Stay Hungry

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This evening I am watching "The Next Food Network Star" on The Food Network with my wife. In this episode, the contestants are paired-up, and using an assigned ingredient each, they are required to prepare an individual dish and a collaborative dish with their partner.

It makes for some creative and interesting work. What caught my attention though, was an advertisement for the Food Network's recently launched sister network, "The Cooking Chanel". The advertisement described the new network, and ended with the phrase Stay Hungry.

As I considered those words, I found myself thinking that I was hungry to create. I haven't produced any music for a while, the only writing I am doing is this Blog, and I haven't had a chance to do any impromptu "stand up". The business of life has reared its ugly head and crowded out my time for imagination. And for now, there's not much I can do about it. So I am hungry to create.

Even as I go on my daily run (one of my favorite creative times), I find myself praying, making to-do lists, and generally solving the problems that I am dealing with at work. Yes, I am hungry to create.

Missing a meal keeps me hungry. Missing a time to be creative makes me hungry (to create). I need to find ways to maintain that hunger. I need to stay hungry.

Question: What do you do to stay hungry to create? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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Self-Evaluation: 3 Requirements

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Every Wednesday at our weekly staff meeting, I end with a Leadership Minute. Here I offer a quick leadership principle or thought that will hopefully help all of us attending to become better leaders.

Today I shared the importance of self-evaluation. Although this is a great exercise for leaders, it is also great exercise for creatives. Many times we creatives are either afraid of self-evaluation, or we are much too hard on ourselves when we do hold up the mirror, because we are not looking at ourselves, but rather at our work - our creations.

Here is what self-evaluation requires:

• Honesty - about your weaknesses and your strengths: it's easy to identify weaknesses; it's OK to also be honest about your strengths
• Clarity - about your vision and purpose: evaluate yourself in light of your passion and calling
• Discipline - you must do it: make self-evaluation a regular part of your life

Reading an article you've written, listening to a song you've recorded, or looking at a picture you've painted is sometimes hard to do. Most creatives are never satisfied, but that's what drives them. 

Regular self-evaluation is healthy, and doing so can make us not only better leaders, but more creative creatives.

Question: What is one strength that you posses in your creativity? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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3 Ideas For Creativity

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A friend of mine sent an email to myself and some colleagues describing his hospital visit to a mutual friend. My friend owns SYZYGY Media, a graphic arts company, and his creativity is evident in everything he does, including the descriptive email mentioned above.

I responded to his email that he ought to be a blogger. His creative gifts could go a long way in his expression of ideas through his writing.

As I thought about this, these ideas surfaced in my mind:

• Creative people are not limited to one medium of expression
• Don't be afraid to express yourself creatively in new and perhaps unfamiliar ways
• New avenues of creativity await those who will step out of the familiar

Question: What is one way you could express yourself this week that is different from your normal medium of expression? What are your next steps? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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The Graduation Moment!

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Last evening our daughter graduated! We sat high up in Constitution Hall in Washington, DC and heard the name Elisha Michelle Lewis called, and with great pride watched her walk across the stage and receive her high school diploma.

Seeking to leverage technology and preserve the moment, my wife Elaine shot photos with our digital camera and zoom lens, while I recorded the moment with the 12mail app on my iPhone. OK, we were teary-eyed, but that didn't stop us from capturing the moment.

Anyway, not much of an inspirational Blog post or encouragement in creativity, but there you have it: The Graduation Moment!


The Moment... on 12seconds.tv

Rethink Possible

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AT&T has been flooding the airwaves with commercials touting their positives, from broadband to national coverage (OK by me, an iPhone user). The tag-line in all of their ads is the phrase: Rethink Possible.

That resonates with me: Rethink Possible. Perhaps we ought to consider that in our relationships, leadership and creativity.

• In our relationships, we can focus on the possibilities of those we interact with, envisioning them as what they can be, rather than what they are.

• In our leadership, let's look beyond the problems and instead lead people to an attainable ultimate outcome.

• In our creativity, I suggest that we look beyond the blank canvas, empty score, or chapter one, and envision the finished product.

Rethink Possible!

Question to answer: What can you rethink that you might consider as impossible?

Anniversary: Mount St. Helens

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Thirty years ago this week, Mount St. Helens erupted in Washington State, killing 57 and flattening more than 200 square miles of forest. Still considered the 2nd most dangerous volcano in the U.S. (after Kìlauea in Hawaii), the volcano continues to be watched by scientests.

While flying to a youth ministry convention in Portland, Oregon in October of 1980, our pilot took us past the still smoking summit and I was able to take a few pictures through the small airplane window. I was awed by what I saw: the size of the mountain, the huge crater blown out of the cone, and the surrounding devastation still are vivid in my mind.

Today as I reflect on what I saw 30 years ago, and having just out-run (out-flown) the volcanic eruption in Iceland last month, I think about creativity.

Huh? Yes, creativity.

Consider our planet: change is always happening. Shorelines change, rivers shift their course, volcanoes erupt. It is a fact of nature that our earth is constantly changing. I believe that The Creator is continuing to change and mold the earth. He continues to create.

You may argue that because many of the changes in our planet are destructive, that a) the Lord is into destroying stuff and people, or b) the Lord isn't concerned about the earth or it's inhabitants and simply allows to happen what will happen.

Perhaps there is more to it than that. Could it be that God's ultimate purpose is to draw all men to Himself, and He will use any means necessary to accomplish that goal? The good and the bad, the positive and the negative, the creative and the destructive. (Notice that I did NOT use the words wrath or punishment.)

