Creative Chaos // 6

Creative Chaos // 6
Today's Creative Chaos challenge at Los' Blog is this "post on where it is that we go to find our personal creativity. And it HAS to be outside the office. And Tell Us Why..."

For me, it's nature. I am inspired by parks, trees, and the simple-complexity of it all. But my absolute favorite place to unlocks both creativity and peace is sitting at the bottom of Lower Yosemite Falls. Check it out...

Technorati tags: yosemite, falls, creative, chaos, ragamuffinsoul.com, carnivalblog, creativity, spark, nature

How to get into a church band

Saw this video on the Fee Band blog a few days ago. Just thought I'd pass it along. Imagine if we let just anybody come up on stage and play whatever instrument they wanted.

Technorati tags: fee, band, steve, blog, how, to, get, into, a, church, band, worship, instrument

Leadership Training Institute

Today I met with our newest LTI intern. His name is Ryan Smith. He has two kids, one of them is in our high school ministry (Catalyst) and you can see a post about him if you click here. Ryan owns a tile shop in Fresno, Ca. It's called Creative Tile. He and his wife almost divorced a couple of years ago. Ryan came to Christ in August of 2006. His life has been transformed by Christ! I mean transformed. He is now a volunteer in Catalyst and he has just started the LTI program here at New Harvest Church. His story pumps me up. Isn't it amazing that one person's story can fuel you to love Jesus more and more? I'm excited to see what happens in the 24 months of his internship.

Technorati tags: creative, tile, fresno, california, kaleb, smith, ryan, smith, tara, smith, catalyst, student, ministry, new, harvest, church, leadership, training, institute, LTI

Twitter Explained in Plain English

Embedded Video

Thanks to Big T-Licious I came across this video which will explain to you why I use Twitter.com and why it's so great.

Technorati tags: twitter, big, t-licious, northpoint, youtube, video, explained, in, plain, english

Kaleb Smith | Catalyst Student Ministry Drummer

Embedded Video

Not bad for a 16-year-old with some raw talent.

Technorati tags: catalyst, student, ministry, kaleb, smith, youtube, drummer, video, worship, team

I never get tired of this video...

Thanks to twitter.com/iamkida for sharing it again on his blog.

Holographic Video Feed - What does this mean for a multi-site Church?

Digital Illusions LLC

Basically...a company is has developed the technology to "beam up" speakers on a stage...possibly even worship teams or communicators...wow, they even say this will be in a home someday. Crazy!

Technorati tags: digital, illusions, beam, me, up, holographic, experience, on, stage

Andy Stanley Fire Alarm Sunday

Woops! But isn't that incredible timing? Crazy!

Embedded Video

The real story behind the fire alarm is that there was a hip-hop/rapper doing a concert for the the Jr. High ministry of the church. The hazers set the fire alarm off. Hope nobody gets fired over this...hahaha.

Technorati tags: andy, stanley, north, point, community, church, fire, alarm, video

DRIVE Conference '08

DRIVE '08 is coming up and it's coming up fast. DRIVE '06 rocked my world and totally transformed the way I approach, look at and execute ministry. My wife and I want to go to DRIVE, but we just can't make it on our own. If you want to help us get there...email me. In the meantime check it out for yourself. DRIVE

Technorati tags: drive, conference, 08, atlanta, north, point, community, church, andy, stanley, buckhead, browns, bridge, ministry, Jesus

Our Easter Video Follow Up

Go back, watch the first video, then see what happened last night. This is amazing.

Embedded Video

Family Life Ministry Retreat

A few weeks ago we had a Family Life Ministry Retreat at our house. To build community and have some fun within our team we played Wii Tennis. Erica took first place in the winners bracket and Greg took first place in the losers bracket. Good times.

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: zuff, erica, foster, family, life, ministry, retreat, wii, tennis, tournament, youtube

Challenge Day

I was given the opportunity to be a part of changing lives today at Alta Sierra Intermediate School. What you are here in these pictures is 1. A student that often feels lonely and left out because he is deaf is being surrounded by people who have committed to be his friend and 2. One of the students in my small group for the day is giving someone else the sign for love as a means of supporting the person that is sharing some deep thoughts. I wonder what will happen on Monday as a result of today!

