There are two main ways to reach people for Christ. One is to focus on the outward appearance of a person, and expect them to change how they look. Another way would be to focus on the inside first.
Adults Need Heros Too
My wife Kimberly was absolutely star struck when she saw Miss Pattycake at a recent concert. If you are not familiar with Miss Pattycake, she is a wonderful Christian performer who ministers to pre-schoolers (and their parents) through music and movement. Kimberly sang all the songs, did all the movements and would not stop talking to her even when it was no longer our turn to stand in line and have our picture taken with her. She was absolutely giddy. But you know, adults need heroes too. We live in a world where those that stand up for what they believe, live it out, and last the test of time are very few and far between. We need to see that someone out there has done it, so that we can have hope to be able to do it too. You go Miss Pattycake!
www.misspattycake.com
Developing Creativity – Part Two
If I again boil down what I do, I am essentially a storyteller – how many different ways are there to tell a story. I tried puppets, magic tricks, objects lessons, games – the options are limitless. We generally think there is only one way to do what we do. But to try new things requires that you take some risk.
Developing Creativity – Part One
The best storytellers are those that live through the story they are telling and actually let it deeply affect them. They actually convince people that for a moment in time, they are actually transported to distant lands, different times, and are moved to do or become something larger than themselves.
The best storytellers are also something that strikes fear into my heart – they are CREATIVE. I am comfortable being “inspired†(another word for stealing or borrowing) by other’s work because I know that it has already been well received. Creative moments are by definition, things that have never been done before. It is scary because you don’t know how others will receive it. Will they like it? Will they hate it? Will it move them – or bore them to tears?
At a recent mission trip to
We had the funeral service today, and at one point the thought went through my brain, “I’ve killed the church.†And to be honest I am not sure how things will work out. But creativity (even as a gift from the Lord) is not worth much if you don’t carry it through.
So, my first point is, give it a shot. You could fail, and they might hate it. But what if you succeed and they love it? You’ll never know until you try. For me, what if the funeral service is a turning point in our church? What happens to a church when it stops taking risks? What happens when its leaders wait until someone else does it first?
I am not naturally a creative person, but over the next couple of posts I wanted to give a couple of ideas of how I have learned to foster creativity. So that in whatever it is that you, at your most basic level, endeavor to do, you can take these ideas and apply them to your life.
Just Watch the Movie
My wife Kimberly had a mom’s night out last night so I rented Star Wars IV, and V – for the kids. Someone had rented episode VI (curse you aqua scum). Star Wars IV was the first movie I ever went to, and I was about the same age as my twin boys. This was a special moment that my father and I shared that I wanted to duplicate with my children.
Once Kimberly left, we popped popcorn and we all (four of us) settled into my recliner. We cranked up the surround sound and I was ready for a great night of watching movies together (quietly).
It wasn’t too long before the questions started popping like the half eaten popcorn in our bucket –
“Dad, are they good guys or bad guysâ€
“Is this a good guy planet or a bad guy planet?â€
“I thought Luke Skywalker’s dad died in the lava pit . . .â€
“What is the force?â€
“Can I have the rest of your popcorn?â€
After about 20 questions and realizing how rusty my Star Wars trivia was, I just started saying – let’s just watch the movie. Just watch the movie! Shhhhhhhh.
I realize that in my Christian journey, and even as a leader, I constantly ask questions through the movie. Why is this person or family here? Should we start a new ministry? Why are they doing that? On and on and on. What I learned last night, there in the recliner, was that I was missing God’s answers to my questions because I wouldn’t be still and quiet long enough to just watch and see what God is doing. It will all make sense if I just keep watching. Shhhhh.
“Be still and know that I am God.â€