Christmas Film: "Comforting Hovers"

Our film "Comforting Hovers" has been an inspiration and source of contemplation for many people. See what it will do for your perception of Christmas. We offer it with hope you will be renewed and comforted. Any ads, or offers of other videos are from Veoh, not us.

Please give your comments below. Thank you.

Notes on the Storm

Today we watch the first snowfall of the season. How lightly it floats down, belying the violent hail storm that just passed. Thank God for the break in the drought and the shelter He gives in the storm.
In another sense, we really are in a scary storm. The screaming wind and violent waves threaten to kill us. On top of that we are called to walk right upon those crashing waters.
Lord, save us!
We pass this reminder along: God does not hold our fears and doubts against us. When Peter challenged Jesus walking on the water, "Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water," Jesus did not reprimand him for skepticism, or presumption. He simply said "Come!"
After Peter actually walked on the water, then was intimidated by the storm and sank, Jesus did not say,
"Go on and drown. I gave you a chance and you doubted. It's your own fault. You shouldn't have tried the impossible!"
No. Instead of the "every-man-for-himself" attitude, Jesus shot his hand forward and caught Peter. And he was not berating Peter with his statement "Oh you little faith . . ." Jesus used this as a teachable moment to comment on the kind of faith Peter had right then as he helped him into the boat and caused the storm to cease. (Matthew 14:22-33)
As the financial storm rages around us we panic and sink over and over. Jesus has to be there to catch us each time,or we will drown alone. Even among well-meaning friends we often feel alone in the storm because everyone seems powerless and no one knows what to do.
We must habitually react by crying out like Peter, "Lord, save me!"
In whatever form it comes we grab the hand extended, pull up and get our footing again, walking with Jesus on the water.
Will you consider being part of Jesus' extended hand to us as we fight the waves on the mission to which Christ calls us?

Yours on the water,

Mark and Donna Turner

3 Programs Now On-line In the "Say Let There Be" Series

Three new audio programs hosted by Mark Turner are now up and playing to the world 24/7. The "Say Let There Be" series addresses the challenge of each person discovering their vision and walking it out as their mission in the concrete world. All programs are available to listen to and read with illustrations on the "Say Let There Be" blog (click here).
They also appear on Blogtalkradio.com/Horizon-Gate, and in the podcast section of the iTunes store. Download the programs to your iPod.

Program one calls you to do what God, the Creator originally did, drawing attention to the image of God in human beings which creates what was not there before. Using the vision of Horizon Gate as an example Mark begins to help us get over what keeps us from accomplishing our dreams, and to even accelerate our progress.

Program two explores the steps of creation that happen both inside and as you bring your vision out to the world. You get to participate by drawing a cartoon of the process.

Program three helps you describe your vision as a tangible project including seven key components to make your project both successful and spark the next project.

Watch for programs coming soon which cover eye-opening concepts of cash flow management, smart economizing, debt elimination, wealth building, and aspects of growing your own business. All of this is aimed at increasing the capacity of our community to minister to the needs of the world.

Whether you think you need this content, or not, you do know someone who needs it. Send them to the blog. Listen, read and get others to subscribe (for free) to "Say Let There Be."

Church and Missions Leaders Affirm Our Vision, Seek Further Connection

Over the last few months we have been meeting and dialoguing with church and missions leaders who affirm our vision and invite us to collaborate with them.

With one large, historic San Diego church we are developing a proposal for a program to mentor filmmakers and produce several short art films. This would test some of the components of our three-part vision (see our homepage) which includes The Production Gathering and the Film-Gallery-Café.

Missionaries in Mali want to explore a project in which we would coach a successful Bombara theater troupe in adapting their plays to film.

A missionary to Mozambique is asking if we are available to help create videos to present the ministry they have in the business arena of that country.

We need more supporters to back us financially so that we can say confidently to these opportunities, "Yes, we are ready and able."

