Mental Post-Its

Thoughts, Notes, and General Mental Mayhem


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2012 is Trying to Kill Me

I have no idea why, but 2012 is trying to kill me. This year has been a crazy one in terms of my health. I have never really thought of myself as someone with health issues, but maybe I’m making up for lost time. It’s really weird to say, but I’ve been sick more days this year than I’ve been healthy.

The first couple of months of the year are always a little insane for me because it’s crunch time leading up to the conference that I work on. It goes fast, and requires a lot of hours and effort. But that’s just part of the deal. However, literally the Monday after the conference I got sick. I thought it was the flu so I took it easy for the week. I felt better for a day or so, but then got worse. I went to the doc to discover I had mono. MONO. I didn’t know anyone my age ever got mono. And it incubates for four to seven weeks in the system before it shows up, so I have no idea where or how I got it. My best guess is the grocery cart or something public that I touch, but I really don’t know. So, then for the next few months I made plans and broke them, having to reschedule everything because I wasn’t getting any better. I would never have guessed how bad mono was, and feel like I should’ve been more sympathetic to those I’ve known with it in the past.

Another couple of months past. I was approaching FIVE months of mono. I still had to take naps every afternoon just to get through the day. I hadn’t worked a full day since the conference. I had a couple of relapses along the way. This mess was crazy.

Then on September 12 I went to Tampa for an overnight work event. I knew it would be tough on my physically, but didn’t anticipate being sick all night long. I had to miss the first half of the next day of my work event so I could finally catch a few hours sleep. I somehow survived the following few hours to fly back home. The next morning I went to the doctor because I thought I might have another kidney infection, but of course, had to wait for results. The weekend was BRUTAL. Not only did my kidneys ache and I felt lousy, but my right side started hurting. I had no idea what was going on. Monday came and my doctor was out, so that night I finally decided to go to the ER (my first time). I even had to Google a hospital because I had no idea where one was located near me.

Well, it turned out that I was right about the kidney infection, but they had some surprising news for me–gallstones and an inflamed gallbladder. I didn’t really know what that meant. I think I was kind of in shock, actually, because I’d never had more than my wisdom teeth removed. The ER doc said that it meant that my gallbladder had to come out. I asked if I was supposed to make an appointment, and he told me that I was to be immediately moved upstairs into the main hospital and scheduled for surgery. WHAT. Now I can assure you I was in shock. I spent the next three days in the hospital pre and post surgery. I can assure you that I’d like to repeat that experience.

I got home last Thursday, and it’s been a long week of recovery. At first it kind of felt like the scene from Aliens where the innards become outards, and something pops out of the chest. But now it’s more of a soreness. It still mostly just feels weird that I was the one who actually had the surgery. And then, of course, there’s the kidney infection which has been glad to fill it’s role. But that, too, has been put in its place.

So, yeah, it’s been a weird year. My doctor even suggested that I get the flu shot in a few weeks. I didn’t understand why until she told me that I’d better prevent anything I can with the roll I’ve been on the last few months. I’m not only ready to finally be better, but ready for this year to be over. And fingers crossed, it won’t get any worse.

2012, I apologize. Let’s be friends.

(Come on, 2013.)


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Book Review: Mudhouse Sabbath

screen-shot-2016-12-10-at-1-44-36-pmI’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again–I don’t enjoy reading. However, I try to always be reading at least one book at any given time. I do like to learn, and therefore, I feel reading is important. It expands my mental horizons. And I do come across some good, or even great, books. It just remains a fact that I don’t enjoy it overall. I’d rather be watching TV or a movie. There are these little gems, though, that really stick out in my literature landscape. And, even if for a brief moment, I do derive great pleasure from the words. Mudhouse Sabbath is one of those occasions worth marking.

I gulped this book up. In fact, I read several of the chapters twice just to prolong my experience. It’s just too short! I’ve been wanting to read it for a couple of years now, but just got around to it. I guess I was in the mood. And I quickly discovered an author that I love as well. I feel she, Lauren F. Winner, writes much the way I do because it’s what I’d like to read…as if someone is talking with you. Not lecturing you, not talking at you, but talking with you.

