FaithEngineer

I’ve read several books by John Eldredge, and I have always been encouraged by his honest and engaging writing style. He has a way of helping you deal with your past so you can reach your full potential of a new life in Christ. In this book, he is joined by his wife Stasi as they talk about the challenges of marriage. Love & War: Finding the Marriage You’ve Dreamed Of is a great book that will encourage you, challenge you, and help you realize that “marriage is fabulously tough.” I want to share a few of my thoughts about the book.

Over the past few years, I have been discouraged seeing so many marriages end up in divorce. I saw people that I thought had it all together walk away from their families. As a young pastor, I sometimes feel a sense of helplessness as I perform wedding ceremonies. I want young couples to know that marriage is not always easy. That you must fight for your marriage so you can keep it alive and thriving. And I think most young couples don’t have a clue of what to expect.

This book really is an honest look at the battle that you face in marriage. Unlike most marriage books, this is not a book of quick fixes. It helps you to really dig deep into why you want to love and be loved by others. They share their own struggles and successes, and they give you hope that a marriage can go the distance.

I like that they share about marriage in the greater context of God’s plan.  Here’s a quote that I think really sets the tone for the book.

God created marriage as a living, breathing portrait laid out before the eyes of the world so that they might see the story of the ages. A love story, set in the midst of desperate times. It is a story of redemption, as story of healing: it is a story of love. God gives us marriage to illustrate his heart toward us. It is the deepest and most mythic reality in the world – that love is true, that God pursues us.

Overall, this is a book that I had trouble reading straight through. Not because I didn’t like it, but because it made me want to put it down to spend time with my wife. I am thankful for my marriage (we’ll hit 15 years in a few months) and I am thankful that our love is still growing stronger. I will recommend this to both new couples and couples who have been married for a long time as a reality check to help them navigate the troubled times that will surely be in their future.

I shared with my wife last week that I also want to start something new when I am counseling young couples preparing for marriage. If I am going to do the ceremony, I want them to promise me that they will come to me for help before they throw in towel and give up. I want to put this book in their hand and spend time with them. I don’t want them to feel guilty for having difficult times in their marriage. And I want them to know that marriage is worth fighting for.

Here’s some more info from the publisher:

What the Eldredge bestsellers Wild at Heart did for men, and Captivating did for women, LOVE & WAR will do for married couples everywhere. John and Stasi Eldredge have contributed the quintessential works on Christian spirituality through the experience of men and the experience of women and now they turn their focus to the incredible dynamic between those two forces.

With refreshing openness that will grab readers from the first page, the Eldredges candidly discuss their own marriage and the insights they’ve gained from the challenges they faced. Each talks independently to the reader about what they’ve learned, giving their guidance personal immediacy and a balance between the male and female perspectives that has been absent from all previous books on this topic. They begin LOVE & WAR with an obvious but necessary acknowledgement: Marriage is fabulously hard. They advise that the sooner we get the shame and confusion off our backs, the sooner we’ll find our way through.

LOVE & WAR shows couples how to fight for their love and happiness, calling men and women to step into the great adventure God has waiting for them together. Walking alongside John and Stasi Eldredge, every couple can discover how their individual journeys are growing into a story of meaning much greater than anything they could do or be on their own.

Full Disclosure: This was book was provided for review by WaterBrook Multnomah. Click here for my full disclosure policy. You can purchase the book from the publisher or from my Amazon affiliate link.

Although it’s taken me almost an entire year to blog through the book, I want to finish sharing about each chapter of Crazy Love by Francis Chan. This has been one of the most popular series of posts on my blog, and I know that this book has made a profound difference on many people, myself included.

Do you consider yourself a person obsessed with Christ? The title of chapter eight is “profile of the obsessed” and it deals with the way we live our life for Christ. The dictionary defines obsessed as to have the mind excessively preoccupied with a single emotion or topic. Our culture makes us think that obsessed people are crazy. Words such as fanatic, extremist, weirdo, and worse are thrown at anyone who lives their life preoccupied with Christ.  However, Chan shares that “the idea of holding back certainly didn’t come from Scripture. The Bible teaches us to be consumed with Christ and to faithfully live out His words.”

