Tis the season to try not to be a work a holic: SPIRITUAL PIONEER BLOG

Welcome to my SPIRITUAL PIONEER blog which is all about us sharing a journey together about what it is to pioneer and rebrand Christianity. I am going to try and be vulnerable about my own journey in planting a ministry base and also local church in Los Angeles. My hope is that I can begin to communicate to other pioneers and we can share our struggles and joys whether you are in the South, in Canada, across the Ocean, live around Los Angeles, or even in Hollywood. Feel free to comment and ask Questions. As always if you have something extremely negative to say feel free to private email me instead of posting message.

A funny thing happened on the way to the club where we have our church on Sunday mornings….(we call the children’s room “the Love Lounge” because it’s so skanky but its been a good temporary place). I had gone to Disneyland the day before with some friends (Props to Trish, Cherie, Heather, Scottie, and my Sister Jennifer…I was heavily outnumbered by estrogen) and I found out I was speaking that night….oops. That means by 10PM I had to spend limited time with God to figure out what I was supposed to speak on which I hate to do! I like to know the Monday before and then every day pray into and figure it out, especially when I am not just doing one of my old life messages but building into the season we are in. I switched topics about fifteen times and even considered the fact that the church is down in giving by about $10,000 this month because of recession in LA (the end of the year has about killed us financially but we are winning the war in our hearts). I knew that wasn’t the right thing to touch on especially because our people are givers and don’t need extra Christmas pressure.

Then finally, as often happens, God dropped the beginning of a message in me like the first line in a book. “A Father’s role is not to establish your purpose and vision for you, but to provide an environment where he helps you identify who you are and then brings boundaries with you to protect your journey of exploration into your own truth about that. He is supposed to allow you to be a visionary and dreamer, not substituting his dreams for yours but actually dreaming with you your dreams and making sure to help guide you in priorities in finances in family commitments and to stay the course to accomplish your powerful vision and desire.” and I had the scriptures that backed me up…so cool! I went to bed excited even though I only had that much thinking “I will spend time in the morning with Jesus and get the rest…this is good!”



Then I woke up and realised I had set my alarm for PM not AM and it was 9AM and I was supposed to be there early to help the team with anything service and I started running around freaking out that I couldn’t find clean socks or an ironed shirt and felt like I was catching the flu (which formed into a full virus in me) and I had lost all the energy that was my message….oops. I got in the car after posting on my facebook my ETA (which included a Starbucks run of course or no one would have wanted to see me…I needed the power of God AND caffeine) and I almost lost my salvation and ministry over an old woman driver in front of me who had forgotten how to drive or never learned in America. Then I FINALLY got on the highway while listening to Christmas music and it occurred to me:

God needs to take us on a journey as a ministry and as a church of really knowing each other. Most of my church team have been involved with other churches for long seasons before us and came with us to LA or transferred too us, my leaders have lead other places, our worship teams have been involved with other worship teams, but we are just now on our own journey of gaining our own identity as a corporate people. That is hard for a group of peops to gain their corporate identity and I realised my message of Fathering wasn’t just a message to empower our peops to do this but it was empowering me to dream with them, to help us establish a corporate identity and know how to really worship together and receive each other. I WAS BECOMING A FATHER FOR THE MINISTRY!

I felt like a Father, but the steps were becoming more clear and simple. Like a few weeks ago I asked people in our regional meeting (still Expression58 but the ministry not the local church..) “How many of you don’t feel known in something that you have maturity or wisdom in that you have been known in somewhere else in the past? In other words how many of you have equity in some area of life but it hasn’t transferred into Los Angeles or into your home church or here at Expression58?”

So many people raised their hands it was wild! So many people felt invisible in some of their strengths and because of not feeling known they were not completely activated. I immediately realised I had a job to create a safe place for people to be known and connect in their lives and ministries. You know an orginization is either held back by its leadership or moved forward by it and I have done both. I realize that to move people into a corporate identity even regionally they have to feel known and we have to learn how to transfer their equity into our organization and relationship structure. In other words if you owned a house and then sold it, you could take your profit or equity with you to purchase the next house. It should be the same in the Kingdom because we are all one organization, the church. We should be the best at receiving each other in strengths, in experience, in talents, in giftings, and in skills. We shouldn’t have hundreds of hoops to jump through before we become a part of relationship even if we do have programs to facilitate this joining like memberships or classes, they should only empower not be a protocol hoop to jump through.

Back to my Sunday morning. So I get their with the realization that I am to Father, and I am thinking: Dear God! I am single with no kids and most of what I have done is on the exotic side of ministry AKA being involved with the prophetic my entire life. Now God is asking me to be a Father in the city and to create Fathers and Mothers of all ages who really understand themselves and are coached into successful love in all areas. Then I remember Jesus was not your average leader in his day either. He was single without kids (props to me for the first time in that regard) and he didn’t spend a lot of time meeting needs but actually was working to bring a Kingdom. He raised up a team around him that had various strengths and passions that could carry the areas he didn’t bring to the table as far as meeting with people, organizing their mission, travel schedule, finances, etc. I started to get courage and so should you! When we pioneer we are so strong even when we are weak when we have (first God) then a team with us because in our weaknesses they are strong! (Not to imply Jesus was weak but he had incredible delegation abilities Matthew 10 as an example).