We invite you to help us nurture filmmakers, create new films in Mali, and produce videos for Mozambique. Click on the Donate button at our homepage and make your contribution through Pay Pal right now.

"Say 'Let There Be . . .'" Audio & Blog Premiere

Our new audio series entitled “Say 'Let There Be . . .'” is now being released program by program. The introductory program is titled “The Call to Action”. In 14 minutes it introduces the series by calling you to find and bring your vision into the material world as a concrete mission.
The series bears the name which is the essence of our discussion over the next 10 or more episodes. It is calling you to do what God, the Creator originally did, to bring into being what was not there. The words "Let there be" are some of the first words of the Bible and represent the expression which God made to begin all that we know as reality. In this series we are drawing attention to the image of God in human beings, the likeness of God in us which empowers us to create what was not there before.
The introductory program can be played on our new Say “Let There Be . . .” blog devoted to the series. Click here to listen and browse the blog. http://saylettherebe.blogspot.com
The episodes planned cover a range of topics from both the current lessons being learned and 40 years life experiences of Mark and Donna Turner. Episodes will include 1. Call to Action; 2.Finding Your Vision; 3.Describe Your Vision as a Project; 4.Money Management; 5.Simplifying, Outsourcing, Debt; 6.Types of Income; 7.Your Own Business; 8.Building Your Team; 9.Expanding Your Business Right; 10.Partnering with God to Execute the Plan.

Minds Dwell On These Things

We are reviving our disciplines of creating productive “mental environments” (attitudes). This consists of disciplining our minds to celebrate all the good that we have had and are experiencing, to remind ourselves of all the good God has done through all of history and our lives. We acknowledge all our wonderful accomplishments and gain confidence that we can do even more. Reaffirming the good liberates our thinking so we are able to create with God solutions to many problems.

Surrounding us is a world which insists on being what it calls “realistic” . What the systems of this world and those loyal to them mean by “realistic” is to keep your mind on your job, pay your bills, keep the money flowing to the creditors. They emphasize the bad things happening around the world and keep the majority of humanity focused on difficulties, mistakes and problems. Remembering the good, looking for the redemptive, and just being happy to have hope is all considered self-deluding and pitiful. Not hip.

Horizon Gate is about counteracting the forces that enslave people's minds like that. Our vision is to make beauty and show it in such a way that opens eyes and breaks bondage. We are not about just helping people get comfortable in their prison cells. Because of our perspective we find opposition and unbelief. We encounter hardships because of devoting our time and energies to this unconventional mission and some people feel sorry for us.

But, we call you to a higher vision. Rather than just feeling sorry for the troubles, please, by praying for the good to happen and being a participant in the solutions, help us keep looking up and being faithful to the heavenly vision.

First of Three Vision Components

We have been promoting our three-part vision: the Production Gathering, the Film-Gallery-Café, and Funding by Financial Health. What would a “production gathering” be like?

Think of a retreat in which participants are provided with an array of helps, programmed and free form, to refresh their perspective on life, inspire them to accomplish their dreams and spark new ideas. Focus that kind of a retreat to the needs of practicing artists with a select few younger, promising artists.

This would not just be a vacation, but a working retreat in which the artists are selected to fill positions in a film production, the center around which the retreat is organized. Experienced professionals would work for pay and agree to mentor the tuition paying younger artists who have been invited based on their portfolio and application. Scholarships would be available. The younger artists would be challenged to rise to the working professional level.

The retreat aspect of the event would strive to remove negative pressure that is common to commercial productions and to promote a freedom of creativity. Hosted in a place close to nature, intense periods of shooting, performance and post production, would be interspersed with enrichment times. These would include live musicians entertaining during meal breaks and evenings, inspirational presentations from specialists in related fields, and recreational facilities. Room and board would be provided with ample staffing to attend to each individual's needs.

The number and type of residents, as well as the length of time scheduled, would vary depending on the demands of the given screenplay. Short films using a wide variety of art forms would be the preferred project. As each phase of production progresses every artist would be involved either as observer, or as worker, the whole group traveling together to the finished product.