Production Team Member

This is Matt Babcock. He's part of our Student Impact ministry team. He serves in Turnpike as our lighting technician. During his light training we took a few minutes to goof around. This is Matt living out his rock-star dreams. Nice, Matt!

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: youtube, matt, babcock, dream, on, production, team, lighting, technician, turnpike

Green Tea

Who drinks Green Tea? That's right, Paul of http://blogs.clovishills.com/paulhaugen does.

Long Awaited Video: Our New Friend

Here's what all those crazy tweets from @micahfoster, @ericafoster and @haugenpaul were about on Sunday night. Enjoy our remembering of "Porsha."

Technorati tags: twitter, tweets, micah, foster, erica, foster, paul, huagen, spatula, of, friendship, portia, friend, story

For All Those Who Twitter (Tweet)

Dustin DeKoekkoek

Ben Stein's "EXPELLED" Movie

Check out this video. This is going to be a good flick.

Embedded Video

Technorati tags: ben, stein, expelled, movie, creationism, evolution

Wow!

We are at the Haugen residence. Right now and I've got an insane story about our experience tonight. This picture is a clue to the video documentation that is to come.

Packed

Easter Sunday @ New Harvest Church is PACKED! Standing room only.

Happy Easter

We weren't expecting the Easter Bunny to come!

Creek Walk

Waiting for Easter Service run through to start! Think peaceful thoughts...like the San Luis Obispo Creek Walk. Ahhh, that's nice.

Gumball Alley

Patrick Dempsey is stealing my girl?!

Avila Beach

Making a quick stop.

Family Life Ministry Retreat

My current boss vs. My future boss. Who will win in this Wii tournament?

Game today in Turnpike

Who eats jelly beans while upside down, seriously?

Hawk Nelson part 2

Just regular guys.

Hawk Nelson

Pretty good and loud show thus far.

New Harvest Church Student Ministry WIN

This is a post I found on Facebook today from one of our students that is about to graduate from high school. She has only been coming to New Harvest Church less than a year. But real life-change has occurred in her life and heart. Read her "note" from her Facebook.

Title: "I'm Not Who I Was" - Emily Silveira


The title of this post is the name of a song by Brandon Heath that is
very fitting at this time in my life. I am definitely not who I was. I
have an amazing new family of friends that I would be lost without.
Some old relationships have been rekindled and some new loves have
sparked my heart. Jesus has opened my eyes to an amazing world. It
hurts sometimes, there are hurdles and distractions, but the ultimate
prize of eternal life with my Savior makes it well worth the effort.
"No one said it would be easy" and trust me this radical life change
hasn't been. Shannon, my mentor and quickly becoming one of my closest
friends, asked all of us in her small group to write out our testimony
and email it to here. That's what I'm sitting here thinking about: my
life before Jesus, the moment when he came into my life, and how my
life has changed. Wow! Just look at how much my life has changed! I
spent my days in a self-induced blur, most memories fading into the
next unable to seperate. Then Jesus found me in the deepest and darkest
of holes and reached out His hand. I've held on with every fiber of my
being. Now, the sunlight tickling my skin doesn't remind me how fake my
happiness is, but rather how amazing our God is that created the stars
and the sun and still knows us all better than we know ourselves. He
truly is amazing, isn't he? With the changes inside me, I also had to
make changes outside me. I thought it would be hard to leave behind my
old life, but I honestly don't miss it. Sure there are times when I
just want to say, "Okay God, I'm just going to go out tonight, relive
the good times and then I'll go back to following you." But as Shannon
has said so perfectly, you can't just pick and choose when you want to
be a Christ-follower. He is always there tugging at your heart,
reminding you that He is there. I left behind all of the boys I used to
mess around with and have found the most amazing boyfriend.


