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Announcement Video from Chris Johns on Vimeo

I was in The Village on Sunday following services. Many more people respond to our sign-up areas when we show video announcements. Even more show up when we use B-roll. Chris, our videographer/editor/etc., who also studies film writes:

This is a sample of our announcement videos. It’s amazing how effective simple B-Roll footage is in getting people to respond. It is interesting to see that even though this is not near hollywood quality, the rule of escapism still applies. People see the B-Roll and image themselves in the footage, which in-turn engages their minds, and creates a desire in them to respond.

And on that note, I am COMPLETELY out and cannot ever recommend this book to anyone. This is not orthodox Christianity. He does a complete word dance and then says flat out he is not a penal substitutionary atonement guy (meaning Jesus took our punishment for sin as our substitute).

Hear is some really twisted atonement theology in the author’s own words.

To hear a great resource on the truth of penal substitutionary atonement, go here.

I recently addictively picked up indoor rowing. After two days of consistent training I looked up the World Record for 2,000m and 10,000m to see how far I had to go.

A subsequent conversation between me and my wife, Piper, with a few editorial liberties taken.

• J: I looked up the WR on rowing today and I have a plan.
• P: Seriously? Only you would look up the WR after two days…hahaha.
• J: I know, I just wanted to see how much time I had to drop.
• P: You really think you’ll set the rowing world record at 40? (not knowing I also looked up the 40+ world record, though that is for pansies).
• J: Well I have to have something to aim for.
• p: C’mon Jordan.
• J: Well I am never gonna be like Jesus but I still strive for it, right?
• P: Trying to be like Jesus isn’t going to blow out your back like trying to set the WR at age 40 will.
• J: I know, but if I pursue Jesus as hard as I am pursuing a WR in rowing, I mean if I really lived radical for Him it just might be more dangerous… leave me in a body bag,
• P: Yep (or some other mumbled comment..hahahah)

Phil 3.  Not that I have already obtained this or am already perfect, but I press on to make it my own, because Christ Jesus has made me his own. Brothers, I do not consider that I have made it my own. But one thing I do:I press on toward the goal for the prize of the upward call of God in Christ Jesus. forgetting what lies behind and straining forward to what lies ahead,

Our Good Friday service designs are still the most popular downloads ever on worshiptrench. We spend tons of energy on creating a rich Christ focused liturgy that is both ancient and modern. This service was one of the best received services we ever designed and we even “took it on the road” a bit. It is a service built around reflection and touch, a sense rarely used in worship.

Each movement consists of showing the title graphic of that movement, the scripture text, and then person at the end of the row passing the element from that row’s basket while they reflect on the obedience question. We asked each person to hold the object for no more than 20 seconds. Each movement is concluded in a song.

Cue sheet/service instructions: good-friday-tactile-service
PowerPoint of needed text: good-friday-tactile

*This graphics package can be laid out anyway you desire. We kept it super simple so the focus was on the sense of touch and not the visual. You will need to insert your own song texts. Cut and paste if you use pro-presenter, media shout, or other product for CG (We use pro-presenter currently).

Here is a “Cross meets my life” song that can be used in numerous settings, but is especially good in a Good Friday type service. Two versions. Mainstream live release and the freakier “radiohead” version.

The mp3’s hosted at mediafire:
“Radioheaded” version:Spirit, Come Crucify RHV
We aren’t saying it is ‘Radiohead’ worthy or that Radiohead performed it. HA!

Live version: http://Spirit, Come Crucify Live
The live version has You are My King at the beginning.

And the charts:
Studio/RHV version: spriit-come-crucify-studio-chart
Live version: spirit-come-crucify-live-chart01

Be like Hundai. Take the offering at the beginning of the service and if people don’t feel like you designed a service that allowed them to worship, they get to come back to the offering plate and get some money out. hahahaha!~

“For my own part, I tend to find the doctrinal books often more helpful in devotion than the devotional books, and I rather suspect that the same experience may await many others. I believe that many who find that `nothing happens’ when they sit down, or kneel down, to a book of devotion, would find that the heart sings unbidden while they are working their way through a tough bit of theology with a pipe in their teeth and a pencil in their hand.” CS Lewis

At least fifty percent of your job as a worship leader should be fostering the daily personal worship of your congregation. Here is an incredible tool (I have nothing to do with this other than being a sideline cheerleader for Brent).

EXAMEN.me is a simple-to-use web site that fosters your personal interaction with God. The site guides you to examine your life as you meditate on scripture, pray, and journal all of your reflections. It utilizes the ancient prayer of examining and you can even keep your daily examine journals stored there. You can do an examine in 5 minutes or slow down and spend a rich hour on one.

Creating an account is FREE (though Brent would probably love a small donation…ha!). I would encourage you to share this resource with your worship team and congregation for foster their personal worship.

Here are two reviews of the site:
Collide Magazine review EXAMEN.me
William Petruzzo’s Review

Wow, somebody had some time on their hands for this video edit.

[via 37signals]

Our coporate worship encounters with God will rarely get further than the private, personal worship of our congregants (and especially leaders!). Many times I have seen Worship Pastors spend every ounce of energy on designing and fostering corporate worship only to be frustrated with the “results.” Perhaps if we spent more of our time on fostering personal worship times among our members, Sunday morning would be much easier to lead people into the presence of God.

If you drive to God’s address Monday through Saturday, you need less of a roadmap to get there on Sunday!

Brent really has a passion for this. We have done numerous things to foster personal worship at NorthWood ranging from a read through the NT in a year blog to a tool he just developed using the ancient prayer of examination (more on that tomorrow). Begin spending as much time fostering people’s private worship and you will be amazed and the degree of focus you see on Sunday mornings. Do it!

Apparently Israeli missile-maker Rafael thought it would be a good idea to feature a traditional Bollywood song and dance number to drum up some incendiary business in India. They played the video at the recent Aero India 2009 in Bangalore. Was it successful? The Missile Musical, coming to Broadway soon?

Does your marketing medium fit the message? [via http://www.geekologie.com]

Isaiah 6 reflects a biblical framework for designing dialogical worship between God and man. God initiates and we respond throughout the model. I have included several sample elements that can be used under each heading. Use your own elements. The possibilities are limitless as is the grandeur of God.

God reveals-takes initiative reveals presence (smoke filled Temple)

• scripture reading on the presence of God
• lone soloist on stage sings
• video focusing on “God in His Temple”
• etc.

we, as created ones, adore (angels Holy Holy Holy)

• corporate worship adoration
• poetry of adoration
• beauty scripture reading
• dance or other adorational art form etc.

we confess (I am a man of unclean lips)

• time of silent confession
• song of confession (Break Our Hearts, etc.)
• confessional wall
• nailing to the cross, etc.
  

God expiates (touches lips with hot coals)

• burning of the sins
• songs of forgiveness (Nothing But the Blood, etc.)
• scripture video of expiation, etc.
  

God Proclaims (who shall go)

• Word proclaimed in Sermon

we dedicate/submit (here i am send me)

• time of response (be creative)
• song such as If You Say Go
• in one parenting sermon we had paper cutouts of kids and parents laid them on a giant rock like Abraham did Isaac to acknowledge God has provided for their salvation so we should release them to God.
  
• offering, etc.
  

God commissions (go and tell this people)

• spoken benediction or commissioning song
• tactile reminder of their response

Go for it and fill us in on your creative services using the Isaiah 6 Framework.

Penn of Penn and Teller make comments on the importance of sharing your faith. Nice pairing with the Ron Jeremy video.