark and hopeless world around them (shoutout to Daniel, Victor, & Grace-I wish you all could meet them).

I get to walk away from this place in a few days...its not fair that so many of these friends we've met can't also do the same.

Day Two – Our First Day in Kenya

We arrived early in the morning here in Kenya. Unfortunately, it was also 10:00 pm my time. With little sleep on the plane, we walked through the tunnel very tired but excited. After long lines at customs and crazy baggage claims, we made our way out of the airport and were met immediately by Joe and Molly and a few friends.

On our way from the airport, we were able to stop by Elijah's (Molly & Joe's son) school. He showed us around the school and introduced a few friends and roommates. He loves his school and is doing really well. It was good to spend time with him and see him doing well.

Kenya is beautiful. We took our time on our way back to Nakuru. We were both captured by the beautiful landscapes, unique animals, and the innocent children running beside our van. The children are so easy to fall in love with.

Everywhere we go, we stick out. Not only are we the only white people in a sea of dark faces, Douglas is taller than most everyone around. Walking through the town you can't help but feel like a celebrity – everyone wanting your attention (mostly wanting to sell something). It was good to have a day to be able to acclimate to the new schedule and culture a bit. Tomorrow we begin shooting.

A few shots from the day (Many more good ones, but I'm only posting three for sake of my sanity-remember the days of dialup?):

Day One - Traveling & Amsterdam

Spent the first part (or the last part) on a plane flying from Memphis to Amsterdam. A combination of a long Sunday and Tylenol PM made for a pretty relaxing flight. We took advantage of the 8 hour layover and caught the train into the city to spent a few hours walking around.

This is an odd city. Beautiful buildings cracking and leaning into the streets from the 1600's. Ornate chapels with hand painted murals, meticulously designed mosaics - most standing empty or since converted to a restaurant or museum. And all kinds of trouble to get in on these streets. Most over the top obscene, but still probably good I'm traveling with my senior pastor...I just kept looking forward.

We are now in the airport waiting to board our final flight on our way to Kenya. Another eight hour flight.

Tomorrow we start shooting. I'm excited and nervous about what I'm walking into.

More tomorrow.

Making Announcements Fun

If you haven't already seen what we did for announcements a few weeks ago - you should definitely hop over to my wife's blog to see it. Here's the direct link for you. Very well done!

Kenya...Here We Come

Douglas and I set out in just a matter of days to Kenya to visit our friends Molly & Joe at the Springs of Hope project. We are going to film the progress of the school and some of the stories of the people there in Nakuru for our Christmas production this year. We're all vaccinated, packed (almost), and ready to go.

I'll update everyday on our trip. Douglas will also be posting regularly at www.cypressmeadows.blogspot.com. Check back as often as you'd like!

The future

I have been fascinated for a while now about the future of computing. The idea of cloud computing has been popping up in more and more places. Google Docs once seemed such a silly idea, but quickly became more and more common. Google apps started to gain steam, Amazon began offering their pay-as-you-use cloud computing services, & just recently Dropbox just went public. The idea of one computer, under your roof, holding all of your data is becoming more and more archaic. It seems to me that sooner than anyone would guess, things like operating systems and local programs will become another nostalgic memory. Computers may be nothing more than a device to connect to the internet and instead of buying programs, we will be renting.

And now, Adobe has joined the ranks of cloud computing with their launch of photoshop.com


It is not nearly as robust as the locally installed photoshop program is...YET, but it won't be long.

Top 5

Back home from Yellowstone. Trying to shake "Vacation-Chris" and stay focused. But in the spirit of living vacation Chris just a bit longer - here are my fav five from the trip - excluding (mostly) all the pictures of three very handsome little boys.

First day of shooting - trying to make the most of very poor weather.

The first shot I took - I woke up at 5:00am the first morning ready to go. So I hopped in my car and tried to find roads going up. This was the highest I could get at 5:30am without knowing my way around.

Old faithful shot - still trying to make the most of crappy weather.

The highlight of the trip for Austin & Grady - moment of most terror for Jan and I. They did awesome (galloped & took it for a jump - not an average tourist horse ride)

At the south Tetons Park entrance. Way too much beauty to try and capture through a lens. Overwhelming.

Unplugged

I'm half way through our Yellowstone trip and could not be enjoying it more. I've been mostly unplugged this week - and for the rest of the week, I'm on a complete black-out.

Jan has been a blogging feend lately. She's a much better writter than I will ever be, and enjoys it much more than I do. So if you would like to follow us, or are just looking for another good blog to add to the reader, check her out at www.extraordinarynormal.blogspot.com.

Yellowstone

The past couple days have been amazing. I've been up early and out late putting my new camera and lenses to work. No national geographic shots, but I'm having a blast. We've been playing hard. I'm sad its almost half over.

My Backyard

A shot with the new camera.

