Drive Highlights up!!

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Ok folks…
I am still using the WordPress template free blogging deal so I can’t figure out how to post this flash video directly to my site BUT… here it is, DRIVE ’08 Highlight video. (Click the flying plane once you get into the site!

I am so proud to be part of not just a great media team but such an amazing church. It was an honor to meet so many of you and I hope you all came away from the conference filled up and challenged from God.

We have some things already in store for Drive ’09 so stay tuned!!

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Transition Pete Strikes again

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Pete took the best of Andy’s quotes at Drive (some quotes referenced from others) and put them in a VERY cool desktop design.
These are already on my desktop and rotating. For those that went to Drive, I hope these keep stirring your heart. For those of you that didn’t, go here and download these wallpapers onto your desktop and sit with them for a month or two.

Thanks Pete.

Micah Stevens and EVERYTHING North Point Production

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Ok, so Hell has frozen over and Micah Stevens has a blog. It has actually been going on for about 2 months now but I think it is known only to a few. So, I am giving a shout out to Micah Stevens. If my team is everything video, creative packaging, product development, pre and post production for North Point’s services, then Micah’s team is EVERYTHING live. Audio, lights, stage design, technical, live video and problem solving multi-campuses. He is a stud, his team is a bunch of studs and he needs to be on your blogroll.
So there!

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Sooooo Late with this

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I got to hang with Transition Pete (thanks for the appetizers!) and then later with Pete and Jenni from Crosspointe church.
This was Monday night after the first main session at Drive. I am in Blue and white striped shirt, top left. You can’t see but my left hand is on Carlos’s butt. Yes from way up there. Thats why his eyes are so big.

Jake Got the Game Ball

No picture (yet)…
But just thought you should all know… my boy went 3-3 in his new baseball helmet ($20 nike supercool lid from Dick’s Sporting goods) and yes…. he killed it. Proud of him even when he was playing with his gum and a line drive went right by him in center field. Problem was that they didn’t let him wear his helmet out in the field. 😉
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Michael Colwell – You will be missed.

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“Saved by grace, married to the love of my life, father to two boys who keep me laughing, passionate about my job, beating cancer.”
That is what Michael wrote on his blog some time ago.

Last night at 11:50 pm, Michael went to be with the lord losing his battle with cancer.

Michael’s influence on North Point, those around him will be hard to measure. But it can be felt.
All I know that as a staff member that got to work with him, he made me smile and radiated Jesus. He loved his wife. He loved his kids.

Now, he’s loving being with Jesus.

Getting ready for DRIVE ’08!!!!!

Ok Folks… we’re ready.
For those of you who are going… and I want to hear from each and every one of you, it’s gonna be incredible, fun, crazy, engaging, helpful, and out of this world!!

The whole staff has been working really hard to get ready for the arrival of over 2300 people for Drive.
One of the coolest parts is that we get to have ALL campuses involved with the production instead of meeting on Mondays and Tuesdays and then saying goodbye.
Here are many of the people on the production and media staff from all three campuses…

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Josh and Katie Peters (from Buckhead). Katie is SPD assistant at Buckhead and Josh is the Video Director.
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A shot of the stage, sorta. It’s wicked cool.

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Los, (SPD Director at Buckhead) backstage.
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Adam Dukes – Media Team at North Point. He is getting Sunday’s TenBefore ready to go.

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Tyler (Browns Bridge Service Programming Director) at the helm of Drive. He is producing and keeping us all in line!

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Big Micah (Production Director at North Point) yelling at me “I need videos Brad!”

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Mike Davis – Graphic Designer on the Media Team.

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Matt Gibson – Video Producer and all things moving on screens with the media department.

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Dave Blakeslee – Assocociate Media Director in his editing suite sleeping on the job!
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Left to right – Chris Briley (Browns Bridge Production Director), Julie Arnold (Service Programming Director at North Point and my BOSS), Dave Stagl (Audio Director at North Point), and Micah.
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Camera Volunteers and the Video Director at North Point, the one the only, Chip Barber!!

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Reid Greven (music extradanaire) at North Point! On stage behind the computer. He will be playing the keys for the conference by the way!

Please make sure if you see me, say a big hello.
Looking forward to seeing TransitionPete and Mike Brennan and hopefully more!
Cya Monday.

