Catalyst 2008

The past few days have been phenomenal. Doug, Mark, Dick and I got a chance to travel up to the ATL and go to the Catalyst Conference. This is one of the best leadership conferences in the country and I was super blessed to have had the opportunity to go. We along with another 12,000 people got to experience this. We heard wonderful leadership from guys like Matt Chandler, Steven Furtick, Dave Ramsey and Andy “Freakin” Stanley. We also got to worship with some phenomenal worship leaders like Kristian Stanfill and Steve Fee. Of course, the production team nailed everything. (I had to give props to those guys because it wouldn’t happen without them). On the way home yesterday we talked about some things we took away. There was so much I took away, but only a few touched me and hit me pretty hard. Well, here is my one thing I learned.

“To reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing.” Wow. That means we can build a church and worship together, but there will still people that don’t and won’t go to church. So, to reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing. As Andy Stanley pointed out, not his words, that might piss some people off. This one saying has challenged me. I’m always thinking, how can we make things better so that we can reach people for Christ? It’s simple, do things no one else is doing. What is “normal” now, is not going to be “normal” 5 or 10 years from now. “The Next Generation product almost never comes from the previous generation.” So, “to reach people no one else is reaching, we have to do things no one else is doing.” I’m challenged.

There is my one thing. There were other things that challenged my leadership and challenged to me to think and grow. More than anything that I heard, learned or saw, here is the biggest. God BROKE me this weekend. I was very emotional. I really felt God pulling at my heart this weekend. During worship and during some of the messages I really felt God tugging at me. He was tugging at me in a way that I don’t think I’ve ever felt. At some points I felt overwhelmed with emotion. When I thought about this, the word that came to my mind was “break.” I’m not speaking in the sense that I’m not saved, because I am, but I am speaking in the sense of something that Craig Groeschel brought. I felt God pulling my heart so that my heart would break for him. It was almost as if God said, “pay attention to me.” It felt good. In order to acheive what he wants to achieve, he needs me to focus on him. I often put up a wall around my heart when it comes to deep emotional things. God was breaking down that wall and told me to pay attention to him. That was the greatest thing I took away.

Of course, the experience itself was awesome. I’m a technical guy and those guys just knocked it out of the park. Kickin’ audio probably around 112 db, lighting that looked amazing, and sweet video team. Overall, Catalyst stretched me in more areas than one.

Canvas Band Auditions

Its out now. I have been working lately on getting band audition information together for Canvas and its finally finished. I think I’ve got everything ready to go, but there are still some things to work out. On November 2nd at 1:00pm, we will be having band auditions for Canvas. We will be holding these auditions at Calvary Baptist Church. My buddy who is the youth pastor there has graciously offered his youth room for us to use. The information can be found on the Canvas website under Elevate.

A company we’re looking at teaming up with to purchase equipment through has given us an opportunity to demo some equipment for this event. I’m truly excited. I’m even more excited to see the talent. God has given us all gifts that he wants us to use for his purpose. So, if you have any musical talent, come to auditions. We want to see what you got. Visit the website for all the details.

In a world where things change all the time, be watching the website and this blog in case something does change. I don’t anticipate anything, but you never know.

Canvas on iTunes

Its official. Canvas is now on iTunes! After a four day waiting period, we now are podcasting on iTunes. Below is the link so you can subscribe. If you are new to this, here is how it works. Go to Apple’s website and download iTunes to your computer. Once you have it downloaded, create an account so you can access the store. (Yes, all podcasts are free). Once you’re set up there, you can search a few terms to find Canvas. Search Canvas Church, Canvas, Doug Garvin or Savannah and you can find the podcast. Subscribe to it and every day, iTunes will automatically check for updates and download the newest episode to your computer. From there you can put it on your iPod or burn it to a CD (if you’re still in to those). If you don’t like that, go to the website and click on the orange RSS button to listen on the web. I recommend iTunes, it’s just easier.

