Proverbs

-Proverbs-

Soo....... 

Maybe not the proverbs you're thinking of :)

My good friend Clayton is part of an improv team and this is an awesome game that they play...

Everyone sits in a circle, and you go around the circle and each person says one word that makes up one single proverb. 

And then when (as a group) you feel the proverb is complete, raise your pointer finger in the air and say in unison "Ahhhhhhhh!" 

So... sounds dumb and simple

But... in actuality its probably the best thing in the world.

The idea is to go as fast as you can and just say the very first thing that pops into your head and not really think at all. One of the basic concepts of improv! Building off of the last person to speak in a spontaneous thinking-on-your-feet way! 

Here were some of the best ones of the night, with some captions! 

(You will start to see patters of words that people like to use... and notice that the shorter ones seem to be the best!)

- Children like weave. (As in ghetto weave...)

- Llamas love hats and Jamaica People when they go to the bathroom.

- Coats sometimes are hairy if llamas were made by coats. (Llama sighting #1)

- Chairs could have babies if they broke legs.

- Cucumbers are dressed up with Earth's cucumbers because Earths cucumbers ranch.

- Waterfalls fall. (Ooohh.. Thats deep...)

- Fortune cookies break easily because when my sister steps on the cookie it crumbles like a spirit. (Depressing one of the night)

- Antilopes eat leather people on the avalanches. (Eating people sighting #1)

- Trees are eating green life out of the can.

- Pineapples are prickly because pumpkins disguised friendship into pineapples. 

- Phones call people when donkeys are singing carols around hats.

- Doors open when life jumps them out of windows. (Windows sighting #1)

- Bubbles break when bubbles are doing naughty things.

- Hammers pound with tails and Gangam style friendship. (Probably one of the best everrr...)

- Potatoes can jump around windows when they're hyper because they want to eat people. 

- Whiteboards clear off children after they're mistakes are killed by evil because evil is something children hate.

- Killing is not a sad decision to killers because they are killers that eat refrigerated people. (Killers sighting #1)

- Sheep disgust killers because of the childhood memories of leprosy. 

- Compassion makes love possible when zebras actually go to the bathroom.

- Serial swims in cows.

- Coffe tastes like smurfs.

- Dreams vomit love all the night long. (also very deep...)

- Cast my potato on eggs benedict movies, can you feel the love tonight?

- Art smells like roses when they poop.

- Fighting chickens is cool in space.

- He whom may fall into clouds will die a long soft squishy miserable death.

- Life sometimes gives lemons for squeezing because people hate juice.

Now we begin the constant use of souls, magic, gnomes and gingers... too funny!

- Sweatshirts keep myself cold because they have spiky icicles inside of my soul.

- Gingers are friendly and nice people but they bite. 

- Pain is very nice and it could save many children gnomes. 

- Zebras have trees but they aren't with fun doves because they don't really have souls just because they're souls are rotten gingers.

- Sometimes broken pieces fit together in a lovely llama.

- Vitamins eat water and souls.

- Evil people fall asleep during snow storms because frolicking frogs also are midgets and gnomes.

- Meadows create peace and packman eskimos.

- Flowers have ugly horns because flowers like mean flowers.

- Tables are strong and hold many magical gingers. 

- Dungeons keep magical swords and dragons and bamboos until life throws you off a cliff.

- Chairs are safe chairs because beat-boxing chairs have boombox legs.

- Burning fires can prevent cancer. (I'm not sure if you were aware! Let us enlighten you... and save the world while we're at it.)

Next is our ALIVE-ness themed one...

- Friendship is epic when friendship is apple picking because team likes toats magotes.

didn't go so well... but its interesting nonetheless :)

- Dreams are something that magical unicorns only dream about with gnomes and pretty clovers during special gingers dreams. 

- Lockers are safes of joy and happiness of my soul.

- Bubbles pop even when africans bernie.

At this point we said... "NO MORE SOULS, AND NO MORE GINGERS!" And this is what we got...