New Blog from Pace Hartfield at Fellowship

I say new because it looks like it got started in March of this year.
Pace Hartfield is the Worship pastor at Fellowship where he leads the Worship/Media.
He posted an incredible video they did at Christmas using a freakin’ Autodesk’s Smoke and Flame for compositing and 3-D work plus a Sony F900. Oh – My – WORD!
Anyways – I am sure he will have lots to offer on his blog and I look forward to hearing from him.
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Camp Out with Troika (again)

Okay folks…
Grab that cup of coffee again and spend some time with Troika.tv

These guys to me do some of the coolest, cleanest, sharpest and well thought out packages out there. Plus it looks like a fun place to work. (Read their Bios). They think COMMERCIALLY. They know their audience and they respect their clients! The’re smart. And you see their stuff EVERYWHERE. It is also VERY interesting how their staff is made up. A list of producers and a list of animators and designers.
Think about that.

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I love what they write on their “about” page…

“In today’s MEDIA DRENCHED WORLD, design is a powerful tool to connect with audiences and consumers.”

Just hearing those words “Media Drenched World” pushes me because they are so right. In your and my church worlds, where all of our attenders, listeners, seekers, returners come in being “DRENCHED” with content, DRENCHED with information, DRENCHED with culture – how will our designs, our videos, our series look, etc.. – going to leave a lasting impression. Do not underestimate the power of a BAD design and the impression a GOOD DESIGN leaves. Troika didn’t.

Make it your goal.

Make sure you read this, this and this.

4-13-08 TenBefore

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CLICK HERE to see it.

Ok, I know its been a while since I posted a video confessional. These take time and right now, time is a luxury.
This TenBefore had more singles events in it then normal. Thanks for being interested in this as always. I am humbled by your comments.

In this edition we had Do.Justice for singles – Promo for Jeff’s series that concludes this Sunday – then a promo for Fusion (a singles gathering and connection event) and then we focused on Middle school. We used Joe Wiggleston and contracted out the final editing and the final export of the Ten Before.

Again, we are still learning as we go but for us, it’s a great way to welcome, engage and let people know what is coming up.

Dog Show in Perry, GA

If you have seen pictures of Calvin, my golden retriever, he comes from a lineage of goldens that are national award winning dogs. My extended family from Minnesota is in town for the Peach Blossom dog show in Perry, GA

Meet Caroline, my sweet little cousin who placed third showing a golden named Sabrina and then first place later. She is 7.

posted from iPhoneSlide.com

New Series at North Point (Jeff Henderson Speaking)

Jeff Henderson (Campus Director at Buckhead Church) is speaking at North Point for two weeks. The media team has been challenged with doing something that in my mind is VERY difficult to do and be taken seriously unless done well – to shoot a period piece – Solomon himself. I really like the idea and we have an incredible actor to do a monologue. Jeff has done a wonderful job of setting us up early to figure things out and hash out some ideas.

This is the evite. (Mike from Media layed it out and we worked again with our friend Brian Manley.

Series starts this Sunday. It is gonna be REALLY good.

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Little League Baseball… I understand why parents make the 11 o’clock news now.

First of all, I coach pretty much anything Jake has been involved with.
My rule of thumb as I learn how to coach these young age groups is to be an assistant, gather information, watch, learn, and then offer to be a head coach the following year putting my own spin on things. I did this with Soccer and currently baseball. This being Jake’s first year of baseball, I am an assistant coach.

The “Midway Meteors” went into a night game with a 2-0 record and my son Jake is still learning the basics of catching, hitting and even throwing. This being his first year, he is struggling a bit. Well tonight’s game was a nail biter. Seriously exciting, which leads me to my story.

Jakob in the past two games had yet to get on base. So tonight I was rooting for my son to just GET ON BASE. On his first at bat, he did – and it was glorious. Then at his third at bat – he hit a ball that went into the outfield and my boy took off RUNNING. When he got to second though, the kid playing second HELD Jake and wouldn’t let him go to third. On top of that, the game was so close that every run counted!
Oh my word, I ALMOST lost it.
I got into the 14 year old umpire’s ear and said “DID YOU SEE THE SECOND BASEMENT HOLD THE BASERUNNER!!!”
He either saw it or he did not want to give me an answer I didn’t want to hear so after the play was done, all the runners advanced to another base because of the actions of this 6 year old on second base that held my poor innocent son from advancing to his deserving base. I, was vindicated and my son got a triple that he REALLY did deserve.

This is what dreams are made of!

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Fee stopped by the office

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First Brad Weston, now FEE!
So when Steve stops by you know your in for a good time!
Steve and I go back about 10 years when we played together in a famous band with Dave Bell. You might just have our album!
Steve just had a baby boy so congrats to him and Carmen!

Today my Dad retires…

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March 31st, 2008 my dad is retiring from his job and begins an incredible, new stage of life. My mom will follow in a couple of months.

