Ronnie B's Useless Thoughts

Labor Day Telethon

ronnieb — Tue, 02 Sep 2008 20:34:42 +0000

I had a fun Labor Day weekend…well, laboring. I was doing some freelance broadcast work with Classic Worldwide and WBNX 55 on the MDA Telethon local feed from Cleveland. I was operating the LVS (read: Elvis, a hard disk video server, tape delay unit) Not much to say. 24 hours of work with 3 hours of sleep in a cramped production truck. Just thought that I would share the pictures.

A “Healer” Update

ronnieb — Tue, 26 Aug 2008 11:17:53 +0000

Below is an updated article. This writer is very cynical and condescending. I have a different take. I felt like I was punched in the stomach to begin with. I now see the song in a different light. I believe he always felt that God was his healer. I believe that he had a disease. Just not one that he felt he could talk about. Like many times, we may have things that start out as “small” lies that get the best of us. I have heard many things about this song in the last few days. I have heard condemnation and I have heard mercy. What side of the line do you want to fall into? Are our own sins just as repugnant in God’s eyes? Does God want to be all of our Healers? Addiction is addiction. Whether it is Starbucks, porn, drugs, shopping, gambling, alcohol, or whatever. Only God can set you free. Below is the article.

Porn pastor who faked cancer tells of his addiction

KIM WHEATLEY, CHIEF REPORTER

August 25, 2008 07:20pm

DISGRACED pastor Michael Guglielmucci has finally told of fabricating a terminal cancer battle to hide his 16-year obsession with pornography.

“This is who I am … I’m addicted to the stuff, it consumes my mind,” he said of pornography in his first interview on Today Tonight since the story was first revealed on AdelaideNow last week.

“… I’m sick and this is why I had to come up some sort of explanation of what was happening in my body.”

The shame of his addiction manifested itself physically, resulting in him losing his hair and purging his body.

“I don’t know how you can fake vomiting all over yourself night after night after night, I’m not that good an actor,” he said.

To conceal the two-year cancer lie which he hid from his wife and family, he sent phoney emails to his loved ones from non-existent medical practitioners.

“I’ve been living a lie for a long time,” he said.

“I’ve been hiding who I am for so long. “I can honestly say to you that the last two years have been hell for me physically, emotionally, but I never sat down and said … let’s try and fool the world.”

Today Tonight insisted that it did not pay for the interview from the man who has been in hiding and receiving psychiatric help since AdelaideNow revealed the web of lies last week.

Mr Guglialmucci, who claims to have written the hit song Healer after being inspired by God, also insisted that all monies received via song sales would be returned.

“I don’t have any desire to attain any financial gain from that, we’re already making stages to sign those royalties over,” he said.

“I’m so sorry, not just for lying to my friends and my family even about a sickness, but I’m sorry for a life of saying I’m something I’m not … from this day on I’m telling the truth.”

Mr Guglielmucci has written to Police Commissioner Mal Hyde offering to fully co-operate with any police inquiries into his fake illness.

A statement from Edge Church International General Manager Steve Hilder– sent to The Advertiser a short time ago – advises that the letter, written by Mr Guglielmucci’s lawyer, says the police will be told “all pertinent information”.

The statement also states that Mr Guglielmucci is an “itinerate minister who held a credential with the Australian Christian Churches”

“His credential was immediately suspended,” it says.

“The National Executive of the ACC is taking this matter very seriously and is awaiting the results of the medical tests before determining the full extent of the discipline that will be imposed upon him.

“Michael Guglielmucci has not been a paid staff member of Edge Church for eight years.

“Michael has lived in three other states of Australia since leaving us and has been a minister on staff in two other churches since leaving our employ.

“He has not received any money from Edge Church International toward his alleged medical expenses.”

The statement says the church understands a post office box will be set up in the name of his father, Danny Guglielmucci.

“Michael’s lawyer has written to the Police Commissioner advising him of all pertinent information and notifying him of Michael Guglielmucci’s intention to fully co-operate with police inquiries,” it says.

“Edge Church is committed to the truth and honouring the people of our church. Our history has been one of integrity and openness. We love the people of our community (who) have been actively involved in trying to bring life and hope to the hurting and the needy and will continue to do so.

“Hope, truth and love is not just our motto, it is our life mission.”

11 days for truth to emerge

Earlier, it emerged that it took 11 days before the pentecostal church exposed the details of pastor Michael Guglielmucci’s fictitious battle with cancer.

Danny Guglielmucci, the father of the fallen pastor and founder of Edge Church International at Reynella, told his faithful followers yesterday the church went public at “our first opportunity”.

The man at the centre of the scandal that has rocked the church, also spoke publicly for the first time yesterday. But his words only came in a written statement, which claimed the reason behind his fictitious cancer story was to hide his 16-year obsession with pornography.

