August 17, 2010

  • media II seminar agenda and some principles to convey

    Note: I realize this is not a sermon , but, it does convey a lot of "seeds" for a potential sermon.

    River of Life Leadership meeting: 8 17 10:    1.  Media Club and Media II Seminar:

    Note concerning attendance at the seminar:  Several of our leaders will not be there this time; therefore,  I did consider postponing this seminar. Then , when I thought of who would still be there (particularly youth) and the potentially “scary” nature of participation in the latter part of the seminar, I realized that a smaller number than usual in this seminar may benefit the youth rather than hurt the outcome of this seminar. I am thinking of the possibility of perhaps less  self consciousness concerning “performance”when there is a smaller group present . Maybe or maybe not ? But, it is worth the try on Sunday  to be able to perhaps  draw forth some who sometimes hesitate  to be “up front” presenting their message.

    A.  Definition for our purposes at this seminar:  Media: the means of communication, as radio and television, newspapers, and magazines, that reach or influence people widely: I am using the term “media” to communicate ALL means of communication. Therefore, for our purposes it includes ANYTHING that can be used to convey a message, e.g., movies, skits, song, poems, pictures, dance, etc.

    B.  We will brainstorm to create a LIST of what media we can use to communicate a message.  Note: In the classes of KYF and PH tomorrow night, would you please go over this brainstorming and also have the kids begin thinking on what they are the best at if they wish to communicate a concept?  At the seminar there will be ample opportunity for each person to present.   Note: If a young person wants to practice a presentation at home, they are welcome to do so; if they want to team up with another to do a song (vocal or instrumental) with some others, that is fine too.  They are free to “practice” anything they wish ahead of time OR they are free to get involved in some spontaneous presentation at the seminar.

    C.   Goal of seminar (which harmonizes with the Media Club goal too):  --

    Training our youth to  creatively and generously**  use all forms of media to boldly proclaim the gospel and  to disciple others. Also, encouraging them to produce “clips” to insert in our TV and web productions.   

    D.  Ways we can reach this goal:  We will encourage our young people  to be  generous**, willing servants of the Lord  in their use of their gifts and talents  in conveying messages  that are in harmony with the Lord’s heart. Online dictionary :   GENEROUS**:  –adjective 1. liberal in giving or sharing; unselfish: 2. free from meanness or smallness of mind or character; magnanimous. 3. large; abundant; ample     Please note the synonyms given by the online dictionary and know that ALL these synonyms apply to our meaning as well:1.. open-handed, free, … Generous, charitable, liberal, bountiful, munificent  all describe persons who give to others something of value, or the acts of such persons. Generous  stresses the warm and sympathetic nature of the giver: a …. Charitable  places stress on both the goodness and kindness of the giver and the indigence or need of the receiver:… Liberal,  in this connection, emphasizes the size of the gift, the largesse and openhandedness of the giver: … implies effusive, unstinted** giving and a sense of abundance or plenty:  Munificent  refers to gifts or awards so large and striking as to evoke amazement or admiration:  2. high-minded, noble, big. 3. plentiful, copious. 5.  fruitful.

    —Antonyms :1. selfish. 2. mean. 3. meager. 5.  barren. ** To be “stinted” means :  to be frugal; get along on a scanty allowance: to limit to a certain amount, number, share, or allowance, often unduly; set limits to; restrict.

    STRETCH TO BE GENEROUS:

                   We do not have to be an expert or extremely advanced in skill in order to present a message through a chosen medium

                   Wrongful competition stifles creativity and willingness to present our own message in the media we choose.  Many can be  well regarded presenters at ROL, e.g., dancers, singers, instrument players, poets, etc….. Rise above any harmful competitive forces (either in yourself or from others) and think only of  how  your message can build the kingdom of God.

                  Become willing to repeatedly produce something not yet quite “good enough” to show publicly while in the process of  learning how to produce that which is acceptable. This willingness demonstrates courage and helps us to grow into excellent presenters.