By the time of celebrating the final product each resident will have experienced renewal, enlightened perspective on their career and craft, and formed special bonds with other artists. The gathering will have profound effect on the artists and their creations for the rest of their lives. The films produced at the gatherings will have a life at film festivals, distribution avenues and at Horizon Gate's Film-Gallery-Café.

Horizon Gate Flowchart: a Snapshot of Our Soul

The arrows in this flowchart show that our vision is to draw us all into a nurturing community. People hear about our mission through presentations (top), or get to know us through our art (bottom). We educate one another in our individual areas of knowledge including the arts, writing, filmmaking, spiritual growth, and financial health.

The growing Horizon Gate Community rallies together in the "Production Gathering" to make films. These artistic statements are experienced in many ways such as our "Film-Gallery-Café", film festivals, and on-line distribution.

Our prayer is that these films will draw many to God and that our artistic community will provide them fellowship, personal growth, and fulfilling work.

Increased Seekers Expected for Christmas, Make Plans for Them Now

This year more people than usual will be ready to remember the Truth in Christmas. Now is the time to get ready for increased numbers of people looking for more than consumer goods as the reason for the season. It takes care and planning well in advance to provide the rich and meaningful experience people will be looking for in Christmas '09.

We have the tools and the plan to lead people on the path to renewed insight and faith this year.

People will rally around our script for a great, intergenerational play. They will grow individually and as a community by working together and presenting the story to the larger community of family and friends.

Our “Word Show” workshop kicks off the experience by helping the group discover the joy of story telling. The workshop opens the inner workings of the script. It gets the group on their feet using new tricks to bring out the meaning of the story. By the end of the workshop your team will be ready to continue the fun through the process of preparing the story for the Christmas season.

Mark and Donna Turner personally apply their 40 years experience (apiece) in stage and film to guide the Word Show workshop weekend. But they do not just leave the team to fend for themselves after that. They remain available by phone to answer questions and coach the leadership through the whole process.

By the time the play has been presented the cast and crew will have grown personally and corporately in new appreciation of the advent message. The audience will be illuminated by the story and by the change in those who tell it.

A discount is offered of up to 45% on day, or day-and-evening Word Show sessions if booked by September 1.

Call 760-765-3884 now to learn how you can bring this wonderful experience to your community, or e-mail your inquiries to markanddonna@horizongate.org.

Play Capsulizes Age of Misinformation and Greed

Mark Turner wrote a play in 1990 which still addresses today's issues 20 years later.

In “The Lost Kids Spy Christmas” the old crook, Ananiah, has a nice gig going with a gang of kids to shoplift and some sly stooges to cash the merchandise. He is growing “the baby”, as they say, an ironic reference to his dearest thing in the advent season, his horde of cash, not the Christ Child. His conspiracy to obscure Christmas from the street kids is not that far off from today's realities.

He is staunch in defending his nest egg even when the pressure of police and double-crossing crooks bring him to the brink. It is his gang of street kids who get to his heart when they beg him to help save a real baby entrusted to them. When he joins the children in the rescue he recalls the choices he made as a kid.

Even though it is not “fair” and you could say it is too sappy to be “real”, he repents. He lets himself give away his fake baby of greed, admit who the real baby of Christmas is and escapes his just deserts. It's--not--fair!

These days the pressure is mounting and we tend to get that hording attitude which guards the little wealth we manage to keep. We think of revenge on the crooks that are getting away with millions. But here is a story about grace that extends even to the worst of us.

And that's why we are talking about Christmas in July. It is time to prepare to extend grace to an undeserving world in elaborate displays of love by producing this play in your communities. We have the script, music and sound effects along with our personal consultation ready to help you provide this act of love in your home town.

Call 760-765-3884, or e-mail markanddonna@horizongate.org to get started.

