David Miller

Today was one of those days that I needed to be reminded about the Joy that comes from relationship with God. Maybe you’re in the same spot? So I thought I’d share this video.

You can download this video/song and a few others for free HERE
I’ve been singing this song (the little kid Sunday School version) since I saw the video early this morning.

Psalm 5:11
11 But let all who take refuge in you be glad;
let them ever sing for joy.
Spread your protection over them,
that those who love your name may rejoice in you.

Our culture is obsessed with beauty.
It seems like it’s about time for some perspective.

Shown this video by Todd Perkins

Prov. 31:30

³⁰ Charm is deceptive, and beauty is fleeting;
but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.

Love Your Enemies from Kristen Miller on Vimeo.

I hold grudges. I think we all do.
Yet, in Luke 6 Jesus calls us to love our enemies:

27″But I tell you who hear me: Love your enemies, do good to those who hate you, 28bless those who curse you, pray for those who mistreat you. 29If someone strikes you on one cheek, turn to him the other also. If someone takes your cloak, do not stop him from taking your tunic. 30Give to everyone who asks you, and if anyone takes what belongs to you, do not demand it back. 31Do to others as you would have them do to you.
32″If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ love those who love them. 33And if you do good to those who are good to you, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ do that. 34And if you lend to those from whom you expect repayment, what credit is that to you? Even ’sinners’ lend to ’sinners,’ expecting to be repaid in full. 35But love your enemies, do good to them, and lend to them without expecting to get anything back. Then your reward will be great, and you will be sons of the Most High, because he is kind to the ungrateful and wicked. 36Be merciful, just as your Father is merciful.

I’ve seen this lived out as though it reads, be a doormat and let people walk all over you.

This is not want Jesus is saying!

He is saying to “LOVE”.

If they hate you… love.

When they hurt you… love.

PERSISTENTLY AND ACTIVELY LOVE

For me, films have always been a great source of entertainment and a beautiful escape.
These are two upcoming films I’ve been looking forward to for months:

Opens Oct. 16th 2009

Opens Sept. 28th 2009

What upcoming movie release are you most excited about?

A look back at a powerful evening.
If you’re not sure what this is all about check out these past posts:
Together We’re Free
The Rescue

Invisible Children at The Element from Anthony Booyay on Vimeo.

Below are some pictures taken by Mel Luker:

The Stage was set

Bellarive lead us in worship
Hearing the IC Roadies stories

Praying over the night and how to respond

What an inspiring night!

Learn more about Invisible Children

Recently David Cording, one of The Element pastors asked a group of us the question,

“What is it about Jesus that you love“.

I was blown away at the variety of answers given.
Each of us identified with a different aspect of Jesus’ character or ministry.
It made me realize the importance of being able to answer the question, “who is Jesus to me”.
Far too often Jesus becomes to us who culture says He is, and we overlook the personal aspect of this relationship Jesus desires to have with us.

It reminds me of a conversion Jesus has with His disciples in Matthew 16:13-20:

¹³When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi, he asked his disciples, “Who do people say the Son of Man is?”

¹⁴They replied, “Some say John the Baptist; others say Elijah; and still others, Jeremiah or one of the prophets.”

¹⁵“But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?”

¹⁶Simon Peter answered, “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”

¹⁷ Jesus replied, “Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah, for this was not revealed to you by man, but by my Father in heaven. ¹⁸And I tell you that you are Peter, and on this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it. ¹⁹I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” ²⁰Then he warned his disciples not to tell anyone that he was the Christ.

Society had their views of Jesus, but He was more concerned with who his disciples said He was.

Is Jesus a great man, or as Peter boldly said, is He The Christ?

Who is Jesus to you?

Such a good Michael Jackson tribute!  Also made me think of something…

In leadership your told of the importance to duplicate yourself.
Easier said then done, right?
There are two misconceptions.
1) Often we think the need to duplicate ourselves is to raise up a replacement.
Not the case!
2) No matter what your mom says, the world would not be a perfect place with 100 yous running around.
The need to duplicate ourselves is not about making more of you, but it’s about helping those you work with become the best leader they were made to be.

Are you duplicating yourself?

A few weeks ago I had the opportunity, along with a few other student pastors from across the country, to be interviewed by Collide Magazine about the use of social media in student ministry.

Click the image and check it out for yourself.

Invisible Children (IC) is an organization who believes a story can change the world.  Their story starts with three guys who felt compelled to Uganda and stumbled upon a war being fought buy child solders who have been abducted and forced to fight.  They tell the story of these “invisible children”.  Check out their “Who Are We” video below.

This is a tragic story and IC tells it much better than I do, so check out the trailer below.  You can also grab a copy of the entire documentary HERE if you haven’t seen it before or if you simply need a refresher.

IC has made it their mission to end the war in Uganda and set the child solders free. They’ve embarked on several campaigns over the years, bringing humanity to the children who have been taken from their families and forced to do and see the most inhuman things. Take a look at some of what IC has done over the past few years.

The Rescue was the latest campaign IC undertook. It was lived out in two ways. First, IC challenged us to wear only two t-shirts for the entire month. This brought awareness to the IC cause and helped those who took the challenge see that they were not alone.  Check out some of The Element students who took this challenge below.

We were then challenged to invite “mogols” (famous or influential people) along with the media to come and “rescue” us from our make shift refuge camps where we slept out side until rescued.

On September 16th The Element will be hosting a screening of Invisible Children’s new documentary, “Together We’re Free” followed by a Q&A with the IC Roadies at Discovery Church from 7 to 9pm.
This is an ALL AGES event!

Come out and bring your church, friends, family, and grandma for an inspiring night!

Two of my new favorite videos!