The moral of the story

I'm sitting at my desk crying - watching this over and over...




So what is the moral of the story?

The new blog

I think this might be my new blog destination. I won't go live with this until I have it ready to go

The OBGYN

I had a first this week. I had my appointment...with my brother...at an OBGYN. Apart from it being obscenely awkward, I had a really good time. We were celebrities there. Scott and I were the first male patients they've ever had in the office.

I'm sure you're probably wondering what I was doing there. Yes - well, my family as a very long line of cancer patients, more specifically almost entirely breast cancer (including my grandfather). My mother, her sister (my aunt) and mom's dad and my dad's dad have all had cancer. When my wife went in for her most recent appointment, my family history came up in conversation. Her doctor told her about a new test that their office recently began offering. It's called a BRACA test - a blood test that can let you know your risk for hereditary breast and ovarian cancer. If the test comes back positive my brother and/or I are have a 6% chance of having breast cancer in our life time. Yes - breast cancer.

I learned that only .05% of males ever contract breast cancer, but with my family history chances are much, much higher for my brother and I (if the test comes back positive). The doctor said it's about a 50% chance of the test coming back positive. And if so, we would begin yearly MRI screenings.

Fortunately our chances are good (very good) of not getting ovarian cancer.

I had a pretty good time in there - my brother was extremely uncomfortable (along with all the people in the waiting room and most of the nurses). It made it even better that they called us back together. I kept putting my hands on his belly in the waiting room just to add to the curiosity.

I dared my brother to get up on the table to "saddle up" before the doc got there, but because there was no paper on the table, and what normally goes on in that room is altogether foreign to both of us, he wouldn't do it.

Most memorable moment of the day - watching the doctor teach my brother how to give himself a breast exam.

Tell me that is not the coolest thing ever

It might be funny tomorrow

Conner (2 years old) just woke up. He woke up in the usual way. I was out in the family room watching tv when I heard the door knob turning. It usually takes him a few tries to get the door open. If he ever has trouble he calls and his mom or I come running. I thought I heard one little rattle, then silence. I dismissed it, thinking he was not yet awake. A few moments later I heard that same little rattle, then silence once again. After the third sound of a half-attempt-turn-of-the-knob, I thought I would go check in to see if it was in fact my precious son. As I turned the knob, a little, innocent voice, before I even had the door partly opened said timidly, "sorry daddy". This has only happened one other time, and it involved a pile of little Conner poop on his brother's floor. It should have been no surprise when as I opened the door, I was nearly knocked over by that very same smell. The smell was accompanied by the sight of smeared poop all over the walls and dresser. When I asked him what he had done, all he said was "sorry daddy" again, then burst into tears.

He was rushed to the bathroom, where he was stripped down, dumped in a hot bath and scrubbed repeatedly. As I scrubbed down the walls, Indie, our dog, decided the story wasn't quite good enough, so she came in and pooped right beside me.

It might all be funny tomorrow.

New Blogger

I just discovered a new blog that I must pass on. Not only is it witty and insightful, the author is by far the most gorgeous writer I've ever seen.

You should check it out:
http://extraordinarynormal.blogspot.com/

God Of The City

I found the story behind the Chris Tomlin, "God of the City", and while some of you may be familiar with the story, it's worth posting for those who are not (You can get the lyrics to the song here).

The song was written the band Blue Tree. This is the story as lead vox Aaron Boyd tells it (You can read the full version here):

---

“We got asked to go and be part of an event called Pattaya Praise. Pattaya is a seaside town/resort place, and physically, it looks to be like the darkest place you’ll ever go to. And spiritually, it is THE darkest place we have ever been to. You just feel the evil. You just feel the enemy all over that place. It’s a very small place. . . But in that small area in Thailand, there are 30,000 prostitutes and that figure excludes kids and excludes anything that’s outside of the range of, say 18-30, and who are female. . .

Part of what we were asked to do was to go out and be part of an event which runs for four or five days. It had things like 24/7 worship and prayer and social action going on helping the people who clean the streets every morning. We played in a school and ministered in an orphanage and tried to get a heart for that city. As a band we were getting cold feet because we had four days in Bangkok to start, and in those four days it was great. We’d be quite hyperactive, and it was flat-out, four days; not an hour was lost to sleep in those four days. On the Sunday we managed to play in one church and it was brilliant, but we wanted more. And then when we got to Pattaya . . . we said, ‘If you can get us anywhere else to play, anywhere, we want to play. We just want to do what we do in the middle of somewhere and just go head-on into it.”

“There was a bar called The Climax Bar - on a street that’s about 10 metres wide, it’s a kilometre long and it’s filled with everything you can physically imagine. And I promise you, as a red-blooded male, to keep your head in the right place you’ve got to look down at the ground and walk down that street and pray because it is just so in your face. People hit you with menus about everything, flashing lights, just everything you can imagine goes on in that place. You see kids as young as eight, nine, 10, just selling themselves, you know?! You see 60-year-old guys walking down the street with two 13 or 14-year-old girls. Forget about the Christian thing, you just get raging! You properly get raging when you see that happening, you know?!”

