in AAW? ArT AtTacK Weekend 5/30-6/01.

G.i.g.a.t.t. In Action (on YouTube)!

Ladies and Gentlemen (echo, echo, echo).  We now present to you…the Gigatt Small Group!!!  Enjoy this short video.

Also find this video and more pictures on our FACEBOOK profile.

Seeds for a Purpose — Don’t Quit While You’re Ahead

I was back in SNR after a long SNS – Saturday Night Slumber. I was with Frederick, my brother, indecisive over going to SNR or taking my brother out to town. I didn’t want him to feel that I was saturating him with church, yet I was happy that he was enjoying it so much. He even asked me if there was a dream center in Pennsylvannia! The charm of the dream center is like a fast oncoming train — it hits you and runs over you hard. But because Christ is in it, you rise again. I felt a tug in my heart. I could not bear to be right next to Angelus Temple and not go. I had been “robbed” way too many times of this awesome weekend night service.

SNR – April 5 was about seeds. Seeds and Purpose.

Matthew 17:20
“I tell you the truth, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, ‘Move from here to there’ and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you.”

Pastor Brad Reed carries a container of sunflower seeds challenges the audience. Jesus does not use “seed” accidentally, because it is a pretty metaphor, or because he decided to be eco-friendly or reach out to the gardener market. Faith is akin to a seed because it is supposed to grow.

1 Peter 2:2
Like newborn babies, crave pure spiritual milk, so that by it you may grow up in your salvation.

We don’t get salvation like we get a precious diamond that is too expensive to use, locked away in a safe. We get saved, and then we grow, we mature, and we bear fruit. It was emphasized in the sermon that seeds are planted not to remain in the ground, but to be transferred to another pot and another pot. And finally, the tree can be planted on the ground. “The seed must be cracked to get the life out of it.”

The saddest part is that a lot of people pull out of the ground before the harvest. Stop crawling to the end of the tunnel just short of the light. Stop running the marathon 0.2 miles away shy of the finish line. Pastor Brad said emphatically — “if you don’t finish the marathon, you don’t get any credit!” This is perhaps the most poignant part of Pastor Brad’s sermon – at least for me — because his words hit home. I had gotten out of my comfort zone, stepped up to serve God, yet was giving the doubting and fearful voices in my head more attention than I should. I went through the motions of serving God, hanging by a thin thread.

It’s time to stop running away, and it’s time to face His hands. The hands that will take me gently from my pot and start planting me on the ground. Success, getting there, reaching a goal, scares more people than we realize. Sometimes the finish line is just as scary as the starting line. More than sometimes, we start more races than we finish. The race of our Christian life is a race that’s not negotiable in God’s eyes. We must long for his “well done, good and faithful servant,” the same way that a little girl longs for her mother’s approving smile. Contrary to the popular saying — “Don’t quit while you’re ahead.”

If a seed does not later on produce fruit — it does not fulfill its purpose. If salt loses its saltiness, and light is hidden……

Matthew 5:14-16

14“You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. 15Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. 16In the same way, let your light shine before men, that they may see your good deeds and praise your Father in heaven.”

We are seeds meant to bear fruit. Salt meant to be salty. Light meant to shine. Go, fulfill your purpose.

Can you handle the truth?

You shall know the truth, and the truth shall set you free — John 8:32

“You can’t handle the truth.” – Jack Nicholson in A Few Good Men.

A little imagery to remind you of that scene in A Few Good Men.

Tonite in Saturday Night Redefined — Pastor Brad Reed speaks about how we react and respond to people who because of trust in our maturity, trust in our Christianity, choose to be transparent and talk about their struggles. More often than not, he expresses, we talk over other people, using their vulnerability as a way to propel as to a platform, a higher moral standpoint. We overuse our moral ascendancy. Pastor Brad spoke about the adulterous woman in the bible, an inch away from being stoned to death by townspeople. Jesus says, “Whoever is without sin, cast the first stone.” This behavior is probably strange to us contemporary Christians. How can their consciences handle stoning a woman to death? Yet we probably don’t realize, that in the little word daggers we throw infront or behind the back of people we judge, those we deem unworthy in our mind, that we still do this in the modern day. We do not receive the truth about other people in love and balance truth with grace. Pastor Brad says that we should be nets to each other, catching each other when we fall.

