Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year!

Click on the video and enjoy these New Year's Cry Babies!

A Night of Film-The Grove Center for the Arts & Media

On October 25, The Grove Center for the Arts & Media sponsored A Night of Film at Coast Hills Community Church in Aliso Viejo, CA. Over 700 people attended to watch films by Josh Wiegel (Stained), Erik Hollander (Alius Primoris), Taylor Rae (The Old Man and the Ceiling), Tim Morgan (Volition), Charlie Matz (Unthinkable: The Scott Rigsby Story) and Scott Rigsby.

The Grove partnered with Coasts Hills Media, The Veracity Project, 168 Film Project and the Visual Story Network.

What dream are you pursuing that makes your heart come alive?

Okay, I want to ask a question of a spiritual nature...I've done a lot of thinking, praying, reading and exploring the idea of pursuing the dreams God gives us. I could go on and on with this topic, but here's a few foundational thoughts:

1) We're created to know God, love God, walk with God and enjoy Him.

2) God's uniquely wired each one of us with spiritual gifts, talents and abilities. He also puts dreams and desires in our hearts that are consistent with the way He made us, which give Him glory and bring us joy in Him.

3) Some dreams are simple (i.e. loving God & loving others...complicated part there is implementation) and other dream require great commitment and dedication.

4) We have a spiritual enemy who loves to steal, kill and destory our walk with God, others, and dreams. Underestimating this reality diminishes the necessity of prayer and our dependence on God.

5) I needn't be concerned if the dream sounds too impractical, outlandish or ego-serving because if I'm committed to God's perfect will, my aim will not be to please men, but God alone. Think Noah. Think Abraham. Think Jesus.

6) If my true desire is to follow God's will in my life, however my dream/desire works out (or not) will be okay because my sufficiency is found in Christ alone. If the dream does work out, it will bring glory to God and joy to others. If not, what's so bad about working at Taco Bell?

Okay, so what's your dream? What truly makes your heart come alive?

Pursuing Your Dreams-One Day Retreat at The Grove-Saturday, October 18

Are You Pursuing Your God-Given Dreams? Join us for our next One-Day Retreat at The Grove!

October 18 One-Day Retreat at The Grove
Retreat Theme: Pursuing Your Dreams

You are made to walk with God and to pursue the dreams He has placed in your heart.
Are you living under a shadow of fear, doubt and avoiding taking risks? Or, are
you walking in freedom, using your creative gifts and whole-heartedly pursuing who
God has made you to be? Join us as we explore this important topic!

Retreat Leader: Bill Trok, Ridgeview Community Church
Guest Artist: Travis Wheeland, Restoration Church
Saturday, October 18, 10am-5pmCost: $25 pp**

Register today at www.thegrovecenter.org
More questions? Contact Megan Dods at
The Grove office(949) 276-8706
Email: megan@thegrovecenter.org

*Join The Grove for a day of prayer, creative expression, worship, great food & new friends at The Grove's 12 acre lemon & avocado grove in North San Diego
near Fallbrook. In these guided retreats, you'll experience time in God's word & worship, guest artists, small group discussion, solitude, fantastic food, and artistic
spiritual formation exercises. Upon registration, you will be provided a map and a schedule for the day. (Limited to 25 people)
**We have a number of scholarships available...we won't let money be an obstacle for you enjoying a day with the Lord!

Save the Date! A Night of Film-Saturday Night-Oct. 25, 2008

SAVE THE DATE!
Saturday Night, October  25, 7PM Coast Hills Church, Aliso Viejo
Bring a Friend...A Free Grove Event!

A Night of Film is only two weeks away! This year, we've got some great films from 168 Hour Film Project, The Veracity Project, The Doorpost Film Project, Grovefilms and the Visual Story Network. We search for the best films created by filmmakers of the Christian faith. We gather those films and exhibit them at A Night of Film. Films are played, followed by a Q & A with each filmmaker. The night is capped with a dessert that sets the mood for conversations, networking and hearing more from the filmmakers.

I hope you can make this event. We're going to have a great evening celebrating the art of film and creativity.

Unthinkable: The Scott Rigsby Story Trailer

Unthinkable: The Scott Rigsby Story and The Unthinkable Experience: Six Weeks to Changing Your World is now available on www.GroveFilms.com

Check out our new trailer and give us your feedback on Scott's inspiring story. The Unthinkable Experience is a six week small group bible designed to help inviduals and churches begin to dream about doing the unthinkable with God. Imagine how our world could be different if we actually began to pursue unthinkable dreams about changing our lives, our families, our communities and world!

Visual Storytelling Network-Pomano Beach, Florida

Opening Night: The Visual Storytelling Network Summit

"Jesus was not a theologian; He was God who told stories."

Madeleine L'Engle

We must go beyond “preach” and “print”…to “portray.”

The success of the expansion of the Church will hinge on how well we personally demonstrate and visually portray who Jesus is and what impact He can have in our lives.

Paul Eshleman

I'm here with Mark Perez (Grovefilms.com) at the Visual Storytelling Network gathering in Pompano Beach, Florida for 2 and a half days of discussing how to use compelling visual story for transformative life change in people's lives. Over sixty filmmakers, producers, business leaders and ministries from all over the world are here. This effort is led by Clyde Taber, a media producer and leader who developed The Damah Film Festival and various film projects. I'm interested in hearing your ideas on the creation of film, media--visual storytelling--for spiritual transformation in people's lives. What films, media most inspire you? How are you using visual story to engage in spiritual conversations with your friends? How does your church use/not use visual media stories in church services, bible studies, outreach, the spiritual formation of people's lives?

A key thought from last night's session...

• For 1500 years, the Church preached.
• For the past 500 years, the Church printed.
• Today, the Church must PORTRAY the transforming life of Christ through visual media.

That's where the culture is...this is where the Church needs to be or we will miss this generation.

Your thoughts/ideas are welcomed...