Here are just a few of the benefits of reading...

I'll do a series on spiritual disciplines - be sure and keep watching for a refresher on these vital practices that cultivate a growing relationship with Jesus Christ.

There is a need everywhere for sound Bible teaching, especially in developing countries and cultures for Bible college content where availability and low cost availability make them scarce. Desiring to add value and teaching helps to ministries requesting assistance, I desired to put together an online course that would not cost participants anything, but add value and depth to growing leaders or dedicated followers of Christ and his word.

Goal: Provide or offer instruction across borders circumventing security issues, pandemic lock downs or travel costs. This would also address the just-in-time training challenge - some would like to learn as their schedule allows, not waiting for the ability to attend a formal setting or wait for a semester to start. Additionally, the materials can be referenced multiple times.

The requirements:

1. Technically high quality audio/video to be uploaded to YouTube, which automatically subtitles audio.
2. Supported by notes, quotes, verses on motion graphic overlays - a chalkboard will not be easily views on a screen or additional camera operators will be required.
3. Motion graphics are to give materials an up-to-date appearance and hopefully hold a modern attention span.
4. 20-40 graphics per 30 minute teaching session - automation would be desireable in order to reduce redundant design, propagating and producing the graphics.

Preparation: It is my strong impression that redundant tasks should be automated as much as possible. Human error in typing, reproducing, reuploading, etc consumes time.

Since I design my motion graphics in Adobe After Effects with an alpha channel (meaning a transparency channel which allows it to overlay over another video or graphic layer.) I came up with three types of graphics required - lower thirds, left half of the screen or a full screen. The larger formats give additional real estate when conveying lots of information - quotes, bullet points, notes, etc. To start, I wanted a spreadsheet option to enter information which informs After Effects which composition to choose and produce, plus the tool to auto-populate the information properly, then render the video followed by producing the next video. I wanted that to run for all required overlays, then helps a producer to follow the process and rerender any chosen video / videos if so chosen from the list. I went to work and coded a script that would automate that process. Additionally, I knew that audio would need to be normalized and run through a limiter, so that the quieter parts are not overwhelmed by the louder parts. I created my own automation process for those audio files that are going to be produced and requiring attention.

Steps: At this time of this article, I am 66% complete with the production of the videos for the online course - those already uploaded are being used in Pakistan and ministries in the Philippines have expressed interest. I have a better developed working understanding of my own work flow to get these sessions online. This is an overview of that workflow.

1. Study and bring the content onto paper notes. Time required: 6-8 hours per lesson.
2. Take the notes and information onto an Excel spreadsheet (Tab based, since commas are often in the verses and quotes.) Time required: 2 hours.
3. Render the motion graphics: Time Requirement: 30 minutes. Thanks to the automation script a 6 hour job is just 30 minutes, of which is spent performing other tasks.
4. Record the class session. Time requirement: 1 hour per 30 minutes classroom session. One camera / director assists me for camera controls, focus, and audio. Often, multiple sessions are recorded on the same day.
5. Edit the recordings. Time Requirement: 2.5 hours per session. Audio is enhanced, then video overlays (including intro and outro) are placed at the proper time over the recorded class session. Then it is time to render the full HD session. It requires about one minute to render 1 minute of running time - I have a pretty fast robust computer.
6. Upload and title the YouTube video. Time Requirement: 20 Minutes per session. The resulting 30 minute files are roughly 1 gb per video. Then the information is entered and a thumbnail is uploaded. Only a faster upload rate saves me from having additional time spent on the upload process.
7. "Rinse and repeat" - 17 sessions are required for my presentation of the coursework for Christology. Feedback: To this early stage, feedback has been helpful and inspirational - I have received photos and videos from small groups that meet to view the materials. Implementing a smart tv (internet access) they have easily been able to access the materials at a time convenient for their requirements. I have not had to travel, they do not have further security issues and it continues to be a lasting source of instruction and edification. Those uploaded sessions are at: My personal YouTube channel.
8. For what it is worth ... all of the automation processes are bash scripts that I have written for my own needs - they run on a linux server I have installed (free open source software).

Be careful not to sacrifice your future on the altar of immediacy. In this short VLOG, I briefly touch on the pressure to drift from listening to God's direction due to a strong desire to receive or achieve a goal.

A short video encouraging us to wait on the Lord.

A video update of the latest ministry developments. Presently Germany is experiencing cautious lockdown regulations - the infectious upswing has led officials to  implement measures to attempt to protect our region. We are not allowed to meet with all our children at the same time, because only a maximum of 5 people from two households are allowed to meet together. Curfew is at 9 PM. Steep fines of $600 per person are being issued for those not following regulations. And still I am of great hope for the coming year.