The one thing that initially drew me to this book was that Lauren had converted from Judaism to Christianity, and was learning to integrate the former into the latter. I’ve been fascinated with Judaism for a number of years now, and have been learning in bits and pieces. It’s the Old Testament, and the root of Christianity, so I wanted to understand better where my faith came from. I think too often Christians don’t consider it at all. But when you have a greater understanding of it, you better understand the Bible as a whole. It provides context, and gives foundation. As she puts it, “practice is to Judaism what belief is to Christianity…spiritual practices don’t justify us. They don’t save us. Rather, they refine our Christianity; they make the inheritance Christ gives us on the Cross more fully our own.”

Mudhouse Sabbath is broken into eleven parts:

  1. Sabbath – stressed the need for rest as a regular part of living. It is a place to draw the energy to work from, not working until you crash and are forced to rest. “In observing the Sabbath, one is both giving a gift to God and imitating Him.” For the last five plus years, I’ve observed a Sabbath off and on. I haven’t really gotten good at it yet, but I’m trying. Even if it’s just a half day, a few hours that I regularly plan for, I know it will have enormous impact.
  2. Food – taught me to have a greater respect for the things that I eat. It’s not simply entertainment or a mean’s to an end, it’s a source. “A right relationship with food points us toward Him.” Lauren mentions another author named Barbara Kingslover in this chapter, and how Barbara has shown her to eat seasonally, which “sacralizes not just food, but time.” I’ve been reading Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara the last couple weeks. Head’s up, there will be a blog post about it. It’s been incredible!
  3. Mourning – showed me that we as Americans don’t know how to grieve well. Like everything else, we tend to rush through it. “Judaism understands mourning as a discipline, one in which the mourner is not only allowed, but expected to be engaged.” And one of the Jewish mourner’s prayers focuses solely on praise, thereby reminding us that God is still present. He has not left you alone. It pushes you to take the time to feel the sad emotions, work through them wholly, and sit with the knowledge that however lost or lonely you feel, He is by your side.
  4. Hospitality – called me to keep inviting others into my life. “Creation is the ultimate expression of God’s hospitality to His creatures…Our Three-in-One God has welcomed us into Himself and invited us to participate in divine life. And so the invitation that we as Christians extend to one another is not simply an invitation into our homes or to our tables; what we ask of other people is that they enter into our lives.” I used to be really good at inviting people over, but I’ve gotten away from that. Time to make some changes.
  5. Prayer – gave me a different perspective on liturgy. I’ve always had a hard time with liturgy because it never felt real to me. It was just me praying/reciting what someone else wrote down. There wasn’t any emotion, which I depend greatly on. “When you don’t have to think all the time about what words you are going to say next, you are free to fully enter into the act of praying; you are free to participate in the life of God…Liturgy is not, in the end, open to our emotional whims. It repoints the person praying, taking him somewhere else.” I suppose my views on liturgy is one of the reasons I have trouble getting through the Psalms. But the next time I delve into them, I hope I’ll look at them differently.
  6. Body – hit home. “Though I believe God has something to say about human bodies, I generally tune out God and listen to Cosmopolitan instead…Scripture speaks of bodies that God created in His image, bodies that are both doing redemptive work and being redeemed.” That is a re-framing that I needed. It helps me remember the first and foremost reason I need to take care of my body.
  7. Fasting – gave me further fuel to practice this act more. “Fasting is at its core about repentance…When I am sated, it is easy to feel independent. When I am hungry, it is possible to remember where my dependence lies…Fasting is not meant to drag us down, but to still us. ” Matthew tells us “when” you pray, give and fast. It’s not an option. Again, something else I’ve done kind of off and on but never developed a good habit for it. I am fairly good about fasting for major decisions and during Lent, but need to strive to make it more regular.
  8. Aging – addressed both yourself and those in your circles growing older. “The spirituality of aging inevitably involves preparing for one’s death…Caring for one’s elderly is an obligation…It is not always fun, but it is always sanctifying…When our memories fail, it is our community that can tell us who we are.” A very interesting way to look at the aging process. She also references a rabbi who notes that to elder is to shape the last years of your life with intention. I like this notion, but I’d rather start now.
  9. Candle-lighting – gave me new insight on something I really didn’t understand. Candles mark occasions and mark time. “There seems to be no surer way to sacralize time or space than lighting a candle, no quieter than the silence of candlelight. Candles are peaceful, and transfixing, and ancient.” She gave me some great ways to use candles for more than just making things brighter or smell better.
  10. Weddings – allowed me to see marriage as a “community endeavor.” It’s not just two people making a commitment, but granting witnesses to the union the opportunity and permission to be a part of it. Learning from one another and doing life together in community brings out the best in each of us. It gives greater power to two becoming one.
  11. Doorposts – helped me pull my mezuzah out of my drawer. A friend brought it to me from his trip to Israel, and it sat on a shelf. Then I redecorated my bedroom and it went in a drawer. Now it sits beside my door since I’m in an apartment and can’t really affix or tape it permanently. The mezuzah is derived from Deuteronomy where the Lord says to bind the words on the doorposts of your houses. It is a promise of peace. Lauren also describes a sign on a door that she found which had the verse Psalm 121, “The Lord shall preserve they going out and they coming in from this time forth, and even for evermore.” I liked that representation a lot as well. “Every time I come home I see the sign, and I remember that I claim to actually believe in this God who will preserve my going out and coming in, and I remember that this home is supposed to be a Christian home. It is to be a home into which I invite strangers, and in which I organize my time through prayers, and in which I do work that might somehow infinitesimally advance the kingdom of God.”

