I was messing with my digital camera the other day and realized that it really doesn't do too bad in video mode (It's not HD... but hey...). So I got the idea to start shooting some "behind the scenes" footage of what goes on throughout the week in the Service Programming Department @ NewPointe Community Church. This way... you can catch a glimpse of the world that we live in all week long.
So... for the first video I thought that I would "put to rest" the rumors that our creative team just goofs off all week... and never really get any work done. Well... here's the proof... Episode one:
Tuesday, July 28, 2009
Saturday, July 25, 2009
The Technology Behind the Commercial
I am sure that you have probably seen the Evian Water "roller babies" commercial by now... right? I LOVE that commercial! Well... I found a short clip that talks about the technology behind the Evian commercial. This stuf just fascinates me. Amazing! So... here is the "making of" video:
Now... just in case you haven't seen the completed commercial yet. Here it is:
Now... just in case you haven't seen the completed commercial yet. Here it is:
Weekends @ NewPointe: Set-list
Here are the songs that we will be using for services at NewPointe tomorrow morning:
"All Over The World" - Tree63
"The Noise We Make" - David Crowder* Band
"Filled With Your Glory" - Starfield
"How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art" - Chris Tomlin
We are also baptizing about 8 folks... and hearing some amazing reports about Newpointe's ministries in the Middle East and around the world. You will not want to miss this incredible morning @ NewPointe! See you there!
"All Over The World" - Tree63
"The Noise We Make" - David Crowder* Band
"Filled With Your Glory" - Starfield
"How Great is Our God/How Great Thou Art" - Chris Tomlin
We are also baptizing about 8 folks... and hearing some amazing reports about Newpointe's ministries in the Middle East and around the world. You will not want to miss this incredible morning @ NewPointe! See you there!
Smile-Scan
I was watching a news report about train stations in Japan that are starting to use technology to monitor and measure the quality of the SMILES of their employees. Is that cool or what?!? They actually have to pass a smile test before they are allowed to come in contact with passengers. If they don't pass the test... they have to work somewhere behind the scenes instead. WOW! What a cool concept! This is not the actual report that I saw... but here is a video that explains it all.
Wouldn't it be cool... if every church volunteer (worship leaders, band, tech crew, pastors, nursery... EVERYBODY) had to have their smile tested before actually coming in contact with people on a Sunday morning?
Think about it: When you are making a first impression... just a simple smile can go a long way.
Wouldn't it be cool... if every church volunteer (worship leaders, band, tech crew, pastors, nursery... EVERYBODY) had to have their smile tested before actually coming in contact with people on a Sunday morning?
Think about it: When you are making a first impression... just a simple smile can go a long way.
Wednesday, July 15, 2009
Weekends @ NewPointe: Getting caught up... again
This month... we have been in a series called "God Cannot Be Trusted" (and 3 other lies of satan). It has been a great message series... as we have taken a look at how God CAN be trusted... how God CAN change us... that sin DOES carry consequences... and now this week... how God CAN use us.
"All We Need" - Charlie Hall
"Glory To God/Hallelujah, Our God Reigns" - Passion Band
"I Can Trust You" - Rebecca St. James
Week TWO: God CAN change us
"Circus Maximus" (Instrumental Opener) - Unknown
"O Praise Him" - David Crowder* Band
"Holy Is The Lord" - Chris Tomlin
"How He Loves Us" - John Mark McMillan
"Starting Over" (Closer) - Audio Adrenaline
Week THREE: Sin DOES have consequences
"What I've Done" - Linkin Park
"He Is Our King" - David Crowder* Band
"Famous One" - Building 429
"Majesty" - Delirious?
"Freedom Is Here" - Hillsong United
Week FOUR: God CAN use us.
