it's all about perspective

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this past November, i led a retreat with the youth group and decided to become intentional about taking a simplified approach. i designed a series of mini sessions with the flexibility of adding to or deleting from any given session at any given time. the retreat was dubbed the Q Retreat. the Q stood for Quest - whereas looking at life's big questions involves a 'quest' of sorts, a journey leading deep into one's very soul.

perhaps the deepest question was this "What does your soul look like?"

Some inspiration for the retreat derived from Rainn Wilson's Soul Pancake website and book. Other ideas came from the power of music (U2 - I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking For; Katie Herzig - Make a Noise; Mumford & Sons - Awake My Soul etc), images (workisnotajob.com - the artwork gallery), creativity (howies® - life is complicated), film (nameless moment from erwin mcmanus) and scripture (among others: james 4:7-10; john 21:1-14)

discussions ranged from 'How to deal with the unbalance of life' to 'Things we search for' and to 'Things that make life complicated'. At one point the students made a list of 'Life's Biggest Questions.' This, no doubt, was most meaningful and impacting.

After a lengthy discussion on the tough questions of life (why do bad things happen to good people?, how do i know God's calling on my life?, what is my purpose? etc.) i showed this video: (a video made In Association with: the Melbourne Skydive Centre)

Experience Human Flight from InfinityList on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/22428395
Experience Human Flight from Betty Wants In on Vimeo. [info]
after it completed i said "The next time you get consumed with life's big questions, remember... someone in Australia is skydiving."

in other words: it's all about perspective. for the person experiencing human flight the view is simple yet magnificent... the challenge overwhelming yet exhilarating. basically, God is in control. He enables mankind to do great and mighty things. and some things can make our problems look small... from His perspective, there is a plan and that path leads to full life.  life's problems may seem big - but God is bigger than our questions, our problems & our doubts.

Later, after a discussion on life's big dreams and a challenge for students to 'dream big' i showed this video:

Experience Zero Gravity from InfinityList on Vimeo.
http://vimeo.com/29017795
Experience Zero Gravity from Betty Wants In on Vimeo. [info]
after viewing it, i said "the next time you think and feel your dreams are too big to accomplish remember... someone is base jumping in Switzerland."

lastly, at the end of the retreat after a final discussion about how life can become overwhelming and tempt us to go back rather than go forward (see John 21) i showed this video:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=A2zKARkpDW4

I concluded by saying "the next time you let life overwhelm you remember... someone is surfing off the coast of California."

it's all about perspective. form God's POV he's got the everything under control. he's got a plan for one and all and his creation speaks of his power and might and order.

life is complicated - but when we utilize our senses to see, hear, taste, touch and smell all that God has for us, our perspective suddenly simplifies our life - even if for a moment... it's a moment given to us by God himself.

it's all about perspective. sometimes a change of scenery is all we need...


God is good... All the time...

We Are None of Us Alone (VIDEO)

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(original concept blogged in Dec. 2007)

We Are None of Us Alone from Tim Beck on Vimeo.
http://www.vimeo.com/16552757

an ancient proverb.

We are none of us alone.
Even as we exhale, it is inhaled by others.
The light that shines upon me, shines upon my neighbor as well.
In this way, everything is connected to everything else.
In this way, I am connected to my friend even as I am connected to my enemy.
In this way,there is no difference between me, and my friend.
In this way, there is no difference between me, and my enemy.
We are none of us alone.

[i created this for a youth worship service with the theme of 'baggage'.  i used the video to help students understand that they are not alone.  that when they walk with Christ together - they are connected... the joy and the pain is shared by all - and we can give our burdens over to Jesus.  we don't have to go it alone.  side note:  this idea was originally inspired by a Dec. 2007 episode of the television show LIFE - which enjoyed a brief 2 year run on NBC]

Scared to Death

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it's a simple video about one of the most dangerous jobs in the world:  guys who climb thousands of feet to repair radio antennas.  yes, the video is a bit long (7 min. 27 sec) but i felt intrigued the whole time.  the POV camera mounted on the helmet of the repair man made me feel like i was climbing thousands of feet above the ground.  i nearly lost my stomach a few times.  

this video might work well with a lesson on FEAR or RISK or PERSPECTIVE or STRESS.  things could always be worse!

the beauty of a second

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The Beauty Of a Second - 3rd round compilation (Instant Bliss) from The Beauty Of A Second on Vimeo.

The Beauty Of a Second - 2nd round compilation from The Beauty Of A Second on Vimeo.


Every Second Counts!

 
thee videos are unique and creative.  they could be used as a tie in to a discussion on making every second count or on the beauty of life.  Luke 12:27 comes to mind as well: "consider the lilies..."




art is beautiful because life is beautiful.