So I am qualified and so are you to lead even if your life looks different from the average life and we are called to Father (Mother) this generation into becoming the best versions of themselves. Its not about experience (although it helps so much and I can’t wait to have more), its not about whether you are married or single (Its believed even Paul was single), its not about how gifted you are (a big heart can cover up a lot of weakness), but we are qualified to pioneer this new breed of Christianity by a few things:

1) Love for God

2) Love for ourselves and people

3) Willingness, teachability and humility

So that’s it…thats the first blog but I will be writing more soon! In the mean time I would encourage you to read our end of the year report that is in my blog on wordpress, on Facebook in my notes, on our website in the news (www.expression58.org) and other places. If you want to hear the message I did on that Sunday look for it in our free podcast soon.

Signing out… Shawn Bolz

Response to Earthquake warning and disasters in Los Angeles

Response to Earthquake warning and disasters
Posted: March 18, 2011 by shawnbolz in blogging, expression58
Tags: christianinty, disaster response, earthquake, God's judgement, Jim Berkland, prophetic judgement, wrath
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So yesterday I was bombarded by good meaning people (including my mother) who are responding to Jim Berkland who is an Earthquake expert who is predicting another quake here on the west coast (most likely LA) in the next week or so.

I love our family and our crew of friends. Its important that you hear my perspective on these types of issues if you are involved with us because it will help you know how my heart relates to disaster and crises.

I think this is timely information and it is good for us to be aware so we can be prepared but I have a few observations:

1) Humanity was never supposed to experience these disasters so its impossible to be completely prepared for them. Meaning: The Earth was never meant to groan and be dysfunctional but because of the fall it has been a mess. There are whole camps of Christians who overly prepare and have an inordinate focus on this preparation. No one predicted on time the New Orleans Hurricane or the Japan Earthquake….they happened. Preparedness is very important but it can’t be at the expense of peace.

2) The sources (whether prophetic or natural) of prediction are mostly wrong. Jim Berkland (who is the lastest source for the Earthquake in America) has tried to predict Earthquakes for decades and was right within 4 days of the San Francisco quake but that’s because his group has reported the possibility of over 200 Earthquakes…eventually you will get it right even if the public doesn’t look at the hundreds that did not happen. I applaud his efforts because seismology is such an unpredictable field, but the way the media has ran with this is ridiculous.

3) Christians are amazing in the days of adversity because we can move in the compassion of God and care for people that we would normally want to run from or cities we would rather escape from. The modern examples are profound: Haiti, New Orleans, and now Japan, etc have their best relief efforts from Christians. We have been involved in disaster relief, red zone missions, war zone missions, etc and you see Jesus on another whole level when you participate with Heavens solution to these terrible disasters and wars. Just like Doctors in Emergency rooms kick into another gear, Christians have the Spirit of God inside of them and if they are participating with Him they will find themselves capable of amazing heart attitudes and abilities during trauma. Christians who teach that we are to hide away or horde in those days of adversity and trial have a limited theology on the nature of Jesus who came to bring His government of peace and restoration. One of the greatest failures of the Roman Empire in its end was hoarding food, finances, resources, etc. People became so fearful they began to hoard and its proven that most the regions that fell first had the resources to maintain the region but those resources were being held back by Christian (and some none Christian) hoarding leaders.

4) You can prepare in more effective ways then hoarding and seperating. Your local fire department or police stations have programs like C.E.R.T. Which is an emergency disaster preparedness to help your city in times of trial. They are desperate to get churches involved. You can have some of your members become chaplains to police forces, fire depts, sports teams, prisons, so you will have access to disaster relief locations if things do happen, you can find out your cities disaster relief plan for different types of disasters which is public domain….find out the hundreds of thousands to millions of dollars your state has put into its disaster plans because America is not as stupid as the news media makes it sound. Find out what has worked in the disasters that your city is threatened with in the past and do basic education. Your average joe doesn’t need to focus on impending doom, but they need to be prepared for potential disasters. You can be part of private and public food banks to find out how to funnel foods to them so that there is an abundance.

5) One of the most important issues: Be part of a Kingdom and relief effort now. If you are becoming fearful about running out of something in the future, be part of your cities solution now and begin to find out the statistics of hunger in your city and become an answer. LA has about 15% malnutrition and we only feed maybe 17,000 meals a day to our poor and homeless population. Our food banks are low on quality food, and we need thousands of pounds of food and water now. If we could make this a well oiled process now we would be WAY ahead if a disaster hit because these food banks which work for the homeless in these days will work for the whole city in disaster days. In New Orleans, our friends Blood and Fire were feeding like 3500+ meals a day to relief workers and it was because they were already feeding people before that so it was easy to jump into helping. Bottom line is Christians can be ridiculous at hoarding resources when in a city like ours (LA) there isn’t enough food being stored for our current food crises right now. Be a part of healing your current food crises in your city and you will begin to understand how to handle a disaster (there is probably one already going on but its covered up by normalness). PS this is one of the areas that the Obama administration shines because they are amazing at disaster plans and social justice.