Ah, just writing about it makes me want to read it again! I haven’t done that yet, and I am absolutely sure that I will. I learned so much, and have already starting changing my thoughts and behaviors based on what was said. It hit the spot; so much of what I wanted it to be and more. I think Mudhouse Sabbath will remain one of my all-time favorites, as well as a book I recommend to many people. If it remotely sounds like something that would interest you, I’d urge you to pick it up. I can’t imagine you’d regret it.

By the way, if you’re wondering, Mudhouse is the name of the coffee shop where Laurn wrote the book. And, yes, she spent her Sabbaths there, writing and reading.

 

(Note: Amazon links are affiliate links.)


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Giving A Care

Not too long ago I was at a fundraising event with some friends. A great deal of money was raised in just a few hours, with more pledged to follow in just a few days time. It was really exciting to witness, and as the evening was drawing to a close, one of my friend’s looked at me and said, “It’s amazing what can happen when people actually give a care.” This statement really stuck with me, though not for the reasons you might think. It stuck with me because, in my case, it’s not true.

I’ve always been blessed with incredible friends. If it’s one thing I ever did right, it was the people I chose as my friends. And my friends have done wondrous things. They are givers. They’ve given to me, their friends and family, and many times, even strangers. The people I know and consider to be my friends do, in fact, actually give a care. Many of them may be broke for this very reason. 😉

Some of my friends have raised money with athletic organizations like Team in Training. Some have gone on local, regional, national and even international mission trips. Some have served in churches or shelters or political campaigns or soup kitchens or at nonprofits or animal hospitals or as mentors. They all have given days, but I can easily name those who’ve given weeks, months or years, cumulatively speaking. It would take more than my four extremities, actually, to name them. They give their money, their time, their talents and their influence.

A few summers back I distinctly remember getting close to 10 letters and emails from friends raising money for something. Note: this period was just a couple of months. I was freaking out trying to think of how I could send money to each of them because I wanted them to succeed. I’ve grown to realize that these letters and emails will be a regular occurrence for me. AT LEAST one of my friends will always be raising money at any given time. And that statement makes me smile.

I don’t say all of this just to brag on my friends, though they deserve it. While the frequency in which I receive these requests may be greater than yours, we all still suffer from a common syndrome at one time or another: compassion fatigue. (No, I didn’t make that term up.) Sometimes needs are presented to us so often that they can easily become 1) exhausting or 2) white noise. We give to all, some, or none. But couple these personal requests with what we see on the news, internet and radio, and it can quickly and easily become an emotional overload.

I would urge you to push through the compassion fatigue. There are times I give to causes just because my friends ask, not because I particularly am passionate or invested in the cause. And that’s ok. When I have the funds available to do that, I will do so happily. I want to support them in what they care about, and encourage them to keep at it. We all don’t have to care about the same things. Just care about something. And better yet, give part or all of your heart to it. Don’t just send a check, though those are always good, but personally invest your time, talents and influence as well. When we give a care, we are acknowledging that life exists outside of us. We gain a greater perspective of the world. We become good citizens of it. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t want to make a difference, large or small. Giving a care is one way of doing that. Champion a cause and see how your life can change for the better. Realize that there’s more going on than just you. Understand that everything on this planet is not put here to serve you, but instead, serve the planet in some capacity. It won’t be a waste of your time, I promise.

