Consuming v. Investing

Welcome back.

I was reading how .05% of You Tube watchers actually upload videos, the rest just come and watch.

Consuming.

The problem with that is at two levels - economically and creatively.

First, only a select group is making money off of You Tube. With all the young techies out there, how can this be? And by uploading a video, you're hardly making any money, but at least you're creating not just consuming.

Second, is the issue of who's actually creating? Not many. At least not many are uploading their videos. I want to watch, consume, listen, take in LESS and produce, create, give, speak MORE.

How does that happen? It means you have to lock yourself in a room, open your favorite book, novel, journal, pick up a guitar or piano or brush or video camera and create, create, make, make, make.

To create means to risk, to imagine, to have vision, to feel and live, to have passion, to not be afraid, to leave the bubble and comfort and then regain comfort and bubble and lose it all over again. It means to fail, to be true to yourself, to know thyself. To create means to think, to feel your heart beating, to stop, pause, reflect, let life hit you and respond to it.

We have too many consumers (paying $) and not enough entrepreneurs (getting the $). And beyond money, we are becoming a generation of spectators not creators.

I guess I'm a consumer most of the time, yet my passion and call is to create. I create sometimes, but most times I consume. I have to create more and I don't mean create problems either! : )

Let's create, let's act, let's lead, not just watch others do it on You Tube.

Into the future,

davidT

Coachella Speaks to Current Generation

Welcome back. You belong here.

So I'm not there, but I'm checking out AT&T Webcasts Coachella Arts and Music Festival. Amazing music.

Reading the article in the LA Times, this festival is speaking the language of the current generation. How? In it's community, the voice they have (young people complained about ad banners last year), and the indie rock. There's a certain 'in the know' thing that goes with Coachella. I don't blame them, it's an amazing experience from what I hear.

Right now, I'm listening to Arctic Monkey (new punk) and Matt Costa (indie rock), nice.

Many of our musicians are huge fans of Coachella, it's al they talk about, some have been in the past or are there now. I wish Coachella would have a social cause they could get these young people excited about.

Have a great day,

Into the future,

davidT

Gethsemane, 2007

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A 10mn. segment of Gethsemane, the Good Friday production I directed this year, Friday, April 6th, 2007. Amazing cast, musicians, set design, great impact.

Jay Wallace, lead (Jesus).



Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Talking It Out

Welcome back. You belong here.

So Easter is over, time to reflect and today I had a conversation with Jesus, more of a fight really, a quarrel, whatever you want to call it. Like Jacob wrestling with God (I guess, wrestling is more church-safe than argument), either way, that's what I had.

I was singing Switchfoot's song "In This Life", which is a song to his wife (i think). I usually also sing it to my wife (and have), but today it was a talk with Jesus.

The topic was, "who are you?", "what is your message to the world?", "what is your church supposed to be about?" and "where have we gone wrong, because something is not right."

Something is changing in me. Something big and it deals with the church, the man I want to become for my wife and children, God's Kingdom, Christians and sinners.

I have been to seminary, I know the answer to those questions from the Bible and studies, but none of those sufficed today. I needed to ask Jesus directly.

"What is your kingdom about God? Is it about the Christians and keeping them worshiping, raising hands and growing? Is it about those not in your Kingdom yet? The poor, the hungry, the needy, the lost? Well, if it is about the "seek and save the lost" part, than why do your Christians complaint so much and argue with this?"

It seems most Christians I know want bubble gum-Chris Tomlin church with fluffy sermons or Biblical sermons (take your pick) that suit their needs.

The other day, an established Christian and I were talking about Easter versus Spring break. He said that those "seculars" call it Spring break, but that we know better, it's "Easter Break." Who the heck cares? Only Christians would care about such a thing.

The truth is that I used to be the same way, but I've changed. I also thought there was a divide between secular and sacred, Easter v. Spring. Most of that was well intended, I meant no harm, but really it spoke of pride of walls between myself and those without God in their lives.

So back to my argument with Jesus, errr, wrestling with God. I was asking Jesus to tell me what his church is about, how should I proceed from here. What did he tell me?

1. Read McLaren's book again "A New Kind of Christian"
2. Read the Gospels (Jesus first told me this while listening to Jay Bakker's conversion experience, see video above).
3. Read Paul's epistles (Galatians, Ephesians, Colossians, etc).

So that's what I'm doing. Why? To get the heart of God once again. I know His Kingdom is about Acts 2:42 (community), Isaiah 6 (holiness), Matthew 5 (city on a hill), Great Commission (Matt. 28), Great Commandment (love one another, your neighbor as yourself).

