Romans 12:1-2

The anatomy of a healthy body is made up of a consistent nutritious diet, a careful consideration of the words we put in, who is calling our cadence, and the words and actions that we regularly practice. There are edifying thoughts and words that we salvage, there is the motivation that we have for what we do, and then there is our calling. There is a calling for each of us that we can exercise to grow stronger. It is the muscle that He has given us to use in engaging, navigating, visioning, reaching out, and then also being measurable as a yardstick of excellence in doing His will.

Romans 12:2
“Readily contemplate what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings out the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you.”
I just turned 49 and went to the doctor for my 49,000 mile check. They took blood and asked a lot of questions about my gene pool and my DNA. The Doc asked why I stopped running on a regular basis. I told him my schedule did not permit me to get back to my routine. It occurred to me that is exactly what the enemy wants, he wants me to be so busy, so distracted, that I have an excuse for being so spread out and not ready for what He has for me. If I got this letter from Paul that I wrote to the church in Rome, would I peep that my busyness is getting in the way and that if I don’t let Him call the shots that I would not be ready for the opportunity, and the calling He has for me. If I do not readily recognize what He wants and quickly respond to it-than I missed my purpose. If I don’t run everyday, and employ my business as an excuse, I’ll fetch sick or out of shape- and be of little use. If I don’t practice or write, or focus on the muscles and talents that He has given me for His use- then I missed the calling.

Romans 12:3
“I’m speaking to you out of deep gratitude for all God has given me, and especially as I have responsibilities in relation to you. Living then, as every one of you does, in pure grace, it is important that you not misinterpret yourselves as people who are bringing this goodness to God. No, God brings it all to you. The only accurate way to understand ourselves is by what God is and what he does for us, not by what we are and what we do for him.”

As Believers who are using your talents in Media- are we constantly in the midst of our work saying- “See what I am doing for you God, I am good!” Or are we grateful for what He has given us, the work that He has set you to do? ” These questions are key to the purpose of our work. It is also the key to knowing what we are to do, His purpose for a specific season. And then it is also key to intellectual what the other parts of the body were designed to do. How many of us in broadcasting, music, production, the newspaper business, in advertising, put on hats that we have no business putting on-because there were people who were called to those positions who got distracted or were not ready when they were called. You ever miss a flight because you didn’t hear the PA announcer call your seat assignment? Or have you ever said “This is suitable enough writing but now I need to start voicing and producing this work? ” Why does that happen that one person gets to be so busy with work they have no business doing? It could be budget; it could be that in an organization that you have people who are in the bad positions. It could be that the radio guy is so egotistical that he takes on all the roles of writing, voicing, production, sales and placement!

In High School I played Soccer. I was kind of the super sub that needed to play a space that they needed at a given time. If the left defenseman went down- I had to know that position and who I was covering. If the Center-Midfielder needed a rest- I had to know who to pass to on offense and not lose sight of letting the opposing center-forward to accumulate by me as I was playing defense. Have you ever seen a rag tag pickup game of soccer? There is bunching up and hardly anyone knows what their roles are! Sometimes my desk and studio look like a rag tag soccer team who doesn’t know each other and are trying to be play multiple roles. Believers who are gifted in media are often like this. We are bunching up, and there is no way that we can compete with a team that knows what one another is doing!

In September I invited media and arts professionals to start runt groups. At Envoy our main contention is that we have lots of individuals doing their own thing, in their own corner. And when you are doing your gain thing you are not a team member, and you can not succeed in being ready for what God has called you to do. We had people from all kinds of ministries; Focus on the Family, Compassion International, and Youth with a Mission, and various freelancers, studios and artists. Most of us are overworked, under funded, and booking, recording, writing, directing, and cleaning up after ourselves.