Try different causes and see what fits. What makes you happy? What breaks your heart? Where do you see a need you can fill just by being you? What fuels your passion? For me, my two biggies are my faith and modern-day slavery. Both have taken over my heart like nothing else. I champion them because I can’t help myself; I feel compelled. What compels you?

Go on. Give a care.

(And if you need some help finding it, I’m happy to help you explore!)


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Getting Schooled by the #London2012 #Olympics

As I write this post, we are on the eve of the Closing Ceremony. So sad. I get so excited to hear that Olympic theme play on NBC, and it’s anthem will only be heard a couple more times hailing from London. I’ll miss the Today Show reporting from the IBC. I’ll miss seeing interviews with people who can confidently call themselves the world’s best trampoliner. I’ll miss Bob Costas tucking me in each night.

To say that I think the Olympics are cool is a major understatement. I’m a full on fanatic! I’ve always been that way. I commit to the Olympics. I’ll watch whatever NBC is showing–from badminton to table tennis to judo to cycling to volleyball to swimming to track and field. It doesn’t matter. I have my favorites, of course, but I’m tuned in for a solid two weeks to whatever they feel like broadcasting.

I’ve grown up loving the Olympics. The only thing weird about that statement is that I’m not what you’d call a sports fan. In fact, anyone who knows me would never put sports on my top five loves list. Correct that–they wouldn’t put it on my top 100 list. I never watch sports. I don’t attend sports events. I just don’t care for them all that much. Never really have. Maybe the amount of energy I put into them for two years every two weeks just doesn’t leave me any in-between. I’m fine with that. And really, when do I ever do what’s expected anyway.

One of the things I love about the Olympics are that, much like the conferences I love so much, they are an opportunity to learn. Strange, obscure facts as well as ones I probably should’ve already known. But here we are, coming to the end of London 2012, and I’ve yet again learned a few things that I’d like to share with you.

What I’ve learned about the world:

  • I watched an amazing runner from Eritrea, a country I’d never heard of. So I looked it up.
  • 2012 was the first year all participating countries sent both male and female athletes. The women from the three countries that had previously held out, Qatar, Brunei and Saudi Arabia, served as an inspiring example and reminder to the rest of the world. Their performance at the games wasn’t nearly as important as their presence.
  • Despite our sometimes vast differences, sports provides a common language that can break down barriers. I loved seeing the camaraderie and sportsmanship between athletes. It wasn’t necessarily a revolution, but a good reminder as someone who usually pays no attention to sports.
  • People are incredible. From Oscar Pistorius to Hiroshi Hoketsu to Kelli Wells to Kirani James to Jessica Ellis to Manteo Mitchell to Oksana Chusovitina, the Games have been chocked full of remarkable people doing remarkable things. I am so envious, yet so grateful to the journalists who travel all over the world to find out the stories behind the strengths. They are indeed worth hearing.
  • The world is obsessed with the US. Best Friend Heather confirmed for me that, yes, no matter which country is playing you can count on American music being played in the background. I shudder to think about some of those artists being our ambassadors to the world.
  • The Games unite us as one globe. For two weeks, many of us from every nation around the world are huddled in front of our televisions to witness the next great act. Of course, we cheer on our home team, but we cheer for every athlete who has overcome great obstacles to be seen on our little screens. We celebrate with them. We cry with them. (Come on, you know you do too). We revel in the human spirit, no matter where it comes from.

What I’ve learned about the US:

  • 2012 was the first time that there were more women on Team USA than men. And they proved their worth by bringing home a majority of the medals.
  • We are competitive, and privileged, but hopefully not yet to a fault. I see some of these Asian and Eastern European countries competing, and hear what their athletes must give up in order to compete, and am thankful that those restrictions are not placed on our athletes (at least that I know of). One Asian gymnast had been home something like 17 days in the last five years or so. Another was “spared” news of the death of family members so that she could compete. Others are chosen as small children to live out the destiny that was made for them. Wow–so unfair. I can’t begin to imagine what our athletes give up to live their dreams, but at least they have the choice.
  • We rule the pool and women’s beach volleyball! I feel especially invested in athletes that compete in multiple games because it means their story is told numerous times, and I’ve probably seen all of them that take place during each Olympics. I was so excited and so proud to see Michael Phelps and Kerri/Misty go out with a bang. I’ve seen their major Games moments along the way, and was happy to have witnessed their journey. What amazing pieces of Olympic history to have seen, even from afar!
  • Team USA likes to have fun! They are very series and competitive athletes, but I love to see them enjoying life and the games as well. Thank you Today Show for many of those moments!
  • As technology increases, the uniforms decrease. I won’t lie; I’m a little afraid for what’s to come in Rio, especially since it’s the birthplace of the thong.

