Break Out

I acted in a television commercial today. The commercial will seek to raise awareness about Joel Osteen's book, Break Out. 

Break Out discusses how God Created us to leave our marks on our generations and not just get by with average, unrewarding or unfulfilling lives. God created us to leave our marks on our generations. This book gives five ways to go beyond our barriers  and live extraordinary lives.

I'm not sure that any book can give 5 ways to go beyond my barriers. Every time I talk to anyone about what I can do to be successful usually, everything that they tell me is circumstantial and good luck. But Joel Osteen is very encouraging. He has a way of saying things that encourages me to want to try anyway. So even though I thing it's all luck, I say if it's all luck, then why not try. It may not work, but what if it does. It's funny how most people are eager to believe the worse when there is an equal opportunity that the best can happen.

Either way, I had fun today. I can't wait to see myself and my friends in the commercial. They shot the commercial with a Canon C300 and the videographers seemed to be excited about that. All of the extras in my scene are members of Lakewood Church's drama team. Many of us are working actors, some of us act on the side. I feel so honored to be a part of the drama team and I'm believing that we will all break out soon. :-)

Acting On The Word

“Listen, dear friends, to God's truth, bend your ears to what I tell you. I'm chewing on the morsel of a proverb; I'll let you in on the sweet old truths, Stories I heard from my elders, counsel I learned at my mother's knee. I’m not keeping this to myself, I’m passing it along to the next generation— God's fame and fortune, the marvelous things he has done. [I’m acting on the word.]”

Psalm 78

My grandfather always says, “Baby, how is anyone going to know how good God is if you don’t tell them?”  Many people call it being braggadocios [Wizig Word] but sharing your testimony is acting on the Word. You are a part of God’s drama ministry, let me tell you how. God commands us to share our testimony. 

Rehearse God’s blessings! Judges 5:11 says, ...rehearse the righteous acts of the Lord!” If one word signifies drama ministry, it’s rehearse! The first time you share your testimony it may be hard, but as the adage goes, practice makes perfect! My friend Kaisha adds, “...be careful what you practice”; if you practice NOT sharing your testimony, that is the skill that you were perfect.

Write and distribute a script! Psalm 103:2 says bless the Lord, oh my soul, and forget not all his benefits. Now if you ever get the chance to meet me, you will find out that I love to tell stories and sometimes I repeat the same ones. This is one way that I bless the Lord and remind myself of my benefits. Furthermore, in Exodus 17:14 God commands moses to write down God’s blessings! Sounds like a script to me!

Get over your stage fright! Sharing your testimony is one way to overcome the enemy! Revelation 12:11 says that “they overcame by the blood of the Lamb, and by the word of their testimony...” Everytime you share God’s goodness you strengthen your faith.

Lights, camera, action! Once you practice and get over your stage fright, it’s off to the stage! 1 Timothy 6:12 says to profess a good profession before many witnesses! Sounds like a performance to me! This is how we pass faith on to others and younger generations. Deuteronomy 6:7 says talk to them when you sit in your house! Sounds like Theater to me!

Practice your monologue. Jesse Adams and Wendell Burton always tell us to have at least  monologues memorized. Jesse tells a story about meeting a casting director and knowing a monologue that he learned in college by heart. That monologue led him to success. Likewise, sharing your testimony will lead you to success in your #1 job found in Matthew 28:18-20:

...Go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, TEACHING them to obey everything Jesus has commanded you...

“Remember, all the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and their entrances, and on man in his time plays many parts, his acts being seven ages.”

As You Like It Act 2, scene 7, 139-143

Be ready to play your part when the time comes. Get a copy of the script, Rehearse, practice, get over your stage fright, perform, and never forget your lines!

With a Grain of Salt

Drama Ministry meeting was great! We had group praise reports, corporate prayer, a fun mirror improv warm-up, and a good talk about constructive criticism.

First, we God for allowing us to minister throughout the Christmas holidays. Jesse Adams suggested that we begin to learn timeless AND seasonal pieces. Consequently, several members had Christmas pieces locked and loaded. In addition to ministering outside of the Church, we helped Dr. Paul Osteen get the Christmas message across. Additionally one of the actors, Nkonye, achieved a childhood dream and met Mrs. Dodie (our church mom) because Mrs. Dodie wanted to meet her!

After prayer, we moved on to warm-ups. Jesse led us in "Mirror" and Improvisation. Mirror supports collaboration and team work. Each person has a partner and must stand facing one another to simulate what happens when looking in a mirror. The longer the game continues, the more each actor is able to predict and match their partner's movement. We did improvisation in 2 groups. The first group played the part of a work group where the boss dictated the business type but we were all sick; each actor chose his/her ailment. We ended up working in a cuban cigar sweatshop. The second group was a on a panel at a conference who all had to go to leave for some reason and had to convince the doctor that they needed to leave.

Next, we moved on to the main lesson, Constructive Critism: How to Take it and How to Give it. Jesse chose two unsuspecting thesbians to leave the room and work on a monologue. Unbeknownst to them, we were instructed to not say anything during the first attempt and to "over-criticize" during the second attempt. Jesse highligted several points afterward:

1. Let the director (and everyone else) do their job; you do your job.

2. Give 3 compliments before your critique.

3. Find the truth in the criticism and DON'T say the first thing that comes to mind.

4. Remember that the director sees the picture so look to that person for guidance.

Colossians 4:6 Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.

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-- Jeniro is on the go, follow her on twitter @Orinej