Merry Christmas from theMovement Staff...

Send your own ElfYourself eCards

thelifeGroup Christmas Party Director's Cut...

If you were here this past weekend, December 21st, you caught our third installment of our "lifeGroup" mini-episodes. If you haven't seen them, catch them on my blog or on www.themovement.org.

This latest one was fun to do, but there was a moment in the final cut that didn't actually make it. I was super bummed, because I thought it was one of the funnier scenes, but because of a little bit of confusion there were a few potential "oh no you didn't" hang-ups that prevented it from being shown. I wanted, however, to show you the scene that got cut and give a little explanation on why it got cut. It's just simply too good to not see.

At the opening of the show the guests start arriving. Ellen, played by April, the somewhat naive "so heavenly minded that she's no earthly good" wife of lifeGroup leader Steve, played by Robbie, welcomes some of the guests. Here, we have Jessica, played by Elizabeth, and Peter, played by Glen (Glen got the name "Peter" because our editor, Peter Rollo, didn't show up to play the part. Boo to you Peter!! Ha Ha. So we immortalized his absence with a character name instead).

Jessica comes in, Ellen greets them, comments on "the new guy" that Jessica brings, adding that "he's cute I must say." Jessica then goes on to correct Ellen by saying "well, actually this is my brother" as if to say "we're actually not dating." Peter chimes in to clarify the obvious confusion with them being a different race by saying "step brother."

In this original clip, Ellen, a bit confused, says "oh, well in some cultures that's acceptable," and then proceeds to answer the door before they can respond.

The intent of the statement was to communicate that Ellen didn't catch that Jessica was saying "therefore, we're not dating" and instead thought that she was being told by Jessica that they were not only "together" but that they were also step-siblings. Her comment, "that's acceptable in some cultures" is actually referring to dating family. She's trying to seem tolerant of the fact that they, as step-siblings, are dating.

Interestingly, upon viewing the episode with friends before Sunday, most thought that it was a reference to race and the fact that their parents apparently had gotten married who are obviously a different race, something that to Ellen was seen as only "acceptable in some cultures."

Of course in context this doesn't make sense because right before this Ellen compliments Jessica on finding a "cute" guy, essentially condoning their relationship, so it wouldn't really jive with her also thinking that inter-racial relationships are only acceptable in "some cultures." But in a somewhat fast paced episode where you're trying to get a handle on each character, we didn't expect people to think through it that much.

We did purposely choose someone of a different race to play the step-brother of Jessica, who of course is Mexican (it was originally Peter, who is white), and when Peter couldn't show up, we thought it would be even better with Glen.

The irony of it is that it ended up shooting us in the foot as it ended up upstaging the family connection to the comment and brought too much attention on the race difference. An easy way out of it would have been to either have two people of the same race but still as step-siblings, or have Ellen say "well it's acceptable in some cultures to date family."

Unfortunately, none of us, when filming, caught on to the fact that it might be mistaken for a race thing, and it was too late, and the scene had to go.

But here is the scene uncut for your pleasure. Enjoy!!!

"the lifeGroup" Episode I, II, and III...

This is the first episode of a series of mini-sodes we started doing about a year ago. It's basically a spoof of "the Office," our favorite TV show, which is a spoof of reality TV in general. So yeah, I guess it's a spoof of a spoof. In "the lifeGroup," camera crews follow the goings-on of a home fellowship led by Steve and Ellen Smallchild. Steve is the consummate lifeGroup leader, who lives out a hybrid of the "I'm the pro" swagger of 'Michael Scott' of "the Office" and the idealistic, hopeless romantic but boneheaded 'Clark Griswold' of the "Vacation" movies.

Here is Episode I, the "pilot" if you will, as well as Episode II and the latest, Episode III.

PS: Episode III is the "Director's Cut" with a deleted scene. To read about the scene and see why it was omitted, click here.

Episode I: the Pilot

Episode II: the Puppets

Episode III: the Christmas Party (Director's Cut)

the Satan Show!!!

Alright here's a few vids we used for the sermon on November 30th that was "Jesus' Encounter with Satan." What we basically did was looked at the three types of temptations Satan used on Christ and showed how Jesus combated the temptations. We opened the sermon with the first video, then after that, Jeremy spoke for 10 minutes or so on that temptation. We went from there into video two, Jeremy spoke after that for a few minutes, and finally finished with video three and then Jeremy spoke about that one and closed out the sermon.

To hear the sermon, click here and select the November 30th sermon.

Ya gotta give props to Todd McKendrick. For one, he has never done anything like this before, and for two, look at that outfit. Another special thanks to Corrine, Todd's wife, for letting us use her husband for such an embarrassing video. Thanks Corrine!

It's Answer Me Jesus!!!

I used this video in a sermon I gave on November 23rd. To hear the sermon, click here and select the sermon from November 23rd, "Jesus Encounter with the Father."

Here is the video I opened up the sermon with on the same Sunday as I talked about being about the Father's business. In the video I relate my walk with my Father with the relationship I have with my son, Micah. To read the full story on the video, click here.

the "Tree People" Video...

Here's the video I showed on October 26th for a sermon on Mary Magdalene. The first one here is a bonus clip to put a really annoying melody in your head. The most annoying thing is that because it's a Christian song you feel bad about being annoyed by it. The second clip is the one I used for the sermon. ENJOY!!

PS...go to themovement.org to hear the actual sermon and see what on God's green earth I was even talking about with the "Tree People" video.

And this...well, there's not much I can say about this. So awkward. But so awesome.

Random Video...Good Stuff...

Here's something I ran across on our Media PC in the sound booth. To my knowledge, we never showed this, though it may have gotten shown on a random weekend when I was out of town. Anyway, it's funny stuff...enjoy!

