mini anime con halloween

outreach idea 1:

Mini anime con - enter for free with sign up forms
Temp name: Holy! Ghost! con

Time: Host it around Halloween year 2012?  It can be Fri-Sunday, or any one of the day at weekend, or two days depending on budget.
Location: somewhere we can find? (cost= unknown)
(make sure we are near hotels, some people will travel far for these)
Expected attendance: 100-300

Put up a website, with forms of registration
Artist alley, vendor posts

Theme topic: Exorcism, haunting and ghosts
Show Exorcists, Exorcism related anime, movies, and open panel for discussion.
(equipment: anime DVDs, ghost hunting shows DVDs, projector, screens, sound needed)
People can share their stories of encounters with real ghosts, demons, their favorite TV shows. Staffs (church members) can come in and share their testimony and discuss about the "real thing."

Food: Contact Helen, or people we know who runs restaurant to provide food for sale.
Candies: provide candies attached with wise words from bible.

Forms:
Registration form: people's name and contacts
Artist alley application form- 15-20 bucks
Vendor application form- 30-50 bucks? I can contact vendors I know to bring them here.
Art show application form- free for donation to charity-can contact people to do crafts and fundraising for Iris ministries and charities.

Rules: *take it from other cons. lol*
Weapon rules
Dress code rules
Safety rules


Run into Sunday: Put regular church service/worship in one meeting hall. Topic would be related to the theme to keep people interested. And talk about Holy Ghost vs Ghosts and Demons.

Raffle: come up with a simple prize related to the event that can affect the winner in a good way?

Other activities idea:
Dances: people often do silly dances
Band: Do band since we have bands. We can put in a few worship songs that sound like love songs, or upbeat christian songs people can dance to.
Screening animation
Game room: people bring their game console and cards to play

Panels:
animation panel: Christine
How to make music: Matt?
The world of ghosts - talk about the studies of ghosts, their behavior, function, and introduce holy ghost
Possibilities of ghosts in science discoveries and theories-
Your own spooky experience- share strange dreams and happenings.
other ideas welcome.

Other typical activities to consider thinking about: (but we don't have to do)
Maid Cafe - dress up and serve people (or Nun cafe. lol)
Masquerade - basically a dress up party
Potluck- people can cook and bring food

Advertisement: Schools, colleges, and word of mouth. Fliers, posters, postcards. etc budget: 100-150?
Website: blogspot-free, domain registration- 10 dollar for a year
Staff T-shirt: All staffs need to wear T-shirt unifrom so people know who are staffs. - $200?
Con bracelet: buy paper bracelet or a stamp to stamp people who enter for crowd control.

Post-con: Enter people's info into data base and invite them back to HIC. Make sure the next few weeks' topic will relate strongly to these new comers.

Cell group: Based on location and address, distribute them to cell group leaders, leaders contact people who are in the area and invite them to cell group, make sure the cell groups' topics and discussion relate to new comers as well.

My father in heaven

Upon driving back from cell group, I realized...

How often do I say "I do this because God does this for me."
"I do this because God wants me to..."

Fairly often these days... even when I can't say it, i utter it in my mind...

Not "I do this because my father did it for me."
Not really from "because my mom inspired me."
Though they both did inspire me later in life, but when I was alone it was God that was my Father, mother, nanny, teacher, coach... leader, boss.

Occasionally I would quote my dad, my mom, I admire what they do and I really start liking them after they step into what God called them to do in their lives... I enjoyed most of that, even when we only had 150 dollars to eat as a whole family for a week, only can soup and bread on the table. I was happy anyway because they are home all day, no longer stressing out with complex business relationships, on long trips away from home.

My parents are.... another human beings that are here to help me, bless me, and they have their goodness and flaws, but they are the ones who can give me a hug to encourage me, correct me when I can't hear properly from the Lord and keep me in check. It's more often I am in the wrong when I clash with my parents. lol They are pretty righteous..... OTL

God is my Father, all except that He does not manifest to me physically... He's there spiritually with me all the time.


I say thanks for the littlest thing I can think of to my friends because that's what God taught me. He does that to me ALL the time, when I do little things, even when I expressed the right thoughts... He did it so much to me that I copied his model. Now everytime I do the same I think of Him.

I stay quiet now when my brothers offer criticism because that's what God told me to do, to take it as care not as attack.

"You think he's out there to point out your flaws when he's just stating the fact, that's the way he is." 

.... that has successfully stopped me from being defensive all the time. lol~ Thank God. XD
We used to fight everytime for the same reason. I did some task, he told me what's wrong with it, and I get defensive and attack back at him, and he attacks back and we always end on sour note.


I learned to leave a job because God told me its ok to exit.
I learned about my blind spot in being me, what I don't know about myself from God...

"When you cook... what do you do after you finish your dish?
You add salt, pepper, and spices to it for yourself. Why don't you add it in the first place?"