                   Be free to receive both compliments and constructive criticism..

                   All we have in gifts and talents are  God given and are  to be given back to Him and to His Body.   Matt 10:7 And as ye go, preach, saying, The kingdom of heaven is at hand.8 Heal the sick, cleanse the lepers, raise the dead, cast out devils: freely ye have received, freely give.

                   Learn  the appropriate technology to expand all of our reach in fulfilling the great commission . We cannot let ignorance silence our ability to share!.

    E.  A reminder  to  create media  to show on River Reflections and /or on our website as well as on their own websites.    Be willing to tell someone to video your open pulpit so we can consider using it  for TV and/or on the internet.

    .F..  Anywhere and everywhere we can obey the Great Commission using all possible media means. Matt 28:18 And Jesus came and spake unto them, saying, All power is given unto me in heaven and in earth.19 Go ye therefore, and teach all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost:20 Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you: and, lo, I am with you alway, even unto the end of the world. Amen. KJV

                   Each and every situation in which we have the liberty to communicate a message can be used to once more respond to the great commission.  E.g., when essays are written for school , when replies are posted to a social website, or when you do your part in the roll call for the Feast of Tabernacles. 

    G.  Using media to “stand up” for the Lord whether it is a popular point of view or not.       The  article printed below (from  ESPN) and my response to it (on their website)  could be used as a possible  THEME  for some presentations in the seminar.

    Mich. school practices 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. jQuery.getScriptCache('http://a.espncdn.com/combiner/c/?js=espn.tools.r3.js', function() { espn.core.init.tools('5467167','http://sports.espn.go.com/ncaa/highschool/news/story?id=5467167'); }); ESPN.com news services   DEARBORN, Mi.:. -- A Michigan high school football team is holding preseason practices in the middle of the night to help its Muslim players practice both faith and football. The predominantly Muslim squad from Dearborn says the nocturnal regimen is a way for players to eat and drink while observing the holy month of daytime fasting known as Ramadan that started last week.

    The August heat also played a factor in Fordson High coach Fouad Zaban's proposal to reverse the clock for a week of two-a-day practices.Cutting practice wasn't an option at football-crazy Fordson, which is coming off a one-loss season and has won four state titles and three runner-up seasons since it was established in 1928.   

    But nobody wanted to lessen the significance of Ramadan in the Detroit suburb widely known as the capital of Arab-America. The moonlight practice is tailored for Adnan Restum and fellow Muslim teammates.

    Illuminated by the night lights on the football field, Restum recently joined a scrum of teammates at the end-zone water fountain, taking a break from a grueling preseason football workout to guzzle a drink. In just a few hours, he wouldn't be able to take a sip. But the 17-year-old defensive tackle could rehydrate guilt-free during the 11 p.m. to 4 a.m. practice, and succumb to tempting boxes full of granola bars and chocolate milk, too. "It feels really great," said Restum, who has been fasting since he was about 10. "If we're doing it during the day, we wouldn't have water and it would be really hot and everything."

    Zaban proposed the late practices after realizing the rotating Ramadan would fall squarely during the start of a two-a-day practice schedule that launches football season. Zaban, 40, a Muslim and former Fordson player, knows the high stakes. When Ramadan falls during football season, the players practice during daylight hours. But with August's heat and doubled practice schedule, concerns grew about players' health, particularly the high risk of heat stroke.” We know how hot it's been this summer -- it's not safe," Zaban said.

    Working it out meant getting the approval of school and district administrators and the blessings of players, parents and police. Then, there were the residents in the surrounding neighborhood, who would hear more noise and see the illuminated field. So he sent letters explaining the decision.

    Zaban is unaware of such schedule switches elsewhere, though other teams at the school and in the district have moved practices earlier or later in the day. It's been more than three decades since Ramadan last fell during football preseason and Fordson's Muslim population was far smaller then -- and, he notes, there were no field lights.

