Greg Atkinson

My friend, Mark Batterson (pastor of National Community Church), has a new book releasing this Monday, Oct. 2. By the way, his church just revised and updated their website. Check it out.

Here’s the book description from Mark:

Your greatest regret at the end of your life will be the lions you didn’t chase. You will regret the risks not taken, then opportunities not seized, and the dreams not pursued. Stopping running away from what scares you most and start chasing the God-ordained opportunities that cross your path.

“In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day” is inspired by one of the most obscure yet courageous acts recorded in Scripture: Benaiah chased a lion down into a pit. Then, despite the snow and slippery ground, he caught the lion and killed it (2 Samuel 23:20-21).

Unleash the lion chase within!

I can’t say enough how proud I am of the new design of Church Video Ideas. I love it. It’s all thanks to my friends at Bombay Creative (who also designed my podcast website). They are Christians, crazy creative, packing some mad skills and great to work with. I highly recommend their services. By the way, Kent, Founder of Bombay Creative, has a terrific blog that I read daily called Church Relevance.

I just came across and I dig the concept. Maybe one day I’ll create something like this for tech teams. Would you buy one? In the meantime, pass this on to your worship pastor. Here’s the summary:

AMPED Student Band Bible Study is designed to empower your youth/college worship band by taking them deep into the Word, while creating an atmosphere for discussion. AMPED ideally fits into a 30 minute time slot in your band’s weekly practice time. However, feel free to use it in whatever capacity works best for your team.

Volume 1 Study Topics:
(Each study topic contains 4 study sessions).

• Unity in the Band: You rehearse and play together and are expected to lead people in worship. On top of that, you actually have to get along! Learn how to get and keep unity in your band.
• Making it Big: The world defines success as money and fame. God has a different definition of what it means to truly make it big.
• The Musician God Anoints: It’s easy to spot talent and put it on a stage. God has more requirements that just talent for the musician He sets apart to us for His service.
• The Servant Musician: In a society that promotes a rock star mentality, it is difficult to lead worship with a servant’s heart. God desires his musicians to lead others through serving.

* Here’s a SAMPLE Bible Study.

Igniter Media Group (who usually owns the Top 10 slots at companies like SermonSpice and WorshipHouse Media) has announced what they’re up to these days. I blogged before about their new Igniter Backs Volume 2. In their latest newsletter they announced two new product lines. They mentioned that one of the new product lines is called Bumpers. I played around with a demo of this a couple of weeks ago. It should be pretty cool. Their second new product line is their Igniter Tracks, which I’m excited about testing out and using on a Sunday morning with the Click Track feature.

FREE from Igniter this month is a download of a loopable motion and 2 stills from their Igniter Backs Volume 2. Just go to their homepage and click on “Free Download”.

PERSONAL PLUG:

I have no doubt that some of you reading this blog have never heard of Igniter and don’t own any of their products. Let me introduce you to their Uber Pack. This would be one of the best investments and additions to your media library that you could get. I can’t recommend it highly enough. The Uber Pack comes with all four volumes of Igniter Videos and both volumes of Igniter Backs – ALL for only $199.95 – that’s a savings of $120! Buy it – you won’t regret it.

MORE FREE STUFF:

I blogged before about RevoStock.com (a great place to find royalty-free video footage). Go download their monthly freebie available in HD and SD. Everyone loves a good time-lapse clouds shot. These shots can be used in many ways. Use it as a simple transition to show time passing or if the sky in your shot isn’t quite interesting enough, add some moving clouds behind it using your compositing software.

Yesterday I mentioned that it’s time to start planning for Christmas. I’ve already heard of some churches that are doing something associated with the new movie “The Nativity”. Outreach has put together several resources if your church wants to do something with this movie theme. Check them out (some are FREE).

Here’s an announcement from my friends at Midnight Oil Productions:

Two Christmas resources for the price of one…

For three days only–now through Saturday night–get two of Midnight Oil’s beautiful, full-featured Christmas resources for the price of
one. Titles include:

• Follow the Star
• Personal Connection
• Rediscover Christmas

Each disc is regularly $75. Get a bundle of two for the same price.

To see videos and learn more click here.

Well, not really, but it’s close. Trust me – it’s never too early to start planning Christmas.

Hillsong Worship just released their new Christmas CD. I’m already working on a new Christmas video (more on that later). I’ve already been meeting with the worship planning team at my church to plan our annual “Christmas to Remember” program. I know that Todd Bell and Prestonwood just finished recording their Christmas CD two weeks ago (they’ll have it ready to roll out in November and be available to their church to give out as gifts to people).

What are you doing to prepare for this fast approaching holiday? For the last 4 years I’ve done a “Christmas Media Review” (which I’ll do again this year). I’m always amazed at how Christmas seems to sneak up on some companies. I’ll email and call them and ask when I can expect to review their Christmas stuff and they end up releasing their Christmas videos or projects in the month of December? December…are you kidding me?

MEDIA COMPANIES:
Start working on Christmas yesterday and have it ready to be available to churches in mid to late October – that’s when they can use it and make plans accordingly.

CHURCH LEADERS:
Start planning yesterday. Dream, friends, dream. Ask what you can do differently this year. How can you celebrate the Christmas season in a new, fresh, relevant and meaningful way? For the many visitors that will visit your church for the first time this Christmas, what will engage them and encourage them to return?