Old Friend, New Passion

Today, I met up with a friend whom I hadn't seen for a year. He is from South Africa, and is passing through the area on his way to work at a camp in the Midwest. We caught up on the "regular stuff", but then I proceeded to ask him about what was really happening in his life.

He began to tell me about a passion that he has had since he was a child: to make movies. Although he had been involved in Youth Ministry for the past year, he knew it was time to get back to his first love. And get back he has!

After working with a large broadcast network in South Africa and gaining valuable experience, he has stepped out on his own and formed his own production company. Already he has completed a large project for distribution and the contractor has ordered two sequels, with a possibility of a production in the Middle East after that.

What captured me the most was not that he had accomplished so much in a short period of time, but rather that he was so full of excitement and life as he related how his life had "fallen into place every step of the way". What he was sharing was not a story, but rather a journey.

I put my hand on his shoulder and encouraged him to continue to pursue his dreams, to fulfill his calling and to be courageous. I reminded him that a life of faith is a life of living one step at a time, as God reveals His plan to us as we walk it out daily.

And I prayed for him. I prayed that not only would his art be seen in his work, but also his heartbeat would be felt.

I came away from that meeting encouraged. I was encouraged because I saw a friend who was using his creativity and gifting to passionately live out his life and fulfill what he was created to be.

Say It!

Today at a staff meeting I shared with our team my weekly Leadership Minute, where I seek to give a quick encouragement that will help us become better leaders. This week I spoke on Communicating Clearly: Making sure what is said is what is heard.

Many times I find that good communication is sacrificed for verbiage, and the message is lost in the words. Let's face it: many people like to hear themselves talk. And their talking isn't always communicating.

So what do we do? I suggest that we consider our audience. Ask, Who am I seeking to communicate with, rather than what am I seeking to communicate? Remember, our goal is communication, rather than simply sounding good.

Also, careful word choice will always produce better results than using choice words. Think about what you are saying. Don't just say what you are thinking.

Bottom line: It’s not what you said that matters, but it’s what the other person understood that makes for successful communication.

Follow The Leader

The headline this morning reads, "Steven Spielberg endorses Hillary Clinton". Spielberg is quoted as saying, "I've taken the time to familiarize myself with the impressive field of Democratic candidates and am convinced that Hillary Clinton is the most qualified candidate to lead us from her first day in the White House."

Now this is not about Hillary Clinton, but rather about Steven Spielberg. I know you will agree with me that he is a brilliant filmmaker who not only has proven himself with commercial success, but also with artistic achievement.

My question is this: How does impressive film making and commercial success qualify someone to give a public opinion about something that is not in his area of expertise? Isn't the guy who works in the warehouse across town and has himself taken the time to familiarize myself with the impressive field of Democratic candidates just as qualified to have a political opinion?

The list is endless: Tom Cruise talks about psychiatry, Oprah Winfrey recommends a book, and Ludacris tells Pepsi "what to do" in a song lyric.

And because a person is perceived as "successful", we hold on to every word they say and make our decisions based on their opinions.

Well, that's my opinion. Do what you want with it.

Off to Jail

The headlines read, "Paris Goes To Prison", and "Hilton Heads For Jail." The Monday morning media obsessed with the fact that Paris Hilton began her 23 day sentence. And we all watched with great interest. Once again our society turned its attention to an event that involved a person who has really no bearing in the larger scheme of things.

This past Sunday our church ordained five people as ministers. These five are already involved in ministries that are affecting the world. Part of our ordination process is to take the hands of the person and tie a rope around their wrists, symbolizing that they are bond servants of the Lord Jesus Christ. It's a pretty cool event!

As we were tying the wrists, one man who many years ago had been arrested remarked to me, "The last time I did this it was for something I did wrong. Now I am doing something right." Imagine that!

What Do You See?

When you look at the image here, what do you see? Do you see the flower? Do you see the hands? Do you see a flower presented by hands? Or maybe "growing" from the hands?

Often when we look at a picture, we may see differently than another might see while looking at the same picture. It's all about perception and interpretation.

The same is true when we look at people. One may see a homeless man as a nuisance or potential threat. Another may see him as someone in need. A third person may see him as someone who is one break away from "making it".

The next time you see someone and form an opinion about them, ask yourself why you are interpreting him or her the way you are. Do you see a problem or potential? Do you see beauty or ugliness? Do you see a bother or a blessing?

The Heart of a Creator

Do you have the heart of a creator? When you see something that is "bigger than you", do you stand in wonder and awe? When you encounter a problem or setback, do you begin to consider solutions? When you get a profound thought do you "insert it in a story", put it to music, or perhaps visualize it in color?

I believe that everyone of us is given the heart of a creator. Some express it easily. Others need a bit of encouragement. So, let me encourage you.

Look deep inside your heart and see if there is an eagle waiting to soar, or maybe a gazelle itching to run. Sometimes we are so busy living "life" that we neglect being who we were created and designed to be. Understandably, we have responsibilities that demand our time and attention. And we would be negligent if we laid those aside to be "creative". (Even the Word of God has something to say about that.)

