Alrighty guys! The new chapter has arrived! That is, a new chapter in my life. I feel it. No longer am I on the starving artist vibe...I've got myself a respectable job working for the FAA, and operate my film production company on the side. I love it. My faith has grown leaps and bounds over the past few months and have FINALLY found a church home at Victory Christian Ministries International in Suitland, MD. I have expanded the ministry of my production company to include the production of music videos for positive and Christian artists and having done that, I already booked 3 music videos for 2010! I know that I am on the path God has for me and am excited to see what comes next -- the good, bad, and the ugly. Because I KNOW that everything that happens will be used for His glory in the end.
It's so amazing how much we still need God even when we think we're ok. Recent happenings in my life have made me realize that I haven't truly dealt with a few issues I have. My problem is that I act before I think, let alone talk to God. I'm so impulsive it's not even funny. And that can get me into a whole heap of trouble. I love to help people. I love to serve and make people happy. But I'm having a hard time balancing my instinct and wisdom...
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Thursday, December 10, 2009
I have BIG DREAMS guys
Everytime I think about everything that I need to accomplish in a day, a year, in life...I get a bit overwhelmed. But something that Derek Luke (actor in Antione Fisher, Friday Night Lights, Notorious) said to a group of hungry filmmakers and actors during a panel at the 2009 Hollywood Black Film Festival will always stick with me:
Paraphrasing: "Don't be afraid of following your dreams. The reason you have them is because God put them there." How awesome is that!
Paraphrasing: "Don't be afraid of following your dreams. The reason you have them is because God put them there." How awesome is that!
Wednesday, December 9, 2009
Music Video Time
I am soo excited!!! I just booked two music videos!!! So glad to be doing work for the Kingdom.
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Reverie goes International!
Today I just received news that my short film, "Reverie", will be screened in China during a special showcase screening of "the Best of SCAD" films and animations! "Reverie" has screened in Canada which is technically considered "international" but it's too close to home (DC)to say so. But now that it is screening in China...I can really say that my film has been screened internationally! Whoopie! Now all that's left on my list is to be invited to one of these international film festivals and get a free trip somewhere!!! Whoop whoop!
Wednesday, October 21, 2009
For LADIES Eyes ONLY (but men can read too...lol)
I received this in an email today. Thought I'd share. Eye opening for all the lost women out there. I thought I had my King, but after reading this I was missing one key element...He wasn't pursuing me. HAHAHA. A HUGE problem wouldnt you say?! lol Anywho...Enjoy!
Is HE the ONE?
THE RIGHT ONE
First we must allow our Heavenly Father to do the picking. And second, the decision for a mate must be made on a spiritual and intellectual basis before it's made on an emotional one. "What about love? Shouldn't that be the third? you ask. No, and I'll tell you why. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). The heart is willful and is driven by its own agenda. It does not consider things rationally and intelligently it just loves to love! Therefore you have to point it in the right direction: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
Whenever you meet a man, you need to get clearance from God, check out his attributes, and then allow your heart to engage. Dating exists not for mating; it exists for collecting data. I believe that the biblical design would be friendship, courtship and then marriage. Friendship is two people walking together in agreement and accountability, learning and growing together.
Courtship follows the mutual agreement to commit to one another exclusively - it is the decisive turning toward the agreed-upon goal of the marriage altar. It is a period of laying a foundation and preparing your life together after marriage. But dating? Well, if you do date, use the time wisely to gather these facts.
1. Check out the fabric. Is the person mate material? Does this man have an intimate relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Does he care what God thinks about his behavior? Is he accountable to God as well as another co-laborer in the faith? Accountability is an important factor. It is imperative to maintaining a committed relationship. Is your potential spouse a member of the same family - the family of God?
You need to have common interests and values and agree on the essentials of living day to day. You have a similar spiritual walk. You eat the same spiritual diet. You enjoy a lot of similar things. You have like interests, like goals in life, like opinions on basic life issues. You have had like experiences in your background. Though there is some truth to the idiom that opposites attract, like-minded folks fare better together.
Furthermore, does he want to get married? If you want to be married and your dreamboat isn't interested, don't waste your time. Remember, women fall in love and get married. Men decide to get married and then look for a wife. Note the difference in order. So if a guy says he's not looking for anything serious, take his words seriously. If he's not going in your direction, get off the bus and wait for the right one.
2. Does this man want you? Is he pursuing you? The man who is right for you will pursue you, and God's hand in the relationship will be clear. No guessing, no fleeces, no dead ends. Scripture says: "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).
