Faithful in the “Small Things”

The last few posts may make it look like I have it all together, and if that’s the case, it’s time for a little honesty. Those posts reflect me at my best, but I like everyone else, am not always at my best. Case in point from yesterday’s post, the festival I have been pursuing for years. Imagine my surprise when I approached a young man who does something similar to what I do and found out that he has been accepted to minister at the same festival I’ve been pursuing. I started to think things like, “What’s wrong with me?” “Why do they keep rejecting me?” “I’ve been doing this longer than he has been alive.” It was about then as envy and discouragement were setting in a wreaking havoc on my psyche that the Lord pushed my thoughts in a different direction.

He took me back to one of my favorite passages to preach from, the parable of the talents. In the parable a master, before going away on a journey, entrusts part of his wealth to three of his servants in varying amounts based on ability. Jesus goes on to tell us that two of the servants went to work at once and doubled the master’s investment. While the gain is great, the point is not so much the success as it is the faithfulness. When the master returns from his journey and sees what the first two servants did, his response is “Well done good and faithful servant, you’ve been faithful with a few things I’ll put you in charge of many things…” There’s a point in there for us all.

I had no business envying my young friend, nor did his success have anything to do with me, my abilities or lack thereof. He has his calling, I have mine… AND YOU HAVE YOURS. Yes he got the big audience, I get smaller ones. If my calling is to larger audiences, God will open the door. In the mean time, I need to be faithful in the small things and give it my all, because here’s the thing. What is a small thing in the Kingdom of God? How valuable is one soul? Well Jesus would say “It was worth my life.” Seems to me one soul in eternity is no small thing, so maybe rather than focusing on the size of our audience, we need to focus on the size of our God.

According the Jesus, the say to big things is faithfulness in small things. Let Him worry about the size of your following. Just pursue what He puts before you and be faithful.

God’s got this and in His eyes, at least as it pertains to the people He loves and gave Himself up for, there are no small things.

And we’re off…

What I call the AMOKArts “World Tour” is in the works. The speaking ministry has been a little slow in the early parts of this year, but I am making up for it now. It’s not really a world tour, but it is four states, and a lot of miles, Lord willing. I just finished a really fun and fulfilling week in central PA, painting for a family camp at Summit Grove Camp Meeting Sunday night and then leading a Vacation Bible School for my friends at St. Thomas Independent BIC Church in Mount Pleasant Mills, PA. Next up is Haven Camp, a camp for adults with Special needs at Delta Lake Bible Conference, then to Ohio for revivals, a day at retirement community, a music festival, then back to Delta Lake after church, and that’s not all.

I am really hesitant to post this. I am fully aware of James 4:13 Now listen, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go to this or that city, spend a year there, carry on business and make money.” 14 Why, you do not even know what will happen tomorrow. What is your life? You are a mist that appears for a little while and then vanishes. 15 Instead, you ought to say, “If it is the Lord’s will, we will live and do this or that.” 16 As it is, you boast in your arrogant schemes. All such boasting is evil. 17 If anyone, then, knows the good they ought to do and doesn’t do it, it is sin for them.

In light of this passage, Why am I posting? Because I am asking for prayer for three reasons. First, I have a van that has very high mileage. It’s not necessarily in the budget to replace it right now, so please keep me in prayer for traveling mercies. Secondly, I’m not as young as I used to be. There is still a good deal of work to be done for a few of these events, and in addition to all of this, I want to make sure I am also being a proper, faithful pastor to my congregation, not to mention husband, father and grandfather. Lastly and most importantly, please pray that the ministry would be effective and that many souls would be reached and touched during this time. I know none of this is possible without the power of God being upon it, and I need prayer.

Lastly, I’ve gotten to the point where I feel the need to start a prayer team. If you’d commit to praying for me on these adventures, please let me know.

I love what I do and am blessed to be called to this ministry and I thank you for your prayers.

What Do You Think of This Offering?

Imagine this for your church or gathering. Saturday starts with a “paint party” where your people can learn to paint their very own acrylic painting. (You might even be able to use it as a fund raiser for a special project, that’s up to you.) We do two of three sessions of 20 people a piece. Then we have a Saturday evening creative arts ministry presentation that shares the Gospel and challenges your people to use their gifts and talents to serve the Lord. Finish it up with me bringing a message Sunday morning with a live painting. It’s a creative weekend that will help your people to have fun, learn, grow and draw closer to God. Contact me at AMOKArts@aol.com. We could also do a Friday Saturday event if that works better.

We’re All In the Communication Business

Many people believe the main desire of the human soul is to be loved. I can agree with that sentiment, but before that, I believe there is something else. To be known? Yes, but more specifically to be understood.

Have you ever had a time when you were trying to communicate something and words just failed? You just couldn’t get your point across. Isn’t it maddening? I think we all want to be understood and if that is ultimately our goal, then we are all in the communication business. We’re trying to help people to see things our way. We’re trying to communicate something that we feel is urgent or essential and the more we care about the recipient, the more urgent the need becomes.

How can you make yourself understood? Well there are a couple things to keep in mind.

