On the Road Again

On Wednesday morning at an ungodly hour (should ministries work at ungodly hours?) I will be leaving Pennsylvania for Indiana. I’ll be doing live art and a workshop for the Church of the Brethren Church Planting Workshop Thursday through Saturday, then heading to Northern Indiana to Pleasant Chapel COB in Ashley IN to preach and paint for their Sunday Morning worship service, then picking up and driving to Dayton OH for a Sunday Evening Youth event with my good friend Todd Pearage (Lord willing). I am so looking forward to this trip and I would really appreciate your prayers.

Help Needed

I was out this past weekend at the Call 2 Ministry Conference. It was amazing. I had the opportunity to speak into the lives of young people exploring a call to ministry. It once again cemented something in my heart. This ministry called A.M.O.K. is my calling and what I want to do with the rest of my life. It’s a lot more than painting pictures and telling stories for Jesus. I want to use my gift to spread the Gospel and encourage believers to find and use their unique gifts to serve the Lord and spread the Gospel. I want to be able to go wherever I’m needed and help as many as I can.

You see there is a huge need. First of all, the majority of the people in this world are still in need of a saving relationship with Jesus Christ. The harvest is ripe and the workers are few. I feel a call to the harvest and the workers. I want to be out there sharing the Gospel, but I also want to be showing and encouraging others to use their unique gifts to serve the Lord. I want to be out there helping congregations to find and create ministries for the people in their midst so that they’re better equipped to reach their communities.

The arts and the media are one of the most powerful tools to spread a message in the history of the world and while I believe my call is to the whole Church the way God has gifted me puts me in a unique place to reach these often underutilized people. The next C.S. Lewis may well be in the church now. The next Coppola, Rembrandt, Beethoven and Van Halen may maybe out there too, not to mention the geniuses and the masters of the new media. We need to reach them to put their gifts to work for the good of the Kingdom. Again the harvest is ripe and I want to be used to bring it in. I need your help.

How can you help:

1. Pray.
I am building a prayer list and a prayer team for this ministry. If you’d like to be a part of it, please contact me at amokarts@aol.com.

2. Spread the Word.
I post this blog and create the videos and resources I post here to further the Kingdom and the Gospel. The more people that know about it the better. Repost it, tweet it, share it on your Facebook page, email it to your friends, use the videos in your worship services. It’s been freely given, so freely give. The more people that know what we’re doing here, there better.

3. Bring me in for your next program/service/etc.
I love to paint in worship and do creative things to bring forth a message from the Word, and I’d love to paint for your conference, concert, service, etc. And I don’t just paint, I do workshops on a variety of topics, including using the creative arts in ministry. I create evangelistic programs, youth retreats, revivals and more. I’ve been a pastor for nearly 10 years and was a youth leader for five years before that. I’m a story teller/parable maker. I’m an experienced preacher/speaker who believes that the Bible is the unchanging Word of God. These opportunities help to support and further this ministry. You can see the recommendations of some of the people I’ve worked with here.

4. Donate
Donations will also help further this ministry and help me to reach more people and congregations. I’ve not yet incorporated this ministry, instead for now, it’s a ministry of my church, New Creation Fellowship in Reading, PA. If you’d like to donate, you can mail a check to New Creation Fellowship, 3646 Pottsville Pike, Reading, PA 19605. Please designate AMOKArts on the memo line. Thanks for the way you have supported this ministry over the years. I appreciate your support more than you could ever know.

I’ve told you how you can help me, now here is the bigger question.

How can I help you? Because I want to.

Praise report on my friend

A few days ago I asked for prayer for my friend and many folks on my lists responded. I wanted to let you know that your prayers have been answered. Her condition has improved. She was moved out of intensive care, and is conscious and talking. She still has a way to go, so prayer is still appreciated, but she is greatly improved.
Praise God and thank you for your prayers,
Dave

Urgent Prayer Request

My wife and son and I are just back from a short vacation. On our way home we received a text from one of our church members. She said that she came home to find her mom, a long time friend and founding member of our church, unconscious. As I write this she is in intensive care, has not regained consciousness and the doctors say she will really have to fight to survive. Please keep her in your prayers.
Thanks and God bless,
Dave