Note - who finds whom? THE MAN FINDS THE WIFE. From the beginning of time, God has transported men and women across the world in order to put them together. At the RIGHT TIME, He will bring that man on the scene and he will find you. In God's perfect design, the man is the one who recognizes his mate. Adam has no problem recognizing that Eve was his missing
rib. You do not need to strategically place yourself anywhere. You don't have to help a guy out because he's shy! Men will do whatever they have to do to get what they truly want. The man in your life should recognize you as the pearl of great price in his life and be willing to do whatever he must in order to gain your hand. If he is passive about gaining your affections, take it as a sign that he is not interested.
Many a woman's mother has suggested that it is a good idea to marry a man who loves you more than you love him. As cold as that sounds, it actually might be scriptural if you stop to think about it: "We love him because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Until then, take the ultimate chill pill. You don't need a bunch of men in your life to make you feel all right about yourself. You need only one man - your man, the one God has selected to select you. And trust me, the right man at the wrong time can be just as awful as the wrong man at any time. So trust God's timing in this. He is the ultimate matchmaker. Relax, sit pretty and allow yourself to be found. Again - WAIT until the man voices his intentions. He should take the lead in establishing the relationship. You may have an inkling that he is the one, but God will use the man to set the tone of the relationship. Allow him the opportunity to woo you - this is your first act of submission. Jesus set the standard for all men to follow. They should love us first. And they should lead the
relationship.
3. The man in your life should not desire to move into your house, only into your heart. A man who prepares for your future has made his intentions clear. A man who is husband material has the means to take care of a wife. He is a responsible human being who understands he needs to have something to offer. In short, a man should have the means to be a suitable lover for you.
4. Check out his buddies. Everyone knows birds of the same feather flock together, yet most women fail to see the connection between a man and his friends. A man's pals tell you a lot about the person that you haven't seen yet. They reveal things about the guy's character that might be hidden when he is on good behavior. Everyone knows how to put his best foot forward. Don't stay focused on the foot, check out the rest of the body!
5. Check out his relationship with his mother. How does he treat her? This is your preview of how he will treat you. There are lots of men who, because of a negative relationship with their mothers, really don't like women, yet say they do. Unresolved issues between mother
and son continue between husband and wife.
6. Remember that a man's family reveals the cloth from which he's cut. Take note and decide whether you want your future with the man in your life to look like his present family situation.
7. Check out the patterns of his life. Do you see repeated cycles of drama in his personal kingdom? Broken relationships? Problems in making commitments - including the job market? Mood swings? Is a problem always someone else's fault? Does he embrace responsibility or
shirk it? Does he keep his promises? Is he a man of good reputation? Remember all garments look wonderful hanging in the store, but with wear, some begin to unravel. Give yourself time and space to check out the man in your life. Time will always reveal whether or not he is
made of the right stuff.
8. Does this man have a vision for his life? Is he running with that vision? Remember, God decided Adam needed help once Adam got busy DOING his assignment. As we saw Adam, a man doesn't need help until he is busy doing what he was created and called to do. Is the man in your life guided by sense of destiny and purpose, or does he just allow life to happen around him? A man who is not certain of his mission can be a most miserable person - and you'll be miserable too if you know where YOU want to go in life. A man who has vision is not intimidated by a woman whose mission statement is clear. He will be your best ally, cheerleader and assistant because he wants you both to make it! A man who cannot be supportive of your achievements because he is floundering in a sea of uncertainty over his own life is not a healthy partner to have and to hold forever.
Creating dependencies or feelings of obligation is not the way to get the best out of your man. Somewhere along the way, he will resent you and flee from the smothering burden of obligation he associates you with. You want a man who is firmly anchored in his identity in Christ. Remember, we are looking for a man who will be priest and leader of his home. His first instinct should be to want to cover you, redeem you, and provide for you. Your job is to decide if this is the man God has ordained for you to complement.
9. Complimentary. Do your talents and gifts complement his? Do his gifts, compliment yours? What about your temperaments? Do you see the two of you as an effective team capable of bringing blessing to the lives of those around you? Do your futures mesh? Can you co-ordinate
your gifts in an attractive and effective way? This is why knowing your purpose is so important. Make sure your hearts beat for mutual causes. When I go shopping I always consider the fabric, the fit and what I already have in my closet. Will my next purchase be a complimentary addition to what I already have? If I find that I am going to have to buy shoes and matching accessories to go with a new outfit, I leave it right on the rack. It is too expensive a proposition.. If the man you meet makes you feel that you need to completely reinvent yourself, something is wrong.
This is where I ask you to consider the relationship in terms of cost. Is this relationship expensive spiritually, emotional or physically? Does your longing for a mate make you willing to forfeit who you are in the process? Or does he see you as the gift that you are? The man in your life should consider you a rare find, a priceless jewel - because of you he is getting ready to get blessed big-time! Any relationship that causes you to feel unworthy, unlovely, unacceptable, undesirable or that you have to work for love, is too expensive! God has called the man to cover, protect and provide not only materially for a woman, but emotionally and spiritually as well. You should be richer in mind, body and spirit for your union with the man of your dreams. The man in your life should make rich deposits into your heart and spirit, not withdrawals.
