Practice, Practice, Practice

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(The following is a re-post of a previously published post):

The old joke goes something like this: A tourist in New York City asks a man on the street, "How do I get to Carnegie Hall?" The man responds, "Practice, practice, practice."

That's sound wisdom for any artist or creative (and I believe that all of us are creative, because we were made in the image of the Great Creator). Practice.

So we sit in front of a music stand with our instrument, or at the pallet with our brushes, or with pen in hand and we practice.

But we need to think beyond traditional practice and look for creative ways to improve our craft. The writer looks at people and in their mind creates a "character" based on what they see. The painter always has their sketchbook handy for when they stumble upon a scene.

I remember as a Jr. High student, learning music in my Beginning Band class. My director was teaching us about intervals, and the relationship between notes. Wanting to master this fundamental, I would listen for sounds in "life" (the hum of a motor, a blaring car horn, the test pattern of a TV station), and practice humming intervals while identifying them in my mind.

To this day I still hum intervals when I hear a sustained tone. I think I'm being creative. My wife thinks I'm odd.

And then there are scales, the lifeblood of instrumental music. Wanting to use more than just my "band time" and my "personal practice time", I would (as a trumpet player) practice the fingering of the various scales by tapping them out on any surface my hand was on. (For you brass players reading this, when I took up the French horn in high school, I had to practice tapping with my left hand also!)

Again, I still find myself unconsciously moving my fingers in the sequence of a scale. I've noticed guitar players working on fingerings using their forearm as a fret board (a tell-tale sign you are a guitar player).

We should never stop practicing, even when we've "arrived". Practicing should be as much a part of our creativity as the performance. To this day, the great cellist Yo-Yo Ma regularly practices, sometimes five hours a day.

May I encourage all of us to continue to practice. Whether it be purposeful or casual, in preparation for an event or simply to hone your craft, practice. Your goal may not be Carnegie Hall, but the investment is worth the effort.

Question: What do you do to practice your craft/art? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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Surprising Things To Learn About Yourself

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I want to always be a learner. I hope I never come to the place where I feel that I cannot learn something new. Especially, I want to make sure I am learning about myself.

I have learned a lot about myself in the last few years because of two major changes in my life that have given me an entirely new perspective.
 
The first change was this: After working much of my adult life as a pastor supported by a church, I have spent the last three years working a "tentmaking" job, while continuing to minister on "my time". Here are some things I have learned:

• I need to be less demanding with people. There is nothing wrong with challenging people. But between job, family, community, and relationships, most people do not have the amount of extra time to give to the church that the pastor wishes they would.
• I need to be more creative with time. If I needed to call my mechanic or run to Lowe's to pick up a plumbing fitting, I would call my mechanic or run to Lowe's. Now, I must schedule my personal business either during my lunch hour, after I get off work in the evening, or on the weekend.
• I need to be more purposeful with my free time. My free time has become less, and also very precious to me. I find myself reading less, writing less, and investing in relationships less. I need to make time during my free time to accommodate those listed disciplines.

The second change was this: I have been to India, multiple times. Here are some things I have learned:

• I do not need to consume all of the food available to me. I stopped eating as much as I used to. I have seen multiple times where a family of four shares the same amount of food over the course of a day that I would eat in one meal.
• I take luxuries like air conditioning and electricity for granted. I have stopped complaining when the power goes off. Regular "power cuts" are a daily occurrence in India, and they often happen during the hottest part of the day.
• I don't always need the newest and the best. I have learned to value and preserve the possessions that I have been blessed with. Many Indian men have only three shirts in their closet. Some don't even have a closet. Old and worn, yet still functional describe many possessions of the people of India.

Please do not take these comments as a rant against materialism. Know that they are simply a confession of surprising things I have learned about myself.
 
Question: What have you learned ablout yourself by changing your perspective or lifestyle? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Teaching Creative Thinking

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We love to have all the answers. When someone comes to with us with a problem, we want to be the one who solves it for them. We want to be a hero.

Our children's school project, our work group's assignment, our team's goal. We want to be know as the creative one: The smartest dad or mom in the world to our kids. The most knowledgeable boss or co-worker.
 
Part of that is because many of us have a need for validation or a desire to accomplish. When we are presented with a problem we act, we think, swe olve, we create.
 
But what if the person bringing us the problem needs also to learn how to solve problems for themselves? Part of us desires to do it ourselves because we're good at it (who hasn't built their child's volcano for the science fair?). Part of us desires to do it ourselves because it's easier for us to do it.
 