...And we got to play for two hours. And just the way the band set up, we like using loops, and at one point I just started singing out. I started singing “Greater Things”, something along those lines, almost prophesying over the city. And without going into the band dynamics, slowly this groove emerged from this thing. And long story short; we walked out of that Climax Bar with pretty much a nailed song, as strange as that sounds. Then we were on the way home.

We were all. . .it was that tumbleweed silence, you know? It was like, ‘What actually just happened in that time?!’ It was one of the most powerful worship experiences we’ve ever had. I actually remember looking out, and you’re looking down a wee alleyway, into the street, and it was just 50 or 60 probably British tourists and they’re just sitting there listening going, ‘What is this all about?’ Coming from The Climax Bar which is pretty much a strip club. Just, here we are singing about Jesus in the middle of this. . . It was one of the most random experiences but it was a God thing, God was there.”

HT: Crossrhythms

Best Album Covers Of All Time

Here are a few of the worst best album covers of all time!

Help me out with the captions please.































































HT:www.worstalbumcovers.org

Super Dad

Having a student pastor wife can be really fun. We get to take our family to all kinds of fun things because of the "job". Student pastors are usually the ones on the team know for there fun, charming personalities.

Summer camp time, however, is one of the time when its not so fun. While she gets a week's vacation (insert sarcasm here), I get to stay home with the three little boys. I love spending time with my children. Its one of my favorite things to do. However, when its just me running the show, things get crazy.

Its funny how things wait to happen until just the right time. Like yesterday - the first day my wife was gone, I woke up and Indy (our whippet dog) had woken up with a huge swollen jaw. I ended up spending the better part of my morning in the vet's office getting her injected with steroids, antibiotics, and pain killers.

So if anybody needs me - I'll be at home. Just try to catch me in between cooking, cleaning, mowing, diapers, making breakfasts, packing lunches, cooking dinners, laundry, and bedtimes.

But really - I wouldn't have it any other way!

sermonspice.com

If you are looking for the perfect video for your next service or meeting, look no further than www.sermonspice.com. I'm a big believer in what they do. It's user generated content, usually created for services at other churches, then offered to others for a fee. I've met guys in charge on a couple of occasions and have been very impressed with they vision they have for their company as well as the vision they have for media in the church.

They are certainly not the cheapest site around for media content, and at times you have to sift through a bunch of junk to find what you want. But no other company comes close to the sheer amount of content available. 

If you haven't checked them out yet - do it.

East Coast

Spending the day on the east coast of Florida today. Finding God in the early hours before anyone else is awake. Walking in the unpredictable path of the waves on the shore. Praising God the powerful, creative force behind this world's enchanted beauty.

I find I connect with God so much easier on the beach or in the mountains. It aways seems so uncluttered and simple. I brought my iPod with me intending on having a little worship time, but found myself worshiping with the waves and the birds. I was reminded again of how creative God is and how small I am.

Where is it for you? Where do you find it most easy to connect with God & why?

Willow Arts Day Two

Very full day. Today was the breakout day. We spent the whole day in specialized classes. I did a lot of hopping around today. I was in at least two different sessions each time. I would either end up in one that wasn't what I expected, or would go to one and get what I wanted and sneak over to another one. 

Last year they gave us similar conference books to take notes in. I think last year I might have filled up two pages. This year, I've just about got the book filled up with one more day to go. Not sure what my deal is, just enjoying writing down ideas. Lots of really good ideas - I'm surrounded by exceptional creativity.

It's got me thinking today about the creative process I'm involved in. I feel like we have been in a creative rut lately. We have found our 'default' service and in a lot of our planning meetings we choose elements that fill the holes for us. I've really been chasing down today how to get out of that.

How does true creativity happen. New, fresh ideas do not just hop onto our whiteboard. For me it's hard work. I have to chase it. I think it usually ends up not happening because we let it. We settle for good enough ideas. We don't work to get the best idea.

How does it happen for you? How do your most creative and inspired ideas come to be?

Willow Arts Day One

Today was the first day of the Willow Arts Conference. As expected, it was an unbelievably refreshing and inspiring day. The conference started out in a characteristically big way. Worshiping along side a drum line, flamenco dancers to rock, rap, latin, & jazz.

Nancy Beach was the first speaker and focused on Psalm 40:1-10. She talked a lot about being stuck and being pulled out from whatever it is that is holding us - lifted from the miry clay. I've never thought of "miry clay" like that. Actually, I've never given much thought at all to it. It's always sounded like a weird word - like one of those words you get embarrassed about when someone uses it around a non churched friend...like tribulation or narthex or singspiration. But to think about it in terms of a place you are stuck in - makes it come alive with images for me.

