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advent week 2 – night lights Dec 07, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders.https://youtu.be/bcBcUNosZhYIn my house, we have night lights all over! We have motion-activated lights in stairwells and bathrooms. We have nightlights that change color. My kids love picking colors. I’m a low light or cool blue guy, but my boys prefer the dance party setting. There’s nothing like getting up for a glass of water and seeing a rainbow underneath the door!Why all the lights? Finding your way at night is essential in a home occupied by young boys. Stepping on a rogue LEGO is a powerful experience. The ability to navigate a clear and trusted path is something everyone desires. I resonate with the psalmist, asking God to send light and truth to help guide him. After years of ministry, I still find myself in moments with more questions than answers. Figuring out how to pull off the new vision for the Christmas season can put many of us in that spot! On the one hand, these moments are an answer to prayer. New dreams and projects stretch us and bring us to unknown territory. But the unknown can feel uncertain and even discouraging at times.I’m thankful for seasons like Christmas, though. Busy as it can be for many of us, if done correctly, it can serve as a great reminder of why we do what we do!We have the privilege of knowing God sent the light that the psalmist requested! We get to read about God’s son, Jesus! How he lived and how he treated people. We know that as he left the earth, we gained the ultimate guide, the Holy Spirit!“Send out your light and your truth;let them guide me.Let them lead me to your holy mountain,to the place where you live.There I will go to the altar of God,to God—the source of all my joy.I will praise you with my harp,O God, my God!” - Psalm 43:3 - 4 NLTTo do the Christmas season effectively, we must tuck away and spend time with the Lord, “The source of my joy.” Outside of our work, don’t forget to step aside and spend time on your own with Him. Yes, use your “harp” or whatever skill you bring to the experience, and offer it back to God every time! But don’t let that be the only time! “Why am I discouraged?Why is my heart so sad?I will put my hope in God!I will praise him again—my Savior and my God!” - Psalm 43:5In this season, put your hope in God. He’s the reason we got into all this! If you’re like me, I can drift and quickly get discouraged depending on the success or difficulties coming from the experience I help facilitate. When I prioritize stepping away, even just to fast and pray over a lunch hour, I find myself refreshed and reminded why we’re doing it all. Let those times be the source of your joy and use your skills to the best of your ability to share God’s story this season!Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 2 – preparation Dec 06, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders. Before participating in our Advent content, consider reading Romans 15:4-13 to prepare your heart for Todd's message.https://youtu.be/o8SUHk16BgM Preparation: That’s how we roll over here in the world of local church technical arts! This part of advent should be easy! To be successful as technical artists, we need to be really good at preparing for services if we want them to go well. Preparation is something that is learned over time. Being prepared is born out of failing time and again and learning from each failure. It requires the ability to sustain a prolonged effort, which is the definition of endurance. We are called to prepare ourselves for the coming Messiah in week two of Advent. Similar to our lives as production people, as regular people, preparedness requires endurance, the ability to do stuff, fail, get up and keep moving. In Romans 15:4-6, Paul talks about God’s promises through this type of endurance. For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope. May the God who gives endurance and encouragement give you the same attitude of mind toward each other that Christ Jesus had, so that with one mind and one voice you may glorify the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ. As we contemplate the coming of Jesus this Christmas, our preparation involves us attempting to follow Christ and trust Christ in each moment of each day. Our preparation requires us to fail and to get up and try again. God helps by providing encouragement and endurance to live the life He intended. Our preparation isn’t for our benefit but for us to glorify God by being of one mind and one voice with each other. Romans 15:13 says this: May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit. Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 2 – what’s your mountain? Dec 05, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders.https://youtu.be/5ZBvAL1Lu-YToday, we are looking at a passage from Isaiah, chapter 2, verses 1-5.This is what Isaiah son of Amoz saw concerning Judah and Jerusalem:In the last days the mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains;it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.Many peoples will come and say,“Come, let us go up to the mountain of the Lord, to the temple of the God of Jacob.He will teach us his ways, so that we may walk in his paths.”The law will go out from Zion, the word of the Lord from Jerusalem.He will judge between the nations and will settle disputes for many peoples.They will beat their swords into plowshares and their spears into pruning hooks.Nation will not take up sword against nation, nor will they train for war anymore.Come, descendants of Jacob, let us walk in the light of the Lord.I don’t know about you, but do you ever find yourself in a place where you put technology over God? Sometimes, even if we have the sincerest of hearts, we can make technology an idol. I serve in a place with a lot of resources and a lot of gear. I have sometimes thought, ”Man, when these JDCs hit, everyone is going to get saved.” Or “This L’Acoustics PA has to be what Jesus uses in Heaven.” But the reality is that all the gear, all the sweet reverb, and all the crazy, incredible reverse camera shots will save no one. Only the Gospel of Jesus Christ can save. Verse 2 says: “The mountain of the Lord’s temple will be established as the highest of the mountains; it will be exalted above the hills, and all nations will stream to it.” The Lord reigns over all. Our role in production is to use audio, video, and lighting to point people to Jesus. The Gospel of Jesus doesn’t need a clever chase or perfectly wet reverb. It stands on its own. As you enter this second week of Advent, ask the Lord, is production your mountain or is the Gospel?Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 2 – glory in the unexpected Dec 04, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders.https://youtu.be/GySIBDFHZV0Much of the work we do is unseen in the realm of technical artistry. And the work that is seen - the gatherings that we produce, design, or lead - only reflect a fraction of the actual work that goes into what we do. In those unseen moments, I fall into the trap of minimizing the work God has called me to. I may spend countless hours and late nights building a landing page, programming lights, and crafting artistic service elements, and all I can think is, “What’s the point?” “Will anyone even notice?” “Will this ever measure up to what >>insert church name