But with a little creativity we can use times like these as opportunities for growth and creative development in the lives of those we lead (children, students, employees, team members). When we get asked for help, consider responding by asking the person questions like these, so they can grow in their creativity and problem-solving skills:

• What would you do?
• How do you think it should work?
• What would produce the most favorable result?
• What if you're not able to pull it off?
• Is that the best way?
• If you had the time, what would you do differently?
• If you had the money, what would you do differently?

Being creative may be easy for you. But reproducing that creativity in the life of another is a greater use of that creativity.
 
Question: When are you tempted to solve creatively rather than teach creativity? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.
 
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Creativity And Chaos

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I recently read a blog post where the author indicated that he had been less than frequent in his posting because of stress and work overload. I myself recently wrote a blog post indicating that my creative well was dry: I've Got Nothing.

Is there a correlation between stress and creativity? Does the amount of pressure that you face every day have a direct result on your output?

I know of some who thrive in a fast-paced, multi-tasking environment. They get bored if they're not doing at least five things.

I know of others who come up with some of their greatest ideas when the heat is on and the expectation level is high.

On the other hand, there are many who need a quiet and peaceful atmosphere to bring out their greatest creativity. For them calm is king.

The key is finding our what brings out the best from you.

Here are some tips for finding your creative sweet spot:

• Try scheduling some quiet time where you are free from distractions. Does that work for you?
• Evaluate yourself in groups and while alone. What place generates the most and best ideas?
• Try creating in the morning, in the middle of the day, and at night. What fits you best?
• Whatever works best for you, find a good app on your smart device or have an old school pen and notebook handy to facilitate recording creative thoughts and ideas.

Question: Which kind of person are you? Do you thrive in contentment or chaos? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Influence On Cassette

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I got a text message from one of my sons asking about a song that a singer/songwriter I highly admire wrote. He wanted to know the title, but only had the general theme of the song to identify it. I remembered the song. I hadn't thought about it for about 20 years.

I was able to locate the song and some information about it through the artist's website. I sent my son the information, and then out of curiosity asked him what brought up the inquiry.

His response: I was listening to some of his older stuff. I remember listening to that particular one when I was a kid, going to sleep.

I remember playing music for my children when they were young, hoping that the message and mood of the songs would reinforce the Godly character qualities that my wife and I were seeking to instill into them. In this case the song was Daddy's Song by Dennis Jernigan.

Let me tell you that I was incredibly moved by his response. As a parent, my dream is that the daily, consistent influence that I have on my children will produce exceptional and eternal results.

My wife and I were very purposeful in the influence we were covering our children with. We were selective in what we would allow them to see/hear/experience, as well as creative on how we would expose them to positive life-altering influences.

In this case some cassette tapes by one of my favorite musicians, in a quiet room during bedtime was the choice. And from the comment made by my son, and seeing the Godly man he has become, I think this was a good choice.

You and I have multiple, daily opportunities to affect our children, grandchildren, spouses, friends, co-workers, and acquaintances. How we consistently handle those opportunities will for the most part, determine the amount of influence we have.

Take advantage of those moments. Be purposeful. Be creative. Be about creating a legacy.

What are you creatively doing to influence the relationships you have? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Scenes From A Hat

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The show "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" featured a game called Scenes From A Hat, where the host would randomly choose "scenes" that were compiled from audience suggestions, written on slips of paper, and placed in a hat (such as "What is the worse thing that has ever happened to you at work?"). Then the participants would act out the scene, usually with a hilarious result.

Each actor, in his or her own comedic way, could take a mundane and common scene (think: situation, relationship encounter, or everyday challenge) and make it laughable, oftentimes causing us to laugh at ourselves because of the absurd ways we tend to handle those scenes.

I know I would laugh as I identified with the situation and the response. Like me, most people can relate to the game Scenes From A Hat.

For most of us, life is like Scenes From A Hat. Daily we are faced with common and everyday situations, relationship encounters, and challenges. But instead of being an actor in a comedy "game" show, we are real people, dealing with real situations, which demand our response.

How do you react when faced with a selfish co-worker? How do you respond when asked to stay late and finish a project because your boss didn't plan well? When someone pulls out in front of you while driving, what is your first thought?

Just as the actors on "Whose Line Is It Anyway?" get a few seconds to prepare, you actually have a few seconds to prepare your response.

Here are a few statements you can say to yourself, not just when engaging a Scene From A Hat, but as you begin every day, every relationship encounter, every meeting, every homework session with your kids, every conversation with your spouse:

• I will be kind.
• I will listen.
• I will be grateful.
• I will understand from the other person's perspective.
• I will assume the other person has a legitimate reason for what they do.
• I will not be selfish.
• I will not make it about me.