“For over 16 years, I have struggled with an addiction to adult pornography. As a result of this secret life of sin my body would often break down,” his confession began.

“Two years ago, I reported that I was suffering from cancer. The truth is that although I was ill, I did not have cancer but was again using the misdiagnosis to hide the lie that I was living.”

The fallen preacher was a Christian superstar, who said God inspired his hit song Healer. The song became an anthem of faith for believers, many of whom donated money to the Guglielmucci cancer cause.

The church said it was unknown how much money had been raised deceptively through websites, preaching and song sales.

When asked by The Advertiser if he would go to the police, Danny Guglielmucci said he was seeking advice from church lawyers, but that an audit of accounts was taking place.

Danny Guglielmucci also said that the first he knew of his son’s web of lies was on August 13. Three days later, a meeting of the national executive of the Australian Christian Churches was convened at which his son confessed because of a dream of Jesus on the cross looking down at him saying “the truth will set you free”.

At that meeting, a strategy was decided including seeking medical and legal advice. Michael Guglielmucci also agreed to take part in one exclusive TV interview, to be shown tonight.

It was only after a brief email from Hillsong Church in Sydney, which produced the hit album featuring Healer, was obtained by The Advertiser last Wednesday that church followers were finally allowed to know that the cancer was a lie.

The reason for that lie – Michael Guglielmucci’s addiction to pornography – was exposed yesterday.

Danny Guglielmucci stood before 1200 people packed into the former indoor cricket arena for forgiveness, but maintained that he and the church had acted ethically.

“I have led you with openness and integrity and declare that we have not lived a lie before you,” he said, before receiving a rousing ovation.

Michael Guglielmucci remained in hiding yesterday and is receiving psychiatric help.

Despite the betrayal, forgiveness was the catchcry for an overwhelming majority of those at yesterday’s service.

“Obviously it was the wrong thing to do, but I’m proud that he’s come out and admitted it,” said 18-year-old student Daniel Sutherland.

I’m Heartbroke

ronnieb — Mon, 25 Aug 2008 03:19:52 +0000

I have nothing else to say. This was reported in All Access.

Thursday, August 21, 2008

‘Healer‘ Songwriter Confesses Fraud

AUSTRALIAN pastor and songwriter of hit worship song “Healer,” MICHAEL GUGLIELMUCCI recently confessed that his cancer battle, which inspired the song, was fraudulent. He claimed to have a terminal illness for two years.

The song “Healer” is featured on the brand new HILLSONG album “This Is Our God.” A YOUTUBE video from the HILLSONG performance had attracted 300,000 hits. In the performance, GUGLIELMUCCI performs the song with an oxygen tank. HILLSONG CHURCH is located in SYDNEY, AUSTRALIA, and is the home church of worship leader/songwriter DARLENE ZSCHECH and UNITED.

According to the ADELAIDENOW website, GUGLIELMUCCI confessed his two-year fraudulent cancer battle at a national executive meeting of the AUSTRALIAN CHRISTIAN CHURCHES (ACC) on SATURDAY (8/16) and was stripped of his credentials. ACC officials are now investigating GUGLIELMUCCI’s bank accounts to see how monies donated by people inspired by the song were used.

GUGLIELMUCCI is now seeking professional help.

Balance

ronnieb — Sat, 10 May 2008 02:11:53 +0000

Well, it’s been a while since WFX and I have heard from my wife that I am past due for a post.

I have quite a few friends that are creative directors for their respective churches. I also have quite a few friends that are tech guys at their church. I also have friends that are all of the above. This post is not directed at any one of them, but to all of them and all of us.

I have read blogs and articles about how the drive for technology and creativity can adversely affect the church and the message. I have read about who has the coolest toys and who did the sweetest thing this week.

This post is not about any of that. It is about balance. Attending WFX, it was really apparent to me that we had Pastors or Tech leaders there. I’m not sure that I saw a single creative director there. I’m sure there was, but I just did not see them. It has become evident that there are conferences that creatives go to and conferences that techies go to. This needs to change. I had a creative director (you know who you are) that did a great job of relaying what he wanted and then like any other techie, I had to play McGyver and pull it off. He had a fairly decent knowledge of what it took to pull it off but didn’t know the details. That’s fine. That is why I was there.

I am constantly getting reports from techies that complain about how the creatives have no idea how to do the coolest thing that they saw on some website, but “we’ve got to do it.” They then throw it into the lap of the techie to pull off something that he never saw to begin with. Likewise, I hear creatives talk about how the pastor, or worship leader just doesn’t get it and they should let the creatives be creative. I hear this all too often. I have heard it in small Baptist churches, I have heard it in Lutheran Churches and I have heard it in Mega Churches. It is a problem that crosses all denominations and geographic locations.

