Idea Generation

I think the best way to generate ideas is to stimulate your mind with other ideas.  Be around creative people, read creative things, look at creative things, etc.  Whenever I find that I'm having a dry time creatively, I'll just start poking around the internet and eventually the ideas come flowing.  Simply because you prime the pump of creativity.  

I guess a lot of life is like that actually.  JM

Acts 11:19-30

It's tough to share the spotlight. Especially when you are able to fully utilize the gift that God has given you. Paul and Barnabas were both strong leaders. Both were tremendous teachers and both were passionate about sharing the message Jesus had given. Typically what will happen when you have two people like this they won't work together. They'll appreciate each other, but they don't want to be right next to each other because it's easier if they don't have to share the spotlight. They don't have to work as hard to keep up and it's easy for them to sit back and coast.
One of the things that I love about where I work is that the high school guy is awesome. The kids love him, he speaks well, he's a strong leader, and he's relevant. So I can't just coast along and do as well as he does. God has gifted me in student ministry, but if I want to be successful comparatively, I'm going to have to work hard. It's challenging, but it's so much better. Sort of makes you feel alive. JM

Painting

After we painted our living room and turned it a lovely brown, we needed new accessories for our walls. So we made them. Here's three paintings we made that are hung over the entertainment center. My wife did the left one and I did the middle one and the one on the right. I really like them and they were fun to make, although I doubt we'll be making a living doing art. JM

Mother's Day Message

This message that I'm working on for Mother's Day is tough. I just feel so constrained. I don't know how to get to an impassioned point when I feel like I have to say that I love mothers and we all should be grateful for them.
I'm kind of just saying screw that and talking about how mother's should be.
I'm also finding lots of asides that don't really fit into my message, but they are funny thoughts, so I'm extremely tempted to share them during my message.
I always picture this invisible door when I speak. Through the door are random tangential stories that come to mind when I'm speaking. I'm always tempted to open the door and share the story, but I know a lot of times it will kill people's focus. I think doing it sometimes keeps things fresh and authentic. Plus it really helps me share what I'm thinking of. It might not always be the best thing, so I really try to limit it, but it's fun to go through that door. JM

Mother's Day Message

I'm supposed to speak at both of our worship services on Sunday, May 13. I love being able to speak. I always have tons of good ideas.
But not this time. It's mother's day, and I'm basically relegated to doing something heart-warming about mother's. I'm just completely coming up blank on what to talk about. I'm really praying about it that God would give me a creative idea. JM

Camp Rules & Creativity

Mark Oestricher points out this great video. If you have to communicate something, why not do it creatively. Awesome, awesome idea. JM

Worship Teams And Emasculation

So today in our staff meeting one of our staff members suggested that we have a volunteer testimony in our worship gathering this coming Sunday because we are talking about volunteering the next two weeks. This is a great idea. A wonderful idea. But it was offered way too late. After we had decided to add it in, I mentioned that this was a great idea, but that it was being offered probably two weeks too late.
Then it was said by a staff member that they don't even know what we are talking about and they aren't able to offer their input at any time. We settled on communicating the message series with them so that we can work about 6 weeks out.
But this was a dangerous moment. It almost turned into the staff would give their input on what the service should be and then the worship team would develp off of that. This is a horrible idea for at least two very basic reasons.
First, it would emasculate the team. Nobody likes to be micromanaged, especially creative people. If they are going to have to be creative inside of narrow guidelines, they will quickly grow frustrated and quit.
Second, the more people that give input to things, the more people that will get their feelings hurt when their idea isn't used. This is huge. If there are 15 people offering ideas and only one idea can be used each week, then that means 14 people will have their idea rejected. This can quickly develop into a "nobody likes my input, so I'm not giving it and screw them" mentality. Empower people, give them basic guidelines and a purpose, and let them do the work. If you can't do that, then don't empower the people. JM

Attribute of God

So my small group leader called me the other day. We're talking about who God is this week and he gave everyone in the class the assignment to come up with their favorite attribute of God, a verse that displays that attribute, and what that means to you.
As soon as he explained the project to me, I knew what I wanted to talk about.
I'm amazed by God's creativity. The more creative elements that I am put in control of, the more I realize how finite my creativity is. Most of what I do is just rehashing what others have done. But look at how creative God was, and what he was able to accomplish creatively in just six days. That's why "there's nothing new under the sun." God's already done it all.
That's why I admire God's creativity. It also means that I can look to him for inspiration. I always have my most creative times when I take the time to surround myself in nature. Time kind of slows down and lets you think. Plus, it places you in the most creative element you can be in. JM