New Vision...

So after several days (almost weeks) of nothing, I have come to the conclusion I don't like to blog... At least my thoughts!! I have found that much of what I ponder is a conversation with God and others and doesn't translate well into words on a blog... Thus I have a new vision for 'Sight and Sounds': Videos!!

On a typical week I get e-mailed, told "you gotta see this", or just fall into about half a dozen or more videos from teenagers, friends, family, and even my own surfing... I assume most folks aren't swamped in the youtube world like myself (and shouldn't be with all the garbage out there, but when you work with teens, you do what you got to do to stay current), so I thought it would be fun to give you my favorites or at least a new video every few days...

So without further ado (See below):

Evolution of Dance

Currently the #1 watched video on the internet...83 million views and couting...'Evolution of the Dance'

Joseph and the Crucible of Abandonment

Following Christ into the Crucible: How God Transforms Us through Testing
Joseph and the Crucible of Abandonment
Joseph - Genesis 37,39-50

Joseph a cocky Teen (Gen. 37:1-3)
1) Jacob lived in the land where his father had stayed, the land of Canaan.
2) This is the account of Jacob. Joseph, a young man of seventeen, was tending the flocks with his brothers, the sons of Bilhah and the sons of Zilpah, his father's wives, and he brought their father a bad report about them.
3) Now Israel (Jacob) loved Joseph more than any of his other sons, because he had been born to him in his old age; and he made a richly ornamented robe for him.
4-11) Dreams Happen…

Joseph is Abandoned (Gen. 37:11 - 41:1)
- by His Brothers (family)
o Gen. 37:11 …many were angry, BUT some kept it in mind (saw God in him)…
o Gen. 37:4-8 …simply was who he is – brothers hated him for it…
o Gen. 19-20 …death/sold (they throw him into a cistern)…

- by His Boss (employer)
o Gen. 39:3 …already in pain, yet folks saw God in him…
o Gen. 39:12 …ran from sin – gets his integrity called into question …
o Gen. 39:19 …thrown into prison (even though he does what's right)…

- by His cellmate (friends)
o Gen. 39:21 …more pain (psalm 105:18), yet folks see God in him…
o Gen. 40:12 & 18 …helps friends through a struggle – others have success through him…
o Gen. 41:1 …friend forgets about him (thrown out of his mind)…

Joseph a loving Man (Gen. 50:20)
19) But Joseph said to them, "Don't be afraid. Am I in the place of God?
20) You intended to harm me, but God intended it for good to accomplish what is now being done, the saving of many lives.
21) So then, don't be afraid. I will provide for you and your children." And he reassured them and spoke kindly to them.

“Love, not time, heals all wounds.”

Joseph goes through 13 years of pain and struggle... And because of his obedience through the crucible, he saves an entire culture and people group!!

Have you been Abandoned... How is God using it in your life??

The Podcast is up...

Hey All... Yes, all four of you!!
Wanted to tell you that our new podcast is up and running...
Check it out and leave me super cool review!!

If the above link doesn't work, try the Nikao section of the GCC website and click on 'Jeff's Podcast'...

We have started a new series at GCC this week: Following Christ into the Crucible: How God Transforms Us through Testing...

This week as you know, if you went or get the podcast, we looked at one of the oldest in our Bible: Abraham and one of his many crucible's of the Sacrifice of his son Issac... This entire series has made me think of the many times we are challenged in our faith each day!!

My question is what has been or was the biggest "test" you have faced in your life thus far?? This may be one you haven't made it through yet or one that you have and you can now see God in it... ((I will post one later this week))

Since many cheated on the last post about how many orphans are in the world I wanted to go ahead and respond with the entire point of the two posts together... Most people believe there are about 150 million orphans in the world and that number alone is very defeating and depressing BUT think about this: if 7% of the world's professing Christians (which is under what most of you said were "real" Christians in the world) would adopt one child permanently, the world's orphan population would be completely eradicated!!

Reread that last statement... No more orphans in the world, 150 million orphans no longer orphans, if YOU will pray about and take action in adopting one child, whom God loves and tells us to take care of in His word!!

You are not alone in the worries that follow... My family is currently praying about this exact thing and we to wonder... Can we afford it, what about our kids, how will it look to others, can we take care of another child, do we have the time, etc. Many of those worries, I believe, God will take care of, as for the big one, check this out: AnNi Designs or Shaohannah's Hope, companies formed to help people like us adopt an orphan!!

Pray & Take Action!!

So surprisingly, most of you said under 10% to the question from our earlier post...you guys are negative!!