This is one of the best chapters in the book. One passage that really had an impact on me personally was about the contrast between risk and safety. Chan says, “we’ve elevated safety to the neglect of whatever God’s best is, whatever would bring God the most glory, or whatever would accomplish His purposes in our lives and in the world. Would you be willing to pray this prayer? God, bring me closer to You … whatever it takes …” When we live in crazy love with Christ, we are not living in safety. We are called to take risks and follow Him no matter what the cost. That is the picture the Bible paints of the disciples, and it is what we are called to do as well.

Let me leave you with several quotes about what an obsessed person looks like. Read over these slowly and apply them to your life.

People who are obsessed with Jesus give freely and openly, without censure. Obsessed people love those who hate them and who can never love them back.

People who are obsessed with Jesus aren’t consumed with their personal safety and comfort above all else. Obsessed people care more about God’s kingdom coming to this earth than their own lives being shielded from pain or distress.

People who are obsessed with Jesus live lives that connect them with the poor in some way or another. Obsessed people believe that Jesus talked about money and the poor so often because it was really important to Him.

Obsessed people are more concerned with obeying God than doing what is expected or fulfilling the status quo. A person who is obsessed with Jesus will do things that don’t always make sense in terms of success or wealth on this earth.

A person who is obsessed with Jesus knows that the sin of pride is always a battle. Obsessed people know that you can never be “humble enough,” and so they seek to make themselves less known and Christ more known.

People who are obsessed with Jesus do not consider service a burden. Obsessed people take joy in loving God by loving his people.

People who are obsessed with God are known as givers, not takers. Obsessed people genuinely think that others matter as much as they do, and they are particularly aware of those who are poor around the world.

A person who is obsessed thinks about heaven frequently. Obsessed people orient their lives around eternity; they are not fixed only on what is her in front of them.

A person who is obsessed is characterized by committed, settled, passionate love for God, above and before every other thing and every other being.

People who are obsessed are raw with God; they do not attempt to mask the ugliness of their sins or their failures. Obsessed people don’t put it on for God; He is their safe place, where they can be at peace.

People who are obsessed with God have an intimate relationship with Him. They are nourished by God’s Word throughout the day because they know that forty minutes on Sunday is not enough to sustain them for a whole week, especially when they will encounter so many distractions and alternative messages.

A person who is obsessed with Jesus is more concerned with his or her character than comfort. Obsessed people know that true joy doesn’t depend on circumstances or the environment; it is a gift that must be chosen and cultivated, a gift that ultimately comes from God.

A person who is obessed with Jesus knows that the best thing he can do is be faithful to his Savior in every aspect of his life, continually saying “Thank You!” to God. An obsessed person knows there can never be intimacy if he is always trying to apy God back or work hard enough to be worthy. He revels in his role as child and friend of God.

Let me ask you again, are you obsessed with Christ? If you can’t answer that positively, then I urge you to fall crazy in love with Christ. This book is a great way to get started on the journey.

Posts in this series:

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

Over the past few years, I have gotten to know Joe Sangl as a friend in ministry. We have a lot in common since we are the same age and we both have degrees in Mechanical Engineering. Joe is really “fired up” about his ministry and he does a great job teaching people how to get out of debt and live sold out for Christ. Joe’s passion is equipping others “to accomplish far more than they ever thought possible with their personal finances”. He has been to our church a couple of times now to share his Financial Learning Experience and I have seen first hand how he is making a difference.

He recently sent me a copy of his latest book, What Everyone Should Know About Money Before They Enter THE REAL WORLD. It is a great book for youth and college age students. Joe shares about giving, saving, and avoiding debt. He explains in easy to understand terms about student loans, credit scores, and the power of compound interest. And he shares all of it from a Biblical background. This book is short and powerful, and it’s a great gift for young adults. I definitely plan on using it with my own children and I’ll be recommending it for all the youth at church.

We also use Joe’s first book, I Was Broke. Now I’m Not, in our financial counseling at church. It’s a good book about how to budget and get out of debt. Joe also has a great website with tons of free financial tools at iwasbrokenowimnot.com.