10. Does he have a healthy love and acceptance of himself? Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and has made peace with himself. How he cares for himself is how he will care for you. A man's relationship with God is crucial here.. His love for himself will only be as strong as his love for God. This is not something that you can impart. You cannot be his savior or teacher. That is out of spiritual order. In his rightful place as your personal priest, he should be leading you to a richer relationship with Christ. If he is causing you to compromise your faith and destabilize your walk, if he is leading you into sexual sin or causing you to be distracted from your commitment to God, the relationship is too expensive. Offending the Lover of your soul, who promises you eternal love, is too high a fare to pay for a ride that has a limited run. If you and your man can't soar in the Spirit, when the force of your love for one another is tested by the pull or gravity of the world, your union will not be able to survive.
So you decide. How much is your life worth? How much is your love worth? You will be able to accept only what you believe you deserve. God himself calculated the worth of your love and decided it was worth His life. He now pledges you His love for eternity. Yes, Jesus sets the example for all others to follow when He paid a ransom for His bride. Should you expect less from a mortal man? Throughout the Biblical age, men were willing to pay the cost for what they truly desired. The truth of the matter is, everyone knows that anything worth having, costs and no one gets a ride in this life for free.
Our prayer:
Dear Heavenly Mother/Father, God:
I confess that I have not always been as careful as I should've been with my heart. From time to time, my desire for love has caused me to leave my heart in the wrong hands. I now commit my heart into Your hands for safekeeping. Please help me to stop being so impulsive with what you deem so precious. As I learn to celebrate Your love for me, let me learn from Your example what a bridegroom should really be like. Help me to never settle for less than what you desire for me. As I embrace You as the Lover of my soul, keep my affections in the haven of Your own heart. As I rest in Your love, make me more discriminating of those who approach me. I ask that You take over this area of my life.. Keep me from those You know would hurt my heart. I invite You to set a hedge around me and keep me from all who would draw me into unfruitful relationships until the day you present me to the mate that You have selected for me.. Grant me the discernment to recognize him as he recognizes me. Cleanse me from the temptation to typecast the men I meet according to what I see. Help me to trust in Your knowledge and lean not on my own understanding. I know that You know what is best for me; therefore I yield to Your choice. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Is HE the ONE?
THE RIGHT ONE
First we must allow our Heavenly Father to do the picking. And second, the decision for a mate must be made on a spiritual and intellectual basis before it's made on an emotional one. "What about love? Shouldn't that be the third? you ask. No, and I'll tell you why. "The heart is deceitful above all things and beyond cure. Who can understand it? (Jeremiah 17:9). The heart is willful and is driven by its own agenda. It does not consider things rationally and intelligently it just loves to love! Therefore you have to point it in the right direction: "Above all else, guard your heart, for it is the wellspring of life" (Proverbs 4:23).
Whenever you meet a man, you need to get clearance from God, check out his attributes, and then allow your heart to engage. Dating exists not for mating; it exists for collecting data. I believe that the biblical design would be friendship, courtship and then marriage. Friendship is two people walking together in agreement and accountability, learning and growing together.
Courtship follows the mutual agreement to commit to one another exclusively - it is the decisive turning toward the agreed-upon goal of the marriage altar. It is a period of laying a foundation and preparing your life together after marriage. But dating? Well, if you do date, use the time wisely to gather these facts.
1. Check out the fabric. Is the person mate material? Does this man have an intimate relationship with the Father through Jesus Christ? Does he care what God thinks about his behavior? Is he accountable to God as well as another co-laborer in the faith? Accountability is an important factor. It is imperative to maintaining a committed relationship. Is your potential spouse a member of the same family - the family of God?
You need to have common interests and values and agree on the essentials of living day to day. You have a similar spiritual walk. You eat the same spiritual diet. You enjoy a lot of similar things. You have like interests, like goals in life, like opinions on basic life issues. You have had like experiences in your background. Though there is some truth to the idiom that opposites attract, like-minded folks fare better together.
Furthermore, does he want to get married? If you want to be married and your dreamboat isn't interested, don't waste your time. Remember, women fall in love and get married. Men decide to get married and then look for a wife. Note the difference in order. So if a guy says he's not looking for anything serious, take his words seriously. If he's not going in your direction, get off the bus and wait for the right one.
