I Love Building...

Yesterday, as I was perusing Youtube, I discovered Paganomation.
(pronounced pa-GONE-no-mation, after the lead designer's last name, not PAGAN-o-mation :)

And believe it or not, God reminded me of something while I was watching these little LEGO guys :)

You see, these guys create unbelievable LEGO animations.

I'm going to come clean here... I've never been a good LEGO creator.  I am the guy that follows the step-by-step guides to a 'T' and never strays from them.  In fact, once I build something... it stays built.

I just don't think in LEGOese.  My son, on the other hand can.

I am always amazed when he takes a pile of LEGOs and creates something out of thin air... without a step by step guide... a robot here, and spaceship there, a time machine just last week... always awesome and head-shakingly inventive.

The guys at Paganomation take things to a whole different level though...

Take a look at this video and prepare to be amazed.



For a behind the scenes look at how Paganomation did this, check this out:



After watching these videos I was reminded how our human creativeness is a direct reflection of God's own creativeness.

The Bible tells us that we are made in God's image, and being made in God's image we humans are given the gift of creativity.  In fact, in Genesis 2:19-20 we learn that after God created all of the animals and birds, He brought them to Adam to see what names he would give them.  God let Adam use his God-given creativity to name all of the animals!  How cool is that?!

Check out the middle of verse 19...  Truly amazing to me is that God, without the use of a step-by-step guide mind you, formed all of the animals (and us) out of the ground! THAT is awesome.

Watching the Behind the Scenes video above reminded me of two things:

1. Our creativity, given by God, is truly awe inspiring and amazing.
   
                                   BUT...
2. Our creativity, given by God, is but a speck of God's own creativity.

All the hours of painstaking, minuscule movements... all the planning and rehearsing... all the collaboration that went into a one minute video pale in comparison to God's creative glory.

While it is true that video above is a wonder to behold... and a testament to God's creativity given to us, I can't help but be even more in awe of God's creativity that is so evident in God's creation all around us.

I mean, just look at this poisonous, duck-billed, mammal that lays eggs:

Pastor Beau's challenge:

This week, as you're out and about with your children, slow down and take time to actually see God's creativity.  Talk about it with them... ask them what they think about God's creativity.  Believe it or not, kids have a lot to say on the subject :)

And, as your children live out God's gift of creativity through their artwork, music, writing, dancing and personality take the time to remind them that their creativity comes from God.  That because they are made in God's image and loved so much by Him, He gave them the ability to be creative for the glory of Himself.

We have been given the gift of creativity to glorify God and reflect His creativeness to the world!  How unbelievably SWEET is that!?

On this journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Fun Pass

This video has everything I could ever want in a short film:

• Imagination
• Ingenuity
• Community
• Compassion
• Fun Passes
• Perseverance
• Yarn and an S-hook
• Heartwarming Story
• Happy Ending
• Flash Mob
• Custom Song
• Cardboard
• Arcade
• Lots of Tape
• Army Guys
• Pizza

The video is a bit long, but it's way worth it.

What would our world look like if we as Christians lived out our faith as passionately as Caine's devotion and passion for his Arcade?

Even with no customers... his Arcade an inside joke with his family...  nobody at school believing he has an arcade, Caine still had passion because he believed.  He knew that his Arcade was awesome and the best cardboard Arcade in the whole entire world.

What would our world look like if we truly believed that Jesus is awesome and the best thing in the whole entire world?

I have a feeling we would attract onlookers and curious passersby who just might want to buy one of our 'fun passes'... but instead of 500 plays, our fun pass is eternal life in Jesus Christ.

Living out our Christian faith with the passion that Caine ran his Arcade would change the world.

God gave us creativity, ingenuity, passion, and influence... are we using it for His glory... or for something else?

On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau 

Easter, Keith Green style!

I've said it before, and I'll say it again... Keith Green is awesome!

I wish I could have seen him live.

From 1982... Bold and inspiring as always!

Happy Easter!



On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Fun Friday + Rhett and Link = Awesome

Most of you have heard of VeggieTales... those lovable cucumber and tomato purveyors of God's Word.  But I'd be willing to bet that you've never heard of What's In The Bible?...  If you haven't... check it out!

It was watching What's In The Bible that I discovered The Bently

More Comedy... it must be Friday!

John Branyan is another great, clean comedian.

I especially identify with the clip below :)



My wife found this last clip of John and I think it's hilarious!  Where DID all of our words go?  (Just in case you were wondering... that's a fake cigarette :)




Have a great (and funny) Friday... I'll see you on Sunday!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau

Comedy Clip Friday!

I love stand up comedy... there's just something about someone pointing out the obvious that makes me laugh!  The trouble is, it's hard to find good, clean comedy.

If you have yet to discover Tim Hawkins then you're in for a treat!

I first saw Tim Hawkins at Children's Pastor Conference a few years ago and thought he was hilarious!  If you like his stuff here are TONS more videos on YouTube.  And you can find out more about him here.

Some of my favorite bits of his are his song re-writes...




And his takes on kids and parenting (he has four kids of his own :)



Have fun and laugh a lot!

On the journey with you,

Pastor Beau

FROG-ageddon?

Even though you can't really SEE anything in this video (my wife's phone doesn't really shoot night shots well)...  just listen... oh yeah... turn up your speakers.

Wow!  So our little pond out back apparently hatched a TON of frogs... a least that's what it sounds like... these guys are L.O.U.D!

I never really thought about it, but if these 10 or so frogs in my backyard are this loud... how loud was it when God sent the Egyptians the plague of frogs?  Exodus 8:1–7

TOO LOUD I BET... sorry, I was yelling... I can't hear myself over these crazy frogs...