It is Finished!

I know I probably could have come up with something a little more original, but hey it works as an attention getter. For all 3 of you who are following me... my nemesis - the Creative Coaching assignment video is finished. I have turned it in and will now proceed to move on. YES!

So, I have uploaded it and included the link for your viewing pleasure. Here are some things I learned from the process...
1. A girls has got to know her limitations.
2. A project is much more fun when you do it with people you like to work with ;o)
3. In order to succeed, you must surround yourself with people who know more than you do in areas you are weak. It doesn't mean you get to quit learning, it just means that God made everyone with different gifts and for you to try to do everything yourself is robbing someone else of a chance to share their gift.
4. An artists work will never be perfect or finished in their eyes. Sometimes you just have to say "enough" and hit the send button!
5. Sometimes it is less about the finished product and more about what you learn in the process along the way.

Over all it was not the most pleasant thing I have ever done, or the best art I will ever produce, but I learned a lot and hope to push myself in this area in the future. :o)

HUGE thanks to Joel Quinoes and Matt Bashore Sr. for their help in the production, JT for his amazing spoken word and delivery, Robert Stubbs for braninstorming power, and Holly Abshire for lending her ear while I compained!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5dj3jdv9Z0Q

The Process

If you read my last blog post, you know that I have been assigned a task that I am not good at. I have 4 weeks to become a video producer (from start to finish). If you haven't read it - I'll wait. Go ahead, read it now - if you don't you'll be lost reading this one. (insert Jeopardy theme song here!)

OK, good! You're back. Now back to the subject at hand - becoming something I am not! So, those of you that know me will completely understand (and laugh) when I say that deep within my spirit there is something crying out that this project I am about to embark on has GOT to be USEFUL for something. I mean really, who would take 4 weeks out of their life and go to all the trouble of creating something that will be shown to the 5 other people in my group and then file it away somewhere never to be used again. That is just silly!!

So, that brainstorming begins...

• How about a modern version of a bible story? I know one of the rules is that it can't be for church, but that is just MY church, right? Maybe when it is done I can sell it on Sermon Spice and some other church can use it. Then it would be worth my time. So, I start to rack my brain for ideas... nothin'. All shot down for various reasons, valid or not.
  
• How about a cooking show? Now, what the heck would I ever use that for? NEXT!
• How about...
• How about...

...and on it went. All ideas leading to the same place - no where. At least no where that seemed productive enough for me to spend my time on. Frustration and doubt have sufficiently set in at this point. I feel like this is a task I am not equip to do and I am going to fail. And for me - failure is not something I face well.

So, last night as I was discussing my project with some friends, "wisdom" showed up and whispered loudly in my ear (sounding remarkably like an actor friend of mine), "Jan, what if the point is not the end product, but the process itself? What if this whole thing is not about what you learn about being a video guru, but about what you learn about yourself?"

Light bulb!! I get it. At least for me, this whole thing is pushing me to the place that I can see benefit in breaking from my norm, not being afraid to try something I am not good at (yet) and not focusing on what it will be used for in the future.(sigh) It is about taking the walls I have boxed myself in with, that I didn't even know were there, and breaking them down brick by brick until the space around me to create in is wide open. It is about not being afraid to fail at something and just enjoy the ride. It is about seeking out others I can learn from and quite frankly who do some things better than I do!

So - this is me - embracing the process! Unsure of where I will be at the end of it, but grateful for the journey and those willing to take it with me!

Disturb & Disrupt

Not words you normally like to hear, but those are the words we heard on our second Creative Coaching call with Carlos Whittaker. Our goal this month is to get us out of our creative comfort zone and challenge us to dabble in a creative realm that we are not proficient in. In my group, the disruptions of Carlos' choice were Ballroom Dancing, Photography, Illusions (magic tricks) and Video production. I must say - I think I got the short end of the stick on this one, drawing the video production card.

So, I am in need of you help. My assignment over the next 4 weeks is to write, produce and show (probably not the correct terminology) a 5 minute short film with a min. of 3 actors and 2 camera angles. Other than that, the sky is the limit. My issue is not seeing this project in my mind, it is the practical part of actually doing this! Other than giving my opinion on shoots and editing, and a little dabbling in imovie, I really have no idea how to pull this off.