2. Does this man want you? Is he pursuing you? The man who is right for you will pursue you, and God's hand in the relationship will be clear. No guessing, no fleeces, no dead ends. Scripture says: "He who finds a wife finds what is good and receives favor from the Lord" (Proverbs 18:22).
Note - who finds whom? THE MAN FINDS THE WIFE. From the beginning of time, God has transported men and women across the world in order to put them together. At the RIGHT TIME, He will bring that man on the scene and he will find you. In God's perfect design, the man is the one who recognizes his mate. Adam has no problem recognizing that Eve was his missing
rib. You do not need to strategically place yourself anywhere. You don't have to help a guy out because he's shy! Men will do whatever they have to do to get what they truly want. The man in your life should recognize you as the pearl of great price in his life and be willing to do whatever he must in order to gain your hand. If he is passive about gaining your affections, take it as a sign that he is not interested.
Many a woman's mother has suggested that it is a good idea to marry a man who loves you more than you love him. As cold as that sounds, it actually might be scriptural if you stop to think about it: "We love him because he first loved us" (1 John 4:19). Until then, take the ultimate chill pill. You don't need a bunch of men in your life to make you feel all right about yourself. You need only one man - your man, the one God has selected to select you. And trust me, the right man at the wrong time can be just as awful as the wrong man at any time. So trust God's timing in this. He is the ultimate matchmaker. Relax, sit pretty and allow yourself to be found. Again - WAIT until the man voices his intentions. He should take the lead in establishing the relationship. You may have an inkling that he is the one, but God will use the man to set the tone of the relationship. Allow him the opportunity to woo you - this is your first act of submission. Jesus set the standard for all men to follow. They should love us first. And they should lead the
relationship.
3. The man in your life should not desire to move into your house, only into your heart. A man who prepares for your future has made his intentions clear. A man who is husband material has the means to take care of a wife. He is a responsible human being who understands he needs to have something to offer. In short, a man should have the means to be a suitable lover for you.
4. Check out his buddies. Everyone knows birds of the same feather flock together, yet most women fail to see the connection between a man and his friends. A man's pals tell you a lot about the person that you haven't seen yet. They reveal things about the guy's character that might be hidden when he is on good behavior. Everyone knows how to put his best foot forward. Don't stay focused on the foot, check out the rest of the body!
5. Check out his relationship with his mother. How does he treat her? This is your preview of how he will treat you. There are lots of men who, because of a negative relationship with their mothers, really don't like women, yet say they do. Unresolved issues between mother
and son continue between husband and wife.
6. Remember that a man's family reveals the cloth from which he's cut. Take note and decide whether you want your future with the man in your life to look like his present family situation.
7. Check out the patterns of his life. Do you see repeated cycles of drama in his personal kingdom? Broken relationships? Problems in making commitments - including the job market? Mood swings? Is a problem always someone else's fault? Does he embrace responsibility or
shirk it? Does he keep his promises? Is he a man of good reputation? Remember all garments look wonderful hanging in the store, but with wear, some begin to unravel. Give yourself time and space to check out the man in your life. Time will always reveal whether or not he is
made of the right stuff.
8. Does this man have a vision for his life? Is he running with that vision? Remember, God decided Adam needed help once Adam got busy DOING his assignment. As we saw Adam, a man doesn't need help until he is busy doing what he was created and called to do. Is the man in your life guided by sense of destiny and purpose, or does he just allow life to happen around him? A man who is not certain of his mission can be a most miserable person - and you'll be miserable too if you know where YOU want to go in life. A man who has vision is not intimidated by a woman whose mission statement is clear. He will be your best ally, cheerleader and assistant because he wants you both to make it! A man who cannot be supportive of your achievements because he is floundering in a sea of uncertainty over his own life is not a healthy partner to have and to hold forever.
Creating dependencies or feelings of obligation is not the way to get the best out of your man. Somewhere along the way, he will resent you and flee from the smothering burden of obligation he associates you with. You want a man who is firmly anchored in his identity in Christ. Remember, we are looking for a man who will be priest and leader of his home. His first instinct should be to want to cover you, redeem you, and provide for you. Your job is to decide if this is the man God has ordained for you to complement.
9. Complimentary. Do your talents and gifts complement his? Do his gifts, compliment yours? What about your temperaments? Do you see the two of you as an effective team capable of bringing blessing to the lives of those around you? Do your futures mesh? Can you co-ordinate
your gifts in an attractive and effective way? This is why knowing your purpose is so important. Make sure your hearts beat for mutual causes. When I go shopping I always consider the fabric, the fit and what I already have in my closet. Will my next purchase be a complimentary addition to what I already have? If I find that I am going to have to buy shoes and matching accessories to go with a new outfit, I leave it right on the rack. It is too expensive a proposition.. If the man you meet makes you feel that you need to completely reinvent yourself, something is wrong.
