Are You Looking for a Manageable God?

My friend Kerry Jackson posted this quote and it spoke to a conversation my wife and I had today.

“Our fears about creativity are timid attempts to keep God at arm’s length: we’re scared that if He pours out His abundance into our lives, we may not be able to control Him.” – Alice Bass

It may seem arrogant to even speak of controlling God (and it is!) but then why do we try to do it? We limit our activities. We shy away from our callings? We write off the gifts of the Spirit and see miracles for other places and other times. Why do we do this? Because otherwise God might “run amok” and make changes to our comfortable lives. I can be guilty of this too, but let’s face facts. If we can manage God then we are superior to God and if we are superior to God then it all depends on you and me. That’s not a world I want to live in.

So let’s let God be God and follow His lead. He may lead us into uncharted territory, but only for us. He already knows what He is doing and where He is going.

God is thoroughly unmanageable and that is a very good thing. He’s gifted you for something special and invited you into an adventure…

Follow Him!

Tired and Determined

I just returned from my day job’s annual conference. Since Wednesday I have been packing and unpacking a truck, moving equipment, taking pictures, helping my co-workers and reconnecting with some really great folks, artists passionate about sharing their love of music. It may be the most physically demanding thing I do all year. Non-stop motion from early in the morning until late in the evening. At times the fatigue gets the better of me, but I have to admit this was a really good year and God was with me.

Today I awaken really sore and tired but also determined. Seeing these folks so passionate for what they do has made me really look at the passion I have for what I do. I am determined to move closer to my dreams and goals so I can help more people to live their dreams and goals. I’d appreciate your prayers.

God has been good to me, set me on a path and provided for me faithfully.

If You Can…

I hear so many people, including myself, getting down on themselves for having a lack of faith. I’m starting to find this to be a wasted effort. I long for that faith that moves mountains, and yet Jesus says that requires no more than faith the size of a mustard seed. Makes one feel kind of wimpy, but is that really Jesus’ intent? I don’t think so.

The reality is there are times in our lives when circumstances hit us hard and when they do, they look mountain sized and our faith feels puny. There was a guy in the Bible who dealt with the same thing. His story is found in Mark 9. Early in the chapter, Jesus is transfigured on the mountain, while three of His disciples looked on. His not so secret identity is revealed in their presence. He is more than a man, He is God. But then it’s time to come off the mountain and here’s where Jesus meets the man to whom I refer.

Did you ever notice there always seems to be an uproar after a mountain top experience? Jesus sees this man and his demon-possessed son surrounded by dismayed and frustrated looking disciples. The man tells Jesus what happened, what the demon does to his beloved son and how the disciples could do nothing to help him. His circumstances are leviathan huge and he is feeling awfully small and helpless. He looks at Jesus and says, “Help us if you can.” I can almost hear a silence come over the room. I can picture the look on Jesus’ face and he asks quizzically, “If you can?” followed by a line that has made me feel pretty small, “Anything is possible for him who believes.”

The man’s response is key for us all. “I do believe. Help me with my unbelief.” Notice what happens. The man prays and Jesus moves his mountain, he casts the demon out and saves the son. Later Jesus’ disciples ask why they couldn’t cast the demon out and Jesus replies “This kind can only come out with prayer and fasting.” It’s true. The man prayed and Jesus worked.

Unbelief is going to come into most of our lives. A time when the circumstances look so big that we wonder if even God can help us (sometimes the question is will he?) In those moments beating ourselves up just gives us one more circumstance to be overcome. Instead we need to pray and ask God to shore up our faith and do what we cannot.

It’s okay to struggle in the hard moments of life, just remember where to take your struggles. Remember who is who. It’s God who moves the mountain.

How would you express this concept to a struggling friend? Is there something you can create that would help you remember it in your own life?

Who Are You Talking to?

I’m in the midst of a very busy time of year. My job is in the midst of our annual conference. It’s a lot of work and very long days but some things are still very important. One of those is devotions. As I have mentioned before I am in the midst of a yearlong study on the parables of Jesus. Today since time is of the essence, I read a fairly short passage, Luke 15. While it is a short passage, Jesus tells us three stories. The parable of the Lost Sheep, the Lost Coin and the Lost (or Prodigal Son).