6) Modern History proves that disasters have not grown the church. The churches get full for a few weeks after, but its the goodness of God and the Kingdom of life that make people want to stay involved in their faith. I remember these Christians who were like “Katrina will force revival, New Orleans will know they have to turn to God now.” But you know what? Although God moves powerfully in peoples hearts when they are in disaster, it is not a healthy thing to say “This is the revival agent we have been waiting for!” The reality is all of Africa is in disaster all the time that is like in the days that most Christians think the end times will look like. Africa’s revival is not in response to its destruction, it is in response to seeing there is a GOOD GOD who restores all things and gives purpose beyond human survival. We have unrealistic expectations as western world Christians that think when it gets worse around us the church will grow and that God needs us to suffer in order to apprehend us. This hasn’t worked for Africa and its not the solution for America, humans do good when the original plan of God is at work: Peace, rest, love, life, goodness, fulfillment, these draw people into eternity more then destruction because they feel like eternity.

I like what Joe from my facebook friend status said: Jesus paid the price for the sins of the world and the Father is not imputing the world’s trespasses against them, why do some insist that the physical calamities our God’s judgments? Too many think God’s dealings with us are based on the Law, not on the grace of God in Christ. Or Bill Johnson: The insurance companies blame a lot of bad things on a good God.

7) You are part of the solution that the world is waiting for….Romans 8 says the whole earth is groaning that sons of God would be revealed because what happened when Jesus came? He brought the potential to restore all things. He started His whole ministry with Luke 4:18 which was to bring GOOD NEWS! Wow what a concept that we are supposed to bring good news even in the day of adversity like He was in…..it was a bad day when He came but He showed a GOOD God!

I love you guys and I love my city. I am here for my city when it is doing well or when it is suffering like right now……LA is at a terrible crises of hunger, 20% child homelessness, 10,000 slaves, 80,000 homeless adults, 2000 people being released from prison every night, 18% unemployment, and we have many other problems. An Earthquake is not going to bring revival, we are. We want to stand with our city in the day of adversity and love our city, not pull away and hoard resources because of weird prophetic perspectives that come from bad theology. Any word that makes you feel separate from the city you live in is not from the heart of God.

Lots of love

Shawn Bolz

Expression58

www.expression58.org

2009: The Year of Falling Stars in Hollywood - A Positive Outlook

2009: The Year of Falling Stars in Hollywood – A Positive Outlook
•December 22, 2009 • Leave a Comment (Edit)

* This is just a rough blog with no editing….

2009: The Year of Falling Stars in Hollywood – a positive outlook




Rueters called this: “The Year of Celebrity death.” This year we lost many of the entertainment industries brightest and most influential stars, more so in this one year then in any other year in the last decade. Brittany Murphy’s death yesterday reminded me of why we are called here in Los Angeles. I am reminded again of the Natalie Merchant who is not a Christian( but who God healed when she was young) wrote a song in remembrance of River Phoenix who passed on October 21, 1993. The song said:

Young & strong Hollywood son
In the early morning light
This star fell down
On Sunset Boulevard

Young & strong beautiful one
One that we embraced so close
Is gone
Was torn away

Let the youth of America mourn
Include him in their prayers
Let his image linger on
Repeat it everywhere

With candles with flowers
He was one of ours
One of ours
Died 1993


The heart of this song is that we need to take responsibility for what is ours. What Hollywood is missing is Fathers, and there is such an orphan spirit here. As a matter of fact popular culture/entertainment industry has truly become a 3rd world nation in the Spirit. There are so many people who are losing their life before they really begin to live. They have real accomplishments and families and love, but there is a greater piece. Something inside of me has expanded to love and Father this industry. I greave when its sons and daughters die or go to rehab, or miss their mark. I also rejoice when there are accomplishments and the fruit of love here. Our heart breaking over BRITTANY MURPHY’S DEATH PROVES WE ARE CALLED TO HOLLYWOOD.


THE HARVEST IS RIPE THE WORKERS ARE FEW

When I make this statement I want to qualify it first by saying: There are AMAZING Christians in Hollywood right now, probably more than ever. They are not your religious brand of zealots who are making Hollywood miserable, they are Daniels and Josephs and Esthers and they are creators who are influencing. There is an underground move of God in Hollywood that has not just started, but has always been here, but something is surfacing and gaining momentum. There are intercessors in studios, life coaches for entertainers, counselors for the broken, prophetic people to bring destiny, churches to bring family, and bands of creative people working together. This is not the Christian scene of yesteryear, something is going on in a Kingdom way in Hollywood that is spread out between hundreds of Kingdom minded groups collaborating.