If you have any time to lend your expertise in any of these areas (writing, acting, production, etc.) and would like to do a little creative collaborating - please let me know. The thought of this project is a little daunting, but I am excited about what could be at the other end of the process.

Remember, if you are a creative - disturb and disrupt to get out of your "normal" and enter the next level. Go do something that inspires you today!

Rethinking ___________

What does it mean to re-think something? To take a thorough inventory of something, a good, hard, take off the rose colored glasses look, and think through what changes need to be made. At least that's the Jan's unabridged dictionary version. So why would one come to a place that they needed to rethink something? Maybe they, themselves have noticed it is not working or maybe someone else brought it to their attention. Maybe they have experienced a failure and are analyzing why it happened. Maybe they just look at some areas and know they could be better.

In the fall, we are starting a new sermon series called Re-thinking the Truth. We will take 10 truths of the Gospel found in Romans 1-5 and get people to take a good, hard, look at what they may have come to think they know very well. My bet is that most people will find that they don't "know" these truths as well as they think they did. They may not be living them, may not have them ingrained down deep in their soul, so that the truth of the Gospel of Jesus Christ has so permeated their being, that it can be seen in and through everything that they do, say or think. They may be surprised!

Actually, I hope I am surprised too! I hope that even through this service designing process, I am challenged to rethink any area where I have gotten lax, or stale. I hope that my view of what Christ did for me and the truth of that sinks in so deep that it oozes out of every pore. I hope that I wreak of the truth of God in my life! All day, every day in every area.

Even using the word "rethink" is causing me to want to examine some areas in my world. Which ones are where they need to be, which ones need some tweaking, which ones need a giant overhaul. So, off I go on my new challenge, listening to the prompting of the Holy Spirit and praying that I would be open to rethinking any and all areas of my life - and then strong enough to change.

What about you? What areas, things, ways of thinking do you need to re-think today? May God give you the ears to hear His voice, the eyes to see what He pointing out, and the heart to be obedient to the change. Let His truth go deep in you today and every day!

Oh - and to all you creative peeps out there, if you have any ideas that might fit into the series (dramas, songs, videos, metaphors, etc.) don't be afraid to send them my way!

7 Word Bio

For those of you that have been anxiously awaiting the revelation of my 7 word bio (& words that sum up who I am and what I do), wait no more! Here it is. Drum roll please (make the sound effects in your head now! ok...)

Service Designer catalyzing a passionate worship revolution.

I am pretty happy with it! Thanks to those who shot me words that I borrowed to create the whole. :o) There you go - me in a nut shell. It was actually pretty hard to come up with one that is EXACTLY 7 words. Why don't you give it a try~

No more dry bones!

Well, after great anticipation, I had my first Soul Creative video conference today. Whoop! I feel truly blessed (and out of my league) to be in with a group like this. I am the only girl :o) and the only "non-media" creative in the bunch. So, it should prove to be very interesting. Already I can tell this is a group of people that I could easliy have lasting relationship with and learn much from.

Today we talked about God as the Creator. Not a concept I have difficultly wrapping my mind around, but I know some really struggle with remembering that part of Him. We tend to focus on Jesus as Savior and not marvel at His creation or creativity. And, being made in His image - our own creativity. If God created me in His image and he can make all the I can see (and not see) so beautifully and intricately, what can I do with what He has put in me? A bit of a daunting thought. Further more, what if I am not using what He gave me to it's fullest potential?

I feel compelled to ask the question, "God, what more do you have for me? What more do can I do with what I have been given?" Am I asking often enough? Am I stopping to listen for the answer? Probably not, but that is something I intend to change.

If there is one thing that comes form this group, I hope it is that I am confronted more often by them, and you, about pressing in and going for what God has called me to. I don't want anyone to ever be able to say about me that I could have done more or should have done more.

Here I am God! Use me! Make me in to the creative catalyst you have designed me to be. Keep me strong and bold for YOUR glory and fame!