Maybe we will begin to look at creativity, especially the creative process of the Lord, as something that is tied to a greater purpose: turning people to God.

Question to answer: Do you think God changes the earth to draw people to Himself?

Dreams & Realities

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When was the first time you dreamed a dream for your life?

When was the first time you dreamed a dream for your life that has become a reality?

I thought about this for myself, and I remember sitting in the chorus in the 11th grade and thinking, "I could write music." The first song I wrote (that was actually singable) was when I was a 37 year old Youth Pastor. Now I have published over 60 songs, have been involved in the recording of six music projects, and own a music company.

What about you? What are you creating or doing that started as an I can do this statement? Or rather, what are you dreaming about that has yet become a reality for you?

Today my wife and I were having lunch with a younger colleague, and my wife posed this question to her: "What does your future hold for you?" (I love my wife's challenging spirit, encouraging the next generation to dream big, and to pursue their futures.) Our friend listed her dreams, and we encouraged her to pursue them - even to the point of challenging her to apply for her passport this week, to follow her dream of traveling.

Questions: What are you dreaming now that you want to see as a future reality? What are you doing about it? Share your thoughts below in comments.

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India Images

 

103 Year old man at a medical camp... in great health!

Crusade crowd.

 Traditional 1st haircut.

Medical camp inside a humble church building.

Catching the early morning train to Kazipet.

"Garlanding" and "shawling".

I could be a Papa!

Impromptu medical camp at a home.

The plague of flies at a medical camp.

Sunday morning worship at a crusade site.

Nagpur station, one of many on the two-day train journey.

Ordination of local pastors.

Photo op with the altar worker girls (I'm the tall one).

New friends at...I don't know, one of our many stops!

India: Day 12

Last evening's crusade service was amazing! Well over 1,000 people packed into the humble field that serves as a courtyard for a school. The atmosphere was exciting as Freddy, Jesher, and the team led the people in worship.

As has been our practice, Pastor Daniel and I shared the preaching responsibilities (complete with three power interruptions!), then for the altar call, Pastor Daniel and I moved among the crowd and laid hands on every person and prayed for them. Wow!

We concluded the meeting, then spent some time in the host pastor's home, and finally arrived back in Kazipet at 12:30 am. It was a long, but great night.

Late this evening I begin the three-hour ride to Hyderabad where I will wait for my flight to Dubai, then onward to the US. These have been great days of ministry in India, and I am privileged to have been a part of what God is doing here. However, I miss my wife and children and am anxious to get back to them.

Until next time, goodbye India!

India: Day 11

I am posting on Tuesday afternoon...

Last night we held the second of three nights of a crusade in Huzurabad. Once again the people gathered and passionately worshiped. Once again the presence of God was strong.

We had the added distraction of a group of Hindus just outside the walls playing music very loudly, and there is a Muslim mosque right behind the stage that was broadcasting evening prayers over a sound system. We must have been doing something right!!

The crowd was a bit different from the night before, consisting mainly of believers. Pastor Daniel and I sought to encourage the people with messages on His steps to reach us (me) and His presence among us (Daniel) Over fifty people came and made fresh commitments of their lives to Christ.

Of course we prayed for those who desired it after the altar call, and once again we saw many people healed and set free from bandages. One lady came and was stooped over and walking very slowly, very obviously in much pain. Pastor Daniel and I prayed for her, and in two minutes she was speaking into the microphone, giving a testimony to the crowd of her healing. She was smiling, standing upright and being very fluid in her movements. The Lord is good!

The formerly deaf who was healed the night before (see yesterday's post) made it a point to find me and as best he could communicate, showed me he could hear and thanked me again. The glory goes to Jesus!

This evening is the final night of the crusade and my final night of ministry here in India. We're expecting a great time!!

India experience update: I drove a car today in India! That's right, I drove out on the streets and did it safely! It is just like driving in the US, except for sitting on the right, driving on the left, shifting with my left hand, and navigating around the goats (I didn't hit any!). And for those of you who understand this, I honked the horn within three seconds of starting and continued honking every few seconds the entire trip. It was no problem!

India: Day 10

Sunday worship with Pastor Daniel's church! This is one of my favorite things to do when I'm in India. With Freddy and the team leading worship, the passionate praise of the people, the receptive faces, and the wonderful spirit that is present, one couldn't help make it his favorite thing to do.

After a warm public welcome from Pastor Daniel (with garlanding of course), and recognition of the medical team from our trip, I spoke a message to encourage the people. Then during the altar call time I was able to pray for many, most of whom were simply seeking more of the Lord in their lives. It is always an encouragement for me when I'm with the people here.

Sunday evening we traveled one hour to Huzurabad, where we began a three-day crusade in the dirt courtyard of a school. Over 400 people gathered in the 90+ degree heat for the first evening meeting. Freddy and the team lead the worship, followed by Pastor Daniel and I tag-teaming the preaching. Pastor Daniel's son Jesher was my faithful translator, and together we spoke about who Jesus is and what He can do for you.

At the altar call, 22 people came forward to give their lives to Christ! It was a wonderful sight! Then we prayed for people who requested it. Keep reading...

One man in particular came saying he was deaf in his left ear (he said this in Telugu - he spoke no English). Daniel yelled into his ear and he didn't flinch. He couldn't hear a thing. Well, we prayed for him, and afterwords I whispered very softly some words in English and he began to repeat them, exactly as I said them. It was incredible!

Monday evening we go back to the site and hold another meeting, believing souls for the Kingdom of God!