    Zaban said the goal has been to let players break the fast at sundown and go to the mosque, and get players out in time for a meal and morning prayer before sunrise. The field is near bustling bakeries, cafes and restaurants catering to late-night customers.

    But first, there are drills."Keep running! Heads up!" Zaban yelled while leading a passing drill. And, when a receiver flubbed a one-handed catch, the coach barked, "Hey, two hands!" The result was 20 push-ups.

    Zaban said whether players fast is a personal choice and never an issue raised by him or his staff. Still, he says, it shouldn't be an excuse for poor performance for the roughly 95 percent who do.

    He ended the session before 4 a.m. with a message to the huddled, padded masses to "drink lots of water," "get a good meal in," and "man up."

    Defensive tackle William Powell, one of the team's few non-Muslims, initially thought the coach was "out of his mind," but he's come around. In fact, he's even fasted."I'm around 'em, so I've tried a couple times but it's hard," the 17-year-old said.

    For Rami Fakih, a wide receiver and defensive back, the nocturnal regimen has taken some adjustment but for different reasons. The brother of recently crowned Miss USA Rima Fakih said he had to think twice before hitting the fountain."Oh yeah," he said. "Then I remembered, you know. I looked up. There's no sun. I can drink. I can eat."With that, he walked off the field and into the darkness with plans to grab a quick bite with friends at a local bakery. Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.

    What I posted on the web today, 8 17 -10  in response to the above article   (I  also posted that remark and the article on my Face book page.)

    This story inspires me to say to my fellow brothers and sisters in Christ:  If Muslims in Dearborn put their religion before football and even persuaded  the schools to change the practice time so their youth could "properly" celebrate Ramadan, don't you think we Christians should point out to all of our respective schools that most of us have Wednesday night church services and that we want our kids free from school activities that night so they can come to church? And how many Sabbath keepers are out there who would be willing to say "I can't practice on Saturday during the time we have our church service?" You think that is strange? No one remembers the movie "Chariots of Fire"? You think that guy was a hero when he first starting telling everyone about his Sabbath plans? No! It takes time for folks to realize when anyone is serious about their faith and what they will and will not put up with in order to engage in a LESSER activity!
    If we cannot stand now in our faith, what happens if we are alive when people are told to take on the "mark of the beast"? Where will we get the courage to die for our faith if we are not willing to LIVE according to our faith  and convictions right now?
    I hear there are some Christians who don't even dare tell the schools their children will not be participating in a holiday celebrating death, the occult, witchcraft, horror, and fear (i.e., Halloween).
    Let's get radical and take a stand for holiness!
    Jeremiah 12:55 If thou hast run with the footmen , and they have wearied thee, then how canst thou contend with horses? and if in the land of peace, wherein thou trustedst, they wearied thee, then how wilt thou do in the swelling of Jordan? KJV

    H.  Putting together  an interview together that would be able to air on TV and inspire people to consider taking various “stands” for truth in our community. What are other situations in which  all the same principles come into mind?

    I.  Being recorded while presenting various media to convey Godly messages.  To do this, we will break into small groups.  After presentations of just a few minutes apiece , we will show them to all on TV.

    Seminar Schedule:  I did not know whether or not I would already be in ongoing treatment when I scheduled this, so I made it shorter than usual (not knowing what my energy level might be).   Even though I am not yet in treatment , I will honor this schedule as that is what has been posted all along. 

    General schedule plan – always open to touches by the Holy Spirit:

    10:15 Leadership arrives. Coffee is prepared already .        10:30 – noon: First session:   Principles  outlined above are  shared                Noon to 1:30: lunch             1:30  to 2:30 Second session  People break up to present and to be recorded – “People” alluded to here includes ALL present willing to join in—particularly leaders. Some will not present because they will be taking pictures….     2:30 to 2: 45: Break      2:45 to 4: 00: Third session   the plan is to watch on our TV what was recorded in the second session.