"Word Show" to Kick Off Productions

Our Word Show workshop is an excellent way to pull your group together and lay a strong foundation for your production of Mark Turner's play “The Lost Kids Spy Christmas”. Mark and Donna Turner come to your group and personally help dissect the play, learn what makes it a good story and show you how to tell it effectively.

Using the tools of playwrights, actors and directors, you identify key building blocks of the story. You discover what makes the characters tick. In longer workshops you play theater games to build story telling skills. Through Word Show everyone involved in your play gains the insight needed to do their best in the ensemble for the most meaningful presentation of the story.

The audience gains so much more when this kind of preparation backs up your performances.

The workshop can be limited to 2 hours, fill a day or take an evening and a day. It establishes exercises and disciplines which carry on through the rehearsal schedule and the Turners remain accessible for coaching by phone.

Word Show is a valuable way to approach any of the many script packages we offer. The “Lost Kids” script package comes complete with music and sound effects CD's.

To book a Word Show workshop contact markanddonn@horizongate.org , or call 760-765-3884

News from the Turners

We have been meeting lots of new people and expanding our concepts of ministry.

Through attending seminars, voracious reading and personal coaching our financial education has been accelerated to meet the economic crisis effecting Horizon Gate and our constituency. The shape of the economy has forced us out of industrial age thinking and fully into the information age. In this age it is what you know that is most valuable, not social, or professional position and not material possessions.

We can see the creativity of business and its capacity to carry ministry to the masses. We are learning more skills in using the tools of the Internet, telephone and video to reach higher numbers of people. The size of our vision is larger because we can see a viable business structure and multiple streams of potential income to make it possible.

As Jesus was focused on his mission and built the community which would carry it out, we are reaching out to new groups of people more aggressively and with renewed conviction. New relationships with artists have resulted from exhibiting at concerts and conventions, as well as increasing conversations about individual financial challenges. Our vision is to develop the community of artists and arts supporters to be the ministering body of Horizon Gate.

New ideas are forming which will both increase material support for artists and get their work out ministering to the masses. We are in the process of creating a series of short audio programs based on the “Realize Your Vision!” webinar. These will be broadcast on blogtalkradio.com. Keep an eye out for a unique business providing greeting cards you can print and do your own handwork on. We are writing more articles for Internet news. Video e-mails are now a part of our tool kit.

Developing people as members of Christ's Community is the focus of both the internal management and the public outreach of Horizon Gate products and services.

Walking by faith is essential to expansion. Faith opens our eyes to opportunities and needs when we may be more inclined to shut down operations, “economize” and guard the little we have. But the gut reaction to close down is not actually “self-protection” as much as resigning ourselves to death. In business a decline in revenue signals a need to increase communications and enter the places where others are not meeting the need. Certainly this is the call of Christ to us now and God is regenerating our imaginations to see the opportunities to generate life.

If your dreams are postponed in favor of the dreams of the few at the top, you may have been too busy working for them to realize who you really are.

We are calling everyone to examine their souls and see themselves as God sees us: ". . . God's workmanship . . . created for good works." ( Ephesians 2:10) ". . . fellow workers with God . . ." ( I Corinth. 3:9 ). Horizon Gate is here to provide tools for you to be that.

We need to pause from the pressures of pleasing the world system long enough to see we have freedom to be all God made us to be and to set goals to accomplish our destinies beyond wages, jobs, bills, homeownership, cars, toys, and entertainment.

Christ proved and demonstrated with his life, death and resurrection that we are made, not to be under the thumbs of “a few at the top”, or even the threat of death, but to reach our highest potential.

What is your mission? Is anything keeping you from fulfilling the highest potential to which God calls you? Just pausing to think about these questions, deepens our dialogue with our Maker. It inspires us to step out, do and make things that liberate both us and those around us. Then the fun work starts to push away the drudgery of satisfying the world's demands.

"Realize Your Vision!"