Kyle is sweet, caring, funny, smart, nerdy, and (best of all)
Christian! We met at church in the youth group where I have beat-boxed,
won burping contests, and conquered my fear of heights. He's been by my
side through every moment, well, I think he missed the burping contest.
I am making an album of all my friends there that I will continue to
fill up. I will also keep you all updated with my LTI progress. I met
with Greg and Donna today. We're all very excited. I can't wait! I am
so glad that God brought me to New Harvest and reopened my heart to the
joy I find working with children.

And that's why we do what we do.

Rock Band @ Buckhead Church

I took this from Fee's blog. Thanks guys!

This is awesome. Buckhead Church decided to play Rock Band in service to illustrate that fact that we all want to be great at something. Wow, I bet that was amazing!

Technorati tags: fee, band, blog, buckhead, church, rock, band, worship, service

Replacing Myself

I've successfully found a man who can lead our Turnpike Production Team. I am so excited for this small load to be taken off my back and for the team to really forge together and create the best environmental product possible. Thank you God!

Local Ministry Blogs

Recently I've found some interesting ministry blogs from the greater Fresno/Clovis area. It's great to see that people are starting to use web 2.0 to communicate with volunteers and other ministry leaders. I love it! Here's a local sampling of what I read:

• New Covenant Community Church Production Blog.
• Erica Foster, my wife, Elementary Coordinator at New Harvest Church...she's the erica in micahanderica.blogspot.com. But she wanted her own space.
• Greg Zuffelato, who will soon be my boss here at New Harvest Church.
• Randy Parker, Creative and Technical Arts Director at New Covenant Community Church
• Tim Yeager, works at a Mac Store and serves at The Well Community Church
• Brad Bell, Pastor at The Well Community Church

I know, I know...not all of these people have recent posts. In fact two of them have only ONE post on their blogs. But I keep waiting, anxiously for the ministry-blogging world here in Fresno/Clovis to explode with great insights and awesome ideas.

If you've got someone you read...send them my way.

Technorati tags: fresno, blogs, clovis, ministry, new, covenant, community, church, new, harvest, church, the, well, community, church, pastors

Tom's Shoes Just Arrived

Planning

I'm sitting here planning for the future of Turnpike, Catalyst and Re:action. Wow...it's crazy to think that I started at this church with one assignment...Turnpike. And now I have three. I pray that God continues to fill the leadership gaps in our small groups.

Fun Nuggets of Information

I am two years older than my wife.
I love Diet Coke.
I used to be addicted to Counter-Strike, now I just play every once in a while.
I have a dog named Cooper - the neighbors don't like him.
I live in a gated-community (renting).
I am addicted to Twitter.com
I love to go the movies.
I went to Pepperdine University.
I was in a vocal group called Won By One for three years.
I spent 3 months in Germany (2002).
I am in the process of Replacing Myself in many areas of my work.
I love my Maker.

Technorati tags: micah, foster, fun, facts

Volunteer Encouragement

A Small Group Leader for freshman girls in our high school ministry, Catalyst, sent me an email today. She also happens to have a son in our jr. high ministry, Turnpike. Basically she remembered a message from a couple months ago where TOMS Shoes were mentioned. She also wanted to send me a little encouragement. So she bought a pair of shoes for me. Which means she automatically bought a pair for someone else too. Watch the video to see what I mean.

That's awesome. I'm so excited. Because now I can wear the shoes and people will ask about them. Then I'll have the opportunity to pass on the idea to other people. More people will buy, more people will receive. It's good stuff!

Technorati tags: toms, shoes, shoe, drop, small, group, leader, catalyst, turnpike, student, ministry, giving, you, tube

Yoda-Speak Post

Been an entire week since I last updated my blog, it is. Be, I just wanted to share what an awesome resource igoogle.com can. For yourself try it. All kinds of good stuff to offer, they have. Using called yoda-speak, such as a feature I am. Very entertaining! To start tomorrow better posts! Hmmmmmm.

Technorati tags: yoda, speak, igoogle.com, blog

FEE @ BigStuf

Just came across this video on FEE's blog. This kind of excitement for Jesus makes me want to leap out of my skin. It's so incredible. Talk about a quality summer camp. Wow.

