This message is the spark of one question. It's a question for you, as well as for me. That question is WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR (Emphasis Intended)? If you are reading or hearing this message it is the result of utilizing one or more of the products that mark the theme of this digital age - Innovation!

There is no greater time for you to launch out into the deep with your dreams, visions, and ideas. Every tool you need is available to you now. What ever you don't know how to do, you can begin learning how to do it now!

My focus in this season is getting as many people as I know who have a call from God to broadcast the Gospel of Jesus Christ, plugged into the tools that have been availed to all of us to begin the journey. Naturally, this information is going to be a blessing to all who would but put it to use.

But the key is to get started, and there's "no greater time" than right now! So join us at ebcreativemedia.com, check out our Learning Center, and let's get started right now.

Be Creative - Now!
Emery partners with his wife Stephanie as Pastors of Shepherd's House Prayer Band Tabernacle of Ocean-Hill, Brooklyn

The handwriting is on the wall, on your bathroom window, on the road signs as you travel, and certainly in your Bible! Now is the time! "What do I do? Where do I start?" You ask. I repeat, "Start with what's in your hands!" 

1. Get a pen and pad to create your "vision book."
2. Write the vision, and make it plain (See Habakkuk 2).
3. Write down the steps you believe need to be made to bring it to fruition.
4. Find an accountability partner or team. Surround yourself with people who will stretch you and  
    support your vision.
5. Rid yourself of all distractions, negative thoughts, people, and practices.
6. Prioritize the steps in short term and long term categories.
7. Give yourself specific dates or benchmarks to complete each step.
    (You'll find a development of other shorter or longer tasks to complete as the vision becomes clearer.      
    Be sure to write them down.)
8. Schedule times to meet with your accountability team to report progress.
9. Ask your team for feedback AND CONSIDER THEIR INPUT.
10. Commit to yourself that you will give it all you've got for thirty days, and share your story with us, and others.

Be honest with yourself and your team. Take the time and really do the work. Don't quit when it gets rough. You will make a catch that will exceed your expectations.
Pastor E. Barber
EBCreativeMedia
Creative Media Solutions Designed for You

Twelve years ago God made this task all the more vivid and tangible for me, when he inspired me to write, perform, and record my first CD, It's a Miracle. It is the gospel message in song. At a time that everyone was looking for someone to "sign" them up for a record deal, the Lord led me to mp3.com.
Back then it was a project initiated as platform to expand the exposure of independent artists. The parallel for me would be reverbnation.com, and we'll learn more about them at another time. I was able to reach out to an audience, that I would never have reached at that time! Germans and Russians were emailing me about my music and how they could learn more about Jesus Christ. I was amazed to say the least.

Well here and now we find that technology has advanced in such fascinating proportions, that we the people appear dizzied by it all. The key is to simply pick one and understand it, then move on - if you need to. Today as we begin a reflection on digital audio broadcasting, you might want to begin with how will you utilize this technology. Well you can record singing, speaking, or any sound you can imagine. I utilize it for recording new music, bible studies, inspirational poems, audiobooks, as well as to create soundtracks. You're only limited by your imagination.

There are software companies that sell digital audio recording programs, but today we will focus on Audacity by Sound Forge. Guess what folks the beta version is currently free! So it is in the category of what we've been discussing as "right at your finger tips or in your hands." You will need a digital microphone or one compatible with the computer you wish to record on. I use the same tool for recording audio that I use to record digital video. That's right the Logitech Pro Webcam. It has a built-in mic and works well with the program. Audacity has so many great features, like noise-removal, special effects, compression features, smpte time-coding, and more. Audacity also affords you the opportunity to convert files into virtually any format. So go to http://audacity.sourceforge.net/, download the software and follow there instructions.

Let us know what you think of the software, the innovative way in which you used it, and hit me with questions you might have as well. Until later, remember to Be Creative!