At the same time, there needs to be the same effort we have in major church movements and missions movement brought to Hollywood. There is such a need for people who have a calling to Father and Mother in this industry. Hollywood needs a deliverance from an orphan spirit and this will only happen by bringing God’s original intention to the forefront. All of Hollywood is waiting like in Romans 8:19 for this Sonship to be revealed. In other words Hollywood is not impressed by Christianity right now but is very spiritual and knows that there is a God, and is waiting in anticipation for Him to reveal Himself.

WE DON’T ONLY NEED EVANGELISM WE NEED TO MENTOR CREATORS!

This requires those who are grounded in His love and nature going into this great industry as laborers with a mindset that is not just evangelistic but is creative. In other words, Hollywood doesn’t just need to be evangelized one more time, it needs Fathers and Mothers to invest into the creators and help people believe to be the version of themselves that God created them to be!

Hollywood is the culture capitol of the world that affects every decision maker in almost every part of society, and the church is just now realizing its responsibility to love and honor what God as a creator wants to do.

What would have happened if we had more Kingdom in Hollywood this year? My vision is that there will be a generation of Hollywood who will:

1) Learn the ecstasy of God’s love and won’t need a rehab or will find true deliverance from drugs
2) Know the healing power of God’s heart so won’t need medicine to manage their pain & disease
3) Know what family and marriage is and so won’t give theirs up for something that seems like it might be better
4) Know how amazing Jesus is and want to spend eternity with Him, so they won’t compromise that love for vanity or false power which looks like better opportunity or riches that don’t last

What would happen if we released a move of God that healed the identity of Hollywood and released sonship? What would happen if the same power of God that many of you have seen heal the sick, break through your own finances, restore your life or your families, deliver you from bad patterns or addictions, what would happen if we released that into Hollywood and the entertainment industry?

That is my dream, to see the Kingdom come from heaven to earth in this great industry all over the world.

I have a part two to this article for your consideration, but I wanted to end this with 2 notes.

1) If you can not go into this industry and help, then send us. We are getting a full time building in 2010 and are raising money for it. We have several hundred people who are involved in the entertainment industry in our church and we are loving well in Los Angeles. You can make a tax deductible gift to Expression58 and send it through the mail to 11271 Ventura blvd #500, Studio City, CA 91604, give to our paypal account via credit card/debit card/checking account: office@expression58.org or log into our website and give with our online store.

2) I wanted to leave you with a list of names of those we lost this year so that you can see how important your role in prayer and love is in this industry. I know some of them lived very long lives, and there is a passing of a generation of Entertainers last year and this year that is literally changing the landscape of the industry right now. I will talk about that later, but read the list and let the Holy Spirit speak to you.

