We Are None of Us Alone (VIDEO)

LOST BLOGGER ENTRIES: a series of ministry and worship related blog posts ideas] 
(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

[LOST BLOGGER ENTRIES: a series of ministry and worship related blog posts ideas] 



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

[LOST BLOGGER ENTRIES: a series of ministry and worship related blog posts ideas]


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.

the sea in between

(we are not alone)

we long to be connected...  a brilliant reminder.

the 3 Muscles of Visual Life

In this Intel Visual Life short documentary, Michael Wolff, co-founder of Wolff Olins Agency and considered one of the preeminent visionaries and perhaps the father of 20th century brand expression and identity, talks about his approach to looking at the world, including the muscles of curiosity, appreciation, and imagination.


i value this mini- documentary (thank you to my wife for finding it) because of its fresh perspective on life... what we see... how others see us... how do we bring about inspiration?  how are we branded? 

While watching i thought of many parallels to faith and the church.  There are so many elements of value found in this short 6 minute film.  I'd like to focus on a few.


How Am I Known?

as Christians - we may think we know how we see ourselves - but we certainly don't know how others perceive us.  the same could be said for the church.  (but that's for another blog post)

"I don't know what I look like to other people therefore I must package myself in a way that reveals who I am."

What Do We See?
From a faith standpoint, do we, the church (or we, as Christians),  have a holistic view of our design? 
Michael Wolff talks about the 3 Muscles:
Curiosity (being willing to ask why?) + Appreciation (noticing) = Imagination.

Part of appreciation is brand identity.  What is the purpose, the vision?  what does it do?  what does it bring?  we need a brand that makes it so people can take it, receive it, value it, treasure it & choose it.
This is the whole process of branding.


This is a message for the church.  This is a message of discipleship.
We (the church/the body of Christ) need to brand our process of discipleship... we need to present to others an identity that compels others to take it, receive it, value it, treasure it & choose it.

Think of the impact we might have, for the glory of God, to brand our identity in Christ in a way that would entice others to follow Jesus.  In a real, honest and humble way.  That's Kingdom work.  That's the Gospel in action.  People are drawn to authenticity.  How might we brand that, so to speak?

This is something that each church needs to investigate and digest.

Curiosity matters.
Appreciation matters.
Imagination matters.

Utilizing our imagination is an outward expression of who we are in Christ - created in the image of God (Gen. 1:27) - to do great and mighty things (John 14:12).  Our process of discipleship can naturally derive from that.  Nothing more, nothing less.  In the simplicity of curiosity and appreciation - there God can be found, because God is in vastness that our imagination. 


Open Your Eyes.

"If you walk around with a head full of preoccupation you're not going to notice anything."

We need open eyes.  We need to see new things.  May God gives us the vision to see the new thing in front of us (Isaiah 43:19).  May our preoccupations wane so that Christ may abound (Phil. 1:9).

Just think what God might do through us...
How will you now visualize life?

This is My Confession

Caine's Arcade

i thought this video was compelling. oh to be a child again... and to imagine... and to build... and to do what you dream of doing...

the second chance

God continues to reach... again and again. "Just one more time... Just one more time." God longs for us to unite with him. when we're united - we're tied to Him. switch around the letters though... move the 'i' in united and you get... untied. united. untied. when i move... the bond is broken... but God's hand is outstretched as if to say "Please, let's try again." ©2012 creative kerygma / tim beck videos a simple video with a simple message.

the beauty of a second

art is beautiful because life is beautiful.

old nature / new nature

how do you identify yourself?



at some point we all struggle with our identity.

who are we really?


labels stick to us like a badge of dishonor - given to us by ourselves or by others…
imperfections and feelings of self worth consume our thoughts
where do we find our true identity?
but what if we were willing to cast off the old nature and embraced something new…
renewed in the knowledge that we were made in the image of God.
we can be made new again.


[i made this video with some of my students. based on the theme of Identity and Colossians 3:1-17

signs - a christmas story

three great videos by UNKLE

Heaven (Fully Flared Intro Video Remix) by UNKLE_UK

it's all about perspective

this past weekend, 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 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.

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 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:



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...

poke the box

gentle falling snow

smoke

everything is smoke.

ecclesiastes chapter one.

Smoke from Tim Beck on Vimeo.

MAKER MOMENT: Dayvan Cowboy

one of my favorite music videos of all time. it shows how sound and image, when edited together, can be a beautiful blending of creativity and art. the two (the music and film) become one.

creativity is one of God's blessed gifts to mankind.

[Dayvan Video wiki]

CYF 10 Highlight Video

CYF 10 Highlight Video from Tim Beck on Vimeo.

video highlights from a week of camp... CYF Camp is a Senior High Youth Camp held @ Malone Univ. I serve as the 'worship coordinator' and behind-the-scenes tech guy.

it was another great week... a highlight of the summer, no doubt!

Imagine.Love

imagine. love. from Tim Beck on Vimeo.

this video was played at the end of a reading of the following text:

http://fantasticdistraction.blogspot.com/2009/02/world-without-selfishness.html

as part of a worship service dealing with serving the least of these.

imagine... a world without selfishness would be a world of... love.