- Crushing cones is deceitful when midgets are soulless gingers. 

Gotta love those Alive kids! So fun hanging out with other godly creative people!

See you next time!

-ALIVE-

when words aren't enough

i LOVE looking at art.

i can't describe why exactly - but there is something about a picture that can bring a million different thoughts to mind, 

or drive home a thought that didn't make as much sense in words.

and i LOVE seeing art that you just know came straight from the artist's heart.

its powerful.

and i LOVE that God has given people that gift.  its amazing and He really didn't need to.

but its such a beautiful thing.

i came across this artist while doing some other research and was so moved by the paintings...

her name is Caitlin Beider.  i don't know much about her, but she does live paintings and that is just really impressive.

she's also a Christian who uses her art to share the gospel of Jesus.

i want to share some of her paintings - i hope you take a second and just rest in each one.

art that seems to capture that "moment" where something is happening... is usually some of the most powerful visuals.

these each pointed me back to God in some way - i pray they do the same for you :)

"i find you here"

"pressed, not crushed.  knocked down, not destroyed"

"indeed, I am set free!"

"rain down on me"

"rise above"

"washed."

beautiful.

this is actually a picture that God gives me all the time of my time with Him.  

i love this.

obviously we should learn and read and talk to other believers - 

there are so many ways to learn from God.

sometimes its really nice to do a little "out of the box" thinking - to see not just what a person is painting or drawing or dancing or whatever - 

sometimes you just have to let God speak through His creation.

:)

-ALIVE

a christian's creativity

i stumbled upon this quote from an author named Thomas Merton.

i wanted to share it because i think its a really cool reminder of how the gift of creativity (that we ALL have in some way, shape or form) works...

The way for sacred art to become more “creative” is not just for the artist to study new and fashionable trends and try to apply them to sacred or symbolic themes. It is for the artist to enter deeply into his Christian vocation, his part in the work of restoring all things in Christ. But this is not his responsibility alone. This is the responsibility of the whole Church and everybody in it.

-- Thomas Merton

we can study,

we can learn,

we can practice,

we can perfect techniques - 

but because the gift, the inspiration, the ability ALL come from God-

we can't do any of it without Him.

we can't create anything without Him.

we wouldn't have the gifts, wouldn't have the material, wouldn't have the ideas or the ability if He didn't give them to us.

so the only way to really grow in it or to know creativity to its fullest potential - 

is to know God.

it needs to be an overflow, a response to what God is doing in us.  

and the amazing thing about how God put it all together?

is that not only do we need to know God in order for our creativity to grow -

but once we make the time to be intentional about using our gifts?

we get to experience GOD on a whole new level.

its not just a gift we're tapping into - 

its God Himself.

and the rest is up to Him.  its amazing.

truly amazing to look at all that He is and all that He has done for us.

amazing.

-ALIVE

team art.

on the off chance you aren't familiar with the term

"team art"...

here is an example.

well... an example of our version, at least.  :)

you take 1 piece of paper.

split it into 10 (ish) parts.

and then each person fills in one section at a time.

and the next person has to build off of the other one - so all the lines need to be continued.

and then at the end - 

you erase all the pencil lines.

and it looks like one!

so this piece is a combination of 7 or so different people...

cool, huh?

and now we're working on one in color....

its a lot harder.

:)

so far only 3 people have worked on it.

and we've only used watercolor pencils.

so...

it is to be continued.

so if you want to fill in one of those remaining pieces - 

you are welcome to join us :)

love it.

:)

tonight we also talked about how God has given us the ability to create.

He's given us gifts.

and we use those gifts to show the world how we see God.

how we know Him.

how we see the world BECAUSE we know Him.

we have an ability to share what it is we see,

what we experience so deeply.

my prayer is that christians will use their gifts,

use their art to show the world what God has shown them.

how God has revealed Himself to them.

whether it be through words, painting, dance, drama, writing, whatever - 

but that it all directs the viewer and the artist back to God.

that you would be able to “see exactly what it is he is calling you to do, grasp the immensity of this glorious way of life he has for his followers, of the utter extravagance of his work in us who trust him—endless energy, boundless strength!”