JANUARY:
Johannes Mario Simmel, 84. Austrian-born author; topped German-language best-seller lists. Jan. 1.
Jett Travolta, 16. John Travolta’s son. Jan. 2. Seizure.
Pat Hingle, 84. Tony-nominated stage actor; Commissioner Gordon in “Batman” movies. Jan. 3.
Ned Tanen, 77. As Paramount and Universal chairman, he greenlighted a string of hits (“Top Gun,” “E.T”). Jan. 5.
Ron Asheton, 60. Guitarist for the Stooges, whose raw sound helped inspire punk rock. Jan. 6.
Cheryl Holdridge, 64. Mouseketeer on “The Mickey Mouse Club.” Jan. 6.
Coosje van Bruggen, 66. Artist; collaborated with husband Claes Oldenburg on his giant sculptures. Jan. 10.
Patrick McGoohan, 80. Emmy-winning actor; star of TV classic “The Prisoner.” Jan. 13.
Hortense Calisher, 97. Fiction writer known for dense prose (“False Entry”). Jan. 13.
Ricardo Montalban, 88. Actor in splashy MGM musicals; Mr. Roarke on “Fantasy Island.” Jan. 14.
Andrew Wyeth, 91. Acclaimed artist whose portraits and landscapes combined traditional realism, modern melancholy. Jan. 16.
David “Fathead” Newman, 75. Jazz saxophonist; played with wide range of luminaries. Jan. 20.
James Brady, 80. Author, Parade magazine celebrity columnist. Jan. 26.
John Updike, 76. Pulitzer-winning novelist, essayist. Jan. 27.
Hans Beck, 79. Created colourful Playmobil toy figures. Jan. 30.
FEBRUARY:
Lux Interior, 62. Lead singer of horror-punk band the Cramps. Feb. 4.
James Whitmore, 87. Many-faceted actor; did one-man shows on Harry Truman, Will Rogers. Feb. 6.
Molly Bee, 69. Country singer (“Don’t Go Courtin’ in a Hot Rod Ford”). Feb. 7.
Blossom Dearie, 84. Jazz singer with unique baby-doll voice. Feb. 7.
Robert Anderson, 91. Broadway playwright (“Tea and Sympathy”). Feb. 9.
Estelle Bennett, 67. One of Ronnettes, ’60s girl group (“Be My Baby”). Feb. 11.
Hugh Leonard, 82. Irish playwright; won Tony for father-son drama “Da.” Feb. 12.
Louie Bellson, 84. Jazz drummer; performed with Duke Ellington, wife Pearl Bailey. Feb. 14.
Al-Tayeb Saleh, 80. One of Arab world’s top novelists. Feb. 18.
Howard Zieff, 81. Directed films (“Private Benjamin”), TV ads (Alka-Seltzer’s “Spicy Meatballs.” ) Feb. 22.
Sverre Fehn, 84. Norwegian architect; won prestigious Pritzker award. Feb. 23.
Paul Harvey, 90. Radio news and talk pioneer; one of nation’s most familiar voices. Feb. 28.
MARCH:
Ernie Ashworth, 80. Grand Ole Opry singer (“Talk Back Trembling Lips”). March 2.
Sydney Chaplin, 82. Tony-winning actor; son of Charlie Chaplin (“Bells Are Ringing”). March 3.
Horton Foote, 92. Playwright (“The Trip to Bountiful”) and screenwriter (“To Kill a Mockingbird”). March 4.
Hank Locklin, 91. Smooth-voiced country singer (“Send Me the Pillow You Dream On”). March 8.
James Purdy, 94. Author of underground classics (“Cabot Wright Begins”). March 13.
Anne Wiggins Brown, 96. Soprano; the original Bess in Gershwin’s “Porgy and Bess.” March 13.
Betsy Blair, 85. Actress, Oscar-nominated for role as shy woman courted by homely Ernest Borgnine in “Marty.” March 13.
Ron Silver, 62. Won Tony as tough Hollywood producer in David Mamet’s “Speed-the-Plow.” March 15.
Natasha Richardson, 45. Gifted heiress to British acting royalty (“Patty Hearst”). March 18. Skiing accident.
Jade Goody, 27. British reality TV star, hailed in final months for her courage. March 22. Cancer.
Uriel Jones, 74. Drummer whose passionate beat fuelled Motown hits. March 24.
John Hope Franklin, 94. Towering scholar of African-American studies. March 25.
Steven Bach, 70. Movie executive who oversaw the debacle “Heaven’s Gate”; later wrote memoir about it. March 25.
Irving R. Levine, 86. Bow-tied NBC newsman who explained the fine points of economics. March 27.
Helen Levitt, 95. Photographer famed for scenes of New York street life. March 29.
Maurice Jarre, 84. Oscar-winning film composer (“Lawrence of Arabia,” “Doctor Zhivago”). March 28.
APRIL:
Tom Braden, 92. Helped launch CNN’s “Crossfire”; wrote memoir “Eight is Enough” that inspired a TV show. April 3.
Dave Arneson, 61. Co-creator of groundbreaking Dungeons&Dragons fantasy game. April 7.
David “Pop” Winans Sr., 76. Grammy-nominated patriarch of gospel music family. April 8.
Marilyn Chambers, 56. She helped bring adult films into mainstream with “Behind the Green Door.” April 12. Heart disease.
Peter Rogers, 95. Produced British “Carry On” films, hallmarks of lowbrow comedy. April 14.
J.G. Ballard, 78. British author known for dark vision (“Empire of the Sun”). April 19.
Jack Cardiff, 94. Oscar-winning cinematographer famed for innovative use of Technicolor (“The Red Shoes”). April 22.
Ken Annakin, 94. Directed World War II epics “Battle of the Bulge,” “The Longest Day.” April 22.
The Rev. Timothy Wright, 61. Grammy-nominated gospel singer, and composer (“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus”). April 23.
Bea Arthur, 86. Her sharp delivery propelled “Maude,” “The Golden Girls”; won Tony for “Mame.” April 25.
Vern Gosdin, 74. Country singer (“Chiseled in Stone”). April 28.
MAY:
Marilyn French, 79. Feminist writer; her 1977 novel “The Women’s Room” sold millions. May 2.
Dom DeLuise, 75. Portly actor with offbeat style (“The Cannonball Run”). May 4.
Mickey Carroll, 89. One of last surviving Munchkins from “The Wizard of Oz.” May 7.
Wayman Tisdale, 44. Accomplished jazzman; earlier, a college, NBA basketball star. May 15. Cancer.
David Herbert Donald, 88. Pulitzer-winning Civil War historian; expert on Lincoln. May 17.
Mario Benedetti, 88. Renowned Uruguayan author (“The Truce”). May 17.
Amos Elon, 82. Israeli author (“The Israelis: Founders and Sons”). May 25.
JUNE:
Koko Taylor, 80. Regal, powerful singer known as “Queen of the Blues.” June 3.
Shih Kien, 96. Veteran Hong Kong actor; Bruce Lee’s archrival in 1973’s “Enter the Dragon.” June 3.
David Carradine, 72. Actor (“Kung Fu,” “Kill Bill”). June 4.
Bob Bogle, 75. Guitarist, co-founded instrumental band The Ventures (“Walk, Don’t Run”). June 14.
Ed McMahon, 86. Ebullient “Tonight” show sidekick who bolstered Johnny Carson. June 23.
Farrah Fawcett, 62. 1970s sex symbol, star of “Charlie’s Angels.” June 25.
Michael Jackson, 50. The “King of Pop.” June 25.
Gale Storm, 87. Perky actress; one of early television’s biggest stars (“My Little Margie”). June 27.