This is where I ask you to consider the relationship in terms of cost. Is this relationship expensive spiritually, emotional or physically? Does your longing for a mate make you willing to forfeit who you are in the process? Or does he see you as the gift that you are? The man in your life should consider you a rare find, a priceless jewel - because of you he is getting ready to get blessed big-time! Any relationship that causes you to feel unworthy, unlovely, unacceptable, undesirable or that you have to work for love, is too expensive! God has called the man to cover, protect and provide not only materially for a woman, but emotionally and spiritually as well. You should be richer in mind, body and spirit for your union with the man of your dreams. The man in your life should make rich deposits into your heart and spirit, not withdrawals.
10. Does he have a healthy love and acceptance of himself? Make sure the man in your life has taken time to heal from past relationships and has made peace with himself. How he cares for himself is how he will care for you. A man's relationship with God is crucial here.. His love for himself will only be as strong as his love for God. This is not something that you can impart. You cannot be his savior or teacher. That is out of spiritual order. In his rightful place as your personal priest, he should be leading you to a richer relationship with Christ. If he is causing you to compromise your faith and destabilize your walk, if he is leading you into sexual sin or causing you to be distracted from your commitment to God, the relationship is too expensive. Offending the Lover of your soul, who promises you eternal love, is too high a fare to pay for a ride that has a limited run. If you and your man can't soar in the Spirit, when the force of your love for one another is tested by the pull or gravity of the world, your union will not be able to survive.
So you decide. How much is your life worth? How much is your love worth? You will be able to accept only what you believe you deserve. God himself calculated the worth of your love and decided it was worth His life. He now pledges you His love for eternity. Yes, Jesus sets the example for all others to follow when He paid a ransom for His bride. Should you expect less from a mortal man? Throughout the Biblical age, men were willing to pay the cost for what they truly desired. The truth of the matter is, everyone knows that anything worth having, costs and no one gets a ride in this life for free.
Our prayer:
Dear Heavenly Mother/Father, God:
I confess that I have not always been as careful as I should've been with my heart. From time to time, my desire for love has caused me to leave my heart in the wrong hands. I now commit my heart into Your hands for safekeeping. Please help me to stop being so impulsive with what you deem so precious. As I learn to celebrate Your love for me, let me learn from Your example what a bridegroom should really be like. Help me to never settle for less than what you desire for me. As I embrace You as the Lover of my soul, keep my affections in the haven of Your own heart. As I rest in Your love, make me more discriminating of those who approach me. I ask that You take over this area of my life.. Keep me from those You know would hurt my heart. I invite You to set a hedge around me and keep me from all who would draw me into unfruitful relationships until the day you present me to the mate that You have selected for me.. Grant me the discernment to recognize him as he recognizes me. Cleanse me from the temptation to typecast the men I meet according to what I see. Help me to trust in Your knowledge and lean not on my own understanding. I know that You know what is best for me; therefore I yield to Your choice. In Jesus Name. Amen.
Thursday, October 15, 2009
Stealing Stories
Question:
I'm sure you've opened your inbox to find a silly story or two forwarded to you by a friend, whose friend sent it to him, and so on and so forth. But where do these stories originate? I've had a few that have come across my mind that would make BRILLIANT 1-2 minute short comedies, but I don't want them to get to festival status and have it bite me in the butt.
Is it really that serious. They aren't really festival worthy pieces, rather just something cheap and fun to do to add to my reel of work.
What are your opinions? Should I worry too much about this, or just go out and shoot! Or if you have any suggestions on how I can find out the author of such things that have been passed on by hundreds of millions of people...
Thanks guys!
I'm sure you've opened your inbox to find a silly story or two forwarded to you by a friend, whose friend sent it to him, and so on and so forth. But where do these stories originate? I've had a few that have come across my mind that would make BRILLIANT 1-2 minute short comedies, but I don't want them to get to festival status and have it bite me in the butt.
Is it really that serious. They aren't really festival worthy pieces, rather just something cheap and fun to do to add to my reel of work.
What are your opinions? Should I worry too much about this, or just go out and shoot! Or if you have any suggestions on how I can find out the author of such things that have been passed on by hundreds of millions of people...
Thanks guys!
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Ask And You Shall Recieve
Man-o-man is this true! A few months ago, I hit a dry spell. I couldn't write ANYTHING. So frustrating. So I prayed for God to inspire me and you know what ya'll?! HE DID! Thank you Jesus! So much so, that my BRAIN HURTS! hahaha. Seriously, I have so much to write and so much that I want to say, I can hardly get it out, because it hurts to focus on one idea...SUPERFANTASTICALLY WEIRD!
