Colors of Character

 

            The latest craze on Disney+ right now, and I admit one that I love watching with my kids, is the Falcon and Winter Soldier.  In a recent episode Bucky Barnes introduces the Falcon to a man by the name of Isaiah.  Isaiah is a bitter man.  He is a bitter man because, as you discover, he had been a “super” soldier just like Captain America had been.  But instead of being praised as a hero like Cap, he was imprisoned, poked, tested on, and used by the government he thought he was defending.  Why?  Because post World War II the world didn’t see him as a hero but as a black man.  

            Now this is a fiction show, but it speaks to a truth that was experienced by many.  Dr. John Perkins speaks of his brother who recently returned from WW II, thought he would return as an equal and yet was beaten and abused by local officers in the deep south.  It is unfortunately the story of many, that we don’t see.  

            In the documentary Colors of Character we get introduced to a Steve Skipper who could have been the next Thomas Kinkaid.  He should have been a household name.  He should have been painting art that is seen printed and in every single department store nationwide.  But it isn’t.  Why?  Because he was a young black male who grew up in the south.

            Now before someone dismiss this documentary, let me describe the key element.  Steve was an untrained artist.  He had a gift given by God that he often set to the side because he could never be an artist.  But God.  He became a leader of the gangs, a known dealer, and yet through it all God pursued him.  Through the bold witness of another student, and the commitment of a teacher who saw his gifts, God continued to pull him towards his Saving Grace.

            Steve’s went through many other struggles and yet the Holy spirit continued to miraculously improve his painting skills when the world, accidents, injuries all seemed to try to take it away from him. 

            Steve’s story is not about color but about the CHARACTER of a man who is devoted fully to God.  Are you an artist? This is for you.  Are you searching for God? This is for you!  Are you stuck in your past and need to find healing? This is for you!  

 

Check out the Trailer: https://youtu.be/lSbRQ5z8iVI

Rent/buy Colors of Character on DVD or on demand from the comfort of your own home, and watch wherever you watch movies! 

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

 

#ColorsofCharacterMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 Church People

 

I’ve said before, one of the things I miss the most from my time working in Christian retail was the reviewing of Christian films.  Some were made for TV while some were Movie Theater quality.

 

I recently received Church People to review from Collide Distribution.  This movie is a comical look at a mega church youth leader who begins to question the bigger is better mentality of this church.  It all comes to a head when the Good Friday service planning leads to a decision to do a real-life crucifixion and the youth pastor is chosen for the honor.  Some honor! LOL!

 

You will find such a fun, well-acted, well written, comical look at larger churches that doesn’t condemn them but does help seek to bring them back to the Gospel!

 

I strongly recommend this film as it is a hilarious look at church, at pasts before Christ, and at seeking to remind us to remove things from our lives that distract from the Gospel message.  Oh and did I mention that Joey Fatone from NSYNC is the Worship leader!  

 

As a senior pastor at a church, I connected with some of this.  As well, I have been a part of a couple large churches and large church networks in my time.  I have heard some of these phrases such as needing bigger!!

 

Trailer: https://churchpeoplefilm.com/?vid=Xvnr8b4IkEI

#ChurchPeopleFilm #ChurchPeopleMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

 

 

Disclosure: Many thanks to Collide Distribution for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Dolphin Island Review

One of the things I miss from my time in Christian Retail was helping to review nearly every film that we sold for content. In the Christian film industry, there are times where you get GREAT films, and other times you get films that are well meaning, but due to poor writing, acting, etc., they miss the mark.

The kids and I recently given the link to watch this film, Dolphin Island, and to review. The concept of the movie is simple. A Young girl has experienced the loss of both parents and is living with her Grandfather in a houseboat in a fishing community. The rich Grandparents who have had nothing to do with her for 10 years now want to take full custody and will use any means necessary to do so.

First let me say, it is a well-suited film for young children, although the topic can be a bit intense and there is a scene where the girl runs away, and a boat explodes leaving her unconscious in the water. Depending on your child that might be a bit intense. If you are looking for a family movie night without language, violence, and you've caught up on all other films. Then this is the film for you.

The scenery is beautiful, and the use of live animals is a plus in this film. Especially on a snowy northeast Ohio day, it will make you ready for a vacation to Sunny Coasts.

Some of the acting makes this a movie that my teenage self would have made fun of my parents for watching. Yet it is very enjoyable and fun to watch.

Disclosure: Many thanks to Entertainment Squad for providing this product/product information for review. Opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation. I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.#DolphinIslandMIN #MomentumInfluencerNetwork

Trailer: https://youtu.be/SLiED6uT1mM

I recently was given a free copy of Grace-Based Recovery to read and to review.

There are a couple items this is and it is not.

First it is a great book for a life group or a small group to go through to deal with recovery.  The way it is laid out allows for the leader to have some tips and guidelines as where to go.  Without these the leaders can cause the groups to go off on the wrong tangents if not trained in counseling.

