August 13th 2010
Check out the video below for an annoucement about an amazing event for business owners!! It will be an amazing event. I hope to see you there!
Click here to register for the event!
Identity Conference 2010 from stephen knuth on Vimeo.
July 29th 2010
I love Thirst Relief. I love what they stand for and how they change lives. I love what $5 from my own pocket does for their organization. I also love photography. I think we all know that. I also love helping people and helping them understand how they can improve in areas of their business.
Each year at WPPI, many wonderful photographers participate in a mentor auction where photographers bid on an hour long session with the mentor of their choice. They are doing it again, this time its special. Thirst Relief has invited 5 of the SHOWIT Freedom Tour speakers to participate in a special edition auction.
The auction starts tonight at 8pm and runs until Sunday night at 8pm. The auction has an amazing list of mentors including Bob & Dawn Davis, Gabriel Ryan, Promise Tangeman, Zach & Jody Gray and myself. I’m so humbled to be listed with these photographers.
We’re all offering 90 minute sessions with the highest bidders. All the proceeds go to Thirst Relief International to help bring water to countries in need. They help save children! The topic that the highest bidder gets to talk with me about is social media in your business and also how to improve your workflow. If the highest bidder is in San Diego or Orange County, we will meet up in person. If they are outside of my area then we can do a skype chat!
P.S.- Please help spread the word by sending this link to others!
December 07th 2009
Don’t our hearts feel so far away from his?
He was pure/We are always greedy
He is peaceful/We are hassled
He is purposeful/We are distracted
He is pleasant/We are cranky
He is SPIRITUAL/We are earthbound
How could our lives & our business have the heart of Jesus, in place of our crazy lives? Well… YOU ALREADY HAVE HIS
You already have the heart of Christ! If you believe that you’re in Christ, you already have the heart of Christ! If your life is given to him & your business is given to him, he is ready to give you all of himself into your heart.
“Christ lives in me!” (Galatians 2:20)
If your life, if your business, if your heart has been given to Jesus. He already moved into your heart. He unpacked his bags in there and he has been there and he isn’t leaving anytime soon AND he is ready to change your heart when you fully trust him!
Still, in this we all ask “why do I still think like ME!?” “why am I still the same old ________ (name placed here)
If Jesus is in me… why do I still hate those slow drivers in front of me on the highway?
This answer can be illustrated in a short story about a lady in Ireland… There was an old lady who lived in a small shack on the seashore. She turned out to be one of the most wealthy but she also wanted to live simply. The surrounding area was astonished when this small shack was one of the first to ever have electricity in her home. Several weeks after the installation, the electricity company came by her shack asking, “is your power working well? The old lady replied by saying it works great! The man replied with, “we see that you have used less than 20% of the power allocated for you, can you tell me why?” Surely, the old woman responded. Each evening, when it gets dark. I turn it on to light my candles around my home then I turn it off. (Credit: David Jeremiah: The God of the Impossible)
The old tapped into the power but she doesn’t use any of it. Photographers, we too… are the same. We are saved but our hearts unchanged. Is your business connected to God but you would rather remain in the shadows and not allow God to have any of what is already his? We occasionally flip the power switch, “Oh hey God… I need help with this right now” “Hey God… book me some more weddings” “Hey God….”
What would happen in YOUR life, if you flipped the switch on and left it that way? What would happen if we trusted God with everything we already have? God has an amazing plan for our lives. The same God that saved you, wants to change your business & change your life.
I’m going to leave you this morning with Romans 8:29… what are YOU going to do about it?
Romans 8:29
For those God foreknew he also predestined to be conformed to the likeness of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brothers.
October 28th 2009
A few months ago I was contacted by my home church, The Rock Church of San Diego. They asked if I would be interested in donating a family portrait session to their Miles Ahead benefit concert featuring one of my favorite bands, Delirious?. The family session was part of the VIP-Pre Show silent auction which will help send a crusade to the Philippines in 2010.
Miles Ahead was started by pastor Miles McPherson through their mission of sharing the good news of Jesus Christ around the world. Last year they organized an amazing crusade to Jamaica that changed the lives of hundreds and impacted their city with pure love that will continue to stay their for years.
The event was a huge success & my phone rang a week later with a call from The Pelling Family! As I got to know the family via phone I couldn’t wait for this session because not only would it give back to an amazing organization but it was going to bless this family with some amazing images! Our session began in Encinitas, right near their home. If I were to describe the pelling family in 3 words, they would be: energetic, humble and loving. The energetic totally describes their two little daughters. Humble & loving are the exact words for the entire family! They are one of the nicest families I have ever met and our friendship will be continuing!
Thank You to The Rock Church for giving me this incredible oppurtunity. I loved being involved with this benefit event & by looking at these images. I will have to say that everybody won! Thank You so much to the Pelling family! I had so much fun on our session & I can’t wait to see you all again soon!!
October 22nd 2009
A few months ago, The Rock Church contacted me asking if I would be interested in donating a family portrait session as a donation for their silent auction during the recent Delirious? Concert. The Pelling Family Session is a result of the silent auction. This family session had to of been one of my favorite shoots to date and the rest of the images will be showcased in an upcoming blog post. I really wanted everyone to see a Teaser from our great shoot!