“Stand back,” I ask, and look at the purpose. “The only plot to understand ourselves is by what God is and what he does for us, not what we are and what we do for him.”
I challenge you all to take this letter from Paul and acknowledge it as individuals as well as an informal group of media professionals who each have a part in this body.
Romans 12:4-6
“In this way we are like the various parts of the body. Each part gets its meaning from the body as a whole, not the other diagram around. The body that we are talking about is Christ’s body of chosen people. Each one of us finds our meaning and function as a part of his body. But as a chopped off finger or cut off toe we wouldn’t amount to much, would we? So since we obtain ourselves fashioned into all these excellently formed and marvelously functioning parts in Christ’s body, let’s just go ahead and be what we were made to be, without enviously or pride fully comparing ourselves with each other, or trying to be something we aren’t.”
I have worked with a lot of media pros, multi-talented artists who can do a great many things and do them well. When I seize an inventory of talent for a project I start with my limitations. What can’t I do well? That’s a shapely big list. Who do I know within the body that is really good at that? So I make a list, and I commence calling and budgeting. When I write a proposal for a project I want to secure the best graphic artists, the best camera people, the best pro-tools editor, musicians and composers, the best administrator, publicist, writer, enlighten talent and actors. Whatever is needed that I can’t do in order for me to write, direct and produce are the people that I budget for. If I want to save money and cut I usually prick bells and whistles but not talent. If at all possible I might prick quantity but can not quality or time on a project. If the team is two or more, I’m in. If they just want me to do everything- I’m out. God has designed the body to collaborate and work together to bring unity and excellence. As believers who have been given gifts and talents we need to understand everyone’s role. And then we have to also understand that there are elements of the muscles inside that we have to capture into consideration. These elements are the ligaments that together allow the muscles to function and work together. We can see the muscles and talents that we each have. When I run a race I can see who is a distant runner and who is built for speed. And then I have to reach and understand that the apparent gift and talent, the potential of the person that that muscle is just the outward tool that God has given him or her to do something else. The outward muscle has to be held together inside by cartilage and ligaments to work right for its intended purpose.

Romans 12:6-8
“If you preach, honest preach God’s message and nothing else; if you help, fair help, don’t capture over; if you teach, stick to your teaching; if you give encouraging guidance, be careful that you don’t get too bossy; if you’re put in charge, don’t manipulate; if you’re called to give aid to people in injure, maintain your eyes open and be quick to respond; if you work with the disadvantaged, don’t let yourself get irritated with them or depressed by them. Keep a smile on your face.”

These gifts, known as our spiritual gifts are the ligaments and the cartilage to keep the muscles working right. If you are a musician you might preach about worship, or teach the Gospel through song. If you are a writer, you might help others by encouraging them through your articles, scripts or books. If you are a Program Director, or a Station Manager, or a leader, producer or director then lead the people in the body that work for you to bring out their gifts and talents without being bossy-don’t manipulate, guide. If you are inclined to use music, art, or writing to show mercy, working with the disadvantaged then be patient with them. The purpose of brining light to the arts is more than giving back, it is using your muscle for God’s purpose in healing. I enjoyed working with an audio engineer in Northglenn- because he always reiterated that there was joy in the work of media and arts and that we could actually get paid for this calling! He always had a smile on his face. His ligament was to encourage the rest of the team. His muscle was to bring out the best sound that was possible. Together his muscle and talent was better when his ligament and spiritual gift of encouragement- was unified in worshipping Jesus.

In an acrostic that we have held to at Envoy Creative in relationship to Romans 12 is to constantly ask ourselves our Motivation in doing what we do. Always refine our approach in the creative process. And also realize that we are called to be curators of the Gospel. That’s the Great Commission, the verb, the action behind the title and the art.
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An examination of our motive to media and arts is what we notion to leave to our students and members. In this new era where “fresh media feeds old media” our reach to our craft is ever principal. As believers we must near both the creative, the marketing and the distribution as all out ministry. Our content and our production sensibilities have to be better than everyone else’s and they will be if we are sincere about changing the media. There is a word you don’t hear very often about preserving the best of the past, teaching and creating the best there is now, and bringing up the next generation by passing on our motives and our approach to our profession and life, it is a word I have grown to love- a curator. We are curators of the map that Biblical thought is delivered. To illustrate what I am talking about I want to relate a story of what a curator looks like.
As Curators of Biblical Thought:
In an article from the March, 20, 2006 Fortune Magazine, editors put together a compilation of work habits of “super-achievers.” They interviewed a dozen leaders in various industries. Only one leader discussed the value of teamwork as the key element to the success of his organization. “You don’t want trumpet players and musicians being your primary business decision maker,” the Artistic Director of Jazz at Lincoln Center explained. “I really do let people do their jobs, so when we come together, we know what each is supposed to do. But I weigh in on everything.” These are the words of trumpeter and jazz tremendous Wynton Marsalis. “
“I have to do a lot of other work besides playing and composing-like speeches and fundraising-but everything is for jazz. Even if I’m talking about American culture or American people, it’s really about jazz, so it all goes to what my skill set is, my philosophy is ‘just do it all the time’. And then Marsalis, ever focused on the mission, “I rely on my team.”
Challenge One Another