advent week 1 – an unstoppable force meets an immovable object Dec 03, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders. Before participating in our Advent content, consider reading Luke 1:26-38 to prepare your heart for Delwin's message.https://youtu.be/GxcSLlmjXNAThere’s a classic philosophical concept that comes up in movies like “The Dark Knight”, or in songs like “Something’s Gotta Give” and even the great American cultural phenomenon of 1987: WrestleMania 3. It’s called the Irresistible Force Paradox. “What happens when an unstoppable force meets an immovable object?” So what is the actual answer? Are there any real-life examples that put this paradox to the test? If there’s one thing that you and I, artists in our church, are confident will happen every year without fail, whether in-person or by some beautifully done online service, it’s Christmas. That’s an unchangeable date, an incredibly tall task, an immovable object if there ever was one. The coming of Christ was an immovable reality. The world at large needed a savior and the people of Israel had been promised a Messiah through the line of David. The stage was set, and the people were waiting. But how would the Messiah come? In Luke chapter 1, the Angel of the Lord comes and meets with a teenage virgin named Mary. The conversation unfolds in a way that appears as though Gabriel drew the short straw in a “crucial conversation“ contest. In our vernacular, it would’ve gone like so… “Hey, Mary! Don’t worry. God thinks you’re awesome, and He digs you. Mmkay? Now… You’re gonna have a kid… and he will be THE king. Like the one you’ve been waiting for. How are you feeling about that?” You could cut the tension in this text with a butter knife. Then Mary asks this simple question, a question that everyone who’d heard about the coming Messiah throughout the generations was asking: “How will this happen?” Now the angel’s reply at this moment marks the entrance of the second player in our paradox: the unstoppable Force. “The Holy Spirit will come on you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you.” The same Holy Spirit that was present at the beginning of time, hovering over the waters, would come over Mary and prove His power - the exact thing needed to bring about the coming of the Messiah. An unstoppable force meets an immovable object. The rigors of preparing for our immovable event will bring us long hours, short tempers, and tired souls. But the text beckons us to embrace this reminder: the only way we are effective is if the unstoppable force of the Holy Spirit breathes upon our work and the Most High overshadows us. May the Holy Spirit of God bless you, keep you, and make His face shine upon you. May He be gracious to you as He turns His gaze toward you and gives you His peace. Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 1 – God always comes through Dec 02, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders. https://youtu.be/F0UhzI40F7sToday, we are looking at a passage from Jeremiah, chapter 33, verses 14-16. The day will come, says the LORD, when I will do for Israel and Judah all the good things I have promised them.“In those days and at that time I will raise up a righteous descendant from King David’s line. He will do what is just and right throughout the land. In that day Judah will be saved, and Jerusalem will live in safety.And this will be its name:‘The LORD Is Our Righteousness.’”Amid Israel being overrun by their enemies, Jeremiah is reminding the children of Israel of the hope for their future. He’s reminding them of who God is, that God has forgiven them and not abandoned them and that God will keep his promises even though Israel has betrayed him. I’m sure it didn’t feel like that, but, as we now know, God kept his promise.It is in this passage that we are reminded again of God’s character. He is a keeper of promises. What situation are you going through where you need to remind yourself of this truth? What are you struggling with that you need to surrender to God? During this season, we can have a lot on our minds: family dynamics, work insanity, and even our struggles. If you weren’t thinking about them before reading this, I’m sure you’re thinking about them now. But wait, it gets better! I encourage you to take a moment, pray, and align yourself with God’s promises. I invite you to practice relying on God for some “daily manna” as the Israelites did when God led them out of Egypt. Pray and trust God for today, not tomorrow, not next week, but here, now. And tomorrow, do the same and trust him for just tomorrow. Perhaps he is allowing you to go through this season, not because there’s something you need to learn; but because there’s something you need to unlearn. Maybe the thing that you need to unlearn is trusting and relying on anything but God for your peace of mind, hope for the future, and security from evil. I know it's easy to say, “trust God’s promises,” but I am not so great at just manifesting more trust and making everything better. So the advice that was given to me that I’ll pass along to you is this: Look at your day and acknowledge the “thing” that requires you to exercise the most discipline. Maybe it’s dealing with THAT PERSON at work, or perhaps it’s getting your kids to school on time, or maybe it’s working through a specific insecurity you have. Hold that idea in your mind and then invite God into that process. It may be a simple prayer like what Peter said to Jesus when he was drowning, “Lord, help me.” It may be a moment to pause and breathe where you ask the Lord for strength to have that “crucial conversation.” The key is when you find yourself at your edge, invite God to be with you right there, and let His peace that surpasses all understanding guide your heart, mind, and actions. I pray that you find some peace in this chaotic season, my friend. And as you find that peace, be someone who passes it along to others.Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season.

