i need some help.

here @calvaryhanford i have a wonderfully varied job. sometimes i’m on a computer, sometimes i’m on a phone, sometimes i’m on an errand, sometimes i’m on a ladder (though i try to be on a ladder as little as possible…).

i’m very glad for this variety, however many times my ‘expertise’ does not match up to specific tasks.

lighting is a good example of this.

i don’t know anything about lighting. however, i would like to do some minor improvements in our stage-lighting setup.

so here’s the deal:

some of you know some things about stage lighting…what works, what doesn’t, where to get some decent parnels & fresnels* and how to color a stage so that everyone doesn’t look like a ghost on the video feed.

i would guess that some of you even fill this role at your churches to some degree or another.

that’s where you come in. i need you to give me some tips. whether it’s a website, a retailer that you trust, or especially little bits of information on what has worked for you, i need it.

give me an education in the comments or you can directly email me here.

*yep. after nearly 5 years of working here i have learned the names of 2 types of stage lights. that is the extent of my stage-lighting knowledge.

it’s tuesday.

do you know about positive post tuesday?

pastor greg laurie has been posting these short, devotional videos recently which help focus our thoughts on God and to remember all that He has done for us.

this video is entitled Why Should I Give Thanks To God?

it’s a fair question and deserves a thoughtful, Biblical answer.

today i hope you discover a little more of how much God loves you and all that He desires to do in and through your life here on the earth.

it’s tuesday. be positive!

blessings.

+

Then the Lord spoke to my heart.
He simply said, ‘Who are you serving?’
I said, ‘I am serving You, Lord.’
And He replied, ‘Then quit your griping.’

So don’t serve with a bitter heart.
Don’t serve with resentment.
As the Scriptures tell us:
Whatsoever you do in word or deed, do all in the name of the Lord Jesus.
(Colossians 3.17)

There’s no more important attitude to have in the ministry.
We need to serve as unto the Lord because we’re going to find people obnoxious.
We’re going to find them unthankful.
We’re going to find that they’re demanding and that many times they’re
miserable to be around.

So if you think, ‘I’ve got to serve them,’ it will get to you.
But if you think, ‘I’m serving the Lord,’ then you’ll be able to handle it.
Whatever our service, we must do it as unto the Lord, knowing that
from the Lord, you will receive your reward.

Don’t look for the applause of men.
Don’t look for people to say, ‘Oh thank you. Oh you mean so much to me.’
For so often it won’t come.

You need to keep the mental attitude of doing everything as unto the Lord,
knowing that of the Lord, you will receive your reward.

Chuck Smith • Calvary Chapel Distinctives

if you’re in college ministry, get involved in this!

visit livingwaters.com

i understand.

despite it being a one-syllable, four-letter name, Gene is neither common nor that easy to differentiate from the sounds of blenders, espresso machines, beeps, whistles and indie rock coming out of the surrounding speakers.

try it yourself. just say Gene and i think you’ll notice that it is one of the more garbley names out there.

however, something within me is always a little disappointed when i get a smoothie, milkshake or, in this case, short cappuccino back with my ‘name’ on it.

Jean is the most popular attempt, with runners up going to Jene, G and {no name written}. my personal favorite was the time i received my cup back with Chi written on the side.

ironically, i think Gene is the spelling/derivative i receive most seldom at this point.

today my Jean made me smile and then clued me in to at least two things:

the first was that i again realized how touchy we can be as a people. maybe it’s an american thing…maybe it’s a human nature thing, but i’m surprised at how i could actually take it personally that someone who doesn’t even know me might misspell or mis-hear my name! GASP! HORROR! THE HUMANITY!!!

we need to toughen up. we’re way too sensitive most of the time, especially in petty things like this. most of the offenses we feel are things that were never meant to offend or hurt us…we just decide that we’re offended.

why?

there is something within me that desires to be foremost and prominent, something selfish and ambitious and unforgiving. it’s the sin nature of course, but today it was interesting to see how that old man can display its toxicity even in something as simple as my name on a cup, looking for a way to reveal itself in all it’s self-centered, egotistical grossness. waiting for a moment where it might dominate my attitudes and decisions.

the second thing i realized is that, like it or not, simple portions of communication can offend or effect people negatively. maybe it’s not my fault, maybe it shouldn’t make someone upset, but the truth is, the way i communicate with people, from my words to my tone to my body language to the way i spell their name might potentially offend them, even if i don’t mean to.

i don’t think that means we live in fear, or that we become so bland and assuming that we never tell people the truth. obviously that isn’t the fix to our culture’s over-sensitivity to all things AND you can’t live life with out eventually offending someone.

so what do we do?

i suppose the check to people being offended is grace. and grace upon grace.

grace isn’t popular right now. the big names of ministry aren’t known for grace, but for other things. that’s just the swing we’re in for the time being.

but today i realized anew that grace is perhaps the most important virtue, and is one that i always need to be cultivating in my life.

because if people can get bent out of shape over a name on a cup, then i need to pay more attention to what i’m saying, singing, typing, writing and promoting.

what do you think?

staying connected @calvaryhanford

sadly, had some audio static on my recording…but had no time to reshoot.

that’s ok.

stay connected @calvaryhanford.

churches have lots of different goals.

some churches focus more on evangelism while another might focus on missions.

churches also have a lot of different ways of reaching those goals, be they specific or idealogical.

churches have different styles.

some churches wear loafers and some wear chucks.

these are all good things.

because if 2 churches are exactly the same…the same ideology and methodology, the same style and format, the same when and how, then they should just merge together to better impact this world for the Gospel, which is our common goal.

when we look around, we find a wide variety of churches, each with their own goals and methods and styles and feels.

God is a God of variety, so it makes sense that His people will be a people of variety.

these are all good things.

i know that there are a couple different churches represented in the regular readership of this little blog. so, my question to you is this:

what is one thing you LOVE that your church does?

i’m not really looking for things like, “my church is friendly and makes me feel welcome,” or, “my church is casual and that makes me feel relaxed.”

those are good things, but i’d like us to pause and think about the different methods/styles/ministries/goals of our churches and share them, both to praise the Lord for His power and faithfulness, and also just to share.

because sharing is caring.

so there it is: what is one thing that your church does that you love?

lay it on me…