But what does that look like for me? Maybe after this argument with God I will be left aching (as Jacob), hurting, sore, tired. But also as Jacob, I will hopefully be left with more of God.

Themes I am seeking to re-discover in my life:
1. Grace
2. Forgiveness
3. Basic message of Jesus
4. God's unconditional love
5. Stop judging people

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Crowder in the Studio

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So David Crowder ("Here is Our King", "Wholly Yours", "No One Like You"), is in the studio recording his next post "A/B Collision" CD. Yes, I like Crowder, do his songs in church, etc. He's posting clips from their studio work. Nice.

This is of his EG player, not sure his name....shall find out, jamming, doing his EG thing. Nice. (EG name: Taylor johnson (aka: the kid)!!!!



Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

ALL Continuum John Mayer

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This is not me, nor is it John Mayer, it's John Mayer "for dummies".



Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

On Whom You Should Marry

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VIDEO - Erwin McManus, pastor Mosaic in Los Angeles, CA during Q&A at Columbia University.



grace,

davidT

Furniture For My Office

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I want this for my office. Table and chairs, $799.00. ouch! Maybe I can find something like it at the Goodwill.

grace,

davidT

Driscoll on Seeker Sensitive v. Missional Church

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Video - Mark Driscoll, pastor Mars Hill in Seattle, WA.



davidT

More Apples

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More little David and apples. Fun.



Oh yes, I speak Spanish here, so do our children, btw, and so does my wife (she's not Hispanic, but learned Spanish from my grandmother).

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Mark Driscoll - Nehemiah Week 4

Welcome back. You belong here.

I'm starting to archive videos that speak on themes I'm investigating. Sort of a video-cast of sorts on:

1. Reaching secular cities
2. Reaching postmodern culture
3. Engaging urban centers of the world (and U.S.)
4. Latin American immigration issues

I will also post my notes on the videos:

VIDEO#1 - Mark Driscoll (Mars Hill Church, Seattle, WA) Building a City Within the City (Nehemiah Chapter 4) Week#4



Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

February Update

Welcome back. You belong here.

I guess I do monthly updates now....

1. LB Emergent Pastors meeting a few weeks ago was interesting. At our table, one of the veteran pastors was pretty upset at the notion that veteran churches are not as relevant as they need be. Interesting, I thought he was more open minded than that. Yet, I understand. Who wants to feel irrelevant?

2. Good Friday is on it's way. I'm producing my second Good Friday show this year, I'm calling it "Gethsemane". Should be great.

3. Artist Retreat in full swing. I'm directing our third retreat this year, March 16-18th, we usually bring about 40 artistic types, which is a small miracle. Artist types normally don't commune, but God is working in their lives. The theme is "the Character of the Artist". Much needed among such types.

4. Cold, flu, nose drip, blah, blah, blah. I've joined the club. I've been off 3 days this week, sick.

5. I launch "Heaven" in Resonate this Sunday. Our creative team is building a city in our worship venue, working with new artists such as Micah who's performing her original song called, "So Far Away".

6. I miss my wife. We need more time alone. It will come. I was in tears regarding my love for Rachelle as I listened to "In This Life" a song about love on Switchfoot's latest, "Oh! Gravity." (good album, fyi, I like "Circles", "Awakening" and "Amateur Lovers").

7. Enjoying our children in our home. The other day I saw this picture of them sitting on our steps and had tears in my eyes about our love for them and how special it is to have our home for them to enjoy.



8. It's been great hanging out with my sister. She's here from Nicaragua, leaves next week. Monday for example, we went to the Jewelery, Garment and Toy Districts in Downtown LA and shopped, shopped, shopped.

9. Working Out, Persevering amidst illness and broken toe. This week I couldn't lift (perhaps Saturday) due to a bad cold (missed 3 days of work), and a broken toe (running is out), but I've been doing my abs and eating 6 small meals a day, power bars, tuna, oatmeal, cottage cheese/non- fat yogurt, chicken, vegetables, tons of water, no pizza, no junk, no cookies. Next week, back to lifting 4x/week, running 3x/week. Should be back to full strength.

I've been feeling pretty happy, focused, energize lately.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

January Update - The Cloud is Lifting

Welcome back. You belong here.

Stuff I am doing:
1- Work is super busy
2- Wishing I could finish my MA in Theology (no money, no time right now) perhaps in the Fall I can take 1 class (1 class=$1000.00, $0 aid)
3- Wishing I could lift 4x/week, doing more like 2-3x/week, running 3-4x/week, abs 4-5x, not bad, getting close to being at full force.
5- My goal is to be back at 100% starting in February (see why below).
6- My goal for 2007 is to gain 7-8lbs of pure muscle. Good realistic goal. It will mean I need to eat more of the good stuff I already eat (tuna, fish, protein, good carbs).