Join Us at the Webinar Anytime 24/7




https://www1.gotomeeting.com/register/301541129

Y O U R G R E A T V I S I O N

SEE IT INSIDE YOURSELF - Do you have a dream of accomplishing something special? Or have you been able to take the time to think about that? We coach you in digging into your hearts' desires.

MATERIALIZE IT IN THE WORLD - Want to know where to start taking steps in accomplishing your dream? We help walk you through the first actions in bringing your dream into the world.

PARTNER WITH GOD TO EXECUTE IT - Is your partnership with God active? Could you get more out of this partnership? We outline the actions to take which will revive the most productive partnership imaginable.

Join us for a 90 minute, interactive webinar walking through your hopes and dreams and starting to bring them to reality.

Free materials sent to participants include worksheets and a personal financial analysis. Sign up for personal coaching appointments and a special retreat following the webinar.

Topics include

Discovering the truth about who you really are
Using your imagination
Hearing God's call
Turning an idea into a project
Building your funding
Building your business
Building your working team
Activities which reveal God's actions in your mission

MARK & DONNA TURNER each have over 40 years of experience in performing arts, entrepreneurial work running a non-profit organization, and their personal businesses. They have produced many films and stage plays as well as taught the arts. From their base in San Diego their work has taken them to Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, Samoa, Africa, Europe, Puerto Rico, Mexico,Thailand and across the U.S. Their materials have been distributed even further and countless people have become more productive because of their coaching and example.

After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar.

System Requirements PC-based attendees Required: Windows® 2000, XP Home, XP Pro, 2003 Server, Vista

Macintosh®-based attendees Required: Mac OS® X 10.4 (Tiger®) or newer

All Kinds of Work Makes "Ministry"

Our vision is to create special works of cinematic art which cause the viewers to have significant conversations and come to God. We want to show these works in a comfortable gallery with a café-like atmosphere. (See rough illustration)

This is a beautiful vision AND a lot of work to create. The labor and the business of it are ways to fellowship with God in creation.

We call artists and arts supporters to join in forming the community around this vision. We have methods of becoming financially healthy so that we all will have the funds to create the films and open the gallery-café.

So, we employ business, sales and marketing as tools in creation, with the confidence that God delights in and prospers our work. New streams of income and liberation from debt lifts us out of financial slavery into new freedom to do special works for God.

This is why Horizon Gate has been addressing financial health as a critical component of ministry. We implement Financial health by accelerating 1.) debt elimination, 2.) cash flow, 3.) equity growth, 4.) asset development, 5.) residual income, and 6.) home based businesses.

We declare that God wants us to have abundance beyond our necessities, to overflow for others needs and to do great projects. What a privilege to work with God toward such lofty goals.

Artists and arts supporters, come on and join us for your own financial health and the joy of accomplishing great visions.

What New Money Attitudes?

For a century or more the “closed eyes” attitude has dominated funding for mission. “Don't look at money. Don't talk about money. We will do great, expensive mission projects and the money will come. Don't ask me how. It will just be there.”

In God's grace we and millions of Christian ministers have experienced God's provision in spite of our debatable attitudes. And God can continue to provide in unexplainable ways, especially when the challenge is beyond our abilities.

But today's economic conditions are shaking out some “dead wood” in our faith; for instance, the tendency to just let God create the resources for missions and forget our involvement in the creation.

God commissioned us from the beginning to make more out of the world which He gave us. In the New Testament Christ “re-commissioned” us to go into all the world and build the family of God. The Apostle Paul calls us “God's fellow workers” (I Corinth. 3:9).

God is re-awakening us to the joys of participating in His provision. It is about so much more than money. It is about breaking the bonds of debt and poverty which oppresses the majority of people. It is about demonstrating to the world that we do not serve the financial systems of this world, but make money serve people and the purposes of God. It is part of our fellowship with God to create resources for great accomplishments “on earth as it is in heaven.”