Do we really believe that truth sets us free? Or do we stifle the truth and live in the illusion of being “perfect” all the time? Or maybe, like Tom Cruise in “A Few Good Men” we can’t handle the truth.

As I listen to the sermon, a lot of things go through my head – the many times I may have unknowingly shut down a trusting heart because I could not bear to listen quietly. Can we really handle the truth? We are sometimes like a gingerbread house -sweet on the outside, but it so easily crumbles with truth and transparency. We hide our own struggles and suppress them, and drown out out desperate cries with a great big Hallelujah! Some Christians cope by living a double life — having the Sunday self and the weekday self. And because we struggle ourselves, we cannot even bear to lend a listening ear, or words of wisdom or a helping hand to those who decide they will be vulnerable with us and pour out their struggles. The church should be a place of transparency, a place where we can be honest with ourselves, and have that honesty received with grace. It is not to say that we won’t rebuke our Christian brother or sister when we need to — “Better is open rebuke Than love that is concealed.” Proverbs 27:5. Only we must do it out of love, and not out of empty criticism. “If I have all faith so as to remove mountains,
but have not love, I am nothing.” 1 Cor 13. Sometimes, I don’t even have the words to say. When I don’t — I offer prayer, and it often helps a lot.

I am deeply convicted by this. I once asked of a friend — “Is it right that he has to be so transparent? Should he tell me everything?” I realized that I should have not been so concerned with protecting myself and my feelings, I should have put the other person first and see it as an opportunity to be used by God. I should have listened with my heart and not with my mind. I should have reacted with the words that Jesus would say, and the quietness that Jesus had. If we only listen with the peace that passes understanding, then we will truly understand and be able to help.

I realize that we should not be so concerned with the “garment” being squeaky clean. Stains are not always pretty – but they are real. We should gently help the person get the stain out — the entire garment doesn’t have to be thrown away.

The Small Group Emporium :)

Today was the first ever Small Group Festival – a convergence of all the 60 or so small groups of Angelus Temple. Finally, the small group ministry gets the right amount of attention that it deserves. Small groups are definitely the arms of the body of Christ – reaching out to people in deeper ways, and getting them plugged in. Angelus Temple calls itself the church that never sleeps, and rightfully so. A small group goes past the sunday sermon and forms relationships, encourages involvement, and ultimately the use of one’s god’s given gifts.

The Creative Arts group was not without pressure to create the best group board. Duh, we’re supposed to be THE creative people of the ministry! It would just be a funny (for them, not for us) oxymoron if the creative small group had an uncreative booth. We worked our butt off and started cutting out the sun (whose rays would splash out the different creative arts) on Saturday, continued the creative work on Tuesday, and brought out our baking bowls yesterday. The presentation was a creation story inspired masterpiece — with the sun as the center, some soil and rocks showing the earth, a couple of easels holding up painted masterpieces from prior events, a booklet of the writing we created together, a powerpoint presentation showing the creative small group at various poses in various events, and of course, the star of the feast — the caramel bars that are literally to DIE for. We were right next to the culinary group — which, in all fairness, got a lot of attention. We competed well – it’s hard to compete with food!

We landed third place for presentation. I was cheering my heart out — there were about sixty groups there, and third place is better than no place in my opinion. Our dear leader, Quoleshna wasn’t so happy with the results. After all, we are creativity. We should have won top 1 for creativity!  Everybody’s a winner though — our sign up sheet was full, with a promise of more members and more participation.  Surprisingly, our famous caramel bars did not win the recognition of best dessert.   (Some people simply don’t know what they’ve tasted.) These bars have a rich history of tastiness and a throng of satisfied followers. Why it didn’t win? I don’t understand.

It was a big small group festival — great food, great fun, a great chance to be creative, tons of people and a worthwhile time.  Hopefully, we’ll see new members and amazing upheavals of talent this year.