These are three pretty famous stories all coming to a similar point. The prodigal for example seems to be about sinners who have been away and who come back and it is… to a point. But, and this is a key point for storytellers, speakers, writers and other creatives, context is everything. You see I’m of the opinion that while the parables are extremely important messages to us all, at the time of their telling, they were very pointed. Jesus was talking to a specific audience and it is in that context that we find there true meaning. So who is Jesus talking to. The first verse tells us. Jesus is teaching and hanging out with people who society looked down on. The Bible calls them tax collectors and sinners. Jesus is reaching out and sharing with the very people He came to seek and save and while these parables have something to say to those people, there is another group who is actually his target audience.

You see the Pharisees showed up and started griping that Jesus was talking to these sinners as if they were somehow better, and it is this interaction that causes Jesus to tell the stories. The first two appear to be about a lost sheep and a lost coin, but Jesus ends both of them by talking about how the heavens rejoice when sinners repent, one of them going so far as to say there is more rejoicing over one who needs to repent than over many who don’t need to repent. First of all in other teaching Jesus makes it clear we all need to repent, but he’s essentially telling these proud religious types, God still loves these people and so should you. They are my mission field and as religious leaders, they should be yours.

In the prodigal, is it about the prodigal? Of course, and this parable has been telling all of us who have been lost that we an turn around and go home for two millennia, but don’t miss the main point. When Jesus switches to the older brother he is talking to religious people who feel like they have been slighted when He doesn’t reject the lost. He is reminding those of us who follow Him not to look down on the ones we are here to reach and that religious pride will be our undoing. The angels celebrate and the Father celebrates and all we accomplish by being down on these people is missing the party.

Stories are important, but people are more important, so as you speak, as you write, as you craft your stories, as you create anything, think about who you’re talking to. What do you want them to learn? What do you want them to get out of your story? What do you want them to do in response?

Who are you talking to?

A Thought Provoking, Challenging Quote…

My pastor, Galen Hackman of Ephrata Church of the Brethren is a quotable guy in his own right, but this past weekend he shared a quote that has been on my mind ever since.

We are never ready to speak or work for God until it’s okay with us if someone else does it.

Man those words hit me hard. There have been times in my life were jealousy has reared it’s ugly head. Times when I see friends bring in other ministries rather than inviting me. Times when I know I could do something great but I don’t get the call. Times when I wonder why other people get to do what I do for a living while I have to try to work it in around weekends, vacation time and the edges of my day job. I’d like to say I’m above all that, but let’s be real, sometimes it hurts.

The Apostle Paul gave us a great reminder. He had an even greater struggle. People were preaching the Gospel to cause trouble in his life. They had terrible motives. Here’s what he had to say (Philippians 1:15-18)

15 It is true that some preach Christ out of envy and rivalry, but others out of goodwill. 16 The latter do so out of love, knowing that I am put here for the defense of the gospel. 17 The former preach Christ out of selfish ambition, not sincerely, supposing that they can stir up trouble for me while I am in chains. 18 But what does it matter? The important thing is that in every way, whether from false motives or true, Christ is preached. And because of this I rejoice.

We’ve got to trust that God is using the right people at the right time. Better yet, we have to be okay with it. God is using you and will continue to use you. Be faithful with every opportunity and if God decides to use someone else, don’t get down on yourself or them or especially God. Instead rejoice.

Milestones…

Let me start by saying this is neither patting myself on the back, more is it whining. It is written to ask the question, “How can I serve you better?” Let me explain.

I am just days away from my 1500th post on this blog. That’s a lot of hours and a lot of writing and I have loved and been blessed by every moment of it. I love to write and I am passionate about sowing into the lives of creatives who are trying to use their gifts to serve the Lord. I post nearly very day, usually right after my prayer walk and try to make sure I post things that will help and bless.

Secondly, we will soon add out 300th follower to this blog. I am so excited about this and I value each and every one of you. You make this work worth doing and I love the fact that you’re out there making the time to read this. I know there are literally a billion other choices out there vying for your time and I value every second. Thank you. You have no idea how much you mean to me.

I am struggling a bit with something though and I am hoping you can help me. People always say it’s not about the numbers and that is true except in this world, numbers are people. My daily hit count is usually between 20 and 50. That’s not bad and again I appreciate each one, but my heart is to reach many more. It’s not because I want to feel more important or to boast about my numbers. I remember early in my walk thinking there was no place for my gift in the Kingdom. I believe there are a lot of people out there in the body of Christ who are still in that place and I want desperately to reach them. I want to be used to empower the creative hands in the body of Christ. If it is at all possible, I want to expand the each of what we’re doing here and so I ask “How can I do that?”