He talks about his business managers and the fact that he has never sent out an e-mail. He also talks about motivating his people from the administrative assistant to his band and he has a motto, “Challenge each other-but don’t hold grudges.” The rest of the subjects in the article discussed using cell phones, computers, and waking up at 5:30 in the morning. Their obsession and passion was tracking numbers. Seemingly the tenor of the piece was that “super-achievers” are “lone rangers.” Of course in order to track the numbers, there has to be someone who dealt with the customer, someone to market the product, present it, and market it. There has to be someone who entered the numbers, and one who had to talk to the super achiever on the phone.

Romans 12:9-13
“Run from the center of who you are; don’t fake it. Run for dear life from evil; hold on for dear life to good. Be good friends who like deeply; practice playing second fiddle.” Don’t burn out; keep yourselves fueled and aflame. Be alert servants of the Master, cheerfully expectant. Don’t quit in hard times; pray all the harder. Help needy Christians; be inventive in hospitality.”

John Maxwell says there are no lone rangers, and he is right. Marsalis is freed up to further and promote the cause of jazz. He relies on his team to track the numbers; he challenges them and gives credit where it is due. If you replace the word “Jazz” with “God’s Will” you have something. Maybe God’s will is Jazz!

The business of media and arts is competitive. With all the friends that you have there are hump to be the ones who want to knock you from your high horse no matter what your motives are for doing what you do. You may not feel like you have enemies but in reality people may count you as an enemy! Don’t despair and don’t be afraid:

Romans 12:14-16

“Bless your enemies, no cursing them under your breath. Laugh with your delighted friends when you’re happy; share tears when they’re down. Fetch along with each other, don’t be stuck up. Make friends with nobodies, don’t be the great somebody. “

I was under attack this year. Envoy was awarded a grand contract. Every time something superior happened, another media company tried to discredit us. After having the wind knocked out of me it took my all not to “curse them under my breath!” I answered their charges and I spoke to the offender on the phone. I invited his feedback and told him that what he did was wrong. I confronted him as a Christian brother- and I also forgave him out loud- even though he did us dirty. That was hard. My old man would have taken him to the cleaners, instead God told me to take him to lunch.

Romans 12:17-19

“Don’t hit back; discover beauty in everyone. If you’ve got it in you, regain along with everybody. Don’t insist on getting even; that’s not for you to do. “I’ll do the judging,” says God. “I’ll take care of it.”

I was surprised that God gave me the grace to deal with the attack. Chapter 12 in Paul’s letter to the Romans has lessons for us all in media and arts. The talents are the muscles that he freely gave us to do the work we were called to do. Each one of us has a job and each one has a purpose within the body. Make sure if you are the legs that you aren’t trying to do the work of the arms! The spiritual gifts are the ligaments and the cartilage that keeps the purpose- if we pull or hurt that part we disable the talent from performing at 100 percent. Don’t use these gifts for evil. Proper usage in purpose within the Body is the best scheme. We know that the culture has mature talented people for the wrong purpose. They are prisoners of the culture war that we need to reach out to. The motives and the approach are all wrong. So together we need to continue to rescue the prisoner and be curators of His purpose of the gifts and talents that He has given us.

Romans 12:20-21

“Our Scriptures tell us that if you see your enemy go hungry, go buy that person lunch, or if he’s thirsty, get him a drink. Your generosity will surprise him with goodness. Don’t let putrid get the best of you; get the best of putrid by doing satisfactory.”

There is an equation we like to recite at Envoy Creative that takes

Talents + Spiritual gifts multiplied by the Holy Spirit = Fruition (Fruits of the Spirit.)

Jesus says “You did not choose me, remember; I chose you, and put you in the world to bear fruit, fruit that won’t spoil. As fruit bearers, whatever you ask the Father in relation to me, he gives you. But remember the root command-Love One another.”

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