Language. Now I’m not just talking about whether you speak English, or Spanish, or Mandarin, or whatever. I’m also talking about those subtle nuances that help our words to connect. My wife will often tell me after I speak that she felt I used a slang or a figure of speech that some of the people didn’t understand. Humor doesn’t always translate and of course there are things that just simply should not be said. The audience understood you perfectly but they were offended or appalled and so they tuned you out. Also, and this is a huge one, don’t try to impress people with how smart you are. If you talk over people’s heads, using words that they will not understand, it may make you feel intellectually superior (you might even be intellectually superior) but when it comes to being understood, you failed. The dirty little secret of communication is it’s not about you. The story may be, but the object of communication is ALWAYS the audience.

Listening. One of the best ways to communicate is to start by shutting up. Listen to what the other person is saying, (because it’s about them, remember?) then when you have some understanding of where they are coming from, then speak. Otherwise you run the risk of answering questions they’re not asking. Again this may satisfy your ego, but it will do precious little to help you be understood. If communication is always about them (and it is) then what’s in it for them is paramount to being understood. The best teachers understood this. It took years to understand why I ever had to learn algebra.

Love. The old adage rings true. People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care. While this is essential in all modes of communication, it is essential in communication of God’s message. The admonition to speak the truth in love comes to mind. Without love we come across like a bunch of holier-than-thou know-it-alls and you would never have that many hyphens in your title. Remember the purpose of communication is to be understood and in order to be understood, you have to be heard, and in order to be heard the other party (the one it’s all about) had to be listening. Turn them off and they’ll do the same to you.

Communication is critical, urgent and always about the recipient. Keep that in mind.

The Power of the Spoken Word: Joseph Solomon on Doubt

Spoken word artist Joseph Solomon shows the power of the spoken word and God’s power over doubt. Saw this just this morning, and it claimed it place here. You MUST watch this! It is amazing and anointed. This is a master class in how to give a message in a way that touches hearts.

Dave Weiss on Why the Church Needs Creativity

This is part of a larger presentation that really shows my heart for building creativity in the church and why it’s important. My passion is to help creatives in the church to use their gifts to the glory of God and helping churches to empower and encourage their creative people.

If I can be of help to you and your church, please contact me at AMOKArts@aol.com

Here’s What I Am Hoping for… Soon

My goal is to speak to and meet as many people as possible this year. I want to encourage people to find and use their gifts to serve the Lord.

Working on a few new presentations for the Spring and Summer, but I have several that I believe will be a real blessing to your congregation. My presentations include high speed painting, storytelling, video and more all designed to draw people into the Word of God and His will for their lives.

Pictures of Jesus which talks about how all believers represent Jesus and our job is to represent Him well.

Forgiven which talks about sin, repentance, grace and forgiveness.

Story which uses the parables of Jesus to help everyone to live a better Story.

Be the Body which encourages congregations to combine their talents and abilities to work in unity representing Christ.

Of course, I will also create a presentation based on your needs. I’ve been in over 100 churches and venues in the last three years. If you want more information, go to my booking page, see what other people are saying, or contact me at AMOKArts@aol.com

 

 

Pictures of Jesus Posted…

I did a presentation of Pictures of Jesus for Five Stones Community Church at Ashland University. A few days ago my friend Jody Thomae sent me photo of three of the pieces I did for them on display. I love doing this presentation. The combined total of time to do all three pieces is less than 17 minutes. I do two more paintings in the presentation as well. Each of the pieces tells part of the story of Jesus. I think they did a great job. If you’d like Pictures of Jesus at your church, or any of my other presentations, please contact me.

New Presentation for 2015… Evangelism is Love

I’m in the really early stages of working on this, but I thought I’d let you all know about it. It’s called Evangelism is Love. The basic idea is pretty simple. How can you love someone and not share with them the key to eternal life? As Paul wrote “the love of Christ compels us” to share the Gospel, but how do we do it? How do we speak the truth in love? How do we speak to a culture that is increasingly hostile to the Gospel? Well, I believe the truth of the matter is summed up in Jesus’ new commandment: Love one another. That’s how people are supposed to know we belong to Jesus, and it may very well be the best way to help them want to belong to Him too.

So, in a sense, evangelism is love and love is evangelism. I believe evangelism is the most crucial need of the church today, next to the power of Christ of course. My prayer is that this will come together well and be a blessing to many. Of course, all the other presentations will also be available. If you think I could be of service to your congregation, please get a hold of me at AMOKArts@aol.com.

Decisions, Decisions

We’re in one of those places at the Weiss house. A time of decision. My faithful Chevy Trailblazer is getting up there in mileage and I have a decision to make. Do I stick some money into it and keep it or take that money and put it toward a newer vehicle? A van would work better for getting my presentations from place to place. On the other hand, not having a payment has been kind of nice. With a thousand mile weekend coming up, I’m leaning toward something new. We’re praying and would appreciate your prayers for this decision.

In other news, I am busily working on my new presentation, Story: Parables of Jesus. It will be ready to go in May. I am really liking where this is headed. The basic concept is to use the stories of Jesus to teach people to live a better story. This presentation should be about an hour long but I am also working it out into a five message series, perfect for retreats, revival/spiritual renewal series.

I’m also working on the vacation Bible School presentation Dr. Dave’s Creation Station. Which is all about God and His creation, His relationship with us and finding the purpose for which we were created.

I would love the opportunity to bring my ministry to your church. Please contact me at amokarts@aol.com I basically ask for a free will offering and a night’s lodging. For churches requiring extensive travel, please consider teaming up with a few churches in your community and make it a weekend “tour.”