Energy And Creativity

(Please click and read this personal word from me about my India Mission Trip.)

Energy and Creativity. Not creative energy sources. Not energetic creative ideas. Just Energy and Creativity.

They go hand in hand. Where there is energy, one can usually find creativity. And where there is creativity, one can usually find energy.

The two seem to find themselves inseparable when around me. I am the most creative when I am rested, focused, and with plenty of energy. I find myself gaining energy when I am creating.

On the other side of this, when I am tired I seem to be unable to produce a good idea. (Although when one squeezes its way into my mind, I begin to see my energy level rise...)

Most Creatives will affirm that when they are in their creative zone, time seems to stop, and the ideas are endless. Before they realize it, they are well past the time they began, and they never realized how "late" it became.

So get some rest, get refreshed, and create!

Question: Is there a correlation between Energy and Creativity in your life? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Questions And Answers

(Please click and read this personal word from me about my India Mission Trip.)

I have come to understand that you can tell more about a person by the questions they ask, rather than by the answers they give.

Answers demonstrate knowledge (or lack of it), while questions demonstrate attention, curiosity, and wonder.

Interviewers ask: What would you like to ask me about the position? to get a glimpse of the motives and focus of the interviewee. Teachers ask: Any questions? not only to clarify comprehension, but to gauge their student's depth of understanding.

Wise listeners look beyond mere statements in conversations and discern a deeper level of communication by paying attention to what is being asked.

The person who asks questions like: How did you feel about that? and What was your response? will generally be thought of as a good listener. At the same time, the person who responds to the other's statements with their own comment or story will be lost in the sea of mediocrity.

Bottom line: Listen to what is being asked at least as much as what is being said. Your understanding of people will ultimately grow.

Question: What do you discern from the questions people ask? Share your thoughts below in comments.

If you like this post, you can re-post, 'share' it on your Facebook status, or forward it to your friends. Follow me on Twitter @bigcloudmusic if you find me interesting. Subscribe to this Blog if you'd like.

Creativity Frustration

(Please click and read this personal word from me about my upcoming India Mission Trip.)

I am at my Yamaha S90 keyboard, trying to learn and use a new software music program on my MacBook Pro. But it's not working and I'm frustrated.

I want to immediately begin making music, but I'm limited because I don't know the program I'm working with.

I started reading the documentation. It contains over 120 pages, most of which are for more advanced functions than I want to put to use right now. I just want to make music.

I found myself staying up late last night trying to make it work, and had to force myself to go to bed. (I seek to be responsible and desire to do be the best I can at my job.) I could have stayed up all night and probably made huge advances on my new music software. But I didn't. And I'm still frustrated.

The creator me is in conflict with the practical me. Creator me says: Make music! Practical me says: Master the new program and you can make more music! Arrrrr!

I believe that most of us periodically feel that conflict. We want to create, but other things keep us from creating (including learning new software programs). And so we will continually feel the tension between the creator me and the practical me that resides within us all.

I like to think of it as Creativity Frustration. It's a real experience that all of us walk through. It's also something that can be beneficial.

In our tension of wanting to create but being restricted by the practical, we have the opportunity to seek creative alternatives that will allow us to move into the realm of creativity. Solving practical problems is a form of creativity. And in essence we are being creative as we solve those problems, thus freeing us up to be creative!

Question: What could I do that will help me learn the new music program quicker? (I'd like your help...) Share your thoughts below in comments.

If you like this post, you can re-post, 'share' it on your Facebook status, or forward it to your friends. Follow me on Twitter @bigcloudmusic if you find me interesting. Subscribe to this Blog if you'd like.

A Personal Word From Brad...

I had hoped it would never come to this, but I am compelled to share something with you. As much as I want to avoid doing this, I can't keep it to myself any longer.

I need to raise money for my India mission trip. Please continue reading...

The first time I went to India, I fell in love with the people, the country, and the Father's heart for the Indian people. Now ten journeys later, my heart is even more drawn to minister there.

When I took my previous ministry trips to India, I was one of 13 full-time pastors on the leadership team of a very large church. A few weeks before I would leave for India, the Senior Pastor would appeal to the congregation to support me. In one offering enough money would be collected to pay for my expenses, plus I was able to take the extra to give away to the local village pastors. (For which I am very grateful.)

Now I work in an insurance agency to support my family while assisting a pastor friend at his church of 50 people. They have neither the people nor the resources to provide financial assistance for my trip.

I have exhausted our personal savings in purchasing airline tickets, but am still faced with in-country travel expenses, lodging expenses, a visa for my son, and other miscellaneous expenses for the trip.

Yes, I am excited that my son Zach will be joining me to minister, but it also means twice the expense.

Once again I will be partnering with Pastor Daniel Kalyalapu, preaching and praying for people in crusades in and around Kazipet, as well as ministering in Pastor Daniel's church.

The bulk of the trip will be spent leading a medical team into unreached villages in Punjab and Kashmir, where we will be in predominately Muslim areas where there is no Christian witness.

This is my favorite part of ministering in India: Going where the people have never heard the name Jesus, and sharing God's love with them. There is much terrorism in this region of India, but being right in the middle of that is where we want to be.

I know that you will participate by praying for my son and me as we travel to India on March 7-23. I hope you will consider participating financially also.

You can do so by clicking the "Donate" button to the upper right, sending a contribution to my church: GraceChurch, 218 Eglin Pkwy. NE, Ft. Walton Bch, FL 32547 (a giving statement will be sent to you), or by sending a contribution directly to me: 1913 Catamaran Dr, Navarre, FL 32566. (If you do send a check, please write 'Brad - India' in the memo line.)

Thank you for your prayerful consideration.