Next session was an interview with Gilles Ste-Croix. There are a few reasons why I believe he was the coolest person in the room. The list is as follows:

• He's got a French ascent, which as everybody knows, makes you SO much cooler in the artistic world.
• He has a hyphen in his name.
  (really wanted to do something like this with one of my children, but I was vetoed)
  (also tried starting their names with a silent letter - like "Ngrady")
  (also vetoed)
  
• And arguably most impressive - He is the Sr VP of Creative Content and a founding member of Cirque du Soleil

Being a Cirque fan - I found this ridiculously cool! He gave great insight to the creative process in general. He talked about how a few weeks out from the dress rehearsal he has a "Lion's Den Performance" where they invite a group of people in to watch the show and are in essence "thrown to the Lions". They intentionally invite non-artist to watch and give honest feedback about the show. From there they make necessary changes and roll.

Also talked about why we need, crave art. About how, when we experience great art it changes us. Like when you look at the Wheat Field painting by Van Gogh and really experience it - you never look at a wheat field the same way again. Nancy talked about never listening to Beatles music the same way after having seen the Cirque show "Love" in Vegas.

The last session of the day was Brian McLaren - he was brilliant. Talked about heavy things - the great crisises of our generation. Unfortunately, the combination of (1) it being the end of a very full day, (2) it being a very intellectual talk, and (3) his bright shinny head - made for a very difficult listening experience. But really...it was good.

Great first day - I'll be posting and twittering tomorrow.

Willow Arts

Off to Willow Arts tomorrow.

I'll be posting my thoughts each day. Comment me if you're going to be there.

Stuff I Like

I've just spent the last 3 hours laughing hysterically reading out loud to my wife from my now favorite blogger - www.stuffchristianslike.net. A ridiculously funny commentary on things we Christians like! It covers everything from Testamints, to boycotting, to metro-sexual worship leaders.

It's a pretty exhaustive and accurate list.

Dropbox

Very cool new web app called drop box just released for Beta testing. I've been playing with it for an hour now and love it.

Great tool for syncing two computers or using as an ftp instead of trying to email huge attachments. Check out the site to see a video of the software.

This Beautiful Building

I've been a horrible blogger lately. Not that I'm ever especially good at it, but lately I've been completely absent. It's mosty because in just a few short days, we have a building opening...weather we're ready for it or not! And we're going to try and do it right.

On friday night, we're bringing in "This Beautiful Republic". You can check them out at www.myspace.com/thisbeautifulrepublic.com.

Then on Sunday we're bringing in "KidzBlitz". All I can say is think Nickelodeon in church (slime and all).

For tickets, directions, and info, visit http://www.cypressmeadows.org/.

Photoshop World

Just got back from Photoshop World. My brain is so full of cool tricks and new techniques. The convention was in Orlando (just down the road) and was three days of delicious adobe creations. The coolest new thing I learned (that will be coming to church videos near you) was Motion Control 3D. Its done in Photoshop and AfterEffects. Its the concept of taking a regular photograph and turning it into a 3D object. Its a concept that Igniter Media has been using in their video creations. You can see an example here. It takes a little while, but its not a very hard concept.

I also got a lot of great info on photo retouching and a wealth of ways to make my work flow more effective.

Great time!

Vintage Jesus

Our church is entering into a series (after easter) called Vintage Jesus. In designing the art for this series I decided to take a different approach.

In most series art (or usually anything else I design for church) I start with an idea or concept I've seen somewhere else. I often purchase a stock photo or design and go from there. With this design I decided I'd like to start from scratch and see what I can create on my own. It was very freeing (and fun) to let my mind wonder and to see it take shape.

Here are my original sketches of Jesus, as well as the final design for Vintage Jesus (I ended up using a purchase vector art background to give it texture).

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday

Craig Gross Rocked Cypress

Craig Gross from xxxchurch was with us this morning for our services and did a phenomenal job at addressing the issue of pornography. After the services I was able to sit down with him (and his daughter) over some tae food. We got to talk about xxxchurch, how it began, what's happening now, and the impact that they are having globally. It was a great opportunity to get some time with a church leader that I have a huge amount of respect for.

A new way to be creative

I sat in a art design meeting last night and listened as a friend talked about how surprised she was at her husbands artistic side. She had never known her husband to be "artsy" and was surprised to see how much he enjoyed it.

I began to think more about this and how we all have a need or desire in us to create. Whether its a story, or a garden, or a microcontroller (see below), we all need outlets for our creativity.

So for you - if you're looking for a new outlet for your creative side, check out a magazine I recently stumbled across. It is the DIY guide to projects you couldn't even dream of. You can check it out and subscribe at www.makezine.com

This post is a part of Watercooler Wednesday