The Vision Has Been Growing

This is a season of obtaining appointments and sharing our vision with everyone we can. We are presenting a broader vision than ever, including

1. the Production Gathering - film production that builds community and nurtures the artists involved,

2. the Film Gallery Café - exhibiting our films in a place combining aspects of a gallery, a café and a theater,

3. the Community working together to implement financial health which generates the resources for these endeavors, particularly through

1. debt elimination

2. increased cash flow

3. restoring equity

4. developing assets

5. new streams of income, including residual income

6. home based businesses

7. the sales and non-profit capabilities of Horizon Gate Productions (DVD's, services, events, donations, grants)

Please call (760-765-3879), e-mail (info@horizongate.org), or comment here to converse about these points.

Our Vision Calls to Your Vision

As we have imparted the vision which God has inspired in our hearts, people have told us about theirs. One person described her dream of opening a retreat center where children and teens can get away and experience God's presence giving them hope and direction. Her vision corresponds to ours of the Production Gathering where artists help each others personal and professional development while producing a film together.

Another person told us about his vision for opening a theater specializing in stage plays for the Hispanic community. This corresponds to our vision for the Film Gallery Café where films, art and performance stimulate conversation which draw people to God.

As we described our vision of the Production Gathering and the Film Gallery Café to a pastor, he said he and his staff have been talking about similar ventures for three years.

We are learning that telling forth the life which God is pouring into us inspires in others faith for the great life God promises them too. It confirms visions that others may have set aside or begun to think were impossible. Our inspirations feed and support the hopes and dreams of others. In this way God brings His people together, as if He were amassing the seed and the sowers for new crops and a great harvest.

Turner Personal News

The power of life is unstoppable. How dead everything seemed in the severe cold, wind and snow. But sprouts pushed out of the ground anyway and now there are masses of yellow daffodils nodding in the breeze. Purple irises are unwrapping. Small blossoms sprinkle the ground. Lilacs are budding all over the property and Mark just sniffed the first lilac blossom. High up the oaks are showing red tips which will become the millions of leaves we will again labor to dump off down the bank this fall. It is all happening so quickly!

Within a month (hopefully) it will be warm enough to move our work areas back down to the offices. We consolidated up to the house for the winter to conserve on heating. You are probably conserving in your own ways too. That's the nature of these days. Please pray that we get a good loan modification on the property as a way to avoid foreclosure. Our home based business helping people eliminate debt and mortgages is such a timely work that we are optimistic of sufficient income by the fall. Then we will be catching up on all the needs and payments we are having to put off until then.

Your faithful contributions to Horizon Gate enables us to stay on track with this mission and other supporters are joining you as we share the vision. Contributions can be made through PayPal by clicking “Donate Now” on the Horizon Gate home page http://www.horizongate.org .

People Make Vision Materialize

How do great endeavors come about? Every large corporation, institution, organization and ministry began with an inspiration in the heart of a person, but at some point the idea caught the attention of someone else. A conversation began. Reading this opens the opportunity for you to observe or even be a part of a conversation like that.

Great endeavors begin to be seen when they become a conversation. People talk about the idea and interest grows as possibilities come to light. A group of people forms around the idea, each excited about their own view of it and how they could play a part in the larger possibility. Each thinks, “This could be the answer for reaching my potential,” or “This group could be the beginning of the community I am looking for,” or many other reasons why they want to be a part of this thing being born.

And in the conversation each participant adds a unique adjustment or new aspect to the idea so that what once was limited to one person's imagination now has the generative powers of many imaginations seeking to support the greater, multifaceted endeavor.

Each of us has tremendous potential, but we each need comrades to do other things so we can climb up and reach that potential. We all need to work with others to fulfill a vision larger than ourselves. We must be willing to cooperate, compromise and serve one another, in order to do things none of us could do single-handedly.

This is why the Turners, through the Horizon Gate organization, continue to re-describe and present their vision. We hope to find people who will join minds, hearts and hands to accomplish wonderful things.

It takes a community of comrades to make films which move people spiritually. It takes many kinds of talent to operate a vibrant, new kind of exhibition venue where such films and art can move people toward God.