ArT AttAcK WeeKenD!

Hi Everyone!  And, hope your Thanksgiving was delicious!

But, the festivities aren’t over yet…

Next week will kick-off Gigatt’s ArT AttAcK WeeKenD (Fri. Nov. 30th – Sun. Dec. 2nd)

This is our first ever event like this, so we could use as much friendly participation as you can muster up!

Here’s what’s on the menu!

Friday, Nov. 30th

Open Mic/Spoken Word. @ The Terrace Cafe (626 N. Coronado Terr., 90026)

7p-9p

For all you crazy cats out there who wanna dig this groovy scene.  Bring your work or just yourself and treat your buds to those crazy savory Starbucks drinks, available at Terrace Cafe.  Music, Short Story, Poetry and Lyrics allowed.  All work will be perused before going onstage to ensure appropriateness for our audience.  This little hot spot is nestled on the grounds of the DreamCenter and can be a little tricky to find.  Just look up the directions and keep my number handy.

Chalk-a-lot Mural. @ Family Center. Rm. 202 (Next to Angelus Temple @ 1100 N. Glendale Blvd., 90026)

9:30p-12midnight

It’s a wall.  It’s a chalkboard…Stop. Your both right!  Be a part of creating a unique mural on our specially painted wall.  All the fun without the mess.  Can’t beat that.

Saturday, Dec. 1st

MasterPizza. @ Family Center. Kitchen on 1st Floor (Next to Angelus Temple @ 1100 N. Glendale Blvd., 90026)

7p-9p

Bell Pepper tree trunks and spinach leaves.  A pepperoni sea lined by sandy parmesan shores.  I’ve sometimes seen art so delicious I wanted to gobble it up.  Now, we can.  Make tasteful MasterPizzas that satisfy both the artist’s eye, and your stomach’s!  Dough and toppings provided.  BYOI (Bring your own imagination).

Sunday, Dec. 2nd

Art in the Park.  @ Echo Park (corner of Glendale Blvd./Park)

12noon-1pm

Hey, you’re all familiar with this one!  Free paints, canvas. Writing area and, as always, instruments are welcome for impromptu jam sessons.  This a great opportunity to discover, explore or practice various disciplines.  So jump in while the weather’s still good!

Where I parked my pen last Sunday – ART IN THE PARK

Where I parked my pen last Sunday? Art in the Park! GIGATT’s very second art in the park last Sunday, across Angelus Temple, in the Park (no kidding) was another great success. Easels, paints, painters, writers, non-writers, food lovers, kids, adults, gathered together to make a colorful mix! Some artists were born (or maybe not), some artists were made. I just thoroughly enjoyed that pristine feeling of being under a tree, armed with nothing but a pen and a piece of paper.

Quoleshna was right at the middle of the action (to be known as queuey from now on). Sarah, always present, sat in quiet merriment, painting the town (literally). The Singles Small Group brought the food (there ya go! glorify God in your singleness!) which was well appreciated. We had chicken, coleslaw, mashed potatoes and sliced sweet bread. (Did I mention that we’re also health freaks? NOT.) Wait till the newest sub-group of GIGATT comes together. (hint. hint.) We’ll never eat fast food again. (never as in not for a while).

After some colorful fellowship, The Dreamweavers convened for the first writer’s meeting of the month. The assignment discussed was “My Letter to the Church.” The question: If you were Paul and you were to write a letter to the Church, what would you say? Everybody had something good to share. Jason, one of our new members deserves special mention for his very Paulinian contribution. (did i mention that we’re all new anyway) See his verbal prowess in the coming posts as I will be posting the homeworks of everyone. (those who are willing).

Writing exercises followed. I coerced, er, I mean asked to them to write from the perspective of an inanimate object. The point: empathizing with objects. No seriously, the point is: learning the idea of voice; developing the skill of writing the accurate voice of a created character. I also asked them to write about their favorite place. The point: establishing setting.

Homework for next next week to those who weren’t there or those who weren’t able to catch it: Write your very own parable.

Please feel free to comment with insights, the stuff you wrote during the meeting, smileys, or anything at all!