Pastor E. Barber
EBCreativeMedia
Creative Media Solutions Designed for You

Blessings all! Today we pick up where we left off last time. That's right - using what's in your hands. With all the rapidly changing, ever-increasing technology that is so prevalent in today's society, moving your vision from thought to fruition may seem like such a daunting task. When in actuality that's just the reason why everything is at our "fingertips."

Today we take a look at Video Trailers. I trust you viewed the last trailer, and consider attending as well!
One of the most widely used, yet often unheard of software for video editing is actually free. That's right I said FREE! It's called Microsoft Windows Movie Maker. Most people with a PC have it as software in their Accessories folder - one of the goodies that come with the Microsoft Windows operating system.  There are several updates with each new operating system, but they all operate the same - more or less.

This video editor is feature-rich and allows one to import digital images/pictures, video, and music. The drag and drop features of this software make it easy to develop a video with transitions, effects, text overlays, as well as narration of the video as well.

So where do you start? Open up the software and follow the directions. It's easier than you might think. Start small. Use ten to twenty pictures and one of your favorite song clips to start. When you experiment with the transitions and effects, you will need to move between the Storyboard and the Timeline. You can do this quickly by using the shortcut Ctrl+T. After you finish your project, you will need to save it as a project, in case you want to add to or modify the video, and then publish the video as a WMV (Windows Video file). This file can be burned to a DVD or uploaded to a digital video publisher like YouTube, or your own domain.

Below you'll find the video for this edition, which I recorded in the library with a Logictech Pro Webcam! After downloading it to my computer, I was able to import it into Windows Movie Maker, make some edits and publish online for you to view. If you'd like more in depth training. We'd be glad to teach you. Yes we make personal visits for group settings, and we can teach you right online! Contact us at [email protected].

Pastor E. Barber
EBCreativeMedia
Creative Media Solutions Designed for You

About a year ago, I shared with members of a Men's group how God answered me when I prayed for a financial blessing. In what seems like a few short years ago, the Lord responded to me, "What's in your hands Emery?" As I looked at my hands, I prayed for elucidation, and the answer came back a bit clearer, "Before you request more blessings, exhaust your gifts." As I opened my drawer for a pen to write the message down, I saw a book of songs that I had written with which I had done nothing, but write them down. Needless to say, I was convicted, and that became the impetus of actions that led to the production of my first CD and my first book.

In the fourth chapter of the book of Exodus in the Holy Bible, God calls Moses to the greatest task of his life; to free the children of Israel from Egyptian bondage. It meant that Moses had to face the ruler of that mighty nation, and declare that the great I AM said, "Let my people go!" Moses felt unqualified and ill equipped, and as he communicated this feeling, God asks Moses a question that we must cling to as we journey to our several tasks.

"What is that in your hands?" So I ask you today, what's in your hands? Moses had a rod - a vocational tool that he was familiar with, but in the hands of the Master, became so much more than he could probably wrap his mind around. This age of history marks one of the greatest advancements of technology in history. That means with all the tools available to you, all you have to do is to allow your hands to engage what God has allowed your mind to see, and your heart to believe. Everything you need is literally at your fingertips. I challenge you to use it to the glory of God and the good of others!

Like what Pastor Barber? "Like what," you ask? Today we will take a brief look at Video Trailers. You see them all the time, in one form or another. Some refer to them as commercials, but that is only "one of the many uses for this fruit." I'll share how to get started, and you let the Spirit inspire you and lead you in its use. Recently I created a video trailer, after receiving an invitation to attend the event. I was excited about the opportunity for pastors and leaders to receive training from a ministry I've come to know as as Spirit lead, as well as experienced in preparing servants for ministry. I wanted to help, but I didn't have a large budget. So the first step is to consider your budget. Now when I say budget, please understand I'm not just talking about finances. I refer also to people resources, as well as time.