Technorati tags: steve, fee, band, bigstuf, camp, daytona, beach, we, shine, video, worship, Jesus, summer

Can You Believe This Guy?!

Thanks to Ghavinn Crutcher sending me this video.

Sometimes people stand up for things that don't need to be stood up for. I don't agree with this guy...but I thought I'd just pass on his sermon on "pissing" because it's so ridiculous. Someone, please tell me he's joking.

Technorati tags: ghavinn, crutcher, steven, l, anderson, pastor, faithful, word, baptist, church, tempe, arizona, ridiculous

Guitar Hero

Our first time playing.

Paul Wright & Bob Smiley

Yesterday I had the pleasure of meeting Paul Wright (performing solo artist) and Bob Smiley (Christian Comedian). Youth leaders, pastors, volunteers and ministers were invited to a Spirit West Coast '08 luncheon with these two guys as well as the director of operations over Spirit West Coast. The lunch took place at New Covenant Community Church and the purpose of the lunch was to educate or re-educate us on Spirit West Coast.

We also heard about a fairly new youth camp that takes place right in the middle of the Spirit West Coast experience. How awesome is that? I'm going to check into that a bit deeper. It's called the Ammunition Conference.

Here's the funny thing though. I was just standing there with my wife, Brandon Howland and Melissa Howland when this guy walks up and says hello.

We start talking and I say, "So, what do you do?"

He says, "Well, I'm a solo artist. My name is Paul Wright."

Then I respond, "I'm a moron, I didn't know what you looked like."



Last night we were invited back to their concert for free. Thank you! They are incredibly talented men of God that just want to use their talent for the glory of God.

So, Paul, I told you I was going to provide you with some link love. Here 'tis bro. I hope you spread my custom-made "snap-shake" across the world.

One more note. Bob represented Compassion International. Just wanted to give them a link as well.

Technorati tags: paul, wright, bob, smiley, spirit, west, coast, road, show, 2008, new, covenant, community, church, jesus, god, holy, spirit, ammunition, conference, compassion, international

Flipside

I recently wrote about a church giving out free shot glasses. Well, now there's on close to home in Madera Ranchos. Check it out.

abc30.com: A Shot of Spirituality 2/07/08

Technorati tags: flipside, church, madera, ranchos, give, us, a, shot

Catalyst High School Ministry - The Beginnings

We launched Catalyst in January and it's now February. Here are a few little snippets of what's going on thus far.

Technorati tags: catalyst, student, ministry, new, harvest, hurch, youtube, video, launch, jesus, clovis, california, myspace

Long Awaited Yosemite Blog Entry

On Saturday we went to Yosemite National Park with John Grogg and his girlfriend Kala Eubanks. You can check out John's account of the trip on his blog here. Here's what went down.



This is the view when you enter the park.
Half Dome

Yosemite Falls, I love this spot!

While we were entering and leaving the park we saw some wildlife right off the road. Of course I wanted to get as close as possible to take some nice pictures. Erica didn't really like that idea.

I think he's winking. What do you think?

Technorati tags: yosemite, national, park, micah, foster, erica, john, grogg, kala, eubanks, trip, half, dome, falls, valley, wildlife

Ragamuffin Soul in Uganda

I routinely read a blog by an employee of Buckhead Church. He was asked, along with several all super-bloggers...bloggers with large readership, to take a trip with Compassion International and do live blogging. Basically the entire trip and all the blogging is to get the word out and get the church to mobilize. Check out his blog here or respond here.

Technorati tags: carlos, los, ragamuffin, soul, uganda, compassion, international, sponsor, child, mobilize, church, buckhead

Yosemite

Pictures to come later.

World Vision Experience

I went to the World Vision Experience this morning at Campus Bible Church. Basically, the point of the whole thing is to educate the church about the AIDS crisis in Africa. It's a walking-exhibit, much like one you might find in the Museum of Tolerance documenting the Holocaust, or the one in Oklahoma City documenting the Oklahoma City bombing.