My New Presentation

Defeating the 20/80 Rule with Be the Body
• Does your church have enough people to get everything done?
• Does your church have a small group of people who do most of the work?
• Does your church have a large group of people on the fringes and barely connected?
When you call upon your congregation to do the kinds of service Jesus commanded do they look back at you with a look that says, “Isn’t that what we pay you for?”
There’s a rule in most human organizations including, unfortunately, the church, which states that on average about 20 percent of the people do 80% of the work. This leaves your most faithful servants doing many things for which they are neither called nor gifted and nearing burnout while the rest of the congregation is only slightly invested in the work of the Kingdom. This is not the church that God intended.
I was in danger of becoming one of those 80 percent people and then something amazing happened. I went from struggling new believer who could barely read scripture aloud with a profound fear of public speaking to ordained minister, pastor and speaker. It wasn’t all a smooth ride and it didn’t happen overnight but it happened and I can trace it all back to one event. My pastor found a Kingdom use for my unusual gift and it changed my life. I’m convinced that there are thousands (maybe millions) of people in the church of Jesus Christ who are in the same boat. They have tremendous, God-given potential to do great things—things that will tremendously expand the Kingdom and they’re just waiting for someone to find their gift, ignite their passion and show them how to be what they were created to be to the glory of God. We are all “God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works which God prepared in advance for us to do!”
That’s what my new presentation “Be the Body” is all about. Through the use of my story, artistic gifts, interactive projects and preaching the Word of God, I will challenge the “many parts” in your congregation to become fully invested members of the “one body” of Christ. Topics covered include:
• What it means to be the body of Christ? 

• How to do and be your part.

• What to lay down and what to take up.

• Maintaining unity and more.


This can be anywhere from a single message, a series of revival/Spiritual renewal services even a weekend retreat. I really feel a strong leading to go out into the church and call people into their God given calling. The guiding verse of this ministry is 1 Peter 4:10, Each one should use WHATEVER GIFTS he has received to serve others. I would love to come to your church or event and share with your congregation. Contact me, Dave Weiss at AMOKArts@aol.com
God bless,
Dave Weiss

www.amokarts.com

Anyone need a speaker/painter?

Dave Weiss Speaking Ministry Flyer

AMOKArts.com founder looking for opportunities to speak and/or paint, paint and/or speak in worship, conferences, etc. See my booking page or contact amokarts@aol.com for more information.

The Tie That Binds

This is a video I did that I may be taking to my denomination’s Annual Conference. The point of it is sometimes it’s easy too focus on what divides us. I think a far better path is to focus on WHO unites us. Music—Blessed be the Tie that Binds played by Mark Myers

#Trust30 Your Ordinary Self

The Challenge
Good and bad are but names very readily transferable to that or this; the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it. – Ralph Waldo Emerson

We are our most potent at our most ordinary. And yet most of us discount our “ordinary” because it is, well, ordinary. Or so we believe. But my ordinary is not yours. Three things block us from putting down our clever and picking up our ordinary: false comparisons with others (I’m not as good a writer as _____), false expectations of ourselves (I should be on the NYTimes best seller list or not write at all), and false investments in a story (it’s all been written before, I shouldn’t bother). What are your false comparisons? What are your false expectations? What are your false investments in a story? List them. Each keep you from that internal knowing about which Emerson writes. Each keeps you from making your strong offer to the world. Put down your clever, and pick up your ordinary.

My Response:
First I want to say I disagree with Emerson’s assertion that “the only right is what is after my constitution, the only wrong what is against it.” I believe that right and wrong a clearly defined by God in His Word. When we start to get into right and wrong as defined by me, things get cloudy and mirky. God’s way is the way to go.

Now let me also say I really agree with what the challenge writer posted about comparison. When we begin to compare ourselves to others, we begin to try to be like them and stop being what we were created to be or we walk away defeated because we are trying to be something we were never supposed to be in the first place. I’ve fallen into this trap many times. I’ve quit doing things because I don’t feel like I measure up to someone else. but what if I was supposed to invent a different way of doing it. Did Picasso quit because his work didn’t look like everyone else’s? No, and he became one of the world’s foremost artists precisely because of his difference.

False expectations will also kill you. How many people have quit something because they couldn’t be the best in the world (or even in their community) at what they do? I know I have. There is one thing I am the best in the entire world at and it is the one thing I can do beyond the shadow of a doubt. I am the best person at being THIS David Weiss (yes there are others and I can’t be them) in the entire world. My job then is to do that well. To clean up the edges, polish the gifts, submit that will to God and go forward in being who I am made to be. His plan for me is unique in the entire universe and my life is part of that plan for the universe. I don’t get to pick if it’s large or small, I’m just privileged to be a piece in that puzzle. Congrats, you’re a piece too. Did Bob Dylan give up because he is not the world’s best singer. No, he sang his song and became the voice of his generation.

It hasn’t all been done. You still have a part to play. Play it for all your worth. Give God your best and watch Him do His best in you. This prompt really made me think about all the Bible people (or at least the good ones). We look at them as if they were superheroes but with the exception of Jesus, they weren’t. The Bible is pretty good at pointing out their flaws and their foibles. They were ordinary people just like you and me. What made them extraordinary was simple and available to everyone of us even you and me. They were ordinary people who put their ordinary lives in the hands of an extraordinary God andthat made all the difference.

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
1 Kings 15-16; Psalm 53
1 Kings 17-18; Psalm 115
1 Kings 19-20
You can also download your own chart here.

Foundations: On What Are You Building Your Life?