Billy Mays, 50. Burly, bearded television pitchman. June 28. Heart disease.
Harve Presnell, 75. His booming baritone graced Broadway musicals (“The Unsinkable Molly Brown”). June 30.
JULY:
Karl Malden, 97. Oscar-winning actor; a star despite his plain looks (“A Streetcar Named Desire”). July 1.
Allen Klein, 77. No-holds-barred music manager; worked with the Beatles, Rolling Stones. July 4.
Sir Edward Downes, 85. One of Britain’s most renowned conductors; longtime head of the BBC Philharmonic. July 10.
Walter Cronkite, 92. Premier TV anchorman of the networks’ golden age. July 17.
Gordon Waller, 64. Half of the British Invasion pop duo Peter and Gordon (“A World Without Love”). July 17.
Frank McCourt, 78. Former schoolteacher who enjoyed post-retirement fame, and a Pulitzer, for memoir “Angela’s Ashes.” July 19.
E. Lynn Harris, 54. Best-selling author who pioneered gay black fiction (“Love of My Own”). July 23. Heart disease.
Merce Cunningham, 90. The avant-garde dancer and choreographer who revolutionized modern dance. July 26.
AUGUST:
Naomi Sims, 61. Pioneering black model of the 1960s. Aug. 1.
Budd Schulberg, 95. Novelist (“What Makes Sammy Run?”) and Oscar-winning screenwriter (“On the Waterfront”). Aug. 5.
John Hughes, 59. Writer-director of smash youth-oriented comedies (“Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Home Alone”). Aug. 6. Heart attack.
Willy DeVille, 58. Singer, songwriter; founded punk group Mink DeVille. Aug. 6. Pancreatic cancer.
John Quade, 71. Character actor; the heavy in several Clint Eastwood movies. Aug. 9.
Andy Kessler, 48. Trailblazer of NYC’s skateboarding scene; designed skate parks. Aug. 10. Heart attack after wasp sting.
Les Paul, 94. Guitar virtuoso; invented solid-body electric guitar, multitrack recording. Aug. 13.
Virginia Davis, 90. As child actress, appeared in Walt Disney’s “Alice” films in 1920s. Aug. 15.
Hildegard Behrens, 72. German-born soprano hailed as one of the finest Wagnerian performers of her generation. Aug. 18.
Don Hewitt, 86. TV news pioneer who created “60 Minutes,” produced it for 36 years. Aug. 19.
Elmer Kelton, 83. Acclaimed Western novelist (“The Good Old Boys”). Aug. 22.
Ellie Greenwich, 68. Co-wrote some of 1960s’ most enduring songs (“Be My Baby”). Aug. 26.
Dominick Dunne, 83. Best-selling author who told stories of shocking crimes among the rich and famous. Aug. 26.
Adam “DJ AM” Goldstein, 36. Celebrity disc jockey; also a reality TV figure who attempted to help fellow drug addicts. Aug. 28. Overdose.
Marie Knight, 84. Gospel music legend (“Beams of Heaven”). Aug. 30.
SEPTEMBER:
Erich Kunzel, 74. Conductor, longtime head of Cincinnati Pops Orchestra. Sept. 1.
Keith Waterhouse, 80. British playwright, novelist (“Billy Liar”). Sept. 4.
Army Archerd, 87. His breezy Daily Variety column kept tabs on Hollywood doings for more than a half-century. Sept. 8.
Frank Batten Sr., 82. He built media giant Landmark Communications, created The Weather Channel. Sept. 10.
Jim Carroll, 60. Poet, punk rocker; wrote “The Basketball Diaries.” Sept. 11. Heart attack.
Larry Gelbart, 81. Slyly witty writer for stage and screen (“Tootsie,” “M-A-S-H”). Sept. 11.
Pierre Cossette, 85. Record label founder; turned Grammy Awards into a popular televised ceremony. Sept. 11.
Zakes Mokae, 75. Tony-winning South African actor (Athol Fugard’s “Master Harold … and the Boys”). Sept. 11.
Paul Burke, 83. Two-time Emmy nominee for his role as Detective Adam Flint in the gritty crime drama “Naked City.” Sept. 13.
Patrick Swayze, 57. Dancer turned movie superstar for “Dirty Dancing,” “Ghost.” Sept. 14. Pancreatic cancer.
Henry Gibson, 73. Comic character actor; recited offbeat poetry on “Rowan&Martin’s Laugh-In.” Sept. 14.
Trevor Rhone, 69. Jamaican playwright; co-wrote the reggae film “The Harder They Come.” Sept. 15.
Mary Travers, 72. One-third of the hugely popular 1960s folk trio Peter, Paul and Mary (“If I Had a Hammer”). Sept. 16.
Art Ferrante, 88. Half of the piano duo Ferrante and Teicher (“Exodus”). Sept. 19.
Alicia de Larrocha, 86. Spanish pianist who thrilled music listeners for decades. Sept. 25.
William Safire, 79. Pulitzer-winning New York Times columnist and word warrior. Sept. 27.
OCTOBER:
Mercedes Sosa, 74. Argentine folksinger; the “Voice of Latin America” who inspired pro-democracy activists. Oct. 4.
Ben Ali, 82. Founded Ben’s Chili Bowl diner, a Washington landmark. Oct. 7.
Irving Penn, 92. Photographer famed for stark simplicity in portraits, fashion shots. Oct. 7.
Al Martino, 82. Singer (“Spanish Eyes”); played the Frank Sinatra-type role in “The Godfather.” Oct. 13.
Daniel Melnick, 77. Producer of acclaimed films “Straw Dogs,” “Network.” Oct. 13.
Vic Mizzy, 93. Songwriter; did catchy sitcom themes (“The Addams Family”). Oct. 17.
Soupy Sales, 83. Rubber-faced comedian whose anything-for-a-chuckle career was built on thousands of pies to the face. Oct. 22.
Ray Browne, 87. Bowling Green State professor credited with coining the phrase “popular culture.” Oct. 22.
Michelle Triola Marvin, 76. She fought a landmark “palimony” case in the 1970s against former lover Lee Marvin. Oct. 30.
NOVEMBER:
Francisco Ayala, 103. Spanish novelist, sociologist; went into exile during the country’s Franco dictatorship. Nov. 3.
Sheldon Dorf, 76. Founded Comic-Con International comic book convention that draws more than 100,000. Nov. 3.
Jeanne-Claude, 74. With her husband, Christo, she created large-scale, highly publicized art projects. Nov. 18.
Elisabeth Soderstrom, 82. Swedish soprano who performed on world stages. Nov. 20.
Al Alberts, 87. Member of singing Four Aces (“Love is a Many Splendored Thing”). Nov. 27.
DECEMBER:
Aaron Schroeder, 84. Songwriter (Elvis Presley’s “It’s Now or Never”). Dec. 1.
Richard Todd, 90. Acclaimed British actor (“The Longest Day”). Dec. 3.
Vyacheslav Tikhonov, 81. Popular Russian actor; starred in Oscar-winning Soviet production of “War and Peace.” Dec. 4.
Liam Clancy, 74. Last of Clancy Brothers Irish folksong troupe whose songs struck sentimental chord worldwide. Dec. 4.
Thomas Hoving, 78. Former director of New York’s Metropolitan Museum of Art who championed the “blockbuster” exhibit. Dec. 10.