Call us, 760-765-3884, or send an e-mail, markanddonna@horizongate.org , and tell us you want to be part of the conversation which is re-imagining the Horizon Gate vision.

Past Ideas Meet In Unified Vision

We, Mark and Donna Turner, have been working in the arts as a ministry for over 38 years. A wealth of experience and education practicing theater, filmmaking and ministry in many places around the globe has given us much to impart, much to offer collaborations. At a time when many people would be planning retirement, we are discovering a pattern in our past accomplishments which forms a vision for the next phase of our life's work. Describing it here is a first step in materializing that vision.

The ideas of our vision include two main areas of work: 1.) film production that builds community and nurtures the artists involved, and 2.) exhibiting our films in a place combining aspects of a gallery, a café and a theater.

The Production Gathering

Our goal is to help people rise toward the full potential with which God endowed them. Our vision is to produce films with a community of people who are committed to more than the end product, who go beyond a given film and assist each other in their spiritual, professional and artistic growth. The community atmosphere we envision will include professionals and promising learners striving for excellence to make films which express the Community of God in a variety of forms.

A New Kind of Exhibition Space

This community will produce films that explore forms and lengths not usually seen in normal movie theaters. They will use artistic forms inviting the viewers to observe and discuss, to engage with one another and with God. But, what kind of space would accommodate this? A space conducive to audience interaction would be more like a café. The atmosphere of an art gallery would change the film from a spectacle to a conversation piece. Yet, some of the functions of the movie theater would be retained. We envision a combination of all these aspects in a new kind of film and discussion space, a “film gallery café”.

Art work created for the given films will also be presented in the space. The sales of art and DVD's will help support the artists and carry the mission into the viewers' lives. Events in the space will feature live musicians, poets, readings, lectures by the artists and filmmakers, and other appropriate presentations designed to stimulate conversations that draw people to God.

Turner Personal News

Last month we spent a little time with fellow artists at Riverbend Commons in Corona, California. Some of them are helping start a new symphony orchestra and others are conducting high quality arts and craft shows. Just sharing a meal and enjoying their environs lifted hopes for our artistic vision.

From there we went to the regional conference for United First Financial in Anaheim. There we mixed and networked with hundreds of Ufirst agents who share the same mission of liberating people from debt and mortgage in as little as 1/2 to 1/3 normal time. Seeing the large crowd of agents and hearing the inspirational talks of the company leadership gave us new hope of generating sufficient funds for our vision. It encouraged us to continue building the community of people who share the vision of Horizon Gate. It is very gratifying to know that raising funds for the arts mission through United First Financial is also setting people free from bondage to debt so that their assets will fund many missions.

Please contact us, or send people to us for the help we can give. Besides the super calculator and coaching program which is saving tens of thousands of people millions of dollars, we now have a suite of software components essential to any home based or small business. This package is online and includes a tax tracker which makes sure you get every deduction you deserve. Register for this package of tools before the March 16^th launch date and the set up fee of $299 will be waived. You can also resell the package and create a good monthly income stream. Check it out at http://www.mybizpack.com/graceproceeds . See our promotional video “Financial Fun with Fern”http://www.youtube.com/financialfun . See our web site http://www.graceproceeds.com

2009 Starts with Clarifying Goals

We began the new year by taking a long, prayerful look at our world and the part we play in it. Knowing that God's desire is that we each grow into our full potential as co-creators with God, we listed our dreams for that potential. Then we prioritized our aspirations in terms of time and progressing capabilities.

The process confirmed, clarified and added detail to the vision which we have carried for years: to create multi-media works of art which show God's reality and to exhibit them in ways which facilitate drawing closer to God.

This year we are sifting through our collection of screenplays to choose two short art films for production by December. Slowly we build a series of art films which we hope to display in a gallery, besides distributing on DVD and on the Web.