advent week 1 – the true light is coming Dec 01, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders.https://youtu.be/1T-t7KJTl7AToday, we are looking at a passage from John, chapter 1, verses 6-9.There was a man sent from God whose name was John. He came as a witness to testify concerning that light, so that through him all might believe. He himself was not the light; he came only as a witness to the light. The true light that gives light to everyone was coming into the world.Christmas is my favorite time of the year. We are one of those families who don’t mind listening to Christmas music all year long and puts the tree up before Thanksgiving. Once the “ber” months hit—September, October, November, December—it’s the Christmas season. Being in ministry, Christmas becomes the topic of conversation as soon as summer is over. But more than being the next big thing on the calendar that requires a lot of planning and programming, I believe it is the most important event to hope for, dream about, dwell on, and linger in. I mean, come on—let these words sink in. THE TRUE LIGHT THAT GIVES LIGHT TO EVERYONE WAS COMING INTO THE WORLD.I can’t think of a statement that brings more hope than this. The light was coming into the darkness. It would be true light, not just a representation of light. It would reveal and bring warmth and guidance. The light would be generous and withhold nothing. The light was for everyone: no favorites, exclusions, or limitations. The light was going to be near. It would be in our world, where we are. I need that kind of light every single day. I need that kind of savior every single day. We all do. That’s what Christmas is all about—perfect light piercing the maddening darkness. When I read this entire passage of scripture, I can’t help but think about how I can be more like John the Baptist this Christmas season. He was an ordinary man, sent by God to give personal testimony so that people would believe. His message wasn’t about him, and he ensured people knew it. He made sure people knew THE TRUE LIGHT WAS COMING. There’s nothing more overwhelming than darkness. The darkness of sin, grief, and anxiety. The darkness of loss, desperation, and loneliness. We are wading through so much darkness now, and we need a lifeline more than ever. Our world needs THE light of the world more than anything. This Christmas, let us be like John in our passion and enthusiasm to tell others about Jesus. And let us be like Jesus and bring light and love to every dark corner of our world.Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 1 – the light of Christ Nov 30, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders. https://youtu.be/TWwaIejeH-Q Today, we are looking at a passage from John, chapter 1, verses 1-5. In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was with God in the beginning. Through Him all things were made, and without Him nothing was made that has been made. In him was life, and that life was the light of men. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it. At first glance, this passage sounds familiar, doesn’t it? What does it remind you of? That’s right, the creation story from Genesis 1 - except this time, God is beginning a new creation. In Genesis, we saw God creating out of nothing. In an empty world, God spoke light into darkness, and God breathed life into Adam. This time, instead of a world with nothing, we see a new world with Jesus at the center. Jesus is the light of the world. He is the word. He is the life. There are times in my life when I feel burnt out, depressed, disoriented, or even lost. Maybe you can relate. I love this passage because it reminds me Jesus is with me, Jesus is making all things new, and He has the power to break through any darkness in my life. This is the hope of advent, a season where we live in the tension of darkness and light. We live in a broken world with broken bodies, hardship, and strife. We also live with the hope that Jesus is with us. He's breaking through the darkness and will make all things new again! This advent season, where do you need Jesus' light to shine in your life? For God, who said, “Let light shine out of darkness,” has shone in our hearts to give the light of the knowledge of the glory of God in the face of Jesus Christ. (2 Corinthians 4:6 ESV) Friends, the light of the world—the light who created all things and is holding all things together—is also shining in your heart, with you every moment. As you serve and walk with Christ this advent season, remember in every moment—in the preparation, successes, setbacks, and anticipation—Christ is with you, shining in your heart. Don’t miss Him. Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

