East Coast

Spending the day on the east coast of Florida today. Finding God in the early hours before anyone else is awake. Walking in the unpredictable path of the waves on the shore. Praising God the powerful, creative force behind this world's enchanted beauty.

I find I connect with God so much easier on the beach or in the mountains. It aways seems so uncluttered and simple. I brought my iPod with me intending on having a little worship time, but found myself worshiping with the waves and the birds. I was reminded again of how creative God is and how small I am.

Where is it for you? Where do you find it most easy to connect with God & why?

Willow Arts Day Two

Very full day. Today was the breakout day. We spent the whole day in specialized classes. I did a lot of hopping around today. I was in at least two different sessions each time. I would either end up in one that wasn't what I expected, or would go to one and get what I wanted and sneak over to another one. 

Last year they gave us similar conference books to take notes in. I think last year I might have filled up two pages. This year, I've just about got the book filled up with one more day to go. Not sure what my deal is, just enjoying writing down ideas. Lots of really good ideas - I'm surrounded by exceptional creativity.

It's got me thinking today about the creative process I'm involved in. I feel like we have been in a creative rut lately. We have found our 'default' service and in a lot of our planning meetings we choose elements that fill the holes for us. I've really been chasing down today how to get out of that.

How does true creativity happen. New, fresh ideas do not just hop onto our whiteboard. For me it's hard work. I have to chase it. I think it usually ends up not happening because we let it. We settle for good enough ideas. We don't work to get the best idea.

How does it happen for you? How do your most creative and inspired ideas come to be?

Willow Arts Day One

Today was the first day of the Willow Arts Conference. As expected, it was an unbelievably refreshing and inspiring day. The conference started out in a characteristically big way. Worshiping along side a drum line, flamenco dancers to rock, rap, latin, & jazz.

Nancy Beach was the first speaker and focused on Psalm 40:1-10. She talked a lot about being stuck and being pulled out from whatever it is that is holding us - lifted from the miry clay. I've never thought of "miry clay" like that. Actually, I've never given much thought at all to it. It's always sounded like a weird word - like one of those words you get embarrassed about when someone uses it around a non churched friend...like tribulation or narthex or singspiration. But to think about it in terms of a place you are stuck in - makes it come alive with images for me.

Next session was an interview with Gilles Ste-Croix. There are a few reasons why I believe he was the coolest person in the room. The list is as follows:

• He's got a French ascent, which as everybody knows, makes you SO much cooler in the artistic world.
• He has a hyphen in his name.
  (really wanted to do something like this with one of my children, but I was vetoed)
  (also tried starting their names with a silent letter - like "Ngrady")
  (also vetoed)
  
• And arguably most impressive - He is the Sr VP of Creative Content and a founding member of Cirque du Soleil

Being a Cirque fan - I found this ridiculously cool! He gave great insight to the creative process in general. He talked about how a few weeks out from the dress rehearsal he has a "Lion's Den Performance" where they invite a group of people in to watch the show and are in essence "thrown to the Lions". They intentionally invite non-artist to watch and give honest feedback about the show. From there they make necessary changes and roll.

Also talked about why we need, crave art. About how, when we experience great art it changes us. Like when you look at the Wheat Field painting by Van Gogh and really experience it - you never look at a wheat field the same way again. Nancy talked about never listening to Beatles music the same way after having seen the Cirque show "Love" in Vegas.

The last session of the day was Brian McLaren - he was brilliant. Talked about heavy things - the great crisises of our generation. Unfortunately, the combination of (1) it being the end of a very full day, (2) it being a very intellectual talk, and (3) his bright shinny head - made for a very difficult listening experience. But really...it was good.

Great first day - I'll be posting and twittering tomorrow.

Willow Arts

Off to Willow Arts tomorrow.

I'll be posting my thoughts each day. Comment me if you're going to be there.

Stuff I Like

I've just spent the last 3 hours laughing hysterically reading out loud to my wife from my now favorite blogger - www.stuffchristianslike.net. A ridiculously funny commentary on things we Christians like! It covers everything from Testamints, to boycotting, to metro-sexual worship leaders.

It's a pretty exhaustive and accurate list.

Dropbox

Very cool new web app called drop box just released for Beta testing. I've been playing with it for an hour now and love it.

Great tool for syncing two computers or using as an ftp instead of trying to email huge attachments. Check out the site to see a video of the software.