 Ephesians 1:18-19, (Message Bible) 

-ALIVE

a night at the art show

last week we took a week off from ALIVE because

Austin had an art show.

and i went to see the art show.

and its hard to gather everyone when there is no leader present :)

 

it was a 21+ venue so the team couldn't come :(

however - i am going to post some pictures so everyone can see!

 

it took place downtown at the Fine Line Music Cafe -

it was a cool venue with lots of artists showing their work.

the show was put on by Raw Artists.

 

Austin's spot was right next to the stairs so all the work was displayed on the wall.

 

the series of ink drawings show a picture of sin -

and different ways it can start to overtake us...

so the black stuff - is our sin.

and whether its filling our vision or coming out in the words we speak...

 

or if it's gotten to the point where we feel so tangled up in it, with no idea how to begin to get out...

 

its not over.

Because Jesus died- and because He now lives -

sin has lost its dominion over us.

 

it has the ability to overcome us and entangle us...

if we let it.

 

but the good news is that we have been set FREE from the certain dominion of darkness...

IF we choose that freedom.  if we choose Him.

 

as long as we are on this earth - there will be trouble.

there will be sin.

there will be darkness.

however...

 

"take heart!  i have overcome the world."

- Jesus (john 16:33)

 

 

 so although sin can seem so tempting and so worth it... its not.

its destruction disguised as peace, as "love", as satisfaction...

Jesus set you free.

EMBRACE that FREEDOM.

 

so thank you Austin for sharing your heart in your art :)

for creating a powerful visual for something that is SO present in our lives,

and that points us back to freedom.

 

so we got to see the show :)

and then we decided we were hungry and we had paid to park, so figured we'd take advantage of the time. so we walked across the street to a sports bar who - wouldn't you know it, was serving buckets of wings for $5 each... :)

why not?

 



 

yes, the waitress judged us openly.

yes the nachos were the best ever.

and yes we had lots of fun :)

 

my next goals?

learn how to use ink to draw.

and learn how to back into a parking space :)

-ALIVE

a morning with the kids :)

this past sunday we got to do something different :)

we spent sunday morning with the kids ministry!

the theme of the morning was that we are all an important part of God's plan.

that no matter how small or insignificant we might seem - we are an important part of His plan.

the group started off our time helping sing with the kids.

and then they did a drama called "KaBlinka".

it is about a machine that an inventor has built - 

and all the parts of the machine think that they are the greatest part...

except for one.

and the others make fun of that part.

but what they find out (dun dun dun..........) is that even though that one little part wasn't doing what it should - the machine didn't work.

sound familiar?

they did an AWESOME job.  so fun.

and then they did some arting.

this was something new - we'd never done anything like this before.

but we played the song "in your hands" by je'kob... love that song.

and then they lined up - each with their own piece of tracing paper and some pastels.

and kellie was set up with a marker.

and they went to work...

each coloring in their own, seemingly random pieces in blues and greens.

and then, as they finished - they piled the pieces of tracing paper on top of the others.

and once they were all put together - 

they formed a picture!

"you hold the world in Your hands".

:)

without any one of those parts being colored in... it wouldn't be whole.

so even when the parts seem insignificant, or like the details just don't matter...

they do.

because they are PART of the picture,

and its all working together.

God's got it all in His hands, He's the one with the picture - 

are we trusting Him to guide us?

are we actually doing our part?

or are we waiting for someone else to do it for us because we'd just rather not?

just something to think about.

:)

and then we got to talk a little about our jamaica trip that the kids gave their offering to :)

toward our construction project.

so cool

and we did another fun little drama,

and then the group went up onstage and finished off the morning with another song.

and oh man...

