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.
When in Doubt, Link.
Hey everyone! We’re gearing up for our next Art AtTacK Weekend (May2-May4)! So, I’m sorry there’s been no original content for a minute…but why stop that trend, now?
Here’s a couple of interesting links that a friend sent me, and now to you:
http://www.ustream.tv/channel/great-florida-healing-revival (live footage of the revival going on)
Art AtTacK is on this Fri-Sun. May2-May4 in the Angelus Temple Family Center, 1120 Glendale Blvd., LACa 90026. Our first event, Open Mic, starts at 7p on Fri.
Hey guys, break out the Kleenox. And, the same for you ladies.
*Amazing short films: (1) a live-action drama “The Bridge“ and (2) an animated dramatization, “Everyday Life“
I know we complain about the high cheese factor of alot of Christian entertainment, but these pieces are two very diverse examples of how the message of Jesus Christ can be both heartfelt and presented skillfully and succinctly.
Share Christ-based work that’s touched you. If you have an example of well-composed, and mostly unknown work that you’d like to share (whether visual or audio), post a comment!
*films found on www.GodTube.com.
Art ATtaCk! April Edition ‘08. Fri.-Sun. 4/4-4/6
Whew! It’s busy on the blog, huh?! Here’s some more…ART ATTACK WEEKEND in LOS ANGELES, baby! Be there, or be hexagon.
EVENTS!
- 12noonish-1:30p. Art in Echo Park.
- 2p-6p. Public Mural in Skid Row. This is our community visual art, guys!
Come to Art in Echo Park or meet us there. We leave for the mural @ 2:30p and will figure out carpooling with whoever’s there.
Look What I Found…!
So, you may already know about Bible.org for bible studies and stuff. ‘Cause you’re cool like that.
But, I’m so much cooler. I know about the site’s beta “neXt Bible” http://net.bible.org/home.php.
I don’t need to know no stinkin’ Greek to get more in-depth with the Word…’cause this lil’ site makes cross-referencing that lingo with various translations of the Word easy for laymen like me. Check it out!
And, this is one baby that comes with directions: http://www.bible.org/page.php?page_id=4269
Easter, Resurrection Day…
Hope your guy’s Easter was grand! At my home church in the Midwest we used to call it Resurrection Day, to remember exactly Who and what this celebration was about.
That was kind of the gist of our sermon at Angelus Temple. On a day when EVERYONE checks in, and just about everyone checks out…mentally…Pastor Matthew managed to make the message relevant to seat warmers and pew owners, alike.
Have you ever thought about the power of an icon? That whole, “Picture says a thousand words,” deal? Symbols that have become synonymous with organizations such as McDonalds, Nike, the Olympics, Microsoft Windows have impressed themselves into our consciousness. They have an impact when we look at them…they mean something.
But, the cross has lost its impact…probably because we forget what it meant; that it’s actually a tool for a humiliating, extended and certain death.
Most people don’t wear a guillotine or mini-hanging noose around their neck. Or get tatooed with a symbol for the Chinese water torture. That’d be wierd. And, people would think either you were really insane, or “OMG, like, tooootally cool. Love your chains, too.”
Point being, that the icon that symbolizes Christian life is a tool for death. Like the very exposed kind of deliberate death. Like the kind of death we get to put to those sins we like so much, if we can gain the courage to nail them there; and let the only One capable of conquering death set us free.
EVENTS: POD and Jam. @ Angel City Cafe in Bellflower, CA. 4.4.08
A big concert that is going on april 4th if you are interested in hanging out with Traa from POD.
Time: 7pm. Tickets: $10
Angel City Cafe, 16507 Bellflower Blvd. Bellflower CA, 90706. Venue Event List: http://www.myspace.com/angelcitycafe
Who? Uhm…POD, as in “Youth of the Nation,”-POD:
The Hawk Eye – Mordecai & Some Traits of an Influential Man of God.
The question is “What are some traits exhibited by a man after God’s own heart?” Mordecai’s our man today. And, here’re a few of my verse-by-verse questions and comments as I went over our reference for this discussion: the story of Esther Chpt 1-4.
1:4 – Seems pretty pompous, vain and childish of King Ahasuerus. Showing all that he has…to people who already know he has a lot.
1:5 – Well, at least he doesn’t forget the lil’ people.
1:6 – That’s kinda cool that he opened up such an upscale area to even, “the least”. I wonder if Mordecai and Esther were at the feast? They would have witnessed the queens’ refusal, or at least the King’s reaction!
1:9 – Were the men and women separated for most or all of this celebration? Or was Queen Vashti’s part-ay for certain women…the women in the palace. Her crew. Her peeps. Maybe she was like the head cheerleader who had the king’s ear. Maybe she’s the neck that turns the head, so to speak. Or, at least, she was.
1:10 – Why did it take seven eunuchs to summon one queen? Maybe the number of eunuchs indicated the weight of the king’s request…
1:15 – The king did not know his own laws? So he trusted in the opinions of those near him.
1:16 – Only one prince spoke up. Was this after consulting with the other princes? Funny, how there’s no mention of any law in their verdict.
1:19 – Seems harsh. Bitter. Superstitious. Couldn’t he just talk with her?
1:21 – Looks like this judgment was only one person’s idea, because when it was publicized, it “…pleased the princes.”
1:22 – The king went along with this one man’s advice, that was not based in law but that appealed to the king’s ego and his fears. The king seems very hot-tempered, impetuous, and maybe a little naïve.
1:22 – I wonder what the households thought when they got this letter? Were they shaking their heads at another of the kings off-the-wall, out-of-nowhere missives? Were they glad for a definitive word from the King about how they should run their households? Maybe they cared very little, and life continued, business-as-usual.