I’m preaching on the topic of foundations tomorrow and all this study and preparation beg me to ask a question. Here’s an excerpt…

The question for us is, What are you building your life on? I mean let’s face it, there are a lot of materials out there you can build a life on. People build their lives on careers, but jobs go away. People build their lives on friends but people are people, nobody is perfect and sooner or later most of them will let you down. Romance and relationships are not good foundations for the same reason. Relationships are not foundations, like the rest of our lives they are things that that we build and they need a foundation too.

Some people build their lives on popularity but popularity depends on people and people are fickle, what’s popular today may not be popular tomorrow. What’s more trying to stay popular by trying to please a particular crowd of people might make you into someone you don’t really want to be. Some people build their lives on their circumstances which leaves them in a really bad place because circumstances change. They’re not dependable. Related to that some people build their lives on their own happiness, and we all want to be happy, but no one is happy all the time. We all go through tough times and when we do, those who build their lives on happiness and circumstances crumble.

Society, ours or anyone else’s is not a firm foundation. Adults, how much has society changed since you were kids? How much have our values as a nation changed?

A lot of people try to build their lives on money and stuff. How many of you had something you just absolutely had to have? How long did you have it before you wanted something else? Something more? When do you have enough stuff? I used to be this guy. I had a button I wore that said the one who dies with the most toys wins. That’s the way a lot of people live but sooner or later the one who has the most toys still dies and you can’t take any of it with you. Stuff may have been your desire, but it makes a lousy foundation and money is worse. We get all caught up in money, but look at money. What is it? At the end of the day it’s a piece of paper with a picture of a dead guy printed on it. People can steal it, it burns, it’s value goes up and down depending on what other people are doing and all the adults will agree, it goes away very quickly. It only really has value because people say it has value. And some people will say that’s true of paper money but I have my money in gold, or precious metals or gems. Do you know what all those things really are? Shiny rocks. They have value for the same reason paper money does, because we say they do. We all need money and we all need to earn a living, I have bills I need to pay too, but money is a tool to use to live your life, not the reason for living, not a foundation.

You can’t depend on politics, education, even religion apart from Christ. People in earthquake zones will tell you that even the earth itself is not a totally firm foundation. Many of these things are great things, most of them are very necessary and worthy to pursue but none of them are strong enough to build your life on and many people try. All these things are to one degree or another shifting sand and if you build your life on them sooner or later it will feel like your world is crashing down.

So what can we build a life on? What should be your foundation? Well that song about the wise man and the foolish man comes from a parable Jesus used to teach people about what’s really important. He told the story this way: Matthew 7:24 “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock. 26 But everyone who hears these words of mine and does not put them into practice is like a foolish man who built his house on sand. 27 The rain came down, the streams rose, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell with a great crash.”

Did you catch that? What’s the foundation? What is the rock we need to build on? Jesus said “Therefore everyone who hears these words of mine and puts them into practice is like a wise man…” His Words His teachings are a firm foundation on which to build your life. The things He taught us in His Word are true, and they are totally dependable.

Here’s a great song on the topic:

Busy, Busy, Busy

Hi everyone,
Just a quick note of reflection here today. I’ve been really hustling the last few weeks. I am doing a series of six paintings with corresponding videos for my denomination’s annual conference. I’m working on the last one now, it’s called The Tie That Binds and it’s one of my animated pieces, so it’s taking quite a bit of time, but I have to say I think it’s going to be a very important piece. It deals with the things that divide us versus the One who should unite us. I look forward to sharing it. I’ll be making a DVD of the six painting videos available at the conference as well and I have been asked to facilitate an Arts in Worship segment, which also really excites me.

Last week I did two workshops at our National Jr. High Conference on the topic of Be the Body. The main gist of the session was that we are many parts but one body. The first step is to find your part to play and the second part is to do what you do in unity and community. This concept has really become my passion and my prayer is that I will be able to share it and the adult version of it at many places.

This weekend I will be speaking at a camp here in the Pocono Mountains and my church and then a few days later, I’ll be off to Grand Rapids for the aforementioned conference. I am really excited about all of this and pray that the Lord will use me to do some good.

As many of you know, the day job I use to support these ministries is about to become part time. This will be a drastic change for me and my family. I am hoping to supplement my income but going out and speaking and painting, so if you have a need for a speaker/painter for your program, please contact me. I have revamped my booking page on the web site. I’m still working on the rates which have always been hard to set (art supplies are expensive) but I’m trusting that God will come through. I would love to come and serve you, whether you need a worship painter, speaker, Italian street painting, workshop, or something I haven’t thought of yet. Contact me.

Bible Reading Guide
An important part of following God is knowing what He wants and a great way to know what He wants is to read His Word. Follow this plan and you will finish reading the Bible in a year.
Ecclesiastes 9-12
1 Kings 13-14; Psalm 102
You can also download your own chart here.