–I film using the built-in camera on my MacBook Pro.
–I use an external USB Microphone for the audio. Specifically, I have a Samson CO1U. A USB condenser microphone is best because it won’t pick-up noise from the computer, such as the whirring of the hard-drive.

 
Software
In that past I have used a combination of any of the below softwares.

–Powerpoint
–Keynote–macs super version of powerpoint)
–Screenflow–Screenflow is a software that allows me to simultaneously tape my desktop and me. It’s how I combine slides and live footage. It also gives me a host of other capabilities, like overlaying music, animating transitions, adding in titles, etc. It is specifically for mac users, the rough equivalent for PC people would be the software Camtasia. Screenflow costs $99).
–Imovie
–Quicktime

 
My most recent videos were entirely done with just Powerpoint and Screenflow. I think this will be my norm now or Keynote and Screenflow.
 
General Tips

–Being Seen–Lighting is key. There are lots of websites on how to do lighting well. When I have my way I film in our nursery at
church which has lots of windows. Nothing beats natural lighting but it is hard to control. Otherwise I use clip lights and halogen shop lights to brighten things up.
–Being Heard–I use a boom mic stand to get my microphone as close as possible without invading the shot. I am hoping to move
to cordless in the near future. Even with a good microphone and positioning, I often increase the volume of the video using the my movie editing software.
–Storage–When I did my VBS videos I uploaded the videos to our service provider’s server and then email out a link to the file. Youtube is a great option. You can also select for a video to be private if you want to host in on Youtube but only want people with the link to be able to access it.

–Getting People to Watch–Keep your videos from 3-5 minutes, unless you have some really compelling content. People’s attention spans are down to minutes.

 
I am going to keep this short because I could probably create a whole website just on this topic, but hopefully this answers at least some basic questions for those of you out there wanting to create you own videos for evangelism. If you have more questions just contact me.
 

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Today’s post is a bit out of the norm in that typically I write how-to articles on advancing your personal discipleship. However, this past week we hit on a really great idea that I think many of you could use for evangelism or to enhance the experience of your kid’s at Vacation Bible School. Everyday after VBS I gathered photos from people and created a video for the day and emailed it to parents. The videos included a quick reminder of the theme for the day, a memory verse, a slide show from the day, and any announcements for the next day. People really enjoyed the videos. It gave parents a chance to see what happened during the day and was a great vehicle for reinforcing the lessons of the day. You can watch the sample video above if you want to see what one looked like. This was my personal favorite because I spoof the old show Mission Impossible in order to make an announcement regarding our VBS mission.
 
Also, I think it is worth noting that we had a significant increase in our attendance this year. The increase was somewhere around 25-30 %. We surveyed parents at registration and a significant number listed Facebook as the way they found out about VBS. I am sure it doesn’t account for all of the increase but is obviously a significant factor. I had planned on releasing a promotional video on Facebook a couple of weeks ahead of time, but because of a funeral and wedding couldn’t pull it off.
 
Well, I hope you find the video inspiring and will consider using Facebook as a promotional tool for the ministries in your own churches. I would love to hear how other people are using technology to spread God’s Word and love.
 
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Every Olympics has its moment. A moment of triumph or tragedy that will stand out and mark that Olympics forever. Beyond a shadow of a doubt, the defining moment in the 1992 Olympics in Barcelona was the tragic race of british runner Derek Redmond. Redmond was almost sure to win the 400m semifinal race. Redmond was in the best condition of his life despite multiple surgeries on his achilles tendon in the prior four years. As Derek came around the first bend in the track, his hamstring tore. He later told reporters that the pain was so great that at first he thought he had been shot. London’s The Guardian newspaper quoted him, “Everything I had worked for was finished. I hated everybody. I hated the world. I hated hamstrings. I hated it all. I felt so bitter that I was injured again. I told myself I had to finish. I kept hopping round. Then, with 100 metres to go, I felt a hand on my shoulder. It was my old man.” For half a lap Derek hopped on one foot, hobbling toward the finish line, until his father helped him finish to a standing ovation.

As you run the race of faith, you too will have moments of tragedy. Circumstances will suddenly change. Moving forward will be painful and seemingly impossible. Get up off the track though and keep moving. Your heavenly father is watching. He will come and help you finish.

Some of you are on the track right now by doing a spiritual discipline for Lent. At some point you will probably find yourself not wanting to do it. You will find yourself saying that you are too tired or don’t have the time. You may even be right. That’s when you need to stop relying on your own strength and lean on God and do it anyways. What seems to you to be a failure, is just a moment to allow people to see the love of God. In your weakness God’s strength is revealed. Few people remember who won, the 1992 400m semi-finals or even who got the gold that year. Instead, in a moment of great tragedy the love of a father was revealed to the world. Through perseverance may your struggles reveal to the world your heavenly Father’s love.

