Crazy Disciple

Ok, so here’s the story:

Undoubtedly you have by now seen me, or perhaps other people you follow on Twitter start posting message like “vote for casket” or “I voted for Casket” or “Casket crashes the super bowl!”  What all of this is about, is a commercial contest that Doritos is running for the super bowl.  It was an open call for anyone who wanted to make a 30 second commercial for Doritos, and over 4,000 submissions were sent in.   Some people from Mosaic, Erwin and over 100 volunteers got together and created two spots.  This spot, “Casket” is one of them, and it was selected in the TOP SIX FINALISTS FOR THE CONTEST!!!!   All six of those finalists get to actually GO TO THE SUPERBOWL, and at the Super Bowl, the top THREE of those six will be shown as actual commercials DURING the Super Bowl.   Are you following all of this? 

While it definitely needs to be mentioned that the overall winner receives one million dollars, it is more important to realize that this was the creation of some people just like you and me, people who go to Mosaic, and people who have a heart for changing the world.   One of the ways that we hope to impact that world is through doing everything we do with excellence and showing the heart and likeness of God through our creations.   Some might argue the relevance of a corn chip commercial to do just that, but ironically, it is creating quite a buzz that a Pastor, a follower of CHRIST, and a CHURCH created something of this high a caliber and that could potentially win this contest.   THAT IS SOOOOOOOO COOL!!!!!

So here’s the deal…  for the entire month of January, we (the voting public) get to choose through voting on the Doritos website which THREE of the SIX finalists are being shown.  THIS IS WHERE YOUR HELP IS NEEDED!!!   Follow these links, get to the right websites, and VOTE EVERY DAY.  PLEASE.  You too can be a part of what is happening… and it is SOOO COOOL!!!!!!!  www.voteforcasket.com

Oh, and here is a promotional teaser that Erwin filmed for that website:  Make sure and VOTE!!!!

Memory Triggers, so nice.

I am sitting here at my desk in the wonderful Mosaic offices, enjoying the peace and effectiveness that comes from being one of three people crazy enough to work on Christmas eve eve.  The music of Lamb booms through my headphones, and each song, each and every song brings back vivid memories of a similar time in Paris.  It wasn’t all that long ago when I was walking through the cold rain, to and from French classes, along the basin de la villette and canal saint martin, listening to this very same music.  Amazingly, I can still feel the rain on my face, the warmth of my wool coat and scarf, and the crisp cool Parisian air cutting through my nose with each and every breath.  

I try not to spend too much time feeling the loss, the “missing” of being there; instead engaging in the moments of now and letting the past be the past, and the now be the now.   It’s amazing to me however, that seemingly innocuous experiences such as listening to music, smelling fragrances and tasting tastes bring me right back to a moment, or a collection of moments, and in that split second I am right back where it seems I have left my heart.  I will return there soon, even if only for a visit.  I simply must, and well before it gets warm.  I need to experience my favorite city again, while it engages in the perfect moments that come from this season.    Joyeux Noel mes amis, vous me manquez beaucoup, et je vais tous vous revoir bientot!

Holiday Magic, Only Believe

Alright, I admit it… I didn’t really think that I would have such an incredible day at Disneyland.  I was excited to get to join much of the Mosaic staff there though, and share in some bonding and memory-forming times.  Little did I know that I would be swept away in the magic that is Disney, and would spend over 12 hours smiling ear-to-ear and revisiting pieces of my childhood long forgotten.   While I don’t have another experience to compare it to, I must say that Disneyland is quite an impressive way to usher in the holidays (I know, I know, I’m late!)

I don’t have kids, and honestly I haven’t been exposed to anything Disney in a very long time, so it was really interesting to have these memories bubble up of books that I read as well as (red) cassette tapes, and colorful records that I listened to as a kid with that signature Disney sound.  I even found myself remembering the “Wonderful World of Disney” that used to play Sunday nights on CBS when I was but a wee lad.  Oh those memories were tucked so far away, but today I had the chance to revisit them and even be a kid again…  Purely magical moments.