"Circus Maximus" (Instrumental Opener) - Unknown
"We Shine" - Steve Fee
"Your Grace Is Enough" - Chris Tomlin
"Shine" - Matt Redman
"Mighty To Save" - Hillsong United
"You Are The Light" - Steve Fee
Since (once again) I am behind in posting these... here are the songs that we have used throughout the entire series:
Week ONE: God CAN be trusted
"All We Need" - Charlie Hall
"Glory To God/Hallelujah, Our God Reigns" - Passion Band
"I Can Trust You" - Rebecca St. James
Week TWO: God CAN change us
"Circus Maximus" (Instrumental Opener) - Unknown
"O Praise Him" - David Crowder* Band
"Holy Is The Lord" - Chris Tomlin
"How He Loves Us" - John Mark McMillan
"Starting Over" (Closer) - Audio Adrenaline
Week THREE: Sin DOES have consequences
"What I've Done" - Linkin Park
"He Is Our King" - David Crowder* Band
"Famous One" - Building 429
"Majesty" - Delirious?
"Freedom Is Here" - Hillsong United
Week FOUR: God CAN use us.
"Circus Maximus" (Instrumental Opener) - Unknown
"We Shine" - Steve Fee
"Your Grace Is Enough" - Chris Tomlin
"Shine" - Matt Redman
"Mighty To Save" - Hillsong United
"You Are The Light" - Steve Fee
Monday, July 6, 2009
Clear The Mechanism (Confession of a Worship Leader)
I just got back from breakfast with my men's small group. I love these guys because they challenge me to be a better dad, husband, co-worker, friend... a better man. I am so much more "aware" of the decisions that I am making throughout the week because of my time with these guys.
Well... this morning... I shared with them how I am feeling sort of "distracted"at this time in my life. Distracted by details... expectations... and evaluations. Now don't get me wrong... I realize the importance of all of these things. Details are super important. People have expectations of us that we need to be aware of... and work towards meeting every day (The realistic ones... that is.). And evaluation is an important part of our process at NewPointe. It is crucial to growth and improvement with anything that we do.
It's just that... sometimes I find myself so focused on "How I should do it" that I can't seem to just relax... and DO IT.
Do you remember a TV commercial (I can't even remember the product) where the guy is talking himself through all of the "mechanics" of swinging his golf club? As he stands on the tee box... and goes through the long list of things that he has been taught... computer generated reminders pop up all around him. By the time he's ready to swing... he can hardly see the fairway for these visual reminders.
Well... that's what I feel like right now. It is so hard to focus on the "main thing" because of all of the details going through my mind. Here's what it's like:
Sunday mornings... before we go on stage:
"OK... so on the first song... it's 4 clicks and 4 sticks to start".
"Let's see... was it CAPO 3... or 4 on that third tune?"
"Song #1 is on Protools (drummer starts it)... song #4 is an Igniter video (control room starts it)"
"What is that tempo on the closer again?"
"Hey guys... don't forget to repeat that one phrase on the prechorus."
While I'm out there:
"Augh! I forgot to tell the control room to correct that one word in the second verse."
"Is it just me... or is my guitar out of tune?"
"Are people really connecting with this song?"
"I sure hope we hit that "stop-down" together."
"Oh. man... here comes that really high note!"
"I wonder where April's taking me for lunch today?" (Oh come on... don't you judge me! You've been there!)
There are so many things that go through my mind as I am preparing to lead worship.... and all of this "stuff" can be a distraction when it comes to actually leading.
A friend of mine (Who is also a worship leader) was just telling me how he has to pull away from his team and be alone with God just before he steps out on the stage to lead. He talked about how it "centers" him and helps him to focus on God... and not all of the details. It makes total sense.... but how often do we actually have that opportunity? Our Service Programming team "circles up" and prays before every service. It is one of my favorite moments of the morning. We talk about the importance of our ministry and the effect that it will have on a lot of folks who are searching for Christ at NewPointe this morning. We ask God to come and anoint what we are about to do... and there is always this "WOW! We get to do this!" moment before we step out on the stage. But there is rarely enough time to get alone and "focus" before going out.
Well... I MADE TIME yesterday morning... and it worked!
There was a scene in the movie, "For Love Of The Game" where Billy Chapel (played by Kevin Costner) plays his last game as a professional baseball pitcher... and as he steps to the mound... he takes in all of what surrounds him (the fans, the players, the field, the smells, the lights, everything) and soaks it all in. From there... he focuses in on his catcher and the distance between him and the plate. At that time... he tells himself to “clear the mechanism”, and one by one, each disturbance around him clears out so the only thing left is a “tunnel” from his glove to the catcher.
