Fast-Forward

I wish I could fast forward 2010 and see how it all turns out…I’m sure if I knew the outcomes of certain things, I might choose to live my story differently…maybe some things I wouldn’t place so much importance on, and some things & people I might pay attention to a little more. Who knows… but I DO know this: I want to live a good story this year.

Donald Miller wrote an amazing post about resolutions vs living good stories. His main points boil down to 1) wanting something, 2) envisioning a climatic scene, & 3) creating an inciting incident. I recommend reading it for yourself.

Originally, this blog post was going to be about what I plan to accomplish, the places I’m going to, the people I can’t wait to meet or reconnect with, goals I have, yada yada… instead, I want to write about a few stories I hope to live well this year:

STORY ONE: To See Visual Worship Have a More Missional/Global Perspective

I desire to produce, create & VJ more missional media that brings God’s global story into focus during times of corporate and personal worship. I hope I’m not the only one; I want to be a part of a revolution that changes the face of visual media as we know it today. And I hope this cause isn’t self-serving (or perceived as) but overflows with the spirit of giving back and serving those who suffer.

I’m sitting on a plethora of beautiful HD footage that we’ve shot around the world and it’s just waiting to be edited and mastered into a format suitable for VJ-ing and storytelling. I’m praying for the right individuals to come alongside us and help us in the production and release of that content. Like I said, I hope we’re not the only ones doing this. I want to spend 2010 encouraging other creatives to do the same. Worship is a response to the revelation of Who God is and what He’s done/doing; we’ve done a good job at projecting Who He is…but I feel that much of the available media out there lacks in the areas of Who He is & what He’s doing outside the four walls of the church building (which to me is the majority of His Kingdom…I dunno…just sayin’.) I want to see this change.

The Church as a whole (at least at the forefront) is definitely shifting its focus to more missional ways of worshiping. It’s happening everywhere, and it’s exciting. And our culture (including our churches) are becoming more globally aware and connected, which has never happened before (at least on this scale). I’m having more and more conversations about visual worship outside of America than inside. How is our visual storytelling & VJ-ing supporting/responding/leading these shifts?

STORY TWO: To Tell the Story of Visual Worship in New Ways

I have many dreams, ideas & goals for this year. Some, I believe will be carried out by others…and some, I believe, have been placed in my heart by God…entrusted to me to see it through. Some people would shy away from announcing things without having it “all together” and ready for “release”. To that, I say, “whatever!”. So I’m saying it now…publicly…and I’m involving other people with it. This very act forces me to move. As Donald Miller points out, saying things publicly and not following through creates a “social consequence”. I will let those I’ve involved down, and I’ll look stupid in front of everyone i’ve told (aka YOU). (maybe that’s the whole point for some of these things…but again, i can’t fast forward and find out.)

God has clearly spoken to me about a few specific things. One is software development. Another is for inspirational/educational media about visual worship. And the last is about writing a few books. I have a pretty good idea of what all these could look like, and have been carrying these ideas for some time now. But 2010, i’m hoping, is the year that I get to flesh some of these out. All, I hope, end up being for the edification of His Church.

I want so badly for everyone to experience the glory, splendor, awe, wonder, majesty, creativity & mystery of God in the midst of worship (whether corporate or personal). I believe the visual arts (media, environment, story, etc) have a huge role to play in this. And I don’t believe we are in a place where we are experiencing this as God has intended here on the earth. And I believe with all my heart that there needs to be a return to simplicity and authenticity in our worship (especially in the production of our worship experiences)…this to, we are lacking on a major scale. This is why you here me talk about “visual silence” so much…i really think there is something there, for all of us, on a corporate and personal level, from God.

I’m hoping through the small postage-stamp-sized platform that God has given me I will tell His story to the best of my abilities. Maybe through some new refreshing media, films, books, events, blog posts, conversations, worship gatherings, etc, I will be able to echo this well.

STORY THREE: Facilitating Relationships & Ways to Give Back

I desire to be a part of a nameless, faceless movement of the Church that gives back to those who are in need. More specifically, I want to be a part of a movement within the realm of “church creatives” that give back to other “creatives” who are in need. I don’t know exactly what this looks like yet, but I’m wondering if there are ways to facilitate some opportunities that we all get to play a part in.

Not all churches in the world can benefit from visual media in their services or in the daily life of their Church. Believe me, there are some indigenous churches that are doing JUST FINE without technology. In fact, it would cause more harm than good; it’s just not their culture. However, there are MANY churches around the world that could benefit from technology and visual media. But, for whatever reason, they can’t afford it or easily obtain it. What if those of us with resources stepped in and helped them?

What if the media/worship ministry of your church sponsored a church in Indonesia…giving them new computers, software, media, cameras, projectors, editing software, website, or ________??? But what’s more exciting is that this sponsorship would facilitate relationships! Imagine getting your head unburied from the laptop and going on a trip to this 3rd world church and engaging for a week or two in their creative leaders’ lives? Teaching and training them, yes…but what about praying for them and simply hearing their story? Priorities will resurface, and perspectives will change. And the way you lead worship (musically/technically/visually) will change… TRUST ME.

This is one reason I’m going back to Asia (and to other countries soon)… I want to figure this out and see what God has for us. His global story is epic… like, Lord of the Rings epic…and even more so, I’m sure. There is a place for all of us… and “visual worship” is just a small part of the bigger story taking place. How will we engage & fit our lives into His story?

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So, to heck with “resolutions” and goals. Yes, I have many of them…but when I look at them through the lens of a narrative, I’m much more motivated to go after them. And I may fail miserably at all of this. Or maybe it’s not until 2020 when some of these things I’ve mentioned finally come to fruition. And I pray that none of these are self-serving or build up any earthly empire that I might call my own. I guess we’ll both have to wait and find out.

Yes, I wish I could fast forward this year and see how everything turns out. But I can’t…for this is the essence of faith. Moving forward and believing in something I can’t see. Faith, by nature, is “visually-silent”.

So here’s to 2010. I’ve never been more excited about a new year before. Let’s journey well together.

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“I know, O LORD, that a man’s life is not his own; it is not for man to direct his steps.” ~ Jeremiah 10:23

“A man’s steps are directed by the LORD. How then can anyone understand his own way?” ~ Proverbs 20:24

“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prospers you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future.” ~ Jeremiah 29:11

“Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.” ~ Matthew 6:34