Creativity's Unseen Work

Disclaimer- this post could be seen as tooting my own horn, so apologies ahead of time!

I'm scheduled to teach at Hillcrest on July 7 and am working at trying something new.  As we're going through the Story, the format allows for some creativity to kind of spice things up.  The section of The Story we're going through for this Sunday is some of Jesus' best stuff- feeding of masses, walking on water, sermon on the mount, healing people, casting out demons, bringing people back from dead, etc.  It was difficult to focus on only a couple of stories, so the message on July 7 will be "choose your own adventure" style, where Hillcresters will get to use this amazing little app to actually vote- live- on which stories they want to hear.  They'll vote, and then we'll do that story.  That story will lead them to two more choices, they'll vote again, and we'll do the story they select.

All in all, it requires preparing 14 different stories (or mini messages) with the foreknowledge that at most only 6 different stories (3 during first service and a different 3 during second service) will be presented.  And Tarina- bless her heart- has agreed to join the fun by preparing 4 different songs to close out the service, again the song she sings will be determined by the path the people choose, but also with the foreknowledge that at most only 2 songs will be heard.

In essence, over half of the work being done for July 7th will go unseen and unheard.

Such is the work of expending some creative effort, right?!

Weeds Grow Everywhere

I'm not much of a gardener or landscaping person, but I've noticed that weeds can literally grow anywhere.  In the garden.  In the lawn.  In your landscaping.  And even in your gutters.  Weeds don't seem to need very much of anything to grow.  Doesn't matter if you're in a drought or if you're getting tons of rain- weeds can grow.

For things you actually want to grow though- like flowers and grass- it's not that easy.  You need seed and you need sunlight.  You need moisture- not too much and not too little- and you need to keep threats like weeds and pests away from what it is that you want to grow.  Getting the things you actually want to grow is a lot of hard work.

In my life, I don't need to work too hard to get weeds to grow.  Negative habits, sin, unhealthy choices- those things are like weeds- they need very little to take root and sprout.

But the good things- positive habits, fruits of the spirit, good disciplines- those things take work, effort, time, and attention.

It's no wonder why we often see more weeds and less fruit- it's simply easier.

Remembering Names

I worked at a smaller bank part-time as a teller.  One day the bank president came in, greeted me by name, and asked how things were going.

I was seriously impressed.  The bank's president knew my name even though I had only worked there a few months and part-time at that (later, I found out that the bank president had asked our branch's manager what my name was before our conversation, taking most of my awe out of the situation!  Nonetheless, this guy knew the importance of calling someone by his or her name).

Some of us are good at remembering names and others of us are not.  This post isn't to say one group is better than the other.  What we are all good at though, is feeling good when someone else knows us by name.  And to the extent we can know others by name, we ought to extend them that same feeling.

The Business of Belief

Good little book here that reads almost more as a collection of blog posts or short snippets.  My favorite thoughts:

• Effective leaders know the essential first step to changing people’s behavior is to understand their perspectives and embrace their desires and beliefs.  Everything else flows naturally from there.
• It’s not enough to simply know that we’re on the right path in life.  We must also feel and be affected by it.
• You’ve probably seen someone talking about something they know about.  But have you ever seen someone being what they’re talking about?  There’s a profound difference, one that creates a magnetic attraction.  And that difference is passion- a rare combination of confidence and energy.
• Great leaders influence stealthily and downplay their roles.  They hide the how.  They understand that belief is driven by our senses and by our feeling minds, and that we’re moved by our imagined stories and experiences.  

Why Sports Are Good for Kids

As we wind down the boys' baseball seasons, I really liked what this blog had to say

Facing Criticism

If you've ever faced criticism, here's a good blog

Intended for Somebody Else

Maybe you've done this- you hear a great message at church or hear something great on the radio or the web, and think to yourself, my friend (or spouse, of child, or family member, or boss, etc) so needs to hear this!  You've thought about who else should hear the message before you've even taken a stab at applying it yourself.

I can be guilty of similar thinking in my devotional time.  I'll read some Scripture and think, 'this would make a good blog post' or 'this would make a good sermon'.  In the same way, I've thought about who else needs to hear this before I have even taken a stab at applying it myself.  

Do this too often and soon our friends and family members will be thinking we ought to hear these great sermons or read these great passages!