I will never forget when my dad came into my brother and I’s room at the age of 6 to tell us he had gotten fired from his then job. We asked why. He said “because daddy’s boss didn’t think he was giving 100%, and daddy’s boss was right.” That was thirty years ago. He got a new job soon after and he never left the place. That speaks volumes.

I wish I had a picture for everything that those thirty years represented to me. Here is a glimpse of the memories that dad provided:

– The one and only house I ever grew up in (San Jose, CA). Bought in 1970 for not so much money. He and mom still live there. Worth, well, a bunch of money.
– Atari
– A catchers uniform for Christmas when I wasn’t even in baseball.
– My first bike. (Rampar)
– My first football.
– My first football league.
– My first pair of drumsticks. Tons more over the years.
– An above ground swimming pool in the backyard (that was sunk in the dirt enough to only make it 2 feet above ground).
– My first Drumset (found in a pawn shop)(I had to pay half)
– My second drumset (electronic) (Again, I had to pay half.)
– Allowances
– Camping with the Boy Scouts.
– Summer camps at church.
– $20 on Sunday nights during high school (and yes sometimes college) to take my girlfriend out to dinner.
– My ’69 volkswagon bug (I had to fix it and keep it running)
– My Saturn SL (I had to pay half)
– 49er season tickets watching Joe Montana during the 80’s.
– College tuition
– My AAA card
– Our first Macintosh computer. I literally grew up on one. In the city where they built them.

In college mom would give my brother and I the gas card for a one time fill-up. She wouldn’t see it for a month. Then we heard the famous “mom!!! Get the gas card from the boys please!! We never thought he would notice the snacks that were charged.

When my brother and I played football together in college, there wasn’t an away game or home game they ever missed. That meant traveling all over California to see their boys in action. After the game, they would let us invite whoever to dinner. Home or away.

The first time I got to run out of the Dallas Cowboys locker room and onto the field – my dad and mom were there. That wasn’t cheap.
He was also there in Germany with mom and Jiyoung (we were dating back then) to see two football games while I played with the Frankfurt Galaxy.

Flying out from California to Atlanta again, and again, and again. Then the kids were born. Again, and again, and again.

As I think back to this company, this job, the place that dad went to everyday as a salesman for the past thirty something years, I have great memories of what it had provided. I hope they have great memories as well.

And now, being a dad and a husband, I have great appreciation and respect for what he has done.

Congratulations dad. Happy retirement. You’re a gift.
(NOW COME ON OUT TO GEORGIA!!!)

Easter

You hear it a lot from us guys and gals that work at North Point, Buckhead, and Browns Bridge (Los, Reid, Amber, Tyler, Shove, Elliott, Josh, Dave, Shae, Shane and others) that it is a blessing and an honor to work with such amazing people under incredible leadership. Good Friday and Easter Sunday were no exception.

All three campuses had a unique aspect to them.
All three campuses presented the same message packaged in a different way.

For North Point – we opened the whole service with the following 3 screen extravaganza:
(Click Here)
(As you watch the movie – the middle video represents our Center Screen HD and the upper right and left screens represent our IMAGE MAG screens. Things pick up at about 1:27. I couldn’t figure out how to get the white out of QuickTime so please ignore the bottom corners)

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The whole opener was inspired by Max Lucado’s “No Wonder they Call Him Savior” and Eddie Kirkland had an idea in a creative meeting to focus on the words in a chapter that was dedicated to the Easter story. Mike (our graphic designer) came up with the printed look.

Then Reid (North Point Music guy) walks into my office and says “hey I have been working on something for the opener”.
I was off to the races in creating something that we prayed would begin a journey for the day.

Matt followed by blowing us all away with an incredible Title Package

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… that again Reid cranked out a score for that was based on an original song Eddie Kirkland and Steve Fee wrote.

Ultimately I really feel like the service was a success not because of three or four videos and great worship but because lives were changed at the end of the service when Andy gave the invitation.

What a week and what a Sunday.
Happy Easter.

TenBefore 3-2-08 for North Point, Buckhead and Browns Bridge

Ok – this post is a doozey so grab a cup of coffee if your interested and get a feel for what three campuses experience right before the services start on a Sunday morning.

Let me start off by giving some credits:

Producer: well… that would be me.
Written & Directed (Kelly segments for all three campuses): Sunny Williams
Shooter for Green Screen: Dave Blakeslee
Green Screen Edit: Dave Blakeslee
Keyed: the guys let me do this.
Composited, Motion Graphics and Final Edit: Matt Gibson (our maximizer)

Click here to see NPCC’s TenBefore
Click here to see Buckhead’s TenBefore
Click here to see Browns Bridge TenBefore

Before you see the TenBefore’s, read below for a little bit of insight.