SO fun.

there was dancing and jumping and singing - 

amazing.

i need to worship with kids more often.

so much joy.

i LOVE it.

so our morning with the kids was a great one!

we had so much fun and we got to share God's message of how the body works together and how important it is that we all take responsibility for doing our part, doing what God calls US to do - 

and encouraging each other to do the same.

so thankful for people who pour into these kids all the time!!!

and so thankful that they let us come :)

and so grateful for a group that is willing to do the crazy things i ask them to!!!

and that they can have so much fun doing it.

i LOVE it.

it was a great opportunity to show the kids different ways that gifts can be used, too.

that art, drama, speaking, missions - all can be things that God can use.

and there is no end to all the different ways He can work...

so good.

our God is GOOD!  :)

:)

-ALIVE

calendar update :)

this coming sunday the ALIVE team has the opportunity to share with the Kids ministry at Edinbrook!

they are having a "Bring Your Gifts to God Day", where the kids can share the gifts God has given them - which is exactly where my heart is :)

so its exciting to be able to work with them!

 

we get to do a drama, some arting and share some pictures from Jamaica - so fun.

 

for those of you who will be in something that morning - make sure you know where you need to be when aka ask me.  soon. :)

 

there has been a slight update to the calendar -

we won't be working on the drama tonight,

but we will be working on the "arting". 

so you know who you are - i will see you tonight :)

 

for all the other cool ALIVE people -

we will be working on this tonight (per the calendar ;) ), but feel free to come hang out - the dungeon will be open for arting and there are always scripts/ brainstorming to work on ;)

 

thanks!

 

 



-ALIVE

productiveness: drama edition

sometimes its hard to really put in words what happens at ALIVE.

short version?

prayer time.

brainstorm of tv shows... spongebob, high school musical, the office.

realize how old some of us are (why do people now not know what Central Perk is?  or what a Billy Graham Crusade is?  just sayin...)

assigning scripts.

burger king on fire.

God in a box.

God in a super-sized box.

one voice of reason.

what's YOUR story?  

please sit down, Mike.

"i just have this friend..."

hunger games.

some living room time.

God cannot be compartmentalized - He needs to be in EVERY part of your life.

piano playing,

more brainstorming.

seeing-eye camel.

laughing,

and wrap it all up with asking - 

what is God doing in YOUR life?

not just what did He do when you asked Him into your heart with your mom when you were 5 - but what is He doing NOW?  what has He done since then?

if someone wants you to tell them how you know that God is real - 

it won't help to hear that one time you heard, you think, that someone in Africa healed somebody...

so He must be.

they want to hear what He's doing in YOU.  

if you don't have an answer?  then you are probably missing something...

God is alive and moving and will never run out of things to show us.

so meet with Him,

hang out with Him,

get to know Him........

and once you experience Him, once you find out for yourself what it is about God that is just so amazing - 

share it!

in case none of that made sense... the really short version of what we did?

dramas.

we got to see everyone acting :)

and really really great to see that they are all very good at it... lots of different styles.

perfect.

its almost like God knows what He's doing or something... ;)

so be prepared to see some of these dramas in the near future.

good stuff...

and its not too late to check it out!

-ALIVE

just a little drama...

and........................
its thursday!
one of my favorite days...
why - you ask?
well, because its ALIVE day!  :)
haha

tonight we will be working on some dramas...
nothing too crazy, but we do expect you to show up with 3 different monologues memorized - in different accents preferably.  and you will need to cry on demand.

ok not really.

but if you've ever wanted to try out acting...this is a super non-intimidating time to try it.
austin and i will be working with you all on some scripts and we'd love to see you all in action! ;)

so come hang out!
see the calendar for the time and place.......
and we'll see you there!