You're given an iPod shuffle and some headphones. A narrator tells you the name of one of four children. It asks you to leave your present life situation and pretend that you are this child. Then you walk through an exhibit while the narrator tells the story of this child. At the end of the exhibit you walk through a medical clinic where you are tested for AIDS. After that you go into a prayer room and then write your own prayer to pin to a prayer wall. You then have the opportunity to sponsor a child. ($35/month)Here are some pictures from my experience...as Mathabo.

I was HIV negative! Unfortunately my friend Paul, who was Babirye had contracted the disease.

What will you do?

Sponsor a child?
http://worldvision.org

[tags]world vision, aids, experience, Africa, missions, compassion, Jesus, church, mobilize[/tags]

World Vision Breakfast

Why does it have to be so early?

Fresno State's Campus Pointe

Read about Fresno State's Campus Pointe project here.

This place will provide a central hub of college community. It will be great for ministering to college students!

Technorati tags: college, campus, pointe, project, fresno, state, save, mart, center, ministry, re:action

Paul Haugen's Africa Highlight Video

Ok, so my friend Paul Haugen, has been sitting on this video footage for a week and he finally stayed up all night to edit it down into 5 minutes. Enjoy!

Embedded Video

[tags]paul,haugen,clovis,hills,community,church,africa,rock,the,horn,mission,trip,video[/tags]

Volunteer Love

I want to spotlight one of my volunteers. Her name is Angela Whitney. She has been volunteering in New Harvest Church's student ministry department for almost 5 years. She's seen and been through at least three major transitions within the ministry. She has been a small group leader for 7th grade girls, a master at hospitality and has recently taken over our hosting duty for Turnpike, our Jr. High ministry. She is a servant with a huge heart that loves Jesus! What more could you ask for in a volunteer. Thank you Angela!

Technorati tags: angela, whitney, turnpike, new, harvest, church, volunteer, small, group, leader, servant, love, Jesus

Super Tuesday

Did you vote yet? I did. Polls are open until 8pm! Go vote!

Technorati tags: vote, super, tuesday, poll

Ponderings

What if there were no churches in the world? How would God choose to express Himself? I know He works in many ways, but He has chosen to work specifically through His people, the church, to reveal himself. Hmmmmm.

Questions

I've seen a lot of interaction between bloggers and readers recently. I'd like to see what some of you are thinking. Answer these questions for me...

What is the worste thing about attending your local church?
What is the best thing about attending your local church?

I'm just thinking, help me think.

-Micah

Technorati tags: local, church, good, bad, ugly, blog, interaction, think, brainstorm

Ma.gnolia tags: local, church, good, bad, ugly, blog, interaction, think, brainstorm

Del.icio.us tags: local, church, good, bad, ugly, blog, interaction, think, brainstorm

McChurch - McFranchise - McControversy

I just wanted to comment on something that I've seen all over BLOG world today. I could sit here and debate with you on why or why not it is good or not to franchise a church model...but instead I'll just offer up some information from other people...because I don't have anything original to add to the conversation. Just want to present the facts.

Pro Systematic Ministry:
Video Church Blog - The official Cumberland Church Blog with Pastor Eddie Johnson.
HippoChurch Blog - Commentary on what Eddie Johnson says from an North Point Community Church, the original church of this model of ministry.

Non-Pro Systematic Ministry:
Axis Community Church Blog - A church planter in Fresno, Ca and his opinions.

I respect everyone's individual views.

But I, however, have seen the model up-close-and-personal. And I buy it. I'd buy a franchise. I don't like phrasing it like that...but bottom line. Hook-line-and-sinker, I would buy one. Why? Because I think it's the most effective approach to ministry I have ever seen, have ever read about, have ever dreamed about. You have to experience it to understand my passion.

Technorati tags: mcfranchise, church, franchising, north, point, community, church, cumberland, church, blog, pastor, eddie, johnson, hippo, church, axis, community, church, fresno, ca, opinions

Superbowl or Rock Band

Some people just aren't into football.

Groundhog Day

I'd rather it be 115 degrees all year long!