Creativity

Archive for the ‘Creativity’ category

becoming

January 31, 2008

Many times we live our lives with a focus on the “present”. We live in the “now”. I think that it is important to have a balanced approach to the life we live. I also think that in turning out focus to the present we tend to lose sight of the future. I am most definitly a futurist. I like to poder and think about the things that are coming. I love to examine current culture and try to determine where trends are going. In this effort I have been successful, but have also missed some big things.

The point of today is simply to look ahead and have a plan. We need to decide what we want to “become” and then plan our “becoming”. If we live in a happenstance way, we risk missing some of the wonderful experiences of life. To have a plan, execute it and see the things that once only existed in your mind suddenly be the things you are seeing with your eyes is a great moment. The pleasure and confidence that are created when we plan, pursue and produce an idea can only be understood in the “doing”.

These are the experiences and feelings God desires us to entertain and feel. In the creation of a plan and its execution, we join with the Creator and can, in a small way, experience with him the joy of creativity. Don’t say you can’t do it, start today to make your tomorrows “become” and not just “happen”.

Categories: Creativity, Influence, Me

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Exponential Impact

January 12, 2008

I’ve talked a lot about the difference between the singular and pluralistic feel some in the spiritual community have. Some are self oriented (singular) in their approach and practice of religion and spirituality. On the other hand, some are “others” focused (plural) in their view of life and its experience. My view is that we look at what happens to us as we live our lives.

When an event occurs in our life and we respond to it, our influence on others has an “addition” effect. We tell someone to our left or to our right or both. In that example now 2 or 3 people know of the event. This is how many view spirituality. “Go tell” is what we have been programed. We need to “add more people to the fold” kind of talk.

Realistically, the knowledge of the event travels additionally and exponentially. You tell a few, who tell a few, who tell a few, and before long everybody has heard some version of the original story.

We need to live with an exponential view of life. We should understand that our actions and words have the exponential effect of ripples in a pond. This is an enormous ability for the positive and the negative. Let us live our lives to exponentially increase the influence of the positive in our lives and others.

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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December 30, 2007

Right now I’m reading the book Creativity by Mathew Fox. I bought it because of the “people who bought this book also bought this” from Amazon. I know it’s just a way to make more sales – and they did with me – but it looked like a book I would like and I bought it. I’m about half way through and had to make a comment on it.

My big thing right now is Influence – our use and misuse of it – even when we aren’t aware of it. 2008 for me seems to be laying out like a year where I hope to utilize some of the information and knowlege I have gathered over the past few years about the subject.

I’ve discussed the idea of a few books with a publisher and hopefully, either with them or with others a book could be on the way. Hoowever, this book, Creativity, is a unique one. The quotes in the book come from a wide variety and the ideas are very creative – pardone the pun. I like to think outside the normal quadrant and sometimes it gets me in trouble. In this book you’ll find commentary from Thomas A’Quinas to Buddah.

In short I am loving it.

It is provoking me to think more about the idea of truth and the Spirit of Creativity and our responsibility than ever before. As far as Influence is concerned – to not use our influence to utilize out God-given creativity in the world is a sever misuse of our current place in creation.

Can’t wait to finish and see where this takes me.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Creativity, Influence

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Messy Spirituality

November 30, 2007

A friend of mine reminded me of this book, Messy Spirituality. I had picked it up a few years ago when I was involved in youth work. Yaconelli was known for his “freeness” and in this book does a masterful job at expressing the incredible love of God for His children.

In spite of and probably because of our shortcomings we see that, as the Shack so eloquently put it, He is “fond of us”. So often I wonder if we seclude ourselves into the walls of the church because we are afraid of entering into the world. Could it be because we are afraid of the judgment of others as we enter the world. Could it be that in entering the world we are afraid that we will find that we should have been there all along and have wasted precious moments sitting on the wrong side of a glazed window.

Is a building really necessary and can it become a hindrance rather than a blessing? Is the cost of upkeep worth the lost community influence through helping the poor and needy?

I don’t know the answer, and would not presume we should all sell our land and give to the poor. It simply gives me pause to consider that the areas we are being drawn to serve in are outside the church walls.

Perhaps a new monasticism is emerging. Where once monks secluded themselves inside the church to find God, possibly now monks will seclude themselves outside the church in order to find God.