Second the book is a great resource just to read and doesn't have to be used as a group.  It contains a lot of research and work that is invaluable.

What it is not:

a Legal reminder to counselors about anything dealing with Counseling.  As those of us know who do any counseling or Pastoral counseling there are multiple legal issues that surround you when you are counseling someone.

While a very small book in comparison to groups like Celebrate Recovery etc. I am very interested in how this book can be used in a Life Group and hope to complete it as one here soon.

Every year thousands of teenagers and college-age adults get together to learn about and worship Jesus.   This is simply called PASSION!
Their vision statement is:
“Rooted out of the Passion movement, we are committed to leading people towards renewed intimacy with God and fresh encounters of worship. Passion is more than music. More than events. Passion is a generation living for His name."
  
This year's live music will again be released on an album on Feb 23rd at http://capcmg.me/PassionWholeHeart (This will be updated and active on 2/23 when the digital album release

The list is spectacular of the artists involved:
Kristian Stanfill, Sean Curran, Melodie Malone, Brett Younker, Crowder, Matt Redman, and Tauren Wells all are involved.

This album has been streaming on my computer almost non-stop of when I first received the link. Last year's top track for me was Glorious Day/I Ran out of the Grave.  That tune was very catchy and compelling.

This album doesn't leave wanting in songs that can be translated easily into your Sunday Morning.
There are newer versions of classics such as "Great are you Lord" with Matt Redman, and "All my hope" with Crowder and Tauren Wells.

Personally, my favorite song is a slower song with the typical musical swell in the end that ramps up the dynamics to make "More Like Jesus" with Kristian Stanfill a powerful pray song.
Heaven with Sean Curran is another great song reminding us where our focus should be, living in expectation of Heaven.

Musically this is a strong album.  With the variety of instrumentation leads that you would expect of Passion.

I'd love to be able to share this CD with you and ONE PERSON will be selected to win this album on FEB. 19th at 7:00 pm.
To be entered in the Drawing just comment below with your FAVORITE Passion Song and I'll enter you in the drawing.
Winner will be notified by Facebook messenger on Feb. 20th.

“Disclosure (in accordance with the FTC’s 16 CFR, Part 255:  “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising”):  Many thanks to Propeller Consulting, LLC for providing this prize for the giveaway.  Choice of winners and opinions are 100% my own and NOT influenced by monetary compensation.  I did receive a sample of the product in exchange for this review and post.

Only one entrant per mailing address, per giveaway.  If you have won a prize from our sponsor Propeller /FlyBy Promotions in the last 30 days on the same blog, you are not eligible to win.  Or if you have won the same prize on another blog, you are not eligible to win it again.  Winner is subject to eligibility verification.

The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide

           

The last thing that you ever want to have happened is that a child would be put in danger at your church.  The very place that should be a safe haven for them in the midst of life’s pains, and it becomes a danger zone.  No one wants that to happen.  Yet why then do we so often lack at doing anything to ensure the safety of our children and our church?  “Just Trust God” is often said when we bring up the need for security.

            “The Child Safeguarding Policy Guide for Churches and Ministries” is a toolkit work.  What I mean is that this is not just a book that one reads from the front to the back and files it away.  This is a book that you give out to your team and read together, then you earmark pages, use it to help guide and create safe policies etc.  It is a book that will be pulled out over and over again and used to better our church.

            The book is broken into five key sections that all include thoughts, ideas, and practical tools to help formulate or even just aid in a current safety ministry.  This book has helped to shape and revamp our current policy and bring to light areas we were missing.  I would highly recommend this to be read by all safety teams, all children’s ministries and really all church staff members!

January 15th, 2016, Isaiah 40:28-31

Isaiah 40:28-31

28 Have you not known? Have you not heard?

The Lord is the everlasting God,

the Creator of the ends of the earth.

He does not faint or grow weary;

his understanding is unsearchable.

29 He gives power to the faint,

and to him who has no might he increases strength.

30 Even youths shall faint and be weary,

and young men shall fall exhausted;

31 but they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength;

they shall mount up with wings like eagles;

they shall run and not be weary;

they shall walk and not faint.

God's word is amazing!

Today in the midst of a Master's program, feeling tired, even maybe a bit overwhelmed.

Getting ready to help lead a debate team, nervous, don't want to let anyone down on the team...

I sit an am reminded....

Can you not hear a bit of the scold in that parent's loving voice

"HAVE YOU NOT KNOWN? "

You've see His love before.

You've experienced His care and protection as well!

But you are tired and have forgotten.... AGAIN!

Notice where your strength lies... IN HIM!

Not in your own weak, feeble, frail, mortal being...

But in the Almighty's STRONG, SOLID, UNBREAKABLE, IMMORTAL SELF.

He will give you strength.

But will your life be effortless? Will it be so easy that you never learn like a spoiled child experiencing the real world for the first time?