-ALIVE

subtle deception

last week the youth group went on a field trip to Anoka High School to see 

the Maze.

if you haven't seen it - i wish that i could describe it.

my mind was blown.

that's all i got for you.  haha  but really - the guy is an illusionist with an INSANE story.  Jesus is just ALLLLLLL over it.  and he is just using his gifts of story telling and being able to do these illusions to share it in a way that people will never forget.

truly incredible.

one of my favorite parts was when he did kind of a spoken word piece while he did one of his tricks.

the idea behind the whole thing is that we're in this "maze" of life.  and he looks at different ways we try to find our way out of it.

one of them?

religion.  or rather - rationalization.

and this is a clip of the show (not the one we went to, but one of them).

just a glimpse at how the world tends to see religion or spirituality...

and how it so quickly and subtley can be twisted and changed to something that doesn't the truth anymore, but everyone keeps justifying it and explaining it to death until we lose sight of why we believed what we did in the first place... and we can be deceived without even noticing.

what starts out harmless builds and finds its way in until we are so far in that we don't see where we were anymore...

its an incredibly important message - 

it should cause us to stop and THINK about what we believe.  about what we're doing, what we're fighting for, what we think...

and make sure that we are so grounded in TRUTH.  so that we KNOW what we believe... and can't be swayed from it.  because there will be questions... there WILL be other opinions.

but there is only one truth.

and its to important to get it wrong.

this is a powerful visual for a powerful message.

i LOVE seeing different ways that people share what God is teaching them...

so many creative things out there, the possibilities seem to be endless.

so let God inspire you!

-ALIVE

some things you should know if you are going to hang out with us...

last thursday we got back to a semi-normal schedule with ALIVE :)
it was a little bit more of an "informational week" - but now  we should be good to go!
we had lots of new faces :)  so fun!
so if you didn't make it last week but would still like to check it out - please still do.

if you WEREN'T there but would like to be... i'm about to make it so much easier for you.
you are welcome.
;)
on this front page here, there is a calendar.  if you look to the right side of the page, in the middle-ish you will see it.  you really cannot miss it.
you can look there to see what is going on for every thursday :)
it IS subject to change... but it should be pretty accurate.

in case it isn't SUPER clear what it all means, here is your key;

Art Night:  there will be approx one of these each month.  it is a night that anyone and everyone is invited to - we will be hanging out in the dungeon (see below for further clarification) and doing SOME sort of arting (painting, drawing, splattering, paper antiquing, etc.).  it doesn't matter if you are a master or if you have never heard the word art before - if you want to come art with us, you are welcome.

Productiveness:____: if you see this on a thursday night, it means that we are working on something specific.  whether it be a drama or a video or whatever - you will know ahead of time if you need to be at this night and it will more often than not be in the mirror room.  however, that being said - if you are not scheduled to be at one of these nights, you are still welcome to come and hang out... just know that if you get bored - we warned you ;)

Gathering Night O' Creativity: this one i feel is pretty self-explanatory... but in case its not - basically this is a night when everyone is invited to come and we will be doing SOMETHING creative.  maybe improv games, maybe dramas, maybe team arting, maybe eating - something.  it'll be time that we will just spend as a team all together.  there will be approx one of these each month as well.  this will most likely be in the studio or in the mirror room.


meeting places.............

Dungeon:  the dungeon sounds scary... but its not.  it is the room that is located directly below the worship center aka the "worship arts storage" room on the lower level.  (but i don't know who gave it such an impersonal and cold sounding name)  so we refer to it as the dungeon.  it has cement floors - so anyting "arting" will happen there.

Mirror Room:  is off the gym in the fellowship hall.  it is also used as the Roots room or you may know it as the old SWAP room.  either way - it got its incredibly original name because there is a wall of mirrors in the room.  any dance and/or drama practice will be done in that room.

the Studio: the studio is in the children's area, its the room with the stage.  this is where we play improv games, and other random things.


other notes.....

Dining Room: if you hear us refer to the dining room - it means that we are meeting in the lobby.