What I’ve learned about myself:

  • The reason I’ve always loved the Olympics are because I love the stories of the athletes. As a non-sports-watcher, I get sucked into the Games because every few minutes, interspersed between the swimming and the running and the jumping and the throwing, there is a triumphant tale off the field, which was many times, even more astounding than what the competition provides. It proves my theory than any person at any time in any place, has an incredible story.
  • I want to be better. Sure, watching the Olympics makes me feel old and out of shape and like I’ve done nothing with twice the life of most of the athletes on screen, but they also make me want to be better. Not necessarily physically, though that’s part of it, but just overall. You see the dedication that these people put into their craft. Their time. Their effort. Their heart. And it’s just plain inspiring. I want to be better. Better today. Better tomorrow.
  • My loyalty, like most everything else, is conditional. I usually start out cheering for Team USA, but then Bob Costas shows me the story of a man who is the first chance his country has at a medal, or a woman who is the first woman in her country to participate, or a man who could be his country’s first medal in gymnastics, or a small girl who’s got the weight of her country on her shoulders–and I crumble. I think, well, maybe this athlete could get a medal this time. USA already has so many. Or maybe, just maybe, there will be a tie for gold. It was fantastic to see Grenada, Botswana, Montenegro, Cyprus and Guatemala win their first-ever medals. I’m so happy for them!
  • I’m completely under the influence of the Olympics. I’ve been craving fish and chips for two weeks.
  • My tear ducts are Olympics-worthy. It’s amazing how many tears I continually shed for these people in two weeks. If Hallmark produced the Olympics, I would be an absolute puddle.

It’s been an amazing two weeks. I’m excited to see what London has in store for the Closing Ceremony. I loved the Opening Ceremony. Very British. Quite cheeky. It will be a lovely bookend to an unforgettable two weeks, I’m sure.

It’s on my bucket list to attend both a summer and winter Olympics. Luckily, there’s always one to save up for. My fingers are especially crossed for Madrid to win the 2012 bid.

Citius, Altius, Fortius. (“Faster, Higher, Stronger”)

It sure was.

And it will be again.

See you in Sochi!


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Echo Conference (Abridged)

This past week, I was in Dallas for the Echo Conference. It’s for artists, geeks, and storytellers in the church, and was my first time attending. It was pretty cool, and quite different from my usual conference experience. I tried to take good notes for you and me both, and while it would be a pretty long post if I included each and every note here, I will include some of the highlights.

Here are a few of the gems I appreciated most:

Cole NeSmith: Creativity Overcoming Safety

  • “The Artist as Prophet” –A prophet is someone revealing the truth of God. In life and the church, we become subservient to someone else’s agenda, but God has given us our own unique things to say in a way that no one else can. God is revealing his manifold wisdom through the church. (Eph 3:10-11) There is still plenty for us to say.
  • Creatives can sometimes see what others can’t. A Radio Lab podcast by NPR explained that the original Hebrew Bible and Homer, as well as other popular ancient texts, do not use the color blue. They do, however, use most other primary colors. So a tribe in Namibia was studied who only had five names for colors. When shown a color outside their only five, they couldn’t see it. Artists often can’t see what we don’t have words for.
  • Artists have prophetic permission. We are expecting and ok with artists making us uncomfortable. Artists must respect authority, but are not subservient. The artist is a risk-taker who goes into new territory first to illuminate it. In fact, a Barna Study found that people were leaving the church because it is too safe!
  • Success is related, not to outcome, but to obedience. Our willingness makes it a success.

The Amnesia Project: Marlon Hall

  • Dream. Believe. Do.
  • The heart of imagination is memory. Go backward to go forward. How can we imagine our future if we don’t know who we are? As amnesiacs, we must wake up from amnesia to remember the past so we can effectively shape the future.
  • We tend to focus on what, who, where and how but not enough on why. Why is the source. Your heart is attacked when you don’t remember the why.
  • We don’t see things as they are. We see them as we are. Perspective.
  • Assess your failure. Use the crap of your past to fertilize your future. You must fail in order to succeed well.