Immediately, I heard the words that would be the script for the video, and began to write it down. So the second step is to consider your demographic. What audience are you trying to communicate to? This involves understanding how to communicate to them, their culture. The third step is to identify the most impactful way to communicate your message. In this case I knew that the words would be heard, but I also wanted them to be seen. The fourth step is to identify the medium by which you will communicate your message. Because I knew the words would be seen as well as heard, I had to decide whether the message would be static or dynamic - would there be movement with effects or a flyer that could be read while the message was heard.

All of these questions quickly found their answer in a video trailer format. You can view the video below, and also consider attending this blessed event as well.  In our next session, I will share with you the format, or software I chose to use, based on the answers to the questions we considered today. It is easily accessible - right at your fingertips, and easy to learn. As you discern the gifts that are in your hands, I pray that you will submit your gifts to the Lord. The results will be beyond your expectations!

Emery Barber
EBCreativeMedia.com
Creative Media Solutions Designed for You

We were created in God's image as intelligent creative beings, invested with the power and thus responsibility to have dominion over this earth. To cultivate its care and development. The problem has been we have set out to engage this responsibility in our own strength, according to our own opinions and ideologies of how we are to operate.

So the place we must begin is from the position where we understand that we can do nothing without God, but with the power of God working in and through us, we can do all the things for which God has purposed us even before the beginning of time (See Phil. 4:13). Once we understand the position from which we can succeed, we must acknowledge and invest ourselves in the purpose for which we strive to succeed in all things; which is to express the awesome splendor of a wonderful God and thus acknowledge the reality that there is no one like the one true God.

Whether one sings a song, writes a book, or invents a new medium of technology, all should communicate the splendor of the God who shapes voices to sing melodies, inspires hearts to imagine, and minds that can bring to fruition that which can change the atmosphere. Simply put, we must remember that we were created to worship God.

When we grasp this reality, we expose ourselves to the grace of God that empowers, inspires, and enables us to do exceedingly, abundantly, above all that we could ask or think. That's when we become the pen of the Master of the Universe, communicating the mysteries of the Majestic One, Sing a New Song to the Maestro of our souls.

Let Us Begin...
Pastor E. Barber
EBCreativeMedia
Providing Creative Solutions from Thought to Fruition

© 2013 EB Creative Media. All rights reserved. Phone: 347.635.0461, Email: [email protected]

Jogging through the park one bright sunny morning, I began to recollect ideas that had come to me many years ago. You know the type of ideas that you say to yourself, "One day I'm gonna take some time and put this together.  I just know it will bless somebody!" Well I pulled out my PDA and began to jot them down. How many "good ideas" have you been inspired with that you never put into action? Your book, your album, your new product, your new business? It's amazing to me when I hear new products come forth, and someone says, "I thought of that idea years ago!" Or someone records a new song and you hear the words, "That's my song!"

I believe that God has allowed there to be a creative flow of ideas that is hovering just short of everyone's reach. And all we have to do is reach up and take hold of it. We call creativity so many things in our culture: the ability to create, to imagine, to do things differently, or more resourcefully. To be creative is to take ownership of the thoughts, dreams, and visions that our marvelous creator has made available to us, and commit to investing our time, talent, energy, and resources to see them come into fruition. It is an act of faith! And everyone has some degree of creativity.

God set the precedent for being creative when God created the universe. God said, "Let there be..." and then committed divine resources to bring it into reality. But what I love about the creation is God spoke everything into fruition, except humanity. God formed male and female in God's own image from the resources God spoke into existence. There was a special and specific investment of care and attention that when into creating Adam and Eve. We were created in God's image as intelligent creative beings, invested with the power and thus responsiblility to have dominion over this earth. To cultivate its care and development.

Much of our being creative has been counter-productive to our purpose, but because we still exist in the flow of God's time continuum, its not too late to be innovative in a way that fulfills our God given purpose to bring glory to God and build one another up for the good. Join us here next time as we continue the discussion on our purpose and privilege to - Be Creative! Don't forget to leave comments. Peace.

