Bluefish Bytes: Friends with Sean McDowell

Sean McDowell says in the new Friends series:

The solution to loneliness is relationships. God has made us and designed us to be in healthy relationships. When we don’t have the relationships that He desires us to have we start to look for other things to fill that up. Maybe it’s sports, maybe it’s in a relationship and sexuality. Maybe it’s in food or music. We look for something else to fill up that void that’s in our hearts but God made us relational and that’s what makes the church unique when we care for each other. Love each other. Encourage each other. Then we can really be fulfilled in who God wants us to be.

Sean says it so right. Teens are faced with an unbelievable amount of pressure in their relationships. I’m in my mid-twenties and I remember the pressure like it was yesterday. At one point or another every teen feels loneliness but it’s about what they do with it that makes the difference.

The amazing truth is that God made us relational beings. We crave to be known and to know others in a deep way. When we understand what God really wants from us: to care, love, and encourage each other, we will be fulfilled. Instead of being bogged down in our loneliness or depression, we can begin by reaching out beyond ourselves… to others.

As a pastor, youth leader, or small group leader you have a great task ahead of you when it comes to teaching youth about relationships. We’ve partnered with Sean in this Friends series to help aid your teaching. This video series is merely a discussion starter for what we’d love to see happen in your youth- a drastic paradigm shift in the way they view and handle relationships.

We’d love your comments on how this brand new resource is influencing them. What other issues have you seen among youth when it comes to the influence of friends?

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Introducing The Small Group Exchange

Over the past few months, Scott Mosley, our Director of Operations, and I have been contacting leaders across the country who are directly involved in small group ministry. We’ve contacted these leaders to see how they might become a contributor to our new site, The Small Group Exchange (SGX) by providing reviews and articles.

The reason we set out to create SGX is because our heartbeat is in small group ministry. As more and more churches move away from the Sunday-School model and transition into the home or church-based small group format, new challenges and opportunities arise. New leaders are formed and often these leaders have difficulty finding quality resources and training so that they can be an effective small group leader. We want to help with this frustration and fill in the gap for them.

I have been blown away by our contributor’s desire to take their wisdom and experience in small groups and pass it on to others. They’re incredibly busy with responsibilities within the church and home, but they’ve been awesome with their deadlines, helping us launch the site, and spreading the word to their friends in ministry. Just to name a few of our contributors: Heather Goodman (Plano, TX), Spence Shelton (Durham, NC), Winfield Bevins (Outer Banks, NC), Annie Groves (Kailua, Hawaii), Heather Zempel (Washington D.C.), Anne Jackson (Nashville, TN), and Dan Kimball (Santa Cruz, CA).

We'll keep you updated on the additions we'll be making to the site as this is still the BETA version. If you’re interested in contributing to The Small Group Exchange, please peruse our articles, reviews, and products and contact Samantha [AT] smallgroupexchange.com. We’d love for you to be a part of our mission.

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Bluefish Bytes: Paul in Rome

David Nasser says in the Paul in Rome series:

Just as in any other church building of any denomination it [the Holy Staircase] has also sadly been a place where people have come and have on bended knee thought: Maybe I can get the favor of God if I pray really long and really hard… if I cry enough tears on these staircases I can earn the love of God.

I know I’ve been caught up into thinking I must earn God’s favor and love. But the reality is that God’s love for me isn’t based on anything I could do. My righteousness is as filthy rags, and even my very best still isn’t good enough.

I’ve missed the mark and missed His standard of perfection. That is why Christ had to be the One to take care of what I could not. He who knew no sin became sin for my righteousness. And my salvation is by grace through faith, so that I can’t boast.

This truth is incredible and should cause my heart to overflow with joy and gratitude every day. This truth is so radical and freeing that it should cause every person to want to follow after a Savior who has taken care of such a debt… because He loves us.

Do you ever feel you have to keep earning His love even though you know God’s grace covers you? Why is it so hard to allow His unconditional love to really saturate our lives?

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Introducing the New 2009 Youth Ministry Kit

We're really excited to announce that our 2009 Youth Ministry Kit has returned from the press and is now available at Bluefishtv.com. The line-up for this kit is packed with three incredibly talented communicators: David Nasser, Sean McDowell, and Marcus Goodloe ("Goodie"). These guys bring their own voice to the table and really speak to teens on the issues they're facing in today's culture.

The real-life interviews that our production team shot for the kit are really impacting as they're from real teens across the country addressing topics that need to be talked about and dealt with. Teens will definitely relate to these stories.

Here are some brief descriptions of the video-driven Bible studies:


PAUL IN ROME (Featuring David Nasser)
Has anything really changed in 2000 years?