You can survive life's Scenes From A Hat. All it takes is a little bit of life preparation, a character that is grounded in others over self, and maybe a Twix candy bar (you figure it out...).

Question: What do you do when faced with real life Scenes From A Hat? Share your thoughts below in 'comments.

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Just Looking

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I am not a big fan of retail salespeople. I do understand that they are only seeking to make a living, to pay their rent, to feed their families. But I am built to make decisions without the pressure of a qualified specialist of the product I am looking at. If I need help, I'll ask for it.

So when asked if I need help, I usually respond: Just looking, thank you. Oftentimes the person is an hourly wage-earner who is there to simply fill their shift, to do their hours. That person will simply walk away, their duty fulfilled.

The ones who are commission-based (or who are truly seeking to be helpful) are a bit more aggressive and don't give up so easily. More questions come my way, which I seek to repel with disinterested indifference. Seriously: I'm just looking!

Now I know that there are some people who are just killing time when shopping and are really not interested in the products they are viewing. People like spouses, parents, and friends. They truly are Just Looking.

There are others who like to engage salespeople, make a "deal", and then go brag to their friends about how they outsmarted the salesperson.

Others simply drift along from store to store, aisle to aisle, scanning, passing, and genuinely not seeing unless something really catches their eye.

How many of us go through our lives Just Looking? Do we scan the scenery, events, and relationships with indifference, killing time as we move from day to day?

Rather than truly engaging what is happening around us, we're Just Looking.

May I challenge us to savor the moments, to go deeper in our relationships, to really listen to what another has to say, to make our story interesting, to seek to grow and be better, and in the process to make others better.

Do more than Just Looking. Be more than Just Looking. Live more than Just Looking.

Question: Do you sometimes find yourself floating through life, Just Looking? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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India 2014: Coming Soon!

My next mission trip to India is coming up fast! On March 6th I leave the States and embark on my 11th trip to the country that I have adopted as my second home.

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

Then a team of doctors, nurses, and I will board a train for multiple ministry stops where we will conduct medical camps in unreached villages, on our way to Kashmir where we will partner with Kelu, a converted Muslim.

My love and respect for Kelu runs deep, as I have witnessed the daily persecution he and his family face in an unreached region as he witnesses for Christ. He has been beaten, evicted, physically harassed, and shunned, and yet his gentle though tenacious spirit puts him daily in the middle of communities, meeting needs and sharing Christ.

Another treat will be that we will minister alongside of Abdul, whom God revealed Himself to while he was reading the Koran. He committed his life to Christ, and now seeks to bring the Gospel to his people in India. Pastor Charles Schmitt of Immanuel's Church and I had the privilege of ordaining him in 2010.

I love going to this region of India. There is much terrorism and unrest there, but so many have never heard the name Jesus. I want to go and share it with them.

My previous trips to India were funded by the generous people of Immanuel's Church when I served as a pastor. Now I serve as a non-paid pastor in a very small church, supporting my family by working as a "tent-maker" in an insurance agency.

Would you consider supporting me and my mission trip this year? I know that you will partner with me in prayer. I am also asking that you consider supporting me financially.

You can click the "PayPal" button on the top right, or if you'd like you can send a check payable to GraceChurch, and it will be applied to my trip expenses. (Mail to: Brad Lewis, 1913 Catamaran Drive, Navarre, FL 32566. Please write India Missions on the memo line of the check.)

Thank you for your investment into my life and into the lives of those who need to hear about Christ!

8 Tips For New Year's Resolutions

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I have never been one to make New Year's Resolutions. I'm not sure why.

Maybe the practical side of me realized that I would be putting too much pressure on myself to succeed when I wasn't ready to move forward. Perhaps it was because most of the people I knew were making them, and I purposely go against the tide. Or, maybe I tend to find ways to improve myself consistently throughout the year, rather than only once at the beginning.

We all know what the statistics say: Last year, after only six days into the new year, 11 percent of adults had already given up on their resolutions; 22 percent had cheated at least once.

One poll found that just 28 percent who make resolutions succeeded in keeping them, while a whopping 46 percent never get started.

What does this tell us? Perhaps one of two things: Either we are a people who can't keep commitments, or we don't know how to keep commitments.

More often than not, people make commitments to do things without crafting a plan, and if they do have a plan, they aren't successful with implementing it. If that is the case, then the solution may not be too difficult.