Living Room: "meet in the living room" means that we will meet on the stairs leading up to the stage in the worship center.  obviously.


now that you are all caught up and fluent in ALIVE geography and scheduling - we will be seeing you! :)

also - if there is something that you would LIKE to try or be a part of... like if you would love to be in a drama or if you just want to try dancing or if you have some hidden talent in art -
LET ME KNOW.
our passion as leaders of ALIVE is to create the opportunities for you to find your gifts, practice them and USE them and we can't do that unless you tell us........................
or unless we just decide for you.  which we can do.
:)

that is all i have for now!
but come hang out with us :)
check out the calendar... but we will see you at 730pm.

be blessed!

-ALIVE

see you there?

THURSDAY!

this coming thursday, September 13th, 730 pm - we are starting our meetings up again.

so if you have never joined us but have wanted to, 

this is a great time to do it!

we're starting a new structure and we'll be introducing it and talking about what we have planned in the next few months :)

and if that sounds super boring (which it won't be ;) ) - there MAY be some other things going on too...

so if you are someone who likes dance, painting, drawing, acting, writing, or anything like that - 

or if you would like to try anything like that,

this is probably a good place for you :)

there will be lots of no-pressure opportunities to try some different things coming up, 

or - if you are a master of everything already - then we've got opportunities for you too :)

please let us know (you can either facebook us or use the "contact us" tab at the top) if you have any questions,

and if you want to see what we're up to - there is a calendar you can check out further down the page!

(if it doesn't make any sense to you - then i will plan on seeing you on thursday where it will be further explained ;) ).

long story short?

we look forward to working with you!

:)

-ALIVE

angels & demons

Fall Kickoff for SWAP!!!

:)

we got things started of tonight with games, worship, laughter, good words and a drama!

its been awhile since we've had to orchestrate a practice, 

squeeze in a last minute practice,

and do 6 people's make-up quick...

:)

but i remembered how fun it is.

and how great it is to see people working together,

having fun,

and just putting their whole selves into sharing a message that God has put together in a visual way.

i LOVE it :)

and well, if you get to wear glitter in the process?  well... so be it.

thank you to the awesome group who performed Angels and Demons tonight!  and were willing to put this on on a week's notice :)

its actually the same group that performed it in Jamaica a few weeks ago!

so it was so fun to work together again.

i just love the picture of how satan is so relentless in trying to get us to fall, to keep us from God - 

but he CANT WIN if we don't let him.  and whats even greater - is that God and His warriors are fighting FOR us!  trust Him.  satan will decieve.  God is working for our good.

who are we going to follow?

God has blessed me with some extremely easy-going people.

its an amazing thing.

and amazing what God can do when we are willing to show up and do His work!

ALIVE will be starting back up NEXT thursday - september 13th at 730.

we are going to re-introduce it,

give an idea of what it all is for the people who haven't heard,

and lay out what its going to look like this year.

so if you have ever been interested in checking it out?

this is your chance! :)

so we'll see you there ;)

-ALIVE

ARTISTS...

artists -

if you are reading this

and you are near Edinbrook Church

and are planning to be at Before the Throne on saturday...

AND

you have artwork you might like to share/ display -

let me know ASAP!!!

thanks :)

jillian

-ALIVE

on His schedule...

do you ever have those times when you just feel so inspired?

and you sit down to work on things that you've tried to work on a MILLION times before, only ending in frustration...

and for whatever reason this time you sit down and it just all comes together?

yeah...

creative people - you know what i'm talking about.

i have been KILLING myself working on a couple ideas...

i had the beginning shell,

but it just wouldn't come together.

no matter what i tried.

there are definitely times i wish that my creativity worked on my schedule.

however - 

if it did, then it would be mine.

not God's.

and He just knows so much better how to use it all - 

SO...

i am at the mercy of His perfect timing.

but He has yet to fail to come through - 

so what choice do we have?

but to just wait on Him...