Every corner we turned was such an inspiration, in that it was the dream and vision of so many different people who came together to create a place later to be dubbed “the happiest place on earth.”  It certainly felt like that to me today.   The perfect moment came as the finale fireworks ended.  The lights were brought back up on main street, where we had collected to watch them, and snow magically appeared in the air, drifting into the hearts and minds of kids and adults alike.   The look of wonder on their faces was simply beautiful.   Snow you say, why is SNOW such a big deal…  well, it was 70 degrees outside (21 C) !!   I just kept hearing in my head, “only believe.”  This last picture I’ll share is of a father, holding his son to the sky in that awesome Mufasa fashion, just so that he too can experience the magic of this night.  What a beautiful moment that was, and a perfect ending to an amazing day.  Awesome stuff, simply awesome.
  

We can be the generation who changed the world

My great friend and brother across the sea Mark McCord sent me this link today, and I simply had to share it with you.   After just leaving Project Homeless Connect, and being a part of touching some 2,500 homeless people’s lives; giving a bit more access to health care, shelter, eye glasses, blankets, food, and to love; I cannot feel more attached to these words than I do right now.  We really CAN be the generation that changes the world.   It’s true!  I feel absolutely riveted by the hands I held today, the eyes I looked into, and the stories I heard.  Not because they broke my heart, but because they lifted up a hope and fire within me that I haven’t felt that strongly in some time.   As Bono says in this eloquent speech, “God is with us as we are with them.”  I felt that so incredibly deeply today… and I MUST find a way to experience that MORE.  We really *can* make a difference, it only requires willingness and looking beyond ourselves.

I could go on and on, of course…  but let me just leave this post with Bono’s words.  He really does say it so well.

William ROCKS IT OUT

You very might well recognize this amazing vocalist as the one and only William Jones, my great friend back in Paris.   I shared several great evenings walking the streets of Paris with William, checking out different venues and bands, and just taking in life in France.   We even did one of my favorite photo shoots right before I left… awww, we had some awesome times, me and him, and well, William has now hit it big… 

One thing I keep learning over and over again is that the people who hit and achieve stardom are the people who are our friends, neighbors, and fellow adventurers on a path that we call life.   When those people are only seen from afar they seem so untouchable, but as the people around me keep finding all these levels of success, I keep finding myself reminded of how amazingly human and awesome they are…  as people, long before they were awesome artists, entertainers, actors, dancers, or singers.   William is the perfect case of this.

Just a few months back, as I watched William play at Fete de La Musique, out in front of our awesome little church, I thought to myself over and over again…  “This guy has really got something special.”  Now I can say that I am thrilled to see that the world sees it too.  My hat is off to you William, my brother, my friend, my fellow traveler…  we will see each other again soon, but until then, stay you.   

Project Homeless Connect

Tomorrow, December 10 2009, over 700 volunteers from Mosaic are mobilizing all over Los Angeles for Project Homeless Connect; a day where multiple agencies, services and helps-organizations come together to central locations to provide one-stop shops for restarting people’s lives.  It is sure to be a life-changing day for everyone involved, both for the homeless and needy who are getting the help and love they desperately need, and also for those of us who are serving and working and helping in every way we can.   I am excited to be a part of this initiative;  joining the crew of 250 congregating on Skid Row, in downtown LA.  We will undoubtedly be meeting and connecting with people ready for a change in their lives…   I am excited to be a part of it. 

If you’re in the LA area, come join us!   Check out the website for more info. 