Keynote 1: Todd Wagner

  • Don’t look at someone’s success as your failure. It’s probably meant to bless you, so don’t take that opportunity for blessing away. God knew what He was doing when He made you. Be inspired and encouraged by those you see as great.
  • Col 1:25 – God put Christ in us to reveal His glory. God has entrusted His glory and reputation in the form of us. He stakes His reputation as a Creator in us. We are fearfully and wonderfully made and remade daily. Our lives are meant to point to Christ and have others want to do the same.
  • Two people can tell you the truth about yourself: an enemy who has lost his temper, or a friend that loves you dearly.
  • The logo of the NBA is a real guy, not just a graphic or model. We are God’s logos that represent Him to the world. What would happen if someone pulled back the curtain of your life? (Wizard of Oz)

Keynote 2: Todd Henry

  • Author of “Accidental Creative”
  • Is it possible to be prolific, brilliant and healthy? Probably two, but rarely all three if at all. We usually end up fried. We can become unreliable because we can’t keep up the pace. We can become fired if we don’t constantly do great work. How are you doing on these?  If you are missing one, it’s usually the healthy piece.
  • Sometimes we don’t see the pressure because it’s been there for so long. The moment we have a great idea, the stakes are raised.
  • We are in a create-on-demand world. The creative process is the perpetual assault on the beachhead of apathy.
  • Five Steps: Define the problem. Explore the options. Choose the best option(s). Execute. Rinse and repeat.
  • Are our ideas to appropriate (safe or close to us)?
  • Creativity is rhythmic.
  • Focus – Sometimes we think something out there is more important than what’s right in front of us. (Twitter, email, etc.) We think nothing of giving away our life 10 seconds at a time, but it adds up!
  • Define Challenges – ask multiple questions.
  • Relationships allow us to pursue meaningful things. Seek relationships that challenge you.  Seek out people who inspire you. Seek mentors who help you define priorities and problems.
  • Energy – Mange it effectively to be your best. Prune regularly. It may be good, but not right at the time. Think whole life, not compartments. Get good at sitting down and evaluation.
  • Hours – Where you put your time can determine your success. Dedicate time to generate ideas for the things you love. Your priorities are with your calendar and checkbook.

Live Creatively: Amena Brown

  • Live creatively, friends…Make a careful exploration of who you are and the work you have been given, and then sink yourself into that. Don’t be impressed with yourself. Don’t compare yourself with others. Each of you must take responsibility for doing the creative best you can with your own life. – Paul (Gal 6:1,4-5, Message)
  • Artists need a place of prayer. Jesus climbed the mountain so he could be by himself and pray. He stayed there alone, late into the night. (Matt 14:22)
  • Artists need a place to be creative. In order to be creative you have to know how to prepare to be creative.  – Twyla Tharp. It may be your house or outside of it. Be consistent. Do your work.
  • Artists need a place to be transparent. Make this your common practice. Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you can live together whole and healed. (James 5:16) Be accountable to someone. Don’t surround yourself just with people who are impressed by you.
  • Artists need a place to connect with other artists. Be around people who are better than you to inspire you to be better.
  • Artists need a place to cultivate your craft. Who am I to think I can build a house adequate for God—burning incense to him is all about I’m good for! I need your help. Send me a master artisan…” – Solomon (2 Chron 2:6-7, Message. Getter better. Offer the best you have.
  • Artists need a place to connect with your local art scene. Go out into the world uncorrupted, a breath of fresh air in this squalid and polluted society. Provide people with a glimpse of good living and of the living God. Carry the light-giving Message into the night. – Paul (Phil 2:14-16, Message).
  • Some thoughts on becoming a full-time artist: Completely surrender. Ask God what he wants to do with the gifts he’s given you. Be willing to scrub toilets. They are a means to an end. Remember you are serving God above all else. Study the artists who come before you. Push the art forward. Let them be your mentors. To be a full-time artist is to be an entrepreneur. If you don’t want to think about the biz side, keep it a hobby. Make the most of your day job. Save money. Decrease expenses. Live on less. Be yourself. Be who God called you to be.
  • Establishing some sort of routine helps you get through the hard mental days. Also expose yourself to new things to keep you inspired and creative.

