This weekend CNN featured a video that mentioned BluefishTV’s Mandles video. The Manly Man Candle Company has been creating manly smelling candles for the last 3 years, however their company really took off after the Bluefish TV produced Mandles video became viral. Many church services used the Mandles video as a sermon illustration for Father’s Day.
Unfortunately, the Manly Man Candle Company doesn’t currently offer Mandles in Sweat, Fear, or Duct tape.
Read More......
It’s not every day that I run into a bunch of guys who are willing to risk their lives by climbing one of the tallest mountains in Europe. But their purpose behind climbing the mountain is what gave them greater hope and motivation. Their purpose inspired me in what it means to help someone who doesn’t have access to such a critical need.
Chad Madden, one of our producers was one of those guys, along with Todd Phillips who works with us regularly with our resources and at our Fusion and LeadNow events.
Chad shares his account of Elbrus:
I was asked earlier this year if I’d be willing to film a group of climbers attempting to summit Mount Elbrus, the tallest mountain in Europe at 18,500 ft. Of course this meant I would have to climb the mountain as well, otherwise all the shots would just be of the group walking away from me, which isn’t good video.
I grew up in Houston, which couldn’t be flatter, and I now live in Dallas, which is, well, flat. The last time I remember even climbing a hill was in elementary school, when I went to Colorado with a friend and his family. We woke up one morning and looked out a window and decided we’d climb the nearest mountain (it was just a hill, but to 6th graders it looked like a mountain). We made it to the top and planted a flag (a burlap bag with my name on it that my mom sent for dirty laundry) at the top, which probably was a federal offense or something, littering in a state park.
All that to say, I was woefully underqualified to climb a mountain. But I’m not the sharpest knife in the drawer, so I said yes.
The group I went with was climbing to raise money for The Last Well, a movement to provide clean water to the entire nation of Liberia in the name of Christ. Weird, climbing a mountain to raise money for water, at least that’s what I thought, but it’s funny how much you think about water on the mountain. Staying hydrated is about the most important thing up there. That and not falling off the mountain. Or being eaten by a Yeti (we actually met someone looking for him/it?).
What seemed at first to be a strange connection turned out to be, I think, a great idea. Basically, these guys took something they loved to do and found a way to help people while doing it. They already had to pay for the trip, it could have just been a mountain climb, but by using it to raise money for clean water, it connected them to something bigger, it gave them a greater sense of purpose, and I think ultimately it made the journey much more satisfying. And the non-mountaineering video guy survived without losing any fingers or toes, which was also quite satisfying.
At the end of the trip, Chad filmed teaching segments from Todd Phillips to be used in an upcoming series on leadership. I really enjoyed hearing Chad tell his story this past week especially how he didn’t struggle with altitude sickness like the majority of the crew. I'm not sure how I would handle the mountain. Maybe I would get sick, maybe whine or complain but I hope that I would be thinking about the people in Liberia more than anything. That is certainly what kept these guys going forward.
We’re glad you made it back safely, Chad!
This morning, I had the opportunity to talk with James Leonard who I mentioned in the previous post. James is the Associate Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in New York City. Trinity Baptist is a progressive, outreach-oriented church that ministers to a diverse congregation in the heart of the city.
They average around 700 attendees and once a year in the fall, they participate in a church wide bible study. In the past, these church wide studies have really helped unify their church and reinstate their vision. Several years ago as a church, they went through Rick Warren’s Purpose Driven Life and it was a great experience for everyone.
James told me how he’s always looking for small group studies that are captivating and that will really speak to his church. He’d been looking for a study to do in the fall but couldn’t seem to find the right one. He mentioned how a lot of small group bible studies out there are designed more for suburban areas rather than urban. James remembered how he’d heard Erwin McManus at Leadership Summit where he came across Erwin’s book, Chasing Daylight. He really felt that Erwin’s teaching would resonate and connect with the people he ministered to. James then called Erwin’s church, Mosaic and asked about what resources they had available. Mosaic sent him to us and we were able to help him out.
James ended up purchasing 300 Chasing Daylight books and workbooks and 20 Leader’s guides and DVD sets. They will begin their study in September so they are gearing up for it right now. He said when his church participates in a study it will coincide with the pastor’s sermons for that week.
It was great to hear how James is really seeking out the interests and needs of the people in his church. He had done his homework and knew exactly what his people needed. It was also neat to get a little glimpse into how our resources are impacting people. I look forward to hearing their stories about Chasing Daylight.
How have church wide bible studies been effective in your church? How important do you believe it is to find a small group study that will connect and resonate with the type of people you minister to?