Think about an eagle. What does the Mother Eagle do?

When the baby is ready to learn to fly what does the mother do?

From the HIGH nests on the tallest tree's the mother PUSHES the baby out.

The mother says it is TIME to learn...

But the entire time the mother is right there and if the baby is to able to fly she doesn't wait until the baby hits the ground but SOARS DOWN AND CATCHES THE BABY ON HER BACK!

WITH THE WINGS OF AN EAGLE HE LIFTS YOU UP!

He will not let you stumble and fall when you are dependent on HIM!

So walk, Run, this journey of Faith knowing that your HOPE and STRENGTH is in the LORD.

Praise God that it isn't in me.

God you are simply amazing!

We give you our lives.

Lord I pray that we will all see that YOU MUST COME FIRST!

Above all else.

Our Job, our family, our friends. YOU MUST COME FIRST.

These earthly things are temporal but your are eternal!

I am so in awe that by giving you my life, my family, and my all that you give it back to me renewed, restored, and thus I am able to enjoy them so much better than I could before!

God I praise you!

With all my breath may I praise you!

Jan. 14th, 2016 Hebrews 12:7-13

Hebrews 12:7-13

7 It is for discipline that you have to endure. God is treating you as sons. For what son is there whom his father does not discipline?

8 If you are left without discipline, in which all have participated, then you are illegitimate children and not sons.

9 Besides this, we have had earthly fathers who disciplined us and we respected them. Shall we not much more be subject to the Father of spirits and live?

10 For they disciplined us for a short time as it seemed best to them, but he disciplines us for our good, that we may share his holiness.

11 For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it.

12 Therefore lift your drooping hands and strengthen your weak knees,

13 and make straight paths for your feet, so that what is lame may not be put out of joint but rather be healed.

My kids love it when they are disciplined. Don't your's?

We enjoy the pain of a butt spanking!

We enjoy the chastising of our parents, that scolding look of disapproval.

NOT!

Because we dislike it as a child we scorn it.

Then later in life we look back in hind site and see WHY they did it.

Then you have children and you fully understand!

Thus why do we scorn God's reproof?

Why do we complain "WHY ARE YOU ALLOWING THIS TO HAPPEN TO ME!"

It is because we don't see what He is doing.

He is MOLDING YOU.

For the moment we grieve, we ache, we morn.... Yet our HOPE is in the NEW DAY!

So therefore: RAISE UP YOUR HANDS! Dry your eyes!

Turn up the worship music in your life and PRAISE HIM.

Your focus on praise will allow your focus to be removed from the pain.

Trust God.

Trust His plan!

Trust HIS purpose!

Believe that HE created you for a PURPOSE!

Jan. 13th, 2016 Colossians 3:12-17

Colossians 3:12-17

12-14 So, chosen by God for this new life of love, dress in the wardrobe God picked out for you: compassion, kindness, humility, quiet strength, discipline. Be even-tempered, content with second place, quick to forgive an offense. Forgive as quickly and completely as the Master forgave you. And regardless of what else you put on wear love. It’s your basic, all-purpose garment. Never be without it.

15-17 Let the peace of Christ keep you in tune with each other, in step with each other. None of this going off and doing your own thing. And cultivate thankfulness. Let the Word of Christ—the Message—have the run of the house. Give it plenty of room in your lives. Instruct and direct one another using good common sense. And sing, sing your hearts out to God! Let every detail in your lives—words, actions, whatever—be done in the name of the Master, Jesus, thanking God the Father every step of the way.

What a great passage this morning!

When we are around people in a group, there are bound to be some people who naturally rub you the wrong way.

Subconsciously they may remind you of someone who hurt you (Sign of un-forgiveness possibly in your heart...)

Or they may be like you or exhibit a character flaw you see in yourself (Pride, Likes to be in charge, shy, etc...)

Yet we are called to be compassionate, kindness, humble, etc... we do it all though IN GOD'S STRENGTH! Which is a supernatural power!

But just in case, we think that's enough, we are called to forgive them...

I don't read that they asked for it... Do you?

We are to FORGIVE them. And not just superficially with words like a child forced to say 'I'm sorry' by their parents, but with a WHOLE HEARTED, I FORGIVE and will GIVE UP MY RIGHT TO HOLD IT AGAINST YOU forgiveness!

And just wait cause he is just getting started!

NOW add to that PEACE... A COMMUNITY FELLOWSHIP SPIRIT.

"NONE OF THIS GOING ODD AND DOING YOUR OWN THING"

So I need to be kind, compassionate, and forgiving, and then I need to still hang out with them?

You mean I can't change churches when the going gets rough?

You mean I can't hide?

And to top it all off, LET EVERY DETAIL be done in the name of the MASTER!

We are subservient to Jesus because we LOVE.

Will you love with that type of LOVE, DEEP LOVE, today?