Now, what are you going to do with what He has given you? Feel free to post your thoughts or comments. ;o)

Update on "The Big Day"

Well, after all the anticipation and preparation, the "big day" didn't happen due to Mr. Computer meeting Mr. Floor. (Not mine - Carlos') The bad news is, it was postponed till next Thursday. The good news is, I got my 7 word bio done. However, I shall not reveal it until next week. I love the mystery! (and I might tweek it again. lol)

I did have an interesting thing happen to me yesterday though. I was reading our scripture assignment yesterday morning, Ezekiel 37:1-14. I have pasted it below to make it easy for you to read. I'll give you a minute... (insert Jeopardy theme song in brain now)

The Valley of Dry Bones

37:1 The hand ¹ of the Lord was on me, and he brought me out by the Spirit of the Lord and placed ² me in the midst of the valley, and it was full of bones. 37:2 He made me walk all around among them. ³ I realized ⁴ there were a great many bones in the valley and they were very dry. 37:3 He said to me, “Son of man, can these bones live?” I said to him, “Sovereign Lord, you know.” 37:4 Then he said to me, “Prophesy over these bones, and tell them: ‘Dry bones, hear the word of the Lord. 37:5 This is what the sovereign Lord says to these bones: Look, I am about to infuse breath ⁵ into you and you will live. 37:6 I will put tendons ⁶ on you and muscles over you and will cover you with skin; I will put breath ⁷ in you and you will live. Then you will know that I am the Lord.’”

37:7 So I prophesied as I was commanded. There was a sound when I prophesied – I heard ⁸ a rattling, and the bones came together, bone to bone. 37:8 As I watched, I saw ⁹ tendons on them, then muscles appeared, ¹⁰ and skin covered over them from above, but there was no breath ¹¹ in them.

37:9 He said to me, “Prophesy to the breath, ¹² – prophesy, son of man – and say to the breath: ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Come from the four winds, O breath, and breathe on these corpses so that they may live.’” 37:10 So I prophesied as I was commanded, and the breath came into them; they lived and stood on their feet, an extremely great army.

37:11 Then he said to me, “Son of man, these bones are all the house of Israel. Look, they are saying, ‘Our bones are dry, our hope has perished; we are cut off.’ 37:12 Therefore prophesy, and tell them, ‘This is what the sovereign Lord says: Look, I am about to open your graves and will raise you from your graves, my people. I will bring you to the land of Israel. 37:13 Then you will know that I am the Lord, when I open your graves and raise you from your graves, my people. 37:14 I will place my breath ¹³ in you and you will live; I will give you rest in your own land. Then you will know that I am the Lord – I have spoken and I will act, declares the Lord.’”

Pretty cool passage. right? It gets better. I was on my way into the office and I heard this song by Evanescense. Lyrics posted below for your reading pleasure. (insert Jeopardy theme song in brain again now)...

Bring Me to Life

How can you see into my eyes
Like open doors?
Lading you down into my core,
Where I've become so numb.

Without a soul,
My spirit's sleeping somewhere cold,
Until you find it there and lead it back
Home.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can’t wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.

Now that I know what I'm without,
You can't just leave me.
Breathe into me and make me real.
Bring me to life.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can’t wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.

Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie.
There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life.

Frozen inside without your touch,
Without your love, darling.
Only you are the life among the dead.

(All of this sight,
I can't believe I couldn't see
Kept in the dark
but you were there in front of me)
I've been sleeping a 1000 years it seems.
I've got to open my eyes to everything.
(Without a thought
Without a voice
Without a soul
Don't let me die here.
There must be something more).
Bring me to life.

(Wake me up)
Wake me up inside.
(I can’t wake up)
Wake me up inside.
(Save me)
Call my name and save me from the dark.
(Wake me up)
Bid my blood to run.
(I can’t wake up)
Before I come undone.
(Save me)
Save me from the nothing I've become.

Bring me to life.
(I've been living a lie. There's nothing inside)
Bring me to life

I began to detect a theme for the day. So I had to ask myself, am I dead inside? Creatively dead? A creator made of nothing more than dry bones at this point? If I am honest - I guess I would have to say yes. But the beautiful thing to me is that God knew that even before I did. He sent me this opportunity with the Creative Coaching group, He sent me this Ezekiel passage, He sent me the song. I guess He wanted to make sure I didn't miss the fact that He truly does see me and have a plan for me that quite evidently includes bring brought back to "life". That my friends is truly exciting to me. You have no idea!! I can't wait to see what the future holds. Watch out - the headlines might read:

Creative skeleton brought back to life by breath of God and is loose in a church near you!

Stay tuned next week for other ways Satan is trying to stop this group for being loosed in churches all around the world.