Now, there are a few minor details I’m working on with the iTunes podcast. It’s still not the way I like it, but it’s out there now so people from everywhere can listen to what’s happening. So don’t get to set on the way it looks or sounds. It could change. We like change. Here’s the link.

Updates

Well, I’m sick…again. I’m congested and can’t breathe. This makes the third sinus problem within one year, the sixth illness within one year. This just sucks. Sudafed, Nyquil and Benadryl are really close friends right now.

As for other things, I have been working my TAIL off this week on the website and podcasting. I have been trying to learn all of these over the past three weeks and this week I’ve just about got it down, thanks to the help of Doug and Google. I’ve learned website stuff and how to write RSS feeds. Wow! Props to you website freaks. If you go to the Canvas website, you can see many updates. I’m currently awaiting approval from iTunes for the Canvas podcast to be placed in the iTunes store. As of now, you can go to the website and click the RSS button to listen to core group meetings. There are also updates under the Action section for Action Opportunities. All of this is actually pretty fun. I was determined to figure it out myself and I finally did it. Ahh, it feels good.

If you are a Facebooker, join the Canvas “group” and check out updates. We just sent out an event invite for Core Group meetings. Our next one is October 5th at 6:00 pm at the Hilton Garden Inn on Abercorn. You can find that on the website also. A buddy of mine all the way in the Nebraska made an awesome graphic for me. Thanks DD.

MacBook

Well I did it! I bought a Macbook. The computer I have now is struggling. I do just about everything on this computer. I go to school online, church work and many other things. It is imperative I have good working computer. It has served me well over the past four years. However, it is time to move on. After MUCH debate, doubt, prayer and careful sought out wisdom from other Mac owners, I have decided to make the purchase. April helped convince me. She said we may not have the money in about 1-2 months because we will literally be living pay check to pay check and it’s now or never. Not only that, but email just doesn’t work at all. If you are waiting on an email from me, sorry, I can’t send at all. Anyway, so I did it. I would not have been able to do it without the unexpected paycheck from my last job paying me for all of my unused vacation and sick time. It literally took care of the cost. I am EXTREMELY fortunate!! I praise God for this (sounds weird, but it IS a blessing). I’m sure I have made Doug and Mark jealous. Sorry guys, you can look at it once I get it. Here is a pic:

                                  

Continuing a “Legacy”

I’ve been with Doug for a while, since I was a youth in his youth group. I always looked to him as a coach and mentor. He has taught me so much about technical stuff, especially as it relates to church production. He was always reading the geeky stuff and I made fun of him too. Well, it wasn’t long before I was reading technical blogs and subscribing to geek magazines also. It is a great way to learn. As I have taken this roll of Weekend Experience, I realize how much I am reading about the newest and latest thing that’s out there and what churches are doing with this newest and latest thing. What’s even worse is that I have TONS of technical magazines. To think I use to make fun of Doug…haha.

We were goofing around the other week about the whole magazine thing. He had some magazines at his house that I had too. He then said “you gotta keep the legacy going.” Well…I’m continuing the legacy of the geeky/technical magazines. I’m going to be the guy at the office with technical and production magazines laying around, getting in everyone’s way. I’m proud to continue the legacy of staff dork. I take it with honor.

Light Study

I’ve been doing lots of research lately on light production in churches. I’ve been observing how some churches do lighting and what techniques they use to create that environment. I’ve only been able to research those who have online, filmed services. I’ve learned alot such as: sweeping, color, back-lighting, etc. There are times when sweeping can enhance a worship song and when color can evoke a certain emotion, but if you get it wrong you could screw it all up. So, I’m learning. I really enjoy lighting.

As I watch these services, it’s like I can worship even online. With that said, I’ve realized how important it is to have a creative environment, especially as it relates to lighting. Lighting enhances everything you’re doing. I’m watching these services and the music is phenomenal, but lighting (when done well) add so much more. I’m going to continue to research and learn.