Here are a few tips that my help you keep your New Year's Resolutions:

• Think of your resolution as a lifestyle change, rather than a specific area to focus on.
• Keep your list short: A long list of resolutions can be overwhelming. You can always work on other areas of your life throughout the year after you've mastered your list.
• Instead of stating a generality (I'm going to lose weight this year), give a specific, measurable, and achievable goal: I'm going to lose 15 pounds by June 1st.
• Set regular intervals to gauge your progress: Weekly weigh-in.
• Elect someone to hold you accountable: Rather than someone who is seeking to achieve the same goals (it's easy for both of you to "mutually cheat"), choose someone with no stake in the outcome.
• Challenge yourself, rather than chastise yourself.
• Reward yourself with successes, but not with reverting back to what moved you to make a resolution in the first place. (I don't get it when people do this, but I am OCD: Does a smoker have a cigarette after going 30 days smoke-free?)
• Record (journal or electronic) not only your progress, but also your feelings, thoughts, struggles, and emotions during this time.

I am no expert on New Year's Resolutions, but I do know a thing or two about changing a lifestyle. Go ahead: Give it a shot, make the commitment. You can do it!

Question: What have been helpful practices that made you successful in keeping your New Year's Resolutions? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Saturated Second Stanza

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What in the world is he taking about with that title? Saturated Second Stanza. Read on and I will explain...

I love music, and I love Christmas. Therefore, I really love the music of Christmas.

Old Christmas Hymns, modern Christmas worship songs, and rearranged old Christmas Hymns with new choruses and bridges. To a musician, Christmas music is heavenly!

One of my favorite Christmas songs is Hark The Herald Angels Sing, first published by Charles Wesley in 1739. It is full of rich lyric and melody.

Hidden in the second verse is one of the most profound grouping of words that I have ever encountered in a song:

• Christ, by highest heaven adored (the greatest in heaven worship Jesus)
• Christ, the everlasting Lord (Jesus is eternal, Jesus is Lord)
• Late in time behold Him come (Jesus is the fulfillment of the prophet's words)
• Offspring of a virgin’s womb (Jesus was miraculously conceived)
• Veiled in flesh the Godhead see, Hail the incarnate Deity (Jesus is fully man, yet fully God)
• Pleased as man with man to dwell, Jesus our Immanuel (Jesus willingly became a man to dwell among us)
• Hark the herald angels sing, glory to the newborn King (the angels declare Jesus' birth)

I hope you will take the time to "sing" through the second stanza above and meditate on the profound truths that seep through the lyrics. It truly is a Saturated Second Stanza.

Question? Have you listened to the words that you sing in Christmas songs? What do you hear? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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Christmas Caroling Kindness

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A few years ago while serving as a worship pastor in a church, a few of my team and I thought we ought to go Christmas Caroling. But instead of walking through neighborhoods and singing on the lawns of friends and neighbors, we came up with a different plan.

I asked one of our office staff to compile a list of people who were a part of our church, but for health or reasons otherwise, weren't able to leave their homes.

When we received the list and saw the many names on it, we realized that it was going to be a large undertaking. We shared the idea with our entire worship  ministry membership and the response was overwhelming!

We chose a Saturday in the month of December, split up the names and addresses geographically (we were in a large metropolitan area), secured several passenger vans, divided into teams, and prepared for a day of ministry.

There was about eight inches of snow on the ground from a previous snowfall, so the setting was perfect for some Christmas Caroling Kindness. We would knock on a door as a team (8-12 people per team), and when the door was answered we would break into song. Many times we were invited in because the person we were "targeting" wasn't able to come to the door.

It was glorious!

When we returned to the church building and shared our experiences with the other teams, it was obvious that this was a divine endeavor. Story after story emerged demonstrating how our simple act of Christmas Caroling Kindness literally "made" Christmas special for the receiver.

My favorite story actually happened with the team I was a part of. Our "target" was the wife of an elderly gentlemen who had suffered a stroke about eight months previously. He was bed-ridden, unable to take care of even the most basic of needs, and was for the most part unresponsive.

We wanted to encourage his wife, who except for very rare occasions, had not been able to attend our worship services nor get out for shopping or socializing because of his constant need for care and attention.

We sang for her on the porch, and she invited us into the house to "visit" her husband. Our simple choir of nine gathered around his hospital bed where he was laying and after praying for him, we broke into song and did a medley of Christmas carols.

When we finished, I noticed that the gentleman, who had laid still staring at the ceiling, had a tear running down his cheek.

Again, it was glorious!

What are some of your Christmas (Caroling) Kindness stories? Share your thoughts below in 'comments'.

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