Disclosure Policy

I wanted to let you know about Mark Batterson’s new book Primal, which was officially released today.   I received an early copy from the publisher, WaterBrook Multnomah, to read and review and I can assure you that this is a book you definitely want to buy.  I am a huge fan of Mark Batterson who is the pastor of National Community Church in Washington, DC.  I was able to attend his church this summer with my family when we were on vacation and we really enjoyed the hospitality that his church showed our family.  Mark has a great blog at Evotional.com, and his previous two books have had an incredible impact on my ministry. In a Pit With a Lion On a Snowy Day was about seizing the God given opportunities in your life while Wild Goose Chase encourages believers to follow the Holy Spirit on a wild adventure.

In Primal: A Quest for the Lost Soul of Christianity, Mark breaks new ground by returning to the roots of our faith.  We live in a complicated world, but the answer to many of our problems lies in a return to the simplicity of following the Great Commandment. To love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. Here is how Mark describes the quest:

The quest for the lost soul of Chrisitianity begins with rediscovering what it means to love God with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength … It’s not enough to love God with just your heart or soul or mind or strength. We are called, even commanded, to love Him in all four ways …

• The heart of Christianity is primal compassion
• The soul of Christianity is primal wonder
• The mind of Christianity is primal curiosity
• And the strength of Christianity is primal energy

I always read books like this with a highlighter in hand. There are so many great quotes and illustrations to capture and think through.  I may be a little strange, but while reading, I keep coming up with new ideas for sermons and series that I could teach.  There is so much here to meditate on, and I urge you to read it slowly.  Mark is a story teller, and he is able to weave you into the story.  I was challenged in the way that I love God, and I think you will be as well.   I enjoyed his use and application of science and I enjoyed how he wove his life story into the book.  I read through it in two days, and I want to read through it again.  You can buy Primal at Amazon (through my affiliate link), or you can find it at your local Christian bookseller. You can also find out more about the book at the official Primal website.  Let me leave you with this challenge from the book.

Do you love God for what He can do for you? Or do you love Him for who He is? In its purest, most primal form, loving God with all your heart, soul, mind, and strength is loving God for God. Nothing more. Nothing less. Nothing else … Reformations are born out of rediscovering something ancient, something primal. They are born out of primal truths rediscovered, reimagined, and radically reapplied to our lives.

Chapter 7 is titled “your best life ….later”  I’ll let you figure out how he came up with the title.

You have probably heard throughout your life that following Christ is easy, that everything will work out fine once you place your faith in God.  I don’t know how many times I have heard the phrase “the safest place to be is in the center of God’s will”  But is that true?  Is it really safe and easy to follow Christ?  I don’t think it is, and this chapter does a great job of explaining the challenges and possible consequences of following Christ. It’s a great argument against the prosperity gospel that is being spread through the church today.

The chapter starts out with the following statement:

By now you’ve probably realized that you have a distinct choice to make: just let life happen, which is tantamount to serving God your leftovers, or actively run toward Christ. Do you recognize the foolishness of seeking fulfillment outside of Him? Do you understand that it’s impossible to please God any way other than wholehearted surrender?

Chan uses Hebrews 11:35-38 to show that even those who have faith may encounter trials, troubles, persecution, and danger.  Following Christ is never safe, in fact Chan says that we simply cannot live in safety if we desire to please God.  If we want to truly follow Christ, then 1 John 2:6 tells us that we must walk as Jesus did.  Chan uses the rest of the chapter to talk about our responsibilities to live out our faith. This is a challenging chapter to read, because the church in America has become so comfortable and safe that we don’t take all the commands of Christ seriously.  Here are some quotes from the chapter

We see Matthew 25:45 as a fresh perspective on poverty rather than a literal picture of impending judgment.

How would my life change if I actually thought of each person I came into contact with as Christ?

Basically, Christ is connecting the command to “love God” with the command to “love your neighbor.” By loving “the least of these,” we are loving God Himself

One of the clearest ways we love “with actions and in truth” is through giving to others.

Imagine if the disciples had simply held onto the food Jesus gave them, continually thanking Him for providing lunch for them. That would’ve been stupid when there was enough food to feed the thousands who were gathered and hungry.

The concept of downsizing so that others might upgrade is biblical, beautiful … and nearly unheard of.

Walking in genuine intimacy and full surrender to God requires great faith.

What are you doing right now that requires faith?

Life is comfortable when you separate yourself form people who are different from you

But God doesn’t call us to be comfortable. He calls us to trust Him so completely that we are unafraid to put ourselves in situations where we will be in trouble if He doesn’t come through.