Blog Day 6&7 "Secrets are Us"

So, I missed day 6 because of how crazy my travel schedule was. Today I was in a conference in New Haven Ct. That is not what this blog is about, but it was a really fun conference with Mike Smith, Georgian and Winnie Bannoff, and Ignite Team.

Now onto my subject: Secrets We all have them, good ones, sometimes bad ones. I heard a major leadership trainer say a principle that I believe for the most part "Everyone will tell one person your secret. No one was is geared to keep it to themselves." I do believe that almost everyone verbally processes secrets that are told, but some people have learned how to be incredible secret keepers, and that is where relationship of intimacy is formed....you become really good at keeping your mouth shut.

I am famous for telling peoples good news, I have had to battle the urge to hint of friends engagements, new babies coming, financial blessings, etc. because I love to celebrate. Other people are gossips and want to tell bad news because there is such enjoyment in knowing something that the whole world doesn't know yet. Reality in God: He trusts those with revelation and His heart who He can confide in. To confide means to keep it until He releases it. I have learned the hard way many times (to many times which meant it wasn't the easy character work) that secrets are better untold. Its a principle that people who carry a lot of authority have to live by, the faster you tell a secret the quicker you lose your authority.

So why do I bring it up? Because so many people are wondering why they are not growing in authority with God or others, and this is one HUGE key! On a happy note I will tell you one secret: Jennifer Toledo is going to name her baby Shawn! They love me so much that she can't help it! Oh yeah and my next blog might be on people who lie.

Love hugs and giggles

Shawn Bolz

Blog day 5 "I was made for fun"

Blog day 5 "I was made for fun!"
day off today!!! Great friends? Check! Lots of food and sweets? Check! Good entertainment? Check! Fun location? Double check! No drama? Priceless!

so I'm really tired and this may be short but sweet. After eating all over new York city and seeing shrek the musical, (my favorite food was the crumbs cupcake which will be in heaven with me), eating at a place where our waitress sang fun tunes, hanging out with friends whew, I'm ready for sleep but I made an internal commitment to write so write I will.

i am writing from my iPhone which I think has a special addictive chemical on the screen that makes me want to touch it and check it every five minutes. Because I am using the iPhone I might have spelling or capitolization errors.

i am not going to be profound or make any points tonight. I will just say that I have had a great day. Even on the subway we were entertained by a little Indian man singing and playing guitar. While I waited
for shrek to start I played video games. We met friends for dinner and had great conversations about how to help the world. It was a fun day!

question of the day: what was the most you ever did on a day off?