Why is this a problem? My new friend, Anthony Coppedge (I call him my friend because we have talked on more than one occasion, it was friendly, and we follow each other on Twitter), preaches this: Vision drives Need. Need drives Technology. Technology drives budget. We are going to talk about the first two parts of this equation. First off, it all starts with the Pastor’s vision. This vision must be inspired and it must be articulated to all parties involved. Creativity cannot substitute for vision. Cool toys cannot substitute for vision. It must funnel from God through the pastor. Once we have the vision, it has been communicated, and everybody is on board, it is time for the creative team (or person) to translate that into the impact that it deserves. This is not time to create your own sermon. This is not time to show just how creative you are. You are the translator. Don’t add. Don’t take away.

Now, we have a vision and we have a plan to effectively deliver the vision. The hard part begins. I don’t believe this because I am primarily a Techie, I say this because it is the truth. Remember back to Elementary School. This will be harder for some of you than others. Remember the telephone game? This is where the teacher would line everybody up and whisper a phrase to the first person. They then repeat the whisper to the next person and so on. You end up with “Bobby got his first chest hair?” As the tech person in charge, you have to accurately reproduce the vision that was enhanced by the creative team and, without dilluting or changing, deliver that to the people. I use a phrase that I lifted from somebody down the line somewhere, “The people that sit in these seats deserve to hear God’s Word clearly. Is your system (and team) doing what you paid for it to do? Or are they struggling to catch every word?”

Now if everything went as planned, we have a great, God inspired vision creatively enhanced and delivered cleanly to the eager recipients. How often does this happen? How many times has something gone wrong and the finger pointing started? How many times did people comment how cool service looked or sounded but then couldn’t tell you what the message was about save for the series catch phrase that was looping behind the pastor all service long. My friends, this is not condemning what we all love to do. This is about balance. Does the volunteer board op really know what the vision was for this service or series? Does the creative director really understand that he is asking for a miracle to just pull off this cool thing that Ed Young is doing… but on your budget, not Ed’s budget?

Balance can apply to a lot of areas within this discussion. I’m sure the conversation can go on and on about this. My good friend, Anthony (I call him my good friend now because I’ve mentioned him twice in one post, he reads my blog, and likes when I mention him.) said it like this, We as creatives, and techies need to realize that we are worshipping God with the tools and talents that he has given us. Just as the Pastor delivers the Word and the Worship Leader leads all of us into worship with the tools, talents, and passions that they were given, we must realize that we are in a very important ministry. This is the hardest part of teaching classes to church volunteers. I can get them to understand sound propogation, RT60, video latency or DMX addressing, but they have a hard time understanding that they are in ministry. “I just volunteered because my wife told me to.” Get out. It’s not for you. ” I want people to realize that I’m the one that made them sound good” Get out. You want noticed? Grab a guitar. Just joking, guitar players. This is a ministry that I am very passionate about. This is serious to me. I can teach technique. I can’t teach passion and a desire to serve.

Attending WFX and not seeing creatives there, made me think. Tech people should have to attend creative pastor seminars along side their creative team. Creative team members and Pastors should just go walk the floor of WFX, NAB, or other tech show. We need to understand each others jobs. Every volunteer tech person should subscribe to as many magazines as possible. The creative team should get the same. There are many that are free or delivered online. Creative people should actively help their tech people and pastors find the blogs that we all know about that discuss creatively what we do. I like Anthony Coppedge (that’s three. Anthony, you owe me lunch now), Church Marketing Sucks, or Monday Morning Insight. Check them out, they are all just to the right of this page. I believe that at least one member of the tech team should be on the creative team. If something is absolutely crazy, we need to call it that. If the creative design is “boxed in” because they aren’t aware of a technology to do something easier or better, we need to speak up. This is not “us” against “them”, as I’ve heard far too much.

In the blog “Stuff Christians Like”, the writer talks about making God small because we never understood that original vision and was too afraid to fully worship with our tools and talents. We all need to understand how all of this comes together to deliver God’s Word clearly.

Worship Facilities Expo….

ronnieb — Mon, 28 Apr 2008 20:22:02 +0000

Worship Facilities Expo. Well, as I’m driving down I-71, headed into Columbus, I’m on my way to Worship Facilities Expo. This is a great event being held in Indianapolis, Indiana for the next three days. It should be an event that all of the technology, all of the Worship Facilities, people will be at, secured a couple of great meetings, including one with Anthony Coppedge, so if you happen to be at Worship Facilities Expo, then hit me up on Twitter and maybe we’ll meet up. listen

Cool new tool. Jott,…

ronnieb — Wed, 23 Apr 2008 17:55:40 +0000

Cool new tool. Jott, is a cool new tool that I am actually using right now from my mobile phone. What I’m doing, is calling a number, and it’s transcribing it, and automatically posting it into my WordPress. It’s a really cool tool that can be used for a lot of different things. It can be used to Twitter, all done via voice. listen

Good Morning, Pastor.

ronnieb — Fri, 18 Apr 2008 02:52:24 +0000

I am the worst one at this. I deal with so many pastors and I am horrible at remembering names. So, If I’ve done this to you, It’s either out of habit or my memory has just taken a vacation. You figure out which one it is. Check out this blog. It is some of the funniest stuff that you will read.