advent week 1 – doing christmas vs living christmas Nov 29, 2022

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Our Advent content is available on YouVersion as a Plan! Check it out, read along with your team, and receive daily reminders. Before participating in our Advent content, consider reading Mark 13:33-37 to prepare your heart for Dennis' message.https://youtu.be/IW4O1yRSGdY Every year as production people, it seems like we tense up, and some anxiety creeps in. Christmas is coming, and we’re thinking, “how will we ever get through this?” Then we get past the planning mode and we get into the building, designing, and logistics of everything. Our brains get overloaded with stress, frustration, and a need for clarity to get it done in time. Mark 13 talks about being ready, on watch. We could easily cruise through Christmas again this year while going through the motions. As usual, the craziness will make it fly by. If we’re not careful, we’ll miss what Christmas is really about. Instead of just doing Christmas for church this year, let’s focus on LIVING Christmas this year. Let’s stay focused on doing our best for God amid it all. Need some community and prayer during this time? Reach out to us and let us know how we can pray for you, your family, your team, and your church this holiday season!

Episode 089: Christina Pendleton Nov 28, 2022

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Christina Pendleton joins Todd on the FILO Podcast to talk about leading volunteers, adapting a follower style based on the leader and setting the example for our production volunteers.Show Notes:FILO Advent: Our new Advent devotional series launched yesterday! Each day features a new short devotional, which you can access on YouVersion, our YouTube Channel or our Blog. Book Recommendations: "Procrastinate on Purpose" by Rory Vaden and "Impact Players" by Liz WisemanI Love Jesus But I Hate Christmas: This technical manual, written by Todd Elliott, is the perfect gift for your team members during the holidays! Learn more and purchase copies on our website.Subscribe to the FILO Podcast: Never miss an episode! Subscribe to the FILO Podcast on your favorite podcast platform and be alerted any time we launch a new episode.Leave a review of the FILO Podcast: Your ratings and reviews help spread the word about the FILO Podcast to others. We'd appreciate your help! Leave a review on Apple Podcasts.Have ideas for the FILO Podcast? Email your feedback, send us your topic ideas or names of people you think we should interview! filopodcast@filo.orgFILO Emails: The best way to stay in the loop with what FILO is up to, is to sign up to receive our emails.Follow FILO on Social Media: Instagram | Facebook | Twitter

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