revolution practice

Revolution 2011

its going to be an epic night of music, friends, fun, Jesus...what more could you possibly want?

:)

the ALIVE team has been working on a "creative element" for this event.

to go with the theme - A Generation Rising.

and after a month of planning, brainstorming, listening to the same song over and over and over, practicing and more practicing...

we're almost there.

:)

and its really coming together.

finishing touches will be added this week and i'm really excited to see it all finished!

God offers something that is SO. MUCH. BETTER. than what the world says we should live for.

God gives peace, joy, passion, life and so so so much more...

and unless people know this is an option - how will they know not to settle for something less?

we need to step up and live out an example of what this abundant life can look like

so the people in this world who are hurting know that they have an option.

that they can

LIVE.

so lets rise up as a generation and shine a bright, blinding light in this world that seems to so quickly settle for a dim version of what is possible.

we need to take a stand together, as believers, and demand the very best...

because its what Jesus died for, what He wants for us.

and nothing less.

John 10:10

The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy life, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

so come join us at Edinbrook Church on June 3rd :)

i leave you with some pictures of our early morning rehearsal...

such a blessing to work with such a great team :)

love it.

-ALIVE

testimony collage

hey friends!

so i know its been A LONG time since i have updated this...

but its been busy.

life has gotten crazy.

change of pace?  haha...

anyways...

thursdays have been half revolution practice/ half art project time

both are coming along quite nicely :)

God's just doing His thing...

and on Friday sarah and i met up in the dungeon and did some arting...

we cut out a cross and started covering it up...

basically the idea of this project is to do a collage of things that God has done in people's lives.

pictures, drawings, words, stories - whatever people share with us.

its going to be really cool.

and the cross will sit on top of a background that will have written on it - what life BEFORE God was like...

so you'll see the contrast.

and its a huge contrast.

life with God?  its just so much better.

so i decided to go into detail about this a little and share because i had a thought...

why not get as many responses from as many different people as possible?

so if you are reading this and God has done something powerful in your life or if you have a story about it, a statement,  a word, an image, whatever - let us know!

and maybe we'll add it to the art! :)

and then you can come on June 3rd to Revolution and check it out! 

;)

so share with us!

-ALIVE

we love us some thursdays!

Thursday Night!

Everyone’s favorite day of the week! :)

Well, it is if you are a part of ALIVE anyways…haha

The A’s met up early and spent some time choreographing Revolution…got a LOT done :) yay!

Its gonna be pretty epic, friends.

God’s going to use it!

And then we gathered and I shared a video that I am LOVING with them all…

It’s a guy named Ezekiel Azonwu, he is a spoken word artist and oh. Man.

Suuuuucccccchhhhhhh good words!!!

A friend at work sent it to me the other day and so I was watching it and I was like whoa!

Preach it brother!

We CANNOT be “almost saved”. We are or we’re not, and its not doing anyone any good to pretend like we are when we’re just almost.

My favorite part?

“you don’t almost go to jail, when you almost blow up a plane. Like you don’t almost go to hell, when you almost get saved”

Mmmmhmmmmm. Tough to hear…but so so so necessary.

He just gets right to the heart of the matter and is just using his art to speak life into people. Its amazing. I recommend watching it. we spent some time discussing it…goooood stuff. :)

God is just giving me this like craving - ? I guess is the word I would use…? Haha but this craving, this super strong need to see people who are really allowing God to use their gifts. You know those times when you’re watching someone or something and you can just SEE and FEEL what they are feeling? It moves you and you can’t help but get a glimpse into something beyond just the superficial…

Im just craving those times.

I have this deep desire to see people find the gifts they have that will enable them to meet with God in such a way that they can’t help but respond using those gifts in a way where you can see what He’s teaching and showing them.

I don’t know what God is doing, but i'm making it my prayer - that we can seek Him and His heart, and the He will bless that by just pouring out through us.  He is just wanting people to know right now that we cannot and will not ever do anything more than entertaining if we’re not doing things on His power. He’s the one that breathes life into our gifts and makes them weapons to cut through the darkness and open people’s eyes to His truth…
its so exciting, friends!

Ok, back on track….

So half the team spent time learning the Revolution drama while the other half spent time brainstorming for future dramas and ideas and things…

he's tired too...:)

we also make them dance until their knees are almost bleeding.

look at their sad faces :(

anyone out there feel led to donate a hardwood floor? 

oh, and a dance studio?

:)

we have the mirrors!

we have a new art project that we are going to work on...and i'm super excited about it.

I will say – hours can be spent trying to come up with things, but the absolute best ideas come in 2 seconds.

Those times when you finally sit down and just fully place yourself in His presence and He says – ok, do this.

and it all makes sense.

Its crazy.

But its one of my absolute favorite things about my relationship with Him.

I love that He shows up like that.

Amazing.

And humbling…;)

But overall – a very productive and happy night.

:)

Love it.

LOTS of stuff coming up soon!