Well, obviously no one really knows the answer to that question (God does) but I like to think that their are more folks out there that love God and love others... Not 1 billion but maybe half a billion!! And if there isn't, its our job to "go and make...", the individuals we come in contact with everyday, see the lifestyle God desires in all of us... You with me??

New question:
How many orphans are there in the world?

I promise I will write back sooner this time... :)

Many of you have heard this from me recently but I wanted to post it so just in case, now everyone has (because as you know, this blog is read by the world!! :))

Question: How many professing Christians do you think are in the world?
(Yes, professing...not "how many Christians")

Answer: (don't read on unless you've answered... :))
Roughly...2,000,000,000

Yeah, that's billion... It doesn't feel that way does it!!

Question: How many of those professing Christians do you think are really walking the walk (i.e. have accepted God's free gift of salvation through His one and only Son and are trying to live like He would daily by loving others??)

Answer: I have No clue!! But i would love for you to reply to this post with a response...

(Tune in next week for a follow-up question)

This evening was interesting... I was cleaning up in the kitchen (because my wife made another wonderful meal for the family... And in this house, if you cook you don't have to clean) and the kids and Court were playing in the living room!! I was minding my own business (i.e. cleaning plates off and putting them in the dishwasher... yeah, washing a plate so it can then sit in the dishwasher and get yet another washing, interesting but that's not the event) when all of the sudden crying come from the living room area!! As I peered around the corner I see Jackson getting helped up by mom and he again climbs back onto the toy that just hurt him... At first reaction I thought, "adda-boy for getting back on the horse", but before I could finish my thought, off he fell once again onto his head and crying!! Yes, hurt once, an accident...hurt twice, ummm think dude!! But no just then mom helps him up and says "buddy be careful" to which he yet again starts climbing up only to fall and hurt himself... Court's response, (catch this...I'm closing with this...stay with me) "Well, buddy why do you keep doing it if your hurting yourself!!"

Huh... This is a perfect picture of seeing what God sees everyday!! We get up to start the day, we sin against God (whether that's lying, cheating, being selfish to our family, lusting after other people or things, and even acting out on our thoughts that are unholy) all the while He is looking at us going, "buddy, why do you keep doing things that hurt yourself!!" All the while He continues to watch us closely, waiting for a request for help, or even anticipating the pain we will go through so He can help us back up onto our feet...

May you be challenged today to love God and love others...
And may you see the actions that are hurting you each day, and ask God for help before the pain sets in!!

Though movies are not a new found passion of mine, the opportunity to watch films in one sitting, has become one!! So yesterday, being my day off, I went to Tulsa (Southroads 20) and bought my first ticket at the 1:45pm time slot. Only a mere ten hours later I had accomplished my mission...the day at the movies!! Though I was looking for a day off, it seemed God was able to remind me that "everything is spiritual" and today would be no different...

Movie #1: There will be Blood
A very incredible acting job by (and well deserved Oscar) Daniel Day-Lewis as well as an solid plot of 'Oil!' and what it does and did to people 100 years ago... I found the movie slow at times with light conversation, however, the spiritual context heavy showing man's greed and passion for empty things... All in all, worth watch but not recommended!!

Movie #2: No Country for Old Men
Homerun for "oh my gosh, that just happened!!" I don't want to ruin it for you but the bad guy wins and leaves us thinking, "Why does God allow bad things to happen to good people." If you love movies, then I recommend this film. (i.e. If you think Will Smith is the best actor of "our generation" you should pass, not that anyone would say something like that :))

Movie #3ish: Be Kind Rewind/Jumper
The idea is awesome but the execution was...crap! I actually had to leave and find something else to occupy my time (sorry for not buying another ticket). Thus, Jumper is a film that I missed a lot of but now I feel it necessary to rent it when it is released!

Movie #4: U2-3D
The last movie of the night and I even got my own glasses (3D)… If you haven’t been to this and you are a U2 fan, dare I say you are not a U2 fan (yeah, I said it)!! This movie 3D concert was great and made me feel Bono’s sweat however it also gave me a close look at his new head band:

Below is the graphic a little clearer…

Yes, “coexist”, using the Crescent from the Islamic faith, the Star of David from God’s chose (the Jews), and a Cross which Christians believe Christ (Jesus) was crucified on… Thus we should all coexist in harmony!

What do you think about this??

So here we are... One of my goals this year was to start blogging on a consistant basis and I still haven't convienced myself I should BUT... I figured since my wife is going to check daily I should write something!!

So I begin with a question... What do the below words mean to you?

'APATHY' & 'DISCIPLE'

Trying to update...
So keep coming back and checking it out for a little something something for ya!!!

Hey look at my blog link to the side there... ENjoy!!