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CREATIVE CHANGE: Process

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Creativity is an ethereal animal it seems. There are times it is strong and heavy on you, while there are other times it seems to avoid you like an newly broken up ex. When we want creativity to flow, we more often than not expect to wake up creative one day. We expect a breath of fresh air to flip the switch in our brain back over to "creative". It rarely works.

You have to make changes in the creative process if you want to see a change in production of creativity. 

This week is dedicated to the things we need to change in order to get back to the creativity we all love and crave. All the changes are part of a process. Creativity may be an inherent gift, but maintaining creativity is a process.

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What non-exercise do you wish would keep you fit

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Seems natural to say I wish eating made me fit. I also wish drinking coffee, reading books, preaching sermons, writing blogs, and driving a Scion made you fit. ----------

What non-exercise activity do you wish made you fit?

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Refreshing Exhaustion

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This Friday at 6am, I leave with my home church to Mexicali for a week. It is a full day of driving straight through to set up a week of partnership ministry with the local churches in the city. Then it will be a long drive back home just in time for the Saturday Easter services at First Cov.  A few nights ago, Tonya and I were chatting about this week and the things which need to get done. She said, "I'm looking forward to you going to Mexicali so you can come back refreshed."

It struck me weird, and I had to respond inquisitively, "You DO know I'm going to come home exhausted, right?"

My wife spoke wisdom...AGAIN. "Yes, you will come home physically exhausted, but you are going to come home refreshed in ministry just like you did last year."

She was and is very right. (obviously! It's a spiritual gift wives have: always-right-ness)

I am reaching a similar threshold I was reaching last year at this time; one that is overwhelming in all the demands of maintaining ministry. The spinning plates are starting to totter. Tonya added, "You're starting to forget things and drop things that just aren't 'you' to drop."

Though there is a lot of work to be done in Mexicali, I can ONLY do the work of Mexicali. Away from my computer. Away from my iPhone. Away from my leadership team (whom I love). Away from the church I serve (and love). Away from my coffee shop office. Away from my meetings. Away from coffees with disgruntled people. Away from...

Yes, we will run our bodies dry and weary in Mexico, but sometimes we need that sort of removed exhaustion to come home refreshed.

Looking forward to it.

Bare Minimum Fan

I once wrote a post about how I am an SNL fan like many people are Chicago Cubs fans. Late last night I was hit with the inverse reality that I am a Cubs fan like many people are SNL fans. Let me try to explain. As a Cubs fan, I am...

INFREQUENT - Some people do not study the history and art of comedy. I never watch baseball at all. It is a sport I have never appreciated. Yes, I know it's an American pastime, but it simply does not attract me at all. One friend said I just needed to pick a team, and that would help me get into the sport. I have a love affair with the city of Chicago, so I chose the Cubs. I am still not a fan of baseball.

MODERATE - I wear a hat Most people can quote Matt Foley or the Cheerleaders, but most of the sketches I quote draw blank stares. I have purchased and wear a Chicago Cubs hat though I am not sure I have watched an entire game. Poser? No. Just a very moderate fan. 

BANDWAGON - can't wait til they go for the pennant Every time a character or sketch goes viral, suddenly people love the show. Of course I'll say I've always been an a cubs fan when they have an awesome season, because in a way, I was. I just maintain the bare minimum of interest in case of a strong season.

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Of what are you only a moderate fan?

Propaganda: my favorite poet right now

I love the written and spoken word. My ear is always out to hear new poets, and I saw this guy kill it a few weeks ago at Catalyst West. I have been listening like crazy ever since then. Make sure to check him out! [youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KRNrzRcXsiQ&w=480&h=390]

Steve

Let me tell you about Steve.  His is 70+ years old; he often wreaks of nicotine.  His flannel jacket with an attached sweatshirt hood is his favorite, and seemingly ONLY, garment.  He has a thick (and impressive) handlebar mustache attached to his leathery, spotted skin; stained by 2 1/2 packs of Pall Malls a day.  His hair is a greasy salt and pepper; mostly salt.  His voice sounds exactly like the old cowboy at the bar in "The Big Libowski" mixed with cough. Steve has seen a life full of wandering the country as a nomad.  Traveler + bum = nomad.  His body is weary from his lifestyle.

Why am I telling you about Steve?

Because I want to paint a picture of a favorite prayer. Pray-er.  One morning was a typical prayer by Steve as we opened a group session.

"Good morning Father!  I probably should have talked to you about this earlier, before we got started.  I have been spending time with you a lot lately and learning a lot about myself.  It has been good to know you more.  Thank you for loving us and being with us..."

Then I trailed off in my attention because I was thinking about how much I loved hearing Steve pray; I checked in again in time to hear him say,

"Amen"

 

Ragamuffinpc on His Way to iTunes

Today, I was able to update my sermon audio hosting by moving to Portable Sermons. I am looking forward to the opportunities this affords me and YOU (assuming you even WANT my sermon audio). You are now able to do a couple things you were not previously able. 1. DOWNLOAD Now you are able to download any of the sermons instead of only listening to them on the site alone (though you CAN still listen to them on the site if you wish).

2. SUBSCRIBE Now you can click the "Subscribe to Podcast" button in the upper right hand corner and be notified each time I add a new sermon. I realize we might not be ready for that level yet. No worries; we can take it slow.

3. ITUNES I have submitted my archives to iTunes in hopes of hosting all the audio there as well. I am only awaiting the go ahead right now. When that happens, I will let people know of the availability.

SO HERE IT IS: GO HERE TO BEGIN LISTENING

Who invited the fat kid?

Once, I was reaching 300lbs a few years ago, and a combination of doctor-induced fear, some rigid diet, and unknowingly acquiring Type 1 Diabetes, I lost more than 100 lbs. I was emaciated and sunken in until I realized I was diabetic, got it 'under control', and put on the healthy amount of weight I needed. It was an incredible amount of weight loss, and by all means, I was a new person. I had more energy. I could wear clothes I was never able to before. I felt the incredible effects of being a new person.

But there are days I look in the mirror and see the 'big me'. There are days I can only see the old me and it is discouraging. Those are the days my eyes and brain see and believe something that no longer exists. That was the old me, but some days I still that person.

I have a student who has come out of a life of sexual sin, and she has become a new person in Christ with the freedom, redemption and mercy that comes with it.

But there are days she remembers her past and feels the shame and guilt once more. There are days she makes her past a point of residence instead of simply a point of reference.

How often we come into this!

We are promised in God's word that once we come to Jesus, He makes us a new creation. We die to our old self. Our old self is no more. We are and continue to be new creations.

But there are days we remember our old self and feel ashamed and guilty. We become stand-offish with Jesus, and forget THAT person is dead. That person is gone, and we are made NEW!

"Oh that believers would stop looking at their old nature so much!"