:)

tonight, 

i sat down and just tried again.

and things just started making sense.

you know those moments when you see it start to all come together?

its nice, huh?

there are very few feelings like it in the world...

it doesn't get a whole lot better than a really satisfyingly productive, inspired time of creating.

now we'll just see if it all really comes together :)

but so grateful for God being in control!

so if you are feeling stuck,

or uninspired,

or inadequate - 

know that if God has given you the gifts and the idea...

He'll finish it.

He WILL come through.

just wait.

its worth it.

"Have you ever come on anything quite like this extravagant generosity of God, this deep, deep wisdom? It's way over our heads. We'll never figure it out. Is there anyone around who can explain God? Anyone smart enough to tell him what to do? Anyone who has done him such a huge favor that God has to ask his advice? Everything comes from him; Everything happens through him; Everything ends up in him. Always glory! Always praise! Yes. Yes. Yes."
Romans 11: 33-36 (Message)



 -ALIVE

Before the Throne... just a few weeks away

Before the Throne...

just a few weeks away.

that means there are

lots of facebook messages being sent,

sketchbooks being filled,

cups of water being spilled,

new brushes being bought and used,

scripts/ poems being edited,

dances being choreographed,

dances being practiced,

plans being made,

plans being changed,

plans being re-planned.

it means being constantly reminded how important prayer is,

that we are so dependent on God.

it means needing to remember that He is the reason we have this creativity to use in the first place.

it means getting to find out why He's given it to us.

an opportunity to see how He wants to work.

it means we have a few weeks to pray that every single person participating,

that every single person who plans on coming,

and every single person who doesn't know they're coming yet - 

meets God.

meets Him in His FULL glory.

His full perfection.

its just a few weeks away...

i don't know how we got here.

but i do know that i don't have any idea where to go from here without Him leading.

praise the Lord that He knows exactly what He's doing...

:)

-ALIVE

holy holy holy

i'm LOVING revelation 4 lately...

which is perfect because i have been and will be looking at it a LOT in preperation for the

Before the Throne

event.

(hope you all can make it :) )

it has been a personal challenge for me, God is working in me a lot through this process -

pushing me WAY out of my comfort zone.

but He's also been there to encourage.

so i just want to share that encouragement -

if God's presenting you with an opportunity that seems terrifying?

follow Him into it anyways.

because what He wants to teach you,

what He wants to prepare you for?

is always worth it.

always.

but its so so so much easier to follow Him,

when you know Him.

when you are aware of how PERFECT and GOOD He is. :)

i recommend reading Revelation 4.

just a picture of what it means that we serve a PERFECT and HOLY God.

and that He is calling us.

i also found this song by Phil Wickham...

revelation 4 in song form.

EPIC.

sometimes it takes words being put to music to settle in on a whole other level.

i love it. :)

enjoy!!!

-ALIVE

think you know what an ALIVE dance practice is like?

if any of you is intimidated by a dance practice -
thinking "oh hey, that looks fun...but i'm not good and they'll probably judge me"
um.......... you would be wrong.
you would be amazed at how people pick up dance...
and everyone has fun...
and its even fun to see people think moves are so easy...
until they try them.
:)
but its ok...
because there are usually 4 other people who thought the same thing.

for instance?  if you think your abs might not be strong enough - its ok.
you are always able to practice on your own...
alone...
and come back looking like a rockstar.

and we always start with prayer - that you won't get hurt.
so don't worry about that.

it might get a little hot...
and we don't have windows that open...
BUT we do have some LEGIT mirrors on the wall,
and a sound system.
and some day we'll have a huge fan.

its truly a bonding experience...
everyone is doing something that is probably out of their comfort zone in some way.
but its fun.
if you're ever going to stretch yourself?  might as well have fun doing it...
and i think that i have laughed the MOST at some of these practices.
its all very chill.
and everyone does eventually learn it.

and at the end?
it all comes together somehow...
and its so fun.
its worship.
its gifts being used.
its God getting glory.

and its so fun to watch...  :)

so if there is anyone out there who has ever thought
"i would probably really love to try to dance and it would be so fun......but i'm scared because i'm not good and everyone else is"
stop thinking that.
and if you are a guy and thinking "dancing is lame and just jumping around and for girls"
you are wrong.
i may have thought that too -
but my mind has been opened.
and i see that there is so much more that can be done beyond my scope of creativity for dance.
so trust me.
and come to a practice.
you will not regret it.
well...you might a little ;)
but you will have fun.