So are you living a safe life? A life of great faith?  A life of comfort and safety?  I urge you to take seriously the commands of Jesus to completely surrender your life to Him.  Following Christ may not be safe, but it is fulfilling.  If you have read this book, how did this chapter speak to you?  I think it was one of the most thought-provoking and challenging chapters in the book.  It made me want to start selling all my ’stuff’ and downsize so that I could better minister to others.  Let me know what you think in the comments below.

Posts in this series:

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

It’s been a while since I’ve posted an update in this series. We are currently going through this book in our life group for older teens and college students, so I wanted to jump back in and finish the series. Previously I had shared how I struggled through chapter 5 because of the focus on external actions which reflect the condition of your heart.

In order to understand Chan’s viewpoint, I think chapter 5 must be read in context of the entire book. When you read chapter 6, the focus and purpose of the book become much clearer. The entire tone changes as grace and hope are shared. Here is how Chan turns the corner to start discussing the solution to lukewarm living:

My fear in writing the previous chapter is that it only evokes in you fear and guilt.  Personal experience has taught me that actions driven by fear and guilt are not an antidote to lukewarm, selfish, comfortable living.  I hope you realize instead that the answer is love.

He starts out the chapter with a quote that really spoke to me. Chan actually quoted a paragraph from John Piper’s Book, God is the Gospel. That one quote was the inspiration for my sermon God is Enough a few months ago. (here is the link to the sermon mp3) Read this slowly.

The critical question for our generation, and for every generation is this: If you could have heaven, with no sickness, and with all the friends you ever had on earth, and all the food you ever liked, and all the leisure activities you ever enjoyed, and all the natural beauties you ever saw, all the physical pleasures you ever tasted, and no human conflict or natural disasters, could you be satisfied with heaven, if Christ was not there?

After reading this quote, I had to go and read the entire book by Piper. It dives deep into God’s Glory. But the question that kept ringing through my mind was simply this, “Is God enough?”  Strip away all the stuff in life: the good, the bad, the sickness, the success, the failure, the poverty, and the wealth, and simply look at your life. Can you honestly say that God is enough? When God becomes your consuming passion, then your desire is to follow Him no matter the cost and there is no room for half-hearted, lukewarm living. I am so glad that this book is not an angry diatribe against the American church. Instead it is a loving reminder to discover true life in Christ.

Here are some other quotes that I highlighted as I read through the chapter.

• When we love, we’re free! We don’t have to worry about a burdensome load of commands, because when we are loving, we can’t sin.
• But the solution isn’t to try harder, fail, and then make bigger promises, only to fail again.
• we are called to surrender everything for Christ
• While discussing the church in Laodicea, Chan shares “His counsel wasn’t to “try harder,” but rather to let Him in.”
• Something mysterious, even supernatural must happen in order for genuine love for God to grow in our hearts. The Holy Spirit has to move in our lives.
• There is nothing better than giving up everything and stepping into a passionate love relationship with God, the God of the universe who made galaxies, leaves, laughter, and me and you.
• God is the only true Giver, and He needs nothing from us. But still He wants us. He gave us life so that we might seek and know Him.

Posts in this series:

• Chapter 1
• Chapter 2
• Chapter 3
• Chapter 4
• Chapter 5
• Chapter 6
• Chapter 7
• Chapter 8

In case you haven’t heard, the FTC is cracking down on blogs.  As of December 1st, bloggers must now reveal when they receive compensation or free products for review purposes.  I am part of several blogger review programs which provide free books, so I wanted to let you know where I stand.  Although I may receive and review free books from time to time, I am in no way required to provide a positive review.  I have the freedom to post my true thoughts, and I will always do just that.

I also am part of several affiliate link programs.  When you click on a product link or a site advertisement and then make a purchase, I receive a small commission.  So far, this has not really provided any income.  My expenses to run the site still far outweigh any income I have received from the affiliate programs.  If the site traffic increases, I hope to use this income to simply cover my costs.

I have a little trouble believing that this is such a huge problem for the government.  They are threatening fines up to $11,000 for bloggers who do not disclose these free products or marketing relationships.  As a follower of Christ, I want to be above reproach in everything I do, online and in the real world.  I want you to know that I will always be straight with you.  You will only receive honest and truthful opinions when I talk about a book or product. I have also created a page here on the blog with my full disclosure policy.  So thanks for hanging around and reading this post. It’s not my most interesting one, so thanks for being a loyal reader!