I mean these ideas won't go away! LOL. Not that I want them too. It's just that, I'm scatter-brained enough...I don't need to add the chaos of mixing 10 completely different stories together causing this...hmmmm. Wait. That's not a bad idea actually. I once had a professor tell me that many of our ideas are elements that can be combined to contribute to one successful story. Maybe that's why I can't write a complete story from these ideas. Maybe they are just the elements. I'm gonna have to create a Captain Planet! "With your powers combined - I. AM. CAPTAIN PLANET!" lol.
But anywho, what I'd like to pass along from this wonderful blessing is that NOTHING or no place in your life is uninspiring. Even if you're working at McDonald's dropping fries, or a waitress at a Cafe, or behind the desk as a Receptionist when you want to be creating GREAT MASTERFUL FILMS WITH AWESOMELY INSPIRING SUBJECT MATTER...lol --remember you can get the most whacked out ideas from the most boring and mundane things in life.
Remember God has a plan for us, and you have to believe that. I heard Derek Luke at a Q & A say, "If you have a dream, know that God put it there." "If you have a skill, know that God gave it to you". God has already equipped us with everything we need, all we need to do is to believe. HA! Ask and you shall receive and don't under estimate the power of speaking things into existence either. We are all made in God's image, and we all have the ability to speak words of Power. But it wont happen unless you BELIEVE.
Matthew 21:21
Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Whenever you're feeling a bit discouraged, just put on your "blinders" (don't look at what everyone else around you is doing) and know that God has got your back! He's just waiting for you to Believe.
Does that make sense? Comments welcome ;)
I mean these ideas won't go away! LOL. Not that I want them too. It's just that, I'm scatter-brained enough...I don't need to add the chaos of mixing 10 completely different stories together causing this...hmmmm. Wait. That's not a bad idea actually. I once had a professor tell me that many of our ideas are elements that can be combined to contribute to one successful story. Maybe that's why I can't write a complete story from these ideas. Maybe they are just the elements. I'm gonna have to create a Captain Planet! "With your powers combined - I. AM. CAPTAIN PLANET!" lol.
But anywho, what I'd like to pass along from this wonderful blessing is that NOTHING or no place in your life is uninspiring. Even if you're working at McDonald's dropping fries, or a waitress at a Cafe, or behind the desk as a Receptionist when you want to be creating GREAT MASTERFUL FILMS WITH AWESOMELY INSPIRING SUBJECT MATTER...lol --remember you can get the most whacked out ideas from the most boring and mundane things in life.
Remember God has a plan for us, and you have to believe that. I heard Derek Luke at a Q & A say, "If you have a dream, know that God put it there." "If you have a skill, know that God gave it to you". God has already equipped us with everything we need, all we need to do is to believe. HA! Ask and you shall receive and don't under estimate the power of speaking things into existence either. We are all made in God's image, and we all have the ability to speak words of Power. But it wont happen unless you BELIEVE.
Matthew 21:21
Then Jesus told them, "I assure you, if you have faith and don't doubt, you can do things like this and much more. You can even say to this mountain, `May God lift you up and throw you into the sea,' and it will happen. If you believe, you will receive whatever you ask for in prayer."
Whenever you're feeling a bit discouraged, just put on your "blinders" (don't look at what everyone else around you is doing) and know that God has got your back! He's just waiting for you to Believe.
Does that make sense? Comments welcome ;)
Farmville
Hey, hey, hey!
A little off topic from the other posts, but I HAVE to talk about this...Facebook has this game application called FARMVILLE. Farmville is an online game that allows you to plant and harvest fruits, vegatables to make more money and earn farming experience to gain more access to different seeds and things for your farm. You are also able to purchase more land, animals, trees, and farm decorations. I started playing this game last night, and I am...hooked.
I am going crazy that I can't play it here at work! If I wait too long to haverst my crops, they will surely die! :( lol.. What organization doesn't allow their employees to play games during work?! HAHAHA. I hope you know that I am just kidding.
Anywho! I hope you all have a superfantabulous day!
--
Ms. P.
A little off topic from the other posts, but I HAVE to talk about this...Facebook has this game application called FARMVILLE. Farmville is an online game that allows you to plant and harvest fruits, vegatables to make more money and earn farming experience to gain more access to different seeds and things for your farm. You are also able to purchase more land, animals, trees, and farm decorations. I started playing this game last night, and I am...hooked.
I am going crazy that I can't play it here at work! If I wait too long to haverst my crops, they will surely die! :( lol.. What organization doesn't allow their employees to play games during work?! HAHAHA. I hope you know that I am just kidding.
Anywho! I hope you all have a superfantabulous day!
--
Ms. P.
Friday, October 2, 2009
The Verdict is...