2:1 – Wonder how long it took for him to start reconsidering his actions – for him to sober up?
2:3 – Why didn’t they choose from among the women the king already had? Also, why wasn’t Haggai sent to summon Queen Vashti, that one time? Maybe his being the eunuch over the harem would have made it insulting to send him after the queen.
2:6 – Did Esther know anything about the exile? Was she a part of it or too young?
2:7 – Esther’s only family? How much older (or younger) was he than she? Was she married?
2:8 – Weren’t cousins fair marrying game, back then? Why didn’t he marry Esther?
2:9 – Amongst all those beauties, Esther’s was either brillian, or she stood out in some other way; perhaps in the way she carried herself, related to the people and world around her?
2:10 – Mordecai warns Esther about guarding certain info. Being prudent, not naïve. He’s teaching her to practice wisdom, sensitivity to the situation.
2:10 – Were the Jews disliked widely at this time?
2:11 – Mordecai: worry-wart? Father-like? Wouldn’t the word get back that this Jew was asking about one girl’s welfare? Maybe he just stood by until he could overhear news about her; the Word doesn’t say he asked for info. PATIENT! AWARE, ALERT.
2:14 – Why were there two harems? What was the difference between Haggai’s and the other?
2:15 – Would I have been that smart? Looks like Moredecai’s instruction towards wisdom is shining through.
2:17 – It worked! Go Girl!
2:19 – Is this how Mordecai found out the news? There everyday, he probably was aware well before most, by keeping his ears pressed to the gates.
2:22 – How’d he get the message to Esther? Did they meet? How’d they set up their communication, which seems like it continued, even though she was under the king’s care (v. 20…”as she had done when under his care.”)
3:4 – Mordecai told them he was a Jew, but apparently revealed little else.
3:5-6 – Haman filled with rage because someone couldn’t be made to do something for him. Tries to eradicate all threat of opposition.
3:10 – King Ahasuerus doesn’t even care. What is he smoking?! What is he pre-occupied with? Pleasure and winning wars?
3:11 – He didn’t even care ‘bout the money being offered him. Just wanted someone else to handle this new task.
3:15 – Did the king even realize what was goin on that very moment? Is he so distant as to not understand what he’s approved?
4:1 – Was Mordecai the only one wailing in the streets in sackcloths or did he have company? (v. 3)
4:4 – Life threw Esther a curve ball.
4:5 – Was there a eunuch assigned to Queen Vashti while she reigned, as well? Again, why didn’t the king use Queen Vashti’s eunuch to summon her that one time?
4:8 – Mordecai came prepared! “If you stay ready you don’t have to get ready.”
4:8 – “To order”?! Wow. He’s got nerve to be ordering the queen! Whose in charge here, anyway? He must know God’s directive, and knows on Who’s behalf he’s delivering the message.
4:13-14 – Mordecai is Ka-Razy! He doesn’t mince words? No cooing, coddling or sympathy for her position. And, yet he is faithful of God’s coming through for His people. But, Mordecai had to remind Esther who her King was.
4:17 – He didn’t push his luck. He followed her directive; now that he knew her head was on straight.
4:16 – What kind of relationship did Esther and King Ahasuerus have that she would fear her life? He’s shown himself to be preoccupied with his own world and pleasures. Does this all indicate instability, fickleness and even impatience on his part?
What are some traits that the king consistently displays?
What are some traits that Mordecai consistently displays?
Do I personally know anyone that regularly displays similar characteristics of King Ahasuerus? of Mordecai?
Why did Esther refer to Mordecai over King Ahasuerus, even when it possibly meant her own life?
Conclusion: Position does not guarantee influence. Esther trusts in Mordecai, knowing his motivation stems from the One Who promises that His plan is for good, and not for evil; it’s a plan for a future and a hope. (Jer. 29:11)
As a man of God, Mordecai recognizes how the Lord’s authority and deliberate plan can work through him and through others; he endeavors to place himself wherever God can use him; and remains alert to what’s going on around him. His continual dependency on The Solid Rock anchors him and provides steady, upright direction for those who rely on him.
Was Mordecai a perfect man of God?
He’s human. And, this is only one portion of his story that we see. Some people have seen many of us on our best days, but if they knew the whole tale, they’d see a very human one. (For instance, who was Mordecai before taking on the responsibility of Esther’s upbringing? What experiences brought about all that wisdom…? I mean, he probably wasn’t just born with it.)
Thy Wheel Be Done
This past Thursday’s service was right on point. But, one of the things that struck me even before the message began was the introduction of a long-time member of Angelus Temple, Tommy Hollenstein (http://www.tommyhollenstein.com/).
He uses everything he has to praise God including paint, canvas and his wheelchair…see a very recent news report, and check out an approach to art inspired by the Master of creativity: http://video.knbc.com/player/?id=225279
So, to recap…
Thanks to all who attended our latest Art Attack Weekend =)
Here’s a looooong story short:
Open Mic: short but very sweet. rap, poetry, music, song, improvised group “floetry”. (heh). cozy, intimate, fun. Thank you all for attending!
Chalkboard mural: eh. The chalkboard’s maw is wide open, waiting to be fed with some ka-razy artastic creations. Whoever’s game, leave your mark (but make sure it’s of the kid-friendly variety.)
Creative Cold Cuts: fun! I made a duck and ate it. (I was hungry.) Others did some fun stuff with bologna, cheese and other edible medium. Then we made up a cake-t0-g0 with custom frosting.
Art in the Park: YaY! Very relaxed with a lil’ painting, a lil’ writing, a lil’ eating and lil’ guitar strummin. Was a beautiful day and a great ending. People made new friends, and that’s a good thing…as Martha would say.
I wasn’t able to run around and take my own pics, but hope to rectify that next time.
Til then, folks.
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