I ran across an interesting website last week. Christian Book Summaries provides an much-needed service. I love reading books, but if you’re like me, you probably have a stack of books waiting to be read. There are a lot of books that I would like to read, but I simply don’t have the time to get to. These free summaries are detailed and helpful, and they provide a good overview of the book. They’re not reviews, so the summaries just contain info straight from the book. You can look here to see all the books that they have summarized in the past. It brings back memories of college and cliffs notes.

I also found another service for Christian Leaders that provides summaries for a low monthly fee. Check out Leaders Book Summaries for info on their service.

I recently received a copy of the book Sound, Lighting and Video: A Resource for Worship to review here on the blog.  This is really a great book that fills a very important need in the church.  I am always looking for good resources that help volunteers get up to speed in using tech equipment at church.  This is a book that will help beginners and experienced users alike with an overview of equipment and methods.  I am already passing it around to our tech volunteers and we will plan on using the book in our training.

First, let me give you my background.  Although I am a pastor, I am always playing with audio and video equipment.  I’m the guy that reads through the entire manual of every single piece of equipment at the church and then plays with it to try it out.  As pastor, I want to know how things work and how they function.  I’m also the guy at church who helps running wire and installing new equipment.  At times, I also train our tech workers and get them up and going as well.  I have had experience with designing and installing both audio and video systems, although I’ve not gotten into the lighting world yet.

The book is organized into three main sections: sound, lighting, and video.   All of the sections contain diagrams and pictures to help explain the principles and theories. Each section also contains examples of current equipment and how they work.  The section on lighting was the most helpful to me since I haven’t had the opportunity to really learn about all the different types of lights and connectors. The audio section was good, but it was mostly review for me, although I picked up some great info about EQ that I haven’t heard before. The video section had some really good advice on designing and planning video systems in churches and making the switch to wide screen.

Some additional thoughts:

• Since this book is focused on being a resource for worship, I really appreciated the author’s focus on why we are using technology.  We can’t lose sight of the mission of the church.
• A book like this can quickly be outdated because of the rapidly changing technology in the audio, lighting, and video world.  I think the author does a good job of staying focused on the underlying theories of how and why things work.  Just remember that pictures and specific examples may not be that helpful in just a year or two, especially as we see the convergence of computer, audio, and video equipment.
• If you are looking for an advanced, in-depth resource on how every knob works on every piece of equipment you have, then this book probably isn’t for you. It is what it says, a good reference and resource for technology use in worship.  You will still need to read manuals and apply the information in this book to your setting and your environment.

I think this would be a great book for all churches to have in their training library.  I’m glad I had the chance to read and review it.  I will definitely be using it in my ministry.

From the Back Cover

Hallelujah! Finally the book you’ve been waiting for! Sound, Lighting & Video: A Resource for Worship is the only book that tackles the integration and use of light, sound and video for houses or worship. Connect with more people in ways you never thought possible. Written by the managing editor of “Worship Arts & Technology Magazine” you’ll learn how to:

• Integrate sound, lighting and video together from the ground up for easy application
• Connect with more people in ways you’ve never imagined
• Re-examine and re-incorporate your current media systems
• Be up and running like the pros with this beginner-friendly guide
• Solve your greatest technical problems efficiently, without the information overload
• Better communicate your message using media solutions

DISCLOSURE OF MATERIAL CONNECTION: http://cmp.ly/2

Last year, I shared about a new Kodak Zi6 pocketcam that I was using as my main camcorder.  I have been extremely pleased with the camcorder and we have used it a lot over the past year.   But with the cheap price and small size, pocketcams all have some drawbacks. Typically the battery life and recording times are short.  Because of the small size, it is almost impossible to keep the video stabilized while filming.  So expect some shaky footage.   But the biggest drawback for filming footage for youth and church is the audio quality.  The first generation pocketcams did not have the capability to hook in an external mic.