POSTPONED...hahaha. I have to mail in my driving record to the judge and then he will determine the outcome. I just pray that he's in as good of a mood as he was yesterday...He reduced EVERYONE's fine and violation! He was truly special!
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Action/Reaction -- Choice/Consequence
Today I go to court for a speeding ticket -- IN VIRGINIA. I know, I know. Everyone knows NOT to speed in VA. But I was trying to get to the premiere of my film, Reverie, at a Film Festival in Atlanta, GA and I was just passing cars on the left lane. Once I passed them, I was going to get back into the slow lanes and reduce my speed to 75mph...sigh.
Pray that the judge sees that I'm not a reckless driver, and doesn't punish me too harshly. DID YOU KNOW I COULD GO TO JAIL FOR RECKLESS DRIVING?! Eeeekkk!!!
In case you're wondering, I was going 83mph in a 70mph zone. I wasn't going like 100mph...NOT THAT CRAZY!!!
Anywho, I'm off to travel 3 hours to court.
Until Next Time. PRAY!!!
Tuesday, September 29, 2009
How Raw is too Raw?
For those of you who don't know, I am a Director/Filmmaker. But more importantly, I am a Christian - a Believer of our Lord Jesus Christ. And as a believer I have come to the realization that my passion and talent in filmmaking should be used to do the Will of God. The Will of God? That's so vague. What do I mean by that? Well, the Will of God is the Word of God, and the Word of God is the Bible. So by follwing the Word of God, is doing the Will of God.
Sounds easy right? HA! Sure...whatever you say.
Lately I've been struggling with how "real" to make my characters, and how "real" to make their situation. What are the right things, and wrong things for them to say and do? What stories do I tell and how far do I take it? Because there's a chance that the people and stories I choose to portray - might confuse people and cause controversy in the Church. Usually Christian films deal with "real" subject matter, but they execute it poorly. Many people (saved and unsaved) tune out of the film or flip the channel, because they automatically know that what they are watching is "fake".
You see I don't believe that a Christian filmmaker has to make "LAME" movies. They can if they want to, but I don't believe that we HAVE to. But we get caught up in, if I can't be shown in the church then I need to change a few things to make it socially acceptable. When in fact when we take out those graphic scenes, and vulgarity all we are left with is a powerful story with no truth. Becaue the WORLD isn't all peaches and creme. The WORLD is the scum under your fingernails after you've picked your nose and wiped your tail without washing you hands. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that people should write every detail of a sexual act or a character should say everything he's thinking. NO, not saying that at all. But as a Christian filmmaker what am I allowed to create? Can I create a sex scene like the one in "Monster Ball", or tell an inspirational story through the eyes of a pimp in "Hustle and Flow", or even portray gay love in a film like "Brokeback Mountain" and still call myself a Christian filmmaker?
I believe the answer is yes. If I do my job correctly I should be able to protray a "real" world experience/person and still succesfully give God the glory, or have a positive message overall, or give the audience a revalation or insight into something they overlooked in thier own lives.
I believe that we (Christian Filmmakers) can create dark movies with everything that "real" movies have and still win hearts to God. But the fear is that people will critisize and question your faith because you choose to have a character curse like a sailor, or enjoy molesting little children, or portraying the most graphic depiction of Jesus Christ's final days on earth.
But I guess as with anything, there will be critiquing and disagreements and controversy, especially when dealing with the church. So I just need to grow a pair of balls and take it like a man...
I am ok with this, because my audience isn't the church. It's the unsaved and the Christians who don't have their stuff together. Just like there are different churches with different missions - I am a Christian filmmaker on a different assignment than the rest. So does it bother me that the nature of my films may be too graphic and Rated-R for the churches to play on Sundays? No. Because it's not for the church. It's about the overall impact of the film in todays society.
Sigh...Does this make any sense? lol
Sounds easy right? HA! Sure...whatever you say.
Lately I've been struggling with how "real" to make my characters, and how "real" to make their situation. What are the right things, and wrong things for them to say and do? What stories do I tell and how far do I take it? Because there's a chance that the people and stories I choose to portray - might confuse people and cause controversy in the Church. Usually Christian films deal with "real" subject matter, but they execute it poorly. Many people (saved and unsaved) tune out of the film or flip the channel, because they automatically know that what they are watching is "fake".
You see I don't believe that a Christian filmmaker has to make "LAME" movies. They can if they want to, but I don't believe that we HAVE to. But we get caught up in, if I can't be shown in the church then I need to change a few things to make it socially acceptable. When in fact when we take out those graphic scenes, and vulgarity all we are left with is a powerful story with no truth. Becaue the WORLD isn't all peaches and creme. The WORLD is the scum under your fingernails after you've picked your nose and wiped your tail without washing you hands. Don't get me wrong. I'm not saying that people should write every detail of a sexual act or a character should say everything he's thinking. NO, not saying that at all. But as a Christian filmmaker what am I allowed to create? Can I create a sex scene like the one in "Monster Ball", or tell an inspirational story through the eyes of a pimp in "Hustle and Flow", or even portray gay love in a film like "Brokeback Mountain" and still call myself a Christian filmmaker?
