Weekend Update

We had a great weekend at Crossroads...except for the cancellation of our Saturday service. Roads were still kind of bad this morning but I arrived with a special anticipation.

Usually, on Saturday, I meet with the tech team prior to a band rehearsal. We discuss the elements of the service and then watch the rehearsal prior to a run through. The rehearsal is the band's time. The run through is the tech team's time. This is our chance to practice transitions, sound check videos and double check lyrics and lighting.

Normally, I call cues for sound, video and lighting. But one of our volunteer video directors got a new job and is headed for Ft. Wayne so I'm filling in until I get another guy (or girl) trained. One of our lighting guys, Bryan, called cues since I was in the video control room. I direct services on First Wednesday when we do communion as well. By the way, First Wednesday is a special time for the tech team as we take communion together at the end of service!

Since we had no Saturday service, we had no tech meeting or run through. However, I have such a great team of volunteers that they all came in early for the practice and everyone was "on" for the services.

We started off with an instrumental of the Michael Jackson song, Beat It. Last weekend one of my camera ops spent some time in Town Square asking people to give us their best "Moonwalk." I put together a video that played during part of the song. You can check it out Monday afternoon when our service gets uploaded to our website.

This was followed by our youth pastor, Jesse, doing announcements. We're looking for some dancers for some upcoming services so Jesse asked for our congregation to sign up. In my usual creative manner, I came up with a graphic to support his request.

The praise team was ready to lead worship as well! Due to time constraints we only had 3 songs but it was very powerful and a great lead in to the continuation of Pastor Tim's series Deconstruction/Reconstruction of the Disciple's Life.

Random Thoughts

Pants On the Ground is a great song because it's true.

I love the snow.

I like wearing my "old man" slippers while sitting in my recliner.

Microwave popcorn is a good snack. Popcorn from a pan on the stove popped with olive oil and topped with butter melted in another pan is a GREAT snack.

Take care of your teeth. Brush at least twice daily and floss. Really, don't forget to floss.

My daughter is Audrey Hepburn reborn.
(photo on right courtesy of Michelle Armstrong Photography)


I'm a mac. My wife's a PC.

Four wheel drive rocks!

My wife...I think I'll keep her.

Thank you Funyuns. You put fun back in onions!

Why doesn't anyone at Taco Bell fix that darn sign? The message is "49 cent tacos on Sundays. It's had the O and the N separated for a year now!

A salad tastes better when someone else makes it.

While driving yesterday I saw a banana peel in the road and instinctively swerved to avoid it…thanks Mario Kart.

I like hardwood floors. I don't like carpeting in the bathroom.

I like cheese.

Comedy is my defense mechanism.

It's nice to be nice to the nice.

Star Trek is cool because it's true.

Shoe Fetish Continues

Deering has written a couple of times about his experience with his new shoes. Check out his blog on facebook.

Deering - Day 1

Deering - Day 2

Shoe Fetish Part 3

Deering has joined the foot cult!

Cool Videos

I'm always looking around for ideas I can use for a video. Ideas for announcements, music videos, worship enhancement or just for fun. I found some really cool videos by Ryan Trommer who is a motion graphic designer for Willowcreek Community Church. Here is an example...

Village transition from Ryan Trommer on Vimeo.

One of my goals for this year is to learn several new programs that will help me take my editing capabilities to the next level...

Shoe Fetish Part 2

The shoes have arrived. One with socks, one without...

Mother's Day 2009

Last year on Mother' Day, I shot an interview video with a couple who had almost lost their daughter when she was born premature. As I was looking over some of the videos I've done in the last year, this one stands out. I was moved as I was shooting it. I was moved again as I was editing it. Even now, when I watch it, I am again moved.



I shot this using a Sony DSR250 and a Canon GL1. Both of these cameras have been workhorses for us. We had 2 of each and used them for live IMAG in our auditorium as well as field cameras for shoots like this one. The Canons were purchased several years before I even came on staff!

The Canon started acting up a few months prior to shooting this video. The iris, gain and shutter decided to rebel and now changes in the middle of shooting. We spent about a year using it as best we could. As you watch this video you'll notice shots that I had to do some color correction on as well as add some effects to compensate for the problems with the camera. Eventually both of our GL1 cameras developed the same problem. We've since replaced them and now use them as static shots in our services but no longer use them in video production.