Students in America are growing up in a culture that places high emphasis on entertainment, politics and self. It's increasingly difficult for scriptural Truth to cut through the noise and sink into the hearts and minds of this next generation. In these four sessions, David Nasser uses the life of Paul to highlight how followers of Christ can stand up to cultural "norms" and stand firm in Christ.

CHOOSE (Featuring Marcus “Goodie” Goodloe)
What’s the most spiritual thing you will do today?

Prayer? Reading the Bible? Serving? How we decide to express our faith is up to us. The power of choice is one of the most important elements of our spiritual journey. Students are constantly faced with life-changing decisions in their relationships and faith. In these four sessions, Marcus Goodloe introduces Biblical principles to help students make wise choices amidst a chaotic culture.

FRIENDS (Featuring Sean McDowell)
Who are the most influential people in a student’s life?

Parents, teachers and pastors would like to think they are the most influential in a student’s life, but students spend more time interacting with their friends than with anyone else. Friends influence every part of students’ lives - how they act, what they wear, what they say, and most importantly what they believe. In these four power-packed sessions, Sean McDowell offers Biblical insight into the most common issues students are facing in their friendships.

The kit also includes three DVDs full of video illustrations:

RIPPLE EFFECT
Can we really impact the world around us? These four powerful video illustrations demonstrate how even the smallest change can cause a ripple that makes a huge difference.

AMENA BROWN: HE IS HERE

Fusing her talent for poetry and passion, Amena will draw your group into a place of authentic worship and challenge this generation to a life driven by truth.

MOO TOO
Your entire youth group is sure to “have a cow” laughing and learning with these hilariously entertaining video clips brought to you by the creators of the popular Moooo series.

Over the next few weeks, I'll be posting on different topics addressed in the 2009 kit so you can get a flavor for the content and biblical insight the 2009 Youth Kit contains.

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New & Improved Bluefishtv.com

It's been a busy time for us not only producing new, upcoming resources, but launching a brand new Bluefishtv.com. Our hope in creating a new and approved site is that it would serve you better and help you easily navigate to the resources you're looking for.

On our new bluefishtv.com you'll see enhanced video previews with more HD clips available, and we have highlighted our $15-20 DVDs for your convenience. We've also included a section near each product called "What others are saying about this product." This is typically a quote from a well-known pastor, speaker, or a customer who has used the product.

I really hope you enjoy the new site. Feel free to send us your feedback and let us know what has helped you as you seek out videos and resources to help you teach in your ministry.

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LeadNow 2008

I'm getting really excited about our LeadNow and Fusion events coming up in November here in Dallas. It will be here before we know it! On Monday, we mailed out 5,000 DVD packets and 5,000 postcards to church leaders around the country spreading the news about how they can be involved in LeadNow.

This year is different than any other year because we're giving leaders the opportunity to host a simulcast at their church or attend a simulcast at a location close to them.

These events are for you as a leader of twenties and thirties and if you are in your twenties and thirties. I can't think of a better place to grow in my relationship with God and others- learning under great leaders like Erwin McManus, Matt Chandler, Margaret Feinberg, Francis Chan, and my very own pastor, Todd Wagner.

Be a part of the passion and excitement and visit Rightnow.org for more information about LeadNow and Fusion 2008. Drop us a comment and let us know if you're planning on attending here in Dallas or at a simulcast location.

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The Sacred Echo in Crested Butte, Colorado

This past week our crew filmed The Sacred Echo DVD in breathtaking Crested Butte, Colorado. The Sacred Echo DVD is based off Margaret Feinberg’s new book, The Sacred Echo. I was able to read her book a few weeks ago to begin brainstorming story ideas for the project. I was really touched by her stories, the way she uses Scripture, and most of all her heart for Jesus.

During the filming, our crew put in long hours, sweat in the heat and froze with the cold, as Margaret said. She even said she has 30 mosquito bites to prove they were really in the middle of nowhere. They shot scenes with waterfalls, mountains, wildflowers, and the beauty of God’s creation was their backdrop. I can’t wait to see the final project.

In the upcoming weeks, we’ll be seeking out people for specific stories that intertwine with the themes addressed in The Sacred Echo. Check in for updates on The Sacred Echo DVD release at Bluefishtv.com.

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New Spaces at Bluefish

Back in May, our shipping department moved out of our main building into a new warehouse a few miles down the road with triples times the space. With the shipping department now in a new location, we now have the space to handle our recent growth.

Over the past few months, construction workers have been working hard remodeling the old warehouse space. We are just about completely finished with the re-modeling job. We’ve added 31 additional sales stations, a conference room, and 10 new offices. We’re thankful for the space we now have to expand our ministry and allow for future growth.

Here are a few photos you can check out of our new space.

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