Catalyst, Lalala, and My Whistle
3 Things That Fill Me Up Right Now
1. Catalyst Creative Team – Brad Lomenick and Jeff Shinabarger run this craziness of an ideation factory. Since I left Buckhead Church this is where I get to sit with insanely creative people and dream about how to impact next generation leaders. It is by far the most fun time I am currently having during this season.
2. Writing and recording with Jason Ingram and crew – I always knew that there was a frustrated songwriter in me. And Jason beat the hell out of him and brought him out. The songs we are writing are being written out of the current season I am in with Jesus and the church. Excited, frustrated, and hopeful are definitely ringing throughout the song themes.
3. Coaching and joining with creatives across the world – The coaching network I’m in is keeping me plugged into the heartbeat of what is going on in local churches all across the world. From ideation process to simple creativity tricks, these guys and girls are keeping me fresh with concepts and ideas.
So yes. Life is full of goodness.
What is filling you right now?
Los
RAIN IT DOWN
This weekend I had the opportunity to staff a seminar with 23 participants. Instead of preaching at them or even trying to teach principles to them, we led them through a series of exercises together. The experiential learning has such a different impact than the passive learning styles I am used to in ministry.
An added benefit was that I found great benefit from watching these participants go through steps of healing and freedom, really getting in touch with who God created them to be. I saw a lot of myself mirrored in their lives and I left the seminar with more healing for myself.
Filling me right now is:
My family – in a season where I’ve gone from laid off to the pursuit of an entirely different career, my family has helped me keep it all in perspective. and right now… perspective is huge.
Photography – my new career has taken me from the business side of advertising to a creative profession. One that I knew was inside of me, frustrated and wanted to express itself, but not able to make the jump. God just forced me to jump and seeing His work in my career gives me hope.
Dreaming, dreaming about the future and the journey with God and others.
Creative Coaching is helping with this a ton! New fresh ideas, things to read, new people to network with!!
Also Francis Chans messages seem to be be filling me up lately.
Our church staff! They are an amazing group of creative and missional people!
Speaking of Catalyst, you were going to weigh in on my questions…
I am going to the Ransomed Heart boot camp (John Eldridge) in November, i am filled with apprehension, excitement, dread(i dont like to fly).. can hardly wait to get there..
The change of pace & place: a trip Stateside again, the chance to attend a couple of highly-anticipated conferences (Cultivate & Story), and the opportunity to just wander & explore new places.
I sat in a meeting at the Harvard Club in New York City on Friday with 200+ business executives and entrepreneurs discussing trust (or that lack of it) in American business and the impact this has had on our ailing economy. Chris Brogan and Julien Smith (authors of Trust Agents) and David Maister and Charlie Green (authors of The Trusted Advisor) discussed their impression that American business has “lost its way” over the past 50 years as key b-schools have taught “soul-less” business models where characteristics such as “humility, trustworthiness, sincerity” and other character traits have given way to competition, winning and profit over relationships and providing value. I had the opportunity to address the group in the Q&A, identified myself as both a college professor and a writer on matters of spirituality. My comment/question was this: As I listened to the panel discuss the needs of American business, I could not help but notice that we are talking about matters of human character rather than issues that can easily be “trained in” to people. Do you have any thoughts or suggestions, I asked, for the organizational leader that finds him or herself at the helm of one of these organizations that has “lost its way?” Asked another way, “How does an organization encourage humility, trustworthiness, etc. in employees in order to return ethics to the workplace?”
Pulling apart these kinds of huge questions – that’s what fills me up these days…
Hmmm….guess that kinda makes me a geek, huh?
“beat the hell out of him” and “the current season I am in with Jesus and the church” are oddly juxtaposed, wouldn’t you say?
Your choice of language is your own, but it’s not exactly encouraging to other people. Sorry to be the downer.
The Truth…
Your not a downer.
And you’re most certainly not the Truth.
And I don’t think those are juxtaposed at all.
In fact you’re comment subject is one of the main focuses of one of the choruses.
But I get where you are coming from.
Just disagree.
Los
Today I had plans to meet a friend at the ASU design south building. She forgot something in her dorm and my class was running late, so we made the decision to cancel. At the exact time we were planning on meeting, a male student walked on the campus with a gun and committed suicide.
Today, I am filled with the thought of how blessed I am to have a God who has a hand in my life and heart — A God who protects me and looks out for me day to day. I am filled with the memories of how I myself felt at my most depressed, and that in turn fills me with gratefulness that i was able to find which way was up. I am filled with gratefulness that I am now in a committed, healthy relationship, an A-student, and spending my days teaching and learning in the word of my great God.
A new church full of new opportunities to serve and affect those around me. Filled to overflowing with thoughts, earnest prayers, dreams of change, sincere hope and deep love for the people and leaders that make up my old church.
working with u….
Jeff’s blog link doesnt work….
I am currently being filled up by a church that is constantly changing, a pastor with an amazing heart, and by people like you. Your blog, and other people’s blogs help me to grow, and see that there are others that want to see this world radically changed for the cause of Christ. Thank you for doing what you do, it is very encouraging to someone who is just getting into ministry. I really look up to your creativity, and realness in all you do. Thank you again.
I’ll bite:
jux·ta·pose (jkst-pz)
tr.v. jux·ta·posed, jux·ta·pos·ing, jux·ta·pos·es
To place side by side, especially for comparison or contrast.
You don’t think that using coarse language in the same breath that you speak of a season with the Savior is a contrasting comparison?
I may not be the Truth, but I read the Truth, and somehow I don’t think the Truth thinks that we need to express ourselves in less than salty and light manners. WWJD may be a corny gimmick for a lot of people, but I see some value in wondering what Jesus would really do in a given situation. Would Jesus curse? Or would he take that whole “holiness” thing seriously? Does He let me off the hook since I’m human (and not really the Truth) or do his expectations transcend my puny beliefs about what I am and the price that was paid for my soul? Does his demand that we give him our absolute best put the bar out of reach, or right where it needs to be.
You are probably right…just going to disagree, but I have enough to deal with in trying to be disciplined. So, I’ll disagree elsewhere, being as how it’s your blog and all. But I hope you see some value in my beliefs, even if they are offensive.