- observations from a spectator

ps...we are learning a dance (a mash up of a whole bunch of different kinds) every thursday for the next few weeks at 7.
so......come check it out ;)

-ALIVE

don't miss it!!!

Good morning friends!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Just a little reminder that TODAY is the deadline to sign up or let me know

if you would like to participate in the BEFORE THE THRONE event!

Don’t miss it – if you are creative or have something you are feeling led to share, please let me know! Whether its singing, dancing, putting artwork on display, leading a prayer or sharing a testimony – we want it all :)

I know the feeling – knowing when God wants you to share and ignoring it…

its not fun. Just sayin.

But please keep this event in prayer,

God is doing some cool things with this and

every time I get distracted from it He pulls me right back in.

so I know He’s working on something and

 I’m excited for a night of worship with my brothers and sisters in Christ!!!

and if you want a head start? Read revelation 4.

August 4th. Put it on your calendar. I will see you there. :)

-ALIVE

i should have seen it coming...

as a team,

we are working on the worship night -

Before the Throne.

i can't say really how the name came about...

well - i guess i can from my perspective.

haha

i made a list of things, just trying to find something that sounded right -

and i brought that list to a planning session,

and Austin said "i like this one".

and it was the only one that really stuck out at all...

so we kept it.

and i half-heartedly thought "oh, Before the Throne.  what a cool thing - we're coming before the throne of God to worship Him".

not a bad thought -

but i had no idea the gravity behind the image, the idea, the REALITY of coming before the throne of GOD.

and i was starting to feel very half-hearted about the whole idea.

not feeling a lot of inspiration.

so i was just praying for some inspiration, for some new life breathed into it -

and then...

the other day my friend Breann sent me a text (not really knowing a lot about this worship night we're planning being that she is approx 1 million miles away) and said that her and her discipler are doing this thing together where they are reading Revelation 4 10x for 10 days.

and asked if i'd want to do it too.

well, sure!  why not?

i like the Bible.

:)

well (and i will admit that i am not an expert on the Bible and i have not read all the way through Revelation before, so i'm not SUPER familiar with it) imagine my surprise when i opened up the bible this morning on the bus and saw the title of the passage...

"Throne of Heaven".

hmmmm...

and as i read - well, its just the picture of the THRONEROOM.

in all of its incredible, jaw-dropping glory.

and i was floored.

i didn't know that God picked the name.

i didn't know that i was going to read this passage 10x a day for 10 days.

i didn't KNOW what i was getting into...

and i have no idea where He is going with it all.

but what i do know now...is that there is absolutely nothing half-hearted or "kind of" exciting about the throneroom of God.

the imagery alone is UNBELIEVABLE.

the place where the sea is glass,

where God appears like the crystalline brightness of jasper and the fiery sardius,

where it all comes together,

the place where the Spirit is complete,

the place where utter awe of God leads to worship that NEVER STOPS,

the place where the people that have overcome on the earth through God's power, sit around Him and FALL on their faces,

throwing down their crowns because GOD is the one who is WORTHY.

we just have to walk through that open door.

PRAISE THE LORD that we are able to walk through that open door.

i have no idea what God is doing,

and i don't know why i didn't see it coming.

why do we never see it coming?

when God puts something crazy in our minds,

and then shows up in a way only He can.

so i don't know what He's doing now -

but i am filled with an incredible new desire to be there when He does it.

pay attention to what He's doing,

to what He might be saying.

you just never know with Him.

;)

-ALIVE