That is what I experienced yesterday morning. Stepping away from everything for just a little while... and asking God to "clear the mechanism"... and centering on Him before I went out on the stage... changed everything for me. I wasn't as concerned about "what people were thinking"... about the road maps, click tracks, lights, or being evaluated... I was ready to worship. As much as I love being with my team (I've got an amazing team!)... and the camaraderie that we experience backstage before a service... I think that "time alone with God" (for all of us) is going to have to be a priority... to stay focused on "the main thing".
Well... this morning... I shared with them how I am feeling sort of "distracted"at this time in my life. Distracted by details... expectations... and evaluations. Now don't get me wrong... I realize the importance of all of these things. Details are super important. People have expectations of us that we need to be aware of... and work towards meeting every day (The realistic ones... that is.). And evaluation is an important part of our process at NewPointe. It is crucial to growth and improvement with anything that we do.
It's just that... sometimes I find myself so focused on "How I should do it" that I can't seem to just relax... and DO IT.
Do you remember a TV commercial (I can't even remember the product) where the guy is talking himself through all of the "mechanics" of swinging his golf club? As he stands on the tee box... and goes through the long list of things that he has been taught... computer generated reminders pop up all around him. By the time he's ready to swing... he can hardly see the fairway for these visual reminders.
Well... that's what I feel like right now. It is so hard to focus on the "main thing" because of all of the details going through my mind. Here's what it's like:
Sunday mornings... before we go on stage:
"OK... so on the first song... it's 4 clicks and 4 sticks to start".
"Let's see... was it CAPO 3... or 4 on that third tune?"
"Song #1 is on Protools (drummer starts it)... song #4 is an Igniter video (control room starts it)"
"What is that tempo on the closer again?"
"Hey guys... don't forget to repeat that one phrase on the prechorus."
While I'm out there:
"Augh! I forgot to tell the control room to correct that one word in the second verse."
"Is it just me... or is my guitar out of tune?"
"Are people really connecting with this song?"
"I sure hope we hit that "stop-down" together."
"Oh. man... here comes that really high note!"
"I wonder where April's taking me for lunch today?" (Oh come on... don't you judge me! You've been there!)
There are so many things that go through my mind as I am preparing to lead worship.... and all of this "stuff" can be a distraction when it comes to actually leading.
A friend of mine (Who is also a worship leader) was just telling me how he has to pull away from his team and be alone with God just before he steps out on the stage to lead. He talked about how it "centers" him and helps him to focus on God... and not all of the details. It makes total sense.... but how often do we actually have that opportunity? Our Service Programming team "circles up" and prays before every service. It is one of my favorite moments of the morning. We talk about the importance of our ministry and the effect that it will have on a lot of folks who are searching for Christ at NewPointe this morning. We ask God to come and anoint what we are about to do... and there is always this "WOW! We get to do this!" moment before we step out on the stage. But there is rarely enough time to get alone and "focus" before going out.
Well... I MADE TIME yesterday morning... and it worked!
There was a scene in the movie, "For Love Of The Game" where Billy Chapel (played by Kevin Costner) plays his last game as a professional baseball pitcher... and as he steps to the mound... he takes in all of what surrounds him (the fans, the players, the field, the smells, the lights, everything) and soaks it all in. From there... he focuses in on his catcher and the distance between him and the plate. At that time... he tells himself to “clear the mechanism”, and one by one, each disturbance around him clears out so the only thing left is a “tunnel” from his glove to the catcher.That is what I experienced yesterday morning. Stepping away from everything for just a little while... and asking God to "clear the mechanism"... and centering on Him before I went out on the stage... changed everything for me. I wasn't as concerned about "what people were thinking"... about the road maps, click tracks, lights, or being evaluated... I was ready to worship. As much as I love being with my team (I've got an amazing team!)... and the camaraderie that we experience backstage before a service... I think that "time alone with God" (for all of us) is going to have to be a priority... to stay focused on "the main thing".
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