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.

End of Week Wrap Up

What a weekend. Canvas Core Group went amazing last night. It was our last night at an actual house and thank God. We had 35 people total. Thats a lot for one house! So, starting October 5th, we will be meeting at the Hilton Garden Inn at 5711 Abercorn St. You can find information at the Canvas website. Anyway, Doug brought an awesome message from Nehemiah. We talked about the what and how. Good stuff. You can also find that at the Canvas web page under podcasts.

Podcasting is kicking my butt! I’ve got everything on the website, but RSS feeds are killing me. I’m trying to learn to write them, but I don’t what the heck I’m doing. April is beginning to get annoyed because I have been working on that for over two weeks now. Any help out there?

Had my first sleep-in morning with April on Saturday. Amazing. I haven’t slept-in since the honeymoon. It was the first time with April since then too. It was enjoyable just to relax for once. Next time, we’ll turn our cell phones OFF.

Tried to go to the beach, but the weather didn’t work out.

Canvas is doing an Action event on Saturday at 12:30. Meet at Cutter’s Point in Sandfly. We’re going with another organization to help pack back-packs up with school supplies. See you all there.

Almost finished with band audition information. Waiting for reply on a location. Anyone have any other ideas? I’m really excited to see the turnout.

I’m still in aww of God, watching His movement. God is cool.

Interesting Thought

Last night I got a chance to hear my buddy Jeremy speak at the church he serves at. First off, worship was amazing. Richard did an awesome job with he and his acoustic. It sounded amazing and it was absolutely intimate. I haven’t worshiped like that in a while.

Anyway, Jeremy began to speak. He brought a wonderful message, but the one thing that stuck in my head was this. ‘Many people go to Jesus like a vending machine, sticking whatever change they have in their pockets, pushing some buttons and expecting to get what they want out of it.’ Wow. It makes me think about prayer specifically. When I pray, it is so common that I say God “bless me” with this or something similar. That’s stupid. So last night, April and I spent a few moments in prayer and I just stopped. I thought about what Jeremy said with the vending machine. I stopped and simply counted my blessings. I praised God for the simple things, the things I take advantage of so often. So many people don’t have what many of us DO have, so I simply PRAISED God. I don’t want to be one of those people that go to Jesus, sticking some “spare” change in and expect to get something in return.

I just wanted to share that thought. It challenged me. I like things that do that. Take me out of the box and make an example out of me.

Weekend Wrap Up

What a long week. Its finally over and its the start of another one. I’m looking forward to April and I having our FIRST weekend where we didn’t have to go, go, go. I’m worn out.

On Friday night and Saturday, I helped with my buddy Jeremy and others with React Conference at Bible Baptist. They had a great turn out with many older high schoolers and college students. The speakers, including Canvas’ own, did wonderful. Jeremy wrapped it all up and simply knocked it out of the park. I had the opportunity to operate FOH audio for the worship team. I love to help anyone I can, especially with the talents God has given me. Thanks guys. Keep up the awesome work.

Sunday morning, I got another opportunity to help ANOTHER church start up for their very first Sunday. It was awesome. Tapestry Church is a new church plant in Savannah too. They have a staff member that is a good friend of mine now and we basically serve on staff at our churches in the exact same capacity. Its cool to have someone that you can turn to and share ideas with. Its funny because many churches think everything is competition and therefore they wouldn’t think of helping another church. That’s stupid. I had the opportunity to assist three churches this weekend and its not for the churches or myself, its for God and HIS kingdom.

Sunday afternoon I FINALLY went to the beach. I haven’t been to the beach in Savannah since I’ve been here. I basically haven’t time. Me, April and a friend went out for a while and caught about 20 star fish and sand dollars. What do you get when you mate a star fish and sand dollar? Star Dollar. Anyway, good stuff. That night we had Canvas Core Group II. It went great. After staff meeting last week, we decided we were going to change just about everything we did, so…we changed it. Things went great. We are still looking for a place to have core group meetings because we are just about grown out of the house we’re at. We’re also still looking for a place for the church to meet. Know of places? We could use them!

We are recording Core Group meetings. So if you missed it, be looking for it soon on iTunes podcasts. BUT, if you know how to podcast, LET ME KNOW!! I’m trying to figure it out, which takes some time, but if you know how, it would make it go alot faster and easier.

My old boss from Dallas called me this week and told me he had a job lead for me. I have a job, but thinking about starting a second because we need it. He told me he talked with the Chief of police with Tybee island and the Sgt. in charge of communications. They remembered when I talked with them months ago looking for a job and told him someone was leaving and were interested in me working with them. Wow! I would love to do that. I miss Public Safety. We’re still praying about that one. I would love to, but April not so much. She enjoys me being home before midnight, which probably would not be the case if I got this job. My day would be about an 18-20 hour day. April and I need time too.

Its Monday now and I’m tired. I had minimal sleep this week. I need a day without doing anything. We’ll see about that one. Back to work…

God Speaks Clearly, Again

Within the past 12 hours, something happened. I’m not going to discuss it, but it caused me to become upset. This morning I got to work and like usual, I turned on Air1 radio online. I have to have music or else this silence kills me. Now I don’t usually listen to Christian radio because most Christian radio stations are too stuck in their “christian bubble,” but this one is different and they play awesome music.

Anyway, on their website, they post a daily Bible verse. I go by this every day, but for some reason I actually read it today. It was James 4:10. I read this a couple of times and each time I just felt a sense of calmness come over me. It was as if God told me to let it go, get the heck over it and move on, He is bigger and far more important.

I’m not the type of person that “reads God’s signs” because I just suck at that. Some people can see God in the clouds or the way something smells…nope, not me. I have to have it very plain and clear. Well, it doesn’t get any clearer than that. He puts in WRITING. I then went back and read the other verses of that chapter. Put pride aside and become humble. It was then that I stopped my “busy schedule” and read, that He told me to let it go and get the heck over it because He is God and is FAR greater than any stupid thing that would pis…upset me. The presence of God is flippin’ awesome. Whether it was the verse that spoke to me or the fact that I actually stopped and read the verse long enough for God to do His thing, or both, who cares. The fact is I LISTENED to God this morning and He embraced me. God is amazing. I love it when He does that.

So, there it is, there is God speaking clearly, again…

VOLUNTEER Opportunity

I have a volunteer opportunity!! I work with the Savannah Baptist Center here on Wheaton St. In the afternoon Monday-Thursday, they have an after school program. They usually average from 20-30 kids in the afternoon. The weekday coordinator for that is in need. She is struggling for volunteers to help with the kids from 3:45-5:00 in the afternoon on Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays.

SO, if you can help, contact me!! These kids are awesome. (Yes, I just said that). This place runs off volunteers. If you can give 1 hr 15 min. of your time, three days a week, let me know. Its not hard. There is a small video that tells you everything you need to know.That’s 3:45-5:00, Mondays, Tuesdays & Thursdays. If you can give any of these days, I know they will appreciate it greatly.

Email me at: jaredg@savannahcanvas.com if you can help.