Secondly, this blog was never meant to be a monologue, it was meant to be a conversation. While I love that you read these posts, I really want to talk to you. I want to help you, encourage you, answer your questions, pray for you, etc. How can we get more of a conversation going?

I wonder sometimes, Do I post too much? Are my posts too long? Is the content strong enough? Am I touching on the right things? Are my posts inspirational and encouraging? What can I do to make them more shareable?

Thanks for reading, thanks for participating, thanks for being a part of this community. I value you beyond words. None of this is complaint. I just want to make this the most valuable blog it can be.

How can I serve you better?

Top Ten Signs That You’re Creative

So many people say they’re not creative. I don’t believe that’s true. Here are ten signs that you’re creative:

1. You’ve ever used something for other than it’s intended purpose.
2. You’ve repaired something (even temporarily) using a non traditional material.
3. You’ve ever solved a problem.
4. You’ve run out of resources and still found a way to survive.
5. You’ve doodled, dabbled or daydreamed.
6. You’ve found a way to make a sad person smile (even if that person was you).
7. You’ve been afraid or angry for no apparent reason. (This is the negative side of creativity, but still creative.
8. You were lost and found your way home.
9. You’ve negotiated a deal, won an argument or changed someone’s mind.
10. You’ve ever found a better way of doing anything.

This is not an exhaustive list, but I believe it covers nearly everyone. You really are creative. Creativity is about a lot more than the arts, (though anyone who is creative can find a way to make art) it’s about solving problems and making the world a better place. You are creative and chances are there is someone who could use your creativity, someone for whom it would make a real difference.

We need you to get creative. Don’t limit yourself. You have the potential to make a real difference.

CCM-Creative Challenge Monday

I was out on my prayer walk this morning, asking God about some of the things I’ll need for my upcoming new presentation 4-Given which I’ll be presenting for the first time in about two weeks. I have all the basics down, but there are a few things I am still trying to get. 4-Given is about sin, repentance, grace and forgiveness. I needed a really good opening and this morning, this line came to me:

“It all started in a garden…”

I know what that line triggered in my heart and mind. The challenge for you today is to create what it triggers in you.

Create something and post a link to your creation in the comments.
Coming Soon from AMOKArts and Dave Weiss Artist Speaker

I’ve Often Wondered About This…

One day years ago, I was in a room, but not just any room, a gallery room in the National Museum of Modern Art at the Smithsonian and I have a confession. I didn’t get it. Three walls were covered with huge canvasses, one black, one orange and one green (as I recall) each of them had a lone squiggle of paint that looked as if it had been squirted on with a ketchup bottle. I didn’t get it.

But there was something I didn’t get even more. There were people in there all but psychoanalyzing the pieces. It made no sense to me. The pieces were minimalist and simplistic. There wasn’t a lot to them that I could see and I wondered, was I missing the point or were they? Did the artist really have a deep seated reason to make these pieces or was he or she just trying to make beauty? And if he/she was going just for beauty, isn’t that enough? I confess I felt a bit like a cretan. Then recently I saw this quote from Monet and I felt some redemption:

“People discuss my art and pretend to understand it when it’s simply necessary to love.”

I don’t work in abstract too often. I tend to want to be understood outright but if you ever see something I create and you don’t quite understand it, ask me and I’ll explain it to you, or better yet, just love it.

Sometimes art just needs some love.

One Liner: Celebrate!

From time to time I am going to share things just as a reminder. You may look at this loud, garish and slightly tacky graphic and think “…and he calls himself an artist???” I made it loud and obnoxious on purpose because I think it is something we all need to remember, especially those of us who work in the creative realm. This came from a conversation at a really great men’s breakfast I attended this morning. We can’t choose not to fail and remain a creative. The very nature of what we do demands that we try and fail. We can’t choose to succeed either, that is often in the eyes of the beholder of what we create. What we can choose is our focus. There are plenty of joys in the creative life. They are what we find when we choose to focus on how much fun what we get to do really is and the ones who are blessed by what we do. If you’re like me and so many other creatives, you an get a thousand compliments and one detractor and we focus on the detractor. If that’s you…

STOP IT!

Celebrate the victories!