Day 4 "Remembering at the World Trade Center Location"

So Matthew and I are in New York and I did priceline for a hotel. It put us literally two buildings down from the World Trade Center site and we didn't even know it until after dinner we were walking back to the hotel a different way and we both got hit with some pretty deep emotions the closer we got.

I was surprised that the memories flooded back, maybe being here brought some closure that I didn't know I needed. I realized in this that God was letting my heart lead me through an experience that is just a good human experience to have and go through.

No one can understand the impact this kind of event can have on an individual or society but it made me realize how much I love our country. What an amazing place we live in.

So here is the question of the day:

What memory has come up recently that came with tons of emotions that you had to spend some time getting understanding about what you were feeling? Is your heart open where it surprises you and leads you at times or are you totally living out of your head?

Shawn Bolz

Expression58

www.expression58.org

Blog Day 3 "Authority Issues"

I am so glad we have the tools to grow as humans that are out here today. I feel like our grandparents generation and before lived in the dark ages when it came to issues of the heart and character. We have progressed so far forward in knowing how to get healed, knowing how to get balanced, knowing how to recover, etc. Also we have taken quantum leaps in character building.

I am constantly growing in heart skills and my core values and I make mistakes all the time, but the cool thing is that I live in an environment with God and friends that bring me back to the core of who I am which is defined by what I believe. I have watched countless numbers of people leave churches, businesses, relationships, etc and not be able to recover because they left unresolved and had nothing in their lives to help resolve them...and frankly just normal relationships aren't going to fix a heart problem. You need a heart specialist. If your friends tell you to go to a urologist when you have a heart attack, you wouldn't take their advice then.
Its funny because we were making jokes as ministers about some of our friends assistants who are reading books like "The Bondage Breaker and "Boundaries" because they don't know how to have a normal relationship with such high powered ministry professionals who don't usually live lives centered around relationships. Almost every high powered person I have ever met from any sphere of society whether ministry, business, politics, etc has learned to be self sufficient, to fix their own problems or hide them, and they don't usually slow down until there is a break down. It doesn't mean they are bad people it just means that they have learned a survival type of accomplishing their goals....not a thriving way that God intended us to walk in.

When you don't have a balance between relationship and purpose you will kill relationship around you which is the reason why we are on this Earth in the first place. Its funny that so many ministries have a Messiah complex, that they want to save the whole world and feel the weight of responsibility for their gifts and ministries but they usually have very imbalanced families and children. A lot of this is changing right now culturally as groups like Bethel in Redding hold leadership summits and retrain the way we prioritize and impart a new culture.
The reality is I want to be and create a safe place for people to fail. I hate that the church kills her wounded in most circles. We should have counseling, healing, and pastoring to build a process of safe relationships.

Basically there are two types of authority that we need to balance between: 1) Authority given out of respect for position and accomplishment 2) Authority given out of relationship.

This generation is longing for relationship and is weary of the authority that is positional or accomplishment based because of some of the hypocrisy of the lack of the relational balance. Some of the fundamental break downs in Evangelical Christianity are the issues that we are so passionate about but have very little relational authority in our culture to change. These become extremism to people who don't think like we do because we have isolated our lives from them but force our perspective onto them.

I was called several years ago by a pastor on a conference call who was going to go after a Culture Armageddon and fight homosexuality. I had just started my church and told them that I couldn't be part of their fight because I didn't have anything installed in my church to help heal sexual identity problems, so how could I have authority to fight against something that I wasn't using kingdom power to heal first? Then I asked how many of the other pastors had programs to help people with sexual identity problems that were successful who were fighting this battle and none of them did. This made me realize that we need to change quickly and become a source of kingdom power on the earth and install what is missing before we point out the results of those missing pieces. In other words everyone can see when there is a puzzle piece that is a gap in the puzzle but who is forming the piece or looking for the piece that fits and placing it in to complete the picture?

This is also why the prolife movement sucks right now in its impact. I am completely pro life, but very few organizations deal with the 800,000 kids who come into foster care just in America every year not to mention the countless orphans in many countries. How is a poor inner city teen not going to get an abortion when her alternatives only look good on paper? I think when we bring the kingdom of life, we start to steward the lives that are here and now and it creates a culture of life stewardship where abortion just doesn't make sense anymore because of the amount of loving families available to care for those babies. Its easy to see fetus's as not real people when you are not loved well and don't feel like a real person yourself.

So I guess my blog has come down to the fact that we need a love revolution steeped in a culture of honor.

Over the past two years I have been installing Danny Silks message on "Culture of Honor" which kills control and victimization. You can't hold people responsible for your neediness or for your rejection, or for your bad character or for controlling you when you understand his message that I think is revolutionary. It also reprioritizes you life around having safe boundaries and healthy relationship dynamics. I am including it in this blog.

Link to Culture of Honor: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YFxM9xn3-4Y
So my question of the day is:

What issues are you extremely passionate about that you don't have a balance of position and relationship to be an authority in to our culture yet?