Our video-driven bible study, Chasing Daylight with Erwin McManus has been used by thousands of churches across the country. It’s been really encouraging to hear how this resource has been making a difference in people’s lives.
A few weeks ago, James, Associate Pastor at Trinity Baptist Church in New York City purchased 300 Chasing Daylight books and workbooks and 20 Leader’s guides and DVD sets. Their church has really grasped the idea that it’s easy to provide resources for all the small groups in your church. Since their church has demonstrated a passion for small groups, it elevates the importance of community and accountability to all church attendees.
Jeff, a small group leader in Grand Rapids, MI found out about the Chasing Daylight bible study and hosted the study in his small group for ten weeks. From the beginning, his group was very impressed with the teaching and at the end, they asked each other, “what next?” They were ready to act on everything they had learned.
Jeff also expressed how one couple’s calling to long-term missions in Africa was made clear since using the Chasing Daylight series. Two couples felt led to minister in the inner-city of Grand Rapids and serve on short-term missions. Jeff and his wife are convinced that at some point they will go to China for a short term or long term mission trip. They have also had the opportunity to adopt a daughter from China and have returned to being consistent in volunteer efforts.
Our staff just loves being able to hear how people are putting their faith into action with the encouragement from a bible study series.
Our newest video-driven bible study, Uprising with Erwin McManus will release early this fall. To learn more about the Chasing Daylight series visit the trailer here.
This past week, our production team just finished reviewing and editing the DVD’s and leaders guides for the new 2009 Youth Ministry kit that will release August 1. After all the editing and reviewing, the kit is now off to the press. A lot of filming, producing, graphics, writing and more went into the series so to celebrate, Brian treated our whole team to some delicious Mexican food for lunch.
The 2009 Youth Ministry kit includes teaching from Marcus Goodloe, Sean McDowell, and David Nasser. Marcus Goodloe and Sean McDowell’s teaching was filmed in LA and David Nasser’s was filmed in Rome. All three of these leaders are extremely gifted and they really meet youth where they’re at.
This will actually be our third year working with David Nasser. We’ve really enjoyed partnering with him these past few years. Having the opportunity to go to Rome and film David’s teaching was a life-changing experience for our crew. David had always wanted to teach on the life of Paul in Rome as well so it worked out perfectly.
Our prayer is that all of these series will truly impact this generation of youth and that they will be challenged to live out their faith radically in a culture that is in desperate need of Jesus Christ. Keep a look out for these new youth teaching series’ at bluefishtv.com.
As you may have seen on previous posts, we’ve been partnering with Christianity Today’s Faith Visuals. Similar to SermonSpice and Worship House Media, Faith Visuals is an aggregator of video clips for ministry leaders.
Several months ago, they chose to use our top 100 video illustrations for $1.99 to be featured on their site.
Cory Whitehead, New Product Development and Marketing Specialist for Christianity Today, just let us know they wrote a detailed review on our clips. You can check out the review here.
What clips have you used that you would recommend to other pastors, small group leaders, etc.? Do you have any specific stories or illustrations you'd like to see on our site?
I’ve really been thinking about culture’s influence on Christianity. When I drive home from work every day, billboards scream at me left and right (I don’t notice them in the morning because I’m just waking up). The “me’s” and the “you’s” shouting from the billboards make it difficult not to think about what I want or deserve. I guess I really do need an exotic vacation, a million dollars, and the perfect body.
Many pastors today preach right along with the billboards: “You can have it all now.” “Believe in yourself.” “God wants to bless you.” “God wants to make you rich.” The focus is drenched on man, but very little attention is upon God. This kind of teaching feels so good. It tickles my ears. I begin to think there really is so much greatness in me if I just tap into it. It even tastes like cotton candy but in the end, it bites me with a bitter, awful taste.
The truth is that living a life committed to Jesus Christ is far from this sugar-coated mentality of “Jesus wants to bless me and I am so great.” True Christianity calls me to a life of surrender (giving away my life), sacrifice, hardship, humility, loss, pain, and more. Yes, God does promise blessing and joy when I live life in Him and I am the first to say I experience his fullness every day, but he also tells me that above all else my heart is deceitfully wicked and apart from Him, I can do nothing. This message is very conflicting with the message we hear in culture and even in churches today. And I might be lucky if I catch these words on a billboard. I have to constantly examine what my eyes and ears are taking in and line it up with Scripture.
Donald Miller, author of Blue Like Jazz, has been really great to partner with us in creating a message on this topic. He takes on this subject in a new light in Free Market Jesus. I’ve talked with many leaders this past week who were so refreshed by his simple yet profound insight into Jesus and culture. I think you’ll enjoy it too.