And oh yes, I broke my left pinky toe on Monday. How? Lifting of course. I dropped an olympic bar (40lb) on my foot. Ouch! No running or lifting for me this week. I hate it! And I feel overworked and underpaid.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Aguaceros, Finding Myself and My Music

Picture: "Aguacero" (downpour) in Nicaragua.

Welcome back. You belong here.

I think the time is coming to travel the world and find myself again, to be inspired and put new sounds into my music, into my creativity and mind, hanging out with souls that have life, with people that are changing the world in simple ways and with new sounds and new spirits from my childhood and the world. To talk to God, to listen to God, to hear what I am in Him and who He is shaping me to be.

To not know what the heck to expect, this is not a planned "do something Lord" but just a natural part of life, a time of silence and rest, a time to listen, to listen, to feel, to feel, to learn, to learn, to be broken, to be broken, to confess, to confess, to jump for joy, to jump for joy.

And to allow Him to break me, go through temptations (as Jesus was tempted in the Mt. of Olives) to be in the wilderness, to feel my dryness first hand, to cry in His presence, to feel Him and hear from Him once again, to pause and allow Him the room and the space to deal with me.

There are phrases I need to get in touch with again from Nicaragua and my growing up years such as:

AGUACERO - a really strong tropical storm. "downpour"

I have many memories of these storms from back home, and I need to be in that spirit and environment once again.

I need a sabbatical to feel again, to listen to God once again, to shed deconstruct behaviors and grow, expand, keep moving forward. Something like 3 months in the summer. A family vacation slash sabbatical to think, write, feel, hear, pray.

I feel like the last few years have been great years, much productivity and renewing. But it's also had clouds, depression, sadness and an overall "aguacero" in my life. I need to drink deeply from the well once again and take in the life all around me.

The trip may include:
- Nicaragua, my home (of course)
- Raymond Street (that's here in Long Beach, where I grew up)
- Africa
- India
- San Francisco (family)
- Seattle
- Oregon (family)

Not sure why, but I think those place may provide guidance and refreshment.

I have never felt more focused and passionate for the Kingdom and my Jesus than now, but I feel the need to refocus and pause before the journey continues.

There's something in my life, a timing, an age thing, a boundary, a change in my life, all good and natural things in a leader's/artist's life, a rhythm of sorts that tells me this is needed and right.

I don't want to burn out, I don't want to run on fumes or old systems. I want to keep growing, keep learning, keep afresh, focus on ancient truths that will never change and yet to keep them contextualized. Focus on the right objectives, goals and desires of God's heart for my life, our marriage, our children, our extended family and who we are becoming to our friends and neighbors.

What have I been reading? What has influence my thinking?

I've been reading "Isolation - A Place of Transformation in the Life of a Leader", reading about artists like John Mayer, Ricky Martin, Bono and their growth as musicians and artists and I find similarities in their process and their amazing success at doing the right things that inspire and move millions of souls and yet hold a child in need. From huge to small. That's what I am called to be.

How do I do this?

I need money ($5k), time off work (2-3 months) and places that would host me. Not sure how that's all going to happen and I hate not having my family with me, but if God wants it to happen it will happen.

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT

Listening To

Welcome back. You belong here.

And Happy New Year to you too. The Rose Parade was beautiful (saw it on TV, should take my wife and children next year).

Inspiring me these days (available at iTunes and Amazon.com)

Music
1. Leeland, "Sound of Melodies" - Brit/pop, emo worship
2. Starfield, "Beauty in the Broken" - modern worship
3. John Mayer, "Continuum", blues/jazz
4. Keane, "Under the Iron Sea" - Brit/pop
5. Sigur Ros, "Takk" - emo
6. Mute Math, "Mute Math" - pop/emo rock
7. Switchfoot, "Oh! Gravity" - modern rock

Reading
1. 1 Timothy 3, Titus 1 and 2, Matthew 5, Romans 1 - on the qualities of a godly leader
2. "The Present Future" by Reggie McNeal - on the future of the Christian church
3. "The Great Omission" by Dallas Willard - on following Jesus as His disciple
4. "Liturgical Theology" by Simon Chan - on how and why we worship

Waiting to read
1. "The Starfish and the Spider: Unleashing the Power of Leaderless Organizations"

Have a great day.

Into the future,

davidT