#158. Calling someone just “Pastor” instead of their first name.

A friend of mine is in the habit of calling his wife, “mother.” He will say things like, “Well I think mother and I need to get home and relieve the babysitter.” I find that a little creepy, despite the fact that she is the mother of his kids. And for years I vowed that I would never do that. I didn’t swear on a stone or thrust a sword deep into the cold, dark earth, but I really tried not to say it. But when your four-year old says that it’s completely fine that she wear brightly striped leg warmers, a black plaid dress and a polka dotted ski hat to school, you can’t help but say, “Did mom say that was cool?” I mean, I can’t ask, “Did Jenny say that was cool?” We’re just not that postmodern of a family. But even as I break that vow, I want to swear a new one, right here, right now:

I will never refer to my pastor as simply “pastor.”

Do you know anyone that does this? Instead of saying, “Andy Stanley” or “Pastor Louie,” they just say pastor. Instead of using their name they say sentences like, “Well pastor said it wasn’t a good thing to do that at work, so I’m not going to.” Or, “Pastor and his wife are coming over for dinner tonight.”

Something about that just makes me feel a little “banjo.” (I am of course using banjo as a synonym for backwoods, which I can do right now because I don’t have a very large banjo population reading this site. When I eventually do however, I will use “moonshine jug” instead of “banjo.” Just a heads up.)

The bigger thing is that we don’t do that in any other relationships in our lives. We recently had some people paint our house, because I have the tender un-callused hands of a writer, and my wife didn’t say, “I saw painter today and he said they should be finished tomorrow.” When you go to the doctor you don’t say, “Doctor gave me medicine so I need to go to the drug store.” Or “I talked with accountant and she said my taxes are done.” It’s a very uniquely church thing to do, but I think we should all vow to stop it. Today, actually.

New Attic Access

ronnieb — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 00:10:23 +0000

Went to visit an install today and found a gigantic hole in the ceiling of the church sanctuary. Right in the middle of the sanctuary. Although the above picture is not of this church, it was very similar to this. The electrician was there last night installing an outlet for the new projector and fell through the ceiling. I guess he was dangling from his armpits. He was fine, although I’m sure he will be sore. Now they are scrambling to get this fixed before Sunday. This would not be funny if it were me. But, It was not me. So… I can’t help but get a smile on my face imagining it. In all of the years that I have been doing this, I hoped this would never happen to me. I am glad that it wasn’t my crew that did it. The good news…Our part of the install went perfect.

Busy summer watching my little girls fly away

ronnieb — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:55:46 +0000

Well, the time always comes for any father of little girls. They grow up. This summer Ashley and Katie will both graduate from Champion High School. But, it doesn’t end there. Ashley will be getting married the day after she graduates to a great guy named Chris Cline. I will be a mess. Being my oldest, I have always dreaded this day. It is finally close. I’m sure as this gets closer I will blog much more about this. Later in the summer, Katie leaves for college at University of Toledo. Just because Katie has only been in my life for nine years, (We are a blended family…more on this later) she has really become my daughter in every sense of the word. Amber will be in town this summer. She is still Daddy’s little girl. She turns 17 this summer. Iain still has a few more years, but he is growing up rapidly. Why do they have to grow up? I still remember like it was yesterday the birth of three of them and the first time I met that pig tailed blond nine year old on her way to a Britney Spears concert (before she became corrupted…Britney, not KT). Take advantage of the time you have with your kids guys. It goes fast.

LS9

ronnieb — Sun, 13 Apr 2008 00:11:22 +0000

Got to use this board for the first time on the install that I just finished at Canfield United Methodist Church. This is a great board. It has alot of the features that the big brothers (PM1D, PM5D, M7CL) have. This board is a must have if you have multiple volunteers running your audio on a weekly basis. This virtually assures a consistant sound from week to week and volunteer to volunteer. This comes in a standard 16 input or 32 input version and 8 omni output or 16 omni output respectively. You can store 300 preset scenes to allow for service segment storage or special program storage. For what you get, this board is very affordable. Digital is not just for the big boys anymore. And no, it isn’t really thin sounding. That is just an old wives tale propogated by people that refuse to make the digital move. I call them the Audio Amish.