August 17th 2009
In my own words, Nick Vujicic is one incredible man. Being born without limbs, he has endured not pain but blessings from God to send him around the world. His story first touched my heart during Spirit West Coast 2009. Yesterday, I had the honor of once again hearing his amazing testimony at my home church The Rock Church in San Diego. It’s amazing how we as human beings find ourselves in situations that twist us a wrong way or when we are physically hurt by a loss or pain… we end up walking into a corner and we feel we can’t do it anymore. Why do we give up so easily? Nick’s story shares that through his incredible journey of speaking to over 3 million people face to face. This week I feel led to share the video with you and allow you to grow into the idea this week of “When you fall down, do you not only get up.. do you allow God to take over in that moment?” That is something I have been thinking a lot about this week. Do we fall into the world or fall into God’s arms and always allow him to be our cradle to fall into? Do you give your Joy, Happiness & Thanks to God in the hard times and the good times?
I saw Nick Vujicic twice this week. The first time was during Harvest Crusade at Anaheim Stadium where 126,000 attended & 11,969 were saved!
The one thing I took most from Nick’s story is that no matter where we are in life, no matter the difficulties we face in life God wants to use all those things for the GOOD of his Kingdom! We all are different, God knows that and he will use you & me to teach others how to rejoice everything they have for him! Look at Nick.. the man has no arms & no legs and he can operate normally AND he has more Joy in his life now than anyone with limbs ever can. The reason he has Joy is he has asked God for arms & legs multiple times and God said no. When God says “no” to a prayer, he isn’t saying “No” to us individually, he is preparing our hearts for something bigger. God is using Nick’s story to glorify the kingdom through speaking and leading souls to becoming saved. You have a special characteristic that Jesus gave you and God is waiting for you to start using it for him.
Isaiah 40:31
But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
June 23rd 2009
Businessman, Father & Inspirational Speaker, Steve Wampler has always shown a great light onto my life. When I started into the world if Multimedia, working with such tools as Adobe Photoshop and Flash. When I found struggles, the Wampler family was always telling me to never stop and push through my challenges. It was not until a few years ago that I was so touched by the man, Steve Wampler. Living in the beautiful town of Coronado, it has been amazing for myself to watch the Wampler family grow daily.
Steve Wampler was born with a severe form of Cerebral Palsy. Past all the challenges, that has never stopped him short of all the amazing things Steve has been able to accomplish. Steve has an amazing wife, Elizabeth and they have been blessed with two amazing children. For years I would see Steve riding around Coronado on his electric wheelchair with his two kids standing on the dual battery back of the chair. Their faces were holding strong smiles and waving to everyone that they would pass. Steve has been such an inspiration to me in life that has kept me thinking that anything I put my heart into I can accomplish.
When Steve was nine years old, his parents sent him to a weeklong wilderness camp near the Lake Tahoe for disabled kids. Steve would continue as a camper at this incredible California mountainside area for 10 years. This camp gives kids the chance to experience not only the northern california wilderness but independence through their own accomplishments. Steve was given the opportunity to fish, hike, swim in the lake and experience the amazing bonfires and sleeping under the stars! A few years ago… the camp was shut down and their was no organization to take over the camp. Through the incredible business thinking mind that Steve Wampler has been blessed with, he formed Wampler Kids. Myself as camper through regular camping, this 501-C3 organization raises money for campers to experience the great joy that I had through a non-disabled campground.
I am at a loss for words when writing this blog. I was thinking, their had to be another way to express my love for Wampler Kids to everyone I know. The next thing you know, a great video is made!! I encourage you to view Saturday Night Live’s own Will Forte with his great introduction to this amazing story. Following the first video, please watch this amazing promotional video for Wampler Kids. I hope this story will touch your heart as much it has mine.
Wampler Kids can only happen through generous donations from around the world. If you feel led to give, please click here
June 21st 2009
When attending church, an integral part of the “worship experience” is being able to know the songs. Most of the time I can catch onto the tune, yet the words always fly past me and I end up jumping up and, down moving my whispering mouth, providing enactment to the words. … That is SO 2007! As with all churches that have caught up with the world of technology, The Rock Church in America’s finest city of San Diego, CA, has used this trend to enhance the worship experience, and gone beyond my expectations. The church is surrounded by 3,500 seats and led through the word by Senior Pastor, past professional NFL player, Miles McPherson. There are over 50 ministries throughout the city, small group meetings for every age group and topic, and a K-12 schooling system. The Rock has it going on!
When stepping into the building, which by the way as a fun fact, is the exact dimensions as “Noah’s Arc”, music fills the hall covered by thousands of voices. Plastered above the stage on which the band performs, are two large projection screens flipping through words at quick finger speed. Well, someone has to do that right?
One of my youth group students, 16 year old Dillon Evans, is the one person who clicks his right index finger over 5 services throughout each Sunday. I was given the chance to meet with Dillon through an event I produced with my good friends at Walking on Water. Dillon was running the sound, lighting, and projector all at once. The reason I am blogging about Dillon is that I see the very same spark in him, that I saw in myself years ago, when I first had the interest in multimedia.
I opened my email this week and found a great email from The Rock Church sharing an inspirational story of Dillon that I want to share with you. I encourage you to read this email. I hope that it will lead you to focus on your dreams as strong as you possibly can!
To read the entire article, click here