Do you think many churches are teaching a false gospel? How has cultured shaped your view on true Christianity?
It’s been a busy season in the life of Bluefish. Just within the past few months, our team has grown steadily. We’ve hired eight incredibly gifted people who have already been a great asset to our team. We thought you might like to learn a little more about them:
• Dawn Smith- Field Producer from Las Vegas, NV
My fun facts: In school, I worked in one of those café's where they send you to 'coffee school.' Over the years, I have become a bit of a coffee aficionado. I can tell if a bean was picked too early, has been over-roasted and even what continent it comes from. I am that annoying person at Starbucks who asks to have their drink remade.
I'm a bit of a cinematography geek. I will play a game with well shot movies where I pause a scene to see if I can tell how it was lit and with what lenses it was shot with. I used to take a notepad into movie theaters with me to jot down cool lighting, editing or things about the story I particularly liked. Now, I try to save it until the second time I've seen the movie and just enjoy the first run.
• Ryan Johnson- Field Producer from Ft. Worth, TX
My fun facts: I'm ridiculously good on an etch-a-sketch. I picked up my little sisters etch-a-sketch about four years ago and started messing around. Now I do full portraits, landscapes, draw cartoon characters, still life, all on an etch-a-sketch. I can even save them too so they don't get erased.
When I was nine I went to the prince of Saudi Arabia's birthday (he was 11). He is the second in line to the throne (there are like 20 different princes). I can't explain why I went though. Top secret stuff.
• Matt Brundige- Field Producer from Dallas, TX
My fun fact: While filming during one of my contracts in Alaska, I had the opportunity to shoot during the salmon season. Salmon season equals bear feeding which equals an abundance of fabulous opportunities. On one occasion I was filming a brown bear (also called “grizzly” if in the interior of Alaska) feeding on salmon in the middle of a stream. Slowly over time, I managed to get within 40 yards of the big beast with just a thin layer of foliage standing between the bear and I; and a steep wall to my back. After about 20 minutes I noticed in my viewfinder that the bear was sniffing in my direction and was slowly making his way towards me. I believe it was all the bacon I had at breakfast that was tickling his nose. At about 20 yards, I was starting to become extremely concerned but kept the camera rolling. Just when I was about to scramble up the steep wall behind me, a salmon jumped up and hit the bear’s “back-side.” That was enough to turn the bear’s attention off of me and continue feeding. So I say to that salmon wherever you are “Thank You!”
• Steve Gee- Graphic Designer from Nashville, TN
My fun facts: People tell me I have an uncanny ability to eat sandwiches. I can easily “down” (as my pals call it) nearly two (2) complete sandwiches in one sitting. While I have never entered a competitive sandwich eating contest, my wife tells me that I love honey cured ham sandwiches the most. When asked where this love originates, I sometimes think back to my childhood and how my mother would put sandwiches in my lunch on a regular basis. When I retire I have this lifelong dream of opening a little eatery that only sells soft drinks and lightly salted baked potato chips; you would have to bring your own sandwich. I would call the place, “Soft Drinks, Chips, and That’s It.” I would also design a real simple logo that would have a silhouette of a small panther eating a chip while sitting in a heavily iced fountain drink. I will also sell vacation t-shirts, wrist watches and steak at my restaurant.
• Samantha Krieger- Writer/Content Editor from Lynchburg, VA
My fun facts: I really love to gut-laugh but only certain people and a certain kind of humor can cause this reaction. Some say that my gut-laugh is contagious.
Every day at 3:00 sharp, I take a break to play Aerobie in the blazing Texas heat (96-100 degrees) with all guys (our production team). I am pregnant and will play Aerobie until the day it's just impossible. I really love Aerobie and will give my son one when he's born.
I also write the content for the blog.
• Dustin Hodge- Internet Marketing Coordinator from Dublin, TX
My fun facts: When I was younger I used to ride drunken pigs. There wasn’t a lot to do on a farm.
I have a titanium rod and titanium plate in my body.
I’ve gotten in a fight with a turkey, on 2 separate occasions.
• Eric Bird- Database Administrator from Carrollton, TX
My fun fact: I have stood at the highest point in the continental United States (Mt. Whitney in California, elev. 14, 505 ft.) and the lowest point (Death Valley, elev. 281 ft. below sea level) and I did both within 24 hours of each other.
• Daniel Kimberlin- Network Administrator from McKinney, TX
My fun fact: Not many people can stump me on a TV theme song and one time I solved a rubik’s cube with my feet.