Awaken Humanity Charity Art Auction

I am so excited, three of my photos have been chosen for an upcoming charity auction for Awaken Humanity.  Of course they are pictures of Paris…  who doesn’t LOVE Paris :-)   But anyway, the auction will be on the 12th of December, and each of these prints will be matted and framed prior and then auctioned off to the highest bidder.  All proceeds will go to overseas projects, helping people in other countries and continents find and experience life at new levels.    I am honored to be a part of this venture, and even more thrilled to think that my art, my photos could actually bring help to someone in need…  how cool is that?

Here are the three photos of mine that were selected (although you have undoubtedly seen them on this blog before.)  The only difference would be that now they have TITLES… wow.

La Statue Vivante

Notre Dame à Nuit

Printemps dans l’Hiver

Shooting Again

This weekend was a lot of fun, I actually got to do some shooting again!  I met with some models, a few other photographers, and a makeup artist to a rather eclectic and interesting location in downtown LA.  We spent most of the day there, and I learned so much about my shooting styles.  While I really enjoyed dreaming of, and creating the dramatic elements of the shots below, my FAVORITE shots were the ones just of my friends.   Yes we did take some time to light them right, and definitely set the stage for the photo to look awesome, but to me it was so much more fun photographing real people, being who they are instead of shooting models doing their very best to look just like every other model out there.  None the less, the experience was priceless.   Have a look and see what came out…

By the way, can you figure out which of these is my favorite?

  

Out of the game?

 

I’ve been in LA now for over a month, and I must admit that I am feeling so incredibly fortunate to have the opportunities I have here to learn, grow and experience this entirely new side of life.   It’s beautiful here, of course, I mean hey, it’s California…   Mosaic is also going great, it feels like a family that I have had for many years, in that there are so many like-minded people, each reaching for amazing and incredible goals in life and ministry, and also chasing God in ways that are admirable and inspiring.   There is absolutely no question that I am where I am supposed to be at this exact time in my life, and that feeling is awesome.

The picture above however, is not of LA (you probably knew that) it’s just a typical day from life in Paris, where I was just a few months ago.   The clouds are holding back the sun, and the thousands of clay chimney pots form their own little skyline if you are fortunate enough to find a high vantage point.   I don’t know if two places could contrast each other more, it’s amazing to experience the differences. 

Ironically, in the last few days, I have been feeling like I am out of the game now, by being in LA.   Realistically, and logically, I can see that this is NOT the case, but emotionally, and perhaps even spiritually, I am definitely experiencing this phenomenon.   Like I said before, there is no question that I am where I am supposed to be, but there is also this undercurrent that I have left my cohorts in battle overseas, and something inside of me yearns to see them and fight alongside them once again.  

I expected this, to a degree.   I knew that once life settled down a little bit here in California that I would feel the cavity left that is still France-shaped.  While I am able to find little reminders of my life there, and the people whom I miss so very much, it’s obviously not the same.   I have subscribed to a life like this though, a life where I love and engage deeply, and the side effect of this simply MUST be the feeling of loss whenever the time comes to move on.   One can only wonder what the future will hold?   When will I be able to come back to visit, will I (after two years in LA) choose to go back to Paris, or Europe and continue the fight?  Will I instead find a way to engage in the same battles, but from this side of the world?   I can only guess at those answers, and they seem different every day.   As the saying goes, only time will tell…   What I do know for now however, is that I am HERE to get everything I can from this experience and journey.  No matter where HERE ever turns out to be, that is all I can ask of myself.  

Onward and upward.  

By the way, if you are in Paris and reading this…   I miss you all so much.  I hope and pray that our paths will cross again soon, undoubtedly that time will be sweet and precious. 

Nurturing Creativity by Elizabeth Gilbert

Check out this talk by Elizabeth Gilbert, the author of “Eat, Pray, Love.”  We discussed this in a meeting this morning, and I think it embodies so much of what this journey towards God and creativity continually unveils.  I appreciate her candor, and personal experiences, and especially her perspective as a spiritual person, coming from a perspective that appears to be outside of the church.   I found her revelations to be inspiring and thoughtful… Take 18 minutes out of your day and enjoy.