Pastor E. Barber
EBCreativeMedia
Providing Creative Solutions from Thought to Fruition

Listen to Part II of this msg Here!
© 2013 EB Creative Media. All rights reserved. Phone: 347.635.0461, Email: [email protected]

In the 16th chapter of Matthew, Jesus asked His disciples, "Who do men say that I am?" As we move through the discourse of their exchange in verses 13-18, Peter bursts with epiphanic expression, "Thou art the Christ!" Jesus communicates that it is upon this rock, this foundational truth received straight from God, that He would build His Church.

A couple thousand years removed, many of us struggle with this scripture as it relates to right interpretation. It is one of the major reasons that we have so many denominations and factions in the church universal today. Believing Christ is the Alpha and the Omega - the beginning and the end, Jesus knew we would experience these challenges in the finiteness of our own thinking. It's time for us to stop limiting ourselves, and simply walk by faith. Cling to the Word of God and walk in the guidance of the Lamp unto our feet and the Light unto our path. Peter himself received it when he communicated in the second chapter of his first book that Jesus is the Chief Cornerstone.

When Jesus utters the words "Upon This Rock I Build My Church," He declares that Himself as the Cornerstone - the very foundation of the Ecclesia. And it is in this moment that Jesus clarifies our identity in Him. We are the "called out ones," snatched out of the darkness and brought into the marvelous light of God; empowered by the presence of God to bring glory to God as we continue that work in the lives of those in our generation and those to come until the return of our gracious Lord and Savior. And as this brief missive is not a theological treatise, but more a call to action, we must consider how we are continuing the work that Jesus has "called us out" to do.

Much of what we call "church" today is interchangeable with the assembly - the place where we gather, but the church is the people of God. The church is the collection of stones that make one huge rock in, through, and by Christ Jesus-the Chief Cornerstone.1 Peter 2:4-8  As Jesus declared, He is building His church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail. So what are the works of service that you are engaging as a living stone in the Rock?

As we have discussed on this site, with all the technological resources in our reach, there is no greater time than the present to engage the great commission of Jesus Christ in Matt. 28:19-20. To go in the power and authority of Jesus Christ and make disciples of all nations, baptizing in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit always mindful of His presence with us. Yet this greater time marks like never before an ever increasing lethargy toward the work we have been called and empowered to do. So this is a clarion call my brothers and sisters! It's time to wake up! It's time to shake up the people of God to live out our call out of the darkness and into His marvelous light!

In our next installation, I want to help you to activate your gifts, and be creative towards the commission and the call of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ over your life. Until then remember to Be Creative!

For His Glory and Our Good,
Emery B. Barber

Blessings to all of you Creative Ones!  Like WOW!!! Three months have whizzed by like the wind! What have you done thus far? Where have you been? When were you planning to share the News?! "Like WOW!!!" came to my mind when I realized how quickly the year is already flowing along! "WOW!!!" stands for the "Whirl Of Whats, Whys, and Whens" that hit me as I considered by benchmarks for the year, and as I thought about yours!

It's time to take inventory my friends! If you haven't already, take a look at your plan that we discussed three months ago. What have you done? Did you meet your goals? Answer the question - be honest. Now why did you meet them? Are your efforts duplicatable? To what do you attribute your success? Or why not? Did you follow the process? Did you assemble an accountability team, and did you make yourself accountable to them? What did you learn?

Often times we forget that the road to success is paved with small and large failures. Whatever you do don't give up! Brush yourself off, and try again. If you haven't considered the process, consider it now. Like Les Brown said, "People don't plan to fail, they fail to plan." Try it out. Realize if you've done nothing thus far, you don't know how far you could have gotten. Let us know how it works for you. Don't forget to - Be Creative!

Emery B.
EBCreativeMedia
Creative Media Solutions Designed for You