I literally went and did a poll online on how many people can take spicy food after... the result was surprising to me, more people likes spicy food like me than I thought! lol

As for my art... I had a blockage for a long time for my own work... though I lack very little in technique practices, I just can't seem to push to the next level... it frustrated me for a few years but He had not say anything because I thought I would be fine in the pursue of necessary skill... until recently I really felt like I hit a wall, and turned to him.
"I feel i really lack the direction on my art (illustration wise)"

"What do you like? Don't you like the little moments with emotions you draw so well? What's wrong with it being 20 minutes pieces? You can achieve the same result on popularity as those who spent 20 hours... why is it bad? You also like to bring a new world to people. Why don't you combine them?"

When I brought up the problems with my art studies...
"I feel like if i keep copying... i can do well temporarily, but it feels like I am just copying... I am under someone's shadow. I am looking like everyone else... but it's important to have that kind of skills... so why do i feel wrong about it?"

"Because you don't like those artists that much. The ones you truly like... have you gotten tired of their work?"

Hit the nail on the head, in my mind I felt like I have a break through already... but I need to see it manifest. 

Team Spirit in a different way

I had to make a crucial decision in my job life, and I asked the woman's group to help me pray and confirm it because it's a difficult decision to make.

I know it's going to be a hard decision to leave a job I have been helping with for so many years, but I also know I can no longer bring myself to continue to help this production...

The woman's group, everyone else besides Judy does not know my situation...
In fact what I thought I got was completely opposite of their answers because I was so involved and can't pull myself out of the possible consequences that would be if I leave. I keep thinking... I can do just a little more probably so they won't suffer too much. (because I am in a higher leadership position over the production)


All of these are by different people who does not know the situation except my brief question:
"I am currently in a production, I need to know from the Lord, should I prepare to leave, or stay?"

They prayed, a usual waiting silence...

Vision 1:
A curtain opens and leads to an exit

Vision 2:
A green lit exit sign

Vision 3:
A black panther striking out not wanting to be caged. It described how I felt while working for the production.

Vision 4: A traditional clock, pacing slowly, telling me to pace myself slowly.

*two more which i can no longer recall... >.< sorry*

I am both relieved, and slightly nervous about how all of the visions come to be so spot on and favor "exit"
I thought of lasting longer for the production until they are more steady... but I don't think I can bring myself to work on anymore assignments without feeling really burnt out.

So in a way, this helps me to have the courage, and the permission to leave with a higher authority.
It gives me peace and reassurance in doing what I have to do.

Red hard wheat

I see a single wheat turning red in a field during prayer time Thursday.
Looked it up and saw that red hard wheat is a even tougher, higher protein wheat that can last through harsher weather.
It seems God wants to turn us from regular wheat to higher level quality wheat to prepare us for the times to come.
That's what we prayed for.

Women's friday group prayer

Vision from Angela, illustrated by Christine

Angela saw a white wheat field, and one single wheat is tied with a purple ribbon.

Christine saw a white sports car without rubber tire when she asked to be prayed for her career

Choosing not to worry

You told me No, don't look at the news no more
No, no need to repeat and tell others how doom is this world
They know it, know it all

You told me, tell them what they don't know
How there's divine love that calls
us out of our cell walls

You are the peace within me
when chaos and storm sprawl
I know I can trust in you
Even when decisions seems to fail

I will listen to you now
Choosing not to worry
Your hands in this mess
I lift all names around me
Bless them all, My Lord
May they choose wisely
May your spirit guide them all

Overnight praise night

Vision: All people are One church under God, should come together as one and worship.

The Call: Worship teams join together to lead people from different denominations to worship.


Time: June 24th, 12 pm.


Location: To be confirmed... (because I forgot the name)

Disclaimer: all rights of the songs used for these worship sessions go to their prospective owners.

I can't keep track of which is which. I hope no one wants me to blur them out... it's technically.. a public area, I hope.

MC2... Matt Chiang and Matt Chong, Ted, Oliver, and basically the whole worship team decided to do this overnight crazy/insane worship night up in North Jersey. (and they have a really short switch off time! I don't know how they do it playing practically from night to morning! Young people... And oh, that lady whose name I don't know, practically danced all night is pretty hard core too, she's a real dancer.)

At 3:30pm, MC2 and Pastor Charles packed their heavy gear equipments and arriving at the host church.

Moving, setting up... everything

Now a short practice, they spent the evening doing it. The show starts at 12 am

First up are the chinese group, 11pm-12am

Then it's the overnight show. XD I still think they are half-insane doing it nearly 6 hours straight.

Now, watch that window~ its dark...

Woohoo, getting lighter

Good Morning Holy Spirit! lol

Now end it all with some super up beat songs. Some kids can STILL keep going... My stomach wasn't so happy with me pulling all nighter. I'll admit, I fell a sleep and nod off at times, can't do it anymore.... argh. No shame!

Matt Chiang's throat need a serious rest, Matt Chong's fingers were swollen from the drum all day, and Ted have to cover for the lost comrades on the coming sunday. ;D However, they say they would totally do it again. Looks like playing with other worship team's too much fun for them.

As for me, errrrr.... I have to think about it. XD

Then it's pack up and go time after breakfast, I didn't take pictures on how they have to shift everything, drive back to church, and put everything back right after performance. And how they look so half dead sleeping in the car before returning home (it's much needed nap) But I'm sure you can imagine it. ;D