Fast forward to today.  All the major makers have updated their camcorders.  Flip, Creative, and Kodak all have new models out, and all the other camcorder makers are quickly jumping in this growing market. I wanted to spotlight the newest model from Kodak, the Zi8.  Here are the new features

• Record High Definition video (1080p at 30 fps with 16:9 aspect ratio)  The old Zi6 that I have only goes up to 720p resolution
• Expandable SD/SDHC card slot up to 32 GB. The new SDHC cards are getting cheaper all the time
• Rechargeable batteries and charger included.  It uses a battery pack now, but they have also added a DC port to power the unit continously.
• Vibrant 2.5-inch viewfinder; Watch footage on HDTV with included HDMI cable
• Get sharper videos and less blur thanks to built-in digital image stabilization.
• But the biggest new feature is the external mic port.  This is HUGE!  You can hook up an external mono or stereo mic to record audio from a distance.  I have not been able to use my Zi6 for many of the church videos because of the poor sound quality. With this camcorder, you can use a lapel mic or boom mic to get the sound directly from the source.

And the price … currently it is $179 on Amazon.  I have been able to simply drop the footage into iMovie from my Zi6.  If you are looking for a cheap high quality camcorder, then you may want to check this one out.   You can find out more info about using this camera over at worshipideas.com.

I shared about our walk with Christ this past weekend at Cornerstone.  How our life is full of small steps that determine our direction. I also mentioned Andy Stanley’s new book, The Principle of the Path.   He makes the statement that our direction, not our intentions, determines our destination.

I was in New York City several years ago for a wedding.  My wife and I managed to get around by using shuttle services and the train system.  We were up in Long Island for the wedding and arranged for an airport shuttle van to get us back in time for our flight home. When the driver arrived, he asked me to sit up front with him. I had trouble understanding his Jamaican accent, and he struggled to understand my hillbilly accent, but he finally got across that he needed some help. He wanted me to be his navigator and tell him how to get from where we were to our next stop to pick up the other passengers on the shuttle ride. He handed me a map and a list of five addresses and asked me where to turn next. I had this sinking feeling that it was going to be a long afternoon. I realized very quickly that a map is useless if you don’t know where you are and if you don’t know where you are going.

The same principle is true in our walk with Christ. I want to urge you to think about where and where you need to be in your spiritual life. Listen to this short clip from Andy Stanley about this principle of the path.

Over the past few years, I’ve really neglected reading fiction books.  So when I had a chance to read and review The Noticer by Andy Andrews, I jumped at the chance.   This is a book that people are talking about, and I can see why.  It’s an encouraging book that is easy to read.   It was also the first book that I read on my Kindle, so I was surprised to find myself so caught up in the story.

Great fiction stories have the ability to transport you into another world.  I love the feeling I get when I can’t wait to turn the page.  I read through this book in one day, and I had trouble putting it down.  The Noticer tells the story of a mysterious, almost angelic, man who notices when people need advice or encouragement.  He is able to share his life changing “perspective” with the different people he encounters in life.   His advice is part encouragement, part Bible teaching, and part motivational, but in every situation, he seems to have the very words that people need to hear.  It’s easy to read a book like this for pure enjoyment, but there is much here for us to consider and study.  How do we respond to those people around us?  Do we notice when they are hurting, when they are alone, and when they need encouragement?

The book has also spawned a website called the Noticer Project where you can list out who has been influential in your life.  After reading this, it has definitely made me more aware of those around me.  I want to be the type of person who makes a life changing impact on others.  I also want to make an effort to read more fiction books.  Because sometimes, all a person needs is a little perspective.

A moving story of common wisdom from the bestselling author of The Traveler’s Gift.

Orange Beach, Alabama is a simple town filled with simple people. But they all have their share of problems – marriages teetering on the brink of divorce, young adults giving up on life, business people on the verge of bankruptcy, and many of the other obstacles that life seems to dish out to the masses.

Fortunately, when things look the darkest – a mysterious old man named Jones has a miraculous way of showing up. Communicating what he calls “a little perspective,” Jones explains that he has been given a gift of noticing things that others miss. In his simple interactions, Jones speaks to that part in everyone that is yearning to understand why things happen and what they can do about it.

Based on a remarkable true story, The Noticer beautifully blends fiction, allegory, and inspiration.

We have wanted to make the leap to a digital board at church for a long time, but we haven’t found a board that had everything we needed and was easy to use.  I think we have finally found one that meets our needs and is inexpensive.   This is definitely on our wish list right now.  The PreSonus StudioLive is a 16 channel, digital mixer with Firewire recording capabilities.  It would be perfect for smaller churches who want to have a nice live mixer, but also have the ability to do multi-track recording of their services.