Good Idea, Now What: Charles Lee

  • What do our ideas have to do with the real world? Ideas are a stewardship.
  • We will work extra hard if we think our idea is valuable enough.
  • Who are you, and who/what are you leading? Mission statements don’t cover these questions well, but they are crucial to understand. What do you bring to the table? Create a remarkable experience that people care about. Some of the best ideas come from those you serve. Consider the end user. Put yourself in the shoes of the person you hope to benefit.
  • A study found that those who talk about their ideas and share them too quickly without writing them down and processing them will rarely pursue or accomplish them. Write them down process them. This task also allows you to plug others in faster when you’ve thought through the details and then share with others.
  • Creativity and idea-making: Perseverance brings things to life. Ideas must be nurtured. Separate ideas may even come together over time.
  • Think options first. Malcolm Gladwell’s “Speghetti Sauce” TED talk…there may not be a “best” way to get there. People respond to options.
  • Simplicity and clarity. Take the concepts and prune them. People will connect to your core competency.
  • Ideas create tension. This is a good thing.
  • What are you waiting for?

Gaining Influence and Mobilizing Others for Good: Lindsay Nobles

  • Influence: to be a compelling force on something. Influence is more important than authority in today’s world.
  • In gaining influence, you need to be yourself and be authentic. Find your passion, and be a part of the story.
  • Don’t let fear squelch your visions. Enlist others. Surround yourself with people who affirm and hold you accountable. Your online persona should match who you are. Be generous and kind. Give your time and resources away the way someone else did for you when you were starting out.
  • Don’t talk about yourself all the time. (80% others, 20% yourself)
  • There are three ways to pull people into a story. Logical appeals to their head. Emotional tells a story to compel their emotions. Cooperative draws parallels between people and situations
  • How do you leverage influence? Focus on the people you naturally have influence with first. Deepen those connections. Let the broad come later. Let people see your flaws. Learn more about the things you love.
  • Sometimes its not about getting answers, but more about formulating the right kinds of questions.

Keynote 3: Tony Hale

  • You have to have a support system. He started The Haven in NYC as a Christian support system.
  • Entertainment is a constant faith walk. You don’t know when/where your next job is coming. It’s awesome to know God has your back.
  • His favorite movie is Lars and The Real Girl because it shows our desperation for connection.
  • We can’t put Christian art in a box. It can be outside a Christian bookstore.
  • If you are judging something or someone, ask yourself if those qualities also live in you. The answer is probably yes, so don’t judge too harshly.
  • Character development can be a study of empathy.
  • If you aren’t practicing contentment where you’re at, you’ll never be content when you get what you want. Contentment is a discipline. Practice it daily. When discontentment comes, tell it “not now.”
  • If you don’t surround yourself with people you really know you, you’ll lose yourself when the people who only know and love your work are the only ones around. It becomes your identity.
  • If I say yes to something I’m not comfortable with, they won’t get 100% of me. I’m doing them a favor saying no.
  • Don’t put up a wall—collaborate.

Keynote 4: Scott Williams

  • We are all storytellers.
  • Unity can be expressed through diversity. Gal 3:28 – neither Jew nor Greek, slave nor free, male nor female, for you are all one in Christ Jesus.
  • Live the Great Commandment. Matt 22:7-9. Love the Lord God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Love your neighbor as yourself.
  • John 4:27-30 – Woman at the Well. Why aren’t we more like the woman—going out telling everyone we meet about our life-changing experience with Jesus? Many believed because of what she said, and then went to hear Him themselves.
  • What stories are you telling? We all have a powerful story to tell!
  • Diversity matters to Coca-Cola and they are just selling sugar water. We have the Living Water. Diversity should matter.
  • Do the Great Commission. Matt 28:19. GO and make disciples of ALL nations.

I also walked out of the conference with a reading list:

  • The Accidental Creative: How to Be Brilliant at a Moment’s Notice by Todd Henry
  • Untitled: Thoughts on the Creative Process by Blaine Hogan
  • Good Idea. Now What? by Charles Lee
  • The Creative Habit by Twyla Tharp
  • The War of Art by Steven Pressfield
  • Quitter by Jon Acuff

Hope you learned something! I sure did!