No Resolutions. One Goal.

I hate resolutions.  The guys I work with hate them too.  You’ll see this disdain in our videos (Whatever, Starting Now, and Resolutions).  And if you spent time with the three of us, you’d feel it too.

There are two reasons for this disdain.  First, nobody keeps resolutions.  Second (and more important), nobody CAN keep resolutions.  Resolutions are a test of our ability to exert enough self-effort to control a habit, a situation, or a person.  And this pursuit inevitably champions the “pull-yourself-up-by-your-bootstraps” theology that runs rampant in North American Christianity, and is entirely contrary to real Life in the Kingdom of God.

Now you know about me, and resolutions.

But…

There is one goal I have for the coming year.  It’s not fleshed out or anything yet, but it’s there, and is slowly growing in strength and potential (that’s a really complex way of saying I think about this when I mow the lawn, or stand in the shower).

Simply put:  During the next season of my life I want to spend more hours reading than watching television and movies.

I suppose I’ve slowly become someone who uses television as a way of decompressing from the stresses of my life.  I do NOT believe this to be a bad or evil thing.  Yet.  We all need patterns of allowing our minds to stop racing – things that give our minds a break.  For some, television does the trick.  My problem is that I don’t need to decompress AS MUCH as I think I do.  So I’d like to read more, not as another substitute way of decompressing, but as a pathway to further spiritual and professional growth.

I think I’ll stay away from any “How To” books, because I’ve tried the formulas and, for me, they don’t work.  I think I’ll read some previously unread authors (Lencioni, Rohr, Steele), as well as some old favorites (Eldredge, Bell, Miller).   And I think I’ll work my way through some obscure Old Testament book (like Zephaniah, or Habakkuk, or some other book that I only pretend I know something about).

So, if you can picture Dana Carvey impersonating George Bush Sr. on SNL, just say this out loud:

“Resolutions.  Bad.”

“Goals.  Good.”

That’s where I’m at.  And I feel like it’s a God-thing in my life.

How about you?

Bono – Christmas Genius

This morning, Jason forwarded the Floodgate Team a link to Pastor Mark Driscoll’s blog. The article is by Jonathan Dodson, and he’s commenting on the a quote from Bono. We think it’s worth passing along to you…

This reflection on Christmas occurred after Bono had just returned home, to Dublin, from a long tour with U2. On Christmas Eve Bono went to the famous St. Patrick’s Cathedral, where Jonathan Swift was once dean. Apparently he was given a really poor seat, one obstructed by a pillar, making it even more difficult for him to keep his eyes open…but it was there that the Christmas story struck him like never before.

He writes:

“The idea that God, if there is a force of Logic and Love in the universe, that it would seek to explain itself is amazing enough. That it would seek to explain itself and describe itself by becoming a child born in straw poverty, in shit and straw . . . a child . . . I just thought: “Wow!” Just the poetry . . . Unknowable love, unknowable power, describes itself as the most vulnerable. There it was. I was sitting there, and it’s not that it hadn’t struck me before, but tears came streaming down my face, and I saw the genius of this, utter genius of picking a particular point in time and deciding to turn on this.”

The Floodies 2008

When the Floodgate Team looked back on 2008, we all recognized that there were a lot of people we need to thank. We targeted our annual Christmas Party as the opportunity to do this. Most Christmas parties highlight the organization’s staff team, and their families are invited. We decided to do the opposite. The Floodgate Staff Team would pick people who have actively supported our ministry for the past three years. These are the people who have INITIATED support for us. We decided we’d throw a party in THEIR honor, and creatively thank each of them for giving us the continual support and encouragement any start-up business needs. The party happened on December 10, 2008.

Amazing.

Absolutely amazing.

Everyone ate authentic Italian food at a local restaurant called “Luna’s”. After the meal was finished, we gave every person in the room a unique award. We called these awards “The Floodies”. We had our flatscreen there, with a sound system (overkill for 30 people in a small room, but not for us!). Jason created a video bumper for each award – different and unique for each person (yeah… that took forever, but was SO worth it).

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At the end of the evening, people told us that their cheeks were hurting from laughing so much. Check out some of the evening’s still pics here.

What a night! Can’t wait to see what the Team dreams up next year.

Christmas Media Resources 2008

Emmanuel. God with us. The virgin birth. It’s all here – Christmas. An entire month of seasonal celebrations, church traditions, and refocusing on the birth of the Savior. But it’s also a month of emotional and financial stress, of family gatherings that don’t always turn out like we hoped they would, and of extreme busyness. At Floodgate, we know you’re already thinking and planning to address these issues. So we’ve created media resources to facilitate the discussion you’ll be having in your church, this December.

Here’s What’s New for Christmas 2008

Christmas Focus – It’s really easy to become distracted during the Christmas Season. Help your congregation refocus amidst the busyness. Makes the perfect Christmas Series Bumper.

Four Words – The story of Christmas can be summarized in four world-changing words: God is with us. But how many Christians strive to live in the reality of this beautiful truth?

This Christmas – A funny and honest video about dealing with the common and not-so-common stresses of Christmas. More high-quality media, from our friends at Restoration Videos.

Christmas Motions and Stills – Most churches celebrate Christmas for an entire month, which can be a huge expense when it comes to media resources. We want to help you save money this Christmas, so we’re offering ALL of our Christmas motions (13) and Christmas Stills (5) for one very low price. You’ll get every Christmas motion and Still you see on in the Christmas portion of our Online Store . You’ll get a Motion that defines the word “Advent “. You’ll even get a Motion that’s specific to Christmas Eve . And it’s all in one easy download

Other Best-Selling Christmas Mini-Movies

A Christmas Response – Pregnant. Unmarried. Alone. Scared. But Mary responds with a surrendered heart. Help your church do more than just show up this Christmas. Help them respond in worship.

Christmas Again – Many people are looking for something more out of Christmas, but they’re unsure what to do. This amazing video helps you ask the right questions about Christmas. Preaching topics could include: Christmas, pace of Christmas, hurry, holidays, and more.

Grannies – Watch the hilarious antics of two colorful Grannies as they try (and fail!) to do Christmas their own way. From our friends at Restoration Videos.

Twelve Crazy Days of Christmas – This hilarious video will get everyone laughing about the realities and stresses of the Christmas season. Works as a great illustration for what Christmas is NOT about. From our friends at Restoration Videos.

Coming to Earth – At the heart of the Gospel message is the good news that God “put on flesh and dwelt among us”. This unique video will help your people step into the missional “shoes” of Christ, as well as become introduced to the incarnation. Works great as a sermon starter during the Christmas season.

A Christmas Eve Welcome – Help create an atmosphere of warmth and hope as you celebrate Christmas Eve with your church

Christmas Trivia Countdown – Start your Christmas services with some lively, cheesy, fun.

As always, if your church’s financial position makes it impossible to get the video you really want, then contact us directly (info@floodgateproductions.com), and we’ll make something good happen.