For praise bands, this is awesome.  You can record your practice onto a computer through the firewire interface, then go back to the board and mix the sound just like you want it using your actual practice.  You can save your setup so that on Sunday morning, it’s as simple as hitting load to dial in your sound.  If you have ever wanted to do a live worship CD, then this is a great way to easily record the band. The board offers all the great benefits of a digital board, including EQ, compressors, limiters, and gating on all channels.  PreSonus has a blog for the StudioLive with great instructional videos that really highlight some of the advanced features.  If you need more than 16 channels, they offer the ability to join up to four mixers together.  This means that you can physically bolt the boards together and have the board function as a 32, 48, or even 64 channel mixer.

The best thing about this board is price.  You can find the board for purchase for under $2000 at Sweetwater or Northern Sound and Light.  I get excited when I see a product with high-end features for a price that puts it in reach of new & smaller churches.  The best way to understand how it works is to get on the blog or check out the many videos on YouTube about the StudioLive.  Now if only someone would get excited enough about this board to buy two for our church

I wanted to start a new feature here at FaithEngineer and share about some of the tech gear we use at church and some of the gear that we want to use (but can’t afford yet). I’m kicking it off by sharing about the new camcorder that we are using now to film video clips, announcements, and even our services. We have been wanting a camcorder for a while now, and we were blessed to receive this one for free from someone in our community.

The Panasonic AG-HMC70 is a HD camcorder that records in the AVCHD format.  What makes it unique is that it records directly to small SDHC memory cards.  It also has professional audio connectors including two XLR microphone inputs and one 1/8″ stereo input.  It doesn’t have a ton of options, but it does what it is supposed to do, recording great HD video with excellent audio options.  We will be editing footage from this in iMovie, Final Cut Express, and Adobe Premiere.  I will probably transcode the video to 720p, since that is what our widescreen projectors use.  It also has an HDMI output that we can use to send through a switcher or directly to a TV.  It is a great entry level prosumer camcorder for churches that sells for under $2000.   It is big and it is ugly, but it does exactly what we need it to.  Here is a review that shares more about the camcorder.

I’ve been reading through Frank Viola’s latest book, From Eternity To Here. The publisher says that this is a perfect follow-up to Francis Chan’s Crazy Love and in some ways I agree. Chan’s book is about why we should be Crazy in Love with Christ, and Viola’s book explains how we get there.

I started reading this book with a little trepidation. I read the first edition of an earlier book by Viola titled Pagan Christianity. I have to admit that it was not one of my favorite books. I agree with some of what he wrote, but I don’t think it was a fair representation of the church today. But when I started reading the reviews of this latest book, it made me want to give him a second chance. I’m glad I did, it’s a book that definitely makes you think.

I like that so much of the book is Christ-centered. He definitely wants to keep our focus on the mission and epic story of God, and in so doing strip away many of the man-made traditions and activities that get in the way. I have struggled with what to write in this review because it is a book that you have to soak in. I’m not sure I agree with some of his sweeping generalizations, but I really need more time to think and pray through some of the issues and terminology that he uses.

The book is centered around three themes. In reality, it is almost like reading three separate books. The epic story of God is intertwined through these three themes. Here is how Viola describes it.

If you have been a Christian for any length of time, terms like “bride of Christ,” “body of Christ,” “house of God,” and “family of God” are all too familiar to you. They may even be worn out and tiresome. It’s not an overstatement to say that our wearied familiarity with these words has blunted their edge and diluted thier impact.

Christians have been given a steady diet of biblical terminology. We speak it fluently because it’s the tribal language. But the reality and the power behind our terminology has largely been lost.

My hope, therefore, is that as you read this book, new life will be breathed into these familiar terms. I pray that the Holy Spirit would fill them with their original beauty and awe to this end: that you would be given a dramatically new, if not a staggering look at the ageless purpose that drives your God.  For that purpose is the very reason you exist.

I plan on reading back through the book slowly and deliberately, and I will post more thoughts when I do. I don’t think this book will be as popular as Crazy Love, mainly because he uses terminology that many if not most Christians are unfamiliar with. In the meantime, here is some information from the publisher.

(more…)