Kung Fu Movement Video...

So, the Kung Fu Movement Video is up and viewable at www.themovement.org/videos. Just click on the video titled "After Worship."

Enjoy!

"Who are You? Part 4: Our Identity in Christ's Purpose" Intro Video

Here is the 4th and final intro video for the "Who are You: Our Identity in Christ" series. This was for week four's Ambassadors for Christ message.

"Who are You? Part 4: Our Identity for His Purpose" Jesus Video

Ever think that once you meet the Lord, you go through the ol' cleansing process and then He just throws you in a pile of "cleaned fish" and turns away and continues fishing? Sometimes I think we see Him as someone who is only concerned with the lost and that He gets tired of believers who keep making the same mistakes, almost as if He's thinking "these guys are no good, I need to find some new prospects."

Well, on this particular Sunday, we looked at who we are as ambassadors for Christ. That we have an active role in His work and mission, and that it is a constant relationship that we are building with Him, one that he is actively involved in and pouring into.

But first, let's take a look at this other view of Him as a frustrated, "I'm over it" kind of a Savior...

Special Thanks to Vintage 21 Church who created this video.

"Who are You? Part 3: Our Identity in Christ's Body" Intro Video

Here is the intro video for "Who are You: Our Identity in Christ's Body" from July 20th. So, a little backdrop for this bad-boy...when shown live, right as I start talking on the video I actually came up on stage, which prompted the little dialogue on the video when I'm looking down (at the real me on stage). As I ask myself to wait and take a seat, I walk across the stage (all the while being followed by the eyes of the over-sized "Video Jobey"), and then Real Jobey asks Video Jobey "is this seat fine?" pointing to the chair onstage. "Yeah, that's fine," Video Jobey replies...it really doesn't make sense if you see it without the full, live action interaction. It's sort of like if you don't see "the Dark Knight" in IMAX. Well, it's not quite that extreme...as a matter of fact my wife asked me afterward, "so, who were you talking to in that video anyway?"

Glad it went over well.

But again, the real gem is at the very end, our cute little movie montage to intro the sermon.



Special thanks to Peter Rollo (editor and sparkly magic, and for coming up with this hair-brained idea), me for actually going through with it against all regard for any self-respect, and for the members of the congregation that offered up the very heartfelt pity laughs. You complete me.

"Who are You? Part 3: Our Identity in Christ's Body:" The Identity Theft Video

Here is our video from "Who are You: Our Identity in the Christ's Body" from July 20th. Obviously a take-off of the Citibank "identity theft" commercials, this was a look at what happens when we get our identity as part of the Body of Christ gets ripped off and we believe that we are just a bunch of individuals with no need of each other.



Special thanks to the actors, Marc Correll and Heather Hawthorne; the voices, Sierra Ciremele and Robbie Tribby; and the crew, Robbie Tribby (Director), Levi Bennett (Video), Peter Rollo (Editor), and myself (Writer). Oh yeah, and the original idea, Kevin Bennett. Oh yeah, and Chris Erdos showed up a day late and a dollar short with some lighting.

"Who are You? Part 2: Our Identity in Christ" Intro Video

This was the intro video to the sermon for "Who are You: Our Identity in Christ." In it, I give a super sweet, life-changing analogy of how our identity in Christ is like vintage guitars. Yeah, that's right, I said it...vintage guitars.

But the real gem of the video is the very end, our little movie montage welcoming the sermon.



Special thanks to Peter Rollo (editor and post-production), me for standing there in front of a tripod, Gibson USA and Fender Japan, the Los Angeles Dodgers for making my wardrobe possible, and the many makers of fine cinema and film who we are hoping will gracefully overlook our use of their films for our silly little intro video.

"Who are You? Part 2: Our Identity in Christ" The "Put Off/Put On" Video

This was a video we used for the "Who are You: Our Identity in Christ" sermon from July 13th. In it we looked at different circumstances, be it sin, trials, or labels that have, or could have, held us back from becoming who we are in Christ; yet God would be glorified.



Special thanks to the members of Matt Piro's Vista Young Adults lifeGroup and my San Marcos Young Married Couples lifeGroup. Also to Peter Rollo, the editor and post production (which means "flashy craziness you put on to make a video look sweet when it's all done"), as well as to Sharpie Permanent Ink Markers, without which this, and many other projects in life, would not be possible.

"Who are You? Part 2: Our Identity in Christ" The Jesus Video

This was a funny little "Jesus Video" made by a church called "Vintage 21" that shows us how we depict Jesus as a judgmental, "big brother" type overlord with nothing good to say about us. In the message, we looked at the antithesis of this depiction of Jesus as we looked at passages from the Song of Songs as well as Ephesians and saw the real way Jesus sees us, as "beautiful and lovely" in His eyes.

Nehemiah 13 Sermon Vid...Celebrity Quotes from June 29th

Here is the shocking (and sometimes sadly funny) video we showed for the final week of our Nehemiah Series, going through chapter 13. In it, we looked at where our influence comes from, and who (or what) affects our thinking on life, priorities, and God. In chapter 13 of Nehemiah, the story comes to a sad close when, amidst God's favor, mercy, and grace, the people eventually slide into a downfall of being influenced by the outside.

Commitment...There Can Only Be One

This was for a sermon Jeremy gave on commitment. We were going through the book of Nehemiah and were seeing how the Israelites were becoming truly committed to their faith. It also happened to be the day of game 5 of the Finals between the Lakers and the Celtics, and these adds were running like crazy.

S1 Promo Vid...

This was a little promo video we did for our S1 Class. The tooth sparkle became an instant hit.

From Good to Great Video...

This was a video for a sermon on going from Good to Great. In this particular one, we had some fun with it.