We’ll keep you posted :)

-ALIVE

cause for a revolution

Tonight we spent some time Revolution-ing.  not sure what that means?

translation...planning/working on the drama for Revolution.

we are working on a Story Dance...

and after a few hours tonight...i think its coming together.  but it took a little while to get it feeling right.

there's still a lot left to work on, details to finish, dances to choreograph...

but its God's.  its His message, His heart, His performance...He'll make sure we get it right.

we spent some time talking about what the message of this should be...

and the theme of the night is Revolution, stepping up as a generation to fight for what God has for us, and not just settle for what the world is willing to give.

something that came up is that we need to go out into the world, share what we know of God.

why?

because God says.

why does He tell us to?

because what He has is BETTER.

thats it...He's just BETTER.  SO much better.

God wants us all - every single one to LIVE and live FULL.

i was reading in John 10 tonight and i was just amazed at God's heart in this passage...

i feel like i have read all this before but for whatever reason, its just overwhelming me right now!  

He cares SO much...

So Jesus said again, I assure you, most solemnly I tell you, that I Myself am the Door for the sheep...

I am the Door; anyone who enters in through Me will be saved (will live). He will come in and he will go out [freely], and will find pasture.  The thief comes only in order to steal and kill and destroy. I came that they may have and enjoy LIFE, and have it in abundance (to the full, till it overflows).

I am the Good Shepherd. The Good Shepherd risks and lays down His life for the sheep.

But the hired servant (he who merely serves for wages) who is neither the shepherd nor the owner of the sheep, when he sees the wolf coming, deserts the flock and runs away. And the wolf chases and snatches them and scatters [the flock].

Now the hireling flees because he merely serves for wages and is not himself concerned about the sheep [cares nothing for them].

I am the Good Shepherd; and I know and recognize My own, and My own know and recognize Me-

Even as [truly as] the Father knows Me and I also know the Father--and I am giving My [very own] life and laying it down on behalf of the sheep...

No one takes it [my life] away from Me. On the contrary, I lay it down voluntarily. [I put it from Myself.] I am authorized and have power to lay it down (to resign it) and I am authorized and have power to take it back again. These are the instructions (orders) which I have received [as My charge] from My Father

Jesus is not someone who has nothing invested in us, who doesnt care.  He cares.  and instead of running in the other direction when we start to fall - He laid down His life so that we could be safe.

He watches us and He makes sure we use the right paths - so that we can live the best, most fulfilling life possible. not because He's holding anything back - but because the other paths are filled with rocks and wolves.  and they'll hurt.

any other way will kill and destroy us.

Jesus is doing everything He can to get us to just use the door, people!

haha...He's saying - its open, its here, just walk through the door!

and you'll have LIFE until it overflows.

so why do we need to step up and go out into the world to share God's love?

because God said so.

and because living in His plan, following His leading - is the only way to live life the way it was designed to be experienced.

we need to be a part of it and people need to know about it.

and He LOVES us so much.

this MATTERS to Him.

WE matter to Him.

lets be a part of a revolution, friends.  

be a generation to be willing to surrender our fears, submit to God's will and fight for His plan with all the strength and passion He gives us.

there's life that needs to be lived.

-ALIVE

Stumble

So.. I was stumbling and found something thought I should share! It's just a quote, but pretty great :)

"Just because your breathing, doesn't mean your alive."

FRIENDSHIP!

Figured we could just steal this and make it our motto. Team? Team.

Jk

But seriously

-ALIVE

We are blessed!!!

So there's something thats just been on my mind lately!! Felt like I should share it. When I went on the winter retreat to Trout Lake with the youth group, (which was only a youth event, but I got to go cause I was in ALIVE and we were doing some dramas, SUPER happy I was able to go cause it was an amazing weekend! Mark, Steph, and Josh preached it, so good!) and one night I was reading in Matthew, and a verse totally just blew me away...

Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Blessed are you when people insult you, persecute you, and falsely say all kinds of evil against you because of me.

Matthew 5:10-11

I just loved that so much... Just because in those situations, that seems to be the last thing on my mind I can't say that I've ever been put in a situation where someone has been attacking my faith directly, like insulting me to my face, but I'ver certainly been offended, hurt, and felt outcast before. It's not fun, and I certainly do not feel like I'm blessed. But ever since I have read this, it doesn't phase me... Just knowing that when someone is ridiculing me, insulting me, and making me feel horrible because of my faith in Jesus Christ, that I am BLESSED... It's SO amazing. He's that awesome!!! :D Just gotta love it! Just thought I'd share.

So... just so you know, in my 2D Design- Basic Visual Theory class, my final project is... fun? Haha, I have to design a whole entire deck of cards...And if you were wondering, the answer is yes,Its extremely stressful... and repetitive :) So fun!!!BUT, we have to base our design ideas off an artist,

I chose FIONA RAE, she's an abstract painter from Britain.

Her work = Soup Rod.

Love her style SOOOO MUCH!!!

I'm excited to finish them (my cards)

only one more week left of school for the semester!!

Here we go!!

And here's one of my pieces... just for fun :)

My teacher said it reminded her of Fiona Rae's work,

So it thought it was fitting.

TEAM!!!

Happy sunday, and God bless!

-Austin

-ALIVE