But our creativity can be used to adjust our schedules so we have time to pursue those deep things within our heart. Can you carve out 30 minutes a day to "run"? Are you able to stop doing something else so you have some time to "soar"?

Can you "create" while you do other tasks which don't use creative side of your brain? (There are seasons when we can only do the essentials - which take up all of our time. But those seasons emerge into new seasons with "time".)

Look into your heart, the heart of a creator!

I Miss It!

A musician I know had the opportunity to play in a band this past weekend. He hadn't played for about two years, and he jumped right in with passion. His chops might have been a bit rusty, but it didn't show.

Afterwards in a discussion, he conceded that he really enjoyed himself. He said he missed playing, and went on to describe a renewed desire to pursue his music.

I love stories like that. To hear a person describe the joy he or she gets from doing what they were designed to do, exercising the gifts that they have been given, and pursuing a passion that drives their soul.

What about you? Is there something that you are taking a "break" from, something that you have been gifted and "called" to do that you are not doing right now? Are you avoiding expressing what is deep in your heart. Are you missing out on fulfilling what you were created to do?

Thank about it. Do you "miss it"?

The Question Mark Kid

As more information is coming out about the tragic shooting at Virginia Tech University, one thing that is gripping my attention is the nick-name that the apparent gunman had been given, the "Question Mark Kid". Here's an excerpt from a news article posted on FoxNews.com:

Classmates said that on the first day of an introduction to British literature class last year, the 30 or so English students went around and introduced themselves. When it was Cho's turn, he didn't speak. The professor looked at the sign-in sheet and, where everyone else had written their names, Cho had written a question mark.

"Is your name, 'Question mark?'" classmate Julie Poole recalled the professor asking. The young man offered little response. Cho spent much of that class sitting in the back of the room, wearing a hat and seldom participating. In a small department, Cho distinguished himself for being anonymous.

"He didn't reach out to anyone. He never talked," Poole said. "We just really knew him as the 'question mark kid.'"

Will we ever know "who" this young man was? Will the 23 year old killer ever be given an "identity"? Are there other "Question Mark Kids" out there that you interact with everyday?

Are we too busy and self-absorbed to notice someone who is crying out for our attention? Consider the quiet, unassuming and "invisible" people that you see everyday, but you never really look at. Perhaps they need a second look from you.

Anna Nicloe Smith

I have to do it. I am going to rant and rave about something that ticks me off! OK, here goes...

Yesterday as I was running on the treadmill, I watched three different news outlets on TV say that one of their top stories was the announcement of the corner's findings from the Anna Nicole Smith autopsy in Broward County, Florida. These were reputable media outlets, not just Entertainment Tonight.

Here's my peeve: Has our society become so off-centered that a press conference dealing with the autopsy of a pseudo-celebrity becomes a highlight of the day's news cycle? Why does the six-week old death of a former playboy playmate still garner headline status? Why do people build their lives around what is happening in the lives of strangers, who will never affect them?

Allow me to share another story that came from Broward County, Florida the same day that Anna Nicole Smith's story ran. Baby Parker died over the weekend in a Ft. Lauderdale abortion clinic. No autopsy was done because the cause of death was a common procedure. No press conference was held. No news outlets ran the story. In fact, only four people were aware that it even happened.

No film at eleven.

Give Something Away

Here's a thought: take something that you own, one of your possessions, and give it to someone who really needs it. Seriously! In your vast arsenal of "stuff" is there something you could do without? Is there something you have multiples of, that is simply taking up space in your house?

I did this a few weeks ago. I met a young man from England who was trying to "find himself" through various eastern religions. I was able to share with him the "truth" about Jesus, and he understood, as if a light went off in his mind and heart!

In a subsequent conversation with him, I asked him if he had a Bible, to which he replied, "No." So I gave him mine. I have more Bibles. The one I gave away was one of my favorites because it was small and fit nicely in my backpack that I carry pretty much everywhere I go. Plus it had various notes and thoughts in it. But I wanted him to have it.

This is not a story about me and my wonderful sacrifice. But rather, it is about those who have needs, and we who have so much abundance. We ought to give to those who really need it. It's not much of a sacrifice if we really think about it.

By the way, the lady in the picture had me over to her home for dinner while I was in India. She gave something away: a wonderful meal from what little she had, her only chair for me to sit in so I wouldn't have to sit on the ground, and her only spoon for me to eat with so I didn't have to use my hands. Now that's humbling.

So go ahead, give something away.

Question: What can you give away to enrich someone else's life?


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Lead Dreamer

Are you the "Lead Dreamer" in your group (family, team, work group)? Are you constantly asking yourself and others, "What if?" When you encounter a challenge do you say, "Oh no!" or do you think, "Why not?"

Do you motivate and stimulate others to dream, and to dream big? Or do you stifle the creativity of others because it doesn't fit your "plan"?

Are the people who gather around you free to dream, led by your example and motivated by your encouragement?

I believe that God was dreaming "big" when He created man. I also believe that we are created in the image of God, therefore we too should dream "big".

A father once said to his son, "If you can dream it, you can do it." Now that's pretty good advice.

Question: How are you the Lead Dreamer in your circle of influence? Share your thoughts below in responses.

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