Other goals include growing in our Internet marketing skills, building a “fan base” for our films, and new ways of building assets which will supplement the donations of our supporters. The training we receive in our private businesses is pushing us ahead in these areas.

We also reaffirmed our vision to develop and contribute to a community of artists and arts supporters who share similar visions. This would include generating resources and support for the artists and mentoring younger ones.

Artists Deliver Vision In Hard Times

In times like these, when jobs are lost, income shrinks, investments and savings fade, and debt is the slave master, people lose vision and hope. The Bible says that people need to see the way in order to progress in life, to see the way through this world and beyond. Without such revelation people scatter into a chaotic mess and ultimately destroy themselves. “Where there is no vision [no revelation, no prophecy] the people perish [are made naked, are vulnerable].” (Proverbs 29:18)

But, to the hopeless and fearful God wants to give new vision, a vision which artists will deliver if they are not among the first to succumb to those same economic pressures. The same pressures which quench people's vision press down on the artists too, usually more, hence the label “poor artist”.

Artists are responsible to receive God's vision and to deliver it to the people. Artists inspire us to imagine what is beyond the limitations and describe solutions outside the box. Artists warn of destruction and call to walk with God through the wilderness to the promised land. Artists remind us of God's promises of care and God's power to make good on those promises. Artists help us visualize the wonders that are not here yet. This is faith, “the evidence of things not seen”, imagining, the first step toward our destiny.

Times of danger and depression are the times to get artists up and producing, for the world needs the vision and hope God would give through them. Artists are valuable assets which keep giving vital vision if we will invest in them.

To Generate Money Think Outside the Box

Some arts and ministry supporters make giving a priority and sacrifice to honor it. But most supporters donate on the basis of discretionary income which, these days, is slim if any.

Our imaginative creativity and ingenuity can go beyond donating “as able”. Assets could be established which generate on-going income for ministry and the arts. Assets are things which earn money without you having to run them: investments, bonds, real estate, intellectual properties, residual income, etc. Many of us were not taught the difference between assets and liabilities, or, if so, we forget.

So, we accumulate many things which drain our income (liabilities) instead of thoughtfully purchasing assets which would generate income to support those missions and causes that tug at our hearts. Instead of paying the banks for a large collection of liabilities (debt with interest), imagine the abundance of being out of debt with the ability to give substantially to ministries and the arts. That would be a lot more fun!

Ask Mark and Donna, or visit http://www.graceproceeds.com , about their tool which makes that kind of fun possible.

Personal News from the Turners

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The Turners help people prosper so that they can overflow to others in need. See their funny video “Financial Fun with Fern" http://www.youtube.com/financialfun . See the web site for their business http://www.graceproceeds.com

Believing Is Seeing

Artists inspire hope. Artists call us to act on that hope. That action is what we call “believing”, letting the hope affect our behavior. Artists lead us in making concrete that for which we hope.

So, we proclaim these affirmations as steps in becoming artists who inspire, call, and lead in faith. We have a hope of the Greater Reality which God intends for us and we want that hope to affect our work, play, health, finances and relationships with others.

Christ's earthly behavior was based on the Greater Reality which God has for us. The signs he gave showing God's Greater Reality were healings, life-giving words, world changing deeds, and release of people from bondage. By dying and rising back to life, he demonstrated that the Greater Reality promises even eternal life. As if in darkness, most could not see the Greater Reality in which he lived. But at least they could see the signs.

In some, he sparked the hope that there might be more to life. To those with hope he called to act upon the hope. Those who trusted his call and acted upon that hope he transformed to be able to see the Greater Reality, to live, die and live again as he does.

Christ commissioned the transformed ones to go throughout the world sparking the hope in others, calling to act upon the hope and conducting life based on the Greater Reality of God. Ages later we at Horizon Gate have chosen vehicles to spark, call and demonstrate the life of the Greater Reality: the arts, media, literature, business. As people trust Christ who reaches through us to them, God transforms them to live in the Greater Reality.