Keep on getting up. Consider the words of Derek’s father and realize that your heavenly father loves you with that kind of love.

But whatever happens he was there to finish and I was there to help him finish. I intended to go over the line with him. We started his career together. I think we should finish it together.

I visited someone’s blog whom I met recently. Unfortunately, I met them because I was officiating their mother’s funeral. While it was a sad way to make someone’s acquaintance; nevertheless, I feel blessed to have met this person and their family. I feel blessed for a moment to have vicariously met her mother.

Moments, like these, moments of remembering loved one’s with a family, give pastors an opportunity to regularly reflect on the fragile and fleeting nature of life. It is a mixed blessing, but undoubtably a blessing. This blessing that comes with watching life pass was punctuated this evening as I went with my wife to watch a stage version of the wonderful book, Tuesday’s with Morrie. For those of you who don’t know Tuesday’s with Morrie is an endearing story of a professor’s life who is ending and precious moments spent each Tuesday with one of his students from his past. Many life lessons about what is truly important are passed on during those Tuesday sessions.  Morrie, says something to the effect of, “I wish I had been more aware of death, during my life.”  I don’t think that’s the quote exactly, but that is the essence of what he says.  I also think this is the blessing that comes with watching people’s lives end.  Watching life passing helps us value life so much more deeply.

Tuesday’s with Morrie is a story that will almost surely prompt you to examine your priorities and/or stir up any regrets lurking beneath your surface. I don’t have a mountain of regrets. Frankly, even at only 44 I think I have lived a rather rich and diverse life with a lot of love and limited hardship. Of the things that I regret the most, are those moments when I have filled my plate too full and allowed life to pull me into a place where I am not happy with myself.   Specifically, the times where my threshold has been surpassed so that with my family, friends or most importantly my children and wife I have failed to be the best John I could be. Don’t get me wrong I haven’t been some intolerable ogre, nor am I prone to being ugly toward people, but I regret those times when I didn’t manage my life well enough to be a patient, kinder John.

“LOVE IS PATIENT, LOVE IS KIND”

These words from 1 Corinthians 13 are only a small fraction of the description of love within that chapter. Yet, I find that even just these two small qualities could possibly be a life time of homework.  I began this post mentioning that I visited a blog of someone I had met recently.  Her name is Mary Jane Ballou and she has a lovely blog called Sacred Miscellany. I would love to know how she finds the rather eclectic mix of links and media she shares.  The video at the top of the page is one of those heart nudging pieces.  To me it is a quiet reminder that “Love is patient, live is kind.”  I hope it stirs you to patience and kindness as it did me, for these are the things that matter the most as life passes.
p.s. Check out Mary Jane’s blog

Have you heard of Jelly Telly? Jelly Telly is an amazing online ministry created by Phil Vischer with a rich assortment of characters, games, music, and videos. Whose Phil Vischer? Did you ever here of VeggieTales? Well, Phil is the genius that created VeggieTales and all of the lovable characters like Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber and Junior Asparagus. He completely changed the face of Christian media with that beloved video line. Now, he is doing it again with Jelly Telly.

To hear Phil explain the mission and ministry of Jelly Telly click here and watch his brief video (2 mins. 23 seconds).  As Phil notes children are now spending an enormous amount of time in front of video media, much of which is now online.  Jelly Telly is a rich online experience for parents to direct there children to that will help them learn and grow in their faith.  It’s every bit as ingenious, faith-filled, funny and well done as the VeggieTale series, and more diverse in what it offers.  Below is a video that will give you a quick collective feel for the content.  I recommend that you go directly to Jelly Telly by clicking here and also checking it out on youtube.  If you search Jelly Telly on youtube, or better yet, have your child or grandchild show you how to search Jelly Telly on youtube, you can watch a host of sample content.  Jelly Telly itself is done in a subscription format with a daily free show.  Our family subscribed last night.

Some times we just need to slow down and look at something closely. Mary pondered what the Lord was doing when she discovered that she was to have a baby. This baby would grow to be a man that would be the fulfillment of promises made by God long ago. Mary rejoiced. She sang. She magnified the Lord. I hear the word magnify and I think about looking at something closely. The video above is a three minute opportunity for you to slow down and look closely at Jesus. He is the reason for the season. Take these next few minutes to watch the video and be reminded of the breadth and depth of this man from God. God’s gift to you…for you. Christmas Blessings from The Practical Disciple.

A pastor friend read my manifesto and pointed me to The Advent Conspiracy. This brief video (less than 3 minutes) very poignantly captures the spirit of where I am headed with my manifesto.  It captures much of what I am after in four simple phrases: “Worship Fully, Spend Less, Give More, Love All”. I highly recommend that you visit their website, Advent Conspiracy, particularly if you are weary of gross commercialism.  To read my 8 point Christmas Manifesto click here.