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Each week the media team needs to export three different versions of the TenBefore. Much of the content is the same but there are specific elements that are different. three Churches – three Kelly intro’s – three logo’s.

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For this particular week, all three churches are letting people know about “NEXT” an environment for those wishing to take the next step in getting connected. Whether it’s volunteering, finding out where to get plugged in, whatever you are interested in, we want them to not take up a seat but to get INVOLVED and find out what is NEXT.

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So we needed to promote “I Want to be Great” a new four-part series that Clay Scroggins AND Andy were going to preach together. Clay is young, fun and is the High School pastor. Andy is, well, the senior pastor! So we convinced Andy to help us with the promo and I am so glad he did. He has a great sense of humor and pulled it off great. The concept obviously came from a certain Super Bowl ad but it worked perfect because of the series that was coming up. (This promo is in the Buckhead and Browns Bridge TenBefore and not in North Point’s. North Point had already ran it twice and instead did a Kelly VO with graphics.) Tripp and Tyler did great and continue to be a staple of laughs for our pre-service ideas! Tripp (guy on left), Adam, Matt, Ryan, Dave B. did a great job of getting this baby in the can on a tight turnaround with some TOUGH weather conditions and some serious illnesses. While one crew was shooting the golf scene, Dave was setting up in Andy’s office. We had 45 minutes to get Andy’s stuff.
A lot of details on this shoot. The picture in picture on the computer. The wall that needed to fall (thanks matt borbi). Finding a golf course in the dead of winter. Asking IT to give us a computer and CAMERA we could total. Good times.
I got to put the graphic together at the end and added the “falling” logo for a little fun. Mike (our graphic designer) worked really hard with Brian Manley to come up with this look. HUGE TEAM EFFORT. These are my favorite successes.

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We started a new segment called “unplugged” and really it’s a way for our attenders to get to know our worship leaders in a fun and relate-able way. The cool thing about this is that all three campuses got involved. North Point (Dave and Tripp) shot and edited Kristian Stanfill’s video. Kaye at Buckhead shot and edited Chrystina Fincher’s video and Ryan Shove and Shae got to shoot Casey Darnell’s video. We know that there are a TON of ways to do this kind of video. Kaye originally came up with the Cribs type feel so we modeled after it however kept it a little bit “lower toned”. Our goal was to not make it CRIBS “look at me” but more of a get to know me segment as if you were invited over to the house. Browns Bridge went with a completely different route and came up with a powerful piece on Casey. I love Ryan’s set design. Matt from media worked his magic on the branding side of things.

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Buckhead added a little segment called the “Just Tell Booth”. In early January we did a series called “Just Ask”. Buckhead decided to make a “confessional booth” for people who were invited to church by a friend, co-worker, family member, etc.. and to talk into a camera and tell their story of how someone “asked” them to church. I love this idea and I love that we were able to put it into the TenBefore that is specific to Buckhead.

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Lastly – all three campuses took the opportunity to make people aware of one of our partnerships. This time we highlighted Southside Church in Peachtree City. I believe Joe Wiggleston took a ton of B-Roll for our guys to put together. Kelly did great with walking us through this campus. I can’t say enough about Kelly and the way she makes this look easy. Sunny Williams does an amazing job of writing these scripts and walking and directing Kelly during the shoots. Again, I am spoiled to work with incredible people.

Please let me know if you have any questions at all or just make a general comment. Believe it or not, I hate to write, but love to read.
Brad

Unleash Conference – we’re going!

Unleash Web Resources

So I am taking the media guys (Dave, Mike, Adam, Tripp, Matt, and Ryan) on a road trip and we are going to Unleash!
I have seen some blogs about it and quite frankly I am just looking forward to hanging out with the media team, going to a different church and seeing, hearing and meeting some different people. We are heading up Wednesday night, gettin’ some dinner, maybe a movie and then looking forward to a great day at Newspring. Last conference I went to was the Willow arts conference in 2006.
Who of you out there am I gonna get to meet!?

Twitter is Killing me!!!

So I twitter via iChat mostly, sometimes through my iPhone but about two weeks ago, everytime I do a Twitter update via my iChat I get the following message:

“TwitterIM is under maintenance at the moment. Please check back later.”

After about the 50th time over the coarse of a couple of weeks, I figured something was a miss. (Don’t ask!)
Has anybody had this happened before? I have reset Twitter settings. Took out Twitter as a buddy and then re-added. MY OS is still Tiger.