Maybe a greater portion of spirituality and grace can be seen in the faces of those who choose not to enter the church. Maybe it is outside in the harsh surroundings that we discover the pleasant scent of communion and conversation.

Categories: Books I'm Reading, Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence

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Go Green

November 26, 2007

During our series on Pop Culture issues, we had thought the music week would bring some negative comments, but there weren’t any. Most people enjoyed it and related to what we were saying. Yesterday we brought up the subject of the environment. We challenged people about consumption and waste.

Although we did receive some comments, by far the attitude has been positive. We used the Iron Eyes Cody commercial from the 70’s about polution to introduce the concept. We ended with a challenge to at least change a light bulb.

I don’t know how many bought energy efficient light bulbs, but I do know that we haven’t scooted from the issues that our people deal with each day. Our philosophy is simple. If you are asking questions about something in your home or in your own mind, we should be asking them at church. We don’t have all of the answers, but at least we can begin the conversation.

Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Lifepoint, Message Series

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Music

November 19, 2007

You cannot have a conversation about popular culture without bringing up the subject of music. I love Mondays! It gives you the opportunity to look back and see what would have been really good if you had know ahead of time what was going to happen. Yesterday we had a great service discussing the importance, influence and impact music has on culture.

We opened the service with Bon Jovi’s “Dead or Alive”; moved to Daniel Powter’s “Bad Day”; Elton John’s “Candle in the Wind – 1997” for Princess Diana’s funeral, and finished with Jeff Buckley’s “Hallelujah”.

The Sunday was lively and literate and covering a broad range of emotions and experiences. One song we had cut from the program because of time was Daughtry’s “Home”.

At the end I challenged each person to view at least part of the American Music Awards Sunday evening. Had I known Daughtry would win so much we would have most assuredly sang “Home”.

Song is such a powerful gift to mankind. It can bring a person back to a specific time, place and event or it can inspire him to seek out greater things in life.

Whether a glorious or broken Hallelujah, we are all singing our own song.

Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Lifepoint, Message Series, Production

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Starbucks

November 12, 2007

Yesterday, we looked at Starbucks for some inspiration in our culture. Pretty cool stuff. Starbucks has made a name for itself by providing a third space. A place other than work and home for people to meet.

Places for conversation are so needed in our culture today. We see a pseudo-relationship with reality shows like Big Brother and Survivor. We watch and choose our favorites and live vicariously through their experiences week after week. Instead of a make believe world of communion, Starbucks offers people a real place to “be” with each other – to have conversations and live life together.

The church needs to reclaim this place in culture. After all, the church supposedly has the answers to all of life’s ailments, right? Surprise, the church doesn’t have all the answers, but we do have an environment where people can feel safe and secure enough to share their personal life; become vulnerable enough to let walls down and breathe.

The ebb and flow of life mimic the ebb and flow of a good conversation. Life and conversation go hand in hand. Without each other an imbalance is left – life without conversation or conversation without life. Together they become something that frees us and empowers us to pursue greatness.

Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Lifepoint, Message Series

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Stepping Away from Ordinary

November 8, 2007

Corona has a tag-line that says, “Miles away from ordinary”. That thought struck me today. As we live our lives – what are we living for. We could say family, country, God, etc. Really though, what are we living for?

The last thing I want to be is ordinary. Not because ordinary is bad, but because we all are different. I want to live a life that celebrates the differentness we all share. Instead of cozying up close to Ordinary, I want to be “Miles Away from Ordinary”.

Categories: Creativity, Cultural Ideas, Influence, Me

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Artistic Beauty

October 19, 2007

I think we tend to devour the world we inhabit, instead of enjoying it. I remember back to when I was eighteen and noticed the blooming of a dogwood tree in my family’s front yard. My parents informed me that the tree had been in bloom for quite some time, but I had not noticed it. That was the first major time I can remember being aware that I had missed out on something and had been oblivious to the peripheral things in my life.

So often we take the natural beauty of the world we live in for granted and go through ritualized motions. Our inner voice may call out for us to wake up, but we frequently chose to ignore it in the pursuit of “bigger things”.

What could possibly be greater than the miracle of the life we live?

I watched an interview with actor Sean Penn and he commented that he was not a religious person per se, but that even if there was nothing after our life, wasn’t the joy of a life well life enough? Did we really need anything more than that? His words speak so much truth. Is there anything more ignominious than to breathe and yet not live?

Categories: Context, Creativity, Cultural Ideas

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