I believe the answer is yes. If I do my job correctly I should be able to protray a "real" world experience/person and still succesfully give God the glory, or have a positive message overall, or give the audience a revalation or insight into something they overlooked in thier own lives.
I believe that we (Christian Filmmakers) can create dark movies with everything that "real" movies have and still win hearts to God. But the fear is that people will critisize and question your faith because you choose to have a character curse like a sailor, or enjoy molesting little children, or portraying the most graphic depiction of Jesus Christ's final days on earth.
But I guess as with anything, there will be critiquing and disagreements and controversy, especially when dealing with the church. So I just need to grow a pair of balls and take it like a man...
I am ok with this, because my audience isn't the church. It's the unsaved and the Christians who don't have their stuff together. Just like there are different churches with different missions - I am a Christian filmmaker on a different assignment than the rest. So does it bother me that the nature of my films may be too graphic and Rated-R for the churches to play on Sundays? No. Because it's not for the church. It's about the overall impact of the film in todays society.
Sigh...Does this make any sense? lol
Monday, September 28, 2009
One Thing at a Time
Matthew 6:34 "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
I revist this verse everytime I feel overwhelmed with the long list of TO DO'S I have made for my life, and career. Often times we look at the big picture and get distraught over everything that needs to take place to get there. Or we get distracted by looking at what everyone else is doing and accomplishing instead of focusing on ourselves and our own journeys. I challenge you to put those blinders on and take one thing at a time when dealing with your long list of TO DO's. You'll be amazed at how much LESS stress you'll experience when you just CHILL OUT, take a breath, and TRUST GOD.
--
Suzanne was exhausted. Pressures at work had become increasingly intense, and each day she felt as if she was falling further and further behind. She desperately tried to pray about her situation, but after a while, the words just wouldnt come. She became so consumed by the details of her exhausting job she didnt know where to begin. She tossed and turned at night, wondering how she was going to get it all done - on top of keeping up with things at home.
Do you ever feel this way? Life can often be overwhelming. Deadlines, commitments, details - it's enough to make you want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head. Jesus understood that life could be busy and overwhelming. He knew that it could seem like too much to bear. His advice in this regard is simple - do not worry about tomorrow...each day has enough touble of its own. Looking too far ahead into the future - even one day - can paralyze us with worry and exhuastion, so much so that we dont feel like doing anything at all.
Jesus taught that it's far more effective to tackle life one step at a time. Simply do the next thing that needs to be done. Not only does this keep our worry at a minimum, it enables us to trust God to help us accomplish what we cannot do on our own. Living in the moment takes practice, but it's a worthwhile investment of your time. -- From Whispers of Wisdom for Young Women, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission."
I revist this verse everytime I feel overwhelmed with the long list of TO DO'S I have made for my life, and career. Often times we look at the big picture and get distraught over everything that needs to take place to get there. Or we get distracted by looking at what everyone else is doing and accomplishing instead of focusing on ourselves and our own journeys. I challenge you to put those blinders on and take one thing at a time when dealing with your long list of TO DO's. You'll be amazed at how much LESS stress you'll experience when you just CHILL OUT, take a breath, and TRUST GOD.
--
Suzanne was exhausted. Pressures at work had become increasingly intense, and each day she felt as if she was falling further and further behind. She desperately tried to pray about her situation, but after a while, the words just wouldnt come. She became so consumed by the details of her exhausting job she didnt know where to begin. She tossed and turned at night, wondering how she was going to get it all done - on top of keeping up with things at home.
Do you ever feel this way? Life can often be overwhelming. Deadlines, commitments, details - it's enough to make you want to crawl back into bed and pull the covers over your head. Jesus understood that life could be busy and overwhelming. He knew that it could seem like too much to bear. His advice in this regard is simple - do not worry about tomorrow...each day has enough touble of its own. Looking too far ahead into the future - even one day - can paralyze us with worry and exhuastion, so much so that we dont feel like doing anything at all.
Jesus taught that it's far more effective to tackle life one step at a time. Simply do the next thing that needs to be done. Not only does this keep our worry at a minimum, it enables us to trust God to help us accomplish what we cannot do on our own. Living in the moment takes practice, but it's a worthwhile investment of your time. -- From Whispers of Wisdom for Young Women, published by Barbour Publishing, Inc. Used by permission."
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