I will give a dollar to the person that helps me figure this out!
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Back in the Saddle (Day 2)

7:30 – Arrived at work. Cleaned office. Tried not to cough on anything or anyone. Caught up with Dave B. Watched video that is to run this Sunday. Very well done and good emotion.

8:30 – 10:00am Dept Directors Meeting. Went over “Juicing the Orange” (must read), talked about staffing, admin stuff, updates on spanish service, etc..

10:00-12:00 caught up with Media guys. Tripp was back from being sick for a week. We tried not to cough on each other. Mike came back from vacation (D.C. with his wife). Really glad Mike is back. Really glad Adam is Back (sore throat). Really glad Tripp is back. Really, really glad Dave, Matt and Ryan have held down the fort. Answered emails.

12:00-2:00pm – Drive Music Meeting. Drive is our conference coming up in May (you must come, it’s gonna be great). Talked about session 1. walked through with worship leaders a storyboard of the opening song and the visuals to go with it (I am pretty excited, but it could still be changed). Not going to give away anything but I am excited about what is in my head. Now our team has to figure out the rest of the conference.

2:00-4:00 – Help Matt re-key the new 10B4 for the week. Footage is not cooperating.  One more piece to go for tomorrow. (try to answer emails during renders)

4:00pm – Jiyoung drops kids at work with me to go visit with Jenn and Michael Colwell at hospital. Michael is having brain surgery TODAY to remove 1 of 4 tumors. Michael works in groups at North Point and is responsible for so many of the group curriculum content on North Point’s web and DVD’s. He does much more than that though. More than I think most of us know. Two years ago, Michael was diagnosed with melanoma and had beaten it. Recently, it came back throughout his body. Jenn and Michael are taking one day at a time and all of the staff of North Point, Browns Bridge, and Buckhead are praying for this incredible man, Jenn, and his two young boys. I love that my wife is there right now. 

4:30 – Took the kids to McDonalds.  

5:30 – broke up 3 little arguments about not sure what.

6:00 – Gave kids showers. Jake on computer playing a game. Jillian watching a show.

7:00 – read to kids. Layed down with Jillian. Layed down with Jake. Told Jake that he can’t be afraid of anything tonight because everything that he is afraid of is afraid of me. He said why? I said because I am bigger than they are! He laughed. 

Tomorrow morning, Jake will probably be found in Jillian’s room – on the floor – with his pillows and blanket. I love him! 

Praying for Michael. 

 

NORTH POINT and YOUTUBE!!!!!

Ok People – I am sooooo stoked.
If you have never heard Andy Stanley talk and only have about 10-20 minutes – now’s your chance.
North Point Ministries now has a channel on youTube.

The reason why North Point is putting specific content on YouTube is for everybody and anybody to have access to some powerful truths on specific topics that EVERYONE will identify with. Most of the content is 10-20 minutes long. If you are a Christian and you have a friend that is struggling with marriage, finances, doubt and disbelief, going down the wrong path or life is just doing a once over – please, please, please look through these messages and find one that you think will help that individual. If you are someone who just enjoys listening and watching YouTube content, then please check out North Point’s page. Life is full of too many lies that are soooo easily concealed.

This content is not meant to “show off” North Point or to get people in our doors. It is meant as a tool and a resource for people to link too or link others too that might spark some great conversations about the topic or issues that are being shared. This library will only grow and it is intentional. (“It’s Personal” content is the full messages for the time being). Please listen for yourselves and then pass them along.
Link to a message – put it on your blog – subscribe to the channel – use it however you want.

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On the media/techy side of things..
My guys worked really hard on getting the content up and designing the look of the page. (yes it’s YouTube’s template limitations so we were limited.)

The shorter clips of Andy are actually the same clips from our “Group Curriculum” DVD’s. Each of our DVD’s have the full messages on them as well as shorter clips (we cut in and out of original message) for group discussion. Then questions come up on your TV and wallah… “discuss”!!
I really want to know what you think.

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Carlos and Compassion

I have been watching Carlos’s blog now for the past few days (As I always do) and realized I am not helping much. That’s me sometimes in life. On the sidelines doing my own thing while other people are getting in and doing the dirty work. The work that calls us to be uncomfortable for God. The work that causes us to die to ourselves. As Carlos writes in his blog and even seeing his pictures and the reality he is witnessing with those kids, I have to help in some way. Carlos, I love ya and I pray I every kid you meet with have a sponser.

PLEASE SPONSER A CHILD THROUGH COMPASSION.
Go to Carlos’s blog and follow his journey.

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